The multi-awarded group performed in mainstream clubs on the East and West coasts, playing to stand up crowds at the Viper Room on Sunset Boulevard in Hollywood; the Armory in San Diego; South San Francisco Auditorium; The Gig at Melrose Avenue, Hollywood; the Rhythm Lounge at Downtown Long Beach; and the Knitting Factory, Hollywood in the West coast.

In the East Coast, the group performed at the Roxy in New York, The Lisner Auditorium in Washington, D.C., Pickwick Theater at Park Ridge, Illinois and Maydenbauer Center in Bellevue, Washington.

The group, led by vocalist, keyboardist and musical director Jay Durias, was in the Philippines for a series of performances in Manila in June and July but is set to launch the European leg of their concert tour in mid-July. The group will perform at the Ulster Hall in Belfast, Ireland on July 15 and at the Lampton Park in Hounslow, London on July 16 for the 22nd Barrio Fiesta sa London.

South Border will be back in Manila in August, but only for a while. In September the band will fly to the land Down Under and play to Oz crowds on September 9. From Australia, the group goes straight to the U.S. to fulfill commitments to become the headliners for B.B. King, a chain of popular mainstream clubs in the U.S. B.B. King’s clubs are located all over the U.S., among them, Universal City Walk in California, New York; Nashville and Memphis, in Tennessee where the music legend, B.B. King himself, owns the club.

RAVES IN THE U.S., SHOWS AT B.B. KING’S

While in the U.S, music critics say they have all been waiting for the Asian Invasion. “South Border is just the group to bring it in,” says Gian Fiero, TV and music licensing specialist in California whose professional opinion is highly sought after by gifted music artists in every country. His comprehensive and insightful reviews have garnered the attention and respect of publicists, marketing companies, labels, managers, music business professionals, and music artists alike.

Lucy Slattery, Sharon Inductivo’s co-manager of South Border who takes care of the business in the U.S, says South Border has a very big chance of making it in the mainstream international market. “From their very first show here at the Viper Room, everybody has been telling me that the group is going to be big in the U.S. I have never received any negative feedback at all about the group. All I hear is raves and positive comments, and it’s so motivating.”

“In fact, the South Border CDs that were brought here by the group have been sold out so we had to ask the Manila office to send a couple of hundred more,” continues Lucy. “What is so heartening is that those who bought the CDs at the show at B.B. King’s were all Americans. We’re also very grateful for the support of the Filipino fans here in the U.S. because they came to watch South Border, not just once but three times. There were even some fans who drove six to seven hours from Los Angeles to San Francisco just to see them perform again the next day.”

MUSIC NOT ABOUT COLOR AND RACE BUT GOOD QUALITY

The South Border managers report that Filipino groups have also formed South Border Street Teams in different countries. The group is composed of volunteer fans who help promote the Filipino band abroad. South Border fans all over the world can register for this group at www.thesbstreetteam.com. South Border Street Teams already exist in Japan, Malaysia, Switzerland, Ireland, Germany, London, Australia, Italy, Thailand, Dubai, Canada, the United States and the Philippines.

Lucy and Sharon said the most unforgettable comment they ever got about South Border in the States came from Bruce Penn of BAP Media in New York and who was former manager of the group Allure. Penn said, “South Border doesn’t sound Filipino. They sound like true musicians. This means their music has nothing to do with color and race. They’re all about good quality music.”