Rockestra!

Went to Rockestra last Friday night at the Tanghalang Francisco Balagtas (Folk Arts Theater). It's not really a well-ventilated venue, that got even worse on a humid night. The show started promptly at 8PM.

Rockestra is simply the Manila Symphony Orchestra (MSO) playing alongside famous rock bands of today: Cambio, Silent Sanctuary, Twisted Halo, Imago, Sugarfree, and Sandwich.

Here's one of my ultra-pathetic phone-pictures from the show:


Hey, I didn't go there to take pictures!

I went there to rock! But apparently, other people didn't such as these two in front of us, who couldn't have been any bored, didn't think the same thing. Like most people on the special section, they're either sponsors or parents of the orchestra members.

What was this guy on the left thinking? Whatever it was, it included faking head-bopping.

When they called it Rockestra, expect the "Rock" part to be at the fore-front. Otherwise, they could have called it Orchestrock.

It didn't really get a full as I thought it would get. I guess people aren't really spending too much for entertainment these days. Empty seats galore in the theater.


For some reason, the concert played more like a TV documentary with interlude video clips a la "the making of" after each band. Of course, this is obviously to buy the bands some time as they set up their instruments. Still, it could have helped if the show was continuous.

The show was great, if not for the bored-out parents/sponsors, and even if only some of the music got a little better with the orchestra. The consensus best collaboration was with Sugarfree whose music was sure to emphasize that they were actually playing with the Manila Symphony Orchestra. And then, as usual, Sandwich always gives a rockin' party.

The bands played three songs each with the MSO. It would be nice if they release an album of the concert, or at least have it aired on TV soon.

Looking forward to the next Rockestra.