Hey, peeps.
I just got home from Tracks where Angee Rozul and I just finished work on
the live reunion album. I'm attached to the project as record producer.

This will be the first album since Circus that's not produced by Robin
Rivera, though this is not the first time for me to produce an Eraserheads
track. I produced their version of Manila for the Hotdog tribute album,
though I wasn't properly credited on the inlay.

Anyway, the album sounds great. Angee and I also made sure that the "crowd
moments" were properly highlighted, specially yung mga sigaw ng "group hug!"
and yung mga sing-along parts.

I'll listen to the whole album again tomorrow (pagod na tenga ko) and see if
there are last-minute tweaks. I'll also give copies to the boys so they can
listen and make objections (hopefully none, heheh) before the disc goes to
the duplicators.

If all goes well, the CD will be in stores soon. The album cover and inlay
is being designed by Cynthia Bauzon-Arre. I'm excited to see the final
product.

Cheers.
Sancho

"sancho" romel.sanchez@gmail.com

Fans and supporters of former Rivermaya frontman Rico Blanco will finally get to watch their idol perform live the anthemic tracks in his new solo album “Your Universe” in one momentous album premiere to be held at the Cinema 5 of Gateway Cineplex on October 3 at 9:00 p.m. 

It’s easy to get free tickets to the much-anticipated but limited event.  Purchasing specially marked Rico Blanco “Your Universe” CDs gives exclusive invites to the concert.  Tickets will also be given away in various radio and TV promos. Just listen to Jam 88.3, Magic 89.9, 99.5 RT, NU 107 and watch MXY and MTV to join or visit www.warnermusicphils.multiply.com for more details. 

The Rico Blanco “Your Universe” album premiere is made possible by Warner Music Philippines, Human, Jam 88.3, Magic 89.9, 99.5RT, NU 107, MYX, MTV and Gateway Cineplex, which will soon launch a new digital cinema for the ultimate viewing experience. Gateway Cineplex is located at the fourth level of Gateway Mall, Araneta Center in Cubao, Quezon City. For updated screening schedules and reservations, call 911-5555 or log on to www.gatewaycineplex10.com.  Text Y1 to 234.

click on photo to see the full album

    As I was leaving the building at the end of the workday, I’d suddenly realized that it was really pouring out!  This has happened a number of times in the last couple of months and I’d gotten quite used to canceling whatever plans I might have made simply because going out at night in the rain without a car, is just really quite an inconvenience, plus i'd gotten sick recently from getting drenched in the rain. 

    So naturally my mind starting thinking, am I just not gonna go to the RJ Bar and miss this rare night of live music?  The mere thought tasted bad in my mouth and I shrugged it off deciding to just take things one at a time.  So I hung out for about an hour and a half or so, smoked a few cigarettes, enjoyed the sight of the falling rain, then when it sort of settled a little bit, I put my hood on, walked to the street and put my thumb on the road.  In no time I cought a cab and made my way to Rhea at The Fort.

    We hung out a bit, talked about the rain and the bad internet connection and then McDonalds came up as a place to grab a bite.  One burger McDo meal down and were off to Jupiter for the gig! 

    Johnny Alegre, who put the gig together and got the amazing line up booked, was the first person we saw.  He told us that Garlic (who I was really dying to see!) wont be able to make it as Francis had a recording to attend to; and that Imago wouldn’t be playing either as Tim’s car had broken down somewhere quite a bit away and wasn’t gonna make the gig as a result.  So, it was down to The Johnny Alegre Trio, Fatal Posporos, and Rivermaya.  I quite liked the idea that each of them were gonna be playing longer sets to occupy the hours needed for the entire night but naturally was bummed out about the 2 cancellations. 

    Rhea and I made our way to the second level of the bar where there were couches as opposed to the other seats in the room and put up our feet and settled in.  We were in a very cooky mood and enjoyed a whole lot of jokes and laughed at some things I can’t even remember anymore.  Not too long after, Johnny and the Trio got onstage and began their set. 

    Wow!  Amazing!  The first song opens with Johnny leading a jazzy intro and then the rhythym section joins in for this beautiful melodic piece.  The song travels through series of dynamics and tempos and at different times throughout the song, the different member’s each had a chance to showcase a bit of what they could do to the song.  All in all is was a great track and I loved it and felt that it was really going to be one hell of a night.  Thank God we didn’t back out because of the rain!  A Herbie Hancock cover followed and though Rhea and I recognized it, neither of us could place the title.  It was so much fun watching and listening!  Hearing that hook of a guitar melody throughout the tune while Johnny had his share of soloing and going nuts just pushed my enthusiasm even further and got my head bobbing and my body swaying in my seat. 

    I don’t know how many songs were done in entirety but it was a great set!  Watching Johnny play with his new band, which he describes as “not bad, for a new band”, was a great treat for us and if you ask me, they could’ve played another hour and at no point would I have wanted to even use the bathroom.  Great set Johnny and your trio!  Im looking forward to seeing you guys again and hopefully in the near future!

    Rivermaya, who was seated somewhat next to us, was introduced next and I wished them well before their set began.  Johnny, our host for the night, went onstage again to announce that Fatal Posporos were going to play their set first and that Rivermaya would follow after them.

    We didn’t mind much.  One of the reasons that really got us interested in being there in the first place, besides wanting to see Garlic, was to see Fatal Posporos since it had been a really long time since they gigged as well!

click on photo to see the full album

    And so they begin.  Aia borrowed Johnny’s guitar (which looked massive on her petite frame) because her’s was with an Imago bandmate who wasn’t there.  Kris spoke to the audience and introduced the band, mentioning how nervous they were playing the gig because it had been awhile  plus because they didn’t practice.  Kris, if that’s how you guys play without practicing, wow!!! Ang galeng nyo naman!

     I loved their set!  It was really really cute, and watching 4 girls play what I would call old school punk mixed with a cute pop feel really got me listening!  Not to mention how cute they all were in between songs while entertaining the captive audience.  At one point while killing time onstage, they got a round of beers and asked the helpful hand of Jason (from Pedicab) to grab it for them.  3 beers and a glass of water.   Im a personal fan of drinking on stage because I know the good it does for me haha!  It was a great set and I really enjoyed it.  Even the dynamics of all the girls singing and doing different parts and handling this back up and what not was all so beautiful to me.  It was great musicianship done on simple songs with catchy choruses and feel good melodies.  And did I mention how cute they all were?!

         By the end of their set, we were quite set as well and were pretty much getting ready to leave, what with an early start of work the next day right?  Not like we could’ve stayed the entire night anyway.  But regardless, we wanted to catch Rivermaya being it must have been at least a couple of months since either of us had seen them.  To give you an example of how long it had been, Jason’s hair was long.  Whereas the last time I saw them it was still short, to be completely honest, I didn’t even recognize him at first when I saw him fiddling with his guitar before the other 3 arrived.

    They had some guests in the audience, listers I assume from their yahoogroups and/or fans club.  And the energy was great as they, and 4 to 5 of their technicians were onstage readying the band for their set, also the last set of the night.  And finally, after setting up and preparing an extra acoustic guitar as well as one of those fairly new funky electric guitars which pretty much sound acoustic, the band was ready and launched into their first song.  Admittedly, im not all that familiar with all of the bands songs.  Naturally I know the common played tracks and probably their singles as well as a few here and there, but in no way am I knowledgable of all their songs.  But regardless, I loved their first song.  To me, it was a song all of them equally enjoyed playing and equally loved as well,  It was a good song.  Kind of dark at times, with maybe an 80’s new wave a’la Depeche Mode mood.  Music just playing and not doing anything fancy and straight up vocals.  I dug it and was happy to see them again!  A large roar of an applause succeeded their opening number and before long they were playing their 2^nd then 3^rd then 4^th song.  Also a nice site to see was one of their techs onstage playing that funky guitar and doing the rythym guitar bits.  I expected him to be there for perhaps just that one song but he stayed on stage and played with the band up until I left.

The set was enjoyable and hearing them play as tight as they were with everyone contributing to the vocal duties was a great sight to see and treat to the ear.  I really don’t want to compare but I would say that Jason’s influences as a singer must have been deeply influenced by Rico Blanco.  Anyway, why else would he have auditioned for the part if he wasn’t a fan of the band to begin with right?  Imagine Arnel Pineda being a KISS fan then auditioning for Journey, that would have been a nightmare.  So no offense to the boys and team of Rivermaya and to Rico himself, for comparing Jason to Rico, but I just noticed that many of the singing styles were very much like Rico himself, except for particular tones that is.

click on photo to see the full album

    Anyway, Rhea and I went for a cigarette break, our first for the entire night and quite enjoyed ourselves downstairs being away from the music and people.  We really did mean to leave, but when we went up, heading home after this great night, that brought us many joys and laughs and good memories, wouldn't be a bad idea.  We planned to do a quick French exit, as we always do, but managed to say bye to Johnny who was ecstatic that though Rivermaya was only asked to do a few songs, they decided to do a whole concert worth of material.  ( Japs at this point was in the audience as Mark played the acoustic guitar onstage ) We said bye to Japs as well as to Donna, an odysseylive friend who was there as well with a friend of hers. 

    Eternal thanks to Johnny for bringing such eclectic music together and for providing us music fans a venue to enjoy great music to!  You’re the man, man!  We cant wait for the next Sneakernet Event!

        all photos of the night can be found on http://www.odysseylive.net/miggy/albums/1961/