Roll them Bones

You’re here for Mr. Bones, aren’t you?” This happened late last year; we were at a bar in Makati to attend a multi-band gig when someone asked us that question. It wasn’t the easiest question to answer, since it was being asked by the gig’s organizer, who was also a member of one of the non-Bones bands on the night’s lineup.

“We’re here for all the bands,” I lied. But yeah, to be honest: we were there for Mr. Bones and the Boneyard Circus, a new, much-talked-about act, with a sound that was reportedly “a fusion of ska, punk, and hard rock, with undertones of classic rock,” or “psychobilly,” for short.

They did not disappoint. The moment they stormed the stage they slammed the audience with fast, furious playing, dark yet playful imagery, and an unerring sense of over-the-top theatricality. Whether or not you were inclined to like the monster mash of genres, you had to appreciate the showmanship and sheer energy — and it was easy, and fun, to be swept up in the cartoon horror of it all. They were certainly something different on the local scene: a different and welcome shot in the arm.

Several months later, and their plans for world domination (as no less than two of the band members have put it) are proceeding apace: they’ve released one EP (“Sticks, Stones, Shards of Bones”), one full-length 16-track album (“Horror Scene”), and two music videos (Go Go Dance and Haunted Wonderland).

Mr. Bones and The Boneyard Circus are: Badi del Rosario alias Mr.Bones on vocals, Manuel Juni Devecais on guitar, JM “Rubberface” Godinez on bass and “weird voices,” Shaun Hilario a.k.a. Nilbog on drums, Alvin Chan a.k.a. Dr. Chan on guitar, and “The Wolf,” Karl Vito Cruz, on keys.

“The band came together, luckily because we all were already friends,” said Shaun “Nilbog” Hilario. “Juni and I are already band mates in DimmerSwitch, which is also how I met Badi and Alvin and JM. Francis Brew (of radio station NU 107) hooked us up with Karl.” “We have been very close friends, like blood brothers even,” Karl “The Wolf” added, citing this as one of the things that gives them their unique chemistry.

We asked the band if they had an audience in mind for their “dark and twisty, raw and raucous” music. “Everyone! We’re safe, man. We don’t bite!” laughed Alvin a.k.a. Dr. Chan. “I thought our music would only appeal to people who were into the underground music scene,” said Nilbog. “I always thought that our music was a bit esoteric for most. But I’ve been proven wrong, since I’ve been in constant contact with people from across the Philippines, telling me that they like what we do. That, in itself, is frickin’ badass.” As The Wolf puts it, simply, their music is for “anyone with an open mind.”

Though they formed fairly recently — in mid-2009 — they’ve experienced quite a few highlights in their band’s lifespan so far. “The Go Go Dance/Haunted Wonderland shoot was pretty interesting, since it was a first for most of us,” said Nilbog. “Just imagine playing in the graveyard during night,”adds Dr. Chan. It fell short of supernatural, though, as Nilbog pointed out: “Was lots of waiting, waiting, eating, makeup, waiting, sleeping, waiting, video shoot, more waiting… it was worth it though,” he laughs. The end results are quite striking, as you will see for yourself if you hunt down the videos on YouTube.

“When our first single shot up to #1 on NU 107... that was sweeeeeet!” rejoiced The Wolf. Asked for more significant moments, Dr. Chan said, “So far, after the two epic videos and the album launch (last Feb. 24), I think when the band played in Cebu. It was our first out of town gig, food was good, we all had a great time and we would love to go back!”

If you’re looking for something stranger than the usual, something shot through with dark drama and macabre merriment, you should go and see Mr. Bones and The Boneyard Circus live — or dead, as the case may be. “Playing in front of a zombie army would be awesome!” laughed Dr. Chan. “Dancing zombies!”

“I’d like to think that, every time we perform, it is an honest performance,” said Nilbog. “What I mean is, we are all being ourselves, which is weird.”

* * *

For more on the band. Contact their Crypt Keeper, Angie Duarte-Syyap, at +63920 916 8031, for bookings and inquiries or visit boneyardcircus.com .