Glittering disco balls hanging high above people’s heads. Bright green strobe lights reaching far across the room. Gigantic headphones suspended from the ceiling. Gyrating babes scantily clad in black. Brightly colored confetti raining down from above. Columns of fireworks lighting up the stage. Three huge screens flashing cartoon images of slender, sultry ladies. Music beating with an infectious rhythm from night until early morning. Deliciously stylish clubbers in two major cities dancing unanimously in the name of house.
Hed Kandi’s 2009 visit to the Philippines is all that and more.
Bigfish and Nokia Music teamed up to give clubbers a taste of that deliciously stylish Kandi vibe by throwing back-to-back parties in Makati and Cebu. Preaching the Kandi philosophy were Andy Daniels, Peyton, Anton Ramos and Johnboy Lee — a dream house music lineup.
British DJ Andy Daniels is known for his feel-good house repertoire that keeps the energy level high on dance floors not just in his native Manchester but also in clubs abroad. Peyton made a name for himself as the food and drink expert on Queer Eye for the Straight Guy UK, but gained a following of music lovers with his first single A Higher Place. And Anton Ramos and Johnboy Lee are pros who need no introduction, being two of the most successful DJs in the Manila club community.
On January 16, 2009, Bigfish gave Cebuanos their first taste of the Hed Kandi lifestyle by throwing their first-ever party in the Queen City of the South. Andy Daniels, Peyton, Anton Ramos, and Johnboy Lee all showed off their house music mastery to the army of South-based thrill-seekers gathered at the Cebu International Convention Center.
Fresh from their Visayan excursion, the four-piece then made their way to A-Venue Events Hall in Makati City on January 23, 2009 to party with the Manileños. In between smoldering house sets, local tribal music group Bunganda gave partygoers a different kind of treat by launching into euphoric bongo-heavy numbers.
Nokia also unveiled its latest wonder, the Nokia 5800 XpressMusic, at both Hed Kandi parties. With its touch-screen display, advanced multi-format player, stereo surround sound, crystal-clear hi-fi, and generous 8GB memory all melded into a nice and nifty mobile phone, the Nokia 5800 is the new face in cutting-edge music and phone technology. For house music fans who want a music player that amplifies every beat of the electric drum and every layer of heavenly vocals, the Nokia 5800 will be your new best friend.
Special thanks go to official residence Shangri-La Mactan Cebu, O Music and Video, Gold’s Gym, Good Times 101 Condoms, Music One, MYX, Activ8 Records, ETC, Style Weekend by Manila Bulletin, Philippine Star, Business World, Life by Manila Standard, Transit, Velvet Channel, ANC, Studio 23, Magic 89.9, 99.5 RT, Y 101 Cebu, NU 107, UR 105.9, XFM 92.3, People Asia Magazine, Metro, You, Fudge, Stella, FHM, T3, WHR, MNL, Bounce, Rogue, Circuit, Clavel, Area, LeisureZcene, PinoyExchange.com, Clickthecity.com, Yehey.com, Summit Digital, Philstar.com, Spot.ph, Munchpunch.com, Oliver’s Super Sandwiches, Friendster, Killer Bee, and Bigfish Radio on Magic 89.9.
For more wicked house harmonies to jumpstart your weekend night out, tune in to Bigfish Radio every Saturday from 9 p.m. to 2 a.m. on Magic 89.9 in Mega Manila and on Killer Bee stations nationwide.
Next up on the Bigfish calendar is the Innovation Black party with Gatecrasher happening on March 13, 2009, Friday at A-Venue Events Hall in Makati. You know what to do. Come in your black garb and surrender to the music.
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For comments and suggestions feel free to e-mail me at rickydaker@gmail.com.