Pulse.ph : MUSIC + CULTURE
February 29th, 2008
BASSISTS FOR COMPARISON: TOP 10 PINOY BASSISTS
February 19th, 2008
February has always been a much-awaited time for a certified Iskolar ng Bayan. Why? Well, it’s dubbed as the FAIR Month. And that translates to CLASS EXEMPTIONS (yehey!), NO CLASS (more yehey!) free food, shopping stalls, and of course the band showcase, as sponsored by legions of fraternities and sororities on campus– at least in UP DILIMAN. Now, almost a decade since graduating from this premiere university, I am back! For what?!? Well… read on. Read more…
February 19th, 2008
What?!?! UP Fair??? Rock concert?!?! Okay. I’m a dutiful staff. I obey whatever is asked of me. If my boss says I go to a rock concert, I go. No questions asked. No hesitations. No ifs & buts. Read more…
February 12th, 2008
Years prior to becoming the Maroon 5 we’ve become accustomed with, the group was known as Kara’s Flowers. It was in Los Angeles in 1995, when high school classmates Adam Levine (vocals/guitar), Jesse Carmichael (guitar – at the time), Mickey Madden (bass), and Ryan Dusick (drums) donned a grunge rock outfit. They landed a contract with Reprise Records and released their album The Fourth World, in the middle of 1997. Nevertheless, after a disappointing run with their debut, the band parted ways with the record company two years later.
February 1st, 2008
My Chemical Romance finds the right formula!
It’s been seven days since I saw the Philippine leg of My Chemical Romance’s The Black Parade World Tour at the Fort Bonifacio Open Field in Taguig. A week has passed and yet I seem to still have the My Chem passion that rocked the venue that night, as their tracks still play on my iPod nonstop. It’s still pretty clear to me how frontman Gerard Way tirelessly and with so much gusto performed in front of the thousands of screaming spectators. I might sound as if I’m the band’s biggest fan, but to be blunt about it, I am not. As a matter of fact, I came to the concert with only one song in mind: Welcome To The Black Parade. Not that I disliked their other singles, but unfortunately for me, it was the only MCR song I was aware of. The show began at 9:30pm. As soon as the band members became visible on stage, the crowd just went wild! The Fort was instantly transformed into a rock mecca. In the VIP section where I was located, everybody stood up (a lot of them on their chairs, including me), howled, raised their rock-on signs, clapped, and jumped up and down to demonstrate their excitement when My Chem opened their Manila gig with This Is How I Disappear. For the most part, I was just actually content with tapping my foot and waggling my head to express my enjoyment, given that my knowledge of MCR songs was shamefully very limited. Although I did listen to some of the rock group’s songs the night before the event, my efforts obviously didn’t help me much. Hahaha! Notoriously (or not?) identified for their emo songs, My Chem of course played their sad-bitter themes, I’m Not Okay (I Promise) and I Don’t Love You. And needless to say, this brought the audience to greater eagerness. It was fascinating to witness the quintet’s supporters, which to my surprise were mainly composed of female tweeners, belt their lungs out and devotedly sing along with Way, who by the way was a solid showstopper from start to finish. And everytime the crowd seemed to melt down, he knew which words to say ("Philippines," "Manila," "Pinoys," and "BROKEN HEARTS"); which questions to ask ("Are you f*ckin’ ready?" or "Do you want more?"); and which hints to drop ("I can’t f*ckin’ hear you [scream]!!!") to get the people going again. Perhaps the night’s major highlight was when the vocalist summoned everyone to participate. "I want to hear you sing," he beckoned, and then My Chem began playing Welcome To The Black Parade. I was in awe and thrilled to see and hear all the attendees sing in unison, with their fists raised. After singing Cancer, Way bade goodnight and the other band members went offstage. Clearly not satisfied just yet, the people started to chant "More! More! More!" Way naturally came back for the encore and performed Desert Song and finished off the show with Famous Last Words. My Chem played approximately 20 songs, if I’m not mistaken, and yet, the people still craved for more. I know I did. The concert ran for about an hour and 15 minutes. That’s more or less 75 minutes of standing (not to mention trying to hold my arms steady while I was taking photos and videos), of unadulterated entertainment, and of abso-f*ckin’-lutely great music! All things considered (the breezy weather condition, the significant number of attendees, among others); I’d say it was a rather impressive show. And with all the lined up internationally-renowned acts to grace the Philippine concert scene this year (Maroon 5, Incubus, and Ne-Yo confirmed; U2 and Justin Timberlake rumored), I’d say My Chemical Romance definitely hit the right note and started the year-long party right.
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