Upcoming: IISA

05/10/2018 02:49:00 AM

From two sold out shows to the third – and even bigger one. Yes, I mean to emphasize the latter since the trio of Johnoy Danao, Ebe Dancel, and Bullet Dumas – known as 3D to the people in the gig circuit – is back for one show this June 2018. The anthem-makers were once known for staging two sold-out shows at the Music Museum in Greenhills, San Juan, on two separate occasions in 2016.

'17 Nights To Remember (Part 2)

01/21/2018 07:25:38 PM

Regardless of how fiery it has been on all cylinders, it's undeniable that the year 2017 has been a wonderful year. Right in the midst of the mid-2010s band explosion, we have seen it brought a lot of good shits in our Philippine world of music (and we mean quality here, by the way). 

Yours truly have made it to a number of gigs curated by various production outfits (in fact, more than I attended for the past two years). These also include some of the biggest concerts and music festivals that has solely focused on out homegrown talents. That said, here are 17 nights that really left a mark in '17... well, at least for me.

The Scene Around: Mandiriwa: Joey Ayala at Ang Bagong Lumad (The Concert)

09/17/2017 02:20:33 PM

It was in 1992 when this renowned folk singer-songwriter staged a one-time big-time concert at Music Museum, one of the sophisticated music halls in the Metropolitan. That also paved the way for him to release all of his three albums at once during the special evening.

Fast forward to two decades: It was on mid-July 2017 when music event producer Ian Urrutia (known as the man behind Vandals On The Wall) invited me to their latest concert project to date – yes, after the famous Dama (Johnoy Danao, Ebe Dancel, Bullet Dumas) and Secrets (Aia de Leon, Barbie Almalbis, Kitchie Nadal). 

Two months later, I stood inside the halls of Music Museum, witnessing Joey Ayala and his famous crew Ang Bagong Lumad graced the stage of this premier performance venue after merely 25 years. And just when I thought of seeing this at the low end of a VOTW and Gabi Na Naman Productions' risky move, I was wrong. 

Upcoming: Joey Ayala - Mandiriwa

08/24/2017 10:26:48 PM

The last two decades of the 20th century saw the name Joey Ayala and his band called Ang Bagong Lumad popped out of the list of then then-emerging and popular names in the local music scene. But also, it can't be denied that while he excelled best doing the folk poetry in musical motion, other personalities from the rock, pop, and even hiphop genres emerged and have the most shades under the limelight of OPM. 

It was in 1992 when Ayala stepped on the floors of Music Museum, home to one of the famous stages in the Metro Manila concert scene. The now-61 year old musician performed tracks and launched his three debut records "Panganay Ng Umaga," "Magkabilaan," and "Mga Awit ng Tanod-lupa."

But after a long 25-year wait, Ayala is set to perform once again in his major concert at the site that is part of the heart of Greenhills Shopping Center, San Juan. Joining him on stage will be Bayang Barrios, Dong Abay, Bullet Dumas, Gloc-9, Juan Miguel Severo, and Ang Bagong Lumad. 

Weeknights to Remember: SlickMaster’s Memorable Gigs of 2015 (Part 4)

12/31/2015 3:00:36 PM

The post was supposed to be named Fridays and Saturday Nights to Remember only to realized a few things: first, gigs are happening every single weeknight; second, most of them aren’t even planned by yours truly to attend; and third, I have been to almost 70 gigs for 2015.

2015 has been a heck of a good year for me as I discovered Philippine music anew -- and it broods at the place where minority of people knows -- the independent scene. Over the course of time, I attended about 50 events starting from a random night out that happened 24 January 2015 at Route 196. I was then supposed to watch my college friend whose already a musician.

And since then, the Philippine independent music scene became another world conquered by yours truly. I became part of a production group; I was posting anything about gigs for most of the time; and indie music also served as a venue for me to grow as opportunities came from out of nowhere -- be it writing or anything else like photography and videography.

Fast-forward to the year-end, despite attending the last one or two music events of this year from small-time gigs to the big or concert-level ones, I can say I had a lot of memorable evenings. 

The Scene Around: The Rest is Noise Yearend

12/20/2015 4:26:48 AM

Well, after hitting the EP launch of Mind Money Circuit, yours truly hit up Route 196 (well, for the second time, actually) that evening for another heavyweight night from Vandals on the Wall.

Weeknights to Remember: SlickMaster's Memorable Gigs of 2015 (Part 1)

12/31/2015 3:00:36 PM

The post was supposed to be named Fridays and Saturday Nights to Remember only to realized a few things: first, gigs are happening every single weeknight; second, most of them aren’t even planned by yours truly to attend; and third, I have been to almost 70 gigs for 2015.

2015 has been a heck of a good year for me as I discovered Philippine music anew -- and it broods at the place where minority of people knows -- the independent scene. Over the course of time, I attended about 50 events starting from a random night out that happened 24 January 2015 at Route 196. I was then supposed to watch my college friend whose already a musician.

The Scene Around: The Rest is Noise 8

12/8/2015 8:21:51 PM

I wasn’t supposed to head on to Route 196 during that Saturday evening due to massive stress I have been with in life (and also, a sudden financial constraint), but I have to talk to PULP Managing Editor Cris Ramos and return the albums of WOMB and GENERATION. We agreed on the same date.

The Scene Around: Coffee Barn Sessions 2

12/8/2015 7:58:34 PM

Two months ago, The Coffee Barn celebrated their second anniversary with a bang as Gabi Na Naman Productions and Vandals On The Wall teamed up to set their second installment of Coffee Barn Sessions.

The show was an instant star-packed by paper; and for barely five hours of live music, Coffee Barn Session delivered as promised with Kai Honasan gracing the evening with her share of tunes—both cover and original.

The Scene Around: The Rest is Noise 7

11/30/2015 8:17:29 PM

In three weeks, Vandals on the Wal will have a yearender edition of their bimonthly gig called The Rest is Noise.

The Scene Around: KINK Mixtape Launch

10/3/2015 4:01:56 PM

Sometimes all we want in life is not just a nighttime to spend nor even a partner to be with us for the rest of our lives (that’s why the word “forever” is the root of argument in the eyes of the cult I’d like to call love); there are instances where all we want is some music which will not just touch our heart, mind, and soul; but also, will ignite a spark for something sensual.

The Scene Around: The Rest is Noise 6

10/3/2015 1:19:35 PM

After five installments, Vandals on the Wall had done it again, and perhaps the series rolls on as they slated the sixth part of their gig series popularly known as The Rest is Noise. (Yes, and also just before TRIN 7 and 8 this month!)

The Scene Around: Dusk Til Dawn

08/20/2015 05:08:10 PM

It was during one Gabi Na Naman Productions gig when one of their head approached me for another invite: the anniversary party of the music blog called Vandals on the Wall.

The #FeteIndie2015 Experience

07/01/2015 08:24:33 AM

All my life I have been wanting to watch a big-time music-related event called Fête dela Musique. Originally known as festivity in Paris in 1982, the Fête—or World Music Day—has made its way to other parts of the globe, including the Philippines in 1994.

And now, on its 21st year, Fête dela Musique is still called by many as one of the “go-to” gatherings in the music industry. No wonder, and no doubt about it since a lot of musicians in different genres used to swing by to perform sets of their tunes in front of hundreds—and even thousands—of attendants inside the venue.

I could even remember that the FDLM once had Ortigas as its stage.

Well, fast-forward to 2015. Fête dela Musique were staged at 21 venues—including the concluding main stage in Intramuros, City of Manila. The rest, though, were situated at Makati City, where Greenbelt 5 and A-Venue housed the fete's two main stage; while the rest are pocket stages offering different genres and various lineups.

The Scene Around: The Rest is Noise (Day 2)

3/18/2015 2:39:05 PM

How about an awesome way to end a month? Like spending a night out with good music, and the rest is definitely a noise you will like for the rest of your respective lives?

Talk about Indie Manila and Vandals on the Walls’ collaboration titled The Rest is Noise, held the last Friday and Saturday of February 2015. Yours truly, though, dropped by on its second leg held Saturday evening (February 28, 2015) at Route 196 in Blue Ridge, Quezon City.