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It
was always about the music. At the risk of sounding
just a tad too militant, saGuijo’s prime objective
is to provide a proper venue for the music lover. In
the spirit of the late, great Club Dredd, we aim to
work as a location where unsigned bands and independent
groups alike can perform alongside more established
acts. Rather than being an out-and-out performance space
where musicians are required to cover the latest Top
40 hits, saGuijo is a bastion for individual creativity.
We like to think of our artists as true talents and
live performances as a healthy alternative to the spirit-crushing
programming that television bombards us with on a daily
basis. Although firmly rooted in the traditions of a
rock club, we encourage experimentation with the entire
musical spectrum…be it in pop or folk, jazz or
rap, funk, electronica and even soulful ballads. Genres
be damned, we seek the fresh, the vital and, above all
else, the original in contemporary Filipino music.
More importantly, saGuijo is a community. It is a safe
haven where emphasis is placed on informed ideas and
unfaltering passion. This is not your typical “see-and-be-seen”
nightspot…and if you’re into that type of
thing, there are many just down the road. This is a
place where patrons and performers alike can (quite
literally) let their hair down. No judgment. No pretentiousness.
No social bigotry. SaGuijo is about genuine fun and
good conversation. And if, along the way, you happen
to make a new friend, enjoy a few beverages and listen
to some really good tunes, you can rest easy knowing
that you’re always welcome to come back.
And when a brief respite from the music and controlled
chaos is necessary, you can always take a breather upstairs.
In the all-encompassing spirit of an alternative space,
saGuijo is proud to house its very own gallery for the
visual arts. Showcasing today’s up-and-coming
talents (along with more recognizable maestros), The
Theo Gallery is quickly gaining a reputation as a home
for the avant-garde. No concept is too far-out, no image
too unpalatable as long as the work is grounded in sincerity.
Like its namesake (Theo Van Gogh), the gallery is a
staunch believer that the process of creation is a labor
of love rather than economics. Romantic as that notion
may sound, The Theo prides itself on artistic integrity…as
a location and with its growing roster. Without being
contrived or trite about it, saGuijo is built on the
principles set forth by previous Bohemian Revolutions
(c’mon, we all know the song): “Freedom.
Beauty. Truth. Love.” Clichéd, yes, but
oh-so necessary in these dire times. Just check your
baggage at the door. At the very least, a night at this
bar is one hell of a good time.
-Chris Carlos |
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