Red Horse Muziklaban’s 11th year has finally concluded it’s roster of activities with the Grand Finals of the Rock Challenge last January 30 at Metrowalk Parking Lot. I think the choice of this location is a good one. In addition, the security was also quite good based from what I saw.

There are a lot of people who went to Muziklaban. We even spotted supporters of one of the finalists (Kukumban) of Muziklaban.

As usual, they have a big net covering the stage so that the bands/artists will be protected from random flying objects. So far, I haven’t seen anything thrown towards the stage. Because of the net, it was challenging to take photos even if we’re situated in the VIP area.

Zach Lucero of Zach and the Action Pact

Amongst the bands that I’ve seen that night that I was not expecting to be included in the list of bands/artists to perform was Zach and the Action Pact. Nevertheless, I enjoyed watching the band since I don’t get to watch their gigs always.

Cambronero - 2009 Muziklaban Rock Challenge Finalist from Bacolod

I was only able to take photos of three bands out of all the finalists. The first one is Cambronero, they are from Bacolod. Obviously, their music is highly influenced by Urbandub. Other bands that I was not able to take photos of are Kukumban (from Naga), and 2nd Squad (from Baguio). 2nd Squad took home a special award that night.

Hatankaru - 2009 Muziklaban Rock Challenge Grand Champion

Hatankaru won the Muziklaban Rock Challenge 2009 and took home 500,000 pesos. They also won two special awards namely, Best Live Act and the Breakthrough Performance Award.

Hoodswhite - 2009 Muziklaban Rock Challenge Finalist from Cagayan de Oro City

One of the finalists that caught my attention was Hoodswhite, a heavy metal band from CDO. They reminded me of KISS because of their face paint and their costume as well. The vocalist changed his voice while he was talking on-stage.

HardBoiled Eggz, former Muziklaban Grand Champion

Aside from Gayuma, previous winners of Red Horse Muziklaban that I was able to perform that night was HardBoiled Eggz, Mayonnaise, and Even (2008 Muziklaban Champion).

Mayonnaise, former Muziklaban Grand Champion

Karl Roy of Kapatid

It has been a long time since I saw Kapatid on-stage. I noticed that Karl Roy has less adrenaline rush on-stage now however, I’m still happy that he’s there rocking the crowd.

Reg Rubio of Greyhoundz

Greyhoundz had a notable performance that evening. Ian Tayao (of Queso) and Jamir (of Slapshock) jammed with Greyhoundz on-stage.

Franco

Franco is one of the bands that I’ve been waiting to perform that night. It was my first time to see them and I hope to see them in more intimate gigs.

Congratulations again to Hatankaru for winning the Red Horse Muziklaban Rock Challenge 2009. You really deserved it.

Last January 29, Drip launched three music videos (”Blood Letting”, “Blind”, and “Turning Grey”) from their album Identity Theft. It was held in The Gallery at Greenbelt 5. Even though it’s not a perfect venue for music events, I enjoyed it while listening to Drip’s performance.

Bloodletting

The music video of “Bloodletting” is directed by Jason Tan. The concept of the music video was simple. Two women are swimming in the music video (Shawn Yao and Annicka Dolonius). There’s also a part where Beng (Drip’s vocalist) was also swimming in the video.

Turning Grey

The music video of “Turning Grey” is directed by Jelise Chung. The treatment made for the music video is film noir where violence is shown. The main actor for the said music video is Cholo Devilla.

Blind

The music video of “Blind” is directed by Johnny Alcazaren. The video features animation consisting of individually sketched index cards.

Drip also performed some of their Spanish songs. The said songs in Spanish will be included in an album that they collaborated with Instituto Cervantes. How I wish I could understand the songs though.

Saosin just had their concert in Manila on the evening of January 22 (a Friday night) at A Venue Hall in Makati. Although the size of the venue was just right for the expected audience that will be coming in, the acoustics could have been improved more. Typecast, a local rock band, opened for Saosin.

After Typecast’s set, the familiar white curtain covered the entire stage. Some ads from Globe were projected on the white curtain. After a few minutes, Saosin’s logo (includes the name of the band and the beetle) was projected on the curtain. An animation of the beetles were projected as well while Saosin is preparing. When the band was ready to rock A Venue Hall, the white curtain dropped on the stage.

It has been a long time since I’ve been in a mosh pit.

It was actually a big challenge for me to take photos there especially that there are a lot of taller people in front of me. I made use of the live view of Canon EOS 500D and I switched to manual focus instead of using the auto-focus feature.

Below is the set list of Saosin:

I Keep My Secrets Safe
Sleepers
Voices
Changing
Collapse
Deep Down
It’s Far Better To Learn
The Alarming Sound of a Still Small Voice
On My Own
I Never Wanted To
Bury Me
You’re Not Alone
Seven Years
Fireflies

Encore:
They Perched On Their Stilts, Pointing And Daring Me To Break Custom

Sha was able to take videos in HD during the concert as well as Fritz.

Yay! Drip will be launching three music videos on January 29! The said music videos are from their second album “Identity Theft”. These music videos are: “Turning Grey” (directed by Jelise Chung), “Blind” (directed by Juan Alcazaren), and “Bloodletting” (directed by Jason Tan).

To make you more excited on the launch of their music videos, check out the teaser video for “Bloodletting” in Facebook.

Drip will also perform songs from their upcoming Spanish album. The said album was done in collaboration with Instituto Cervantes. It’s a tribute to Miguel Hernandez, a Spanish poet.

Drip x3
January 29, 2010
6pm - 9pm
The Gallery, 2nd floor Greenbelt 5 (right across Cibo, beside Adora)

Also, Mark Zero will open for Drip.

Music For Relief is a non-profit organization organization that was founded by Linkin Park. They compiled an album of unreleased songs from various artists and yes, you can download it for free, but of course, please do donate any amount you wish to.

Tracks included in the album are:

1. Not Alone by Linkin Park
2. Mother Maria (featuring Beth Hart) by Slash
3. Never Let Me Down by Kenna
4. Heroes by Peter Gabriel
5. Still by Alanis Morissette
6. Resurrection by Lupe Fiasco and Kenna
7. We are One by Hoobastank
8. The Wind Blows (Skrillex Remix) by The All American Rejects
9. It Must Be Love by Enrique Iglesias
10. Typical Situation by Dave Matthews Band

All proceeds will go to those who are affected by the earthquake in Haiti.

Archipelago’s Black Box music video has three directors (Ming Kai Leung, Anocha Suwichakornpong and Marie Jamora) and was shot in three different locations, New York, Bangkok and Philippines. Two different women living in two different locations but both have lost their respective loved ones from a plane crash. The music video has a brilliant concept. Watch it.

I’ve been waiting for their music video to come out and it was premiered on Myx January 10, 2010, 10pm (binary numbers! ). If you like to vote for the video:

MYX VOTE BLACK BOX send to 2366

This is the concert that we’ve waited for. Me and Sha ditched our Cagayan de Oro trip just to be able to watch this concert. The best part would be when Ely lit up a paper and put it on the Sticker Happy piano and poured lighter fluid over it.

Nyco Maca and Playground with Cynthia Alexander

Rare moments of seeing Nyco Maca and Playground with Cynthia Alexander perform on-stage is one priceless moment. I was able to watch their collaboration on-stage at a certain Jack Daniels’ event in NBC Tent.

Sugarfree Dekada

This is one of the most memorable concerts that I’ve been to. Ebe Dancel took my camera while he was singing on top of a row of seats in front of us. When I watched the video, I learned that he kissed the camera. Haha.

Nine Inch Nails

Trent Reznor throwing his guitar up is truly made of awesomeness. NIN rocked Araneta Coliseum that night.

Duster

What I like about Duster’s live performances is their energy. There’s no Duster set that I didn’t enjoy.

Us-2 Evil-0

The last live act I’ve seen this year is Us-2 Evil-0 (evening of December 29, but technically December 30). The tandem of Mich Dulce and Quark Henares as the front-man and front-woman for Us-2 Evil-0 is like a match made in heaven.

Turbo Goth

The first time that I was able to watch Turbo Goth was during NIN Night at Saguijo. They’re certainly an amazing duo especially with Paolo’s crazy antics.

If I was at the NU107 Rock Awards 2009, I would have included Up Dharma Down in the list. Based from the video that I saw on YouTube, Carlos Tanada smashed his guitar on-stage.

Happy New Year everyone!

In the year 2009, a lot of albums by local artists were released. My favorite albums that I have already are: Peryodiko, and Travel Advisory (by Archipelago). I still have to listen yet to Us-2 Evil-0’s Dirty Debutantes and Urbandub’s The Apparition.

Fall Crash Infect by Zach Lucero

Zach Lucero and the Action Pact

I’ve been listening to the songs in the album in MySpace. My favorites are: “Matina Town Square” where Sarah Marco of Taken by Cars sang with Zach, “Fall Crash Infect” (featuring Marie Jamora - guest vocals), and “Super Poke” (featuring Ene Lagunzad, Lourd De Veyra and Micaela Benedicto - guest vocals). Generally, I like all the songs but these three songs are my personal favorites.

Debutante by Musical O

Another album that I missed buying this year is Debutante by Musical O. Also, I want to watch them live on-stage.

A Day for the Absent by Outerhope

I’ve been hearing people raving about how Outerhope is good. Too bad I was not able to catch them perform live yet. Anyway Outerhope is Micaela Benedicto (keyboards,vocals) and Michael Benedicto (guitars, vocals). Check out their MySpace and listen to some of their songs. From their MySpace playlist, my favorites are: “Twenty Years From Now”, and “Anna Gabrielle”.

The First Album by Corporate Lo-Fi

The first time I watched Corporate Lo-Fi live is in a Jack Daniel’s event. They are a nine-piece hip-hop super group. Listen to their songs in MySpace. My favorite tracks from their playlist are: “One Music”, “You and Me”, and “Hunt me Down”.

Touch by Techy Romantics

I first watched them live at Cubao X. Listen to some of their songs in MySpace. My top pick from their MySpace playlist is Photos Fade.

When Normz told me that he and Legs will be playing with the Silent Sanctuary boys on the 22nd, I became excited since I’ll be seeing them perform together once again. I was still in college when I got to know them.

This was actually a surprise and it was not announced that Normz and Legs will have a reunion with them in Saguijo.

They played songs from “Ellipsis of the Mind”:

1. Praeludium Et Maestoso In Mi Minore
2. Talagang Ganyan
3. Kahapon

I miss seeing them live while they play the first track from their debut album. Heavy guitar riffs with violin and cello! Yes, I had goosebumps when they played that again.

Allen and Sarkie

Silent Sanctuary’s current vocalist/guitarist is Sarkie Sarangay and their current bassist is Jason Rondero.

Jason, Chino and Allen

Check out more photos here.

Last week, me and Sha went to the Christmas Party of the Pupil Mailing List. Arriving there early is a good move for us since we were able to get good seats at Club Dredd. The night started off with contests where they gave away stuff from Puma, Levi’s and Ray Ban. Sha won a Puma bag after I urged her to answer the question.

After the series of contests, slices of cakes from Team Pupil were passed around. Thanks to Team Pupil for the cake

Yay! I’ve watched another long set from Pupil. In regular gigs, we’d usually hear three to five songs for each band. It was during this night that I hear them perform “Higante” live for the first time. Sha was able to record a video of it. You might want to check it out on her blog.

Ely wore his hat the whole time during the gig. It was pretty hard to take photos of Ely during the gig with his hat on. Anyway, I think he should start an account on LookBook.

Check out more photos here.