Urbandub marks homecoming with new album

It spelled another full house at Vudu in Crossroads, Banilad when rock aficionados converged at the said hotspot before 2009 took its final bow. It was also "Wednesdays in Vudu", and as they say, this weekly schedule shouldn’t be missed by any lover of the underground-type of music and its kind.

More so, the event was a homecoming of sorts for one of the best bands that ever came out of Cebu, as shown in the electronic invitation. Folks quickly jockeyed for a good spot at the Sonic Boom-organized event, so as not to be left standing for more or less five hours amidst a mix of sober and not-so-sober members of the crowd.

I'm referring to none other than Urbandub’s homecoming gig cum Cebu launch of their newest album The Apparition. Homegrown talents such as Powerspoonz, The Line Divides, Fastpitch and The Ambassadors served as front acts, rolling off the most fitting welcome to "The Heroes of Indie Bands."

It was past 12 midnight of December 31 when Udub took the concert stage and screamed Mayday! Mayday! as "Alert the Armory," from their 2005 released third album Embrace, was being played to set the mood. Then, the band introduced a single from their fifth and latest album entitled "Gravity," which is currently earning radio airplays. (We found ourselves in chorus as if it weren’t a new song.) The rest of the repertoire included two new songs and six other anthems from past albums; namely, "The Fight Is Over," "First of Summer," "Evidence," among others.

The proudly Cebuano Urbandub is composed of Gabby Alipe (vocals/guitars), Lalay Lim (back-up vox and bass), John Dinopol (guitars) and JanJan Mendoza (drums). Being a sought-after rock band, the group has been hopping from place to place, but the group's hometown remains the primary comfort zone to write songs, scribble lyrics and develop the distinct Urbandub sound that they wish to share to all its fans who collectively call themselves Dubistas.

This 2010 marks their 10th year as a band. Their latest album The Apparition is a testament to their persistent efforts to stay afloat despite the proliferation of new artists, new genres, as well as threats of piracy.

The Apparition though sounds very "churchy." It contains candidly written all-original songs that embody socially relevant themes and deal with matters of the heart. The songs in the album number to 10, with five fillers and one hidden track in the Limited Edition. "Home," however, is not included in the mass production.

This year will definitely be a great for Urbandub and to all Dubistas, what with reports that a major concert is in the offing. I hope it’ll push through! Read on our interview with Urbandub.

The FREEMAN: How was the year 2009 for Urbandub?

Urbandub: Dagha’ng nahitabo. Daghan mi’g blessings. We were able to write and record a new album. This year brought us closer to each other. We have a new label, MCA Music, and that’s another blessing. Nindot kaayo ang [MCA Music]. They still give us the freedom to record our album the way we want it. They even gave us the budget to write solely here in Cebu. We rented a house and turned it into a studio just to write. They’re very supportive of the band.

TF: Why dubbed your latest album as The Apparition?

Urbandub: The Apparition kay most of the themes of the songs deal with awakening, new perspective on certain things in life that are more important. Like me (Gabby Alipe), for one, as a songwriter/lyricist, our past albums always dealt with heartbreak and stuff like that. So, we wanted to try something different with this new album. It’s more socially relevant, more poetic in a sense.

TF: Any particular inspirations behind this album?

Urbandub: Each of us. Ourselves (laughs). With writing, we wanted to be more raw this time. We didn’t rely on too much studio tricks. We recorded straight up. This time around, we really recorded it as a band na each part, each member has a role to fill. So, it wouldn’t be me (Gabby) writing the song full on and then just giving it to them and they’ll just add their parts. Collaborative mi karon compared to the past albums.

TF: How's the reception of the audience so far to The Apparition?

Urbandub: So far, so good. We’re blessed with so much compliments that we can’t pick one. It’s flattering for us nga na-get nila ang gusto namo’ng isulti with this album. So, nalipay nalang sad mi nga nakasabot sila and they didn’t react in a negative way when we tried to write more socially relevant issues.

TF: How is it being based in Manila all these years?

Urbandub: Kapoy sad. Not because we don’t enjoy what we do because we really love what we do…kapoy in a sense coz we are far from our family, far from our friends whom we grew up with both in the music scene, and as individuals. That’s the only set-back of being there. At the end of the day, we have a career out of something that we love to do so we can’t really complain that much. We’re doing something that we love so that’s the best thing in the world. We’re not like super rich because of this but it’s like a steady job. We can’t complain because we work like 45 minutes to an hour in a day. We get to play and meet a lot of interesting people.

TF: Who are your musical idols?

Gabby: Ely Buendia

Lalai: Gary Valenciano

TF: I’ve interviewed quite a few Manila bands and they all commend Urbandub for penning great songs. What’s your reaction to this?

Urbandub: Lipay lang mi nga naka-accept sila og band from Cebu, nga they never saw us as a band going there imposing ourselves nga: ‘Kani mao’y sakto kay taga Cebu mi.’ We never did that. We’re just happy na we’re part of their team now, representing where we come from and nindot ang ilang reception.

TF: What’s your secret for staying together?

Urbandub: Siguro, staying grounded. We’re not doing this para musikat, we’re here to represent where we come from. We just really love making music. We’re not here for the fame. We’re not here for the recognition nga, ‘Ah, grabe mo nga banda.’ Being professional sad in what we do.

TF: What are your plans for this year?

Urbandub: Ten years naman mi this 2010 so we’re going to do something special. Maybe a major concert, we’re hoping. It’s in the works. Our label is talking with our management in coming up with a major concert for us. Definitely we’re going to be promoting the album, siguro mga mall and campus tours, then more gigs outside the country.

TF: What are your thoughts on Bisrock bands?

Gabby: I have no problem with Bisrock bands. They do their thing. Ilaha man gud nang expression gud so who are we to judge nga their music is bad and everything. I think what they’re doing is noble. Basta di lang mudako ang ulo, okay lang na. Kung mao na ilang trip, di kana ilang trip, diba?

TF: How do you deal with piracy issues?

Urbandub: Play more gigs. Bati lang nga niabot sa point na ang mga bands nga murag ni-resign na sila sa fact nga ‘Ah, hindi naman tayo kikita sa album’ which is bad. Nowadays, the album becomes like a marketing tool nalang ba nga di man unta ingon-ana kay art gud na so people should put a premium on art.

Urbandub will once again rock Cebu this January 16 for the annual Sonic Boom Sinulog blast-off at the Royal Concourse Parking Lot, together with two Manila bands and other home-grown talents. Thanks to Jaja Chiongbian-Rama and Joseph Bontilao of Vudu, and Sonic Boom’s Ralph Gonzales for arranging the interview.