Manilla, May 15, 1998

by Jessica Hidway

AMERICA IN WORLD TRADE CENTER

Manila got another taste of AMERICA last May 15 when Northwest brought them over together with Mike Love of the Beach Boys and the California Beach Band for a one night, by invitation only show at the World Trade Center. The show is part of a promo tour that the Airline Company is doing for its new direct flights to Las Vegas. AMERICA has just finished doing Tokyo and Hong Kong before coming to Manila.

The show was at 7 p.m. but prior to that, a press briefing was held at the Westin Philippine Plaza where the guys stayed. The small function room for the briefing was already full when I arrived, but Gerry and Dewey appeared to have been delayed. A few minutes later, though, they came in looking a bit apologetic. Most of the questions were directed to Northwest as expected but when it came time for the photo session, Dewey and Gerry got the most attention. It appeared that there were a lot of fans present (I was there after all..), and the rest of the time left before the show was spent by both Dewey and Gerry signing autographs and posing with the eager crowd. Needless to say, I got my fair share of those. It was just a shame that I left my VGG CD cover. Darn! The photo session continued for about twenty or so minutes more and Gerry remarked at one point that posing with the two Las Vegas show girls in their full glorious costume was the kind which they enjoyed. I think the photos attest to that. Then it was time to head for the World Trade Center!

I was at there before 6 p.m. and said hello to Rooster. I also wanted to check out the place and get the best spot for the show. But then it was not necessary because the venue was one huge exhibit-type area and there were no seats to keep me from parking myself right in front of the stage. The theme was the beach scene and so there were beach balls and umbrellas all around, hotdog and San Miguel Beer stalls There were even T-shirts and Frisbees to take home. The only things missing were the bikini-clad girls and suntanned hunks one sees by the beach side. And the sun, of course. But who needs those when AMERICA is playing? Not me. I was happy to get my spot in front, right on the floor with a friend, when the guys came on stage and greeted the crowd with the opening of Riverside.

The play list was a shorter version of the last one (at Shangri-La's Zu last May 21-24, 1997), but the guys appeared and sounded better (if that's possible!). I didn't think there could be any more improvement in my last concert but I was wrong. I kept on reading from the other fans how their second or third or tenth actually proved more enjoyable but I hadn't actually believed. "Nothing beats the first" was my motto. Well, I know what they mean now. Ventura Highway and Tin Man and Magic and Daisy Jane were so much more fun than my last. I also liked the new intro to Sandman a lot. For a moment I thought it was a new song from Human Nature, but alas! It was good old Sandman. No complaints there however. Noteworthy of mention is Never Be Lonely which is really, really something exceptional done live by the guys. Most popular with the audience was Sister Golden Hair, but that was before Gerry came out for the encore with All My Life. The girls outdid the boys by screaming. And finally, it was time to sing for all of us as the guys gave all they got for Horse. That "dip" was just perfect and the crowd said so with a loud cheer. It made saying goodbye for the night so much harder for us all. But it had to end. Or Mike Love and the California Beach Band wouldn't have known Manila's applause.

I'm not a Beach Boys fan, but I do like Surfin' USA and Cocomo (?) a lot. I also enjoyed listening to their other hits which were played that night but I don't know the titles. One song I do know very well was California Dreaming. It was as beautiful as always, though I prefer AMERICA's version.

And so, it ended. Only one time, one short night which I almost didn't get to see. I'm so grateful that fate let me find a way to be there because I had a grand time. Just great! The best birthday present. To Gerry, Dewey, Woodz, Brad and Willie thanks, guys!