Near-miss for Before You Exit’s Toby McDonough

Connor McDonough and his brothers also did covers of Maroon 5 and Ed Sheeran songs.

Riley (left) and Connor McDonough

Before You Exit performed mostly original songs before screaming, phone-waving fans. —Jasper Lucena for MMI Live

Before You Exit nearly canceled its recent scheduled stop in Manila because Toby McDonough, the youngest member of this pop band of brothers, had to undergo an appendectomy. Fortunately, Toby recovered just in time to make it to the group’s fourth visit and its first solo concert in the country.

And with the way Before You Exit—also composed of Riley and Connor McDonough—energetically opened the night with its latest song, “When I’m Gone,” it looked like they had cast away whatever worry they might have had. “It’s so good to be home,” said Connor before a packed crowd of mostly screaming girls at the Kia Theatre.

The fans never let up, and the trio made sure to give the love back. Before You Exit, which originated in Orlando, Florida, performed mostly original material such as “Other Kids,” “Clouds” (the siblings’ tribute to their late friend, Christina Grimmie) and “Settle for Less,” which had the audience waving their glowing phones aloft.

But the trio also did a few covers, such as that of Maroon 5’s “Don’t Wanna Know” and Ed Sheeran’s “Thinking Out Loud.”

To wrap up the show, mounted by MMI Live, Before You Exit dished out another one of their more popular tunes, “Model,” which pretty much summed up the vibe of the whole affair—it’s fun, danceable and, once in a while, flirty.—ALLAN POLICARPIO