Have a piece of Dish

Ten thousand years ago, bands played in legendary holes-in-the-walls. This is not a put-down, mind you. Good Pinoy rock n’ roll mushroomed from places that purvey a dank, foreboding atmosphere. Just like in the States: seedy and seamy CBGB was never for socialite poseurs who admired The Ramones and Television for their fashion sense, but couldn’t tell their music apart from the Talking Heads’ or Blondie’s. Club Dredd–from the black holes of Timog to Cubao–was the place to go to for sizzling alternative rock music (back in the old days when it really was the "alternative") and equally sizzling alternative pulutan (no "sosyal na mani" in Dredd). Ah, the music. The Eraserheads. Color It Red. The Youth. Yano (undoubtedly the best in its generation). Things started to suck when Dredd moved to Cubao and would feature 15 bands in one night, almost all of them in dire need of good songs, better equipment, and ample rehearsal (including my own lackluster band in ‘96).

Mayric’s in España was another reason to go to college in UST. Before its renovation, Mayric’s was the quintessential rock n’ roll dive. Every Friday (or was it Thursday?), we’d go there to watch The Jerks (the best live Pinoy rock n’ roll band in the ’90s, and criminally underrated). My classmates and I listened to Mad Mathematical World, Sayaw sa Bubog, and Reklamo Nang Reklamo, and marvel at how those songs could talk about the state of the nation better than our saliva spewer and monologue junkie of a professor in political science. There ought to be a monument to Chikoy Pura and Nitoy Adriano.

(If you’re a "rocker" and have no idea who these people are, I suggest you, as penance, listen to Diether Ocampo and Blow’s turgid new song about "rock n’ roll"; plus five Hail Marys.)

On other nights, you could watch Tropical Depression, Rizal Underground, Indio I, P.O.T., Put3ska, Poppyfield (purveyors of psychedelia) – man, those were the days. I have a vague memory of ‘em all because of time, substances and other thieves. But it was such a treat to discover Pinoy rock at Dredd, Mayric’s, Hobbit’s House, ’70s Bistro and Kalye (which featured Cocojam with Jun Lopito, and Razorback).

Things are different now. Not necessarily better, but different. Bands are more pop, slicker, more marketable, more media-friendly, and they play in more plush venues like Dish.

Dish (at the ground floor of the ELJCC Building in the ABS-CBN Compound in Mo. Ignacia St., Quezon City) styles itself as an important new venue for emerging pop rock bands.

"Every Thursday at Dish, we have what we call School of Rock," says Erica Moran, Dish key account specialist. "On that day, we feature independent rock bands. On other days we have artists such as Rivermaya, Kitchie Nadal, Bamboo and Bloomfields."

Unless you are an Afghan cave dweller, you already have an idea of how big Rivermaya, Kitchie and Bamboo are in the country. These three big acts play in Dish every Wednesday (usually a jam-packed affair). Bloomfields, a relatively new group, is worth an introduction.

The band is composed of JJ Lozano on lead; Louie Poco on bass; Pepe Lozano on rhythm guitar; Lakan Hila on keyboards; and Rocky Collado on drums. Late last year, I was asked to judge a battle-of-the-bands contest in Ateneo and even if the guys from Bloomfields played classics by The Beatles, they were refreshing to listen to. Which I cannot say the same about the other groups with vocalists who were disturbingly fixated with Brandon Boyd. What is it about college bands and Incubus, anyway? In that band tilt, Bloomfields won over the Brandon boys. I chuckled at the irony of how the guys in natty suits from Bloomfields had a good future ahead of them by mining the past – hits from the Fab Four, the Beach Boys, Elvis, etc.

"They play in Dish every Tuesday, and they have a steady following," Moran shares, "from college kids to executives. Other bands who lots of people come to see are Sugarfree, Hale and Spongecola."

Moran adds that people who dig hip-hop (believe me, they are legion – and they are taking over the world) will also enjoy going to Dish especially on Fridays. "Friday is hip-hop night in Dish. Sometimes, we host special events just like the recent RX 22nd anniversary party."

Tonight, Dish will be hosting the "NU 107 Inumarathon" featuring Sugarfree and Menaya. Rock in a plush place? Dish pilgrims will answer, "Why not?"

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Aside from gigs, Dish hosts company/product launches and other events. For inquiries, call the sales office at 413-0603 or 413-0614, or e-mail dishcrl@yahoo.com.