The NU 107 Rock Awards at 15
If we accept that oft-repeated pro-nouncement that rock n’ roll is dying, it’ll still be happy to note that it’s dying on its feet. Last week, the NU 107.5 Rock Awards celebrated its’ 15th year and there was so much going on that there was barely any time to sit and be still during the event. Aside from the usual parade of bombshells, pundits, music industry insiders, also-rans and hangers-on plus a couple of bona fide celebrities, there was actually music to be heard that night. There were perhaps even a number of music fans that night that showed up for that very reason.
As announced and expected, there were certainly interesting performers scheduled for the evening—even if most were hardly newcomers to the show. Opening that evening was Rico Blanco, who unveiled yet another reinterpretation of his single, Yugto. Backed by musicians such as Cynthia Alexander, Jazz Nicholas and Jerome Velasco, it did bring bombast if nothing else to those already familiar with the song. (Somehow, the version performed by Blanco as a trio at the Sonic Boom anniversary is still arguably superior.) Perhaps the fact that the Rock Awards new digs at Silver City in Pasig has the acoustics of a gigantic toilet certainly affected the live experience. (Needles to say, the broadcast of the show on MYX is something we won’t want to miss if only to check if the recording is better.) Yet even if for the spectacle only, the NU Rock Awards is still unsurpassed.
But to focus on the music…
Lourd de Veyra and the rest of the Radioactive Sago Project took to the stage with 20 other people (including new recruit, keyboardist Malek Lopez, formerly of Drip, as well as RockEd’s Gang Badoy) clad all in white to play Alak, Sugal, Kape, Babae. The Greyhoundz performed two songs from their forthcoming LP, ‘Execution Style’—which features their most cohesive, unrelenting work yet. Despite the reverb-drown of the venue, there was no mistaking the muscular intent or the honesty of the music. Other notable acts that night include the always-reliable Sandwich (who has never disappointed in all of their Rock Awards appearances) and the happily unreliable Markus Highway. The latter’s humor, often-shambolic stage demeanor and the cunningly subversive pop of his songs makes him the heir to the debauched throne of Pepe Smith. Of course, Pupil closing the show with Nasaan Ka? (from their debut, Beautiful Machines) was memorable not only for the music but by their manager Diane Ventura’s surprise turn at playing drums (wearing high heels no less).
All in all, it was still a great show (although personally last year’s was more fun). And, yes, there was a lot to ogle at and see. But you’ve got the pictures and MYX airing to see that not to mention Supreme tomorrow. (Congrats to them for co-sponsoring of the event). Those looking to see — to quote NU head honcho Atom Henares — “Parokya ni Edgar performed clad in marching band costumes, and then later took them off to reveal drawings of their dicks on their chests, to the howls of glee from the jampacked crowd” or “when no less than Andrea del Rosario planted a mouth-to-mouth kiss on Aubrey Miles onstage” you’re going to get your fix if not your rocks off. Why spoil the fun by writing about it?
We’ll stick to the music. For now, that is. When we start writing about anything else, you’ll know that rock n’ roll is, indeed, dead.
