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The Playback Punk Rock and Emo Music Festival featured a compelling lineup of bands behind the anthems of the 2000s. The Click Five, Secondhand Serenade, and Boys Like Girls returned to the Philippine stage with back-to-back shows in May at the MOA Arena and he Waterfront Cebu City Hotel and Casino.
Ahead of the performances, the bands convened with fans and the media at a live press conference held at the TriNoma Activity Center. The Click Five — the band behind hits "Just The Girl," "Jenny," and "Empty" — with members Kyle Patrick, Ethan Mentzer, and Joe Guese shared their delight at reuniting after over a decade. Guese humorously admitted that his "midlife crisis" was the reason behind the reunion.
The band also observed an increase in their Spotify streams and stated that the invitation to perform at the Playback Festival helped solidify their long-awaited comeback.
American pop-rock band The Click Five CONTRIBUTED PHOTO/JUDE NG
The Click Five also mentioned that nostalgia had creatively inspired them to produce new material. They even previewed an unreleased track titled "Summertime."
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The second act to take the stage was John Vesely, best known as Secondhand Serenade, behind classic tracks such as "Fall For You," "Your Call," and "Vulnerable."
After warmly greeting the audience, he reflected on his journey as an artist, "Music is about emotion, so I wrote songs for myself at the time. To see how it affects other people's lives is profound."
Offering advice to aspiring musicians, he acknowledged his early challenges in finding his artistic voice. Over time, he recalled how he learned to compose songs he enjoyed, claiming that self-belief and authenticity naturally draw listeners in.
Vesely announced that a new album is in production, assuring fans he'll continue pursuing his craft.
Finally, the audience responded enthusiastically as Boys Like Girls — known for "The Great Escape," "Two Is Better Than One," and "Thunder" — appeared at the conference.
Members Martin Johnson, John Keefe, Jamel Hawke, and Gregory James band highlighted one of their latest tracks, "Lost in Wonderland," as the song that represents the connection they've built with their fans.
They said their latest album is the musical project they're most proud of.
As the press conference concluded, each band sincerely thanked their longtime supporters, performed anthemic hits and previewed upcoming releases.
