'17 Nights To Remember (Part 3)

01/21/2018 07:25:38 PM

Regardless of how fiery it has been on all cylinders, it's undeniable that the year 2017 has been a wonderful year. Right in the midst of the mid-2010s band explosion, we have seen it brought a lot of good shits in our Philippine world of music (and we mean quality here, by the way). 

Yours truly have made it to a number of gigs curated by various production outfits (in fact, more than I attended for the past two years). These also include some of the biggest concerts and music festivals that has solely focused on out homegrown talents. That said, here are 17 nights that really left a mark in '17... well, at least for me.

13. Senses (6 September 2017; Pablo's Restaurant and Pub, Taguig City; World Extravaganza)

A random night in September at Pablo's where I caught myself amused to Out Of Order, Athalie, and even One Click Straight. It was a night of alternative, and I mean alternative to the typical alternatives. Save for the OCS, some of these youngsters are underrated and underhyped but can deliver big-time when the bigwigs give them the breaks they badly needed. 

See? There's more (acts to follow) to present-wave of swabe music.

14. Radio Republic Night (5 August 2017; Spin Cafe, Paranaque City; Radio Republic)

Then-newly reopened SPIN Cafe had a series of loud bang-styled inaugurations. And why not? They got a bigger venue, with a better sound, and their marketing man (who happens to be Mr. John Joe Joseph) really did a great job of putting the cafe back on the map; making it an alternate venue to the likes of 19 East, Checkpoint bar, and Quarry bar for the Southsiders.

And the first Saturday of August 2017 came, and it was all about the acts with members associated to Radio Republic, once-known for being the music portal made for the Internet-driven Filipinos in the 2010s. Stereodeal, Imago, and Kjwan had everyone inside the venue having a good time of their lives, and sent them home happy with a 2 Trick Pony jam during Kjwan's set with  Dax Balmeo (Stereodeal) and Myrene Academia (Imago and Sandwich). Now that's a Saturday night!

15. Never Me (February 2017; Route 196, Quezon City; Move Forward Productions)

Another helluva good post-Valentines affair was set at Route 196, and it turned out to be a comeback gig for Argee Guerrero, known as I Belong to The Zoo and the frontman of a then-nine year old band Tonight We Sleep. It was a blockbuster Thursday night with MilesExperience kicking off the show and Argee and the rest of the crew ending it with a loud battlecry. 

16. Brisom BALEWALA music video launch (9 August 2017; 12 Monkeys Music Hall and Pub, Pasig City; Brisom/Twice to Beat)

First off BRISOM's new sets of explosions was the music video and single called Balewala, one of the tracks that has transcended this year to stratosphere. With a New Wave-sounding track, a defiant concept and execution for the visuals, plus a good mix of new and always-popular acts gracing beforehand, Final Round Promotions must be proud of what they accomplished during that random evening in August.

17. March of the Penguins 39: Stereodeal NEW JERSEY music video launch (June 2017; Route 196, Quezon City; March of the Penguins)

Stereodeal's latest music video was released. Adrian Arcega's documentary was also shown before the gig itself, and it turned out to be another feel-good Wednesday night for Doc Randy Maghari and his March of The Penguins production outfit last June 2017.

It was another night of discovery for me as I tuned into the sets of Covert and Adrian's own crew – then with Dax Balmeo and the iconic Francis Reyes at helm, plus their departing drummer. That being said, I think I have taken another step further in conquering another circle.

Author: slickmaster | © 2017 september twenty-eight productions