Barbie Almalbis with former band Hungry Young Poets streams rehearsal live online
The biggest news to come out of the upcoming Tanduay Rhum Rockfest on October 14 isn't the sheer amount of rockstar power on that night, but the surprise reunion of late 90s band Hungry Young Poets.
The band, which propelled rock chanteuse Barbie Almalbis and bass virtuoso Ricci Gurango into the public eye, was known for their brand of accessible and technically-proficient pop rock music and produced the hits “Firewoman” and “Torpe.”
After the release of their self-titled album in 1997, they were joined by drummer Franklin Benitez. However in 1998, Gurango left the band and eventually formed Mojofly. Almalbis and Benitez moved on and formed Barbie's Cradle (Wendell Garcia would eventually replace him).
The hype for HYP
The hype for the, uh, HYP reunion was upped a notch when Almalbis posted a link on her Facebook page to a live feed of the band's rehearsal going on Monday evening, Sep. 19.
Viewers were treated to an “insider's view” of the band working on arrangements (or rearrangements) of their old songs. The singer occasionally stopped to answer questions on her Facebook page or greet friends and fans on cam.
One interesting thing caught on camera was Almalbis and Gurango jokingly recounting how Benitez found out he was joining the band: he was asked to join their photo shoot soon after his audition, to the drummer's surprise.
It’s like they never left
If anything, it seemed like Hungry Young Poets never disbanded. They were still tight, despite the occasional double takes (it was a rehearsal, after all).
Is this reunion going to be in the form of a tour? Or will it just be a one-off thing? According to them (as said via webcam) it is a one-off thing so far.
“But you never know,” added Gurango.
