The local music industry has had to say goodbye to significant gig spots that just couldn’t survive the pandemic, no matter how well-loved they were.
Vocalist and rhythm guitarist of the local alternative pop band Any Name’s Okay Renzo R. Lumanog has performed in venues such as Route 196 on Katipunan Avenue and in international music festivals in Taiwan. The band, formed in 2017 in the University of the Philippines Music Circle, garners millions of streams across digital platforms worldwide.reporter John Victor D. Ordoñez about venues closing down, people losing jobs, and musicians pursuing their passion.
“A lot of musicians right now have either stopped making music, and there are some who have released more music than they ever have, there is a scale there,” he added.Local bands have “roadies,” technical teams that accompany musicians and assist in setting up live shows. Roadies suffered the most during the pandemic because of the absence of live events.
Fundraisers were organized to give back to these people behind the scenes since most of the roadies were in-house staff of famed venues such as Route 196 and Tomato Kick, which were forced to close down.