Someone once said that rain is perfect Ska weather, and I never really realized that until last Saturday at SKAMAX’s return outing at The Spot in Monumento. There was a sudden heavy downpour as we headed to Caloocan, but despite the crazy rain, a big crowd was already outside the venue when we arrived. After some catch up with friends and members of other bands penned to perform that night it was time to get it on!
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| The Crowd, photo: Katrizzia Bernabe |
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| Bokyo of Rude Diments, photo: Katrizzia Bernabe |
I was very keen to see the Malabon-based SKAMAX debutants, Rude Diments, and Nyte In Tunesia, and I was not disappointed. First up was Rude Diments, a promising group that will go a long way.
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| Jan (Shuffle Union) |
As the “eldest”, Shuffle Union played support act for SKAMAX’s main draw of younger bands and played second. It was a special night for us as it served as our new sax player Marcy David’s debut. Dennis delos Santos, of former CS band Snubnose (who are having a one night reunion on Sept 27), played a few songs with Shuffle Union as well.
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Marcy David Jr. on Saxophone for Shuffle Union, with Mae (vocals), Melvin (Trumpet), and Marlon(Trombone),
photo: Katrizzia Bernabe |
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| Mike Ubales (Shuffle Union), photo: Katrizzia Bernabe |
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| Marlon (Shuffle Union) |
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| Marcy Jr. (Shuffle Union) |
Pinkcow performed next with the stage energy that has became their trademark, followed by Skamax veterans Steadymovinbeat (SMB) whose growth as a band since their early days I’ve followed through the years.
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| The Dandimites, photo: Katrizzia Bernabe |
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| Bok Sanchez (Dandimites), photo: Katrizzia Bernabe |
The third Skamax debut band was the Dandimites who have steadily grown as a tight rocksteady/reggae outfit. Front man Nick Pascual’s The Monsoons were next, their neo-trad ska stylings perfectly complemented this night where the audience were treated to the complete spectrum of Philippine Ska applications. We might as well have a new “sub-genre” called “applied ska.” I’m looking forward to hearing more of them soon.
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| The Monsoons |
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| Nick Pascual (vocals, The Monsoons), photos: Katrizzia Bernabe |
Closing the night was the other Malabon-based group, Nyte In Tunesia. A tight outfit that, similar to their neighbors from Rude Diments will surely be a fixture in future SKA events. The rainy night was indeed perfect for a night of maximum ska. Great work from Janelle Bernardo, head organizer of SKAMAX v2.012. Big cheers are also in order for Eddy and The Spot in Monumento for being gracious hosts.
See you on Sept.27 at PiliSkapinas presents: Moonhop!
Check out other pics here.
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