The bond of the band

It is your friends who make the story of your life. In a thousand ways, they have turned your limitations into pleasant privileges. They stand beside you when the day grows cold and dark and during times when you carry a heavy heart.

For some, their friends share the music of their souls as well as the same passion for it. The members of rising band Kastigo prove this well. Meet vocalist Carlo Ordoñez, drummer Mark Santiago, bassist Sans Fojas and guitarist Josh Montecillo.    

With barely two years in the industry, Kastigo is being hailed by music legends as the “future of Pinoy rock.” After making rounds in schools and bars, the rock band launched its independent debut album recently at Absinth Bar. Titled Our Daily Riot, it boasts of 11 all-original tracks of rock music. Kapag Kapiling Ka (KKK), a love song in a rock melody, is the carrier track.

“Our songs are appreciated by a wide range of people — from those who are in love to people who just want to smash things up,” says Mark, who has developed his technical drum attacks and tribal/samba-influenced drum beats after rigorous practice, research and highly extensive funding.

Not too long ago, rock bands Wolfgang and Razorback dominated the airwaves with their hard-hitting and loud sound that made them very popular with rock music fans. With constant reinvention — yes, even in the music industry — emo and pop rock have conquered the hit charts and the local music scenes.

“We know that there are a big number of people waiting for this kind of music to resurface,” asserts Carlo, a frustrated poet who’s responsible for the lyrics of most of the songs. (His flexible songwriting skills, great voice and good on-stage appeal give him the edge over his contemporaries.) “We offer this album to them and hopefully, inspire an exodus back to good old rock ‘n roll.”

The high school buddies are more than glad to be able to share with music aficionados their brand of music. Two years after forming the band, the members recount their not-so-easy way to the top.

“It was tough,” quips the only female band member Sans, who displays amazing bass-playing skills, fast-moving hands and jazz/post-modern rock influenced riffs, of their late night gigs where only a few people watch them. “But hey, no pain no gain,” she exclaims.

After former Wolfgang and now Lokomotiv drummer Wolf Gemora discovered Kastigo in a bar in Quezon City, there was no other way for them but to go up. Gemora introduced them to his friends in the industry and from then on, he has been a major player in the band’s soaring career.

It also pays to have friends who always believe in you and what you can do. “Our friends volunteered to help us out with our album. Good friend photographer and multi-media artist Jonji Villadolid worked on our album cover, while others are helping with the album launch event itself,” shares Josh, a genius of musical technicalities and is distinguished for his ability to play the guitar without using a pick. (Hey, he’s been advised to have his fingers insured).

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So, why Kastigo?

It was the band’s frontman who thought of the name. Sans relates the story: “One night after a gig, we went to Yellow Cab to get something to eat. We were quite noisy until we noticed that the family beside our table looked so annoyed. Carlo stepped outside and when he came back, he already had a name in mind.” The vocalist thought that the family next to them at the pizza parlor looked so mad, that to him, “mukhang i-ka-kastigo na tayo!”

“We are very excited about this album. It was almost one year in the making. All of our songs are more of everyday experiences, including those bad experiences in your life. It’s more of the reality that beats us up every single day of our life.”

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Now pursuing different courses in college at the De La Salle University and College of St. Benilde, the four promising musicians know their priorities and keep themselves grounded.

“It only takes good time management,” says Sans, a Psychology student. On his behalf, Josh, also a Psychology major, adds, “You need to allot time for band practice and your subjects in school.” Same goes for Carlo, an Economics major, and Mark, who’s taking up Diplomatic Affairs. Sans acknowledges the support and love that their respective families are showering them with.

“Every step of the way is an obstacle,” explains Josh. “Even the decision to pursue this career is an obstacle we need to overcome.”

Not a bad decision after all. Theirs is a friendship that has made stories in the lives of four people who dreamed and conquered their dreams. 

Critics and music enthusiasts are slowly but surely recognizing the presence of Kastigo in the Pinoy rock scene. Prepare to be beaten up.