Shadowing in Manila

[abstamaria]

To keep alive the music of the Shadows (and the Ventures, the Fentones, and so on), a few friends and I organized a group focused on early 1960s instrumentals. That has not been as easy as it was 15 years ago, as so many enthusiasts have since passed on, are no longer able to play, or are occupied with the issues that come with getting old.

The session at home the other week was a milestone, because a friend from the US brought two Burns guitars, a Marvin and a Marquee. Not an unusual event elsewhere, but these were the first Burns we’d heard in 30 years. We will sit down in a smaller group this coming Saturday and compare the Marvin and a Stratocaster.

I’ll use this thread to tell about what’s happening in the hobby here, some 11,000 km from Abbey Road, for anyone interested.

Andyc

[JimN]

Please do, Andy!

[abstamaria]

There are very few in Manila who still know the music, so I thouht I would try to get them together. A few months ago, two friemds and I started a Viber group focused on 1960s combo instrumentals (no vocals!). Because I started to play very late in life, I knew only a handful who would be interested, but friends of friends joined, which is fantastic.

I learned a group has for many years been playing weekly at a member's home. He took ill some time ago, but asked his wife to continue to host after his death. She did, but now has been unwell.

The group continued the tradition at the home of another one of the members. They are down to four now. One is 80 years old, and the youngsters in their mid-70s. They call themselves the "Tuesday Club," after the day of the week on which they meet.

I knew only one of them and met the other three just last week, when they invited me to their session. They play in a carport open on two sides, which was great for the sound and ambiance - a garage band! One had just bought the Burns Marquee my friend brought from the US.

They play very, very well, and I enjoyed myself thoroughly watching them. I took a video of their Coming Home and am posting a video on the Facebook page "Guitar Players Inspired by The Shadows," for those with access to Facebook.

Andy

[abstamaria]

Twenty years ago, when I started to play, it was easy to get a group together to play Ventures and Shadows. One call, and many fiends would come over with guitars. Everyone knew the tracks by heart. They had combos in high school in the early 1960s.

It is not as easy now. Friends have passed away, became ill, or are no longer able to play. Members have drifted from bands, which are proving hard to reconstitute. The pandemic has taken a toll in other ways.

A problem with the genre that Shadows music occupies is that it was in favor for a brief period only, from 1960 and 1963, after which the British Invasion took over popular music. Only the generation that heard the music first-hand recall it and play it, and they are fewer and less active now. That seems evident also in the diminished activity here at Shadowmusic.

But we are trying to revive enthusiasm. The annual “Classic Rock” reunion, disrupted by the pandemic shutdowns, will resume this February. Several of the guys are getting together, forming ad hoc combos, to play there. That is great. I’ll try to get my band Walking Shadow in shape to play.

Andy

[shadowriter]

you are so right Andy. It would be great if you would post a detailed review
once the event takes place.

Norman

[abstamaria]

Last Tuesday, February 6th, the annual Philippine Classic Rock Reunion resumed after the three-year hiatus caused by the pandemic. The PCR is dedicated principally to the many Philippine gigging bands that played in clubs and shows here, Japan, Hong Kong and elsewhere in the world. Amateurs who cover early music are welcome. While 1960s music dominated its early Reunions, the scope of the term "classic" naturally evolved over time.

For the first time, the organisers divided the Reunion into two sections, with the first, from 4:00 to 7:30 pm, devoted exclusively to early "combo instrumentals." This was due to the informal group we formed last year that focuses purely on that music.

The first band opened with a great cover of the Fentones The Mexican. Several bands followed, with Shadows and Ventures tracks being the favorite. Apart from the usual Stratocasters, there was a Jazzmaster, a Burns Marvin, and two Mosrite "Ventures" guitars. The bands were all not professional, some revived from 1960s high school bands and others formed ad hoc for the event.

Our band Walking Shadow ended the instrumental section with three tracks from the Ventures album Ventures in Space (more on that foray later). That was probably appropriate, as the album was released in January 1964, just as the British Invasion was taking hold. 2024 is also the album's 60th anniversary.

After we played, the event's second section and other bands began to sing. They were pretty good.

It was a very enjoyable event for us "combo instrumentals" guys. It created the incentive for fellows to pick up their guitars, get together and practise. It was an occasion to see old friends and meet new ones. We were mostly in our 70s, but a few youngsters were in their 60s.

Andy