Like The Rolling Stone

Alive - the Morning Episodes

2012-08-05T10:11:00.000-07:00

Anyone in need of a sunshiny song? With the rainy weather being a bummer and all, we are stuck at home. However, on the brighter side we have more than usual amount of time to discover good music. And speak of good music, here's a good song. Hear what we have to say after the jump, then we'll compare notes on the comments.

"Alive" from the Morning Episodes calls to mind the pick me upper lyrics of Jacks Mannequin and the minor electro warbles of LCD Soundsystem. It is a lot more like the danceable indie tunes that you like, only with less dancing and more clapping (maybe because it is more pop rock than dance). For some reasons, this song will make you mentally clap your hands in the air. There's enough sounds on this song that makes it lively in a contagious way. Yes, quite appropriately titled, this song will make you feel alive.

The songs video will be out soon, check out the teaser.

Follow the Morning Episodes here. And listen to more of their songs here.

Playlist: Lazy Day, It's Raining Outside

2012-07-31T02:10:00.002-07:00

This blog has been awfully quiet for a month but it's back with a few whimsical songs gathered together. I guess rainy days make you listen to music even more than any ordinary day. Look out the window, play these songs and later go back on this blog and tell me what you think.

Kids - MGMT
What I like about MGMT is they are one of the few psychedelic bands that has really good vocals. "Kids" is perhaps one of the fan favorite and overplayed MGMT songs. Described as "noisy, New Order-style synth jam", this song is incredibly catchy and will definitely cheer you up.

Percussion Gun - White Rabbit

Back story: I discovered this song while I was looking Frightened Rabbit songs. I accidentally clicked this song in the search results. And I was like, "not bad".

Dominated by drum beats this song transitions from single instrument to another. It is fun guessing what instrument the band will use on the next lines. For the most part it is a upbeat. The vocals is not much to be noted of but the whole song is worth the discovery. It will definitely give you a Eureka moment as a music fan.

Little Secret - Passion Pit

If you can't go out because of the weather outside, play a Passion Pit song and dance along to it. "Little Secret" is sprinkled with the same electro warbles that brings a signature whimsy to most of Passion Pit songs. Frontman Michael Angelakos at some point of confidently screams and it's very contagious.

Cold Wind - Arcade Fire

Arcade Fire is Arcade Fire. If the rainy day is perfect to listen to indie songs, they're the perfect band to listen to on rainy days, and on other days too. Although this song for the most part is mournful, it still managed to sound a little bit pop which makes if easy to listen. Arcade Fire is brilliant.

Epilogue - The Antlers

"Epilogue" sounds like it is being sung inside a quiet bedroom which fits the mood of the theme and setting of the song. Though it comes off a very sad song, it has the air of sincerity in its entirety and even almost crying at some point. This seems like a two part song with it's first part being the minimal instrumentation along with the whole desperate pleading. The song strangely ends with a short positive whimsical notes.

Here I Dreamt I Was An Architect - The Decemberists

Off of their 2002 album Castaways and Cutouts, "Here I Dreamt I Was An Architect" is a lyrical gem. Colin Meloy's vocals is meant to tell the tale of a castaway lover. The song creates interesting imagery with its stories complete with glorious characters and settings accompanied by swirling guitars. This song is a great indie folk song from a great band. Listen to this on a rainy day while looking out the window and you will feel you are inside the song.

Also, props if you've heard this song on How I Met Your Mother.

In The Cold I'm Standing - m83

This song starts out almost like a John William piece. When this song comes up in your playlist it will make you go "what is this song?". M83's music is almost theatrical but still manage to lay in the pop border. Add this song on your playlist for a little surprise.

Sunday - Yuck

I personally love Yuck and how I think their music is a bubbly kind of folk. They have been criticized as unoriginal but judging on how fresh they sound to my ears, they are one of the most unique bands right now. If you love Bob Dylan, you must love Yuck, not just because vocalist Daniel Blumberg looks like the young Bob Dylan but because if Bob Dylan's music has a grandson it would be Yuck's music.

Sunday is from their demo so it sounds raw as it gets. With the jingly jangly instrumentation and the unassuming vocals, Sunday is a song to hang out with while sipping a cup of tea and just lazing out not just on a Sunday but any other day.

This Modern Love - Bloc Party
With quick drums and minimal vocals, this song will make you listen to more Bloc Party songs. This Modern Love came from one of their best albums so far, Silent Alarm. It has the right amount of snappiness that most Franz Ferdinand songs have and the vocals that most indie songs have. You will find yourself having visuals of a neon lighted streets and people walking fast then you open your eyes and caught yourself tapping your toes along to it.

How bout you? What are your rainy day songs?

PS: This playlist is especially dedicated to my friend James, who is every day asking me for song recommendations, which I gladly obliged.

T5 Live In Iloilo City: Rock and Royal

2012-05-20T11:27:00.000-07:00

Yes, ignore the title.

If you measure the excitement of me and my friends, it would be equal to the collective excitement of the whole audience. The story was, we attended last year's T5 Live in Iloilo City and it became one of our most memorable concert experience. Full story here.

Now that we have that established, I felt like we need to top that event. We have secured tickets weeks before the event and at the same time scoured VIP's to hopefully recreate the last years event. However, hours away from the show, all sources ran out of tickets that can get us an open bar and a huge possibility of photo ops. Then I remembered Miggy from At The Womb, announcing that they will be giving away VIP tickets. I killed all my shame and texted him if he still has tickets he can spare for us. Fortunately, he still had two tickets and I rushed passed the guards to get the tickets from him. As soon I saw crowd of people on queue to get in, I was already freaking out because of excitement.

I was exited because of the following reasons:

I will be seeing Urbandub again, after a long time.

I will be seeing Urbandub with Franco on bass.

I will be seeing Urbandub and might get a chance to have a photo taken with them.

I will be seeing Urbandub with my friends who loves the band as much as they love me.

And most of all, I will be seeing Urbandub.

When I entered the Iloilo Sports Complex the crowd was just building up. The drinks at the backstage open bar was tempting but the energy of the crowd was even tempting so I decided I will join them.

When Wolfgang took the stage the crowd erupted, obviously glad that it was not raining this time, although it sort of rained because Basti was throwing cups of drink for the crowd to catch. It also rained of freebies during their set. My friend, the lucky bastard that he is, won a guitar! And all we could do was have our photos taken with it. Wolfgang kicked ass. Seeing them for the second time is like meeting an old friend. I dont know why when they performed their was a certain heaviness in the air that urges you to just bang your head and stomp your feet along to their music.

Urbandub is by far the second band who has the most lyrics that fueled me to do things and write about them. When they sung Soul Searching, yes that was exactly what we were doing. Urbandub started their set with Alert the Armory and the crowd exploded, especially us. We sung and shouted the lines with burning passion. It is different hearing a song live because it gives you a direct view of how the artist would carry the lines and hearing it along with other people that could relate makes it even more special. Even if I could see the band right in front of me, I still felt like the audio I was listening to was recorded, that's how good they sound live. Unfortunately Lalay was not playing with them that night but Franco was their to take over the bass and he did amazing. When they sung Frailty, I was already out of voice. They closed their set with A New Tattoo and right then and there our day was made.

When Kamikazee was about to take the stage, we knew we had to move out to the safest place, the VIP area. Rock n roll results to too much thirst and drinks were just flooding the venue. Kamikazee and alcohol is a deadly combination, especially on stage. During the first line of their first song, rain poured down and half of the crowd ran for cover. It was a bit like last year. Kamikazee has that special ability to make the crowd go crazy along with them, it is impossible to dissect if it is because of Jay's antics or their music itself or maybe both. It is also amazing how everyone knows every line of their songs.

I am in love with Rico Blanco. I want to marry his voice and wake up listening to it every day of my life. However, that is a fictional story. What was real was he took the stage and made the crowd fall in love. Oh well, maybe just me and a hundred other girls. He was so hot that the place became even hotter. I am groping for comprehensible sentences to describe how fun his performance was however I was mainly focusing on how charming his face and his voice was. Again, if I could spend my lifetime loving his voice, I would.

Parokya ni Edgar closed the show along with all the artists jamming on the stage. The magic behind Parokya's longevity as a band is that their music is catchy and easily relatable and it shows during their performances, especially that night while the crowd sung along with them. With all respect to the other artists that night, Parokya owns almost more than half of that crowd. They patiently waited for their idols to sing their favorite songs. The brotherhood that their music has created is huge. It is just amazing.

The show did not top last year, therefore I concluded that the first times are always special because of the excitement and surprise. The second time around can be spoiled by great expectations. There are few first times that happened that night and I realized those are the things that made that night special. With that being said for tours like T5 Rock Royalty, there has to be something new every time to send the crowd home looking forward to the next tour.

And the bouncers should also be a lot nicer, especially to girls.

Overall, I was really happy to see Urbandub again and I went home looking at this photo for hours.

PS: Thank you Miggy of At The Womb for the tickets.

Markers Of Another Beautiful Memory: The Camerawalls Live In Iloilo City

2012-05-04T23:35:00.000-07:00

This is a long overdue blog about the Iloilo leg of The Camerawalls' Pamagdoy: A Visasyan Tour.

Flashback:
February 11, 2011, it was one of those wondrous afternoons when the damp air doesn't dampen your spirit instead it whispers "something great is going to happen tonight".

Me and my friend sat there with nothing but conversation and intrigue about the indie bands that was scheduled to play that night. Four hours after, we were taken back to the glory days of Britpop, only it was distinctly Filipino. It might be the music, the beer or the atmosphere but everything felt surreal. I am a fan of indie music and that night it was like being smack dab at the heart of indie music. And The Camerawalls along with other bands who played that night, was able to take me to that special place.

Flashforward:
April 24, 2012, it was a humid night and is a good time to hear great songs that will chill you out. It looked like a good night, except that I was on my own. I came to a gig with the sole intention of having a date with the band and their music.

Photo: Antonetter Maniquis

I have been listening to Orange and Lemons, especially to their songs with lovely melodies on them and when I get to hear The Camerawalls singing "I Love You Natalie" I fell in love with their music.

Mellow Mangove is a pretty intimate place for a show. The Camerawalls kicked the night away with cover songs and some of their original songs. When they sung "Across the Universe" I went "how did they know of all my favorite songs?" in my mind. You know how you get so surprised and you barely can sing along in awe? I consistently had that moment the whole two hours that they played.

When The Camerawalls had their show last year, we were able to get to know how nice they are. And what's even nicer was Clem was able to recognize me and he even called out my name. Little things like that completes a fan's story.

The Camerawalls music attracts me because of their subtle poetry and pleasant melodies. And when they perform on the stage they remind me of The Smiths, The Cure, Belle and Sebastian and especially The Beatles. I like to think of my self as a child lost on a different generation and being able to see them takes me home.

That night, they sung some Orange and Lemons song to the delight of some fans of the band they missed.

If you haven't listened to The Camerawalls yet, don't miss out on one of the best bands in the Philippines. Their music is available on their website and you can follow them on Facebook for schedules of their upcoming gigs.

It was a night of friendship, fun and most of all music. They played in front of a small crowd but what matters most was they were able to mark another beautiful memory on all of them.

Top Ten: Radiohead Songs

2012-05-04T14:44:00.000-07:00

There is a reason why I chose this photo. Radiohead could create this whimsical colors inside your head when you listen to them.

Ever since they started making songs in 1987, Radiohead has produced eight albums to date. They have a total of 157 songs, 17 of which are not included on their albums. I have introspected, reevaluated and recalled the years that I have been listening to their music. Which songs have I played the most? Which songs have the most impact on my mood and my life in general?

Here they are:

10. How To Disappear Completely - Kid A

Of all the songs in Kid A, How To Disappear Completely is the most fitting song to sum the whole album. Just like most of Radiohead songs, this one also grows on you. The first listen may not seem appealing but when you get to have it played on repeat, it just sticks under your skin. Thom Yorke's somber vocals implodes into a dark vibe that can only be describe by one line, I'm not here. This song swells from quiet dynamics and climbs into a crispier sound on the second half. It seems to be in reverse with it's title, this song immerses completely.

9. Let Down - Ok Computer

If you have a friend that you want to introduce to Radiohead's music, you might want to let them listen to this song first. Let Down is one of Radiohead's most relatable-at-first-listen songs. The guitar on this song is surreal. It might be one of those depressing songs but this one has the positive tune to it, "let down and hanging around".

8. The Daily Mail

Thom Yorke plunking away at the piano kicks this song in, though this song is one of Radiohead's later experimentation, it somehow reminds you of The Bends era, only it has bonus brass band that syncs with Johnny Greenwood's playful guitar riff. It might be one of Radiohead's simplier songs but it is very introspective.

7. No Surprises - Ok Computer

When I hear this song, oddly I get a vision of a guitar and a xylophone dancing in my mind. It is lovely and delightful altogether. No matter how dreary the vocals sounds, the blissful ticking of xylophones brings this song another level of positive contemplation.

6. Creep - Pablo Honey

Creep is anthemic. A lot of kids claim that this song is about their lives. Every one loves this song, except the band themselves. The magic of this song is the reality of what Thom Yorke was crooning about. We all have said "I wish I was special" at some point of our lives. There is meager amount of fancy on this song, except for the bridge that sounds as if he was chasing a star and it is slipping out of his grasp.

5. Fake Plastic Trees - The Bends

This song is a bit cryptic on its overall theme. However this song is critically acclaimed as one of the best Radiohead songs and probably the best rock songs of all time too. It starts off as an acoustic song then erupts into loud distorted guitars and synths and then ends by reverting back to acoustic. It all happened while the vocals ride along with its mood. This song doesn't have a distinct hook that carries it, except for the beautiful melody and mournful vocals.

4. Karma Police - Ok Computer

Overall, this song sounds dense. With it's strange song structure, this song creates a pattern built on the "this is what you get" shying away from the normal four lined chorus. Karma Police is also less sadder than most Radiohead songs. There is a moment in this song when Thom Yorke breaks out into "for a minute, I lose myself" and the instrumentation builds up along with it.

2. Talk Show Host - Street Spirit (Fade Out)

The first line "I want to, I want to be someone else or I explode" was a strong magnetic field that attracts your consciousness. This is one of Radioheads dynamic and multi- layered songs that signaled the band has gone into a deep experimentation with their sound. This song is a bit on the trip-hop type although it still has the subtle melancholia and the same sad vocals.

1. Codex - The King of Limbs

Codex has the least percussion of all The King of Limbs songs, baring Thom Yorke's voice, which in a way attaches it to the bands earlier works. This song has the reverb driven piano that makes a path, like a clearing, in your veins for Thom Yorke's cold voice to pass which eventually creates little loops of shivers on your brain. It seems like a classic Radiohead enclosed in a futuristic capsule.

How bout you? What are your top ten Radiohead songs?

Tom Morello Releases Trailer of "World Wide Rebel Tour"

2012-04-25T19:46:00.003-07:00

Before anything else, here's the trailer:

World Wide Rebel Tour is a documentary directed by Bobby Roth. Check this site on May 1 to watch the worldwide release.

Tom Morello, or Nightwatchman, or whatever he wants to call himself, has been raging against the lean, mean machines that has been crushing the justice for the oppressed. He's been singing the voices of protest as heard when he occupied Wall Street.

Another case in point.

"World wide rebel songs, sing out loud all night long, hang on man it won't be long, world wide rebel songs." Now that's very easy to sing but very hard to put into reality, me thinks.

Anyhow, Tom Morello, we salute you and please come to the Philippines.

Manila Finally Has Its Own Music Festival!

2012-04-25T00:17:00.000-07:00

Every time I post about a festival I feel the rush to punctuate the title with an exclamation point. Maybe because festivals are exciting.

Coachella, Glastonbury, Pink Pop, Lollapalooza, Rock in Rio, Laneway, Boonarro, SXSW, etc, all this are in my list but it is beyond impossible but finally here comes Manila Music Festival.

Visit the website for more info on this.

Pop Rocks and A Playlist

2012-04-24T01:09:00.000-07:00

Props if you get the Green Day reference. That one was an obvious give away. But no there isn't any Green Day song here.

Anywho, to keep this blog alive, let us pour some sugar on it, err music on it. Remember I was trying to recommend music to people who actually stumbles upon my blog?

I’m not a musician. I am trying to critic music as far as my Lester Bangs obsession goes. I am mere fan trying to show the world how the magic of music struck a chord in my life. And stuff.

So with all the drama being dropped to the ground, here’s me again telling you what music to listen to. And hopefully you, out there would listen to them as passionately as I do.

Yeah, whatever, here’s this week’s “playlist”:

Quiet Nights in Noisy Neighborhoods – Ancient History

I don’t get to sleep easy and I often need a soundtrack to lull me to sleep. That is how I encountered this indie music. It has the right rhythm and soft beats that you could focus on and sort of brings you to a meditative state. Listen to this song and you’ll find your eyelids closing as early as its first one minute. Never mind the cold vocals or the lyrics, this song is the kind of song you listen to not understand or contemplate over.

City of Ice – Br’er

Now if you are looking for a song that has soothing chords but sad vocals, this one’s ideal during those solitary moments. This is one of those indie songs with choking, raw loneliness that it is almost comforting. What’s great about this song is the poetry of its lyrics and somehow its music. I personally like songs that are both lyrical and ‘musical’. In summation, this song will oddly make you think about a city of ice.

Heaven’s on Fire – Radio Dept.

“People see rock and roll as, as youth culture, and when youth culture becomes monopolised by big business, what are the youth to do? Do you, do you have any idea?

I think we should destroy the bogus capitalist process that is destroying youth culture.”

When a song opens that way, it wont fail to heighten your eagerness to what extent of rebellion the song will stretch. This Swedish fuzz-pop musicians have the headstrong idealism of punk, only they sing it less angry. Not even a whine. This song is almost not a protest song, just a subtle amount of complaining along with a catchy pop background.

Stranger – Noah and The Whale

Okay, so this song is about a one night stand just to get over an ex. Powerful story. It starts off as a sad pop song and ends in a positive “knowing you I’m gonna be happy” tone. The lyrics is just so intense against a mix sound of melancholy and promise of vindication.

This Must Be Where It Ends – Brett Anderson

What’s with indie rock songs that brings you nostalgia? This song is just dynamic like an indie song but has the noise of an alternative rock song.

Fuck This Place – A Frightened Rabbit

There is a good story from Scott Hutchinson’s blog about the creative process where this song spawned from:

“This is going to sound like total bullshit, but please don’t exhale a ‘pfft’ and stop reading when I say, this song started off as a dream. I honestly dreamt that i did a duet with a mystery female vocal on it and the ‘I don’t know these buildings’ line was definitely in that dream.

So when it came to the writing, I had two parts in my head all along. I have been a big Camera Obscura fan for a long time and when Tracyanne said she’d be up for this, I was incredibly chuffed and her vocal is just beautiful. It’s fairly obvious what it’s about, though I don’t think it’s necessarily a love story.”

When I saw this song’s title, I’m already sold. But when I started to listen to it, I surprisingly liked the indie folk melody and the relatable lyrics. Just like what Scott had experience, its like being lost in a familiar dream, that is what this song makes you feel.

And you can download the whole EP for free here. Actually, sign up to their mailing list to get it.

Soothe Me – Yuck

There was a sort of online hype when Yuck previewed this track on their blog. But sure when there’s a hype there is really something worth buzzing over at. The song is a beauty with its downbeat slo-mo, almost mellow melody as guitars intertwine over an English accent, choral falsetto. It just makes you feel what the title says. If you’re into the indiest indie, well maybe you’ve heard about this song already.

After The Gold Rush – Thom Yorke (Neil Young Cover)

I fortunately came across Sterogum’s list of Radiohead covers and man was I glad I have drifted into them on the web. it contains this amazingly delivered classic. You know how Thom Yorke’s voice just pierces your soul and it makes you feel bad and good altogether. His voice gave this song another imagery so vivid that the lyrics just unfolds in front of you when you close your eyes. Its a different sort of high and nostalgia than the Neil Young version. This song has a hard theme to interpret tho, but anyhow for sure you’ll find yourself reminiscing and dreaming to this song, on repeat.

Summertime Booze – Turf War

Do you want your own summertime song? Get ready to loose to this song. Okay that was lyrics references, no need to call me cheesy and stuff. This song will actually give you a shot of summer. With their Tom Pettyish sound and story telling they are not your average garage punk band. So, if you love to just drink booze till you drop, then Turf War got you your anthem.

Last Confession – Godchild

Godchild is a chill type of alternative band with John Mayer influences. If you can’t imagine how it would sound, just click play. Its an easy to listen and to sing along kind of song making it an lss potential.

So those are the ten songs I have on constant repeat the whole week. Hopefully I get to share good stuff.

Also, why pop rock and coke? You might’ve figured it out already. I’ve been hooked to the cokish goodness of indie- pop that borders to rock. Or you could have it as pop rocks and coke, but the explosion’s not in your stomach but in your ears. Yes.

Down Memory Lane: Franco Live in Iloilo City

2012-04-23T00:22:00.002-07:00

Well this is sort of overdue. I was not supposed to squeeze my mind of reactions toward that show but this is sort of request. So Nikko, whether you attended or not, this one’s for you.

You might know Franco as a rock band that plays heavy alternative rock songs with irie roots glorifying the Jah given herb. They are also known as a gathering of the five of the best band musicians, some sort of opm rock dream team. And girls love their long-haired cute guitarist.

The show opened with a handful of local bands from Iloilo Lokal which were relatively enjoyable. You put up a show with a variety of musical styles under the alternative genre, you will surely have something for everyone. Some of this guys I see often, The Liberty Jam got some energy that almost made the makeshift stage collapse, Godchild got the crowd singing along, Breach of Fate got the crowd hyped up, and some other bands which were also remarkably talented.

When Franco took the stage they owned it. A few highlights were: Ocho setting up the mic, Franco talking to the crowd in twanged Cebuano thinking we understood him, the crowd clapping their hands in the air to the bridge of Song for the Suspects and the whole five minutes of This Gathering. It was an intimate show and people were on a sort of collective musical high and I am smacked in the middle of them. There was smoke and sweat exchange which were just plain crazy and fun at the same time. Guys were screaming guy’s names. I tried to sing, more like shout, but the speakers beside us muted the sound of my voice. For the whole five hours, I might have smoked a pack of cigarette all secondhandedly. My feet and back ached but fuck it, this is rock n’ roll.

There is actually a back story to this whole “dying to watch Franco” thing. Rewind to July 28, 2011, they opened for Incubus in Manila and unfortunately we were not able to catch perform because of a serendipitous disaster. To read the whole plight, click here. So it was kind of, here’s the chance of making up a prequel to that. And we get to hear not just five but eight songs.

Franco didn’t play For My Dearly Departed which might dissolve the crowd’s exuberance. I didn’t get to see Buwi Menesis (Tuts Calinawan of Queso was taking care of the bass for him). No shirts were thrown or stripped. I did not have a photo taken with the band. Still, for a fan, just being there is worth it. Music will always be worth it.

Franco Live in Iloilo City - November 25, 2011

Original link.

Photos: Kristian Guanco

In Case You Missed It, Coachella Week 1 Highlights!

2012-04-17T21:41:00.001-07:00

Coachella is in every music fans bucket list but if you didn't make it to Coachella, like me, here are the highlights of the first week.

Let's start with the main reason why I want to go to this years Coachella. Radiohead played and brought the whole crowd to a collective earrgasm. Here's the full video.

Bon Iver also played a serene performance.

AND THE MOST HISTORY DEFINING OF ALL. Tupac ressurected as a hologram performed with Snoop Dogg. The whole Coachella Valley shook, everyone's mind was blown, including those watching through online steaming.

People criticizes Coachella Music and Art Festival but this videos are the reasons, enough for fans all over the world to flock and party.

Paalam Karl Roy

2012-03-12T22:18:00.000-07:00

‎"..nasa kalawakan na ang

kaibigan ko ngayon, kasama ang

mga tala, tanaw ang langit at

impyerno.."

Alone - Claudiox

2012-03-05T16:39:00.000-08:00

If you dig electro rock, read on.

The sound that this track creates is what you will get when industrial rock molests electro indie. "Alone" is a sort of a genre mash up. It's like a creative experiment gone right. It opens with a playful note only to break into a brutally frank confession of loss. With the right amount of whimsy, angst and eventually, positivity, this song grows on you every time you listen to it.

If you like Nine Inch Nails and Passion Pit, then you need to listen to this song.

If you like his music, follow Caludiox on Facebook.

Down the Memory Lane: Tanduay Circle of Five Live in Iloilo

2012-02-29T21:03:00.003-08:00

December 3, 2011

Let me open this concert review by saying Jomal Linao is the coolest dude on the planet. And if you care-like people seldom do- read on to know why.

Initially don’t have any plans of attending this concert. For the most part, it has the reputation of slightly tolerable violence and intentional mishaps. Anything could go high on the chaos level when you put rock bands and liquor together. And to make it more exciting, Iloilo City added a little ingredient to that mix – pouring rain.

Two days before the event my friend James begged me to go since his all time favorite band Parokya ni Edgar is set to perform. I-being a good friend that I am- tweeted Chito Miranda if we could steal a chance of getting a photo with him and Vinci. That is actually on James’ bucket list. When Chito replied “no prob” I jumped and down like a total idiot and decided to go without even having a clue where to score a ticket.

Eventually, my friend Raizza got me her spare ticket and we excitedly arrived at the venue an hour before the concert. It was my first time to attend a huge and celebrated concert. There were booths everywhere, towering Tanduay balloons and just about other marketing stuff you see in a concert. They are milking whatever exposure they can get in exchange of the free admission. The only band I came there to see is Wolfgang as I havent seen them live before. By the time that I am already old enough to be permitted to stay out of the house and watch a concert, they were already on a hiatus.

We were standing and admiring the set when heavy rain suddenly poured and dampen the excitement of the crowd that was slowly building up. We took shelter on a Pony tents along with long-haired guys on black heavy metal shirts. Other people hung out on the Tanduay booth holding plastic cups of gin, rum and rain water. One would only think that this concert is going to be an epic fail as Axl Rose’s Rock in Rio performance.

When Wolfgang started half of the audience were already seating on the bleachers, a basketball court away from the football field where the stage was put up. But you have to admire the passion of the die-hard Wolfgang fans who stayed in front of the stage and waited for the band to come out. Maybe they thought, they never expected to see Wolfgang on stage again. And who knows this might be the last. Knock on wood. And when Basti Artadi and his gang took the stage, the crowd howled in excitement. It was pure display of passionate fandom. From above, on the dry bleacher where I sat, I could see the crowd simultaneously jumping. It was magical.

Chicosci was pretty much a bummer. Miggy Chavez just ruined the whole thing with his uncool potty mouth, obscure song segues and plain lousy singing that sounded like screaming actually. If I was close to the stage I could’ve bottled that guy straight to his forehead. Or maybe he’s face is just so cute to be assaulted. But still the crowd-at least on the bleachers-had fun hating him, which was fine. Fun is still fun. Also, we need a petition to urge them to go back to making metal music.

In summation, Sandwich‘s performance is just like any other concert you’ve seen. It never left the boundary of being entertaining, to especially entertaining. Raymund Marasigan sure was a voice live but the thing that made a connection to the crowd was his dialect knowledge. He could talk to the crowd in Ilonggo which amused the whole crowd (including me)and somehow made them felt valued (not including me). Sandwich songs are mainly built of instrumentation and lyrics that stimulates motion, well the crowd did exactly what the song told them to do. They clapped, jumped, sung like they are one person. Raymund has that ability, to control the crowd.

Name the opm band with the most fans, I bet you would think of Parokya ni Edgar faster than the shortest note could possibly last. Well, they have more than two decades worth of fans transcending the generations who have undergone numerous music trends. They have the Harana fans, the Gulong Itlog Gulong fans, the Mr. Suave fans and of course there are fans like James. The power of Parokya’s music is when someone sings it, you’ll find yourself singing along with him/her. Imagine 3,000 crowd singing along in unison. Yes, yes, show.

Kamikazee closed the show and the whole year worth of touring with songs that I couldn’t remember. I was already at the backstage, cups of Tanduay mix in one hand and a plate of sisig on the other. How we ended up at the VIP are was rather a not exciting story.

The backstage could only be summarized by madness and mudness. My beloved Converses were trustworthy in keeping my feet dry despite the crazy amount of mud it was soaked in. I now understand why people wear them on concerts. By the way, just a little mud trivia, did you know that ‘grunge’ was named after the mud that sticks on people boots during damp seasons? It is pretty grungy in Seattle and so is in Iloilo. Along with the heavy downpour, the drinks flooded and the buffet table was a feast. It was all for free. It was all mad, in a good way.

So now you wanna know why Jomal Linao is the coolest dude on the planet? Here.

There were other things that happened that I couldn’t recall though I am writing this when I got home. Some things I can recall but I choose not to tell. Yes, I want to keep this real, but rock n’ roll has a sanctity that is unbreakable. What happened in a rock concert stays in a rock concert. You only tell the people the “how” of the excitement and not the “why”. I’ve been to a lot of concerts and gigs, both international and local bands but none of them made me see what I previously heard about rock n’roll.

The Green Room - The Tins

2012-02-27T23:17:00.002-08:00

One song that sounds like a whole album.

It's keyboard and guitars blending with each other has the different kind of uplifting harmony that makes you soar with the song for the whole seven minutes. The switching tempo, binary vocals and the insightful picturesque lyrics creates a roller-coaster trip.

This is a release from their 2010 EP, "Tins".

For more about the band, like their official Facebook page.

Photo: Craig Owens of Destroy Rebuild Until God Shows

2012-02-23T20:50:00.000-08:00

Photo of the Day:

Craig Owens of Destroy Rebuild Until God Shows

Iowa, February 23, 2012

This is the reason why fans go to shows.

Follow Craig Owens on Twitter and on Facebook.

Album Review: Love, Hate, Despair - Breach of Fate

2012-02-22T23:24:00.005-08:00

No fancy title here for a while. I intend to have this review as direct as this band gets their message across.

Are you a Metallica fan?

Then better read on.

If you would put a specific label to Breach of Fate's music, you could'nt actually do that.

At first listen, they would struck a loud chord to the heart of any Metallica fan. At second listen, you would be singing along. And then, you'd find yourself hitting the replay button.

Dying Days is a catchy alternative rock song that crosses borders to metaldom. Breaking Point talks about heavy frustrations but is somehow uplifting. And the banner song Love Song for Ana is a sad and sincere scream of longing and love.

It is a well produced album for a local release. I could hear the bass, guitars, drums and vocals clean.

Love, Hate and Despair, in summation, is a fitting soundtrack for the feelings it speaks: love, hate and despair.

PS:
This is what this review could've been:

Fuck, this guys are fuckin awesome live and it's even more fuckin awesome to hear them on the record.

Jack of All Trades - Bruce Springsteen feat. Tom Morello

2012-02-22T01:14:00.000-08:00

Jack of All Trades is a track off of Bruce Springsteen's new patriotic album, "Wrecking Ball". He had a little help making this track gut wrenching from Tom Morello's trademark shredding.

Some links don't work,but this one will.

This track is much like the vintage Bruce Springsteen, it is best played in an open arena with thousands of people and a flag waving. However, there's a bonus Tom Morello solo towards the end. Bruce Springsteen and Rage Against the Machine, imagine the rate it will cause on the anthemic meter.

The whole album sounds like this, which is a great thing. With most iconic artists deviating from their own original sounds, it is a great channel for the new generation to get to know the classic Springsteen.

Even though newly released, this track is already a relic of arena rock.

Something + Yesterday - Clementine

2012-02-15T00:21:00.000-08:00

A little something to make you remember yesterday.

Add this cover to your long list of great The Beatles covers. Beatles Night is a celebration of The Beatles music often held at 70's Bistro. It's a night of Filipino musicians paying tribute to the greatest musicians of all time.

Singing along Clem Castro of The Camerawalls is Vin Dancel of Peryodiko.

We Bros - WU LYF

2012-02-14T23:14:00.000-08:00

Need an empowering song? Here watch this.

We Bros is a single from British band Wu Lyf, off of their 2011 "Go Tell Fire To The Mountain".

The video opens with a pair of black Converse running along to John William-ish intro. Then paced into kids racing in what seemed like a dystopian scene. It solidifies Wu Lyf's message: running from the evils of the society and going over that fence to freedom.

The song itself is anthemic. It has angst mashed with positivity which makes it very fresh to the ears.

Valentines Day Mix : Where Did All The Love Go?

2012-02-10T01:08:00.000-08:00

Four more nights till Valentines Day and here's a mix about love. All kinds of love. We look for it. We find it. We let it go. And then we're back to the beginning.

Where Did All The Love Go? - Kasabian

The song gives its title to this mix. Only because we often find ourselves asking the same question. And besides it is a great song.

Inside of Love - Nada Surf
Nada Surf gives us glimpse of what it feels like to want to be in the inside of love. This song is a lot like love, it tickles your ear like love tickles your heart.

Fin - Pupil
Fin is a short song that is full emotion It is about finding the missing piece of you.

Nobody Does It Better – Radiohead
This Carly Simon cover makes you want bathe in Thom Yorkes voice. Nobody does it better than him.

At Least It Was Here - The 88
The 88 gives a bittersweet tune to our hearts doubts.

Wax and Wire - Loch Lomond
This painful song is quite symbolic and almost cryptic but this song talks about death. It can be a death of love and not being able to revive it.

Different – Acceptance
Different is an alternative song which is quite different from all the songs in this mix. Because sometimes when we love, we want to see something that's different.

Dead Ends – Canines
And at the end, we get tired of love. We get lost finding it. Then we wait for it to come again.

How bout you, what are the songs on your Valentines Day playlist? Do you have any plans? Cause if you don't have any, you can email me.

Zac Merrick's Playlist for Less Than Jake Tour

2012-02-09T21:16:00.000-08:00

All Time Low is every pop punk's guilty pleasure. Admit it, their songs are catchy. They might not make music that make critics wow but they can bring you music from other artists that can make you wow. Proof is the playlist form Zac Merrick's Friends or Enemies blog.

Listen to full playlist here.

Nico - Evening of Light

2012-02-09T20:52:00.000-08:00

Evening of Light - Nico

I came across this song on the pages of Mainlines Bloodfeasts and Bad Tastes, a Lester Bangs reader. This is how he described it.

A trickle of harpsichords out of the sky which drop gently at first and gradually increase in volume and presence in the mix until they seem to almost lacerate, punctuated occasionally by the shiftings and groaning of bowed basses like famished carnivores in some deep bog from which they ascend with by-now violent intensity of the harpsichords, now accompanied by some electronic gnashing noise which sounds like someone’s nerves are being roasted on a spit. All of this gets more and more intense until the violas return to arch up in a series of twisted pterodactyl shrieks, the hapsichords pounding down like murderous hailstones, the basses sounding militant air-raid, two-note alarums before crashing to their own death, the whole sucked away by a series of hissing, clicking, buzzing electronic processors, simply more dead information being disposed of.

Nico’s concept of love: While she lies interred in the endless wastes of the arctic night, she has sent and insect to the object of her affections, to kiss his heart. But even the insect must die before it can reach him, the soft rustling of its gentle wings stilled under drifts that eventually preserve its frozen corpse for eternity under a snowbank that becomes an ice mountain, the insect and Nico having become one in endless sleep, for they were the real lovers in the first place after all.

- Your Shadow is Scared of You: An Attempt Not to Be Frightened by Nico, Lester Bangs

Let Me Speak - The Liberty Jam

2012-02-03T13:24:00.000-08:00

Tired of all the depressing ass songs with self flagellating lyrics? Listen to this.

This song has spirited beats and contagious optimism it is almost anthemic. Bands should make music like this.

Like them on Facebook: The Liberty Jam and tell them what you think about their music.

Cobra Starship, The Used, The Cab, Dashboard Confessional live in Smart Araneta Coliseum!!!!

2012-02-03T11:17:00.000-08:00

The Philippine concert scene is giving fans sleepless nights for the past months. There are rumors of Coldplay announcing they might be coming to Manila on the third quarter of 2012. A video on Foo Fighters Facebook page of Dave Grohl greeting the Filipino fans immediately rose speculation about the band granting the decade- old wishes of Pinoy rock fans. But the most exciting NEWS of all is the announcement and confirmation of the some concerts including this one.

Cobra Starship, The Used, The Cab, Dashboard Confessional live in Smart Araneta Coliseum on March 8, 2012!!!!

Isn't that a treat? If you were in your teens during the 20001- 2009 period this concert is the best event to put a exclamation point to your teenage years.

Get to hear Cobra Starship's recently released songs and reminisce their old songs. Plus, Gabe Saporta is hot. One word: Supercalifragilisticexpiadlidocious.

The Used is proving that the past tense in their band name is just a name. Their songs were the soundtrack of your passage to adulthood. And ever wonder how Bert McCracken look like these days?

The amount of dreaminess that these bands' vocalists, will surely drag you to see this concert, yeah? Chris Carabba, Alex de Leon.

Also, Typecast, Chicosci and Urbandub will make this concert even more smashing.

PS:
Tickets here.

Album Review: Velociraptor! - Kasabian

2012-02-02T13:27:00.000-08:00

Velociraptor literally means swift seizer which is a spot on description for Kasabian's latest album.

Think, The Rolling Stones raping The Ting Tings.

Seized your attention yet?

With a weird mixture of psychedellia, swagger and even poetry, they are one of the apparent and rightful heir of Britain's long line of rock royalties.

Best track:

LaFee Verte also known as The Green Fairy is a sophisticated drug that easily gets you high. It starts with what seemed like beautiful insect noises and progresses into a drum driven musing that shifts from indie to neo-psychedellia from verse to another. It then swiftly fades with another set of gallactic sounds after a mindlessly longing "na na na".

Can be a soundtrack to:

Between four and five in the morning when you havent slept for twelve hours and you already had three mugs of coffee.

This album isnt much of a creativity inducing though it is in itself is already a work of creativity.

Also during substance intoxication when you just want to drift away.

Stars: Four!