AN original Filipino rock concert, Rockamania 2 caused quite a tremor—of a rocking, musical kind, that is—on November 18, 2017, at the Rizal Park open-air auditorium.
The music fest started off with an electric feel as bassist Pai Tano led the singing the Philippine National Anthem. Members of the audience who were composed of individuals coming from Metro Manila and various parts of the country, with some coming from as far as Mindanao, were clearly moved by her bass lines.
Rockamania 2 host Mike Twain then eased up the crowd as he opened the event. Tommy’s Hound Circus began the flow of musical acts as they warmed up the stage with their solid and grunge-sound compositions, covering songs from iconic band Kapatid.
Afterward, Cowboy Grill’s homegrown Jason X dominated the stage with the band members’ commanding presence as they have garnered a rather warm reception from the audience.
Bonifacio Republic followed suit as the punk-rock quartet conveyed their identity by singing their originals preaching nationalism.
Then, blues trio Whiskey Version grooved and jived with the crowd as they performed their heart-warming take on nostalgia-inducing covers.
Jana Garcia then took over the stage and captivated the crowd. The singer, dubbed as the “Angelic Rockstar,” showcased her high-caliber vocals. Most notable in her covers were modern and widely-popular original Pilipino music (OPM) songs.
Grunge-hearted and freedom-bent Gin, Rum and Truth (or GRT) came next and drenched the crowd with the spirit of rock, performing three-band originals and a cover of Lionel Richie’s “Hello.”
Then, Demi continued the all-out rock vibrancy with its eccentric brand of music. Filipino metal-blues-hard rock group Razorback closed and concluded the night as they sparked a fire within the anticipating audience, with their songs causing the crowd to stand and mosh in front of the stage.
Rockamania 2 proved to be a massive success as a large throng of rock heads constituted for a diverse watching audience. It delivered its vision to bring the sound of underground Filipino rock to the ears of the public by upholding a medium and a platform where native rock artists auspiciously presented their wide range and array of skills, much to the delight of the crowd.
Rockamania 2 was presented by Sound Experience Manila in collaboration with National Parks Development Committee, Labs, Kita Sabado and Banana Rising Recording Studio in partnership with the National Commission for Culture and the Arts the BusinessMirror, Pilipino Mirror, PinasFM 95.5, BHBT Rocks, PULP Magazine, Rakista and OneMusic PH, Crescendo Music and Store, Oishi and Panda Choco Photography, among others.
Image credits: Photos by Toy Perez and Rommel Balawang