The Scene Around: Kaleidoscope

12/27/2015 11:45:49 PM

Barely three months ago, after watching Heneral Luna at a mall in Manila, I decided to jump to another coast after seeing a poster containing some of my favorite bands in one night: Jensen and the Flips, The Ransom Collective, Cheats and even Anj Florendo. The event was situated at Mow’s bar, just at the basement of the famed Kowloon House branch at Matalino Street, Quezon City.

All for the weekend before Tagaytay Art Beat. But this one isn’t organized by any of the production groups I know. Certainly I have no idea who in the world is organizer. Heck, I wasn’t even aware it’s her then-birthday party, too. So it looked like I’m a heck-of-a-gatecrasher who shied away from the celebration and charity matters; and instead only wanting to listen to these awesome bands.

Man, it was also the first time I heard Anj on a literally soloflight and the band called Kombo Kombo. Not bad. Other musicians followed suit during that crazy night; and making Kaleidoscope the highest grossing gig at the bar.

Author: slickmaster | © 2015 september twenty-eight productions

The Scene Around: The Rest is Noise Yearend

12/20/2015 4:26:48 AM

Well, after hitting the EP launch og Mind Money Circuit, yours truly hit up Route 196 (well, for the second time, actually) that evening for another heavyweight night from Vandals on the Wall.

Two-ish in the morning, and I still managed to catch some awesome live music with Cheats, Assembly Generals, SUD, Lions and Acrobats and Tom’s Story rocking the night -- and the approaching holiday rush. And come to think Vandals on the Wall’s premier event had a 16-band lineup at helm, including Bullet Dumas, Autotelic, Ang Bandang Shirley, BP Valenzuela, and Oh, Flamingo!

I quite overhead the crowd for this event on Route 196 was numbered by around 308, perhaps one of the highly-attended events for 2015 aside from the Love Supreme music video launch and Oh, Flamingo! EP launch.Talk about a packed evening to cap the year, eh?

Kudos, Vandals on the Wall for pulling off such feat. Looking forward for more The Rest is Noise by next year!

Author: slickmaster | © 2015 september twenty-eight productions

The Scene Around: Oh, Flamingo! EP Launch

1/10/2016 3:08:31 PM

Perhaps one of the bands who emerged the most this 2015, Oh Flamingo arrived in the nick of time to release their EP last 14 November 2015 at the full-house Route 196 in Quezon City. Yes, just days after they released their new single Two Feet on Jam 88.3 and two weeks before winning the Wanderband contest; thus, being the top Philipine band to perform at the Wanderland festival this coming year!

Yes, it was full house that it made the venue looked like an instant concert venue with an elevated stage as part of the set-up; and a birthday party as its main theme. Yes, with some games and magic segments as part of the program in front of around 300 people.

Joop, Ang Bandang Shirley, Ourselves the Elves, Cheats, and Sandwich also joined the craze during the evening.

Things get even rocking during Sandwich set where vocalist Raiumund Marasigan did a crowd surf to end it all with Procastinator.

Another memorable night in the books for 2015, and another band to notice at the music scene!

Author: slickmaster | © 2016 september twenty-eight productions

Playback: CHEATS (ALBUM)

1/10/2016 2:02:06 PM

Long before I get acquainted into their music. All I then-knew was CHEATS was one of the reasons why the Philippine music here in the country was very much alive. And I’m not talking about how wild their usual sets are. Also, forget the stereotyping of mainstream and underground thingamajigs.

Last July, they formally launched their self-titled album at SaGuijo. And fair enough, nearly half of their released singles became part of the record. 

The price (Php 400) comes with that unconventional package a la pizza box. But the specialty -- which are the ten tracks in the album -- proved them moreover. It’s not just another Locked Down Entertainment product (known for having a very different set-up products such as their albums).

So that perhaps was the reason why this band, comprised of seven including Candy Gamos (FRILLS), Saab Magalona and her husband Jim Bacarro, were the real deal in the scene. No wonder they are headlining Laneway Festival at Singapore later this year!

Their album already said it best. Their lyrical artform (which may sound shorter on their auditory craft but compliments so well), the mixture (much cleaner than their earlier released singles version), perhaps Ely Buendia was a huge help in producing this record at all. There are times I would wonder if this a resemblance of his guitarwork at Pupil or something.

But no. Quite different. And their rock signature can be more popular without the aid of being pop. That alone may be enough basis to own CHEATS and tag them as the best (if not one of the best) albums of OPM for the past year.

LISTEN:

Verdict: 9

Author: slickmaster | © 2016 september twenty-eight productions

The Scene Around: WOWOWOWS SANTA KLAUS

12/27/2015 4:57:24 AM

I remember: going to SaGuijo with barely less than 30 minutes before the show rolls, a taxi wanted to make a one-time flag down fare going there, and it was priced 400 pesos. I kindly refused, though on my mind utters such harsh words: Hey, I don't even spend 200 whenever I go from here to Ayala. Lakas mong manlamang ha?

But anyway, I got a more friendly (and a fair-pricey) one going there at Makati for this heck-of-a-gig-slash-Christmas Party,

Play 4 Serve and Locked Down Entertainment’s Group Study had its one last run for 2015, and it’s not a school tour this time around as SaGuijo was the place for be on that evening of Saturday, 26 December 2015. And it’s called WOWOWOWS SANTA KLAUS.

Ten bands performed during the evening on perhaps one of the wildest yearend gigs to stage by 2015. Us 2 Evil 0 graced the stage, then followed by Squid9 and Flying Ipis--with guitarist Ymi Sy making it to the venue just in the nick of time (well, after coming off from an important gathering).

Assembly Generals also hit SaGuijo despite missing the services of their MPC guy as Raymund Punzalan was attending the soon-to-be-parent duties (Congrats, Mon!). 

The next sequence featured notable names at the local music industry as Chicosci, Imago, Twisted Halo, Sandwich and Pedicab rocked the venue. 

It’s kinda nice when you hear Mayumi doing the vocal chores for what has been a signature song not just from Imago, but also from Aia De Leon too--and I’m talking about Akap. And at the same night, Raiumund sang 2 Trick Pony, Marc Abaya’s last single with the band in mid-2000s from the album Thanks to the Moon’s Gravitational Pull.

Chicosci, Sandwich, and Pedicab turned the bar into a full-house one during their sets, with the heat scorching the audience despite on a cold climate we are having right now. But I must say Pedicab and the last band Cheats tore the house down; making everyone to move with their set of tunes. Damn nice, and damn wild!

Perhaps, another addition to my wildest gigs I have been with for this year! Yeah, kinda late addition, but better be late than never though.

Author: slickmaster | © 2015 september twenty-eight productions