One of my resolutions for this year is to explore musical styles, learn about music, and most especially, to support local bands. I can pretty much say that I've been keeping up with the first two, by taking a class on Rock Music History and being open to suggestions on what to listen to. However, local bands are out of my radar most of the time. I only discovered two that I really liked so far: She's Only Sixteen and Progeny (check them out).
First Encounters
My college friends have supported Kjwan since I can't remember when. They've been regulars at Handlebar and Saguijo and wherever that band plays, EVEN DURING the time that we were doing our thesis. I know that band is good, and I know a few songs but I never called myself a fan.
But this is about to change on the night of August 9, 2013.
I Needed A Break
I've been working the night shift for the past two years and I just wanted a Friday night out, so when I saw the poster for Kjwan's 10th anniversary, I instantly knew where I'm headed to. I knew my friends were going and they are. I don't have a phone right now, so we just arranged to meet at Handlebar.
Things didn't go out as planned, however. I waited for them but they didn't come, because they became sick later that day. They contacted me on Twitter but I didn't get the message on time, and I can't be reached through phone because I haven't got one.
I just found myself entering the bar, clutching the CD I bought while waiting for them and the posters that came along with it.
Megaphone
The vocalist hasn't even started playing but I knew that this is gonna be awesome. Marc Abaya, the vocalist, picked up a megaphone to sing through the verse and I never saw anyone do that before. The sound produced was reminiscent of a Strokes song from the "Is this It" record.
"The boy who made Kjwan whole again"
At this moment let me just insert my favorite part of the night and of the band. They've got a new drummer, and a hot one at that. Eo Marcos is previously with Salamin, the band of Gary Valenciano's son Paolo, and is now with Kjwan after "a long courtship" as Marc would put it. He's a hottie cutie patootie (yup I also didn't know it was possible to be both) who just smiles and looks around and/or wiping off sweat in between songs, but he's so intense behind the kit. You can actually see his facial expression change the longer he get into a song.
It's not like seeing Mick Jagger, but...
A great surprise for Philippine Rock and Roll fans and for all the people in general, is when Marc told the crowd how big an influence Juan dela Cruz Band is to them, and went on to introduce Joey Pepe Smith to jam with them! I was so starstruck when I saw him that I just said "Oh my God" while getting goosebumps all over my body. It was a fangirl moment I didn't really expect. Classic.
"All you motherf*ckers better be drinking tonight!"
Marc would talk to the crowd in between songs, asking for a smoke or another glass of scotch, acknowledging friends who came, and bantering with the band. Many a time he got his bandmates (particularly Boogie the guitarist and Inky on keys) to drink alcohol while the people cheered for them. I also can't remember how many times he thanked the crowd for coming.
I knew now why my friends love this band. They've got charisma, they act on stage like how they would off it, and they knew they'd be nothing without the people. Playing a 22-song gig for free is enough proof for that.
Instant convert
Towards the end of the set I am an instant convert. I stood there, still holding the first volume of their fourth album and the posters that came along with it, quite thankful that I didn't have a phone on that day. Had I known that my friends aren't coming, I wouldn't have too--and heaven knows what I would've missed.
I somehow felt guilty that I haven't supported this band early on, when I used to see them on MTV Pilipinas. However, I know that this band isn't going anywhere anytime soon. Like what Marc Abaya said over and over in that anniversary gig, the most annoying thing you can ever ask a band member is "May banda pa ba kayo?" because a band is supposed to just keep going. For Kjwan, the past ten years is just the start.
They capped off their set with the song, "One Look". This is the only Kjwan song I can sing along to, and it's the song they hate (probably even to the hate levels of Radiohead towards "Creep" or Led Zeppelin towards "Stairway to Heaven"). But heck, I don't care. I still sang as Marc gave the anthemic chorus for the crowd to sing, already looking forward to the night that I'll see this band again.
