A week ago, I was in Legaspi, sprawled on a black sand shore beach at the foot(?) of Beautiful Mayon (redundant 'noy?), enjoying the clean water, awaiting the feast in a hut nearby.Sounds like a vacation, partly it was. Manila SKA was in Legaspi City for a gig the day before, August 29th, dubbed "OUT ON THE STREETS Manila to Bicolandia Skannection", slated by Bisikleta Productions, PiliSKApinas, and of course the great ska folks of Legaspi through Ben, Lester, Dominique,and the rest of the gang. The Skafest was held at Bar101, at this building called Bichara Mall, filled with nice murals of old holywood movies.
August 28,8PM, Ali Mall, Cubao, Quezon City: Met up with the boys of SMB, and assembled before boarding the bus that would carry us all the way to Bicol.
August 29,
8AM, Naga City: Eating taho looking at Mt. Isarog at the horizon
930 AM: finally we reach Legaspi, with Mayon puffing smoke and ominously standing before us. You can never really feel how big this famous volcano is, until you behold it on site.
I remember the last time I was in Legaspi City, some 6 years back. It was for the Magayon Festival, where now ska icons, Put3Ska, performed at the Kapitolyo for 2 straight nights, I was a spectator/photographer, at that time I already had an inkling of how SKA already had a hold on our brothers from ska band Region 5 Beat, being a close observer of ska bands from the provinces.
But the crowd at Bar 101 that night really impressed me, seeing as how the music that we all love had set a firm foothold on the province, with delegations coming from all over Bicol, some as far as Naga, Guinobatan, Daraga, and of course host city Legaspi. Looking for a gig review yet? for the Manila contingent it was STEADYMOVINBEAT, and SHUFFLE UNION, and for the Bicolandia troop it was PUNK 'O DIE, DAMAGED SIDEWALKS, reggae act MUCHAS GRASSAS, and the best of Bicol ska, SKAMALIG, and STOLEN SHOTS. Exenadors (unapproved leave from work for some members), and Pink Cow (some problems with transportation) were not able to perform.Shuffle Union had a rehearsal at the venue earlier for the horn section of Skamalig/Stolenshots who jammed with the band later that night, so we had to troop back to the hotel for some preparation. Returning to Bar 101, I was surprised to see, all these attendees dressed up in their best ska gear, and had this feeling that this night would surely be great.
The gig started early because the venue filled-up early (the huge Tanduay gig nearby notwithstanding, as we agreed with the organizers that they will attract a different crowd anyway, but I am still looking for the giant Buko beside the huge Tanduay bottle , Buko RUM!).
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(Continued...)
(Photos: (1)Manila-Bicolandia Skannection!, (2)Weary but excited at a stopover in Naga, (3) Mt. Isarog viewed from Naga, (4)Mayon puffing smoke taken by Michael Ubales)
for a related gig review at TRASHRADIOMANILA click here
for photos at Shuffle Union's facebook page click here
