It started as an idea over a couple of beers by James Estrada, Jonjie San Vicente, and Jojo Moll, to have musician friends from Bicol come over to Metro Manila to perform, and it was just supposed to be a one-off thing. Just one night to remember. An evening of reconnections, reunions. An URAGON NIGHT as Jonjie coined it.
URAGON NIGHT # 1
It was held at Arkipelago, San Antonio Village, Makati, on November 30, 2018. Performers from Bicol shared the stage with Manila-based groups with Bicolano members. Lady I, a Bicolano, was the highlight. It was so good that everybody who was there requested a sequel. And so, the team tapped 3 more friends: Nino Lasin, Skipper Carilimdiliman, Ahmad Tanji (We Are Imaginary), and Kid Moll (CinderBlock; Xeno Devata), to help make it possible. That one-time event turned into a movement that will help put the talented Bicolano musicians in the limelight.
URAGON NIGHT # 2: SALINGOY
That requested sequel was themed SALINGOY, to first show respect to the legends like BL@H, CVLies, Dahon, Pack of Wolvz, and Tanikala. It was a blast! 70’s Bistro, Quezon City, was so full that day, March 30, 2019, it was really hard to move about inside. The bar ran out of drinks! And the audience cried for more.
URAGON NIGHT #3: PAGGIMATA
This 3rd event featured active, younger, and newer outfits in the scene like Ashfall, Guira and Anesthesia. It was in saGuijo Café + Bar, San Antonio Village, Makati, last August 17, 2019. This Band was the main act as three members are Bicolanos. As expected, it was fully packed as well. The tables at the bar had to be removed to make room, and there were still not enough for the people who came!
In the end, however you want to define it, Uragon Night, can mean “a great evening”. After 4 grand events, everyone still enjoys the nights to reconnect, the nights to remember. And as long as this group of friends James Estrada, Jojo Moll, Jonjie San Vicente, Niño Lasin, Ahmad Tanji, Frennie Hernandez and Kid Moll, want to make great evenings with Bicol’s musical talents, expect more from Uragon Night!
URAGON NIGHT #4: PAG-ATUM
This post-pandemic event that happened almost 3 years after the last one was held at 123 Block, Mandala Park, Mandaluyong, on April 22, 2023. With Frennie Hernandez now part of the Uragon Night team, the 4th event featured even more successful performers in the scene, such as dwta, Mei Teves and Save The Youth. Cheats was also there as Candy Gamos is from Albay. Once again, it was a success as everyone had a great time!
FEATURED ARTISTS
THE ERICSONS (Legazpi) – Formed in 2016 as a Ramonescore/bubblegum punk outfit, The Ericsons’ sense of fun is no joke. They melded 70s garage punk intensity with sweet semi-Beatlesque melodies, apt for romcom prom scenes. We’ll be hearing more from these raucous group from Legazpi as they plan to release their album this year.
MEI TEVES (Catanduanes) – A storyteller lives in the veins of Mei Teves from Catanduanes. This 23-year-old singer-songwriter uses her distinct style in expressing casual observations and passing feelings rarely talked about. This authenticity is bringing her places, even bagging her 2nd place in the Wishcovery Originals national competition.
PLAGPUL (Sorsogon/MNL) – Writing catchy anthems and love songs for activists is what has made Plagpul thrive since its inception in 2008. Based in Manila but with proud Sorsogon roots, the rock duo uses wit and humor to render political and social commentary on various issues concerning our beloved motherland. They are active members of the Concerned Artists of the Philippines.
KUNYAN (Naga) – There’s something eerie with how KUNYAN delivers their message. Must be the marching rattle of the djembe, the eastern-inspired riffs that add a sense of urgency to their pieces or the vocal delivery that conjures images of our ninunos guarding our history. Whatever it is, this 6-piece tribal rock band knows how to get your attention and hunt you until the morning after.
AMYGDALA (Legazpi) – Amygdala is more than reverb-drenched guitars and tight rhythm arrangements. Formed as a cover band in 2018, the now 6-piece outfit keeps churning earworthy originals, pushing their youthful sound with exciting edginess. Just like what their name denotes, the band is all about processing emotions, may it be in the studio or on stage.
SAVE THE YOUTH PH (Sorsogon) – Starting out as an acoustic cover band, this young quartet from Irosin, Sorsogon wondered how they would sound with loud fuzzy guitar and blasting drums. They took that leap of faith and alas, what a cathartic transition it was. Save the Youth’s signature vibe takes its venom from Xavier’s emotive lyrics, complementing it with puncturing arrangements that can put the listeners in trance. There’s no question why they are one of the meanest live acts in Bicol today.
THE CHOPPING BOARD (Naga) – Blending the sweet bits of Britpop and indie folk, The Chopping Board doesn’t sound like any band from Naga, or Bicol. Consuming them is akin to attending worship services with Ajan Dolorical’s introspective musings serving as verses to save your soul. Formed in 2012 as a solo act, then eventually became a 5-piece act in 2017, the band is known for their no-nonsense and no-frills performances.
DWTA (Tiwi) – DWTA is redefining Bicol music as we speak. This folk-pop songwriter traverses the boundaries of language by wearing her heart on sleeves and peppering it with irresistible melody. Born and raised in Tiwi, she delivers modern Bikolano kundimans that effortlessly charm anyone within earshot.
CHEATS (Legazpi/MNL) – Formed in 2013 from the core duo of longtime bandmates, Jim Bacarro and Manny Tanglao, initially recruited a loose collective of musicians to collaborate on their original material. Eventually, a stable lineup coalesced, including vocalists Saab Magalona and Candy Gamos (a proud Legazpeño), who added a feminine dynamic to their music. They have released two critically acclaimed albums that earned them invites to prestigious festivals, such as Laneway Festival in Singapore and Clockenflap in Hong Kong. The band is back with new LP Houseplants, imparting their energetic live show to indie rock enthusiasts.
Editors’ Note: Images of the featured performers were screen grabbed from the FB Watch videos produced by KNYA.
REVIEWS & MEDIA COVERAGE
ELEM3NT EAST, media production company and event marketing partner, based in Bula, Camarines Sur, covered the show, interviewed Cheats, dwta, Mei Teves, and Save The Youth.
Joey Dizon of PULP.PH writes, “You’d be surprised not only by the number of Bicolano musicians who are currently both paving the way and carrying the torch for modern music, but by the variety of musical genres and proficiency they have in creating original music in those very veins.”
Read more: https://pulp.ph/2023/06/05/uragon-night-4-pag-atum/
ABOUT THE AUTHORS:
Born and raised in Naga City, MARIO EDUARDO “KID” MOLL started playing music in the underground scene when he went to Manila last 2004 to work. He is a practicing accountant in the day, and a band member, playing gigs around the Metro at night. Today, he writes, records, and performs as the bass player of CinderBlock, Xeno Devata, Manoy, FDJ, Bozanian Barbie Boys, Eternal Now, and Pasada.
AHMAD TANJI is a versatile and talented artist who wears many hats. He is a singer, guitarist, songwriter, content editor, event producer, and teacher. He is best known as the frontman of We Are Imaginary, a Manila-based indie rock band. Tanji’s mellow vocals and witty lyrics complement the band’s upbeat and catchy tune. His songs explore themes of love, loss, and life. As an event producer and booking agent, he has organized and hosted shows and gigs for local and international artists.