American jazz-fusion collective Snarky Puppy has long been the stuff of legend among classically trained musicians, progressive music enthusiasts, and jazz fusion purists alike. With a rotating lineup of players who’ve been sharpening their chops for over two decades, their arrival in Manila felt overdue. According to bandleader Michael League, the group had been “looking forward to [this] for a long time.” Last May 27, they delivered a set that proved in full force and gear that they weren’t just showing up. They were showing out.
By the time doors opened at the Filinvest Tent in Alabang that Tuesday night, the air outside was charged with anticipation. Fans filed in steadily. Some from Quezon Province, others from Cavite, and a few even making the trip from Ormoc City. For a band without major-label fanfare or mainstreamMainstreamThe ideas, styles, and works that reach the widest audience and dominate popular attention, such as radio hits and blockbuster films. The word is often set against indie or underground,Go to Mainstream Glossary radio play, the turnout said everything. Snarky Puppy’s influence may be niche, but it runs deep.
Inside the tent, the energy stayed loose but focused. “Welcome to the general assembly of musicians,” folkFolkA genre rooted in storytelling and tradition, often built on acoustic instruments and honest, plainspoken lyrics. In the Philippines, folk and its protest-song legacy have long carried social commentary, andGo to Folk Glossary artist Marti Franca said as he greeted me at the entrance. There was no pretense, just a shared reverence in the room. Familiar names floated in the crowd: Jazz Nicolas of The Itchyworms, Jerros Dolino of Urbandub and Spacedog, Spacecat. Between set changes, conversations turned toward the likes of Tago Jazz Bar, which was just as much a character in the local jazz community as any player on stage.
Opener Party Pace threw an unexpected curveball. The band leaned into moodier, rockRockA guitar-driven genre that grew from rhythm and blues in the 1950s and splintered into countless styles, from punk and metal to alternative. With a long history of rebellion andGo to Rock Glossary-oriented terrain rather than the rhythmic intricacies of fusion. Still, they played with conviction, and the crowd, while slightly confused, stayed on board. If anything, it served as a rough-edged prelude to the tightly wound, precision-driven chaos that Snarky Puppy was about to unleash.
The headlinerHeadlinerThe main act at a concert or festival, usually performing last and drawing the largest crowd. A headline slot signals standing in the industry, and it often anchors ticket sales,Go to Headliner Glossary kicked off the live performance by launching straight into “Flood” off Tell Your Friends, setting a tone that rarely dipped below ecstatic. Every note felt deliberate yet lived-in; trumpets soared, drums snapped, and guitars wove melodic threads that shifted without warning. Tracks like “Bad Kids,” “Semente,” and “Chonks” pushed and pulled the audience through a spectrum of moods, their dynamics masterfully dialed in. Even the prog-laced “Pineapple” made its way into the mix, with “Shofukan” turning into a surprising sing-along moment.
When the group seemed to close with “What About Me,” the crowd hesitated: Was that it? The answer came swiftly as the band returned for an encoreEncoreAn extra performance given after the main set, usually in response to the audience's applause and cheers. Encores can be planned or spontaneous, and they often include an artist's biggestGo to Encore Glossary, with the song “Lingus.” It was sprawling, heady, and as wild as ever. Solo sections were treated less like technical showcases and more like conversations. They were messy, raw, and undeniably human.
After an hour and a half of genre-bendingGenre-BendingMusic that mixes elements from different styles, such as pairing folk with electronic beats or hip-hop with rock guitars, so that it resists a single label. Genre-bending artists push soundsGo to Genre-Bending Glossary, tempo-shifting, jaw-dropping playing, Snarky Puppy took their final bow. Manila, as expected, wanted more. And maybe that’s the point. The band gave just enough to leave people buzzing, but not so much that the mystery wore off.
In an age of overstimulation and instant playback, it’s rare to witness something this tactile, this grounded in real-time musicianship. Snarky Puppy: Live in Manila was a moment for anyone who has ever appreciated what happens when craft and spontaneity collide.
Recommended Video
