Hastang of Yesteryears

I admit it. I plead guilty to all charges.

I haven’t been updating this blog that much (a criminal understatement — the last entry is dated February 24, so I guess it’s been almost two months since the last update). So, since I promised Isyat that I would be doing something about it, that something is this. So here goes.

We have wrapped the recording for the album.

Yup, the album consists of 11 original compositions ranging from mostly rocking tracks with a few power ballads (and an acoustic-guitar-flavored song) thrown in for good measure. Although the listening public has yet to judge the recorded tracks, personally, I’m pretty happy with how it turned out. As for Hastang’s sonic signature, Galen Salvador has certainly done a great job capturing the sound (and the excellent track mixing) in his Phoenix Glide studio.

It wasn’t easy at all for the band, especially for Gaw/Dondon/Raul/”Da Messiah On The Beach”, who had to learn all the songs in time for the scheduled studio sessions. And I must say he’s done it with flying colors (with the help of a few beers) — we’re proud of the way he has handled the tracking for all guitar parts and extra credit for coming up with really, killer guitar solos (particularly in Oblivion and Mid-flight).

And speaking of guitar players, I am very pleased to announce that Hastang founding member Roy Tutor has recently completed his stint in China (maybe he misses the local lechon — Chinese food can get so boring) and has now rejoined the band (by the way, thanks for the shirt, bai — my little bro’s always wearing it, and I never get a chance…aargh). In fact, he has participated in a number of gigs already (i.e., a Pathways function in USC-TC where I got to meet this really interesting girl; plus a three-gigs-in-three-nights appearance in Handuraw Café), and I must say there’s some palpable chemistry between the two guitar players (I wouldn’t be surprised if they both work on their choreography a la Earth, Wind, and Fire…either that, or retire to Brokeback Mountain…hekhekhek). Maybe I should grow an afro, too. Just a thought.

And just this April (the last weekend of April, to be exact), the band headed to Tagbilaran City for a post-album-recording celebration slash “strat planning” slash tarsier bonding (we figured the wide-eyed wonder was too much of a jazz person, but he tolerated us indie rockers nonetheless). Along for the ride were: master lyricist YanYan (if there were a Best Lyrics Category at the NU 107 Awards, she’d bag it for sure), Genee (she wrote the lyrics for Virgin’s Orgasm, which by the way is now entitled Guileless — don’t ask), the indomitable Bons (the swirling vortex of terror — by her own admission), taciturn Phoebe, and of course, Ogie Dimples (side view, beh, side view).

Nothing much happened really. We met Mr. Tarsier, ate breakfast on a restaurant floating on a river, explored an underground cave, played patintero/tubig-tubig on Panglao (game stopped because of insufficient space), played Japanese game (game interrupted by an overzealous security guard), played dodge ball on the beachhead (game stopped because I cheated once too often), got wasted on the beach (okay, okay, it was only me), gate-crashed at Roy’s abode (great food!), and met some wonderful people like Ambo (winks at Bons), Donald (winks at Genee) and Roy’s parents (winks at Isyat). Next time, remind me to go on a real vacation where something interesting happens. Tsk.

So what next for the band? Well, we’re not done with the album packaging yet (my face would make the perfect album cover photo — unfortunately, I’m outvoted 4 to 1…aargh) and just last week, we had another photo shoot (again) with individual shots (again…yawns). There have been very, very significant developments in the last three days regarding the album, but I won’t divulge any information regarding that matter until further notice.

So … I guess, you’ll be hearing from me after 60 days.

Just kidding.

~Guile

Footnotes:

1 Guile got so wasted that he literally passed out on the sand. At 5 in the morning, it took 4 people to rouse him from his beer-induced Oblivion.

2 Gen saw the sign. It opened up her eyes, she saw the sign…

3 Behind the scenes: 3 strands of pubes on the bed; miracle in the shower; mano po, mama; ear-licking (what?!?!); “basin maminyo ta ani ha!”;

4 Her name is Zsa-Zsa. That’s all we’re allowed to say. The rest is classified. Dolphins, anyone?

5 A word of warning: Never play any game with Guile. He’s an annoying cheat!

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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