Are you in?

Perhaps the most significant thing that ever happened to rock n’ roll in the ‘90s was the assimilation of the turntable into the traditional band setup of guitar, bass, drums and vocals. (Really, the keyboard has never been readily accepted by the rock mainstream although there was a glorious time in the ‘80s…)

Taking its cue from hip-hop and perhaps the Futurists, rock acts started to employ the DJ’s arsenal in their attack. Scratches, squeals and a barrage of other noises gradually eclipsed the guitar solo, making dinosaurs out of the once revered shredder. New guitar heroes like Tom Morello of Rage Against The Machine hardly sounded like guitarists at all, eschewing the aural pyrotechnics of old or – at his best – fusing the two styles to dazzling effect. Of course, it was inevitable that a DJ or – as modern parlance would call them – turntablists would soon be drafted into the fold, yielding varied results. Most were terrible and clumsy. Others were occasionally passable. A few were genuinely interesting.

Incubus happily belonged to the latter. Formed in 1991, the band is capable of mixing disparate elements with traditional song structures that can appeal to a mass audience. Fans of the Nü-Metal™ genre clearly point out 1997 album "S.C.I.E.N.C.E" as a benchmark. Eclectic in style, it served up favorites like Redefine (acid test to many a bass player) and Anti-Gravity. The follow-up "Make Yourself" spawned a hit single in Pardon Me. The band’s next album "Morning View" however lifted the band out of cult status and into the big time with more mature and slightly more AOR sound.

The band’s latest album "A Crow Left of the Murder" is a far more aggressive affair than its predecessor with current single Megalomaniac enjoying massive airplay. As part of the Asian leg of their tour, Incubus is playing a concert in Manila at the CCP Open Grounds on March 12. Sponsored by Smart Buddy, LoneStar Ultra and Jag Jeans, the concert promises to be one of the highlights of the year.

In tribute to this event, this column asked a number of people what their favorite Incubus song is and – who knows – the band just might oblige.

Kevin Roy

Vocalist, Razorback

From the new album I like track 4. I think it’s called "TV Shows On Mute" or something like that. Anyway, like most songs that hit me, the melody is really good. I also like the fact (that) they’ve "matured." No need to scream.

Carlo Saavedra

Painter/recent inductee into the "Art’s Dead, Let’s F**k" movement

Drive – only because it reminds me of Tom Petty’s Free Fallin’.

Chito Miranda

Vocalist, Parokya ni Edgar

Siguro Stellar. Maganda tsaka mas trip ko talaga ‘yung mga luma nila. Pero OK pa rin ngayon.

J Lucas Reyes

Award-Winning graphic designer/singer-songwriter

Probably Drive because it hasn’t been ripped off as much as their other songs. And I’d drive to any future that I’ve yet to see. I like to think it’s optimistic.

Jason Tan

Film editor

Echo from the "Morning View" album. I like the guitar in that song. And it speaks about discovering new things, to keep on going forward and live.

Junjie Lerma

Guitarist, Radioactive Sago project

Anti-Gravity coz it’s got a funky groove to it.

Igan D’ Bayan

The Philippine STAR Music Journalist/Frequent Flyer/John Mayer’s Number One Fan

Believe it or not, it’s Battlestar Sclaratchtica, which is like Herbie Hancock jamming with a bunch of turntablists. I also like Aqueous Transmissions which features Steve Vai’s ko-kyu.

Gian Sotto

Guitarist/vocalist, Nerveline

Sick, Sad, Little World. Parang kanta nila para sa original bassist nila, si Dirk Lance.

Terence Fernando

Vegan/celebrity lawyer/animal rights activist/yoga guru

Anti-Gravity – because of the melody.

Beng Calma

Chanteuse/vocalist, Drip

For me, it’s Megalomaniac. It plays up on everyone’s fantasy to be like God but we’re human and the song reminds us that our ways are destructive. The song plays up on our erroneous ways to solve the world’s problems, which only God can address fully.

Noel Garcia

Sound designer/film composer

Anti-Gravity – cause it reminds me of getting high in a garage.

Gus Pepa

Former guitarist, Death Angel

I am more partial to the album "Make Yourself" since it is more aggressive. It’s great for driving out of town and (it) sticks to your head especially the song/album title.

Mike Elgar

Guitarist, Rivermaya

Are You In? Kase masarap sa tenga, tsaka lupet ng chicks sa vid.

Edgar "Frasco" Mortiz

Songwriter

Are You In? It’s the first song that popped into my head. It has a simple yet catchy melody, and it’s light and fun.

Lyle Sacris

Film director/bassist, Moyg

Are You In? Maganda ‘yung bassline eh.

Rann Golamco

Guitarist, Drip

Are You In? It’s every male’s insecurity. The thought of a hot babe asking men in the heat of the moment, "Umm, are you in, yet?"

Ronald "Ron" Anading

Visual artist

Wala akong alam na kanta nila.

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Notes from Underground:

Amidst the cacophony rises a new sound… ACOUSTIC FOLK METAL!!! LOQUY plays with The Late Isabel tonight at Peligro (corner Salcedo and Aguirre St, Legaspi Village, Makati). Gigs start around 10 p.m. Come in white shoes and see what happens.

If you like things even weirder, Radioactive Sago Project, Wahi and Rubber Ink are playing a gig at Big Sky Mind on tonight.

The Gweilos Hour returns tonight with a vengeance! Proving that we won’t be consigned to the dustbin of history, we are promising an all-out assault on good taste! Why? Because we’ve got it and we can! We’re on at 9 — 10 p.m. on the only radio station with the balls to put us on air, NU 107.5. Don’t say we didn’t warn you. (No, this is all just really a ploy to get Marius laid.)

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Send comments and reactions to: erwin_romulo@hotmail.com