Guest Post by Isabel R. Matias

We live for the moments that truly make us feel alive. September 30, 2012 proved to be one of those extraordinary feats.

That last Sunday of September marked the first annual indoor music festival in the country. Bazooka Rocks Festival, as it is called, showcased three local and eight international acts in a span of over twelve hours. True to its name, the festival was an explosion of energy, sound and color.

As the preparations were made, attendees counted down the days. With each second the clock ticked, they were closer to the festival date. They were so eager that by the time the hour of the show arrived, the crowd was like a time bomb ready to explode.

The SMX Convention Center was the right venue, as it provided ample space for the concept of the festival. The stage was situated at the heart of the two connected halls – it was “one massive pit” – as the official poster advertised. Arcade booths, kiosks selling food, drinks, and booze, merchandise stalls, an eating area with school chairs, cellphone charging stations, and even a giant inflatable slide decorated the halls.

Before each band would dominate the stage, a countdown would take place, only reminding the crowd that they were minutes away from seeing their favorite band perform. Every time the musicians stepped or ran on stage, the crowd erupted in a frenzy.

At the outset were homegrown talents such as Penguin, Robin Nievera and Salamin. The audience was given a taste of local skill before foreign-cultivated artistry hit the stage.

At noon, Avastera took the stage. The Australian-based musicians have gone a long way since they released their EP, “The Clocks Have Ticked Too Long” early this year. For a band to have only released an EP and tour in international shores speaks volumes; they’ve achieved so much in just a span of a few months and are sure to take the world by stage one continent at a time.

Forty-five minutes later, the countdown was back on. As soon as it reached zero, the screams magnified, cuing the next band, The Wonder Years to enter. They delivered a great performance – they got heads banging and bodies. Lead singer Dan Campbell expressed what an honor it was to be playing miles away from their hometown in Philadelphia.

Moving on to a slightly different genre was A Skylit Drive. By this time the crowd was covered in sweat, but A Skylit Drive fans sang their hearts out, enjoying every moment of the set. The mosh and circle pits were back in action. A Skylit Drive even performed a cover of Rihanna and Eminem’s Love The Way You Lie, giving it a twist, and adding their flavor to the song.

By mid-afternoon, Forever the Sickest Kids started a party. They’ve played for their Filipino fans before, and just like they always do, gave one heck of a show. Among the highlights of their set were challenging the crowd to break the crowd surfing record of 21 surfers (which Jonathan Cook, the lead singer, said we did by five – making a new record of 26 crowd surfers), Jonathan and Kyle climbing the metal structure of the stage and the former eventually hanging upside down, a capella covers of Carly Rae Jepsen’s “Call Me Maybe”, Fall Out Boy’s “Sugar We’re Going Down” and Fun.’s “We Are Young”, Kyle Burns’ drum solo, a light saber match off in the audience, to balloons and confetti falling down on the crowd.

Still high on the energy from the previous set, the crowd was electrified once The Maine came on. It was their third time back in the country and their sixth time performing live. Throughout their time on stage, the energy of the crowd did not falter nor their voices weaken. John O’Callaghan, the lead singer, took a moment to thank their fans and gave them a few words of advice. “Don’t you ever think in one moment, in one second of your life, that you’re entitled to something. I want you to make sure that whatever you want to achieve, you work hard for it. I want you to make sure that anybody in your life that helps you out with something, you make sure you thank them.” His advice hit a chord, reminding those who are currently in search of their aspirations, to keep on fighting for it. During one of their last songs, “Like We Did”, blue beach balls came flying and bouncing around the concert halls, like another reminder to enjoy our youth while we still had it.

The sun had gone down, but everyone’s spirits were still soaring. For Canadian band Marianas Trench, it was their first time on the Philippine stage, yet the response they got from the audience was what they were hoping for. “You’re so rowdy. I love it!” commented lead singer Josh Ramsay. Their set started dramatically with a short audio introduction that gave goose bumps; a prelude to a great show. Their harmonies were captivating and their stage presence strong. Personally, I was blown away by how they could give such an amazing performance.

Mayday Parade’s set was a tug at one’s heartstrings, taking the crowd back to nostalgic times. The serene sound of the violin filled the air; an introduction to the band’s set, foreshadowing the tone. They played songs from every album, but the ones that the audience relished the most were their early releases. There were a few teary faces in the audience as they sang “Three Cheers for Five Years” and “Miserable at Best.”

Finally, it was time for The Pretty Reckless to own the stage. A number of people left, but those who stayed tried to make up for the loss in numbers. They used what was left of their voices to end the festival the way they had started it – full of adrenalin.

The flow of the festival was great; the progression of genres in the line up transitioned well. It was nice seeing the bands come out for a meet and greet session during the set-up for the following band. Aside from this, the attendees were kept busy, hardly feeling the wait as they bought food, went on the giant inflatable slide or hung out by the arcade booths. Even some of the bands were seen enjoying themselves in the bouncy slide.

All musicians who were invited to play for the Bazooka Rocks Festival were grateful for the opportunity, and always expressed this while on stage. For the fans, it was a dream come true. What some thought would only be a fantasy —
to see the bands they listened to on their MP3 or iPod players live — had become a reality. So to answer the question Derek Sanders, Mayday Parade’s lead singer posed during their set, “Has anyone out there been looking forward to this?” Definitely, “Yes!”

Presented by Pulp Live World

Written by Isabel R. Matias, please visit her blog at http://ouvertureonline.com/

Are you interested to be a guest blogger? Write about your unique concert experience and send to [email protected]