Reality Club Talk Dried Mangoes, Basil Valdez, And Their Asia Tour

Last December 2, Indonesia’s indie rock outfit Reality Club wrapped up their Asia tour at no other place but Manila.

Composed of members Era Patigo on drums, Faiz Novascotia Saripudin on vocals and guitar, Fathia Izzati on vocals, and Nugi Wicaksono on bass, the band made stops in Thailand, Taiwan, Malaysia, and Indonesia.

“Surprisingly, it went very well,” Izzati shares. “We’re just very happy. Every stop is always different, obviously because they’re different countries. But even how the fans react is also different. It’s really interesting. We can’t wait to do more!”

Saripudin adds that this is the first time they’ve visited some of the countries on the list, especially with the full crew. “Back then, we would have to be the ones setting things up and everyday. Actually, for some of the crew members, it’s their first time going abroad! Those are the nice moments.”

The Philippines was one of those stops where it was their first time visiting the country. When asked what they were the most excited about when coming here, the band rattled off a list of their expectations, especially since they had just arrived at the venue and were waiting for their set to start.

“I can’t wait to see [our fans’] faces…to look them in the eyes and see real people, not just listeners or numbers,” Izzati says to start.

“I want the dried mangoes,” Patigo adds. Saripudin jumps in, talking about the different kinds of food he wants to try while they’re here. “Every country has their own different food, and I want to check it out. But the fans…I’m really excited to see them.”

The crowd was equally excited to see Reality Club too. During the band’s soundcheck with the roadies, fans were already crowding the front of the stage, and singing along to short snippets of the songs as crew members fixed up the sound.

However, it’s not just the fans that the quartet was excited to see. Before coming to the country, they had already listened to some Filipino songs. Patigo, for example, unexpectedly sung a snippet of Basil Valdez’s “You.” Saripudin on the other hand is a fan of IV of Spades, while the other band members mention rapper Alisson Shore, who they met earlier this year at the AXEAN Music Festival.

As the band made their way to the stage, 123 Block was drowned out by the screams and voices of the audience. Reality Club pulled out all the stops for their debut show in the Philippines — complete with choreography, letting an audience member sing part of a song, and an overall stellar performance.

With the fans cheering for an encore — although the band had to leave — it’s clear that Filipino fans still want more.

The band recently announced their North American tour, set to kick off this March 2024 in Seattle. As they depart Asia, the band is sure that they want to return to the country in the future. As Izzati says, to close, “It’s been such a happy time for us. We want this to be a regular thing!”

Listen to Reality Club’s latest album, Reality Club Presents… below.