Amid Crazy Weather, Faye Webster Dazzles Manila With Dreamy Tunes
Alternative music darling Faye Webster put on a show to remember as loyal fans of her dreamy jazz-fusion / soft rock music braved a stormy evening on July 21, Monday to watch her live in concert for the first time.
The 28-year-old indie music artist’s show was rather short at about an hour and some change but was still jam-packed with her melancholic tunes that you can dissociate to.
“A Dream With a Baseball Player” was a crowd favorite as fans sang in unison the track’s hook: “How could I fall in love with someone? I don’t know,” which was accompanied by tasteful saxophone playing by Annie Leeth from Webster’s touring band.
Webster’s longtime guitarist and steel pedal player Matt "Pistol" Stoessel also brought the signature slide guitar melodies present in most of the alternative artist’s tracks.
Many parts of Metro Manila experience heavy rains and flooding over the past few days and many wondered if Webster’s Manila debut would push through, but organizer Karpos Live was determined to keep it on.
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Faye Webster Manila Show Promotional Material
THe show was held at the Filinvest Tent in Muntinlupa City, which has become a regular show venue for past concerts such as those featuring Kodaline, Corinne Baily Rae, and fellow indie act The Japanese House.
The show kicked off to a boisterous start when Webster crooned the words, “I want to sleep in your arms, but not kiss,” in her song “But Not Kiss” from her latest record Underdressed At The Symphony. These lines were followed by the thunderous drop of thumping drum fills, a hypnotic piano lead, and a heavy bass line from Webster’s exceptional band.
This came after an animated Faye made to look like a minion from the Despicable Me movies welcomed the crowd to the gig.
Another song in the setlist that caused a crowd eruption was her 2019 hit “Right Side of My Neck” from her Atlanta Millionaires Club record, which received high critical acclaim at the time of its release.
Webster also showed off her alternative country influences and masterful storytelling when she played “Jonny,” another crowd favorite and overall tearjerker. One couldn't help but emote as Faye performed a vocal soliloquy on discerning if she took the best path in dealing with past lovers, and eventually mustering up the strength to say goodbye to the metaphorical “Jonny” in the song’s reprise.
Faye Webster And Her Band Live At The Filinvest Tent
“Thinking About You,” was a sweet and straightforward bass-driven love song with the unforgettable chorus effect coated guitar licks that make it hard to keep still to.
We also loved and lost ourselves in the piano and strings ballad “Lifetime,” from the 2024 record Underdressed At The Symphony evoking a profound sense of attachment and longing for a partner.
Webster wrapped up the brief but spellbinding show with probably her biggest hit and crowd favorite “Kingston,” from her 2019 LP Atlanta Millionaires Club, with her band showing out with tight improvisations that matched Webster’s dreamy performance.
The torrential rain that Monday night did little to spoil the Atlanta native’s first solo show in Manila, which was nothing short of captivating and emotionally gripping.
