Last Dinosaurs gave their all

February 6, 2025 | 12:00am

What impressed us most about Last Dinosaurs, when they breezed into Manila for a show before the end of the year, was their work ethic.

On the morning of Dec. 8, 2024 — the day they were set to perform at the SM North EDSA Skydome — Julian Mauricio jumped out of bed as soon as his alarm went off because he had an 11 a.m. interview with the band and didn’t want to be late. After dressing in record time, he got into a cab that took him to a hotel in the heart of Araneta Center, Cubao. On the sixth floor, he found the rest of our team waiting by a table across from a room with teal double doors.

It was then that we learned the band had come straight to the hotel from the airport. We were caught off guard. Since they had flown in from abroad, we figured jet lag would send them straight to their rooms to rest before doing interviews and prepping for the show. Honestly, we wouldn’t have blamed them had they decided to catch a few z’s — who would? But they hit the ground running instead.

When we finally sat down with Last Dinosaurs members Lachlan Caskey and Michael Sloane, we were happy to find that they still had plenty of energy after hours on an international flight and dealing with airport security. In fact, they were bright-eyed, bushy-tailed, and ready to tackle my questions about their influences, journey, and more.

When asked about the origins of the band’s name, Lachlan explained that it was chosen by their former drummer and his brother, Sean Caskey, who is also the band’s lead singer. “They picked it because it’s the name of a song by a Japanese band called The Pillows,” he said. “That’s all it is, really. It’s just another sort of semi-meaningless band name.” However, Lachlan eventually acknowledged that the name does have a deeper significance. He revealed that the Japanese word for “dinosaur,” ky?ry? , coincidentally contains the syllables of both his and Sean’s names in Japanese.

The band has no immediate plans for new material. “We haven’t had time, because we just released an album,” Sloane explained. Lachlan added that while they’ve been tossing around some ideas, nothing is set in stone. Once they wrap up their current international tour, they’ll decide whether to keep touring or focus on putting together another record.

At the time of our interview, however, their focus was firmly on touring. They were particularly excited to be back in Manila after half a decade. During that time, the band kept tabs on their Filipino fans, who continued to support them online. “We know from past shows that they’re a great crowd,” Sloane told the PULP Magazine team excitedly. “It’s a country that we, you know, regret to have missed out on for five years.”

All that excitement and regret translated into exceptional fan service. The band hosted two meet-and-greets at the SM North EDSA Skydome — one before the show for fans who bought items from the Dinomart and another afterwards for VIP ticket holders. At the post-show session, they signed items for attendees, going the extra mile to ensure that everyone felt appreciated.

The Dinomart, set up just outside the entrance to the venue, was a hit with concertgoers. It featured a wide range of official merchandise, including hoodies, T-shirts, vinyl records, and exclusive tour items, giving fans tangible mementos of the unforgettable night.

The show opened with a stellar performance by Filipino band Oh, Flamingo!, who shared how Last Dinosaurs had been an inspiration to them in their early days. When Lachlan, Sean, and Sloane finally took the stage for the main event, the crowd erupted in excitement. They launched into their set with Afterlife, Shallow Boy, and Forget About, setting the tone for a high-energy performance.

The setlist blended old favorites with tracks from their recent releases, including Keys to Your Civic, FMU, and Elton. One of the night’s best moments came when they brought Billie Dela Paz of Oh, Flamingo! on stage to perform an alternate version of Sense with Filipino lyrics. They also dedicated Beaux-Mont to their longtime supporters. Later in the evening, they kept the energy going with performances of Paranoia Paradise, Wurl, Italo Disco, and Weekend.

As the show neared its end, Last Dinosaurs delivered crowd favorites Auto Sabotage, Apollo, Bass God, and the ever-popular Zoom. When fans chanted Isa pa! asking for an encore, the band returned with Stream before closing the night with a heartfelt rendition of Andy.

From the moment they landed in the Philippines, Lachlan, Sean, and Sloane gave their all, making sure their Filipino fans got their money’s worth. Their commitment to delivering a top-tier performance made their return both meaningful and memorable, leaving fans with lasting memories and the promise of seeing them again. (With guest writer JULIAN MAURICIO)