From Parquet to Concrete: Neighbors' Second Album (Radio Blogcast #17)

(Neighbors character artwork by Ebok Pinpiño, appears on the second album sleeve)

[BY JONEIGHBORS] "From Parquet to Concrete" - wooden floor to the concrete stage, this best describe Neighbors' rise to the ska ladder, so to speak. The year was 2001 and the band is on its peak doing rounds around the city and in some parts of the country. Playing 2-3 times a week around the city with support from our good friends. The seed was planted a year ago and now the band is reaping the fruits. Playing helped us develope our style and sound. Money was not an option, all we wanted to do is play on small smoky clubs, have some alcohol and play harder with some good 'ol spliff on the side of course. The good old days man, it was fucking great!

This second album was released a year after "Angono Ska Explosion". The band's creative juices were overflowing and it was really hard to stop and not to do anything. After pushing "Angono Ska Explosion", the band went back to the drawing board and planned the next step. The first quarter was spent composing and rehearsing the songs. What we usually do is get together, talk about the format and style of a particular song and discuss them some more with booze and food on the table. A few days after that, we religiously rehearsed on the chord patterns, format, speed and some horn parts written on music sheets to guide everyone on the first 3 songs. Rehearsal starts with the rhythm section, vocals, then the horn parts, then we keep on playing the songs for 2-3 hours until we get the basic structure of the track. 3 more rehearsals after that then introduce the songs up on stage and in every gig. I think we made about 2 albums worth of compositions during that time frame.

Rudebong and Gabby Rojas our keyboard player and other chief composers were invited to join The Brownbeat Allstars, a few months after Myra left Put3ska in 1997 or 1998. Gabby left after 4 months and I was invited to join after. Bong and I sidelined with The Brownbeat All-Stars from 1998-2003. There, we met Rhanny Torres of "The Lost Boys" and "Ethnic Faces" famed as the bassist extraordinaire of Brownbeat. Neighbors would play alongside Brownbeat and he was impressed on our brand of ska. He encouraged the band to compose more and release an independent album and he would help to make it happen. I said to myself "puta! na impress si Rhanny Torres, record producer pa. SWERTE!" "Angono Ska Explosion!" happened and this second release.

(Some old posters and compilation album covers with Neighbors)

Rhanny was working with Alpha records during that time and asked us if we would like to be signed on a major label. The band had a very long discussion, weighing things, asking around and the possible outcome if ever we were signed to a major label. Personally I’m not that psyched about it because I don't like the business side of it plus the rules and protocols of the company that we have to follow and the idea of some big boss record owner to tell us what we should do with our music. It’s not “punk!” But I have to set aside my feelings on this one, my friends and the band comes first. Democracy is the rule within the band and respects each other’s opinion. I say, “Go with the flow.” 12 tracks were recorded at Pink Noise studios, engineered by the late Jeff Felix. It was a good learning experience. The technical side of recording and mixing songs helped us when we were recording our third release -but that is another story. We were listening to a lot of Hepcat particularly their “Right on Time” cd, Mongo Santamaria and Tokyo Ska Paradise during that time. We picked up some elements and style from them and customized it to fit the Neighbors way. We want to have the “Right On time” feel on this recording, not copying Hepcat but the way the album was recorded. We finished recording 6 songs in about 2 months. Rhanny did the rounds for any label but, didn’t bear fruit. After the band explosion of the mid 90’s, no label was brave enough to sign any new band particularly this kind of music the band offers. All the labels are cashing in on the “novelty” trend at that time; you know the Bayani Agbayani type of muzak. Rhanny gave us the first 3 finished songs and the rest; it’s still in the studio. We consider those tracks as the Neighbors lost tapes.




Plan B - we agreed to record some new sets of songs, produce an independent album and release it by the end of the year. 5 songs were made and were recorded and mixed at Cinematix Studios by Jess Felix, father of Jeff Felix. Same as the first one we recorded and mixed the songs Ramones style- recorded the songs for 12 hours; a week after, mixed and mastered the tapes for another 12 hours. Released the album on December 0f 2001 to a full house at Freedom Bar. Mission accomplished. Another indie album under Neighbors’ belt. NICE!

The first three songs were taken from the Pink Noise recordings –Simbang Gabi, Problems and Come on as the carrier single. With You, No Regrets, Untitled, The Look of Love and Magmamani were from the Cinematix sessions. Simbang Gabi and Magmamani are somewhat of a tribute to our symphonic and marching band roots. "Simbang Gabi" is one of the tunes the Angono National Symphonic Band plays when waking people to go to church for the early morning novena. "Magmamani" is a composition of the late National Artist for Music Maestro Lucio D. San Pedro, Gabby Rojas’ grandfather. We used to practice at their kitchen twice a week when Neighbors was just starting and the great professor was able to tolerate the noise we're making not in the punk or rock sense but it was loud. He would take time to go out of his music room to talk and joke with us while we take a breather.

Here is the Neighbors line up at the time of the recording and releasing of the album.
Marked as Mark II or Mk.II Neighbors:

Jon Capistrano –vocals/tenor sax
Gabby Rojas – vocals/keyboard
Bong Termulo – vocals/trumpet
Ronaldo Banaag –trombone
Madz Velasco –bass

Jaymer Hernandez - drums
Lawrence Intalan – guitar
Bodjie Villanueva-guitar *
(*Bodjie was not present on all recording sessions but he was transitioning to be part of the band after the sessions)

So boys and girls, we’re giving this to you for free. Spread the word. Enjoy! Cheers!

NEIGHBORS "From Parquet To Concrete"

2001 (Die Happy Records)

TRACKLIST:
Simbang Gabi
Problems
Magmamani
No Regrets
With You
Look Of Love
Come On
Untitled

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