I wasn’t really keeping up with the OPM scene since I moved to Taiwan, and the only way I could listen to OPM hits was through The Ultimate Heroes, which reminds me of Punk Goes Pop. I’d heard of SB19 and “Gento,” but what hit me the most was “MaPa”—I thought it was a really great song.
Now, I’ve been to a couple of concerts here in Taiwan—Westlife in 2023 and Maroon 5 early this year. The concert culture here is quite different; it’s not a karaoke or sing-along experience. The audience mostly watches the performance, and I’m fine with that. What I like most is the logistics: how the crowd and roads are arranged so you don’t need to arrive too early to get to your seat, and within 30 minutes, you’ll be back at your hotel from the venue.
I told a friend who’s been a concert-goer for BTS and other K-pop idols and groups that I don’t mind supporting Filipino groups coming to Taiwan to perform, so she should let me know.
And she did.
She told me about SB19, about VIP packages and stuff, and I remember telling her, “As long as we’re not paying PHP40K to sing ‘Gento.’”
She was able to secure us VIP tickets, which I didn’t really pay attention to what that meant.
Simula at Wakas in Zepp, New Taipei, Taiwan, June 29
Well, first off, I totally forgot about it and signed up for a weekend dive in Chaojing Park with my dive club. When my friend reminded me as we inched closer to the date, I thought the concert was at 7 PM and I’d make it.
I was wrong. Being VIP means we had to start queueing at the venue from 3:30 PM. So right after my second dive, I bid goodbye to the club and ran to the nearest bus stop back to Taipei. I missed the 11:40 AM bus, so I had to wait until 12 PM. I got home at 2 PM, had to eat lunch, take a shower, clean my dive gears, and took an Uber to Zepp, a music hall in New Taipei.
Registration
When we arrived at the venue (which is, by the way, on the 8th floor of a mall), we had to find the registration table and exchange our tickets for an admission bracelet, LED wristband, two photocards, and again ask around where to queue. I wouldn’t say it was a mess because my friend is familiar with these processes, and I think the concert-goers are as well. They knew where to point us.
We got to our queue—we were in the first line. My friend tried to explain why, and I get it, but I don’t. I had a lot of questions, especially about why we were there so early, and the people around us politely answered my questions even when they weren’t directed at them. I had to ask who was who, but I didn’t think I could remember in time for the concert. Finally, we were let in 15 minutes later than the scheduled time—ahem, Filipino time. Sound check finally started at 5:10 PM.
Sound Check Before the Concert: A VIP Benefit
Acer was heavily promoted—I have no complaints. The sound in the music hall is great! Or maybe because the woofers are right in front of me. There’s fan interaction, with lots of fans asking to pass their gifts. I’m sorry, I’m not doing that, but my friend was okay with passing those gifts to the SB19 members. I’m not sure if I’m too old for this interaction—asking for autographs—or maybe it’s the fact that this whole thing feels based on a formula. Although their interaction with their fans might be genuine, the whole situation feels a bit formulaic to me.
They did three songs, a bit of storytelling about how long they’d stayed in Taiwan, how they loved the food, and how they felt they belonged here. Then they went backstage while we all waited for the concert proper.
Is it worth it? As a non-fan, it’s only worth it if you’re in the first row. If I won’t be in the first row, I’d rather sing along and party with the convenience of taking a seat when I want to.
The situation was pretty civilized. There was no huge incident of anyone feeling entitled to a spot or anything. I mean, there was a little, but nothing dramatic. At some point, people couldn’t keep standing, so we all took a seat. General admission was also starting to pour in.
Karaoke Session
Sometime around 6:30 PM, a karaoke session was projected on stage, and I loved it! I think every concert should have that session where concert-goers, fans and non-fans alike, could enjoy singing together. But that might just be a Filipino thing. The fans around me sang really well, so I truly enjoyed it.
The Live Music Performance
The concert started at 7:15 PM—not too bad. Zepp Hall has excellent acoustics and was able to showcase the band’s vocals. But then again, I’m right in front of the woofer. You can check the quality of the sound my iPhone SE3 was able to record from where I was standing.
Before coming to the concert, I was only familiar with “MAPA,” “Gento,” “DAM,” and “Dungka.” I appreciated the lyrics being shown on screen, so besides soaking in their voices, I was also able to understand their message through their songs, and I think they’re beautifully written. A lot of self-reflection songs that listeners can resonate with. My new favorite – Time.
Objective criticism — this is a no-hate opinion
As they mentioned, this is their first time performing on a world tour with Taipei being their kick-off, I think their interaction between sets could use some work. I almost couldn’t understand the message they wanted to convey besides “we’ve been here for 10 days” or “this is for you.”
They showcased powerful vocals—I don’t think they were lip-syncing. The force of their dancing was balanced to preserve their energy, but that also means it felt like watching those TikTok dances where you move your head or shoulders slightly. My expectation from stage performances is a bit more exaggerated movements so people at the back can appreciate it.
Lastly, although I’m happy our local bands are going global following a formula from the success of the K-pop industry, what is the identity of P-pop music? But hey, I’m a millennial who used to listen to Eraserheads, Parokya ni Edgar, Kamikazee, Itchyworms, and Rivermaya. I’m used to seeing musicians play instruments—less performing song and dance—so watching and listening to this kind of performance was a bit confusing. Am I in a concert or a noontime show? Yes, yes, I haven’t been to a K-Pop concert.
So, Who’s My Bias?
I know this is often asked among K-pop fans. I’ve been told I’d have a bias after the concert.
From a vocals perspective, I was drawn to “not-Stell” (who looks like Stell but isn’t him). The deep voice was very distinct, and to be fair, I like Felix of Stray Kids because of that.
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That’s it for now! Do I recommend titas/titos watch Filipino artists on stage? Definitely! A great use of adult money to support the industry. Do I recommend getting VIP tickets? If it means standing for 6 hours, do it once and then never, haha.
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