Riders on the storm

In the list of dream occupations, the rockstar job still seems to spark more interest than other checkbox careers like medicine, law, and accountancy. While most people discount the desire to be a long-haired guitarist (with the accompanying underwear-stripping fans and explosion-filled concert stages) as a fleeting delusion, there are still a select few who act upon this urge and decide to pursue it to the hilt. In this age where many rock bands play a more mainstream tune to increase their marketability, the Blue Jean Junkies remain as one of the few groups in Metro Manila who still play uncompromised blues-rooted rock ‘n’ roll.

Walking through the main doors of the bar, I am quickly greeted by Nino Mendoza, the group’s singer, rhythm guitarist, and harmonica player. Bearing a thin body frame, tapered black collared shirt, and David Bowie-like hair cut, Nino, at first sight, has the unmistakable façade of a true-to-life rocker. Through a relaxed, semi-scratchy voice, he begins relating the origins of the band. "A friend and I formed the Blue Jean Junkies in 1999 just over some smokes and Red Horse. At the time, we were also considering other names like Black Cat Bone, Acid House, Abominable Bluesman, and Sticky Fingers, but we chose Blue Jean Junkies because it had good recall and rolled well on the tongue,"he says.

Busting Out The Blues

With a long list of major influences including Juan de la Cruz, Christa Paffgen, Johnny Winter, Lou Reed, Iggy Pop, New York Dolls, and the Sonic Deal Sisters, the Junkies, as endearingly called by their friends and fans, play a distinct genre of rock which is very different from the more popularized types involving feats of head thrashing and ad-hoc screaming. Looking closer, blues-based rock ‘n’ roll plays upon a mixture of two guitar chords, melodramatic voice-overs, and a slapping repetitive base line. While rock varieties have traditionally received more radio and TV airtime, this niche music has always been a constant in the local music industry. The bassist of the band, Miggy Matute expounds. "I think that the blues have always been around in Manila. Ever since I was 13, I would always hear it in and out of the house. This sound has always been appreciated and recognized, but it has never been Manila’s ultimate genre of music. I’ve noticed though that it’s slowly becoming bigger,"the musician analyzes.

Rock Hard Chemistry

Looking at the band itself, it’s quite difficult to deconstruct exactly what happens when the four members don their sticks and straps on stage. While sipping my lemonade during the set, I noticed that each player somehow absorbs the surrounding music and synergizes it into his own distinct body movement. While other band members discreetly head nod and foot click to the played beat, Nino, without a doubt, remains as focal point of the show as he transforms what he calls the "sexiness"of the music into an explosive performance of zigzag foot maneuvers, finger trickling harmonica playing, and ghostly arias.

Each member plays a crucial role in creating that ambiguous but unmistakable Junkie experience. The drummer, Patrick Milan manifests an obvious excitement to learn the beats and pauses, specific to blues rock. "Coming from a strong background in modern rock, I’m getting a lot of exposure in blues rock just by playing with the other members,"he discloses. Meanwhile, the group’s newest addition, ace lead guitarist Kakoi Legaspi, infuses in the group not only his musical touch but also a host of impressive credentials, including previous band stints with Mr. Crayon and Rivermaya as well as a recent citation as "young guitar player to watch in the Philippines"by a Blues Access, a prestigious blues rock magazine in Canada.

Rolling On The Road Show

Altogether, the Blue Jean Junkies are dead bent in taking their blues rock act all over the metropolis this 2004. They are still promoting their first all-original album under Sony Music, self-titled "Blue Jean Junkies."Listening to the live performance of Mahalan sa Mundo which talks about love as the universal solution to all life’s problems, I notice that the band, unlike its more grungy cousins in the rock scene, purports a constructive outlook amongst themselves and towards the greater audience. "I don’t need no heavy trip. I just do what I want to do with all democracy! We just smile and love. Just because we play the blues, doesn’t mean we’re sad about our lives,"Nino differentiates in his own unique vernacular. On top of the first album, the Junkies have also finished recording two new singles for release into the market, namely Fine Company and Freeway Man.

Charged with this signature repertoire, the Junkies have been literally swinging all over Metro Manila skyline for a plethora of gigs. Last June, the group had stints in several Makati nightspots including Pipers Bar, Peligro, Big Sky Mind, and Silver Kettle. In the same month, they also graced selected urban events including Sining Pinoy in Greenhills and the Fete de la Musique in Eastwood City, Libis. For this July, they remain the Friday night act of Pipers Bar with scheduled appearances in Silver Kettle in Makati Avenue and Freedom Bar in Anonas, Quezon City.

"Okay people, if you’re looking for a blues-rooted rock ‘n’ roll band that focuses more on the roll than the rock, then you’ve got the Blue Jean Junkies. Ah baby!" Nino, unabashedly cries out to Philippine bar owners and blues fans. With such a universal address, I am sure that the Junkies, together with their long hair, screaming fans, and side-winding performances, are on their way to taking that rock star title to a whole new hilt.

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For more inquiries, you can e-mail the Blue Jean Junkies at bluejeanjunkies@hotmail.com or contact them at 0927-5327477.

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E-mail the author at mybubbleboy@hotmail.com