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Shifting Gears

I have always been a historian. I have tried to see how people developed through the years, and what they were before. With the onset of blogs, I have read people say "I am now..." or "I have...". Now I'd like to make mine different, as I will share what I have seen throughout the years. How we have shifted gears.

Our architecture "block" consisted of shiftees and transferees who spent most of our time at the College of Architecture during Wednesdays, the time when there are no classes. We find it special, because we own the corridors of Arki all to ourselves. We can make all the noise we want, and that included bringing along guitars so that we can while away the time, that is if we are not doing plates.

During our second year we decided to form a band, as it was the rage during the mid-part of the 90s. We had an initial line up, consisting of Robert on drums, Manny on vox and guitars, me on bass and Joel on lead guitars. We planned to play at the Arki Week, the yearly celebration of Architecture at the U.P. With only two songs, we spent around two weeks practicing, hoping for that one shot at stardom. Carrying along a name announcing our origins as shiftees, we became the Shifting Gears.

Later on we got invited to play at a party at the Youth for Christ around december. This time we hooked up with Jing of the band Kulto ni Aida. Known then as Jing's Blossoms, we played covers of Gin Blossoms, as well as other known covers. We were crude, but we played the tunes.

Further gigs would include other Arki Week celebrations,debuts, small organization gatherings, as well as outside campus gigs, like the down south gig with a certain fraternity. We were expanding territory, as well as adding to our repertoire and changing band responsibilities. We would sometime shuffle places, sharing vocals and trading instruments.

It came to the point were we were carrying guitars more that we would hold our t-squares. Sometime we would practice until we got it right, but right on-stage we would be quaking in our pants. But it was the thrill of being there that kept us going. Upon standing at the stage, you can see no one, not just because of the lights, but also because of nervousness. We only have to play so as to get on with the adrenaline rush. Sometime due to the rush I would later discover that I got blood all around the front of the guitar, due to injuries on my fingers acquired while playing onstage.

One of our best gigs ever was at the Bahay ng Alumni, for the freshmen party of FOPC. Hooking up with Robert's friends at Calderon, we had a line up we can all be proud of. And, it was our first time to play at a real stage! We got to front act for the likes of the Eraserheads, Wolfgang, and all the famous acts during that time. The crowd accepted us, and we really got the chance to connect with the audience.

My next most memorable gig would be at the open house at the Narra Residence Hall. Although we were undermanned, with only the basic bass-lead-drum components present, we got the attention of the audience, and they really "came together" as we sang the popular tune. I would gain instant recognition at the dorm, from an unknown resident to a somebody they can now relate to.

The year 2000 brought in Jigs as the last addition to the band. By this time we were still playing at the Arki Week and Narra open house. We tried to attend several Maskipaps, but as fate would have it, it became just that, with the organizers doing maski papaano with their organizing.

Now it was time for the big-time. Altough we were all graduates or graduating, and the band scene was dying, we still managed to get gigs. We played at the first ever Acousting Jam'engg, and at the first Catharsis sponsored by the Chemical Society. It was a first to gain recognition as an acoustic act at the Acoustic Jam'engg, and also the first band to screw up at the Catharsis. I did not pass by the engineering lobby for quite some time after that. Well at least we were introduced as "the first band to play...with this(songhits in hand).

Our first and last major gig were we got paid was during the Octoberfest held at Pampanga. First gig to play for 30 mins, beyond 5 songs. First time at a major stage setup, first time to get paid. We happily consumed the money at the local restaurant near the area.

But alas, as time passes by, we have again shifted gears. With our careers taking over, we have finally hung up our guitars and said goodbye to the limelight. It was fun. But I guess that is just the way it is, we shift gears every now and then. It will only be a matter of time before we again go up the stage. But now the stage is all around us, the lights focused on each of us, the audience being life itself.

posted by nap @ 1:43 PM