January 28 2012 wasn’t a silent night for Katipunan Extension, as the Ateneo Musicians’ Pool invaded Route 196 for Amplitude 2012 in celebration of the launching of this year’s Amplitunes CD featuring this year’s slew of new bands and soloists and the all-new online magazine Tude, which will feature album reviews, interviews with bands, upcoming AMP events and workshops, and news from the industry itself. This was hosted by JC Del Mundo and Forest Villanueva; all was set for a wild night of sounds. And cliché as it is, the music’s all you need.
Imelda kicked things off with their rendition of songs reminiscent of the blues and straight-up hard rock, turning up the atmosphere for the night. Fellow freshman band Downdraft, introducing a new vocalist were up next, beginning their set with the Saosin classic “Voices,” which turned out to be a sing-along hit for the crowd. An acoustic set from She’s Only Sixteen guitarist Andrew Panopia, taking the center stage as a break from his usual duties led the way for the break from the electric guitars and blast of drum beats, featuring She’s Only Sixteen vocalist Roberto Sena on the xylophone (no kidding) and vocal back-up. Acoustic group The Kids Are Alright were up next, providing more mellow tunes for the young night for everyone’s breath to catch up and grab a drink and immerse themselves in the band’s soft serenade for the evening, a refrain from the heavier performances before.
Then came the guest band. Guess who? It’s The Itchyworms, one of the most prestigious bands in the Philippine music industry, proud products of the Ateneo Musicians’ Pool roster, going back to their roots for one night. From the now classic inuman song ‘Beer’ to the much more recent nationwide LSS “Penge Naman Ako Niyan,” everyone in the room that night was serenaded not by legends in the industry, but by fellow AMPers.
Fusion rock group Limits at Infinity then took the stage after the Itchyworms, keeping the temperature up for the remainder of the night with a tribute to classic rock and the blues.
Senior band Never the Strangers, a veteran of many AMP gigs as Leonecast, played the last set of the night, which of course, was highlighted by the hit “Alive,” a fitting anthem to the night that was.
It was a night of beers, cheers and music. One cannot expound in any eloquent manner the sensation of being bombarded set after set of great music, an experience can definitely find every Amplitude. So I’ll let everyone who was there to replay the memories of the night in their heads, and for everyone unable to attend to check out these fresh new bands’ music by heading out to the next gig, or grab a copy of the Amplitunes 2012. Best gig ever? Maybe. For now.
the Ateneo Musicians' Pool
