SHAKE A LEG THIS FRIDAY NIGHT

This coming Friday swing on by to HEADSTOCK on Quezon Avenue corner Araneta Avenue and shake a leg this weekend. Bisikleta Prduction is bringing you a heavy hitter with KAPOW! a night full of ska, mento, punk rock, oi! and psychobilly music for your ear to your musical rear we will get you in gear with some rocket punches by COUNT KUTU & THE BALMERS, EINSTEIN CHAKRAS, TARTARS, MOBSTER MANILA, CROOKED BEAT, BARRIO MORNING GLORY and THE EXSENADORS.

Starts at 8 so do not be late mates! 60 pesos will give you one ice cold beer and a fistfuls of good vibes!

AN APPEAL FROM OUR TEAM

Mabuhay!

The Philippine National Men’s Football Team would like to offer to every Filipino this great triumph achieved in the football fields of Vietnam.

In the 14-history of the Suzuki Cup, the Philippines only qualified twice in the biennial competition that is at once the most prestigious tournament in the Asean region.

To get through the final rounds competition in Vietnam, we played three qualifying matches Laos where we finished second to the host country to advance to Vietnam.

And for the first time, we have advanced to the semifinals where the Philippines will play Indonesia in a home and away series where the winner, determined through the aggregate goal score, will play for the championship.

As we drew 1-1 with mighty Singapore and beat the defending champions Vietnam on their home turf 2-nil with 40,000 people in the stands cheering them on, we got word of how you, our fellow Filipinos watched us, cheered us, and sent us messages of support.

Believe us when we say that it was fantastic to hear and see all of that considering how the sport has largely gone unnoticed back home. We hope that this will be the start of football taking its rightful place as a premier sport In the Philippines.

As we drew Myanmar in a scoreless affair that saw us finish second to Vietnam in our Group, we received word that the Asean Football Federation has deemed that our homefield of Panaad, Bacolod to not be up to the requirements of the AFF Suzuki Cup after consultations with PFF President Jose Mari Martinez and therefore our hard-fought “home game” will be played either in a neutral venue or at the homefield of the other semis winner.

We deplore this decision that was arrived at without consulting the national team management team or even having the facilities inspected. We believe that this is an opportunity to provide Filipinos with a chance to watch some world-class football action that will inspire our countrymen to take up the sport and break new ground for the Philippines.

Just as you were all on our side when we were playing in Vietnam, we ask that every Filipino and football fan out there to express this indignation with regard to this decision in every venue, fora, or media so that we may treat the country to Azkals football. We implore you to express yourself on twitter, facebook, messenger, and everywhere else.

After all, the home field game is rightfully ours.

The Philippine National Men’s Football Team

The Philippine Men’s National Football Team to the 2010 Suzuki Cup: Ian Araneta, Jerry Barbaso, Yanti Barsales, David Mark Basa, Joebel Bermejo, Alexander Borromeo, Emelio Caligdong, Christopher Camcam, Jason de Jong, Anton del Rosario, Neil Etheridge, Mark Ferrer, Roel Gener, Robert Gier, Christopher Greatwich, Peter Jaugan, Ray Jonsson, Nestor Margarse, Reymark Palmes, Kristopher Relucio, Eduard Sacapaño, James Younghusband, and Philip Younghusband.

Coaching staff and management: Simon Alexander McMenemy, Edwin Cabalida, Edzel Bracamonte, Rolando Piñero, Walfred Javier, Josef Malinay, and Dan Palami. The team’s media officer is Rick Olivares.

DECEMBER 17, FRIDAY

This December 17, Bisikleta Productions have found a new place to hold an event after a not so great shindig that had happened at the last venue that has been home for us for several months now it is time for us to move on to a new location. The Rude Maynila Sessions will take on a back seat for now.
In the meantime we bring you KAPOW! a night of ska, mento, punk rock and oi! music. Featuring heavy hitters COUNT KUTU & THE BALMERS, STEADY MOVIN' BEAT, THE STRAYGUNS, EINSTEIN CHAKRAS, CROOKEDBEAT, MOBSTER MANILA, THE EXSENADORS and BARRIO MORNING GLORY.

Please do come and support the show and please if you are carrying with you some liquor and food please do not consume them inside the bar's premises.

Show starts at 8 in the evening a great place to end your week of days work. Headstock is located at 3rd floor, City Life Square Building, Araneta Avenue corner Quezon Avenue, Quezon city. The venue is smack down MMDA footbridge and across it is the Sanctuarium where the roof looks like the Vatican.

The beer is dirt cheap just like the previous bar where The Rude Maynila Sessions used to be held so be there. This will be Bisikleta Productions initial offering at Headstock and will be its last for this year.

NEO ANGONO ARTIST COLLECTIVE'S SOUNDTRAP SUMMIT & THE FEAST OF SAN CLEMENTE, WHEN GIANTS WALKED THE EARTH

This coming November 22, Monday will be the start of Angono's HIGANTES FESTIVAL in honor of San Clemente.

The tradition began last century, when Angono was a Spanish hacienda. The hacienda owners concerned about costs prohibited all celebrations except for one annual fiesta. The townspeople concerned about enjoyment decided to make the best of a bad situation. Using an art form brought from Mexico by Spanish priests, they created larger-than-life caricatures of their Spanish landlords. In typical Filipino fashion, the fiesta become in equal parts, a stunning spectacle and a tricky inside joke.

There too was a story that a French man happened to pass by this coastal town of Laguna de Bay as he cruised from Manila Bay. Captivated by the town being divided by a river, he predicted that someday giants would come out and become famous. True to his words, Angono can show off of two giants, national artists - Carlos "Botong" Francisco in the field of visual arts and Professor Lucio D. San Pedro in the field of music.

On Monday two worlds will collide in the field of music and visual art as the gigantic sons and daughters of Angono - The Neo Angono Art Collective will host a music summit in honor of their hometown (this will be their 7th year of doing this musical event). Featuring the local ska heroes Neighbors with guest bands from punk rock to indie to experimental and ska. Featured on this summit will be renowned punk rock veteran and established art painter Bobby Balingit of the Wuds under the guise of Juan Isip. And also on the bill will be the experimental noise band Elemento, political punk rockers Einstein Chakras and from the ashes of Tologuez Death Squad Distrungka, trad ska band The Strayguns and ska punk band PinkCow and many more.

If you wanna see the Higantes march the streets or browse some exhibits from the local galleries (the place happens to be the capital of the Philippines for all things art related) and catch the bands play please do carry with you some protective gear like an umbrella, an extra clothing in hand and some waterproof protection for your cameras and of course lets not forget your tolerance because as tradition goes there will be a splash fest ala San Juan Town Fiesta without the free for all water fight during the course of the celebration.





Professor Lucio D. San Pedro and Levi Celerio's well known composition Sa Ugoy ng Duyan performed by Calasiao Children's Chorus. (Above)

Carlos Francisco's apprentice Salvador Juban talking about the artist known as Botong (Below)

WAG KALIMUTAN ANG INGAY

Grab Throw's Wag Kalimutan ang Ingay EP today!. You can download the digital files by logging on at Facebook and search Throw's page for the link. They will then in turn give away limited copies on CD via their gigs in the near future so keep your eyes peeled and your ears wide open.

RESPECT

Last Rude Maynila Sessions according to my friends came out quite good but unfortunately the line up was not properly coordinated due to the fact that i was so fucked up drunk that day. I started drinking last Friday night it was not planned at all i was at home when suddenly my phone rang and i heard a familiar voice, It was Bimboi San Pedro guitarist of Bulacan's finest hardcore band the T.S.A. he was here in Manila and was due to go home to Singapore on Saturday and he asked me if i would like to go and watch The Jerks at 70's Bistro so i immediately said yes to his request. After watching The Jerks rocked the stage we proceed to go to Malabon to attend to Al Dimalanta's mom Dr. Ophelia Alcantara Dimalanta's wake. Then after that i drank some more at home and at Monkey Man a shop run by Ompong drinking with The New Trends.

That faithful day i lost touch of whats going on during The Rude Maynila Sessions I tuned in, turned on and dropped out, all i could remember was that most of the personnel at Sazi's Bar were all new except for the guy i gave the ticket sales too. Before the show started I've notice one of the new personnel hanged a sign that says 300 pesos corkage. When i saw that i began asking them politely not to hang that sign for the reason that a potential customer might mistakenly thought that the 300 pesos would be Bisikleta Productions door charge, which on our case we never go beyond 60 bucks.

And if they think that the 300 pesos is our door charge they might shy away eventually a potential customer will be lost. So one guy from the bar told me if they ever saw one with a food and a liquor in hand not bought at the bar they will charge the person that carries it with the said corkage and i told them that they should really charge them that because i for one don't like people carrying liquor and food not bought inside the bar, but that wont be my job instead they should be the ones looking out for people whom they suspect as policy breakers since they worked there.

After that discussion I told Nani of The Exsenadors to take charge of the door (while i zoned in to slumberland) and frisk the crowd coming in to see if they are carrying any items that are deemed for corkage. And i sent SMS messages to people who i personally knew carrying their own food and liquor and asked them not to carry it inside and requested them to consume the goods not bought at the bar outside the bars premises.

The reason why i am writing this is to let you all readers know about RESPECT. As you may well knew that i always tell people to take care of the bar because they supported the scene too in so many ways the bar provided a venue to express ourselves through our music. To me Skarlet's Ten 02 Bar and Resto and Sazi's Bar is my home. Ten 02 Bar and Resto is a place where i held so many important events, special events that are memorable the last one was Keb Darge This is a place that holds dearly to me. The second one was Sazi's Bar to tell you the truth its been hard to stage a regular monthly gig at this famous place getting one is no easy task. But i eventually bagged one thanks to the help of Bing Austria but sad to say after the last Rude Maynila Sessions it seems that we are walking the thin line from getting another one to loosing our slot. Due to the fact that some of us still do not view Sazi's Bar as their home.

I got an SMS message from Bing he forwarded to me Sazi's message stating that we went out of line this time. People came in with a liquor and food in hand. I don't know why that some of us are still doing that sort of thing for a mere fact that the beer over there is dirt cheap even the food are reasonably priced. We all knew that all establishments charge corkage every time you bring in goods that are not purchased within its walls. But why the fucking hell are you still doing it? Its cool for me for you guys to bring along your choice of liquor as long as you drink it outside of the bar but bringing it inside is totally uncool.

Right now we are fixing this incident but if things did not go well as planned we might as well move out and look for a new home. If we did get a new home for The Rude Maynila Sessions please be responsible for your own actions and be responsible to the person you're with. Respect bar policies. Do not shit on your own backyard. Please do not let these things ever happen again i urge you to support the bar by buying beer from them not from 711 because they are supporting us, they are giving us a chance to propagate our community.

TOMORROW NIGHT @ SAZI'S BAR

FUNK SOUL BROTHER

It was early 90's when i first listened and fell in love with jazz, latin boogaloo and funk. The first time i heard funk was when I was as a child watching Sesame Street, (remember the pinball count animation with The Pointer Sisters singing?) The Electric Company and some Pinoy action and spy flicks. Then during my teen years i forgot about the funk i was introduced to punk rock via Howlin' Dave's RJAM and hip hop by my b boy friends in the mid 80's (Grand Master Flash was the bomb!). As years progressed i started to listen to different kinds of music from hardcore to metal, to new wave to no wave, to ska and reggae.

Then the mid 90s came and there was grunge, death metal, and alternative music what caught my ear was these three bands that meld metal, ska and funk into one cohesive music and that was Fish Bone, 24 7 Spyz and The Red Hot Chili Peppers they were different from the rest. Those three bands brought me back to soul train via heavy metal and after hearing them I began to wonder who had influenced these bands to play their brand of funk besides the obvious sabbath and zep rock linkage. And during my search I also rediscovered funk through hip hop samples done by Dr. Dre (N.W.A.'s Express Your Self has a sample of Charles Wright & the Watts 103rd Street Rhythm Band) these further wet my appetite to find out what had been lost in my subconscious mind.

First thing that I did was to read a lot and research for bands and artist that had a link to funk. I listened to a bunch of artist on a UK label called Acid Jazz owned by a mod named Eddie Piller with bands like The James Taylor Quartet, Jamiroquai, The Brand New Heavies, Snowboy with his latin jazz dance groove and other great bands showing their funk influences proudly on their sleeves. Back then i never knew who Idris Muhammad, Roy Ayers and the godfather of soul Mr James Brown was until this record label introduced me to these magnificent artist.

But as time progressed i began to dig deeper and slowly learned that there's more to funk than just James Brown, Sly Stone and George Clinton. I had barely just scratch the surface. I learned that there are unknown artist that can give these distinguished men a run for their money the likes of Arthur Monday, Lee Fields and many more, this is deep funk at its finest. DJ Shadow and Cut Chemist re introduced me to the real hip hop via their Brainfreeze mixed CD a heavy heavy funk turntable antics done strictly with funk 45s, through this i learned about a hip hop label called Stones Throw records that had put out a compilation of independently run record labels with unknown artist from the 60s. The compilation was called The Funky 16 Corners and then through DJ Shadow i learned about Keb Darge with their Legendary Deep Funk compilations.

Keb Darge is a critically acclaimed northern soul and funk DJ and when it comes to funk he is king. He is influential to the so called new funk scene. Producing One Note Brown for The New Mastersounds a record that now fetches for some serious money. The new funk scene had brought life to old forgotten artist the likes of Sharon Jones and Lee Fields and birthed new bands like the Dap Kings, El MIchels Affair, Poets of Rhythm and so much more. The scene started out in the UK had slowly spread across Europe is more keen on the raw and dirty funk sound rather than the polished acid jazz funk sound in the 90s.

Its kinda fascinating that the British folks are more attentive to American black music rather than the Americans themselves, with exceptions to some bands like The Breakestra, Coney Price and the Keystones and The Dap Kings. The Brits studied the music with all their heart and then spits it out to the American buying public. If you take a look a close look at it The Beatles, The Who and The Rolling Stones copied American Rhythm and Blues tweaked it a bit and presto! America loved it. And now The Brits are doing it again this time with FUNK. And now you could hear it all again the funk is alive and well a good example of that is a band called The Aggrolites you could hear some serious funk in their music amidst those reggae beats.

If you thought that this music is retro think again renowned UK deep funk band The New Mastersounds is doing a feature film documentary called Coals to Newcastle - The New Mastersounds: From Leeds To New Orleans, considered by many as the birthplace of funk and home of the Meters, Eddie Bo and Lee Dorsey. The film was shot during the post-Katrina New Orleans Jazzfest in 2007. The documentary gives a compelling portrait of New Orleans' struggle to retain its culture in the face of the hurricane's devastation.

Here is the trailer:

THE RUDE MAYNILA SESSIONS THIS NOVEMBER

Its time once again boys and girls to be rude and reckless.....

I'M NOT LIKE EVERYBODY ELSE

I remember my early childhood days that my Dad had instilled in me to dress and look sharp. I remember him taking me to his local barber for a haircut then to his exclusive tailor in Escolta and he will asked his favorite tailor to do me a bespoke trousers and button down shirts to accompany my Luciano custom made shoes.

At first i thought that it was an ordinary routine for me and my dad to do this kind of thing. But as time progress I've noticed that he has an affinity for good clothes and he wanted me to do the same which is to look good. I used to see him wearing tailor made trousers a dozen pair of Levis jeans bunch of different Adidas rubber shoes and some Italian leather shoes but what caught my eye was his plimsolls and his shirt with a big embroidered laurel leaves. And i can't help to ask my dad what it was and he told me that the laurel leaves on the shoe and shirt was a symbol of achievement and he told me that the brand was Fred Perry Back then looking dapper was not on my list of priorities little did i knew then that later on in my 39 years of existence that the father and son bond and his shirt will have a profound impact in my life And now i am teaching my kids how to dress properly and even bought my youngest one a white with pink twin tipped shirt last christmas.

The famous shirt came into fruition when Tibby Wegner an Austrian footballer approached Fred Perry to design a shirt with form and function which is durable, looked great and very comfortable. They introduced the M12 polo shirt, known as the first shirt to carry a collar tipping to the sporting world. Its popularity with football fans saw West Ham fans request their own custom colorway in maroon and blue.

Unwittingly, the company had also produced the perfect accompaniment to the fledgling Mod movement, whose members were quick to pick up on the shirt’s suitability for their nocturnal activities. It was bloody stylish and could be worn under a suit, cardigan or jumper and durable enough to wear all-night and still look good when the sun came up the next morning. From there, Fred Perry made its way into subcultures such as Northern Soul in ’63 and Punk in 1976.

The shirt instantly changed from sportswear to street wear it became one of the most iconic brands to be embraced by mods to skinheads, punks to soul boys, indie kids and almost everyone in between. It started one of the longest relationships between British youth culture, steadily spreading out across Europe and the rest of the world.

And now to celebrate the unique street and music relationship. The most beloved brand in the world is launching a campaign called TELL US YOUR STORY showcasing the brand’s heritage and link with various music subcultures these past 50 years. if you have photos or videos of any images that illustrate the brand’s unique relationship with music and street culture. then submit a video of yourself wearing the iconic shirt add a short story about your own memories of a true fashion classic. Log on to www.fredperrytellusyourstory.com. for more details.

FIVE THINGS ABOUT FRED:

1. Before Perry's first semi-final appearance at Wimbledon in 1931, he was hounded by a practical joker who stole his clothes, organised phantom photoshoots and even started buying a house in Perry's name. He never found out who the culprit was.

2.Perry had a screen test for the Fred Astaire/Ginger Rogers movie Top Hat. That was as close as he got to a Hollywood career.

3. Perry never voted in an election, despite his father being a highly regarded MP. He blamed his mother's death on the pressure of electioneering and vowed never to cast a vote.

4. Perry was married four times in 17 years - to an actress, a model, an alcoholic socialite, and the daughter of a Surrey stockbroker - although he kept the first three quiet in later life. He also dated Marlene Dietrich, above, teaching her tennis "with rapid kissing between flying balls".

5. The Fred Perry logo was nearly a pipe rather than a laurel wreath. The inveterate smoker's business partner talked him out of it on the grounds that "the girls" wouldn't like it.

GIGS FOR OCTOBER AND BEYOND

Are you bored? Got nothing to do this month? Then why wont you get up your ass stop masturbating and go here:

RUDE OCTOBER

Its been a while...my apologies to all the readers of this blog for the rather late review of last October 9th's The Rude Maynila Sessions. I've been very busy lately at work and i barely have time to catch up on the latest current events. Anyway what had happened last session was the same as it ever was but this time it was better. Non stop dancing ensues and it was always inevitable. All of the bands did what they did best and that was to give the crowd a hell of a good time.

Juan Pablo Dream served the crowd with some four on the floor beat heavy soul. The Mighty Kids from Bulacan blew the crowd with their weapons of brass destruction. Mobster Manila with their two tone beat, Neighbors showed no mercy as they pounced on the crowd with their own version of Yuji Ohno's Lupin the third resulting to a frenzy of bodies moving madly. The Strayguns kept the pace with their brand of trad ska spiked with a punk flair. G2 and the Bundocks gave the crowd some sunny Cali reggae head nodding vibe just in time for Earthlings danceable beat that ended the whole show. Every band is top notch but The band that stole the show was Count Kutu and The Balmers these lads composed of PinkCow and The Sneekers brought the house down with their brand of Mento. Even up to now one of my friends swear that Mento stuck like glue in his head for days and he cant get enough of it.

If you were not present that day shame on you to missed out such a great night. Hope you wont miss the next Rude Maynila Sessions this coming November 13. Now enough talk here are some of the highlights of what had transpired that night. (Photos courtesy of our unofficial Bisikleta Productions photographer Michael Alvin Gianan)

THE RUDE MAYNILA SESSIONS THIS OCTOBER

The Rude Maynila Sessions is back this October. Join Bisikleta Productions as we feature some of Manila's finest as well as most promising up and coming bands to look out for. This 9th of October, Saturday at 8 in the evening we will be bringing the groove merchants of heavy soul JUAN PABLO DREAM originally the brainchild of Tropical Depression and Put3ska keyboardist Bing Austria. His main goal for his band was to take on Hitsville USA employing the help of some of the talented musicians of Bulacan's third wave ska scene. (Bulacan by the way is a goldmine when it comes to third wave ska and a mecca for hardcore) After a few years and a couple of albums later they are back from a brief haitus from the scene and will be performing again together with the rude boys of Angono non other than NEIGHBORS also known as Neighborhood back in the 90's. Speaking about this band, As I vividly recall Luis "Weslu" Guiang (he and original Put3ska vocalist Raymond used to hangout in Angono with the boys) and I talked about these lads way back in the mid Y2K over a cup o' joe whilst listening to some Italian ska band in my house and him saying that this is the next ska band to watch out for during Put3ska's peak in the 90s justifying that the band has the musicality and knowledge of what ska is all about including a vast record collection of Jamaican music to boot .

It's kinda surprising if you take a look at it, Put3ska and Neighbors is somewhat similar to The Specials and Madness. Put3ska has been marred with lawsuits and internal conflicts between band members and constant line up changes occurred after the release of their sophomore effort and so does The Specials, while Madness on the other hand goes on a different path they take a break and whenever they felt like it they regroup cut an album and even organizing an event called Madstock exclusively dedicated to all the Madness fans worldwide.

Neighbors is doing just the same, they are just bubbling underneath the surface, they had gone on an indefinite leave of absence, And every year they usually celebrate their anniversary performing under the radar undetected just within Angono and nearby towns. They are collectively and individually active in the scene via organized events called Rudies All Around featuring local ska and reggae bands within Angono and nearby towns with Neighbors at the helm of that event. They do scooter events under the guise of the Angono Round Up. And they are actively participating in the local underground DJ scene as Sound Blasters via Manila Soul All Nighter giving the Mods, Soul Boys and Rudies a dose of ska, soul, reggae and everything else in between and now they are back to give us what Angono Ska Explosion is all about.

If you think boys and girls that we are just giving you these two great bands think again....BUT WAIT THERE'S MORE!!! PinkCow and Steady Movin' Beat's side project THE STRAYGUNS will be playing their own take on traditional ska with a punk twist, don't call this Ska Punk because it ain't ska fused with punk, just imagine a bunch of punk rockers going to JA and messing up the instruments at Studio One and you will get the picture. The Sneekers other band called COUNT KUTU AND THE BALMERS will also be there serving us the flavor of the Caribbean in the form of the grand daddy of ska, Mento music. And also on the bill MOBSTER MANILA (A little unknown musical fact about this band, some of the members were nephews of the late self taught jazz great Bobby "The Wildman" Enriquez.) these cats had been in and around doing the underground and mainstream routes peddling ska music to the unsuspecting masses since the early 2000.

Also on the bill are street punk rockers TARTARS from Bulacan, G2 & THE BUNDOCKS from Angono bringing their sun drenched Cali reggae vibe best known for their song Dream Cloudy featured on Jam 88.3's Doobie Nights reggae compilation CD. Indie darlings THE PINSTRIPED REBELS (with Sid on drums of the politically charged punk rock band Einstein Chakras) THE MIGHTY KIDS representing Cavite City bringing their brand of ska punk, and last but not the least the rude girls and rude boys of Skaville Malabon EARTHLINGS.

The Rude Maynila Sessions is produced by Bisikleta Productions this is a monthly event held at the infamous Sazi's Bar formerly Mayric's a cozy little place were bands gained legendary status. Held every second Saturday of each month featuring well respected veterans as well as new bands that plays ska, punk, mod, soul, oi! and music that we feel like featuring. Regardless of what others might deemed a bit off in this kind of setting. We don't fucking care. We are giving you what you need not what you want. So if you feel you are one of them, then sod off!

For a measly sum of 60 bucks you will get an ice cold beer, loads of great music, no bollocks just a ton of positive vibes plus the beer is dirt cheap, the pub grub warms the belly and the folks who maintains this place is like family. Let us support these great bands and hope to see y'all there. And by the way, we are giving away Bisikleta Productions compilation CDs selected by A Boy Named Hil to the 20 early patrons.

PUNK O' RAMA

I come from a background of liking different types of music that took a different route instead of gaining mainstream airplay they choose to get off the beaten path and choose to go underground because of their do it your self ethos.

I always experienced some issues regarding the underground scene some say that in this day and age of the worldwide web and the Ipod generation the scene had began to go mainstream and that D.I.Y. no longer exist. I understand such reactions and criticism to a degree. While some of you readers out there may or may not agree to what I am saying about this long standing debate that the scene still exist or no longer does. Here are some points that the underground music scene will still thrive and will continue to do so as long as there will be conventional norms existing there will always be a counterculture that reacts against it.

While the term comprises a range of different musical genres, they can typically share common values, such as the valuing of sincerity and intimacy; an emphasis on freedom of creative expression; an appreciation of artistic creativity. Underground artist are allowed to make whatever the hell they want without mainstream record labels pushing them around.

Underground music have a non-conformist reputation. It is different the fact that hardcore, metal and ska gives things you just generally don't get from other types of music. Their songs can be moving in ways and at levels that other music types virtually never are. It is true that some of the artist from the underground scene had gone mainstream and is commercially viable. But just because the mainstream had caught up with the music that does not mean that the underground music scene is dead one example of music is Ska.

Ska has arrived in three musical waves, beginning in Jamaica in the 1950's and 60's as a home-grown version of rhythm-and-blues performed by collectives of former jazz musicians like the Skatalites. The music traveled to England along with Jamaican blue-collar laborers, quickening its tempo as it mixed with punk and working-class youth sounds in the 1970's. A second wave of interracial ska bands, including The Specials, The Selecter and the English Beat, first appeared on England's Two-Tone label a label that successfully melded punk and ska in the 80s, registering in America as a quick spark on the pop charts that spark gave way to the 90s third wave that slowly ignited an international fire. But as popular as ska is getting, it's still surprising how many people don't know it. And most major record labels doesn't know how to market this type of music. So the people behind the third wave scene began marketing the music themselves which gave way to some trusted record labels like Moon Ska, Jump Up and Stubborn records which is a real, honest-to-goodness, truly independent DIY label.

Today Ska is probably the biggest underground network going right now There is punk and anger and frustration in it. And now it's still growing and going off in different directions next to punk rock but instead of going with the tide some artist tends to choose the slower, rootsier side of finding success. The other ones that choose to go with the flow and go mainstream eventually ending up as a flavor of the month. One of the strengths of ska is that the foundation is so simple but so effective that it can endure a lot of changes but still maintain a relationship to the original style. Ever since the birth of Ska in Jamaica you can see the Do It Yourself ethic during the glory days of the sound system in order to get the most attention from the audiences at the dance halls you have to play the most updated, rare music on hand, hence Studio One was conceived releasing records locally and independently devoid of any outside major label backing eventually gaining mainstream recognition but during its early days in the U.K, BBC radio wont play any Jamaican music because they deemed the music crude little did they know that the working class youth of England will embrace this music and will call it their own. Its popularity can be credited to the west indies settlers who brought the music and the working class British youths - The mods who bought those records through small record labels like Blue Beat and small independently run record stores like Peckings in London, But despite all the attention it got the music's popularity is minimal compared to pop music that gained worldwide success that so much so that it retains it street credibility up to now and still loved by the people in the underground music scene. I doubt without the mod movement people like Bob Marley and other Jamaican artists would have become the stars they did and that in some way they helped the music to become so popular around the world.

Underground communities can be particularly sensitive to environmental changes because their core principles are often difficult to clearly define. To some, DIY is artistic, heartfelt music made by people that have a sense of their influences done in a setting that is not aggressively commercial There is no grand philosophical consensus as to what constitutes DIY music, but scenes are birthed when local population agree on what “it” should be, and who “yourself” is ought to be. People congregate, networks are formed, ideas are exchanged, and art flourishes.

Today D.I.Y. still flourishes globally and here in Manila the underground music scene is alive and well contrary to some people whose belief is that the scene is dead and had gone above ground. One testament to that is this collective known as NO PUSH COLLIDE they have been doing the rounds since early 2000 with no major backing, no commercial media write ups, no corporate sponsors what so ever just pure do it yourself. They will be doing an event called PUNK O' RAMA, this coming Tuesday, September 28, 2010 at Headstock Bar located at G. Araneta, corner Quezon Avenue, Quezon City.

Featured in the show are some of the well known bands within the underground punk and ska community as well as some of the well respected bands that have break on through the mainstream music scene but still has their roots firmly planted in the underground scene. and giving back to the community in which they came from Bands included on the bill are EINSTEIN CHAKRAS, BAD OMEN, THE OUTCOME, GOOD ITEMS, THE SNEEKERS, GOOD FRIDAY, SHUFFLE UNION, THE EXSENADORS, COFFEE BREAK ISLAND, THE STRAYGUNS, UMBLE UNO and THE STEADY MOVIN' BEAT.

The event is absolutely free but due to an unfortunate incident No Push Collide is urging those who will attend the show to bring along some relief goods for the Robleza family mishap The family is well known within the younger generation of punks in the community, their house is a favorite local hangout for graffiti artist, punks and musicians alike located in Karapatan Street, Blumentritt, Manila dubbed as 4th Door, Unfortunately it got burned down last week. Please do come and show your love and support. for the community as well as for the Robleza family Show starts at 8PM. the show is free but please bring your tolerance with you.

NATTY UP DEM HEAD

“Mi si nuff a dem a natty up dem head fi get exposure, But a real Rasta Man nuh run down riches like Dover, Dem impersonating Rasta, But mi Rasta friend dem seh bun up a Rasta imposter Natty up dem head fi ketch a hype up, Seh dem a rasta, but Rasta livity dem nah hoist up, Wha’ kind a food that dem a bite up, Dem seh dem a Ras, what kind of girl that dem a wife up” - Konshens

A documentary of ABS CBN's The Correspondents entitled Pinoy Rasta which tackles the so called Rastafarian culture in the Philippines. This was banned by the MTRCB for featuring the actual smoking of marijuana of a young man in the presence of his father who, in turn, confessed that he smoked marijuana with his son occasionally.

The documentary was about a movement called Rastafari, a Jamaican religious practice adopted by some Filipinos as a way of life. Those interviewed were reggae artist from Budoy of Junior Kilat, Papadom, Reggae Misstress, Brownman Revival and Eurasia. They say that reggae goes hand in hand with the Rastafarian culture which was founded in Jamaica in the 30s.

At the course of the documentary people were interviewed randomly in reggae bars. and it clearly shows that they are misguided. These individuals doesn't knew what Rasta really meant they just went there to experience the vibe. Eurasia the first Filipino band to play reggae music in the late 1970's said that there are some misconceptions regarding this movement. Some people think that rastafari is all about Bob Marley worshiping and ganja smoking. Nothing could be further from the truth.

Most shallow minded folks took it as a fashion statement and wear wristbands the color of the Jamaican flag without even knowing what it meant. The colors of the flag meant that red stands for the blood of the martyrs in the black struggle for liberation, gold for the wealth of their African homeland and green symbolizes Ethiopia's beauty and lush vegetation. These individuals also uses ganja under the religious justification defense and all the monetary benefits one may get from this has caused it to become a fad and had given the rastafari movement a bad reputation due to these misguided rent a dreads.

When some of them were asked why they are sporting a dreadlock the reply was that they just wanted to look cool. Rastafarians grow their hair into dreadlocks because it is a part of the Nazarite Vow. though not universal among, or exclusive to, its adherents Rastas maintain that locks are supported by Levicticus 21:5. To them the hairstyle symbolizes the mane of the lion in the Lion of Judah.

The most famous practitioner of this movement was Robert Nesta Marley of The Wailers. This monotheistic new religious movement that arose in a Christian culture in Jamaica in the 1930s is said to believe that Jah is a being in the form of the Holy Trinity they say that Emperor Haile Sellassie I of Ethiopia is a manifestation of Jesus Christ. They hold that the smoking of cannabis enjoys Biblical sanction, and is an aid to meditation and religious observance.

Most people used rasta as an escape goat to use cannabis and this is in fact true. Some of the people in our country use that excuse without even knowing the ideology behind it. If they believe they are "rastas" then they should be strictly vegan and rejects the use of alcohol kinda like a punk rocker that adheres to the straight edge lifestyle, but unfortunately most of them are carnivores and drank like a fish.

Reggae music was the voice of the people a voice coming from the heart as they say. This music shouts for change in our society not only in Jamaica but the whole world in general. It is quite disheartening that some had misused reggae as a fashion, Reggae music is what took Rastafari to the world and Rastafari took Reggae music to the world. The people who have used rastafari as an excuse to abuse cannabis reflected a negative image for the movement but for Chang of Reggae Mistress she was optimistic and glad because of the boom in the scene telling the interviewer "that it is good that the music is here rather than not having it here"

Even though the sound and the message is different, referring to old OPM songs that were revived and turned into reggae versions. Brownman's front man reacted to that and said that they are just going with the tide and are just doing songs that the masses wanted to listen to, "if people wanted love songs so be it, let us give it to them." All of the personalities behind the music agreed in one point that there is no such thing as a real Pinoy Rasta, that devoutly follows what the rastafarians do all over in Jamaica.

Dino of Brownman Revival confessed that he is not associated with the Rasta, movement Papadom of Tropical Depression said "i tried but i really couldn't do it". All these people who are associated with reggae and rastafari movement all wanted one thing, and that is they don't want the people to forget what the true message and purpose of the music is which is peace, love and social action. So to the guy who sports a dreadlock and lights up a big spliff and think that rastafari is a fashion statement think again don't pretend to be what you are not. Rastafari is cool a poser is not. If you wanna bun a one just be yourself and make sure to pass that kutchie.

LAST SEPTEMBER 11TH @ SAZI'S BAR

After the much applauded PiliSkaPinas' 2nd Manila Ska Fest its seems that people cant get enough of the skanking rhythms that reverberated at Cubao X last September 4th, still fresh from their hang over from that shindig people trooped down and swarmed in at Sazi's bar last September 11th to attend The Rude Maynila Sessions to get their monthly dose of ska, punk rock and oi!

Present that evening were regulars and newbies anxious to see and hear the featured bands for this month as new band hailing from Cavite City, Finger Trap opened up the nights festivities as they deliver their own brand of 3rd wave ska to the masses the band has chops considering its been only a month or so since their formation.

Next to be on stage were Bulacan based street punk band Tartars formed during the late 90s this band had gone through several line up changes and usually when this happen some of the music that the band dishes out are lackluster. but despite the changes the band still packed a wallop and retain its intensity the skinheads in attendance can attest to that with raised fist and football chant like sing along.

I cant keep track of the bands that was on stage because i was all over the place trying to keep things in place and taking care of the door so i can not give you readers a blow by blow account of what transpired that evening but all i knew is that The GoSignals rocked the house! I had heard their new originals and it was fucking magnificent. Better watch out for their upcoming album hopefully to be released this year so lets keep our fingers crossed.

Tagaytay based ska band GoForTheGoat did an awesome set that the crowd started to haul their ass from their seats and started to skank and Francis from PinkCow got too drunk and was unable to play the guitars and do the vocal choir resulting to a microphone for all melee and uncontrollable all girls body slam and pushing on the part of the female crowd so i had to cut short PinkCow's set.

Anyway here are the pictures from the last Rude Maynila Sessions taken by Michael Alvin Gianan. This coming October 9 at Sazi's Bar we will be featuring NEIGHBORS, G2 & THE BOONDOCKS, MOBSTER MANILA, THE MIGHTY KIDS, EARTHLINGS, COUNT KUTU & THE BALMERS, TARTARS, THE PINSTRIPED REBELS and possibly the band that's composed of former members of The Sex Militants, Deceased and Put3ska will be playing in the next Rude Maynila Sessions so see y'all there.

THIS IS BOSTON NOT LA

This a documentary film that explores the early Boston Hardcore music scene from the years 1981 thru 1984.

For information about xxx ALL AGES xxx, visit the film’s fan page: www.facebook.com/AllAgesTheFilm

THE MOST EXPENSIVE SOUL RECORD EVER

This is the story of the rarest, most-wanted soul record in history and the fascinating journeys that the two known copies of the record have taken since one was borrowed from the Motown record library in 1976 by a notorious Los Angeles based bootlegger and the other was purchased from the original pressing plant, ARP in the late 1970’s by a legendary Motown collector. Both copies have gone through a total of 9 different owners over 31 years making it one of the most fiercely collectible records in history.

In April 2009, one of the two known copies in existence is being put to auction where it is expected to become the most expensive record ever auctioned.

A Brief History

In the early to mid 1960’s Frank Wilson was a moderately successful Producer/Artist/Singer-Songwriter who was working with West Coast acts like Mary Love, Connie Clark and the Autographs plus early Motown acts like Brenda Holloway, her sister Patrice Holloway and Chris Clark. By mid 1965 Frank was just about to embark on what he thought would be a successful career as a solo artist for the increasingly powerful Motown group. His first release, “Do I Love You (Indeed I Do)” was scheduled to be released in December 1965 when Berry Gordy, the founder of Motown, decided that Frank would be better suited as a Producer/Singer-Songwriter working behind the scenes at the busy label. Frank reluctantly agreed realising that to disagree with Berry would effectively kill his career anyway. The pressing order at the ARP pressing plant was haulted immediately with orders that the initial pressing run was to be destroyed save for a reputed 3 copies which were sent to Detroit and a further reputed 3 copies which were to be retained by the pressing plant. Frank then embarked upon a highly successful ‘behind the scenes’ career as a Producer and Songwriter at Motown working with acts like Stevie Wonder, Smokey Robinson, Marvin Gaye, Brenda Holloway, The Temptations and Diana Ross & The Supremes amongst others whilst writing or co-writing such successful songs as “You’ve Made Me So Very Happy”, “I’m Gonna Make You Love Me”, “Up The Ladder To The Roof”, “Stoned Love” and many others.

The unreleased Frank Wilson record(s) then got filed into the Motown Record Archive with the remaining three other copies retained at the ARP pressing plant.

Motown Records eventually moved to Los Angeles in 1972 and the Record Library was re-located to the West Coast headquarters of Motown, where, out of the 3 copies which had been sent to Detroit in 1965, a single copy remained in the master library.

In the summer of 1976 a UK based Northern Soul DJ called Ian Dewhirst moved to Los Angeles and met up with an L.A. based Record Dealer/Collector called Simon Soussan. Soussan was notorious for previously bootlegging Northern Soul records but had re-invented himself as a legitimate businessman and fledgling record producer. Dewhirst and Soussan decided to collaborate on co-producing a Disco record – a medley of old Motown tunes which was eventually called “Uptown Festival” with the name Shalamar given to the studio group.

In the course of trying to get the record signed to a major company, Dewhirst dropped in to the Motown offices to try and make an appointment (as “Uptown Festival” was a Motown medley). Whilst he was in the reception he met a young Promotion assistant called Tom DePierro. Tom invited Dewhirst into his office where they played the Shalamar record which Tom then passed to Suzanne DePasse – the then Head of A&R at Motown. Dewhirst and DePierro agreed to keep in touch until they heard back from Suzanne.

In the intervening weeks, Dewhirst’s 6 month visa was about to expire, so he instructed Soussan to continue the talks with Motown. Soussan subsequently met DePierro and had a couple of meetings with him before Motown declined the Shalamar track (which was eventually signed to Soultrain Records where it subsequently became a million-selling hit). . However, Soussan remained in touch with DePierro following the success of the Shalamar release realising that DePierro had access to the Motown vaults. On one of his subsequent trips to the Motown offices, Soussan managed to get access to the Motown archive library where he then ‘borrowed’ a number of recordings and acetates. Among the records he ‘borrowed’ was the single promotional copy of Frank Wilson’s “Do I Love You (Indeed I Do)” which was from the master library. It would be the last time that Tom DePierro or Motown would ever see the records and acetates again.

When Soussan got home and listened to the record, he realised that he had a major Northern Soul hot property which had never been heard. Within weeks Soussan had some acetates cut and sent the record to some Northern Soul DJ’s in the UK under the title “Do I Love You” by Eddie Foster. The record immediately took off in the UK and became an instant hit on the Northern Soul scene, primarily via plays by Russ Winstanley at the UK’s biggest Northern Soul venue at the time, Wigan Casino. Soussan subsequently then bootlegged 2000 copies of the record on his Soul Fox label and sent them to the UK where they quickly sold out. Meanwhile Tom DePierro was unaware of this activity and was being rebuffed by the smooth-talking Soussan whenever he requested the items to be returned (it should be noted that Simon Soussan had a long history of obtaining goods and records by deception and was notorious within record collecting circles for his devious tactics).

By the early 1980’s Soussan’s luck was beginning to dry up, his record productions were less successful and he required some urgent surgery for a stomach ulcer which had plagued him for years. In order to raise some quick cash, he agreed to sell his record collection to a UK entrepreneur and business associate called Les McCutcheon.

Les eventually acquired the records and promptly forgot about them for several years until a chance meeting with Nottingham record collector called Johnathan Woodliffe resulted in Johnathan buying the record and discovering that the Eddie Foster record was actually Frank Wilson. Johnathan realised that he had one of the rarest records of all time and kept it for a while before eventually selling it to Northern Soul DJ and entrepreneur Kev Roberts.

Kev then kept the record for 10 years before eventually selling it to his then partner in Goldmine Records, Record Dealer and Collector Tim Brown, for a then mouth-watering £5,000.

Meanwhile, on the other side of the Atlantic ocean, legendary Detroit Collector, Motown engineer and archivist Ron Murphy managed to obtain a 2nd copy of Frank Wilson from the owner of the ARP pressing plant, where the initial handful of copies of “Do I Love You” were first pressed. Ron was informed by the owner of the plant that only 6 sample copies had originally been pressed with 3 copies sent to Motown and the remaining 3 kept in the archive at the plant. However, of these 6 copies, 2 were destroyed when the plant was told they only needed to retain one copy of each record in the archive and to save space they destroyed all but one copy each of everything they’d manufactured. This last remaining copy was the one which Ron purchased from the owner of the plant. Ron eventually sold the record to Toronto based Record Dealer and Collector Martin Koppel who eventually sold his copy to his UK partner and fellow Collector Tim Brown, who by now was in possession of both of the known copies of “Do I Love You”.

Tim then sold the copy obtained from Ron Murphy via Martin Koppel to DJ and Record Collector, Kenny Burrell for the then-staggering sum of £15,000 in 1997.

Now, after a further 12 years, Kenny’s copy will be auctioned by the world’s premier Record Dealer and authority on rare records, John Manship.

Since the original discovery of the record in 1977, only two known promotional copies of “Do I Love You (Indeed I Do)” have ever surfaced – both of them being ‘relieved’ from Motown’s library and Motown’s then pressing plant. No other copies have ever emerged despite the record being the most sought-after record ever on the collecting scene.

The history of the record would indicate that it has every chance of establishing the Guinness Book of Records highest price for a 7” legitimate record (as opposed to an acetate).

KEB DARGE & LITTLE EDITHS LEGENDARY ROCKIN' R&B ALBUM

Another rockin' compilation has been put together by celebrated crate digger Keb Darge the man who is always ahead of the curve of the taste makers with the assistance of his wife, Little Edith and between them they've selected a set of tunes that are raw and dirty. The album is out to expose lesser known or forgotten lights of R&B music from the 50s and 60s.

Here's a sample of whats in store for all you R&B freaks.

BRING BACK THAT WARM ANALOG SOUND

Have you ever wondered why vinyl records sound so great? There are some factors that contribute to a great classic record. One is that its sonically done in analog and you cant argue that in the 60's and the 70's some of the best sounding albums were recorded in analog.

In today’s musical climate, where heavily produced pop songs dominate the charts and airwaves, Digital equipment makes things faster, which can cut down on studio costs the main appeal of digital is it’s quick and easy to edit. But for a lot of people the faster editing capabilities of digital tend to outweigh the fact that the recordings themselves lack the character hence digital takes the soul of an artist.

Some bands and hip hop groups are now going against the grain and trying to replicate the classic sounds from the early 60s through the 70s bands like The Aggrolites, Sharon Jones and The Dap Kings, The New Mastersounds and People Under The Stairs their records drips with a warmth and spontaneity rarely found since the golden days of Muscle Shoals and Stax. If you think those bands are retro think again they are just bringing back the soul that was lost in the process when digital took over.

One particular person that is championing the analog sound is Liam Watson, owner of Toe Rag Studios, The studio began in 1991 the idea is to build a studio like it was in the 60s with all the analog stuff and vintage music instruments. Nostalgia perhaps? Maybe not He isn’t interested in what’s trendy, his techniques reflect the sounds of the 60s and 70s and haven’t changed since.Toe Rag along with a bunch of analog studios the likes of Tardis, Akron Analog & Echo Mountain is unusual in that it specializes in recording in the traditional, old-fashioned way that just goes to show that you can't mess with old school. In the sea full of sewage Toe Rag Studios smell like roses.

TONIGHT AT SAZI'S BAR

Tonight at Sazi's Bar we are bringing you 12 bands of ska, oi, punk rock and mod. The Rude Maynila Sessions will be featuring THE GOSIGNALS if you are not familiar with this band, well you are one sorry ass poop. The band is a favorite amongst the mod scene their music is an equal mix of mod, power pop and punk. If you still don't know them by now, well it 's time to name drop some bands in which they came from, the band consist of Private Stock and Throw members. Now that's something worth hearing and seeing don't you think so?

Next on the list is a band that was formed during the mid 90's EINSTEIN CHAKRAS A politically charged punk band that is so diverse that they can be seen performing along side protest / folk singers the likes of Jess Santiago and Noel Cabangon.

Also on the bill are new bands coming in to add flavor to The Rude Maynila Sessions community. Ska band from Cavite City called FINGER TRAP, Manila's ska punkers 12xU, and Oi! band from Bulacan TARTARS. And of course the mainstays PINKCOW, STEADY MOVIN' BEAT, THE SNEEKERS, THE EXSENDADORS, EARTHLINGS, THE OUTCOME and GOFORTHEGOAT.

For a measly sum of 60 pesos you will get to hear these bands plus you will get one ice cold beer for doing that. So swing by at Sazi's Bar tonight to see whats the fuzz is all about. One more thing PiliSKApinas goodies will be on sale at the gate so if you missed last Saturday's Ska Fest now is the time to make up for it. Show starts at 8 see y'all tonight.