As If There Were Any Doubts, Manila Loves Lauv

Lauv opened his show with a statement that felt more like a promise: “Let’s have a good time. (And take care of each other).”

The words flashed just behind the artist as he casually walked onstage in darkness and bathed in smoke and thin spotlights. In front of him, the entire Mall of Asia Arena screamed their lungs out. The setup is pretty much always the same at the start of most concerts, but there was something really special about the American singer-songwriter’s latest show here in the Philippines. 

In 2017, Lauv was a 23-year-old upstart visiting Manila for the first time to headline a series of small mall shows. At the time, he had a relatively tiny following; he had a minor hit in the song “I Like Me Better,” and there weren’t too many people at the venue when I met up with him for a short interview. 

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“I grew up playing music as a kid,” he told me then. “And it got to a point that, when I was in high school, all I could do was play music. I would go to school and I would come home and I would play music and write songs and work in my studio in my house. I would play in bands and record. And so over time, I was just like, well, this is all I could do.”

Photo by PJ Cana.

Fast forward six years later and Lauv (aka Ari Leff) was back in Manila for the third time. (He performed at the Smart Araneta Coliseum as well as at the Waterfront Hotel in 2019). This time, as in the last time, a mall’s activity center wasn’t going to cut it. The Philippines is clearly Lauv country and thousands upon thousands of fans made that fact known when the man himself materialized onstage at a few minutes past 9 p.m.

The now 29-year-old is in the midst of his Between Albums Tour, and, after an equally successful show in Cebu on Saturday, he was ready to face his fans in Manila. Alone onstage, he started with “Love U Like That,” and “Paris in the Rain,” and on both songs, everyone else was his backup singers. I was curious to know how he planned to entertain an arena full of fans by himself. I was about to find out.

First, it was enough that, by this time, Lauv had amassed a pretty extensive list of hit songs that most young millennials and older Gen Z’s probably knew by heart. Everybody all joined in when he teased “I’m So Tired” (his massive hit with fellow pop hero Troye Sivan) but stopped after a few minutes with promise that he’ll “get back to it” later. He jumped around, kneeled, and even lay down on the floor on songs like “Kids are Born Stars,” “Drugs and the Internet,” and “Lonely Eyes.”

Photo by PJ Cana.

On “Mean It,” another insanely popular hit that he did with LANY, he relied on the audience to sing Paul Klein’s parts. He engaged with the fans in return—asking someone in the front row to throw him a bracelet which he exchanged for one of his own that he was wearing; targeting a specific group on either side of the stage to sing to; and chatting with the audience and telling them how much he loves coming back here every chance he could get.

“Did you guys see the video I posted earlier?” he asked, referring to his visit to a popular fastfood outlet earlier in the day, to which the answer was a vigorous yes from nearly everyone in the arena. 

About two-thirds of the way of the show, he moved to a smaller stage out in front with his acoustic guitar. There he talked openly about his mental health struggles and how medication was helping. He said he was feeling good and calm at that moment and appreciated being able to perform his music to people. And to show his love for his Filipino fans, he performed “Sad Forever,” which he said he wrote while visiting Manila during a rough time in his life.

Photo by PJ Cana.

“I don't wanna be sad forever / I don't wanna be sad no more. I don't wanna wake up and wonder / What the hell am I doing this for? I don't wanna be medicated / I don't wanna go through that war. I don't wanna be sad, I don't wanna be sad / I don't wanna be sad anymore,” he sang.

I remembered his show back in 2017 at the UP Town Center. There was a good-sized crowd, but nowhere near as big as the fans that now sang his words back to him at the MOA Arena. Even then he seemed joyous and confident, at ease onstage and giving it his all. The Lauv I was watching now was basically the same, but somehow more comfortable, more self-assured, and looked like he was having the time of his life.

Photo by PJ Cana.

Even when he finally made good on his promise to “come back” to “I’m So Tired,” it looked like he was far from it. Changing from his white t-shirt and oversized jeans to a wifebeater and a polo barong with a giant anatomically correct heart embroidered on the front, Lauv basked in the attention of an adoring crowd and looked like he could’ve done it all night. He was the picture of a modern-day rock star: painted nails, pearl earrings, and flashy necklace and watch and all.

In the end, he came back for his final song, and the one that arguably started his career in the first place. “I Like Me Better” works as a cutesy ditty but, in light of his mental health struggles, also as a personal anthem for Lauv himself in relation to everyone who listens—and loves—his music.