Welcome to Rivermaya Kahapon at Ngayon

   (A Photo of Rico and Me, circa 2004, discussing some music stuffs)

First, I would like to make a disclaimer about what this blog is all about. I would like to state that this blog is in no way encouraging or spearheading any Rivermaya reunion concert. I actually like the current situation of the band and its former members as it is (and I would like to note that I’m a huge Rico Blanco fan). I’ve been a big fan of the band since their first album. I know that during that time, the majority were bigger fans of the Eraserheads than Rivermaya. I have my reasons why I chose to become a bigger fan of the latter than the former. It cannot be denied that The Eraserheads rose to popularity because of their song’s Filipino flavors. With majority of their songs easily relatable to Pinoys, it’s no wonder that they became our country’s biggest rock band during the 90’s band explosion era. I was at that time indifferent to Pinoy bands. That is until I discovered the music of Rivermaya. I have love the song 214 so much every time I heard it on the radio. But I couldn’t come to grasp the artist/band responsible for coming up with that hit song. It was one of those routine Sunday road trip with my cousin that I finally discovered the artist/band responsible for coming up with the song 214. And I was surprised when I found out that this song was written and sang by Filipinos. Rivermaya began to change my perception of OPM music. And to this day, I’ve changed to become a staunch supporter of OPM music.

My Rivermaya CDs

This blog will be all about where the current and former Rivermaya members are now. Of course we all know that Rivermaya as a band is still existing behind the leadership of Mark Escueta (The loyal Drummer extraordinaire) and Mike Elgar (The 2nd lead guitarist). We also know that Rico Blanco (The Hit Maker) has gone solo and has released two solo albums so far. Bamboo Manalac (The Voice) has also followed Rico’s path as a solo artist after being a part of Bamboo the Band (along with former Rivermaya bassist Nathan Azarcon), one of the pioneers in the 2000’s band re-explosion period. Nathan Azarcon (The Attitude) meanwhile has picked up the pieces of Bamboo the Band and transformed it into a new band called Hijo. While I’m not too updated with what Perf de Castro (the original lead guitarist) is up to now, Japs Sergio (The 2nd bassist) is making good music as a solo indie artist and with his new band Peso Movement. I will try to have updates on their current careers in music making as much as I can (and hopefully get to have in touch with them from time to time).  There will also be blog entries that would feature retro album reviews along with my thoughts on the album.

In ending, my goal for this blog is not only to serve as a source of “updates in one roof” on the current careers of the Past and Present Rivermaya members. My goal for this blog is also to unify the fragmented fan base of Rivermaya. There is no point for the debates as to who is better. That is a pointless point of discussion. There is also no room for the clamor of a reunion concert. They may sound different but Rivermaya is not dead. Whether you are a Bamboo, Rico, Mark, or Nathan fan, we must never forget that whatever they may have reached so far in their career now, they were once a part of a band called Rivermaya. Hopefully we would come to realize that the sound of Rivermaya as a group continues to exist thru them in their individual endeavors.

As Rico Blanco himself sang “Ang Nakaraan Pasalamatan, Pero Ngayon ang Panahon.”

To all Rivermaya fans, magkita kita tayo dito.