OPM indie-pop icons Orange & Lemons (ONL) held their milestone-defining Now & Then: 25th Anniversary Concert at the Metrotent Convention Center on October 18.

Clem Castro (vocals and guitars), JM Del Mundo (bass guitar), Ace Del Mundo (drums), and Jared Nerona (keyboards) treated fans to an extensive three-hour set filled with their finely curated hits – from their well-loved classics to their less known B-sides. The concert was not only a nostalgic trip to the past but also a treasure trove of discoveries.

Split into four distinctive parts, ONL paid homage to the four albums they had released over the years, showcasing not only their growth as musicians but also their highs and lows as a band. At the beginning of each era, a short introduction video featuring the four band members was played wherein each of them chimed in to share their fond memories from that era.

“Sa tagal ko nang tumutugtog, ngayon lang ako kinabahan nang ganito,” Clem Castro said to the crowd at the beginning. The band members laughed in the background as well. After all, this was their 25th anniversary concert and this was the first time they would be playing a long, career-spanning concert.

As expected of the fanbase, the crowd was made up mostly of people in their 30s and above. They were seated for the entirety of the show, devoid of the loud, boisterous party energy. People were more relaxed during performances, opting to quietly take in the music as it was played instead of raising their arms in the air to record videos. Still, these people mostly knew the band from their humble beginnings and they remained on the edge of their seats throughout the concert.

Part I: A Beginning of Something Wonderful

The first song that played was the rightful welcome for the audience. After all, it was the first song in their first-ever album Love in the Land of Rubber Shoes & Dirty Ice Cream. This was followed by the ONL classic “Just Like a Splendid Love Song” which was their breakthrough single that was first played on the now-defunct radio station NU107 in 2003. The sweet Brit-pop-infused song captured the ears of many curious music enthusiasts and became their entry point to being one of the stand-out indie acts then. They also played “Kailangan Kita”, “My Butterfly” and “Lovers Go, Lovers Come”.

Part II: Fast forward to 2022!

In a slightly off-kilter move, the 2nd part of the concert focused on their 4th and latest album La Bulaqueña. Released in 2022, it was touted as the only all-Tagalog ONL album as well as their most inventive one yet. It’s an eclectic yet smooth amalgamation of old Filipino-Spanish inspirations like Kundiman with modern ONL indie-pop sensibilities. As the first album released during the band’s reformation, it was the step that grounded their music and reintroduced them to the OPM scene.

ONL was joined by a violinist (Clem Castro’s nephew) on stage which added an enchanting vibe to the set. Some songs included were “Pag-Ibig sa Tabing Dagat” (featuring snippets of Empoy and Alessandra de Rossi in the background), “Ikaw na Walang Hanggan” and “Hele Para Kay Stella” and “La Bulaqueña”.

Part III: The Heydays – Umuwi ka na, baby

When ONL was at the peak of their career, the album Strike Whilst the Iron Is Hot became a household favorite across the country. As Clem shared, this was the time when they were holding gigs daily, with very short breaks in between. This was also the part that felt most familiar to the crowd.

When the snippets of close-up reeds were shown in the background, everyone knew what song would be next: “Heaven Knows (This Angel Has Flown)”. Shortly after, another crowd-favorite took over: “Hanggang Kailan”. The entire crowd sang along loudly to both songs, some even went as far as to wave their hands in the air. Who knew “Umuwi ka na, baby” could become such an iconic cry?

At one point, Clem had to pause before his spiel because he was panting so hard. “Si Macoy kasi, umalis. Ang hirap kaya kumanta at maggitara nang sabay,” he joked. During the concert, he constantly acknowledged Macoy’s contributions to Orange & Lemons: “Di magiging posible ang ONL kung wala si Macoy”. Clem said that they were able to meet him again 3 months before the concert during a private event, but a reunion with him as the vocalist was “off the table”.

Other songs from the album included “Cycle of Love”, “Pabango Ng ‘Yong Mata” and “Lihim”.

Part IV: The Final Stop – Moonlane Gardens

Trivia: “Moonlane Gardens” is an anagram for “Orange and Lemons” and the word is often used by the band. It’s the handler of their official Instagram and X accounts. Ironically, their 3rd album, which was the reason ONL broke up, also had the same name. In 2007, the unabashedly Brit-pop-influenced album was ONL’s way of raising the middle finger to the record executives who wanted them to change their musicality to pander to the general public. Shortly after its release, Orange & Lemons called it quits. They were not even able to promote the album properly.

Hearing the band play the songs live for the first time was like watching a brand new movie, with plot twists unfolding revelations. “Moonlane Gardens” felt like an unexplored safe place, one that exudes comfort and peace. Songs like “Ang Katulad Mong Walang Katulad”, “It’s About Time” and “Fade” were quite frankly hidden ONL treasures.

As blasts of confetti burst into the air, “A New Day” played. While the crowd shouted for an encore, the band respectfully declined because they said they had played 33 songs. Jokingly, Jared even said, “baka di na kayanin ng tuhod ni Clem”. They thanked the crowd for being there: “Kung wala kayo, wala rin kami.”

Now & Then: Orange & Lemons 25th Anniversary Concert was a one-of-a-kind experience – it was both a reminiscence and a revelation. As someone who has known their music since “Just Like a Splendid Love Song” was looped on NU107, the concert felt like a celebration of all the years that had gone, but at the same time, it also felt like a re-introduction to ONL’s musicality. Ahh, OPM is in good hands, after all. Cheers to 25 years and more music!

Special thanks to Gabi Na Naman Productions

by Sandra Mae Laureano