Ah, For The Love Of Blogging (...and, sige na nga, for the love of Pinkcow :P)

Moi, Marika, harassed author of Trash Radio Manila is NOT in Manila. I am in a semi-secret place north of my Makati crib. Which means...less internet time (since my laptop has long been down and out)...less chance to do blog updates...and still no new playlist, contrary to what I promised you guys.

I need not explain that I am presently working on a borrowed computer, borrowed internet connection, without any Adobe Photoshop, Audacity program, without my portable hard drives. So, bear with this folks.

[Seriously, being away from the internet is actually...nice...:) This is something that internet addicts should really try....there's life way beyond the pixels.^^]

 Paulo singing for The Strayguns

 The Strayguns

The GoSignals 

The tracks of my teeeaaaarrsss ...:) 

And yes...can you all just wait a little more for that Pinkcow playlist? Just, wait for me to get back home in Manila. I promise to make it nice enough to entice you guys to buy their album. Seriously, this is a cool body of work from the boys. Double disc pa.

To make up for my faults (and to profess my affection for the Pinkcow crew, heehee), I am putting up some photos from their March 19 gig over at Hades Bar courtesy of Bisikleta Productions. Sigh, that was fun...though I was low-batt for the most part of the gig. Must be the herbs. :P

The New Trend was there, they were the first band to play, followed by The Strayguns. The subsequent sequence seems like a blur to me now, but I sure remember that The Exenadors, The Sneekers, Steady Movin' Beat, Umble Uno, Crooked Beat, and The GoSignals played.

Steady Movin' Beat

Crooked Beat

Capping the night was the piece de resistance, Pinkcow. Unfortunately I lost consciousness after a couple of songs and found myself lying on MY bed, the sun up and shining bright on my streaked face. Arrgh.

Francis of Pinkcow

The horny back-ups

Some things to watch out for. The GoSignals, I feel, are nearing the completion of their much-awaited album. Try to catch them as frequently as you can to get to here their originals. Really good! Also watch out for Crooked Beat. The kids from Batangas sound truly promising. I am looking forward to see this band in the gigs to come.

How to get hold of a Pinkcow album? Simple. Go to the gigs. Or check them out at Facebook. It will be worth your bucks. See you all at the gigs. ^^ And as for me...I will be back to my homebase soon as well.

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.

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.

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!

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!