Remembering when Rico Puno conquered the USA

Remembering when Rico Puno conquered the USA

by rick olivares

Not many people know this but Rico J. Puno is the first major Filipino performer to tour the United States. This happened 40 years ago back in the 1978 when Puno’s popularity was at an all-time high. His fifth album, The Total Entertainer, was a chart-topper.

My father, Danny Olivares, was then president of the Philippine Association of the Record Industry and along with his siblings Rogel, Totit, and Ben, brought Puno to the US for several shows. Billed as “Manila-Memphis-USA,” Puno flew in with a full band and opening acts of an Elvis (Bill Haney) and Nat King Cole impersonator (named Larry Strong who went to Manila in the 1980s and married a Filipina) plus some dancers.

“We started the tour in Bakersfield that wasn’t too small but not too big; just right for an intimate show,” recalled my Uncle Ben who was based in Los Angeles at that time. “That got everyone ready for the big date at the Sports Arena -- the old arena of the Los Angeles Clippers. All the chairs were arranged in circular fashion around the stage and it was a great show.

The next hit the Cow Palace San Francisco that although not filled (the venue sits 16,000-plus people for concerts), still drew a huge audience.

The Memphis show was the highlight of the tour. “Rico was a huge Elvis fan,” said my dad. “He really wanted to play in the King’s hometown.”

They managed to book a show. However, it did have its glitch.

The American crew than handled the sound system refused to allow the use of the equipment until the promoter paid them.

“The show was delayed because of this and the crowd was getting angry,” shared my father. “Rico was such a trouper that he was willing to sing acapella. Of course, that was unacceptable. Once he got on stage, he cracked his jokes and disarmed the crowd that a good time was eventually held by all.”

“Rico sat in front of the stage and looked at one Filipino in the audience and asked, ‘Meron ba akong muta?’ The fan said no. Then Rico said, ‘But ka pa meron.’ It does sound a little crass, but everyone was laughing.”

The show went on and a great time was had by all.

Remarked the American owner of the venue, “This is incredible that you managed to fill this place. Is he your man?”

My dad, proud of that moment, replied, “Yes, he is our man.”

Sadly, the promoter never did pay the American crew.

During the tour, Puno saw my Uncle Ben wearing a pair of French pants that were popular at that time. He asked my uncle where he could buy some and he bought a lot. When he returned to Manila, he was the only one wearing them and being a fashionable person, he was given quite a few style points. “Rico wasn’t only a total performer,” said my uncle. “But he also had this impeccable sense for fashion. He liked dressing up. Years later, when we saw each other again in Manila, he thanked me for helping him get those pants. He loved them.”

Towards the end of the tour, two record executives from Herb Alpert’s A&M Records sat down with my father and Uncle Ben about signing Puno to a recording contract. “Is he here right now,” my uncle recalled one executive who raved about the record. “That is some voice.”

Unfortunately, Puno had gone back home with the tour over. Once back in Manila, for some reason, the deal never worked out. But no matter, it launched Puno’s international career.

“It was a great tour,” recalled my father (who retired from the recording industry in the early years of the new millennium) as said today as we talked about Rico’s passing away. “It was a great experience for all of us. Especially, for Rico. And we became such good friends.”

Playing the Ramones' Road to Ruin

Lakbay with Vic Facultad & Weather the Roots

Lakbay with Vic Facultad & Weather the Roots

by rick olivares

Vic Facultad and Weather the Roots have released their debut album, Lakbay. Facultad, formerly the lead singer with reggae band, Indio I, is back after a lengthy hiatus.

And now, we will have some new tunes to hum and sing along too aside those 90s gems such as “Di Mo Lang Alam” and “Earth to Man” that he recorded with Indio I.

After some stops and starts, Facultad returned with a show last year at 70s Bistro and has since been on a creative high penning and performing a lot of new songs 10 of which are in the new self-produced album, Lakbay.

If Indio I was a little more cerebral reggae, Facultad and Weather the Roots have more Filipino roots music infused into their Jamaican influences; like a Filipino version of Canadian reggae fusion band, Magic!

Ah! You might say it’s a little more pop, but that depends on which side of the beach you are coming from. Big Mountain certainly brought a more pop flair to reggae (not to mention a Latino feel) so Facultad and Weather the Roots drink from the same formula. Except with a unique Filipino ingredient.

And that is the Filipino’s general cheerful nature such as seeing the good even in bad situations. It is infectious as it is liberally spread throughout the 10 tracks.

In fact, in the lead off track, “Lakbay,” Facultad asks the object of his affection in this semi-biographical song, “Huwag ka mainip. Huwag mo akong iwanan. Huwag ka munang bumaba. Huwag ka sanang mawala.” in this difficult journey of his because he can see the light at the end of the tunnel.

The second track, “I Like You” is a catchy and humorous take on social media. Nothing like someone who can poke fun at different situations.

For the third song, “Damit,” Vic uses clothing as a personification of wanting new things. Weezer, anyone?

“Somewhere” finds Facultad searching for one’s place in the world while “Nabaliw sa Lambing” sings of the challenges of being wooed.

“Malungkot na Masaya,” the album’s first single, is exactly about the premise of finding good in tough times; humor even. Explained Vic, “The song was actually originally written in 2008 at the time I was hunting for song ideas and on one occasion after a gig in Xaymaca, I was with a lady friend and I was swamped entertaining people. I asked her ‘Are you ok?’ and she replied ‘Heto. Malungkot pero masaya rin.’ And that’s where I got the idea for the song.”

Is it the heir to “Di Mo Lang Alam?” Possibly. And the album is filled with a lot of good tunes.

About real people. Real life. Real situations. Essentially, Lakbay is about Facultad’s journey; not exactly from cradle to the grave, although the last track, “When You’re Here” sings about spending time with a loved one while one can. A Christmas track too? Yes, it is.

As Vic told me, “These songs mean something to me personally and I do hope they will mean something to others as well.”

It is a personal album for Vic and the ten tracks are strong tunes, the best that he has written (perhaps because he is getting older and wiser) and performed with aplomb by Weather the Roots (Mike Bewer, Aying Sayson, Nivla Alavero, Loy Biscaro and Paw Bondoc) along with Facultad’s manager Miren Sanchez and album producer Ian Umali (of P.O.T. fame).

Lakbay is well worth the wait for fans of Facultad. Hop on board.

(For information on getting the new album on compact disc, check out Vic Facultad and Weather the Roots on their Facebook page.)

At the Narcloudia album launch oct 27 at Mow's

From out of the rabbit hole

Into the mad madder.

It is time to take a spin on that colour wheel

and banish those sky spectres.

Focus that stream of consciousness

through these day-blind stars.

They ask for your heart, your mind, your unfettered imagination...

It is time to descend 

Into Narcloudia.

The Rave Tapes in their Interpol-like get-up to open the show.

With Grocery as Halloween ghouls.

My haul from the night: Identikit, Narcloudia, and Dok Sergio.

Turning Manila down under with Aussie punk bands I Have a Goat & Stoned to Death

Turning Manila down under with Aussie punk bands I Have a Goat & Stoned to Death

by rick olivares

A pair of Australian punk bands caused a stir in the metro over the past week for their gigs that were not only frenzied, but perhaps more… revealing.

When two-piece band, I Have A Goat, took the stage for the Finite Fam production at Tomato Kick Quezon City last Wednesday, October 17, one wondered if people turned up because they wanted to see if lead singer and guitarist Simon Exley would perform au naturel (he did). What people didn’t expect was the main act, Exley’s compatriots from Down Under, hardcore act Stoned to Death would follow as well. Well, at least lead singer Jake Seymour shed all his clothing with one guest vocalist from a Filipino band.

Needless to say, the pictures were infamously shared on every social media network as soon as the vocalists decided to pull an Iggy Pop and Flea act.

Iggy Pop is known as “the Godfather of Punk” and was infamous for his nudist and sexual antics on stage while Flea during the heyday of the Red Hot Chili Peppers, would either perform in his underwear or with his bass guitar covering his private parts.

There was nothing of that sort but good old punk madness with a touch of flair. That is if you listened to the songs.

“I don’t know,” was all Exley could say with eyebrows raised when asked why he does so.

While the home crowds are amused, the Aussies… are moved.

“What happened was I Have A Goat contacted us,” explained Seymour of how the tour of the Philippines got put together. “We don’t have a drummer. Everything is booked, want to go and help us? And we lost our minds. We had no idea how amazing it would be when we got here. Our only concern is we’re called, ‘Stoned to Death’ and what the government is like.”

“We are going to be writing a bunch of songs about this experience,” shared Seymour some three hours before Stoned to Death’s version of the Terminator 2 theme opened their 30-minute set of mayhem and flesh. “Our guitarist, Daniel Bresich came up with a song title for one and it’s going to be titled, ‘Two Red Horses.’ Yes, after your beer.”

The nine shows in 12 days (from Las Piñas to Bulacan to several nights in Manila to Cagayan De Oro to Davao and lastly, General Santos City) the two bands are playing Philippines is already an eye opener. “These are our first ever shows outside our native Australia,” admitted Seymour. “And this is an experience that will never forget.”

The gig preceding the Tomato Kick show was in the words of Seymour, “the band’s best ever show.”

Guitarist Daniel Bresich confirmed, “Dude, that was what – over 200 people moshing to our music! They were slamming and body surfing non-stop that it was crazy. They were spray-painting our shirts. Many didn’t know the music; some did. Everyone was having a great time! We saw the great sense of community.”

It got so intense that Seymour broke his toe while drummer, Loy hurt his ankle. But Stoned to Death never allowed that to affect their performances.

“A lot of people keep saying us, ‘thank you for coming here,’ said Seymour. “I think it is us who should say, ‘thank you.’”

Aside from the music and the connection with the local music fans, Seymour admitted that the “Food Not Bombs” concept of the Bulacan show really hit all of them. “Flying into this country, we knew about the political situation and what’s going on here. We feel for the people and it is something that has us thinking so you can be sure this will find its way into our future songs.”

While the gig at Tomato Kick was a smaller and more sedate crowd (“Wednesday evening in the metropolis,” reasoned Finite Fam founder Karen Gonzales, “But the show must go on because of our love for underground and indie music.”), the Aussies never let up on the energy one iota.

Exley was amazed when the fans at the QC gig spot all joined in for “Collingwood Punx” off their album, Have A Go Ya Mug, that was released in March of 2018. “Nothing like a sing-song to work up the crowd,” observed the jolly and red haired singer.

“Whether you have 200 or 20 it doesn’t matter,” added Bresich. “Performing live is something we look forward to. You cannot change your attitude. Everyone has rainy days where things don’t go right or something like that, but you go ahead and push through. You slog through.”

The Tomato Kick show was just as intense. Stoned to Death’s bassist, Michael Sneddon, and drummer Roberts, laid down that pulsating rhythm while Bresich did heavy riffing. As for Seymour, he brought the house down with manic fury.

“I love the underground scene here,” said Seymour said earlier. “It’s tough but you see bands making it work. Back in Australia, we are lucky that the government has a program called, ‘AMRAP,’ where all musicians regardless whether you play metal, punk, rap, or pop a dollar or two for every song you write and every show you play at the end of the year. It is a great situation because it allows you to be an artist and perfect your craft. You still have to work for it, but it’s great. And when we return, we want to be able to build on what we’ve experienced here.”

“The most we ever played back home was two shows in a row,” threw in Bresich. “This is the biggest one we’ve done – nine shows in 14 days. We have to pick up the energy level even with the lack of sleep and rest. We’ll sleep when we return home.”

“Food not Bombs and makes us feel lucky to live in Australia,” summed up Seymour after the Tomato Kick show. “The Tomato Kick show is a more personal and intimate show and we’re here sitting with the fans, chilling, talking, and having beers with them. It’s great.”

“We look forward to finishing the tour and when we get back, we’re going to write about this and hopefully, do a cover song of a Filipino punk band. That is would be an amazing end to this experience where we literally got turned Down Under.”

A pair of Australian punk bands that hit the country in the past two weeks caused a stir for their intense, rowdy, and revealing shows. But they came away, stirred and shaken.

What comes next will be surely be worth following.