Shadow Music in Manila

[abstamaria]

We were quite surprised and flattered to receive an invitation to play at the Pinoy Classic Rock reunion last Saturday, here in Manila. “Pinoy” is a term we sometimes use to mean “Filipino,” and the PCR is composed of old classic bands going back to the early 60s. As there were several other bands, we decided to play just three pieces: Raggy Tramline, Atlantis, and Wonderful Land. When we finished, the audience asked for an encore, with shouts of “Apache!”, so we played that also. Anna Treichler, who posts here, played bass.

I brought my Stratocaster, but Anna just borrowed a bass guitar. I’m not sure what make it was, but it had a good sound. Our Madeleine Cookie Company mate Roy Marinduque and Arman dela Rea, both professionals who played with their excellent bands there, played rhythm and drums for us. We had played with them many times before. Roy used an acoustic (a surprise to some there actually, who were used to an electric guitar). Arman is one of the few old-style drummers who played Shadows in the very early 60s. It is always a pleasure to play with them, as with Anna, who is very enthusiastic and lively on stage. Here is a picture of Anna at the show, just sent to us now and posted without her permission (hope that's ok, Anna). She provides good relief to the all-men line-ups on stage. She is the only female bassist who plays Shadows in these parts.

We had good comments about our “sound.” Several fellows came over to ask about the echo machine I used. All the bands plugged into the same amps (a Marshall for lead), but our sound sounded very authentic, I think, and so said some friends. I believe the thick strings and echo were important factors. Many of the bands and guitarists had been playing continuously through the years, so their sound and style evolved, while I remained stuck in the early 60s. That probably helped too.
Because of the quick set-up required, I decided to use a Zoom G7iut programmed by Charlie Hall. It worked very well.

When we began to play Atlantis, one of the musicians jumped up on stage and played the keyboard. He backed us up very well (he is an old Shadows fan), including through Wonderful Land. What surprised me was that he added backing for Apache as well. Listening to a clip someone just sent, Apache really sounded good with strings!

Just reporting on our efforts to keep the Shadows flag raised out here, so far from all of you.

Andy

Anna at Charlie's.jpg

Anna playing bass last Saturday

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[abel]

Hi Andy, Anna and all the Manilla group,

That must have been plenty of fun, all improvised and still a success.
Congratulations. I wish you could post some audio files if not videos or more pictures.
Amazing, ladies seems to be less concerned about looking at the neck while playing than men (I apologize, I should say than me).
I noticed that with Rosemary too.
A great gathering and if I understand, the only one missing was Ramon Jacinto.
He would have been the icing on the cake.
I am sure you know of him or maybe you know him personally. A great Elvis fan, impersonator and a Shadows fan too.
I wonder what he is up to now.
I tried to contact him about 6 years before I recorded my "Santo & Johnny" style version of "Sleepwalk" as I wanted to use his
Shadows version recording that he did several years ago in Manilla with his band (minus the guitar).
I went on his website and left him a message asking him the permission.
Having not gotten an answer, I told one of my GIS specialist worker who is from the Philippines and a long time
Elvis impersonator who knows him to contact him, no answer.
Any chance of contact with him?.
Sorry for this diversion, but we haven't gotten out of Manilla nor of the Shads music yet.

Looking forward to more media on your memorable evening Andy,

Blessings,
Abel

[Dranna]

It was a lot fun to play at the PCR reunion, especially as there were many great bands there. I I really enjoy playing Shadows music, particularly "Tales of a Raggy Tramline". I a;ways end up dancing to the beat!

Abel, I do look at my fretboard a lot. I've met and played with Ramon Jacinto, but unfortunately, I do not have his recent contact numbers.

Hello to all from Manila!
Anna
[the only female Shadows bass player in these here parts (or so it seems)]

[abstamaria]

Thanks, Abel. I've met Ramon Jacinto a couple of times, and our band played once or twice at his shows, but I don't know him well enough. He still gighs regularly; if I see him, I'll ask him.

Do you play the steel guitar then? We're thinking of doing the Johnny & Santo version of Sleepwalk, but need to find someone who can play the steel guitar. That's the original version, isn't it.

Best,

Andy

[Didier]

Just reporting on our efforts to keep the Shadows flag raised out here, so far from all of you.

Well done Andy and Anna, I wish we had some videos of this performance !

Didier

[abel]

Hi Anna, Andy, Didier,

Andy,
I did a few things with steel guitar a few years ago when I got really excited about it. I did "Tear Drop" from Santo & Johnny and "She is Not You" from Elvis.
I guess they were posted on the former Shadows website.

'Sleepwalk" was on the very first tune I did with my 50 th Anniversary Deluxe I won in Pasadena California in 2004.
I tried to emulate the sound, the playing and the fell of the pedal steel of Santo & Johnny original 1959 (not very successfully).
Here is the video if you want to watch:



The backing is actually from Ramon.

Blessings,
Abel

[wstagner]

Anna...you can probably contact RJ thru his youtube page: http://www.youtube.com/user/FretzieNTriciaVideos

[abstamaria]

Great playing, Abel.

Ramon Jacinto is a few years older than me; his band was indeed one of the top five guitar bands we used to look up to in the very early 60s. He is an excellent guitarist, but his principal interest has always been the Ventures and less so the Shadows. He played with the new Ventures the other week at their concert in Manila. It is interesting to note that Ramon and another guitarist who played Ventures cover pieces as front acts sounded more like the original Ventures recordings than the Ventures did later in the evening.

Andy

[abel]

Hi Andy,

That sounds great, can you provide any video of Ramon playing with the Ventures of with his band or with your band of course.
I came to love the Ventures and their sound since the NAMM show 2005 when I met them and Wilson's son gave me 2 DVD of them in Japan 1964. Awesome.
I played then at the NAMM for Minarik Guitar and Nokie and the Ventures came to listen. I was embarrassed and we took pictures together that I still sherish.
From that day, Nokie recognizes me and we talk.
The same day saw Dick Dale showing the goose bumps on his arm to the public around him while I was playing my version of Maria Elena. We became friends since.

Cheers,
Abel

[abstamaria]

There must be several videos of Ramon on YouTube now. Let me check too, and if I find one, I will post the link here.

I left music, particularly instrumental music, at the time when the Ventures had just shifted to Mossrites (and the Shadows to Burns), so to me Ventures and Shadows music mean the early, pre-1964 pieces. I decided to play only ten years ago, with my only goal to do a cover of Bob Bogle's "Walk Don't Run." That reintroduced me to Shadows, and as I studied how to play I gravitated more and more to their music. That was quite a surprise to me as I considered myself more of a Ventures fan and the tunes that I remembered strongly were those by the American band. U.S. influence has been quite strong here, and in the 1960s, except for the odd British show (like "The Avengers"), American shows and music completely dominated our TV and radio. Now I am probably more a Shadows buff than Ventures. I admire Nokie as a guitarist, but don't relate his music to the Ventures. It's that time warp I went through.

Wow, Dick Dale, Nokie, and Don watching you. You must play really well, Abel.

Best,

Andy