Scalper:†‬“Sir tickets poâ€?‬” Us:†‬“No,†‬please go away.â€â€ť
As soon as we got out of the cab in World Trade Center the scalpers flocked to us like flies.†‬After†‬avoiding them,†‬we managed to sneak off to a quieter spot where we smoked cigarettes while surveying the people around.†‬Lots of familiar faces,†‬mostly people from other bands.†‬We were all there for one thing though:†‬mother†‬fucking Morrissey will be playing in a few minutes.â€
How does a band avoid the dreaded “sophomore slump”? Ace Cada and company have managed to avoid this by having some damn good songs in their repertoire. The lyrics may not be particularly profound but they sure are honest. That’s the thing with Bagetsafonik’s self-titled sophomore album: it’s hard to find fault in something that’s  so honest and sincere.
Photos by James Bringas
Aseana Avenue seems to be an unlikely place for a music festival but once youâ€â€™â€¬re there itâ€â€™â€¬s not surprising why it became the venue of choice for the first Manila Music Festival.†‬With the success of the Malasimbo Music and Arts Festival,†‬it was pretty clear that the next phase†‬is to hold a festival in the capital city of the Philippines.â€
Letâ€â€™â€¬s get this out of the way first:†‬Yes,†‬the turnout was a lot fewer than expected,†‬but that doesnâ€â€™â€¬t necessarily mean that the festival was a failure.†‬It succeeded in bringing people together to witness some of the best musicians the country has to offer,†‬and share the stage with legendary international artists.†‬If thereâ€â€™â€¬s one observation we would like to point out,†‬it is that we hope for more diversity in the lineup in the future.†‬We have more to offer and with a killer lineup Iâ€â€™â€¬m sure the next Manila Music Festival will be†‬10x more successful than the last.
Ang Bandang Shirley has always been one of the best live bands in the local independent music scene.†‬They were able to take catchy melodies,†‬pop hooks,†‬vocal harmonies,†‬and technical skills,†‬mixing it in with a truly Filipino sensibility that shoots straight for the heart and the gut.â€
The past couple of years they have been hard at work in the studio for the follow-up to their debut album†‬“Themesongsâ€â€ťâ€¬.†‬On Saturday,†‬theyâ€â€™â€¬ll be unveiling the fruits of their hard work by holding a listening party at Route†‬196.†‬There will also be performances by Ang Bandang†‬Shirley and the membersâ€â€™â€¬ other projects including Slow Hello and The Purplechickens.â€
Come to the show and buy a limited edition shirt designed by IDKIDS for P300-350.†‬Entrance fee is†‬150†‬pesos and it will get you a free drink plus some limited edition†‬“Tama Na Ang Dramaâ€â€ťâ€¬ stickers and postcards by Everywhere We Shoot,†‬Tof Zapanta,†‬and Yasmin Sison.
Itâ€â€™â€¬s been a long time coming.†‬Come by on Saturday and celebrate this milestone with the band.â€
“The White Album”, “Nevermind”, “Pet Sounds”… these are classic genre-defining and sometimes genre-bending albums, and a lot of it is because of the brilliant production that gives these records their particular sound. A good song can only get you so far, and in the age of digital home recording we tend to overlook the artistic merits of production. It is a skill that only few people possess, and one must have a particular ear when it comes to producing an album. These people are responsible for a band’s sound on record and most of the time they don’t receive the recognition they deserve because they work behind the scenes.
Here is a list of who we think are the most influential record producers in the history of music. These people are the masterminds behind some of the greatest albums of all time. Think of this list as an educational piece. Think of this list as a tribute. Think of this list as a guide to help you appreciate all the hard work that these unsung heroes put in.
George Martin
Credits: The White Album, Rubber Soul, Revolver, Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band, Abbey Road
George Martin worked with many artists ranging from Matt Monro to The Mahavishnu Orchestra, but it was his partnership with The Beatles that is responsible in cementing his mark in the annals of Rock and Roll history. The Beatles have always been a great studio band because of their ambition and creativity. George Martin was able to harness these traits and because of their respective skills they were able to produce some really brilliant albums that still hold up to this day.
George Martin’s production style has always been imitated especially by countless psychedelic pop acts, but if you listen to the Beatles records that he worked on, they possess a density that was truly unique to them.
Munky doing some shopping.
Photo credit: Rosario Herrera of Status Magazine and Greyone Social
Morrissey…†‬either you love him or you hate him.†‬One thing is perfectly clear though:†‬no matter which side of the fence youâ€â€™â€¬re on,†‬you canâ€â€™â€¬t deny his influence in music.†‬He burst on to the scene with the band The Smiths,†‬a band thatâ€â€™â€¬s well known for their crafty,†‬literate,†‬and unabashedly British take on pop music.†‬The success of The Smiths can be attributed to the musical partnership between Morrissey and guitarist Johnny Marr.†‬Johnny Marrâ€â€™â€¬s sparkly guitar lines and melody serve as the perfect background for Morrisseyâ€â€™â€¬s dryly poetic lyrics that straddle the line between being self-deprecating and insufferably narcissistic.
Ed Kowalczyk was an important part of the Alternative Rock explosion ever since his band Live released the album “Throwing Copper”, an album that we love in these parts. So of course we will never pass up the chance to see the former Live frontman in action. Fans of both Vertical Horizon and Ed Kowalczyk were lined up outside the Smart Araneta Coliseum; the scalpers were discreetly peddling their “wares”… all in all, it was a normal concert night at the Araneta.
