The Scene Around: Jack Daniel's Indie Music Awards

4/20/2015 10:25:27 AM

Two icons, fourteen bands, numerous prestigious honors, and a “chosen one.”

If the mainstream music got The Script down there at the Mall of Asia Arena, then the indie scene had their big thing, too! And it was perfect in two ways: First, to rock the night away; and second, to start the weekend RIGHT. And I mean RIGHT (really!) as Jack Daniel’s staged their first ever JD On Stage Philippines Indie Music Awards at Whitespace Manila last Friday evening, 17 April 2015.

For over six hours, it was nothing but rocking out for music as a lot of bands performed in an evening packed of recognition for the notable names in the independent music industry; with the crowd-jammed venue inside and outside the viewing place. Over-flowing drinks were served as well as food, and a whole lot of rocking good vibes and ballots for answering the question “Who will be the next CHOSEN ONE?”.

And that includes the comebacking Cynthia Alexander.

I never heard her perform live though I managed to see her videos in the old MTV Philippines before. But here, at JD On Stage? Damn, it was an hour of her presence alongside Mlou Matute, CJ Wasu, Jonathan Urbano, Rommel dela Cruz, Sancho Sanchez, and Zach Lucero; something most fans missed the most on her. She announced she will be in the country for a few weeks to do more gigs and her fifth album. Also, she earned the prestigious JD On Stage Indie Icon Award.

Well, we all found Comfort in her (non) Strangeness. And even if she left Manila for Seattle three years ago, it was still incredible to hear her music – especially her live performance.

But other than her homecoming, bands such as We Are Imaginary, Penguin, Flying Ipis, The Strangeness, And Bandang Shirley, Autotelic, Reklamo, Earthmover, Curbside, Peso Movement, Tonight We Sleep, Farewell Fair Weather, and Kala graced the stage; with also tte special participation of then incumbent Jack’s Chosen One Mr. Bones and the Boneyard Circus.

At the end of the gig, Flying Ipis took home three accolades: NDFY.me’s Fan Favorite award, the Best Live Act and Best Recording (from JB Music); the most for any musician for the night.

The Strangeness took home the honors for Rogue Indie Artist.

But out of the seven finalists, it was Farewell Fair Weather which emerged the most as Jack Daniel’s The Chosen One for 2015; meaning they will represent the Philippines in this year’s Jack Daniel’s SEA regional events. Aside from FFW, Autotelic and Flying Ipis also made it to the Top 3.

Also, Docdef Productions drew first blood in the award-giving ceremony as they won the Radio Republic Prod of the Year award.

And also, what’s a music-driven night without Urbandub on it? Yes, in one of their last gigs as a team (though bassist Lalay Lim-Geronimo wasn’t there), Gabby Alipe and his crew performed to cap the evening with some of their signature tunes including First of Summer, Guillotine, and Soul Searching.

Nonetheless, it was indeed a crazy-driven night where the indie music of the Philippines do rocked loud! The event was also made possible by their major sponsors JB Music, Jack TV, Rouge Magazine; along with production group partners Attraction! Reaction!, DocDef Productions, Flat Five Records, Red Ninja Productions, and Revolver; and media partners Amplify.PH, NDFY.ME, Pinoytuner, Radio Republic, Splinter.com, and Vandals On The Wall.

Author: slickmaster | © 2015 september twenty-eight productions