Last Sunday (Nov. 27), the day began with a silent calmness as toe fans appeared at the doors of Samsung Hall in SM Aura as early as noon, hoping to score tickets to see the Japanese post-rock act for their third time in Manila. Unfortunately for those who didn’t make the effort to buy their tickets earlier, organizers had to turn down the number of hopefuls at the door. “Sorry, it’s sold out,” security had to tell fans. Some decided to stay behind to at least get a glimpse of the instrumental quartet through the glass doors, and the persistent ones were able to steal a few photos of the band just as they entered the hall for sound check that afternoon. Behind the mixing board was Jay Eigenmann, who was beyond ecstatic to be back in Manila. Now based in New York, Eigenmann has been working with toe over the past year as their touring FOH engineer outside Japan. “It’s not really very often that you get to work with people you look up to,” he says. “They’re the sweetest guys. They’re such talented musicians. It really makes my job easy. They’re really amazing to be on the road with and they […] Continue Reading
Carlos Tañada has been working hard, and with the storm raging outside his window, it looks like he’ll have to kick back for the day. The recording session for the new Up Dharma Down album at bassist Paul Yap’s house has been postponed, and between trail biking in the rain or finishing Uncharted 4 on PlayStation, Tañada settles for the latter in his bedroom. There has been a lot of progress on their fourth studio album UDD, so a little me-time is called for. Armi Millare is in the studio recording vocals, three of Ean Mayor’s drum tracks are on file—it’s now up to Tañada and Yap to fill the songs with rhythm. And this time around, there’s nothing but groove popping in Tañada’s head. Up Dharma Down have been around for over ten years, and releasing a self-titled album has finally come to the table. According to Tañada, they also want to establish more to people that they can call the band “UDD” for short. “It gets tiring to explain,” Mayor admits. “Some events just can’t get the name right. It’s Up Dharma Down—not U.P. Dharma Down, Updharma Down, or Up Dharma. So we’re looking at repacking and rebranding […] Continue Reading
It’s only the first of July and Manila traffic is already simulating the Christmas rush. Brake lights paint the roads red as Giniling Festival cramp themselves in a Toyota RAV4 on route to Terno Inferno. For what should be a ten-minute drive from their rendezvous point in Katipunan, they spend another half hour on the road, and they’re already itching to hit the stage of Route 196. With just fifteen days before they release their third full-length record A La Hoy, Giniling Festival have everything under control. “The album is at the printer, shirts are going into production next week, and sponsors are all good,” drummer Franco Malaya counts down with a confident grin. “I guess it’s safe to say that we’re all set for the launch.” Recording A La Hoy was swift according to Malaya, who quips, “Just like Taylor.” It was recorded and produced over the span of five days at his Katipunan home with the assistance of Luis Azcona (Hapijoey Studio, Maude) and Emil dela Rosa (Campsite Recordings, Faintlight). “It was fast, calm, and exciting.” Vocalist Jeje Santos recounts. “We did not rehearse any of the songs before stepping into the studio. It was so stupid—that’s why […] Continue Reading
