Hastang of Yesteryears

12 April

It’s Tuesday night and Tessa, Roy, Arceline, Jayson, and Guile are hanging out in the living room of Mark’s and YanYan’s condo, otherwise known as the band headquarters.

Having gone straight to rehearsal after toiling in their day jobs, everyone is feeling giddy and a little weary at the same time.

Guile quietly walks to the kitchen to get a glass of water. He glances outside the window and hears the din of traffic and the distant sound of a karaoke machine. Finishing his drink, he deposits the glass on the sink and playfully whistles a Disney cartoon theme song as he approaches the black couch. Jayson and Arceline—eyes fixed on the TV monitor—automatically compress to make room for Guile.

“What’s on?” Guile asks.

“I’m just surfing. Ismol Tym isn’t on yet,” Roy replies, splayed on the carpet. “Kanus-a kaha ta mogawas, Jayz, noh?”

“Dunno. I’m guessing next month, maybe,” Jayson answers.

“Ging, can I rest my feet up on you?” Arceline asks Jayson, propping her feet up. “I’m getting sleepy. Do you mind, Guile?”

“No, go ahead, Ars,” Guile replies, then quickly tickles Arceline’s sole.

“Cut it out, Guile or you’re gonna get it!” Arceline chuckles.

“Bai, what now?” Mark booms as he enters the living room followed closely by Tessa.

“Baby, you work on Oblivion!” Yanyan calls out from eastside room, seated facing the black PC monitor. “Tessa says she’s got a new tune.”

Everybody steals a glance at Tessa. “Not really”, she murmurs as she approaches the couch, “okay if I sit?”

“Sure, Tess,” Guile says as he stands up to get the guitar.

“Have you got the lyrics, Tess?” Mark asks.

“Damn, I think I left it at home,” Tessa grimaces as she rummages through her handbag. “Yap, it’s not here.”

“It’s okay, I’ve printed a new one,” Yan says as she strolls to the room barefoot.

“Thanks, Yan. Just make up some chord progressions, Guile,” Tessa instructs half-yawning. “Just give me something to work with. By the way, guys, knock knock … “

Collective groan.

20 April

“Guile, chorus chords are D and then F, right?” Jayson tries to shout through the feedback from Roy’s amplifier.

“Bai, that’s F sharp minor,” Guile replies. “When you get to ‘of hope’, chord shifts to B minor and G, then E minor and then G.”

“Okay.”

The guitar feedback abruptly ends as Roy steps on the guitar effect pedal. On one side of the studio, drummer Mark adjusts the cymbal stand with his right hand. Lying on top of the snare drumhead is a pair of Vic Firth drumsticks—rugged and splintered. On the opposite side of the room, Arceline and Yanyan are seated on a couch. Two Diet Coke cans and an empty plate are strewn on the table.

Tessa gets up from her chair, crosses the studio to make minor adjustments on the PA system and nonchalantly blurts out “Mike test, mike, mike. I can’t raise the gain any higher, it’ll squeal for sure.”

“Sounds okay to me, Tess,” Mark calls out. “Maybe you’re not hearing it right because the monitor’s facing the other way around.”

“Figures.”

“Song still needs a lot of work, doesn’t it?” Guile comments while experimenting with a few bass notes. “Roy, I think the guitars are a little too loud in the second verse. Maybe we should tone it down up a bit so that the vocals can resonate better.”

“Yeah, I know,” Roy sniggers. “I’m still playing around with the riffs. Frankly, I still have no idea what’ll work. Guile, maybe you should do the intro riff.”

“You kidding? My fingers aren’t that fast.”

“Taya oi. Ge lang, I’ll think of something.”

“Wait, but we’re still playing this one at Vudu, right?” Mark quickly asks.

“Sure, bai. The song’s good enough already.”

“Are you going to record it na?” Arceline calls out. “Tell me when you’re ready.”

“Ars, just make sure the tape’s loaded,” Mark replies. “Guys, let’s roll? Tess, you okay? Let’s get it done.”

“Oh, one more thing,” Jayson suddenly remembers. “Guile, bridge chords are F sharp Minor and G?”

“Yes, bro,” Guile replies. “You got it.”

Ten minutes later.

“Tess, Jayz, and Guile. You have time tomorrow night?” Yan asks everyone. “We need to talk about when we’re doing the demo for Oblivion. We need to set the budget.”

“I’ll go straight to your pad after work, Yan” Guile replies.

“I might be late but I’ll be there,” Tessa replies without taking her eyes off her cell phone. “

Jayz just nodded.

“Shit, that reminds me,” Mark replies. “Baby, if we’re going to be doing some studio time soon, I’d better get myself some new sticks. Guile, can you help with me these? … ”

“Sure, bai,” Guile replies as he sidesteps Jayson’s cable.

“Wait, wait,” Tessa suddenly chimes from across the room. “Knock, knock…”

Hastang is a Cebu-based, female-fronted indie band composed of members Ria (vocals), Guile (bass), Gaw (guitars), and Makoy (drums).
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