I do this sometimes: I go around Davao city and walk in to music stores and start “checking the merchandise”. What I actually end up doing is playing a guitar on display. Sometimes, I get inquisitive looks as to whether I decide to buy the guitar or not. Most of the time, the owner or someone gets impressed. There have been times that I get offers to join a band but I always decline. And in more instances, a crowd gathers around when I end up jamming either by myself or with other people who happen to be in the same store.

A while ago, I skipped P.E. class to do this at where Perfect Pitch used to be in G-mall. (It’s called Sound Chaser now, which must be an outlet of the Sound Chaser in Quirino.) In any case, I finally got to play a guitar after months of being utterly deprived. God. I need a new guitar fast and I need to start playing in gigs and stuff.

Before I left Manila, I actually got to play in some joint in Katipunan. The crowd was lovely and were just fun to be with. They were laughing and were actually talking back when I tell them some nonsense about being a probinsyana in the big city. I really miss that scene. I wish I could play in front of a crowd like that here. Here in Davao, I always end up with an unappreciative audience who incidentally can’t get any of the pseudointellectual things I say. (Maybe I’m at the wrong place, any recommendations?) Mind you, in one of my gigs here, I tried mentioning indie bands in my little talks in between people just goggled at me. In Manila, I got applause and “Oh yeah”s from the audience when I mention bands like Modest mouse, Broken Social Scene, Flaming Lips and Sonic Youth as my influences. Here, I don’t get applause unless I play my usual Barbie’s Cradle covers or some really, really familiar song of some really, really familiar female artist. Grr. I wish Davaoenyos would appreciate music that rightfully deserves musical merit rather than give more premium on what is considered “hip” or “hot” tracks of the moments. Remember, great music outlives its hype.