Bamboo's challenges 'Go Beyond Rock'

There is no other Pinoy band that has courted in recent years much public interest and media curiosity as Bamboo had. The band's birth came about with the unexpected comeback of Francisco "Bamboo" Mañalac, the former frontman of Rivermaya who's not just the face behind the band's name, but is widely viewed as a real rock icon as well.

Bamboo the band is responsible for such hits as the anthemic "Noypi," the melancholic "Masaya" and the nationalistic "Hallelujah," which earned awards and praises from listeners and critics alike. Before the group's performance at Colt 45 Rockista last September 2 held at the parking lot of Gaisano Country Mall, The FREEMAN Entertainment had a short chat with Bamboo himself inside his service van which was surrounded by screaming and awestruck fans. But even with the limited time in our hands to ask questions, Bamboo was polite enough to supply us with sufficient details about him as an artist, the band and their music.

Bamboo is composed of four incredibly talented and award winning musicians-Bamboo on vocals, Vic Mercado on drums, former Kapatid and Rivermaya member Nathan Azarcon on bass and former Kapatid member Ira Cruz on guitars.

The collective efforts of the band have been showered with critical praises, winning several prestigious music awards that include MTV Pilipinas Awards and NU 107 Rock Awards 2004 for Artist of the Year, Song of the Year for "Noypi," Listener's Choice, Best Vocalist for Bamboo Mañalac and Best Drummer for Vic Mercado, ER's (Early Returns) Song of the year for "Noypi," RX 93.1 Awards Song of the Year for "Masaya," and 103.5 Wow Manila Artist for OPM Band of the Year and 2004 SOP Music Awards for Best Alternative Band, USTV Students Choice Award's Popular Music Video for "Masaya" and MTV Style Award's Best Rock Style for Bamboo.

Fans never expected that Bamboo would still return after he parted with his former band, Rivermaya, at the height of their success in the year 1998 and left for the States. But even Bamboo didn't think so himself. "I didn't even think I'll be coming back!" he declares with a laugh. So, what is it with music that brought about his comeback, his forming of a new band and making their own music? According to Bamboo, "Music is what I love to do! Coming back was a sort of breathing for me."

True. Although Bamboo decided to detach himself from his former band, he, however, never parted with his love and passion for music. "Nung wala ako dito and I was in the States, I was still doing what I loved to do! I was still playing music... When I was studying and working I was playing music at the same time. It would always be part of what I do."

The call to do music was also just too strong to resist. "When I was in the States, I had these ideas for materials inside my head that I wanted to say knowing that kung linabas ko yun sa stage anywhere in the world, no one will listen even if it was written in English 'coz the topics were still Filipino. So, coming back here just meant coming back to work kasi masasayang yung ideas mababato lang lahat sa hangin."

Forming his own band did not mean Bamboo held a grudge against Rivermaya. He still has high regard for Rivermaya's music and credits them for their influence on his own brand of music and career. "It's never really forgotten. The influence is still there. I think it's more of understanding the business 'cause when we started we were very young. But those experiences I had sort of guided [what] I wanted and we formed the band." Bamboo has definitely moved on, eager to leave the past behind even as some quarters are persistently comparing the music of the two bands. "We wanted a band that is something very personal to us. I'm not taking anything from what I did before but we just want it done our way and we want it to be played our way."

After the overwhelming success of their 2004 debut album "As the Music Plays" which achieved double platinum status and has been hailed as the biggest album by a group in the Philippines that year, Bamboo felt the rush to produce a follow-up to their debut with "Light Peace Love," now still making a splash in the market. Bamboo agrees that their sophomore release sounds mellower and that the lyrics feature more depth. He says, "It just captured the time and the year for us. Right after our first album, after the success of 'Noypi,' that sort of rush again. It's our response to that rollercoaster year and also in what happened to us in our business lives and our personal lives also. There were lots of things that happened. Besides the music, besides our success, there are also things that happened to each of us personally that have affected us and I think that was the response."

Bamboo reveals that for the meantime the band is working on their third album. "It's coming out soon and our next album will be a footnote to end the whole thing that our previous album meant."

And with the continued rise of the band scene, Bamboo has some words for all the listening public to keep in mind: "We challenge the audience to broaden their library of music. Hindi lang sana banda, hindi lang puro rock 'cause there are other things-a whole palate of music is out there... So, I challenge the listeners to support local music. I know there are lots of crap coming out but just support quality and good music."

As endorsers of the beer product Colt 45, Bamboo will be touring 10 cities in the different regions from Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao for "Colt 45 Rockista," the nationwide search for the next rock icon who'll be performing "todo lakas" branded moves and great sounds that never fail to rouse excitement in every crowd that witnesses their performance.