By Aside from being in my K-Pop era, I’m also enjoying my Thai BL (boy love) era. I’ve watched a good number of Thai BL series and have even suggested some here. Through these shows, I’ve discovered not only talented new actors but also great music from theme songs and covers. For instance, watching KinnPorsche is how I discovered Jeff Satur; I’ve been listening to his music ever since and even met him at his Manila concert. When I watched the series Cutie Pie, I instantly loved NuNew Chawarin’s performance of a song called “Just Being Friendly.” After hearing Fourth Nattawat’s character perform it again in the GMMTV series My School President, I found out that the song is by Thai rock band Tilly Birds. After that, I’ve been listening to them on Spotify.
The I’ll Remember to Forget You Tour in Manila
Last April 20, just before lunch on a Monday, I headed to Nokal, a nightclub at Makati Cinema Square, for an afternoon gig by Tilly Birds. It was the Philippine stop for their I’ll Remember to Forget You: Through Layered Walls tour. When Camille Castillo of Mirrorball Asia PR mentioned the set time, I actually asked her to confirm it; attending an afternoon performance by an international act I was so excited to see felt like a dream come true.
The setup was incredibly intimate, with 3rd, Milo, and Billy performing at arm’s length from the crowd. Though I assumed the trio would be sleep-deprived after playing a music festival at Araneta Coliseum the night before, they showed no trace of exhaustion once they took their places.
Setlist and Fan Interactions
They opened with the title track from their first all-English album, “I’ll Remember to Forget You,” followed by one of my personal favorites, “Retro-39.” Between songs, they took the time to read fan questions, discussing everything from their most difficult songs to perform live to their preferred electric fan speeds. They continued their set with a few more songs, including “Just Being Friendly,” the track that served as my gateway to everything Tilly Birds. After the performance, the band stayed to take photos and sign autographs for their Filipino fans. It was clear that they enjoyed the intimate experience in Manila just as much as we enjoyed the incredible music they delivered.
Listen to Tilly Birds’ music at all streaming platforms and follow them on Instagram for new music and show updates. New to their music? Here are some of my suggested Tilly Birds songs that you can start listening to.
Denise J. Mallabo 