The Thing About Atong
November 27th, 2006
Sooner or later, I suppose, everybody gets to that point in their lives where they question the real reasons they do what they do, why they love what they love. I had my moment of clarity a few days ago, at a bar in Malabon, playing with FMD, which - for one night only - featured the return of original lead guitarist Atong, or as most everybody calls him, A.
A little backgrounder: FMD is a Malabon-based spoof-rock (gads how I hate the term) band founded sometime in the turn of the new millenium. Francis “Isko” Cordero is the voxman and primary songwriter, who also owns a studio in Conception, Malabon. It’s because of an unlikely yet fortunate series of events that I got to know Isko: I was trying to form a band with my friends Allan, William and Kimpi, and we just happened to have our first real practice session at Isko’s studio. He apparently liked what he heard, because he got us a gig not soon after, playing with FMD and several other bands.
A was, at the time, the lead guitarist of FMD, and he blew me away with his silky-smooth legatto licks. Now I’ve never been much of a legatto person myself: I had crappy pickups and a crappy guitar, compounded by a crappy practice method, hardly things that could be considered conducive for hammer-ons and pull-offs. So anyway, A was doing his stuff, and I couldn’t help but be amazed. The man had chops!
When I started sessioning for FMD and I got to know the guy better, though, I noticed certain… things… that didn’t quite sit right with me. He never took chances with his music, and would always talk me into doing the same. He had a rather overbearing obsessive-compulsive attitude when it came to the songs. He was never satisfied unless we sounded just like the record (in the case of our cover songs) or just like how he wrote it (in the case of the originals). And while he never came out and voiced his displeasure - he was never a dictator - it was more than evident. Eventually, by late 2004, I stopped gigging with FMD, for a myriad of reasons not related to our chemistry issues. I’d watch them play from time to time, and we’ve remained friends.
Then, sometime last july, Isko called me up to see if I was willing to re-join FMD full time. Turns out he and A had a falling out, and things got nasty. And as much as I was saddened by the news, it was an opportunity for me, and one I couldn’t pass up. Glad I didn’t, too, because despite the punctuality issues the hand has, it’s always a fun gig.
Fast forward to last Saturday, Nov. 25, and we had A jamming with us after quite some time. I was giddy as a ten year-old - both from the anticipation of having a smashing good time, and from the prospect of being able to steal a few licks from the guy 
Then things started going downhill. The little, insignificant, ineffectual complaints started piling up, on and on, until it reached a point that the gig became a total downer for me. We played a good gig, but somehow he wouldn’t stop about how the song wasn’t how it was originally arranged, or that we were playing too fast, or too slow, or something.
And that’s when it hit me. What’s been bothering me about A all this time. He doesn’t have fun when he plays. He doesn’t lose himself in the moment, never enjoys himself just doing what he’s doing, but always focusing on whatever technical aspect the song requires at that moment. Which is I guess why he can play an entire song note-for-note and I can’t, because he’s so focused, and I’m not. I love to just cut loose and feel the music rather than analyze it, explore it rather than exploit it. And just so nobody gets me wrong, he’s still the better guitarist by a mile - but I’m having more fun.
And that’s the reason I do what I do. Why I love what I love. Because music is fun for me. And I pray it’ll always be that way.
One Response to “The Thing About Atong”
January 10th, 2007 at 11:40 am
i agree. every musician need to go further. somehow, go outside the box. the real feel and accent can’t be transcribed in notes. does it say, “Go wild on this part? or does it say the exact frequency, decibel, etc. a note requires? ” It’s not about saying ” No body is perfect” as refuge. Music is a form of expression. It is an art. Just like for a painter, it’s his or her masterpiece. But it gets a little annoying when some people, tries role playing as Mr. Music. It’s just like comparing a painting made by a 40 yr. old man who drew the exact replica of Mona Lisa and a 4 yr. old boy having just random abstract fun . Who would you appreciate more? If this was music, supposed to be defined, id rather pull down my pants and jack off.
My deepest respect to free spirited musicians or shall I say modern day outlaws like.
It is never my intention to insult jorge’s subject. Don’t get retarded with notes and covers. Go out once in a while. Cut loose. Break a leg. Have fun! Remember, we can always play as perfect as you guys, but you can never have fun in the stage like we do. Because, real emotions can’t be transcribed into notes jarheads. =) right yuri boy?