Last Lorelei Syndrome

At last! a picture of the group taken off-stage. From left - my brother Carl, Pao, Aris, Wally and Me(heeowa/Lourds/Ay).

A lot has happened last sept 22 with us having an audition at freedom bar and gig at a peace concert at PNU. so far, worst part of my band life that I experience happened on one night. The first one was that I forgot some lyrics, a few stanza more likely from a lullabye song which I personally wrote, when we sang that in freedom bar and the second embarassment was when again I forgot a line from peter pan syndrome song which we played at PNU. To be guilt free- I wasnt the only one who messed the performance,actually from the freedom experience all us contributed in messing our set. Buti na lang nakabawi kami sa PNU, yun nga lang there were very few people who got to listen to us, but it was all fun because I got the chance to play at my alma mater(ewan ko lang yung dalwa dyan!)...The peace concert was yet another experience for us to be in line with such great bands like Radio active sago project, datus tribe, dong Abay, Noel Cabangon and a lot more.Tado was also there, all get-up and funky. anyways, i'll post another story when I get the chance. alarm clocks from all sorts are ringing in the house, my sister has to wake up early and Im still up. Ill update this blog soon.

We would also like to thank robert's friend/Wall member (i forgot his name, sorry!)who graciously agreed to take snapshots of us while on-stage when we were at freedom bar.

...and Jun, Aris' college classmate/friend who was also very nice to go to PNU to watch us play and who also stayed with us up to the last minute, and who also took the liberty of taking snapshots of us while we were on-stage.

THANKS

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Probably you're wondering why Last Lorelei syndrome? Well there are two reasons to this phenomena. ill just post it here next time.

That indie feeling...

That Indie Feeling
by Maui V. Reyes
2bu Correspondent
Philippine Daily Inquirer
June 27, 2001 Wednesday

“There are so many definitions of indie music,” says Quark Henares, one of the DJs of NU107’s “Not Radio.” “See, there are those artists that release their albums independently, and people call that indie music. But then there are those artists who play indiepop, and pop isn’t corny to these people, pop is like, cool for them.”
And so goes the world of indie music. Far from your Blink 182 records and Celine Dion ballad collection, there’s a certain kind of genre that’s lurking around somewhere, dying to be heard, but not yearning to go “mainstream.” For one, these artists aren’t “sellouts.” Well, maybe not in their own genre. They talk about bands and musicians you would never hear on the radio: Rainer Maria, Fugazi, Juliana Hatfield and Pavement. They are the ones who fill the hole-in-the-wall bar Mayric’s during the “Buzz Night.” They cut demos from time to time, and flex their love for music by branching out to different bands, exploring different kinds of music and fusing them into one song. They need an output for their influences, and end up playing in different bands to satisfy their hunger. As one of the bands puts it, “it’s a way of life.”
Indie music is more than just a small rack beside the new releases at Tower Records. It’s also more then the one-hour “Not Radio” sessions on NU107.5. Local independent label Definition Records and pinoycentral.com put together a compilation of indiepop and indierock called “Mutual Admiration Society,” which is the first album to be released under Definition. The album boasts 15 tracks from nine different bands, all fresh faces who would rather have the music be heard than their faces plastered on magazine covers.
“[The term] ‘indiepop’ was coined by Mike Alway, the founder of a record company that released these bands that had this distinct guitar sound. Kind of like New Wave. Guitar pop. When [these bands] sign on major records labels, they become New Wave… but indiepop pa rin sila. Until now ganoon pa rin naman, eh”, says Dale Marquez of Apple Orchard and Soft Pillow Kisses.
Curious to find out just what indiepop is all about, we got three bands off the album, went to Freedom Bar in Anonas, and interviewed them about their music and advice for indiepop wannabes.

APPLE ORCHARD
Who they are: Ryan (guitars, vocals) and Dale (bass, keyboards) Marquez.
What’s with the name: “Apple Orchard” is a song by one of Ryan’s favorite bands. “It’s also the name of the concert of ‘Field Mice’ (that’s a band),” Dale points out.
Beginnings: Apple Orchard is actually a side project - the brothers made a demo that was picked for the “Mutual Admiration Society” compilation. “We started doing demos, with guitar and some cheesy drumbeats. It wasn’t really that serious,” says Dale. “When we heard we were going to be on the album. We decided that [the demo] didn’t sound so good, so we added some bass.”
What indie music is: “There are a lot of misconceptions. If you’re really into indie music - like us, we’ve been into this kind of music since, I know, 10 years ago? Grade school? We started listening to New Wave bands back then, and that was, like, the ‘80s, right? And even before there was the term ‘indie’. Ngayon lang sya lumabas… so now if you play folk rock and you release it independently, you’re called indie. Kasi, there’s this certain sound to indie. It’s really hard to categorize indiepop kasi. It’s like a big umbrella, eh… there are so many different sounds. To really understand the music, you have to be really into it, you have to try to understand it.”
Fusion of talents: Ryan may write the lyrics, but as he puts it, “When it comes to recording, marami nang ideas from both of us.” He also writes mostly about love and relationships. “Mushy kind of stuff,” he says, laughing.
Don’t expect an album too soon: As Dale point out, it’s hard to release an indie album in this country since the industry isn’t too open. “There’s no market here. We’re aware of that… we’ll just make more demos, submit them to Definition Records. It’s hard to take risks here… maybe we’ll send them to different countries, kasi it’s really not that big a market here.” Ryan agrees. “You have more chances overseas.”
What, no chicks and money? If you’re looking for babes and moolah, this isn’t the kind of music for you - get signed with a major record label instead. “If you’re going to release independent stuff, don’t expect profit,” Ryan says. “Don’t quit your day job.”
“It’s the passion for music, that’s what keeps us going,” Dale admits, “If you’re really into music, you’ll keep going even if no one’s going to buy your stuff.”
Look at the bright side: Being in an indie band has its pros, too. “You can write songs about whatever you like, without having someone tell you what to do,” Ryan says. “There’s artistic freedom”

COLOUR CONTEST
The players: Ulysses John Roque (drums), Jefrey Jacob(keyboards and horns), AJ Domingo (ball, backing vocals), Monsano “Panch” Dominguez (guitars, and sitars) and Richard Olaguera (vocals and guitars).
How they were formed: Back in 1996 they already had a band, and went through different band names, even trying Japanese names. “We decided to come up with a ‘60s-sounding band, which is Colour Contest,” says Panch. “Our former bassist came up with the name. It doesn’t really have any significant meaning,” says Richard. “Although we love colors.”
Quirky indiepop: “Indie music is not an abbreviation of independent music. It’s a totally different thing. It’s wide. Bossa nova, you can call that indie. Indie is a genre. The sound is an eclectic music of Bossa Nova, the 80’s sound, New Wave. Quirky pop.”
On the lowdown: Richard says one of the things that separate indie music from mainstream tunes is that, aside from the arrangements, indie doesn’t get airplay. “You can’t hear indie music on NU107,” he says. But they do plan to release an album. Richard writes lyrics and music, and confesses that most of the songs are fictional. “They’re mostly about love, fascination, love lost, collapsing relationships… romatic stuff.” They’re also not scared of “finding our songs in jukeboxes, or on Vid-ok,” since they’re all praises for Definition Records and believe they wouldn’t be distributed that way.
Best gig: At the Philippine Trade Center, where Pinoycentral hosted different bands in the concert, “Mutual Admiration Society.”
Move with the music: Their advice to wannabe indie bands? “Just move on, play music,” AJ advises. “Send demos abroard. Indie here in this country is really struggling.”

SOFT PILLOW KISSES
Composed of: Allan (guitars, backing vocals), Carl (vocals), AJ (guitars, backing vocals), Lara (bass), Dale (keyboards and provider of moral support), and Gilbert (drums).
How the band got together: After going through lots of band names and lineups, Allan and Carl formed Soft Pillow Kisses, Dale, from Sonnet 58 (and Apple Orchard), is a recent addition on keyboards.
Name, please: “We wanted to have this really mushy, cheesy name,” AJ explains. “We didn’t like to conform.”
“It’s not a gay thing,” Allan stresses. “But we like gay,” he laughs.
Indie what? “Indie is a universal state of conviction of your own principles, when it comes to your musical preference, consistent with your lifestyle and attitude,” says Lara, who wrote a paper in school about indie. Allan injects that indie music “is in the blood.”
Cebu rocks: Soft Pillow Kisses released a five-song EP in Cebu since they believed only Cebuanos deserved to hear the music. “Cebuanos are up-to-date with music. It’s not like here in Manila, what was released two years ago is what’s cool,” says Allan. “In Cebu they’re catching up. We sold all the albums,” he looks at this bandmates and laughs. “Like, five copies?” AJ shakes his head. “Ten copies!” he says with conviction.
Heartbreak stories: Allan writes most of the songs, although he’s quick to say everyone contributes to the effort. Carl writes mostly about heartbreak and similar experiences. Always the joker, Allan shares that what inspires him to write is “the ambiance of Manila. When you listen to the music, you’ll hear na napakamahal ko ang Manila. Independent na talagang mabuhay! Parang sa Recto… napaka-safe!” He’s joking, we think.
Dancing with the music: In order to appreciate indie, you need an ear for the music. “For example, we can dance to this slow song, [as opposed to others who can’t],” reasons Allan. “People think napa-mushy and lousy. It depends on the person, really.” What separates indie from mainstream, according to them, is the “feel” of the music. “There’s a rawness to indie music. It appeals to a select few,” continues Allan. Dale agrees. “Indie music doesn’t get airplay anywhere - radio, MTV, wala talaga, eh. It’s up to the listener to search, investigate, explore. So that’s why it’s really hard to understand the music.” What about “Not Radio”? “Iba sa ‘Not Radio,” eh, iba and preference nila ng indie, as in independent music interpretation nila. Like the term ‘alternative’… indie used to be called alternative music, but now they call alternative the stuff they play on the radio. Sa tingin nila, corny na ang word na ‘alternative’, so ‘indie’ na lang sila,” says Allan. “It’s too angsty. It should be about intelligence… love for the same sex.” Again, he’s joking.
To understand what these bands are talking about, check out “Mutual Admiration Society” under Definition Records and available at Tower Records. Want to get a close view on indie music? Head over to Mayric’s every third Sunday of the month (mark down July 15 on your calendars - these bands are playing that night) to witness “Buzz Night,” where indie bands get together and share their music. Who knows, you just might be one on the very few who can truly appreciate great music.
NU 107.5’s indie rock show “Not Radio” airs every Saturday at 9pm.
Special thanks to lawyer Ferdinand Casis and Charlene of Freedom Bar, 2/F Anonas Commercial Complex, No.3 Anonas St., Project 3, QC


(this article has been sitting in one of our documents for quite a while. Good thing my brother had found it and now I decided to post this in this blog. This is not the original format of the article, I have modified it to fit into this blog.)

PEACE CONCERT INVITATION

pUNTa kAYO HA!

Glow in the dark and light

We are better viewed as such...glowing edges...arent we?

GENERATION PEACE: Our Stand! Our Time!

Activity Brief
GENERATION PEACE: Our Stand! Our Time!
A cultural event, peace exhibit and concert

The Filipino youth plays a major role in bringing fundamental social changes for our society. The youth is a potent force that must be included in creating a just and peaceful nation. The post-EDSA era is characterized by a fragmented political culture wrought with discontinuities. We exist in an ever-changing world and with this is an ever changing definition of valuations and culture. This is the generation where lives revolve around connectivity to peer groups, organizations, sub-cultures and mores. This is the individualistic youth culture, where norms are constantly defined and redefined.

The youth of today are aware of the WAR issues like we all do but not everyone would take a positive stance and an active role in bringing forth peace. Opportunities. We lack the avenues to show our support for peace. The youth need spaces where they could be enlightened and where they could discuss and be informed of relevant economic and political issues. We want to help create these spaces for the youth to participate, in ways that are educational and entertaining. The mainstreaming of PEACE must have support from rock icons, artists, musicians, media, schools, religious institutions, the government and other elements of society.

Generation Peace: Our Stand! Our Time! is a fusion of a concert and a cultural event. What better way to communicate to the young generation than through their language? MUSIC. We want as many genres of music as possible. Unity and peace amidst diversity is an underscored idea in this activity.

At the same time, it is an interfaith cultural event and a peace exhibit. The peace exhibit will showcase different youth campaigns and pressing issues. It is to raise awareness and create spaces. The concert is a celebration of the UN’s International Day of Peace.

The concert is a meeting place of youths coming from different backgrounds. It will be held on September 22, Friday at the Philippine Normal University Open Field. It is also one of the kick off activities for the Youth Waging Peace, an annual national conference on civil society and government peace initiatives, in December 4.

Generation Peace is also an effort to converge different peace networks and organizations to increase youth awareness and popularize PEACE as a core ideal in building a nation. The youth can have options to get involved with some of the activities of the sponsoring organizations. Some of the major partners in this event are: The Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP), Center for Peace Education (CPE Miriam College), YouthAid, Sulong CARHRIHL, Peacemakers Circle, NAPC Youth, PNU UNESCO Club, and a host of schools and organizations. Gaston Z. Ortigas Peace Institute, located at the 2nd floor of Hoffner Building, Ateneo de Manila University, is the secretariat of the Generation Peace Youth Network.

Generation Peace:
Our Stand! Our Time!
Philippine Normal University Grounds
6PM September 22, 2006

6pm BUILD UP ACTIVITIES
- poetry reading
- mural making
- trivia/games, etc
- cultural presentations
- other cultural activities
o Muslim Federation
o Kontra Gappi
o Anak Teatro
o Nat’s Theater Group
o Katinig
o Tanghalang Bonifacio-Rizal
o Kalumad
o Etc.

9pm FORMAL OPENING OF THE EVENT (introduction of the concept thru a theater production – c/o Tanghalang Bonifacio-Rizal)

- interfaith prayers
- setup mural
- opening activities
- 2nd segment to be presented by the emcee
- percussion jamming
o Kalumad
o Kontra Gappi
o Muslim Federation
o Etc.
- peace messages


10pm TENTATIVE LIST OF PERFORMANCES (list of artists may change without prior notice)


- Radio Active Sago Project
- Dicta License
- The Jerks
- Urbandub
- Noel Cabangon
- Cynthia Alexander
- Joey Ayala
- Pinikpikan
- Bayang Barrios
- UP Underground Community
- Free All
- Kikozspectuz
- Ateneo Musician’s Pool
- Sisig
- Datu’s Tribe
- Pumping Pluto
- The Wuds

- And many more!!!


OTHER FEATURES:
- There will be an exhibit of youth peace organizations and peace campaigns
- Concessionaire booths for food and other merchandise will be set up
- Video/Slideshow presentations on peace advocacies
- 5-minute explanation of youth organizations


(this was e-mailed by MR. Nikki Delfin)

Have A Peace Of This

Nananalangin si Aris na sana maka-abot pa daw sya sa 22 of this month because it’s a day we celebrate International Day of Peace. There will be concert and the band will be performing in the event. The venue’s gonna be at the Grounds of Philippine Normal University, Manila or PNU – Yes! My Alma Mater.

I kinda miss my old school. Yes, its literally old, it’s been existing for 100 years already. For those who are not familiar with PNU – it’s a school of producing EXCELLENT teachers. But my degree isn’t teaching. I am more in line with the Sciences stuff (not scientify word no?). But what I do eventually is teach. Hehehe…dun din pala bumagsak. But seriously I’m beginning to like it and I feel that it’s the only thing I can do. Not everyone wishes to be in my foot. Not everyone dreams of becoming a teacher. Some of my friends tell me that teaching is the last career they could get into if they have no option. Well, it’s a different case for me then. By the way, I teach college students so it’s quite an interesting field. Dami cute students, pero hanggang dun lang yun. You cannot get too close with them – mahirap na!

Getting back on the event on the 22nd, there will be lots of activities and bands performing. Uhmmm, let me just post the schedule here, probably you’d be interested to join the event. Wala nga lang magulo ha kasi International Day of PEACE yun. Hehehe…

Naghahabol si Aris kasi, gusto nyang makasama sa gig which might be his last gig for the meantime. He’ll eventually come back after a year or two. His reason for leaving is because of work. He will be replaced by Robert of the Wall (Aris’ former band – ironic!) while his LOA from the band. Good thing Robert has agreed to work with us. We’d been discussing this issue for quite sometime on who’s gonna session for us while Aris is away making lots of money. I might take the position sana kaso, I feel that I haven’t achieve the level these people’s (Aris and Robert) guitar expertise, hanggang strum lang ang kaya ko kasi.

when it rains...it rains...

I was kind of looking forward to this September buzznight, as I always did with the previous buzznight. This month is really special to me and to the other two, my brother and Aris, because this is the month where the inception of Lazy Lorelei happened. This is also the month where we three first watch buzznight. Also, September is my birthday so everything about this month is kinda special to me.

Anyways, Pao and Wally already confirmed that they will not go to Mayrics because they presumed that there's already flood in Espaňa area and going there will be really difficult. I guess it’s really not necessary to make any assumptions at all because its already a fact that Espaňa is a flood-prone area. But the three of us on the other hand decided to just push through with the plan, since Wally and Pao will not be coming we decided to do an acoustic set instead.

I did not expect that Id be stuck in traffic at NLEX. I was stucked and almost exhausted already from waiting for 45 minutes. The rain kept on pouring which made the traffic really worse. My brother on the other hand was also stucked in traffic somewhere in timog for quite long. Aris, by the way was also stucked in traffic somewhere in Manila. He's original plan was to head home to get his stuff but my brother just told him to go straight to Mayrics and we'll just passed by their house to get the stuff - so that was settled.

Finally after coming out from a horrible traffic, I waited for my brother for a few minutes and we met, I think at around past 11 or 12. The problem during that time was looking for a taxi cab to bring us to Aris' house and to Espaňa. Guess what? We almost plead the drivers to bring us to our destination but not a single soul agreed to bring us to our destination. I was trying to call Sir Allan during those times but he wasn’t answering his phone. Anyways, we just took a jeep to get us to 10th Avenue and from there we got a taxi cab to bring us to Aris house to get the guitar. Since no taxi drivers would willingly sacrifice to take us to Espaňa, we decided to just commute by riding jeeps to get to the venue. As we're heading to Solis to get a ride to Blumentritt the three of us were all worried if we could get in time to Mayrics, that’s why I contacted Sir Allan for the 2nd time to confirm.

The gig was canceled due to rain and the flood in Espaňa. I hastily texted Aris about the canceled gig. Poor Aris, he was already near Mayrics when he received my text. And the worst part for Aris' adventure to Mayrcis - NILAKAD NYA MULA CITY HALL NG MANILA TO MAYRICS AND FROM MAYRICS TO TAYUMAN. That poor, thin soul. Wala daw kasi talagang masakyan. The areas were not passable. The worst part, lumusong sya sa baha na abot hanggang bewang nya!(Siguro hanggang ulo ko na yun pag ako ang lumusong) Imagine that! Grabe talaga....Kaya nyo yon?!!!

So, we waited for Aris in a 24-hour Jollibee somewhere near St. Joseph church in Manila yata yun or Caloocan. Naawa na kasi kami sa kanya, imagine yung nilakad nya!. Susmaryosep... We waited until 2 am for him.

Finally at 2am dumating na din sya sa Jollibee.

We didnt went home yet. We sitted there until 5am. Wala lang. Chika lang kami about the band, the members, the future of lazy, the side project, music, tapos banda uli. The foreground members of Lazy Lorelei bonded for the first time (na naka-upo at kumakain at the same time)

Sobrang dedicated ang band pagdating sa Buzznight - umambon, umulan, bumagyo, tutuloy pa din kami kahit 3 na lang kami basta makatugtog lang sa buzznight. Grabe! ganyan namin ka-mahal ang production ni Sir Allan...

Ayus!

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We thought the rain is our friend but we’ve proven another underlying theory that forms the foundation of this band – we later realize that the mishap that happened to us was due to the digital camera - we didnt bring THE ONE CAMERA that bears the future of Lazy Lorelei. The ONE CAMERA which started it all. hehehehe...