No ordinary summer rock madness

MANILA, Philippines - Last Saturday was pretty epic.  After showing the OPM Means Concert throughout the afternoon and into the early part of the evening, i made my way to B-Side for the concert billed as “No Ordinary Summer.”

Produced by Crossfade Productions, Salamin and Dhruva Tara opened the evening’s festivities while Franco, Queso and Urbandub, former Radio Republic guests, played long sets, sending everyone into a head spin of content, excitement, and joy.

I got there at around 10:30 and Franco was playing their last song.  Sadly, i’d missed the opening acts as well as Franco’s 10 song set, but at least i’d made it in time for Queso and Urbandub.  Actually, i would have been there earlier had there been parking.  The P500 entrance ticket didn’t seem to affect anyone, the place was crowded and needless to say, the parking stretched until Ayala Avenue!

With Salvaje handling the audio and lighting, the stage was a masterpiece, never yet been built within The Collective’s outdoor events.  Proof of how well everything was put together was audible and visible within the first couple of bars of the set of Queso.  The band played their hits and the audience bursted into excitement as choruses and melodies flew around the walls we were enclosed in.  Like Franco, Queso too played 10 songs in total and though the audience wanted more, Urbandub was next and it had become their turn to take the stage.

The crew of Urbandub waited patiently for Queso to clear the stage off their 7-string guitars and guitar and vocal effects before laying down the gadgets and pedals of Gabby, John, and Lalay.  Jordan Capote, drum tech of Janjan had his hands full setting up the kit and sorting out the monitors.  Before long, Dub was ready and onstage doing a couple of last minute adjustments before launching into their first song, the song that brought them to Manila from Cebu in the first place, Soul Searching.

From as far as backstage to the main entrance, people could be heard singing with the band and for the rest of their set, the same could be said.  Even their new track, still unreleased, entitled “Dim the Headlights” was being sung along to, and to the great delight of the full capacity crowd.

When it was all over, i headed backstage to check out the scene and it was fun watching members from the different bands hanging out and enjoying the great night of music that the night was.  It was about 2:30am and time for this old guy to head home, even though everyone was headed to Saguijo for the Brgy. Tibay event!

Thank you Crossfade Productions for putting together such an awesome event!  It’s still summer, please do that again.