A night of music, memories, and brotherhood.

Join us as we celebrate the life and legacy of Abou, through the sounds he loved and the people he brought together. This isn’t just a gig… it’s a tribute from the heart, and from his brothers in his journey in the local music scene.

Let’s make this night loud, real, and unforgettable.

For Abou. Always.

See you there!

Who Was Boss Abou?

Some people you remember because of what they said. Boss Abou… you remember him because of what he did.

Quietly.

Without asking for credit.

Without needing a spotlight.

He was a fixture in the Davao music scene… not always onstage, but always there.

His presence carried a certain weight.

Respect.

That’s the kind of guy Boss Abou was.

He wasn’t always a spectator though. He played percussions. Jammed with Tamad si Juan (TSJ), a band he genuinely loved.

Word is he was once a drummer too… but life pulled him away.

Business.

Family.

The real world.

You know how it goes.

But music kept calling him back.

First through attendance… then through his generosity… and eventually through Big Boss Productions, his own production outfit that quietly made sure gigs in Davao City happened.

Real gigs.

Good gigs.

The kind that reminded everyone why they fell in love with live music in the first place.

One of those was the 90s Alternative Rock Night at The Commons MTS on March 6, 2026.

It was one of those nights you just knew was going to be speciel before you even got there.

And it was.

Packed crowd.

Five solid bands.

The kind of evening Davao deserves more of.

Sadly… he passed before he could be properly thanked for it.

He may not have been that much out there front and center.

But man did he make his presence felt.

This just goes to show that everyone in the scene matters.

From the players onstage to the person just sitting at the bar with a cold beer… everyone plays a role in keeping local music alive.

Boss Abou played his role better than most.

Long live the Big Boss.

Why Supporting Local Music Matters

The local music scene doesn’t survive on talent alone.

Talent is everywhere.

Davao has always had it.

The underground scene here goes back to the early 1990s… DIY gigs, word-of-mouth lineups, handmade posters, musicians who built something real without waiting for anyone’s permission.

But talent without support?

That fades.

Bands break up.

Venues close.

Musicians stop showing up because nobody’s showing up for them.

Supporting local music doesn’t have to mean spending a lot. It can be simple things:

• Buy a ticket. Even if you can get in for free, buying a ticket tells the organizer the gig is worth doing again.
• Share the post. Your Facebook share might be the reason someone else discovers a band they’ll love for the rest of their lives.
• Buy merch. A shirt, a sticker, a CD… it goes directly to the band.
• Stay for the full set. Don’t just show up for the headliner. The opening band is playing their heart out too.
• Show up. That’s really it. Just show up.

What Boss Abou did was show up. And then he went further. He put his own money behind gigs. He used his connections to make things happen. He was a silent player who ensured that bands had a stage, that crowds had a night to remember, and that the scene kept breathing.

You don’t have to be a Boss Abou to make a difference. But we could all afford to be a little more like him.

The Bands of the Tribute Night

This tribute brings together some of the most seasoned, most respected names in Davao’s music scene. These are bands and acts that Boss Abou shared space with, supported, and genuinely loved.

Meet the Bands

T2

These are musicians who have spent decades honing their craft. Veterans from Alagad, State of Mind, and HH… they play with this quiet confidence that only comes from having been on a lot of stages over a lot of years. T2 channels something close to U2 at their most anthemic… and that’s the highest compliment you can give a rock band. They don’t need to prove anything. They just play. And the crowd always loves it.

HH

HH has been around the Davao music scene long enough to be considered part of its foundation. They’ve shared bills with the heaviest hitters… TSJ, Three Fold Section, Toad River… all the bands that defined what gigging in Davao felt like in its most vibrant years. When Boss Abou watched the scene from the sidelines at Gio’s Crib, HH was part of what he was watching.

Stonefade

Stonefade’s lineup includes some of the most well-traveled musicians in the Davao scene. Jero, one of their own, has a resume that spans AcidRadius, Amana, and Lethal Threshold… the kind of bassist who elevates every band he plays with.

Toad River

There’s no denying that Toad River is powered by one man: Martin. He is the band as much as the band is what truly defines him. Pearl Jam, Alice in Chains, Soundgarden… these are staples of his act onstage. Martin’s voice sits near the lower register of a tenor… he effortlessly shifts up or down depending on the song.

Eddie Vedder comes to mind. Chris Cornell too. Layne Staley. When you see Toad River on the gig poster, you know it’s going to be one hell of a trip down memory lane.

Soundtank

Giovanni Gaite is a legend.

Simple as that.

The frontman of Soundtank has been a part of the Davao music scene so long that younger musicians look up to him the way fans look up at the stage.

In every gig, Soundtank brings experience, presence, and the kind of charisma that fills a room without trying.

High and Dry

Fronted by Choi, formerly of Tamad si Juan, and anchored by Jero on bass, this is a band built from serious musical pedigree. High and Dry is hypnotic. They can hold an audience at attention without relying on additional gimmickry… exactly what a tribute night needs.

3 Fold Section (Three Fold Section)

Three Fold Section is the band you call on when you need hours of solid, entertaining music.

Led by Jack (guitars and vocals), Jay (drums), and Jon (bass)… they are highly accomplished musicians and sought-after sidemen by other bands.

They mostly play alternative songs and have been a mainstay at Gio’s Crib for years. They are reliable. You can always count on them to be there and play.

This is a band that has a special place in my heart because they were the first band I saw onstage here.

Project Satellite

Project Satellite is part of the same community that has kept the Davao music scene alive through the years.

They move in the same orbit as TSJ, Soundtank, and the other bands that built their reputations playing the clubs and bars of Davao City.

They are here because they were part of the world that Boss Abou supported… and that makes them exactly the right fit for this night.

Taliban

Taliban is part of the underground fabric of the Davao music scene… one of the bands that Boss Abou’s world encompassed through his years of support, attendance, and genuine love for local music.

They bring humor and nostalgia to the tribute night and a show that everyone loves and remembers long after the gig is over.

Tamad si Juan (TSJ)

TSJ was Boss Abou’s band.

And rightly so as they are one of the hardest working bands to ever come out of this city. Their sets are high-energy, loud, and tight. Every member is a veteran.

Reg on vocals… a frontman with an oversized voice in a small frame who fills every corner of the room. Kram on guitar… playful, expressive, the kind of player whose work dances on top of the rhythm.

They are national champions now… winners of the Red Horse Beer Pambansang Muziklaban 2025… which makes this tribute gig even more meaningful.

TSJ is not just playing for the crowd tonight.

They are playing for him.

One Last Thing

You may not have the financial resources or logistical capacity that Boss Abou had. But your presence alone means a lot. That’s what he proved… not just through his money or his productions, but through his loyalty to a scene that needed people like him.

So come out.

Watch the bands.

Buy a drink.

Stay for the full set.

Sing along even if you don’t know the words.

Make noise.

Be present.

Because that is exactly what Boss Abou would have done.

For Abou. Always.

Long live the Big Boss.