Community Movement Building Through Music Series 2: On the eve of the Festival of Latin Electronic Music in Pilsen, I caught up with its founders Charly Garcia & Stephanie Manriquez at the opening symposium and art show at Efebos to find out a little bit more about this emerging local scene. I found out that despite the differences in culture, musical genre and language, this scene has seen many parallels to our Pinoy music scene–developing a sense of community and identity outside of the mainstream in a very fasionable DIY style!

This podcast is the second installation of “Community Movement Building Through Music” here on the CPMS podcast and features an interview with Executive Director Stephanie Manriquez of FMEL with a live performance by Ángel Sánchez Borges and (one of my favorites) Carlos Icaza, drummer of Plastilina Mosh.

Find out more about FMEL on their website at http://fmelchicago.com/ or email them at fmelc​hicag​o@​gmail​.​com

 

 FMEL: Interview with Stephanie Manriquez [40:04m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

At one of the Chicago Pinoy Music Scene fundraiser shows a few months back, we we’re all given a special treat. It was already late in the evening but many people stuck around to to hear one solo artist perform on stage with just her guitar. For those of us who were there, it was an unforgettable performance which gained new fans to her music. Imelda DeLaCruz has been composing and performing her own original music for over a decade now and continues to woo our hearts to her melodic stories on stage.

Each song is moment, captured through verse and melody… introducing you to characters that you can’t help but recognize. For many of us who listen to her music you can’t help but feel you know every person she is singing about… or you swear to god that you have lived through those same moments in one time or another…. from the innocent anxieties of high school, to the first moments you realized you believed in love (or perhaps wishing you never believed), to the days when we used to just sit and watch Saturday morning cartoons.

I had the chance to catch up with Imelda after her performance at the Beyond the Barrelman closing at Mercury cafe where we talked about her music, her stories and where she plays a song for all of us out on the side walk.

If you want to know more about Imelda, check out her website at www.imeldadelacruz.com and get her latest album, Noise, Noise, Noise..

Enjoy - RoXin

 

 Imelda DeLaCruz Interview [19:15m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Bamboo Live at Chicago’s Martyr’s Bar in Chicago. Recorded Sunday, September 14th, 2008. Presented by Happybox Productions in collaboration with CPMS and lead by Je Cacnio. Read and respond to Je’s “Thank You” discussion on our forum. Read Lawrence’s blog post on his experience meeting the band.

Full concert in its entirety.

 

 Bamboo Live at Chicago's Martyr's Bar [57:39m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

There are things in the everyday life most people don’t like to talk about or divulge. But fortunately, there is a Chicago-based Pinoy Rock band that refuses to candy coat the realities that most of us experience.. particularly those experiences that can often times be painful into creative and thought-provoking music. On this podcast we interview SO3 (Sons of the 3rd) a four piece outfit that combines a raw untamed sound with intensive riffs along with howling and fierce poetic vocals.

Following the interview is their live set in entirety at Martyr’s Bar on September 14, 2008 where they were one of the opening acts for Bamboo.

Enjoy & keep rockin’ CPMS! - RoXin

 

 SO3 Interview & Live Performance [47:41m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

On July 5th, four Chicago-based bands gathered to raise funds to participate in the historic Rock in the Box 2 release festival in New York. It was a special night–ACI9, BAGWIS, LUCID BLUR & THE INDIAGOS covered each other’s songs.

In this podcast, we feature ACI9’s live performance at the Underground Lounge in Chicago. They open their set with an amazing version of a BAGWIS original: Dugo ng Tubo.

ACI9 is known for their funky and bouncing basslines by Chris Mallo, pounding and fierce beats by (what tha) Hec Cruz, and of course the political and poetic voice as well as the progressive psychedelic guitar riffs of Bing Labog.

Catch ACI9’s track “Don Pakete” on the newly released Rock in the Box 2 North American CD compilation produced by Soulworks Records & Poptimes Magazine.

Enjoy! - RoXin

 

 ACI9 Live at Underground Lounge [30:05m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

We caught up with The Bending Spoon at their gig with Madrhymes, Downcast, SO3 and After6 at the US Beer Co. on Friday September 5th to learn more about this band who has been around for about 10 years and continues to write and perform some of the most original music coming from the Chicago Filipino Community.

 

 Interview with the Bending Spoon: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

THE BENDINGSPOON
Erick “Kid” Revita - Vocals
Bob Jose - Bass
Joe Real - Lead Guitar
Kris “Sirk” Cocjin - Drums
and their newest member, Marpi on Guitar

Contact them at:
The Bending Spoon
Westmont, IL
thebendingspoon@yahoo.com
call/text ; (630) 802-5747

I have a little secret….. I’m a fuckin’ thrill seeker… You know, when I was a lot younger, I used to watch thunderstorms approach and always wondered what it would be like to run into the storm and be picked up by the violent winds and soar through a dark sky. I would imagine what it would be like to be caught in a tornado’s wind tunnel, hurling past large debris thinking that at any moment I could be smashed to pieces! Pure intensity, chaos, and thrill! Now imagine that feeling with precise, pounding groove rhythms…. this is the Madrhymes realm.

This podcast is the recording of their set in its entirety at the US Beer Co. on Friday September 5th. After listening to this recording… at least twice before even posting this, I kept thinking… “When the heck is Madrhymes gonna put out a full length album?” this is something I’ve been waiting for years to hold and hear! They are an amazing band and some of the nicest musicians too!

A tip for those who have never heard Madrhymes and are an avid fan of metal or progressive music… If you see a flier for one of their upcoming gigs…. GO!

Keep up the great work Madrhymes and thank you for your intensity and craftsmanship!

Oh, by the way…. Ponki…. You are my drum Idol! .. Now press the play button already!

 

 Madrhymes ive at US Beer Co. on September 5th, 2008 [53:20m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Hey there rockers! We’re getting ready to pull together the official Chicago Pinoy Music Scene podcast! Catch live interviews of your favorite Pinoy Bands, Live performances, and audio stories about our scene, our culture and our community!

Check back soon!

In the mean time, listen to an archived podcast originally posted on www.chicagopinoymusic.ning.com…

Interview: Bebbot Alegre, third generation owner of Alegre Guitars

When your in Cebu, Philippines you can find vendors all over the street selling guitars — in stalls and stores or people just walking along carrying half a dozen over their shoulder. To many, it may seem like a novelty item - something you purchase as a souvenir while you visit the city of Cebu.

They can run up to at least $15 US dollars for what most musicians might seem to be crude and perhaps unaceptable. But don’t let this fool you. In a small barangay on Mactan island in Cebu you will find Alegre Guitars. Here you will find musicians and craftman that take their art seriously and where you will find some of the best sounding guitars in all of the Philippines.

I took the time to talk with Bebbot Alegre, the third generation owner of the guitar factory, where he explains its history and motivation.

Enjoy! - RoXin

 

 Interview with Bebbot Alegre of Alegre Guitars Cebu [7:28m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download