Why PREP In Manila Was More Than Just A Chill, Musical Experience
Maddie Castillo
PREP wowed Manila for the fifth time for Karpos Live’s first show in 2024! And it seems like the UK-based synth-pop band has a penchant for the south: they’ve performed a couple of times at 19East in Paranaque and during Wanderland 2019, famously held in Alabang. This time, Karpos Live brought them to The Filinvest Tent.
This decision could not have been better. The venue was big enough to house the four-piece act’s fans but still intimate enough to keep the vibe we have come to associate with their music. In fact, the entire event felt like fan service. While some were dolled up in that cool, I’m-from-the-south fashion, many obviously came straight from work, in button-down shirts and ballet flats. Their work bags were probably in the baggage area the organizers so thoughtfully prepared for them (another great idea). Attendees had their pick of poison–coffee for that extra jolt of energy or beer to wind down for the night. The merch, of great quality, was also much coveted.
Then PREP came onstage, exuding the same relaxed aura the audience already had at that point. They played crowd favorites, they played new releases. They even played an unreleased song. But whatever they performed, one thing remained true: they played very, very well. They sounded so good, from the amazing vocals to the sick saxophone solos. I could close my eyes and find myself transported back to my bedroom, listening to the band’s record, dancing freely to ‘15th Floor.’ And it appears that this experience isn’t limited to me if the collective swaying and grooving around me was any indication.
The set drew on, and it dawned on me that this concert was more special than I first thought. Our every day is filled with so much discord and chaos, both on a personal and a global level, that a night like that was something a lot of us might have needed. It wasn’t simply a chance to dissociate from our reality for a time. Instead, it was an opportunity to resonate with lyrics that are actually quite sad though encapsulated in easygoing tunes. PREP, at the very core of their music, has afforded us gentler conversations with ourselves about some of our more unpleasant feelings. Their performance let us savor those moments, reminding us that we all need some time, we need some space. We can give our heads a chance to clear with some air that’s cold and clean. For the next few hours we had with them, we could take it line by line.
Maddie Castillo
Despite this realization, it was undeniable that the back-and-forth of nothing but good vibes permeated the air, waves of feel-good energy continuously emanating song after song. And the crowd wasn’t the only ones having fun. It was evident in the music artists’ expressions when the stage lights hit their faces, hear it in every note they hit, feel it in their every movement. And this is why PREP may arguably be one of the best acts I’ve seen live.
An encore of two songs turned into a collective jam later, the concert came to an end. The house lights came on, and I could see that the fulfilled look on my face mirrored on everyone else’s. Getting out of the venue wasn’t easy as everyone saw friends they didn’t expect to see that night. Hugs were exchanged, photos were taken, and short catch-up sessions ensued–a fitting ending to a pretty awesome experience.
Nothing indeed says chill more than PREP on a Tuesday night. But it was definitely something more than that.
Originally published on When In Manila on 16 May 2024
