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Why rock legends sometimes have to play ‘Dancing Queen’

In the parking lot of Fort Canning Park, Singaporean musician Amanda Ling introduces me to her friend Sinclair Ang, a dancer/musician.

Sinclair shakes my hand and says, “I haven’t heard you play, but you’re Filipino, so you’re probably good.”

He pauses and mock-frowns, “Ohhh, I hate you!”

We all laugh.

Sinclair and Amanda know the Philippine rock scene well; Amanda herself has guested on synthesizer with Pupil for a couple of gigs.

Sinclair continues, “All the showbands are Filipino. Music is in your blood.”

He feigns anger again, “It’s not fair!”

We laugh again.

Rocker turns showband musician

Two years ago, I was window-shopping in a Tom Lee music store in Hong Kong and someone taps my shoulder.

He is Filipino (surprise!), plays guitar, says he recognizes me from old videos of The Dawn and begins to sing the lick to “Iisang Bangka Tayo.” He introduces me to two of his bandmates. One looks at me quizzically and says, “Aaahhh…” It’s clear he isn’t really identifying me.

He tells me they’re on a two-week break from hotel gigs in Shenzhen. Their “variety” band has been playing there for eight months.

I know their situation well as related by bass-playing legend Mon Legaspi (The Dawn, Wolfgang), who spent time gigging in that context: four, maybe even five nights a week, at least two venues a night, from midnight to well until 6 a.m. It is a gruelling job…

Mon himself developed tendinitis as a result (he played for six years in Hong Kong before coming back home and returning to his legendary band).

I confess my admiration… their group must be really good (and well-behaved) to maintain those gigs. He says it’s tough, but he has a family to feed back home. He gets homesick bad he says, but when he thinks of his kids’ future…

Do I have a gig in Hong Kong, he asks.

No, I’m here to watch the Muse concert. He doesn’t recognize the band, but says “Ahhh, research!”

Money is tight; ‘seat sales’ is the way to go


The topic shifts to the gear around us… am I buying a guitar? Effects? An amp?

No, I explain, just looking at a pedalboard and point to an aluminium-lined case that he confirms is reliable; unfortunately I can’t afford it. Money is tight, and whenever I get the chance to fly, I have to save up, look for a “seat-sale” deal and watch my wallet.

I add that at least he’s got a regular gig and pay. At that point, his bandmate calls him to the bass guitar section. I look at guitar picks… I can afford a couple.

We talk briefly about my former band and the Eraserheads and other musicians that became successful doing original music.

Someday, he says, he’ll bring out his own original rock songs too. But for now, playing “Dancing Queen” puts food on the table across the South China Sea.

‘Not everybody can be Parokya ni Edgar’

Amanda, Sinclair, and I carry on discussing the music scenes in our respective countries.

We all agree that there are fantastic bands doing original music in both countries… and it’s not easy to actually make a living doing it. We have to have day-jobs… and that’s okay. Not every gig generates income. That’s the choice we made. We’ve had our days of not needing day-jobs; maybe they’ll happen again. Not everyone can be Parokya Ni Edgar and have it all… God bless ‘em.

The dude I met in Tom Lee is probably unpacking his guitar, many turns of “Dancing Queen” again ahead. He has a gig, and he will get paid nicely… and I hope he still has his dreams. 

Meanwhile, he helps keep “Filipino” synonymous with “musician.” God bless him.

Francis Reyes wears many hats: guitarist, producer, arranger, music journalist, photographer and TV host. He once played guitar for the Dawn and was a DJ for NU107. In short, he is legendary. Like him on Facebook, follow him on Twitter and check out his Tumblr.

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