Influential Filipino rock band Chicosci is set to celebrate the 20th anniversary of its self-titled album with a special live show on June 6, alongside the record’s first official vinyl release.
Titled A Toast to All Our Crimes, the anniversary concert will spotlight the band’s acclaimed 2006 release — a seminal record widely regarded as a turning point not only in Chicosci’s career, but also in the evolution of the local rock scene during a transitional era for original Filipino music.
Released at a time when OPM was shifting between acoustic pop, “pogi rock,” and the fading wave of early nu metal, the album introduced a tighter, more aggressive sound that helped expand the band’s reach. Its tracks soon became staples of packed live shows across the country, cementing Chicosci’s crossover appeal and influence on a new generation of rock acts.
“This album was a test for the band,” guitarist Mong Alcaraz said. “In 2006, it was a strange time in OPM. For the first time, we decided to do everything ourselves — writing, recording, production, marketing, packaging, and distribution. It was our first step as an independent band, and we’ve remained that band since.”
For the upcoming show, the band will perform the album in full, revisiting the material that defined its mid-2000s era while reintroducing it to a new generation of listeners.
Eco Del Rio, Victor Guison, Miggy Chavez, Mong Alcaraz
Mong Alcaraz, Eco Del Rio, Miggy Chavez, Victor Guison
The anniversary also coincides with the album’s long-awaited vinyl release, answering years of demand from longtime fans while offering younger listeners a new way to experience the band’s catalog.
“I think it’s important for us to celebrate this album because it resonated with so many people,” Chavez added. “It means a lot to us, and it’s mind-blowing that it continues to mean a lot to others as well.”
Two decades later, Chicosci’s influence continues to resonate across the local music scene, with many newer acts drawing from the same blend of melody, heaviness, and emotional intensity that defined the band’s sound.
“The album was a massive turning point for the band,” Chavez said. “Celebrating it 20 years later is a testament to how far we’ve come — and we couldn’t have done it without everyone who’s been with us along the way.”
A Toast to All Our Crimes: 20 Years of the Chicosci Album takes place on June 6 at Soundcheck Inc., with fellow OPM rock band Kamikazee joining the lineup. Tickets are available at https://bit.ly/CHICOSCI20years.
