The American Idol hit a phenomenal high here in the Phil when 2 filipinas, Jasmine Trias and Camille Velasco made it to the finals a couple of seasons back. Last season though it was unfortunate that former “Smokey Mountain” member, Sharon Galvez, was unlucky to be in a group of rejects from the AI eliminations despite her potential. In RockStar:INXS, Mark Burnet’s latest Reality Show under CBS, discovered another Filipino born talent, but as usual, they did not grow up here. Mig Ayesa, an Australian National is currently competing against 8 others who are left from the original 15 contestants of this reality based rock show. The show’s winner will become the frontman /woman for the band INXS.

I miss a lot of things lately. It’s been raining every night for a week now and the afternoon gloomy weather just clicked the sentimental fool in me. Yes, I do miss a lot of things. But so much have been changing that you just have to move on and accept things will never be the same.

Dishwalla. What I like about Dishwalla is they are never “Sold Out”. They have dished out more than 3 albums now which are rather a “hit and miss” for me. Their 1st album “Pet your friends” is a true gem and where they got popular with their “Counting blue cars”, but I liked their faster songs there like “Moisture” and “Charlie Brown’s Parents”. Their next two albums have a few selected hits, then they had trouble with their producers and went back to being independent. Then they released their critically acclaimed “Opaline” which they produced independently. I think “Opaline” is their best album, or better yet the best album around that a lot of people haven’t heard, especially here in the Philippines, since it never reached our shores. Though thanks to my Sis in the US I managed to get a copy of their album and am really proud owner.

I find myself listening to a lot of OPM lately and it’s a good thing really. I think the local scene is doing very well right now even if there are those annoying remakes around. What is also good is that the age of Boy Bands seems to have dissipated and the band scene is very alive again. I think we have to thank the acoustic revolution here, and now bands are going back and slowly incorporating the electric sound with it. Just to mention some artist filling my auditory perceptions right now are Kjwan, Kitchi Nadal, 6 Cycle Mind, Cambio, Bamboo, Session Road and Stonefree.