Rated R: They’re naughty but nice

Don’t let the name fool you. This band’s for general patronage.

So, don’t expect a motley crew of gay impersonators in flamboyant outfits dishing out the same old brand of crass and vulgar slapstick, nor a barrage of filthy sexual innuendoes thrown in for good measure.

When Rated R goes onstage, expect instead a heady dose of playful irreverence and good-natured wit – the kind that eases away that drunken stupor and drives those weekdays blues away. It’s that brand of comic virtuosity that’s earned the band a steady following since their first gig just six months ago.

In his best element, lead singer Richard Villanueva tugs at your funnybone without resorting to histrionics. A master of quick-draw wit and verbal subterfuge, he can concoct the most absurd antics and punchlines by merely getting acquainted with his audience for the night.

It’s a vibe that feeds off the energy the band whips up onstage. As Richard explains, "We make our audience part of the show all the time! You could say that we’re an ‘interactive’ band. We want to make sure they have a good time – but not by laughing at another person’s expense."

Walking the fine line between clean fun and foul play is a challenge indeed, especially for an act that can also slug it out with the rest of their contemporaries in the live comedy circuit when the need arises.

"You can say we’re tame by most comic act standards," Richard points out, "but that’s only because we’re very careful with our audience. Maybe in Manila or Quezon City where the audiences are more liberal, we could afford to be a little more ‘adventurous’ or daring, but not in Makati."

Rated R has its origins in the now-defunct pop-folk group, Spirit AD. "I started out doing solo performances," Richard explains, "and I was always on the lookout for a versatile group to back me up when the need arose."

"When their lead singers left the group, I hooked up with the rhythm section and did a few major gigs. Back then, we were called Richard with AD, which I thought sounded like a lousy name even then," he confesses.

"But since the group had this chemistry, I decided to keep the band intact and renamed it Rated R," he adds. "It can stand for anything – R for Richard, retro, whatever."

Soon after its debut, the group honed its chops (and are still playing) at Strumm’s El Pueblo and Makati, Kiko’s, Banda Forest, Ratsky’s (Malate and QC), Padi’s Las Piñas, Streetlife and Rembrandt.

Unlike other comedy-based groups armed with a rather lame rhythm section, Rated R’s instrumentalists can churn out some tight and wicked grooves. Although basically propelled by radio-friendly, easy-listening pop hits, the band can just as instantly crossover to fusion terrain as they trade solos on a few intricate instrumentals.

Rated R’s other members are Justine Dee (on vocals), Jason Villaroman (keyboards), Don Loyola (guitar), Gari Jamias (drums), and Mark Aclan (bass).

A late bloomer by industry standards, Richard only harnessed his comic flair during his college years. One can only imagine what ideas he concocted in the dank laboratories in UP. A graduate of (believe it or not!) Molecular Biology, Richard recalls, "I actually saw the humble beginnings of the Eraserheads. We stayed in the same dorm back then, although I wasn’t in a band myself."

"I started out as a vocal coach when I was 16," continues the stocky funnyman. "I was also one of the winners of the Fe S. Panlilio Scholarship Awards – a talent search for budding artists. Although it was strictly for OPM members when it started, they opened it up for fresh faces after some time."

Richard also feels privileged to have had his recording debut via a special compilation of OPM songs composed specially for OFWs.

Fortunately, Rated R’s performances haven’t drawn any violent reactions from their loyal clientele. "That’s because we make sure our jokes don’t get too offensive," Richard reiterates.

What they have been getting are unabashed moments of adulation. As Richard reminisces, "One time, there was this ambassador’s wife who was so drunk she started heading towards the stage and she was shaking her boobs like so (mimics action)."

And just to show that Rated R is indeed for general patronage, guess who has become one of their most loyal fans and jam mates?

"There’s this seven-year-old kid who plays the drums so well!" Richard exclaims. "He jams with us every time he and his parents come by to see us. Thankfully, both his parents are very supportive of his talent."

With the way they’ve been pulling off their comic capers, the band could have been more aptly called Rated X – for extraordinary.