When two forces of nature in the Filipino rock scene come together, something epic is bound to happen. On April 6, Urbandub and Typecast celebrated their 25th anniversary in the music industry by holding a major concert at the New Frontier Theater, Quezon City. This marked the first stop of their national tour. For four hours straight, longtime fans of the bands got the total throwback experience with that emo-rock twist – euphoric and cathartic at the same time.

Known as two of the best rock bands that entered the scene in the early 2000s, Urbandub and Typecast have collated a staggering number of hits that had become staple soundtracks to a whole subculture of millennials’ growing pains. At the height of the emo wave that permeated the airwaves back then, these two bands firmly stood on top, capturing audiences with their melodic blend of alternative, emo and pop-punk, and cathartically honest lyrics.

Presented by Numinous Philippines and directed by Paolo Valenciano, the show was a grand showcase of Urbandub’s and Typecast’s extensive discographies, and an even grander concert experience for fans that had supported them for more than 20 years.

The Urbandub x Typecast collaboration was a natural fit. The members of each band shared a lot in common – age, range of experience, musical taste and their chosen genre. They all started out as underground artists in their hometowns – Urbandub in Cebu while Typecast in Laguna. They started playing music when they were young, and they all struggled to uproot their lives to move to Metro Manila in pursuit of their careers.

Of course, it was also natural that they drew in a similar crowd of people. Twenty or so years ago, these people were the teenagers and young adults who had often identified as outcasts or introverts, commonly branded as “emo kids”. In 2025, now in their 30s and up, they have grown into functional adults. Just for this concert, they showed up in full force at the standing pit and the balcony area on a Sunday night, ready to risk it all even when the impending Monday blues were set to take over.

The stage at the New Frontier Theater had two sets of instruments – one on the left, another on the right. Before the show, the playlist, which included songs by The Used, Silverstein and Taking Back Sunday, was such familiar tracks; some people in the crowd could not help but sing along.

Punctuality was well-respected during the show. It was at exactly 7:50PM when the spotlights dimmed, the stage turned red, and the ten-minute countdown flashed on the huge horizontal screen on stage.

Urbandub x Typecast 25th Anniversary Concert was like watching a gradual fireworks display, with a story slowly unfolding in its four-hour duration. It was divided into two parts for each band. The 1st part, which lasted for a full hour, felt like flickers of light, bursting here and there. This was when they highlighted their B-sides and deep cuts; songs they don’t usually play in their gigs, and some songs that hold immense significance to them. For the crowd, every song then felt like a steady influx of memories of how each band’s music had grown over the past 25 years.

The 2nd part brought a full-blast grandiose barrage of fireworks, as if each track set off a plethora of crackles, chrysanthemums and brocades, one after another. These were the songs that made an indelible imprint in the audience’s lives, the same ones that they could sing along to by heart even without much thought.

1ST SET!

URBANDUB was the first to take the stage as they blasted off with “Face in the Woods” from their 2009 album The Apparition followed by “Would You Go” from their 2001 debut album Birth. Their 3rd album Embrace received a special treatment when the band consecutively played “Reveal the Remedy”, “Safety in Numbers” and “A City of Sleeping Hearts”.

Composed of Gabby Alipe (vocals, guitar), John Dinopol (lead guitar), Lalay Lim-Geronimo (bass), Russell Manaloto (guitar) and Sam Saludsong (drums), the Cebuano band had established an instant connection with the audience that evening. Even though a few tracks initially seemed unfamiliar, the crowd absorbed the music by quietly bobbing their heads, and swaying their bodies; mobile phones comfortably tucked away.

However, things turned frantic when Urbandub played their well-loved hits “Cebuana” and “A New Tattoo”. It was like the whole place took on a different life as the crowd sang along in unison.

Gabby Alipe took the time to thank the crowd for their support. “For a brief moment, you guys were able to resonate with it (music), and it made us last for 25 years, so thank you so much for that. We appreciate it. We’re still playing because of you guys… It’s still fun,” he said.

He also expressed his appreciation for many established local bands that helped them when they were starting out, specifically Sandwich, Queso, Greyhoundz, Parokya ni Edgar, Kamikazee, and of course, their ‘batchmates’ Typecast.

TYPECAST started off strong with “Reverend’s Daughter” and “Sympathy Is Never Considered Help”, tracks from their 2011 album How Your Influence Betrays You. The band, made up of Steve Badiola (vocals), Chi Resurreccion (bass), Pakoy Fletchero (guitar) and Sep Roño (drums), is known for their hard-hitting layered riffs and downright melancholic lyricism. Their music is influenced by a mixture of pop-punk, post-hardcore and alternative, but they are often just classified as “emo”, the label sticking to them like glue ever since.

For the 1st set, they also gave ample focus to their debut album with the tracks “Escape the Hurt”, “Assertion” and “21 and Counting”. They also played “Phoenix” which was part of the OST titled Rok On! for the popular MMORPG Ragnarok Online.

“Sinong emo dito dati?” Steve Badiola took a humorous jab at the current “emo” state of affairs. A lot of the people from the audience unabashedly raised their hands. “Emo dati, ngayon panot na,” he quipped. The whole theater laughed, with a few resounding “ouch” from the male members of the crowd. On a more serious note, he then proceeded to thank the crowd for being part of their journey, and asked them to think of the concert as a celebration of their 25th birthday.

Typecast also played their latest song titled “Slight” which was noticeably heavier than their usual repertoire. They closed with “Ceiling” which, as Steve shared, was a song inspired by a dark story a friend shared which he refused to elaborate.

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2ND SET

If the 1st set brought out flickers, the 2nd set brought out what felt like a grand pyrotechnics display, in full blast and full spectrum of colors. It was the time for their greatest songs, and definitely the perfect time for the audience to become a whole symphony, karaoke style.

The experience of standing amidst that particular concert crowd that evening was beyond exhilarating. It was as if the masses of people, many of whom are strangers, became kindred souls that enjoyed the music of the two bands as much as they could. They were singing, jumping around, raising their arms – it was incredible!

Anyone who was there that night could also attest to each band’s sonic chemistry – their synchronicity, the mastery of their craft, the ingenuity of their rearranged tracks – which made for a really satisfying concert experience.

URBANDUB dished out their unequivocal greats like “Soul Searching”, “Evidence”, “Frailty” and “Guillotine”. They particularly dedicated “Never Will I Forget” to their loyal fans whom they fondly call “Dubistas”.

Storming loudly after was TYPECAST with “The Boston Drama” and “Bright Eyes”. Surprisingly, even then, their discography had a lot of hidden gems. Compared to listening to their recorded tracks on streaming sites, their live performance that evening solidified their prowess as rock musicians. They also played more tracks from their debut album, including the title track “The Infatuation Is Always There”, “Clutching”, “Another Minute Until Ten” and “Last Time”. The

Steve Badiola offered the track “Perfect Posture” to people who are currently going through hardships. As they played it, the high that everyone felt suddenly turned solemn. The song paints a vivid picture of depression, but it goes on to encourage the listener to keep going: “So keep a perfect posture / Leave them all confused / Never ever show the rope / We’ve been down this road before”. This underlying message of support, which a lot of their songs contain, is one of the reasons they have become endeared to many of their fans across the years.

For each band’s finale, it’s almost a no-brainer that Urbandub went with “First of Summer” while Typecast with “Will You Ever Learn”, the anthem of anthems amongst all their songs.

The crowd, especially the standing patrons, might have been thoroughly exhausted after all the hours of standing, but they powered through until the show finished, and surely, the payoff was worth it. As an extra special bonus, Urbandub and Typecast joined forces for an encore performance that reinvigorated all the emo kids: Taking Back Sunday’s “MakeDamnSure” and Deftones’ “Be Quiet and Drive”.

Whether you were part of the Emo Kid Society back then or you were a casual listener of both bands, the concert will do you a lot of good. The combination of the 2 bands’ music made for one hell of a cathartic sonic experience. Do yourself a favor, and get those tickets.

Urbandub and Typecast are set to bring their 25th Anniversary Tour across the Philippines. They will be in Baguio on April 12. More dates are slated to be announced soon.

Special thanks to Numinous Philippines!

by Sandra Mae Laureano