Tell us about your group and your upcoming event.

Chow: We are avid listeners of Bisrock music since it was first aired via Smash FM. Actually this February, we are celebrating our 1st year of active participation in Bisrock gigs here in Cebu. The event that we are organizing is a Max Surban Tribute concert sponsored by the SK Council of Brgy. Pusok in coordination with its Barangay Council and in cooperation with the Junior Philippine Institute of Accountants (JPIA) Division 5 and the Junior Financial Executives (JFINEX) of the University of San Carlos. It is entitled “Bisrock to da MAX!” and will feature 17 of today’s promising Bisrock bands ( Agadiers, Agipo, Assembly Language, Circle of Willis, Fervent, Glass of Dirt, Indephums, Kabobo, KDB, Ossified, Republika, Ret Dem, Station Avenue, Wet Slipperz, WTF, Aggressive Audio, and Missing Filemon). The bands will perform their own interpretation of Max Surban’s songs. This event will be held at the Millennium Park below the Marcelo Fernan Bridge in Lapu-Lapu City this coming February 24, 2007.

Myco: Unique man gyud ni ang amoang event kay sa tanang mga Bisrock concerts, first ni siya nga nay twist. Naay laing i-look forward ang mga die-hard supporters sa Bisrock na active concert-goers. Maka-relate pud ang mga nagtubo sa musika ni Max Surban. It’s like a fusion of 2 generations (char! ?).

Jekert: We hate to admit it but we’re probably Cebu’s biggest Bisrock fanatics. Naning kayo mu-attend ug gigs.  It’s not hard to spot us lurking at a dark corner in a Bisrock event.  Kami nalay ma-uwaw sa among dagway.  What can we do, we are addicted.

 

Why a tribute to Max Surban?

Chow: Actually, we were inspired to come up with this idea months ago when we heard Missing Filemon performed a cover of Max Surban’s “I Love my Teacher” during one of the Bisrock gigs we attended. For us, Max Surban is considered a fortress of Visayan music. So, we deemed it fit to recognize his contribution to the Visayan music industry through a tribute concert.

Jekert: Why not?  Max Surban is, after all, one of Bisrock’s biggest influences – the use of Bisaya words, the wit behind the lyrics, and that kind of humor we Cebuanos are fond of. To a lot of us, he is a legend who inspired Cebuano musicians, especially those who choose to express their music through Bisayang pinulongan, and the Bisaya listeners who have once sang to Max Surban’s songs and felt good about it.

Myco: Max Surban is one of the foundations of the Visayan music scene. Usa siya sa mga nagpasiugda sa pinulongang bisayang mga kanta. He is also respected and his name proves to be a legend. Kung musulti ka og Max Surban kay bisan di ka maka-point out sa iyang song kay makaila gihapon ka niya. Icon na 'na siya. Daghan na og tribute ang gihimo ron sa national music scene and it’s about time nga maghimo ta og atoa. Ni-flourish gyud ang local music scene ron and it is but fitting that Max Surban should be given a tribute. 

 

Do you feel that your generation can still connect to the songs of Max Surban?

Chow: I think that Max Surban’s songs are timeless. I mean, a lot of his songs speak about the adolescent life that we, the youth, can relate to. Even the bands that are a part of this tribute concert are really enthusiastic about the idea of reviving his songs. This only means that our generation is open minded.

Jekert: Max Surban songs are very Cebuano. They talk of the stuff a lot of us Cebuanos go through in life and as long as we stay Cebuano, we will always be able to relate to his songs. In a way, mura sad siya’g window to the past. His songs are stories of how things were back in the days and it keeps us grounded to our roots.

Myco: Alangan man. Though I may not know the lyrics of his songs, familiar gihapon ko sa tune. Nostalgic gamay sa akong kagahapon. Kinsay makalimot sa “Pasayawa ko Day” nga i-perform gihapon sa mga culminationg activities. There may be some who are not really familiar with his songs pero kahibaw ko na maka-appreciate ra gyud na sila. Murag classic gud. Maka hunahuna gani ko nga mao man  ni gipangpaminaw sa akoang papa ug mama sa una. Personally, lingaw man sad maminaw sa iyang kanta. Mahimuot ko usahay.

 

What are your favorite Max Surban songs? 

Chow: I became familiar with Max Surban’s songs when I started to appreciate Bisrock and through the playlist of Jekert. Hearing his songs somewhat brings a sense of pride in being a Cebuano. Corny but true. “Pasayawa ko Day” tops my list because it is really a Max Surban classic. The story of the song is something I personally can relate to. Hehehehehe.

Jekert: A lot, a whole lot. We used to have cassette tapes of  Max Surban which my mother played over and over again until I memorized the words to each song. The ones that are probably the most nostalgic to me would be “I love my Teacher” and “Ulan.”

Myco: Akong pinakaganahan kay “Budbod ug Bibingka”. Lingaw kaayo. Nakadungog gani ko nga gikanta siya sa videokihan. Na-amaze gyud ko. Gusto sad ko sa “Nabali ang Krismas Tree”. Gi-play na once pag-grade school nako sa Christmas party unya nalingaw gyud kog paminaw. hehehehe.


What's your aim in grouping bisrock acts for this tribute concert?  

Chow: We believe in the talents of the Bisrock bands that’s why we delegated this task to them. Also, we have been active Bisrock concert-goers for some time and we have been first-hand witnesses to this growing movement. So, we are very much confident that these fresh bands can pull it off with a blast. And to top it all, Bisrock is a phenomenon, so was Max Surban.

Jekert: My friends and I thought of this concert, first and foremost, to further promote Bisrock – our little contribution to Cebu's growing music industry. Second, to give thanks to Max Surban for giving us his music.  It’s a win-win thing. Max Surban helps Bisrock, Bisrock helps Max Surban. Lipay tanan. And, aside from veterans Missing Filemon and Aggressive Audio, we chose the freshest Bisrock bands (newbies if you want to call them but very talented ones), to help them further their career in the industry.

Myco: Bisrock is significantly gaining and acceptance in Cebu.now. Many FM stations are including Bisrock songs in their playlists. Undoubtedly, Bisrock concerts draw many youths jud. Bisrock fans jud mi sauna pa unya ni-bilib gyud mi sa talent sa mga bands. We have been supporters of Bisrock bands for a year now. We also want to share this fondness sa uban kay aron maka-appreciate sad sila ba. Ato gud ni. Dapat ni natong palambuon ug suportahan. Excited sad ko kung unsaon nila pag-revive sa mga kanta ni Max Surban. Naay different styles ang mga banda ug different interpretations sa Max Surban’s songs. So far, Bisrock bands never seem to fail their audiences. 

 

Any other plans?

Chow: Hopefully, we will be graduating this March. After passing the CPA licensure exams, we’ll practice our profession. And if given the opportunity and investment, I want to put up a recording label that will cater exclusively to Bisrock band. And also, more events to come. Naning kaayo noh? hehehe

Jekert: The future remains to be seen. After we graduate, get decent jobs, and get bored doing accounting work (really), we will get back to helping the music industry whatever way we can.  We can’t do much on our own but with the help of others, anyone can make a difference. We look forward to coming up with more Bisrock events in the future. Bisrock is definitely here to stay.

Myco: Ganahan ko mahimong CPA unya kun madatu kay tan-awn, aw buhaton diay kung unsay angay ma-contribute para sa local music scene. Bisrock enthusiasts bya mi.