JUST like the fans, former Eraserheads drummer Raimund Marasigan is excited. In a message posted on the Subsandwich mailing list, he narrates in very short sentences the days leading to the one-night reunion concert that would finally bring together his former bandmates in what would probably be the biggest gig in Filipino rock and roll. The former members of the band are set to play August 30 at the Fort Boni open field in Global City in Taguig.

He writes:

It’s been unbelievably crazy these past few days. I taped a few tugtugan episodes with Pedicab and Rivermaya, taped a Pedicab myx live episode, played a Cambio gig in route 196 , paid our respects to tita Lizette, played a Sandwich gig in up Manila, finished mixing the duster album and take care of last minute production details.

Marilou and R.A. treated me to something green and hairy. Maps played imago and duster gigs. Tarikim skipped school. I gave tix to the teachers haha.

I love my job. I thank God for this opportunity and blessing.

Filipino director Quark Henares has also posted a brief video on YouTube of the Eraserheads Reunion concert soundcheck. The video shows now Pupil frontman Ely Buendia singing “Sembrek” and Buddy Zabala backing him up on bass guitar. INQUIRER.net has confirmed with Henares that the video clip indeed came from him.

“After doing Ziggy Stardust, some adjustments are made and Ely starts doing the opening rifts of one of my favorite Eheads songs. You can actually hear me proclaiming ‘wow’ when it begins,” writes Henares in the description of the video he posted on YouTube.

Here are the rest of Marasigan’s message to fans on Subsandwich mailing list:

We had soundcheck midnight last night. My drum kit was tuned and inspected by Cholo of Ernville and Mike d. Thanx for the cymbals cholo.

I got Jamie and the Sherps Mickey, Tel and Jerry as my crew.

Brand new dad Darwin was there. Soupstar’s got a new baby in the family.

A few friends dropped by. the Itchyworms, Pupil, Mark Maya and AIA, Sinosikat, Direk Quark, Erwin Romulo, Direk Marie, and then some.

I’m a bit embarrassed were getting super rockstar treatment. We’re checked in a five star hotel, assigned a chauffeured van each, personal bodyguards (which i refused until later tonight) and we can actually raid the mini bar haha(after 20 years in rock n roll).

I didn’t get enough sleep. for the first time I’m actually excited about the concert. Went to the gym to sweat out last night’s beer. I’m having bacon eggs and fruits in the room as i’m typing this.

Earnest just dropped veda off. the kids are trashing the room. I’ll get a massage when they go swimming.

I can’t wait to play. I’ll see you all tonight.

Be safe.

By Izah Morales
INQUIRER.net

SURREAL yet real.

The misty atmosphere in the auditorium welcomed the audience to a seeming dreamland of entertainment. But when the strings, drums, keyboard, and voices began to mingle, it woke the audience to the reality of Pinoy music at its best.

Sugarfree and Up Dharma Down rocked the house as lights danced with the music.

Here’s Sugarfree singing “Hari ng Sablay.”

[Read the rest of this entry »]

By Izah Morales
INQUIRER.net

YOU satisfy your mouth with food. You satisfy your eyes with beauty. You satisfy your nose with fragrance. You satisfy your ears with music. But before music can be produced, it originates from individual sounds. Have you considered sound as ear candy?

New Media Arts Manila (NMAM) gave people at the Mogwai Film Club a different experience with sound with Minus Ten Decibels. With the dimly-lit atmosphere and fluffy pillows, people sat comfortably as their ears were rocked by the quasi-surround quadrophonic sound system and their eyes blinked at fast-paced abstract visuals. They called it post-music but its roots can be traced to sound art.

Postmodern (or post-post-postmodern, as NMAM’s Blums Borres quipped) and unconventional, sound art is not only hearing but seeing. It is creating sound without instruments. Technology does the magic. As they explain in this video interview, sound artists Blums Borres (left) and Jing Garcia of NMAM get their inspiration from the environment, wherever they may be.

The ordinary becomes extraordinary with technology. It may be noise to others but it is ear candy to those who consider it as art.

Editor’s note: Video contains clips of Jing Garcia’s performance. Interview conducted by INQUIRER.net multimedia reporter Izah Morales. Video taken by INQUIRER.net online videographer Janie Christine Octia and INQUIRER.net community evangelist Alex Villafania.

By Izah Morales
INQUIRER.net

UPDATE: Editor’s note: Corrected error in last name of event director Leo Rialp.

DID you ever imagine you would find yourself listening to your favorite rock band performing with an orchestra at the Cultural Center of the Philippines?

You may raise an eyebrow but symphonic and rock music will be fused together in a concert for a cause on May 2-4.

Fiesta ng Musikang Filipino, an OPM Chronicle, will feature Pinoy rock bands from different eras, including Juan Dela Cruz, Sugarfree, Sinosikat, Radioactive Sago Project, The Dawn, Up Dharma Down, The Jerks and more.

They will be joined by international violinist Lucia Micarelli and the Manila Philharmonic Orchestra.

Here’s an interview I conducted with Mike Hanopol of the legendary Juan Dela Cruz band.

[Read the rest of this entry »]

KITCHIE NADAL talks about her new album, “Love Letter.” Some of the songs in this 17-track album were done in collaboration with other artists.

Video taken by INQUIRER.net online videographer Janie Christine Octia.