Alternative rock band December Avenue made an emotional homecoming on April 22, taking the stage at Teatrino Promenade in Greenhills for a night that steered away from the usual greatest hits set. This time, the band leaned into the deeper corners of their discography, what frontman Zel Bautista called their “deep cuts,” with an intimacy that reminded fans why they fell in love with the group in the first place.
“This place holds a lot of memories for us,” the band shared with the crowd. “It felt right to come back here to share something new.” The venue, after all, was the site of one of their earliest milestone concerts back in 2016, when they shared the bill with Clara Benin and a special performance from Gab Alipe and John Dinopol of Urbandub. Now, almost a decade later, they returned not just to perform, but to reveal a new direction.
Midway through the set, Bautista hinted at a surprise, which later came in the form of a live performance of lesser-known tracks like “Saksi Ang Langit.” The song, co-written by drummer Jet Danao, took on new meaning for Bautista as he reflected on fatherhood, saying that his interpretation of the song shifted after the birth of his daughter. The moment was one of the evening’s most personal.
The band eventually delivered the crowd favorites, closing the set with the cinematic “Huling Sandali.” But the biggest news came when they dropped a fresh announcement: a new single titled “Ahon” is on the way.
Special guests spotted in the audience included Hale’s Champ Lui Pio, members of Over October and The Ridleys, and media personality Zeinab Harake. At the venue entrance, fans grabbed exclusive merch from the band’s recent SM Mall of Asia Arena concert series.
