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Tanduay tour newbies excited to please crowds in 19 PH cities

Tanduay tour newbies excited to please crowds in 19 PH cities

It’s the fifth year of the Tanduay First Five national tour and once more, five top Pinoy rock acts will be performing before audiences in 19 key cities across the country between May and December 2013.

On the line-up for this year’s tour are Parokya ni Edgar, Wolfgang, Kamikazee, Rico Blanco and Sponge Cola, with special participation by Gloc-9. The bands were selected on their ability to deliver their own distinct Pinoy rock sound.

The tour kicks off tonight, May 24, in Kalibo, Aklan and winds up on December 7 in Davao.

No myths, just storytelling

This year, the First Five tour is toning down its usual focus on the bands as mythical figures. Instead, the bands are being billed as storytellers through their music.

After a six-year hiatus from the local scene, Wolfgang has been part of the nationwide rock caravan since 2011. It’s always a surprise to them that crowds in places they’ve visited for the first time sing along during their performances.

Guitarist Manuel Legarda likens playing out-of-town gigs to a circus on adrenaline. Basti Artadi sees the tour has gotten better over the years and bassist Mon Legaspi sums it up, “Mammoth crowds, great staging, fantastic backstage camaraderie!”

Drummer Francis Aquino adds, “We’ve had several tune-up shows around the Manila to prepare for the show so fans should watch out for new stuff from us.”

Wolgang has completed writing songs to the second part of a projected trilogy whose first chapter came out late last year to critical acclaim.

Sponge Cola will be doing 'all sorts of crazy'

Tour neophyte Sponge Cola feels great to be part of the concert series.

Despite being relative newcomers to the tour, band vocalist Yael Yuzon says, “I'm never nervous about these things. We've played a First Five show before in Tagum and it was crazy good.

“We've also been playing with the other bands for years now so behind the scenes, we're as tight as close friends can get. We're looking forward to hanging out more with them.”

He swears, “We're all heart all the time. We’ll be out there doing all sorts of crazy!”

Regular income for Gloc-9's band

Gloc-9 is another tour newcomer. For him, he is happier to be part of the tour because it means his band mates will have regular income-earning work for the rest of the year.

Gloc will be performing with his back-up band composed of Jasper Grutas (drums) Fernan Cruz (bass) Archie Salvador and Billie Gary Reyes (guitars). They’ll be playing 45 min sets in 17 venues and on the final leg in Manila happening next year.

Gloc assures, “We'll be playing new songs from our recent ‘MKNM’ album. Just like in all our previous shows, we’ll be working hard to please the crowd. Of course, we look forward to jams with our friends who are part of the First Five.”