The Dawn: Forty Years On

Two weeks before the seasoned Pinoy rock band takes the stage for their much-awaited 40th anniversary concert, The Dawn discover that they have a problem.

Guitarist Romel “Sancho” Sanchez narrates that after putting their entire set list on Logic, he realized that it was several songs too long. “Overtime kami sa expected [run time], kaya magbabawas kami ng kanta,” he says. “Kaya pag-uusapan namin kung ano ang mga pwedeng tanggalin. Ang dami nang kanta na hindi masasama, ngayon mababawasan pa.”

“There was a lot of sculpting and trimming and ganyan, only to realize, ‘Well, actually, that song will have to go,’” adds guitarist Francis “Kiko” Reyes. “So, it’s a little heartbreaking, because there are songs that we were looking forward to playing. But in the grand scheme of things, it has to be a nice, compact show.”

The exchange triggers laughter among the members of The Dawn, although the dilemma is very real. After four decades, a dozen studio albums, and well over a hundred songs to choose from, the challenge facing vocalist Jett Pangan, drummer Junboy Leonor, guitarists Reyes and Sanchez, and bassist Bim Yance is no longer whether they have enough material. It is deciding what has to be left out.

That process has become a central part of preparing for The Dawn – KWARENTA, the band’s 40th anniversary concert happening on June 27 at The Theatre at Solaire. This time around, rehearsals have taken on a different dynamic with musical director Gino Cruz helping shape the show. Longtime collaborators and former members will also be part of the celebration, turning the concert into both a retrospective and a reunion.

“It’s painful,” Sanchez admits of the song selection process. “Kung pwedeng six hours ‘yung show, walang problema.”

The presence of former members has helped narrow down the choices. According to Leonor, certain songs naturally found their way into the set because of who will be joining them onstage. Longtime bassist Carlos Balcells, former guitarist Kenneth Ilagan, and ex-bassist Buddy Zabala are among those expected to appear.

For Reyes, Balcells remains deeply intertwined with what many fans recognize as The Dawn’s signature sound. “Siya ‘yung template. Tone pa lang, eh — it’s this big bass tone,” he says.

The discussion inevitably turns into stories about former bandmates and the different directions The Dawn might have taken. Sanchez wonders how the band’s music would have evolved had sometime session guitarist Noel Mendez stayed longer. “Baka ngayon fusion na ang The Dawn kung nag-stay si Noel,” he jokes.

Yet the contributions of former members continue to live within the band’s catalog regardless of lineup changes. Pangan points to “Ang Iyong Paalam,” co-written with Zabala, as an example of a song whose original character remains intact decades later.

That sense of continuity may be one reason why The Dawn’s music has endured through shifting trends, changing technologies, and multiple generations of listeners. Few Filipino bands can claim to have remained active for 40 years while retaining both their identity and audience.

Curiously, the members don’t seem particularly interested in dwelling on the number.

“Ako, I feel it whenever I’m not with the band,” shares Pangan when asked when the passage of time becomes most apparent. “Pag kasama ko sila, we’re a band just like any other band, especially when I’m onstage already. That’s when, corny as it sounds, time stops.”

The others quickly agree.

“When you’re performing, the energy level [rises],” says Leonor. “Time stops, [and it’s like] you’re back in the ’80s.”

“Pag nasa stage ka, hindi mo maramdaman na matanda ka,” Sanchez adds.

That mindset extends to how the band approaches its legacy. While preparing for KWARENTA has naturally prompted reflection, The Dawn appear less interested in nostalgia than in creating the best possible show.

Some of the deeper cuts being considered for the set have already triggered memories. Pangan mentions revisiting a fan-favorite song from the band’s early years and immediately recalling the chaos of ’80s concert tours and parking lot encounters with passionate supporters.

Other surprises await fans. Sanchez reveals that piano-driven songs “Runaway” and “Little Paradise” will be performed in arrangements closer to their original recordings, while Leonor finds himself returning to an instrument he abandoned decades ago.

“I used to play piano,” the drummer explains. “I stopped because I had to select [between piano and drums], ‘Drums na lang muna ako.'”

Beyond the set list, however, the band’s greatest challenge may be resisting the temptation to chase relevance in an industry obsessed with what’s next.

Pangan is particularly thoughtful on the subject. “That word ‘relevant’ has been thrown around in a lot of interviews,” he says. “And I really don’t like using that word as a conversation piece. Because when you say you wanna be relevant, you’re already trying.”

Instead, he believes music’s value comes from its ability to connect with listeners regardless of era: “I don’t think we should do anything deliberate to make us sound cool or hip.”

It is a philosophy that has guided The Dawn through changing musical climates, from the rise of alternative rock and grunge to the streaming age. There were moments, Pangan admits, when he considered writing songs influenced by prevailing trends, but those impulses ultimately gave way to authenticity.

“You wanna be true to yourself first. Everything else follows.”

As June 27 draws closer, the prevailing mood inside the camp is neither anxiety nor self-congratulation. It is excitement. They have full confidence and trust in what concert director Paolo Valenciano has planned for them and the audience. The band continues refining the set, making difficult decisions, and rehearsing for a show that will bring together old fans, younger listeners, friends, family, and former members.

After 40 years, The Dawn are still doing what they have always done: getting into a room together, arguing over songs, telling stories, and preparing to step onstage to deliver a rock show worth seeing, with songs that both they and their longtime fans have grown up (and grown old) with.

“It’s really just a celebration,” says Pangan. “Hopefully it’s gonna be one big party.”