Fully Clothed and Feeling Fine

Buzz Night last Saturday was a success.

But first, let me tell you about our Urge Tour experience.

Allan had arranged for a van to pick me up at 1 pm. Mike the driver and I then went to Jollibee Rotonda to pick Lara up. We picked Charles and Jann Paul up at Charles' place and landed at Allan's at 3 pm. We waited around a bit for him to make a business call. Jann Paul and I pooled our money together to buy P50 worth of fried chicken skin (yum), and we all snacked on it while waiting. I'm sure we all subtracted 5 days off our lives doing that. Then, we started for Blue Wave.

Ayn was texting us because she wanted to meet us there, and I was becoming anxious that we wouldn't get there on time. Binondo had really bad traffic and I kept squirming nervously in my seat. Fortunately, we arrived only 15 minutes past our 4 pm call time and Ayn arrived there at almost exactly the same moment.

We had a little problem with the contact, and it turned out that they had scheduled us to play an hour after the original sked, which was a problem because Allan, Charles and Jann Paul had to leave the venue by 6 pm to work at the two Moonstar gigs set that night. But, after we explained the situation to the organizers, they let us set up and be the first act. The guy said we could play six songs, which surprised us because Diego told us to prepare three to four. I was really nervous about the fact that we weren't exactly the appropriate act for a skateboarding competition, but I remembered that Diego had told me the night before that Urge really wanted the talents to be diverse and so they got everything from ska to pop to punk. Oh well, bahala na, I said to myself. So we started playing "Vodka Ice # 3", and it was really funny because the crowd was kind of surprised. But they were polite. I was jittery for the first two songs, but I got used to the strangeness and relaxed after a while.

It was a surreal experience. Try to imagine singing "Bathing In The Sun" while bikers and in-line skaters are doing somersaults and stunts right in front of you… and then off into the distance is a wide, green field of cogon grass… above that, there's a blue expanse of sky marred only by a thin vapor trail from a jet engine… to the left, planes are taking off…

Everything went smoothly. We finished and accepted the snacks the organizer gave out. Then, Allan, Charles and Jann Paul left for Eastwood, while Ayn and I dropped Lara off at Buendia, where she had another gig with Death By Tampon. Ayn and I hung out at her house. We lounged on her black satin sheets and did lesbian acts. Just kidding… I was testing to see if you were still reading hehehe. Ayn and I are past that stage. Haha. Just kidding again. We were both tired and we listened to NU 107's live broadcast of some gig. Sandwich was playing, with the singer of Imago jamming with them. They started to sing one of their old songs and I was so tired and listless, but I couldn't help chuckling after a while because their vocal improvs reminded me of the way hosts on ASAP try to outdo each other…

Anyway, lest I start another controversy… we played with Tristania for a while and then we had dinner. Ayn and I started for Mayric's and got there late. I was so worried because Allan had entrusted Buzz Night to me again, and I had no way of knowing who came first… but then he said that Jil of Angus had already set a sequence and he even asked Einstein Chakras to start playing already. Jil saved my life! I thanked him profusely. Later that night, he told me that he just sort of went from table to table asking the people which band they were and what time they arrived so he could figure out a sequence. Galing! All I had to do when I arrived was fill in the gaps, and we were all good to go. But I couldn't rest completely until every band had a place, which was why Ekong asked me at one point if I was okay because I looked a little out of it. My mind was in bits and pieces all over the floor, and I was only able to relax when the last missing band member was there. I was also trying to time the event so that the rest of Soft Pillow Kisses could make it to Mayric's in time to perform last. They almost didn't.

Ayn and I were only able to catch Einstein Chakras' last song, so I'm not sure how they turned out, but Jil told us that they agreed to play and start the show even if their bassist hadn't arrived yet, and for that, I am grateful to them. Next, played Dennis' band, My Science Project, and they performed well. I wish I could play like their keyboardist. I enjoyed their indie tunes. Helen then took the stage, and I got to listen to them more. I like their slow, smooth feel, but I think the bass is what gives them their kick. I love their bass lines. Sunset Drive played after them, and I think this time I've realized that they really sound much better than and really different from their popular counterparts. By that time, I was feeling a little calmer; Ayn and I were just drinking our beer and watching. But then, Jil came up to me and said that their vocalist was feeling under the weather and that he could probably only sing a few songs. I suddenly panicked again… they wanted to sing only 4, but I needed them to sing 6 in order for the other SPK members to get there on time. They said they'd try to do more. When they started playing, I expected the vocalist to have a hard time, but he didn't sound off or anything. In fact, Angus was very tight (though I think their keyboards were a little too loud) and Ayn and I couldn't help noting how much they'd improved since the last time they played at Buzz Night. Next played Tether, a little more subdued than usual, but not in a bad way. Their guitars were less loud, but still kick-ass, and this time, the vocalist could be heard, which helped people hear how good their songs were.

Allan, Charles and Jann Paul arrived just as the last song was ending and I heaved a huge sigh of relief. Lara was still nowhere in sight, but Allan said we'd play a laid-back set anyway. But then Roel arrived suddenly, fresh from his three Parokya gigs… I was amazed at his endurance. I suggested to Allan that we play a short Candyaudioline set with Charles on lead, and he asked Ayn if she wanted to, and both she and Roel agreed. It was exciting to do it impromptu… I only wished Ralph were there to share it with us. We played two songs, "Flaming Walls" and "An Empty You", because they were the only ones that Charles could remember. We sort of flubbed through it, but we still did well and it was a lot of fun. Then, Ayn and Roel stepped down and I said, "Now we are Soft Pillow Kisses," which made the audience laugh a little. We played around 4 songs without basslines, and that was it.

Buzz Night was over and we thanked the bands. We, along with Charles, Jann Paul, Jil and the Angus vocalist, and two people from Tether, decided to go to Sizzling Stop in Tomas Morato for some eats. I felt tired and queasy and asthma-y, so I had to go home early, but I think the rest of them stayed there until 7 am. Woah.

***

This Wednesday, Candyaudioline will be playing at Mayric's… but keep posted because PNE might have a video shoot and not push through with the show. On Thursday, though, we will definitely be playing at Peligro Bar in Makati. Be there.

Candyaudioline sked:

October 27, Wednesday - Mayric's
October 28, Thursday - Peligro, Makati