By Alison Roh Park
Local artist Adobro dropped his debut country album Right Here, Right Now at a self-described “Filipino-Fiesta-meets Texas-Dancehall” album release party on July 12th at the historic Austin nightclub, Antone’s.
The crowd made its way in as DJ Chester the Filipino Fist entertained with jokes, auto-tuner, air horn sound effects and one-of-a-kind mashups of country, tejano, cumbia and trap. Next, the ATX Filipino Cultural Dance Troupe performed the complex footwork of the Visayan-originated pre-colonial dance Tinikling in front of the stage. Local singer songwriter Katrina Cain opened with the hauntingly beautiful hit Not in Love.
The master of ceremonies was fellow local musician Jeff “Horti” Hortillosa and he welcomed Adobro on stage in his signature cowboy had and crisp modified barong. The whole eight-piece donned the traditional Filipino shirt with cut-off sleeves, which was good, because they were burning up the stage.
The intergenerational crowd was dotted with cowboy “Boots, Barongs & Bolos” (pun intended), nodding their heads and stomping their feet to every new track from Right Here, Right Now and from a 2025 self-titled EP, including the catchy “Red Horse”, titled after the gold standard in Filipino brew. And while I was snapping and clapping along with every song, I’ll admit have a penchant for Adobro’s softer tracks like the titular “Right Here, Right Now” and “Side Of A Lover”.
Upstairs, the venue was transformed into what felt like a neighborhood block party, and the line for custom cowboy hats stretched across the length of the floor to food stations by Oribello’s Bar and Kitchen and The Green Mesquite. The vendors provided plates of food for purchase that included classic pork adobo that melted in your mouth, crispy lumpia, macaroni salad, a beautifully piped ube tres leches cake, and more. Meanwhile, local Pinoy chef Christian Alquiza handed out tastes of his new green sauce, and an overflow of guests crowded around tiny cafe tables.
From a recent article in KXAN’s Studio 512: “For Adobro, music is about honoring both culture and community. Their signature phrase, ‘Island Roots. Texas Boots’, perfectly captures the band’s mission of combining Filipino traditions with the storytelling spirit of country music.”
The album itself is a solid 11 tracks including “Dang! I’m In Love”, “Side Of A Lover”, “Right Here, Right Now”, “BBQ”, “Boots, Barongs & Bolos”, “Sounds About Right”, “Don’t Sweat the Little Things”, “Good Stuff Lingers”, and “Texas In Our Cup”.
Adobro’s Manila-born, Queens, NYC and Texas roots come through in the traces of the various lineages that have imprinted his musical consciousness along the way. When I read about the dancehall influence in his music I wasn’t sure if it was Texas, Filipino or dancehall reggae, and ultimately, it think it was all three—”Don’t Sweat the Little Stuff” is an example. “Sounds About Right” and “Good Stuff Lingers” evoked more country swing and two-step Americana.
The album includes something for everyone, and for every occasion, and manages to make you a believer in good things. Despite this being his debut album, Adobro’s Miggy Milla is no newcomer to the spotlight—he is a true performer and musician who makes you feel like you’re at a family barbecue.
Check out Adobro’s live set on KOOP’s City Beef, Wednesdays at 8pm.
Clockwise: Oribello’s Ube tres leches, lumpia, pork adobo and macaroni salad