The Vamps raring to serenade ‘amazing’ PH fans in 10th anniversary concert

The Vamps

The Filipino fans have been an important and consistent part of The Vamps’ musical journey. In fact, the Philippines is one of the first countries where their songs hit No. 1. So it’s only fitting that the British pop group included Manila in the Asia leg of their “Greatest Hits” tour.

“Every time we go back to Manila, it’s so crazy! The fans are so amazing every time we go there. Everyone shows up in the thousands. It’s so incredible and, sometimes, overwhelming. But we love it. That’s one of the reasons we come back—the support of the fans,” drummer Tristan Evans told the Inquirer in a recent Zoom interview.

Also composed of frontman Brad Simpson, guitarist James McVey and bassist Connor Ball, The Vamps was formed in 2012 with the help of Facebook and YouTube. The band amassed a big following, thanks to its early song covers and subsequent original singles. They have since released five studio albums, which spawned such hits as “Can We Dance,” “Last Night,” “All Night” and “Somebody to You.”

“We remember going to the SM Mall of Asia Arena for our first album (in 2015). It’s special for us because it was the first time to be somewhere different. And it was interesting for us for many reasons—the food, the culture, the sun, the people, the vibes,” Tristan said.

The Vamps’ upcoming Manila stop—mounted by Live Nation Philippines—will be held on Feb. 17 at the SM Mall of Asia Arena. It will be the band’s fifth show in the country. Tickets are available at SM Tickets.

“We can’t wait to come back. It has been five, six years since our last show there. We were aiming to come back sooner, then the COVID-19 pandemic happened, so we couldn’t. But now is the perfect opportunity to bring our 10th anniversary concert to Manila,” Tristan said.

“We have released a lot more music since our last time there, so there are songs Filipino fans have yet to hear live. That’s really exciting for us,” Connor added. “Hopefully, we have gotten better as a live band, as musicians and better people, hopefully.

Excerpts from the interview:

How would you describe your first 10 years as a band?

Tristan Evans: It has been so much fun. We’re extremely grateful for the opportunity we have had—the chance to travel the world, to play music, to influence and get influenced by people. It’s almost overwhelming. It’s cool that we’re super good friends and still want to do what we do. There are bands whose members hate each other. The fact that we stayed tight as a unit is a highlight.

Connor Ball: It has been an amazing 10 years. When we were kids, we were like, “There’s no way this is going to be our lives.” We’re grateful, and the fact that we still get to do tours is insane. Growing up, being a musician is what we have always wanted to do, so we’re just grateful.

Releasing our first album is a highlight. We were so young and had no idea what was going on. The fact that it set us up for the next 10 years is amazing.

What are the things that keep you together?

TE: We love each other as brothers, as a family. We know our place within the band, unlike others who battle about who should be lead or such. We know our lanes; our positives and negatives. That must have helped.

But realistically, I don’t know. Being in each other’s pockets every day for 10 years, you would think we would end up hating each other. But we have only gotten stronger now. We’re tighter than we were years ago. Respect is one of the main things and helping each other out.

What are you looking forward to about the concert?

CB: We have just finished our UK tour, so that’s a rehearsal of sorts for the world tour. We’re so excited to travel again and play shows in the Philippines. Getting to experience all those things again is so exciting for us. I’m more adventurous with food now than I was during my last visit in the Philippines, so I want to try some food out there.

Did it ever occur to you that the band would last this long?

TE: We have always had the energy in us. We have always wanted to do this. Coming out of school, we didn’t know it would become a career. So when it did, I was like, “Let’s go!”

To be honest, it doesn’t feel like a crazy milestone. But 10 years, of course, is a massive checkpoint. You always hope for the best, you don’t really think that you would still be here, doing interviews and doing shows.

The Vamps

CB: You don’t want to take it for granted, but you do want to go with the flow a little bit because our lives are so busy. We’re always traveling and touring, so you kind of forget. During the pandemic, we were forced to stay at home and reflect. That was the moment that made me go like, “It has been such an amazing time.”

So, the next time we go on the road, we will just enjoy every second of it. Because you never know when it will end.

How does it feel to grow up with the fans?

TE: Yes, you notice that some fans have been there for a while, supporting us. And now, they’ve got jobs or are in college. That’s kind of baffling. It’s like, “Woah, they’re adults now, how old does that make us? (laughs)

You guys started out on YouTube. These days, it’s all about TikTok. What are your thoughts on it?

TE: It’s an amazing thing for so many new artists. They’re now able to reach so many more people. Back then, it was YouTube, which is a different thing. But it’s great because so many cool people are coming through. We’re getting on it, but we have to up our game! But it’s great for emerging artists.

You have put out numerous hits over the years. How do you narrow down the setlist for the upcoming concert?

TE: It’s a greatest hits show, so we have to play what the people want. And sometimes, that’s different from what the band wants to play. It’s important to pick what the fans are listening to. The setlist for Manila may be different from the UK show, because we have to check out what people there are actually listening to.

It can be frustrating for fans to spend money, only for the band not to play their favorite songs. We want to play all our heavy-hitters and guarantee a setlist that they enjoy.

Have you started work on your sixth album?

TE: We haven’t started yet. For now, we’re focused on the tour. The sixth album will come, but we don’t know when yet. We will just go with the flow. But we have been writing, getting inspiration and ideas that might make the album. Right now, we will just work hard and give the right time it deserves. INQ

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