Celebrating love in all its stages, the country’s premier band Side A takes every romantic on a rollercoaster of emotions in the Live & Love: A Valentine Concert on 10 February, 8 p.m. at the Newport Performing Arts Theater.
The beloved band will perform sweet serenades of their signature hits as an early Valentine’s gift for fans.
“Celebrating Valentine’s Day is never complete without a romantic date with Side A,” said current member and drummer Ernie Severino. He also wants fans to relive moments when “every song you hear transcends your being and makes you feel so alive.”
Present member and lead vocalist Yubs Esperat also shares what makes this Valentine’s concert special. “We get to feature songs we’ve since written and recorded as the newer members of Side A. We’ll be doing a fresh take on “Still In Love,” which I wrote and Ned’s (bass player) 2023 Awit Award-winning composition, “Clueless.” These are not yet hit songs but it’s a privilege to perform for an audience who has long enjoyed the group’s music.”
Side A and their supporters share an almost four-decade relationship that goes all the way back to their beginnings at the Hyatt Hotel’s Calesa Bar. A huge part of this journey is Rodel Gonzales, original band member and lead vocalist, who expressed his heartfelt gratitude to fans.
“Thank you for your loyalty through the years, growing with us through our music. You are the reason why we are still making music to this day and will continue to bring enjoyment and happiness to all of you,” he said.
The original band roster, known as Side A Then, was composed of brothers Rodel and Naldy Gonzalez (lead vocals, and keyboards and vocals respectively), Mar Dizon (drums), Pido Lalimarmo (guitars and vocals), Joey Benin (bass) and Kelly Badon (lead guitars).
Alongside founding member Naldy Gonzales, the current band members, called SIde A Now are Ned Esguerra (bass guitar), Yubs Esperat (lead vocals) and Lee Von Cailao (lead guitar).
The band has continued to captivate the hearts and souls of listeners, past and present, across their pop, rock and R&B genres with original lyrics that tug at the heartstrings. No matter their status in love, fans and listeners can relate to their chart-topping ballads such as “Forevermore,” “Hold on,” “Eva Marie,” “So Many Questions” and “Di Pa Huli.