05/19/2025 06:00:14 PM
Author's Note: One of the production outfits I followed and covered for a decade here in the Manila live music scene is Gabi Na Naman Productions, which spurned from the same circuit as that of the once-famous music blog Vandals On The Wall and another event (although more exclusively hip and sophisticated sounding) and community movement The Rest Is Noise.
Transforming themselves from curating sold-out bar shows on both saGuijo and now-defunct Route 196, to mounting monumental shows, like the trio-headlining shows (Secrets and Dama), collaborative music festivals (Linya-Linya Land and Zark's Fest), and other theatrical concerts (Mandiriwa, Tanaw Collective, and Back In Time), Gabi Na Naman – now stylized as GNN Entertainment – continues to produce stellar quality events that deliver nothing but good live music experience, a rock-solid following, and memorable moments that defines timeless; and their decade anniversary just proved that with returning visitor groups Pamungkas and Scrubb headlining the show, along with The Ridleys and Shirebound completing the roster of billed performers there.
I’ve always been into shooting concerts and gigs for two reasons: to capture meaningful moments for the artists, their audience, and mine—and because, above all, I’m a music lover. As Friedrich Nietzsche said, “Without music, life would be a mistake.” I couldn’t agree more.
What makes these gigs extra special is when I accept them without having heard the acts beforehand. There’s a kind of thrill in it—like stumbling upon treasure. That’s exactly what happened here.
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This night marked the 10th anniversary of Gabi Na Naman Productions, and it wasn’t my first time working with them. True to form, they didn’t disappoint. The show started with The Ridleys, followed by Shirebound (sans the busking), warming up the crowd with heartfelt local talent.
Then came the magic.
I had tried to listen to Pamungkas and Scrubb on Spotify days before the show. I thought, “Okay, this dude Pamungkas is chill, sexy, pretty cool—cool cool cool.” But nothing prepared me for his live set. The moment he dropped the first song, it was pure fire. I never intended to headbang, but there I was. His musicality was off the charts—“awesome” doesn’t even begin to cover it.
What stood out even more was music’s power to transcend language. Pamungkas, mostly singing in English, ended his set in Indonesian. Not only did the crowd request it—they sang along. Scrubb did the same, performing mostly in Thai. Yet, the audience swayed and sang like they understood every word, Which is music: a universal language. It unites, moves, and builds bridges.
This event only marked my second time covering a foreign act. But as always, the real reward isn’t just in the shots I took—it’s in the music I got to discover. And that will always be the takeaway for me.
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