Music review: Finding the fountain of youth at Close Up Forever Summer

In an earlier post about another well-hyped music festival, I pointed out how there's such a thing as "concert stamina", and how it's key to surviving long concerts. The latest edition of Close Up's music festival demanded just that. In fact, after being part of dozens of shows, Forever Summer (CUFS) was by far one of the most energetic events I've ever been part of.

The event took pride in being a "crowd-sourced" concert, meaning that the lineup of artists mainly depended on whom fans wanted to see. Social media was used as a medium to voice out desires, and the program the organizers came up with was good enough to generate a lot of interest. So much interest that it led to this fairly bizarre situation where tickets were actually sold out.

Close Up Forever Summer was not just a musical experience. It was also a test of geography, patience, and physical strength. The organizers decided to hold the event at Circuit Makati, where the old Sta. Ana race track was located. Yes, it was Makati, but it was back-end Makati. Traffic was horrible. Parking was scarce, and finding the right entrance required following a beeline of swanky vehicles in front of you. Granted, Circuit looks like it still needs a lot of work, but getting in and feeling the vibe the slopes of green grass created made it all too forgivable.

The CUFS crowd was different. It was young. Very young. There were a lot of college and high school kids. In the VIP section, there were also several "yayas", because the event had no age limit, and young kids with chaperones got to go. Hanging out with the young crowd can be two things for a late 20s kid like me: it could either be exhausting or annoying. Truth be told, it ended up being entertaining, as the "kids" rode each other for energy that sustained through the whole night.

Alesso was clearly who they were waiting for, but what the event actually did was showcase the kind of local talent Filipinos can enjoy. EDM is not dead and it's defibrillated back to mainstream by the likes of DJs Ace Ramos and Mars Miranda. The two ushered in the thick of the night, keeping the energy high while playing club favorites. It felt like a night in Republiq, but with an open sky. Kids were jumping around and it was fun.

Australian DJ Helena soon came on, showcasing her brand. She was a quality act that set up Alesso set just right. By the middle of her set, the crowd started to double in time for the main event. Pandemonium struck when Alesso came on, and all the exhaustion seemed to dissipate in time for his performance.

The event wasn't all roses, though. Logistics could have been improved. The two wings in the VIP section were separated by metal barriers. The left side facing the stage filled up more because it was just by the entrance. And just before the Alesso set, the party was paused to instruct people to go to the other side. Some did, including those from the farther sections. It demanded a lot of agility, as people who purchased more affordable tickets jumped through gates and destroyed barriers just to come closer. There were baby stampedes, too. It was dangerous, especially since there were young people in the crowd.



But perhaps the biggest concern in the concert was the water situation. Some concerts actually offer free water thanks to a popular water distributor. This one didn't. Dozens of people formed lines to buy small Dixie cups filled with water for P20. It was scary, because there were a lot of dehydrated people—not just because of all the tiring dancing and jumping going on, but because some were on... things.

But in the end, more than a celebration, CUFS was a statement. It showed the power of a market that didn't even file their tax returns. It showed the power of allowances and weekend permissions. It showed the power of barkadas and their ability to lasso dozens of friends into purchasing tickets you wouldn't necessarily consider affordable.

With the success of this event, Close Up is bound to follow it up next year with an even bigger spectacle. Swedish House Mafia, perhaps? Calvin Harris? Or even the ultra favorite Zedd? Whatever happens, so long as more quality DJs come in, the event is bound to be another success. EDM is here. And by the looks of things, it looks like it's here to stay. — BM, GMA News