T3: Top Ten Most Wanted Bands for UP Cookout

Why are we writing this article? Because we can. And also maybe because it's just a few more strange days away from UP Cookout. And UP Cookout will never be complete without the bands.

Come on, it's the biggest socio-political college party of the year, and if there's booze ( which we will all subtly disguise in cans of coke, wink, wink ), sisig na baboy (Gusto ko ng baboy.. gusto ko ng ba, ba, baboy...), and babes (depends on where you're looking), then of course there will be bands to spur on the crowd (moshpits, yeah!).

And usually, though the UP Cookout prod team tries to keep their guest bands under cover of darkness, it's not too bad to wish up your favorite local bands to make it to the cookout's ever sonic megillah. Wishes can come true, if you wish really hard. Besides, who knows, these wishing-well bands might actually come on the 24th to shift our party towards music, art, and rock and roll.

Anyhow, here are the results of the unsolicited survey we generated to ask our Rakista Iskolars the top ten bands that they want to see in this year’s UP Cookout. Or in the coming years.

THE TOP TEN MOST WANTED BANDS FOR COOKOUT

10. Urbandub

 

The ever-rumored guest band of cookout. Since the UP Cookout of 2012 where Urbandub was a broken promise, the subtle tattle of the Giant sound of the South playing on the stage of UP Cebu's most anticipated event has long since been whispered from ear to ear along the halls of the University. Hailing from Cebu City, Urbandub is a band of our own, and is the first indie band to release albums nationwide with the help of a major label. Resident emo kids and rockers all pray for the day when Urbandub will grace the stage. This year, will Urbandub finally be on the guest list? Who knows? Let's give ourselves some all-knowing winks.

9. Foc Fashion

 

We'll all be sorry if we get wasted on the day that Foc Fashion shows up in UP Cookout. A rad, fun-loving troupe that shapes themselves in the image of the Arctic Monkeys, Foc Fashion is one of the best bands to mosh to. And we all hope that we get some of the focing action this year. Though we're not making any promises, rumor has it that the most moshable indie rock band in Cebu's current underground scene will be there to rule the stage on the 24th. Hear that Focers? We have a focing band to dance to. So bring on the beer, bring on the moves, and get ready to Foc Fashion.

8.Callalily 

 

So, top eight on the wishlist is Callalily, the alternative rock band made popular by their song "Magbalik". This band is for the girls, and the wannabe-girls. Specializing in Pogi-rock, prepare to see imploding eardrums from fangirl screams and panty-waving around the stage once they perform. Why Callalily for UP Cookout? The comments from our survey participants are "Hmmm," and "Their songs are dope especially HKM". Cool. But remember, don't do drugs kids. How are we supposed to send a social message to the world that we rock, and we care about the shifting times around us if we're too high?

7. Shiela and the Insects

Of course, we would have Shiela and the Insects...in our wishlist. Well, we have to be reasonable. We can only wish they would perform for cookout. It would be substance-induced illusion if they actually did. After all, Shiela plays hard to get, performing at most 5 times a year. No wonder we come stringing along, like love-sick roadies with hearts quick to panic. Starting their musical career in the early 90's, Shiela and the Insects is a legendary underground rock band that started the indie rock revolution of Cebu, and is one of the pillars of Cebuano underground music.

6. Radioactive Sago Project

And here's another mystical band that we can only dream of in UP Cookout. Powerful and poetic, Radioactive Sago Project stands out as a jazz rock band fronted by the award winning poet Lourd De Veyra. Fusing spoken word poetry, bebop jazz and punk, Radioactive Sago is the epitome of urban music that takes a stand on different societal and political issues. Music to serve the people. Tunay na makabayan. And what does the people of UP say about Radioactive Sago? "Ska+Lourd De Veyra = Heart"

5. Missing  Filemon

And here comes another powerplayer. Playing for UP Cookout once in 2012, Missing Filemon is a band that we all want back up on stage again. Let's try to conjure illusory images of  them performing for us again after downing two, three more mugs of wishful beer. Sigh.

Another pillar of Cebuano underground music, Missing Filemon began in 2002 playing Cebuano rock from the very conception of their band, which is a giant feat in itself. The forefather of Bisrock,  otherwise known as Bisaya Rock, Missing Filemon is a revolutionary group that paved the way for rock in our very own language. They showed Cebuanos that we have to start promoting our own art, shift back music to our own language. Kay lahi man jud, ug lami man jud mag-Binisaya. Lami man jud ang Missing Fili.

4. Kamikazee

Now we're down to number four. Kamikazee, another band of our own, our very own UP—well, UP Diliman that is. Energetic and hotblooded,  Kamikazee is a pop punk band that has close ties with the infamous candidate number three in our rock pageant, Parokya ni Edgar. Though not as affluent as Parokya ni Edgar in the rock scene, Kamikazee is popular for their rowdy and raunchy performances.

And why does UP Cebu want Kamikazee up ours ( stage, I mean)? What does the poll say? Well, apparently, the general interview sample believes that number one, "Kamikazee is fucking awesome!" and two, "If PNE and Kamikazee will be in UP for Cookout, we can have "The Ordertaker" played!!!!! Gah!!!!"

3. Parokya ni Edgar

Yes, yes, show us Parokya ni Edgar! The best band to have an inuman session with, so bring out the kegs and the bongs boys, because the party is always on the roll when Parokya ni Edgar is in the house. And how we wish they would be in the house on the 24th. Notorious for their fun, sarcastic and witty performances (and for their sex videos and their incessant habit of creating satirical covers of popular local and international songs) Parokya ni Edgar almost always knows how to bring some action to their shows.

2. Eraserheads

 

And this time, for number two we have a unicorn in our list. Because no matter how much we want to have a cookout with the Eraserheads, this cookout will probably never exist. Maybe in a parallel universe where leprechauns smoke weed (again, don't do drugs), but not in this one. We all love the E-heads. We grew up crying to "Spolarium" and thinking up of cooler ways  to play bahay kubo with "Toyang". And now we're left on the brink, holding our breaths while we hope that the E-heads are back for good after coming back together for Sabado. But for now, let's not get our hopes up too much—or else we'll all be left with another "Minsan". So for now, let's make way for one band more.

1. Up Dharma Down

 

 

And number one most wanted band is none other than, Up Dharma Down! Whetweew! (translates as whistle, hahaha)

Who knew that UDD would rank number one on the list? Not that it’s unworthy, but that it's unexpected considering the demographic and all. Up Dharma Down is hardly rock, something more than rock. It's something more...magical.

Well, to make things sound less vague UDD is a fairly recent Manila band with growing popularity and almost indescribable music. Really, listen to Up Dharma Down and try to put a name to its genre. Hard, right? Up Dharma Down is a fancy concoction of everything, music both deep and mesmerizing. In ways both physical, and metaphysical.

Which makes it understandable that the Iskos and Iskas would want them for UP Cookout this year. UDD takes us on a musical shift we haven't quite seen before.

And what do the Iskolar Rakistas think about Up Dharma Down? Oddly, UDD is the only band where the survey participants consistently placed nothing in the comments despite being the most frequently picked band. Let's just say that UDD leaves them speechless.

And that's it folks! 

Those were the TOP TEN MOST WANTED BANDS for UP Cookout.  And remember, drink ( beer, moderately,water unlimitedly) and dance your heart out to the bands, and move yourself to action. UP Cookout this year is for shifting one's self to art, productivity and social awareness, along with partying. So enjoy the night, and let the bands mosh you over to productive change.

Stay tuned to Oble Square for more fun articles about UP Cookout 2014. You may want to read the facts about UP Cookout? How about the things you need to know about UP Cookout 2014? Click the link provided. 

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This list for TINTA's Top Ten is written by Alsteine Diapana and Jennifer Ebdani.