Culture Wars: Pinoy fans ‘make everyone else boring’
After visiting the Philippines twice in the past four months, the alternative-rock band Culture Wars is now convinced that Filipinos are some of the “best, coolest, most incredible fans we have seen anywhere.”
“And so must be the fans in every other city they have been to,” I couldn’t help but think when members Alex Dugan (vocals), Josh Stirm (guitar), Caleb Contreras (guitar), Dillon Randolph (bass), and David Grayson (drums) started raving about their experience playing for Filipino fans in a recent interview with Super.
I mean, what else were they going to say? Telling local audiences that they’re the best is almost de rigueur for any touring foreign act. So, I didn’t really take their praise seriously at first—just some genial small talk to get the ball rolling.
But then they started name-dropping other countries they visited as the opening act for LANY’s world tour last year. That’s when I realized that they weren’t just trying to butter up their host.
“You guys make everyone else boring,” Dugan declared.
“After the show here, we flew to Australia. Now, I love Australia, but when he started the show, I was like … it wasn’t the same energy,” he said, tilting his head and clicking his tongue. “It wasn’t like the Philippines.”
American fans “in general,” on the other hand, seem quite “spoiled” and give off this “too cool” vibe. “Even if they bought tickets for the show, they would still be like, “‘Eh. Impress me,’” Dugan said, drawing laughter.
Stark contrast
And that’s such a stark contrast to the warm, awe-inspiring reception the Texas-based group received from Filipinos, who especially went crazy for the jangly guitars and driving basslines of the latest single, “It Hurts,” and other well-loved hits like, “Slowly,” “Heaven,” “Miley.”
“They were excited to be at the shows, and you could just tell it and feel it. Sometimes, we go to a place we’re excited to play in, and the energy isn’t always reciprocated by the crowd. But in the Philippines, everyone comes ready to have fun, and that really elevates the show,” Contreras said.
“I think some fans don’t realize that the more you give, the more you get. If they‘re bringing the energy, they’re going to get the same back from us,” Grayson added.
While bound by a love for alternative rock, Culture Wars’ music is a confluence of different influences and backgrounds. Contreras, for instance, loves hip-hop and old-school R&B, while Randolph leans heavily on punk. It’s but inevitable for these differences to seep into the creative process, hence the band name. But hey, that’s where the fun comes from.
“We all have our different phases and what we like can change from time to time, but I think that’s what makes the songs good. If we all agree on everything, the sound will be extremely boring,” Randolph pointed out.
“We just try to find a middle ground, a happy medium amid the war,” Contreras said
Guitar-driven sound
Formed in 2017, Culture Wars—with its guitar-driven music that sound fresh and nostalgic at the same time—finally hit its stride in 2024. And much to the band’s surprise, Asia has recently emerged as its fastest-growing market.
The members’ friends in Tokyo send them videos of their songs being played at random stores and malls. In Singapore, while in an Uber stuck in traffic, “Miley” suddenly came on. And they were shocked to find out that radio stations in Cebu City play their music every so often. “It’s the coolest thing that could ever happen,” Contreras said.
“After touring with LANY in the Philippines, we collectively agreed that we wanted to invest time and effort here, because the fans are just so great,” Randolph said.
As such, when the opportunity to open for Maroon 5’s sold-out concert in Manila last month arose, Culture Wars didn’t have to think twice. “We’re thankful that we’re able to do this. Touring with LANY, who does so well here in the Philippines, was great for us. So, we’re happy to come back, this time with Maroon 5, and continue building on what we had started here,” Dugan said.
Getting a thumbs up from one of the world’s most successful pop-rock bands, was definitely not on the bingo cards. “We were waiting for them to listen to our music and see if they like it. And looks like they did! It was a weird and surreal experience. But they were cool to us,” he added.
And for a burgeoning band like Culture Wars, who seeks to reach as many fans in as many places as they can, touring with high-profile acts can be a game-changing opportunity—a crucial platform to gain more exposure, and show off what the band is capable of in a live setting.
“It’s expensive to just travel on a whim. But being a touring opening act allows us to go here with a kind of safety net. It’s such a golden chance to get a fresh crack at fans. And we just feel lucky that we can continue building our fan base here in Asia,” Dugan said.
