Keb Daaaarrrrrge!!!

Keb! Keb! Keb!

Keb Darge did a series of sets two weeks ago, and a post may be quite late in coming. It is such a waste, however, not to write about Keb, and his great set, and the fantastic night that I had over at Ten02 last June 11.

My first encounter with Keb took place last year, at The Coffee Bean And Tea Leaf coffee shop, of all places. I remember quite well the conversation he had with Je (Or was it Je who related excerpts of their conversation with me? I cannot remember anymore.). Keb's style of playing is straightforward and he does not indulge much in sound manipulation and loops and such. It is all about in-your-face music.

Two weeks ago, Keb did a couple of sets: I was at the Ten02 leg of his series of gigs. His repertoire was a rousing mix of northern soul, garage, and rockabilly, with some classics (Tutti Frutti, Johnny B. Goode) and recent tunes (Little Lil). Most of the audience responded with equally rousing dance moves (hahah!) At one point, Keb, the dancing master that he is, went down the DJ platform and danced to his heart's content. Guess who took over the turntable that time?

Keb's set was preceded by sets courtesy of Neighbors, Juan Pablo Dream, and Steady Movin' Beat, and the event was hosted by Bisikleta Productions' Hilboy and Neighbors' and Soundblasters' Jon Capistrano. By sunrise, the event was over. Or was it? Rumor has it that Keb will be back once again before the end of the year. An event with Keb is always enjoyable, never mind that he twirled the head off my neck as he attempted to make a dancing queen out of me. (Uh-oh, apparently I am not a very deft dancer like him and Bing.) Thank you Keb for the great moves, great music, and great time. As the great modern philosopher named Gonzales once said: I haven't stopped dancing yet. (Heehee!) Laters y'all!

Juan Pablo Dream

Steady Movin' Beat

The dancing crowd

Keb and Myra Ruaro

Happy Father's Day

The past week has been very hectic! And it does not help that the World Cup is ongoing. Goooaaaallll!

To all the fathers, Happy Father's Day. I know of some great friends who are also great fathers: you are thought of with extreme fondness. :)

Ngayon, Ika-12 ng Hunyo, ay Araw Ng Kalayaan

Ang kalayaan ay isang karapatan.

Independence Day 2010: Muli, Ang Paggunita Sa Araw Ng Kalayaan

Patawarin ninyo ako kung magsusulat ako sa aking sariling wika at hindi ninyo ako maiintindihan. Sa aking palagay ay nararapat lang na sa pagkakataong ito na malapit na ang araw ng kalayaan ay magsulat ako sa salitang sariling akin (sa pagkakataong ito, magsusulat ako sa Tagalog dahil ito ang pinakaalam ko at hindi dahil may kinikilingan akong diyalekto).

Pero, tama na ang mga mabulaklak na mga salita. Nakaugalian na namin sa Trash Radio Manila na maglabas ng isang programa ng mga awiting Pinoy. Ngayong taon, eto ang aking handog. Hindi ako sumablay, hahah! Kasi naman, ispesyal ang pagdiriwang na ito ng Araw ng Kalayaan. Magtatapos na ang halos isang dekada ng pagkapangulo ni Ginang Arroyo, at ang masasabi ko lang ay ...

Hay salamat.

Hindi maikakaila na marami pa rin ang naniniwala sa demokratikong paraan ng pagpili ng ating mga pinuno, at marami pa rin ang umaasa na magbabago ang Pilipinas, na may pag-asa pang magamot ang mga karamdaman ng ating lipunan. Sana nga ay magkaroon na ng pagbabago. Hindi madaling gawin ito. Palasak man ang mga salitang ito, subalit kailangan pa ring maging mapagmatyag, mapagmasid, mag-isip, gumalaw, bantayan ang ating kalayaan. Tayo rin ay nangangailangang maging mapagsuri ... maging ng ating mga sarili. Ano ba talaga ang ating pakay sa buhay?

Narito ang listahan ng mga awitin. Palagay ko, di na kailanagn pa ng pagpapakilala sa mga banda. Naisip ko lang, di ko pa pala napapatugtog rito ang Cocojam at Indio I. Sana ay maibigan ninyo ang mga ito.

1. Lady I - "Freedom Intro" [Siya rin si Irene Tengasantos, anak ng mag-asawang Chong at Chang ng Reggae Mistress.]
2. ETHNIC FACES - "Balikbayan"
3. COCOJAM - "batang Maynila"
4. COFFEE BREAK ISLAND - "Pakikinggan"
5. PINKCOW - "Changes (Justice Not Politics)"
6. INDIO I - "Mag-Ingay" [Kasama sa mga nagsulat at umawit ng awiting ito sina Myra Ruaro a.k.a. Skarlet at Bing Austria ng Juan Pablo Dream]
7. INDIO I - "Harana"

Mabuhay tayong lahat! Kita kita sa tugtugan.

Thoughts On An Incomplete Rainy Tuesday: Incomplete 2, Route 196, June 1, 2010

There will come soft rains and the smell of the ground,
And swallows circling with their shimmering sound;

And frogs in the pool singing at night,
And wild plum trees in tremulous white;

Robins will wear their feathery fire,
Whistling their whims on a low fence-wire;

And not one will know of the war, not one
Will care at last when it is done.

Not one would mind, neither bird nor tree,
If mankind perished utterly;

And Spring herself when she woke at dawn
Would scarcely know that we were gone.

- Sara Teasdale, "There Will Come Soft Rains"

Perhaps the end is indeed near. The weather has gone way haywire. Hot and dry to hot and wet. Temperature reaching 40 degrees Celsius. Then suddenly, acid rain. I thought of Sara Teasdale's apocalyptic poem, written way back 1920, as I was lingering on the sidewalk fronting Route 196, the site of the Incomplete Part 2 gig, last Tuesday, June 1, 2010.

How would you like to go, supposing that the red Tuesday night sky fall on you right that moment? My mind was playing morbid tricks on me. To this question I had a quick and equally morbid answer: I would like to go with a smile. (Pasintabi kay Joker, I borrowed that line from him. Hahah.)

I was in the right place, if that is the case.

It was a warm and pleasant night. And it was not just an acoustic night, for the gig featured the frontmen of some of the most prominent bands in the underground scene (Throw, The GoSignals, Shuffle Union, Coffee Break Island, Shoulder State, SDK). In spite of the rains, people came in, most of them arriving towards the middle of the show. Francis Aguilar opened the show and did the hosting chores. Albert Ascona came next, followed by Al Dimalanta, who played four songs despite the coughs and colds. (Tenacious!) Rio Vargas did a charismatic set, after which Mel and Dennis Maniego of The GoSignals provided the crowd with their brand of mod. Mae of Shuffle Union placed the audience on a trance with her magical voice, while Paul of Coffee Break Island was Mae's perfect foil, his raspy voice tearing the damp early morning air apart.

Jonas Pares (or fondly called Alkaline Duo, which is none other than Kyle and Spyk of SDK) played as well, taking over the slot of Arnold Morales who was not able to make it that night.

[Route 196, like Ten02 Bar, serves good food. I just have to say this.]

Oh, ok. Obviously, the end of the world has not come yet. The apocalypse can wait another day. But never mind. I still went home with a smile on my face.

Francis Aguilar: Lou Reed-esque

Albert Ascona puts the "A" in emo :)

Al Dimalanta: Sticks and stones can't hurt my voice. Yay!

Rio Vargas: hoping to see more of him in the days to come

Their bird can sing: Dennis and Mel Maniego of The GoSignals

Mod toujours: Mel Maniego

Alkaline duo, yeah: Kyle and Spyk

Mae of Shuffle Union: the voice that has enchanted the ska scene for years

Hannah, ska scene's talented photographer

Paul Puti-an: that alcohol-fueled voice of his is simply awesome

More on this slide show:

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Wow gigs!

Check out the siderail for upcoming gigs. Keb Darge is, finally, here in Manila, after being derailed by the nasty ashfall from an Icelandic volcano. He is slated to perform on Friday, June 11, 2010 at Ten02 Bar. Yay! Don't miss out on this one.