SINGAPORE: A year after its 'Leaving Earth' world tour, Taiwanese rock band Mayday was brought 'Back to Earth' on Saturday night in the first leg of its Asian tour.

The band played to about a 10,000-strong crowd at the Singapore Indoor Stadium, belting out some 30-odd songs within a three-hour period.

Crowned 'Asia's number one band' by various medias across Asia, the five-piece was just a little shaky in the first few songs, with a controlled vocal range and without the band members' usual banter.

But all the band needed was a warm-up and eight songs into the gig, Mayday was back in full force, giving a ground-shaking show in the second half with powerful vocals, electrifying guitar and drum performances, and witty dialogues (even making a cheeky dig at Singapore's conservative nature).

Known for their uncanny ability to stir up the crowd, the band members played the audience like a charm, hyping up the fans with fast rock tracks galore, close interaction, games, and even staging a fight amongst members (they made up, of course, after fans frantically called for more L-O-V-E in the concert hall).

And ecstatic fans did not disappoint, gamely singing along with screams reaching a feverish pitch when band member and guitarist Masa celebrated his birthday on stage.

Apart from superb guitar and drum skills, band members Monster, Stone, Masa and Guan You joined vocalist Ashin in belting out several songs, proving once and for all this rock band is multi-skilled.

Churning out number after number of its evergreen hits (Monkey God, Love-ing and Gentle), the band also made time for new tracks (A Thousand Centuries and Angel), and even Hokkien songs.

After five changes of costumes, the band ended off with "Be content", a hint perhaps, to quell fans' calls for a second encore.

The concert also featured with a 360-degree stage design with a unique catwalk which encircles the concert hall and a 120-feet long extendable sky bridge.

Organisers said the set-up was a first in Singapore concerts, and it encouraged maximal interaction between performers and the audience.

The gig was Mayday's first concert this year, with Singapore as a prime location to kick off its 'Back to Earth' Asian Tour.

"We're excited to play here," said guitarist Wen Shang Yi, also known as Monster. "Our next concert may not be until 2009, so, we'll definitely give our all."

Mayday is also the ambassador for MediaCorp Channel U's 'Superband', and the band will be back in Singapore in October to perform during the season finale of the talent search programme. - CNA/yb