There's really nothing like the Fête. It's a rare night when almost a hundred bands play for free, and when people come together to celebrate music. Too bad we got there at around 9pm already, because bands start playing 4pm. However, we were just in time for the official opening by Cynthia Alexander and her band.

Even from afar you could tell that El Pueblo was bustling with thousands of people. How we all fit in there, I have no idea. Which, on second thought, was probably the reason why people spilled onto the streets and the cars could not pass by. There were several stages, but I'd only mention the three stages we frequented: the Blues stage (Sidebar Cafe), Alternative stage (at the Podium), and the World Music stage (in front of Chateau).

We met up with Meri, Charm, Frankee, Julius, Touki, and several of their other friends. But it was actually just Kate and I throughout the night, because we wanted to go straight to the blues stage and they all wanted to go to the rock stage.

When we went to Sidebar, the guard would not allow people to come in anymore because the blues stage was already packed. We thought we'd never get in, but I saw Daniel Crisologo, who has his guitars repaired by Daddy and who happens to be the guitarist for DC Aftershock, one of the blues bands lined up that night (and I think he's also the guy in that infamous Coke commercial where he plays the "ito ang beat sabay-sabay..." in the jeepney hehe). Thankfully he recognized me and asked where Dad is, and we talked a little. And he got us in! Daniel told the guard that we're with him, and since he had that artist id, we were inside in no time. I will be forever thankful to him heehee. Thanks talaga, Daniel, you were great! And his band was great, too.

We got there in time to watch the Blue Jean Junkies set. They were great! Okaaay, I have to stop saying that word, but there isn't a better one to describe the blues bands that night. The vocalist, Nino, had such an amazing presence. After their set was Huka. Gawd I've been waiting for the longest time to watch them play again, and I almost could not breathe when I heard the opening guitar riffs. They even played some SRV. And Tom Epperson, the great photographer, played harmonica as a guest musician. Then it was Bluesviminda after, with Cookie Chua on vocals and Angelo Villegas on guitars (or was it bass?). They were great too, and it was nice seeing a woman sing the blues.



We dashed to the Podium for a very short time to freshen up and grab some coffee, since we were avoiding alcohol now. Yeah, good clean fun. Haha. We heard Hale playing but didn't stay, since we so wanted to catch every single band in the blues stage. At the Podium we bumped into Amy, our cousin who went to the fête only for Hale; we also saw Ruth, our churchmate, who introduced us to her boyfriend Ackey, who happens to be the director of the Late Isabel video. And it's amazing. He must be one of the best in the music video field.


We rushed back to Sidebar after meeting up with our friends again, and it was so great that Meg, Abby, Tal, and her cousin Kyaw were able to come too. We actually saw a whole lot of Dad's customers, and it was nice that most of them knew us. We talked with Eric (of Mr. Crayon), said hi to Mr. Tinnie, chatted a bit with Chito (of Freeway Jam), and of course talked with Kakoi (of Mr. Crayon, Salindiwa, and Barbie's Cradle). It was so cool that Eric played bass for Huka, though I'm not sure if he's really with the band now. Kakoi is probably one of the best guitarists. At least Kate and I think so, partly because Daddy and Tito Alex say so (and they know good players, alright), and partly because we watch his hands while he's playing and wish we could do all those sounds, and because... well, he's just really good. Hehe.


Mr. Crayon is sooo great. I don't know the name of the guy on vocals but his voice is really amazing, and I keep watching the guy playing harmonica. I actually wanted to come up to him and ask if he could teach me how to play it, but I was too shy. Haha. Kakoi is on guitars, Eric on bass, and if I remember correctly, the other Huka guitarist played with them too.

After Mr. Crayon, we met up with friends for the last time that night since they were already going home. Actually, Julius, Charm, Tal and Kyaw were already gone. So Meri, Meg, Frankee, and Touki left. We went back to the blues stage, then off to the alternative to watch Salindiwa.

People were leaving when we were heading there, I guess they just can't stay long enough to listen to a band they don't know yet --- too bad for them, really, since Salindiwa was amazing. Kate and I have been asking Kakoi when they're gonna play, since we don't want to miss that. Yeah, even if Pinikpikan is already playing in the World Music stage. It was bad enough that at last year's fête, it rained so hard that the stage crashed when Salindiwa was about to play; we're not about to miss them now. We were able to go directly in front of the stage since very very few people were left. And I hate those punk-rockers/goths or whatever-you-call-them who stayed there only to bash the band. While Mike (if I remember correctly hehe) the vocalist was singing, they kept cursing him and telling him to him to shut up and go home. It was so disrespectful. I never want to hear people say that to any band, and definitely not to a band I like and respect. And even Mommy likes Salindiwa, I just recently found out. That's a big deal, because my Mom was never a fan of bands --- she's more of a Norah Jones woman and loves piano music.



Watching them was somewhat a highlight of the night for me and Kate. We were so happy that after they played (they were the last band in the alternative stage) and were packing things up, we approached them (actually it was just Kakoi and Francis, I don't know where the other guys went). I think we were almost gushing in front of them, saying the set was great. Haha. We probably looked stupid, but it was just so great haha. We talked with them a bit and told them we were going home. It was past 4am. But we still watched a tiny bit of Pinikpikan; they were the last band, the closing act for the fête. We resisted the urge to dance and hailed a cab instead.


It was such a rush hearing our favorite music all in one night. I will never get enough of the blues. And I will always be the most loyal fan. Haha.

Now excuse me while I try to learn my harmonica...