Siakol... An inspiration to 'lost' indie bands

MANILA, Philippines - They were one of the rock gods of the ’90s. Then, due to the changing times and their misfortunes at some ineffective handlers, their mainstream exposure became less and less.  

Yet, members of Siakol patiently waited for the right time to re-assert their significance in the local band scene. That time came last year when they released their eighth album Tropa under the guidance of their new manager Joey Guban, a politician from Sorsogon who found his side-job of managing them both fulfilling and a privilege considering he’s a big fan.

The said album, distributed by Synergy Music, has already spawned a number of hits through strong radio airplay and massive tour. The success is clearly reflected on the awards the band took home from  the recent 2011 PMPC Star Awards for Music held at the Henry Lee Irwin SJ Theater in Ateneo de Manila University.

Tropa bagged the coveted Album of the Year and Rock Album of the Year, while members of Siakol were collectively given the title Rock Artist of the Year. Earlier this year, the Tambayan pop radio station likewise gave Tropa the Album of the Year citation.   

“Siguro yung ibang banda mayroon nang ipagmamalaki at ibang gagawin kaya nag-disband sila o itinigil na nila. Kami kasi hindi kami mabubuhay kung wala kami sa banda namin,” shared vocalist-songwriter Noel Palomo in a recent interview.

The popular rock act performed in a street concert in Barangay Central, QC last Oct. 26. The moment they began playing onstage, the crowd erupted into a slam-bang affair. Thanks to a repertoire that showcased a hit catalogue spanning nearly two decades of putting out original music.  

Siakol’s past hits include Lakas Tama, Bakit Ba, Peksman, Byaheng Impyerno, Sa Pag-Ikot Ng Mundo and Hindi Mo Ba Alam. Some of the current hits from the album Tropa are Ituloy Mo Lang, Asahan Mo, Gawing Langit Ang Mundo and the title track.

Serving as complementing sidemen to Palomo are guitarist Miniong Cervantes, bassist Wowie Flores and drummer James Rodriguez. 

Asked if they intend to change their sound for artistic adventure, Noel noted, “Kahit baguhin namin, ëyun talaga ang lumalabas. Pinag-iba lang dati nagkuwekuwento kami. Ngayon nagpapayo na.”

The group’s success as an indie artist should serve as inspiration for those bands who are worried that they don’t have record labels to promote them. Though it can be argued they’re already a big name when they went indie, still the triumph is largely credited to their remarkable songwriting that has remained commercially viable to this day.     

Even their “lost” contemporaries can take a lesson or two from their reemergence as a mainstream act. Guban stated that his success with Siakol encourages him to help some other equally-talented old-timers. Next in his list is Grin Department which Palomo considers as his idol.    ?

The baby-faced street-smart rocker, who jokingly said he’s the only guy in Siakol with a ballpen, hence, he’s the sole songwriter, summed up his band’s long journey by saying, “Sa amin naman tuloy-tuloy lang. Hindi kami nag-disband, pero minsan binalak ko nang mag-solo na lang. Buti nakabalik pa kami.”