THE ROCKOUSTIC BLUES EXPERIMENT

Started as a quintet

(By Stiff Lu – Night watchman of Kasbah Boracy, proprietor at Loudhouse Music Enterprise, lead vocalist of the Rockoustic Blues Experiment, gatekeeper of The Rizal Underground and a musical voyager to some of the most beautiful destinations of the World)

The original Blues Bowel Movement 

Originally branded as the BLUES BOWEL MOVEMENT with longtime partner Bob Miranda – then renamed The Rockoustic Blues Experiment - as it is the basic genre & sound, prompted by an occasion requiring a less “powerful” name. Formed as my acoustic solo or as a collaborative duo, trio or group back in 2009 for gigs in Boracay; this formula remained until the flood gates opened for opportunities to perform as travelling musicians in some of the most exotic locations all over the country – Coron, General Santos City, Bacolod, Puerto Galera, Boracay, Siargao, Cebu, Baguio, Dagupan, Angeles, Tugegarao, etc…. arose.

"In-Flight" The album

In mid-2016, a habagat shift took place in my life that prompted me to finally gather the strength to form a full band, one that’s been in the offing a couple of years prior. And thus a powerhouse quintet was formed, initially a quintet composed of BONGLENNON (Tropical Depression) on guitars, PEX HOLIGORES (Tropical Depression/Peace Pipe) on bass, NIKKO TIRONA (Mike Hanopol) on drums and in the beginning EDGAR MENDOZA (The Boss) on keyboards. During the seasoning phase, while performing in some of the most popular bars & venues in Manila, there was this venue that required bands to have original music, which became the catalyst for producing a record. (Take note kids).

So in the beginning of 2017, we recorded our debut album entitled “In-Flight”, in support of the continuing journey this act is undertaking, at NEVERSLEEP MUSIC STUDIO in Quezon City, with the help of the extra ordinary Erik Vargas at the controls. The subsequent road tour to support the release of the album followed.

The Visayas Tour to launch the new CD

And here’s where the fun starts, any proper rock and roll star will tell you that touring to promote a release is actually the most fun you’ll ever have as a career musician. Therefore, we staged our first tour of the Visayas, in time with the release of the CD. At this time we were five

Bacolod

Kicking off the tour in Bacolod, in a massive food park venue called THE MARKETPLACE AT VILLA ANGELA, we were joined by recorded local acts which was such a great opening show for a tour. This was followed by a stint at SPICY ELEMENTS Iloilo which kind of rounded out a great weekend of rock and roll. As a musician on the road, the wonderful back room scenes were always charming. The commute, the fans, the travel, the after party and the foooooood!

Manokan Country Bacolod

Next on the bill was AKEAN Resto Bar+Kafe in Kalibo, before heading out to Boracay for a series of shows at Charlie’s Steakhouse & Diner & KUBO Restobar& Grill, with a side gig at Kasbah Boracay, which I consider as my original Boracay residence. You will see from this collection of photos how much fun we had during this tour, capping it off in paradise.

North Luzon Tour poster

A few months passed and we followed up this successful album launch tour by hitting cities North of Las Pinas as a quartet minus the keyboards. Kicking off with dates in Aliya Surf Camp in Baler, Kikan Restobar in Baguio, Chimichanga Mexican Bar & Grill in Tarlac, Anchor Bay Gastropub in Angeles City & Spicy Elements Taytay. This was a mellower tour since we only shuttled on weekends for the shows, back home on weekdays but nonetheless equally exciting to bring a brand new band, with a new release to new venues and destinations and gaining more following in the process.

Rockin' Siargao with Ze Mosquitos

Right after the tour, a few solo gigs in Cebu and Harana Surf Resort in Siargao soon followed; but as 2017 was about to come to a close, a new twist landed my way, which brought me back to my old home in paradise. Kasbah Boracay. This however did not stop the progress of the music and the band, as we launched our brand new music video at The 70’s Bistro last January 13, 2018. Then another duo gig in Davao last January and the massive solo gig followed in Iloilo last February 3.

Santa Barbara, Iloilo

And so as the Philippine summer heats up, the Rockoustic Blues Experiment will do a series of shows before my departure for the United States, and this time to do a much sought after, bucket list series of gigs there, my first time anywhere outside the country. I am certainly looking forward to that. Please LIKE my new page for information on the US Tour dates & venues here Stiff Lu. And a planned tour of the Visayas to tune up for this upcoming US shows. In the meantime, enjoy the other stories and click HERE for the other PHOTOS related to this blog.

 

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