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.

The Weekends That Were

Waaaaaaah!

The wailers: Dennis Maniego, Albert Ascona, Jun Quiane, and frenzied pair during T.S.A.'s gig over at the Leprechaun Bar, September 18, 2009

I sure missed a lot these past weekends. Though I was lucky enough to catch the fantastic T.S.A. during the September 18 gig at the Leprechaun Bar sponsored by Filter Zine (Huwaaaaaaat? Antagal na pala? Shame shame. :( ), I missed the Bisikleta-sponsored T.S.A. sortee at Ten02 bar. Yes I also missed the Tarlac gig last October 10 (featuring Throw, Tame The Tikbalang, Bad Omen, and a whole lot more, my apologies for not having posted the poster, very very sorry), and I friggin' missed The Bing Austria Show the day after and the "Picking Up The Pieces" fund raising gig last October 12. Please don't ask me what has happened to me these past few weeks, it is something very very horrendous and not worth sharing here. (Sob sob sob, I sure hope to get over this year in one piece, I seriously do!). Suffice to say though that while things were battering me up to pieces (grrrr...), all seems to be alive and thriving this side of the music scene.

Will be posting my backlogs real soon. Below are some photos taken from T.S.A.'s Leprechaun gig and the October 10 Tarlac gig. (Thank you so much to Mina for the incredible photos of the Tarlac gig. Are you the female Andy Rosen? :))) )

T.S.A., Leprechaun Bar, September 18, 2009

Ojie of T.S.A.

Pedrobandido, T.S.A.

T.S.A. with Arnold Morales doing "Blood In Every Heart"

Throw with Ojie of T.S.A.

Tarlac, October 10, 2009

Russell Eustaquio of Tame The Tikbalang

Jun Idiot

Jun, Boyet, Al, Russ, Albert

Tarlac Kids

Tonight...and 7 Nights Ago

Huli man at magaling ... huli pa rin!

I am putting up some photos from Try This At Home's gig last Saturday, July 18, held at the Leprechaun Bar, which featured The GoSignals, Hilera, and Coffee Break Island.

The GoSignals

Hilera

Coffee Break Island

Try This At Home is, as far as I know, a two-man production composed of Russell Eustaquio (Tame The Tikbalang fame, shown in photo at the right) and Albert Ascona (guitarist to a myriad bands). TTAH is a welcome addition to the productions in existence, as it provides another venue for bands to play and people to appreciate music that's apart from the run-of-the-mill stuff that I no longer have to enumerate. [Bashing is something I consciously try to avoid here in TRM ... if you've nothing good to say, then don't say it....]

Anyways, we'll definitely hear more from TTAH in the days to come.

Now for tonight. The First Manila Ska Festival also happens to be the final leg of Shuffle Union's Invincible Album Launch Tour. The affair starts as early as 3pm via a photo contest/exhibit. Gig starts at 7pm. It might interest you that after a longish absence, the hyperactive Jeepney Joyride is back and you might want to check them out too alongside Shuffle Union, Coffee Break Island, The Marcos Cronies, and many more bands. Even told that Jon (of Neighbors and now of Soundblasters blogsite) will be spinning some tunes as well. Tonight, it seems, should be a fun skanking night. See you guys over at Cubao X laters.

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)