Lola Amour Welcome A New Chapter At Their Album Launch Concert — Review

There’s no denying the control Lola Amour have on the Philippines — just take a look at the weather. 

Last year, the Filipino funk-pop band brought showers and rainfall across the country with their viral hit “Raining In Manila”. They brewed up the perfect storm with the five minute pop track, inadvertently rising to the top of local music charts and becoming the Philippines’ anthem for rainy days. 

And whether it’s by a complete stroke of luck or some magical force working in their favor, Lola Amour have done it again. From the blistering heat that seeps in from our windows to the beads of sweat that accompany any signs of movement, the band have set up the ultimate summer to drop their eponymous debut album. 

Lola Amour welcomed their highly anticipated album — a record that’s been five years in the making — with a grand launch concert held yesterday (April 13) at Globe Circuit Event Grounds. The concert was reminiscent of a music festival, with several on-ground activations set to the theme of Lola Amour’s album and the laidback energy of the crowd, Even while the heat showed no signs of mercy, the excitement of the hundred of fans still rose high, anticipating the lineup of bands set to take the stage.

Any Name’s Okay kicked off the show with enchanting performances of tracks like “Cobalt Blue”, “Yugto”, and more. The five-piece alt-pop band got fans grooving with their sweet, melodic tracks, with many in awe of their incredible vocals.

Cup Of Joe took the stage the next, with an electrifying performance that would turn any casual listener into a full-blown fan. From their amazing chemistry as a band on stage to the connection they had with the crowd the moment they came out on stage, they were enticing and fun — not to mention, immensely talented.

Before you knew it, it was finally time for Lola Amour. Beginning their set in true Lola Amour fashion, the band brought humor and music together with their signature instrumental intro to “Fallen” but this time joined by viral internet sensation Dante Gulapa. The band — which included alumna saxophonist Joxx Perez, new sessionist Tim Cruz, and additional guitarist Nian Sayoc — continued the rest of the set with tracks from their debut album.

Through their performances, you learned that this nine-track record truly told the story of Lola Amour — not only as a band but as individuals. From the bass-heavy funk number “Umiinit” where bassist Raymond King — who recently announced his departure from the band — took center stage to the adorable recounts of the early stages of love in “This Ain’t Love” originally written by vocalist Pio Dumayas in 2015 to “Part II: Bliss”, the heart touching ode to a departed friend, every song was a stop on the journey they’ve had together so far.

The concert was undeniably Lola Amour’s best show yet, pulling out all the stops for a project that well overdue. From their summer-themed outfits on stage to an entertainment intermission (which featured a cowboy stand-off reel starring Dumayas, scored live by the band) that had the crowd in tears laughing to a surprise performance of the Korean version of “Pwede Ba” by the band’s former keyboardist Martin Kim, they put together a show you’d want to relive over and over again.

Lola Amour ended their concert in the grandest way they knew how — bringing rain to Manila. They closed out the show with a performance of their hit “Raining In Manila” — featuring a special spotlight on the fan-favorite solo from saxophonist Jeff Abueg — and made it rain down on stage, signifying a new chapter for the band.

By the end of night, you could tell that this show was about more than welcoming their first album.

Earlier in the show, a fan shared how the first time she saw Lola Amour live was when she was still in college, reviewing for exams but now, she’s graduated and just became a register Medical Technician. In the same way, the band started as college friends merely wanting to play music together and have gradually become one of the most popular acts in the country. Surrounded by old bandmates and long-time fans — who quite literally have grown up with them, the concert was a testament to how far they’ve come and all that they’ve achieved.

So, as rain poured down on stage, it was clear that there’s no limits to what Lola Amour can do.