The show that London-based 80s pop jazz band Workshy brought in during their Manila tour achieved a level of serenity that was unlike any other: Band frontwoman Chrysta Jones accidentally toppling down a water bottle on stage was the only ever “scene” during night. But it was a kind of serenity that was welcomed highly by the audience.
Workshy, best known for the songs “In This Neighborhood” and “Fascination”, as well as covers of “It’s Too Late” and “I Say A Little Prayer”, showed the audience what it meant to transcend through decades of appreciation from fans and new listeners during their Manila concert last August 10 at the Newport Theater in Resorts World Manila.
Kakie, daughter of Philippine celebrity Sharon Cuneta, opened the show with her set of covers by Amy Winehouse and 5 Seconds of Summer, as well as her own original song. Cheered by the Megastar herself from the crowd, Kakie displayed spontaneity and adorable quirkiness through her rather quick performance.
Soon after, Workshy finally opened their set with “If I Ever Lose This Heaven”, followed immediately by “Fascination”, a song from their second album, Ocean, and “Bewitched” from their first album, The Golden Mile.
Workshy continued to sing a selection of materials from different albums, such as the real chill song “Neighbourhood” and the upbeat “Got It Clear” as well as other covers such as “All Is Fair In Love”, originally by Stevie Wonder , “I Saw The Light”, originally by Todd Rundgren, and “It’s Too Late”, a Carole King original.
“No set is complete without a Burt Bacharach cover,” said Chrysta sometime in the middle of the concert, as they went to perform one of the songs that’s highly associated with the band, “I Say A Little Prayer”. Chrysta Jones explained that the band tried to customize the set for its Filipino fans as there was so much they could sing for them, hence the seemingly packed setlist for the night.
After introducing her band mates for the evening, including a pinch hitter for the sax part played by a Filipino musician, Chrysta ended the group’s show, but after much request from fans, returned for an encore performance of “Love Is The Place To Be”–a motto the band seems to live by heart–before finally bidding everyone farewell.
Here’s hoping Workshy knows that their Filipino fans expect to relive this wonderful sense serenity with the their laid-back tunes again sometime soon. It is expected–their songs have a place in the Pinoy’s ear for music. InqPOP!/INQUIRER.net/VT
