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MANILA — Time was when a decade in the music business was considered stellar achievement for any artist. Twenty years became even more impressive. Reaching three decades is truly an admirable feat.

When former Side A vocalist Joey Generoso marked his 30th year in the music business with the well-received and successful concert, “Joey G Beyond: Three Decades of Music,” at the Theater at Solaire last Friday, the event was indeed a cause for celebration. 

Generoso sauntered onstage and opened the show with a medley of “I Feel for You,” “Do I Do,” “Closer To Your Love” and “Boogie Down” – not an immediate show-stopper, but enough to get the concert going.

A team of dancers then joined him onstage for another medley of “Get Ready,” “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough,” “Superstition,” “I Want You Back.” This medley was more upbeat and could have been the opening and Generoso was undoubtedly on the upswing.

However, it was the Earth, Wind and Fire classics that captured the audience, who embraced his repertoire that night. When he crooned “After the Love Has Gone,” Generoso’s falsetto was soaring and the crowd sang with him.

It was the same falsetto audiences heard when Side A was doing its regular gigs in places like Conway’s Bar or Strumm’s. If you frequented those places, you’ll remember Side A’s original members – including drummer Ernie Severino, bassist Joey Benin, lead guitarist Kelly Badon and keyboardist Naldy Gonzales.

Generoso rendered favorite songs from the '80s – “Human,” “Sara,” “St. Elmo's Fire (Man in Motion)” – “noong bumibyahe pa ako,” he uttered in one of his many cryptic spiels.

No wonder, when his only guest that night, Sharon Cuneta, joined him onstage, she chastised him, albeit kindly. “Nagulat ako, papasok na pala ako. Ang iksi kasi ng spiels mo,” Cuneta laughed.

Generoso was understandably, probably jittery that night as mounting that stage by his lonesome is a major feat not every artist can easily accomplish.

Generoso gave his own spin to timeless OPM tunes – Ogie Alcasid’s “Nandito Ako,” Ariel Rivera’s “Sana Kahit Minsan,” Basil Valdez’s “Tuwing Umuulan at Kapiling Ka.” By the time Generoso sang “Kahit Maputi Na ang Buhok Ko,” the original artist who recorded the song — Cuneta — joined him onstage.

The crowd was clearly Side A’s generation of music lovers. There were hardly any teenagers seen in the audience. Giant LED screens provided every needed backdrop, from photos to apt colorful images, that there wasn’t any need for elaborate stage designs.

Backing up Generoso was a six-member band, including guitarist Gino Aguas, son of session musician Cesar Aguas – “My criminal guitarist,” Cuneta teased. Bobby Velasco was the musical director.

Perhaps one of the much-awaited parts that night was Generoso’s rendition of Side A’s greatest hits. “Nasa palengke ako noon, narinig ko ‘yung ‘Hold On’ kinakanta ng tricycle driver,” he proudly recalled.

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More Side A hits followed – “Set You Free,” “Tell Me,” and “Forevermore.” When Generoso sang “Tuloy Pa Rin,” the audience was on their feet and the play of colorful lights onstage was simply awesome.

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Flashed on the LED screens were Side A’s boyish images, their many record awards, and the countless celebrities who shared the stage and graced Side A’s performances in the past.

There were couple Ralph Recto and Vilma Santos, Christopher de Leon, Pops Fernandez, Gary Valenciano, Richard Gomez, Ella Mae Saison, Rowell Santiago, Willie Revillame, Ivy Violan, Jon Santos, Aiko Melendez, Jomari Yllana, the Opera Band and even the late comedian Dolphy.

Before doing Aerosmith's “I Don’t Wanna Miss a Thing,” Generoso acknowledged the people who helped him in his career, particularly his erstwhile managers, Lito Fugoso and the late Wyngard Tracy.

He wrapped up the concert with well-loved hits of Joe Pizullo – “Take This Love,” “Rainbow’s End” and “Let’s Give a Little More This Time.”

Through his own songs and the familiar music he has performed through the year, Generoso is firmly entrenched in his nook in the music industry that he can continue performing for another 30 years.

ai vision