Contrary to popular belief, girls aren’t all sugar and spice and everything nice--well, at least the girls of Kamia Residence Hall who amazingly organized Death to Pop 2: The Noise-Bleeding Continues.
Death to Pop 2 is becoming an annual event at Kamia Residence Hall at the University of the Philippines, Diliman, since its start last year, February 9, 2001. The organizer of the first Death to Pop and Vice-President for Externals of the Kamia House Council, Lemon Jimenez, had come up with an idea for a battle of the bands/concert as her project for the dorm’s open house. After graduating, she left the job to Chem undergrad and Matilda band mate Meryl Antonio. And so the birth of Death to Pop 2.
It was held on the second day of the weeklong open house, Tuesday, February 19 in cooperation with sponsors PULP, NU 107, ONE-ONE, soundbuzz.com, Cubee, Chippy and Cloud 9.
Despite the event being held three days after the UP Fair, around 500 people or so showed up for the concert, and both unsigned and signed bands graced the event as well. There was Cheese (also guests for the first Death to Pop along with Chicosci), Greyhoundz, Seven Foot Jr., Kiko Machine, Kamikazee, Twisted Halo, and Matilda.
The judges were celebrities in the music scene as well. Leo Amistoso, Seven Foot Jr. vocalist; Rastem Eugenio of Radioactive Sago Project and College of Music University Student Council Representative; Darwin Hernandez band manager and producer of Soupstar Entertainment; Chris Reyes, Green Hill sound engineer; and Joey Dizon, writer for PULP Magazine.
There were also sightings of Miggy Chavez of Chicosci, perhaps to support band mate "Calde" Calderon, Chicosci guitarist, with his side project 2nd Fury, joining the battle of the bands. Red-haired Rivermaya guitarist Mike Elgar was also in the audience. Milling about the grounds was Chi Evora, drummer of Slapshock and some members of the guest bands.
For the audience, it was a chance to get autographs. "iI recognized Miggy from Chicosci, and my friend and I went over to him to ask him for his autograph," said one resident. "Wala nga kong papel, nag-sign na lang siya dun sa ATM receipt nung friend ko. Ayos siya. Mabait naman, kaya lang pasmado kamay niya," she added with a laugh.
Thirteen out of 25 unsigned bands had prepared their battle gear for the pop massacre at the Kamia Parking Lot at exactly 7 pm, but due to technical difficulties, the battle had to start at 8:30. To keep the audience entertained, there were booths from PULP and MTV Ink, and sponsors Chippy and One One gave out free food.
"OK nga ‘tongDeath to Pop, eh.Forty pesos lang, tapos around 23 bands ang tumugtog.May free food pa," said a concertgoer.
"Astig ‘tong ginawa ng mga taga-Kamia, kumpara sa open house ng ibang dorms," another added.
The ensuing sound war featured a cacophony of many influences and styles ranging from rock, hard rock, heavy metal, alternative, grunge, rap, hip-hop, and others. From the bands that played, there were several who were able to simulate the music of pop murder veterans Razorback, in particular Alabok with "Ito ang Tama,"a song about Red Horse Beer. Men Behind Bars showed their prowess in warfare with their cover of a Black Sabbath sonG. Screaming guitars, walls of percussion, aggressive bass patterns—all of these were served up in different combinations.
In between the contestants’ performances, the guest bands played for the crowd. Cheese sang their new single, "Mottaka," and Greyhoundz with "Your Puppet and Clown." Ian Tayao, Cheese vocalist, later jammed with Reg Rubio of Greyhoundz during their set. It’s a family thing.
"Galing talaga," a girl remarked. "They were just having fun there Malupit!"
The bloodshed ended at around 3:30 am, and the people dozing off to sleep woke up for the three bands that emerged victorious. They were: Talula Craft at third place, receiving 2,000 pesos; Alabok at second place with 3,000 pesos; and finally, the heavy metal-influenced band from Muntinlupa--Men Behind Bars at first place, winning the 5,000 peso-cash prize.
The organizers, exhausted but happy at the turn of events could only smile in relief that their hard work had paid off.
"We want to give exposure to amateur bands. Gusto din naming ma-appreciate ng mga [strictly pop listeners] ang ganitong klaseng music," said Meryl Antonio, head organizer of the event. "And a concert is a good idea for a fund-raising project. May entertainment na--may pera pa. Sana," she quipped.
Most people were surprised to know that a bunch of girls came up with Death to Pop, but these girls have proven they are as tough as anybody. They did everything by themselves--from the marketing to the smallest detail like making the Death to Pop pin button. For them, it’s just hitting two birds with one stone--they want to raise funds to the dorm, and they want to party. It’s as simple as that.
"Masaya. Kahit nakakapagod, gagawin pa namin ulit 'to. Maraming kapalpakan ang nangyari, pero next time, mas prepared na kami,"Meryl continued. "Gusto namin talaga gawing annual 'to--something to look forward to like UP Fair or Elvis is Dead. We want to leave this tradition sa dorm. Watch out for Death to Pop 3--mas maingay, mas astig!"
Do you have a band? Do you hate boy bands and Britney Spears? Join the pop massacre at...
Abu M. Malonzo: sunkenpeeps@yahoo.com
University of the Philippines
UP Diliman, Quezon City
copyright©2002