It was a trip down memory lane at the BOYS LIKE GIRLS SPRING TOUR 2024 IN MANILA in Araneta Coliseum—one big throwback party, especially for fans who have grown with the band since their self-titled album days.

The show began on an exciting note with We The Kings opening the stage with their fun songs and playful energy.

During their second song, Travis Clark instructed the crowd to scream instead of sing and the arena was ringing with cheers.

They played several covers such as Oasis’ “Wonderwall”, Coldplay’s “Fix You” and The Killers’ “Mr. Brightside.”

But the highlight of their set had to be when they instructed the crowd to do the dance move Travis’ daughters made for one of their songs. The crowd was so game and they even put their spin on the choreography by jumping while chanting “Up! Up! Up!”

They played a total of 12 songs that included “Secret Valentine”, “I Feel Alive”, “Say You Like Me” and concluded their set with a crowd favorite, “Check Yes Juliet.”

Finally, it was time for Boys Like Girls to take the stage. The light show began and the tune of “Sunday at Foxwoods” blasted throughout the arena while the members made their entrance one by one.

As soon as they were complete, the song transitioned to “Love Drunk”, which ignited screams and lots of excitement from the crowd. From this reception alone, you could tell it was going to be one heck of a show.

The first few songs of the setlist were played back-to-back almost like a medley. At one point, Martin Johnson was singing with a wide smile on his face. It was heartwarming.

Even as Martin introduced the band and talked about Boys Like Girls’ history, the band played on. They mentioned that they were kicking off their Spring Tour in Manila with 30 songs on the setlist. A real treat for fans indeed.

“I miss you Manila,” Martin also mentioned during one of their songs.

There were many highlights of the night such as when they sang some of their unreleased songs.

An unexpected part of the night was when two worlds and genres collided: KPop and pop rock when Boys Like Girls performed Twice’s “I Can’t Stop Me.” There were even Twice light sticks as well as other KPop lightsticks spotted in the crowd.

At one point in the show, the arena was dark except for being beautifully lit up with phones as Boys Like Girls sang, “Thunder.”

The main highlight of the night was when Martin instructed the whole arena to get out their phones and start recording before the band launched into playing, “The Great Escape.”

Fans screamed with glee but then during the chorus, Boys Like Girls stopped the song, and Martin requested that since the crowd had recorded it was now time to put away their phones and enjoy the concert like it was back when The Great Escape was released: to jump and enjoy the song with hardly any phones in sight.

It was a request many fans were happy to do as the band played the song from the start and then it became a medley with “Love Drunk.”

The energy of the crowd was hard to describe: it was happier, more energetic, and oh-so-loud. It’s an experience to enjoy a show without having to worry about recording, just really being present and letting the music wash over you.

Just when fans thought the show was over but wished it wasn’t, they even chanted the classic “We Want More!” requesting an encore, Martin came out with an acoustic guitar and ended the set list with “Two Is Better Than One.”

The setlist featured a variety of songs from all their albums—a nice mix for listeners from every Boys Like Girls era. It was a great, majestic return for the Boston-founded rock band to Philippine shores.

Special thanks to PULP Live World.

Words by Izzy Matias; Photos by Arielle Elep