Manila Blues Scene

Black King's Bar (BKB)
I'd gang-up on da Blues like a kid over a full jar of M&Ms - second Monday nights at Black King's Bar (BKB) (West Ave). This is my Sunday school - it's a sin to miss! Blues players from near and far gather here, taking turns on stage, belting out what they got. It's great for the soul and great vibe with the likes of Elwyn, Ricky and all the merry bluesers of BKB. I wouldn't miss it for the world. This is something I will definitely miss when I'm gone.

Ian Lofamia Band
If BKB is not plenty enough, I'd make the cross-country trip (where I had been mostly traveling, every place is only 10 mins away) Wednesday nights to H & J (Makati Ave area) with the fab Ian Lofamia Blues Band. When Ian pulls all the stops and voraciously gargles on his harmonica, all hell breaks loose. He's an unstopable force of nature leaving the audience gasping for breath in his wake. Of course he can't be looking all that good on stage without the frenzied synergy of his band who do their own thing like gangbusters - Spencer on bass, Ejae on percussion, Arvin on guitar, and guest blueses Haro Echter on lapsteel guitar and Hoochie Coochie Mikkie on guitar and vocals. I'm already hurting to hear this band again - nothing like it in this country. As Michael Barker flatly puts it, "world class".

Haro Echter
When he's not riding his Harley with the Mad Dogs MC, he's probably on his lapsteel guitar. In between sets, he candidly talked about the subtle dynamics that happen within a band. These are mostly things not noticed by the audience, but musicians may, specially if they are in that particular band. He talked about synergies between band members (think Mick Jagger and Keith Richards), discord if one member can't seem to blend in with the band's style, backing down to give someone else the spotlight, encouring and supporting newbies instead of intimidating them by throwing your weight on the stage, etc. He gave a glimpse of the invisible world that lie just underneath the surface - great insight.

Ending Thoughts
I am reminded of my heady days in New York with my kumpare, Mario Vicencio. As newbies in the big city, we were cold, broke and intimidated. We stopped-by the basement of this hole-in-the-wall blues bar on 14th St., Dan Lynch and nursed our one beer. The bar was smoked filled, raw, gritty, unpretentious and alive with explosive energy. Wow...that's the Blues for you. Blues at Black King's Bar and the Ian Lofamia Band brought me back those precious moments. It will be a long time again before I experience Blues like this one.

--- TheLoneRider

Black King's Bar H&J Sports Bar and Restaurant

Black King's Bar Gallery

Ian Lofamia Band Gallery

Check Them Out!!!

Black Kings' Bar 107 West Avenue, Quezon City blackkingsbar@gmail.com

H&J Sports Bar and Restaurant Felipe street, Makati Avenue area (02) 954.1130

Ian Lofamia Band Wednesdays at H&J Sports Bar 3 sets starting at 9:30pm

Hoochie Coochie Mikkie Acoustic Blues Musician will play anytime, anywhere 0927.916.2863

Blues Blogs:

• Feelin' Da Blues at Adhere the 13th Blues Bar Oct 12, 2018
• Blues with Hoochie Coochie Mikkie at Catch 272 Boho Jan 30, 2016
• Blues is Alive and Kickin' in Manila Jan 6, 2016
• Yuletide Season in Manila Dec 20, 2015 - Dec 31, 2015
• 20 Days in Saigon Mar 22 - Apr 12, 2015
• Bangkok Revisited 3 Oct 6-20, 2014
• Manila Blues Scene Sep 10, 2014
• Back in Quezon City Jul 24 - Aug 20, 2014
• Passing Thru Manila Jun 8, 2011
• Blue Rats Dec 8, 2006
• The Sky is Crying Mar 17, 2006

Metro Manila Blogs by TheLoneRider

• The Legacy of President NoyNoy (PNoy) Aquino May 28, 2016
• Goodbye Manila Feb 22, 2016
• Exploring Guijo Street (Makati) Area Feb 17-21, 2016
• Conducting a Half-Day Yoga, Pranayama and Meditation Workshop in Makati Feb 13, 2016
• Bernie Sanders, US Presidential Candidate 2016 Feb 9, 2016
• Yoga Modeling for the Feati School of Fine Arts Feb 4, 2016
• Blues with Hoochie Coochie Mikkie at Catch 272 Boho Jan 30, 2016
• Julia Clarette's Farewell Performance at 12 Monkeys Jan 26, 2016
• We Don't Care Jan 23, 2016
• Catching-up with Chikoy Pura and Julia Clarette at My Bro's Mustache Jan 21, 2016
• Dong Abay Rocks 70s Bistro Jan 19, 2016
• Blues is Alive and Kickin' in Manila Jan 6, 2016
• Yuletide Season in Manila Dec 20, 2015 - Dec 31, 2015
• 16 Days in Quezon City Sep 1-16, 2014
• Manila Blues Scene Sep 10, 2014
• Back in Quezon City Jul 24 - Aug 20, 2014
• Black is Back Aug 4, 2014

JULY

• The Bill July 30, 2014
• Hooking-Up with Friends in Manila Sep 29 - Oct. 3, 2012
• Manila Jul 24 - Aug 2, 2012
• Manila State of Mind Mar 16-26, 2012
• Manila Dec 7-14 Coffee Anyone? Dec 7-14, 2011
• Passing Thru Manila Jun 8, 2011
• Manila: Tying up Loose Ends Jan 13-18, 2011
• Manila, Manila, I Keep Coming Back to Manila Jul 21, 2010
• Goodbye Manila Apr 11, 2010
• America: The Manila Concert Jul 31, 2009
• Manila Sojourn Sep 10, 2008
• Manila Life Sep 13, 2007

The following people like this:

Dave Joudrey	Ferd Aguilar	Tony Ancheta	Mariella de Laza	Vehm	Ricky Avancena	Spencer Carlyle Rymonte	Gio Robes	Don Tan	Elaine Tima
Cherell Abergas	AdrienneNoel Gatchalian	Anders Larsson	Edgar de Mesa	Chantal Denise Ortega	Rickie Cui	Rvin Austria

Reader Comments:

Rvin Austria

Glenn IsDa Man

Ian Jorelle Lofamia

Haro Echter

»» next story: 16 Days in Quezon City
»» next Chilling Out story: Shadow Fragments by Leopoldo Aguilar at Qube Gallery
»» back to Chilling Out
»» back to Homepage

ARCHIVE 2024: JAN | FEB | MAR | APR | MAY | JUN | JUL | AUG | SEP | OCT | NOV | DEC

1970 | 1973 | 1975 | 1976 | 1979 | 1981 | 1996 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | ALL BLOGS