A Different Kind of Power Pop with "RedLightGo"

I was in my 'mind in flotation' mode in one of our gigs at Headstock Bar when up the stage came a group of young lads testing the equipment with distorted guitar sounds and techno synth samples. At first I thought they must be a rap metal act. Then they started to play some pop-song-inspired-like progressions which made me think, "what the fig!?! are they a show band? There's a show band here?".

What came next is a fine mix of the of Emo Punk dynamics with light overtones and the upbeat approach you find in alternative rock or pop rock. The band, which I later learned to be named 'Red Light Go', caught my attention with their onstage energy and song dynamics. And the flamboyant use of synths that can compare with some of the popular local and foreign alternative rock acts, which I rarely see in amateur acts.

The band is made up of Remar Sabangan on vocals, Adrian Balagot on guitars and vocals, Niko Tolipas on drums, Migz De Guzman on bass and Mark Quieta on synths and vocals.

Alternate Reality sits down with Adrian Balagot, RedLightGo's guitarist and vocalist, to get the low down on the band (cause I was sitting down when I sent them the mail, and I assume they were sitting down when they wrote the reply).

Alternate Reality: "What does your band name mean? Is there a story behind the name "RedLightGo"?"

Adrian: "RedLightGo basically because most of our parents do not approve of us joining a band. red light means stop but we still go."

AR: "How long has the band been around? How did you guys got together?"

Adrian: "The name was coined around june of 2009 but the band had some additions and change of members around november of 2009 so almost a year."

AR: "Did you plan on playing your currently genre or did it just evolved after a few gigs? Why choose power pop? I mean, there are just a few groups I came to watch which dove into this genre."

Adrian: "We started playing punk pop at first but after a few gigs the members decided to play power pop. It was new and we liked it so yeah.."

AR: "What group or individuals influence the way you play or make songs? The impact it did to your current sound."

Adrian: "Honestly, we didn't set any influence. The way we play songs just came up during our first consecutive jam sessions. Maybe the "kulitan moments" up to now has always been the reason behind."

AR: "Your rendition of Donna Cruz' "Kapag Tumibok ang Puso" is quite catchy. I was already into music when that song topped the Pinoy music charts. You guys don't look that old, but how did you get to know the song? Is there a reason why you chose that particular song? Unrequitted love perhaps?"

Adrian: "The band's vocalist used to sing that song during our "inuman sessions" at our bassist's place. the rest of the members thought of reviving the song using a different sound. after a number of jam sessions, many ideas came up, each member improvised their sound using their respective instruments."

AR: "The topics of your songs are relatively serious matters, but yet you manage to make it a bit upbeat and positive (did I hear you guys right or was I just punch drunk back then). Is this your approach in making music?"

Adrian: "We chose to deliver it that way. Ironically, maybe because we want the listeners to get the real meaning of our songs in a catchy way, that they would also sing along with the band."