Lifehouse returns to their ‘favorite country’

And that's what they did the moment Lifehouse appeared on stage, hanging on to every note of “Hanging by a Moment” and the LA-based band's other familiar hits.  These 30-somethings are old enough to induce a nostalgia trip. Composed of Jason Wade (vocalist), Rick Woolstenhulme, Jr. (Drums), Bryce Soderberg (Bass Guitar) and Ben Carey (Lead Guitar), the band broke into the big-time back in 2001 with its debut album, "No Name Face." The hit single “Hanging by a Moment” beat out Janet Jackson and Alicia Keys for Billboard's No. 1 single of the year.  They've been eclipsed since then by flashier performers, but their first visit to Manila in four years showed that local fans were still holding a torch for them.  Lifehouse gave the crowd satisfaction with the classics “Broken” (Who We Are, 2007), “First Time” (Who We Are, 2007), “Whatever it takes” (Who We Are, 2007) and “You and Me” (Lifehouse, 2005). Their fifth album “Smoke and Mirrors” (2010) was well represented with “All in,” “Falling In,” “Halfway Gone,”  “From where you are," and “Here tomorrow and gone today." After a dozen songs, the band briefly disappeared while the crowd continued to cheer and scream. Bryce Soderberg came back to say that “the Philippines is our favorite country to play for in the entire world!” Then he got an iPhone and took a video of the flattered crowd and promised to post the video on their Facebook and Twitter  accounts.Lifehouse capped the night with one of everyone's favorites, the hauntingly sweet “Everything,” which made lovers in the audience fall into an embrace. And perhaps more than a few friends ended up falling in love that night. — HS/TJD, GMA News Lifehouse was brought to the Philippines by Dayly Entertainment and That’s Ntertainment Productions. Photos by Christian Santos.