Join the Sugar Cola

My birthday line-up

Last week I celebrated my 21st birthday sa Metrowalk with friends and siblings. Kasama ko din syempre ang aking ultraelectromagnetic wife. Siguro may isang taon na din akong di nakakapunta sa kahit anong live band gig pero sumakto naman kasi na on that day saktong tutugtog ang tatlong bandang idol ko sa paggawa ng kanta - Join the Club, Ebe Dancel, and Sponge Cola.

Sobrang adventure ang pagpunta sa venue dahil sa sama ng panahon kaya naman sobrang saya dahil nasulit naman ang aming effort sa sarap ng tugtugan. Sa labas pa lang nakatambay na ang Sponge Cola at Join the Club merchandise. Sponge Cola's guitarist (Armo) even greeted us as we make our way inside the Music Hall. Maliit lang 'yung venue pero I like it - it's more, uhm, intimate. Nasa harap kami kaya I am expecting na malamang makalaglag-tutuli ang lakas ng tugtugan later on. And so the jam began with Join the Club kicking off the party.

Join the Club performing Nobela

I really love this band. I like their style and their songs. Maganda ang tono ng mga kanta nila. I can say in full confidence na mga kanta nila ngayon ang pinaka-trip kong pakinggan. Of course I also like other OPM bands pero 'yung kanta kasi nila I think are more consistent. Consistently good that is. Alam ko may lagnat 'yung vocalist nila (Biboy) during the gig so kudos for still performing as if naka red bull at kung ano ano pang energy drink s'ya during their set. Anyway, after their set, I was able to get Biboy to sign my Join the Club album sleeve. Yes, it's my first time to have an actual autographed album copy. Astig!

I officially joined the club

Second set naman si idol Ebe Dancel, the iconic vocalist of the iconic band Sugarfree. Isa pang maestro sa paggawa ng kanta! I remember listening to Sugarfree's first album at talaga namang walang patapon. Though personally, my favorite Sugarfree album is Tala-Arawan. But since Sugarfree already disbanded, nagsosolo act na lang si Ebe ngayon but still writes his own material. I was expecting na magiging solo performance ang set n'ya pero I was surprised to see na it's a full band set and they performed Sugarfree songs din.

For-Ebe fan

He still has it. The high vocal range, the songs, at ang nakakainggit na pagpayat. Seriously, paano n'ya na-achieve ang ganung pagpayat?! Siguro umiiwas na s'ya sa sweets at kung mag-aasukal man - "sugar-free" dapat (ba-dum-tsss). During the set, napansin kong ang galing din ng drummer n'ya. Talagang right-on ang tyempo saka lakas ng dating. By the way the drummer is a she!

Yael is in the haus

Last set naman was Sponge Cola. Honestly, habang lahat ng kasama ko gusto makapagpa-picture with Songe Cola's front man (Yael), ako naman mas trip kong magkaroon ng picture with his wife, Karylle. Yep, she was there and nakakabilib din naman ang suporta n'ya sa asawa n'ya. Sponge Cola had the longest set kasi nandoon yata ang iba pang kamag-anak at kaibigan ni Yael. He got to play one of the rarest songs na gusto ko marinig ng live which is Neon. Ang galing mag perform ni Yael kaya naman 'yung mga kasama kong girls natatalo ang speakers sa lakas ng tili. At the end of the gig, nakapagpa-picture ako not only with Karylle - kasama na din si Yael! Yeah, that's what we call the birthday advantage.

It's showtime!

So far my birthday month is super awesome. I am happy na same awesomeness is happening sa OPM scene. With these kind of bands representing the rock and roll scene, confident ako na humihinga pa ang OPM. Naka dextrose pero still has a fighting chance na muling mabuhay in full vitality. Someday it'll be like 1995 once more (gets?).