Celebrating 25 wonderful years in the industry, Pinoy alt-rock icons Sandwich brought the party to the Monster last July 31 for their live Concert Series set!

Formed in 1998, the band consists of lead vocalist Raymund Marasigan, guitarists and backing vocalists Diego Castillo and Mong Alcaraz, bassist Myrene Academia and drummer Mike Dizon. With their signature gritty sound and hits like ‘Betamax,’ ‘Sugar,’ ‘2 Trick Pony,’  and ‘Butterfly Carnival’ under their belt, Sandwich has amassed a loyal following and netted multiple awards over the course of their career, cementing their status as pillars of OPM. 

But how does Sandwich keep it fresh after all these years? 

“We’re getting more modern,” Raymund answers. “We have a game-changer here, we bring our own mixer now. A lot of the sounds that we [used to] have just in the albums are now on this machine. [Before,] we could only play five parts, like three guitars, one drums and one vocals. Now we have synthesizers going on, back-up vocals, whatever we could think of, it’s all in one box.”

But while adapting to new technology and maximizing its potential, Sandwich’s approach to their music is steadfast, which is probably the reason behind their longevity. “We still approach it the same way we did from the beginning," says Diego, one of the group’s founding members. “[Just] good ol’ rock and roll.”

Sandwich’s last two singles are a clear example of these two sides of the band: ‘Nyare?,’ released in April this year, is a track that can be considered by the band’s fans and critics alike as representative of Sandwich’s sound of raucous rock music best enjoyed with the volume dialed up to the max in a crowded room. Meanwhile, ‘Ibang Araw Na Lang’ finds the band showing more restraint – with a sparse arrangement offset by horns, strings, keys, and a solid groove, the song is something you’ll still vibe to, albeit more subdued.

As Sandwich continues to celebrate their silver anniversary, the Monster is looking forward to what’s ahead for these OPM icons. From their debut album coming out on vinyl this month and to the drop of their brand new EP early next year and beyond, best believe we will be seated!

Sandwich’s Concert Series setlist:

1. 2 Trick Pony


2. Manila


3. Buhol Buhol


4. Nyare?


5. No Goodbyes


6. Klepto / Sugod


7. Betamax
   

Listen to their latest single ‘Ibang Araw Na Lang’:

Watch their full set here: