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My 2015 MusicRound-Up

JANUARY
While the world was being rocked by the terror of the Charlie Hebdo attack, signed and unsigned musicians in Manila were divided by HB 4218 or the OPM Development Act of 2014. Musicians young and old, from jazz, to rock, folk, hiphop and metal closed ranks to oppose the bill.
Click this link to see the discussions: http://opposehb4218.blogspot.com/

FEBRUARY
The Wuds, Pinkcow and the Ex-senadors joined the politically-charged album “Tayo Ang Boses: Mga Awit ng Paglaban sa Rehimeng Gahaman”. The album was an initiative of Pinoy Media Center and other progressive groups.
Listen to all the tracks here: https://soundcloud.com/tayo-ang-bosses
Nonentities took music fans by surprise with the release of not one, not two, but three songs online--all downloadable and for free via their website. The collection was from their first album ‘Bleakest Of Days, Saddest Of Ways’. Nonentities was formed by former The Beauty of Doubt vocalist Ron Schlander and Tame The Tikbalang guitarist Boyet Miguel.
Check it out yourself here: www.nonentities.net
MARCH
We all got excited when Tekken introduced new Pinay character Josie Rizal.

APRIL
Gary Ignacio of Alamid succumbed to bone cancer. Gary, for me, was one of the nicest guys in the scene.

We also waited with bated breath for a positive fate for OFW Maryjane Veloso.
MAY
One of the most-loved musician in the underground music scene Gerri Duenas of Intoxication Of Violence (IOV) passed on. A series of send-off gigs were organized by his friends in his memory.

Although Manny Pacquiao didn’t win in the biggest fight of the century, we got a welcome news from The Jerks. The band released a music video of their anthemic song ‘Rage’, nearly 19 years after it was recorded. The video was shared to fans on Facebook.

Just click the video above to watch it in full.
JUNE
Punk veterans Philippine Violators launched a new album entitled “Noon at Ngayon”. I have no copy of this yet but the album has 8 songs and mastered on CD.
Photo Credit: PhilVio FB

Ramon Rivera of Inquisition passed on. How? Why? I do not know.

JULY
Ely Buendia launched postcardsfromparadise campaign to encourage Beatles drummer Ringgo Star to go to the Philippines and perform. I was thrilled! 



Only, days later, Italians showed us how it’s done. About 1000 drummers performed “Learn To Fly” to ask Foo Fighters to gig in Italy.
AUGUST
Aldub tickled the country’s romantic bone and became all the rage overnight. Equally tickled pink was Pincow. Their latest album ‘No Boundaries’ was released not only on CD but also on vinyl.

SEPTEMBER
While Heneral Luna, the biopic, sparked debate overground, underground music scene was equally abuzz. Whatever the discussion was about, Sick Of It All, a HC-Punk band from New York, played in Makati and made a giggling fan out of all those who came to see them. No first-person account since I was in Malaysia when this happened. But, pictures don’t lie.
OCTOBER
Elizabeth Ramsey passed away in her sleep. She was 83.
Circus came early to town as Presidentiables began filing their candidacies.
Middle Finger and friends make music history as they release Twisted Record’s GI + Idiots Fascinating World of Garbage on vinyl. It was perhaps the first partially official re-issue of a rare pinoy punk material on vinyl.
Photo grabbed from discogs.com

NOVEMBER
Founder/creator of Philmusic.com Jim Ayson passed on. Jim created a community that bridged musicians and fans.
Filmmaker Raymond Red conducted public screenings of his latest movie ‘Mga Rebeldeng May Kaso’. The film immortalised the riot that transpired during the 1986 Independent Film and Video Festival at the Wave Cinema, Cubao. Papadom’s son Nico Gamboa played as the lead vocals of punk band Betrayed in the movie.

DECEMBER
We bore witness to the much-anticipated Strap On 7” reunion. The set reminded the crowd of nicely arranged original songs, great lyrics and that sound that’s distinctly all their own. And looked like that gig will result to a full-fledged reunion, but, as Jeremy confirmed, “with new materials”.

(By: Ramona Nieva)

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