03.02.2007
GINILING FESTIVAL: THE REVENGE OF THE CRASS TEST DUMMIES
HIDE THE CHILDREN, GINILING FESTIVAL'S DEBUT ALBUM IS HERE! THEY'VE BEEN COMPARED TO KAMIKAZEE AND PAROKYA NI EDGAR, BUT ARE, IF ANYTHING, EVEN CRAZIER
Giniling Festival—the well-loved metalhead pranksters who are as much about playing music as they are about merrymaking—has finally put out their debut, the self-titled Giniling Festival, under Terno Recordings. The February 2 launch was hosted by prime prankster Tado and featured musical performances by Johnny Alegre and Affinity, Top Junk, and Puny Earthlings, as well as Terno label-mates Up Dharma Down and Radioactive Sago Project (who also released their much-anticipated follow-up LP, middle of last month). Paramita, another fellow Terno act, was scheduled to play but wasn’t able to, though some of its members still graced the affair. The full-capacity Freedom Bar crowd was also treated to an appearance by long-time Giniling gigging buddies Grasspipe, where present drummer Monpi Lopez came from.
Pulse.ph was able to talk to singer-jokester Dyedye Santos and guitarist Anto Garcellano amid throngs of expectant fans, members of the rock press, fellow musicians, and friends. “On the record, dapat, ano pa ‘to, eh, two years ago,” Santos recounted, making a reference to the life-turning moment when they joined Toti Dalmacion’s stable. The singer had no qualms about the delay, though, as he and the rest of the band are more than happy with the present state of affairs. “Hina-handle [ni Toti] nang maayos ‘yung mga banda, with integrity,” he noted, to which his guitarist gamely seconded: “Hindi nila pinapaki-alaman ‘yung, ano, kung ano’ng gusto niyo.” In the past, the band, in their own admission, pretty much leaned on the success of three of their live numbers: the Bioman theme-inspired “Psycho,” the loser anthem “Bano,” as well as the Tenacious D-esque mock-metal number “Ang Hari ng Metal” (“Ang hari ng metal ay hindi nagsusuklay; ang hari ng metal ay hindi gumagamit ng pinggan.”) Well, what do you know, the band’s got an album now.
Asked by Pulse.ph about how they’d sell the CD to people who have not heard of the band yet, Dyedye had this to offer: “It’s a motherfucker. It’s Sodom and Gomorrah. That’s how I would like people to describe it.” The scatologically verbose singer further elaborated, “Kasi, we’re pissed off at a lot of stuff, ta’s inipon namin ‘yung ihi namin sa pantog namin for three years—‘yung iba, ‘linabas namin, ta’s tinikman uli namin para malaman namin ‘yung galit namin; inis namin sa mga bagay—ta’s ‘yun, ‘linabas namin nang sabay-sabay ‘yung ihi namin ng three years, kasi we’re pissed off at a lot of stuff.” Anto self-effacingly added, “Bili kayo ng basura!” Now, if you were these guys’ parents, wouldn’t you balk at these devilish wisecracks? Ha-ha.
The thing is, crass is the last thing that Giniling Festival aims to be. Yes, the evidence may tell us otherwise, but fans and critics alike have seen a social-realist strain in the band’s off-center lyrics. “Mas satirical ‘yung dating,” Garcellano, who himself penned the vitriolic autobiographical song “Holdap (The Carlos Antonio Garcellano Story),” shared. Other arguably socially-aware cuts include “Dodo” (which states the band’s resolute anti-breast implants stance) and “McJolly” (which parodies the great local fastfood wars). Straight-faced comedy, however, remains the band’s choice weapon. “‘Yung comedy sa ‘kin, parang ano, eh, ano ba mas nakakatawa: ‘yung babaeng nadulas sa [balat ng] saging, o lalake’ng ginagahasa ng pagong?” I’m gonna have to go with the inter-species genetic splicing thing. “‘Di ba? ‘Yung mas morbid,” Dyedye confirmed.
Comparisons with comic musical acts are almost inevitable, and, even prior to this momentous night, names like Parokya ni Edgar and Kamikazee have been casually thrown around since day one. The boys, however, are unperturbed. Anto thought out loud, “Hindi siya masamang bagay, kasi magaling din naman sila, eh, so, parang, ‘yun nga, in-a-idol namin sila. So, para ma-compare sa kanila, honor na para sa ‘kin.” The association isn’t always flattering, though. On at least a few instances, they have been jeered at as being gaya-gaya or jologs (the latter, I maintain, is not really a demeaning tag). The difference—trust me—is worth probing and discovering yourself. While Chito Miranda and company may remain being jangly troubadours, and while the hit band behind “Narda” has decided to go the general emo route, Dyedye, Anto, Monpi, guitarist Jebs Mangahas, and bassist Lec Cruz are going decidedly metal (yes, metal). In most songs, vague stabs at System of a Down and Iron Maiden (not as technical, just in principle) could be gleaned.
Apart from the aforementioned songs, other gig favorites make their way to the debut, including “Tsong (Boypren Mo Pokpok),” which is kind of a left-field bantering piece about male whores; the infectious spelling-lesson “Siling Giniling,” where Santos repeatedly spells out the title in the choruses; and, perhaps my favorite of all, “Letter to Angelina Jolie,” which throws hypothetical questions typical of basagan drinking sessions: “Payag ka, girlfriend mo si Angelina Jolie, pero ang ulo mo ay munggo? Payag ka, girlfriend mo si Angelina Jolie, pero ang ihi mo ay blade? Payag ka, girlfriend mo si Angelina Jolie, pero ang balat mo ay maong?”
“Lahat naman ng ano, may perversion talaga, eh, dahil parte na rin ng kultura, eh,” Anto mused.
“Tae nga, pare, bawal sabihin sa TV, eh. Eh, tae lang ‘yun! Tae, ha? Kahit ano’ng palabas sa TV daw, wala pang nagsasabi ng tae!” Dyedye obviously couldn’t believe it. Don’t worry, folks, Giniling Festival is definitely doing something about that.
With acknowledgements to Toti Dalmacion, Tiff Cortez, and Dyedye Santos. Visit the Terno Recordings website for more updates and artist listings. Photos taken from the site.
