Photo Coverage: MiG Ayesa's Solo Rock Concert in Queens
By: Oliver Oliveros Dec. 17, 2012
New York, December 17, 2012 - The night started off with original compositions ("High," "Summer Feeling," and "Nothing You Do," among others) and a few show tunes from two smash Broadway shows ("Burn the Floor," "Rock of Ages"): MiG Ayesa, "Rock Star: INXS" finalist-turned-bona fide Broadway rock star, dishing out hard rock, soulful vocals while playing the keyboard; Jon Skibic, "Rock of Ages" guitarist, strumming his electric guitar while listening closely to Ayesa - both perfectly played in sync.
However, during halftime at Ayesa's concert at Perlas bar and restaurant in Woodside, Queens Saturday night, the crowd went wilder. Filipino-American rock band Kayumanggi joined Ayesa on stage, which unarguably raised the roof and drove the audience to stand up and dance to popular pop rock songs such as "Hey, Soul Sister," "Crazy Little Thing Called Love," and "Last Christmas."
As an additional treat for the audience, some came from as far as Hamilton in Canada and Berkeley in Ohio, Ayesa, who was born in the Philippines and raised in Australia, delivered a well-received premiere of his cover version of Filipino rock anthem "Salamat" (Thank you) by The Dawn, the Philippines' most popular rock band in the '80s.
Fresh off his stints at the Manila premiere of "Rock of Ages," where he reprised his Broadway role as Stacee Jaxx, and in the West End's "Thriller Live," a tribute concert to the late King of Pop, Michael Jackson, Ayesa is now warming up for his next major gig: Queen and Ben Elton's jukebox musical "We Will Rock You" 10th Anniversary World Arena Tour, which kicks off in Turku, Finland in February 2013.
Performances at arenas in the United Kingdom, Denmark, Holland, Luxembourg, Czech Republic, Turkey, Bulgaria, Ireland, Japan, South Africa, New Zealand, and Australia, are being laid out for "We Will Rock You" world tour, where Ayesa will reprise his role as Galileo Figaro, alongside Kevin Kennedy as Pop and Brenda Edwards as Killer Queen.
Ayesa made his Broadway debut in the dance musical "Burn the Floor" two years ago; he graced the Broadway stage anew when he played the infamous role of Stacee Jaxx in "Rock of Ages" return engagement on Broadway last year.
Photos by Rex Romero
MiG Ayesa, Jon Skibic
Photo by Rex Romero
Jon Skibic
Jon Skibic
MiG Ayesa, Jon Skibic
MiG Ayesa, Jon Skibic
MiG Ayesa, Jon Skibic
MiG Ayesa, Jon Skibic
MiG Ayesa, Jon Skibic
MiG Ayesa, Jon Skibic
Jon Skibic, MiG Ayesa pose for BroadwayWorld (photo by Rex Romero)
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