Over 200 punks, skinheads, and rude boys packed Rewind Bar in Poblacion, Makati last Saturday, October 18 for Oi! Attack.
The annual Oi! Punk show featured local bands Squad 79, Disorganize, Against the Wall, Davao’s Boot Battalion, and Baguio City’s Spaceflower Show among others. Headline bands included Permanent Revolution from Brisbane, Australia; Dick Spikie from Japan, and the Bois from Singapore.
‘We’re here to make new friends, to perform our brand of music, and to sample the local beer,’ pronounced Paul DM of Permanent Revolution a few hours before the show began. ‘It is always nice to experience the different music scenes across the world.’
That was the prevailing feeling as Oi! Attack organizer Merck Alvarez reiterated several times before and during the show that this was supposed to be a fun show that eschewed violence, racism, and fascism. ‘Enjoy the music and make friends,’ he intoned.
‘We made new fans,’ said the Dick Spikie’s Mohawked vocalist Tetsutarou. ‘We had a great time. The show was fantastic, A lot of energy from start to finish.’
His bandmate, bassist the Ripper Bambi, found herself thrust as a favorite of music fans who asked for selfies. In halting English, she noted, ‘I never had so many pictures. Filipino fans are great.’
Bryla, a skinhead from Singapore who flew in for the show said that what also impressed him were the positive vibes he got from the mixed crowd as well as the show. ‘Well produced and organized show,’ he observed while hanging outside with Mutilated Noise Records’ Noel outside the venue.
Summing up Oi! Attack, Alvarez, who celebrated his birthday on the same day as the event, simply said, ‘This is the best birthday gift one could ask – a successful show, a great show, and a lot of people having fun.’