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| InnerVoices |
We've been watching InnerVoices regularly for some months now yet we never grow tired of doing so because aside from the familiar, there's always something new, something pleasantly unexpected from them each time.
Their first gig at 19 East in 2025 bolsters that statement yet again. Specializing in 80s music, the band certainly knows the genre---not just the biggest hits, the staples but the not-so-obvious choices that make even hardcore New Wave fans go, "Yeah, I remember that song! Nice one!"
The first set consisted of mid-tempo and ballad gems that required vocalist Angelo to sing in middle register. it's refreshing to hear him do that considering that the guy can really hit the high notes (one their most-loved covers is of Queen, like, hello, Freddie Mercury). The change of pace was also welcome treats as heard in "Everytime I See You" by Fra Lippo Lippi, "Ghost In You" by Psychedelic Furs, "How Can I Fall" by Breathe, "Human" by Human League and "Upside Down" by Two Minds Crack.
The thing with InnerVoices is that they stay as close as possible to the arrangement of the original recording. And by that, we mean even down to the littlest of details as marked drum roll and guitar riff. They could have made the work easier for themselves by improvising here and there or coming up with their own "take" but, no. We feel it's because they relish the challenge of keeping it faithful to how it was first enjoyed back in the day for nostalgic value to be kept at an all-time high.
Some of the songs they played became huge in the Philippines because of the dance craze they spurned (e.g."Stars" by Simply Red, "Respect" bu Erasure") that it's easy to forget these are still New Wave songs, or at least by New Wave acts.
Then again, Inner Voices is not just about New Wave. Sometimes they do alternative songs too, say, "Creep" by Radiohead. Or 70s biggies as "Eye In The Sky" by Alan Parsons Project. And isn't that "Here Without You" by 3 Doors Down? Yeah, it sure was---just so much fun!
Our picks from the second set: "Square Rooms" by Al Corley and "Bizarre Love Triangle" by New Order. The original arrangements of these songs are so synth-driven that we didn't know if the vibe would be the same if played with live accompaniment. We got our answer that night and it was one big WOW.
As always, InnerVoices performed their originals namely "Isasayaw Kita," "Anghel" and "Hari." The more we hear these songs, the more we are convinced that these should have become bigger hits. If's just that the trend for sometime now has been danceable, if not TikTok-friendly tunes. Ah, but good music (regardless of genre) always finds its timing and audience so we still hope highly for these InnerVoices originals.
In-between days, er, InnerVoices sets was the young band The Sonnets that also pack a wallop. Their music is so different from InnerVoices yet their musicality is also top-notch that the two bands complement each other. We also loved the originals by The Sonnets and we dare say the future of OPM is in good hands with the likes of them around.
InnerVoices is composed of Jojo Esparago, drums and percussion; Rene Tecson, lead guitar; Angelo Miguel, vocals; lawyer Rey Bergado, keyboardist; Joseph Cruz, keyboardist; and Ruben Tecson, drums.
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