My last night in Manila went out with a great Rockabilly and Ska gig served in equal amounts by Psychobillies Pusakal, old school rockers Runaway Boys, Skinhead Reggae band Rocket Punch, Skaville Malabon's Earthlings, Pasig 2 tone torch bearers Steady Movin' Beat.And off course the men of the hour greasy haired Bembol Rockers bringing along their swingin' rootin' tootin' twangin' rockin' greased gun bop sound at the strange now upscale version of CLUB DREDD located at the 2nd floor of GWEILOS, Eastwood, Libis, Quezon City.
The only thing that reminded me of the old Club Dredd was the remnants of that place - The old RHCP poster, Judge Dredd, the club owner Patrick Reidenbach dancing to the infectious skanking beat of 2 tone ska band Steady Movin' Beat.
A considerable amount of familiar faces and newbies are in attendance that night to support Bembol Rockers upcoming independent debut album hopefully to be release sometime later this year.
Drunk and quite satisfied, I staggered home contemplating on my future. I am going to work in Singapore in Kallang Way to ply my trade as a graphic designer in the land that I am completely not familiar with. I am out of my comfort zone away from the land that I love and hate at the same time.
The only thing that will comfort me for my brief 3 month stay there are a few CDs (mostly new joints and some old ones that I kept on heavy rotation) that I burned to serve as my soundtrack to this island nation. Here they are:
1. Pama International - Love Filled Dub Band - Black Ark, King Tubby and Stax inspired record.
2. The Big Sound - Stand So Tall - The vintage sound of Jamaica set to the tone of sunny Southern California.
3. The Movement - Move! - From Denmark walking like The Supremes, talking like The Clash and sharply dressed like The Jam! 100% anti-fascist, working class aggro pop!
4. The Moving Sounds - Ground Shaker - Sweden's power pop, dusty hammond fueled 60's fuzz for the year 2000.
5. The On Offs - This Town - A barrage of punk riffs and mod rolls with a nod to the Jam.
6. I Object - Teaching Revenge - Fiercely political female fronted angry hardcore with positive message.
7. The Rolling Blackouts - Black Is Beautiful - This band has been compared to the Stones and The Who this boys from L.A. has the intensity of The Stooges and The MC5 with the massive amalgamation of everything that made rock sound good.
8. 45 RPMs - Welcome To Hot Rock Lounge - Girl fronted rockabilly band with a hint of ska thrown in for good measure.
9. The Funky 16 Corners - If you think James Brown, Sly and The Family Stone & George Clintons P Funk is Funk think again hip hop label Stonesthrow has meticulously researched and compiled this underground independently released funk of the 60s and early 70's. These are the unsung heroes of the funk revolution of black Amerikkka.
10. Jurassic 5 - Quality Control - Underground hiphop J5 gives a breathe of fresh air to them MTV crap hop blings bringing back the old school joint of The Treacherous Three and Cold Crush Brothers. With two DJs really cutting up and looping vinyls live and Five MCs rapping on top of each other with out sounding cluttered. Old School is in full effect.
I am off to work my dear mates! Bisikleta Productions will be back soon to give you another good show! Til' then drink as much beer as you can, as long as you can! GO BACK TO MOVE FORWARD. IN ORDER TO SEE THE FUTURE YOU MUST REMEMBER YOUR PAST! Stay free my friends! (email me for updates dyan sa PINAS hilraymundo@yahoo.com) and to those that do not like us FUCK YOU! go get a life ya cock sucking man goats.
