Skabeche • Index page

Lutong Pinoy, lasang Pinoy. For the Filipino who loves to eat and enjoy life, the band SKABECHE strikes a chord of familiarity not just because its name alludes to the humble adaptation of the sweet and sour fish dish Escabeche, but because, though influence by the foreign sound of SKA, Skabeche is very much Filipino as this bunch of true-blue Pinoy musicians have added their own touch into the genre. Ska is dance music first and foremost. Having originated from the island of Jamaica, the sound of Ska has captured the hearts of many people in different parts of the world with its invigorating beat. Ska was a Jamaicans dance music form that swept out of Jamaica in the early 1960’s to shake the butts of working and middle-class Jamaicans before going on, via the West Indian immigrant connection, to the UK, and into the world. Skabeche’s 10-member gang of musicians who has been milling the music scene for 8 years now prides themselves as sons of Baliuag, Bulacan and such a troupe is uncommon in the Philippines. Their individual influences, yes all ten of them are all tossed and turned into their sound, a mix of Punk, Blues, Jazz, Classical and What-You-Have into the melting pot that is SKABECHE. And aside from their influences, the variety of musical instruments they play also add depth to their sound- 3 saxophone, a trombone, trumpet, and percussions spice up the usual sound of guitars, bass, drums and vocals. Yes, indeed flavorful!. Just like the people of Jamaica who have undergone a lot of struggles in their time, the Pinoy sentiments are very well triggered by this music form. Skabeche mirrors the Filipino heart and soul in their romance with Ska and ventures deep into present-day realities of the land in their songs. Like their composition “LAMOK”, which talks about Pinoy Politicians, is sensible, street smart and humorous - very Pinoy in the sense that it has the ability to pock fun at serious stuff. (Perhaps the very same reason why the genre came about). In fact, their voice has been loud enough to earn them a spot in a foreign release representing the country in a CD Compilation of Ska and Reggae music from around the globe. The group now has performed hundreds of gigs, done several recordings and appeared on TV as well. Currently, Skabeche, hailed by FHM/For Him Magazine as one of the TOP INDEPENDENT ARTISTS in the Philippines, is a regular house band of Ka-toque, ”Lutong Barkada” - a cooking show aired every Saturday at QTV11. Two of their songs Lamok and Part of Me are also included in the album Island Riddims, released under Galaxy Records. The band today continues to enjoy life, love, music and dream on. A full album is now under works and maybe through their musical concoctions, SKABECHE may flavor our lives as well.