Saturday, February 23, 2019
FEB. 22, 2019 – FRIDAY JAM UPDATE & PHOTOS
Family, friends and guests from all walks of life regardless of age, gender or status comprises the population of the music room. Most first timers, if not all, will develop a sense of belongingness to the place becoming more regular, a familiar territory where friendship, camaraderie and music is its main ingredient.
As a host, it is always a blessing and a joy for me to witness everyone having fun and coexisting despite distinction in life and social standing. We are here not to prejudice but to spread the love and have a good time. This is how it is at Pete’s Place Music Room.
Last night was indeed special. A successful fellowship among church lay ministers of our parish took place starting very early and persisted till about 11pm. Lay minister Rolly Palma of the Holy Infant Jesus Parish spearheaded the gathering and rounded up his lay minister collegues for some fellowship and a post birthday celebration of our former parish priest (who is a Don Bosco alumni too), Fr. John Morota. It was great to see Fr. John and the lay ministers having fun and enjoying the vibe and the live entertainment. Clearly proof that music is universal.
The guys who joined me on stage to perform where Ryan Nacino, Pau Villanueva, Ryan Pineda, Rick Trinidad and drummer extraordinaire’ Allan Abdulla. Allan had been coming more regularly lately and had taken the drumming to an even higher level. Totally exhilarating to jam with this talent.
Except for some familiar songs that I was able to squeeze in on a few occasions as a respite, the jam was mostly a bunch of extended chord progressions put together by the youngsters. Favorably, with Allan’s drum virtuosity and presence, everything sounded even better. In all honesty, I prefer to play popular tunes that has substance and not just a bunch of chord progressions played over and over till your nose bleed. If only we could have more regularity in attendance from the regular House band guys, I would be very very happy. Take the queue.
Lastly, I would like to acknowledge the presence of my high school batchmate Mon Torres, music room regulars Nikki Segundo, Gab Villanueva and Rj Palma, newbie guests Mon Dayrit, Danish Acupuncturist Simon Lind, Rafa General and to all the rest who dropped by. Thank you one and all.
I am limiting the videos I am posting of last night’s jam as it is mostly chord progressions. We hope to have a better collection next time. Bear with us.
See you all next week!
HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND EVERYONE! GOD BLESS US ALL!
Saturday, February 16, 2019
FEBRUARY.15, 2019 - FRIDAY JAM UPDATE & PHOTOS
What can I say, but what an incredible jam it was last night. Astonishingly persistent and tireless at a high-level till around 3:45am, it progressed into a night of awesome live music, mind-blowing for both the performers and to the aficionados alike.
The festivity was even more made extra special due to a good old friend and batch mate’s welcome presence who I knew since grade school. Though it could’ve been more fun if my other school contemporaries we had expected to come made it over too, as they had promised they would, it was nonetheless heartwarming to see my batch mate Mon Torres around. Mon, who is an aviator by profession, came with Jules and Chito, his two former work colleagues from PAL. Great to see these guys around.
Chito happens to be a retired professional musician before he eventually joined Philippine Air Lines as a flight crew. Jules, was himself a retired PAL purser and loves music as well. He didn’t jam but instead just sat back to enjoy the music from the sidelines and took photos and videos as well. We welcome Chito and Jules to the Friday jam. We hope to see them back again sometime.
The jam was indeed superlatively productive from the onset to conclusion with awesome musical talents showing up to perform. House band honcho and prodigal son Tinnie Esguerra finally showed up after some weeks in absentia timely along with musical greats in the likes of guitar wizard Anton Atengco. drummer Bubui Colico, bassist Rick Trinidad, Brat Pack’s vocalist/bassist Xtine Mercado, world class drummer Allan Abdulla, percussionist Vincent Garrucho and the Adriano sisters Michelle and Kat.
On stage with me to start off the jam were Monotones front man Ryan Nacino, teen guitarist Fonz Cabal and music room newbie Chito. We were short of a drummer then but we were able to hold the fort for at least an hour or so before handing it over to the next batch of performers. With the best musicians who come around to play, what can possibly go wrong? Totally awesome display of musical craftsmanship from everyone involved all night. My hats off to everyone!
By 3:45am the jam was over and the stage was in tranquility. Just about this time my co-senior citizen guests had already left for home, happy and content despite being way past their bedtime. We hope to see them back again next time soon.
And as always, the last men standing stayed around a bit longer for a night cap before calling it a night. Finally the gates were closed and locked at around 4:15am. All’s well that ends well, as I always say. MISSION ACCOMPLISHED! Praise be to God!
Till the next jam night…hope to see you all then.
HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND EVERYONE! GOD BLESS US ALL!
Saturday, February 2, 2019
FEB. 1, 2019 - FRIDAY JAM UPDATE & PHOTOS
It is not unusual for the brain’s limbic system to manifest some degree of disinterest on doing something you are usually fond off. There will be times when you will be distracted and not in the right mood, perhaps a reaction to some annoying or disappointing situations you’d rather not had experienced during the day that subsequently dampened your spirit. It does happen to the best of us. But these moods are indeed temporary and are quickly altered when proper enticing and luring catalysts occur to turn it around. To me, last night was one of those nights. And as always, I just needed to trust God and be a little bit more patient and let the music room’s special magic take control.
Indeed, it didn’t take much time to get myself back in stride. As if designed and scripted, immediate family and dear friends from my childhood days suddenly surprises me and arrived in droves, all in high spirits coming straight from another party. Their welcome presence blew the negativity out of cyberspace completely. Right away it was party atmosphere in the room.
Seeing everyone’s smiling faces gleaming in content and excitement, surely was heartwarming and reassuring. Finally, the atmosphere was totally festive and alive. At the onset, Monotones front man Ryan Nacino was the solitary musician present on stage with me. My sister-in-law Tintin Mara Reed along with Bambi Rubio huddled with us on stage and did vocals we had managed to do.
Later, house band honchos Rick Trinidad and Vincent Garrucho showed up too. Guitarist/vocalist Pau Villanueva joined us on stage as well. Siblings Mayette Alberto-Clemente and Nando Alberto also made an appearance after some weekends in absentia. Always glad to see these guys around. Truly a welcome addition to the Music Room family they are. God bless the Albertos.
Despite the lackluster numbers in musicians around, we still got our sought after jam fix. The jam was acceptable (I still prefer the house band complete) despite it all, concluding at the usual 4:30am. Monotones drummer Rj Palma caught up with the band and was the one playing the drums at the jam finale. Mission accomplished on all fronts. Praise and thank God!
Also acknowledging the presence of my Mom, wife Vicky, sis-in-law Ana Mara and niece Tina Mara, Lucas Diano, Joey Barroga and son Martin, Jeanette Barroga Crossing (w/ her nephew, the son of her sibling Julie), Rico Tayko, Ging General, Techi Sevilla, Cali Tiansay, James Orros, Luisa Distor, Nikki Segundo, Pau’s guests (sorry I don’t know their names) and to the guys who arrived minutes before closing time (I don’t recall their names either). Thank you all!
And so, what i thought started to be a dud turned out to be total fireworks after all. All’s well that ends well, as usual! Moral of the story? Not worth moping. Let’s keep smiling! Grrrrrrrrr..hahaha!
See you all next week!
HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND EVERYONE! GOD BLESS US ALL!
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