"Subsonic Eye Live in Manila" Gig Review

It's been a while since I've written a review as my insecurities got the best of me so moments from these month-ago gigs are a bit hazy. My memory of these events are a but hazy but I guess these are the best kind - impactful enough to leave a lasting impression.

I remember the lead up to the event as an almost last minute affair - a chance opportunity for a well respected band to play to an intimate yet passionate audience under the basement of a Chinese restaurant in Quezon City. Offering "limited walk ins" sounded like a very bad idea especially if people were already willing to queue online to taste a ticket. Having a crowd gather just for a sliver of a chance sounded dangerous.

As for the bands, Walktrip's set was a mixed bag - tempered screaming vocals needed more experience but sounded like an interesting mix of mainstream OPM with screamo leanings. The first half was entertaining but the second half felt lost and grasping at an identity. Namo had a eclectic long/short set with stretched soundscapes for each song - never feeling over-indulgent. Irrevocable played their signature energetic set even testing out new, soon-to-be-released songs. The Rave Tapes delivered a solid space-gaze set featuring all originals and all noise. The Buildings were not at their best but still delivered a great indie rock set. Matoki is from the same circle of kids trying to blend mainstream elements with traditional sounds - in this case shoegaze. I think the idea is there but still needs more refinement. The main band of the evening was saved for last. Subsonic Eye's extended set really showed how much they have improved from the last time they visited Manila. I remember just being engulfed in their sound - they didn't use a lot of pedals but maximized the gear that they had. I usually stop listening to music from visiting bands as the live set was enough but I was listening Subsonic Eye for days after this event.