Sharing priceless memories with Hotdog

The first one was a smash so they decided to do another. Something like that does not usually happen with reunions. Former classmates, long ago friends, exes, etc., usually reunite for an hour or two or a day at the most. Then they all go their separate ways after finding out that all that they have in common now were only those years they spent together in the past.

However, such is not the case with Hotdog. Its music remains that special something in common with most of us Pinoys. The Manila Sound pioneer staged a reunion concert last May 16 at the Dusit Thani Manila. It was not only a huge success. It was a triumph with tickets selling out and the President of the Philippines himself attending. And with a date at that!

I do not know if it was because of him that Hotdog fans were left hungry for more, or as the band sang many years ago, bitin na bitin sa ‘yo.

The place is once again the Dusit. The date is the evening of July 26. The band promises to do all the hits. Pers Lab, Ikaw Ang Miss Universe Ng Buhay Ko, Bongga Ka ‘Day, Annie Batungbakal, Beh Buti Nga, Panaginip, Bitin Sa Iyo, Langit Na Naman, O Lumapit Ka, Careful Careful, Manila and lots more.

The repertoire will also include some recently unearthed gems from the baul of the leader of the band, Dennis Garcia. Maybe Kung Aminin Kong May Asawa Na Ako or that song dedicated to Rico Puno, something that goes Dati-dati Ang Pangit Mo and others. They will also do songs that Dennis created for other artists like the gay anthem Badaf Forever.

Performing again are the same Hotdog members who helped propel the band to the top of the charts. Namely: leader and bassist Dennis; his brother and lead guitarist and vocalist Rene Garcia; drummer Jess Garcia; and lead girl singers over the years like Joy Reyes, Maso Diez, Rita Sagun-Trinidad, Gina Montes back from the UK and Nadia Moore who is home from Canada. OK I do miss Ella del Rosario but I am sure these other girls are more than capable for the job.

Dennis promises a two-and-a-half hour show of hits. No fillers. It means hard work for everybody. More so because, all of them are now busy with other things, careers, businesses, families, etc. Doing the show means that they will give up precious time and income for the music. But as Dennis declared, “It’s not about the money. It’s about sharing the work that gave all of us (and keeps giving us) priceless memories.”

The Hotdog Reunion Concert is a project of Diva! Incorporated. Tickets, which include dinner, drinks and dancing, are now available at the concierge at Dusit. Call 886-6186, 0915-3598228 or 0921-2931784 for reservations and inquiries. It offers special group rates on its first time out. I hope that these are once more available for those barkada, associations, classes and all others who will choose to hold their own reunions with live Hotdog music at the repeat.

Still on concerts. Martin Nievera will be at the Newport Performing Arts Theater in Resort World Manila on the evening of Saturday, July 16. The show is Tribute and the Concert King will be doing just that. He will pay tribute to the artists who influenced him in his career. Among these are Frank Sinatra, Kenny Loggins, Gary Valenciano and even from the current ones, Bruno Mars.

Martin promises a truly enjoyable evening with lots of laughs, because that is something he cannot help doing and music because that is what he loves most. Aside from the tributes he will also dive into his baul for those hits he made with Louie Ocampo, the Broadway standards like This Is The Moment and the pop favorites like Forever. For the first time, too, fans will get to watch him perform his latest hit, Iisa Pa Lamang, live.

Tickets to Tribute are now available at Ticketworld with tel. no. 891-9999 and Viva Concerts, 687-7236. Ticket prices are P3,500 (VIP); P3,500 (Premiere Left/Center/Right); P3,000 (Deluxe Left/Right); and P2,500 (Balcony Left/Center/Right). Martin’s Tribute is produced by Viva Concerts & Events and Showtime Productions.