Takes 'home' a taste of tribal rock

"Nangadto mi'g Manila just to let them know nga we are greater than them in all sorts kay ang Cebu is 100 percent musicality unlike sa Manila nga 1 percent lang ang musicality, the 99 percent is ka-showbiz-san." Kadangyan, whose members started from being visual and performing artists and later on decided to concentrate on propagating ethno-tribal/world music, now comes home for the annual feast of the Sto. Niño and for some news about their blooming career in the capital.

"Bisan dili tanang sakop sa Kadangyan lumad nga taga Sugbo, sa pagkatinooray lang gyud ganahan gyud mi diri. Nangadto mi'g Manila just to let them know nga we are greater than them in all sorts kay ang Cebu is 100 percent musicality unlike sa Manila nga 1 percent lang ang musicality, the 99 percent is ka-showbiz-san," says Iligan City-born John Govinda, back-up vocals of Kadangyan who plays the bidjang, kubing, budjong and water chimes, and who considers Cebu a second home.

Kadangyan invaded Manila mainstream music in the second half of last year. Now its members Bhava Mitra (a true-blue Igorot) on vocals, mityapi, acoustic guitar, native flute and kubing; Agit of Samar on bass and other percussions; Elak of Carcar on drums, tukatok and other percussions; Bhakta of Cebu City on gabang (bamboo xylophone) and djembe and who also serves as back-up vocals; with Govinda have taken on a transition through their "Las Islas de Pintados" album which exemplifies the sound of tribal rock.

Songs contained in said album will be tackled in a separate article once all systems go for the album launch. The one thing assured is that Kadangyan's songs in the tribal rock genre still move in the direction of "reviving and evolving the vanishing Philippine culture, promote appreciation for Philippine ethnic music, promote moral and drug-free music, promote environmental concerns and humanism, and support universalism and peace."

"Kami sa Kadangyan nalipay kaayo sa gipakitang pagbarog aning mga bandang Bisrock. Ang sinultihan nga Bisaya mao na lang ang nagkutay nato sa matuod natong mga katiguwangan," he added.

Kadangyan is handled by Ann Angala, former manager of Pinoy alternative rock bands Eraserheads and The Dawn. The tribal rock band will be performing at the Elizabeth Mall on January 12 at 2 pm for the Music and Fashion event, Zzubu Rock Bar (Iskul of Bisrock) on January 12 at 9 pm, Outpost in Lahug at 9 pm and Handuraw Events Café at 10 pm on the 19th, at the launching of the Dunhill cigarette event on the 20th, and at the Robinson's with another Bisdak but Manila-based band Mano-Mano. The Marco Polo Plaza Hotel gig on the 16th is still under negotiations as of this writing.

On April 22, Kadangyan will be launching its full-length album "Las Islas de los Pintados (Islands of the Painted)" referring to our Malay ancestors who were the first to have set the foundations of body art and tattooing. This is already their second album, but the first one set for a nationwide release. Also, sometime February a DVD format of the compilation of their gigs and interviews, most especially at Handuraw, is also up for release. The launch will happen in Manila, but there will be a tour in key cities all over the country to promote the album.

This will happen after an invitational gig in Miami, Florida on February 9 to 11 for the International Mantra World Music Festival.

Visit kadangyan.com.ph to learn more about this band dubbed "godfather of local ethno-tribal music."