Soft Pillow Kisses is a 5-piece, girl/guy fronted indie pop band from the Philippines. They started in 1999 and have had a number of songs out via compilations, the first one being the Mutual Admiration Society released in 2000. “It Will Never Last (Forever)” was its opening track and it was one of the more memorable songs in the collection. Contributions to Uno Documento Compilo, I’d Spend My Day With You and the Shelflife covers album You’re Still Young At Heart, wherein the band covered Greek indiepop artist The Crooner’s “Over The Rainbow” in 3/4 time, quickly followed thereafter.

The band’s original line-up has changed, primarily due to members leaving the country or pursuing other priorities. The band went on hiatus temporarily but is now back with more gigs and a new song entitled “The Louder You’ll Know.” Recording for this song is still on the works.


Supposedly, they were to release a CD via the U.S. label Shelflife Records and a total of eight songs were to be recorded. Nevertheless, the band decided not to push through.

Half Life Half Death - Pymyth Prahn

Pymyth Prahn is the one and only solo album released commercially by my former band Half Life Half Death, in 1995 on Neo / Viva Records. It was the result of our relatively long and almost jaded struggle to make a splash in the Alternative music ocean.

Birth
Half Life Half Death officially formed in 1988, first members included Joel Reyes (bass), me, aLfie vera mella (vocals), Rain Paggao (guitars), Jonathan Mejino (drums), and Edmund Villafuerte (keyboards). Carol Pobre (female vocals) and Pet de Jesus (rhythm guitars) joined soon after. Other band names we contemplated on using included Fancy Weredoes, The Ashtrays, Strikingly Out of the Ordinary, and plain Half Life.

[We used to practice in Rain's bedroom at their house in Pasay City; very '80s--even the posters on the wall--Rocky, Phoebe, and Ralph.]

Late '80s
Our very first gig took place in March 1988, at the birthday party of my auntie Eliza P. Aranzamendez, held at Better Living Subdivision in Bicutan, Paranaque, Metro Manila, Philippines. We played stuff from Modern English, X-mal Deutschland, The Dead Milkmen, Ramones, The Adventures, A Flock of Seagulls, WUDS, The Cure, and The Clash.

The first public gig was at a concert dubbed as Seed of Paranoia, held in September 1988 at Makati Sports Club. We performed alongside bands that included Violent Playground, Era of Enigma, Major Minor, Oracle of Gamin, Private Image, and Dead Reckoning. We played three songs: our original version of Sharon Cuneta's "High School (Life)," The Dead Milkmen's "The Beach Song," and Third World Chaos's "We Are the One."

[Rock Against Drugs at PUP in February 1989]

Soon thereafter, that successful first gig landed us a special place in the concert series known as The Duke of Charlez's Rock Against Drugs (1988-1991), which took us to gigs at Polytechnic University of the Philippines, San Beda College, University of Santo Tomas, and to a very memorable gig called The Creepy Night held at Ali Mall Skatetown in Cubao, Quezon City; and which gave us the chance to perform and rub shoulders with many of the pioneering bands in the Philippine Alternative Rock scene circa '80s--like Mere Mercy, Dean's December, Khumb Mela Band, Introvoys, Silos, WUDS, Philippine Violators, Ardourn Delirium, Athena's Curse, and The Dawn.

Twisted Red Cross
In 1989 we began recording several compositions with the intent of submitting these to the independent record label Twisted Red Cross owned by Tommy Tanchangco. Unfortunately, we were late. According to TRC, after listening to our demoes, they would have loved to sign us and release our album, but then they were folding shop already. We could have been TRC's final release. Funny thing is, I still have a copies of those demoes which we recorded live using a karaoke machine--very rough recordings but still listenable if only to take a peek at the humble beginnings of our band.

Band Scene
In the ensuing years, we content ourselves with performing at various concerts and parties--times when we had to literally carry our instruments aboard tricycles, pedicabs, taxicabs, jeepneys, and buses just to be at the concert venues. Some band members had left for various reasons--Joel Reyes, Jonathan Mejino, Edmund Villafuerte, Carol Pobre. New members joined in--Ramil Aznar (bass), Rozylyn Torres (female vocals), Bimbo Ballesteros (drums), Ambet Taylo (keyboards and violins), Johnny Miranda (drums).

The next chapter of our journey brought us to the clubs. With the help of some friends and contacts in the music scene, we got to perform regularly at the original Club Dredd - Timog Ave., in Quezon City, and at Mayric's in Sampaloc, Manila.

[First gig at Club Dredd Timog, April 1991]

[Second gig at Club Dredd Timog, around June 1991]

Also we got to join the Yamaha Band Explosion '91, performing alongside fellow contestants Anno Domini, Mutiny in Manila, Mga Anak ng Tupa, and The Flies, and guests Introvoys, Francis M, and AMO Band. We didn't win, but we earned the loudest applause from the crowd and words of appreciation and admiration from Francis Magalona and Paco Arespacochaga.

[Photo shoots for the '91 Yamaha Band Explosion, August 11, 1991]

In 1992, because of many factors that included schooling (some members were in high school or in College at the time), professional occupations, musical differences, and jadedness, the band fell apart. However, before we disbanded we were able to record two compositions--"We Are the Saints" and "A Place"--which received regular airplay at DM 95.5. Sadly, no one among us was able to keep a copy of these recordings.

Mid-'90s
After being disbanded for a year and so, I with members Rain and Ramil started jamming again until we decided to form a trio we named Kimberly Moans. A series of fun and successful private gigs and parties and the return of Pet and Bimbo prompted us to revert to being Half Life Half Death. Refreshed and reactivated, especially that the local alternative music scene was flourishing--courtesy of the rise into commerciality of Eraserheads--we embarked on playing as many gigs as we could manage to get ourselves included.

People who once admired us in the '80s did not forget us! Our gigs were successful. A new radio station emerged, and started supporting and giving airplay to independent local bands. We got inspired.

[On the cover of Rock & Rhythm Music Magazine]

The next logical step was, to record new compositions. In 1994 we headed to Greenhills Sound Studio and recorded three songs with the intent to submit these to LA 105: "Alimango," "Butterflies," and "A Feast in Pastel Castle." After about a month the songs were played onair. After a few months "Alimango" landed on the Top Ten list. Ed Formoso contacted us and offered us a recording contract. We jumped on and grabbed the opportunity. Thus, we recorded "Kapit-Tuko" for A Dozen Alternatives (1994, Iba Music / Viva Records), "Sa Paskong Darating" for Christmas on the Rocks (1994, Iba Music / Viva Records), and "High School (Life)" for Mga Himig Natin Vol. 2 (1995, Vicor Records), and "Nosi Ba Lasi?" for the soundtrack of the movie Okey si Ma'am, starring Paco Arespacochaga and Geneva Cruz (1995, Viva Records).

To legitimize our being a band, we began scouting for a record label which would be willing to sign us up and release our album.

Jett Pangan of The Dawn, who was a label manager at Viva Records at the time sent us feelers. He told us that when he saw us on TV, he knew right away that we were New Wave, and that he had to have us under the stables of Viva.

[Channel 9's Chibugan Na]

[Channel 2's A.S.A.P.]

[Channel 7's GMA Supershow]

Thus borne, Pymyth Prahn. Meaning of this album title? Nothing. Pet and I just wanted to coin a name synonymous to Middle-earth, Neverneverland, Avalon, etc. So out of the blue we thought of it. Actually, it would have been Pymythy Prahndeilfen, but we opted to shorten it for easier recall.

Only Album
We were admittedly excited and enthusiastic, especially that we got to enter a recording studio this time under the wings of a proper recording label, after many years of struggle. We spent about four months in producing the album. I remember having to spend countless days and nights just to make sure that every detail and effect was rendered the way we liked it.

Here are some pictures taken during the recording sessions for the compilation albums in which we were included, prior to Pymyth Prahn.

What was extra special with this album was that we got to get former bandmates and many named musicians to guest in particular songs.

Karen Mariano of The Wailing Pixies in "Alimango" and "We Are the Saints"
Carol Pobre in "Butterflies" and "Unfated Love"
Camille Oro and Apat Subido of Bad Days for Mary in "Kapalarang Kuwago"
Rozylyn Torres in "If All Sleep Tonight" and "Radio Madness"
Lani Toquero of Tribal Fish in "Sarimanok"
Zeejay Jacob of Kelt's Cross in "Nosi Ba Lasi?"
Francis Reyes (also a record coproducer) in "Aligue"
Edmund Villafuerte in "Unfated Love"
Jett Pangan of The Dawn in "Engkanto"
Jonathan Mejino in "Cariñosa"
Guidong Reyes of Emmanuel in "A Feast in Pastel Castle," "We Are the Saints," and "Radio Madness"
Rommel Sanchez of Aftermath in "Nosi Ba Lasi?"
George Imbecille of G.I. & the Idiots and Jay Dimalanta of Dead Ends in "Radio Madness"

...and a lot of friends in "A Feast in Pastel Castle."

Here are some photos taken during the album launching held at Mayric's on July 31, 1996. Our guest bands were Bad Days for Mary (unfortunately, I was unable to save any pictures of them) and The Dawn, who reformed just for this gig. Pitching in on bass for The Dawn was Perf de Castro. Several musician friends were there in support, like members of Alamid, Sugar Hiccup, Dominion, LVNA, and Dream Kitchen.

I included in this posting the versions of songs that we recorded and submitted in 1993 for airplay on LA 105 (Sessions for LA 105) and the rips from a copy of the demo cassette tape that we submitted in 1989 to Twisted Red Cross.

The "Session songs" are, of course, clear and well presentable since that we recorded these at a recording studio, Greenhills Sounds Studio. The demo songs are just that, mere demoes, recorded live in 1989 at the bedroom of bassist Ramil Aznar with some overdubs using a karaoke machine. Very rough indeed, yet listenable, just to have a peek at the early forms of some of our songs. Among these, only a few songs made it to Pymyth Prahn. I didn't include demo #10, "Always Dream of You," because it was corrupted.

Where Are We Now?
The three key members of Half Life Half Death are Rain Paggao, Ramil Aznar, and me. Currently, despite each having his respective professional job now--Rain as a district attorney in Makati City, Philippines, Ramil Aznar as a video director in the Philippines, and I--a health care aide at a hospital and a columnist for a newspaper here in Canada--we still manage to keep our passion for music on the sides.

Rain Paggao, aside from his music project with his brother, The Rain, also plays the guitars for Dead Pop Stars.

Ramil Aznaris the current frontman (vocalist/guitarist) of Dream Kitchen. With him in the band at this particular gig were Aldrin Cardona, Gilbert Tiongson, and Gremar Bernil all of whom became members of Half Life Half Death during the band's last days in 2003.

And myself, aLfie vera mella, the frontman (vocalist and keyboardist) of haLf man haLf eLf and Half Endangered Species.

[I miss the original, my orange plastic toy guitar, which I left in the Philippines]

Pet de Jesus migrated to Paris, France, in 1999, and have lived there since, working at the United Nations' Paris headquarters, involved with the ozone protection. He regularly visits the Philippines and hook up with friends.

Jonathan Mejino immigrated to Washington, USA, in 1992, and have lived there since. He was on a vacation in the Philippines in 1995, during the time we were recording Pymyth Prahn, so he got to perform the drum tracks for the song "Cariñosa." He visited me twice in British Columbia, in 2003 and in 2004 when I was still living there.

Edmund Villafuerte and his family have recently immigrated to the US, both he and his wife are working now as nurses. We talk on the phone occasionally.

Carol Pobre, who was the first runnerup in the 1995 Binibining Pilipinas, has long been working in the administrative department of Shell Pilipinas. We exchange e-mails and missives once in a while.

Joel Reyes works at a ship of the Prince of Dubai, and gets to visit his family in the Philippines every several months. We exchange e-mails once in a while.

Rozylyn Torres, who was one of the backup vocalists in The Dawn's Live album, a member of (Tres) Mariya (the precursor of Mariya's Mistress) with Cool Carla and Lenie Llapitan, a member of Prettier than Pink, has long been in a band named Red Rose with musicians who include Maegan Aguilar. The last time we corresponded via e-mail was a few years ago.

Ambet Taylo works as a violinist at a ship; gets to visit regularly his family in the Philippines. We got to say hello to each other via e-mail about a year ago.

Bimbo Ballesteros and his nurse wife and their kids are now living in California, USA. He calls me on the phone occasionally. He still plays the drums.

Johnny Miranda, from whom I haven't heard since the late '90s, I heard, was in the Philippines.



Aldrin Cardona, a sportswriter/editor for a Philippine newspaper, is currently the guitarist of Dream Kitchen. We correspond to each other once in a while via the newwave101 yahoogroup.

Gilbert Tiongson, who works at Manila City Hall, is the drummer of Dream Kitchen. We send e-mails to each other once in a while.

Gremar Bernil, a professional musician, is currently abroad in Southeast Asia with his band. He recently visited the Philippines and was able to join Dream Kitchen in a few gigs. He e-mails me every time there's a chance.


I Would To Thank Alfie Vera Mella (Half Man Half Elf ) for sharing this article please visit his personal account at http://elfideas.multiply.com/
Thank you very much really appreciated what you doin! thanks ...
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Melody Style Apartment

Melody Style Apartment started in a hot summer days of 2003. College buddies, Ronald, Marvin and Robbie started covering teenage fanclub & weezer in Robbie's parent's house. They were soon joined by Ayie, also their classmate in college. the four decided to write their own songs. "The Date" was the first song they had written and played with loungegazey kind of mood, and then followed by "Mood Swing", another gazey song that is more fitted on a female voice. Dennis, a high school friend of Ronald, took on guitar duties with the band, switched roles with ronald on keyboards until Mitchell joined the band in 2004 as their vocals. During this time they played live in one of MTVphils shows (total crap!). Mitchell left the band, followed by Robbie to work on his own, and was replaced by Jordan. Connie Francis who's the only one who replied to our help wanted ad joined on vocals. 2006 was a very eventful year for the band. They were invited by Czandro of Sugar Hiccup(while he's signing our sugar hiccup album hehehe) to play with them live in 6 Underground Bar in Makati City. followed by more gigs. For this, they were asked by the latter to record their songs to be included in 6UG Sampler CD. The band came up with their poppish 2 songs, "Two Way Coaster" and "Her Confession"...

uhm wait, still there?

April 2006 saw the band enter the recording studio, the band were so happy with the results of this experiment.

Band Members
::Connie - Vocals, Guitars

::Marvin - Bass

::Jordan -Drums

::Dennis - Guitars, Vocals

::Ayie - Guitars

::Onatz - Keys, Synths, Vocals

there site visit them at:
http://www.myspace.com/melodystyleapartment











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Kelt's Cross

(article written 1996 hot his mags)

Kelts Cross Zeejay is a born star. All dressed up most of the time, screaming in front of an audience. She always carries herself with grace, a pleasant self ease and conviction that allows her to slip into any guise is the most natural thong in the world.

Kelts Cross as you're aware is among the batch thats long been on the indie scene watchers list of bands thats predicted to become huge and given the wide acclaim they've gain through constant live appearances thats seeing of some pretty accurate prediction. Kelts Cross are Zeejay, Pam, Jeng, and Shiels, all school girls enrolled at various reputable learning institutions. Between them, they play guitars, bass drums at a decidedly furious manner. Think of their influences like Silverfish, Sonicfish, Sonic Youth, Babes in Toyland at their loudest and you get a quick impression of their sound.


http://www.megaupload.com/?d=IJBBN58N

Ciudad

Ciudad is a Filipino rock band which started in 1994 when 13-14 year-old sophomore high school classmates Mikey, Jeff, Justin and Mitch grouped together to make a song for their Social Studies homework. Having lots of songs written after that project, the group decided to continue the band and went on to infiltrate the underground rock scene in Manila with their happy bubblegum rock with seemingly nonsensical lyrics. Ciudad got their break in 2000 when they released their first album "Hello! How Are You, Mico the Happy Bear?" under BMG Records which spawned the singles "Sipilyo," "Radio Guy," and "With Me."

In 2002, the boys decided to go independent and bought their own recording equipment to track and mix their second record. The album "Is That Ciudad? Yes, Son, It’s Me" was released in 2003 and earned them nods from critics and music-lovers all around. The album revealed a different, more-mature, and less-saccharine-happy side to Ciudad with tender and heartrending melodies like "Dance Lessons," "Make It Slow," and "Dessie Belle." However, the band didn’t abandon their tongue-in-cheek catchy pop sensibilities with songs like "Monica (Karl's Fantasy)," "Mascot (Justin's Revenge)," and "The Herb."

In 2005, the band released their 3rd album "Its Like a Magic" which is a collection of old songs they wrote around 1994-1998 before they went on to write and record those released in the first album. The album featured the crowd favorites “Fixing The Radio,” “Benny And Betty,” and “Cool Nerds.”

The band just finished work on their 4th record. Entitled ”Bring Your Friends," it is the band’s most mature work to date. Having found their love for beautiful/sad songs, the boys of Ciudad have put out a collection of songs about the hardships of long-distance relationships, the frustrations of the wait for a loved one, damage-controlling a failed love, and the sometimes-unavoidable need for space. Although they have nearly abandoned their happy-happy-joy-joy way of writing songs, Ciudad still hasn’t lost it’s touch for catchy melodies - they are still as sweet as ever. But this time around, their lyrics seem to make sense.

Mikey Amistoso - vocals, bass, piano
Justin Sunico - guitar, vocals
Mitch Singson - drums
Jeff Cabal - guitar, vocals

free stuff

New Ciudad video, directed by Wincy Ong,... for the song "Friday Noon" off the upcoming album "Bring Your Friends."



"Fixing the Radio" from "Its Like A Magic," directed by Ciudad.

Boldstar

You Must Have Been A Beautiful Something, What Are You Really? by Boldstar

Despite the economic slowdown in this country and the doldrums that the local music scene finds itself mired in, there remain a small number of courageous musicians who go against the grain, stubborn people who do their utmost to put their music across no matter what the limitations are. Case in point is the band Boldstar. They have recorded their debut album, the eccentrically titled “You Must Have Been A Beautiful Something, What Are You Really?” without major label support and are at present peddling the 19-track CD sans record shop distribution. This brave unit is composed of ex-Blast Ople Marie Jamora on vocals and drums, Itchyworm Jazz Nocholas on vocals and bass, guitarist Echo Singson, and Ciudad’s Justin Sunico on lead guitar. The foursome’s, er, boldness isn’t just some unsubstantiated case of over-confidence. They are sufficiently backed up by excellent tracks! It’s remarkable that the song writing and arrangement are reflective of certain maturity typical of a veteran group. They belie the fact that Boldstar is a very young band, formed around three years ago. The tunes lay bare influences from the ’60s rock-pop of The Beatles, which is of no surprise since Nicholas is from the Fab Four-permeated Itchyworms, ’90s indie artists like Bis, Juliana Hatfield, and even Pinoy rock heroes Eraserheads. Incidentally, Ehead Buddy Zabala produces the album with a couple of tracks done by fellow Ehead/Sandwich statesman/Squid 9’s alter ego Raimund Marasigan. Aside from ransacking the producers’ bedrooms for recording, true to the D.I.Y. aesthetic, Boldstar also trooped to indie-friendly Sound Creation headed by affable engineer Shinji Tanaka.

The 19 songs are so catchy they reverberate around your head long after the final track has played. The usual muddiness of independently produced music is nowhere to be found, a considerable achievement for both band and producers. The vernacular “walang tapon” is the suitable description for the whole album. Discover the wonders of technology and cosmetic surgery with “Betamax” and “Something About Twins And Surgery” respectively, the pop-perfection of “Accident Prone” with its charming bursts of distortion, the bittersweet “Anchor,” alien life in “Salidious,” experiments with spoons and indigenous-Beach Boy (intrigued yet?) ululations in “Condiment Symphony,” and toilet humor in “Pork Siomai” a song that would make Parokya Ni Edgar or even VST proud. Citing what to expect from the album with those six songs isn’t even half of how awesome the whole journey is. These pop gems from Boldstar are effortlessly breathing life into an otherwise decomposing corpse that is the Philippine music scene.

This wonderful collection of songs, which the members have tagged as a “double-album” (get the album and find out for yourself why), is one more massive middle finger pointed at the oft-clueless, musically-deadened major labels. The band set out courageously to do it their way, no compromises, no kowtowing. Another admirable triumph for the local indie scene that we all should prop-up!

(Get your copy for only 199Php by contacting +63918-528-4426, +63917-536-2541, and +63917-345-6692)

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Mighty Man And Yuk

Ignore Us Please!
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Spring Botique

　

A very OBSCURE but WONDERFUL indiepop group from Manila, Philippines (for sure this is the first time you've encountered the band) that plays happy and carefree pop tunes that will make you head-bopping in no time! But Please, give them a chance! If you like the music of Acid House Kings, early Club 8, Red Sleeping Beauty, early Cardigans or St. Etienne, you'll gonna love this pop group! Their debut LP "Sunny Day Pop Tuesday" is already released by Quince Records in Japan and also being distributed to different parts of the World. Be sure to check their site (www.quince-records.com) for more details. They also released a cd-r EP on Shelflife Records (www.shelflife.com) in the US. For more info, log on to www.springboutique.tk or join the boring mailing list at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/springboutique or get in touch with Antz through his Friendster account sonicblissunion@yahoo.com.

MEMBER
Anthony Agarpao[guitars]
Precious Agarpao [guitars]
Lorelie Landavora[vocals]
Basil James Silva[drums]
Caleb Domingo[bass]
links:
Buy The Album
Friendster Account
tweenet
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Sonnet LVIII

Sonnet 58

Inspired by Ride, Chapterhouse, The Jesus And Mary Chain, Adorable and My Bloody Valentine, childhood friends Dale, Rhon and Elmer formed Sonnet LVIII (or Sonnet 58) in 1992. Rhon's brother Romel and his friend Gonzalo joined in a couple of months later. They hung out in Rhon's living room and wrote songs incessantly, most of which were about their daydreams and reveries. In the following years, Sonnet LVIII played numerous clubs around Metro Manila including Club Dredd, Mayric's, Café Romeo and Music Museum and was an integral part of the famed Awakenings and No Zone scenes. In 1996, Sonnet LVIII went into the studio to record a handful of songs which they hoped would be released soonafter. But this wasn't meant to be. So the band continued to trudge along as they tried to look for a record label who would release their music. In 2000, Sonnet LVIII got tired looking for a label and decided to release a 200-copy, sticker-labeled, self-produced four-song CD-EP called "Treasure Heaven". The song, and the EP, created quite a buzz in the Manila music scene. "Treasure Heaven" got decent airplay from local radio station NU107, the CD-EP was sold out, and the band won the Best Unsigned Artist award from the NU107 Rock Awards. That same year, a live version of "A Perfect Day" was included in the Documento Records compilation "Uno Documento Compilo". 2003 saw the inclusion of "A Perfect Day" in the compilation Dashboard Teddy version 1.0 from Manila's Dorothy Records.


Band Members:
Gonz Alfonso, Rhon Cajayon, Dale Marquez, Romel Cajayon, Elmer Macaraig
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Populardays

Populardays' kind of music was indiepop, shoegaze in nature, a type of music which employs the use of some blithe and fondness which sometimes referred to as Twee and sometimes utilize the contrivance of discord and enmity which expressed the angst inside.

Erick - Vox and Guitars
Charles - Vox and Guitars
Ian - Bass Guitar
Jann Paul - Drums
link
link

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Ethnic Faces' Dekada

Launch of Ethnic Faces' Dekada CD (Octo-Arts EMI).Cafe Romeo, 1996. Also launched that night were albums by Put 3 Ska, Death By Stereo & Snakebite Religion.

Ethnic Faces ..Where are they now?

(from an issue of pulp magazine i dont know who wrote this article and when was it publish)
Wher are they now?Not a lot pf people have heard of ETHNIC FACES , But

there a few who still remeber the quirky single " Para bang Bowling,"and
"Golden Boy"

Ethnic FAces wasa an offshoot of two very bands - Ocean Zoo and Lost Boys- in the misdts of the bludgeoing punk scene of the early 80's. Playing new wave before anyone else ever did in concert right after frentic sets of punk bands Ethinic faces established its own set of followers. They were also the only foolish enough to play originals even when nobosys ever heard of them before. Live lead singer Jack Sikat had been the perfect front man - painting his face, bringing a gong on stage , slammiong with guitar player on stageand wearing his trademark salakot. the bands essence was a heavy mix of thier new wave interest, Pinoy humor and political activism. their contemporaries include Ironic Trauma (founded by Teddy Diaz before he did the DAWN), College, led by Arnold Morales (who later formed Put3Ska), identity Crisis, Deans December ( led by Binky Lamapano) and other who got air play at XB 102.7 But there are people who only got who simply refuse to acknowledge

Ethnic Faces conttribution to the music scnece conviently leaving them out of any historical accounts of Pinoy Music Still Ethnic Faces song are featured in various compilation album like BRave new world - live from 1984(love and within tribes )1986 subterreanea romance vol. 1 (with original version of Golden Boy ) 10 of another kind from 1989 ( balik BAyan and another version of golden Boy) Dear Cory 1990 ( Brutal Scars) and LA Rock in 1995 (Parang Bowling)
Later the famed indie producer (and now LA 105 exec) Ed Formoso approaced them to record a full lenght album for the first time in years. The result DEKADA in 1995. Manny Pagsuyuin also a formerly with Ironic Trauma and nopw a DJ (jummy jam to DWLS-FM 97.1 listeners)
wrote in the album liners notes "The FAces were alternative long before it was called as such"
the FAces "comeback album of sorts showed the musicians side in theit topmost form as there influences broadened with age leaning toward soul and acid jazz long before people started hailing the arival of "retro fever"epetuated by silly covers bands. Philippine based American journalist DAvid Gonzales praised the band musicianship in his review ppublished at the MaNIla Times facinated that a local band could be this adventurous ((suicidal I would say) He even noted the superb horn arragement mistaking it for the work of actual horn section ( he was shoeked to find that the sound was coaxed out of the sound module as arranged by the band keyboardist)The problem was Jack heart wasnt in it any more. After years of playing and contributing to compilation for him the magic was gone and this was just one of the things that had to be done. It was unfortunate because these people are talented musicians who are in some way still respected by ther peers even as younger musicians remain clueless.

Ethinic faces was gone as soon asa they had come back they've paid for stubbornly refusing to igve in to the pre sures of maintream appleal...and for always being way aahead of their time.

So where are they now? BAss player RHANY TORRES known for his frettless bass now plays for brownbeat allstar and produces its self titled debut album; original guitarist BOYET MIGUEL still plays for tame the tikbalang and is a partner in a graphic design and recording studio buisness; drummer JAYVEE TORRES and guitarist ARIEL POLICARPIO (who replaced Boyet) are now with Color it Red. keybopardist ED RAMOS has quitely pursued the less complicated life of a musical arranger. Left unaccounted for was originall Drummer BHOJIE GABRIEL and vocalist JACK SIKAT whos said to be either a PE instructor in his alma matter ST. Josehp College running his dad security agency or in a drug rehab.....

Squid 9

A hip-hop influenced band, Squid 9 solo project of Ex Eraserhead Raimund Marasigan started out as a studio act, formed from members of the Eraserheads, Monsterbot and Sun Valley Crew among others. It was soon performing live shows as well. Squid 9 released three albums: "Deleted Scenes", "Kraken Modular" and "Ink Jet". Squid 9 is also part of Electronica Manila and often collaborates with Wolfmann+. Squid9 Live is composed of Raimund Marasigan on samplers, drum machine and Chaos Pad), Vin Dancel (Twisted Halo) and Kathy Meneses (Daydreamcycle) on vocals, Buddy Zabala (The Dawn, Twisted Halo & Cambio) on bass, keyboards and samplers and Rann Golamco (Drip, Porta, and formerly of MOJOFLY) on guitars. Marasigan calls his home studio "The Squid Crib".

INKJET

Bad Days For Mary!

I know a band way way ago during the 90's scene and i regretfully don't forgive my self haven't brought any cassettes or CD. I didn't quit recall there sound because it wasn't played that much during that days. Now I'm giving you an article from a magazine or should i say songhits mags.

Hothits Song Magazine
Issue No. 143
101196
Article Title: "Bad Days For Mary Are Going!
Author : Gwen D.

Some fellas actually believe that BAD DAYS FOR MARY is a death metal band. And the whole bunch breaks out loud guffaws.
To tune you in, let me introduce you first to Marry. Yep it may be she. The woman in the holy book. It may be any ordinary woman. Or a man. And the possibilities of her or it or him having bad days is far from zero. Mary maybe you or me. There goes the WHY BDFM tune.
Good days.
Let me introduce you to the band. Ixan Subido is the lead guitarist. Georgelyn Francisco is the bass player Mad Abril keyboadist, BJ Cabaluna, rhythm guitars, Irvin Paras, drummer and Camille Oro, the vox. As of this writing, the band is about to sign up with a major record company. They had 4AD in mind as first choice but most of true. So, they decided to settle for a second best. Enough with the crap that we ordinary folks do not settle for a second best. As Mad would put it, "We will never be rock stars. We belong to the mass."
His and her story.
Ixan is a foundation of melodies and words. Knows wh? 'Coz she's always involved with love. Either wvery "in" or just come "out." All the time. But one day, she became so bored with her routine she started writing to her favorite songhiys (not Jingle) and asked "Are you sick and tired of being a face a crowd?" This spawned one of the bands piece "Face In A Crowd".

And it came to pass that George and "cool," so the guys met. BJ, the column editor in that songhits later joined them. And the original vocalist Jhoi Solano soon follwed. Back then, Ixan hit the skin and tins.
And here comes another theory as to how Bad Days For Mary came to existence: Their first rehearsal - March 17, 1990 - was such a drag, one of them whose real name is Mary, thought: what a bad day for me! Or something to that effect. Their first cover song something to that effect. And their first original is I Have a Boyfriend penned by Ixan. They did Suzanne Vega, Sinead O' Conor and later 10,000 Manics. Their first gig was at UP Diliman campus. Then Mayrics, then one after another half.
1992 proved to be dominated by bad days as Jhoi said her bye. Additional dilemma came when Ican finally decided to play lead guitar. Scene scribe friend Sigfried came to the rescue with Irvin in tow. You didn't expect Ixan to just sit and stare. She placed a Vocalist Wanted ad in Buy and Sell. And one fateful day in October 1994, Camille walked in the lives of Ixan, George, BJ, Mad and Irvin. It was not the end of the story and this is no fairy tale, so they did not live happily ever after. In fact, they just kept on playing their music until it became fine and sexy they called it bubblegum pop
The treat.
The album called " Lets Talked Of More Pleasant Things." What makes this extra sweet is Camille's voice plus the simplicity of the melodic accompaniment. What makes it bitting and better than other local release is the song talk of Mind Over Matter, also a cut in the album. The song are about real people that get hurt, then give up. People who eat donut in bed. Yep, thats another one if the cuts--Donuts In Bed--I ate donuts in my bed ants bit my lips, pain struck my heart.
Then theres the poignant I Have a Boy Friend -- and has a girl friend. But it doesn't matter, as long as we're together.
The Nu107 favorite Violet that celebrates the death if an unrequited love.
Teach me not to love you
Teach me not to care.
So I wont cry...another song goes. And then another goes...
I told you once I wish my heart was made of stone...
You did the right thing, darling...
One last message for you fellas, catch the band before they begin to look like celebrities.

-end-
Thats how the article ended!But after more than a decade they all suddenly forgotten where are they now? Ill post more articles and there music in the future you just wait...

Album Name : Lets Talk Of More Pleasant Things
Artist: Bad Days For Mary
Track List:
1. Mind Over Matter
2. Violer
3. Piranhas Eating My Brain
4. Split Milk
5. I Have A Boyfriend
6. Wishing Stars
7. Donuts In My Bed
8. I'm In Love
9. Kwentong Roces
10. You Did The Right Thing
11. Face In The Crowd