“Masaya! (Happy!)” Tilly Birds fan Jaira exclaimed as she exited SM Skydome last Saturday (9/9). It was a sentiment that seemed to resonate with everyone who spent the last two and a half hours with the Thai indie pop-rock trio. 

Thai indie rock trio Tilly Birds on being friends, lessons learned on tour, and keeping their music front and centre

All kinds of fans were left exuberant and enthralled by the magic that Third, Billy, and Milo brought onstage. Charming and easy-going when not performing, the trio took on different forms and personas as soon as they hit the stage. Captivating the audience starting with their dramatic entrance, the first few seconds of the intricate light show set the tone for what was to come.

From Third nailing every single note to Billy’s guitar licks and riffs to Milo’s rhythms and beats and occasional bars, each band member brought their best to showcase what Tilly Birds are all about as they finally made their much-awaited Manila debut with Wish Us Luck Entertainment.

Can I sing a song with you? ฉันร้องเพลงกับคุณได้ไหมคะ?

Armed with a 25-song setlist, Tilly Birds were determined to make sure their fans got the full experience. In a message to Bandwagon, guitarist Billy shared how they planned a “really tight setlist” and were more than ecstatic with the crowd’s response. “[Our] Filipino fans took it well.”

“No songs were left unsung by the crowd,” Tilly Birds shared about their first-ever experience of a Manila singalong  – a dream come true for vocalist Third, who grew up listening to Filipino singers like Lea Salonga, Sarah Geronimo, and Kyla.

A mix of fan-favourites like ‘Same Page’ and ‘Just Being Friendly,’ which most fans have discovered through Thai BL series, plus older tracks such as ‘What’s Left’ and ‘Like A Dead Man’ had fans singing along to every word – in Thai. Despite the language barrier, the audience did not disappoint, which Third made sure to tell the crowd each and every time: “Such beautiful voices.” 

“They are such incredible singers,” Billy added.

Kriz, a Tilly Birds fan since 2019, has been learning Thai for a few years now and turned up to the show with a handwritten sign which read: “ฉันร้องเพลงกับคุณได้ไหมคะ? (Can I sing a song with you?)”

Being a fan of their music made her even more determined to learn and improve in the language. “I can now proudly say that the reason why I can understand and communicate in Thai is because of them. I’ll always cherish and support them all the way.”

While the band’s current discography is entirely in Thai, the trio has repeatedly confirmed to fans that they are working on a full English album. At the press conference ahead of the show, the host asked if they could give us a sneak peek of their new music, but they all said no, it had to be secret. Little did we know that they had been saving it as a surprise treat for the concert. The band performed ‘White Pills,’ a cut from their all-English record, which they had been playing for fans on tour.

Making Musical Memories Together

Seventeen-year-old Jaira did not win the Bandwagon ticket giveaway. “Sumali nga ako sa contest nyo pero hindi ako nanalo (I joined your contest, but I lost),” but fate still worked its magic and somehow she ended up at the show. “This is my first concert!” she excitedly shared with me. Her eyes sparkled the entire time and she couldn’t wipe the smile off her face. She brought her family – her mom and younger brother –  to the concert to share this core memory with. “First concert din nya! (This is also his first time at a concert!)”

For Kriz, it was witnessing the “amazing” dramatic finale ‘ ฉันมันเป็นใคร (Who I Am)’. “The song feels different hearing it live.” She also gushed about the band’s “superb” stage presence, and how approachable they seemed to be. “Everybody was hyped and full of energy.”

The band also left with standout memories from the show. They were equally ecstatic about the energy that their Filipino fans had been giving them even before the concert began. Third, Billy, and Milo were visibly reeling from the screams and cheers of the audience throughout the entirety of the performance. Before they headed back to Bangkok, the band told us that their favourite moment from the show was  “When they taught us the word ‘talon (jump)’ and talon they did!!!!”

Teamly Birds

In a recent interview with Bandwagon, Milo stated that they “can do everything” when the three of them are together. Onstage, they do all that and more, with the help of their trusted session musicians Up (Pariyapas Usaha) on guitar and Gla (Athitat Sornpaisarn) on bass.

Precise and particular, the band brought in most of their gear, including their own mixing and monitoring boards. “I think we brought over 300 kg of stuff. Four guitars, one bass, three pedal boards. Two keyboards, lots of cymbals, lots of mics,” Billy revealed.

Aside from their prized and precious gear, the band also brought over their crew, fondly called Teamly Birds. Comprising a total of 12 people including the three members, the team also included their manager Bryan, Lighting Designer Folk (Naphat Mangkharat), Monitoring Engineer Ball (Thanakit Sanghiransuparak), FOH Engineer Gap (Jirapat Peungkayai), and touring photographer Taksin Haoheng, also known as rocketeerboyy.

Soundtrack of our lives

Reminiscent of Third’s songwriting, the show was well thought-out from beginning to end. It was a multisensory experience, the lights and sounds, plus the exhilarating cheers and screams from the crowd, coming together to tell a story. 

The night’s tale started with what looked like a blanket of stars. As bright lights started beaming onto the stage, the instruments started to grow louder and louder, and the anticipation for the arrival of frontman Third intensified, marking the beginning of what would be a visual and sonic rollercoaster of emotions.

Mid-set, Third asked the crowd “Who here has been to a Tilly Birds concert?” A couple of fans raised their hands, while a group of fans behind me playfully screamed, “Online concert!”

With live videos of their performances readily available online, it might be easy to say that you can expect the same things as what you’ve seen before. But even that would not prepare you for Third’s vocal runs, Billy’s energetic riffs and high kicks, and the sight of Milo leaping out from his drum kit to spit out his rap verses.

I looked around to see how fans were taking it all in. Most were singing their hearts out, with their phones up in the air. There was a couple sharing a moment, a fan Facetiming a friend, a barkada (group of friends) waving their hands in the air, and a family of four seated together.

It was my first time watching Tilly Birds live in concert myself, and I found myself thinking how it almost felt like watching a coming-of-age film unfold. It had everything: angst, heartbreak, unrequited love, pining, sorrow, even a vivid and frantic rager, bursts of shiny confetti, a "sea of stars," and an eventual goodbye – perfectly soundtracked by Tilly Birds’ discography.

Their recordings don’t do enough justice to their live performances. The band’s powerful and almost cinematic renditions of each song on the setlist take you to another memory, regardless of whether you can understand the Thai lyrics, or as in my case,  just let the music take you to a moment in time. Every note, every beat, every beam of light - they trigger memories and stir up emotions you probably didn’t know you had at that time.

As with any story, all things must come to an end. After a 22-song setlist which also included jamming out and a three-track encore, the band gave us closure by saying goodbye with a group photo to capture their precious first Manila memories. “See you next year!” Tilly Birds promised Filipino fans as the lights dimmed down leaving us with the blanket of stars, eagerly waiting for next year - or, for some lucky ticket holders, photo time. Another opportunity to make more memories.

Tilly Birds Live In Manila 2023 Setlist:

1. Intro
2. I'm Not Boring, You're Just Bored
3. Bangkok Winter
4. ฉันไม่ใช่ (คนที่ใช่)
5. Can't Keep Up
6. Worth The Wait
7. It's Not You, It's Me
8. My Black Mirror
9. Can't Have It All
10. Status
11. I Need No One
12. Slipped Your Mine
13. Cut To The Chase
14. The One
15. White Pills (unreleased)
16. Just Being Friendly
17. Send You Off
18. Just So You Know
19. When The Film's Over
20. What's Left
21. Like A Deadman
22. Until Then
23. Same Page
24. Ordinary
25. Baggage
26. Who I Am

Relive Tilly Bird's first concert in Manila with more photos from the show below.

Tilly Birds are set to headline a solo concert in Kuala Lumpur this November, with performances at Zandari Festa and Busan Rock Festival this October.