Touching Hearts: Jeff Bernat at San Diego’s Music Box
Photo Cr: Ethan Buriel
Continuing strong with his North America Tour, Filipino singer-songwriter Jeff Bernat was met with a large audience at the Music Box in San Diego. As the fog gathered up on the stage, many fans crowded by the barricade in anticipation for a memorable show.
Hailing from Massachusetts, the talented and multi-instrumentalist Braxton Cook began the show with a soulful performance. Grabbing his saxophone, the audience was lulled into a sense of wonder as the notes blended together beautifully. Following the soothing sounds from his saxophone, Cook’s calm voice hooked the audience. His set featured tunes like “Don’t Wanna See You,” “The Same,” and “Statistics.” Cook even took a moment to describe that his song, “90s,” was a means of bringing back the age of the “Black renaissance.” As he wrapped up his set, people were left inspired by his appreciation for music.
Photo Cr: Ethan Buriel
Following Braxton Cook’s performance, the stage became dimmer. As Jeff Bernat walked up toward the crowd, the audience exploded into a huge roar. The beats from the drums were enough to rile up the venue. The moment Bernat sang into the microphone, everyone immediately recognized his upbeat song, “Chamomile.” It wasn’t long until he was met with a sea of voices singing along to his relaxing melody.
Bernat soon transitioned into some older songs from his album, The Gentleman Approach. He took a moment to reminisce, sharing how this album played a huge role into becoming the esteemed musician he is today. Bernat went on to explain that this piece was a result of the strong will and faith that rushed through him, after he dropped out of college. Bernat’s uplifting story was sure to motivate everyone in the audience.
Photo Cr: Ethan Buriel
The vibe of the venue was incredibly calming. As the slower nature of R&B music entranced the audience, people were swaying side-to-side and bobbing their heads to the sound of the beat. Moreover, Jeff’s impactful words led some tears to be shed. Most notably, Bernat mentioned that “Wrong About Forever” detailed his emotions during his previous heartbreak. These heart-wrenching (yet relatable) lyrics were the catalyst to the powerful voices that came from the audience. The concert was, without a doubt, a very moving experience for the audience.
After briefly introducing himself, his soothing melodies continued to echo throughout the venue. Transitioning from the previous song, Bernat continued to recount his experiences of being an artist. He recalled that he went abroad to collaborate with Korean artists which led to the birth of his songs “Angel 2 Me” with McKay and “What 2 Do” with DEAN & Crush.
Photo Cr: Ethan Buriel
After much wholesome conversations with the crowd, Bernat declared that he would play his final song of the night: “Call You Mine.” Although this marked the end of a spectacular concert, fans were extremely excited to hear him play his most popular song. As you would expect from a song that amassed 71 million plays on Spotify, the entire crowd sang their hearts out. With an endless applause, Bernat bowed and left the stage.
However, the crowd was relentless. Fans chanted, “One more song! One more song!” All of a sudden, Bernat came from behind the curtains and thanked everyone for such an energetic show. He even said that San Diego had the best energy of his tour thus far. After playing songs from the She Loves Me Not album, the audience’s thirst for music was satisfied. Although he eventually turned in for the night, he definitely left his soul and spirit within the hearts of his fans.
Photo Cr: Ethan Buriel