Concert Recap: SB19 Take A’TIN Through a Wave of Emotions in LA
On July 13, five-member Filipino boy band SB19 – composed of members Pablo, Josh, Stell, Ken, and Justin – performed at the Grove of Anaheim concert hall for the Los Angeles leg of their “Simula at Wakas” North American tour.
The enthusiasm for the boys to take the stage was felt before the show even began. Right outside the venue, SB19’s dedicated fans, a.k.a. A’TIN, handed out freebies and fan projects, and had photo ops with the members’ cut-out displays. Once inside the venue, awaiting A’TIN geared up their eagerness by joining together in crowd karaoke, singing along to songs such as “Liham,” “Gento,” and “Quit.” As it was nearing showtime, a huge hourglass appeared on the screen. In the last minute of it running out of sand, the lights dimmed, and fans erupted in cheers, indicating that the highly anticipated show was about to begin.
Standout Performances
SB19’s versatility in songs, from high-energy to sultry to emotional, had the crowd experiencing all spectrum of emotions in just under 2 hours.
High Energy: Right out the gate, SB19 set the tone for how show-stopping they would be. Cloaked dancers appeared with a book in hand, moving across the stage as if summoning something with the chant-like instrumentals of “DAM.” And summon something they did. SB19 emerged to perform “What?,” “Mana,” and a revamped version of their viral single “Gento.” Their confidence, vocals, and dance skills showed just how much star power they have.
Sultry R&B: If the previous three songs weren’t already impressive, the following performances of “Moonlight” and “I Want You” demonstrated the boys’ range in genre. With lyrics like “Doing what we do in the moonlight, I be loving you, baby, all night” and “I want you, I wanna fall on my knees, beg for your body on me, girl I want you,” SB19 not only showed their sultry side, but highlighted how well harmonized the members’ vocals are in R&B-infused songs. Transitioning to a cover of “golden hour,” the members’ harmonies, coupled with the robust piano keys, carried a calming and euphoric essence throughout the venue.
Energy Through the Roof: SB19 revived the high energy of the crowd with “WYAT (Where You At),” a retro-inspired track. But what really got the audience up and jumping in their seats was “Dungka!,” “Bazinga,” “8TonBall,” and “Crimzone.” Between SB19’s power-packed choreography and vocals in combination with smoke guns, a shirtless Josh hyping up the crowd, and A’TIN with their lightsticks and hands in the air, the venue turned into a dance party.
In tribute to: SB19 returned to the stage dressed in black shimmer suits to perform “Nyebe.” This melancholic but comforting song set the mood for the emotionally charged songs that would follow. Before moving on to the next song, Pablo asked A’TIN to join him in praying for those who lost their lives in the Texas flashfoods. “Time,” a soul-baring ballad that evokes both pain and the process of healing, was dedicated to those affected by the disaster. The members’ emotional crescendos and vulnerable stage presence continued with “ILaw,” “Quit,” and “Mapa,” a ballad of gratitude to their parents.
Joy and Encore: To end on a joyous note, the boys performed “Shooting For The Stars,” “Freedom,” and “SLMT.” This posed time for more interaction with A’TIN as they held up star-shaped fan-made banners, flung merch into the crowd, and collected gifts from fans in the front rows. But wait, there was more! Just when you thought the show was over after the running credits on the screen, the members rejoin the stage with an extended encore of “DAM.” Closing out the show with the same amount of explosive energy and soaring vocals they had since the start.
Verdict
In the end, SB19 didn’t just perform; they uplifted, shared joy, and connected with fans.
And when the members said at the beginning of the show that they hope to perform at bigger venues for the next tour, we couldn’t agree more! Their electrifying stage presence and vocal versatility warrant a larger stage to maximize their showmanship.
Looking for more concert recaps of Filipino artists? Check out our coverage of Dionela’s NYC show here!
