DYNAMIC subgenres of in-your-face rock music with Filipino sensibilities were the center of celebration during the recent launch party of The House of Rock Makati on P. Burgos Avenue.
Poised to relive the angst and vibe of Pinoy rock, The House of Rock Makati—formerly the Woodman’s Head Bar—is eyeing to produce a rich lineup of mini-concerts and art-focused events in 2018.
The new music-based concept of the Woodman’s Head Bar revamp is the brainchild of TV personality and comedian Merck Alvarez.
“I started pitching the concept to the management of Woodman’s [in] November 2017. The concept is mainly about celebrating Pinoy rock music and arts. The goal is to provide a new music spot in the heart of P. Burgos, Makati, through unique event productions, both musical and art presentations,” Alvarez said. “We started with acoustic events in December, while this mini-concert launch party is the first production event this [year].”
The mini-concert certainly did not disappoint in both commemorating the classics while introducing the new excitability of today’s Pinoy rock. All four bands who performed represented the diversified subgenres of original Pilipino music punk—from thought-provoking political stance-kind of punk to tug-at-heartstring rockabilly.
Kicking off the night was Bonifacio Repulic, the band that boasts of its “madungis na Pinoy rock” music, with lyrics that tackle social awareness and political issues without being self-righteous or preachy. The band’s songs like “Magnanakaw” and “Kalawang” have powerful lines that will not just make one float in total rock atmosphere but will also induce pondering on one’s stand in today’s political scene.
“Our musical influences vary from punk to new wave, from blues to hard rock and heavy metal. Personally, I like to listen to Pinoy music of any genre. I look at the lyrics first, second [would be the] music. There are a lot of platforms for artists to showcase their craft, and it is good that The House of Rock Makati injected Pinoy music into its concept,” vocalist Aldwin Tolosa shared.
The Youth’s avant-garde, unconventional and 99-percent non-love song material radiated its goodol allurement from the 1990s with hits that fans have been craving for years.
When asked about the band’s musical influences, vocalist and guitarist Robert Javier mentioned in jest, “Aside from The Velvet Underground and a thousand new wave bands, our influences are definitely our drunken videoke neighbors!”
The band is aiming for “world domination” as the band is scheduled to hit the road for its world tour, crossing and playing in four continents.
Pinoy rockabilly at its finest was what Pusakal served during the mini-concert. Hit songs “Boppin’ the Blues,” “Your True Love” and “Cadillac” were meant to bring the audience in a euphoric and romantic state, with a little of oomph.
Greaser Bunny on vocals and guitars shared, “We’re no retro as most people think when they first hear us. It’s our own take on rockabilly, a continuation from where it all started: the 1950s”.
The Philippine Violators, hailed as the “godfathers of the original 1980s Philippine punk scene” by various music authorities and platforms, catered to the audience with its famous hits “Sikat na si Pedro, Ipako sa Krus” and “Lahat sa Tropa.”
Cranking out amazing punk rock music since 1984, the band has gained notoriety in both the underground and mainstream scenes.
“Our music ranges from oi! [a subgenre of punk rock from the United Kingdom in the late-1970s], power pop to punk rock and a little bit of ska reggae,” vocalist Bong Espiritu said.
“The Pinoy rock scene is healthy because of big production events, such as this launch of The House of Rock Makati, making the bar scene very much alive where bands, such as ourselves, can showcase and express our feelings through music,” Espiritu concluded.
The House of Rock Makati is indeed the new place to be if you’re in for a practical rock education and musical exhilaration in one night.
“We just want to gather here all the Filipino musicians and artists alike, and have fun with booze, music and dance. A big no-no is drugs; we’re too old for that stuff, and who needs those if you got music as good as this?” Alvarez declared, the genius and marketing manager behind the rock venue.
If Marcus 2 defined punk as “a new social critique and a new kind of free speech,” then The House of Rock Makati is the coolest platform for such.
Image credits: Gerard Ferrer