Tanduay rocks again with the new First Five
The Tanduay First Five tour has undoubtedly kept local music alive for the past five years. It has brought the country's premiere rock artists to the provinces, along with the adrenaline rush and subsequent euphoria their concerts bring to music-hungry audiences.
This year, the brand continues its support for Pinoy rock, as it recently unveiled this year's First Five in a press conference held at the Hard Rock Cafe last March 8, in Makati City.
Previous First Fivers Wolfgang, Parokya ni Edgar, and Kamikazee are still there, with singer-songwriter Rico Blanco returning. In addition, Cebuano rock band Urbandub joins the lineup.
‘Music is like sex’
The TV commercial shows the bands clad in various warrior gear, stating, “From the five kingdoms, they will rise. The kings of rock royalty will unite.” The visuals seem to imply that the series of concerts will be relentless assaults in true rock & roll fashion, a promise that the tour has never failed to keep year after year.
Wolfgang has supported the concept behind the show as it “helps bring music to the people,” as vocalist Basti Artadi says.
“Para din ito sa mga taong mahilig at hindi mahilig sa music,” adds Blanco.
Kamikazee's Jay Contreras explains further, “Ang banda kasi, hindi lang pinapakinggan. Pinapanood din siya. It is an experience. Like sex.”
‘OPM is not dead’ – Rico Blanco
There are people who believe that rock and OPM in general have been taking a beating, with the continued arrival and increasing popularity of foreign artists. So why is Tanduay still banking on local music?
“This is the peak of local music, not the 90s,” asserts Gladys Basinillo of Carat Philippines, the group behind promotions for the Tanduay First Five. “It just so happens mas maraming umaagaw ngayon sa attention ng mga bata.”
Blanco refuses to believe that OPM is dead. “It's a matter of perspective. Nag-iba lang ang consumption ngayon. During the 90s we never had these big concerts, the equipment, the lights.
“If OPM is dead, Parokya ni Edgar won't have thousands of people following them on Facebook.”
Tour dates
You can catch the Tanduay First Five on these dates:
March 30 – Legaspi
March 31 – Naga
April 14 – Boracay
April 20 – Dumaguete
April 27 – Bataan
April 28 – Bulacan
May 4 – Calbayog
May 5 – Tacloban
May 11 – Lucena
May 18 – Kalibo
May 25 – Santiago
June 1 – Vigan
June 2 – La Union
June 8 – Baguio
July 13 – Cagayan de Oro
August 17 – Digos
August 18 – General Santos
September 7 – Butuan
September 8 – Surigao
November 9 – Pagadian
