It was Nono who reminded us. Exactly 5 years and a day from now, Nono launched his Swans CD. (By the way, Nono is a kick-ass solo electronic artist. He basically sang and played all the instruments.) My past life involved playing a bass guitar for an all-girl band which performed during The Swan Song Listening Party: A Night of Poetry, Song and Friendship at Chunky Far Flung, Cubao X in 2006. I’m not sure if Chunky even exists anymore. We played alongside such bands as The Late Isabel, Scarlet Tears, The Jesus Mafia, Acid42, Isolation Ward, and of course, Nono’s one-man magic — Names are for Tombstones.
That feels too far away now, but it’s heart-warming to find out that we weren’t really just college students who think it’s cool to be in a band. It’s nice to find out that despite our being so amateur, we were actually appreciated. I read this blog post by Acid42 only tonight:
But, by and far, my biggest surprise of the night was discovering a rocktronica band called Saffron Speedway and hearing them play for the first time. WHOAH! All-girl band with a fantastic sings-her-heart-out vocalist, interesting original songs and band members who know how to play from pianissimo till forte (though fortissimo is not in their repertoire), and to top it all off, they have a member on laptop using Fruity Loops to provide the beats, which IMMEDIATELY impresses me? What is there NOT to like? The minute they started playing I wanted to pull everyone onto their feet to dance so I wouldn’t look silly swaying in place alone. Saya!
Ganda ng kanta nila, and even though they have miles to go before perfecting their onstage presence, when they do get there (which they will within a year’s time maximum, with constant gigging), watch them become the Philippines’ answer to Garbage. Astig sila! Tangkilikin ang gig nila. Teka, tangkilikin din ang gigs ko, pwede ba?
I think after a year’s time, I quit.