i remember the time....
when the rats played the music museum a few times(2-3)
on one night three bands played:
the Blue Rats, Mexicali Blues band and the headliners: Jun Lopito and the Bodhisattvas.
on the other nights we played in MM, Razorback played, Maegan Aguilar, Tita Sampaguita(Cowboy was still manning the guitar spot for her)..oh, Lampano Alley was there too...Soul Dredgers...Mr. Crayon...Huka
The 90s blues revival.
Though this thread is named for the Blue Rats, in the wake of the sonic onslaught this group has(and still) 'masterminded'...
this thread is also dedicated to:
what the band is still doing in the now: Fortunately BB, lefty,dyanibee and DD are still posting what the band is up to. other sources are multiply and the yahoo groups. this individual is glad that you're keeping "the lovelight shinin'"..i just wish that i could come home to jam.
Lately though, recent activity has shown that JP aka Mr.Fingers(not to be confused w/Lee Ritenour aka Capt.Fingers) has been in the limelight, in an article 'masterminded' by Deacon Blues..not only exposing the Rat's secret weapon but showing us that there's still hope in the pinoy music scene.
Kinda sad though is that, All the groups mentioned above are either on hiatus or gone. Occasionally Binky Lampano(i heard) comes home to reunite the Lampano Alley and mr crayon also reforms....
but i dare say this...the Blue Rats are still there, holding up the torch by which all standards of how the blues should be played. with integrity, good taste and a sense of humor--of which the band has tons of.
the three guitars at a time approach: timeless. I'll never get tired of seeing(hearing) the different textures and contrasts that the three axemen of BR is most definitely almost virtuosic(is there such a word?) in nature.
JP, needs no introduction. Finesse, taste and fire in a tight package encompasses his style. He has the right tools, and he knows how to use em' all not just to his advantage but always for the music. He is capable of self indulgence but he doesn't succumb to it.
Cowboy, he IS the real deal. Loyal to the blues and the rock that follows it, he is not bogged down with details on how he should be true to the artform...but he does his own take on the blues and he makes it work! Grease lightnin in a bottle! when i was in the band, i'm always lookin over my shoulder to try steal licks from this guy then realizing everything i pick up from him becomes backwards when i play them...lefty kasi eh.
Blue Buddha..the cat is out of the bag! matagal na noh?!?! Andy Locsin is THE Rhythm machine, he holds down the fort and makes the band move forward,upward, sideways and twists itself into a little ball and suddenly explode to the delight of blues loving audience.
it's 4 am...i'm leaving for ontario at 6, when i touch down and settle down at my hotel i'll continue this....
