Saosin turns Manila into a Time Capsule for a Post-hardcore Landmark

Post-hardcore and emo staples Saosin returned to Manila on May 7 for a show at the SM North EDSA Skydome that brought together longtime fans of the band’s early material and newer listeners alike.

Presented by PULP Live World, the concert marked the 20th anniversary of Saosin’s self-titled 2006 album. The band performed the record front to back and focused on letting the songs carry the night without relying too heavily on nostalgia.

“It’s Far Better to Learn” opened the set and established the tone early. “Voices” and “You’re Not Alone” drew strong crowd reactions while “Collapse” and “Some Sense of Security” kept the pace steady throughout the show.

Cove Reber, Beau Burchell, Chris Sorenson, Alex Rodriguez, and Phil Sgrosso each brought a focused presence onstage as fans sang along and filled the venue with crowd vocals. One of the biggest responses came during “Seven Years” as attendees shouted nearly every line back to the band.

Despite revisiting a two-decade-old release, Saosin played the material with the same sense of purpose that made the album stand out in the mid-2000s emo and post-hardcore scene. In Manila, the songs still felt current rather than distant.

During the concert, guitarist Beau Burchell spoke about the band’s meet-and-greet session with Filipino fans earlier that day. He shared that someone had given him a book filled with personal stories about how Saosin’s music connected with listeners over the years.

“Today we had a Meet and Greet and we got to meet some of you guys and somebody gave me a book. They have a lot of your stories in it. I saw myself crying when I read it, the way our music has touched your lives. I want you guys to know that you touched our lives the same way,” Beau told the audience.

He also thanked fans for continuing to support the band through the years.

“There are times when we felt like giving up but you guys get us through it. We owe everything to you guys,” he added.

Following the show, Saosin shared a message for Manila fans through Instagram: “MANILA, no better place to celebrate the last show of a tour. We promise to be back soon.”