Tuesday night at Strumm’s in Jupiter, Makati, a full-house crowd awaits the band Glass Onion’s first set. It’s been a while since we last caught its weekly gig here, and oh, what a surprise—the band’s members, which used to be about a dozen, now add up to 17.
Asked why it’s gotten that big, rhythm guitarist Lenny de Jesus tells us, with a smile: “Tonyboy keeps adding members.”
Tonyboy is businessman Antonio Cojuangco, who is Glass Onion’s other rhythm guitarist and manager, too.
Though the band warms up with Deodato’s fusion cover of “Moonlight Serenade,” what follows is a dynamic succession of pop, rock, R&B, funk and dance hits that moves a group of women to get up and groove.
One of the ladies, who looks past 40, shakes her hips with such sexy appeal, we almost join her on the dance floor.
Looking around the room, it’s obvious that everyone feels young again, even though they’re, well, way past their teens.
As the band plays “In the Stone,” “September,” “Georgy Porgy,” “Midnight at the Oasis,” “Harvest For the World,” “This Will Be An Everlasting Love,” “Easy Lover,” “Mr. Melody,” “What A Fool Believes,” “Steal Away,” “Love On Top,” “Best of My Love,” “Questions 67 and 68,” “Got To Get You Into My Life,” “You’re Still A Young Man,” and even “Uptown Funk,” we realize all of Glass Onion’s are damn good—especially its horn section.
So, take a bow: Cathy Melendrez, Boy Mendez, Kristel Herrera, Nica Remis and Jigger Ocsan on vocals, Archie Lacorte (alto sax), Nicole Tejedor (tenor sax), EJ Celestial (trumpet), Vanessa Celestial (trombone), Billy Melendrez and June Manuel (guitars), Rolly Roldan (bass), Benjie Santos (drums), Tet Palacios and Osen Fernando (keyboards), and, of course, Cojuangco and De Jesus.
Glass Onion plays Tuesday nights at Strumm’s, 110 Jupiter St. Makati; Call 8954636.
‘Live Sessions’ at Chaos
Meanwhile, on Wednesday nights, Chaos in City of Dreams Manila features a younger set of bands in a series dubbed “Live Sessions.”
On May 17 we arrive past 11 p.m., after Rage has finished its set and just before South Border takes the stage. Looking around, we take note that Chaos—billed as a nightclub that also has KTV rooms—is quite a big hall. Although it is designed to make people feel good in a relaxed setting, its seats per table are sofas that accommodate six or more people.
The vibe is not unlike that of casino clubs in Las Vegas or Macau—conducive for a cosmopolitan crowd that knows how great musicians Filipinos are. In the case of South Border, band leader Jay Durias does not hesitate playing originals mixed with his own choice of covers.
The Bogle Merlot, a California wine, tastes fine with the packaged chow of buffalo chicken wings, fried mozzarella cheese sticks, onion rings and Angus beef tortillas—which is good enough for a group of six.
Here’s the sked for the remaining Wednesdays in May:
May 24: Open mic with Rox Puno with the Skylight band, PureSound and True Faith
May 31: Freestyle, Side A
Chaos, UG/F City of Dreams Manila, Aseana Ave. cor. Macapagal Ave., Parañaque; Call 09178863678 or e-mail [email protected].
