PDI Sept 19, 2008
MANILA, Philippines—Approaching RJ Bar on Jupiter Street in Makati City Monday night seemed like walking down Savile Row in London in January 1969. The familiar “Don’t Let Me Down” was playing, and the surprise rooftop concert of the Beatles at the Apple Records building came to mind.
But this is 2008, a world and several generations away from psychedelic London. Nonetheless, the band, a Pinoy “Super Band” of top rock musicians in the Philippines, sounded as phenomenal.
A jovial Joey “Pepe” Smith frolicked onstage as he shared vocals with Ramon “RJ” Jacinto and Raimund Marasigan of Sandwich. We were treated to Cowboy Santos’ (of the Blue Rats) stirring riffs that recalled George Harrison. Imago’s Zach Lucero kept the beat as would Ringo, while the Greyhoundz’s Nino Avenido made like a McCartney on bass. Ernie Vinoya of RJ and Friends struck a Billy Preston moment.
After a final strum on the Fab Four, another set of rock artists took the stage, this time to take on Juan dela Cruz band, Smith’s original group.
“’Di mo alam ang kanta mo? (You don’t know your own song?),” Jacinto needled Smith, who seemed to have forgotten the lyrics to his signature “Balong Malalim.” The band—Kjwan’s Marc Abaya, The Jerks’ Chikoy Pura and Rivermaya’s Kakoi Legazpi —roared with laughter.
Smith later made up for this “boo-boo” with a powerful rendition of “Beep Beep,” with Jacinto, Abaya and Marasigan that brought the house down.
This was the first rehearsal night of Pinoy rock legends who will participate in the upcoming “Super Session,” 45th anniversary concert of radio station dzRJ. The musicians did assigned covers of Led Zeppelin, Sampaguita, The Doors, The Jerks, Cream, Derek and the Dominoes, Steely Dan, The Allman Brothers Band, The Rolling Stones, The Guess Who and The Troggs.
Part of the repertoire is a set of Eraserheads songs to be performed by original group members Marasigan and Buddy Zabala with Jacinto and Smith. Marasigan will also perform Sandwich songs with Jacinto.
Also in the lineup of performers are Jett Pangan of The Dawn, Tirso Ripoll of Razorback, Danniel Crisologo of Mojofly, Cooky Chua of Color It Red, Paolo Manuel of Datu’s Tribe, Louie Talan of Razorback, Wendel Garcia of Pupil, Diego Beltran of The Out of Body Special, Joey Puyat of The Blue Rats, Simon Tan of Lampano Alley, Nicole Asensio of Crowjane, Francis de Veyra of Radioactive Sago Project, Bea Lao of Wally Gonzales band and Emmie Fortuno.
There will be special performances by Emil Sanglay and Pen-Pen and Sampaguita guitarist Arnold Jollares.
“Putting this together was an immense challenge,” Jacinto said. “The artists’ schedules were daunting. But they all made the commitment out of respect for the station and Pinoy rock.”
Jacinto’s dzRJ, founded in 1963, is considered the pioneer in airing rock music in the country. Its early playlists consisted of songs by The Beatles, The Beach Boys, Eric Clapton and Steely Dan. It would later promote the music of Pinoy groups Juan dela Cruz Band, Sampaguita, Freddie Aguilar and Anakbayan.
Effortless
Even if the Super Band musicians had jammed only for the first time, it seemed they had been playing together for years.
“Remarkably, they gelled effortlessly,” Jacinto said. “Only one or two more rehearsals and we’re ready to go.”
If Monday’s session was an indication of what to expect come “Super Session” on Oct. 25 at the A-Venue Events Hall on Makati Avenue, then Pinoy rock fans are in for an unforgettable treat.
