02/09/2025
HOT STUFF: REIGNITE
The Relaunch of Hey Moonshine and Switchblade Manila
August 30, 2025 | QNA Café and Alfresco Bar
Even as heavy rains and massive floods hit Quezon City, the spirit of OPM rock could not be drowned. Close to TWO HUNDRED brave souls pushed through the storm, packing QNA Café and Alfresco Bar for an epic night of music, food and camaraderie.
Right in the center of the venue, the Philippine Hot Sauce Club’s fiery table of locally made hot sauces invited fans to test their endurance, and later set the stage for the Matira Matibay Challenge, a battle of heat and willpower where contestants braved spoonfuls of increasingly hotter sauces until only one stood victorious.
The night kicked off with TikTok Sensations Seb and Kuroe, who opened the stage with a raw and unfiltered 90s grunge set. Their sound was heavy, distorted, and unapologetically loud. With awesome vocals and dirty riffs, they brought the angst and grit to the stage.
From there, Waprock took over and lifted the energy even higher. Seamlessly blending classic covers and their own original tracks, they had the crowd singing along one moment and headbanging the next.
Then came one of the evening’s most emotional highlights: the relaunch of Switchblade Manila. Once very active in the local scene, the band had gone quiet after the tragic passing of their guitarist Dax. That night marked their rebirth with a new guitarist, Ari, who carried Dax’s torch with reverence and skill. Their set was both a tribute and a resurrection of their heavy, thunderous music.
After that was the official relaunch of Hey Moonshine, a band that had been on hiatus due to lineup changes. Now returning with three new members, Hey Moonshine came back with a vengeance. Their set was nothing short of explosive southern rock swagger laced with blues, grit, and soul.
If that wasn’t enough, the night climbed even higher when Pinoy funk rock legends P.O.T. hit the stage. Known for pioneering the funk-infused sound that shaped an era of OPM, they reminded everyone exactly why they’re icons. Their grooves were infectious --- slapping bass lines, syncopated rhythms, and soaring vocals combined into a wickedly funky storm that had the crowd dancing and chanting.
Then came Kjwan, one of the most powerful forces in modern Filipino rock. With Marc Abaya’s electrifying stage presence, Kjwan unleashed a set that roared with passion and precision. Their hard-hitting riffs and anthemic choruses shook the very walls of QNA Café, pushing the energy to stratospheric levels. Before their final number, the band paused for a moment of fun. Marc himself went down to the Table of Fire, braving to try hot sauces to the crowd’s wild cheers.
Finally, the night closed with Kapitan Kulam, the punk powerhouse led by writer and cultural icon Lourd de Veyra. They brought in raw, unfiltered music that fast, loud and rebellious.
The entire evening was masterfully tied together by Sophie Rizalde, who hosted the show with the perfect balance of energy, wit, and charm. From the moment she stepped onstage to open the night, she kept the crowd engaged and excited, smoothly transitioning between sets and hyping up the audience before every performance.
The night was made even more memorable by the presence of Atty. Luke Espiritu, labor lawyer, activist, and former senatorial candidate known for his fearless stand in debates, and Ridz Solomon, the visionary behind Rakista Radio and the legendary Rakrakan Festival, both stalwarts of the rock community.
Thank you so much o our partner, the Philippine Hot Sauce Club, for bringing the fire to this great event.
To our generous sponsors: Chavez Miranda Aseoche Law Office, Altaserv, Esc, Rush Café, Alliance, Kremil S. Kudos to you.
To our media partners: TNC, Our Awesome Planet, Simpol.ph, Spot.ph, GMA Pinoy TV, GMA News TV, Jam 88.3, thank you for your support.
What was supposed to be a rainy, flooded night turned into a landmark in OPM rock history. It was a night of resurgence, reunion, revolution. August 30th at QNA Café proved that no storm can drown out passion, no flood can wash away music, and no tragedy can silence the fire of Filipino rock.
Credits to NXMedia for these awesome 📷
