P-pop Kings SB19 Dazzle in Their Debut Performance in The Big Apple, WYAT Tour 2022
SB19 NYC Concert_Crowd2
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There is a classic song by the Drifters that says the neon lights shine bright on Broadway, and no light was shining brighter than SB19 as the 5-member Filipino supergroup took the stage this past Saturday at the Palladium Times Square on Broadway.
The highly anticipated concert was a historic moment for the band as it was their first concert performance in the United States. New York City was slated as the first stop in the U.S. leg of SB19’s first international tour which kicked off in September in the Philippines and has passed through Dubai with additional shows scheduled for Los Angeles, San Francisco and Singapore.
No strangers to groundbreaking moments, SB19 has distinguished themselves since their emergence on the scene in 2018. They are the first Filipino act to be nominated for the Billboard Music Awards (BBMAs) and their smash hit “Bazinga” placed on the Hot Trending Songs chart for seven weeks, also a first for a Filipino act.
So imagine the immense clamor and hype surrounding this tour and performance within the ranks of SB19’s unwavering and dedicated fanbase around the world, endearingly referred to as A’TIN. This was certainly a special moment for fans outside of the Philippines who have never had the opportunity to see SB19 perform up close and live.
Mahalima
Pablo, Ken, Stell, Josh and Justin lived up to the top billing tenfold as they delivered an incredibly energy-filled and extremely engaging show to the delight of a jam packed crowd of A’TIN which filled the Palladium Times Square with their adulation; marked by high pitched screams, clapping, singing…of course dancing and good vibes resonating all through the venue.
Now, full disclosure, I had a cheat sheet as I had attended the sound check earlier with a select group of fans. The vibrant way the guys ran through the three practice songs, voices beaming and the charming manner how they interacted with the crowd, I had a feeling it definitely was going to be a night to remember.
As a journalist covering concerts, I love to stand outside pre-concert and get a vibe of the concert goers. There was a noticeable buzz surrounding the venue as anxious fans gathered outside awaiting to enter, some with signs, customized SB19 gear or simply smiles plastered on their faces.
The line would soon swell to extend around the corner of 1515 Broadway, of course spurring on the gaze of curious passerby’s on a busy night as usual in New York City’s Times Square.
Once inside, the buzz was even more amplified with people taking in the atmosphere or scurrying to take selfies before someone stepped in front of them. It was an awesome sight as the merchandise table was also a focal point of fan activity scooping up the free giveaway items as well as purchasing other SB19 swag for sale.
Get in the zone, break!
The spectacular collection of talent assembled as the opening acts of the concert had the makings of its own show by itself as the crowd was fully immersed in the respective acts, including separate sets by dancer Bernard Johnson and vocalists, Jasmine & Ella, Kell Gatdula (who sang impeccable covers of Boyz II Men and Air Supply hits) and Razmin Diaz who got the house jumping with a track fittingly titled “Welcome to New York”.
But hey, once the house lights dimmed and the cinematic trailer featuring Pablo’s monologue appeared on the jumbo screen, the crowd really whipped into a frenzy. As the darkness broke, SB19 sprung out onto the stage to perform an electrifying rendition of their rousing anthem, “What?”. The energy meter was on overload as they bellowed out the chorus, “Di na bala para iangat ang bandera….”
From there, SB19 would go on to perform a roughly 90-minute set of songs which included a well thought out mixture of uptempo dance tunes, ballads and covers. They performed a medley of such tracks including “MANA”, “Hanggang Sa Huli”, “Tilaluha”, “Mapa”, “Go Up”, “SLMT” and of course ‘Bazinga” and their latest release “WYAT (Where You At)” to name a few. They also performed a snazzy cover of Charlie Puth’s smash, “Attention”.
I was floored by the captivating showmanship that the group exhibited throughout the evening. I had seen plenty of amazing clips of their live performances on YouTube, but it’s a completely different experience when you’re capturing it right in front of you and the charged up crowd responded as such.
Pablo exclaimed after they closed out “MANA”, “You guys are amazing!”
I was also blown away with the group’s stamina and vocal prowess as their voices remained steady, on pitch and in tune with their singing and rap parts, even while performing the faster paced tracks like Bazinga, WYAT and What? which are dance intensive songs, heavy on choreography.
This tends to leave many acts winded and struggling with their vocals, or resorting to removing portions of the lyrics, however SB19 maintained the flow as solid as if you were listening to it on Spotify. What an experience to watch and listen to!
They performed their signature synchronized choreography of highly coordinated movements and intricate footwork with zeal, matching right up perfectly with the routines in the music videos. I felt the goosebumps as they went into the dance routine they did for the interlude in the “What?” video.
“Where you at? There’s no groove within this music. No sign of your heartbeat in it, I’m alone, yeah!” rang out crisply as they bounced around the stage performing “WYAT (Where You At)”.
SB19 is indeed the complete package. They have the songs, the dancing, the image, and performance skills but most importantly, they are bona fide vocalists. True artists…. and that distinguishes them from many acts.
They really showcased their vocal ability on the ballads, delivering heartfelt, expressive performances that naturally conjure up emotions as you see an entire crowd waving side to side and singing along in unison; bolstered by the free blue fingertip lights that were distributed and glare from cellphones piercing through the dimmed lights.
Music to your ears as SB19 harmoniously sang “Mapa”, “Lataratara lataratara, lataratara….” Kudos to the sound engineers as well as the acoustics were pristine.
More Than the Music
Out of the many enjoyable aspects of the evening, I felt that the banter in between songs was such a tremendous addition to the show. The group displayed humor, charisma and an admirable candor when speaking to the audience. It allowed the fans to get a glimpse into each members’ personality….and also to view them beyond the performer and idol persona.
You see five young men who are living out their dream and are very appreciative of where they’ve reached and where they will ascend to. Each break in the music was tremendously introspective as the quintet would go into the background of the songs, touch on their rigorous journey through training, doubters and their own personal struggles to arrive at his moment…and what I also found so exemplary, was they took every waking opportunity to thank their adoring A’TIN for their support and encouragement.
What a connection they genuinely feel with their fandom and you can definitely sense that the heartfelt connection is mutual. Accompanied by the engaging interludes were a series of insightful vlogs presented in between wardrobe changes.
They provided a visual aspect to the reflections that SB19 recounted on their journey as it takes you through the various stages from their early beginnings, even a clip of them performing to a sparse crowd at a mall….and here they are now in the midst of an international tour. Phenomenal!
SB19 is Built for the Long Haul
This event also had a feel of something like a homecoming, like a relative or friend that you’ve cultivated a close relationship long distance and you finally get to meet in person.
As Stell graciously stated in an interlude, “It’s a long time coming and finally we’re here!”. He also referred to the group’s excitement of “meeting their international A’TIN for the first time”.
Before they headed off the stage, the guys revealed that they will be back in New York next year so I will definitely keep abreast of that, looking forward to attending. A’TIN, your guys left a huge impact on New York and displayed their tremendous talent at a top notch level. We can’t wait to see them again here. A note to the other cities on this tour…..you’re in for a lit evening!
P.S. If it hasn’t been proposed already, I’m saying it here, that these guys need a variety show created around them ASAP. The camaraderie that they share and dedication to their craft is wonderful to see.
The music excursion of SB19 is set down a pathway to international stardom not only in their musical and performing talents but their humility, belief in one another and sincere appreciation for their fanbase. These characteristics will make SB19 a household name across the globe.
Scroll below for more SB19 content, including some music videos, member profiles and fun facts about the group. Enjoy!
Mahalima Paliga!
SB19 at Times Square Palladium New York was presented by Lx2 Entertainment, a premium U.S. based entertainment company with corporate headquarters in New York, a representative office in Florida and an expanded presence in the Philippines.
You can hear SB19’s music played in heavy rotation daily on WPVR NY Platinum Vibes Radio, the #1 source and platform in the United States for P-pop.
Why Are They Called SB19?
The name SB19 represents a partnership between the Philippines and South Korea. The “SB” comes from their management’s company name, ShowBT, while “19” is actually the total of each digit of the Philippines and South Korea’s country codes, 63 and 82 (6+3+8+2 = 19).
According to the members, “SB” also stands for “sound break,” which represents their aspirations of breaking into the Philippine and international music scene.
SB19 Member Profiles
Pablo
- Real name: John Paulo Nase
- Birthday: September 14, 1994
- Age: 28
- Position: Leader, vocal rapper, lead vocal
Stell
- Real name: Stellvester Ajero
- Birthday: June 16, 1995
- Age: 27
- Position: Lead vocalist and dancer
Ken
- Real name: Felip John Suson
- Birthday: January 12, 1997
- Age: 25
- Position: Vocalist, dancer
Josh
- Real name: Josh Cullen Santos
- Birthday: October 21, 1993
- Age: 29
- Position: Lead rapper, dancer
Justin
- Real name: Justin de Dios
- Birthday: July 7, 1998
- Age: 24
- Position: Visuals, Vocal
Listen to SB19 Music on Spotify
Watch the “WYAT” (Where You AT) Official Music Video on YouTube
SB19 ‘WYAT (Where You At)’ Official Music Video
WYAT (Where You At) Official Music Video Artist: SB19 Produced by Black Star Entertainment & 1Z MUSIC VIDEO Creative Director: Justin de Dios (SB19) Co-Creative Director: Irmay Ledesma Executive Producer: J Pinto Line Producer: DK Artist Management: Leah Gonzales, Rhanica Restrivera PR and Marketing: Rhanica Restrivera, Nicole Naval Creative Head:
Watch SB19 Perform on “Good Morning New York”
Connect with SB19
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SB19Official
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/SB19Official
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/officialsb19/
- TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@officialsb19
Kevin James has over 20 years of experience in the entertainment industry in various facets. He has worked as a recording artist, songwriter, producer, on-air radio personality, background actor and film director. Kevin is a Member of the National Writer's Union.
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Well written. Couldn’t agree more.
Amazing article…exactly lovely! The right way you did it!❤️🙏🏼
Thank you so much for this beautifully written article about the boys.
Beautifully written Sir and thank you! Mahalima is breathtaking live, going beyond what their MVs and online concerts offer. They do have a variety show of sorts, going back from their first year. There’s a playlist on their official YouTube channel called ShowBreak and it’s just ended it’s 4th Season. It’s a fascinating, fun look at their daily lives and challenges as well as behind the scenes on their performances. I hope you’ll check it out!
Absolutely well written article. Thank you for appreciating SB19.
Thankyou for this beautiful Article I really appreciate the Concert Review hope you can cover them again next year if ever they had a concert again
Awesome article. Well researched and well written. Thank you for taking the time to discover Sb19. It’s more than just their awesome talent in singing and dancing, it’s their charisma that really reels you in. I for one am not a big fan of boybands… And I never really thought of stanning them and buying every online and concert tickets… But SB19 really hits different…
Wow! Thank you for this beautifully written review. I enjoyed reading it so much that I thought I went to the concert. As their goal is to reconnect A’TIN with SB19 or A’TIN with A’TIN, I know they achieved it while reading this.
Btw, Ken is Felip Jhon Suson. He is the main dancer. While, Stell is the Main Vocal.
Again, thank you so much for this! 💛
Wow! Such a good article for our Mahalima and of course, A’TIN. Not just talking about the previously concluded NY Concert but also talks about SB19 in general. It was nice to know you’ve been in the concert and enjoyed it. SB19 surely is the best in live performances but mostly you will love them aside from that. The camaraderie they have with each other really shows and reflects as well with the way they interact with their fans. Many media people, artists and casuals are saying that they really do have high appreciation of their fans but I just can’t still stop from being amaze everytime a hear it, read from an article, like this one, I’ve also witnessed it a couple of times but it’s still makes my heart felt giddy and proud. They’re successful now but they’re still the SB19 that I love when they’re still unknown to many people. Hope many people could see it and support them because they deserve it. And thank you as well for appreciating our fandom. SB19 really has that power over A’TIN that we acquired their personalities as well. Their music thought as a lot, and inspires us. This is highly appreciated!!! Thank you so much and may God Bless you!
Thanks for the great review.
Thank you! It is well written article. I just burst in tears, how I’m proud if this group. Their hardwork are commendable. I will not stop loving and support them.
Wow this is beautifully written with so much love and respect. Thank you, am overjoyed you had an amazing time!
Well-written piece, thank you! It just shows that you really connected with them. Btw, Ken is the main dancer and also a lead vocal.
Thank You so much!tHe appreciation is Love.
Thank you for an astounding review and personal insight.love how you break it down.
This review is written with such heart and a respectful appreciation for the hard work, dedication, and talent of a group of Filipino artists who are gradually getting the recognition they deserve. Everybody in the fandom knows that nothing compares to seeing SB19 perform live, so we are glad when people like you discover them. It’s true that their love for their fans is evident not only in their songs but also (and more so) every time they step on stage to perform. The banter between the boys and the audience during the concert and the feeling of kinship among A’tin within and without the concert experience were manifestations of a relationship that is so intimate that we actually call our fandom a famdom. Thank you for this blog. I have bookmarked it for future reference and for posterity.
Thank you so much. We appreciate the love and support that you have given for our Mahalima.
God Bless You.