All looks well on the Indie Music Front—especially with underground bands like these making audio waves this year. Read up on the full list of bands set to break out this Twenty-Ten on Juice.PH, pull on your grungiest tee and dirtiest pair of sneaks, and head out to a local dive bar near you to catch ‘em live before they break the surface!

By Kris Isaac

1. Pitik

Starting as binatilyo musicians during their highschool years in 2004, this band has grown into their own sound. Two years ago, the band finally found a line-up that fit like a glove, and are growing stronger with every performance. Their name may mean the flick of a finger, but their music and live act just might whip you into submission.

Pitik are: Jio Clavano (Vocals/Guitar), Ari Pantaleon (Guitar), Nikko Tirona (Drums), Jay Arguelles (Bass)

Sounds like: Melodic hard-rock with the anguish of the Deftones and melancholy of Mew. Good ol’ fashioned, heart-wrenching, mind-numbing pain – all ‘90s grunge kids, rejoice!

Best to listen to when: “The music would be best for a satellite view of the cities of the world, or for being sh*t faced drunk alone at home at 4:30am, or it’s traffic in SLEX and you're pissed!” - Jay

Q: If you were could be any girl group in the history of mankind, which one would you be?

A: “I'll just go with The Spice Girls (hahahahaha!). Why? More like, why not?! They're hot and filthy rich now.” – Ari

Q: Why are you guys called Pitik?

A: “Pitik started out as a joke then the name just stuck. In the earlier days of the band, when we didn't have a name yet, our friends would say "pitik kayo tumugtog", kase nagwawala kami onstage.”                 

Grab: Their self-titled album! 

   

2. Sleepwalk Circus

Formed by the unavoidable desire to perform and create music, the band believes in one thing – that the best way to live life is “with eyes closed”. And this belief in freefalling is heard in their music and their words. They’re inviting you to step into their tent and join the circus. Are you ready?

Sleepwalk Circus Are: Francis Lorenzo (Guitar/Vocals), Peavey Nicolas (Guitar), Laurie Marvilla (Bass), Jeric De La Cruz (Drums),

Sounds like: Billy Corgan fell into a deep sleep and, while dreaming, decided to have babies with Explosions in the Sky.

Best to listen to when: “Any extremely random dream a person would have. Add slow motion to that dream and also add some miniature explosions. Oh and some grand environments with harsh weather. Possibly some food, raining Peking duck is always welcome. And don't forget the fact that you haven't slept in days.”– Francis

Q: If your album was an actress, who would she be?

A: “[...]Camilla Belle, who I think is the prettiest looking actress in the world of western showbiz. Her features just dazzle me, leaving me in an immobile state with my jaw touching the ground.” – Francis

Q: Can you describe your music, using only adjectives?

A: “Red, noisy, abundant and grand” - Francis

Grab: Their debut album Great Secret Show.

3. Enemies of Saturn

Whether it’s making you blush like a virginal colegiala or sway ala Jim Morrison, Enemies of Saturn has been enjoying every minute of it since 2008. The band says they want to check out Saturn just to see if they really do have enemies over there, but I’m pretty sure that here on Earth, we want to be more than just friends.

Enemies of Saturn are: Miko Santaromana (Vocals), Louis Isok (Guitar), Brian Mendoza (Bass), Fred Sison, (Drums)

Sounds like: Funk rock x (hormone-crazed frat boy + rock’n’roll swagger) = sexual tension so thick you could cut right through it with a bread knife.

Best to listen to when: “[There’s] a wicked bar brawl on steroids while a man and 2 women are getting busy in the restroom, oblivious to everything.” – Miko

Q: What’s your dream gig?

A: “Dream gig ko sa kahit san pero lahat ng tao alam lyrics ng mga kanta namen at nakikikanta tapos nag saslaman ng matinde” – Brian

Q: Why should we listen to Enemies of Saturn?

A: “Because our sound [...] is a new take/twist on not-so-new types of music. Pag huminto maging "creative" ang mga musiko/musikero, itigil niyo na ren makinig kase nag gagaguhan nalang tayo nun” – Brian

Check Out: Their current single, “Bigayan”.

4. Gasulina

They say southerners are passionate people. Well if there was ever any doubt, this live act is going to make you forget all about it. Coming from waaaay down south, these boys from Cagayan de Oro never leave the stage without leaving puddles of sweat forming around their feet. Or yours. Gasulina may be called such for many other reasons, but keeping you dancing all night long until your limbs are mere stubs definitely tops that list.

Gasulina are: Sheaf Trazo (Vocals), Joey Siojo (Guitar), Chuck Bollozos (Bass), Mamai Cinco (Guitar), Aian Dal (Drums)

Sounds like: A small room filled with hot, sweaty bodies dancing to something reminiscent of AC/DC making love to Duran Duran, oblivious to the fire hazard they’ve created.

Best to listen to when: “[There’s a ] romansa-murder-morning-after-party!” – Chuck

Q: If Gasulina could perform anywhere in the world, where would it be and why?

A: “Mt. Everest! Could you just imagine how challenging that would be? Hahaha!” – Chuck

Q: What do you guys do when you’re not performing or writing?

A: “Sleep, eat and party!” – Chuck

Check out: Their single, “Gasulina”.

5. Musical O

You’ll notice that they won’t say much on the different networking sites that they’re on. They’re pretty mellow in person and, in fact, not even the official band profile reveals much about how the band came to be, or their likes and dislikes, or things that may seem trivial but people want to know anyway.

Musical O believes in the music that they make. So much so that they’d rather you listen and get to know them that way, instead of the everyday chit chat that take up a lot of time, but doesn’t do much for us anyway.

Musical O are: Marco Dinglasan (Vocals/Guitar), Mario Consunji (Guitar), Chino Soliman (Bass), Miggy Abesamis (Drums)

Sounds like: Indie kids went crazy with ambient music which, instead of staying in the background, steals you away from wherever you may be at that moment.

Best to listen to when: “On a really comfy chair or couch (or on the floor) and to just listen in.” – Mario

Q: You've just recently released your debut album called Debutante – if you could compare this album to a supermodel, which one would it be and why?

A: “I would say Solenn Heusaff. A) local B) we like french impressionist music C) I would really like to meet her one day.” – Mario

Q: What’s the personality of your music?

A:  “It doesn't hog your attention but it wants you listen closely.” –Mario

Grab: Their debut album, Debutante.

Need some more local sound bytes? Continue reading the full list here.