COMMEMORATIVE INK FOR SUPREMO

It was in the early 90's when I was still studying advertising arts that i took interest in the alternative art movement called lowbrow art also known as pop surrealism it appealed to me because it did not fit comfortably into the accepted definition of art and one part of that movement was tattooing. I was the first one in my neighborhood in Caloocan City who introduce tattooing and I first did it manually by using a crudely made tattoo pen. I made it by asking some local folks in my hometown that was previously incarcerated on how to make one taking notes from them on how it should be done. 

Tattooing manually is literally too bloody time consuming. To cut time i did some research with the help of a magazine called Tattoo that was bought at a Book Sale store  I began looking for a better way on how to do tattoos faster by going electric thanks to my heavy amphetamine drug use back in the day I developed a MacGyver type tattoo gun using a dynamo taken out from a toy car, an antenna from an AM Transistor and needles soldered onto a galvanized wire and after a few misses from willing volunteers I began professionally tattooing people using Rotring Inks in exchange for a bottle of liquor and a bit of cash little did i know a young boy got interested in the art and inspired him to pursue the artform me however decided to let go off tattooing and pursue graphic design. Later that boy will become one of the respected, multi awarded and well known tattoo artist in my hometown establishing his shop called Killaokan Ink.

And now he had organized a tattoo competition that will fall a day earlier of Bonifacio's 152nd Birth Anniversary.  The event will be a tribute to the first President and Father of the Revolution and the Filipino Nation called HIMAGSIKAN. The theme for this show will be a commemorative tattoo dedicated to the Supremo - Andres Bonifacio. The show will start at 12 noon, Saturday on November 28 and will be held at Bradzky Resto Bar located at 78 MacArthur Hiway near a well known brothel called Majestic and Andres Bonifacio Monument in Caloocan City.

For 150 pesos you get to see a lot of tattoo artist in action plus loads of bands. Killaokan Ink's Himagsikan will feature two DJs to set you in the ink slinging mood namely NORRIS KING from France of Legal Shot Soundsystem and JOSEPH MINISTER of Manila's Move Up HiFi plus a great line up of bands featuring THROW, HARD K, JUN GENIUS & THE BRAINIACS, NO BRAKE FAST KID, BONIFACIO REPUBLIC, THE NEW PROPAGANDA, ISIDRO PROJECT & many more. 

HOW MUCH PUNK ROCK DO YOU HEAR IN MANILA?

I have a thing for obscure musical artifacts and underrated bands, bands that puts out records with silkscreened artwork coupled with uneven Letraset type and handwritten track list. The less people that know about it, the better. I’m afflicted with the typical fanboy disdain for anything too mainstream. It’s fun to be ahead, or to be privy to info that is valued by a select few. 

During the early 80’s there was a fanzine dedicated to supporting and reporting the underground punk rock scene. The zine s a complete outsiders bible in its heyday it included scene reports, band interviews, columns, and exclusively reviewed no records that were released by an indie but distributed by a major label conglomerate record labels with names like Starving Missile and Disease Unlimited. It gave me information on lesser known, under the radar bands from around the world that only a few people knew about.

It also gave birth to a columnist named Mykel Board that was sacked by Maximum Rock n Roll due to some sort of censorship bullshit.

Beside being a columnist he also compiled the brilliant World Class Punk Tape featuring bands from South Africa to Columbia that was released by a cassette only label called ROIR and he also fronted a weirdo, lo-fi trash punk band called Artless putting out some records with titles such as Boy With A Cunt, Beer is Better Than Girls and how Much Punk Rock Do You Hear In Russia. He also published some books including I, A Me-ist a compilation of his written works in Maximum Rock n’ Roll Magazine.

This coming December he will be visiting our country and will do a show on the 5th, Saturday together with Philippines one and only punk band for hire called The Outsourced (this band also known as Bad Omen previously backed up Andy Deported of Taiwan based punk band The Deported who is also known as Andrew O’Brien a member of the Maine House of Representatives and Maximum Rock N Roll freelance writer). Included in this musical event is Arnold Morales of 80s punk band Urban Bandits together with Bad Omen and also in support are will be Collision and new bloods that will surely carve a niche in the punk rock scene here in Manila namely No Brake Fast Kid with their brand fast paced frantic, balls to the walls music fronted by a singer that sounded like Dave Mustaine's balls had been squeezed tightly with a monkey wrench and my current favorite due to their lack of musical education balanced with enthusiasm, The Dead Brains playing music for the punks who are bored of those other punks who have forgotten how great punk is and the anarcho acoustic troubadour The New Propaganda. 

This will be happening at For The Road Bar and Resto in Mandaluyong City located in Pioneer Street at the back of Robinson’s Forum in EDSA. Those of you who have read his often controversial write ups in MRR know what to expect and for those who don't know him for 60 pesos you’ll get a bottle of beer and sneak peek in the obscure but equally important piece of punk rock history. 

MOVE UP HI-FI'S MANILA STANDARD TIME

After a few months hiatus i am back at doing this blog again. I am starting off by promoting Move Up Hi-Fi’s Manila Standard Time happening at The Bar 1951 in Malate, Manila. 

Move Up Hi-Fi will be headed by Joseph Minister playing the finest ska and reggae 45s alongside a DJ crew composed of Rocket Punch band members and two bands The Steady Movin’ Beat and Singkopado Sound System. If you’re wondering who the latter band is then let me introduce the man behind the band by telling you a bit of a story. 

Last night I was deleting past messages on my email when i chanced upon an old email that was sent to me when i was in Africa. It was a bunch of MP3s of a newly recorded album of a band that i fully supported and promoted in this blog from way back. I decided to listen to it again. I remember how I enjoyed the interplay between the two singers each of them with a distinctive voice and style. I remember me and the guitarist of Rocket Punch talked about the band during a DJ gig we did a few months ago describing them as sort of The Clash style of vocal attack it's sacrilegious to describe them to the only band that matters but  they do wear their hearts on their sleeves and it is obvious that they love the band. Listening to their songs and hearing them simultaneously flattering my ears ala Mick Jones and the other bashing my head ala Joe Strummer is what got me interested in the first place and started championing their ska punk sound.

The singer's slurred wails perfectly compliment the edgy punk rock while the other clearly singing with a charged guitar skank is anthemic. In that emailed recording i noticed while they are sharing similar headspace, they seem to be two entirely different artist. The way the other singers voice seems to be stacked on top of the other works to highlight their differences is interesting because it works to show how much each artist has progressed each person is so different now than before but unfortunately the guy who complimented the angst of the other singer had left the band and decided to take another musical path in the guise of Singkopado Sound System. There are rumors floating around why he left the band at the peak of their career but let us not wander to that side of the story.

On November 21, Saturday they will be bringing in all original new music so i suggest to go out and be the first one to hear them live. They will be playing together with the only 2tone band in Manila The Steady Movin' Beat.

BROKEN LINEAGE

Get ready this coming Sunday as we along with Di alternator brings you the 2nd installment of our DESTROY IT YOURSELF event happening at Back to the 90's located in Tomas Morato, Quezon City. For this 2nd session we will be focusing on the fast, loud and furious punk music called Hardcore. Featured in this event will be THROW, HARD K, BLINDSIDED, RED CORPSE, A.S.P. and COMMUNION.

Plus we will also be featuring a very special guest band not on the bill so all you UNCIVILIZED PEOPLE get ready! 

Just to give you a hint who these guys were. The bands name is called GIRLS hailed in Malabon City and the drummer is the founder of Bisikleta Productions and one of the core members of PUT3SKA. They were featured in a bunch of compilations and released their debut album under Twisted Red Cross and in the mid 90's released another recording called Technology Eats The World under Recycled Records with Julius Felipe doing drum duties. 

As the 90's drew to a close they had gone on their separate ways. The bass player went to see the world while the vocalist went to work in Qatar then later joined I.O.V's guitarist Radzon Medina to form HARD KULANGOT and then the guitarist went on to form GUT REACTION.

If you still don't get who these guys are then y'all a bunch of IDIOTIC IMBECILES I have to say DAMN YOU PEOPLE better BURY YOURSELF. See all of you on Sunday, July 26, 3 P.M.

SKANKIN' AT THE PARK WITH ANGONO'S NEIGHBORS

Mark your calendars ladies and gents as Neighbors bring Eastern Town Ska to the Philippines Capital on March 28, Saturday.

Skank in the park lads. Skank in the park.

THE BRASSPACKERS THIS FEBRUARY 14

Move Up Hi Fi is serving up another healthy dose of ska, early reggae and lover's rock with him are international reggae sensations from Japan and France starting off with Japan's Papa U Gee and Big Answer Sound System selecters Takashi Kirihara and Tatsuki Uchida, Norris King of France Legal Shot Sound System and the globe trotting French NGOs who uses brass instruments to spread a musical awakening to the underprivileged children all around the world bringing joy to their daily life.

This show is happening on the 14th of February at Muzack Sports and Bar Grill in Makati City. The show starts at 8PM. If you have a date instead of getting her naked in bed on that said date why not do something meaningful for a change and watch THE BRASSPACKERS blow your mind.

PUNKY REGGAE PARTY

If you got nothing else to do on the day of Fornication err Valentines Day. Please do check out Goodleaf's Steady Edy's shindig at The Bar 1951 on February 14, Saturday as he along side Steady Movin' Beat and other bands celebrate a night of Punky Reggae Party.

HAPPENING TONIGHT AT WESLU'S PLACE

Happening tonight at Luis Weslu Guiang's brothers pub called Tey's Dugout in memoriam to Bisikleta Productions founder Luis Weslu Guiang drummer of G.I. and the Idiots, Private Stock and Put3ska.

PUNKY REGGAE PARTY

This coming January 16, Friday Steady Edy of Malabon Dub assassins GOODLEAF will be hosting a show at B Side featuring diverse bands from Ska punk to noise to Oi!

If you happen to be in the vicinity of Makati City on that day please do swing by and watch the show,

MANILA STANDARD TIME

Mark your calendar boys and girls as Move up Hi Fi is serving a fresh batch of MST this year! Joseph Minister will be showcasing Marc Steady of The Bembol Rockers / Brownbeat All Stars / Brass Munkeys famer on the wheels of steel. 

With live performances by Manila's powerpop mod band THE GOSIGNALS and skinhead reggae band DANDIMITES. This is happening on the 30th of January, Friday, 8PM at MUZACK SPORTS BAR AND GRILL located in MAKATI CITY.

THE WUDS

PUNK ROCK SHOULDN'T STOP GROWING AND EVOLVING. BUT ITS GROWTH SHOULD ALWAYS BE BASED ON THE UNIQUE TRAITS THAT DEFINED MUSIC FROM THE START. REBELLIOUS, HONEST, LOUD, AND SCATHING. IT SHOULD NEVER TURN INTO SOMETHING THAT CONTRADICTS ITS VERY REASON FOR EXISTENCE.

- AL DIMALANTA

I read this quote a couple of days ago by Dead Ends/Throw front man which lead me to start writing a much delayed article for The Wuds an 80’s Philippine punk band that defied convention. The band was different from the rest of their peers these guys where doing Khrishna Core long before American Hardcore Bands the likes of Youth of Today, Shelter and Cro Mags fused Punk Rock and Eastern-based Indian spirituality of the Vaishnavas. and The Wuds are arguable the first straight edge band in the Philippines.

Late last year The Wuds did a series of crowdsourcing gigs and its purpose was to help finance their new album that will be coming out early this year. Cindy Aquino a photographer friend and also a contributor to Bisikleta Productions asked me if i can do a story for The Wuds on behalf of Kontra Kultura in helping to promote their goal on doing a new album DIY style. I asked her why did she picked me when i am not a professional writer i just do it occasionally for this blog alone. 

Her reply was that I was an 80s kid and witnessed Philippine punk rock explode during that time. Yeah i was there alright but my old folks was so strict that i have not experienced going to Katrinas, nor visited A to Z Records two of the iconic places to go to in the 80s. Those places i have mentioned was the ground zero/mecca of all things underground.

The only experience i had with the band was through Howlin’ Dave's radio show, Twisted Red Cross tapes and my old friends who were part of the infamous Joan Lombard / A.P. Aquino punks that occasionally organized underground gigs. Every time there was a “CONCIERTO” held i snucked out of my old folks home just to hear bands play at Dapitan Sports Complex, YMCA, PNR/Kadiwa and The Polytechnic University of the Philippines in Kalookan City.

To give justice and credibility to this article what i did was I asked several key persons to contribute to this article who knew them as a band and as individuals and who were present during the punk rock explosion of the 1980s I also ask them what they expect on The Wuds upcoming album and to cap things off was to ask Bobby Balingit himself about his band and what is in store for the old and the new fans/listeners via Cindy Aquino’s interview and without further ado here it is. 

RHANNY TORRES of The Lost Boys, Ethnic Faces, Violent Playground and Brownbeat Allstars

The Wuds created a massive impact on the Philippine punk rock genre. They have a dedicated fan base that go way back to the early 80’s.

I will not mince words The Wuds is Philippine punk rock royalty. Their songs speaks to the listeners it makes you think. Their music is deep unlike the usual punk songs that is full of anger. Angry at the world, angry at society, angry at their parents, etc. 

On their upcoming album, I bet it’s going to be a notch higher than the last with regards to their musicality especially Bobby who is constantly evolving as an artist. and his two bandmates Alfred and Aji who are both a respected artists in their own right. 

On Alfred, he is a pillar in the Philippine tattoo industry, He has done so much to elevate the art form to where it is now locally and Aji he is a respected music teacher.

JUN GENIUS (formerly known as Jun Idiot) of George Imbecile and The Idiots, Hard K, Jun and The Idiots, Jun Genius and The Brainiacs

For me The Wuds when i was as a teenager in the 80s watching them made me stick to the cause of being a punk rocker. The Wuds music is not just concentrated on aggression they also have the spirituality. They want to impart a positive message to the listener and I think whatever musical genre they play, they can surely excel at it.  As individuals all of them are deep. 

EDMOND ARAULLO of Private Stock, Nearby Cries

What i can remember from The Wuds was that they were the second wave of Brave New World bands that came along. They where from Singalong. We got to play with them as often as we could. Recto days sponsored by Yadu who does afternoon gigs back in the day.

One time they organized a gig and invited Private Stock to play. I would describe them as Kindhearted people. There are times that Private Stock and The Wuds will often rehearse at Navotas at Al’s place (Dead Ends) and Alfred and I would light up some weed. I also remember a gig held in Pasay City Sports Complex where the organizer would just give us food money. After the show The Wuds and our band would go to McDonalds to grab some eats. Back then we don't know that those guys are Vegetarians so what we did was we took out the meat for us to eat and the Buns and the lettuce, tomatoes, onions and catsup for them.

Those guys are dead serious at what they do. I can see their loyalty to each other. 

MEL MANIEGO of Private Stock, Beatdown Boombox and The GoSignals

They’re a great band. I’ll put Bobby on my top 3 list of prolific song writers of my generation. Bobby he is a good lyricist. Those three are Arnold Morales of College, Urban Bandits, Music Front and Put3ska, Al Dimalanta of Dead Ends and Throw

Alfred is the quiet one who does his own artistic stuff. And Aji - he’s a riot! Through the years Bobby’s song writing matured expanded his mind but his topics are always about social awareness often times kinda cosmic to me sometimes.

They’re survivors they’ve outlived almost everyone of us they are still intact. I do not know how they can stay together that long. It’s either Patience or they have good deodorants! Kidding aside i am wishing them brothers the best for their new album! 

AL DIMALANTA of Dead Ends and Throw

The music they do have mass appeal. I respect Bobby as a musician. His guitar style has evolved into something more avant-garde. I like Bobby as a songwriter because his songs are more introspective than political, although he started out writing politically conscious songs, his songwriting evolved into more personal and introspective topics, particularly when he started Juan Isip.

These are some of the words that best describe The Wuds as a band and as individuals. The Wuds is punk rock personified because they refused to be pigeon holed as Al Dimalanta of Throw pointed out in his quote that Punk music should evolve. 

This short interview is about that evolution. An evolution of The Wuds and the music that we call punk. 

These are some of the questions that i had prepared for Bobby on behalf of his bandmates using Cindy Aquino as my interviewer most of them was not been asked by her probably she was not brave enough to asked Bobby about some issues that might offend the man. One question in particular was that song that was bastardized by Rivermaya and Heber Bartlome's Akasha records issue but anyway listening to Cindy talked to one of the forefathers of Philippine punk rock was eargasm there's a nervous tone in her voice while asking Bobby but overall what she did was great and here are his answers that i painstakingly transcribed for all you readers to enjoy. 

IS OPM DEAD? IS PUNK DEAD? DO YOU THINK THAT THE UNDERGROUND MOVEMENT IS DEAD?

BOBBY: Walang namatay na movement yun OPM na thing na namatay na nabubuhay di ako naniniwala dun so wala walang namatay nagpatuloy ito. Ang bagong album na ilalabas ay pagpapatuloy. Hindi pagkamatay at bumubuhay.

WHY ARE YOU RELEASING A NEW ALBUM? WHAT IS IT FOR?

BOBBY: kailangang ipag patuloy kasi sa ngayon para kaming isa sa pinaka mahabang banda na nakipag sapalaran at patuloy pa din akong gumagawa ng di lamang kanta nag susulat pa din ako ng nobela at kwento hangang dun umabot kaya di dapat ihinto.

WHAT IS THE SECRET OF THE WUDS LONGEVITY?

BOBBY: Di namin kailangang dayain ang mga tao. Alam namin yun gusto namin gawin. Naniniwala kami sa goal na yun at naniniwala kami sa aming pinang hahawakan na nagppatibay sa grupo.

WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE PUNKS THEN AND THE PUNKS NOW IN TERMS OF MUSICALITY AND LIFESTYLE?

BOBBY: Noon ang punk may struggle sa ngayon wala ng struggle nagawa na nuon pag sinabi kasing punk it means unconventional pag prineserve magiging conventional so di na punk. 

Walang ipaghahambing. Nagpatuloy ito walang meron bago o meron luma hindi ito old school, new school yan e pop mentality. di yan usapin ng punk.

WHAT CAN YOU ADVISE TO THOSE BANDS THAT ARE STARTING UP AND TO THE PEOPLE WHO SUPPORTED YOUR BAND

BOBBY: Sa mga nagsisimula. Kailangang maging tapat sa sarili nila na ginawa nila itong bagay na to tapusin ay dapat isabuhay mo hangang sa mamatay ka na. 

Sa mga bandang sumusuoprta naman malaking pasasalamat sa kanila dahil dumating din yun panahon na nagkarooon ng acknowledgement sa hirap na ginawa namin.

So there you go The Wuds is constantly evolving but the roots are still in its place that is called punk rock. Brace yourself for the new album i'll bet it's gonna be a fun ride.