Cup of Joe finds a ‘special place’ by the sea
When they get tired of the chill in their hometown of Baguio, the boys of Cup of Joe long for the warmth of the beach—and La Union, being their “neighbor,” makes for the most convenient destination. The food is good, the people are welcoming, and the beach is never far away. But more than a quick getaway, the shores of Elyu hold a “special place” in the band’s heart.
To mark CJ Fernandez’s and Rapha Ridao’s birthdays last year, the group—also composed of Gian Bernardino, Gab Fernandez, and Xen Gareza—rented a beachfront house, where good times were shared, and not a few tears were shed.
“That was when we realized that we can now treat and spoil ourselves with celebrations like that. Noong college, nag-sio-siomai lang kami!” Bernardino tells Lifestyle Inquirer.
A dream come true
Earlier this month, Cup of Joe found themselves back in La Union—this time to headline the Tang Refreshing Rave music event at San Juan Beach. They have already performed in various coastal towns across the province—San Fernando, Rosario, Bacnotan—but this was the first time they actually held court right by the sea. It was “a dream come true.”
Although they have grown more at home in big venues, they will never tire of playing smaller shows, especially here, where their music mingles with the sound of waves crashing on the shore. They took the stage at 9 p.m., following a lineup of acts that built up the crowd’s energy. And under the night sky, Cup of Joe served up some of their well-loved hits—“’Wag Na Lang,” “Tingin,” “Multo”—while the crowd swayed to the beat, sand on their feet.
“It’s really something else,” Ridao says of the magic of playing outdoors. “It’s very calming, but also very exciting. And I think there’s beauty in the chaos of it all, and it makes it easy to just be ourselves.”
But more than the atmosphere, moments like this—where they can get close to fans and see them mouth every lyric—take them back to their early days jamming in cramped bars and cafes. And it was a reminder—or maybe even a preparation of sorts—that they needed as they gear up for “Sandali,” their upcoming major open-air concert.
Spontaneous, celebratory
After selling out the Araneta Coliseum five times, Cup of Joe is set to become the first Filipino act to headline a solo show at the Philippine Sports Stadium in Bulacan on May 23.
“It symbolizes reaching our dreams, not just as a band, but with our fans. We started out in small venues, so it’s rewarding that we can dedicate the biggest stage of our career to those who have been with us from the start,” Bernardino says. “It’s us saying that we have made it this far, but we couldn’t have done it without you.”
Unlike their previous “Silakbo” and “Stardust” shows, which featured intricate stage designs and followed immersive narratives, “Sandali” will take a different direction. To be held in sprawling fields, the water-themed affair will be more “spontaneous, celebratory” and closer in feel to a summer music festival.
Fans can expect guest performers—“OPM flagbearers and musicians who have inspired us”—like Kamikazee. They will also bring back the band’s Pink Pinoy Club and Pink Soda sub-units, and for the first time, each member will perform an individual number.
A good kind of pressure
It will be their biggest show yet, at least in terms of scale. Still, the band hopes to replicate the interactive, sometimes chaotic, energy of their usual out-of-town gigs through the installation of splash zones. (Put on comfortable clothes and waterproof makeup, just in case.) Because they have a fair bit of ground to cover, they will move around the venue on carts to give fans a closer look.
“Making the rounds of fiestas in barrios, we observe that it gets really wild when it’s raining o kapag merong nagbabasaan—may nag-sha-shampoo pa one time,” Bernardino says, laughing.
As such, preparations have been more physical than technical; they will need all the stamina they can muster. And truth be told, the fears and worries of performing in front of thousands of people haven’t really left them, no matter how many times they have done it.
“There’s pressure, but the good kind. It’s the kind of difficulty that we want to conquer and not just get over with,” Ridao says.
The thing that stays true
While the experience will be different, the heart of the show will be Cup of Joe through and through. There’s the music, of course, and the dizzying way they take their audience through a roller coaster of emotions and the many stages of love and grief.
But more importantly, there’s also a sense of assurance that—surrounded by people who share the same passions and struggles—they can be themselves freely.
“We have always advocated for inclusivity, individuality, and giving space for each other and letting them feel that they belong whenever we perform,” Bernardino says. “We have always been transparent, which is why we think many kids or people our age see themselves in us.”
And that remains true wherever their music takes them—be it in heady bars, open beaches, or packed stadiums.
