Two decades ago, a collection of songs was released by a band that was steadily rising to the top yet still unaware of the impact that the album would have on both music fans and the overall landscape of local music. 

Painfully honest songs, melodically soaring and lyrically on-point, captured the sentiments and emotions of a generation going through the same aches of growing up its chief songwriter was going through.

The band was Sugarfree. At the helm was its chief songwriter Ebe Dancel, and that album was Dramachine.

Now an accomplished solo artist with a ton more OPM classics under his belt, Dancel is taking a trip down memory lane and will be treating fans to a night of nostalgia and bittersweet anthems that will surely have audiences singing along (and maybe even shedding a few tears…) with his upcoming Dramachine: 20 Years show at 123 Block Mandaluyong on Jan. 26.

Featuring an impressive lineup of songs in Dancel’s extensive repertoire of hits and favorites, the celebrated album will be performed in its entirety, including standout hit singles like “Prom,” “Hari Ng Sablay,” fan faves like “Kwentuhan” and tear-jerking anthems like “Kandila,” “Tulog Na” and “Kwarto” among others. Dancel will be joined by an impressive cast of musicians, including former Sugarfree drummer Mitch Singson. Jam Quijano will be opening the evening as well.

Asked if he had any inkling during the album’s creation that those songs would forever resonate with listeners decades later, Dancel humbly states: “I don’t think I have an answer for that – they were just songs written by an average guy about everyday life… I never thought of the songs as arena songs or anthems – I just made sure I could sing along to it.”

When further asked how the creative process for Dramachine was, Dancel shares: “I remember we were touring almost every day for weeks – we’d be in the studio writing and recording, then rush to a gig in the evening and would come back to the studio after to see what we could finish. It was fun, and because we were young, we could bounce back from anything… It was produced by Raymund Marasigan and Buddy Zabala, who allowed us to do what we wanted.”

Truly, this is a show that no serious die-hard would want to miss. Presented by BALCONY ENTERTAINMENT, tickets for the show are now available online via event partner BACKSPACER RECORDS (https://bit.ly/dramachine20), but they’re going fast – regular tickets are at PHP 1,200.00 and special tickets which include the vinyl and official merchandise are still available at PHP 3,300+.

“It’s a celebration of the album that introduced us to the whole country,” Dancel says when asked what fans can expect from the show. “Come for the songs and the memories – eat, drink, and sing-along; throughout the years, the fans keep me in the industry… This show will also kick off my 25th year in the business: I am eternally grateful that there are many reasons for all of us to celebrate.”