It was 20 years ago when a fledgling high-school band named Parokya ni Edgar opened for the Eraserheads during a campus gig. The E-heads mania was then gaining momentum in the Philippines and the quartet’s rising popularity inspired a number of aspiring musicians to form groups and take part in the booming local alternative music scene.
Fast-forward to the present and Parokya ni Edgar remains intact and very much active in the recording business. While most Filipino bands from the 1990s have disbanded (including the Eraserheads, who come together for a reunion now and again), Parokya ni Edgar recently marked two decades as a group with a two-disc greatest hits release plus a DVD documentary.
The band – Chito Miranda (vocals), Buwi Meneses (bass), Darius Semaña (lead guitar), Gab Chee Kee (rhythm guitar) and Dindin Moreno (drums) – is also busy taking their music on the road both in the Philippines and abroad, with Dubai hosting the band’s latest stop on Friday.
Moreno talks to us about the group’s staying power, ignoring critics and playing with the Eraserheads once again.
What can you say about critics who constantly pigeonhole your music as novelty or comical?
We really don’t care what they say about our music. What’s important is that we have fun playing it.
How’s it like playing for audiences abroad?
Filipinos abroad tend to know only our well-known hits because of the lack of accessibility to our local music. But they are the crowd that we like to play for because they miss home so much, and they tend to find a piece of home in our music.
How does it feel sharing the bill with Eraserheads?
It is always an honour and a pleasure to do a show with them, especially now since they rarely do shows.
Looking back at your career, is there anything you’d do differently?
We are happy with what we have achieved. We would still do the exact same things that we did before.
What’s next for the band?
We just came out with our commemorative DVD and double-CD album that contains all our music videos and singles, a documentary about the band, and a video clip of the night when we fronted for the Eraserheads, 20 years ago. We also plan to continue recording and write songs for our 10th studio album next year.
What can we expect from your Dubai gig?
Playing in Dubai is always a blast. The people shower us with lots of love. In return, we promise to give you a great show, especially now that we’re playing with the Eraserheads.
• The High Impact A2 Festival featuring Parokya ni Edgar, the Eraserheads, Erik Santos and MC Jin is on Thursday and Friday at the Meydan Racecourse in Dubai. Ticket prices are Dh259 (general admission) and Dh399 (Golden Circle). Visit www.highimpactfest.ae
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