Francisco"Bamboo" Manalac(Vocals)

-Former Vocalist of Rivermaya

-Vocalist of the year 2004*

-Vocalist of the year 2005*

-Nominated for Vocalist of the year 2007*

Nathan Azarcon (Bass)

-Former Bassist of Rivermaya

-Former Bassist of Kapatid

-Nominated for Bassist of the year 2005*

-Bassist of the year 2007*

Ira Cara Cruz (Guitar)

-Former Guitarist of Passage

-Former Guitarist of Kapatid

-Nominated of Guitarist of the year 2005*

-Guitarist of the year 2007*

Vic Mercado(Drums)

-Former Drumer of Passage
-Drummer of the Year 2004*

-Nominated for Drumer of the year 2005*

-Drummer of the Year 2007*

 

*NU Rock Awards

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   If you are also a fan of the rock band Rivermaya, you'll know that the enormously popular Bamboo Manalac  fronted that band in the 90's.  Rivermaya is credited with changing the entire soundscape of the Philippines music industry.  And while the media often compares the sound of both bands, Bamboo's bassist Nathan Azarcon who was also a member of Rivermaya, firmly states Bamboo has a totally different sound.  In fact insists, not only is it a "better band", but the "best band he has worked with so far."  He and Manalac are childhood friends.  When Manalac left in 1998 because he just wanted to do something different, Azarcon soon left too.  

   After 4 years, Manalac and Azarcon once again caught up with each other.  Azarcon introduced him to Ira Cruz and drummer Vic Mercado. On their first jamming session together, they knew they had a great sound in the making. The camaraderie between these four is hard to miss.   Especially between Manalac and Azarcon.   

   Bamboo released their debut album As The Music Plays in February 2004. The response was more than gratifying.  The album achieved not only double platinum status, but became the biggest selling album by a group in the Philippines for that year!  The album  also walked away with numerous awards at AWIT Awards, NU107 Rock Awards, and of course MTV Pilipinas 2004, proving their appeal to fans and critics alike.

 

Their next album,  Light Peace Love, consisted of ten songs of differing moods and subjects, which is a pretty amazing achievement considering the album only took 3 months to record. This album has a softer sound with both it's lyrics and delivery.  For this album they added more strings and a piano - even a trumpet. 

   Having recently toured eight cities in the U.S., the band had the sad opportunity to see how badly Hurricane Katrina had affected everyone in the hit area.   Bamboo says, "It was really sad. Like how it took five days to get to those people."  When asked what they thought about how the government handled the Katrina situation, they stated in part;  "I don't think we're really a political band, it's just that we have our own opinions about stuff that's going on.  We're more like concerned citizens, you know what I'm saying?" Manalac says, summing it up very diplomatically.

   In recognition of Bamboo's success in the Philippines, a regional version combining the english tracks from the first two albums is in the works.  This is a move that has the band really excited. Manalac enthusiastically says, "We can't wait to do the regional thing, see the people.  Come 2006, we'll really do the regional thing and perform."