JackTV’s MADFest 2015 stayed true to its name: it was electric to the hilt. It was the place to sing your lungs out to popular hits by your favorite local artists and bands because your heart simply couldn’t contain the rawness.
The afternoon was breezy with some electronic pop, indie folk, alternative rock, rap and some more rock to culminate the evening. Those of us who came for BP Valenzuela, The Ransom Collective, Autotelic and others left us wanting more, though, since many acts only performed 2 songs which went by pretty fast. Urbandub, Mayonnaise, Kjwan, Imago and Parokya ni Edgar definitely made the evening rowdy!
It was the perfect way to unwind after one blur of a week. Set in Globe Circuit Events Ground in Makati, the music, art and dance festival was headlined by Norwegian hip-hop duo Nico and Vinz who had just come back from their North American tour.
Rock band Run Dorothy set the tone of the music fest off to a good start. Singer-songwriter and music producer BP Valenzuela was up next. Her set had that signature ambient and pulsating feel to it, which made feeling the wind on your face in the venue more soothing. She was followed by CRWN x Jess Connelly, Curtismith and Sud and then Triple Fret, which built up some momentum. Lazing in the grass was perfect when The Ransom Collective performed! By the time I heard ‘Run’ and ‘Fools,’ I knew I wasn’t exhausted anymore because the band was all sunshine and breeze. Like a warm hug.
Autotelic, Miro Valera, and Flying Ipis followed. It felt good seeing Kai Honasan play keys for Autotelic, but I wish she had performed solo, as well!
Flying Ipis turned up the dance rock, love or hate their band name, with Deng Garcia throwing ‘past is past’ repeatedly.
Next were Mayonnaise, Quest with Portable Sound and Taken by Cars.
Quest had Clara Benin as a guest, performing a new version of ‘Be My Thrill.
‘ The crowd bobbed their heads as sunset came.
Mayumi Gomez just knows that the crowd knows the lyrics to ‘Akap’ by Imago all too well!
The energy skyrocketed as the night went on. I saw that the crowd was generally clad in groups of black. Music junkies began standing up and mouthing the lyrics as the rock bands got the atmosphere pumping courtesy of Kjwan, Urbandub, Franco and Parokya Ni Edgar!
Turn to page 2 for more about MADFest 2015!
