One big gig for Mother Earth

MANILA, Philippines - Earth Day will never be the same without Earth Day Jam. This year, Earth Day Jam soared from sunset to almost sunrise with the audience shouting for more.

Now on its 14th year, Earth Day Jam has become the annual music event which highlights the Earth Day celebration in the Philippines. A special project of the Earth Day Jam Foundation, Inc. with the support of Bonifacio Global City, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), and the City of Taguig, Earth Day Jam was a rousing rush of performances by some of the country’s best music artists.

Opening with an onscreen intro of Earth Day Jam Foundation, Inc. president Lou Bonnevie, Earth Day Jam rolled out a steady stream of music that swept away the crowd ‘til the wee hours of morning. Ghost Pepper from the PI Jazz Fest gave the audience a blast, a triumphant trumpet call of a set that upped the ante for the succeeding performers. Noel Cabangon cooled the crescendo as Mayonnaise rocked the vastness of Bonifacio Global City with special surprise guest Champ Lui-Pio     (from the band Hale). Next in line was the reggae resonances of Brownman Revival. Then Gloc-9 rapped it up with Denise Barbacena and Lirah Bermudez in Hari ng Tondo, revving up the audience for the evening.

Lou rendered a ravishing Rain Medley to open her set. She then swooshed with a swooning revival Dust in the Wind, with guest Gracenote’s Eunice Jorge on the violin and the Apolaki Choir. Segueing to I Wanna Know What Love Is, she topped her performance with a romp Walking on Sunshine. She brought the audience walking in spring rain with bravura.

Brat Pack got the blues brewing for the night. Gracenote created songs seemingly resonant yet so radical it made one wonder how such superfluities become the difference. Itchyworms dished out the all-too-familiar ditties like Ayaw Ko Nang Tumanda, now famously scratched over the radio and on TV. Moonstar 88 popped the rock with its Torete with Chicosci and Sandwich turned into roaring reality.

Abra sent the audience into hip-hopping frenzy as he performed with DJ Buddah, courtesy of apl.de.ap’s Artifice Records and rappers RJ, Alex and Apekz. First time on Earth Day Jam Slapshock rocked the night and busted the bulbs out of light. Kjwan segued into more rock. Arci Muñoz of Philia inflamed the night with its mesmeric performance, spawning stars which infused the Chongkeys that roused the audience into euphoria with the double-edged Diksyonaryo.