It's not usual for me to hang out with friends late at night. It seldom happens only when an event I attend to starts late and I need to be there to the last minute. To be out of the house beyond 10pm only mean one thing. It should be an extra ordinary one. And where were we last Tuesday night? We watched the REO Brothers band fresh from their concert in the US. We were supposed to leave after their first set but we were glued in our seats, took some videos till they're done to the last beat.
I started to be a fan of these boys since the day I watched them on TV during their performance at Araneta Center for ABS CBN's solidarity concert. I could still remember that jaw dropping moment. My world stopped for a while. Right after that number, I went online to check who these brothers are. They are Tacloban survivors and decided to move in to Manila after the city was hit from last year's catastrophe.
That standing ovation performance created a buzz and eventually opened more doors to them. They already guested on TV like Banana Split and Unang Hirit. I couldn't contain my admiration anymore watching their videos online so I asked my friends to see them live. It came to reality last Tuesday night. Seeing them on stage was even more exciting. We had a short conversation with the owner of Primos Cuisine and Lounge and she was very eager to tell us how good these boys are. When they went up the stage for the first set, we were surprised. And the owner proved her claim. We were stunned like we were actually listening to their own CD. And that was live, not lip synched, not pre-recorded and not edited by technology.
On the second set, with only a few minutes break, still they're full of energy and were able to sustain the quality of voice for that few hours gig.
RJ's voice is cool and he strums the guitar so well. Raymart's is different and appealing. His rhythm guitar techniques are quite amazing while Ralph has soulful voice (watch his cover of Bee Gee's How Deep is Your Love) and is perfect to play the bass. Reno hits the drums with great feel. He concluded the gig that night with a big bang. They have different voices and styles but their rhythm and groove blended so well.
Their concert in the US earned praises and good reviews. At Pinoy Relief Concert at The Theater at Madison Square Garden in New York, they performed with fellow performers like Jennifer Hudson, Jessica Sanchez, Charice, Apl de Ap and Oscar Awardee (composer) Robert Lopez.
The Reo Brothers with my friends. L toR - RJ, Ralph, Brooke, Joy, Raymart and Reno
With my friend Lyn and Raymart of Reo Brothers Band
Primos Cuisine and Lounge was jampacked that night. I saw a few people outside of the venue like watching a sold-out-ticket concert.
As Joy approached the group for a short interview, she then asked, "So your father must be a musician?"
RJ replied, "Our father is a great influence. We would just hear his old Beatles albums. From there, we just learned it on our own."
RJ was then a member of a band until he stopped and taught his other siblings Ralph and Raymart to play the guitar while Reno played the drums then they formed a group, Reo Brothers Band. The band name came from the first letters of their first names which is “R”, and surnames initial O from Otic.
Today I just content myself watching videos of their gigs, waiting til they have their own album. When that day comes, I will be on the first line to grab one and will have it signed by the group.
Do you miss songs of Beatles, BeeGees and more. REO Brothers have a regular gig at Primos Cuisine and Lounge every Tuesday. They are also visible in different events around the metro. If you can't get enough of their updates, like their fan page on Facebook, Reo Brothers Band.
Want to know more of their latest America gig, Dan Nino has this to say.
Here is the video that I embed from YouTube.
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