Indie Band News

Coffee shop brews life back into UPLB music scene

2011-08-17T19:19:00.000-07:00

By CYRUS FERNANDEZ

08/16/2011 | 04:44 PM

Alcohol and rock 'n roll go together by default. Pay a visit to any bar gig or rock concert and you’ll find at least a dozen or so people with bottles, glasses, or cups of liquid courage in their hands.

But coffee?

The combination sounds kind of weird, a bit absurd for some even. But for young entrepreneur Jabez Flores and his team at Café Antonio Los Baños, it’s just another day at work.

Enter Café Antonio Sessions, a music-related operation of the caffeine-based business co-owned by Flores. Its mission is simple: to support the UPLB music scene.

Jabez Flores (center) with some of the Sessions artists

Café Antonio Sessions traces its beginnings to a coincidental meeting between Flores and musician Eric Soliven back in 2010. Flores knew Soliven from a few years back because the latter’s band Soundhole (later renamed Lime) used to play frequently alongside Flores’ own Spoonbridge at the now-defunct Kofiholics Anonymous (K.A.), a local venue that musicians and music enthusiasts used to frequent.

“Hindi pa kami friends noon ni Eric, but we knew na kami yung tumutugtog dun (sa K.A.) dati. Nakita ko sya sa old site ng Café Antonio. Namukhaan ko siya," recounts Café Antonio Sessions’ head. “Nilapitan ko siya the next time na nagpunta siya, tapos tinanong ko, ‘Di ba ikaw yung gitarista ng Soundhole?’ After that, friends na kami."

When Café Antonio was moved to its current location, the idea of having shows at the shop dawned on Flores. He presented this idea to Soliven.

“Balak ko talagang bumuo ng (music) community like the one we had in K.A. way back," narrates Flores. “So, sabi ko kay Eric, ‘Buo tayo (ng sessions). Buhayin natin yung UP music scene dito.’"

Things took off from there. Inspired by the America Online (AOL) Sessions, they built up on the idea of having shows. The idea eventually materialized on July 13, 2011 when the very first Café Antonio Sessions night was performed to an intimate Saturday night crowd at the coffee shop.

Café Antonio Sessions gives its artists full support, including free photo and video coverage of their performances such as that of Segatron.

Fast forward to 2011: at the time of this posting, Sessions nights have already been staged a total of 24 times spread throughout thirteen months.

True to its intent to help homegrown talent, all these Sessions shows featured performances from mostly local acts around the University of the Philippines in Los Baños area

Aside from organizing events, the Sessions team now dabbles in artist promotion too, helping the members of its regular roster – namely Lime, Juniper Face the Corner, Gabes Torres, Yield Avenue, Segatron, Sweet Symphony, Pathway, Riki, Crossroads, From the Author, Komiko, Satori, Playground Nostalgia and Codename Adobo – spread their music via the use of social networking sites on the Internet and having their physical merchandise displayed and sold at the café.

The Sessions team manages to come up with nice ways to make their shows more appealing to the UPLB audience.

Flores offers an explanation as to why they decided to branch out to artist promotion.

“We want to be known as a springboard for artists from LB," Flores says. “We offer start-up musicians our full support and we make sure na may mapupuntahan sila. Tsaka, we’re really all excited na i-share yung music galing dito. Kasi, parang hanggang ngayon, best-kept secret pa rin yan."

But Flores is quick to clarify that their arrangement with the artists is not exclusive.

“They can come and go freely. They can stay kasi they want to stay. Pero, kung hindi na nila feel, okay lang na umalis. At least, dito sila nagsimula."

Despite the buzz that Sessions has generated from its activities in the past year though, its members agree that they still have to maximize the potential of the movement they started.

Their most immediate concern is the day of the week when they do their shows. For now, Sessions gigs are done every third (and in some cases, also the first and/or second) Saturday of every month. Flores thinks it will be more effective if these were to be moved to the weekdays. Most of the artists that play their gigs are students after all, and would therefore be more effective when exposed to a crowd that can identify with them and vice versa.

Eric Soliven (left) and Lenard Gabriel (right) of Lime performed at the very first Café Antonio Sessions night last year.

“Wala pa kami masyadong nape-penetrate na crowd to tell other people about what we do," says Flores. Kasi, yung Saturday crowd namin, usually puro dayo at alumni. Wala kaming student crowd masyado."

But all that is starting to change. The team is starting to get more attention for their work. Nowadays, they are getting more invites from student organizations that hold events frequently, therefore giving them, and more importantly their artists, access to the audience they primarily want to reach.

This attention has inspired them to come up with more plans to help foster the community spirit even further.

“We also want to hold midweek sessions for student bands na hindi part ng roster," Flores reveals, “just to show the students sa LB na merong scene dito."

Things are getting smoother for Flores and company. Being the first organized group in the area’s recent memory to champion the music scene actively, their efforts have been beneficial to the community of musicians in the locale. At this point, it will only be a matter of time before the rest of the student and town population sees the music scene in plain view again.

The Sessions team doesn’t even mind having to pull resources out of all their pockets. After all, according to them, they do this for one simple reason.

“We just love it."

- YA, GMA News

Café Antonio is located at LB Square along Grove Avenue, Brgy. Batong Malake, Los Baños, Laguna. For more information about Café Antonio Sessions, visit cafeantoniosessions.tumblr.com

All photos courtesy of Cafe Antonio Sessions

Source: http://www.gmanews.tv/story/229587/lifestyle/coffee-shop-brews-life-back-into-uplb-music-scene

NOTE: Not mentioned in the article as one of the founders of Cafe Antonio Sessions is graphic artist and barista, Jegar delos Reyes. Also, the first Cafe Antonio Sessions was held in July 3, 2010. - Jabez Flores (Indie Band News)

A Tight-Knit Community of Musicians and Music Lovers

2011-07-31T20:40:00.000-07:00

GABES TORRES

JUNIPER FACE THE CORNER

LIME

HYENA HARMONIES INC.

Los Banos has always been known for its buko pie and UPLB. But our small "university town" has yet to establish itself as a place to find good music. As a musician and writer from Elbi, I am very pleased to report that there is a growing music scene in our community.

Indie Band News has helped us promote five major gigs last July involving Elbi-based artists. Wrecked! organized by The Elbi Wrecking Crew (July 7), The Incubus Tribute Party organized by The Incubus Street Team, Philippines (July 14), Gabes Torres' Fairfarren Concert (July 16), Switchfoot Tribute Night organized by Cafe Antonio Sessions (July 23), and the Azkals Game Night organized by IC's Bar and Coffee Shop (July 28).

Elbi music is very diverse. We have a lot to offer people when you visit Elbi to listen to good music. Bands like The Sunday Brew will sweep you off your feet with their brand of soul, funk, and blues; and prominent local funk group, Hyena Harmonies Inc. will make you dance and headbang with their Funky Eating Eagle. Newer groups like LIME and Pathway will impress you with their Incubus and Switchfoot covers, respectively, and their honest and well-written original songs. As for the more indie-side of things, Gabes Torres will serve you fresh and heartfelt songwriting with her album, Quintessence; while Gelo Arboleda and his band, Juniper Face the Corner, will give you a dose of whimsical and perfectly-strewn lyrics with their conFUSION of musical genres. Going further, those on a musical quest will also encounter the party-core quintet of electro-rock band Segatron.

Although I get a lot of messages and e-mails from people asking about the metal scene in Los Banos (which I know but really not familiar with), I still believe that there is more to Elbi than one prominent music genre. All we have to do is find them and enjoy the wealth of music that we keep here in our small town of Los Banos, Laguna.

Humble Beginnings of the Incubus Street Team, Philippines

2011-07-13T17:55:00.000-07:00

I was supposed to write this article several weeks ago but a very busy schedule did not permit me to do so. And now that the Incubus Tribute Party is this evening, I will try to cram and share this piece of Incubus Street Team Philippines history to you guys in the indie music community.

My friend from the Street Team, Butch Maligalig, shared with me in an interview how the group all began.

Indie Band News (IBN): When did the Street Team first meet?

Butch: Back in 2004, Sony Music held a contest for Incubus fans. I was one of the fans who joined along with the other Street Team members. Sony told us that we should promote the concert creatively. But during that time, we didn’t work as a team yet. We each had our own individual gimmicks to promote the event. Members promoted the concert with placards; others baked Incubus-themed cookies; while others went poster-happy on different places. Eventually, only one of us won and the rest got Incubus T-shirts.

IBN: So when did you start working together to promote Incubus as a group?

Butch: In 2008, it was MTV’s turn to hold a contest. That’s when we, the fans, decided to team-up and pool our creative juices. I made a flash video and did a mobile promotion of the 2008 Incubus concert (Pacific Rim Tour) around Los Banos, Laguna. We also promoted at Araneta Coliseum. Finally, we won. MTV gave us passes to the press conference and we personally met the band at Crowne Plaza. Brandon Boyd introduced himself to us, “I’m Brandon. Hi.”

IBN: What projects do you have now that you’re more formally organized?

Butch: Now that we all have jobs, the team decided to up the ante by organizing our own activities. This year, we had a tree planting project at the La Mesa EcoPark. The trees were named after us and we put there, “From the Make Yourself Foundation”. We informed Steve Rennie (the band’s manager) and Jake Versluis (head of the Make Yourself Foundation) about our activity and they said that it was good.

Having won Steve and Jake’s trust, we decided to organize our own Incubus Tribute Party for the promotion of this year’s Incubus concert. We chose Kjwan as one of the bands to perform because I was standing beside Marc Abaya during the 2004 concert and he was wearing a “Chuck” mask. So I figured out that he must be an Incubus super fan. Malay was also invited because the band’s drummer, Alden, is a friend of one of the Street Team’s members.

IBN: Where will all the ticket sales from the party go?

Butch: The ticket sales will all go to charity. We’re doing this to promote Incubus, their new album “If Not Now, When?” and their concert on July 28 at Araneta Coliseum. Hopefully, the Street Team will be known for its efforts here in the Philippines to promote all things Incubus.

The Incubus Tribute Party is on Thursday, July 14, 9 PM at B-Side, Makati. With performances from Kjwan, Malay, Letter Day Story, LIME, Soil & Green, an Dash Between Dates. The event is organized by The Incubus Street Team Philippines in cooperation with Jack TV and Universal Channel Sponsored by Ovation Productions, Store and Stack, Sony Music, At the Womb, Indie Band News, Odyssey, Full Circle, and UR Face Radio. Official music channel is Myx. Proceeds will benefit RockEd Philippines, Bantay Bata 163, and the Make Yourself Foundation (MYF).

Tickets at Php 150 each.

DAMN Ways To Kill The INDIE Scene

2011-07-05T22:58:00.000-07:00

Hinati ko sa apat na parte ang DAMN na paraan upang sirain ang INDIE scene sa Pilipinas.

Discrimination

-Music Discrimination – Pagiging “Purist” ay hindi dahilan para magdiskrimina ng musika. Kung wala ka namang sasabihin maganda, tumahimik nalang at gamitin yun pagiging “Purist” sa pagpapalago ng scene na pabor sa iyo. As long na hindi kayo naaapektuhan, wag nalang magdiskrimina.

-Band Discrimination – Para sa mga production, kung hindi rin naman kayo pabor sa tugtugan ng iba, wag niyong iset na Open Genre ang event nyo hanggat maaari. “Open Genre” nga bawal naman Metal o Punk. Anong open don? (Genre night ay hindi isang pamamaraan ng diskriminasyon ngunit isa itong paraan upang mapalakas ang isang eksena.) Eh kung puro sikat, matunog, madami magdala ng guest, kamaganak, kaibigan, maraming likes sa facebook at chicks na banda ang laging kinukuha ng production, wag nalang tawagin na production yan kung hindi “group event maker”, “featured artist event maker”, “for guests only event”, “family reunion”, “facebook contest event maker” at “Pimp event maker”.

Attitude

-Rockstar – Hindi pa nga sikat “Rockstar” na. Late na nga nagdedemand pa ng slot pang “exposure” daw. Tsaka “rockstar” ka nga di ba? Edi hindi mo na kailangan gawin yan, papanoorin ka nila hanggang sa huli “sikat” ka eh di ba? May mga“Rockstar” din na prod, sa sobrang pagka “Rockstar”, mga hindi na sila ma reach ng iba kaya sa huli, nalulugi din. Sa mga “Rockstar” mainstream bands, dyan nalang kayo sa taas, nakakahawa ang sakit niyo eh. Walang rockstar sa INDIE scene lahat tayo pantay pantay marami man likes mo, napunta ka man sa mainstream at nalaos, may kapit ka man sa taas at super over ka man sa galing, mabaho pa rin ang TAE mo.

-Boredom – Sa pagbabanda, hindi ka lang taong may hawak ng instrumento o music lover kung hindi combination of both. May “responsibilidad” kang dapat hawakan sa pamamagitan ng pagdagdag ng kaalaman mo sa eksena at sa musikang tinutugtog mo. Ganyan kaversatile sa art in terms of music ang mga nagbabanda. Nakakatamad noh? Nakakabagot? Huwag nalang tayo magbanda ganyan pala yun nakakatamad akala natin “tugtog alis lang”. Maraming Production at Nagbabanda ang nawawala dahil sa pagkabagot na resulta ng kawalan ng Passion (pagkasawa), Wala talagang Passion (goal lang pera o maging sikat) at pagkalulong sa luho at bisyo (paglipat ng kinahihiligan). Katamad talaga noh? “Tugtog alis” nalang noh, at least masaya! kabagot sumuporta eh.

-Selfishness – “pasuporta po kami”, “palineup kami”, “pasabit kami sa mga gig niyo”. Nakakarindi di ba? Ayos lang yan. KUNG! Sumusuporta din sila. Minsan maitatawag natin silang “Suportang Plastic” kung hindi naman taos an gag suportang pinapakita. Kapag magbabackout, sige lang, wala na silang pakeelam sa production. Kapag nakatugtog na, aalis agad, uuwi na conyo friends ko kailangan nila ihatid sa bahay nila ng naka-car. Hindi na nga nagdadala ng guest, hindi pa oorder sa bar at makikita mo pa nagiinuman pa sa labas. Umaapaw na nga ang banda sa event, pangit din ang gamit, magbabayad ka pa para tumugtog. Sinuportahan mo na pangit pa ang ibabalik sa iyo (wala man lang effort?). Pakelam mo sa kanila noh? Gusto mo “lang” ipamahagi ang musika mo. (Plastic!).

-Kapit System – Pati ba naman sa Indie Scene naapektuhan na nito akala ko sa gobyerno lang. “First come first serve”. Kayo unang bandang dumating sa bar tapos taken na mga gitnang slot? Una ka nagpalineup, tapos ikaw pa ang mawawalan? Una kang nagpareserve, tapos ikaw pa mawawalan ng event? Una ka sa lahat ngunit huli ka pa rin kasi wala kang kilala.

Monkey Business

-Scam – Scam na production, bar, bands, individuals at recording studios. Huwag suportahan!. Ipakalat ang mga artikulo ng IBN upang makatulong. Maging aware tayo at ipaalam sa marami ang mga issue ukol sa mga ganyang bagay upang hindi na sila makaapekto.

-Fame – Huwag ka nalang dito sa INDIE scene. May Showtime, Talentadong Pinoy, at meron ding Face to face, Maalaala mo kaya o Manghold-up ka nalang ng bangko at mabalita kaysa gumagamit ka ng ibang paraan dito sa Indie Scene upang sumikat at iangat ang sarili mo. Katulad ng pagiging sipsip, panloloko at pangaangkin ng bagay, materyales, komposisyon o banda na hindi sa iyo. Goal mo maging sikat? Halika gawa tayo dance crew o carnival manage ko kayo. (Kung sakali man sumikat, hindi masama yun basta hindi ka magiging “sellout” at pa”rockstar”).

-Money – Kung pera lang habol mo, huwag ka na magbanda at magproduction. Tapos, hindi na kailangan ng explanation para diyan.

Non-Support

-Foreign – Gumagastos ka ng libo libo sa mga foreign act na pumupunta dito (kahit siguro Justin Bieber pinanood mo, aminin!), ngunit manood ng 100 pesos ang tiket na may libreng serbesa ay hindi ka makanood nood. Dahilan numero uno, minsan lang sila pumunta dito. Ang tanong, minsan ka rin ba nanonood ng mga bandang local (maliban sa mga farewell party o last gig ng sikat na banda)? Tapos hihingi ka ng suporta? Tapos sinusuportahan mo musikang pinoy? Daig ka pa ng mga guests mo sa pagsuporta sa INDIE scene. Halika mag ibang bansa nalang tayo, labo mo eh.

-Mainstream – Hindi masamang sumikat at suportahan sila. Pero sana suportahan din natin mga INDIE bands at productions (lalo na kayong mga sponsors). HI-TECH na po ngayon, nasa internet na rin mga INDIE bands at productions. (Kaya mga bands wag kayo mahiya magpromote sa internet, hindi kayo magiging sellout at libre yan.) Mga naririnig niyo sa sikat na sikat na telebisyon at radyo? Sa INDIE scene maririnig niyo rin kung hahanapin niyo lang sila. At pag sumikat ka wag mong kalimutan lumingon sa pinanggalingan, sige ikaw rin pag umatras ka baka wala ka ng babalikan.

-Articles – Blogspot, Online Radios, Facebook Pages, Zines at kahit na anong naglalarawan at sumusuporta sa Scene. Libre ang maglike, Libre ang magbasa, Libre makinig, Mura lang ang Zines, Sila na gumagastos sa iyo ng panahon, pagod, pera at kung ano pa man para ipaalam sa iyo ang gusto at dapat mong malaman. May kilala akong isang creator ng Page na sumusuporta sa mga banda ngunit banda niya hindi sinusuportahan ng karamihan. Mahiya naman kayo para sa kanya o sa kanila na nagbibigay suporta at kaalaman kahit walang tinatanggap na kapalit. Tapos ang ibang may Attitude puro Pa”support!”, ano kayo Call Center Agent?

Hindi aangat ang eksena kung lahat tayo magiging mangmang at magiging makasarili. Sabi nga sa kanta ng Streetlight Manifesto, “And when we will fall, we will fall together”. Huwag nalang natin suportahan ang mga indibidwal na gustong sumira sa eksena, kung isa ka man sa mga ito, alam mo naman siguro gagawin mo.

Sama sama tayo Magtulungan, Makialam at Sumuporta sa musikang pinoy at sa INDIE scene. This is a wake up call!

Salamat sa nagbasa, medyo mahaba, ayoko man habaan ngunit hindi maiwasan eh. Any Violent Reactions? Visit our page TRIPLEHORNS. Please support INDIE BAND NEWS, productions and bands who keep the INDIE scene alive.

Backout!

2011-06-30T22:52:00.000-07:00

Hindi natin maiiwasan ang pagbackout sa gig. Pero aminin natin sa mga organizer ng event ito ang pinakaiinisan na problema nila. Isipin mo, Gawa ka ng gawa ng plano pero in the very last minutes mababago ang planong ginawa mo ng ilang araw. Hindi ba nakakabugnot yun?

Paano ba maiiwasan itong pagbabackout? Pag hindi maiwasan, Paano natin bibigyang suporta ang nagbibigay sa atin ng suporta sa pamamagitan ng pagtugtog ng libre o pag pinalad may TF pa kayong matatanggap?

1. Iwasan magbackout 1 week before the event:

-para sa akin ideal timespan yan. 1 week before ay sapat na araw (pwede itong 10 araw, 100 araw o 1000 araw bago ang event), hanggang diyan ba naman hindi mo malalaman kung ano ang activities ng bawat kabanda mo? Nagbibigay oras ito sa production na palitan ang isang banda kasi sa isang linggo maaari pa makapagprepare ang magiging kapalit. Sa magiging kapalit, wag naman kayo magpapalineup kung hindi kayo sure. Maraming banda sa Indie Scene give way doon sa sure na makakatugtog. Baka instead makatulong kayo sa prod, mabuntungan pa kayo ng init ng ulo.

2. Humanap ng back-up sessionista:

-In case of emergency, halimbawa nahulugan ng paso sa ulo kabandmates niyo, dapat may sessionista kayong papalit sa kanya para tuloy ang gig at ang kasiyahan.

3. Iwasan ang dahilan na baluktot:

-pasensiya na hindi kami nakatugtog kasi “umuulan eh”, “ang layo eh”, “may pigsa ako eh”, “may ubo ako eh”,hmmm, ano pa ba? Tumahimik nalang kayo at magpasensiya tapos. Hindi rin naman makakatulong ang pagdahilan ng baluktot eh kaya magsinungaling nalang kayo ng magandang dahilan para pag nalaman ang katotohanan lalo pa masira ang pangalan ng banda niyo. May ibang banda tumutugtog kahit dapat magbackout na sila, (may lagnat, baha sa kanila, nahihimatay na, etc), kaya mahiya naman kayo sa kanila.

4. Tulungan ang production:

-Minsan hindi maiwasan ang biglaang backout. Sana sa rami mong friends na banda ay may mairecommend ka naman sa prod na magiging kapalit niyo. Naging anghel pa kayo sa Prod at ibang banda, ayos ba?

5. Sumuporta:

-"support" is an empty word unless you apply it with action. Support “Blah blah Prod”! tapos magbabackout ka at magsosorry lang. sa tingin mo sumuporta ka? Pag hindi natin maiwasan ang apat sa taas, sana ang ibang miyembro ng banda ay makilahok din sa event na iyon. Makakapanood ka na ng local talent (hindi yun puro foreign band lang pinapanood mo), magkakaroon ka pa ng bagong band friends at good vibes ka pa sa production. Para sa akin, mahirap suportahan ang isang banda kung sila nga hindi sumusuporta sa iba.

Para sa akin, ang pagbabackout ay isa sa mga dahilan, (maliban kung gusto mong gatasan ang mga banda, ibang usapan na yan), kung bakit nagkakaroon ng mga scum productions at mga production na sobrang rami magpalineup. Sabi nga ng tropa ko, “line up lang ng line up, may magbabackout naman diyan eh”. Paano pag walang nagbackout?

Sana sundin natin itong madadaling paalalang ito. Huwag natin hayaan ang mga production na gumagastos, nagaasikaso at nagsusumikap na ipalaganap ang bawat musika ng INDIE SCENE ay mawala dahil sa kawalan natin ng suporta at pakialam sa kanila. Huwag tayong maging sakim na puro tugtog at palineup lang ang ating nasa isip na pag dumating na magbackout tayo ay wala na tayong pakialam sa kanila.

Any violent reactions, visit our page Triplehorns. Check out also INDIE BAND NEWS, Green Apple Production, and many bands in the Indie Scene.

Labelling

2011-06-02T18:16:00.000-07:00

Nandito ako ngayon para magbigay ng makabuluhang paksa kakaiba sa nauna kong artikulo dito. Ito ay sariling opinion lang at kung may reaksyon man, masaya ko kayong pauunlakan. Medyo mahaba pero aasahan ko na babasahin niyo ito at iinitindihin niyo mga nakasulat dito.

Ano nga ba ang labelling? Labelling ay isang paraan ng pagkilala sa isang bagay at mahiwalay ito sa iba. Kung walang labelling lahat ng bagay ay tatawagin nalang natin non-living things o kaya bagay lang. Imagine bibili ka sa tindahan, “Kuya pabili nga ng inumin yun hugis babae na kulay itim ang likido.” Di ba mahirap?

Sa musika ginagamit natin ito para malaman kung ano bang tugtugan nabibilang ang isang banda. Inilalabel natin ang banda o musika sa pamamagitan ng genre.

Sinong gumagawa ng labelling? Kahit sino pwede. Ngunit, nagkakaroon tayo ng mga “mislabelling” na hindi natin alam nakakaapekto sa pagiging edukado sa musika ng mga nakikinig at sa scene ng apektadong genre.

Eto ang mga hakbang para sa maayos na labelling:

1. Huwag maniwala sa iisang pinagmulan o “source”.

- Lalo na sa “mainstream sense of labelling”, wag basta basta tayong maniwala sa pinagsasabi nila. Hindi porket sinabi ni MTV na “punkrock” ang Blink 182 at “HeavyMetal” ang Metallica ay mananatili sila sa ganyan tugtugan o naging ganyan nga talaga ang tugtugan nila. Maswerte tayo sa panahon ngayon at may internet na pwede ka magtype sa Wikipedia o Google about sa paksa na gusto mong iresearch. Ngunit huwag ka lang babatay sa iisang “source”, titingnan mo rin ang citation na ginamit kung reliable ba ito. The many the sources, the better!

2. Alamin mo ang ugat!

- Parang batang hindi kilala ang magulang ganon inihahantulad ang mga labellers sa ilalabel nilang kanta o banda na hindi alam ang ugat ng kanilang tugtugan. Lagi niyong tandaan bago maging Poppunk, Post hardcore, Death Metal, etc. ay may pinagmulan parin yan purong genre. Nasa inyo yan kung aalamin niyo. Kung wala kayong makitang ugat niyan, malamang gawa gawa lang yang genre na iyan.

3. Humingi ng tulong sa 10-20 na kritiko.

- Wala kang oras para magresearch? Humingi ka ng mga opinyon sa mga kritiko na maraming alam sa musikang gusto mong ihalintulad sa banda mo o sa paksa mo. Hangga’t maaari ay hindi magiging Bias ang opinyon nila para sa inyo. Humingi ka nga ng opinyon sa 20 taong kaibigan niyo pero pinangunahan niyo na “hardcore” kayo at hindi nila alam ang tunog ng hardcore malamang sasangayon yan. Ginawa niyo lang kalokohan ang sarili niyo at mga kaibigan niyo.

4. Mas mabuti ilabel ang kanta kaysa sa banda.

- Huwag kayong babatay sa genre ng banda ngunit suriin ang mga kanta nila. Sa pagiging creative ng isang banda, nahihiwalay na minsan ang tugtugan nila sa genre na kinabibilangan nila. Masama ba iyon? Hindi. Ngunit sa simpleng pagbabago ng tugtugan, dapat dagdagan o baguhin ng isang banda ang genre kinabibilangan nila. 311 ay isang halimbawa ng mixed genre na banda ngunit hindi ito naging hadlang para sila ay macriticize about doon. Hindi kasi sila claimers at hinahayaan nila ang mga kritiko ang humusga sa kanila.

5. “to label with standards or not to label at all”

- Kung hindi mo alam ang ginagawa mo, better yet manahimik ka nalang o hayaan ang iba ang humusga sa iyo. Parang pag nasira ang electric fan mo at hindi mo alam gawin, di ba pinapaayos mo ito sa may alam? Ganon din sa paglalabel. Kung hindi mo masunodsunod ang 4 na madadaling hakbang sa taas at wala kang mailagay sa band info mo, Ilagay mo nalang “a 5-piece band” , “playing rock and pop” o yun paborito kong linya ni Neyo “It is not rock, rnb, pop, trance. It is just good music.” Play safe di ba? Uulitin ko, “To label with standards or not to label at all”.

Bakit ko nagawa itong artikulong ito? Hindi para manghusga ngunit magkaroon ng batayan at gawing edukado ang mga banda at mga makikinig sa tamang tugtugan na gusto nila. Hindi porke’t pinabilis ay “punk”, hindi porke’t mangiyak-iyak ang boses ay “emo, hindi porke’t malaki boses ay “hardcore”, hindi porke’t upbeat ang gitara “reggae”, hindi porke’t may torotot “ska”, hindi porke’t mabigat “metal” at marami pang iba. At isa pa, hindi porket nakaporma ang isang tao ayon sa lifestyle ng genre na iyon ay ayon ang pinakikinggan niya. Sana ishare niyo ito at baguhin na natin ang maling pananaw na ito.

Naniniwala ako sa maayos na labelling lalong uusbong ang music scene sa Pilipinas lalo na ang mga scene na hindi nabibigyan ng pansin. Salamat sa pagbabasa. Any violent reactions? Sige lang! :)) Nasa labelling na rin naman tayo, pacritic yun banda naming TRIPLEHORNS. Salamat!

Everything

2011-06-01T17:30:00.000-07:00

Music is so incredibly diverse, and in my opinion, that's what makes it such a beautiful entity. I treat music as if I were exploring a whole other world--or universe even, and I feel like I'll never quite cover it's entire topography. It's literally infinite.

Having said that, listening to different genres really requires open ears and most of all, an open mind. I have met too many people who are purists to "their" genre and I was once like that too. "Only Rock," I'd tell myself while scoffing at all the Pop listeners out there. But I later grew out of it, needing a break from distorted guitars and whatnot. Breaking out from the "purist" mindset helped myself both as a person and as a musician.

As of now, I'm the worst person to ask about favorite genres or bands. I simply have no answer. My head goes into overload from over-processing all the things I've listened to and I answer with a long "Uuuummmm.." instead. I'm not too good with specifics (haha).

Listening to practically everything opens your mind to, well, everything (forgive the redundancy) and I think this is exactly what listeners and musicians nowadays need. Open-mindedness. Then maybe every damn thing wouldn't sound the same.

In my opinion, being a listener comes before being a musician. We have to take in what we hear and let it soak in, whether good or bad. And as a musician, you'll learn how to apply it one way or another and be something progressive. Because the music industry needs progress, not things that we've all seen/heard before. Strive to be different.

Even if you aren't a musician, you'll find that broadening your music preferences even just a tiny bit does wonders to your soul, and even your mind. You learn about different people, beliefs, cultures. It's amazing how much you gain and where you could end up. Also, I think it's important that listeners be open-minded (even more so than the musicians) because in the end, you're the people we musicians are clearly trying to impress. And frankly, if you don't like it, then we're out of business.

This whole topic was extremely difficult to write about so I apologize for being so scatterbrained. It's hard to explain, but I'm sure you'll understand what I mean if you try it out. Let me tell you, it's amazing what music you'll find if you just look. There are tons of songs/bands to listen to on YouTube alone, and with the added websites which are purely dedicated to music, you're pretty much all set. Good luck.

By the way, here's a link to a little inspiration.

http://www.youtube.com/user/LaBlogotheque

If you have time please visit my band Lalangin! Catch us at our shows and enjoy our music live!

Punk Pop Nowadays!

2011-06-01T01:26:00.000-07:00

I’ve been a fan of Punk pop for years now and still I haven’t been able to get over this simple yet fun genre of music. Yes, this type of music tends to be a little bit uncomplicated and very easy to learn. But the Up side of it is the music is really fun to play. It is described to be catchy but they still retain the speed and aggressiveness of classic punk rock. Laced with heavy guitar riffs, pulsating bass lines and relentless drum beats, punk pop has acquired its poppy side as well seen in its lyrics.

Punk pop has its origin entwined with punk rock music from the States. Punk pop has its minions and supporters in the Philippines. Acts like Boy Elroy, The Ambassadors and Hilera are some of the noticeable bands that are somewhat categorized in this genre and has stood the test of time. Growing from the pinoy punk scene in the 80’s and 90’s, punk pop has garnered new blood this new age to rock the shit out of all of us!

Redlightgo!

The band started with vocalist Remar Sabangan and Guitarist/Vocalist Adrian Balagot wanted to form a band that has a new and refreshing sound aside from what they are used to like. Only problem is they needed some recruits. Enter drummer Niko Tolipas. Niko was a former bandmate of Remar back in high school. Then Migz De Guzman, bassist, join the wacky group on June 2009 to form the band. Their songs are mainly about their personal experiences and some of their friends and people they are with. Although their songs are about hardship and about misery, the band opted to stay fast paced! Every member of Redlightgo has their contribution in writing and making music. Team work is a must in this gang. With noticeable influences like Fall Out Boy, All American Rejects, Eraserheads and Mayonaise, the band is determined to live out their dream! A 4 song performance by Redlightgo requires you to jump up and down to their music as the band methodically rock out on stage.

The band will have you asking for more upon playing their song “Telepono”. It is about a person who has a transparent relationship with someone over the phone. The person wants to talk about his or her feelings for the person on the other line. Uncertain that the act of confronting the feelings for the later, the person is confused by the actions that the other person is showing.

Another song from this band is a cover of an old Donna Cruz song “Kapag Tumibok Ang Puso”. The band overhauled the song to fit their liking giving it a Redlightgo make over!

http://rakista.com/RedLightGO/music/view/kapag-tumibok-ang-puso-donna-cruz-cover/

Start It Up!

This band was formed in June of 2008. Starting as a bunch of friends was the backbone support of this band. Even though the band itself took the stabs of changes in their lineup, still it goes forth hitting the right spots and making a mark in the music scene with their own taste of tunes. Start It Up! Is composed of guitarists Marvin Zamora and Robin James Medina, Drummer Benjo Criste and Synth player Hanna Acabado. Often times Redlightgo’s Remar Sabangan take turns at manning the guitars for this group.

The band goes for their unique style of music that is composed of catchy punk tunes with crazy synths on the side. Taken from their influences (All Time Low, New Found Glory, Four Year Strong), the band mostly creates their own mix and boastfully calls it their own. With fast beats and guitar infused songs, who will not be bewildered by the talent and camaraderie of these talented youths? The secret of this band is giving all they got in every performance to give you a show you won’t forget

Their song “Its You Game Over” is the best example for their musical diversity. With hard kicking guitar parts and those non-stop synths, the band delivers!

http://www.reverbnation.com/play_now/song_6836567

The band mixes it up with their tagalong song “Bantay”. The band continues to shred and hits up with undying guitar riffs! Simple yet straightforward lyrics makes this song so catchy and will make your head bop to the beat.

http://www.reverbnation.com/play_now/song_6836687

The Triplehorns

Low and behold the 3 piece band The Triplehorns. Formed in mid 2010, this punk pop group is heavily influenced by punk bands from the States, U.K. and also from local punk groups here at the Philippines. What started as a 5 piece college band bloomed and shed some members to form this group. Their transition from being a 5 piece band to a 3 piece is very complicated actually and very mixed up. Vocalist and bassist Jan Echano was their former drummer. The inexorable Jaime Castro was their vocalist then but she is now their drummer. Bryan Mangabang, although being the rhythm guitarist back then is now doing a solo job at the guitars.

At first, the guys are in it just for the heck of it and just having fun. But unknowingly they knew then and there that its not just having fun, it is their passion to be the best at what they do. Not just to be the best, but to be responsible musicians which we should all become. They even quoted, “Kung gusto nyong sumikat at yumaman, mag show band kayo o kaya naman mag dance crew at sumali sa Show Time.” They would rather stay as Brand X, simple yet real, brave yet responsible.

Currently, the band’s first Demo Album “Herbal Tae” has been released last May, 2011 with 4 original songs Nowhere, Change, Alone in Pairs, and their first single TAE (yes, you read that right!) You can listen to these songs on their official band page or just ask a copy of the album (if you wish to) and they’ll hand it to you willingly for FREE.

Most of their songs are about how they see, criticize and make fun about life and society. They have fast paced verses, sing able choruses and silly lyrics (sometimes), with tunes that are likeable that you won’t notice they’re singing about criticisms of life unless you listen well.

http://www.reverbnation.com/artist/artist_songs/1455832

Biography of Blood of the Stone (Eric Goden Lomocso) A quick history of the Cebu Music Scene

2011-05-31T18:40:00.000-07:00

Persistence of artistic success, persistence of commercial failure

In the West, a band's history is often measured by its level of media mileage, tours, record deals, album sales, controversies, and etc.. Blood of the Stone surely won't pass basing on these standards in its three year history. But it has a story to tell.

Cebu - Rock n' Roll Periphery

The island of Cebu, in the first place, is not a good place to start a paying career as an artist musician. Although it is a city, it doesn't have the machineries to sustain an independent music scene. Most of its bands replicate their albums through burning not pressing. There is no local paper that writes mainly about music. Normally, Cebu's music activity is seasonal. Most concerts happen during college intramural season ( August - September), Octoberfest, and Sinulog Festival(January).

The picture began to slowly change in late 2005 when Bisrock (Visayan Rock) rose and dominated the local scene. Thanks to local station, Smash FM, for earnestly promoting music sung in Visayan. The broadcasting of Bisrock, however, has no quality control that even garage quality demos often get airplays which draws criticism from discriminate listeners. Although chaotic in its infancy, Bisrock is still a promising movement with musicians working in progress. Blood of the Stone is a proud participant of Bisrock.

Brief History and of Love Crime Calligraphy

Blood of the Stone is the concept of college dropout, mail clerk, janitor, usher, teacher assistant, artist, musician, and poet Eric Goden Lomocso. In the spring of 2003 in Los Angeles, California he recorded a three song demo with bassist Tobar. The meaningful musical partnership lasted 5 months. Under heavy economic pressure and stress from the fast time pace of LA, Lomocso decided to fly back for good to Cebu, Philippines in November to continue working on his idea.

The rock scene in the West overcrowded with bands could not care much if a two month old band had played 8 original songs in its first gig. In Cebu, however it is a record worth noting for no band has done it, yet, in the island's rock history. Lomocso did not express much pride over the so-called new record, because it only made him realize Cebu's cultural depression which will give him serious problems by the end of 2004.

In March 2004, the 11-track album, Love Crime Calligraphy was recorded with Alexter Sopsop on the bass and Eduard Tompong on the drums. Amidst of the fatigue, fever, and infected throat Lomocso was suffering from, the album was nonetheless completed in 8 hours. For the record, Love Crime is a highly technical album recorded at raw punk rock speed. Three weeks later, it was mixed and mastered by Kerryl Demeterio. It was music instructor, Christopher Racal, that got BOTS a recording session at Backyard, playing the implicit role as the catalyst for putting the band on the map in just a short time. Cebu was unaware that there was a new band with avant-gardist aim moving underground.

Lomocso gave a copy of Love Crime to local labels, Indie Culture Records and Lighter Records but was not received well for reasons only the labels knew. In August 2004, Smash FM started playing several tracks from the album such as: Ninth Life, Bad Love, One Way, Love Crime Calligraphy, & Momentarily. BOTS slowly gained an underground following. Other stations followed airing BOTS songs two years later. Cebuano painter, Andrew Barba commented on Love Crime as "truly a work of art". The album remains under recognized today.

Bisrock - An Infantile Musical Disorder

Kill all the critics. Or let them compose their own songs. Seriously, that's not even the issue now. What is important is the young's burgeoning interest to make songs in their own language. That is for me magical. Every now and then, there will be some of them who'll be dishing out songs with a literary flair. In fact, that's happening now. Literary value and grammar? Oh, hell, let the critics reread Frank Sinatra or Air Supply.

-- Januar E. Yap, Cebuano writer (on his defense of Bisrock)

Visayan rock music has already existed back in the early '70s. A blues rock band named Leon Kilat( Lion Lightning) probably was the first to sing in local language. Unfortunately, the band had no recorded material which virtually left them unknown. Their former members probably had their songs recorded on cassette tape. Twenty years later, their songs were finally popularized by a reggae band that called itself Jr. Kilat.

In the '80s, a local music store organized a long series of concerts called Local Ground. The trend that it set was not to uplift the Visayan culture but a blind assimilation to Western rock. Playing the latest rock hits from Europe and America dominated the mindset. It was normal forSweet Child of Mine to be covered by 5 bands on the same event. Bands during that time did not pay much importance to singing in Cebuano, although some did play a metal version ofBaleleng, an old folk song.

Local Ground evolved into Showground in the '90s. A local radio station, DYRT, produced Brown Under Ground Sound(BUGS), a program that promoted original local rock music. BUGS, also, organized many huge concerts during that decade. The '90s was like Cebu's Golden Age of concerts. Scrambled Eggs was probably the first band to play an all-Visayan original repertoire several years before the word Bisrock was popularized. Sadly, greed and lack of artistic vision by the organizers provided the scene a shaky foundation, which led to Showground and BUGS's collapse in the late '90s.

The consequences of the two scenes' recklessness and demise left a profound impact on the remaining survivors. Some of them express skepticism on Bisrock as merely a fad that it will just fall like the ones in the '90s. Bisrock, however, is more of a youthful musical experience not a low-cultured production like Showground and BUGS.

There has been a revival of concerts ever since Smash FM started airing Visayan rock music in 2005. Bands in the '90s, with very few exceptions, mostly play covers in English. Bands nowadays could play up to 10 original Visayan songs. Present Bisrock, although highly criticized for its predominant novelty and puppy love theme songs with pop flavoring, still can not be denied as the phenomenon that has given Cebu a fresh start. Had it not for the predecessors' mishandling of the scene two decades ago, the situation right now would not have been this messy.

Vigilante - Lomocso's Bisrock Bullet

Masked authority, name your price, let's make a deal

before you go on with your terrorizing
for we need more criminals
so the judicial system could grow.

-- Vigilante (translated from Cebuano)

Lomocso has already written songs in Cebuano as far back as 1997. He used to sing his poem, Dalan sa Kaminyoon (Road to Marriage) at San Francisco State University's The Depot during open mic sessions. A couple more lyrics fusing gothic and tropical imageries were written few years later. Lomocso did not fully realize, yet, the importance of his underground Rock en Español experience in LA in the years to come. Its application now has become invaluable in his contribution to Visayan culture.

In September 2005, Vigilante was written days after someone was executed in the open at dawn nearby Lomocso's place. Three masked men shot their victim who was a known petty thief from a neighboring barrio. The occurrence was just one of the countless killings done by paramilitary and vigilante groups all over the country. The death squads' primary targets are activists, outspoken journalists, and ex-convicts. The local and national government keeps a sinister kind of "neutrality" as the body count rises.

In this kind of reality the song struck a raw nerve in the mass audience. Vigilante's brutally sarcastic lyrics and offbeat acoustic rhythm earned Lomocso a Bob Dylan-like status in the scene. The feedback that Lomocso has received from the audience strengthens his belief that it only takes a heart, guts, imagination, and an acoustic guitar to conquer Cebu by music and use it to address social ills to affect changes. Lomocso calls it art with social responsibility.

Preliminary Conclusion

Three years have passed and Blood of the Stone remains an underrated rock act in the Philippines. Its low profile kind of mass popularity in Cebu is not the fetishism that glamorous indie bands in the West receive from their exclusive fans. Blood of the Stone does not fit in the typical rock band success story whether indie or major. Instead it has earned local popularity somewhat comparable to 19th century troubadours before the invention of the phonograph. Most Bisrock listeners identify BOTS with the single, Vigilante, not with the concept album,Love Crime Calligraphy. It is a rock act with western avant-garde aesthetics fallen victim to Third World politics and economics. However, the internet has made BOTS' case accessible worldwide to those few who would take the time to read, giving its music a fighting chance from being completely forgotten. Locally, Bisrock has given Lomocso cultural solace from his setbacks, to keep him hopeful about the future.

Written from a third person point of view by Lomocso himself from October 28th to November 2nd, 2006

http://www.myspace.com/bloodofthestone/blog/194930600

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Eric-Goden-Lomocso-Music-Foundation/321241165374

Easy as do re mi

2011-05-30T22:05:00.000-07:00

It may sound cliché but yes everything can be studied and learned if you have the drive and the conviction to pursue something. I wasn’t born with with a good singing voice but I grew up in a world of music. Having the chance to hear records playing at my dads phonograph every morning was a big part of my childhood. I sang as early as I could remember. I learned music far more easier than reading or writing, but I was nasal.

My parents noticed that I enjoyed singing a lot and that I a could carry a tune but the problem is i sound nasal at times. I didn’t know how to breathe correctly while singing, so they decided that id take voice lessons and they enrolled me at a program. I enjoyed the lessons I had even at a tender age I understood that the talent that was given to me by God should be treated as a craft and that I should hone it and improve in the best way that I can.

I joined a lot of singing contests as much as I could before to observe and to put to action the things that Ive learned from my mentors. You see learning is a never ending process and by that I meant all things that there is out there that we can learn and not just subjects at school.

I discovered at the age of 12 that I can write songs, that inspiration just comes to me like a voice calling in my head. I knew that it was another blessing from God. I had a hard time finishing my songs though because I didn’t know how to play the piano and so I picked up my dad's guitar and tried to learn how to play it.. It was hard at the beginning but I was really determined to learn and now that I know how to play basic guitar chords, it helps me a lot with my songwriting. Ive been honing it since then..hence, I have written for a commercial and films already.

Right now I know how to play the guitar, drums, harmonica and the xylophone. What could be next? Maybe the flute? Maybe you could start trying other instruments too. Whatever floats your boat. Being a beginner maybe hard but I know you can be better or even great! Right?

I get a lot of comments that my voice sounds so small and I accept and regard that fact. One thing that I can share about learning and I may say that it’s the best thing and the most significant that Ive learned so far is that Ive learned to accept who I am..i have learned to embrace my uniqueness.

So if your at school, at work or any other place and you find that learning is hard. Remember that you have got to have faith in yourself. In the back of your mind, it maybe hard but you can turn things around, believe that you can make it!

Easy as learning Do re mi…

Check out my band Persephone over the web and catch our shows!

Musicians: Blue Collared Artists

2011-05-30T01:09:00.000-07:00

"Saan napupunta yung mga sweldo mu? Ilang buwan ka ng nagta trabaho wala ka pa ringnaiipon? Puro ka kasi kalokohan eh, sinasayaang mu yung pinagpapaguran mu sa mgakalokohan mu."

I can still remember my Mother telling me that I needed to use my money on more important things. Yes, I know they wouldn't and probably wouldn't understand that being a musician or in a band really requires money, lots of it actually. It got me thinking that yea, with my meager income I should have saved or invested my money on things that will benefit me most in the future. But heck, did I care? Hell no!

When I started working I made a list of things that I want to buy when I have the money already. The list includes things like Zoom B2, a Behringer DI, guitar strap, a better gigbag, D'Addario bass strings and a pedalboard. It never hit me that all of these stuff are band related, until my mother saw it, preached the importance of saving for the future and me thinking about how I could get this stuffs.

Being a musician requires dedication, perseverance, passion and yes, money. Being a member of a band requires gears; guitars, effects and stompboxes, cymbals and the common miscellaneous like drum sticks, a set of guitar strings, guitar picks and straps. And these things aren't for free. Quality guitars would cost you about three thousand to as much as thirty thousand, depending on the brand and type. Drum sets, cymbals, skins and even drumsticks costs much too. Gigs and events requires moolah too and of course there are still occasional expenses like fare expenses and food. These are the things that most people who are not in the music scene couldn't understand; a lot of underground artists who are not that famous are struggling to acquire their gears, through blood, sweat and tears, literally. Though some of us might have day jobs, it's still not enough and this is where a true musician rises.

We are not payed for all our efforts just to be able to play in an event. We are not given fares to far away venues and places. We are not sponsored costly promotions, gears and instruments. We might not earn like engineers or doctors or lawyers or those big name bands that brings home a couple of thousand bucks after playing for a three song set. We are musicians who plays with love, passion and pure dedication. We are musicians who struggles through adversities to make our music echo a little louder. We are musicians who makes the most out of everything. I guess being heard and appreciated is a better way of repaying us. It might not buy us top caliber gears but I'm sure it would give a boost to our dedication, to spread our music and help each other. That is the job of a musician.

Thanks for reading this piece of thought. BTW I am Rica and I play bass for the awesome boys of Dubdriven (yes, I'll call them awesome because they're my bandmates. talk about biases huh? :D). Let's continue supporting the underground scene and spread the music!

Soil & Green Band Review

2011-05-27T00:01:00.000-07:00

I remember a few years back. My band was invited to play in a place nearby our office. The bar? Dayo. Back then Dayo bar was a haven for bands to play their music. I arrived early as usual and I noticed as time goes by that few people got there in time. There is this one gentleman who I saw eating by the table alone. Instinctively I thought that he was in a band to. I wasn’t wrong. He was part of a band that played that night right after us. The band? Soil & Green. I really liked their songs then. I remember myself unknowingly banging my head to every beat the band made. In short I really enjoyed their music.

Present time. Got to hear them yet again in Genre Bar a couple of weeks ago. Still the brilliance and energy never left the band. I think they played new songs now. The guitars are always in sync and played hand in hand with each other. Drums were relentless. Bass was ear candy for me and played all through my mind like it was lingering back there. Vocals were so much mature now compared to what I remember last time I saw them played. Now the question is does these things also transpired through their self titled album.. boy was I not disappointed.

I listened to 3 songs from their album and found myself head banging to this music that the band created and the majesty of the instruments that played so well together. The guitars on the tracks are not that simple to play yet the band seemed to do this with ease and finesse. I can easily tell their influence on their songs because on some parts you could hear the incubus-filled music. Although the band put their best on making their own style. You could hear that also on several parts of the songs.

Run is a monster song. The intro just sucks you into it and you find yourself waiting for every beat. I like the fact that the band decided to differentiate the verse parts from the chorus parts by not sticking on the main tone of the song. Hence the chorus has a different feel to in compared to the verse. Lyrics as what I have heard was straight forward in this song. Just in your face.

Gullible was just easy listening on the start. But just wait for the chorus and be lead to a mix of ambient guitars. Still I can’t get over the fact that the bass was still lingering on the back of the song just pumping on every beat that the drums make. Drums on the other hand was changing and changing within the song. The cool thing about that is you’ll never get tired of it.

The next song was so hyped up on the start but was lead into a bass heaven of a verse. Guitars are just like the rest of the songs, ambient and mind blowing. Vocals were just like a young Brandon Boyd waiting to rock out the crowd. Although I think vocals are much better live on this song. All in allConundrum I think is the bands heaviest song apart from the two above. I like the part when I can hear screaming in the background. I never expected that.

Soil & Green’s self titled album is a mix of easy listening yet a heavy rock out album. The band was so talented to mix the two together and is heard on every song. Shown in every song are straight forward lyrics muttered through a powerful voice and drumbeat driven songs coupled with menacing yet subtle guitars plus bass lines that can catch and caress ones ear is without a shawdow of a doubt,Soil & Green…

Confessions Of A Singer In Hiatus

2011-05-26T20:23:00.000-07:00

As I parked my car along the curb, I noticed that the scene was not what I had expected. The place was calm as if deserted. We arrived earlier than the call time, excited maybe but I guess that's how we were trained as courtesy to the organizers. As we were about to check out the place named after the underworld, we saw that the gates were still locked and there was nobody around. All the excitement hyped by the long hours of practice and the feeling of being to perform again suddenly dipped to a low. Where are all the people? Was this just a scam? What the hell are we going to do with all these energy? All these questions raced through my mind. I calmed down when our guitarist said that the organizer texted us that we were just early and we'll just wait for the other performers to arrive. So we decided to linger and wait for the other bands to come.

In a few minutes, people with guitars, equipments and the like, trickled in and where approaching us. A few cars also parked alongside us. And one person asked us if we were there for the gig, as if measuring us when he quipped "tutogtog din kayo?" I admit, we don't carry the persona of "a rock band", our band looked so "ordinary". Anyhow, we just answered the "rocker dude" with a simple nod. A few minutes after, the "possible" owner of the joint below the place told us "parating na yung magbubukas niyan." Suddenly, a long-haired man came opening the "gates of hell". We went up the stairs leading to a room that was screaming with darkness. The walls were painted black, only a few lighted sections illuminated the place. There was this spotlight on the center stage, but the place was really creepy. The loud music coming from the sound system kept the feverish feeling of a natural high in us. The different bands occupied the seats and the then empty room is now filled with smokers making the air damp, stale smelling. Almost all of the people in the place were members of different bands and only handfuls were guests. Fortunately, we had some friends to back us up in case nobody would cheer for us.

At last, the first band where asked to set up. The brave ones usually start up first, and the late ones end up playing last. The first band was good, took a lot of time to sound check though. The next band was different; they look and sound more professional, spiels where automatic. The front man kept on mentioning their facebook page. The next band was even better. Hands down to their guitarist! Soon, we were the next to perform; I snapped out from my spectator mode and prepped for the performance. My day job made me go AWOL from the music scene and it has been quite some time since I held a microphone and sang in front of an unfamiliar crowd. I had butterflies in my stomach, I tried to recall the lyrics of the song and felt it was useless, since I may forget them if I just use my head instead of feeling the music. So I just let these emotions pass and tuned my guitar.

We stepped on the small stage and the spot light kept me safe from the faces of the crowd. I told myself; at least I won't be seeing their reactions. I looked like a newbie, as I fumbled with the cord of my guitar and forgot to attach the cord to the distortion. It took quite some time for us to prep, which is a no-no for any performer. The tension rose and rose, my palms where sweating, and I can't hear myself. I calmed down, took the mic and introduced the band. Then we played! It was not as awesome, but I appreciate how the crowd reacted. Egging us with their applause, as if saying "it's okay, good job!" I felt more relaxed, the crowd was so supportive. I know that it was not our best performance, but they still cheered for us. I suddenly realized, this is the Indie crowd we're talking about. Bands support each other, everybody is given respect. I smiled and realized, the baptism of fire is over. We must rock the house in our next songs, and we did! The hunger to perform and to live the music again is now quenched. But like vampires with the first taste of blood, “we want more!”

Chronicles of a Frustrated Musician

2011-05-25T18:09:00.000-07:00

I woke up one sunny morning with “Tindahan ni Aling Nena” yelling on air. It was my eldest sister who played that trusty UltraElectroMagneticPop! cassette tape. I joined her by singing, “Wala… wala… ahh… ahh… oh Diyos ko!”.

I was glued on MTV Asia. One afternoon, the VJs announced that there’d be a contest for youngsters who have a band and original compositions. Suddenly, I remembered that I wrote my very first song entitled “Still Young”. So upon arriving in school, I asked two of my best buddies to help me form a band. “I’ll be the keyboardist”, I initiated. We planned and planned but we never really joined the contest. Wyrd won. Lucky them.

Those were the blast-from-the-past scenes from the 90’s. Fast forward to 2000 and counting.

I began to enjoy listening and appreciating different genres. Blame my siblings (and my parents too) for all these musical influences. I began to ponder and wonder what would happen if I’d be a musician someday.

When I started living independently in Manila, I began to explore the world of rock ‘n roll. I would stay through the mosh pits of a free concert in Marikina. I’d probably be seen lurking at Sunken Garden while waiting for the performance of some of my favorite underground bands in U.P. Fair. Sometimes, I’d splurge my allowance and follow my favorite bands in their mall tours and bar gigs. When I got close to a local ska group, it was then when I started to realize the ups-and-downs, good-and-bad rock ‘n roll lifestyle. I guess, it’s never easy at all. One should be dedicated to his craft in order to survive the scene.

From that insight, I still wished to be in a band. I sometimes daydream on beating the drums ala Raimund M. or playing the piano like Billy Corgan. I also like to be that violinist on Dexys Midnight Runners’ “Come on Eileen” fame. But I think I will not be one. Will never be one. I’m just a frustrated musician.

This year has been the start of my so-called true “rocking” career. I was not just exposed to the true underground local scene; I also befriended some of the best people of this world. Yes, I am still not a musician. I help out in spreading the music of my friends’ band as well as the other indie bands whose music I appreciate. That’s all.

Then, I began to reflect on my “goal”. So, what if I’m not that musician who plays on stage? What if I am not that person who wows the audience? I now think otherwise. I can sing “Five Chocolate Cakes in the Baker Shop” in order for my pre-school students to learn counting. I can also sing “Twinkle, twinkle, little star” when these kids need to rest. Yeah, I think, that is what I really am. A MUSICIAN BY HEART.

Café Antonio Sessions: Building Hometown Confidence in Los Baños

2011-05-25T17:41:00.000-07:00

· The wholesome, natural union of the celestial and the organic can only be witnessed in one special place: the coffee shop. It is where we experience music (the celestial) and coffee (the organic) inevitably married and intertwined producing caffeinated offspring in the often obscure form of musicians and music fans.

· When Café Antonio, Los Banos was founded three years ago by my friends and I, music was already a strong driving force behind our business philosophy. Aside from making and preparing, great, artisan espresso-based beverages (we’re professional baristas) we made it a point that people would come to our place and listen to music that’s not being played on mainstream radio. That’s where our café’s image kind of revolved around in. Rotating local and foreign indie artists on our painstakingly-customized and researched playlists provided us an awesome soundtrack that helped solidify our quirky, free-spirited, Do-It-Yourself image setting us apart from the more corporate-looking and quiet cafes in our small university town.

· We used to have a 37 square meter café where we crammed art exhibits, poetry readings, gigs, and monologues. It was easy to fill up the place with people, we get thirty standing people inside, and then it’s a party. Now that we’ve moved to a bigger place in LB Square, we were given room to conceptualize and formalize our artistic contribution to our community in the form of Café Antonio Sessions.

· Café Antonio Sessions was the brainchild of me and my friends Eric Soliven and Jegar delos Reyes. Taking inspiration from AOL Sessions, Levi’s Pioneer Sessions, Paste Presents, VH1 Storytellers, MTV Unplugged, and acoustic nights at the now defunct Kofiholics Anonymous (where Eric and I used to play on our respective bands), we decided to start our own music scene at Café Antonio.

· Café Antonio Sessions held its first gig at Café Antonio, Los Banos in July 3, 2010 featuring Eric and vocalist, Lenard Gabriel of indie rock band, LIME, and me and Gelo Arboleda of our acoustic punk band, Juniper Face the Corner. After three intimate acoustic gigs, Calamba/Los Banos-based OPM rock band, Yield Avenue, joined in the group. Soon afterward, UPLB-based artists such as singer-songwriter, Gabes Torres, and dance rock quartet, Segatron became our first student recruits forming the core of our roster of artists. New bands Sweet Symphony, Sitting on a Cornflake, and Pathway are our newest recruits.

· I was able to sit down with each of the bands and ask them about their involvement with Café Antonio and Café Antonio Sessions, and their thoughts about the music scene in our hometown of Los Banos.

· ON INVOLVEMENT WITH CAFÉ ANTONIO AND CAFÉ ANTONIO SESSIONS

· Francis “Khitz” Contemplacion of Yield Avenue: I had no idea na mahilig sa music ang mga barista doon. Nalaman ko lang ang café through Sherwin Felicidario (one of Cafe Antonio’s regular customers) kasi ginamit nila (College of Development Communication, UPLB) yung song namin na Tungkol sa Pangarap for the indie film, Limang Pasko. And then ginawan namin ng tribute video ang Café Antonio gamit ang song namin na Hanggang Dulo bilang pasasalamat. Nagkataon na may shooting din sa cafe ang NHK channel ng Japan, narining nila yung song naming tapos ginamit nila sa documentary na ginawa nila for Café Antonio. Bale, dun nagsimula ang involvement ko sa Café Antonio.

· Gelo Arboleda of Juniper Face the Corner: High school palang ako tambay na ko ng café. Nagustuhan ko dun kasi same wave-length, at artsy-fartsy ang crew dun sa café. Dream ko kasi yung setting na may café tapos parang may jazz na atmosphere, yung chill lang. Nawala yung career ko sa music nung nag-college, na-revive lang uli nung nag-jam kami ni Kuya Jabez. Tapos dahil sa musical similarities namin, binuo namin ang Juniper Face the Corner for the first Sessions.

· Christian Gonzales of Segatron: Once lang ako nakapasok dun sa old site. Nakita ko maraming tao tapos may gitara sa loob. First time ko talaga sa Café Antonio sa new site na sa LB Square nung nag-gig ang Segatron nung Café Antonio Sessions VIII. After nun nakahanap na kami ng bagong tatambayan.

· Eric Soliven of LIME: Gusto lang tumugtog ni Lenard Gabriel. Kaya nung July 3 nag-gig kami with Juniper Face the Corner. Pa-jam-jam lang yun. First gig namin as LIME nung Female Artists Tribute Night na, kasama na kapatid ko si Ian at drummer naming si Maya Miranda.

· GabesTorres: First time ko manood nung Sessions nung third gig, Dave Matthews Band Tribute Night. Sinama ako nung friend ko na si Marisse Bautista tapos sinabi nya kanila Kuya Jabez na marunong ako kumanta tapos pinakanta nila ko tapos niyaya nila ko mag-gig. Dun na-rekindle yung desire ko tumugtog uli.

· THOUGHTS ON THE GROWTH OF CAFÉ ANTONIO SESSIONS AND THE LOS BANOS MUSIC SCENE

· Gelo: Sa music itself, may potential ang bawat banda. Yung growth ng Sessions napaka-sporadic at medyo unstable pa in the sense na parang masyado pang mabilis ang mga pangyayari at dumadami ang mga gigs at mga artists na sumasali. But ang goal nga ng Sessions is ma-share natin ang ating music at tulungan ang mga artists sa Los Banos na mag-grow. Yung pagiging organized representation of a music community ng Sessions ang may kapangyarihan mag-connect sa mga artists dito.

· Khitz: Passion ng bawat isa ang kelangan, musicians, photographers, videographers, fans…as long as may support ng ibang tao may future ang Sessions. Pero ang cycle nga ng music ay napaka-unpredictable. Di kakagat agad ang mga tao, kelangan ng matinding influence. Maraming gusto makibagay, marami din gusto maiba.

· Ian Soliven of LIME: Medyo humina ang music scene dati sa Los Banos. Nabawasan din ang mga nagko-concert sa loob at labas ng campus. Mahirap kasi maraming residential areas satin, di pwede mag-ingay masyado. Problema din kasi wala din confidence ang mga taga-ELBI na tumugtog dito kasi may connotation na baka “tayo-tayo” lang yung manonood. Kaya dati lumuluwas pa kami ng dati kong banda sa Manila para mag-gig. Bihira din kasi yung mga bars na papayagan ka tumugtog ng mga original compositions mo. Ang sa tingin ko ay kelangan muna ma-establish ang music scene dito bago tayo lumabas. Problem kasi masyado tayo nagre-refer sa mga music scene sa labas. Kelangan muna natin magtiwala at mag-build ng confidence sa Los Banos.

A Drummer's Tip

2011-05-24T03:08:00.000-07:00

13 years old ako nung una akong tumugtog ng drums para sa banda. 11 years old naman ako nag simulang mangarap na tumugtog ng tambol. Naalala ko pa nun, gamit ko lang ay stick ng bananacue at mga lata ng ice cream. Nung first time ko tumugtog, akala ko ganun lang kadali magdrums kasi kumpleto na ang gamit sa studio, drumstick lang ang kailangan mong dalhin para makatugtog at mga kabanda mo. Madalas din kami sumali sa mga high school battle of the bands at tumugtog sa mga parties, kadalasan ay kumpleto na ang drumset nun at maganda pa ang tunog. Pero nung nag college na ako, dun ko na experience na hindi pala ganun ka-dali maging drummer. Minsan nakatugtog kami sa isang bar, hindi ganun kaganda ang drumset at kulang kulang pa ang gamit. Dun ko nalaman na hindi pala ganoon kadali maging drummer dahil magastos pala ito at hindi biro. Ito ang mga natutunan ko sa loob ng 8 taon ko na pagtatambol.

Una kong nalaman sa pagiging drummer ay ang pagseset-up ng drumset. Bago ka tumugtog, isipin mo muna kung saan magiging komportable yung pagpalo ng kamay at pagpadyak ng paa mo. Una mong tandaan na mahirap tumugtog kapag wala sa ayos yung kit mo. Halimbawa na lang sa mga bar gigs. Hindi lahat ng drummer sa gig na yun ay marunong o alam ang set-up ng kit nila. May mga drummer dun na kung ano na lang ang dinatnan nila, tutugtog agad sila. May iba naman na sobrang tagal mag set-up. Minsan yung ibang drummer gusto nila na mas mataas yung hats nila, mas mataas yung boom stand ng ride nila o mas mababa yung snare nila. Minsan kasi pag nasanay ka sa setup mo sa studio tapos biglang mag-iiba sa gig, baka iba din yung ma-palo mo o hindi mo alam kung ano yung papaluin mo. Bilang drummer ng banda, siguraduhin mong nasa tama ang ayos ng kit mo bago ka magsimulang humataw.
Ngayon, ok na yung kit mo at handa ka ng pumalo pero napansin mo na parang tunog plastic yung snare mo at parang tunog tabo ang toms. Wala pala sa tono. Ang tangi mong kailangan ay isang drum key. Ano ang drum key? Yun yung parang screw na ginagamit sa pagtotono ng drum heads at pang sikip ng iba pang drum hardwares. Pero mas madalas itong ginagamit na pang tono. Pano mag tono? Gamit ang drum key, ipasok mo yun sa mga nakalawit na screw sa edge ng drum at iikot ng pa-clockwise. Sunod mong i-tono ang screw sa tapat ng nauna mong pinihit para hindi mabutas ang drum head. Parang pa-star yung direction. Pano malalaman na nasa tono na? Palu-paluin mo yung side ng drumhead kung saan malapit yung mga screw. Kung magkakatunog na sila, nasa tono ka na. Ganun din ang gagawin sa toms at bass drums. Mahalaga din na nasa tono ang snare mo. Pangit naman kung tunog toms yung snare mo, para kang tumutugtog ng jungle drums pag ganun. Madali lang ang pag-tono ng snare, may bilog sa gilid ng snare drum, pihitin lang ng clockwise, wag masyadong mahigpit at wag masyadong maluwag para lumabas ang solid na tunog ng snare. Mas preferred nung iba na may ring yung snare nila o may sustain, yung iba naman mas gusto nila na muffled o di masyadong matagal yung tunog pagka-palo. Kung gusto mo i-muffle ang drums mo, pwede mo lagyan ng packaging tape (yung grey) yung gilid ng drumhead para maipon yung tunog at hindi kumalat. Pwede ka din bumili ng kinakabit na muffler sa snare drum kung gusto mong mas muffled ito. Sa bass drum naman, pwede mong lagyan ng unan o ng foam yung loob ng bass drum. Siguraduhin lang na hindi masyadong mabigat yung pagkakasandal sa batter side ng bass drum mo para lumabas ang tunog nito.
Nasa tono na ang lahat. Napansin mo naman na may kagat at punit ang cymbals mo. Alam naman natin lahat na provided ng bar ang cymbals pero hindi lahat ng bar ay nagpapahiram ng maaayos na cymbals. May mga ibang bar na kong natugtugan na kailangan pang magdala ng sariling cymbals. Alam kong hindi ganun kayaman lahat ng musikero lalo na yung mga nagsisimula pa lang pero mas maganda na simulan na magpundar ng gamit. Ang presyo ng ibang cymbals ay minsan mas mahal pa sa isang mumurahing drumset. Nasa sa iyo din yun kung anong klase at tatak ang gusto mo, depende na din sa tugtugan nyo o pandinig ng drummer. Kung murang cymbals ang hanap mo, meron sa website na PhiMusic.com na mga nagbebenta ng mga brand new o used na cymbals. Meron din sa RAON sa Quiapo. Kung beginner ka pa lang at nagtitipid, pwede na siguro yung Zildjian Planet Z o Sabian Solar. Kung hard hitter ka naman, ang dapat sayo ay Zildjian A Custom, Paiste Alpha o Sabial AAX series. Kung nagtitipid ka at gusto ng magandang tunog, pwede na ang Stagg o Wuhan cymbals. Kung mayaman ka naman at gusto ng high end na cymbals, bagay sayo yung Zildjian K Custom, Sabian AA or Meinl Soundcaster. Depende din naman sa taste mo kung ano ang gusto ng tenga mo at swak sa budget mo. At ugaliin din ingatan ang cymbals. Bumili ng padded cymbal bag o mas mainam na bumili ng hard case. Isa pang pag iingat sa mga cymbals ay ang pagbili ng felt sleeve na ikakabit sa cymbal stand. Yun yung parang foam kung saan mo ipapatong yung cymbals mo. Kapag kasi walang felt sleeve, pwedeng magkaron ng keyhole yung cymbals mo o mag-crack yung gitnang part nito. Kung hindi naman maiwasan na magkaroon ng crack ang cymbals, pwede itong ipa-resize o ipa-hinang sa mga machine shop. Tatanggalin lang nila yung crack para hindi na ito lumaki, ang kilalang cymbal resizer sa PhilMusic at si sir DABOMB.
Ok na ang lahat. Set-up, tono at cymblals. Ngayon, habang tumutugtog ka ay napapansin mo na biglang bumagsak ang isa sa cymbal stand mo. Sira pala ang lock nito. Isa ko pang natutunan bilang drummer ay ang mga hardware ng drumset. Hindi ka makakatugtog ng maayos kung sira ang throne mo o gumagalaw yung isang paa ng floor tom o usog ng usog yung boom stand mo. Kailangan din pala na ma-maintain mo kung ano yung set-up mo. Kasi mahirap na habang tumutugtug ka, biglang masira yung isang paa ng throne mo, pwede kang mahulog at pagtawanan ng mga tao hahahaha! Halimbawa ng gears ng isang drumkit ay ang stands. Cymbal stands, snare stands, hihat stands at throne. Minsan may mga drummer na naglalagay ng boom arm sa cymbals nila para makatipid sa stand. Yun yung pa hugis-L na kinakabit gamit ang cymbal clamp sa rod ng cymbal. Yung ibang drummers naman, mas pinipili nilang nakahiwalay yung tom kaya nagdadala sila ng tom stands. Kung ayaw mo naman ng madaming stand, pwede kang gumamit ng rack system para boom arms nalang ang ikakabit mo. Ano ang rack system? Ikumpara mo yung drumset ni Chris Adler at Mike Portnoy sa drumset ni Lars Ulrich at Dave Lombardo. Importanteng hardware din ang bass drum pedal. Hindi mo mapapatunog yung bass drum kung wala kang pedal. Kadalasang sira nito ay ang mga spring o yung chain. May ibang drum pedals na strap at hindi chain ang ginagamit, yung iba naman ay direct drive. May ibang drummers kagaya ko na gumagamit ng double bass pedals para sa mabibigat na tugtugin. Mahalaga din ang pagpili ng beater ng bass drum. Kadalasan ang beater ng bass drum at felt o yung parang matigas na tela pero meron din naman na kahoy o plastic ang dulo ng beater para sa solid na hataw nito sa bass drum. Wag din kalimutan ang bass drum spurs o yung paa ng bass drum. Hindi ka makakatugtog ng maayos kapag gumugulong yung bass drum mo.
Ang isa pang importante sa pagiging drummer ay ang pagpili ng drum skin. Pano kung may tambol ka nga pero wala ka naman papaluin na skin kasi butas o may scotch tape? Importante din sa magandang tugtugan ang pagpili ng magandang drum heads o drum skin. Madaming klase ng heads, meron clear, merong coated ng puti o itim at meron naman na may bilog sa gitna. Ang pagpili ng drum heads ay parang pagpili din ng cymbals. Kung hard hitter ka, coated heads ang dapat sayo. Kung sa mga jazz o practice kits, mas preferred ng iba ang clear. Maganda din ang stock drum heads ng mga mumurahing drumset basta nasa tono. Tandaan din na dapat ingatan ang drumhead dahil may kamahalan ito. Ang alam kong pinakamurang drumhead ay nagkakahalaga ng 400pesos at ang pinakamahal naman ay 1000pesos pataas. Kung pag iingat ng bass drumhead, may nabibiling mga patch para sa bass drum lalo na sa mga hard hitters o yung gumagamit ng double bass pedals.
Tips. Sa pagpili naman ng brand na bibilhin. Mas mainam bumili ng medyo high end na gamit o yung mura pero maganda ang quality. Para sa akin, ang pinaka high end quality na cymbals ay ang Zildjian A o K Custom, Sabian AA or AAX series at Meinl MB20 o Soundcaster series. Kung nagtitipid naman pero hanap mo ang magandang quality at tunog, pwede na ang Stagg DH or SH series, Sabian B8, Zildjian ZBT o ZHT at Meinl HCS. Kung beginner at pang bahay lang, pwede na yung Zildjian Planet Z o Sabian Solar, pero maganda din ang quality nito, hindi nga lang pang matagalan pag di naingatan. Sa hardware naman, maraming magagandang stand ang tinitinda sa raon, pero kung gusto mo na medyo matibay, bumili ng Gibraltar o Pearl hardware. Sa drumheads naman, pwede kong ma-suggest yung Remo Ambassador o Remo na Fernando. Maganda din ang tunog ng Evans C2 Clear at ng Aquarian heads. Sa pagpili ng drums, minsan hindi din nagkakalayo yung tunog nito bawat brand. Minsan mas magandang pumili ng mas magandang kahoy para sa drumset mo. Gawa din sa iba’t-ibang klase ng kahoy ang drumshells. May gawa sa plywood, yung pinakamura, may gawa sa birch, mahogany, oak, maple at bubinga. Depende na din sa tunog na gusto mo ang pagpili ng shells. Sa drumsticks naman, kung nagtitipid ay pwede na yung generic sticks ng Lazer. Kung medyo may pera, pwede mo din subukan yung Fernando sticks. At kung mayaman ka, may mga mamahalin na sticks na hindi madaling maputol kagaya ng Zildjian, Vic Firth, Pro-Mark at Vater. May mga nabibili din mga drumstick holders kung ayaw mong matalsikan ng drumsticks at pulitin pa to habang tumutugtog.

Ang inyong mga nabasa ay pawang mga opinyon lang at mga natutunan ko din sa tagal kong tumutugtog at sa tips na din ng ibang drummers. Happy drumming!

Influential Artists

2011-05-23T03:02:00.000-07:00

Theres always this one certain artist that has moved you the most and has the power to shake you of your chair more than any other artist in the planet. We always have our number one musical hero or muse. In my case it is Tori Amos.

She has influenced me so much. I wanted to write songs like her. Songs I wanted to sing the way she sung. I like to think the way she thinks. Although I could never play the piano the way she does because the piano has always been the hardest instrument for me to learn. She is my ultimate favorite musician and since the day I discovered her music, it seems that no one could ever be more impressive to me but her. I would have a Tori playlist and would listen to it infinitly. Her lyrics to me is poetry and every time I'd analyze it I feel as if I'm starting to get to know her life better and discovering her past and her pains.

Sometimes I think Tori’s melancholic music is what makes me sad sometimes. Thats how she affects me strongly. I am a cheerful and positive person but somehow when I listen to her I'd always can't escape the idea of going back to all my pains. Yet sometimes it is also healthy to savor your pain and cry about it but remember not to wallow about it for too long or else it wont be pretty.

Then I realized that her individuality and music should only serve as an inspiration to be the best that I could be with the kind of music that I can offer and with the person that I am; different from anybody else. I shouldn’t write or play or sing like Tori. I should write,sing and play music as myself and somehow inspire other people to be their own hero or muse to others too.

How about you? Who influenced your music the most!? Post it here!

10K.... Achievement Acquired!

2011-05-20T00:56:00.000-07:00

December 2, 2010. Ang araw na ginawa ko ang Indie Band News. Sa mga panahong yun eh alam ko ay kakasarado lang ng NU at naghihimutok ang mga kalooban ng mga mahihilig sa klase ng musika na di mo mahahanap sa ibang istasyon ng radio. Ang NU ay di lamang istasyon ng mga “Rakista” kundi istasyon ito ng mga taong mahihilig sa Indie Music. Isang klase ng musika na di nabahiran ng komersyalismo at punong puno ng pagasa na maririnig ng ibang tao ang kanilang mga tugtugin. Isang klase ng musika na maski ako ay kasali. Ramdam ko ang kahirapan at saya ng pagbabanda. Kahit minsan ay mahirap o imposible, nakakaya parin itaguyod ang kanya kanyang banda. Di mo maitatangi ang sarap at tamis ng feeling kapag nakakabuo ka ng kanta. Mas lalangamin ang kalooban mo kapag natutugtog nio na ito sa harap ng maraming tao. Kahit nga minsan ay mabibilang sa kamay ang audience mo ay todo kayod ka parin.

Sa totoo lang ay di ko alam na lalaki ang network natin ng ganito. Di ko akalain na napakaraming bandang naghihirap sa pag promote at pagpapalaganap ng kanilang musika sa ibang tao. Actually mas madali sa mga panahong ito dahil sa mga social networks. Isang platform para makilala ang mga tulad nating indie bands ang internet lalo na ang facebook. Di na tayo magpapasa ng mga brochure at hand outs sa labas ng bar na tutugtugan natin. Di na tayo tatawag sa bawat isang kaibigan natin para ipaalam sa kanila na meron kang tugtog sa ganitong araw at sa ganung lugar. Pero kahit advance na an gating teknolohiya ay napaka hirap mag-aya ng mga pupunta sa gig nio. Trust me.. I know…

Isa sa mga paborito kong sites kapag wala akong ginagawa sa office ay ang www.absolutepunk.net. Isang foreign site na naglalaman ng mga balita sa mga punk rock bands. Kadalasan ko kasing hanapin at maging updated sa mga paborito kong banda lalo na ang Blink 182 at Taking Back Sunday. Naisip kong napakagandang idea ang isang site na pwede mong makita at malaman ang mga bagong updates sa mga banda na gusto mo. Ang maganda pa dito ay makikilala mo pa ang mga bandang di mo naeencounter. Mga bagong banda na meron sariling musika na maganda at kapanapanabik. So I decided to make this fan page… Indie Band News.

Maganda ang unang mga araw ng fan page na ito. Kahit kakarampot pa lang ang mga naglike sa naturang page ay lalo akong ginanahan na magupdate ng magupdate ng mga kung ano ano tungkol sa mga banda. Isa sa mga goals ko ay gawing isang malaking network ang mga banda at mga production na tingin ko ay di masyadong nagkakakilala. Masasabi kong successful ako sa naturang hangarin na iyon. Ang mga dating di magkakakilala ay ngayon nagiging acquainted sa isa’t-isa.

Kahit maraming nanyaring di maganda or di kaayaaya sa mga days ng page nato ay di ko nireregret na kinakain nito ang oras ko bawat araw. Oo maraming nanyari na.. isang launch sa Headstock, isang launch sa Molokai na balita ko ay umulan ng alak, isang cancelled event sa Kodomo at isang trip kong pa event sa Genre Bar. Ang sarap makita kayong tumutugtog at nageenjoy!

Natutuwa rin ako at me mga naglabasan na mga page tulad natin. Ang mga buddies natin na mga yan ay suportahan rin natin dahil maganda ang kanilang hangarin. Nagpapasalamat ako sa mga founders at admins ng mga page nay un kasi alam ko na mahirap ang ginagawa naming but still ginagawa parin nila. Don’t get me wrong. Di madaling magupdate araw araw.

Laking pasalamat ko sa mga admins ko na sina Arnold of Espiya, Mitsi of Freia, Kuya Kurt and Sir Nolit of Indiepinoy, Jowi of Halogen, Joanne, Jacob of Soil & Green, Hanna banana of South Hallucination Productions, Carlo of Sonnet2ezra, Café Antonio Los Banos Group, Geepee of Filled Trip at Chloe of Milky Summer. Di lalago ang page na ito kung di ko kayo kasama. Kahit busy kayo sa buhay buhay ay alam ko na suportado nio ang page natin. Salamat sa mga tao sa Indie Band News Support Group! Mga helping hand natin sa paggawa ng mga magagandang bagay tulad ng Web Magazine natin. Sa lahat ng banda at production, salamat sa pag like din at pag support! Salamat din sa mga naglike dahil sa Indie’s Hottest Girl!

10k na tayo… achievement acquired!

The Metal Scene

2011-05-19T20:53:00.000-07:00

This week an admin of Indie Band News messaged me and asked if I could write an article about the Indie Metal Scene or about Indie Metal bands. Honestly, I found it hard to come up with something interesting to write about. I’m actually writing this article spontaneously with no drafts, no nothing. So please bear with me here. I’m not a metal know it all, I just write what I think. Well then, let’s do this shit!

Metal is all about expressing oneself with no regard for the social norm. It’s about raising your middle finger to the corrupt government, your professor, your neighbor and anything that pisses you off. Metal is about freedom. Metal is about breaking through the barriers which confines and limits your thought, creativity and imagination.

No wonder there are so many independent metal bands around the world. They struggle and in this struggle they hone and refine their own brand of metal. No need for fame. No need for all that glamor. Independent metal bands only need a small bar, a handful of people and a moshpit. Personally, playing on a big stage is a wonderful experience. Now Ive experienced playing in bars and I tell you nothing beats playing a gig in a small overcrowded bar. You are close to the audience and you can feel the vortex of energy swirling all around you when the first beat of the song hits. You can see people moshing and kicking at each other and you can’t help but smile at the beauty of the moment. Personally it makes me happy to see that they get the release that they want whenever we play a song regardless of whether they actually know our song. I think it is this feeling that independent metal bands cherish which is the feeling of unity. But ultimately, the greatest thing about being independent is actually controlling the reins of the music that you are making. And that is what metal is all about right? No holds barred, in your face, home-brewed metal goodness.

Being independent also highlights great talent within each individual in the band. There is no hindrance and yes I am repetitive, the bands can do whatever the fuck they want with their songs. It is a constant evolution in the independent metal scene. Never ending experimentation and exploration of the limitless possibilities that music can bring is always a must for the independent metal band.

Support for the independent metal scene is growing steadily and it’s good to see that independent metal bands can play at quality gigs nowadays. There are productions that cater primarily to metal bands and you can expect a decent thrashing and also body pains whenever you come home from a gig.

All I can say is the future of the independent metal scene is good and full of potential. Now who wants to go the Mass Defect Album Launch with me on the 28th?

How many ways can you make a song?

2011-05-18T22:44:00.000-07:00

Song making is a skill that musicians must have to call themselves musicians. A song may contain your feelings, ideals, principles on life or you just wanna say something. A song is an instrument for manipulating emotions of people. The power and grace that comes with a song can move a whole nation or just cheer a lonely soul. Music can uplift a weary spirit. Soft music played in the corridors, like painting walls pink, has been shown to mellow even hardened criminals in prison, but after some duration the incarcerated can become more aggressive than before. Music can strengthen faith or destroy it.

So how many ways can you make a song?

1. You start with the melody first. Like I do, I start with a melody for the song. It’s either with a guitar, keys or just plain whistling it. With this, you plot the empty and vacant syllables for your kick ass lyrics to occupy. If you like your song to be uplifting and charged up, make it fast paced. If you like it to be subtle, romantic or just plain sad, slow down cowboy. After blueprinting a bullet proof melody for your song, then you start making the lyrics. This is the part where you convey your emotions and lay them out to your melody. You may encounter difficulty in placing those words on the melody because of the timing and number of syllables. Don’t fret. Just try to find cool synonyms for words that are too long or too short.

2. You start with the lyrics. In vice verse from the first one, you start making your song by starting on the lyrics first. You tend to focus on meaning and the story behind the song you are going to make. You think of the possible things to make the lyrics interesting first and spun a web of cool looking lines to let the audience be hooked on your song. You may go with narration or storytelling. It is like telling the audience in sequence what happened to you or what you are trying to emphasize. You can also result to references to some cool songs you know or even things you encounter in everyday life. After putting down those really pretty lyrics, now you make your melody. Now, you may encounter problems with the measurement of the lines to fit your melody like the first one. Grammar and knowledge in speech comes in handy here.

3. Make other songs as a reference. Don’t get me wrong but this isn’t copying the whole song. It’s just making a song a reference to make your own song. For example, you may find a certain parts of a song cool or you can’t get enough of it. You may make this as a reference. You can give it a spin or reconstruct it in a different way. You may look at the lyrics of the song and be fascinated by how the composer played with his lyrics. You could do that sort of thing also in your song. Remember: Referencing, not copying. Either way the thing that you will make will sometimes be a lot different from what you had referenced.

4. Write little parts of the song. I usually do this to some extent. Sometimes you have something in mind for a song. Maybe a melody or the essence of it. If it is a lyric, it is best to write it down as soon as possible. If it is a melody or a riff, you might want to record it ASAP. Music is sometimes like the wind. If it passes you, you might not remember it. Be mindful of this. The next thing that may come to your mind might be the next big thing hit! Also, look at your past music or lyrics that you haven’t used. Maybe you can fit them together and make a new song altogether. So don’t throw those gems of yours.

5. Write everything without minding what it means. Sometimes musicians do this. They just write a bunch of stuff and they don’t even know what it means. Maybe it may seem to have certain feel or meaning once it’s finished. It’s like painting abstract. You just write what you feel. People may have their own opinions about your song after its finished. But you know better. Even the melody may not be like the conventional format for songs. It’s really up to you.

I know there are more ways to do this. Just keep in mind music moves people so be cautious in what you make! Please keep on reading the Indie Band News Web Magazine and support our cause to spread indie music. Please also check out my band With Empty Eyes! We are doing something big this June.

Mga Karakter sa Pagbabanda

2011-05-17T23:52:00.000-07:00

Isang katuwaang article para sa inyo. Ito ay maaring totoo o piksyon. Ito ay base sa sariling karanasan na hinaluan ng imahinasyon at hindi kalian man sumasalamin sa kahit kanino. Ang init init sana lumamig ang ating mga ulo sa artikulong ito, baka lalong umiinit pa nga ulo dahil WALEY!

12 out of infinite Characters sa buhay Banda!

Rookies – “Tara Buo Tayo banda! Cover natin Alapaap - Eraserheads, The reason – hoobastank at Jeepney – spongecola” Ito malamang ang maririnig mo sa kanila. Sila din yun mga hayok na hayok kumuha ng gig na kahit 20 tickets 200 each with free sticker ay papatusin na makatugtog lang sa gig. Matagal sila magsetup dahil inaalam pa nila kung saan isasaksak ang kurdon at kanino manghihiram ng drumstick.

Studio Wreckers – Sila yun mga tagabutas ng skin ng snare at tagapilas ng cymbals. Tagaputol ng strings gamit ang 3mm pick. Madalas ang bandang may ganito ay nagdidisband agad. Tuloy pa rin sila sa paghasik ng lagim sa mga gig o sa mga studio na mapupuntuhan nila kaya (BEWARE!)

Outsiders – Sila ang mga hindi oorder sa bar ngunit makikita mo umiinom ng GranMa sa labas ng bar. Sila ang nagpapaluwag sa masikip na venue dahil papasok lang sila pati mga guest nila pag set na nila. Mabibilis din ang kamay nito, sa isang beses nilang nasa loob nakakauwi na sila ng mababa sa 10 baso at 3 menu galing sa bar. Sa ngayon misteryo pa rin sa karamihan paano nila nagagawa ito.

Drunken Masters – Ito ang mga taong hindi tumutugtog ng hindi nakainom. Mahina sa kanila ang isang bucket ng beer at 1 sizzling sisig. Sila yun pinaglihi sa Makahiya pag walang alak kulang nalang maglagay ng supot ng pandesal sa ulo nila. Gustong gusto sila ng mga Bar at Production. Kahit wala silang ginagawa sa instrumento nila ay hayop sa hiyaw ang may ari ng bar at mga staff ng production.

Quiet Ones - Ito ang combination ng outsiders at drunken masters. Madalas tahimik lang sila sa isang lugar. Aalukin mo ng alak tatanggi sila dahil nahihiya sila sapagkat wala siyang pera pang ambag. Magugulat ka nalang at mas makulit pa sa iyo habang nagpeperform. PagnagCR o nag yosi sa labas i-expect mo, solve na yan!

Rockstars – “Stars of the night” sa kanilang sariling mundo. Idol nila si Vic Sotto kasi lagi nilang sinasabi sa microphone, “Hi! Fans!”. Sila yun kakausapin mo, “Sir, ang galing niyo po” ang laging reply nila “Yeah, I know!”. Lagi silang may dalang pentel pen. Kahit hindi ka humingi bibigyan ka nila ng autograph. Lagi silang nakikisali sa may nagpipicture at aakbay pa sa iyo at sasabihin “OK lang, My pleasure”. Hindi ka nila i-aadd sa facebook pero maifofollow mo sila sa twitter.

Supermen – Ang mga taong hindi natutulog. Meron silang mababa sa 2 trabaho, 5 sports na active at 3 banda (maliban pa yun sinesession nila). Makikita mo sila halos sa iba’t ibang lugar sa isang araw. Sa byahe lang sila natutulog dahil sa prinsipyo nila, “1/4 ng buhay natin tayo ay tulog, kung 100 years kang nabuhay 25 years ang nasayang sa pagtulog”. Madalas silang napapatalsik sa trabaho dahil sa opisina sila nagpapraktis ng pyesa ng kanyang mga banda.

Panoramics - Sila ang lahat sa isang banda. Sila ang gumagawa ng lyrics, bass line, lead and rhythm guitar at drums solo. Sila din ang humahanap ng mga gig at contact. Sila din ang nanlilibre sa mga kabanda niya ng pampraktis at mga gastusin sa gig. Wala silang hobby kung hindi ang pagbabanda at tugtugan nila. Wala silang sex life at madalas silang nagsisisi sa kanilang pagtanda sa pagiging matandang binata at dalaga.

Internet Wizards – Sila ang taong kilala at alam ang lahat ng kanta ng kasabay nilang banda (maliban kung walang fanpage yun banda). Sila yun updated sa lahat ng activities at gigs sa internet. Madalas makikita mo sila sa wall ng mga production at sa mga bandpage. Friendly sila sa chat pero sa personal makakausap mo lang sila pag may wifi sa paligid. Magaling silang bumasa ng tabs at pinagdidikit nila ang mga tabs at lyrics para makagawa ng pyesa sa banda. Sila din ang may salarin sa pagkagawa nito.

Cavemen – kabaliktaran ng internet wizards at supermen. Tatlo lang ang ginagawa nila sa buhay (huwag kang pilosopo) matulog, magpraktis ng pyesa at maggig. Wala silang electronic equipment maliban sa amplifiers at music gadgets nila. Misteryo pa rin kung saan sila kumukuha ng pangkain nila sa karinderya at pambayad ng bills sa kuryente. Naglalakad sila lagi sa venue ng gig at minsan ay nagbibisikleta. Environmentalist din sila kaya ayaw nila sumakay ng kahit anong uri ng smoke-emitting vehicles.

Guest Band Calibers – Ito ang mga taong hindi papayag hindi sila guest band sa mga event. Madalas may conflict ito sa mga kabanda niya dahil sa kakulangan ng mga gigs. Lagi niyang inilalagay sa wall ng mga production “Check us out! Pwede po ba kami maging guest band?”. Bilib na bilib sila sa sarili nila at laging pinagmamalaki na kaya niya ang lead ng “through the fire and flames – dragonforce” o mga palo ni Mike Portnoy. Chinecheck niya rin palagi ang tip na makukuha niya at laging malaki dapat ang porsyento niya.

Elders – Sila ang beterano sa eksena. Madalas sila ang nagbibigay ng payo kung paano pagandahin ang musika, paano palaguin ang negosyo at kahit na problema sa pagibig nasasagot niya. Madalas hindi sila nagrereply sa text dahil lahat ng hindi niya kaclose ay linalagay niya sa spam message. Madaling lapitan sa personal lalo na pag lasing! Maghanda ka na ng ballpen at notebook para makakuha ka ng tips base sa kanilang experience. Hate na hate din pala nila mga jejemons. (Jejejejeje)

Pag maraming nabaduyan malamang wala ng kasunod ito. :)) Salamat sa mga nagbasa at suportahan natin ang Indie Band News pati na rin ang munti kong bandang TRIPLEHORNS. More power sa mga bandang nandiyan.

Walang kinalaman ang title sa laman ng article na to.

Why is the music industry dead (Thor the Mystery Man)

2011-05-17T23:13:00.000-07:00

My Name is Thor : Why is the music industry dead?

Its 8am and still I haven't slept. I remember a few months ago, at around 3AM I was playing at UP Fair my first time, well second this year. The first one was few months and a day ago, Feb 16,2010 where my band got more or less 10 new facebook likes after playing for 100 no 200 people. I'm really happy that those 10 so so people actually searched my band's name on facebook and clicked on the like button. Some even left positive comments which I really appreciate. What made me awake today wasn't about that, i remember hours before my 2nd day at the UP Fair, I got really disappointed. First, all of the main bands played before us and second there were only around 20 people who actually stayed and listened to the less fortunate, unpopular bands like us. And that made me think. Why oh why did the 1000 something people who were jumping around the tune of Parokya ni Edgar, Kamikaze and SPONGE COLA!, left after the said bands played? It's too late? Cmon! Our first day, Franco played at around 3AM, people where still there!

So I asked myself the question. If I were in their situation what would I do? I'd probably leave as well. Why? You may ask? Because 1. I don't freakin' know who these bands were and 2 I'd probably think, this band isn't sikat for a reason, they probably suck.

Now that I'm the musician playing on stage, I'm confident to say to myself, my band doesn't suck! And so does the other bands in my team. We are just not getting enough exposure to become really popular. Why? because the music scene is dominated by signed bands under a major label that corrupts the system. It's not about money, its about territory, and all the big shot radio stations and tv music channels are marked!

I'm still wondering up to now who among the popular bands started indie, and are still indie, without the help of any major label. If any person here can name one let me know, because the way I see it, if you don't sign, you won't be recognized. I've been a music enthusiast all my life, even before I became a musician myself, I've been listening to local bands across the metro, listening from different genres and I'm telling you, there are a lot of unsigned, or independent bands out there, that should be heard. Magugulat na lang kayo, and you'll tell yourself, "Grabe! Galing ng bandang to!"

If only those 1000 something people stayed until all the bands where finished, I'm 100% sure they'd enjoy the music of other independent, unsigned, unpopular bands. They would've discovered, that beside the music circle, there's another circle of unpopular bands that make good music.

I'm waiting for the next Bamboo to light up the fire in today's music band scene. Don't put out the fire, let's explore and discover new music from new up and coming bands, continue the cycle. When you go to a gig, Stay, Listen, even if you don't know the band. By doing this, you're keeping the music scene alive.

- This is just my 2 cents, I'm tired and cannot type anymore. Hope everyone get my message.
- I'm not saying na the current signed bands aren't good magaling silang lahat!
-I'm not saying na nakakasawa yung paulit ulit na pagtugtog nila ng paulit ulit nilang old hit.

Or maybe I am...

Keep the music alive. My name is Thor and I'm not kidding.

Expiration Date

2011-05-17T19:52:00.000-07:00

Being in a band that consists of five young musicians, I find that we always like to stress the young portion of the statement. All of us are either sixteen or seventeen-year-olds and as a use of motivation, you can always hear one of us shout out “Guys, we’ve got to get famous before we get old!” Sometimes, I wish we didn’t have to say it.

Today, music has become a competition of age. You can go on YouTube and find two-year-olds killing it on the drums and five-year-olds busting it out on guitars. Even Justin Bieber is proof of this age trend. In fact, if we look at the upcoming artists in the music industry, most of them are young.What about the larger population of musicians who aren’t? From what I know, a musician is a musician.

Age has covered the whole concept of quality from music almost completely. It seems to me that the biggest criterion to be a famous musician is to be young (and good-looking) enough for the teenage girls or boys to have a prepubescent crush on. To add, turn on the radio and it’s all recycled. When I find someone humming the current “hit song “of the month, I wouldn’t be able to tell the difference from last month’s other hit song.

Now now, I’m not saying that every young musician ends up with recycled songs, etc, etc. There are a lot of younger musicians that I have a great deal of respect for, and there are a lot of older musicians I have a great deal of respect for too. It’s the superficiality of everything that’s the problem. Looks, age; they aren’t supposed to matter. When did music become such a visual activity? The last time I checked, I listened with my ears, not my eyes.

I guess what I’m saying is that the industry should be a level playing field. Age is only a mindset that I believe should be broken. There are no expiration dates on musicians. So to all my fellow musicians:whether you’re five or fifty, it doesn’t matter. Just keep on playing, man.

Don't forget to check out my band Lalangin!

One Of Those Days

2011-05-17T17:27:00.000-07:00

I'm Bijei and I sing in a band and just recently after this particular gig I had somewhere around qc I went home feeling low..I lost my balance and just went from cheerful to melodramatic.

At this certain prod we played last and the people there knew everybody. They were peers just like at schools. I was the newcomer..They were polite and welcoming..they are the beautiful and the cool people. I watched each band’s set and I applauded after each song. I wasn’t really a big fan of their genre though but I do respect its kind.

So then it was our turn to play, I noticed that they were all at the back and it seems to me they were having a party. I had a hard time singing properly because of the noise they were making. Don't get me wrong its not like I'm being a prima donna but I want them to sitdown and pay attention. They have the right not to watch us play but they should consider not talking so loud. Well I know that whatever I write is still entitled to oppositions and negative reactions and I know that some people will defend the idea of each others individuality and uniqueness. But we do have something that we call ethics and what we know as, the norm.

I'm sure there are rebels who will see me in a bad light and tell me to just let it be but I still wanna write this and share to most people the importance of the words consideration and respect. I respect anyone who writes, sings, plays and anyone who can carry or not carry a tune. Anything that relates to music..to you, who's passion is music..I respect you.. (and to any other field or vocation too, much respect)

If you’re a musician and by chance ill be in the crowd, watching.. I give you the stage, the spotlight.. I will listen to your story and if your someone out there who dreams to be a star one day and your singing in the shower, the stage is yours. It awaits. For if you have a good heart and you are working hard to achieve it, success will echo its way back to you..

Please catch my band Persephone at our gigs!

Tatak

2011-05-16T20:38:00.000-07:00

Perhaps most of the bands in the underground rock scene are likely used to applauds, hand shakes or even high fives after their band played. But for some, leaving a mark on the people at each and every venue is the hardest thing to do. It is almost impossible to please every single person who watched, for of course we have different tastes and different ways to look at things, different perspectives I guess. But for most of us, like for myself. The biggest motivation for me is posts of individuals pertaining to what they felt or what they said as they watch us play.

Ever experienced a gig where your music is different from the entire nights’ genre?

“Kala niyo olats kayo, pero hindi!” that is simply the essence of making a mark, slicing through their minds and through what they are used on listening to, the barrier that always kept people apart, because of pride or what ever. “Mas magaling kami jan?” sino pa bang hindi nakakapag sabi nito sa sarili nila?. Pero ikaw ba?hindi ba iba pagka sayo mismo nang galing ang “ANG ANGAS!” o “SWABE!”.

Overwhelming! Looking back on those bands “na hindi mo trip o hindi mo kilala?pumalakpaka ka ba manlang?” most of us don’t. But isn’t it what this is all about, your music, your performance is for the listeners to render what to feel or what to say at that exact moment. Almost all starting bands went through this rubble before actually making it at your radios, ipods or at your stocked CD’s at your drawer. But not everyone is capable of making such impact to the listeners. Even though you got the name, the guts, the financial shit, the heart, or what so ever.

Making name through all those independent bands out there ain’t easy, and of course, those bands that have the “connections” are the one you should look out for, these are the bands that will eat you alive. Looking back, criticizing a band without even watching them play is insulting for me. We are all here for that applause, so guys please. Try not being an A-hole for once and consider every band as part of the family. For all I know we are all here for that Mark, not only for the time you played or the impact for some distinct moment. But a mark that would put us in the History of music.

Please check out my bands Snakeface at Table#9

6 Things That Make Band Life Hard

2011-05-16T17:27:00.000-07:00

by: Erwin Wizzy Estrella

Having a band is like having kids and really genuinely caring for them. You got to feed them, tuck them to sleep, give them advice on life etc. Maintaining a band is almost like that. In other words, its hard. Period. If you are the guy who is the one that makes your band what it is and cling on your every move, you have a bit of a problem. Well, a lot actually.

1. Money: Money is the root of all evil. But on the other hand you can’t live without money. This unfortunately is a necessity in starting and keeping a band together. You can’t rent a studio without it. You can’t record your swarm of fantastic songs without money. You can’t afford those nifty gadgets of yours without it. You can’t order food while on a gig so that you can do the production you are playing with a favor. You can’t get wasted and drunk and have that “drunken master” thingee working without it. Heck, you can’t go places without it! So, money is indeed one of the important factors in living the rockstar life.

2. Creativity: Fueling the machine with a lot of creativity is hard also. You can’t write and make the same old song over and over again. Even though you have this really rad song in mind but your band mates can’t generate useful pinches of ideas to make it more rad, then you have a bit of a problem. Making music with a band requires teamwork! Lacing it with harmonious instruments and kick ass lyrics are one of the things that the people are looking for. If you or one of your band mates can’t generate such things then maybe you should think it over.

3. Passion: Playing music requires a sincere amount of passion. Passion to play that tune over and over again until you make it perfect. Some people tend to have lots of passion in playing music at the first years of being in the band. It’s just like marriage. The first years are like the honeymoon period. It is the time where you guys are like “we should play everyday to get better!” It is the time where creativity is also abundant. You guys also have sheer amount of time and money to fuel your band. But as the days and years pass by, that flame sometimes burns out. It’s a fact. There will be a time that you will get sick of playing that soundcheck over and over again. Getting sick of having to pitch in money to rent studio for practice. Getting sick of travelling to get to that venue that you are scheduled to play

4. Family Pressure: Believe me that some families and parents are not OK with their sons and daughters are in a band. Some are going to far like banning them to learn an instrument. Some are associating bands into that infamous line “Sex, Drugs and Rock and Roll”. I believe that died like in the 90’s. But because of that annotation, parents are worried that their seeds will succumb to the same thing that previous musicians indulged. Another thing is that they are worried that band life will affect their sons or daughters’ studies or work. Getting home late from a gig is another thing. We are sometimes getting late because we are 1. In the later part of the band line up. Or 2. To drunk to get home. Another thing is being an indie artist; we don’t get any money for playing our original songs. If we tell that to our parents and family they might think of it as a waste of time… arggg.. parents…

5. Band Member Conflict:. We all have our opinions. Some are right, others are just plain stupid. In a band you have tensions and conflict most of the times. Sometimes its because of the difference in the music that you want to play. Maybe it’s a matter of professionalism. Being late in practice and gigs or not paying for your share in studio rent. Or maybe just you liking one of your band mates’ girlfriend or boyfriend. Love stirs things sometimes.

6. Time: This is one of the difficult things to handle. Band mates have different schedules and so do you. Time management and handling their free time is hard work. You need to figure out the most available time for all of you to get together and make music. Balancing time is a skill.

Mic Test…One, Two..

2011-05-15T18:01:00.000-07:00

By KuyaKurt

The most important part sa isang performance ng isang banda ay ang “Sound Check”. Siyempre babalansehin ninyo ang tunog ng grupo. Titimplahin ang mga amplifiers ng mga instrumento, kailangan tumunog ng ayon sa trip ninyo. Here are some tips and reminders para sa mga banda at sa mga nagsisimula pa lang na madalas kong mapuna sa mga gig na napupuntahan ko.

Huwag magtagal sa sound check at pag-se-setup ng instrument kung oras na ay oras na para magperform. Usually ang sound check talaga ay ginagawa before the show. Pero kung sa production ka na ala-woodstock, o yung kung mag-line-up ng banda ay 15 hanggang 30 (ows 30? Pamorningan parang wala nang bukas), huwag magbabad sa sound check, isipin naman ninyo ang susunod sa inyong mga banda at ang mga manonood (Lalo na kung 30 yung naka-line up..Paksyet!). Kung masyado kang matagal mag-set-up at kung nasa Battle of the Bands ka, malamang talo na kayo. Booo! Haha!

Para maiwasan ang pag-totono ng matagal sa stage, magdala ng “Guitar Tuner”. Ano ba naman yung mag invest ang banda para sa isang Tuner na magagamit naman ng ibang ka miyembro at sana hangga’t maaari bago pa sumalang ay nakapagtono na kayo. May banda akong napanood na ang tagal-tagal nila mag set-up at mag-tono, nang tugtugan na…sintunado pa rin. Uulitin ko…magdala ng Guitar Tuner at siguraduhin na alam gamitin.

Laging magdala ng extra na Kable. During set-up kasi minsan di maiiwasan na magka-problema sa kable. Ang iba manghihiram. But be sure na kapag nanghiram kayo, isoli ninyo agad pagkatapos na pagkatapos ng set ninyo. Pero siyempre para di ka makaabala ng iba, magdala na lang ng extra. At kung wala kang sariling kable, bumili ka. Magbabanda-banda ka wala kang kable.

Kung ikaw naman ay drummer, maigi kung may dala kang mga extra na sticks at cymbals, at huwag ka masyadong maingay kapag nagtotono ang mga gitarista.

Sa mga bokalista, check mo na yung mic kung ano amoy. Be sure na kapag may amoy na ang mikropono, iwasan madikit ang labi mo. May mga banda akong napanood na may dala silang “foam” na pinang-co-cover ng mic para pansalo ng sarili nilang laway at mayroon din naming iba may dalang sariling mic. Suwerte mo kung “First Band” kayo.

Pero mas importante pa rin siyempre, pakinggan mo ang tunog mo sa mikropono. Siguraduhin mong maririnig mo ang sarili mo kapag nagtutugan na. At tatandaan ninyo na ang pinakaimportanteng miyembro ay ang bokalista kaya huwag ninyong tatabunan ng tunog ng mga instrument ninyo. Paano maririnig yung lyrics ng kanta kung nilamon ng ingay ng gitara at lakas ng palo ng drums? Kung ganun lang naman mag-growl ka na lang.

At kung ikaw naman ay keyboardista, siguraduhin mong handa na ang mga gagamitin mong tunog at tulungan mo naman mag-tono ang mga kasamahan mo! Hindi yung tipa ka ng tipa ng Love is All That Matters di naman ninyo tutugtugin para makapag-paimpress lang.

Have someone na pakinggan ang tunog ninyo. Dapat tama lang ang lakas depende sa lugar. Kung maliit ang lugar tulad ng Genre Bar sa Cubao Expo, dapat suwabe ang tunog at hindi masakit sa tenga. Tandaan na ang mga manonood ay pumupunta sa mga gigs para din mag-relax. Hindi iyan pupunta sa mga bars para manood ng Construction Workers at dagdagan ang sakit ng ulo nila.

Alam kong marami pang dapat tandaan para maging maayos ang tugtugan ng banda, talakayin ko sa susunod kung may maalala ako at kung may mapuna ulit ako sa mga gigs. Haha!

Huwag ninyong kalimutan mag tune-in sa show ko sa www.radiopilipinas.com Online Radio everyday 3:00pm to 5:00pm, The Psychedelic Snail Show. At kung kayo ay banda at may demo na gusto ninyo patugtugin ko sa aking palatuntunan, mura lang ang bayad. Haha! Biro lang, libre to pre, send mo lang sa kuyakurt@gmail.com at mas okay kung kargahan mo na rin ng artist profile.

Para sa inyong mga comments and reactions, email nyo lang ako…delete ko agad. Haha!

Wasakenrol!!! \m/