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.
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