IT has been an accepted standard of modern entertainment: Keep selling whatever works—the same sad songs; the good ole’ love teams; the usual story plots, the familiar faces, voice and themes.
But for the group Johnny Cross, change keeps things interesting…
Started by former BalahibumPooza members Rera Mallari (vocals) and Roman Prospero (guitar), they enlisted the talents of Lyndon Asmiralde (guitar), Yann Evasco (bass) and Lester Llansang (drummer) to form the band they consider as family.
Named after the “Filipino every man,” or “Juan dela Cruz—with a modern twist,” the band started in a friendship their fans could relate to.
“Nagsimula sa basketball,” Mallari shared, “When I was in Lyceum, my classmate Butch Vallega would invite us to play basketball during weekends at their place. There, I met his brothers Don and Ubay, and their neighbors Roman Prospero and Christian Capitan. I became friends with [those guys].
He continued: “We found a common passion for music and started to form a group. We were a garage band, in the real sense of the term, as we started playing at the garage of the Vallegas. Our first songs were Time Space Warp and ‘Upak.’”
Later on, as the band members grew closer, Time Space Warp was included in Ed Formoso’s rock compilation, “A Dozen Alternatives (1994),” which was launched under Viva Records.
Blood, sweat and tears
THEIR time as a band wasn’t all “limelight and alcohol.” Their friendship was challenged when, just after a hard day’s recording of Time Space Warp, the Vallega brothers and Capitan figured in a road mishap and were hospitalized.
The latter was the most afflicted, as his face got smashed on the car’s dashboard. After that, the young musician’s parents prohibited him from joining the band.
But that was not the end of BalahibumPooza. Mallari and Prospero continued their music with new members, but never forgot the ones who were there with them from the beginning.
“’Johnny Cross’ means the ‘modern-day Filipino,’” Mallari gleamed. “Someone who never fails to look back at his roots, while welcoming changes that come his way.”
Spice of life
FROM rock compilations to their own full album, Johnny Cross truly is a band you just can’t listen to only once.
“Imagine traditional Pinoy rock that fuses with the sound of the new millennium,” described Mallari of their band’s genre.
Their themes bounce from the sociopolitical and serious, to the feel-good and wacky. Almost ever lover of music will find a home in their albums “Subterranean (2008),” from the fast, hard and heavy tracks “Upak,” “Masaker,” Breaktime 24/7; or the smooth pop-rock of “Bulalakaw,” Subterranean as well as Sleeping Beauty; and even songs for romance like “Awit” and “Abot-Tanaw.”
Apart from all those, plans are afoot to launch a new, 12-song album. And despite contemporary releases being produced under major labels, they are going to circulate this one independently.
“We launched the album ‘Subterranean’ under the aegis of (a network label) a few years ago. We have new materials for a new record, 12 songs, and we’re trying to independently release it, para ma-iba naman,” Mallari gleamed. “Nasubukan na namin ang major label, eh.”
The band’s wide assortment of music starts from the manner they write songs. The moments of inspiration come at random.
“’Bulalakaw’s’ melody and lyrics, I made those while walking around Greenhills. Maybe in 10 minutes, it was finished.” Mallari said in Filipino. “Then (Prospero) inserted the music afterwards. There were times the music came first, like ‘Nganga.’ The melody and lyrics of which took nearly two months to finish.”
When asked where they get the inspiration to make music, Mallari said: “Variety is the spice of life.”
No rock-star mentality
“I’M proud of the fact that we don’t consider ourselves as a band; we’re family,” Mallari opened his thoughts about the group’s togetherness.
“We became friends first, then band members later. Those who left are still our friends, like Miki Boado. New (ones like) Lyndon and Yann (Ding) are likewise our pals. We don’t have ‘rockstar mentality’ group mates. Our drummer (Llansang) is an actor (for ‘Ang Probinsyano,’) but he’s one of the nicest guys you will meet.”
When asked how he felt about the music and experiences, Mallari related to every artist, “The best thing about being a musician is that you’re like God, because you create a beautiful thing from nothing. You are a creator. Most of our songs tell something: We want (our listeners) to think and say, ‘Oo nga, ‘no?’”
(For more of the band, follow their Facebook page: Johnny Cross-Pilipinas formerly BalahibumPooza.)