Monday, December 24, 2012

The Piano Set

SAM (minus Eric and Ian--who were still down with the flu--and Genesis) a wedding gig we did last Decemebr 21, 2012. This was the last gig we played for 2012, held at The Bonsai Garden inside the UP Diliman Campus for Rene and Weng Borromeo.

(from left: Sue Prado, Chochai Magno, Alex Ezequiel, Kit Montenegro)

SAM (Alex and Caio) played along side with LB icons Kartoon Chemistry (Chochai and Rommel). It was a very LB atmosphere, with familiar faces and nature coming together for the union of the year! Cheers to the newly weds!

Check out this recording of our rehearsal for the set we did at the wedding:

LB Nights at Route 196

SAM played for the second time in the Metro, this time it happened in Route 196 in Katipunan, QC. This was for LB Nights, a sort of 20th Anniversary celebration for the UP Jammers' Club.

The event was headlined by mostly UPLB/LB-rooted bands. First to perform was Brownskil, playing live for the first time after months of rehearsing in the studio. This group is a rebirth of lead singer and guitarist Tonio Costales' old acoustic group Grain, with much of his old originals getting a fresh rearrangement.


Next up is host band Sundown Muse, performing original songs from their two releases. The band was tight, with lead singer and guitarist Briggs Baritugo setting the mood and tempo of the night.


Then came SAM's set. We were a little queasy at first but then got the hang of the set after a while. Unfortunately, our guitarist Eric and bassist Ian came down with the flu the last minute so they weren't able to play that night. Awkward as it was, The 3 available members got thru the night without disappointing even impressing some of the mostly UP Jammers' club alumni and friends crowd.


Monk's Hood played next with their tight hard rock originals and some fun covers, with Costales jamming on one of the covers that they did. Closing the night was local metal heroes Valley of Chrome who ended the night on a very powerful high note.




Everybody is hoping that a reprise of this event can be done soon, hopefully in Makati or LB! Til the next LB Nights!

Our First Original Song + MORE

After more than a year of existence the band has finally completed an original song! The song is called "When Will You", written by keyboard player caioman for the band. It took them a while to finally arrange, rehearse, record and perform the song.

The song is about missing someone, feeling alive, and a whole lot of positive good vibes. The band recorded a rough demo, which they launched thru an online listening party via Sound Cloud.


When Will You

It’s so easy
Waking up to clear blue mornings and you’re the first thing that pops into mind
You make me feel
I’m alive with every touch and sweet caress though you’re not by my side

It’s impossible not to be this way
When every time I close my eyes
The thought of you makes it worth it to be alive

When will you be around?
I want to see you
When again will you be around?

First time I met you
Felt like we’ve known each other such a long time
Last time I saw you
Felt like some things should have been said and done

It’s impossible not to be this way
When every thing between us feels so right
The thought of you makes it worth it to be alive

When will you be around?
I want to see you
When again will you be around?

It’s impossible not to be this way
When every time I close my eyes
The thought of you makes it worth it to be alive

When will you be around?
I want to see you
When again will you be around?

When will you be around?
I want to see you
When again will you be around?

Come and see you I want to go
Where kings and queens still rule their thrones
I’d cross the oceans and the seas
Just to hold your hand and feel your kiss
Here is where I want you
When again will you be around?

Another song was recorded by the band, this time for an upcoming independent film by Matt Baguinon and Pol Singson entitled "Rochel" about the young sampaguita girl's mother and her coping family. Rochel was brutally raped and then killed this year and was found dead near a local junk shop.

The song called "Makakauwi Din Tayo" is a modern lullaby written by Fernando "Bingbong" Badillo submitted to the film for inclusion in their sound track. The recording was produced and re-arranged by caioman and performed by Save Alex Movement.



Another original song by SAM is in the works, also for the film. If they finish on time, the band hopes to record the song soon.

2013 is sure to have more original songs from the band and hopefully come out with something soon!

Save Alex Sessions (Volume 2)

This is a performance done at the Save Alex Studios some time in August this year while rehearsing for our gig at Blackbird in Makati.


Back at IC's Bar...

IC's Bar was where SAM had their first gig back in August 12, 2011 playing 5 awkward songs then. Now it's been more than a year and the band has slowly been able to get a grasp of their true sound.

Several gigs have been played at IC's since that first gig, among them the Indie Overdrive (see older post), Maya's birthday bash, and other random happenings... Hope to play more gigs here in the coming year!




Freashmeat: SAM is a YEAR OLD!



The UP Jammer's Club Freshmeat in August 2011 is the 2nd gig ever played by SAM. Now, it's 2012, and it's another Freshmeat! The band was supposed to play 3 songs but had to cut short to 2. Nonetheless, this event is close to our hearts, and had fun doing it!


A Night For Given: Benefit Gig at Blackbird(+) Makati

(photo by Jef Carnay)

Last September 1st, Save Alex Movement played their first Metro gig ever! This was for task Force Given Grace's fund raising event called "A Night For Given" held at the now defunct Blackbird Bar in kamagong Street in Makati.

Headlining the event was veteran group The Jerks, who played a very rocking set with both original favorites and classic covers. Datu's Tribe also performed, along with Earthfishfish, and Death or Glory. SAM opened the night with classic covers from Hall and Oates, Lenny Kravitz, among others. The band did a longer set than the usual 3 songs, finishing the night with a total of 7!

Another performer was Ms Monique Wilson and Gabriela, who together recited a spoken word number about women's rights.

In attendance were Given Grace Cebanico's parents who thanked every one for organizing such an event for the cause. See an article about the event HERE.