Hi guys!  Remember that gig with Aiza I told you about two blogs ago?  Turns out it was a surprise birthday party for Judy Ann Santos's mom Carol, and we (Aiza, me, and percussionist extraordinaire Budetths Casinto) were part of the surprise! 

We had an early sound-check at around 5 p.m., and then we hung out backstage so that Mama Carol wouldn't see us!  hehehe...I even saw my boss (YES! Magazine's) Jo-ann Maglipon lining up for the awesome buffet, and we got to talking a bit before she sat down with the birthday celebrant at her table. 

Anyway, the show started off with a great ‘60s cover band cleverly called the Bedroom Boys.  I couldn't watch them (as we were holed up backstage), but man they rocked!  Various comedians took to the stage before Aiza's turn was up. Funnyman John "Sweet" Lapus hosted that night.  Then me and Budeths went onstage with the lights out with Aiza waiting in the wings.  She decided not to play guitar at the last minute since we were playing mostly standards (old songs were suggested for our setlist), and she wanted to focus on her singing. 

When Aiza's name was announced, we started our set, and had a ball celebrating six decades of life and music with Mommy Carol's family and friends.  From early crooners to the Beatles to Freddie Mercury and the ‘80s hit, "Bette Davis' Eyes," we left no decade unturned.

We finished tired, spent, and ecstatic—hallmarks of a great gig!   The close-knit crowd egged us on and fired us up, and playing our hearts out was our way of thanking them for inviting us for the occasion!