Events: Rocksteddy Rocks Tagbi

Words by Terence Krishna Lopez, Photos by Ryan Macalandag



It was a rainy Friday afternoon. I was trapped in the mall and was starting to feel like a mallrat and I hated it. With just one stick of red ziggy at hand, I hurried to the top floor of BQ mall and smoked. To my surprise, there they were! On stage, sound-checking and yes, they were performing that night!

Sometimes, the rain gives pleasant surprises. So I immediately SMSd Ryan to meet up with for the concert. I gotta have company!

As usual, Ryan was, fashionably, late. He had reasons, of course. Or excuses.

And again, as usual, there was a front act. It was a good act though, the band called System Tools. They played Eric Clapton and Jason Mraz and other good ones, giving these rather popular songs new textures and interpretation as a whole. Systems Tools is promising and as Ryan would tell me later that night, they really are genuine musicians. The only disappointment is their name really. System Tools? Enough said.



After more than an hour, some drizzles and some booze direct from plastic cups and some good puffing of the ziggies, it was time to rock hard! And rock hard I did with the music of one of the country's more popular punk-rock/alternative Manila-based bands that gave us the impossibly unforgettable theme of the ABS-CBN series Super Inggo. I'm kidding. Of course they gave us other hits such as Magpakailanman (or, was this really a hit?) and the remakes of APO originals Blue Jeans and No Touch.

Well, my point is, they did a wonderful rak en rol feel that night and believe it or not, I was there, right in front of the stage, dancing, jumping, cheering, shouting. Along with -- too bad -- young squatter-punks (Ryan's words not mine) who did not stop asking me about the names of the band members particularly, the long-haired guitarist Joven.

After few songs, the show had to end, as usual. But not without giving the audience what they wanted (ahh, some wiggling, girating, and half-nakedness).





Teddy was, definitely a knock-down performer, pleasing everyone in the crowd with his greenness and down-to-earth attitude towards everybody else.

I didn't feel sorry, Rocksteddy did rock! (some of) the audience rocked harder! I wanted to rock the hardest but damn, in an ocean of adolescents, I chose not to.



Who cares about the songs? Who cares about the originality? Who cares about musicality? In rak en rol moments like that one, all that mattered was the performance and for me, a good reason to stay late out of the house.


(For more photos from this set, click here.)

Articles: The sweet case of Suitcase 101

by Terence Krishna Lopez

Any Boholano who knows Suitcase 101 can’t help but feel a sense of pride. But those who have seen them grow into what they are now should feel more sense of pride though.

Why not, when these guys composed of Arvin Avergonzado (drums), Venjo Busalla (bass guitars) Alva Duaban (lead guitars) and Adrian Bayron (vocals) definitely has gone a long way, shedding much of their show-band weights, covers days, performing their own compositions, showing the public that they are ready and are ought to be taken seriously.

At least, that’s what I saw when I watched them perform in their victory concert last week along with other local bands who were there to perform and congratulate them.

The band won this year’s Globe Kantabataan, a nation-wide competition for young bands, bringing honor to the province and a spark of hope to the local music scene.

As of press time, the group is in Manila for their first music video, a leg of gigs and other wonderful things as the winner of the competition.

In an interview via internet, the band’s head of operations Justice “Kikoy” Busalla extends the band’s gratitude to the Boholanos for supporting them all throughout the competition. The band also thanks the local bands who stood beside them all the way.

Passion and Dedication
Last week, in a thanksgiving concert party, more than ten local bands of different musicality and genre performed and gave their congratulations to the Suitcase 101, with their groundbreaking performances.

But of course, Suitcase 101 also gave a wonderful performance. In fact, it was a very good performance. The band did hold its own in a room full of up and coming musicians in the province and in fact, for someone who has been following the band, it was a surprisingly wonderful performance. The band did improve so much.
And for them, it is their passion for music that inspires them to becoming a great band. Being into what they are doing, regardless of the different musical influences and the dedication of each member, according to Kikoy is what keeps suitcase 101 standing in the row of bands bound to greatness.

Ray of light for the local scene
With the local scene, the band believes there is a bright hope for the musicians. In fact some of the bands have already earned a considerable audience with their names becoming more popular such as Brownbuds and Estranghero.

Suitcase 101 is proud to say that Boholanos are very talented musicians and that indeed there is a future for the local music scene.

Right, and also, if the local music scene gains enough support from all spectrum and from institutions who are supposed to look into it that the artistry and the talent of its artists are taken good care of.

Finally, Suitcase 101 invites the Boholanos to watch their video on the MYX channel, a proof that the Boholano youth can do productive things. Of course.
Along with their huge victory concert party on December 8 here in the city, the band is doing their rounds of gigs in Manila and today, in Dumaguete City.

Suitcase 101 is enjoying a sweet case of a well-deserved victory, something they have been working hard for.

And of course, if Suitcase 101 did it, so can every one of us with enough maturity, perseverance, dedication and talents at hand.

(This articles also appears in the the November 25 issue of LifestyleBohol.)

Events: Suitcase 101 Thanksgiving @ Campsite

Words & Photos by Ryan Macalandag



What better way to celebrate a band's success than rockin' it hard with feller bands who's been supportive all the way through. Suitcase 101 certainly knows how to appreciate the solid support of the rest of the underground community by throwing a huge gig for all the rockerz and rakiztaz alike to riff the night out into oblivion last Saturday Nov. 17 at Campsite.

With more than a handful of bands on the gig list, Campsite was overflowing as were the beers.



Suitcase 101 got to play past midnight halfway through the event. They didn't let the supporters down by playing the songs like they didn't win the damned contest yet. These kids sure do know how to work the crowd. Their presence and delivery just was way up there.





Sure, sure, their songs are about things as paltry-love as the other "pop bands" out there. But their music just kicks you right in the face 'til you stop doubting their sheer talent and end up wanting more - may it be "Kalahati" or "Boholano!".

Now, they are just a constant reminder that all the other bands in the community can do it too. The ringing in my ear as we went out of Campsite was evidence enough. Rock 'n Roll in Bohol is finally alive and kickin!



Thanks to Kikoy, Roy, PlugOut and Terence. Support local bands!
For more photos from this set, click here.
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Photo by Ryan Macalandag
Shot using a Nikon D80 DSLR
Copryright ©2007 All rights reserved.

Events: World Music @ the World Food Day '07

Words and Photos by Ryan Macalandag

The underground music scene in Bohol is just about as diverse the number of rice species in the Bohol today. Thus, when this year's World Food Day was celebrated at the Plaza Rizal last October 17, world music and reggae beats provided by some of our underground "world beat bands" and "heritage musicians" rocked the park out. Of course, it helped that there was an over-abundance of organic "puso" given free to all the hungry mouths - musicians and fans alike.





Two bands - Tadiyandi and Liking Kawayan - and a rondalla group composed of farm folks from San Isidro played different songs about mother nature and conservation.




Liking Kawayan is a reggae group from Garcia-Hernandez. They've played around Tagbilaran a bit and has gained some form of popularity. Of course it helps that they are advocates of "peace". Peace, bro.





Tadiyandi (meaning "artist" in LuDaBi) with Tito (of Pinikpikan) at the helm, played world music including some popular progressive pinoy folk songs. They're quite a group to watch and listen to.



With the help of the heavy downpour, the event ended with a tight jam at the plaza kiosko with everyone crammed in. The music didn't stop though. With an encore from Liking Kawayan and Tadiyandi, the beat never stopped.







Personally though, I just hoped that when everyone finally went to head home to their hammocks, the night's message still rings clear: that advocacies can be more appreciated when everyone is having a great time.

Stand up for you rice. Stop GMO.

For more photos from this set, click here.

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Photo by Ryan Macalandag
Shot using a Nikon D80 DSLR
Copryright �2007 All rights reserved.

Events: Backbone Injury @ Martin's Bar

Another event organized by PlugOut Productions. Photos to be released soon.

News: Suitcase 101, champion rockers!

Suitcase 101, one of our local bands in Bohol, finally made it. They are now the grand champions to the 2nd nationwide band competition, Globe Kantabataan 2007 organized by Globe.

With their song "Posible ang lahat", the group of four rocked the house out which reportedly made the judges stand up and jam with their music.

There is more to come from Suitcase. For sure with this success, some big-shot recording company would pick them up to do a studio recording and eventually release a cd.

Watch out for it!

Source:
Suitcase 101 from Bohol is the Kantabataan Grand Champion! - (from www.g-blogs.com)

Events: Manok ni Ambo @ ICM

Never mind that there were only 4 people in front of the stage or that Ambo looked hip-hoppy, the night was sure a blast for Manok ni Ambo, who on their first ever stage appearance was flaming hot with Roy's guitars on fire.

Manok, the band's drummer, went on it like a madman from hell, hitting the kit with a ruthless rockin' rythm that awed all the front row audiences - all four of them.

Ambo, the bassist, was sizzling on the low notes as he head-banged around as they played one of Silverchair's iconic songs.

I'm sure there will be more for them fellas. Watch out!






For more photos from this set, click here.

__________________________________
Photo by Ryan Macalandag
Shot using a Nikon D80 DSLR
Copryright �2007 All rights reserved.