Saturday, September 29, 2018
SEPT. 28, 2018 - FRIDAY JAM UPDATE & PHOTOS
So far, it seems like things are slowly taking a positive turn right back to our usual familiar vibe in the music room since last week’s favorable turnout. A good number of old time house band personalities had finally made a comeback since last Friday and prospered even more at last night’s jam. The general mood was reminiscent of the good old days when the jams were more interesting and meaningful to say the least. Even the traditional Magic Hour was there on queue for us to enjoy and experience. Just like before, the jam solicited fun and productivity lasting till past 5am before it was over. If this trend continues to flourish then I am definitely one happy hombre.
Right from the start, the Friday jam showed early signs of prosperity with our house band main drummer’s welcome presence . It was good to see drummer Bubui Colico back in circulation after taking some time off after his father passed away just recently. On the other hand, house band honcho Tinnie Esguerra seemed to be showing signs of becoming more visible after being in absentia for some time now. Prolific jazz guitarist Dolf Cruz’s presence and talent was a welcome thing and as always a great addition to the house band line up. Ever dependable bassist Rick Trinidad, vocalist Monchie Henares, percussionist Vincent Garrucho and keyboard lord Kiko Montecillo were all in the house, as well, completing the cast of the revered Pete’s Place Music Room House band at last night’s gathering.
A good number of the young breed of musicians who are now weekend music room regulars were around too. To name a few were Ryan Nacino, Pau Villanueva, Rj Palma, Ryan Pineda, Gav Sabalburo and a few others. The youngsters had their jam time amongst themselves, as well, and at times a few stepping up to join the elders on stage later on. I have high hopes that with these kids’s willpower and dedication most will eventually grow and mature to be successful musicians.
Also with us were Beth Marquez and her talented daughters Michelle and Kate Adriano, bluesman guitarist/vocalist Bobby Alvarez and his buddy Jojo Armas who just opted to sit back and watch. Thank you guys!
And finally, acknowledging the presence of my mom who always makes sure to keep me company while i await for the firsts guests to arrive, to sis-in-laws Tintin Mara-Reed and Ana Mara, niece Tina Mara, Luisa Distor, Bambi Rubio, Nikki Segundo, Rico Tayko and attorney’s Gani Cruz and Me-an Roa. Thank you one and all!
So, what is it going to be for the upcoming Friday nights? Will this turn of events be the start of good things to come from here on? I hope and pray for the best.
HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND EVERYONE! GOD BLESS U ALL!
Saturday, September 22, 2018
SEPT. 21, 2018 - FRIDAY JAM UPDATE & PHOTOS
What was thought to be as just one of those regular Fridays, last night ended up garnering a high score in the fun meter scale. Guest bands and musicians flocked the music room unexpectedly, performing and jamming one after the other with each band doing a set of covers as well as original songs in their repertoire. With the long list of jammers who actually made it over, some bands just had to settle to being spectators due to time constraints despite the live music concluding at already 5am.
After the bands had finished their stints, the jam continued unabated with a free-for-all setting to whoever wants to come up on stage and participate. Not to be denied, i had my chance to join and play the drums and the bass at some point, as well.
Friends and guests who showed up to party were quite a handful too. It was nice to see the age groups, despite diversities in generation, coexisting and enjoying each other’s company, entirely the norm for our humble place. Truly, the power of music have no bounds.
Though the place was filled with an abundance of musicians, the regular house band guys were a minority. Among them who joined me were Rick Trindad, Vincent Garrucho, balik-music room Tinnie Esguerra and Richard Parcia. Tinnie, who had been missing in action for some months already, was back in the room clocking in at his usual time at past midnight. Finally a semblance of the glorious days of the Magic Hour unfolding with him around on stage. Welcome back Tinnie!
Special mention to One Jester & Armchair bands for their captivating performances, to Ken Koiko, Ryocel Kusagaya, Vinnie Ramos, Alvin & Jem-Arboleda Nacino, Satish Srinivas, Ralf Gulapa, the Monotones, the DB’s and to the hoard of other guests for their valuable presence.
Last but not the least, our outmost gratitude to our ever generous friend Richard for the myriad of boxes of sumptuous pizzas he had unselfishly provided for everyone around to devour. Well, i think I had at least 6 slices for myself alone. As always, a yummy staple comfort food for the music room. God bless you more in abundance!
And so another night full of fun and surprises had concluded. It’s never a dull moment at our humble Pete’s Place. As always, i praise and thank God for the blessing and opportunity. Till the next time, folks!
HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND EVERYONE! GOD BLESS US ALL!
Saturday, September 15, 2018
SEPT. 14, 2018 - FRIDAY JAM UPDATE & PHOTOS
Hours after midnight, a super typhoon considered to be the strongest cyclone in the world so far this year, had made landfall at our northern shores. Fierce winds and heavy rain battered northern Luzon hours before dawn on Saturday, September 15, after Typhoon Ompong (Mangkhut) made its entry in Baggao, Cagayan at 1:40 am causing havoc and destruction on its path. Metro Manila was not a direct hit but was still under storm signal # 1, which means that we will still be experiencing winds of about 30-60kph and moderate to occasional rains (frankly, i felt last night’s winds was stronger). Notwithstanding and with no hesitation, i decided to push through and go on with our regular Friday Night Jam.
Anticipating a slow and somber night due to the inclement weather, i was surprised to see a big turnout of guests and musicians showing up. International flyboys Capts. Loren Orendain and Bobbit Uson were back in the room to jam, likely having more free time with no flight schedule or their flights being cancelled. House band honchos Rick Trinidad, Joaco Marco, Monchie Henares and Kiko Montecillo were in the house as well. Incidentally, childhood friend and music room pioneer Red Aquino, who is based in Macau, came straight from the airport to join us. Unsurprisingly, the younger generation ended up still outnumbering the more elder and veteran musicians last night. It was only later on when my wife Vicky’s siblings and friends joined in, did it evened out. But when the oldies left, it was mostly the kids in dominion of the whole place, except for Rick who stayed till closing time.
The jam was purely a conglomeration of the young and the old. It was no surprise that with that set up and unfamiliarity, there will be minimal structured songs we can eventually play. As expected, the jam was mostly endless repetitive crazy chord progressions with each taking turns in soloing that seemed to last forever. It was only when keyboardist Kiko Montecillo joined in that we were able to play some actual songs. I surely miss the Magic Hour days when we could really jam decent songs till the wee hours of the morning.
At way past midnight, more youngsters arrived. Some of them joined in the jam and some just settled to watch. By this time the weather outside had deteriorated with more rains and gusty winds but not enough to spoil the fun. When you are actually in the room, you literally are detached from the outside world. If you had already been here, you already know what I mean. There is no trace of what is happening beyond its doors. You can’t even tell if there is sunlight outside. Pardon the pun, but as the song goes..”It’s a whole new world…” (worst joke ever..*facepalm) hahaha!
The jam was non-stop and relentless all night long but had to declare a cut-off time at 4am as it would’ve probably persisted till sunrise. After the jam, some still lingered longer at the smoking area while i was inside tidying up the room. Rick volunteered to take charge of watching over the rest and then to lock up right after. That was my queu to make my French exit. Time for a shut eye for me.
Thanks to everyone who came and braved the weather just to come to the Friday jam. The turnout was tremendous. In closing, please allow me to encourage everyone to join me in prayer for the millions who had been affected by the devastating typhoon. You are all in our prayers.
HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND EVERYONE! GOD BLESS US ALL!
Saturday, September 8, 2018
SEPT. 7, 2018 - FRIDAY JAM UPDATE & PHOTOS
There was a bit of a somber mood at the start of the evening anticipating anxiously of what was to transpire if indeed the expected guest’s performers will show up or not. Soon enough, it was clear that the guest band will not make it to perform after all. We are then on our own. We had never ever been denied of our weekend Friday hoopla no matter the circumstances. Come what may, the show must go on.
As always, it was Air Asia flyboy Loren Orendain who arrived first. Percussionist (played guitar and rapped also last night) Vincent Garrucho was a close second. Despite the missing guest band, Beth Marquez and talented daughters Michelle and Kate made it over as promised. Likewise, Nitoy Adriano, who is leaving for the US along with Ely Buendia and band on Wednesday, showed up to join his family coming straight from a gig in Makati. Bassist Rick Trinidad was in the house as well.
Despite the lack of manpower of musicians on stage, we still managed. The jam progressed smoothly with Michelle lording the guitar, with Kate playing bass, Loren on second guitar, Vincent on percussions and myself on drums. When Rick joined in, we ended up alternating on bass and drums. Nitoy added more spark and flavor to the jam as soon as he made his presence felt much later on.
Pau Villanueva and Rj Palma, representing the young breed of music room musicians, had much stage time as well. It was actually “girl power night” with the three youngsters (Michelle, Kate, Pau) taking charge of the stage while the elders filled in to play as back up. The jam went on and persisted till about 4am. Good job guys!
After the jam, bro Dondon and some of the other guys still hanged around to chill at the smoking area and finished up their drinks. I stayed inside the room to tidy up while the rest were outside. With nothing else for me to do and being well assured that Dondon can take charge of closing up, i decided to make a French exit and call it a night. It was sleeping time for me. As always, i thank and praise God for the blessing and opportunity.
And so another recharging jam night concluded. Simple and tame it might have been but still rewarding. Till the next time folks. Godspeed!
HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND EVERYONE! GOD BLESS US ALL!
Saturday, September 1, 2018
AUG. 31, 2018 - FRIDAY JAM UPDATE & PHOTOS
It is indeed a phenomenon that the young and the much older generation can effortlessly coexist and spontaneously interplay propitiously in harmony in the music room. Albeit the generation gap, this now appears to be the current trend at our regular Friday jams nowadays. Though the evening started off with the majority of the latter arriving ahead of the pack, it was to be another evening dominated mostly by the youth.
Air Asia flyboy and guitarist Loren Orendain, house band honchos bassist Rick Trinidad and percussionist/rapper Vincent Garrucho and PAL flyboy guitarist Bobbit Uson were the first guys to show up. Excluding my wife Vicky, sis-in law Ana and bro Dondon who just had a quick bottle of beer, music room regular Nikki Segundo and balik-music room Boots Bautista plus myself practically comprised the entirety of the elders around.
The jam commenced as soon as the youngsters arrived. Among them that made it over were Pau Villanueva of Carousel Casualties/Athalie band, Ryan Nacino, Ryan Pineda, Rj Palma of the Monotones, prodigy drummer Gav Sabalburo, Nicolas Puyat, Josh Panuncialman along a horde of their other age group mates. On the other hand, it was almost closing time when Diesel Band musician’s Justine Lim and his drummer (forgot his name) and some others joined in.
The music was just satisfactory with the elders practically hugging the stage doing their thing (that sounded weird) while the kids alternated playing drums, keyboards, bass or the guitar. Favorably, despite the jam being mostly just a bunch of repetitive chord progressions, in fairness, it still gave me some satisfaction, to say the least. Personally, I would’ve preferred to play cover songs or jazz instrumentals instead but it will just have to do. I shouldn’t complain.
The stage was already quiet and empty by 3:30am and most of the kids were already homebound. Vincent and I stayed around a bit longer before closing up (till past 4am) listening to his masterful recordings of the band’s performances he compiled at the recent concluded fundraiser. Excellent and impressive sound reproduction indeed! Awesome job Vince!
And finally, let me take this opportunity to thank each and everyone involved, in one way or the other, for the huge success of the just concluded “A Brother’s Plea…Fundraiser” at 19East. You are all truly a HUMONGOUS blessing!
Indeed, we acknowledge that we are all but instruments of God. Let's humbly do our part. Let us keep on spreading the LOVE whenever and wherever we can. There is hope in humanity!
HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND EVERYONE! GOD BLESS US ALL!
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