By Carissa Alcantara
Award-winning musician and OPM rock Icon returns to the concert scene at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Cubao, Quezon City on Sept. 11.
Dubbed "Rico Blanco", this is Rico's first major concert in two years. The show will be produced by KDR Music House and Wish. A former frontman of Rivermaya, Rico brought the hit songs "Umaaraw, Umuulan", "Your Universe", "Yugto" and many more.
During a press conference held in Quezon City recently, Rico said that he's looking forward to giving his fans a new and fresh look during his upcoming performance.
"It's been a while since I've performed there, and I think for all of us It's been a while na makanood tayo ulit ng concert sa ganitong venue, so I want to thank our friends from Wish and KDR Music House for making this possible, unti-unting tayong bumabalik sa concerts ulit," he said.
For his special guests in the concert, the "Yugto" singer said: "I would have a lot of help from friends, so I think the final lineup will be revealed by our friends in KDR Music House, but I know that for my portion at least of the concert, would be my friend Zild and Ebe Dancel will be part of the show."
Rico, 49, said that his partner actress Maris Racal will be not joining the concert stage since she has a lock-in taping in Baguio for her ongoing series.
"At the moment kasi she has prior commitment on the said schedule, at the moment she won't be able to join, but she's been telling me that she wants to watch, pero we don't know how it will work," he shared.
Rico said he is also focused on helping other artists from his record label company called Balcony Entertainment. These artists are: Zild, Ebe Dancel, Never The Strangers, The Good Times, SUZARA, Maris Racal, and Raven.
He openly shared how inspired he is to be working with new faces in music. "Sobrang inspiring sa akin, to work with artists kasi minsan madalas nagsasawa na ako sa sarili kong taste, and I have to look for inspiration kung saan-saan. But working with these artists, they are already bringing something to the table, and I just have to react to it."
Rico also gave a glimpse of how he builds the creative process with the other artists. "I'll listen to what they sent me, even if they're rough demos, and I try to give it the ultimate fans' benefit of the doubt, kaya yung sinesend nila sa akin kahit gaano ka rough, iniisip ko agad na this is gonna be a hit."