Classic Philippine ska band Put3ska returns

Classic Philippine ska band Put3ska returns

by rick olivares

The opening beat and thump of the bass ushered in the song, “Short Stories.” Then the keyboards wailed in and the manic tempo of this Put3ska favorite skanked right in.

On Wednesday, April 3, the seminal Philippine ska band had its sixth practice at Blue Light studios in Kamuning for its upcoming reunion concert at the Music Museum on May 24. It was the band's first with original vocalist Myra Ruaro, now known as Skarlet Brown, who has managed to clear her schedule in preparation for the big show. 

While the band was a wee bit rusty – after all, the original crew last played together in August 1998 at 70s Bistro with their last full show as a band was in March 2004 in Hong Kong – one key ingredient of a ska band was very evident in the night’s practice – the element of fun.

The first time they practiced, trombone player Marvin Flores’ jaws hurt like hell as he hadn’t played in years. Drummer Brutus Lacano’s body ached so much that he had to take two painkillers the next day. 

That night, 16 years after their last full concert, 21 years after the original crew stomped to the rocksteady beat, the smiles were wider. The laughs, more hearty.

Suddenly, it was 1994 all over again when the band came out of the Malabon area to take the rock club scene, radio airwaves, and noontime shows by storm. 

Put3ska released two best-selling albums – the self-titled debut, and "Manila’s Finest." The initial opus was a masterpiece of a debut. It spawned hits such as “Manila Girl,” “Birthday Holiday,” “Love,” and “Short Stories,” and the album can proudly stand beside any of the Two-Tone records that inspired the band. 

Put3ska in turn has inspired ska bands not only domestically, but all the way in Indonesia to Japan. Even bands from Australia know Put3ska. The grand reunion concert’s opening act, Beat Bahnhof, from the Land of the Rising Sun, even has compact discs of Put3ska’s debut album.

“Buti pa sila meron kopya,” dryly remarked Brown who regrets giving away her copies of the album. In fact, no one has a copy of the album either lost through time, moving, arbors, or even Ondoy. 

The CD, if one does find it in the re-sellers bin, fetches as low as P2,600 for copies in good condition and for as high as P15,000 for near mint versions. “It’s insane,” quipped Brown. 

What was insane were Put3ska gigs that were always packed.

At the old Club Dredd along EDSA, you went outside for a yosi break at your own risk as getting back inside was like wading your way inside today’s MRT where you pushed your way in and went chest to chest, elbow to elbow with everyone else.

The band romped away with a bunch of awards from best live performers to song of the year to best vocalist. They were a top draw before infighting, disagreements, and departures ended one of the local music scenes great acts in the 1990s.

When chief songwriter and guitarist Arnold Morales recalled that last ever show in Hong Kong, it wasn’t fun anymore. “Wala nang pupuntahan ‘to. End of the road na.”

However, you can’t keep a good band down.

Previously, several gig promoters tried to reunite the band to no avail. It took a chance unplanned meeting during English ska great Terry Hall’s DJ gig in Manila last year to put things in motion. Present during Hall’s turntable set were Brown, third generation vocalist Emelee Nicart, former keyboardist and vocalist Bing Austria, and Morales. 

“Nung nandoon na kami sa loob ng venue, some people recognized us and began chanting, ‘Put3ska! Put3ska!’ Nag-dikit lang kami ni Myra and binulong ko, ‘O ano? Game na?’" Nicart recalled. "The next day nag-message si My sa FB ko, ‘Sige, Ems, let’s go.’ Nag-schedule kami for a meeting, nag-party and ayan na.”

“When we were invited for reunion concerts before, I thought it was too soon,” reflected Brown. “I wanted to have a meeting, lunch, a get together to see how it is with everyone. Just enjoy each other’s company all over again and not force things. Then organically, decide to get together.”

“Kadalasan, kapag pinaplano, nauudlot,” Morales reinforced of the reunion. “Mas natutuloy kapag biglaan. Siguro kasi hindi forced.”

The members of Put3ska look to the 2008 reunion of English Two-Tone greats, The Specials, also as inspiration. “Tapos si Terry Hall pa 'yung isang naging catalyst sa reunion namin,” pointed out Brown.

Yet, like The Specials’ reunion that didn’t include founding member Jerry Dammers, Put3ska is missing a few members from its classic line-up. 

Original drummer Luis “West Lu” Guiang died after a motorcycle accident in 2007. Rodney Ambat and Gio Punongbayan can’t be there. Original keyboardist and vocalist, Austria, for whatever reasons known to himself, shockingly opted out in spite of being present in all the recent get-togethers and band chatroom. 

Despite Austria’s absence, the band isn’t going to let this spoil the party. The vibe is just right. Everyone’s having fun and a laugh. 

And on the night of Brown’s return to rehearse. Some missed a beat or tried to remember a chord here and there. They joked and fiddled around. Then the muscle memory returned and the synapses fired up -- suddenly, it was like 1994 all over again.

There will be 14 people on stage for the reunion concert – vocalists Brown, Nicart, and Mae Ylagan; drummers Lacano and Rogel Dela Cruz (whose main band is Morales’ 1980s punk crew, the Urban Bandits), bassist Rommel Cruz, guitarist Morales, keyboardist Nomer Delos Santos, trombone players Marvin Flores and Daniel Quianzon, saxophonist Richard Cruz and Joey De Guzman, and trumpeteers Eldie Siochi and Ruel Cabrera. 

Old fixtures from the band’s salad days will be there – DJ Shane Cosgrove and toaster Skataba will perform one song with the band. 

“The old energy will be there,” promised Lacano.

“Long overdue ‘to,” said Cruz of the reunion. “Ang dami nagco-comment sa social media na mag-reunion. Hindi ganun kadali. Maraming concerns. Biglang nagparamdam si Arnold at nagpunta siya bahay. Nagka-solusyon sa mga tanong ko. So heto na.”

“I am doing this for my children,” underscored Brown. “They never saw me perform with Put3ska so this is for them first and my old bandmates at Put3ska.”

On top of their classics, Put3ska are rehearsing three new Morales compositions, one or two that might make the Music Museum set list. After the May show, there are plans to record a new album, and tour. 

Second coming? Unfinished business?

Morales grinned. It was the grin of a man who had grown up through the punk and new wave years, the alternative '90s when what was underground became mainstream. He’s been a part of some classic albums in Filipino music history. He knows enough of false starts and disappointment. 

Yet, the vibe is right. “Let’s take it one day at a time, mate,” he concluded.

Perhaps, it was keyboardist Nomer Delos Santos who put it best when asked to describe the reunion and everything that it meant.

“Nakakabata,” he smiled.

Then the boys and girls of Put3ska launched into more songs. With huge smiles to make the Joker feel uneasy. Laughter that indicated... it’s just right.