By Izah Morales
INQUIRER.net

ON stage, you see them bringing the house down as they rock the house with their eardrum-popping music. But off stage, they are your ordinary people like you and me.

Vocalist Henry Allen of Filipino rock band Faspitch, for one, says he and his bandmates play computer game Warcraft for pastime.

“We’re a geeky band. We grew up playing computers,” added Faspitch bassist Trevor Bicknell.

Faspitch is composed of Allen, Bicknell, Trick Berganos (guitars), and Russell Manaloto (guitars). They made their debut on the airwaves with the single, “Staying This Way” and eventually earned people’s attention with the song, “A Day Before Pisces.”

Allen describes their music as “new metal hardcore” with little elements of Emo (emotional). But he quickly added that they continue to experiment with their music, stressing that they don’t have a fixed sound.

Just like Faspitch, Cebu-born Filipino rock band Urbandub vocalist Gabby Alipe disclosed that off stage, they often hang out at home. “Sobrang normal lang kami [We’re just normal people],” said Alipe.

Alipe admitted though that on stage, they always perform with much pride. “On stage, ‘yung nakikita ng tao, mayabang kami [the people you will see are very proud],” said Alipe.

But before Urbandub became popular, bassist Lalay Lim recalled how they started, playing in gigs without pay or receiving a talent fee of P2,000 for a set of 15 songs.

For all-girl rock band Nyctinasty, vocalist Noodle Perez said the band had to do some sacrifices for their schooling. The all-girl band plays a mix of punk rock, progressive, metal pop.

“Hindi girly ang dating ng music naming [We’re not your typical girly band],” said Perez.

While they want their music heard, Perez said they declined to reveal their ages.

These local bands have achieved an extraordinary status. But after the volume fades out and they go off stage, they are just like any ordinary people living their dreams extraordinarily.