MANILA, Philippines - There’s a new upbeat feel to Bamboo nowadays. You’ll hear it in their new songs; you see the electricity in their concerts. Bamboo’s new album is fresh and inspired, and it definitely rocks! Digitally mastered in the USA, it highlights the crisp chords of lead guitarist Ira Cruz, the deep tones from bassist Nathan Azarcon, the pulsating beat from drummer Vic Mercado, and the intense vocals of lead singer Bamboo Mañalac.
A single from this album is featured in the new Tanduay TV commercial entitled Spark. The song, Bagong Sigaw, ties in perfectly with the new youth-oriented Tanduay Rhum 5 Years and slogan, Sigaw Natin ‘To. The band is also the exclusive image model of Tanduay Rhum 5 Years – a match made in rock ‘n roll heaven. “When the two of us got together, we knew this was going to be big,” says Bamboo Mañalac.
Tanduay has been steadily building its youth base by providing new innovative products, appealing cocktail recipes and unique promotions. With Bamboo on board, the image of Tanduay has gone a notch higher, reaching out to the younger market and becoming their drink of choice. “It’s our favorite. We’ve been drinking Tanduay Rhum since college,” says bassist Nathan Azarcon.
This year is one hectic, frenzied roadtrip for the band, embarking on two extensive, nationwide concert tours starting last summer. The One Concert Tour is a spin-off of the very successful Rhum on the Rocks series of high profile concerts in cities nationwide. Fully sponsored by Tanduay, The One Concert Tour is also Tanduay’s way of giving back and thanking its youth market for their support.
Bamboo also headlines the Tanduay First Five Nationwide Concert Tour, the biggest concert tour event of the year. It features five of the hottest bands in the country – Sandwich, Kamikazee, Chicosci, 6Cyclemind and Bamboo. “These guys are our friends. We’ve played together before,” says Vic Mercado, drummer. “It’s always a blast,” adds Ira Cruz, lead guitarist.
Tonight, Bamboo will be rocking the Tanduay Rhum Rockfest alongside the First Five and the biggest bands in the country. Twenty-seven bands will come together for one musical event – it has never been done before and Tanduay has made it happen.