Is Nathan Azarcon back with Rivermaya?

Mike Elgar, Ryan Peralta, Nathan Azarcon, and Mark Escueta
(Photo taken with permission from Rivermaya Facebook page)

Ever since the departure of Norby David as Rivermaya's bassist, the band has been dealing with a revolving door status in terms of who would be playing the bass duties for the band. One time Rivermaya bassists Nathan Azarcon and Japs Sergio have been filling in quite nicely because both guys are no stranger to the band (With the former being the first bassist and the latter replacing him). But lately, it seems that Nathan had become a regular fixture in the band. Could this be a signal that he has returned home to the first band that ever launched him to superstar status as a bass player?
There is no official statement yet, but for this writer it would seem so. Tried nudging Mark Escueta for a statement and he could only come up with "The Best is Yet to Come!" Quite cryptic mind you, but I am not excited about the possibility that one half of Rivermaya is complete, but rather I am more excited about what Nathan could bring to Rivermaya as it is now.

Stating my case why Nathan Azarcon should be the NEW(OLD) BASSIST of Rivermaya.
In case some of you don't know, Nathan actually co-wrote (with Rico Blanco) the hit song ULAN in Rivermaya's first album. That song continues to stand the test of times that even up to now, whenever it is raining, Ulan never fails to make a radio appearance. He also wrote the painfully soulful ballad IF that was released as a single in Rivermaya's third album "Atomic Bomb". Nathan lasted with Rivermaya for two more albums that left quite a mark in the "It's Not Easy Being Green" and "Free" albums. His songwriting prowess however was showcased with his project band Kapatid, leaning towards blues and funk. And the return of former Rivermaya vocalist Bamboo Manalac would set the stage for Nathan to reunite with him and form Bamboo (the band). Now I personally believe that the musical engine behind the Bamboo band was really Nathan. In the linear notes of all the Bamboo albums, the songwriting credits were credited to the whole band, but I believe the edgier songs in the albums were recognizably Nathan's. Especially those bass driven songs. This can be confirmed when Bamboo band split into two groups, with Bamboo Manalac going solo and Nathan, Ira Cruz, and Vic Mercado regrouped (along with Junji Lerma and Jay-O-Orduna) to form the band Hijo. Bamboo's first solo album was a very different one from his band days, and though in the second album he tried to recapture the magic, I think the songs with Nathan (or even those with Rico) were still the better ones.

Nathan's efforts with Hijo kicked off to a great start. However it is too bad that after their EP, there were no new songs released. Maybe he needed to get himself back in a structured band set-up where he doesn't necessarily have to do the frontman duties most of the time? With Rivermaya as it currently is structured  now, I think this will better showcase Nathan's full skills without having to hog the frontline. And his songwriting skills will be a more than welcome addition to Rivermaya. Will he or will he not rejoin Rivermaya? The plot thickens, and we could only wait with our unsatiated appetite for more new Rivermaya music.