Keane live in Manila on October 2 at the SM MOA Arena

British alternative rock band Keane is coming to the Philippines for the very first time on October 2, 2012 at the SM Mall of Asia Arena. Hailing from East Sussex, England, Tom Chaplin (lead vocals/acoustic guitar), Tim Rice-Oxley (piano/synthesizers), Jesse Quin (bass/electric guitar), and Richard Hughes (drums/percussions) form the four-piece behind hits “Somewhere Only We Know,” “Everybody’s Changing,” and “Is It Any Wonder,” among others. One of the last few stops in the band’s tour of Asia this year, this one-night-only concert in Manila is presented by Trilogy Live, a part of STRO World, in cooperation with Dayly Entertainment.

 

Keane, one of the biggest British rock bands in the world, is known as the “band with no guitars” because of their use of a piano- and synthesizer-based sound. With Rice-Oxley’s delays and distortions on the keys, the band creates a unique sonic experience with their songs that cannot be compared to many bands.

 

As they achieved mainstream success with the release of their debut album, Hopes and Fears, its lead single “Somewhere Only We Know” became one of the greatest hits of that year. The album sold over nine million copies worldwide, which also won Keane a Brit Award for Best Album in 2005. In addition, the band also won the Brit Award for British Breakthrough Act, as voted by listeners of BBC Radio 1.

 

Success continued with their second studio album, Under the Iron Sea, which topped the UK album charts while it debuted at an impressive No. 4 on the US Billboard 200 chart. This album marked the transition from piano-driven songs in their first album to more progressive, sophisticated music—again, without using guitars. Perfect Symmetry, their third album released in 2008, reached No. 1 on the UK Albums Chart within a week of its release and No.7 on the US Billboard 200 chart. Here, the band explored and moved from their established piano-pop sound and made use of guitars for the first time. Both Hopes and Fears (No. 13) and Under the Iron Sea (No. 8) were voted by readers of the UK-based Q Magazine as one of the best British albums ever in 2008. 

 

In 2009, Keane became the first band to ever broadcast a live show in 3D. Filmed at Abbey Road, fans bought 3D glasses along with the band’s new single at that time, titled “Better Than This.”  Their fourth No. 1 album, the Night Train, released in 2010 could also be considered a studio album, as it contained eight new songs.  

 

The band’s latest album Strangeland, released May 2012 debuted at No. 1 on the UK Albums chart. This feat made them one of three bands in UK pop history to have five consecutive No. 1 albums. It’s the first album to feature bassist Quin as an official member.

 

In an interview with NME.com, Chaplin said, “The album has the vibe of earlier Keane. Perfect Symmetry was big, self-indulgent, while this record felt a bit more like we knew ourselves better—what our strengths were.” Rice-Oxley added, “We wanted to focus on making sure that the songs were great. You have to write a lot of shit songs to get to the good ones.” Hughes said, “In many respects, it feels like the completion of a circle. On the album, we have songs that draw upon the experiences we used to share as kids growing up in Battle. You can never really go back, of course. We’re married. Some of us have kids. Once in a while, though, after a good day, we’ll go to the local pub and talk about everything and nothing until it’s time to go home. Whatever it is that makes us Keane—that invisible glue—is still there. And you can hear it all over in Strangeland.”

 

Since their debut, Keane’s music has won over the hearts of music fans all over the world. Having already achieved music history in the past eight years, the band is once again out to make history as they perform for their Filipino fans in their first ever gig in Manila. Catch KEANE perform their greatest hits from their chart-topping albums live in Manila on October 2 at SM MOA Arena. Get your tickets at www.smtickets.com or call 470-2222 now.

 

Ticket Prices:   

VIP A (1ST 10 ROWS) Reserved Seats Php 6,340

VIP B Reserved Seats Php 4,760

PATRON Reserved Seats Php 4,760

LOWER BOX Reserved Seats Php 3,170

UPPER BOX Reserved Seats Php 1,590

GENERAL ADM Free Seating Php 740 Press release and photo from Dayly Entertainment