The SlickMaster's Files: The Scene Around: It's Time! The Paranoid City Farewell Gig

Sunday, January 06, 2019

The Scene Around: It's Time! The Paranoid City Farewell Gig

01/05/2019 09:30:14 PM

It was the final Saturday of 2018, and we have seen a lot of breakups and demises for the said year. Hell, we even noticed bands like Rob and The Hitmen, Run Dorothy, and Kamara retire from making music – be it permanently or just temporary.

And then, enter Paranoid City into the picture. The synth-pop band shocked its fans when frontman Dax Balmeo announced his departure in late November. Initially, Paranoid City staged its last gig as a band on 15 December 2018 at the City of Dreams, with them playing three sets of covers and originals during the said date. However, in a chat with Japo Anareta, Paranoid City doesn't want to end their stint on that note; hence, leading to their one final dance on the final show date for bars (29 December 2018).

Saturday night came by. Rainfall was on its lowest point. I just came off from a much-needed sabbatical trip at Liwa, Zambales; and the immediate agenda after arriving at the national capital is to hit the final gig of Your Metropolitan Synth Pop Destination. The date also marked the debut gig of Cosmic Parasols, a band fronted by Japo's sister Cams.

The show was delayed for almost 90 minutes but Cosmic Parasols played a short set to make up for the loss. I guess holiday traffic woes got in the way, but they are definitely a band to look out for this year as we are expecting more gigs from them soon.

Also, there are three other performers in the billing for the evening aside from Paranoid City:

Stereodeal went on for a bit shorter-than-usual set, with its former guitarist Balmeo belting out Mr. Brightside and temporarily taking over the lead vocal chores. Synth player Rem Vocalan managed to hit the podium right before the guest's participation, and Anareta joining them on the keyboards as well. Carousel Casualties rolled with Where's Ramona's Stephen Fortes taking over the bass duties for the evening.

Farewell Fair Weather, on the other hand, was on the penultimate slot. This is also the first time I saw them live since the surprise proposal that took place during Jack TV Mad Fest in late October, and Coco Coo's guitar duties gave me different feels. It's still all good despite missing the Steve Vai-ish riffs usually flaunted by the Korean rockstar Kim Hue Jin.

It was a long night for Dax, Japo, Rommel, and Po, as Paranoid City played eight songs, leaving the crowd their last words in-between those songs. It wasn't an all-original set at all as the band performed a rendition of Teeth's Darating and Balemo capped the night with Oasis' Don't Look Back in Anger as an encore.

Paranoid City's last set made everyone teary-eyed and dance from start to finish. HERE they ARE, CAN'T be STOPped, and HERE [WE] GO over A HUNDRED LIGHT YEARS just to wind up SURRENDERing into the night on a high note full of BURNING POLAROIDS. The long wait for their set paid off. (See what I did there? Hehe.)

And at the end, the [Photo]TRANSIVITY among Dax, Japo, and Rommel called “friendship” remain intact. It was more of a See-You-Later night than a Goodbye, or a graduation from a stemming frustration. Nine years was a very good run. Not all groups could last for half-a-decade. It wasn't a joke for these four schmucks to run a band, go around the world (in their pair of sponsored kicks), and make music in front of a thousand peeps or perhaps a crowd of chairs and tables.

Sure, one may say they called it quits too early, but we can also say that not all travels traverse at the same pace and time.

As one of their fans and confidants, of course, I felt sad. I can't fret for that long though, after all, they have their own places to go. It was a graduation from a year-long plague of lingering frustration. (Rommel has Faultline, Japo is part of Tanya Markova, Eric has a “tito hits showband” project, and Dax now has Kiit).

If somewhere along the way, they decide to cross paths and take the stage as Paranoid City once again, I will be one of those people to say "It's Time." I love you, guys.