Five albums, one night: Jonas Brothers take Pinoy fans on a journey through their catalog at Manila concert
"Manila, it’s been way too long,” Joe said at the Jonas Brothers show at the Mall of Asia Arena on Thursday, Feb. 22. “We’re so excited for tonight. We’re just getting started.”
The pop band last visited the Philippines in 2012 for a concert at the exact same venue in Pasay City. But unlike their previous production where they performed a mix of hits and song covers, this time, they opted to do away with the latter to take concertgoers on a journey through their massive catalog that started way back in 2006 with their debut album It’s About Time.
Though there was a pause in the growth of their discography in 2013 following their disbandment for their solo careers, they have been able to make it stronger since their 2019 reunion.
In an interview with PEOPLE Magazine, Nick referred to their ongoing tour as the “most ambitious” one they have ever done, “in the sense that building out five albums in one night was a challenge that I don’t think we fully understood after we’d already put it on sale.”
“[But] it’s amazing to just go back and look at the road that brought us to this moment now,” he added.
JoBros through the years
At their recently concluded Manila show, the JoBros made their passion for music shine as they delivered on their “five albums, one night” promise with The Tour. They didn't look tired at all even though they just arrived at the Philippine capital the night before, and prior to the hotly anticipated affair, they were seen strolling through Makati, squeezing a workout into their packed day, and even enjoying a jeepney ride near their concert venue.
The group kicked off the night with What A Man Gotta Do, S.O.S., and Hold On—and then slowed things down a bit with some underrated tracks.
“We’re taking it way back,” Joe told the cheering audience before treating the crowd to performances of their timeless hits Year 3000 and When You Look Me In The Eyes. "To our incredible fans here in the Philippines, thank you for making this song one of our most popular in your country," Nick said, referring to the latter.
The brothers recalled being in films for a while before taking Filipinos on a delightful journey to the days they spent bingewatching Camp Rock as high schoolers. Nick sang Introducing Me, while Joe performed Gotta Find You. They teamed up again to sing Play My Music, which is also a single from the beloved Disney Channel Original Movie.
The act went on to perform medleys featuring songs from their past albums: A Little Bit Longer (2008), which included Lovebug and Burnin’ Up, as well as Lines, Vines, and Trying Times that was released the following year.
Nick and Joe also took the time to serenade Pinoys with songs from their individual projects. The former got them singing along to his hit single Jealous, while the latter hyped them up with his performance of Cake by the Ocean by his former band DNCE.
At some point, Joe charmed the front rows by taking a photo from the stage using a fan's camera as well as signing a placard of his face.
Resembling the flow of their career, the Jonas Brothers performed a medley of their 2019 album Happiness Begins, which they dropped after being together again as a group.
The Jonas Brothers got the audience singing their hearts out to their recent hits, Sucker and Leave Before You Love Me, before they said goodbye and took their final bow.
According to the JoBros, Manila was their first stop for the year and they wouldn't have it any other way. They greeted longtime fans and new ones, too. Seeing them draw cheers from young generations and older ones alike, it's evident how they have continued to thrive through the years. The brothers may have matured and changed in more ways than one—from wearing purity rings to singing about sex, among other things—but so have their fans as the group welcomed more of them along the way. Indeed, there's no better time than now for a celebration of their years-long journey as a band.