There’s a reason that the filmdom often depicts a rock band as a gang of larger-than-life noise-makers with a penchant for debauchery. Blame it to Led Zeppelin and the acts that followed the route they went into, they who in real life enlivened the phrase sex, drugs, and rock n roll.
When I watched the biopic The Dirt on Netflix which tried to recapture the story of American heavy metal band Motley Crue, I supposed either what was projected on the screen was a ridiculous exaggeration of its real-life equivalent or, on the contrary, just half the truth of the excess that really happened in the life of a band that sold over 100 million albums. Rock bands of the glam rock era tended to be too serious at being anti-establishments and taking whatever drugs they could inject into their system. That was cool.
It made me smile that after watching that film, I encountered a currently active Filipino band that ran almost like a corporate entity for being decidedly straight and working by the rules. Plethora, under the guidance of BMPI Talent Center, is certainly not the typical rock band that Hollywood or rock magazines would rather showcase.
“We want to break the stereotype that musicians are irresponsible and do drugs,” implied lead singer and bass player Lester John “LJ” Herrera, “We want everyone to know that through music, you can be better. That you, too, can inspire.”
That’s the band’s mission-vision. The way the members present themselves reflects that, with their clean-cut, casual wear look, and with each member playing a role that doesn’t clash with anyone. Jesser Pello sits comfortably playing the drums. Lead guitarist Andrew Isaguire knows when to deliver his solos. And then there’s keyboardist Aldrin Isaguire whose presence makes the group flexible at various genres like alternative rock, reggae, and power ballad.
The group will be featured this Sunday (Feb. 28), 7:00 p.m., in a virtual concert called Plethora After 2020 to be streamed via QONEQ. The e-concert will have Gloc-9, Kean Cipriano, Milan, Kimberly Baluzo, Aling Nena, and rock royalty Jett Pangan of The Dawn as guests.
Plethora, the grand champ of Greenwich Ultimate Bandkada Search Season 2, is due for a show of this magnitude, having been together for 16 years and proving their worth in social media circles. Their Wish 107.5 live performance of their songs “Hindi Na Bale and Sarap Ng Pinagsamahan” garnered a combined half a million views and counting. Another track, “Kaliskis Ng Ahas,” shows to what extent they could rock, while their cover of Harem Scarem’s Honestly puts them in their proper comfort zone.
The singing bassist noted, “We literally grew up together and share the same interest. We talk things out and we set meetings.”
See, this band of schoolmates and cousins is the far opposite of one whose members burn hotel rooms, bed each other’s girlfriends, or drink themselves to death. It’s a kind of band this world surviving the pandemic needs.
(For inquiries, call 0995-5000615 or email at events@bmpicorp.com)