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:

****

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.

Defy The Tragic End: Dissecting The Beauty Of Doubt New EP (Dissection Courtesy Of Filter Zine's Femme Fatale)

Two Saturdays ago, I forgot that I am not a superwoman. I had planned to initially check out Rude Maynila: Ikalawang Yugto at Sazi's Bar before going to the launching of The Beauty Of Doubt's new EP over at Ten02 Bar. While I was able to show up at Bisikleta Production's comeback gig (fun as always), I failed to catch The Beauty Of Doubt play, which is such a shame because the person who pitched in for semi-retired TBOD guitarist Albert Ascona was none other than Boyet Miguel of Tame The Tikbalang and Betrayed fame.

How could I have missed that awesomeness? The crowd was present but was about to disperse when I arrived at Ten02 at a little past 12 midnight. I was told that 3 (or was it 4?) bands originally slated to play did not play that night, and so the whole gig was finished earlier than expected. I grabbed a copy of the new EP (100 bucks lang po) which contained takes of the singular theme "Just Matter".

Now Mina, a.k.a. the main person behind Filter Zine, has written a rather riveting review of the EP. Mina is herself a riveting writer: I personally enjoy reading her works. I have asked her permission to reprint her review and she agreed. Now here it is: read on. It is probably the closest thing to having a copy of the EP, which I strongly suggest that you get a hold of as soon as you can.

JUST MATTER (EP)
All songs by The Beauty of Doubt
Album artwork and design by JL Burgos
Produced by Counterflow Records

The strum of the guitars and blast of the drums stopped abruptly. I found myself staring at the monitor for a minute or so. I couldn't say a word. I couldn't move my fingers to type anything. The past minutes since I loaded the cd to the player gave me flashes of unending walks in chaotic streets under the blazing tropical heat with people shouting and I,wanting to shout in unison with them. As soon as the music stopped the silence felt deafening. I was emotionally struck.
Just Matter is 10-minute journey of looking at our own lives: how we lived it, how we will spend the rest of it. The sense of reflection and aggressive delivery of the lyrics will have listeners relate to any one, if not all, of the three songs.

"Are we just matter floating
like tiny specks of dust
in an eternity of space?
Are we just matter with no
bearing on anything
devoid of purpose or meaning?
Are we just matter floating
towards a tragic ending?
Are we just matter
destined for a tragic end?"

The past months I would jokingly say that I am having a "premature midlife crisis" (or quarterlife crisis... if ever there is such a thing). Major changes in relationships had caused me to take a better look at my life and things I had set aside to live in acceptable standards. (Are We) Just Matter was able to sum up how discontended I feel of myself and how I had lived the past 27 years. I think most of us comes to a point the same as this. And that people get to have a realization that they are just travellers and this idea urges them to take a bigger, heavier step and leave a mark. Personally I think this makes the idea of death quite acceptable.

"No. I won't spend another day
in this void existence.
And I won't waste another breath
living a fettered life.
And I won't let myself
submerged into nothingness.
No. I won't waste my life."

(We Should) Just Matter is a response to the sense of living in idleness expressed in the first track. It is the second stage wherein after one had identified what's lacking, he'd come up to a decision and start putting such decision into action. The heavy riff definitely adds to the lyrics sense of taking a stand. The band may have (or may not have) the full intention of expressing the levels of consciousness: raising awareness, mobilizing, organizing. But regardless of personal or political ideals, one would relate to this because TBOD voices out questions that we all have lingering inside our minds.

"All the courage you have shown
the seeds that you have sown,
may it grow in all of us.
And when they took you away
into uncertain fate,
we still hope you come home safe
and that they pay."

(A) Just Matter is a tribute to all Desaparacidos (people who chose to "matter," as Ron would say it). Personally, this is the most shattering song in the EP especially for someone who may have a family, a friend or had simply been acquaintted with someone who had been a victim of political killings or political-related injustices. TBOD had included names of Desaparacidos at the ending part of the song and the mixed sadness and anger in it can make one shout along with the line "Surface them now!"

Overall, Just Matter is a three-staged travel. Sit back and close your eyes. Move and shout in full hardcore madness if you feel like it. Then right after the journey, open your eyes into a different perspective.

*****

For more on Mina and Filter Zine, you can click on the link HERE.

Paalam, Daddy Malcolm

Numero (para sa alaala ni Daddy Malcolm)


Ang tao nga ba ay isa lamang numero?
Kahalintulad ng mga tala sa pisngi ng kalangitan.
May mga bituin na nabinyagan ng maririkit na pangalan,
mga bituing magaganda sa ating paningin...
Subalit mas marami pa sigurong mas magagandang tala
na kailanman ay hindi magiging abot-tanaw,
sa ating kamalayan, isa lamang silang
numero.

Ano ba ang kahulugan ng kamatayan ng isang nilalang
sa kabuuan ng sangkatauhan?
Napakaraming tao sa sandaigdigan para maunawaan ko silang lahat
at angkining bahagi ng buhay ko.
Ano nga ba ang bahagi mo sa buhay ko,
Manong magsasaka sa hilagang Tsina,
Mamang mananayaw sa Nuweba York,
Manang misyonaryo sa puso ng Aprika,
Aleng kumakain ng keso sa Kanlurang Pransiya....
Ano ang saysay ninyong lahat sa buhay ko?

Kung sasabihin ko, "Wala,
Hindi ko kayo nakikilala,
hindi ko alam ang buhay nyo, pati na ang
pangalan nyo",
Marahil nga, marahil nga,
Ang bawat isa sa atin ay isang numero.
May takdang panahon ng kapanganakan,
May takdang panahon ng kamatayan.

Subalit...

Ayokong maniwalang ang mga taong mahal ko ay
mga numero lamang.
Para sa akin,
higit pa sila sa mga naggagandahang bituin na
bininyagan ng mga siyentipiko.
Para sa mga taong mahal ko,
Aangkinin ko, pati ang pagkakilanlan ng mga taong
kailanman
ay hindi ko makikilala,
huwag lamang silang tawaging
isang numero lamang.

(Hindi po ako manunula, pero naisip ko lang isulat ito. Inspirasyon ni Daddy Malcolm, pati na rin ng usapin kahapon tungkol sa pagyoyosi at pag-inom ng kape ng karamihan sa mga manunulat.)

*****
Ernesto Basa Dimalanta
a.k.a. Daddy Malcolm
(1927-2010)

Para sa mga hindi nakakikilala kay Daddy Malcolm, siya ay ang ama nina Al at Bunek, at isa sa mga personalidad noong panahon ng tagsibol ng Pinoy Punk. Siya ay kasalukuyang nakaburol sa Funeraria Floresca (Letre) [isang deretsong sakay ng bus puntang Letre, pagkatapos ay isang maikling sakay sa tricycle] at sa aking pagkakaalam ay ngayon na ang huling araw ng burol. Siya ay ihahatid sa kanyang huling hantungan sa Navotas Cemetry bukas ng alas 9 ng umaga.


Katuwang na poste sa The Last Song Syndrome.

Post-Election Gigs Gigs Gigs

Two interesting gigs will be held this coming Saturday, and I advise that you guys check them out, as part of your "post-election" to-do chores (haha).

(Of course, that does not mean that you are letting your guard down. Every Filipino's task right now, after having made a choice last Monday - voter or abstainee - is to be vigilant.)

The first gig is the EP launch of The Beauty Of Doubt which will take place at Ten02 Bar. This is a gig worth watching since Boyet Miguel of Tame The Tikbalang and Betrayed will be performing guitar chores for the band, aside from the fact that TBOD has not had a release in a while.

The second gig is Rude Maynila Ikalawang Yugto by second-time balikbayan Hilboy of Bisikleta Productions. This will be held at Sazi's Bar in front of UST. You may catch any one of these gigs, or be present in both ... your call.

Also worth mentioning (although this one will not happen this Saturday, but on Wednesday next week) is a not-so-frequent chance to see Bane live. The gig will take place in Balibago Complex in Santa Rosa, Laguna on May 19. It is strongly suggested to get your asses down South at the first opportunity to see this hard-hitting hardcore group.

See you at the gigs!

(... and please ... when you get to the gig (or anywhere else for that matter), please please bring something to cool you down, like a fan, or mineral water or drink, or a face towel. The summer heat can take a serious toll on one's hydration status, so please, take care of yourselves. Be safe, everyone.)

Pambansang Halalan 2010: 3 Araw Na Lang!

Mainit!!!

The title says it all. Everything is practically hot. The weather is hot and dry and humid. The political climate is very very hot, with the national elections 11 days away. Many people's heads (and probably their libido) are just as hot.

I am also uncomfortably hot and and not too keen about making a noveletta, so here's the playlist, which is a little of dub, a little of ska, a little of dancehall, and much in between. Check out the two local inclusions: Shuffle Union's crowd pleaser "Batty Boy" live at Mogwai last January 2009 and Goodleaf's "Solusyon Ka Ba O Problema" from their debut album Dubpilipinas released this year.

I wish to thank Hilboy for providing the updates the siderail during my absence (grabe Hil, marami na akong utang sa iyo), and to everyone for checking out the blog in spite of my, ugh, delinquency (ouch). Do check out the upcoming events, posters for which can be found at the siderail.

Tracklist:

1. MEGA BANTON - Sound Boy Killing
2. LAUREL AITKEN - Mad About You
3. SHUFFLE UNION - Batty Boy (live at Mogwai, Jan 2009)
4. ORGANIZED KONFUSION - Open Your Eyes
5. ROOTS RADICS MEETS KING TUBBYS - Low Down
6. GOODLEAF - Solusyon Ka Ba O Problema

Music Speaks, April 6 at Route 196

Unang pagbasa ayon kay Lourd De Veyra

Oftentimes, overusing the phrase "random acts of kindness" annoys me a bit. I cannot fathom how choosing a definite recipient of a supposed random benevolence can be left to chance. Unfortunately, however, one is sometimes overcome by a feeling of a natural "high" (I am guilty, sometimes) and a want to just, just do something nice to anyone.

Caliph8 and Malek Lopez (Drip, Rubber Inc)

The phrase crossed my mind days ago. I, an ordinary denizen on the face of planet Earth, has been (and continues to be) a beneficiary of kindness in all forms, that sometimes I do wonder if any of these acts are actually "random". [Dear friends, tell me quick, your kindness is not at all random, isn't it? I deserve your generosity, yes? Hahaha!]

Take for instance, Music Speaks' first gig last April 6 over at Route 196 along Katipunan Avenue, Quezon City. The planning of this gig was not without the usual hitches (unusual for me, a total vierge in the gig production arena). It was through the kindness of many people that gave its maiden gig its modest success. Is it random at all? Certainly not, perhaps ... but some actions are just purely pleasantly unexpected that they, too, may probably qualify as "random". Errr, am I making sense?

Call it what you want, then. :) Of course, a bunch of thank you's are in order.

To Erwin who conceptualised and pushed me hard into doing this gig with him, Arvin who was excited with the whole idea of "genre heterogeneity", Albert who did the posters and helped with the publicity, Leslie who effectively assisted specially with the legwork, Mina who did the Music Speaks logo, Hil for the additional promo.

Sago + Caliph8 on drum machine + Malek on keyboards

To Radioactive Sago Project, Malek Lopez, Caliph8, Throw (with Al sporting a spanking new tattoo - w000t!), and The GoSignals (Mel, thank you, you know why) - it was a most fantastic set. Grabe, mind-blowing.

The GoSignals: we joyfully wait for your full-length album ;)

To Route 196 for providing us with a great venue.

Throw with Lourd on guitars

To the guests who opened their minds and hearts (and their schedules too!) to the vision that we have of the kind of gig that we wanted to offer that night. And to everyone else whom I missed, a million thanks.

To those who did not make it to the gig, TOO F***IN' BAD! Hahaha! How does Radioactive Sago Project + Caliph8 + Malek Lopez on a single stage sound to you? How about Throw with Lourd De Veyra on guitars? Or The GoSignals doing a full set of nearly 100% fresh originals?

It was a great night. We were very happy with the response and another gig should be up sooner than you think. Till next time, mes amis et amies.

[This event somewhat coincided with Je Bautista's first death anniversary, which was on an Easter Sunday, April 4. I know that he is happy wherever he is, moreso that we have finally pushed through with what he had wanted to do the whole time.]

Le chemin est loin et difficile, je sais, mais d'accepter le défi. Toujours toujours. We dance to the death. Yes!

...and yes, Malcolm McLaren Is Dead

Malcolm McLaren, very much known to the punk universe as the former manager of The Sex Pistols, died on April 8, 2010 at the age of 64. McLaren succumbed to a not-so-common form of cancer called mesothelioma, according to reports.

***Did I hear someone say, "Oh no, the old punks are dropping like flies"? You can say that again.***

Articles regarding his life and death can be found HERE and HERE.

This is a video of one of McLaren's works, Madame Butterfly. (Damn, YouTube videos are hard to embed lately, for some reason.)


Malcolm McLaren Madam Butterfly

Tingtongmann Cory | MySpace Video

Free The 43 Gig Last March 31, And A Sneak Peak from Music Speaks' Event Last April 6

Before I give you a rundown of what happened last March 31 at Ten02 Bar, let me just show you a photo from Music Speaks' event last April 6 at Route 196.

It is not too often that one gets to see Al Dimalanta of Throw and Lourd de Veyra of The Radioactive Sago Project together onstage. It should be remembered that Lourd played guitars in Dead Ends' 4th album, Mamatay Sa Ingay.

(To those who did not know, Lourd is also a fierce guitarist, though he admits to not having touched the guitar for quite sometime. About time, Lourd? *hint, hint*)

More on Music Speaks later. In the meantime ...

*****

Band-Aid 43, the benefit gig for the Morong 43 group, was a well-attended affair. I initially cursed myself for coming in late and missing Bobby Balingit's set, but on the whole all the bands gave a spirited performance, the most notable of which came from Anak Ni Aling Juana and Tolonguez Death Squad. Nuklus, pinoy rock veterans from way back 80s, likewise delivered an inspired set.

The event was emceed by Nato and Odel of Tolonguez Death Squad. Here are some more photos and a slideshow from the said gig.

Nycti Nasty

Nuklus

Anak Ni Aling Juana

t.R.A.

I have to thank a friend, Mavie, for taking care of me (hahah!) during the entire gig. It's been ages, my dear friend, and always, it is music that provides the venue for us to see each other. Thank you very much.

The cause of the Morong 43 should not be left to oblivion, moreso now that the presidential election is looming. I will provide you with updates as they come.

(But wait, there's more...)

Easter Sunday: A Year After Passage To Eternal Life, Among Other Things

Maligayang Linggo ng Pagkabuhay sa inyong lahat!

Today marks the end of the Lenten season in the Christian world. It has been said that Christmas Day should be celebrated on Easter Sunday. I would rather involve myself in related discussions in another venue. :)

Instead, I want to point out some things relevant to this blog.

Today, Easter Sunday, April 4, 2010, marks the First Death Anniversary of Trash Radio's co-founder, Je Bautista. When I first realized this months ago, I thought, what beautiful serendipity: even in another dimension, Je has always kept his twisted sense of humour. He was, is, and will always be creative, and nothing will ever change that fact. For this reason, I have a song playing right now, a personal favorite of his, to remember him by. Need I say what it is?

A few months ago, some arrangements were being made with friends of Trash Radio Manila. The result, ultimately, is Music Speaks. Music Speaks is the production arm of Trash Radio Manila, so named after Je's multiply blog (which also happens to be the prototype blog of Trash Radio Manila). Funny that our good friend Hilboy wrote about Music Speaks days before I did, haha. Thanks man, as always. Read about Hil's write-up HERE.

The first event of Music Speaks will be held on April 6, 2010, Tuesday, at Route 196 along Katipunan Avenue in Quezon City. The gig will feature full-length sets by Throw, Caliph8, and Radioactive Sago Project. That the choice of artists is somewhat of a musical motley was deliberate and something that I have always wanted to see on a regular basis.

Check out the poster for details. While I do not dare say that this is a tribute gig to Je (again, coincidental!), starting anew is almost the most natural thing to do after Easter Sunday.

Something like ... spring cleaning, too. ;)

See you guys on Tuesday.

(Photo of The Resurrection from this site.)

Pagmumuni-muni