One Week Ago at Big Sky Mind

This is a long overdue review of the gig that was at Big Sky Mind last July 24. It was TRIBUTES, the 2nd thanksgiving night for the 1st issue of SPROUT Magazine. The night featured SHUFFLE UNION , COFFEEBREAK ISLAND, LADY-I , DREADKNOT USED, and JEEPNEY JOYRIDE. After rehearsals, in preparation for the 1st Manila Skafest the following night, we went straight to that quaint but famous venue of E.Rodriguez, and found that people had already gathered enough to fill the venue and the attached sidewalk that held familiar faces.

Even Pauline Black likes the Manila Ska Fest!

Shuffle Union INVINCIBLE on Philippine Star's "The Outsider" article..read on

--THIS IS SKA--Up until recently, ska was never one of my favorite genres in music. Perhaps due to my growing aversion to reggae — in particular Bob Marley — it was quite easy to dismiss it as well. (To digress a bit, if I don’t hear Buffalo Soldier or 3 Little Birds again in my life, it will be fine with me. Plus getting dreadlocks and a henna tattoo to match your “Legend” CD doesn’t make you a “rasta”— although it might just confirm that you are an idiot. Trenchtown is nothing like Boracay either, mon.) But good music can cut through these biases, even for the stubborn, obstinate ones like me. And there’s a lot of that to discover in ska, in particular the local scene.

The late, great Je Bautista explained it to me once that “ska is reggae on beer while reggae is ska on pot.” A man of impeccable musical tastes, he always tried his best to push me beyond my comfort zones and musical boundaries. A true punk, he was responsible for getting me into all sorts of things: The Stiff Little Fingers, Angelic Upstarts, Black Flag, MDC as well as Nick Drake, MC Solaar, The Orb… He never got stuck in the ‘70s punk of The Sex Pistols or The Ramones although he did love The Clash with a passion ‘til his death. But he did love ska and, among the bands playing the local scene, he loved Shuffle Union.

Recorded live last February at Cubao X during Trashradio Manila and Bisikleta Production’s “Louie Louie” — a tribute concert for drummer Luis “Weslu” Guiang — “Invincible” is a good starter for those who’ve yet to hear Shuffle Union’s music. Included in the album are live renditions of band staples such as Batty Boy, He’s Mine (this writer’s personal favorite) and Dance With Me. Also included is Thank You, their personal tribute to the legendary drummer who played with G.I. and the Idiots, Put3ska and Throw as well as Shuffle Union.

Truth be told, Shuffle Union’s music isn’t always ska but flirts with a modified kind of power pop. The gorgeous melodies as sung by the band’s two vocalists Mae Ilagan and January Bautista are pushed to greater heights by the band’s persistent rhythm section. More often than not, there is an obvious debt to Style Council-era Paul Weller but with the energy and immediacy of his Jam days. Even the technical glitches inherent in live performance don’t detract from the charm of the songs themselves (although it’s enough to make me giddy thinking what they could do in the studio).

As their press release on their blog says: “The release was officially announced May 23 during Shuffle Union’s live performance at Doobie Nights, where they also announced a tour dubbed ‘Shuffle Union Invincible-Live Album Tour.’ The ‘Invincible’ tour will (go through) Batangas, Baguio City, Laguna, Bulacan and Quezon City.” It also says “the tour will also be joined and supported by a rich collection of musical acts from each locale.” Copies of the album will be available during the gigs and through the band’s site (you can also check out trashradiomanila.blog-spot.com).

-- lifted from "The Outsider" by Erwin Romulo - Philippine Star, July 24, 2009, p.F-3

Source:(Image and text) www.philstar.com

The Final stop of the "INVINCIBLE Tour"

The Final stop of the "INVINCIBLE Tour" is the "1st MANILA SKA FESTIVAL"
to be held at CUBAO X, and hosted by the Wooden Canvas Gallery.
July 25 - 3PM Onwards (Photo contest / exhibit)
7PM Onwards : Skafest concert
Performers include:
SHUFFLE UNION
COFFEE BREAK ISLAND
JEEPNEY JOYRIDE
and jam session with Noel of SKABECHE
Marcos Cronies, Steadymovinbeat, Rocket Punch
Pulikats, Pink Cow, Hopskatch, and more! (we'll keep you posted)
MORE DETAILS TO BE POSTED

**DOWNLOAD the mechanics for the photo contest and photo gallery here

The INVINCIBLE Live Album Tour's Penultimate Stop

A GREAT night! is all I can say about last Saturday. If the penultimate stop of Shuffle Union's "INVINCIBLE Live Album Tour" held at 1962 Tambayanan is a prelude of the event that will happen on July 25th then the "1st Manila SKA Festival" is one gathering to look out for.

The crowd, a mix of regulars, and old and new faces, had already gathered when we arrived at 1962 a little after 10, and you can feel the anticipation right on. From the original 5 bands on the bill, the line-up was expanded to 7. Youngbloods, The NUDOLLS, started the night, (sporting members who literally grew-up with the Ska City United gigs at the old Kolumn Bar..you guys remember Smee right?). Following them was 2-tone spirited STEADYMOVINBEAT, who did a solid set that was a great starter! Coming next was ROCKET PUNCH, dishing out dirty reggae Global City style! Kaloy of SMB donned the vocal chores on a few songs. Both bands did great and the floor started to shudder as the dancing commenced during their sets. TSUNAMI TSUNAMI followed, performing a few songs including the Arnold Morales penned "Good Morning."

Up next were the night's hosts, SHUFFLE UNION, who had been touring since May to promote their recent cd release "INVINCIBLE," with a full roster, SU's set consisted of their originals, with a pinch of old SKA favorites in honor of the attendees who have supported the SKA scene all these years.


From the Bisikleta gig that same night, The GO SIGNALS were next! Mel, Dennis, and Spike were in their element with a very soulful set (and the crowd seemed unfazed by the fact that its past 2am!). Also from the Bisikleta gig were The MARCOS CRONIES the Pampanga ska mobsters were the perfect finishers of a very great night. Time: past 3AM! The crowd still stayed on for more dancing, and not a few tireless souls stayed well past that. A big thank you is also extended to COFFEE BREAK ISLAND, who joined in on the celebration.

Big big cheers to everyone who came that night, to the bands who lent their support, and to the tireless efforts of the faces from all over the scene who were present. 고마워! Terima Kasih! ありがとうございました! , 感谢! SALAMAT po! See you on JULY 25 at the "1st MANILA SKA FESTIVAL", to be hosted by the WOODEN CANVAS GALLERY, at CUBAO X.


MORE PHOTOS TO BE POSTED TODAY (JULY 15)

For tour updates / more photos visit our Myspace and Facebook pages

Leprechaun Friday !

The weekend that was, started out on a rainy note, but it did not dampen the craving to just relax and have a good time. Last friday, Shuffle Union, Coffee Break Island, and the Earthlings did just that at the Leprechaun Bar in Tomas Morato.

Fortunately the downpour stopped just a little after 11PM, and made way for better weather. Some members of Shuffle Union, and Earthlings were in absentia (our drummer and keyboardist were sick). The night started with the Earthlings, who were later joined by Jun of CBI on the latter part of their set.

Up next was Shuffle Union. We did a number of acoustic renditions of our songs, and later on Jun and Raffy of CBI also jammed with us (cheers guys!). Following SU was Coffee Break Island, that made way for more dancing on the floor, we later returned the favor and jammed with CBI on a few songs. Last(?) to perform (?) was JR of Shuffle Union, and Paul of CBI, playing a few songs from The Jam.










The night appeared more like an intimate gathering rather than a concert, and saw a free exchange of music between bands. A rare night indeed, the author, in between gulps of "Kabayo" thought he was somewhere in Anonas one Saturday of 2000..haha cheers!

*Photo credits (Trashradiomanila)

For a related article and more pictures of other performers that night, check out the gig review at TRASHRADIOMANILA

For tour updates / more photos visit our Myspace and Facebook pages

The INVINCIBLE Live Album Tour returns to 1962 this Saturday

From the two-leg blitz of Los Baños and 9 Mile Bar last week, The INVINCIBLE returns to the freshest haunt of Timog, 1962 Tambayanan this Saturday, July 11, for the penultimate leg of the "Shuffle Union-INVINCIBLE Live Album Tour" via "Spirit of '62".

Headlining the night will be SHUFFLE UNION, modernists THE GO SIGNALS, 2-tone specialists STEADYMOVINBEAT, Global City Rudies' pride, ROCKET PUNCH, and Angeles City Ska Mobsters, MARCOS CRONIES. The best and the rarest of Philippine SKA will still be featured from the booth all night!

Entrance is FREE! so why not support the tour and grab yourself a copy of Shuffle Union's INVINCIBLE cd. 1962 Tambayanan is located at Sct. Madriñan cor. Sct. Tobias., South Triangle, Quezon City (see map below). See you there!

The last stop of the " Shuffle Union-INVINCIBLE Live Album Tour" is slated on JULY 25 at CUBAO X, that will feature a gathering of the heavy hitters of SKA to be hosted by the Wooden Canvas Gallery, part of that weekend will be a special contest that will be announced later this week (so keep your ears peeled!)

For tour updates visit our Myspace and Facebook pages

SKAMAX returns! / INVINCIBLE Tour hits 9 Mile

SKAMAX is back, and plans are already set for it to hold a monthly run.
( A little background)

Skamax was set-up in 2003 to cater to the growing number of SKA bands that time. The show held its 1st event at Freedom Bar that year, and on to different venues through the years including Kolumn Bar, and most recently (2007) at Hellacious Bar, before going dormant. A unique feature of the event was that bands took turns in hosting the event, giving them an opportunity to experience organizing the show, from inviting performers to advertising, and inviting patrons.

9 Mile is perfect for SKAMAX, I'm sure those of you who attended the Skamax gigs at Hellacious Bar in 2007 agree, it's meant to be an intimate gathering of both performer and audience. Last Saturday, as part of Shuffle Union's "INVINCIBLE-Live Album Tour", PiliSKApinas hosted Skamax.

First to play was TEMPORARY DISCONNECT, all the way from Laguna, their set was reminiscent of the energy early Skamax bands had that this writer witnessed in 2003. I enjoyed watching their set with a keen eye. Up next, PULIKATS, the ska rockers hailing from Pulilan, treated the attendees to a great set of a potent mix of punk and ska. Both groups have the qualities Skamax bands possessed through the years. Attitude? these boys have it!

SHUFFLE UNION came next, and we tried our very best to keep up with the energy TD and Pulikats had. (I believe we did good keep up..haha), thanks guys for joining in with the dancing during our set. And we had some help! Melvin of Jeepney Joyride joined us once again, straight from their QC gig the same night, and Jun of Coffee Break Island played drums on a couple of SU's songs.

Was the gig finished? nah, there were a few surprises that night. The MIGHTY CONTRAS played, they are a sharp lot, they can just plug in and play on a whim. But there was another guest(?)band! (those in attendance uttered a few name suggestions..haha).

Actually it was an impromptu set from Paul and Jun of Coffee Break Island, and JR of Shuffle Union, the set included The Clash songs thrown in for good measure. And the morning ended with a beer, a chat, and a cup of coffee at New City Food House at 6:30 AM. Thanks to everyone who came! to all the bands, the audience, and our surprise guests.

See you at 1962 Tambayanan this Saturday (JULY 11) for the continuation of The INVINCIBLE Tour! but before that you can catch Coffee Break Island and Shuffle Union at The Leprechaun for a Friday night playdate (JULY 10)

For tour updates / more photos from last Saturday's SKAMAX visit our Myspace and Facebook pages
More photos here

INVINCIBLE tour hits Los Baños!

The sky was clear and the air seemed to emanate a positive vibe from all those who came.

Last July 2, 2009, Shuffle Union and crew descended on one of the hotspots for Los Baños denizens, Java Avenue Bar, as we brought the Invincible Live Album Tour to yet another southern stop. It was a night filled with music as students from nearby UPLB and Colegio de Los Banos trooped to the venue to witness the annual Open Jam event/Invincible Live! Album tour Stop sponsored by the UPLB Gamma Sigma Red Scorpions.

Shuffle Union, and fifteen Laguna-based bands, playing various genres ranging from alternative, soul, reggae, and hardcore, played to a capacity crowd who packed the venue by as early as 8PM. In fact, people seemed to spill onto the streets and tables outside when we got to the venue.

Aside from the participation of Shuffle Union’s trombonist, Marlon Palustre, and honorary member Melvin Cabañero of Jeepney Joyride, this was the first time we had been able to play in front of a Laguna crowd after a long time, and all we can say is that it was truly a memorable experience for us!!

Big cheers to the guy who jammed with us! Once again, we would like to thank the main sponsors of the event, as well as those who came and witnessed a night of music, dancing and fun! It was fun bringing the ska train down to Los Baños, Laguna. We will definitely be back!

Some photos from Java Ave:














For tour updates visit our Myspace and Facebook pages

Shuffle Union July Schedule at a glance

Be sure to catch SHUFFLE UNION as we go around for the rest of July. Here is a list of our gig schedules at a glance, support Shuffle Union and grab yourself a copy of the "INVINCIBLE Live" cd (that comes with a free limited 1" Invincible pin button), that will be available at the gigs.

*JULY 10 - @ Leprechaun Bar with Coffee Break Island
*JULY 11 - "INVINCIBLE Live Album Tour" @ 1962 Tambayanan with: The Go Signals, Steadymovinbeat, Rocket Punch, and Marcos Cronies.

*JULY 22 - @ Sazi's (Mayrics) with Coffee Break Island.

*JULY 24 - Sprout Magazine Launch @ Big Sky Mind with CBI and other bands.
*JULY 25 - "INVINCIBLE Live Album Tour" hosted by Wooden Canvas Gallery @ CUBAO X
with: CBI, Jeepney Joyride, Rocket Punch, Steadymovinbeat, Pulikats, Marcos Cronies, Pink Cow and more!

*JULY 31 - UP Diliman (details to be posted soon)

Updates and photos! from the Los Baños, and SKAMAX stops of the tour to be posted soon!

For tour updates visit our Myspace and Facebook pages