Archive for January, 2007

New Releases

Monday, January 29th, 2007

Bloc Party’s latest single "The Prayer" (sample this track on myspace.com/blocparty)…Also Matisyahu’s cover of Message In A Bottle (which I think was voted pick of the week)…Sa wakas, may album na ang Silent Sanctuary, available in most record bars, Fuchsiang Pag-Ibig, my favorites are Pink 5ive, Summer Song, and Nagtahan….Narda’s Ang Mitsa was playing in some radio stations….Astig din album ng Sugarfree, "Tala-arawan"- favorite tracks- Ang Pinakamagaling Na Tao sa Buong Mundo and Track #1 (forgot the title, but it has something to do with someone asking how his Kuya has been abroad)… "Environmentally Sound", music inspired by nature, most songs are independently released, featuring Cynthia Alexander, Pinikpikan, Drip, Updharmadown, Outerhope, Dirty Kitchen, Sound, Juan Pablo Dream, Radioactive Sago Project–>my favorite track "Mr Pogi sa Space"…..My favorite song from Extra Rice by the Chilitees is "Sandali Lang", a tribute in memory of Wolfman Hernandez….yun lang!

Bang Bang Baby

Saturday, January 13th, 2007

Yey! What a wonderful way of starting this year right! While others are thrilled and eager to witness the Pyrolympics event in MOA, we sought a rather different kind of explosion, that is, a rush of an electrifying and mind-blowing sound to the ears .. The first gig of this year was a Bang Bang Baby as Cafe Saguijo and Revolver productions present: Salindiwa, Chilitees, Sound, Kjwan, Sandwich, and the legendary The Dawn. Killer!

Anyways, some of the highlights of last night’s gig:

1. Salindiwa…a band to watch out for. They remind me of The Mars Volta, except that there are some interjections of rap. But their stage presence was felt and applauded. Good music.

2. The Dawn… they are what we’ve been there for! After the success of Tulad ng Dati , we cannot help but appreciate the kind of music they have been creating since the 1980’s. Definitely an institution in the local music scene. They kicked off with Difference, then Mahiwagang Babae (which they don’t play in most of their gigs), Ang Iyong Paalam… then Sir Jett asked for requests. people were shouting some familiar tunes and then boiled down to three: Saling Pusa, Salamat and Enveloped Ideas. As Salamat was starting to play, Sir Jett exclaimed, "This song goes out to Ely Buendia", on a rather sentimental note. Seeing the crowd clamoring, they did a cover of Elevation by U2, and people were just singing along to the tune of "WOO-HOO-HOO!" Yeah, that was ENERGY! And an awesome set.

3. Tindahan a few blocks away from Saguijo..hehe where my friend asked for a photo with sir jett and sir francis..no more elaboration..A nice Happy New Year greeting from Sir Kiko. Ayus

4. Chilitees and Sound..yup, they’re also sure to pump up 2007 with a unique kind of genre in their repertoire. Rock meets chill, ambient music for Chilitees.Sound was also boombastic. By this time I was feeling kind of sleepy, but nevertheless, the show must go on..

5. Sandwich!!! I hate to be biased but they really know how to make you bounce around! Their set kicked off with DVDX and Mong was doing his vocal stylings. Plus the fact that he was wearing "the wrong sleeves". he was being the butt of jokes. Then Photocopy. During In Case of Fire, things sounded a bit different. Apparently Sir Raims made certain twists and played on with the lyrics. He started incorporating "With Or Without You" by U2 (again!), Maging Sino Ka Man etc. Same went on with Good Night January and Two Trick Pony, where the crowd sang with them some of the pop hits like Devil’s Haircut, Hey Ho Let’s Go by the Ramones, a Gnarls Barkley revival, some E-heads song,even Sexy Back by Justin Timberlake (ang hirap isipin na pop meets rock? pero Sandwich ito eh), even Pedicab’s Dito Tayo sa Dilim, and other familiar rock tunes that made it big . They were also "grooving" to the beats (choreographed thats why it looked funny and hillarious). Sunburn came last. Galing! It just goes to show that they are evolving as performers, that when they grow tired of playing songs over and over, they had to re-invent and try something new…

6. Kjwan…incidentally, it was almost 3 am, so we just went home.

Yehey! What a wonderful night. First gig of tis year…and more to come!

Hey friendsters!

Thursday, January 11th, 2007

Its a brand spanking new year, eh?
Let’s myspace each other, shall we?
myspace.com/john_ray_lucas

And for some latest myspace news:
Blur frontman Damon Albarn is set to release his latest project entitled "the Good, the Bad, and the Queen" which features The Clash’s bassist Paul Simonon, former The Verve and Gorrilaz guitarist Simon Tong and Afrobeat drummer Tony Allen. The all-British band members surely will hit the charts as they unleash this album with an alternative/ punk/afro-beat. Listen to their songs exclusively on Myspace.

work hard, play rock and roll

Diyes ko po

Friday, January 5th, 2007

So far, I am done counting down my best foreign tracks… now let me give you the best OPM songs which made it to my list this year…

1. Oo- Updharmadown

2. DVDX (Mong’s mix)- Sandwich

3. First of Summer-Urbandub

4. Molotov-Narda

5. Sweet Cheeks- Drip

6. Rebound-Silent Sanctuary

7. Beer Light- Itchyworms

8. Bleached Streaks- Pedicab

9. Boogeyman- Spaceflower Show

10. A Promise- Chicosci

And a whole lotta bands to watch out for this 2007..well, rock has never been this great, and what a good year it was, indeed!