Young acts heat up music scene

Constantino is only 22. That makes her a neophyte, compared to the likes Raimund Marasigan, Gloc-9 and other rock star figures whom she had long been eager to perform with. Friday night at Aliw Theater in Pasay City, Yeng showed a full-house crowd that she could shake, rattle and roll with these guys.

She had worked with Raimund in the studio, since the former Eraserheads drummer produced her 2009 album, “Lapit”—which, she said, brought back her groove after the unimpressive content of her 2008 record, “Journey.”

Throughout the gig at Aliw, Yeng sang and moved with the spunk of a rocker chick having loads of fun with the boys.

“Babae po ako,” she quipped in a spiel as she looked back on the hurdles of the past few years. The biggest challenge for Yeng on the outset was living up to expectations after the initial flush of success with “Hawak Kamay” and “Salamat,” following her turn as grand winner of “Pinoy Dream Academy’s” debut season.

Performing live was a good way to prove her worth. Aliw was not the Big Dome, but the action onstage was so hot, it could heat up even an arena setting.

Opening with Queen’s “We Will Rock You,” Yeng growled like a pint-sized Joan Jett. “Sige na people, let’s get on down,” she coaxed the crowd in The Advisors’ “Yugyugan Na” while the band that included Karel Honasan on bass and wife Yosha on backup vocals kept the funk up.

The excitement rose when Tutti Caringal joined Yeng in 6cyclemind’s “Kung Wala Na Nga.” The cheers got wilder when Gloc-9 swaggered in; Yeng tackled the chorus part in the

rapper’s latest hit, “Walang Natira.”

All hell broke loose when Raimund appeared and the unmistakable riffs to “Sugod” came on. “Rakenrol hanggang umaga!” he screamed in unison with Yeng.

Gloc-9 got a solo spot for his first masterpiece, “Upuan”; it soon became obvious that his presence provided the show’s best moments. But Yeng was a force to reckon with in Bonnie Tyler’s “Total Eclipse of the Heart,” Bon Jovi’s “I’ll Be There For You” and Aerosmith’s “I Don’t Want To Miss a Thing”—power ballads where her vocal smarts shone.

Yeng’s ability to match the strength and appeal of new foreign pop hits such as “Price Tag” was demonstrated with another guest, 11-year-old Fil-Canadian YouTube discovery Maria Aragon. It was Aragon’s first time to perform before a large local audience; the sight of her singing and playing keyboards with elan was quite arresting.

Sam Milby and Gary Valenciano on the guest list served as kilig factor, though Gary’s solo spot after a duet with Yeng in “Di Bale Na Lang” seemed out of place.

Yeng’s next gigs should feature her with more original material—and a minimal support cast.