I’m not much of a soul guy, but then again, one doesn’t have to be to enjoy it. Soul is one of those things that doesn’t dwell much on personage or rep; it’s all in the music. (Actually, it’s all in its ability to conjure sex, too, if you ask me.) The inevitable head-bob along to the beat of the kick-drum; the inexplicable urge to snap your fingers in time (though, really, you don’t know how to); that burning feeling inside when a glorious falsetto almost cracks the glass—all of these, and much, much more—they hold you captive, and it doesn’t matter who’s at the mic or who’s blowing the horns. Soul’s got several permutations, and only a handful of acts has the skill, and I guess the resolve, to practice most of these. One such act is Juan Pablo Dream: very able musicians all, but also disciplined enough to hold back on the flash and zero in on the things that matter instead (i.e., the mojo, the ability to sensitize).

And, though neither personage nor rep hardly count in the soul scheme of things, losing a band as tight and fun live as JPD is still cause to bawl over. We already bade goodbye to Sugarfree and Bamboo earlier in the year, but this next hand-wave is perhaps more chilling, and I say this because of the band’s mostly independent existence (always not an easy one). “I really don’t know what happened,” frontman Bing Austria sadly recounts, adding, “But one [thing’s] for sure: I’m staying on the scene.” I first met Bing, guitarist Aue Castro, and bassist Alexander (the rest I think were from an earlier lineup) for a story that I was then doing for Pulp, a few months before they broke through with their debut Soul Up! via Terno Recordings. Onstage, they were party personified (they dressed smartly, too); offstage, they were hardly shut-eye-type people as well. Their signature numbers (“Nice Place,” “Yeah, Yeah, Yeah,” and, more recently, “Tibok ng Puso”) are, really, three-minute propositions for the listener to jump around, gyrate, and be in a trance-like state. “Nalungkot din ako nu’ng nag-decide ang JPD [to disband]—parang bangungot,” Austria offers, and the word choices, you may notice, are not casual. Between black and white, they’re mostly black(-ish): sadness and, yes, a nightmare. Band-aid or not, though, fans of Mr. Austria’s onstage antics will perhaps rejoice at the promise of an early resurfacing: “Nagbubuo ako ngayon ng banda—soul pa din—with old mates from Put3ska and Tropical [Depression].”

In the meantime, let’s all say a proper farewell to these mod-fathers (Austria, Castro, Alexander, drummer Aldwin Fernando, sax player Kim Ventuza, trumpet player Bong Tremulo, along with backing singers Bianca Holganza and Lotte Villarosa) by trooping over to their farewell show on April 9 at B-Side. The Camerawalls and Popseeds are supporting. Who knows, if you cheer (or better yet, dance) hard enough, they just might reconsider. (Aldus Santos)

Images taken from the band’s Facebook page.

As promised, RJ Underground Radio 105.9’s third anniversary celebration will be numerically in keeping with its age: which means not one, not two, but three rock shows. The kickoff show last Friday came and went with much fanfare. How can you go wrong with such a strong lineup that negotiates the fine line between “popular” (Franco, et al.) and “emerging” (Sleepwalk Circus, et al.) with finesse?

For the second show of the R U Listening Tour of 2010, things will get revved up even further. ‘80s arena-rock stalwarts (yes, we don’t have real big-ass arenas, but what the hell) The Dawn headlines the bill. The band, after much hoopla surrounding the departure of long-time axeman Francis Reyes, is back on its feet with a new guitar player (naturally) as well as some spanking new tunes. Ria Bautista—the glorious frontwoman who’s behind the drumkit, always a killer combination—along with her band Paramita, are also set to ignite the stage (hopefully figuratively speaking). And, also, if you’re in the mood for some Otis or Weller, Bing Austria, “Papa Mod” to you and me, is expected to drive everyone into a soulful frenzy with Juan Pablo Dream.

Also on the bill are current noisemakers Tanya Markova, whose sense of quirk—both musical and beyond—is raking in listeners by the bucket, and Lady I, whose reggae-dancehall hybrid is certainly an experience. Sets by Luna, Soul Republic, and The Powertones also promise to rock as hard as a mofo.

The second leg of the R U Listening Tour of 2010 is happening on July 29 at the UNO Pizzeria, which is at SM MOA’s San Miguel by the Bay. Show starts at 7 in the evening, and, yes, it’s still free. (Pulse.ph)

“Jett Pangan – Ako Mismo” by α is for äpΩL, via Flickr. Some rights reserved. “The Magnificent Juan Pablo Dream” from their MySpace.