Kagatan 28 brings in huge crowd of vinyl lovers

Kagatan 28 brings in huge crowd of vinyl lovers

by rick olivares

Kagatan 28, the third of the quarterly vinyl record sales held at that bohemian and artist’s enclave, Cubao X, last August 26, has come and gone. And of the three held thus far, this one was the best attended with a steady stream of music fans coming and going all throughout the day.

Every quarter, over a dozen record sellers based in the northern part of Metro Manila exhibit their wares with DJs spinning vinyl all day long.

The last two editions saw a lean attendance. However, this Kagatan 28, there were more people including a lot of new faces. And a whole lot of records from varying genres, conditions, prices, and origins (pressings) traded hands on that day with some terrific selections in the bins.

Among the interesting titles spotted on sale were a first pressings of Nirvana’s In Utero and New Order’s Substance, Xmal Deutschland’s hard-to-find Incubus Succubus, the ever-popular New Wave classic Bringing Home the Ashes from the Wild Swans, the Pretty in Pink soundtrack, the single of the Care’s “Flaming Sword,” and Pinoy Rock legend Mike Hanopol’s new album, Hanopology: Ang Sekreto. And as always, a bunch of Original Pilipino Music records from the 1970s and 80s were on hand, however, pricey.

That didn’t stop one person from getting Sampaguita’s debut album for P3,000. Near mint to very good conditions of that album fetch anywhere from P5-7,000! The king of the hill in terms of desired OPM releases are albums of the Juan Dela Cruz Band that are very pricey.

One American expat in attendance was looking for an album by legendary folk group, Asin. Unfortunately, there wasn’t any available.

This was the first Kagatan in a while that had a bit more variety as there were music-themed t-shirts on sale. And seven-inch singles were also prominently on display this time around thanks to aficionados like Jamie Lim, Elwyn Zalamea, Roland Savellano, and CIVG. “There are more buyers for seven-inch singles,” affirmed Lim. “In fact, Arbie Bulaong of Treskul Records and Café has started a vinyl bazaar for 45 (rpm speed) buyers. The first was last July and the next one is this October.”

For the record enthusiast, there’s a sense of anticipation every time there’s a sale. When a seller brings down his stocks, there’s a scramble to get first dibs on the goodies. Sellers always gear up for the sale, ensuring they have new titles.

Said Bulaong, “As much as possible, we bring interesting records to every event. Not necessarily premium high items, but cool records that might appeal to the diverse crowd of Kagatan.”

Lim also corroborated the variety of the products (outside the main Record Store Day event): “What has prevented me from selling most of the time is that when I sell, I miss out on so many great finds that in my experience I can only find in Kagatan. The most diverse sellers and definitely, the best prices.”

However, part of the appeal of these record fairs is the fellowship. The chance to chat with fellow music fans, about their purchases, and well, music.

One enthusiast feasted on the bargain bins where records ranged from P50-100. “I am a student and am on a very tight budget,” he said. “It would be nice to get the records such as Carole King’s Tapestry in better condition, but when I can afford to upgrade then I will.” This fan works at a nearby supermarket and spent hard-earned P1,000 on a bunch of records.

Kagatan 28 was also notable for a lot of new faces in the crowd especially of the younger set. One young buyer who is in his mid-20s and wearing a New Order Substance shirt related that he has gotten into vinyl in the past four years. When asked why he prefers the analogue format over streaming or downloads, he said that he liked that he could touch the records, read the lyrics, and admire the album artwork. He not only buys the music of today but also has backtracked to the music of yesteryear.

And that is the magic of music and vinyl. They define our lives, are balms that soothe, and are time machines that take you back.

The next and last Kagatan for the year is slated for some time in November.