If you remember the last time I attended Mark’s birthday party, it was a surreal experience seeing Bamboo there and how great friends they all still are. I am a Rivermaya fan, mainly because if it weren’t for the music, I wouldn’t be in this simple spot in my career, probably stuck behind a desk at a law office. Whenever I start the year with Rivermaya, there’s always something epic that happens. Always.

If you see the rest of the photos and the videos HERE, you will know why… 

TO YOU: this isn’t deliberate. I just couldn’t help it. I’m not really someone who has mastered the art restraint. Obviously.

17 October 2011

Since the start of the year I have been hearing rumors that Bamboo was going to perform at some major event. On a press release that I read, the entire line-up of musicians were written down except his name and then at the end of the article it said “and a surprise special guest”. 

That was it. Who else could it be? Although I was told that they already mentioned this in TV commercials, but who cares if it was a surprise or not. Firsts and lasts are the best thing there is. Last December I wasn’t able to take the last performance of Bamboo the band in 19 East because I was having an emotional fit with my camera.

I did not take photos of all the performances in the festival, something I regret given that there were so many surprises, but I was backstage and made sure that my pass said ALL ACCESS (I was doing some project I thought of just then when I saw Karl Roy eating friend chicken before performing as P.O.T. but I’ll let you guys know what it is when I’ve completed it).

I searched for Bamboo everywhere knowing he was around because Kakoy Legaspi, who plays guitars for him now was in sight and the orchestra that was going to play with Bamboo was already setting up their instruments. I couldn’t find him.

I saw Kakoy again last night for the nth time (because he’s a serial session guitarist like that and he seemed to be in all the noteworthy events playing with different musicians). I asked him if he had seen Bamboo throughout the event, he said that he only saw Bamboo during soundcheck and only on stage for the set, after that Bamboo disappeared. 

I remember seeing him perform at the 2005 NU107 Rock Awards. He was seated quietly in a corner waiting for his turn to go up. When he goes on stage though, like this time around, you can feel his command of the crowd, who didn’t get that all rowdy, but was pulled into attention, similar to what you get when you are star struck. 

There are many frontmen out there who can be hailed by critics as a great performer, but you can’t deny the fact that Bamboo is THE complete package: Good looks, heavenly voice, astounding charisma and that extreme mysteriousness no one can seem to strip down into a formula. He is really an enigma.  

His new album “No Water No Moon” will be out soon under Polyeast Records. You can listen to his latest single “Questions” on his site.