BangBang Dos! Finally! (repost)

by Ryan Macalandag

Finally! It's out. In a couple weeks time, BangBang Dos the second compilation album of all-original songs by eight (8) Boholano bands will be launched. The album launching will be held at Martin's Music Bar on March 21, 2009. Show starts 8pm.

Score your tickets now before they're all sold out. Tickets at P50.



Keept posted for news and updates.

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Sinulog 2009 Celebration

Festival Photography by Ryan Macalandag

I've never really shot the Sinulog Festival before. I forgot my reasons for not going. I was probably just lazy. But anyways, this year, together with more than a thousand other photographers, I registered for the "photo contest". I reckoned it would be cool to shoot the Grand Parade with an all-access ID. So off I went.





Actually, "off I went" when the thing was already half finished. At around 10am Sunday, I was still at home in Tagbilaran City, watching the mardigra on TV. I did not leave until 11:35 (Oceanjet) and arrived Cebu at 1:40 in the afternoon. From Pier 1, the roads where already packed with people. I walked about 2 kilometers to Abellana through Colon. I arrived 3pm half-wet from rain and sweat.









The Photographer-Videographer ID was very useful indeed. First, it got me inside the grandstand where the "dance interpretation" contest for all the contingents were held. And of course, in the streets where the crowds are thick, I can just flash my ID and we were let into the route where the dancers do their thing.

The ID was also helpful to let a few friends in. But that was not entirely legal I think.



Anyways, I wasn't really in the mood to shoot until the last dance troupe, so I went with Bea and Teo to Maud's place just near Jones (French invasion). The streets were still very crowded.

When we got to Maud's, everyone took a nap while I reviewed my 200 or so photos from the day's shoot. Bea had over 2000 photos. I really helps if you get there early. Bea was there already from the start.

For dinner, we went to Yellow Cab Pizza in Mango Avenue. We walked the whole stretch from Jones too! It was just crazy all over the streets with throngs and throngs of people walking to Mango or Ayala where the street parties where.







After a rather hefty Meat-lover and Garden Fresh pizza dinner, we again schlepped our way to The Outpost in Lahug (there where no taxi's anywhere because of the traffic!) where we were to meet Manu, Didin and Scott, more friends from Bohol.







Outpost was relatively quieter than in Mango or Ayala. The band line-up for the night was mostly reggae or thereabouts. Marla, Scott's "friend", did vocals for Island Joe a ska band.

Kadangyan and Mungkanghan, both enthno-tribal-worldbeat bands also played. And of course, Budoy's Junior Kilat also performed on stage.

We went home after Budoy and a few bottles of Coors and Cerveza Negra at around 4am already. Whew! Pit Senyor! indeed.



To view more photos, please visit: my Flickr or my Picasa account

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YorDaddy Band Promo Photo Shoot

Band Photography by Ryan Macalandag



YorDaddy broke into Bohol's underground music in the second half of 2007 creating a few songs with catchy tunes, witty lyrics and some pure Boholano rock n' roll goodness. With songs sung in Bisaya, the group wants to promote local pride and spread Boholano music to the whole world.







For more information on the band or for gigs and bookings, please visit their MySpace account.

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Music: Manok ni Ambo - Band Promo Pics

Band Photography by Ryan Macalandag
Mansasa District, Tagbilaran City, Bohol



Manok ni Ambo has been around for a few months now. They've been in the local underground rock scene playing alternative rock covers from bands like Chevelle and Silverchair. Roy (guitar/vocals), Ambo (bass) and Manok (drums) really rock it out when doing their stage performances.

Currently, their current guitar/vocals addition, Siegfred will be playing sessions together with the rest to hopefully come up with new materials for their debut album which they will record in SoundGarage Recording Studio.



More photos from the session inside. Click the link below and please leave your comments also.







For more information regarding the band, please visit their Friendster account.

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Music: Loboc Youth Band

Concert Photos by Ryan Macalandag
Tagbilaran City, Bohol, Philippines



My wife Reg and my sister Liza thought otherwise, but I thought the Loboc Youth Band are an amazing bunch to behold and listen to.

Imagine a group of 150 talented kids with their trumpets, trombones, flutes and what-nots, playing a range of tunes that are both skillfully tough and musically fun. Add-in a dash of kid's play and a hint of humorous side-plays. I was pretty amazed. Awed and amazed.



These kids all hail from the town of Loboc in Bohol, known for their musical heritage and the internationally acclaimed Loboc Children's Choir. Their ages range from 6 to 15 based on their looks. I won't be surprised if some of them were younger though.





The group is conducted/led by Rene Balbin, Lobocanon and also a music icon in Bohol. His performance was equally impressive also.



They played for an hour (and some) after the awarding ceremonies of this year's Sandugo Streetdancing competition. Hundreds of people saw the event.

Kudos to the group!

P.S. Reg commented that "i didn't really think otherwise...it's just that i was expecting more of a local repertoire. that presentation could have been a great opportunity to showcase local music"..I'm sorry Mommy..my bad..hehe

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Music: American Pie Videos

American Pie is a great song and really showed Don McLean's talent in songwriting. But transcending all that, the song really succeeded in telling the story about the music scene in the 60's and how it all changed/evolved/decayed in the 70's. And of course, the song wouldn't be written if Buddy Holly hadn't died -- the day the music died.



The songwriter carefully chose the images and symbols he used to capture his audience. The song would eventually spawn multitudes of discussions regarding the American pop culture in those decades -- even in literature classes.

Here are more videos of this song:
- Don Mclean - American Pie
- Weird Al's Version for Star Wars

Enjoy!

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Events: Field of Screams 1 @ Martin's Bar

It's quite difficult for underground rock bands in Bohol to get a decent event to play at these days. No producer seems to be interested with producing a concert with bands who look like (and sound like) a bunch of hungry retards/addicts/degenerates pounding on empty rice kettles. All they want are the commercially viable, publicly loved and horribly boring radio pop-rock bands. I mean, I totally understand them. They won't bet their money on something that won't be a viable for the cashflow.

But, some bands got brains too, apparently. "Why not produce our own concert/event for ourselves?", they thought. Genius. The result was a night of sweet and pure rock 'n roll chaotic fun. A total of thirteen (or so?) rock bands from Bohol's underground scene came out and got together for a wickedly wicked hell of a party at Martin's Bar in Gallares. The event was dubbed, Field of Screams.






About a hundred or so rock-thirsty boys and girls flocked and crammed themselves into a standing-room-only bar. The nooks, crannies and even the hallway to the toilet was filled to the brim.

Red horse - the beer of choice - overflowed and intensified every beat of the songs played upfront. You can already hear the old wooden walls and floor of the bar moaning and groaning.








The night had to end at 12 midnight though. As the son's and daughter's of rock and roll drunkily haul their rocked-out asses out of the place, one could not help but ask when will this happen again? Fact is, there is no telling when.



Thanks and kudos to Plug-Out Productions for the blind-courage of making this happen. Roy Tutor SoundGarage for the undying loyalty to your dream. For the boys and girls who saw it all happen.



(More of this set, here.)
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Photos by Ryan Macalandag
Gear: Nikon D80, SB-600
Copyright ©2007 All rights reserved.

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Personal: SoundGarage Rehearsal Studio is now open

Make no mistake. SoundGarage Studio is the best rehearsal studio in Bohol. Owned and managed by a famous musician/recording artist and long-time friend, Roy Tutor, SoundGarage is set to be a recording studio soon.

SoundGarage a fully airconditioned band rehearsal studio is located at M. Torralba St., Tagbilaran City. For bookings and reservations, please call, 09206135957 (SMART).

For more photos from this set, click here.

__________________________________
Photo by Ryan Macalandag
Shot using a Nikon D80 DSLR
Copryright ©2007 All rights reserved.

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Events: Spongcola @ ICM

Alrighty. I never knew Spongcola frontman's name before. During their first Bohol concert though, people (mostly girls, young girls) were incessantly yelling, "Yael!" (did I get it right?). It must be his name then. I didn't get his companions' names though. Their names weren't mentioned as many times as Yael's.





Anyhow, my apparent ignorance of Pinoy band member's names was shared in common with most of my companions that night. Most of them were French - Tuff, Miriam, Jean and Bea. Vera who danced like crazy to the songs is German. Terence knew the band though, being the Pinoy Band maniac that he is! Hehehe Tito on the other hand, just didn't care enough.




Sheena, on her blog, mentioned about a fireworks display. I didn't get to see it though.

__________________________________________
All photographs taken by Ryan Macalandag
using a Nikon D80 DSLR
Copyright ©2007 All rights reserved.

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Photobin: Alfonso Varquez

Alfonso Varquez, originally uploaded by Ryan Macalandag.

Loboc, Bohol, Philippines -- Alfonso "Nong Ponso" Varquez poses in front of a mural bearing an old picture of the Loboc Band he once was a member of. Up to this day he still has a great passion for music thus making him the best choice to be the curator of the music section of the Loboc Museum.

Lighting Info: One Vivitar 283 on-cam bounced to opposite wall for a greater subject to light-size ratio.

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