MANILA, Philippines — When you have won the grand title in a TV singing contest called The Voice of the Philippines, appeared on a mainstream sitcom and collaborated with a lady named Lea Salonga, it almost follows that you are bound for a solo career henceforth even if you were originally just a singer in a struggling cover band.
Mitoy Yonting unusually countered flow in the way of things and for a good result. His band The Draybers, with him on board, kept its run intact in the midst of his personal triumph in the eyes of the TV-viewing public. So much so that it is being celebrated with an anniversary concert reminding everyone that the group has continuously been active for 10 years now.
The show, called Biyaheng Diyes and officially branded under the name Mitoy Yonting and The Draybers, happens on Oct. 30 at the Newport Performing Arts Theater. The group, deservingly so, will share the stage with veteran performers Dulce, Randy Santiago and Nyoy Volante, along with Tawag Ng Tanghalan achievers Ato Arman and Noven Belleza, and theater actress Tanya Manalang.
“Malabo na sa amin ang magwatak-watak (It’s unlikely that we will go separate ways),” Mitoy voiced out with clarity. “Nalagpasan na namin yun (We already got over the hump).”
He need not elaborate on his statement, for it’s easy to read between the lines that whatever possible cracks in the pavement, it couldn’t be enough to derail the path. The other guys in the band, obviously under his leadership, definitely understood that his solo breaks benefited them altogether. Besides, they went through tough times as one wolfpack and there’s no point to quit now they’ve gotten both industry and audience respect.
The Draybers, which began its journey as a contestant in a small battle of the bands and endured morale-inflating unpaid gigs, has transformed into a major act in the regular gig scene over time. It has created a good following on the strength of its regular night gigs at Resorts World Manila’s Bar 360. One of the band’s avid fans attended the recent presscon to promote the upcoming special show, noting she didn’t want to miss a thing.
True enough, the group performed its medley of Afterimage songs and the applause-worthy version of Journey’s Don’t Stop Believin’ right in front of her and the media.
Paolo Valenciano, the director of Biyaheng Diyes, has a lot of nice things to say about The Draybers, which strongly revealed why he excitedly took the project in. He detailed, “I’m thrilled to work with this group as they have such global appeal in terms of playing music. They are real rock stars and they should be treated that way.”
Paolo continued, “I would like to unleash them come concert night with the right lights and sound, and in essence introduce them to the world stage. People who see them regularly should come to see them perform in a spectacularly grander atmosphere.”
Interestingly, the group is best hailed as a live act doing covers of mostly classic rock songs. Small wonder they were awarded with Best Performer ALIW trophies thrice (2012, 2013 and 2017). So far though, the band’s originals are technically solo songs of Mitoy, thanks to the after-effect of being champ at The Voice back in 2013.
Nevertheless, it is not the originals that audiences will die for when seeing Mitoy and The Draybers perform in a major concert. It is still what originally endeared them to bar goers: Covers.
Mitoy explained, “Kung tatanungin niyo ako kung babaguhin ba namin ang repertoire sa concert, ang sagot ko hindi. Para lang yang nagustuhan mo ang adobo at babalik-balikan mo. (If you ask me if we will be altering our kind of repertoire, the answer is no. It’s like eating adobo, you want it over and over again).”
Rarely can you see a band frontman playing as a true team player and seeing that his band is not all himself. He quickly showed that last Oct. 10 when he allowed his younger brother Mylo to lead-sing Wency Cornejo’s compositions to greet everybody gathered at El Calle Food and Music Hall in Newport Mall.
Serving as strong backup musicians to their brotherly force are keyboardist Edwin Garcia, bassist Lucky Reformano, drummer Jude Santos and lead guitarist Cesar Uy Salazar.
Perhaps more than its act, The Draybers may take pride in the fact that its band is a good example for others that staying intact, regardless of how fate intervenes along the way, ensures good audience impact.