Rock artist produces Ogie's show

Indie rock outfit Menaya has a real doer for a frontman in Brian Sombero. Apart from his duties as singer-songwriter and bandleader, he does concert producing. He is at the helm for an upcoming concert topbilling Ogie Alcasid and American Idol Season 7 finalist Ramiele Malubay.

Dubbed The Idol Experience: Ogie Sings with the Idols, the concert will be staged on Dec. 20 and 21 at the Aliw Theater, Pasay City. It will also feature the finalists of GMA 7’s Pinoy Idol led by winner Gretchen Espina, along with Menaya. Brian was a former Philippine Idol contestant, so his band’s presence is in sync with the Idols concept.

“Ogie is a family friend while Ramiele’s dad is a friend of my dad,” says Brian who finds amusement with the fact that Pinoys abroad go into singing star search auditions and make it good. His company TheUnderGround Studio (TUGS) is now taking care of what would be an interesting mix of straight pop and indie rock music in a major concert. 

Brian has his hands full playing in major international poker tournaments as “mind-sports.” Carrying the poker name The Bandit, he has landed in the Top 12 at the First Asian Poker Tour (APT) held in Manila. He has also finished second runner-up in the recent Manila Cup of Pokerstars’ Asia-Pacific Poker Tour (APPT) held in Hyatt Hotel. As a poker warrior, Brian travels a lot annually.

He has consistently   played in poker tournaments such as World Series of Poker (WSOP) in Las Vegas, World Poker Tour (WPT), British Columbia Poker Championships in Canada, Bellagio Cup in Bellagio Hotel, Las Vegas, Venetian Poker Tournament in Las Vegas, Commerce Poker Tournament in Los Angeles, California, Asian Poker Tour (APT) in Manila, Asian Pacific Poker Tour (APPT) by Pokerstars in Manila, World Poker Championship (WPC) and the Manila Cup of APPT by Pokerstars in Manila.

The Idol Experience: Ogie Sings with the Idols tickets are priced at P10,000 (already sold out), P3,000, P2,400, P1,400 and P650. For details, call Ticketworld at 891-9999 or Ticketnet at 911-5555 or TheUnderGround Studio at 376-2732.