Stoppin' by Station Avenue

BLURB: "Not only were we able to prove that we also have something important to chip in the propagation of the mother tongue; we also became part of a gig that paid tribute to the memories of Gat Jose Rizal and Andres Bonifacio." - Bisrock band Station Avenue on their most unforgettable gig.

Before 2006 came to a close, Station Avenue was already able to secure some level of attention via the airwaves through their song "Pinangga." Extra euphoric were the band members Wilson Arcilla, Raphael Gumban, Lyndon Espinosa, Rodelo Amahan and Joseph Cisneros the moment they heard over 93.1 Smash FM that "Pinangga" became one of the most requested Bisrock songs in the last quarter of 2006.

Another accomplishment would have to be the chance to play alongside top Bisrock bands Aggressive Audio (Senior Citizen, Bakakon - Liar, Evil!) and Missing Filemon (Sine-Sine, Prinsipal) in the "Tribute to the Heroes" event at the La Mer Café in Mango Square, which was organized by Arise Productions December of last year to commemorate the death anniversary of our national hero Dr. Jose Rizal.

"Not only were we able to prove that we also have something important to chip in the propagation of the mother tongue, we also became part of a gig that paid tribute to the memories of patriyotang Gat Jose Rizal and katipunerong Andres Bonifacio," enthuses the band's vocalist, Wilson.

Station Avenue is a crew of college students that surfaced in the local rock scene last 2004. "Ang among pangulo adto ginganlan og Roger. Siya gyud maoy nagpursige namo nga magtukod og banda and in fact siya ang nagbunyag namo as RoadsBreak before mi nahimong Station Avenue," Wilson explains.

"Pero sa dihang mao pa'y pagpanukad sa among banda isip RoadsBreak, ang among lider-lider kalit nibiya sa wala matino nga rason. Pero sa wala pa siya nibiya, he was able to bring the group onstage in a gig in Mandaue City during fiestas," Wilson adds. "So naningkamot mi mag-fill in for what space Roger left behind. Nakapangita mi og hulip in the person of Joseph," he says, referring to Cisneros, an electronics and communications engineering student of the Cebu Institute of Technology, who's also currently a working student-employed as a service crew of a fastfood outlet.

They changed the name to Station Avenue as suggested by one member who complained that RoadsBreak sounded like a name of bakery, according to drummer Raphael.

"Station Avenue is a store that was advertised in a foreign magazine. We lifted the name kay mao ma'y akong na-typan. Kay ma-relate man nako siya nga kkon sa nag-stop by pa's mga department stores para mag-shopping, nag-wish ko nga masangit pud sila's among mga songs. Na maka-catch ug attention among mga mugna, audio-wise. And then, they will have that impulse to buy our songs like other consumer goods," Wilson points out.

It was Wilson who penned the heavily-played and consistently-requested "Pinangga." It speaks of the love of Wilson's life-his girlfriend Charmish-whom he said has "tremendously inspired him to write more songs."

Meanwhile, Lyndon, the lead guitarist, expressed their gratefulness to people who appreciated their song even if they are considered new members in the list of Smashers. "Nalipay mi nga daghan naka-uyon sa maong song ug nalipay sad mi nga gitagaan mi og opportunity nga maka-jam ang ubang mga banda dinhi sa Cebu labi na gyud ang mga sikat na nga mga banda," he says.

Another original composition of theirs is entitled "Amigo" which is also fast-gaining acceptance among Smash fans. "Nalipay kaayo mi nga daghan ang ni-request sa among songs," says Raphael, who remains confident that Bisrock will continue to break "myths and fallacies."

It was also learned that the group had their debut as Station Avenue late last year at the Handuraw Events Café on November 14 with Indephums (Rated-R album), among others.

"Si DJ Ram [Dizon of Smash FM} ang nag-encourage namo nga mosuway pag-tukar sa Handuraw kay ingon man siya nga pwede makatukar didto ang mga bag-o pang natukod nga banda," says Wilson. "Sa pagkakaron, nagsunod-sunod ang among engagements bisan og wala lang usay bayad kay gusto man namo nga naa'y igong exposure ang among banda."

The most memorable experience they had so far was when they became part of the circle of bands invited to play for the giant Christmas Tree lighting at the Fuente Osmeña December of last year. "Sagol kalipay og kakulba among na-feel that time kay first sad to namo manukar at that venue niya daghan kaayong tawo nanan-aw," the group recalls.

"Proud mi nga nakasabay mi sa ubang Bisrock bans nga inila dinhi sa Sugbo. Wla gyud mi magdahom nga maabot ni namo, kay nagkalisod-lisod gyud mi'g sustain sa among band," Raphael stresses.

To date, the band is working on their ultimate dream-the production of an album. "Sa pagkatinood lang matawag gyud ni'g ultimate dream kay lisod baya gyud kaayo mi karon. Taga-tukar namo manghulam pa gyud mi og instrumento kay wala man gyud mi amoang mga kaugalingong gamit. Maghulam pa man gani gyud mi og mga gadgets usahay. Pabagaay na lang gyud ni sa nawong," so goes their revelation.

Aside from the songs "Pinangga" and "Amigo," there are six songs more written in Sugbuanon, one in Tagalog entitled "Matagal Na Kitang Gusto" and another in English which is dubbed as "When You're With me" that croons about the many stories of love.

To contact Station Avenue, call or text Wilson Arcilla at 09192006759.