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Music review: Taking in Caspian, Earthmover, And So I Watch You From Afar
It was a strange night.
I’m standing outside the venue of what may possibly be my last concert (there have been too many these past two months, and me and my wallet want to rest), wondering if I should start talking about chili crab and chicken rice to the man across me. Two hours before this, I gave a bag of chocolate cookies engraved with panda faces to a man who I think was a cybernetic organism in disguise that was trained to play the guitar immaculately.
The reasons: (1) I’m standing opposite Caspian’s guitarist who told me they’re headed for Singapore next, and (2) it is never a bad idea to give chocolate panda cookies to anyone, and this night I’d decided to give it to an Irish rock band.
All Hail Bright Futures!
ASIWYFA's Niall Kennedy and Rory Friers
Irish band And So I Watch You From Afar’s songs always makes me feel like running.
The Belfast-based band—composed of bassist Jonathan Adger, guitarist Rory Friers, guitarist Niall Kennedy, and drummer Chris Wee—has three studio albums and two EPs to their name. These guys were magnificent on stage, with their technical mastery of accelerating guitar riffs, rapid drumming, and the occasional collective vocals.
This was showcased in “Big Thinks Do Remarkable,” off their latest “All Hail Bright Futures,” in the part when all four members chanted: "the sun, the sun, the sun, is in our eyes.” They also played “Ambulance,” a fast-paced song that, for some reason, made me feel like a Viking running around the forest.
Other highlights of ASIWYFA’s set also include “BEAUTIFULUNIVERSEMASTERCHAMPION,” and “Gang (starting never stopping),” both off their 2011 album “Gangs.”
Caspian, the band that played next, has been on my instrumental rock playlists for years now. They are guitarists Johnny Ashbrn, Erin Burke-Moran, Philip Jamieson, and Calvin Joss; and drummer Joe Vickers.
The band’s technical prowess was exhibited in “Malacoda,” and “The Raven” off their brilliant 2009 album “Tertia,” a song that balances the loud and smooth—something that Caspian is brutally good at.
The song that capped off the evening was “Sycamore,” a song that, according to Jamieson, they haven’t played in a long time. The soft build-up to the beautifully heavy release in the end was incredible, and everyone’s heart rates probably increased when all band members gathered to play percussion in the end.
I agree with many fans and critics who have regarded the AHBF album (I’m really getting used to this acronym thing), as happy and highly optimistic. I saw for myself how both them and Caspian exude a lot of excitement and positivity through their music. Their sound seduces and awakens, conjuring up an energy that would make you want to careen down any path even without a marked destination. Caspian, on the other hand, is heavy but bright, and in the end you’ll always find yourself in a sweet high. Some may think that’s talking up their music too much, but no apologies—this is what post-rock does to most of us fans.
Great job and thank you, Intastella Burst HK. I really, really do hope these two bands come back.
First sighting
Recently, I have avoided writing about Earthmover because I know them personally.
This was not always been the case, however. The band—composed of Daniel Garcia on guitars, Gerald Guerrero on bass, and Dru Ubaldo on percussion and samples—were just acquaintances at first.
They played their second gig at Gweilo’s in Eastwood in 2011. I remember this very clearly because I was there, and because it was the day that I realized that I had new music to follow. I became a regular in many shows, and this slowly developed into a friendship built on love for music.
Like everyone else who came to see the show that night, these three guys are fans of ASIWYFA’s and Caspian’s. I could just imagine how it felt doing something you love in front of some of your heroes—maybe it’s part nerve-racking, part bliss, part exhilarating, I don’t know. They’re currently recording an album to follow their 2012 EP “First Sighting” (songs from which they played at the show), and I’m pretty sure this show gave inspiration that could last them for a very long time.
I remember reading somewhere that one of the great things about post-rock is that it inspires fans to become creators. This is what I think happened with Earthmover. Needless to say, they consider this as their best gig so far. I agree, but this is just the beginning of many doors opening.
Post-rock forever
The Belfast-based band—composed of bassist Jonathan Adger, guitarist Rory Friers, guitarist Niall Kennedy, and drummer Chris Wee—has three studio albums and two EPs to their name. These guys were magnificent on stage, with their technical mastery of accelerating guitar riffs, rapid drumming, and the occasional collective vocals.
This was showcased in “Big Thinks Do Remarkable,” off their latest “All Hail Bright Futures,” in the part when all four members chanted: "the sun, the sun, the sun, is in our eyes.” They also played “Ambulance,” a fast-paced song that, for some reason, made me feel like a Viking running around the forest.
Other highlights of ASIWYFA’s set also include “BEAUTIFULUNIVERSEMASTERCHAMPION,” and “Gang (starting never stopping),” both off their 2011 album “Gangs.”
Caspian, the band that played next, has been on my instrumental rock playlists for years now. They are guitarists Johnny Ashbrn, Erin Burke-Moran, Philip Jamieson, and Calvin Joss; and drummer Joe Vickers.
The band’s technical prowess was exhibited in “Malacoda,” and “The Raven” off their brilliant 2009 album “Tertia,” a song that balances the loud and smooth—something that Caspian is brutally good at.
The song that capped off the evening was “Sycamore,” a song that, according to Jamieson, they haven’t played in a long time. The soft build-up to the beautifully heavy release in the end was incredible, and everyone’s heart rates probably increased when all band members gathered to play percussion in the end.
I agree with many fans and critics who have regarded the AHBF album (I’m really getting used to this acronym thing), as happy and highly optimistic. I saw for myself how both them and Caspian exude a lot of excitement and positivity through their music. Their sound seduces and awakens, conjuring up an energy that would make you want to careen down any path even without a marked destination. Caspian, on the other hand, is heavy but bright, and in the end you’ll always find yourself in a sweet high. Some may think that’s talking up their music too much, but no apologies—this is what post-rock does to most of us fans.
Great job and thank you, Intastella Burst HK. I really, really do hope these two bands come back.
First sighting
Recently, I have avoided writing about Earthmover because I know them personally.
This was not always been the case, however. The band—composed of Daniel Garcia on guitars, Gerald Guerrero on bass, and Dru Ubaldo on percussion and samples—were just acquaintances at first.
They played their second gig at Gweilo’s in Eastwood in 2011. I remember this very clearly because I was there, and because it was the day that I realized that I had new music to follow. I became a regular in many shows, and this slowly developed into a friendship built on love for music.
Like everyone else who came to see the show that night, these three guys are fans of ASIWYFA’s and Caspian’s. I could just imagine how it felt doing something you love in front of some of your heroes—maybe it’s part nerve-racking, part bliss, part exhilarating, I don’t know. They’re currently recording an album to follow their 2012 EP “First Sighting” (songs from which they played at the show), and I’m pretty sure this show gave inspiration that could last them for a very long time.
I remember reading somewhere that one of the great things about post-rock is that it inspires fans to become creators. This is what I think happened with Earthmover. Needless to say, they consider this as their best gig so far. I agree, but this is just the beginning of many doors opening.
Post-rock forever
Caspian's Philip Jamieson
The next morning, Caspian posted a group photo on their Facebook page, saying that we were “perhaps one of the most enthusiastic and passionate collection of people” they have every played for. Well, gosh. These guys probably do not know that us fans are still gushing until now.
It has been a wonderful year for instrumental rock music in the Philippines—Explosions in the Sky last year, Mogwai last month. All of these artists belong to a genre that isn't exactly for everyone, so the number of attendees—even in this city of music lovers—won’t always pack a venue. But it’s never about attendance.
Sometimes it’s about seeing friends’ dreams come true, listening to music that inspires to no end, meeting a bunch of humble and insanely talented musicians, and trusting a bag of panda cookies. — BM, GMA News
It has been a wonderful year for instrumental rock music in the Philippines—Explosions in the Sky last year, Mogwai last month. All of these artists belong to a genre that isn't exactly for everyone, so the number of attendees—even in this city of music lovers—won’t always pack a venue. But it’s never about attendance.
Sometimes it’s about seeing friends’ dreams come true, listening to music that inspires to no end, meeting a bunch of humble and insanely talented musicians, and trusting a bag of panda cookies. — BM, GMA News
