Essential Punk Records from the Philippines: Signal 3’s “Convergence Zone” and “Kingsley United”.

Essential Punk Records from the Philippines: Signal 3’s “Convergence Zone” and “Kingsley United”.

For this edition of Essential Punk Records from the Philippines, we are going to look outside the country’s borders to North America where Los Angeles Oi band, Signal 3, released some darn good albums and are essential to any music fan’s library. That is if you like punk rock and the Filipino variety in particular.

The band isn’t together now but they left behind two magnificent records that you should have if you’re a Filipino punk rock fan:

Convergence Zone (1998 Miscreant Records)

Kingsley United (2000 Miscreant Records)

Signal 3 is important because it is the first Filipino-American punk rock band to release records and tour in the United States. And they aren’t just any punk outfit. Signal 3 is an Oi! band. And that means very working class-oriented songs where the band angrily takes a multitude of shots at society’s ills. The spirit of rebellion indeed.

The influence of British bands Cock Sparrer (more than any other band), Cockney Rejects, and Stiff Little Fingers can be heard in the band’s music. In fact, when I first heard Signal 3’s song “Stormtroopers” off their debut, "Convergence Zone", I wondered if it was an answer to Cock Sparrow’s “Shock Troops” which is the title of their second album.

“Stormtroopers in every show. Stormtroopers wherever I go.

Stormtroopers in Palawan. Stormtroopers across the land.”

While theirs is biting social commentary, you know they have not lost their sense of humor. “Palawan” really? Hahahaha!

And there’s “Napadaan sa Dasma” that could be something that Yano performed if they were into punk.

However, it is the second album, “Kingsley United” where that Cock Sparrow influence is very evident along with the (football) terrace culture feel to the songs especially the title track. Fits very well in the traditional pub style that emanated from England in the 1970s.

Yet, Signal 3’s influence isn’t solely from the Sceptered Isle. There’s that homegrown touch as well with the Urban Bandits. “Kapit Kamay” that appears on the second offering sounds like it will fit somewhere in the UB’s punk rock classic, “Independence Day”.

The chorus of “Mangagawang Pilipino. Malayo man magkasama tayo. Ipapalad dito hanggang sa dulo. Mangagawang Pilipino.” is catchy and definitely makes for a classic song.

As a testament to the song’s value and impact, 90s Filipino punk rockers Bad Omen covered the song in their 7-inch EP, “Echoes of the Quondam” that was released earlier this 2017.

The excellent “Ginto o Tanso” finds lead singer Angel Ramos channeling his inner Jack Sikat with a reggae-tinged song that cribs the intro of Desmond Dekker’s “007 (Shantytown)”.

“Convergence Zone” had a more hardcore bent. "Kingsley United" which came out two years after finds that band charting different ground. With the band's growth and chops -- “Kingsley United” is a masterpiece.

If you like punk rock and its various sub-genres, then see if you can move the earth to find these two gems by Signal 3. And on a more personal note, it reminds me when I got my first Fugazi record from Dischord Records. I just get that same vibe. If you love the Urban Bandits’ “Independence Day” then you’re gonna mosh and pogo to these albums.

Unfortunately, they are hard-to-find and are long out of print.

Who knows though? And isn’t that part of the thrill of the hunt?

My Signal 3 CDs.