NU 107 Rock Awards: The Best in Show

It must be said: this year’s NU 107 Rock Awards was perhaps the best so far in its history. Although the show’s theme of “HI-DEF” wasn’t as exciting as the use of all those caps might suggest (or as clear in illuminating what was supposed to be clear in rock which was merely Hi8-fuzzy in the past) those present that night were certainly glad they didn’t heed PAGASA’s warnings and prudently panic-buying to fill the stockrooms for the storm shelter that they also call home. Nope. It was the place to be that evening. As indicated in the first sentence, the folks at NU 107.5 really outdid themselves this year — despite the absence of the usual highlights we’ve become accustomed to throughout the years such as Pepe Smith crawling towards the stage, Rosanna Roces’ breasts or even Jett Pangan, to name but a few. This was a rock ‘n’ roll show — it was about the music.

Before the main event, there were pre-show warm-ups by the likes of Salamin, The Lowtechs, Turbo Goth and Duster among others (the latter two delivering the best performances, not at all showing any drop in enthusiasm despite playing to only a half-filled venue. If anything, both acts showed just how to own a stage wherever, however and under whatever circumstances. We expect them to be in the main show next year). Games were played in-between sets as the World Trade Center in Pasay filled up.

Like every Rock Awards, the audience was just as much of a spectacle as the performers, presenters and winners onstage. Even a cursory inspection of the crowd (in the interest of adding color to this account, of course) certain people stood out, not least of which were Philippine STAR stalwarts Becca Rodriguez and Audrey Carpio, the latter also serving as a judge this year — continuing the prestigious list of STAR writers like Scott Garceau, Igan D’ Bayan and myself who’ve done this kind of jury duty before, thus ensuring that we’ll all probably be in a footnote together in the future history of Pinoy Rock. Other standouts that night were actress Annicka Dolinius (Pisay) and her hubby, Mr. Bones (who also fronts his own band, The Boneyard Circus), who looked like absolute blasphemy in Southern Gothic garb. There were other curiosities that evening but we’ll leave it at that acknowledgment lest we forget what section we’re in.

A large part of the show’s success this year can be attributed to the choice of hosts. The pairing of funnyman Ramon Bautista and actress Iza Calzado was nothing less than inspired. Not only were they easy on the eyes and comported themselves as true pros, they were very, very funny as well. Calzado doing the “kupaw” growls to introduce Greyhoundzm has gotta be perhaps one of the greatest moments in Rock Awards history if not Pinoy Rock itself. Why? It’s totally inappropriate, irreverent and actually honest (the term “kupaw” is a pejorative term — mocking Reg Rubio’s vocals on the song, Mr. P-I-G, which ushered in the nü-metal sound in the music scene). But coming from Calzado it was not so much a kiss-off as perhaps just a kissy tribute to a band that’s actually survived a decade and transcended that term. Bautista made some quips of his own introducing Razorback by talking about their “tisoy good looks” as compared to the other bands that night that were in his eyes, “native lang.”

And what about the bands themselves? Kamikazee surely provided a rousing show opener with their single, Wala, following as it did Up Dharma Down’s Armi Millare’s stark rendition of Lupang Hinirang. She came back later and performed with the rest of her band their ‘80s pop-inspired single, Sana, concluding the song uncharacteristically with smashed instruments and electronic noise/feedback. It hasn’t been an easy year for the band, most especially for Millare whose house was submerged two floors up during typhoon Ondoy. If this was a reflection of the tumult from the past months we can’t say — although we’re guessing it may be.

The most poignant part of the evening was during the “In Memoriam” segment towards the latter part. The video flashed on the giant screens paid tribute to recently departed music heroes like folk singer Susan Fernandez-Magno, bassist extraordinaire Dondi Ledesma, Saffron Speedway’s Tara Santilices, Absolute Zero/Betrayed/Music Front bass player and local punk pioneer Je Bautista and film critic and journalist Alexis Tioseco. The final image shown was also the face of this year’s Hall of Fame awardee: Francis Magalona. An all-star band led by Ely Buendia and Magalona’s son Elmo played a song from the last album the Master Rapper completed before his demise.

Buendia was later joined by NU 107 president Atom Henares and his fellow Eraserheads’ Buddy Zabala and Raymund Marasigan to present the Artists of the Year award. Henares — to whom Buendia jokingly referred to as Marcus — seemed happy with the way the Rock Awards turned out this year, even remarking onstage that it was probably one of the best ever. To close the show, Artist of the Year winner Up Dharma Down performed their popular single, Oo, to usher the crowds out as we all made our way through the rain to wherever.