Batang M

Prelude to HYP (Hungry Young Poets).  We were invited to do a frontact to a new band. This was composed of Barbie Almabis on Vox and guitar, Ricci Gurango on bass, Im not sure if the drummer was Franklin Benitez or someone else and a lead guitarist that I didn't catch his name, really sorry because during the setup it was only Barbie and Ricci who came near us and help us.  Ricci even offered his Bass effects and Bass amp but not his Bass guitar with fretless fretboard, too precious hehehe.  Nevertheless, it was a Fiesta in Culasi Roxas City and as Frozbyte we played cover songs like, Sama-sama by Alamid, I need you here and Na Naman by Color It Red, Im not sure if we sang Line to Heaven and Will I Survive by Introvoys.

Blue Barbies, a freshmen, newbie all female band of Roxas did their first gig and they played Bizarre Love Triangle by Frente and Cranberries' Ode To My Family and Free To Decide.

Barbie's band doesn't have a name that time and they said they call themselves temporarily as Batang M and during that time there's a movie I think, which was Batang X.  I can remember they covered Who Will Save Your Soul and If It Makes You Happy, Supermodel by Jill Sobule and a lot more by Alanis and Cranberries.

Boss Distortion pt1

First Battle of the band that I joined was in “Hideout” and this was way back mid 90s in Roxas City, Capiz, Philippines.

I was not the original member of the group, I just jam with them.  I don’t have my gear that time.  What happened was, while they were rehearsing, I joined them and they were impressed on how I play the guitar.  So, they invited me to join the group as sessionist guitarist. We played “Black and Yellow Led Better” by Pearl Jam, and one original composition titled “Empty Bottle”, which sounds like a combination of Pearl Jam and STP.  I forgot the name of our band but it was founded by 4 young talented lads namely; Lenny, Lief John, Dinno Santi and Oliver.

The most interesting part that night was I don’t have an effects pedal.  Good thing my mate “Badong” got a cousin who happens to be joining the Battle of the bands and guess who it was, Barbie Almalbis.  We approached her to borrow a guitar effects and she’s very pretty and lend me “The Boss Distortion”.  That’s when this orange stomp box became famous.
By the way, we were second that night and we’re branded as Pearl Jam of Capiz.  Barbie Almalbis’ band rank 1^st that night; and she’s Brilliant, from lead vocals to lead guitar.  She sang “Love Will Keep Us Alive, Ode To My Family and Zombie”, not quite sure about the last one.

By:  VRB