This Show Went Off, Indeed! T.S.A. At Hades Bar, February 12, 2011

Back in February of 2010 T.S.A. was in town to play a one-off gig and launch their CD called Back To Kindergarten. As most of you may have already known, this is generally an album of covers, mostly well-loved Pinoy punk and hardcore tunes circa Twisted Red Cross and beyond. T.S.A. paid homage to their punk idols with this outing, and personally I think theirs is one of the best local cover albums in recent history.

Fast forward to 2011.

The Singapore-based T.S.A. had returned for a brief visit, as it is becoming to be their habit every Chinese New Year. The Bulakenyo lads played to a smoldering filled-up venue aptly called Hades Bar at Quezon City (yes yes I know what you guys are thinking, and the answer is yes), supported by some of the very people that they have paid homage to in their recent album.

It is a night replete with booze, ghost scares (LOL!), memorable songs, body slams, and the all-too-familiar old school vibe. I missed the gig last time and so I made sure I attended this one, even enlisting my minute help to Bisikleta Productions' Hilboy just so I will not have any reason to miss out on this event.

Al Dimalanta to a frenzied crowd: you were here, yes? Yes?!

So the story and insights.

Mean mean Jun Idiot

With Hard K

Jun Idiot had two sets, one with  The Imbeciles (hahah :P), the other with Hard K. I have to say that Jun has always been an acquired taste, but for me, and for many people who grew up listening to George Imbecile and The Idiots, and later on, Hard K, Jun Idiot will always be Jun Idiot: brash, loud, can rip the flesh off your bones in his meanest, and yet with a heart. Age may have added to his frame, but the attitude remains, and for that he will always be one of the prominent figures of Pinoy Punk.

Against man negotiates with the punks

Against Man are younger than the rest of the bands that supported T.S.A., but their collective mindset belies their age. I have always liked them for their low-key easy-going nature and their musicality. Will an album be ever out?

Always awesome: Tame The Tikbalang

Orgasm donor^^

Russell!!!!!!

Tame The Tikbalang has always been fierce, and the wild response from the audience reaction is always to be expected. Russell Eustaquio has been and will always be cool in my book (goes way back in the university), and this may sound biased and such, but well, the heck. Forever shall be, Russ. ^^

Al and his "men" :P

"Putang-ina, tatlong lalaki na ang humahalik sa akin ngayong gabi!" (Ugh, hahah am not gonna translate this :P)

That's Al Dimalanta shouting over the microphone after one overjoyed punk after another went up to him and gave him a hug and a kiss. The performance of Al Dimalanta, backed up by the boys of T.S.A.and referred to in jest as Al D and the Architects, has got to be one of the highest points of the night. Seems like Al has yet some tricks up his sleeves for us to marvel at this year. You can never put an angrily creative - or creatively angry? - man down, really.

Buddy and Betrayed: Good to see you again

Yes, Betrayed also played. Yes it is so good to see Buddy Trinidad play after all these years. Yes the set is so familiar, having listened to it so many times. Much as I try not to wax sentimental about Betrayed (because I am, more often than not, UNsentimental), some pangs of stinging memories hit me occasionally during their set. How many times did I see them play, practice in recent times? Originals like Ain't Gonna Fight For You, Betrayed By You, Never Meant To Be This Way, and covers like Babylon's Burning, New Rose and Big Deal are the very tunes that I hear being practiced on a bass guitar within hearing distance in the house where I live in, up until now, not so long ago. [And yet it feels like a lightyear away....]

Pleasant surprise: The GoSignals

And, woooh, The GoSignals came over for a surprise visit. Again, the question begs to be answered: when is the album coming out? Or is it out? Mel, out with it, man. :)

Ojie and Bimboi, T.S.A.

Pedro and Ojie, T.S.A.

Ojie, T.S.A.

Then, of course, T.S.A. The star of the night. The level-headed guys who have represented the local punk scene in Asia and beyond on a good number of occasions. Bimboi. Ojie, and Pedro have created a mark of their own in the Pinoy Punk scene, a path that is definitely less taken. The support that was given them by the pillars of Pinoy Punk during this gig, and in their past ones as well, is more than enough proof that T.S.A. has carved their own spot in the sun.

To T.S.A., all my respect, admiration, and support. Til we meet again. (Thanks by the way for the sisig, peanuts and beer and other things, burp. :P)

LOL LOL

See you again at the gigs y'all.

This Show Must Go Off! And A Playlist To Match! Woohoo!

Eto na! Pardon the use of the quintessential Al Dimalanta quote, but this is what my sentiment exactly is, right now. Eto naaaaaaa!

By now you must have known that T.S.A. is doing a one-night off at Hades Bar on February 12. If you don't, then check out this poster, yea? This is brought to you by your reliable friendly neighbourhood Bisikleta Productions, as well as this blog Trash Radio Manila and Music Speaks Productions.

This is also the perfect opportunity to update my (heehee) sleeping playlist. All-Pinoy, as usual, with the songs coming from the bands who have a lot to do with the guest artists and the main attraction on February 12.

NOTE: Mixpod Player is fucked up, so I am using the BOX Player temporarily. Just Click play. I will try to remedy the situation asap so that you get your music playing the moment you load the Trash Radio Manila blog site.

1. T.S.A. - "Hoy!"
2. Betrayed - "Ain't Gonna Fight For You"
3. Tame The Tikbalang - "Forever Shall Be"
4. G.I. and The Idiots - "The Flag"
5. Throw - "Walang Hustisya"
6. T.S.A. - "Violent Dispersal"

See you all on Saturday!

Up next: Pinkcow did it!

From Punk To Hunk? Or Is It Punky Hunk? Or Hunky Punk?

Whatever. We all know this affable guy anyway.

I am supposed to write about something else, but I just have to write about this. Today's issue of The Sunday Inquirer features Tame The Tiklbalang's Russell Eustaquio, and a few things about some of his passions in life, like punk and hardcore and physical fitness.

Could have sworn though that this is also another way of showcasing Russell's most prominent physical features: his tattoos. :)

Fantastic cover photo. Try to find yourself a copy if you can.

BELIEVE: Throw's Third Album Launch (Saturday, 23 January 2010)

If you were present during the launching of the previous album, Unwavering, you may have probably noticed that last Saturday's affair at the Leprechaun Bar was more sober. It is not a bad thing to be one, though. There may be some reasons for it.

Perhaps, one of those reasons is that January 23 also happens to be the birthday of the late Jay Dimalanta, brother to Throw vocalist/guitarist Al and bassist to the legendary punk band Dead Ends. Or maybe the people were just a little tired and spent from the week's travails. Or maybe, wala lang, I think too much, haha.

Sobriety, however, renders little consequence to the sound of Throw's newest album. Believe is not sober, and Throw is definitely a non-complacent band. Al, together with his crew is, and will always, bite, so to say. Their songs hit the midsection always, and takes a constant, painful stab at politics and the society. The album is dedicated to the memory of three local punk luminaries who have passed on to hardcore nirvana: Jay Dimalanta, of course, Luis "Weslu" Guiang, and Je Bautista. Believe, like the other Throw albums, is, contrary to popular thought, a team effort: Spyk co-wrote Choose and Believe (a very strong track), Dennis was credited for penning Eleksyon and Borrowed with Al, and Albert of course wrote Six and co-wrote Warlord and the Zappa-inspired Screw Yourself.

(But hey, why don't you just pick up a copy of the album? I am meaning to write about the gig.)


I got in just in time to see Talk Sick, the Malolos-based hardcore outfit. (Sorry po, Against Man, I like you guys, pero na-late lang ako, di ko kayo napanood.) Talk Sick does not just rip through their set, the band actually groove, if one listens close enough. I made a mental note to play Talk Sick in the playlist sometime soon. They were then followed by Staid, the hardcore band whose members come from groups such as Half The Battle and Choke Cocoi. I personally admire the efforts of these two bands, as well as the rest of those who endeavour to go outside their homebases to play, and the same thing goes to the audience who support the bands wherever they are. It is the best that one can offer to bands who do not, and will likely never, get the support of popular media.

Spyk's young band SDK (with Dennis Maniego as proxy bassist) followed. Not long ago, Spyk was a gangly teener who just smiled as he banged the drumkit. He still smiles, as if playing the drums is a breeze, but he is definitely getting more and more formidable, and is fast turning into a...heartthrob! (Sounds funny? Wait till you see the giggly girls at the sideline whenever he plays.)

Tame The Tikbalang is one band that I really love for its consistency and competence and I am happy that they are still around and continue to play like demons. No obvious signs of aging so far.

It is good that The GoSignals finally started to play their originals on a regular basis. I am paying a close watch on the band's first album release.

Goo played too. It was a blast to see them cover some Descendents. I saw the crowd liven up and sing along, including, of course, Throw guitarist and unabashed Descendents fan Albert Ascona.

Then it was Throw's turn.

What can I say?

If I talk further, it will be my heart talking...

A somewhat sober night indeed, but still great. My heartfelt congratulations to Spyk, Dennis, Albert, and Al.

And the best way to end the launch? Nekbu!

Till the next album launch! Yay! Yay!

Days Like These (The Horse Of Yokaba's Metal & Hardcore/Punk Nite!, November 28, 2009, Saturday, Leprechaun Bar, QC)

The year 2009 is above to come to a close, consequentially ending what Time Magazine calls "The Decade From Hell". Of course, this is relative, with the article citing disasters of various forms that had hit mainly America and, eventually, most part of the world. The Philippines, for one, did not fare any better, and for a time the running joke within many circles was that our poor country cannot be hard hit by global recession, simply because our economy has long been in recession in the first place.

[Photo at right is from the TIME website; please click here.]

So when someone from another dimension said in a good friend's dream that "Hell is overrated", I can almost believe that this statement was actually uttered and was not just a figment of a grieving person's imagination. Hell is overrated, indeed: this probably is the closest thing to hell for the majority who live far beyond their means.

However, it cannot be all that bad.

Sometimes all we need is just to sharpen our vision. When we do not see anything, we sharpen our reflexes. And then rely on something we call faith.

The music scene, too, went through really hard times, no thanks to information overload and lack of inspiration. (For instance, many of these bands on mainstream sound alike. Worse, I just do not dig the uninspired covers of songs being done left and right.) The scene is starting to lose the stalwarts, and definitely it needs more than just faith to keep the candle burning....

Gigs like Yokaba's Metal & Hardcore/Punk Nite and proponents like Boyet Miguel continue to keep the scene alive, and we need more...

More inspiration, more movers, more sustenance, more involvement....and the list goes on.

Anyway, enough with the rant. Some of the bands that played last Saturday at the Leprechaun Bar were West (which I did not get to see), Mihara (I swear these guys are really better heard live: they are solid.), DOA, Bad Omen, Piledriver, Tame The Tikbalang, and End Of Man. Below are some photos. It was a well-attended affair, and food and beer at my side of the table was, well, near overflowing. (Salamat, Romel!)

Mihara

DOA

Bad Omen

Piledriver

Tame The Tikbalang

End Of Man

More gigs coming up, I do keep the siderail updated with gig posters for the most part (heehee). Kitakits!

...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