Discovered by the late Papadom of Tropical Depression, Peacepipe returns to reggae roots
Jeck Pilpil holds departed reggae icon Dominic “Papadom” Gamboa of Tropical Depression with the highest regard.
The leading Pinoy reggae band leader and one-time radio DJ discovered Jeck and his band Peacepipe and included them in the influential “Island Riddims” compilation album released in 2004.
Manila-based Peacepipe rubbed musical shoulders then with other reggae bands like Skabeche from Bulacan and Jr. Kilat from Cebu.
Together for 12 years
The band had been together for two years when Papadom chose to include them in the local reggae sampler.
Today, Peacepipe is still around 12 years after they were first formed.
The band is currently composed of vocalist/guitarist Jeck Pilpil, bassist Ferdinand “Pex” Holigores, lead guitarist Mark Gregory Real, drummer Jaydee Abugan, keyboardist Mark “Tapeyt” Humarang, trombonist Ryan Santos and Reagan Jackson on trumpet.
And it seems fitting that three of the present members came from Tropical Depression.
Four years between albums
The ensemble has just released its fourth album entitled “Inhale Positivity, Exhale Negativity” four years after their last recording.
Jeck, who’s an online editor at GMA Network, says the gap between albums has more to do with their indie status rather than a question of competing priorities like day jobs and family.
“We’re a full-fledged indie band kaya medyo natagalan ang release ng bagong album. Wala kaming financing sponsors, walang ring distribution deal with a record label. Tapos, madugo bayaran sa recording. We get by one at a time as our own funds come in. Additional expense pa yung reproduction ng CD.”
A ‘true Filipino reggae band’
When the band launched the album at ‘70s Bistro in Quezon City, the line of fans that formed at the entrance before the show was enough for Jeck to take a positive outlook.
“We’re keeping our fingers crossed na magtuloy-tuloy ang sales ng album. If we sell 1000 copies, we plan to record our fifth album right away. Sayang din ang panahon na nawawala for us to present our real image as a true Filipino reggae band.”
Their sales target seems modest considering that Peacepipe is just on the Luzon leg of a multi-city album launch that will take them nationwide.
There are still the Visayas and Mindanao islands which are strong bailiwicks for reggae music. Cebu is home to the most number of Pinoy reggae acts and hosts the annual Tribute to Bob (Marley) Day, later renamed Cebu Reggae Festival, now on its 13th year.
Why they’re popular in Mindanao
Jeck has more fond memories of the very warm reception accorded to his band in Davao.
“Pagsampa pa lang namin sa stage, nagulat kami sa aming nakita. Umaalon sa dami ng tao as far as the eye could see. First time pa lang namin du’n sa Davao at ganu’n kainit ang pagtanggap sa amin. It’s been that way even in Digos, Cotabato or Samal Island,” he recounts.
“Siguro it’s because like Papadom we sing about peace, love and spiritual awareness. It’s likely that the people of Mindanao, especially the young music fans, ayaw na ng gulo. Naiintindihan nila ang message ng kapayapaan sa aming musika. Puwede rin na gusto nila ipakita na hindi naman pang-araw-araw ang kaguluhan dun at talagang sama-sama sila.”
Twin themes
Peace and love are the themes that bind the new album.
They are the obvious reference points on the title track which exhorts personal responsibility to bring about these twin thematic threads.
Other tracks like “Children of the Earth” and "People are the Government” spin mass empowerment into the equation and “Gumising Ka Juan” entirely places the burden on each individual to help improve themselves.
Roots
Peacepipe plays roots reggae as opposed to dancehall, a sparser form of reggae that is more attractive to music fans.
It has not stopped Jeck from getting invited to reggae festivals abroad in Singapore, Taiwan and Malaysia. He also had the opportunity to jam with LA’s Dread Daze upon the invitation of the American band rather than at the request of the Filipino community there.
Jeck, however, had dabbled with dancehall in an earlier album when DJs from Africa and Europe sent him new riddim tracks to work on. This was the time when dancehall artists Snow and Shaggy were hitting paydirt with the dance-friendly mutation of reggae.
Influences
These days, he’s gone back to the roots reggae of his seminal influence Bob Marley.
He’s also keen on the music of Nigeria’s Majek Fashek, South Africa’s Lucky Dube, UK’s Steel Pulse, and the Mighty Diamonds.
Play local, go global could be Peacepipe’s entwined mission/vision. Adding a twist of love, peace and understanding, their music continues to take them everywhere they want to go.
