Urbandub

Gabby Alipe (vocals, guitar)
John Dinopol (backing vocals, guitar)
Lalay Lim (backing vocals, bass)
John Mendoza (drums)

They’ve always been the sound of the giant south.

They’ve been the nationwide poster boys of indie for the past eight years.

Now, the band that catapulted the queen city into the spotlight is at it again. This time, they have their sights on a truly bigger picture - Asia. For quite some time now, Urbandub has been making waves abroad by means of one of the country’s strongest online communities. Dubistas here and in foreign shores are ganging up and trying to get the band that released the albums: BIRTH (2001), INFLUENCE (2003, which won Album of the Year for the 2004 NU Rock Awards), EMBRACE (2005) which featured the massive hit and live crowd-anthem “First of Summer” and most recently, UNDER SOUTHERN LIGHTS (2007) to bring their music outside of the Philippines.

Having moved from indie stalwart Lighter Records to EMI Philippines, the Urbandub sound machine reached a broader audience in the motherland and has since been made more accessible to a more varied age group. Current hits such as “Guillotine” and “Evidence” have been up and down all the known radio and tv charts for the past few months and is helping them to be recognized as the future of original music.

Still keeping true to their independent roots, Urbandub is still under the guidance and promotional skills of Sonic Boom Music Inc. (formerly Lighter Press and Records), as their management. This, and the fact that they have helped paved the way for the careers and have been the inspiration to other south-born artists such as, Faspitch, The Ambassadors, Switch, Nuncyspungen and PointClickKill, as well as several Manila-based bands; Urbandub will always be a group that fellow artists will look up to no matter how much they achieve.

Armed with a multitude of “number  1” singles (including Influence’s “Soul Searching” which won Song of the Year at the 2003 NU Rock Awards), video releases and the most loyal fan-base – the band is gearing for being the band to watch out for in the Philippines, and in Asia.

ALBUMS

Birth – 2001, Tiki Sound / Lighter Records
• Eating Me   
• Would You Go
• Come (video directed by: Chris Villarino)

Influence -2003,  Lighter Records
• Soul Searching
• Gone
• A New Tattoo (video directed by: Chris Villarino)
• Fallen on Deaf Ears

Embrace  - 2005, EMI Music / Lighter Records
• Alert the Armory (video directed by: Lee Nadela)
• First of Summer (video directed by: Marie Jamora)
• Endless, A Silent Whisper (video directed by: Marie Jamora)
• Frailty (video directed by: Pancho Esguerra)

Under Southern Lights – 2007, EMI Music
• Guillotine (video directed by: Pancho Esguerra)
• Evidence (video directed by: Quark Henares)
• The Fight is Over (video directed by: Treb Montreras II)
• Cebuana

Achievements
All singles have reached and stayed on top of the charts (Philippines) for at least 2-3weeks except for “First of Summer” and “Guillotine” which stayed on top for more than a month.
Highest sales (8,000 units sold) of an independently released album in the Philippines for “Influence”
Gold record (15,000 units sold) for the album “Embrace”
2003 NU107 Rock Awards Song of the Year for “Soul Searching”
2004 NU107 Rock Awards Album of the Year for the album “Influence”
2006 NU107 Rock Awards Vocalist of the Year for the album “Embrace”
2007 MTV Pilipinas Awards Favorite Rock Group Nominee
2008 MYX Music Awards Favorite Rock Video  Nominee for “Guillotine”
2008 MTV Asia Awards Favorite Artist – Philippines Nominee
MTV Pilipinas Artist of the month  (March, 2007)
First Philippine Representative to the Baybeats Festival (2007) in Singapore
Biggest Active Online Community in the Philippines (ie. Myspace: 18,875 Friends)
Co-created the MTV Music Summit for AIDS 2006 Anthem, “Future”, with Dicta License
One of the top rated quad-media (TV, Print, Radio, Internet) luminaries in the Philippine music scene

Swingin' from Sisig Land
by Marc Liwanag
guitarist and vocalist,
The Bembol Rockers

I come from San, Fernando, Pampanga, making me a Kapampangan punk rocker, doo-woper, swing boy, and of course, sisig king! Back home, I grew up listening to punk and rockabilly from my uncle's cabinet and jazz, mambo, and Sinatra tunes care of my granddaddyo. Growing up in the province was a bit hard for me, particularly as a music lover, since if I needed some records to score i had to go to Manila just to get them.

As far as I can remember, the very first song that really hit me while growing up was White Riot by The Clash. My uncle used to play it a lot on his turntable. At that time I didn't even understand what Joe Strummer was saying but it hit me so hard, like being hit in the face with a baseball bat!

My love for music led me to forming my first band. I was the singer in that band. We called it "Holocaust" and we played punk. 3 basic power chord songs. That stint lasted for 3years. That was followed by my second band, Nancy's Doughnut, where I played the bass.

Over time I was introduced to more obscure music like ska, reggae, swing, doo-wop, bebop, and jump blues. This resulted in Crazy Beat, a ska band that I formed. It blew me away when a band from Manila, Pu3ska, saw our first gig and it was a knockout. I got to know the singer of Pu3ska and we eventually formed a band called the Brownbeat All Stars. After that came the Brass Munkeys.

I love all my bands, I have fond memories of all of them, but I'd say The Bembol Rockers is by far the most exciting. Through it, I get to fuse all my influences and all those experiences, dating back to my days as a youngster in Pampanga, and try to create something "new," hoping that the Philippine and international audiences will love our music.

ON YOUTUBE
by Steven Mora
drummer and back-up vocalist,
The Bembol Rockers

Youtube is amazing. I love it because of the tons of uses it has. First would be entertainment. I love being able to watch any artist and concerts I want, TV shows I'm in the mood for, or the scoop on the latest in technology out there.

Next is education. How else will i find an African teaching African rythms or a Cuban teaching the basics of steel drums in the most convenient way possible? Is there an easier way for learning about musical genres that would otherwise be unheard of? Youtube makes all that happen for me! In fact many musicians I know just "youtube" anything they want to learn. Virtually everything you want to know about is there--from learning how to ride a bike to learning how to split an atom in half.

Youtube is also a great way for advertising. I see so many people becoming rich, using Youtube either as a stepping stone or a business itself. Now how do I use Youtube myself so I can be a millionaire, too?

It's real fun sharing videos on Youtube with everyone. Even web-savvy grandparents send and use links to videos on Youtube. Maybe thats one reason why it became so popular--it allows the sharing of videos about anything with anyone.

I'm really grateful to the creators of this site! But I'd like to thank the most the person who sent me the link to  "Kiss Me" (or was it "Keys Me") by Alyssa Alano. That video started it all for me.

TIME TO ROCK OUT!!

The Bembol Rockers were formed out of its members' passion for the fifties era--the music, the fashion, and even the lifestyle. Composed of Marc Liwanag on guitar and vocals, Lakshmi Ramirez on bass and vocals, Steven Mora on drums and back-up vocals, and Archie Lacorte on piano, tenor saxophone, and back-up vocals, the band began as just a side project in 2006, as an additional creative outlet for the boys, a way to try realize their collective dream of performing and promoting fifties rockabilly, jump blues, swing, and doo-wop.

Fast forward to late 2007 when things took a different turn for The Bembol Rockers. Marc, Lakshmi, Steven, and Archie decided to take the band more seriously and began putting in more time to work on their goals of not only
re-introducing fifties music, but more importantly, helping to elevate the level of artistry in the Philippine music industry, and eventually, promoting Filipino music and talent outside the country.

Seeking to promote music that is positive, entertaining, and artistic all at the same time, The Bembol Rockers went on bar tours, participated in select events, and appeared on media outlets, fortunately receiving thumbs-ups along the way from a wide range of listeners. Several months after TheBembol Rockers dreamt and dared came the moment the band is most proud of todate, the launch of its debut album, 'The Fabulous Bembol Rockers,' and their first music video, 'Boogie Mo.'

Produced independently, 'The Fabulous Bembol Rockers' is an all-original potpourri of the band's influences: rockabilly, swing, doo-wop, jump blues, and even Latin--with a distinct Pinoy flavor. The album and video, though highlights for the band, are only the beginning, as The Bembol Rockers aim for greater things, by dreaming and daring.

Thank you for visiting Splintr.com, and we hope you'll enjoy joining us for the ride. Watch for more projects from the band, too!


GIG SCHED:
Oct 3 @ Ten02 Bar
Oct 7 @ Mag:Net Cafe Katipunan
Oct 8 @ Cuerdas Bar
Oct 14 @ Route 196
Oct 16 @ Mag:Net Cafe High Street

ALBUM:
An all-original album, a combination of the band's influences: rockabilly, swing, doowop, jump blues, latin. Swell tunes for the dance floor or for  the moments you lay back. The songs talk about having a great time, friends, love and lovers, things that everyone can relate to. Have a taste, listen up! Hope you like it!

Boogie Mo
Grease Gun Bop
Sputing na Pag-ibig
Feel the Rockin' Mambo
Song for My Baby
Cristine
Saturday Night
My Darling Angela
Lakambini
Mr. Boogie Man
The Bembol Rockers Theme

Meet No Meat
by Lakshmi Ramirez
Bassist and Vocalist,
The Bembol Rockers

I was born and raised a vegetarian, and I have no regrets at all! It may seem very hard to practice this kind of lifestyle.  Some people say “kawawa ka naman, hindi ka nakakain ng masasarap...” Well, that’s what you think!

Nowadays, society is becoming more and more conscious about what to eat and having a healthier lifestyle. Many people are turning to less-meat, or even meatless, diets, so the choices for vegetarian food are increasing fast...and they are really yummy!  As some vegetarians would say, “Eat with no guilt!”

It’s hard to be a vegetarian if you don’t understand the principles behind it.  One should consider the human anatomy.  Our bodies are very similar to those of a herbivore.  Our flat teeth are meant for grinding, and not for tearing flesh. Our digestive system isn't capable of digesting raw meat, unlike the carnivores'. 

Another reason is animal cruelty.  You won’t see an animal willing to give himself to a butcher.  Animals freak out when they feel that they are being dragged to a slaughter house.  Naturally, they can sense that something bad will happen to them.  Cheesy, but true--just imagine how a mother cow would feel when she sees her calf being brought to a slaughter house.  It’s very sad, bit this is the reality. 

And of course, there are a lot of health reasons one could give for turning to vegetarianism. Majority of meat eaters get sick with different types of diseases, high blood pressure, and more.

It is not hard to be a vegetarian if you’re not raised as one.  My wife gave up meat 5years ago, and she’s not having a hard time at all!  It’s just a matter of knowing that a small sacrifice of not eating meat is the equivalent of saving the lives of other living beings. I am not here to preach; I'm just here to share what I believe. Haribol!