GIG REVIEW: Do The SKA !!!!

 Easy Sunday (feat. Steady Movin' Beat)

Do The SKA!

RIco's Bar and Restaurant

12.4.21

Gig review and Band Introspect

Coming off from the restrictions of live events/shows, and i guess to put it more subtle way, the uncertainty from a lot of things.. for musicians, producers and enthusiasts.. where to start? 

We just need a shot in the arm , ....A great show..

And Last night my shot in the arm, with Easy Sunday. A great night with friends and a great show indeed... and interestingly there's just more . 

First of all, I must commend the organizer for putting up a 2 band/artist line up, it was just perfect for a number of reasons:

Primarily it gives the bands to really showcase their stuffs and gives the bands/artists the chance to explore something different from their previous performances

, ..(which is what overly saturated line up's challenge. ).. 

And in a much greater sense it does help the artist we support to at least for them to continue making music and of course more gigs in the future.

The Venue:  Rico's Bar and Resto (Metroboardwalk) ortigas

The venue was good for say a little less than 200 souls. It was well spaced for crowd to stand up and dance, to move around and to chat.. 

Parking space was not an issue. And the Bar's entrance/facade was relatively big enough for yosi breaks and Pre/Post event chat. 

Pre Show:

It was great seeing such a crowd again. And i again would like to emphasize what an unsaturated line up's challenge.. The organizers are definitely smart to understand  to give time for people to say hi, catch up with friends that we don't usually see often, and especially coming from the restrictions. A small chat with friends is just as essential as the show itself. After all best part of the show is to enjoy togetehr with your friends.

Show Proper

Steady Movin' Beat

SMB assures us that our local scene isn't lacking of great performer and great music.

And as soon as everyone was all set for a great show, SMB start the night show and did not disappoint.. easily they got good originals .. and mixing it up with a couple of great cover from The Specials' " Nightclub" and "Little Bitch" (With Nomer taking the keyboard duty) and The Beat's "Rough Rider".. and were off for a great show. 

It was actuallly nice to see the band on an unusual extended usual performance/set.

Saw them twice prior this night, 'Fete 2019 i believe was the last. The band was great undoubtedly.. and i'm looking forward for the release of their full album.. 

Easy Sunday

  It's been sometime since i had this kind of overflowing  euphoria.. euphoria of seeing what you expected ... and at the same time interestingly  a whole lot more to look forward to. 

Honestly i'm just overwhelmed with a lot of emotions and words that i cant seem to keep my thoughts on the event alone. 

Easy Sunday mostly are familiar faces.. Emlee, Bong, Nomer, Mado, Bojie and Jay .and i bet people have their  expectations of what would they sound like.. and they did.. and more than that.

 

In summary they cap the night off , with the second half of  their set with a stellar performance, with familiar tunes like "The World Is New"(Save Ferris), "More Today Than Yesterday"(Spiral Staircase) and "Manila Girl" (Put3ska) obviously the highlight of the night, as it kept the crowd standing, dancing and singing along.

It was a great feeling and it was what most of us came for.. a great time.

It proved that this Crew that Emlee built can indeed rock the house. 

But what strikes me more, was the first half of their set. it was because the band, they were taking us on a different path..

Understandably The band is trying to carve a new identity..

And that was the interesting part, 

and why not. the avenue of Ska as a genre and other related genre is such a wide rode to explore, and as a musician's perspective there's a always the desire to create something new.

Personally my silence was more on being stoke in excitement.. when they played the first few lines of Ottis Gayle's "I'll Be Around" ..

I felt goosebumps as i was surprised to hear something that i wasn't expecting and it was darn good. 

"Window Shopping"  by The Friday Club was another one of my fave of the night..

Easy Sunday wasn't just entertaining us. 

They were showcasing different facet of Ska Fussion, with a little bit of this and that; reggae, rocksteady jazz, soul .

By this time i already realized that the band had their sights on to some greater things...

And i'm assuming this was a preview of things to come and i'm already excited for that.

  >Steppin' Out

I'm just glad Easy Sunday was my first gig after some 2 years and at the heel of P3k's last gig at the attack arena... 

as a fan and observer of the band for the longest time... it's kinda bittersweet some good things has to end at some point and i understand that there's a time we need to progress as an artist..

t's about time we get to see Emlee to finally Step Out in the shadow of her previous band. Not in a negative notion... I love the band , but i'm also very much excited to see Emlee  do something different, something new. 

That Band Is Forward

Emlee being backed with such great and veteran musicians who are also members of notable bands like Neighbors/ Put3ska/Shuffle Union. With Bong Termulo, Nomer Delos Santos and Jay at the helm. you just can't go wrong.

These guys are bent on making their mark  not only about their  musicianship because we know good they are with their craft..

Having short conversations with some of the band after their set,  i give this guys more respect and admiration  not only for their drive ,their vision,  pasion and For putting up this band, but with all these exciting things to look forward to....

And i can't wait for another Sunday... Easy Sunday  that is.

Congratulations to the band and everyone behind this gig.

And thanks for the shout out.. i'm deeply touched and honored.. it meant so much to me.