Hypomania

"Convergys gathered four well-respected bands of the local independent music scene, and tonight is a fresh breakthrough from the ever present colonial mentality towards creativity in the Philippines. Truly, Filipino music is not just music for the Filipino, whether here or abroad, but it can also compete in the international music arena! Tonight, we have an eclectic synergy of music, to be performed by Feen! Paramita! Juan Pablo Dream! Aaannnddd... Up! Dharma! Down!

"Witness the unity of these bands, amidst the diversity in their sound, style, and background! Welcome, to... Hypomania!"

And with that, I introduced the bands to the audience, and my fellow professional colleagues provided the cheers of applause and the roar of approval. What follows are my recollections of the songs that the bands played that night:


Monica Francesca hosted our event (follow her on Twitter!). Here she interviewed Patrick Mueller of He Cares Mission, whom we were benefacting with our concert.


Feen's third number felt like torrid, passionate lovemaking (or sweaty, freaky sex, take your pick). Their single "Flat Tire" is akin to bathing in sound, with its powerful vocals. Much props to the sound production team. (Oh! Feen's also on Facebook!)


The Comcast Triple Play™ Band rocked Lisa Loeb's "Stay". I'd never would have imagined it, and it was a great rendition. Shame I didn't get to record their version into an MP3, but then again I'd be competing with my own hollers of enjoyment. They also performed No Doubt's "Underneath It All", which I'm sure my sister greatly appreciated. Xyrene, Dudley, you guys were awesomesauce.


Gotta hand it to the solo U-Verse singer, he's got balls for getting on stage and going on with the show when I overheard that his bandmates chickened out on him. But, DAYUM! Can he belt it out or what? Guy also knows how to work an audience, too! (FGT™, eat your heart out.)


Holy sh*t, the U-Verse TL's got the biggest cojones of them all!


He even had an entourage that performed that Shakira/Beyonce single. My kid brother had a sudden phobia attack, so we went to TimeZone for a short while. 'Twas fun watching him sink basketballs. Lots of nothing but net.


Sis texted me just in time for Paramita, so me and my bro hot-footed it to our front seats. And it was so very good, because Paramita is effing metal, man! \m/ They can rock hard, they can rock soft. It was a hella rock love song for an opening set. And "Hiling" was so much better live! My other younger brother also liked the drummer/lead vocalist's sense of humor. Well, their lead guitarist also threw in a guitar version of the saxophone riff from Wham's "Careless Whisper" during instrumental parts of their song. A very funny running gag.


Juan Pablo Dream was an unexpected but pleasant surprise. With a '60's style to their costumes and music, it was "classical" music appreciation class in session. Their lead singer can channel James Brown, and the backup singers were a cute touch. Fun, bubblegum fun. Damn my two left feet and my nerves, if only I could have switched genders with my sister I wouldn't have been so embarrassed, I wanted to get up and dance! And they sang "R.E.S.P.E.C.T."! Aretha Franklin would have been proud. All in all, JPD was a real good trip, a cool blast from the past, cats. Psychedelic, baby, yeah!


And then Up Dharma Down took the stage. They start out like a slow-burning kiss that ignites into a nuclear conflagration, immolating all within hearing range. Their signature is unmistakable: their footsteps the pounding of the drums, the bass their heartbeat, the lead guitar their emotions, and the piano and vocals their voice of reason in the chaos. "Pax", sang the gods. And so it was. Perhaps it was a combination of factors, but after a night of energetic music from three bands prior, and the long night ahead, the crowd was lulled into a pleasant state of calm euphoria. That was how they left us as they ended their set, everyone tired but happy with the evening's events, going home to sleep with their music still ringing in our ears as we drift onwards and into our respective slumbers.

And now, how to end this post? Perhaps with this customary parting line from live bands the world over: "You've been a great audience! Thank you! Good night!"

(Special thanks to my dear sister for taking all those pictures, and to my two kid brothers for letting me treat them like I'm their big brother.)