Keane at SM MOA’s The Arena happens Tuesday night

Members of British rock bank Keane talked about individual influences, musical tastes and “how they would like to be remembered.” Video by Totel V. de Jesus/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines—In a few minutes as of this posting, British rock band Keane will have their first most awaited concert in the country via the SM Mall of Asia’s The Arena.

Widely known for their major hits “Somewhere Only We Know” and “Everybody’s Changing,” Keane is touring the world for their third album, “Strangeland.”

Though their sound is usually compared with contemporaries like Coldplay and Snow Patrol, which “critics” loosely label as “emo music,” Keane defies any categories.

Keane is composed of Tom Chaplin on lead vocals and acoustic guitar, Tim Rice-Oxley on piano –keyboards-synthesizers, Richard Hughes on drums- percussions and Jesse Quin on bass guitar.

The guys arrived early Monday and met some members of the press in a hotel in Mandaluyong City.

For about 30 minutes, they had a lively conference with the local media, answering both the “profound” and mostly mundane questions like “who are your influences” and “how would like to be remembered”—information that are all over the Internet and posted on YouTube in their various interviews.

Someone even tried to be snooty by asking, “I am not really a fan of your music…so what are the three songs you’re going to recommend for me to become a fan?”

Just to be game about it, the guys mentioned David Bowie’s “Under Pressure,” Coldplay’s “Fix You” and “Clocks” and none of their songs.

Still the English gentleman, drummer Hughes told the “music journalist” to just watch their concert and judge for himself.

A local TV journalist asked about their knowledge on Filipino culture even though the guys were only in the country for about five hours.

Hughes said something about being fascinated with those little metallic small bus-looking vehicles, referring to the jeepneys which he probably saw on the road from the airport to the hotel.

“I’d like to take one of those back in London. I’d like to own one,” Hughes said, which delighted the small audience.

Giggly TV reporter volunteered, saying: “We have airconditioned jeepneys too.”

“Oh in London we don’t need airconditioning, obviously.”

The press con ended with a happy note.