Unexpected alternatives

From the 1960s to the early 90s, Filipino bands were standard entertainment at nightclubs and restaurants, belting out classic and contemporary hits. These 'classic' bands are a dying breed. Which is perhaps what makes Square Eyes such a novelty. The six-member band is made up of a newer generation who came to Hong Kong on the coat tails of their musician parents, but is adamant in wanting to go beyond the confines of the stereotypically cheesy Filipino cover band. With a repertoire which includes the Cranberries and Sheryl Crow, the group believes that as an alternative Filipino band, they stand out in Hong Kong's live music scene. 'Expatriate bands, they play their own stuff. And a lot of the Chinese bands are doing old rock,' said 29-year-old leader of the group and keyboardist, Pae Echaluce, brought here from Manila in 1987 to play at the Station Bar in Tsim Sha Tsui. All six Manila natives agree that audience responses have often been that of shock. Audiences have been surprised to see a Filipino band doing alternative rock. 'Most Filipino bands are doing dance music, so people are shocked when we play Oasis or Alanis Morissette,' said vocalist Olive Reyes. 'We love what we do and we play the music that we like, unlike many other musicians, who have restrictions on what they can play,' said Echaluce. 'A lot of people have been asking us about original work. Those are being arranged. 'The past few months we've been really busy, but our deadline is February. We'd also like to record something here. You get more respect in the Philippines if you make it somewhere else first. 'Playing someone else's music, it's a learning process. We learn a lot from copying somebody and we can use it later on.' As the first resident band at Dusk Till Dawn, Wan Chai's new live entertainment spot, the group is particularly keen to make something of this new venue that allows them a greater degree of musical creativity than they are used to. Opened in early December, the same people behind Knutsford Terrace's Chasers decided that Wan Chai needed a new place for live music. 'Chasers has been very good, so we decided to open this one in Wan Chai. Most of the places around here are discos, we thought it needed a new place for live music, for a different kind of live music,' said Echaluce, one of the three owners and musical director for the bar. For Reyes, who first left Manila to perform with her sister in China, Square Eyes (a name derived from their collective fascination with video games) allows her to revel in the type of music she enjoys. 'Before I met the guys, I was working in hotels. I used to play relaxing, old music. This is different for me, here I can be myself,' said the 22-year-old who came to Hong Kong four years ago. While most Filipino bands play mainly in hotels, to Echaluce their gigs are more than a job. 'It's fun. We play what the people like, and we also feel what the people like,' he added. Guitarist Banny Paguyo, who moved to Hong Kong with his musician father 10 years ago, is also happy with their varied repertoire. 'When I started in bands, it was like disco bands. I got sick and tired of playing techno music. We used to have to play Lemon Tree five times a night. I'm a guitar player, I like rock,' said the 24-year-old. 'Since I've joined this band and we've been playing in this place, it feels like I'm always in concert. It's like MTV. People are listening to what we're doing on stage, unlike other places, where people just want to dance and listen to the music, not to the way we play.' The band, which has been together for a year and a half, has chosen music as their career - a risky business with the SAR's less-than-burgeoning live-music scene. 'I'm happy with this, what we get is all right. I just love music,' said Reyes. Drummer Wyndel Cada is also optimistic about the musical climate. 'I think before, people preferred old music. But people are trying to catch up.' It is within this climate that the band members, which also include 21-year-old Robert Pascual and 29-year-old Jake Aldana, believe that Dusk Till Dawn will prove to be a successful venue. 'It adds more entertainment to Wan Chai, and it's a different kind of music. Plus, in Wan Chai, you have a choice; if you don't want to go to the clubs like Joe Bananas or Rick's Cafe, you can come here for live music,' said Echaluce. Although Dusk Till Dawn aims to remain a purely alternative rock venue, they plan to open it up to local bands to audition for a Monday night slot. Square Eyes, Dusk Till Dawn, Tuesday to Sunday, 11pm-4am. G/F 76 Jaffe Road, Wan Chai