The Bloomfields play "happy music'"

When things get rolling, The Bloomfields roll pretty fast! And their explosive Ayala Center-Cebu performance last Saturday, February 10-featuring a repertoire of songs popularized by The Beatles, The Beach Boys, The Shadows, The Ventures, Dave Clark 5, Cliff Richard and Chris Montez-was just a teaser of what's about to unfold after they launch their debut album on March 23 featuring a Richard Reynoso original "Ale, Nasa Langit Na Ba Ako?" and their composition "Wala Ng Iba" played over Magic 89.9.

It was a howler to have understood at first that the five moptops are just part of those bunches of cover/show bands who would want to resurrect Beatlemania, sport on coat and tie typical of European 60s rockers, shaggy hair which was the first novel haircut of the 60s, and the shiny Beatle bootles. "These guys take their 60s music seriously. Embracing influences from classic rock 'n roll to contemporary British pop-rock acts, The Bloomfields take pride in their musical prowess and deep melodic roots. The Bloomfields is a bunch of young, energetic boys in suits who play "daddy music" but definitely fun and timeless music, nonetheless; making thunderous waves playing in schools, private parties and bars," this according to their www.thebloomfieldsband.com website.

Twenty-one-year-old JJ Lozano (plays the Rickenbacker lead guitar/also does vocals, the harmonica and synth, main songwriter/arranger and the funkiest dancer), back in good old high school at the La Salle Greenhills, decided to start a band with buddies Rocky Collado, now 21, (bangs the Pearl set of drums/does bass line vocals and ridiculously difficult drum solo; lyricist and artist) and Louie Poco, now 21 too, (bass/wild vocals typical of rock and roll; sculptor and artist) playing alternative and punk music with influences ranging from Oasis to Blink 182. When they finally stepped into college, they started what they labelled "happy music".

Later on, they noticed how their audience enjoyed this "happy stuff" so they decided to expand their repertoire of 60s rock 'n roll from one gig to the next.

Inspired by other legendary rock 'n roll bands such as The Beach Boys and The Four Freshmen, they became interested in blending vocal harmonies during performances. That's when Pepe Lozano, 24, (electric guitar/vocals)-JJ's brother-along with Lakan Hila (keyboards/vocals/synth) hopped in. In addition to their already excellent music portfolio, the boys made it to the papers when they fronted for big foreign acts Gary Lewis (2005) and Herman's Hermits (2006), both held at the Araneta Coliseum.