Kabobo takes flight with launch of first-ever album

For a series of what avid listeners requested to be acoustic/unplugged sessions, Kabobo did fly with grace to open the new segment last Wednesday over the airwaves during the "BisrocKabataan" program for 93.1 Smash FM - the Home of the Bisrockers.

Kabobo, chirped with the tune of delight over the completion of their very first album, which was launched yesterday, January 11, during the Southwestern University Students Night dubbed "Lion's Den (Rock and Roll Forevah!)" in coordination with the SWU Supreme Student Council. This is in line with the celebration of the SWU University Days. Despite hectic schedules, with four of the five members being nursing students, Kabobo was able to execute the reality of an "ultimate dream".

"Di namo ma-imagine makaabot mi ani nga period sa among pagtukar-tukar nga maka-launch mi og among album parehas sa gibuhat sa uban," says bassist John Andrew "Tulits" Gulayan.

"Kewl" Kabobo lads, that very first time I met them for an interview last July, were somewhat hesitant and shy over discussing the particulars of the album. "Mauwaw pa mi anang major album. Start sa mi'g Extended Play album with six songs." The winding Kabobo Five looked forward to the completion of this EP album late last year, hopeful to fuse in the styles exemplified by Wolfgang, Dicta License, Incubus, Gangrene, Smooth Friction, Urbandub, Rage Against the Machine, Bread, and Francisco "Bamboo" Mañalac (former main man of another bird specie, Rivermaya).

Determined to start the year with the right flapping of wings, moving in the proper direction, they swooped in with the good news at the Smash DJ's booth and did a birdcall to all of those who have long supported them "to please come and watch the Kabobo album launch at SWU. Part of the proceeds will be for the dialysis of Sugbuano 101 professor and writer par excellence Dr. Leonilo Estimo (author of Suhot)."

Kabobo main man Nico Miguel "Gas" Raagas chattered to "Akong Kalipay" in his soothing voice - live - with guitarist Rolex "Chikoy" Cuizon, rhythmist Jose Mari "JM" Bacalso, drummer Rowe "Owe" Cuizon with Andrew, to the delight of some admirers over at the University of Southern Philippines who texted their feelings about Nico and that particular song. "I love you, Nico. Mawala gyud akong duka kon makadungog ko's imong tingog via Akong Kalipay," a text message read.

In the pop-rock genre, Nico crooned "abi ko'g imposibleng ma-in love sa babayeng lima na'y uyab." And those young girls adore him!

The Kabobo album is sold at P150 a copy. Email the Kabobo nest at [email protected] for more information. Compilation includes "Enteng" wherein the group bubbled and tinkled to the tune of hitting at the use of cheat's codes in tests by some examinees when others are burning brows to hurdle such with flying colors. Meanwhile, "Tulo 700" is my pick. Read: "Sus tawon gaantos naglaway, nagpanilap sa display nga siomai/agwanta iced water ra ug pan/para lang tawn ka mapalitan/stuffed toy, flowers, naa pay chocolate/napakyas, nailad, kapa-it/myembro man diay ka sa tulo seven hundred nga babaye." And many other new songs, which aren't heard yet over the airlanes.

Bisrock bands D'Kazins, Makadawa, Ossified, Gangrene, Fervent and a flock, string, murder, ostentation - name it, Bisrock has it - of other bands in the rock genre formed with Kabobo in a V-patterned flight, obviously towards victory and virtue. For rarely can you find young talents like them, today, who still value the balance in their undertakings. Kabobo is indeed a rare songbird!

TRIVIA: Kabobo is taken from what taxonomy classified as Apalis kaboboensis, or birds that are restricted to montane bamboo patches on Mt. Kabobo in southeast Zaire, which are elusive, thus hard to spot. Kabobos belong to familiae Cisticoladae, genus Cisticola - a group of small Old World songbirds, limited to open habitats like grasslands, scrubs, and deserts which might be the reason why the heart of their distribution is only in Africa, and that migration to neighboring continets is rare. The group picked up and pecked at the name for the bird's distinctive songs that they hope to match in vocalization prowess.