CAST!

The cast of CAST

So I'm not a pimply-faced, 13 year-old high school girl (last I checked anyway); who says I can't enjoy the made-for-the-pre-pubescent-set comic book CAST? I first heard about it a few months ago when the creators were featured in the Sunday Inquirer magazine. But it wasn't until a couple of months later that I stumbled upon (and bought) my first copy. Within two weeks, I managed to complete the entire 9-issue set (ten if you include CAST: Pre-production).

So what is CAST all about? The blurb on the website pretty much sums it up: CAST follows a group of high school students who decide to put together a school play about King Arthur. But personal problems soon begin to threaten to tear the entire production apart. Will their stories end in tragedy, or will they be able to overcome all odds in time for the grand finale?

Sounds like recipe for a cheesy, Sunday afternoon teen melodrama. For some people, it might actually be all that. For me though, instead of the inanity of network-produced TV teen shows, this one's actually fun, witty, intelligent and - dare I say it - sensible. And look ma, no superheroes! What a refreshing concept in today's superpower-infested pop culture wasteland.

Already I can't wait for Issue #10 to come out. Ces (who plays Guenevere) has finally found out about the feelings Will (Sir Lancelot) has for him, but not in the way one would expect. Wonder what Will's friend and Ces' constant date Manny (who plays, you guessed it, King Arthur) would feel. What about long-suffering Lel and secret crush Joe? And Janina's relationship with Clarence?! And super cool Mons. Can't get enough of her. Whew. I think I need help...

It was bound to happen

Two of my current favorite local acts jammed together about a couple of months ago. Good music, good company.



Johnoy played a couple of sets with former Barbie's Cradle and now sessionist guitar player Kakoy Legaspi at 70's Bistro last night. Marco of ONL swung by before the start of the second set. Of course we made him get up and jam with the duo. Despite having different musical tastes and backgrounds, they managed to find common ground with - what else? - the Beatles. They did "You've Got To Hide Your Love Away."


Bigay na bigay si Mcoy

It was pretty cool.

PS
What's even cooler are the songs from OnL's upcoming third album that Marco let me hear (again) in his car after the gig. I wish I could translate to words the excitement I felt after hearing those songs, especially "Let Me" and "Eleven Minutes." Whew. Based on those two songs alone (and maybe the delightful, rondalla-infused "Ang Katulad Mong Walang Katulad"), I can honestly say the album's gonna be a scorcher. I can't wait for people to hear it.