Lite and Live at Tapika

Rock bands are enjoying another peak period in the local entertainment scene. However, if you will take a closer scrutiny of the current big-selling tunes by these groups, The Day You Said Goodnight by Hale or Stay by Cueshe, you will find that what the public actually likes are not the rockers but the romantic ballads. And when the mood calls for mellow sounds that are "pang-emote," nothing beats going acoustic.

These E-mo sounds are what has kept Tapika at the forefront of today’s night life. Located in Blue Ridge in Quezon City, the joint has spawned a number of now famous acts who excel in simple but very effective acoustic sounds. Name any of the big ones like Paolo Santos and Nyoy Volante with Mannos and it is a surefire bet that they have performed or continue to perform at Tapika.

Three of its most popular groups were recently chosen by Tapika to record the songs for its third live recorded album release entitled Lite & Live at Tapika. These are Hourglass, Michaelangelo and Gian with Industria, whom, as any acoustic club habitué in the city will tell you are among the best. They do five cuts each in the CD and their songs are among the most-requested ones from Tapika clientele whenever they perform. That means listening to the album will be like being present during one of their Tapika sets. And you can now do this anywhere and whenever you want to do some E-mo.

Hourglass boasts of the matchless vocals of Ria Villena-Osorio plus Egay Caole on vocals and percussion and Paolo Miguel Tiongson on guitar and backup vocals. Ria also plays flute and keyboards. They perform Can’t Make You Love Me, Midnight at the Oasis, No Woman, No Cry, Satellite and It’s Probably Me. They sound great and they make you wonder when you will get to listen to a complete album of the ethereal sound of Hourglass.

Michaelangelo is made up of former M.Y.M.P. member Michael Manahan on vocals and his brother Angelo on guitar. It is said that Michael and Juris of M.Y.M.P. once made beautiful music together but have since gone their separate ways. Let us now watch to find out how Michael will fare on his own. Michaelangelo does Change the World, Fast Car, Here Without You, Hanging by a Moment and Conviction of the Heart.

Then there is Gian with Industria featuring Gian Magdangal, formerly of the boy group 17:28 with party band Industria made up of Telay Robles on vocals, RJ Manese on bass, IJ Garcia on keyboard and Benjo Robles on drums and percussion. They sing Superstar, Inside That I Cried, Ribbon in the Sky, Let’s Stay Together and You’ve Got a Friend.

U-Turn’s new album

Incidentally, U-Turn, another Tapika favorite, has recently released a new album made up of what else but sweet acoustic love songs. One of them, a cover of the Jetts’ Make It Real with Teri Sambajon on solo vocals is now a big hit. Other songs included are So Much in Love, How Do You Keep the Music Playing, For You, Separate Lives, Spend My Life, Is There Something, How Did You Know, I’d Still Say Yes, Drive, To Love Again, I Finally Found Someone, Penny for Your Thoughts, Baby Come to Me and Nobody Loves Me Like You Do.

Aside from Teri, who started out with Vanna Vanna, U-Turn is made up of Richard Poon on acoustic guitars and vocals; Edward Santiago on acoustic guitars and James de la Paz on drums and percussion.

Strings N’ Rhythms Nights

U-Turn and Michaelangelo are among the headliners this month at Tapika’s Strings N’ Rhythms Nights. Shows start 9:30 p.m. and there are three sets every night. On schedule are performances by Paolo Santos on Wednesdays, which started last Aug. 3, and then on Aug. 10 and 31; The SMB Bar Tour tonight; Pido and Cradle on Saturdays, Aug. 6, 13 and 27.

Stonefree rocks Sundays, Aug. 7 and 21 along with Sugar Shack on Aug. 14 and 28; Euphoria on Mondays, Aug. 8, 15, 22 and 29; Michaelangelo on Tuesdays, Aug. 9, 16, 23 and 30; U-Turn on Thursday, Aug. 11 and on Fridays, Aug. 12, 19 and 26; Dominic and Burton on Wednesdays, Aug. 17 and 24 and Gail Blanco on Aug. 18, 20 and 25.