‘Ikot sa Music Museum’ is a testament to what it’s like when a band ensures their fans know they’re appreciated
MANILA, Philippines – October 2024 is probably the best time to be a fan of OPM band Over October. Just days after releasing their sophomore album, Make Believe, the five-piece ensemble staged Day 1 of their first solo concert, Ikot sa Music Museum, on October 4.
Over October plays at multiple gigs each month, with many of their loyal listeners, Octobears, making sure to catch each one of them. This time around, however, the band had fittingly taken things to the next level — sending off fans with a memorable reminder of where years of dedication to their craft had gotten them, which wouldn’t have been possible with their Octobears’ support.
It almost felt like Over October had asked themselves, “How can we make this even more special for the fans who have tirelessly shown up to all our gigs, big or small?” And it was clear that they succeeded at doing just that, as the entire show had panned out to be one of the most well-executed local concerts this year.
Top-tier storytelling
It was the seamless fusion of the band’s great performances and the show’s creative direction that made Ikot sa Music Museum such a joy to watch.
Throughout the night, a round monitor would flash graphics and animation that complemented whatever song the band was playing. Case in point: Matcha and Pedro. For a hefty portion of the set, it was these adorable purple and green characters who were used as vessels for the band’s storytelling through their music. In “Chances,” you’d see Matcha and Pedro holding hands, while in “123,” you’d see them sharing a set of earphones with each other.
Fans were also introduced to the illustrated version of Kylo, the dog who inspired the creation of the track of the same name. There was even a collective “aww” that filled the venue when a clip of the real-life Kylo was shown on screen!
Visuals aside, however, the band also performed several fan favorites and made sure to do it in a way that Octobears would always remember.
In 2022, Over October released “Intertwine,” a collaboration with fellow OPM band The Ridleys, and it quickly grew to be one of their most well-loved releases to date. When it came time for the song to be played, Over October’s vocalist Josh called The Ridleys’ vocalist Benny up on stage, making for a two-in-one experience that listeners of both bands would never forget.
Meanwhile, with the song “Neverland,” Over October staged an emotional tribute to their late friend, John Oranga. It was a beautiful emblem of the band’s friendship with Oranga, who was the photographer behind many of the photos they used as cover art for their earlier releases.
Ikot sa Music Museum also marked the first time the band had ever performed songs off their latest album in front of any crowd. The eight-track record is a mix of Over October’s past releases like the mega-viral “Ikot” and “Kaakit-akit,” as well as some never-before-heard songs.
On the day of the concert, it had only been three days since the release of Make Believe, so it was impressive to see that fans could already perfectly sing along to pretty much every track on the album. But when you’re gifted with a no-skip album, it’s kind of hard not to eventually learn each song’s lyrics by heart in such a short amount of time.
Over October and its community
Above all else, Over October’s first solo concert was a heartwarming display of what it’s like when a band makes an effort to show their fans that they see them. And when this happens, the support of these fans doesn’t just translate in the streaming numbers, but also in how much love they have to give to the community they’ve become a part of through the years.
Numerous fans had set up fan projects so everyone at the concert could take something home with them. There were Octobears who gave out free photocards they printed out themselves, and little candy packs concert-goers could munch on while waiting for the show to start, among others.
At the end of Day 1, just before the band walked off the stage for the night, fans even surprised them with a video that charted all of their milestones and included greetings from some of the special people in the band’s lives. “It’s been 10 years since you’ve shared your love to us. It is time to give back to the band that we will always love and support,” the video’s introduction read.
Witnessing Day 1 of Ikot Sa Music Museum firsthand made it all the more exciting to see what new heights Over October can reach in the years to come. Until then, you can stream Make Believe here:
– Rappler.com
Day 2 of ‘Ikot sa Music Museum’ will be held on October 12 at the Music Museum in Greenhills, San Juan City. Tickets may be purchased via TicketWorld.