(PHOTO BY JC VALENCIA)

I got to Araneta Coliseum for the Stone Temple Pilots concert at about 4pm.  I really had to go early because i was road managing for Sinosikat, who were booked to play as the opening act to the hard rock band.  The atmosphere was great!  The stage was built, all the lights and trusses were in place, the seats were empty quietly awaiting the mass of people that were sure to come, and the technicians of STP were onstage sound checking the instruments while others were offstage fixing the mixing boards and programming the lights. 

Backstage the scene was a really beautiful sight. The brilliant team of Ovation Productions and Stoked Entertainment had everything together, to the point that most of them were already quite relaxed, as if the work had all been done already. The organization backstage was also very impressive. Signs were made and were clearly marked and placed in that there was no way you could get lost and in such a way that if you needed to find anyone or anything you wouldn’t even need to ask.  I was also very impressed with how the crew of Stone Temple Pilots had arranged their share of backstage needs.  Signs and photos of band members indicating whose room is which, mobile dressers with hospitality needs were located very conveniently between the different band members dressing rooms, and from a quick peek into one of the rooms i really liked it that it was dimly lit with only lamps, as opposed to the stark white light that these dressing rooms have got. 

After about an hour of the crew getting the amps and drums and microphones to sound the way they wanted to, it was our turn to set up and get Sinosikat sound checked.  It took awhile to lay out the drums and amps and to get the power running, but soon enough everything was in place and we got through the sound check with only minor glitches.  I’d actually say more about this but I’ve learned that sadly you cannot speak badly about certain people so ill shut up for now

Backstage the energy was rising! Stone Temple Pilots had arrived and people were out of the production and dressing rooms and filled the halls with smiles and warm welcomes. Robert DeLeo, bassist extraordinaire and really nice guy, hung out with Sinosikat for a few photos, videos, a chat and a drink. The Jack Daniels had arrived and food was served so we dined and took a moment before the madness of the night was to begin. I ran to some friends who were at Dencio’s and had a warm beer. Soon enough it was time, Sinosikat was on standby.

This time the energy had clearly risen to a new dimension.  As Kakoy Legazpi puts it, sa sobrang ibang level, di na sya level! As the band went onstage, the crowd roared, we got the go signal, i gave the thumbs up, and the music began. 

For the next half hour, Sinosikat played really well, what with two bass guitarists complimenting each others grooves.  Drums pounding and the keys bouncing through its trippy patterns and textures.  The guitar going wild with beautiful solos, riffs, and chords.  And then Kat, gorgeous in her black suit and knee high boots, singing to the Stone Temple Pilots audience and being received well.  Speaking to the audience about Filipino pride and a unity of love.  I must say, i thought their selection of 5 songs was perfect for the venue, the audience, and the night ahead.

Once backstage and in our dressing room, high fives and hugs were passed around, Sinosikat had just opened for Stone Temple Pilots and it was a great show!  I received a number of text messages congratulating the band for a job well done and i knew they were right, Sinosikat had rocked Araneta Coliseum and for the most part, they’re a jazz and soul band, it was far out man!

We carried on with the second bottle of Jack and sat on some seats but the energy never faded.  No, as a matter of fact, it grew!  Not only were we getting a bit drunk, but we knew that STP was about getting ready to go!  We took a peek out our door and noticed that the halls had emptied out, STP was onstage!!!  We grabbed what we needed and bolted to the side of the stage from behind.  There he was, Scott Weiland in all his rockstar brilliance.  His mere presence can make a room stand still.  The drum sticks clicked and the music began, that was the beginning of the end for me. 

It was all rock n roll in all its fucked up madness and craze, and i conquered its challenge with a binge like addiction all the way to the end of its dark road.  Singing along to the songs, bouncing and swaying with the strumming of the guitar, waving my hands in the air as the drum rolls, and grooving to the deep bass lines in a steady swagger, i closed my eyes many times and almost fell to the sides with a loss of balance.  At one point i wasn’t sure if my balance was off due to the drunk mans drink, or because the music took me to a place where time and space cease to exist. 

I loved the concert.  And i won’t tell you that i loved this song more than that or too bad they didn’t play this or fuck i wanted a guitar pick but wasn’t able to get one, no!  It was a fantastic experience and i loved every bit of it.  I only hope to have more experiences like this and that our children get to experience magical moments in music the same way we were able to have this experience.

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