Ely Buendia, Rico Blanco, Bamboo & Dong Abay: My thoughts on their recent CD releases.

              It was election day yesterday, a holiday,   in a  sweltering hot summer afternoon with nothing much to do at home but to relax and chill out.  I was listening to the latest project of Ely Buendia via his new band (or his other band), the Oktaves. When I   listen to Ely Buendia's music whether as an Eraserheads or as a Pupil, it comes natural that I  follow it up with that of  Rico Blanco, Bamboo ,  and Dong Abay. Like many others , these guys are also my favorites among local artists of recent years. They  (with  their respective former bands)  litted the OPM airwaves in the 90s and thankfully so, are still around making music. I would like to share my thoughts on  their latest releases.

           

BAMBOO - NO WATER, NO MOON

RICO BLANCO- GALACTIK FIESTAMATIK,  DONG ABAY: REBULTO, &  THE OKTAVES: THE OKTAVES

Bamboo: No Water, No Moon (November 2011)

               
                     As far as local bands  frontmen are concerned, I think he is unique. He  has the x-factors that others do not or barely possesses: the looks,  the charisma, the energy and the moves of an ideal rockstar. After going AWOL  in the late 90s, his return to the music scene around 2003 , as well as the establishment of a new band then  that bares his name (Bamboo) with fellow ex-Rivermaya Nathan Azarcon, is credited for reigniting the flame in  the local band scene which has been in doldrums since the disbandment of its prime mover, the  Eraserheads in 2002 . Three successful albums (of original materials) with the Bamboo band later,  producing classic anthemic rock songs such as "Pinoy," "Hallelujah," and "Kailan," in 2011 the band  called it quits. Now for the first time Bamboo the person, made a solo album. While songwriting is not known to be his forte, for this album he wrote it in its entirety.   

                     First, I have an issue with this album. I have been accustomed  to seeing Bamboo as the quintessential Pinoy rocker both in Rivermaya and in Bamboo but  here , there is  hardly any rocking going on. Left to his own devices (judging from this CD) ,  Bamboo turned out to be anything other  than a rocker. Second, with its very personal and serious nature , I have to be in a really receptive mood to pull this one out of the shelve.   

                 However, taking the issues aside, this album (  best heard as a whole),  is a great release. It was described   as "grand," "arty," and  "approaching a film-score type of music" by reviewers like Tony Maghirang of Yahoo. Among the many nice songs, my favorites are the lead single, "Questions," "Back On My Feet" and the Bambooish (Band) "The Only Way." Great album as it is, it will surely alienate many of his rock fans .  

Dong Abay: Rebulto (June  2012)

                  
                   It took  six years for  ex-Yano frontman to follow-up his  excellent first solo album Flipino released in 2006.  Despite the long gap and coming on the heels of his highly-acclaimed debut album, he released an equally remarkable and  highly enjoyable  mini-album (7-track).  I enjoyed this concept CD about Jose Rizal on my first listen. I enjoyed this CD after many listens. I will enjoy this cd  for a lifetime. It was the best money (at only 200 pesos!) I spent for OPM music in 2012.  

Rico Blanco: Galactik Fiestamatic (September  2012)

                    
                     Rico Blanco belongs in the higher echelons of great local pop/rock singer/songwriters with the likes of Mike Hanopol, Ely Buendia, Rey Valera , Danny and Jim of Apo Hiking amongst others, but the  last two CDs  he made with Rivermaya ( Tuloy ang Ligaya and Between the Stars and the Waves), although  producing  several classic  songs such as  "Balisong" and 'Sunday Driving",  were  forgettable.  Definitely  inspired for his first solo release, he made an outstanding and a keeper of an  album in Your Universe in 2008. 

                     This latest release by Rico Blanco seems to continue where he left off  in his debut album. The title itself  Galactik Fiestamatic  has an obvious corelation with  Your Universe. The songs  which were all composed and produced by him in his own personal studio at home  are  also  awashed with the techno sounds  of synths, drum machine and  tribal rhythms. 

                  The problem is, whereas his outstanding debut album is filled with great melodies and excellent singing, this one doesn't.   If Your Universe  is the A-side, this one sounds like the B-side or the left-over tracks so to speak. It's like  either he was trying to beat a deadline or he is so busy with his many other activites, he just wants to release  music to remind people he is still around.  Afterall,  it has been four years since his debut album.

                    Nevertheless, despite falling below par as compared with his debut, this cd is by no means a dud.  "Burado" (which reminded me of the "control, alt, delete" line in "Ayuz"from his debut album) is easily a sing-along tune   and the witty "Lipat Bahay" will definetly draw a smile amongst those of the 80s  and 90s generation. 

                 At best this is a good album but  far from a  landmark release that I have read in many reviews.   

The Oktaves:The Oktaves ( February  2013)

                 First,  I'm confused with what I have been reading. Is Oktaves  the new band of  Ely Buendia ?  Or is it just a side project? Born out of sheer enjoyment in sharing  a common musical interest (60's and Beatles, I've read)  with his Oktaves bandmates. I hope it's the latter because Pupil, Ely Buendia's  principal band  has been making exceptional music.
                
                    If I would describe this much-hyped album in one word , it would  surely be  and  plainly be, 'fun.' It  has  a mixed bag of   rock styles in it such as straight rock , 60s rock, and even rockabilly.  That the band members seem to enjoy playing with each other are  very evident in the jam-like fashion (of some songs )  and the   positive vibes exuded in the songs. This is a totally  enjoyable album, with many  fine tunes like  the opener "Gone, Gone , Gone,"  "K.U.P.A.L.," "Walang Magawa," the bluesy "Ikot"  and  "Detox"; however,  there is really nothing truly  remarkable in it.

             

Although these CDs are very different in their approaches, styles and substances, if I may rank  them  in terms of what I find to be  more recommendable, it will be as follows:

1. Dong Abay: Rebulto -- Runaway winner. Highly recommendable
2. Bamboo: No Water, No Moon
3. The Oktaves: The Oktaves
4. Rico Blanco: Galactik Fiestamatic

But don't take my word for it. If you have not purchased the albums yet, buy it and find out  for yourself.





P.S.
           I also did listen to  the 4-track E.P.  Slow Rock Volume 1/2 of Hijo, the band formed by the other three ex- Bamboo  members led by Nathan Azarcon.  If Nathan Azarcon was part of the topic, I  would have placed their  E.P.  just below Dong Abay's Rebulto. That E.P. is amazing.                

MODERN ENGLISH AND THE ALARM LIVE IN MANILA, MAY 3, 2013

              
             The concert was held at the Mall of Asia (MOA) Arena, the newest and the most modern arena in the country .  The event   started  very late with the front act,   a  fixture in the 80s music scene,  Juan Miguel Salvador and his band  taking the stage at past 9  already. They did an inspired performance of various 80s New Wave hits such as Wire Train’s “Chamber of Hellos,”  The Cure’s “Friday I’m In Love,”  Real Life’s “Catch Me I’m Falling,” and  Icicle Work’s “Bird Fly ( Whisper to a Scream”) amongst  others.  Before and after the front act and the lull in between the sets of The Alarm and Modern English,  the audience was  entertained  by the New wave mixes of DJ Jon Tupaz, a popular DJ in local  circuits I have read.  He made the long wait not only bearable but very enjoyable with his great mixes of popular New wave tunes.

Mike Peters

Mike Peters and his band on the way to stage ( from their official Facebook page)

                 Looking still  youthful,  with his neck-long hair comb down( in contrast to the 80s spike), wearing a dark coat with some red trimmings and a red- shirt underneath,  Mike Peters and the Alarm took to  the stage with the song from the Sergio Leone movie   "Once Upon A Time In America,” the "Cockeye’s Song” playing in the  background  before blasting with the rocking,  “Marching  On”,  one of their earliest songs.  They performed mostly their greatest hits in the 80s such as, “Spirit of 76,” “Sixty Eight Guns,”  Strength and “Rescue Me” amongst  others  sprinkled with  some of their  recent  tunes. 
            
                 As expected two of their most popular songs here  received the loudest applause, “Rain In The Summertime” and “Absolute Reality.” 

                   Known for their highly- spirited and anthemic  songs,   Mike Peters  and his band gave an impressively tight and “rocking”  performance.   Aside from his great voice, there is something extra-ordinary  about Mike Peter’s stage persona that is  so captivating. I thought I saw some  semblance of Bruce Springsteen,  Bryan Adams and  , Bono in him.  He  sings   with so much heart and passion  that as a  spectator  you can sense he    genuinely enjoys singing and sharing his songs.  He   often interacted with the audience, even   sharing some small inspirational talks.  In his penultimate number , he enthralled the audience when he  went down the stage,  mingled with the crowd  and walk around while strumming and singing to a song  that is  very nice, catchy and  meaningful,  although unfamiliar to me. It   turned out to be a cover of (a certain) Willie Nile, entitled “One Guitar.”  A great song which I would say he covered very well   as if it was  his own .  He sure   won the hearts   of the audience with that one.    If I would describe their performance in two words, I would say they were really a 'class act'. 

                When Modern English began their set it was  close to  midnight  already with some of the  crowd seen exiting the arena  due to the lateness of the hour. 

             Despite his simple attire  of   black suit,   white shirt underneath  and black jeans, with his red-framed dark glasses, Robbie Grey, the bands  energetic   front man  appeared stylish. He was very conversant and animated throughout the show .  After  their  second number, he took off  his suit  and removed his dark glasses,  went to the audience and said: “Now I can see you.” That  drew   laughter from the crowd.  The passing of  years may have turned Robbie Grey’s hair  to gray and put more  pounds  to guitarist Andy Mcdowell  but some things remain the same. Robbie Grey’s manner of singing (as I saw it in music videos) and his gyrations are still there.  Andy McDowell still looks weird,  actually  more  weird with his facial tattoos.  :)

(Front) Andy Mcdowell   Mick Conroy    Robbie Grey      Steven Walker

                   They opened  their gig with the atmospheric and  fan-favorite ,  ”Someone’s Calling” to the delight of the audience. 

                Generally, Robbie Grey sang very well and the band was solid in  doing  songs mostly  from their first two albums, Mesh and Lace and  After the Snow. They were  particularly outstanding in performing  songs  that depict their post-punk and experimental  leaning   such as the reverb-laden  “Swans On Glass,” Black Houses,” and  “Life In A Gladhouse,”  amongst  others, but they  needed a  cue when they introduced  two new songs, “Come out of Your Hole” and  “Moonbeam”, from their upcoming  album.  

                 Perhaps because they do not want to let down their fans here, they included “Ink and Paper” in their set.  This song was highly popular  among New Wavers here  in the 80s.  Robbie Grey said something like  they do not and have never included this song in their sets.  This  explains  their somewhat off and tepid rendition,  however, this did not deter  their  fans  enthusiasm as they   gamely sang along. 

              The high point of the concert  was their last two numbers and their two  most popular songs , ”Hands Across the Sea” and the New Wave genre classic ”I Melt With You”.   Surprisingly,  Robbie Grey   made some  lyrical error in the opening line  of (of all songs) “I Melt With You.”  He started with the  first 3 or 4 words of the first line of the second  stanza.   Anyway, both the band and the audience were at one as they went  all out  for these two aforementioned songs.  As a finale the band performed the opening instrumental sequences of “I Melt With You” repeatedly, with each time going faster and faster and faster--  ending the concert on a  high note.

                    Afterwards, the band returned  for  a two- song  encore,   the experimental sounding  “16 Days”  and the slow and dark  version of “I Melt With You”.  Frankly, I thought they could have  skipped  the  encore  as many among  the  audience  were  no longer in the mood for more (there were no  loud  cries for more  ) except of course the die-hard fans in front. It was already early morning,  many  were obviously tired and raring to go home.   In my point of view,  this somehow rubbed-off the remarkable ending of their regular set.

               

                All in all  it was another   wonderful night of nostalgic  New Wave concert by two  celebrated bands from the 80's that would be remembered and cherished. It was literally two great shows for the price of one.  Lots of  thanks  should  go to the organizers for choosing a spacious and top of the class  venue for this 80's concert party,   albeit more challenging to fill in.

MODERN ENGLISH AND THE ALARM LIVE IN MANILA,MAY 3, 2013: SETLISTs

The gig started very late and ended at 1:30 a.m.(!) Straight out of the bed at around 9:00 a.m. , all I can think of  is,  why the hell(!) is Mike Peters(and the Alarm) not bigger than he(or they) should be. The guy(and his band) is amazing to watch. A total performer.  Anyway, for my sake and for those interested, coming from my  notes, here are the  Setlists:

The Alarm:
They took to the stage with Ennio Morricone's "Cockeye's Song,"  from the movie Once Upon A Time In America  as the background music.

1.  Marching On
2.  Where Were You Hiding When the Storm Broke
3.  The Stand
4.  Down the Road
5.  Sold Me Down the River
6.  Rain in the Summertime*
7.  Superchannel
8.  Strengh
9.  Spirit of '76*
10. Absolute Reality*
11. Sixty Eight Guns*
12. One Guitar* - Thanks to DJ Bayonic from YouTube for the correct information for this song. A   cover of Willie Nile.
13. Rescue Me*

Modern English:

1. Someone's Calling
2. After the Snow
3. Tables Turning
4. Swans on Glass
5. Black Houses
6. Life in a Gladhouse
7. Come Out of Your Hole ( from their upcoming new album)
8. Ink and Paper*
9. Moonbeam ( from their upcoming new album)
10. Hands Across the Sea*
11. I Melt With You*

Encore:
1. 16 Days
2. I Melt With You (slow version)

* Concert high points