Missing Out On A Lot!

I am back. I am in the "back" phase of my "back and forth" sched swings, that is. Seriously, it has been busy.

As a result, I missed out on a good number of events.

I missed Steady Movin' Beat's EP launch.

I missed MAIM's gig in Parañaque.

And, ugh, I missed Carburetor Dung's gig.

So, let me just post this video courtesy of underground fixture Jep Peligro. Thank you in advance, sir, for this one.



So many gigs this month. Check the siderail for the posters. See you around.

...And Then There Was Heartcore

It was a thought borne out of nights of discussion, mostly about how people in the scene are getting older, about those who have passed on and about experiences that people never seem to learn from. Health issues - probably one of the most uncool concerns ever - plague even those who sing about enjoying because "...it's later than you think" (ugh, apologies to The Specials).

Recently these very concerns hit two people - Dennis Maniego and Je Bautista - both bassists to some of the most respected punk bands around. While we rejoice as Dennis recovered from his multiple bypass surgery, Je had not been as fortunate, succumbing to myocardial infarction in spite of vigilant treatment. Sickness, hospitalisation, surgery, death: these are not the problems that any musician would want to have. It is common knowledge that most musicians are exposed to one of the unhealthiest lifestyles on the planet and are one of the most financially under-appreciated persons in the work force. I seriously doubt if most of them have an SSS, GSIS, Philhealth, or an HMO card even.

And so there is Heartcore, a concept backed by these real problems, and more. Last Saturday, May 30, 2009, Heartcore was the name of the gig which was meant to celebrate the recovery of Dennis and the life and times of Je. The bands who played were as follows: S.D.K., The GoSignals, Half The Battle, The Beauty Of Doubt, Throw, Goo, Staid, Tame The Tikbalang, End of Man, Rust Phantom, and Einstein Chakras.

What a night it was, in more ways than one. And the bands. Half The Battle was impressive, and S.D.K. is promising. I found myself singing when Al Dimalanta of Throw started chanting Dead Kennedys' "Kill The Poor" - it is not too often that Al does covers. Was waiting for Mel Maniego of The GoSignals to do the Pete Townshend leap at the end of their set. Check out the photos below.

In the days to come I will expound on the concept of Heartcore more extensively. But suffice to say that the gig has been great, and it was specially great to see Dennis Maniego play the bass like he has done pre-surgery. As for Je, he must have been there too, in spirit, hanging around that particular table where people were eating Baliwag chicharon....

S.D.K.

The GoSignals

Half The Battle

The Beauty Of Doubt

Throw

Goo

Staid

Tame The Tikbalang

End Of Man

Rust Phantom

Einstein Chakras

Heartcore!

MAIM Collective presents Heartcore!, a special gig featuring an impressive line-up: Throw, Tame The Tikbalang, The Beauty Of Doubt, The GoSignals, Goo, End Of Man, SDK, Half The Battle, Bystorm, Staid, and Rust Phantom.

I say special because as far as I know, this gig serves a variety of purposes. Not only is it organised to celebrate both Throw's bassist Dennis Maniego's recovery from his bypass surgery and the life and times of Beatdown Boombox's bassist Je Bautista. Heartcore is a prelude to a health awareness enhancement of sorts, health being a rather uncool and yet a very real concern to all. Yeap, musicians included.

This gig is personally special for me, in many ways. I certainly hope to see you guys at Heartcore! It is going to be on May 30, a Saturday, at the Leprechaun Bar (formerly Purple Haze), located at the end of T. Morato in Quezon City.

*****

And for other gigs, you can update yourself with the posters on the siderail. This Saturday, Bisikleta Productions in cooperation with Dirty Shoes Collective and Tae Productions give you Shit Me Not also at the Leprechaun. Down south, there's an ongoing tour by Play, and a gig produced by SRA will also be held this Saturday at Shan Chai. Better yet, keep your radar on for other gigs. Of course, like I always say, do support these gigs.

MAIM's Less Talk, More Rock at Pasig

MAIM's CAMANAVA takeover gig is cancelled. Instead, an ad hoc hardcore gig is to take place in Pasig City on August 13. The following is the official word:

MAIM "Camanava TAKEOVER" show has been cancelled due to the local government's "takeover" on all liquor-selling establishments around Fatima College. Closure were issued on bars around the said school. We'd like to apologize to all the folks who are expecting us there. However, we will have an ad hoc hardcore show on AUGUST 13. Here are the details:

LESS TALK MORE ROCK!

with:

Throw
The Beauty of Doubt
Tame The Tikbalang
Play
By Storm
Isvarah

Date: August 13, 2008 (wednesday) 8pm

Venue: CUERDAS BAR
C-5 Road corner Pasig Blvd. Bagong Ilog Pasig City

Gate? 30 cheap bucks

And, as always, see ya around, pipol.

MAIM Collective gig at Maru Bar: Galloping With The Untamed Tikbalang

MAIM Collective was formed in 2003, if I remember right. It used to host its gigs at Killah John which is actually the penthouse of John Carpio's house in Marikina. MAIM is nearly synonymous to another reverred name in Pinoy punk who acts as its virtual godfather of sorts. The man is Boyet Miguel, guitarist for Betrayed and Tame The Tikbalang.

I actually lost track of MAIM's activities in the years that followed. So when I heard that there will be a MAIM event at Maru Bar along Jupiter St. (conveniently located near my house), I took time to check it out.

Apparently this gig turned out to be a preview of things to come, since most of the bands that played at Maru were also part of the line-up of Weslu's tribute gig at Purple Haze Bar the following night.

Among those who played were The GoSignals, G.I. and the Idiots, The Nu Militants, and Throw. The revived Music Front made a surprise visit and did 5 songs (Arnold Morales lost his voice in the middle of the set and was relieved on the spot by an animated Jun Idiot.) And then there was Tame The Tikbalang.

In the 90s, two of Tame The Tikbalang's songs have been included in the AlphaNumeric Sampler album produced by the Racket Music Group and released under Alpha Records. The more popular of the two is "Angst" (otherwise fondly referred to as "Alexander"), a song that captured the mainstream audience's fancy with the chant "I can't stand it! I can't stand it!" The song and the band's name undeniably had uncanny recall, so much so that long after Tame The Tikbalang no longer made itself visible to the mainstream, a good number of people still wonder whether the band does gigs or if it still exists at all.

But for those who knew better, there is one likely place where they can find the one and only Tikbalang. Here's looking forward to more Tikbalang sightings at the MAIM gigs.

(In photos: Utter Dismay, Music Front with Arnold Morales, Music Front with Jun Idiot, The Nu Militants, John Carpio of Tame The Tikbalang)

And now for the roll call.Front row: Mel Maniego (Private Stock, The GoSignals), George Imbecile (G.I. and The Idiots), Benjie Sengson (G.I. and The Idiots, Gut Reaction), Nella of the Mandalondon crew

Second row: Al Dimalanta (Dead Ends, Throw), Aji Adriano (The WUDS), Jun Quiane (Deceased, Music Front), Je Bautista (Absolute Zero, Betrayed, Music Front), Boyet Miguel (Ocean Zoo, Ethnic Faces, Betrayed, Tame The Tikbalang), Arnold Morales (College, Urban Bandits, Music Front, Put3Ska), Chiloy (Public Scandal, The Nu Militants), Jun Idiot (G.I. and The Idiots, Hard K), Homer (The Sex Militants)

Back row: Russell Eustaquio (Inquisition, Tame The Tikbalang)

Tonight Is Weslu's 1st Death Anniversary Tribute Gig! (Plus A Peek Into Last Night's MAIM Event)

Are you ready for tonight's event?

(In photo: Kids kind of refusing to pose for a snapshot. Taken beside Maru Bar, Jupiter St., Makati.)

Bisikleta Productions' first main event of 2008 is its tribute gig in celebration of Luis "Weslu" Guiang's 1st death anniversary. Titled "Your Humble Musical Servant," the gig features heavyweight bands such as G.I. and The Idiots, Throw, The GoSignals, The Nu Militants, Juan Pablo Dream, Bembol Rockers, Neighbors, Coffee Break Island, Shuffle Union, Earthlings, Against Man, and the reformed Music Front fronted by no less than Arnold Morales. Do show yourself up at 8pm at Purple Haze Bar located in Tomas Morato, Quezon City.

Which brings me to where I was last night...

Some of the bands above did play last night at the MAIM Collective's gig held at Maru Bar in Jupiter St., Makati City, like The GoSignals, Throw, G.I. and The Idiots, Music Front, and The Nu Militants. It's been a while since I've last been to a MAIM gig, which is almost saying that I haven't seen Tame The Tikbalang play in years.

(In photo: Russell Eustaquio of Tame The Tikbalang in one of his Rollinesque moments.)

Tame The Tikbalang NEVER disappoints. And John Carpio remains as savage behind the drums as ever.

More on last night's MAIM Collective gig at Maru Bar (as well as tonight's event) in the succeeding posts.