Inside a seemingly small and secluded space, a group of people gather to bask in the experience of witnessing a gig performance. Vivid vocals, bouncing beats, and masterful melodies envelop the room, setting the mood for regulars and newcomers alike. Attendees are treated to a rather lively yet intimate atmosphere, shared with a roster of talented artists playing onstage who thrive on the energy of performing in front of an actual crowd.
Apart from being an avenue to rejoice in a collective admiration for live Filipino music, there exists a culture within these gigs that continues to make them relevant through time. This culture not only promotes Filipino music through created memories, but also empowers artists in their journey toward success in a rigorous yet fulfilling field.
Playing it by ear
While every band can mark the exact date they decided to come together, no two members share the same journey. What propels passion is extremely personal, and setting foot on stage for the first time requires individual courage.
“Before we’re students of music, we’re artists [first],” declares Sisley Paras, one of fitterkarma’s two guitarists. Around him sit vocalist Joao De Leon, keyboardist Addy Pantig, and guitarist Calvin Borja, a group of young twentysomethings taking up Music Production at the De La Salle–College of Saint Benilde. To hone one’s craft at such an institution is a true honor, one bestowed to a few live performers in the industry. For one, it has helped them forge a network.
“Para sa akin, you have no choice kung music student ka. You really have to participate in the industry,” remarks De Leon who, aside from being a singer, is one of the founders of No Boundaries, an event-organizing group that works with many budding artists. The path of these musicians is less linear than others, one carved at volition by performing on stages both small and large, forming connections with those who share the same passion for music. “I believe you can make money out of music, if you have the connections—if you have the right network.”
(To me, it seems you have no choice if you’re a music student.)
Socializing with the powers that be may be beneficial in the long run, but as for present concerns, performers with little to no leverage may find themselves being compensated with as little as P50 or a free meal per show. As student performers, it can even seem impossible to attend to both personal and academic matters when musical pursuits demand they constantly stay on their toes. But at the end of the day, the artists find true contentment with the opportunity to improve their skill set, as Borja enthuses, “[You] go to sleep and you’re very tired but you feel accomplished. That’s [what] it feels like. You go home and you’re like, ‘Ah, andami ko pang gagawin!’ But I [also] did so much!”
(Ah, I still have so much to do!)
Life of the party
Keeping up with the highly competitive nature of the music industry is a challenge that all musicians have to face. From facing low-energy crowds to wearying all-nighters, a wide array of unavoidable obstacles may demotivate artists from stepping foot onstage and practicing their craft. Albeit, it takes one with a fiery passion for music to overcome these adversities and appreciate the gig culture on a deeper, more profound level.
Seeing people enjoy their music firsthand is a gig performer’s dream come true. Such a sight can wash away an artist’s weariness after long, grueling hours of preparation for an exceptional performance. The intimate interaction between the artist’s music and the audience is a fulfilling experience that’s unique to gigs. “It’s part of the charm that you’re gonna respond to how people respond to you. It’s never [going to be] the same set even if you’ve been playing the same songs,” Paras shares.
On the other side of the stage, the audience gets to experience music beyond its rhythm and melodies. “You get to watch the songs you’ve been listening to in a different dimension. It’s always going to be different from a streaming service, especially when you see everyone else being hyped about it,” Borja explains as he fondly reminisces the times he watched his favorite local acts perform live in gigs. People get to witness the artist’s emotions and presence up close while celebrating alongside fellow fans—an unparalleled encounter that cannot be felt through a listener’s speaker or screen.
The local gig scene is set in such a way that fosters a closer connection between a performer and their audience, giving in to a musician’s aspiration to have their listeners find meaning in their craft. “Music is more than just a medium. For me, music should connect with people more. Hindi yung papasok lang sa tenga mo tapos lalabas,” De Leon stresses. “Music should stayin you.”
(It shouldn’t only go in one ear and out the other.)
Facing the music
It may seem as though the internet steps in as a replacement for live shows, but the two have worked hand-in-hand to promote smaller artists. A catchy song chanced upon on social media might inspire a person to see that musician at a gig, or a random showgoer might approach a band they’d only become aware of that night to ask for the titles of their tracks so they may listen to them at their own time.
With the music industry being a beast of its own, musicians big and small get to take the reins at gigs. At these shows, newcomers not only get to observe seasoned performers up close but are also encouraged to chime in and add to the diversity of sounds in the local scene. “We cultivate a mindset of open-mindedness and support for the art. Kasi [in] the Philippines, wala talagang support,” speaks Paras.
(Because it’s a given, in the Philippines there’s really no support.)
To make yourself heard is to sing onstage for the first time with some misplaced notes here and there, or to shred your heart—or guitar—out in the middle of a seedy bar to scattered applause. But immersing yourself in such an intimate space, with everyone’s hearts thumping in time with the rhythm, one thing is resoundingly clear: nothing beats the thrill of live music.
