Ang Bandang Shirley (or Shirley) is a Filipino pop rock band which started in 2003, with Owel Alvero and Emmanuel (Ean) Aguila as the original members. With the eventual addition of other band members—Joe Fontanilla, Zig Rabara, Jing Gaddi, Selena Salang, Heidi Pascual, Kathy Gener, Enzo Zulueta, and Debb Acebu—Shirley is seen by peers and younger artists as one of the most influential groups in the Filipino independent music scene, being dubbed as "masters of romantic songcraft".
The band's name came from one of the b-side songs of fellow Filipino band, Eraserheads, entitled "Shirley". According to Alvero in an interview, the song was chosen to represent their group as the lyrics of its chorus pretty much reflect their music and their personalities. "Ang Bandang" was affixed not only to put the band's name on top of any list arranged alphabetically, but also to add spunk to its sound.
As many feature writers quite unanimously put it, Shirley's complex yet relatable music can be described as having "catchy" beats and "infectious" tunes while still having that ability to sing one's heart out and convey one's innermost feelings, may it be due to a heartbreak or a surge of infatuation. Lyrics laced with colorful and empathetic metaphors, live audience and record listeners are often left more in touch with their feelings after having listened to a song or two.
Shirley has released three full albums since their conception, Themesongs (2008), Tama Na Ang Drama (2012), and Favorite (2017). They usually perform live in local bars, such as Route 196 and Mow's Bar in Quezon City and Saguijo Cafe in Makati City. Currently, the band is under independent label Wide Eyed Records Manila; previously, the band was with Terno Recordings.
History
Owel Alvero and Ean Aguila came together in December 2003, around the time Eraserheads disbanded, in an audition for a class project at the University of the Philippines in Diliman, but they did not form the band just yet during this time. It was Alvero, together with Rabara, Gaddi, and Fontanilla who started the band that is now known as Ang Bandang Shirley. Not long after, they took in more people as part of their group. This includes Aguila and Salang, who are mainstays of the band until today. Other additions are Pascual and Gener, the former eventually leaving the band and the latter becoming the band's manager. This collaboration translated to an evolution of their sound. By 2006, they have grown to an eight-member group, all of whom came from UP Diliman. This group consequently gave birth to their first album, Themesongs in 2008.
From this point up to 2012, when they released their second album, Tama Na Ang Drama, the band relayed in an interview how each member grew as different persons and how they had to transition to varying phases in their individual lives. Some of the members got married and had children. Pascual had to leave the band to focus on parenthood and other aspects of her life. Others continued to learn more techniques and became more exposed to various influences. Together with these changes, the remaining members adapted by putting a spin to their music, making their sound less saccharine and more courageous and daring. Furthermore, while most of the songs in Themesongs were primarily penned by Alvero and Aguila, Tama Na Ang Drama introduced the works of other members, making the album's sound more eclectic.
In 2015, Gaddi retired from the band to focus on his professional career as a lawyer. This made way for the addition of Enzo Zulueta as the new bass guitar player of the group.
Since the release of their second album, the band has performed live on a number of stages in gigs and music festivals, not only locally but also abroad (see Notable Performances). Some of their songs have also been used in various independently-produced films, such as "Endo", "Ang Nawawala (What Isn't There)", and most recently, "I'm Drunk, I Love You". The band also covered a Sharon Cuneta track, Takot Akong Umibig, for the film, "Every Room is a Planet". Theme Song, the carrier single of their first album, has been used in the Cornetto Disc TVC in 2013. They have also appeared in the TVC and print ads of FWD Insurance.