After Years Apart, IV OF SPADES Return Stronger Than Ever At Their First-Ever Arena Show — Review

I never thought I’d see IV OF SPADES back together again, let alone performing in front of a passionate crowd of Spaders and casual listeners alike. Ever since the band burst onto the scene with songs like “Ilaw Sa Daan,” “Hey Barbara,” “Where Have You Been, My Disco?” and, of course, “Mundo,” they’ve felt unstoppable.

I fell in love with their music during my final year of high school. However, seeing them live for the first time at a gig in the University of Santo Tomas, as a three-piece, during the period when Unique Salonga was slowly leaving the band, was a bittersweet experience. I vaguely remember the performance being cut short, with the band unable to play “Mundo” due to the university curfew. It was hard to accept that the band, then a quartet, had so much promise yet faced obstacles in fully showcasing their beloved tracks and creating more.

As a trio, Zild Benitez, Blaster Silonga, and Badjao de Castro still released music that felt and sounded like IV OF SPADES. Watching their gig at 12 Monkeys with this lineup and hearing “Mundo” was enjoyable, but it just wasn’t the same. Something was definitely missing.

With Unique venturing into his solo career first, my love for the band and even their solo projects remained strong. I even found myself creating a hastily curated Spotify playlist featuring their solo works, inspired by The Black Album, an unofficial compilation of The Beatles members’ solo material compiled by Ethan Hawke, which he gifted to his daughter Maya Hawke and later appeared in Richard Linklater’s 2014 coming-of-age film Boyhood.

It took seven years for IV OF SPADES to reunite— a feeling that in itself was like a fever dream. Going into the second day of their two-day concert, presented by Karpos Multimedia, at the SM Mall of Asia Arena, all I wanted was to hear the songs that had defined a pivotal period of my young adulthood.

When “Ecce Homo, Qui Est Faba,” the theme from Mr. Bean, played and the curtains revealed the band’s name, IV OF SPADES opened with a bang, kicking off the night with “Monster.” The crowd erupted in excitement, eager to hear not just the newer songs from Andalucia but also older favorites, reimagined solo works, and even a few unreleased tracks.

Safe to say, it did not disappoint. Even if you were only expecting to enjoy a song or two, you could feel the anticipation the band had built for this moment, and how it finally paid off. There was an added emotional weight, knowing that seeing IV OF SPADES together in 2025, on such a big stage, was something that, just a few years ago, felt like a pipe dream.

The stage design, filled with exciting and eye-catching visuals, amplified the energy the band brought to the show. Perhaps, when the band first reached their peak with “Mundo,” they saw another chance to start over, leaving old wounds behind, not to forget, but to grow from them. After years apart, this felt like the right moment to embrace the fact that they are now ready to stay and continue making music together.

Then came “Hey Barbara,” which, even after so many years, still sounded just as vibrant as when the band first released it in 2017. Following that, the mood shifted to more senti with “Sentimental,” an unreleased track that fans had only been able to experience through recordings and videos captured by fans at gigs.

Riding the momentum of newer songs, “Konsensya” and “Tamis Ng Pagkakamali” were performed exactly as intended and arranged on the album’s track list, making for an amazing two-track combo. The first part of the concert was just a taste of what was yet to come. During an acoustic jam, the band took their seats on a living-room–style setup in the standing section, a moment that showcased them at their silliest and most playful selves. Adding to that, the mini Tekken tournament was pure entertainment, showcasing their renewed friendship and dynamic camaraderie.

The acoustic jam in the style of a Tiny Desk Concert served as a breather amidst the jam-packed performances. Unique performed “My Old Friend,” a track from his debut album Grandma. Zild delivered an acoustic rendition of “Apat” from his sophomore album Huminga — a bittersweet moment, seeing him seated alongside Unique, Blaster, and Badjao. The set also brought to life the band’s unreleased tracks, “Terminal” and “Ok Lang Ba?” Meanwhile, fans of the band’s debut album CLAPCLAPCLAP! were treated to “Captivated” and “I Ain’t Perfect,” adding another sweet highlight with Unique joining the performance.

The night wasn’t over just yet. Even though my feet were aching from standing, I was still eagerly waiting for some of my favorite songs. “Tara,” the opening track of Andalucia, kicked off the third part of the show. But the song that followed brought a huge smile to my face. “Bawat Kaluluwa,” my favorite track from CLAPCLAPCLAP!, had the crowd erupting — especially when Unique joined in on vocals. It made me realize that even though the three of them recorded and worked on their debut album without Unique, hearing them perform live together felt seamless, as if they had just been waiting for him to join in the ride.

“Ilaw Sa Daan,” the band’s first-ever single, brought yet another enormous response from the crowd. This is the definition of “real ones,” those who have been truly listening and supporting them from the start. Then, mixed in afterward was “Tangerine Boulevard,” which I personally think is a great companion piece to “Mundo.” As if time had brought us back to 2018, it carried the added weight of the years we’ve experienced since then.

Now this is where the kickers come in. A flow of solo tracks now reimagined with the band lending to each other’s solo works. “Sensitive Sun” by Party Pace, which features Badjao, “Hayy” by Blaster from Last Fool Show, “Medisina” by Zild from his album of the same name, and “Sino” by Unique from Grandma — the latter being standing out as one of the memorable performances for me.

“Sino” is one of Unique’s most celebrated tracks, released during his solo journey and temporary departure from the band. But now, hearing the song with him on vocals, performed together with his brothers, adds to the surreal feeling that Unique truly is back.

From the emotional highs and lows, “Dulo Ng Hangganan” stands out as one of the band’s sadder songs, one you can’t help but sit with. The synth-heavy track is made for the feels, reminding me of some of the toughest emotional moments in my life. To add to that sentimental punch, it was finally time: the band took all the time they needed for an extended intro before launching into the iconic riff of “Mundo.”

The song has resonated with so many people, and it was comforting to be in a space where I could reconnect with what it means to me, surrounded by others who share the same love for the song—each with their own perspectives and emotions. That’s when it hit me that, beyond capturing the moment on my phone, simply witnessing it was something I would cherish forever. It may sound a bit too dramatic, but that’s how you know a good piece of music has truly done its job.

Thinking it was the end of the setlist — and having tried my best not to spoil myself with Day 1 concert videos on social media — the instrumental track “The Novel of My Mind” played. Shortly after, the band launched into “Where Have You Been, My Disco?,” which was just as good to hear live as it is on the studio version.

With the mandatory chants of “Isa Pa!” (“One More Time!”) ringing out as the band geared up for the encore, IV OF SPADES made sure the crowd wasn’t leaving without a last piece of adrenaline kicking towards the final lap. “Come Inside of My Heart,” a standout track from their debut album, sounded complete with the band performing as a full unit. IV OF SPADES closed both nights with their comeback single, “Aura.” Everything fell perfectly into place, as the song captured the band’s chance to breathe new life into their music and beyond it.

Just as the crowd was overwhelmed with emotion after a truly unforgettable show, the band felt it too. Blaster led a tearful yet bittersweet moment, sharing with the audience that this was a dream finally fulfilled for them. This was followed by a heartfelt decade-old video featuring the band’s younger selves talking about their dreams as musicians, not knowing that they were already poised for greatness.

As emotional as we all were, it felt like a form of closure — the band finally addressing the years-long lingering questions of “Why?” “What now?” and “When?” It was them capping off two nights at the MOA Arena and releasing emotions that had long been held back that felt freeing. From opening up about how they felt during the hiatus, to walking their own paths through their respective solo careers, and ultimately finding their way back to each other, the moment reminded me that life can be silly at times — and that it has a funny way of showing us that doors aren’t always closed.

With our hearts finally open as fans in this new chapter of IV OF SPADES, the feeling is mutual for the band as well. Promising to create more music together, for as long as they can — this felt like the perfect moment for redemption and healing. It was a concert that went beyond the music, carried by the stories shared by those who witnessed it live. More than anything, it showed that the band is stronger together — a testament to second chances, and to the idea that what lies ahead can be brighter than anything we once imagined.

Just as “Mundo” once revealed the band’s potential for greatness, ‘IV OF SPADES Live at the MOA Arena’ further proved that the local music scene welcomed them back with open arms — as if they had never left. With a solid three-hour show, they left it all on stage, and in our hearts and ears.

And with that, perhaps a live album, a concert film, or even studio versions of the reimagined solo tracks and unreleased songs might be too much to ask, but why the hell not?