In Malugay Street once stood an open warehouse-looking wonder that sat and saw through you before you saw through it. Oftentimes a paradise of cheap beer and street food, and was always one of unashamed music—all in all a spacious area that could hold thousands of people rocking their hearts out and getting their eyes glazed with their favorite musicians onstage. Living the equally wild, wild situation.
Truth be told, this wasn’t the exact vision that Anna Ong, B-Side Makati co-founder, imagined years back. “I think we wanted it to be more DJ-based rather than live bands. Quite far from what it is now, but with the help of Sanya Smith and John Joe Joseph who connected us to the band scene, it naturally grew into a live-music spot which is probably even better since the vibe is more fitting for that.”
Just like anything in progress, B-Side started out as a what-if idea—a musing mushroomed after an enticing experience. “Erick and I had just returned from Shanghai and Erick was particularly inspired by this club called Shelter Shanghai. We decided to open a place where we could hang out and enjoy the music. Together with Jepoy, Red and Astrid, we opened B-Side on Feb 20, 2010,” Anna shared.
Despite the unexpected boom and bloom of events, they weren’t wrong about B-Side becoming a hang-out place. I have friends from entirely different groups crossed paths just because of a gig we all wanted to watch, and this already gives a clear depiction of how B-Side contributed to the culture of meeting people. Starting a conversation with a co-attendee in the middle of either a She’s Only Sixteen song bridge or a Fliptop battle onstage wasn’t an odd thing to expect.
“Everyone has a different memory of B-Side. Some of them met their partners there. Some might remember that night they saw their favorite band. Others might remember B-Side as the place where they discovered new music,” Anna mused.
And anyone can attest to that. From Ang Bandang Shirley’s Tama Na Ang Drama album launch, the yearly Red Ninja Fests that introduced you to new Spotify favorites, open mic sessions that introduced you to more newbies, and to seeing your favorite band play for the last time because they’re off for a break, B-Side has proved itself as a place of starts and finishes. But most of all, a place of stories.
To put things in perspective, artists discovered more of their identities as much as people discovered new music, too. “We would like to think that it has inspired a few of our followers to start producing music themselves. B-Side also produced shows with more than 30—maybe even more than 50—international artists which brought the world closer to this generation. Acts like RSD, Kode 9, Daddy Freddy and The Bug, Johnny Osbourne, TOKiMONSTA, ” Anna named a few. “B-Side was home to so many bands. Some of them rehearsed there.”
“We like to think that it [B-Side] helped the local scene mostly by giving them [artists] the space to perform.” Given the obvious growth of the local indie music scene in a sea of capital-focused music factories that scream mainstream at all folds, Anna was certain. The scene not only won a voice, but got used to one with a high volume as well. Rock, reggae, folk, ska, dancehall, rap, acoustic and many more genres made marks. Many B-Side frequenters developed this certain attachment for B-side gigs because it screamed a more intimate connection than to what you get from watching a concert.
The place contributed drastic change to the glimmer, but still unassuming, stand of the local indie music scene that even non-musicians felt B-Side’s influence to their craft. Gig photographer and host Jeremy Caisip was a given. “As a photographer, shooting at B-Side has taught me the need for grit and endurance in every event and the bravery to always try something new everytime.” He further expressed how helping in Red Ninja events scored him lifelong friends.
Anna and her team worked toughly through time for B-Side to become a place for everyone. Anna even confessed trying to make gigs free of fees so it can be more accessible. Of course, it wasn’t a one-way relationship. When asked about how the guests helped in making B-Side a more remarkable spot, she had a word for it. “Variety. We have (had) all sorts which made it more interesting. I remember some nights when we had fire-breathers in the crowd which gave Irie Sunday that vibe that we all love. Also, we had groups like Pinoy Low-Riders and Planet Zips showing up and participating out of nowhere.”
Being one of the started, she knew exactly how people learned to fall in love with the B-Side experience. From her point of view, she proved she never swayed away from the layer of it all. “I love how casual it is. You can walk in as you are.” I guess it’s safe to say that B-Side already knew what we wanted before we did. “We would like B-Side to be remembered as the spot that welcomed and had something for everyone.”
B-Side has closed, and although this was one of the goodbyes we hated to write, I guess we should find comfort in the triumph that comes with it. The triumph that may not be seen in the largest of scales, but one that’s flourishing on its own way, one that makes eight years of dreaming worth it. Anna chose to do the same, “All of us are more than satisfied with what B-Side has evolved to. Can’t even count the many nights we all gathered and celebrated music and culture. We met so many people that are now good friends of ours. Also personally for me, B-Side was where I learned how to work on bigger shows which opened doors for me. B-Side is where I met Sabrina Durand who trusted B-Side Productions with the overall production of Fete de la Musique till this date.”
If given more time, Anna would definitely want each production team who had regular events in B-Side have their own nights before they finally bid goodbye. “Subflex Chronic Wheeze, Red Ninja, Meiday, Barangay Tibay, Flip Top, Intastalla Burst, Threadfest, Tektonik as well our in-house events Dubplate, Boom Bap, Irie Sunday and many more.” she mentioned. “Sorry if I missed some.”
B-Side gave us more than what we ever thought it had to offer. It was a mix of all emotions at once, enriched at every experience, fireworks in the end. It gave a home you can call your own, and also a home for everyone else you haven’t met, and that’s B-Side’s own brand of feeling.
Photos — Anna Sobrepeńa Ong and Jeremy Caisip, Video — Lloyd Briones Creatives
