LIVING up to the title of “Concert King,” Martin Nievera enamored a crowd of over a thousand each night in his concerts held on Feb. 5 and 6 at the Grand Convention Center of Cebu. Titled Up Close and Personal with the Concert King, it also featured performances by Martin’s son, Robin Nievera, and X-Factor 2012 grand champion KZ Tandingan.
Martin performed tracks from his latest album Big Mouth, Big Band as well as his other famous hits, coupled with his signature showmanship. In a press interview held prior to the show, he said, “It is my duty, my role to perform for an audience fit for a king.”
As it was incidentally his 53rd birthday last Thursday and also his first birthday concert in Cebu, Martin shared that his new album is actually a fulfillment of a dream he had as a teenager, which is to be part of a “big band.”
Reminiscent of the songs he grew up with, the album includes his renditions of hits by the likes of Earth, Wind and Fire, Chicago, Doobie Brothers, Queen and The Eagles.
“I wanted the experience,” he said, “I wanted to act as if I was part of a band, which in my 33-year career, never did.”
The album, arranged by musical director Marvin Querido, was done with a 12-member band including cello and horn players, among others, and was released last November.
His recent concert featured an accompanying live band as well.
Also hailed for his hosting talent, Martin revealed that the moniker “Big Mouth” was actually coined by the late journalist Bob Castillo in the 80s when Martin, then a fresh face in showbiz, already had a way with words. The name stuck, and that’s actually what he calls his office, what’s stamped on a plate for one of his cars—and this year, the headlines for his shows.
“If I could have a birthday wish, it would be to have a talk show back,” the singer, who used to host Martin Late @ Nite, said. “But it’s different now, and social network sites make the attention span of viewers really short.”
His son, Robin, seems to have gotten the talent for it too, aside from singing. In the same interview, he said he is doing a show on YouTube called Tell Your Friends, in which he features up-and-coming musicians.