HIGHLY RECOMMENDED LIVE ACTS
Most of these bands I've only discovered this year, while some, I've been listening to for some time before this year, but only managed to watch perform live for the first time in 2014.
Most of these bands I've only discovered this year, while some, I've been listening to for some time before this year, but only managed to watch perform live for the first time in 2014.
ASSEMBLY GENERALS
I cannot shut up about this band on Twitter. They are a manic, high-octane ball of energy and swagger. The blend of electronic, hiphop, and live drums are too hot to handle. Fully satiating - in terms of beats, flows, and rhymes. Fuck, I love this band.
I cannot shut up about this band on Twitter. They are a manic, high-octane ball of energy and swagger. The blend of electronic, hiphop, and live drums are too hot to handle. Fully satiating - in terms of beats, flows, and rhymes. Fuck, I love this band.
BP VALENZUELA
"B.P. Valenzuela gives us a glimpse of her thought process, a window to her feelings even, sprawled on her lyrical poetry fashioned after the paradoxical and unconventional e.e. cummings– a poet she confessed to be an inspiration to her songwriting. Hers, however, is more reserved. As outlandish her champion can be on overtly narrating the physical ways of expressing romance, her style is more taciturn, but still maintains an impressionistic approach; like a timid woman who fills notebooks upon notebooks of poems and confessions she dare not utter to an audience. But that’s how the quality of her work shines: in its uncompromised honesty. After all, she chose to probe into the core of music’s lifeblood: the state of being. Being in love, specifically." - Excerpt from my review of BP Valenzuela's be/ep
'The General Scheme Of Things' serves as my constant reminder of how human I am - and to always find solace in that fact.
"B.P. Valenzuela gives us a glimpse of her thought process, a window to her feelings even, sprawled on her lyrical poetry fashioned after the paradoxical and unconventional e.e. cummings– a poet she confessed to be an inspiration to her songwriting. Hers, however, is more reserved. As outlandish her champion can be on overtly narrating the physical ways of expressing romance, her style is more taciturn, but still maintains an impressionistic approach; like a timid woman who fills notebooks upon notebooks of poems and confessions she dare not utter to an audience. But that’s how the quality of her work shines: in its uncompromised honesty. After all, she chose to probe into the core of music’s lifeblood: the state of being. Being in love, specifically." - Excerpt from my review of BP Valenzuela's be/ep
'The General Scheme Of Things' serves as my constant reminder of how human I am - and to always find solace in that fact.
LIONS AND ACROBATS
I think I've already rested my case with my stories about Lions and Acrobats. I guess I just want to beckon everyone to watch them, and I don't know, fall in love with them, too.
I think I've already rested my case with my stories about Lions and Acrobats. I guess I just want to beckon everyone to watch them, and I don't know, fall in love with them, too.
MILESEXPERIENCE
"I don't even know why I fell in love with you," wraps up what disturbs us foolish mortals since time immemorial. But it's not exactly the only thing that draws me to MilesExperience. It's that jazz sound that I love so much, soaring over and taking its own form. Then sweeping you off your feet.
"I don't even know why I fell in love with you," wraps up what disturbs us foolish mortals since time immemorial. But it's not exactly the only thing that draws me to MilesExperience. It's that jazz sound that I love so much, soaring over and taking its own form. Then sweeping you off your feet.
SUD
At the strength of their first track, 'Smilky', alone, there is no sliver of a doubt that Sud is a band that dissipates whatever foul or unpleasant mood you're in. But more importantly, their music is arousing - in every context. The word 'dormant' has no place in this band's spectrum of sound. And the few times I've watched them perform live since I listened to the heartwreck of a song below, I kind of feel... loved. *sniffs*
At the strength of their first track, 'Smilky', alone, there is no sliver of a doubt that Sud is a band that dissipates whatever foul or unpleasant mood you're in. But more importantly, their music is arousing - in every context. The word 'dormant' has no place in this band's spectrum of sound. And the few times I've watched them perform live since I listened to the heartwreck of a song below, I kind of feel... loved. *sniffs*
TANDEMS'91
Dancing, for me, is probably the most liberating, driven-by-instinct thing that one can do at the height of happiness (and any extreme positive feeling, actually) and I always feel like doing it EVERY TIME I hear Tandems'91. Whether it's at the office, on my way home, in my room, in the bathroom, at gigs. It's just so infectiously buoyant and I feel like I'm gliding on rainbows with his music.
Dancing, for me, is probably the most liberating, driven-by-instinct thing that one can do at the height of happiness (and any extreme positive feeling, actually) and I always feel like doing it EVERY TIME I hear Tandems'91. Whether it's at the office, on my way home, in my room, in the bathroom, at gigs. It's just so infectiously buoyant and I feel like I'm gliding on rainbows with his music.
LOOP
I heave a deep sigh every time I hear 'Adorable' because as Kim (Trinidad, vocalist) pointed out, this song is for "mga madaling mauto." HAHAHAHA that's a loaded statement. But being uto-uto aside, listening to 'Appalled and Disgusted' makes me feel redeemed. It doesn't hurt that those groovy bass lines make you want to bust a move as well. I am so happy that I get to watch them here, with the hope of another Manila tour again soon.
I heave a deep sigh every time I hear 'Adorable' because as Kim (Trinidad, vocalist) pointed out, this song is for "mga madaling mauto." HAHAHAHA that's a loaded statement. But being uto-uto aside, listening to 'Appalled and Disgusted' makes me feel redeemed. It doesn't hurt that those groovy bass lines make you want to bust a move as well. I am so happy that I get to watch them here, with the hope of another Manila tour again soon.
THREE.!
There is an entire galaxy of stars that lights up whenever Three.!'s music is on. A trail of yonder memories that harks us back to a stretch of feelings we might or might rather not want to go back to.
In that universe
Of chances and hopefulness
Where our hands are the bearers of stars
And the dust that remains is ours
Beautiful.
There is an entire galaxy of stars that lights up whenever Three.!'s music is on. A trail of yonder memories that harks us back to a stretch of feelings we might or might rather not want to go back to.
In that universe
Of chances and hopefulness
Where our hands are the bearers of stars
And the dust that remains is ours
Beautiful.
JOHNOY DANAO
I first found out about Johnoy Danao through Mo Twister's now-defunct 'Good Times: Acoustic' podcast where he does covers of songs - the first time I sat through hours of podcast episodes listening to a guy does song covers - in a really captivating and genuine manner. It was only this year, however, during the True Faith tribute night that I finally watched him: a gut-wrenching feels fest if I must. If you're happy and you know it--- Not when you hear him.
I first found out about Johnoy Danao through Mo Twister's now-defunct 'Good Times: Acoustic' podcast where he does covers of songs - the first time I sat through hours of podcast episodes listening to a guy does song covers - in a really captivating and genuine manner. It was only this year, however, during the True Faith tribute night that I finally watched him: a gut-wrenching feels fest if I must. If you're happy and you know it--- Not when you hear him.
I'm adding this other song that crushed the hell out of me when he performed it.
SQUID 9
It's kinda simple: Raymund Marasigan is the King Midas of the local independent scene, and I meant that as a compliment. So far, I know his active bands include Sandwich, Pedicab, Squid 9, Assembly Generals, Basement Lung, Gaijin, Cambio - and I'm sure I forgot and/or I'm unaware of the others. That does not even involve the long list of his collaborations with multiple bands and artists, as well as his roles in production, etc. Now, I found out about Squid 9 early this year prior to the release of Origamidi. This frenetic, potent album laid down an abrasive, manic groundwork for industrial punk, which I personally think I don't hear much elsewhere, locally. But the BEST thing about them is how they manage to deliver that sound live in its full vim and vigor. Which is also why I can't stop banging my head to it.
It's kinda simple: Raymund Marasigan is the King Midas of the local independent scene, and I meant that as a compliment. So far, I know his active bands include Sandwich, Pedicab, Squid 9, Assembly Generals, Basement Lung, Gaijin, Cambio - and I'm sure I forgot and/or I'm unaware of the others. That does not even involve the long list of his collaborations with multiple bands and artists, as well as his roles in production, etc. Now, I found out about Squid 9 early this year prior to the release of Origamidi. This frenetic, potent album laid down an abrasive, manic groundwork for industrial punk, which I personally think I don't hear much elsewhere, locally. But the BEST thing about them is how they manage to deliver that sound live in its full vim and vigor. Which is also why I can't stop banging my head to it.
TOM'S STORY
I'm forever lost when it comes to describing instrumental music - really. There's no word that best captures it. But that also makes it convenient that I keep on treading a land of words and stories where I can pick up some that will hopefully help me articulate how I feel.This is a great excuse to go on an emotional rollercoaster each time I watch instrumental bands like Tom's Story. There's so much potential with this band and I, for one, cannot wait to watch them again very soon.
I'm forever lost when it comes to describing instrumental music - really. There's no word that best captures it. But that also makes it convenient that I keep on treading a land of words and stories where I can pick up some that will hopefully help me articulate how I feel.This is a great excuse to go on an emotional rollercoaster each time I watch instrumental bands like Tom's Story. There's so much potential with this band and I, for one, cannot wait to watch them again very soon.
What I have done to deserve this much amazing music?
It's really hard to narrow down the amount of honest-to-goodness music I listened to this year - both local and foreign. Other great discoveries I've made this year (which are very much worth your time) include:
#100YearsOfSadness
The After-School Special
Akira Medina
Area 25
At The Moment
Austin
TheBalladeer
Basement Lung
Bass Relief
Brand New Funk
The Buildings
Brisom
Bullet Dumas
Cat Valium
Ceejay Sagarino
Cheats
CRWN
Curbside
Dav Dionisio
Flavours & Caffeine
Foc Fashion
Fuzz
Floating Sound Nation
Fools and Foes
The Geeks
Hana ACBD
Howler Flavors
Idioms & Dispositions
Imelda
Jensen & The Flips
Jireh Calo
The Juliens
Kai Honasan
Honeydrop
Local Disk //C:
LUXX
Maya's Anklet
Miles and Mot
Motherbasss
Oh! Flamingo
OJ River
Ourselves The Elves
Paolo Mallari
Pastilan Dong!
Pino G
Planetside
The Purplechickens
Qelle
The Ransom Collective
Read Between The Lions
Reese & Vica
RH Xanders
Rizza Cabrera
Run Dorothy
Runway Crimes
Rusty Machines
She's Only Sixteen
Shirebound and Busking
SINYMA
Sleepersecond
The Strange Creatures
Sunday Sunday
TheSunManager
Thea Pitogo
Tonight We Sleep
Sound Architects
Womb
Yurei
It's really hard to narrow down the amount of honest-to-goodness music I listened to this year - both local and foreign. Other great discoveries I've made this year (which are very much worth your time) include:
#100YearsOfSadness
The After-School Special
Akira Medina
Area 25
At The Moment
Austin
TheBalladeer
Basement Lung
Bass Relief
Brand New Funk
The Buildings
Brisom
Bullet Dumas
Cat Valium
Ceejay Sagarino
Cheats
CRWN
Curbside
Dav Dionisio
Flavours & Caffeine
Foc Fashion
Fuzz
Floating Sound Nation
Fools and Foes
The Geeks
Hana ACBD
Howler Flavors
Idioms & Dispositions
Imelda
Jensen & The Flips
Jireh Calo
The Juliens
Kai Honasan
Honeydrop
Local Disk //C:
LUXX
Maya's Anklet
Miles and Mot
Motherbasss
Oh! Flamingo
OJ River
Ourselves The Elves
Paolo Mallari
Pastilan Dong!
Pino G
Planetside
The Purplechickens
Qelle
The Ransom Collective
Read Between The Lions
Reese & Vica
RH Xanders
Rizza Cabrera
Run Dorothy
Runway Crimes
Rusty Machines
She's Only Sixteen
Shirebound and Busking
SINYMA
Sleepersecond
The Strange Creatures
Sunday Sunday
TheSunManager
Thea Pitogo
Tonight We Sleep
Sound Architects
Womb
Yurei