Chicosci
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| Chicosci | |
|---|---|
| Origin | Manila, Philippines |
| Genre(s) | Alternative Rock Pop Punk Indie Rock |
| Years active | 1996 - present |
| Associated acts | Sandwich (band) Project 1 |
| Website | http://www.campchicosci.tk |
| Members | |
| Miguel Chavez - Vocals Mong Alcaraz - Guitars, back up vocals, Keyboards Ariel Lumanlan - Guitars Carlos Calderon - Bass, back up vocals Joel Salvador - Drums |
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| Former members | |
| Eugene Esquivas - Percussions (2000 - 2007) Sonny Baquisal - Guitars (2000 - 2007) |
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Chicosci is a 5 piece band based in Manila. The band is composed of Miggy Chavez, Carlos Calderon, Mong Alcaraz, Joel Salvador and Ariel Lumanlan. They found the newest member Ariel, on November 2007 to lead as a guitarist after Sonny Baquisal's departure as a guitarist.
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[edit] Background
[edit] Formation and early days
What started out as a group of young college kids from the Ateneo de Manila University, Chicosci was originally composed of Miguel Chavez, Mong Alcaraz, Carlos Calderon, and Joel Salvador. The four enjoyed playing together so much that they decided to take their music seriously by recruiting guitarist Sonny Baquisal and long-time friend Eugene Esquivias to solidify the songwriting process. Chicosci won an interschool Battle of the Bands and spent the prize money in recording a demo - an investment that landed them a two-album record deal with EMI-Virgin Philippines. The band released the albums Revenge of the Giant Robot (2000) and Method of Breathing (2002).
[edit] Career as Chico Science
The highly-successful debut record established Chicosci as one of the forerunners of the new generation of rock. Revenge spawned hits such as Amen, Soopafly, and the MTV hit, Sink or Swim. This album was also nominated to the prestigious Awit Awards for Best Rock Recording. Their first-ever music video Sink or Swim, directed by Lyle Sacris, also won as the Best Directed Video for the 2001 MTV Pilipinas Awards.
[edit] Career as Chicosci
Never satisfied and always trying out new things, the band continued to work on redefining their sound. Shifting their musical direction to a more melodic style, they sought Raimund Marasigan (Eraserheads and Sandwich) for guidance in working with their second album. True enough, both audiences and critics embraced the new sound of Chicosci. Method of Breathing included several hits such as Glass is Broken, Rolento, and the highly-infectious Paris. Interestingly, Paris holds the record for the most number of weeks a song (foreign or local) has stayed in a countdown. It stayed in the NU107 Midnight Countdown for more than 52 weeks and giving Chicosci the Song of the Year award at the 2002 NU 107 Rock Awards.
In 2004, the band released their third album, Icarus, under Viva Records. The band again enlisted the help of Raimund Marasigan, who tagged along Buddy Zabala (Eraserheads and The Dawn), to produce the bands most experimental album. In May 2004, the band gained media recognition by becoming MTVs Lokal Artist of the Month. The songs Theme from Conversation with Fire, Shallow Graves, and An Argument, enjoyed media airtime, also went into the NU 107 Midnight Countdown and Year-end Countdown.
Last June 6, 2006, Chicosci released and launched their self-titled fourth album. Having been in the studio for more than a year, the band boasts it as being their best work to date. A self-produced effort, the band again attempts to give listeners something new to look forward to. The self titled album features catchier melodies and more synth playing from Alcaraz. At the same time there is minimal screaming and more focus on Chavez's singing, the most obvious change on the self titled album. The album was met with mixed reactions. Chicosci was met with criticism about their new image and sound.
With the release of their carrier single A Promise, Chicosci gained more popularity as their market grew. Chicosci went on to play on Malaysia and Singapore as well as local hot spots like Saguijo's. To date the album has spawned four singles, "A Promise", "Seven Black Roses", "Chicosci Vampire Social Club" and "Last Look". The music video for "Chisosci Vampire Social Club" won the Favorite Rock Video at the 2008 Myx Music Awards. The band has often hinted at releasing a new album by the end of 2008.
They performed as front act for Fall Out Boy's Friends or Enemies Tour, Manila stop held at Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City on September 20 and 21, 2007.
[edit] Discography
- Revenge of the Giant Robot (2000)
- Method Of Breathing (2002)
- Icarus (2004)
- Chicosci (2006)
- BEST (2007)
[edit] Achievements
- Favorite rock video- "Chicosci Vampire Social Club" - 2008 (Myx Music Awards)
- Song of the Year- "Paris", 2002 NU Rock Awards
- Guitarists of the Year- Mong Alcaraz (2002 & 2006 NU 107 Rock Awards) and Sonny Baquisal (2002 NU 107 Rock Awards)
- Album of the year- "Method Of Breathing" (2002 NU 107 Rock Awards)
- Best Director-Lyle Sacris "Sink or Swim", 2001 MTV Pilipinas Music Awards
- Best Designed Album Cover- "Revenge of the Giant Robot", 2001 NU 107 Rock Awards
[edit] Nominations
- Favorite Music Video- "Chicosci Vampire Social Club" - 2008 (Myx Music Awards)
- Favorite Song- "Chicosci Vampire Social Club" - 2008 (Myx Music Awards)
- Favorite Artist- 2008, (Myx Music Awards)
- Favorite Group- 2008, (Myx Music Awards)
- Vocalist of the Year- Miggy Chavez- 2007 (NU 107Rock Awards)
- Guitarist of the Year- Mong Alcaraz - 2007 (NU 107Rock Awards)
- Bassist of the Year- Carlos Calderon - 2007 (NU 107Rock Awards)
- Drummer of the Year - Joel Salvador - 2007 (NU 107 Rock Awards)
- Best Live Act- 2007 (NU 107 Rock Awards)
- Song of the Year- "Chicosci Vampire Social Club" - 2007 (NU 107 Rock Awards)
- Artist of the Year - 2007 (NU 107 Rock Awards)
- Album of the Year- "Icarus", 2004 NU 107 Rock Awards
- Guitarists of the Year- Mong Alcaraz and Sonny Baquisal, 2004 NU 107 Rock Awards
- Best Album Packaging- "Icarus", 2004 NU 107 Rock Awards
- Drummer of the Year- Joel Salvador, 2002 NU 107 Rock Awards
- Best Rock Recording- "Sink or Swim", 2001 Awit Awards
- Song of the Year- "Sink or Swim", 2001 NU 107 Rock Awards
- Best Music Video- "Sink or Swim", 2001 NU 107 Rock Awards
- Best New Artist- 2000, NU 107 Rock Awards
[edit] Former members
- Eugene Esquivas - Percussions (2000-2007). Last appeared on Seven Black Roses music video. Eugene Esquivas left for Canada.
- Sonny Baquisal - Guitar (2000-2007). Last seen on Chicosci Vampire Social Club music video. Sonny left to go to Italy with his family.
