Playing with Playa Inside D' Box: an unforgettable fire

Time won't wait for me so I just have to keep up as best I can. Still determined to finish recording my violin's most recent travels. Looks like I mistakenly added TWO versions of the same story - but that night out with friends at Barbara's in Intramuros, Manila, was doubly memorable!

What I really wanted to tell was the story about travelling to Cavite on May 4th to meet and rehearse with the members of Playa, a local indie band that agreed last minute to back Alfie of Half Life Half Death for a performance that same night at a special showcase of New Wave music.

Organized by Mavitch CL, bassist for indie New Wave band Skeleton Years, this interesting little event was billed as Back to the Edge (Southbound Excursion 2): Dawn Chorus at Inside D' Box (IDB Bar/Studio) in Sucat, Paranaque City just south of Metro Manila.

Bands on the playbill included solo electronica artist Names are for Tombstones (Depeche Mode-like deep velvet voice and a Mac Book), hipsters The Sleepyheads (drum-banging antics by a creative lead singer), epic grungers The Youth (Orange & Lemons / Camerawalls / Clementine producer Robert Javier riffing phenomenally on bass), Morrissey-lovers Pinstriped Rebels, and fine rockers Tey's Revenge.

Capping the evening was Alfie Mella of Half Life Half Death with Playa. Oh and that Canadian fiddler girl standing in the corner with Jyel Tagbo, singer of punk-metal band Sensitivo guesting on guitar.

But first, how did we get there? By taxi, van, tricycle, and another van. I left Tonet's on Saturday morning with all my stuff since I was supposed to move to Alfie's in-laws' place from then on. I left my suitcase at Ramil and Lovelle's place in Pasay (my home-base during last year's visit) and Alf and I caught a cab on Pasay Road (Arnaiz Ave) to Alabang Mall for a flat rate that Alfie negotiated - I did not know you could do that! Good to know.

Playa's singer Joan met us at the Mall and guided us by public van to the town where the band members all lived: San Jose, built on hilly landscape, with some of the houses facing onto beautiful vistas with mountains in the distance.

A shrine to Mary in Alabang shopping mall - you NEVER see that in Canada!

Getting right down to business: Pol & Zandro jamming with Alfie on Pol's balcony.

We ate (yay coffee - Thanks, Pol!) and jammed a bit at Pol's family compound, then went to Athley's rehearsal studio for a proper practice with the whole crew.

The Whole Crew L-R: Athley Barba Glori, Joan Bonito, me, Polet Patawaran, Jerry Cajigal, Zandro Sotto, Alfie Mella

This ancient fellow sat there for a long time staring at....something.

Zandro laughing because he knows I'm trying to take a 'candid' shot.

Jerry's neon bass strings!

Then showers and fruit snacks at Athley's place before piling into the Playa-mobile (a van) and hitting the road for Sucot.

The only tree in San Jose that bears this sweet little fruit grows in Athley's family yard: Rambutan.

I have a reputation for not being able to go anywhere without bumping into someone I know. Manila is now no exception. The first person I saw when I walked into IDB was Achi from Nursery Rhymes who I met last year and am Facebook friends with. Then I had the pleasure of meeting - in person for the first time, another one-year fb friend, renowned indie rocker and Sensitivo frontman, Jyel Tagbo.

I am pleased to have met most of my facebook friends in person! It's just a matter of getting there...
Me, my well-traveled fiddle, and Jyel.

Alfie invited Achi to join us for our cover of Melt with You by Modern English (known as the 'National Anthem of New Wavers Worldwide'). Later an editor of a local indie music magazine was heard to pronounce our cover of that song the best he'd ever heard. Alfie will have to confirm the name of said editor.

Performing the 'best cover ever' of Modern English's "I Melt with You" with Playa, Achi and Jyel.

At the end of the night everyone who was left assembled for a family portrait - and indeed it felt like we were all family. It was a truly great experience to share an epic night of music with all those talented people. 

Family portrait - swiped from Jyel's photos.

As I told Mavitch after the show, I completely enjoyed listening to every single band on the roster - each group was made up of very talented musicians. And the experience was doubly enhanced by the venue's crystal clear sound system - this is quite rare to find. Though it was set too loud most of the night, it was not distorted - the acoustics and sound system were very good.

Next...down time in San Jose.