piNoisepop Music Festival

One of the few Asian/Filipino American music festivals in the country, piNoisepop recruits Asian/Filipino American bands from all over the U.S. to perform original music; focusing on bands that are willing to create and perform their own sound through the exploration and experimentation of various music genres, including rock, punk, hip-hop, jazz, indigenous, folk, and world music.

An idea of having Filipino American bands play in one venue was thought about during an Eraserheads show in Oakland back in 1998. The Eraserheads were the biggest alternative band in the Philippines and it was their first time playing the United States. Being supporters of the Philippine alternative scene, a group of friends (including Jesse and Ogie) went to the east bay to check out the show. While waiting in line to buy tickets, Jesse told Ogie of an idea of having a gathering of Filipino bands in one show. It was on the footsteps of the Henry J Kaiser Auditorium where the name"piNoisepop" was born. Having seen punk rock and indie rock shows in San Francisco and the East bay, Ogie and Jesse Gonzales have always craved about playing in a band again. Being a supporter of the San Francsico Noisepop festival, Jesse had an idea of having a Filipino Noisepop festival. The Festival derives its name from the merging of the slang term "pinoy" or "pinay," meaning Filipino man or woman; and "noise" which defines the spontaneous sound of our music, and add a big influence of the Noisepop festival, the word “piNoisepop” was born.

First on the agenda was to find a venue that would support the idea. With the help of friends who were also artists and musicians, the first piNoisepop meeting was held at Bindlestiff Studios. From this meeting, the organization and production team "Pulutan Productions" was created to run piNoisepop. Allan Manalo, actor, stand up comic, and manager of Bindlestiff Studios, gave Pulutan Productions a chance to have this event at the theatre. A press release or submissions to participate in the first piNoisepop was sent out. The circle of artists and friends at Bindlestiff Studios were so excited about this music event that they formed a band in order to play the music festival. A lot of demo packages from Filipino-American bands were received in the piNoisepop headquarters. "We had no idea that there are some fil-am bands out there."

Since its inception in 1998, the Festival has featured several bands, comedians, spoken word artists, dancers, and filmmakers. In three sold-out nights, the Festival features 20 bands, introducing a diverse array of Asian American artists to a broad audience, and helping young artists advance their careers. The Festival was originally conceived as a venue for Filipino American musicians in the Bay Area. In its second year, organizers were stunned to receive applications from Filipino American bands across the country who had heard of the Festival's extraordinary inaugural success. By the third year, the Festival had expanded to include bands from other Asian American communities and presentations in other disciplines. In 2002, the Festival led to a four-month national tour, introducing youth in different cities to the exciting experience of contemporary Asian American music. The goals of the Festival are to promote the Asian American contemporary music scene, to help aspiring musicians perform, and to help them further develop their artistic skills. The piNoisepop Festival helps to break down the barriers between Asian American musicians and an audience hungry to experience the richness of this under-promoted musical field.



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