Mayhem in the moshpit with Razorback and Greyhoundz
Words and photos by Niña Sandejas
It's been almost two decades since Kevin Roy last found himself in a moshpit.
Last Nov. 10, at Simplicio Elegante in Cainta, the most hardcore venue I've ever been to, Kevin moshed with the crazy crowd to a set by Greyhoundz.
It was one of the last stops for the Boars and Houndz series of gigs. The Houndz are Greyhoundz, of course, and the Boars are Kevin's band, Razorback.
The two bands have been packing them in in venues throughout the metro, from 70s Bistro in Quezon City, to Checkpoint Louies in Sucat, Parañaque, to Saguijo in Makati.
And now, they were sharing the stage in Cainta.
It was a last stop but by no means the end of this tour. Razorback and Greyhoundz plan to bring the Boars and Houndz series out of town.
Maybe even out of the country, in the same way both bands played Singapore two years ago.
The idea of getting two of the loudest bands in the land on tour was something Greyhoundz had wanted for a while now. They consider themselves one of the biggest fans of Razorback, a band they've always looked up to as their "older brothers."
Earlier at the venue, Kevin was hanging outside, waiting for everyone before heading in because he was unfamiliar with the place.
I remember trying to convince Razorback manager Patrick Pulumbarit that the band needed to play there at least once.
Simplicio Elegante in Cainta was an all or nothing kind of place. A band either fits right in or if not, just painfully plays its way to the end. People will still be watching whether they like you or not. And that can be the scary part, but scary can be fun, too.
And Razorback joined in the scary fun, even if they were on unfamiliar ground.
At the start of the Greyhoundz set, they were off to one side, watching in awe as the crowd suddenly went wild to the music.
Razorback guitarist Tirso Ripoll went up the balcony to watch the audience and ended up jumping up and down. Drummer Brian Velasco, surprised by what was happening, was by the side of the stage, a big smile plastered on his face.
And Kevin himself was in the pit, slamming with fans before singing along to the songs Greyhoundz was tearing through.
All these before Kevin and company went up the stage to jam with the Houndz.
Yes, diving to a mosh pit after 20 years of not doing so is just one of the usual surprises that happens when Boars and Houndz (and fans) collide.
For information on the next leg of the Boars and Houndz tour, keep checking their Facebook.
Niña Sandejas is an award-winning music photographer whose work has appeared here and abroad. She was included in Preview magazine's 2011 Creative It List and was named in early 2012 as one of 14 Women Who Rock by Rogue magazine . Visit her blog, like her on Facebook and follow her on Twitter, Tumblr and Instagram @rosarioko.
