90s Alternative Rock Night at the Commons MTS

March 6, 2026 | 8PM | The Commons MTS, Matina Town Square, Davao City

Presented by Big Boss Productions and The Commons MTS

There are nights you already know are going to be special before you even arrive. March 6, 2026 is one of those nights for me.

Big Boss Productions and The Commons MTS are bringing together some of the most iconic alt-rock acts Davao City has ever produced — all in one place, all in one night — for the 90s Alternative Rock Night.

If you grew up on distorted guitars, angsty lyrics, and the kind of music that made you feel understood before you even knew what you were feeling, then this one is for you.

I have to be honest: I came into this knowing the bands by reputation more than by deep familiarity with every song.

But Davao’s alt-rock scene has a way of converting even the most casual listener into a true believer.

These are not tribute acts or nostalgia cash-ins.

These are veteran musicians — real, seasoned, deeply committed artists who have been part of this city’s musical identity for years.

Event Details at a Glance

Event	90s Alternative Rock Night
Date	March 6, 2026 (Friday)
Time	8:00 PM onwards
Venue	The Commons MTS, Matina Town Square, Davao City
Presented by	Big Boss Productions & The Commons MTS
Sponsors	Vlad Clo. Dvo | Simod Clothing | WitWear PH
Powered by	Musika Wabad

The Venue: The Commons MTS at Matina Town Square

If you have spent any time in Davao’s nightlife scene, you already know Matina Town Square.

Opened in 2000, MTS has spent over two decades earning its reputation as the entertainment hub of Davao City.

Located along MacArthur Highway in the Matina district — easily accessible by jeepney or private vehicle — MTS is an open-air complex that transforms at night into one of the city’s most vibrant live music destinations.

The venue is open daily from 8AM to 2AM and has been home to some of the most memorable gigs in the city’s history, hosting everything from Kadayawan Festival celebrations to rock nights exactly like this one.

The Commons is a dedicated performance space within MTS that has built a reputation for curating exactly this kind of quality, high-energy programming.

Why the 90s Still Hit Different

To understand why a night like this is something to look forward to, you need to understand what the 90s meant for Filipino alternative rock.

The 1990s saw a musical and cultural revolution sweep across the Philippines as bands and alternative rock took center stage.

It was the Tunog Kalye era — street sound — when bands like Eraserheads, Rivermaya, Teeth, Wolfgang, and The Dawn built a generation of listeners who finally heard music that reflected their lives, their frustrations, and their dreams back at them.

Much like how Nirvana’s rise triggered a signing frenzy in the US, local labels went after every homegrown act hoping to discover the next Eraserheads.

The result was a beautiful explosion of grunge, punk, dreampop, metal, ska, and alternative across the islands.

In Davao, this movement found fertile ground.

The city’s music scene developed its own underground identity — separate from the Manila mainstream, local bands were cutting their teeth in bars and small venues, absorbing those national and global influences and making them their own.

The bands performing on March 6 are direct descendants of that tradition.

The Lineup: Davao’s AltRock Icons

Band	Style / Identity	Facebook
Loo’sid	Davao-based alt-rock act with a raw, energetic sound rooted in 90s alternative influences	Visit Page
High & Dry	A Davao alt-rock band named after the iconic Radiohead track — that alone tells you everything about their DNA	Visit Page
T2	Veteran Davao musicians with years of stage experience and a sound that is immediately familiar and deeply original	Visit Page
Stone Fade	Alt-rock stalwarts with a dedicated Davao following and a reputation for high-octane live performances	Visit Page
Cotton Candy	Don’t let the name fool you — this Davao alt-rock act brings serious sound and serious stage presence	Visit Page

The Bands: A Closer Look

Loo’sid

Loo’sid is one of those Davao bands that feels like a well-kept secret the city has been holding close.

Their sound is rooted in the alternative rock tradition — textured guitars, dynamic shifts between quiet and loud, and an approach to songwriting that favors mood and atmosphere over commercial polish.

In a city with a deep live music culture, bands like Loo’sid are the ones that keep the underground spirit alive and remind you why original music will always matter more than any cover set.

Plus: They’ve got one hell of a front man in Martin Estaciones. This guy can sound like any 90s fronman worth listening to.  

High & Dry

The name High & Dry is a direct nod to the Radiohead track from The Bends — and that reference is no accident.

This is a band that wears its influences with confidence and pride.

Radiohead’s influence on alt-rock is incalculable: they took the genre somewhere no one else dared to go, blending rock with electronics, classical minimalism, and raw emotional exposure.

High & Dry channels that same spirit through a distinctly Davao lens. Expect intelligent songwriting and a stage presence that rewards your full attention.

Note: Former Tamad si Juan Bassist Choi is High & Dry’s frontman. Acidradius/Stonefade/Amana/Lethal Threshold and a whole lot of other bands bassist, Jero is the one holding down the bottom for this band.

T2

T2 is what happens when veteran musicians decide they are not done yet.

This band features some of the most experienced players in the Davao scene — artists who have been on stages across the city and beyond for years, absorbing and giving back to a music culture they helped build.

There is a difference between a band that sounds seasoned and a band that IS seasoned, and T2 falls firmly in the latter category. Their understanding of dynamics, tone, and audience connection is the kind of thing you can only earn through time.

Note: T2 features members from Alagad, State of Mind, and HH. These guys are also veteran sidemen who can play with just about anyone who calls on their services.

Stone Fade

Stone Fade has one of the most dedicated followings in Davao’s alt-rock scene, and it is easy to understand why.

Heck, I’m a fan and when I first found out they were playing, I immediately messaged their guitarist Glenn if I could come up onstage and jam. Looks like I got more than what I bargained for.

Anyway… their music carries the weight and distortion that defined 90s alternative — think the kind of sound that sits somewhere between the anthemic and the introspective.

They have been part of the Davao music landscape long enough to have left a mark, and their live performances are consistently cited as highlights by anyone lucky enough to catch them. This is a band that brings everything to the stage every single time.

Note: Vocalist Paul Berdos has one of those amazing voices that any vocalist would envy. Plus he has the stage presence that captivates crowds across all ages, genres and walks of life.

Cotton Candy

Do not let the name lull you into expecting something soft and sweet.

Cotton Candy is a Davao alt-rock band with a sound that cuts — energetic, sharp, and built for live performance. They are the kind of act that turns first-time listeners into lifelong fans over the course of a single set.

Their ability to take alternative rock’s emotional core and deliver it with genuine intensity is what sets them apart, and on March 6, they will have a full room at The Commons MTS to remind everyone of exactly that.

Note: Members coming from Anhedonia, Vipera, Anna Maria, and Three Fold Section have come together to create this awesome band.

AcidRadius not on the Poster but Hey…

So, we’re supposed to be covering for StoneFade which is a new experience for us as we’ll be playing an all-cover set which is very different from our all-original songs set.

Follow us on: facebook.com/acidradius

Davao’s Music Scene: Deeper Than You Think

Davao City has always had a music scene — but what surprises people who discover it for the first time is how deep it goes.

The city’s underground alternative and rock movement stretches back to the early 1990s, when local bands began absorbing the global wave of alternative rock and hardcore punk and making it their own.

There were DIY zines, underground gig circuits, and a community of musicians who were building something real, even if the mainstream had not yet caught up. That foundation has never gone away. It has just evolved.

Today, from the stages of MTS to recording studios producing acts that are now signing with national labels, Davao continues to prove that Mindanao is not a footnote in the Philippine music story — it is a chapter all its own.

What makes Davao’s scene special is its authenticity.

These bands are not trying to be anything other than what they are.

They play because they love it, they write because they have something to say, and they keep showing up because this city’s music community keeps showing up for them. The 90s Alternative Rock Night is a celebration of all of that.

What the 90s Alternative Movement Gave Us

It is worth pausing to remember just how transformative the 90s alternative explosion was — globally and locally. A quick look at what that era produced:

• The rise of independent labels and DIY music culture — bands no longer needed major label backing to find an audience
• A shift in lyrics from escapism to raw social commentary, personal struggle, and honest emotion
• The normalization of genres previously considered niche — grunge, post-punk, shoegaze, dreampop, noise rock — all finding mainstream audiences
• An explosion of live music venues that gave bands direct access to their communities
• In the Philippines specifically, the Tunog Kalye movement that brought original Pinoy rock to national radio and sold-out arenas
• The cultural permission for Filipino musicians to sing in their own language and about their own experiences without apology

The bands performing on March 6 carry all of that forward. They are not just playing old sounds — they are honoring a tradition of resistance, authenticity, and creative courage that shaped what music in this country can be.

Why You Should (and Shouldn’t) Go — An Honest Take

Reasons to Go	Things to Keep in Mind
Five of Davao’s most respected alt-rock bands, all on one stage, in one night. You will not get this lineup again any time soon.	It is a Friday night starting at 8PM, so if you have an early morning Saturday, plan accordingly.
MTS is an open-air venue that is accessible, safe (with 24/7 security at the entrance), and easy to get to from anywhere in the city.	Open-air means you are at the mercy of Davao’s weather. March can be unpredictable, so dress smart.
For fans of original Pinoy rock and alt-rock, this is a rare chance to see living, breathing proof that the tradition is alive and well in Davao.	If you are expecting polished pop production, this is not that event — and that is absolutely a feature, not a bug.
MTS has food and drink options across the venue, so you can eat well, drink well, and rock out without leaving the complex.	Arrive early if you want a good spot. The Commons MTS will fill up fast for this one.

Final Word: Just Go

I did not grow up as a die-hard alt-rock fan. I learned as I went, through watching, listening, and being around people who were passionate about it. What I can tell you is this: events like the 90s Alternative Rock Night at The Commons MTS are exactly why Davao’s music scene deserves more attention than it gets. These are real bands, with real history, playing real music for an audience that remembers why it all mattered in the first place.

Big Boss Productions and The Commons MTS have put together something that any music lover in this city should experience in person. Whether you were there for the original 90s wave, discovered it later, or are coming to it for the very first time on March 6 — this is a night worth showing up for.

See you there!

Event Sponsors & Partners

• Vlad Clo. Dvo — Davao City clothing brand
• Simod Clothing — Local apparel sponsor
• WitWear PH — Clothing partner
• Musika Wabad — Powering the sound (musikawabad.com)

Buy sme of the things they offer will you? It’s worth it as a remembrance.

Thank you!