Anyone familiar with Hawaii in the early 1990s might recall the pint-sized Elvis impersonator, Bruno Hernandez. Before he was even in grade school, he was a local celebrity in Waikiki, a status that landed him a cameo in the film “Honeymoon in Vegas.” Decades later, that same showmanship was on full display at the Philippine Arena, where Bruno Mars performed an effortless, hit-filled set. The show, which took place about 30 km north of Manila, felt like a homecoming for the star, who is part Filipino, and a long way from his father’s doo-wop variety show in Honolulu.

A Masterclass in Showmanship and Connection

Mars’s performance is far more than just vocals and dance moves; it’s a full-scale revue. Supported by his band, a three-piece horn section, and the equally smooth backup singers and dancers known as “The Hooligans,” Mars commands the stage. He showcases his musical range by wailing on the guitar and performing solo at the piano. His Vegas-residency-style show is polished, but he personalizes it for each stop. In Manila, this meant peppering the entire evening with Tagalog phrases, to the massive crowd’s delight. During “Calling All My Lovelies,” he picked up a prop ’90s-style brick phone, declaring, “I’m in the Philippines… I still feel the same way about you,” followed by a heartfelt, “Miss na kita, mahal!” (“I miss you, my love!”).

A Raucous, Sober “Greatest Hits” Affair

With no new solo album since 2016’s “24K Magic,” the concert functioned as a high-energy greatest hits show. The setlist was packed with megahits, opening with “24K Magic” and “Finesse,” and closing with an encore of “Uptown Funk.” The one nod to his Silk Sonic project was a stripped-down version of “Leave the Door Open.” The 55,000-seat arena—the world’s largest indoor arena—was completely sold out. Notably, no alcohol is served at concerts in the Philippines. This meant the deafening screams from the audience were entirely genuine, a testament to the raw energy Mars inspires.

Meanwhile, a German Icon Plans an Intimate Acoustic Tour

As Mars wraps up his high-energy pop spectacle in Asia, German pop giant Herbert Grönemeyer is planning a decidedly different, yet equally ambitious, arena experience in Europe for 2026. His “mittendrin – akustisch” (in the middle – acoustic) tour is set to stop at Munich’s Olympiahalle on February 14, 2026. The show aims to create a uniquely intimate atmosphere, with Grönemeyer and his musicians performing on a specially designed center stage to be closer to the audience.

Reimagining Rock Hits with Orchestra and Choir

Despite the “Unplugged” billing, Grönemeyer will be joined by his full band, a choir, and an entire orchestra. Organizers have confirmed that the concert will feature new acoustic arrangements of his powerful rock classics, including “Alkohol,” “Vollmond,” and “Bochum.” This new concert series follows a successful run of five sold-out preview shows in Dortmund and two in Berlin, which were seen by 90,000 fans.

A 30-Year Unplugged Anniversary

The 2026 eight-city tour, which kicks off in Hannover, accompanies the release of his new Unplugged album, “Von allem anders” (Different from everything). The timing is no coincidence: it marks exactly thirty years since Grönemeyer released his first legendary Unplugged album as part of the iconic MTV series. The new tour reaffirms that his songs have lost none of their power, even in a more intimate, acoustic format.