The house is a-rockin’

Old souls. Old guitars. New songs. New resonances.

The idea of My Bro’s Mustache owner Boy Vinzon was to gather Pinoy Rock & Folk legends as well as upcoming talents (who perform regularly at the folk bar in Quezon City) to record new songs for a compilation album titled "Restrung: Lumang Gitara, Bagong Kanta." It is rare to find an independently-produced album that features Joey "Pepe" Smith, Wally Gonzales, Lolita Carbon, Florante, Heber Bartolome, Chickoy Pura, and Susan Fernandez, among others.

"The album features new songs by some of the legends that have shaped Original Filipino Music," says Vinzon. "I consider My Bro’s Mustache as the ‘house’ that brought them together and inspired them to carry on with their great music. Why settle for old songs being covered by new musicians when you have veteran artists doing new originals?"

The launch of the landmark CD was quite remarkable. It is not every day that one gets to sit with the great Heber Bartolome and artist Pandy Aviado while watching Wally Gonzales play the blues, or Pepe crack pot jokes in between bluesy readings of Backdoor Man and Little Red Rooster.

"We have so much talent in the Philippines," said drummer Rannie Raymundo, who was part of the house band along with guitarist Mon Espia and bassist Kim Lesaca. He says that as musicians get older the industry tends to turn its back on them and concentrate more on younger talent. "Unlike in the States, where if you’re talented, you’re set for life. That’s why this album is very important." We are in dire need of an album, a gig to showcase the plethora of great voices, great guitar playing, great compositional skills of Filipino artists. We agree.

"Restrung" features interesting new compositions from some of the country’s most important artists. Wally Gonzales plays on an evocative instrumental titled Free Spirit. Heber Bartolome rails against inequities in Abe, with its clever chorus. Susan Fernandez laments about child prostitution in Dalagita sa Dilim. Paul Galang jams with the iconic Joey Smith on Salamat Pepe. There also cuts from musicians such as Hans and Reagan, Joniver, Bobby Mondejar, Corky and Kiko, Lester Demetillo, et al.

It was a treat to watch Chickoy Pura perform the classic Sayaw sa Bubog. In introducing his new song titled The Storm, Pura said, "Tungkol ito sa mga taong nauntog na." The legendary Jerks frontman laments the fact that "the killings are still going on."

Pura and the other musicians featured in "Restrung" are proof that the Filipino artist still has a lot of meaningful things to say.

* * *

"Restrung: Lumang Gitara, Bagong Kanta," released by Our House Records is exclusively available at My Bro’s Mustache, No. 68 Scout Tuazon corner Scout Madrinan, Quezon City. For information, call or text 0917-8948129.