Buzz on gigs starts online

TODAY’S concert crowd rely on the Internet to check out the buzz on who’s coming here to perform. More often than not, news of artists’ tours or performance dates are first announced online.

That’s how it happened for the recent gig of Irish band The Script at the Araneta Coliseum. Weeks before the show, tickets were sold out mainly through local fans’ exchange of information on the concert’s Facebook page.

In the case of Miley Cyrus’ show set June 17 at the SM Mall of Asia (MOA) open grounds, a multi-media (TV, radio, newspapers and the Net) campaign is ongoing full-blast—the event’s promotional noise focused on giving away free tickets, since there are big sponsors and the venue is so large that promoters could afford to hand out freebies.

But the choice of the gig’s front act was decided solely online, promoters said. A survey was posted on the Net, asking fans who they would like to open Cyrus’ MOA concert.

The two names on top of the list: Sam Concepcion and Elmo Magalona. To add excitement to the event, there will be a “showdown” onstage where Concepcion and Magalona will demonstrate their respective talents. Cyrus will decide who deserves her special attention.

It’s all a gimmick, of course, to please the crowd, admitted Gabby Katigbak, an officer of concert promoter Futuretainment Inc.

The truth is, both Concepcion and Magalona were so thrilled to be chosen as front acts, their self-consciousness surfaced during a recent press con for the concert held at SumoSam TriNoma, the restaurant owned by Futuretainment boss Marvin Agustin.

The teenage singers momentarily lost their bearing when the Inquirer picked their brain by asking a serious question: What issue, local or international, do they feel strongly about?

“That’s a hard one,” Concepcion quipped. He smiled as he mentally searched for an answer.

There’s gotta be one, we pressed. “Oh yes… poverty,” he said. “I’m involved with [poverty relief organization] World Vision as its ambassador for children. I believe education is the key to solve poverty.”

Concepcion, 18, added he’s currently enrolled in a home-school program so he can balance his desire to keep learning outside show biz while fulfilling the demands of his budding career.

Magalona was likewise thrown off by the question. He asked us: “Can you give examples?” He never got to say his piece, even as we enumerated several issues. “Oh,” he finally said. “My mom and sister are active in the battle against cervical cancer.” He went on to explain that he supported that, too.

Magalona, 17, added that he stopped going to school last year after deciding he wanted to pursue a music career—just like his dad, FrancisM.

First for Avon

Over 1.7 million votes were cast on the Net to choose 100 contenders who will advance to the second round of “Avon Voices”—the beauty product company’s first-ever global online singing talent search.

The 100 contestants from 41 countries were chosen from a combination of an online public vote and a judging panel.

Seven out of the 100 are Filipinas: Cherry Lyn Mariposque, Elena Marie Culalic, Frozelyn M., Joy Loria, Kristela Musica Cristobal, Leanna May Bacolod and Trina Marie Ledesma.

The public can view their performances and vote for their favorites at www.AvonVoices.com starting June 20.

There will be 10 global finalists who will join the “Avon Voices” celebrity judges to record an anthem written by Diane Warren that will debut live at the Avon Foundation for Women Annual Gala in New York City.

The roster of judges include Fergie of The Black Eyed Peas, singers-songwriters Natasha Bedingfield and Warren, musician Sheila E and Lea Salonga.

Why Andrew Lloyd Webber is pop

“Andrew Lloyd Webber’s music sticks in your brain,” said James Cundall, whose Lunchbox Theatrical Productions is bringing in an Australian cast to perform “The Music of Andrew Lloyd Webber,” starting June 24 at the Cultural Center of the Philippines. The show runs till July 3.

Cundall’s comment was in reply to the Inquirer’s question during a recent press con on why he thinks Webber’s compositions are not really high art, even as he compared the British artist’s talent with that of classical composers. “He changes the genre and does the whole gamut. You leave the theater humming the songs. In a sense, Webber’s music is Top 40 pop,” said Cundall.