Celebrating Filipino-American Culture and Indie Music: A Recap of the FilAm Jam Launch
FilAm Jam in cooperation with Kubo California successfully hosted the first "In the Hut x FilAm Jam" event in Long Beach.
It was probably over a year ago when Kai from Kubo California and I started talking about wanting to work together on a music-related project. Her idea was a Tiny Desk-like concert and that’s something I’ve always wanted to do too. During the latter half of the pandemic-lockdown years, when the world was only beginning to open up, I produced a magical Merienda Jam at Teofilo Coffee Company in Los Alamitos, CA. That jam session produced many collaborations - in music, art, and film and so since then, I’ve been eager to recreate the magic.
So after a few meetups over delicious food and a string of phone calls and text messages, we set a date for the first in what hopefully becomes a series of intimate concerts. The name “In the Hut” is Kai’s idea and the jam part is mine, hence the “In the Hut x FilAm Jam” collaboration was born!
I decided that the excuse er, occasion for the gathering would be the OFFICIAL LAUNCH of this here FilAm Jam zine project you are READING RIGHT NOW. This unique event brought together music enthusiasts, artists, and supporters of Filipino-American culture for an evening of curated live performances, networking over some nibbles and sips of ube beer and calamansi seltzer courtesy of Brewyard at Kubo Collective in Long Beach.
From the moment the doors opened, the air was filled with the lively chatter of Filipino-American creatives and supporters. The “stage” at Kubo (in reality that space in front of the Bel Canto Books for that Tiny Desk feel) came alive with performers showcasing mostly original music with an indie vibe.
FilAm Jam was a successful kick-off of what hopefully will become a series of performances; it was a platform for collaboration and artistic expression. Art materials were strewn about on nearby tables as guests freely sketched and doodled. The atmosphere was electric as artists exchanged ideas and showcased their skills, fostering a sense of camaraderie among attendees and emphasizing the power of unity and creativity.
Many thanks to our scheduled performers Belle, Alpha Particles and ZOS!MO. Special thanks to two 90s rock icons from the Philippines: Melody formerly of Sugar Hiccup and now The Mellow Dees and Stiff Lu from Rizal Underground, who stopped by for a hot minute after we saw him at another event weeks before. Special thanks to my friend MaryAnne Wendt for recording the event.
Enjoy some videos here:
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Excited for the next one!