I was in a hurry to leave Metro Bar because I promised my friends I would be at B-Side for Kamikazee and Talata, so even if Franco was still slated to perform, I left in the middle of Brownman Revival’s Set. This blog is now Part 3 of 3.
There were only three bands left on the line up: The Chongkeys, Brownman Revival, and Franco. I was on my second glass of mai tai by this time. Since I was already standing near the stage, I took the first photos while I was there and ended back on the mezzanine. And this blog is Part 2 of 3.
I arrived while Reggae Mistress was onstage and immediately went to find my friends, The Chongkeys.
Someone took this photo, of the guy sitting on the step on the right, and I just got included.
The Chongkeys and I all went in together but I went to the bar first to get a drink and then on to the mezzanine to take photos and videos. My first reaction when I went in was, “WOW, this place is HUUUUUGE!” See, I’ve never been to Metro Bar before. Jeck Pilpil & Peacepipe went onstage first. And this blog is part 1 of 3.
This is Part 2, the first part with Wake Up Call, December Avenue and Electric Princess is HERE.
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Fredz Mantilla – Vocals / Sampler
Axel Vito Cruz – Synths / Piano / Back up vocals
Julius Dumlao – Guitars
Moki Man – Guitars / Back up vocals
Gi Garcia – Bass / Back up vocals
Brian Lotho – Drums / Percussion
Sid and I arrived early at Route 196 – sometime at nine in the evening and the place was already full! A pleasant surprise since it was a Friday night of a long weekend and we expected people to be either out of town, vacationing, or over at the SM Mall of Asia grounds for the epic Tanduay Rhum Rock Fest.
It was nice to see Route 196 filled with a crowd of new, fresh, and yes, quite young, faces.
First up for the night was “Wake Up Call” – a newly-formed band from UST. Since they were new, they mostly did covers. And the night was off to a great start!
Oh, kids!
Coming back from Freedom Bar at one in the morning, I find Bistro with all its lights on, all the windows and doors wide open to alleviate the nearly-suffocating heat from having so many people inside. When I left, I had the girl standing behind me take my favorite spot so she could also take photos; and when I came back, I found an empty chair by the door going to the rest rooms. I took that spot and was able to document the band performing Moon River. Check out the crowd and how many fans (not the people) are there! The crowd inside have ballooned from the hundred or so that was there at nine o’clock to about, I dunno, can you guess?
The ‘Send Off Series’ at 70’s Bistro: Cynthia Alexander performs with longtime stage compatriots Mlou Matute and Cj Wasu, and guest band mates Jonathan Zuniga Urbano, Louie Talan, Romel Sanchez, Kakoy Legaspi and Zach Lucero.
I changed my lens from 50mm to 18-135mm so I can have a wider, though darker, view; and moved up to a higher chair right by the wall. And I do so just in time to document them perform my second favorite Cynthia Alexander song – Insomnia.
I always say this, but I will say it again, I owe my friend Nick Olanka for introducing me to Maria Mena. I have fond memories of hanging out in their living room, with a cup of coffee, having just gotten out of bed, and listening to Maria Mena. I have since collected her albums.
This morning, as I was getting myself re-acquainted with old stuff I need for web development work, I found myself listening to my phone’s playlist instead of my laptop’s. I had the music on shuffle because I like being pleasantly surprised, and then one of Maria Mena’s songs came up. That brought a smile to my face.
I looked her up to see what’s going on with her and found out she released a new album last year – Viktoria.
She also has videos out now.
The first to be released by Sony Music Norway was Homeless, released Oct 6, 2011.
The camera was incidentally just lying around when Lia decided it was time for her daily piano practice and I was finally able take a video of her playing (or more like trying to play) the piano.
As usual, we were both not prepared for this event to be documented as we were both in our sleeping attires, me in my jammies and huge funky tshirt (both are my sisters’) and her in a knitted white little dress that’s one of her favorites, no jammies, and a full diaper to boot. (Uh-oh).
The piano, decrepit since I left for Manila and stopped playing it some fourteen years or so ago, needs a lot of work. Some keys don’t play, a lot of strings need replacement and a tune-up is direly required – nevertheless, Lia attempts to play it like she knows what it’s all about.
The photos are here, but you have to add me as contact on Flickr to view. 😉