“I’m Australian,” said 29-year-old musician Orianthi Panagaras, by way of explaining to us, at her recent press con at Hard Rock Café Makati, why it’s quite normal to have drinks with her bandmates especially when on tour. “You only live once,” she added, believing that it wouldn’t hurt if she enjoys such pleasures with her “rock ’n’ roll family” while she’s young.
Certain members of that family included, at one time or another, the following rock stars with whom she has played: Steve Vai, ZZ Top, Carlos Santana, Prince, John Mayer, Dave Stewart, Alice Cooper and somebody whom the world knew as the King of Pop.
Orianthi herself couldn’t believe it when Michael Jackson asked her to join what would’ve been his last live performances, the 2009 “This Is It” concert series at the 02 Arena in London. She had attended rehearsals and was ready to play until everything froze with Jackson’s death on June 25—18 days before the series opened.
In October that year, Orianthi attracted attention with the posthumous “This Is It” documentary and subsequent YouTube uploads of her stage time with Jackson, coinciding the release of her second studio album, “Believe.”
A lot has happened since, with Orianthi releasing a third album, 2013’s “Heaven in This Hell.”
She’s in town for some club gigs to promote her new single, her version of Richie Sambora’s “Every Road Leads Home to You.”
Catch her live tomorrow, 9 p.m. at 19 East in Sucat, Parañaque (tel. 8376903 and 0949-4984405) and on Aug. 27, 9 p.m. at Hard Rock Café in Glorietta, Ayala Center Makati (tel. 8934661 to 65).
RWM’s anniversary gigs
Members of the media were treated to five special dishes at the Genting Club in Resorts World Manila (RWM), as a prelude to “Give Me 5”—the fifth anniversary celebration of the country’s first one-stop integrated tourist destination.
Presented in small servings, one of the dishes stood out for its hot, spicy flavor: laksa, a Singaporean-Malaysian staple.
Check your schedules in the coming days so you’ll have time to watch a few, if not all, of the shows lined up at RWM:
Singer-songwriter Daryl Shy’s CD launch tomorrow, 7 p.m., at the second floor, Newport Plaza across Republiq and Opus. Darryl, a Filipino-American who used to play in the folk clubs of Baguio City where he met future wife and Eraserheads manager Ann Angala, was a finalist in season 1 of the “The Voice of the Philippines” talent search.
“Rockin’ 5,” featuring “X Factor Philippines” season 1 finalist Mark Mabasa and Friends, Princess Velasco, Yeng Constantino, and “The Voice Kids” grand champion Lyca Gairanod and finalists Darren Espanto, Juan Karlos Labajo and Darlene Vibares, on Aug. 28 at the Newport Plaza.
“Noli Me Tangere: The Opera,” a takeoff on the original José Rizal novel, featuring the works of two National Artists, Felipe de Leon (music) and Guillermo Tolentino (libretto), under the direction of Freddie Santos. The musical runs Sept. 11-28 at the Newport Performing Arts Theater.
The “Give Me 5” fete includes dining discounts, freebies, special cinema deals and a sale at the Newport Mall. The restaurants and the Newport Mall are open till late at night, and the cinemas have midnight to dawn screenings, which means you can truly enjoy nights out at RWM.
Log on to rwmanila.com or call the tourist/visitor hotline at tel. 9088833.
Alex Goot at the CCP
Two YouTube discoveries are set to perform in Manila. Singer-songwriter Alex Goot and the band Against the Current, both from New York, are playing back-to-back on Aug. 30 at Tanghalang Nicanor Abelardo of the Cultural Center of the Philippines.
Alex’s videos have collectively gained over 287 million views on YouTube; he has 1.8 million subscribers on his own YouTube channel.
He has released his second EP, “Wake Up Call.”
Formed in 2012, Against the Current is composed of vocalist Chrissy Costanza, guitarist Daniel Gow, and drummer William Ferri. The band has over 500,000 subscribers on YouTube and has just released an EP, “Infinity.”
Call tel. 8919999.
Joey’s Mailbox
Joey’s Mailbox is one Pinoy band you wouldn’t get tired of watching because it keeps its repertoire fresh and exciting.
On a slow night at Chico Rico—there were not more than 10 people in the audience—the band played “Mind Blowing Decisions,” “Stop, Look, Listen (To Your Heart)” and a jazz take on “Saving All My Love” with such verve that we stayed till 1 a.m.
Joey’s Mailbox plays Tuesday nights at Chico Rico Bar, 1184 P. Ocampo (Vito Cruz Ext.) corner Visita St. (off South Ave.) Makati; tel. 4035873
