Spirit of ’67 at Captain’s Bar

The Spirit of ’67, one of the hottest retro bands in town, makes the Captain’s Bar at Mandarin Oriental, Manila, their new home every Tuesday night – bringing their inimitable songs that shaped the era of free love and flower power to a lounge that has featured many of the country’s top performing artists. The band performs weekly, from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m.

Playing the best of the ’60s and ’70s hits, from rock n’ roll to soul, Motown to folk, the Spirit of ’67 was formed 11 years ago during an alumni homecoming of Ateneo University, their alma mater. From an informal and impromptu act meant to cater exclusively to friends and family in the spirit of fun, the band has evolved into one of the most sought-after live musical acts in the country, bagging the 2003 Aliw Award for Best Group Performance in Music Lounges and Bars as proof of their growing popularity and clout.

Playing professionally for several years now, members of Spirit of ’67, or "Spirit" as they call themselves, attribute the band’s success to the Ateneo connection, and their passion for music that defined their youth – hits from The Beatles, Rolling Stones, Gladys Knight and the Pips, Gloria Gaynor, and Abba, to name some. All professionals in various fields of expertise such as business and finance, advertising, entertainment, along with a few full-time musicians, the spirit that infuses this highly in-demand band is sparked by: Steve de Jesus on lead guitar; Nato Canlas on keyboards, Arnold Austria on drums, Jake Arellano, bass guitarist, vocalists Cholo Santiago, Bimbo Santiago, Johnny Velasquez, Candy Dizon, and the only female member of the band, Maso Diez. The band’s manager is Sonny Alvendia.

The Spirit of ’67 is the latest retro band to be featured at the Captain’s Bar. RJ and Friends and the MOBB have been regular performers at the venue of choice for top evening entertainment, located at the lobby level of Mandarin Oriental.