FEATURED BANDS:
BAMBOO / BARBIE'S CRADLE / IMAGO / KITCHIE NADAL / KJWAN / MAYONNAISE / PAROKYA NI EDGAR / RIVERMAYA / SPONGE COLA / SUGAR FREE

Rivermaya

Rico Blanco (vocals), Mike Elgar (guitars), Japs Sergio (bass), & Mark Escueta (drums)

[source:Jen Tagasa]

"To die is to be born again" as the saying goes. For the past year it seemed like Rivermaya's troubles might not end. First was the low profile wrangle with their record label BMG Pilipinas over the apparent shabby treatment of their talents. That part of the band's life has long since been culminated with the end of their six-year contract.

The more recent troubling dilemma concerned former bassist Nathan Azarcon. Azarcon disclosed his desire to leave the band March of this year. Founding Rivermaya members Rico Blanco and Mark Ecsueta were disappointed at first but the two soon realized the band had to move on without their friend.

And so Rivermaya go on with their quest to make good music for their fans with a new bassist and with the addition of two new members. Last June 27 at the Via Mare private room, invited music writers lunched and interrogated the revitalized Rivermaya. Permanently taking over the bassist role is Japs Sergio. Sergio revealed his first time jitters over filling the big shoes of Azarcon, who already has acquired a reputation for being a good bassist. But those fears gradually disappeared as Sergio basks in the good compliments delivered by Blanco and Escueta. The young lad was hired the first night he played bass with his other band called Daydream Cycle. Sergio is actually a drummer.

New faces in the group are Mike Elgar and Kakoi Legaspi both on guitars. Elgar not only has been a musician for most of his life but he is also a writer on Sunday noontime show "A.S.A.P." Legaspi on the other hand is Blanco's cousin.

Blanco, who is beside himself with joy over the new line-up, relates that the eight-year contract with their new record label, Viva Records, is beyond satisfactory. He even added that with Viva's track record for nurturing their artists eight years might not even be enough. "A perfect merger" was Blanco's description on the Rivermaya-Viva Records merger. Incidentally, their contract with Viva allows them to own the copyright to their songs, entitles them to royalties and most important of all gives them absolute creative freedom.

The band are excited and look forward to a potentially good working relationship with Viva Records. This, could be the start of a beautiful friendship. -- Jen Tagasa