Saosin’s 20th anniversary tour is monumental for longtime Filipino fans who grew up in the MySpace era as they finally got to see the American rock band on stage — 13 years after Saosin’s first Manila visit in January 2010. Manila was the first stop of the band’s Asia tour this year, and they had two sold-out shows at the SM North EDSA Skydome last Nov. 3 and 4.

During the first show, Thai metalcore band Defying Decay opened the night with a loud bang and played one of their big hits, “Judas Kiss.”

Cove Reber returned to Manila as Saosin’s lead vocalist during their Asia tour, while Phil Sgrosso, who is also from metalcore band As I Lay Dying, played the lead guitar.

As the band opened with “Its Far Better to Learn,” a lot fans were jumping, clapping, and screaming at the top of their lungs. It felt surreal. Cove kept hyping the fans up, and he asked the crowd if it’s their first time seeing the band perform and which songs they would like to hear.

Saosin performed a lot of songs from their debut EP, Translating The Name, and their self-titled album released in 2006. Their set included “Sleepers,” “Lost Symphonies,” “Bury Your Head,” “Come Close,” and “Collapse.”

It felt nostalgic when they performed “I Can Tell There Was an Accident Here Earlier,” which brought every emo kid and fans who were also at Saosin’s first show in Manila back to memory lane. Another highlight of the set was when Cove did a stage dive during the band’s performance of “Seven Years.” Finale songs “Voices” and “You’re Not Alone” wrapped an adrenaline-filled show.

Saosin’s Manila show was a full house, and the Skydome was jam-packed with hardcore fans. Some were already in queue hours before the show, eager to rock and experience an electrifying show that only Saosin could deliver.

SAOSINinMNL2023 is presented by Pulp Live World.
Words by Danica Haresco
Photos by Seth Valenzuela

Saosin Live in Manila 2023 Setlist
It’s Far Better to Learn
Sleepers
Lost Symphonies
Bury Your Head
I Can Tell There Was an Accident Here Earlier
Come Close
Zero (The Smashing Pumpkins cover)
Translating the Name
Collapse
Seven Years
Voice
You’re Not Alone