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Out from the small streets of Cagayan de Oro City, Philippines, rises this nine-piece ska outfit, The Superflirts. Having been conceptualized by Francis Tahud on vocals and Pete Galupo on the keyboards in the latter days of November 2003, it was not until the sweet summer days of April 2004 that the band saw its formation. The former and the latter, along with old time friend and bandmate, John Cando on bass, came up together, and since the three were already bandmates back in high school in a four-piece ska/reggae act named Wenkatapi, the connection with each other came very easy. Shortly after, Francis Ramos on guitars, a college classmate of Tahud who was then asked to join the band due to a light bulb-moment-conversation from a Put3ska topic, and Andy Maglinao on drums, Galupo's blockmate in college, came to the fold. But for some personal reasons, Maglinao was not able to continue long with the band. RR Gaylo was then recruited and masterfully took the drumming duties. The brass section were then manned by Patrick Inotao on trumpet, a former college classmate of Ramos, and two of his fellow cohorts in the Xavier University Marching Band, Bell Govico on trombone and Earl Bacabis on tenor sax. The Superflirts were then ready to ska as an eight-piece unit.
The band was first named as Mary Palmer and the Rudies, but because of its length and for convenience, it was scrapped out and was later changed. According to the group, they were inspired from how the way rudeboys and rudegirls (fans of the genre) dance to the beat of ska. When they groove to the music, they all seem to look very "flirty." To give it more angst and to fuel the name, the word "super" was added. With a little tweaking, The Superflirts was then written in stone as the band’s formal name. Coincidentally, a non-fiction author named Tracey Cox also wrote a book entitled Superflirt.
Heavily influenced by the pioneers of early Jamaican ska, the British two-tone movement, as well as the sultry beats of New Orleans jazz and the groovy Detroit motown, the band also gives homage to rock n' roll, punk, cha-cha and big band swing as their musical preferences. Musically inspired by foreign acts like The Skatalites, Prince Buster, Byron Lee and the Dragonaires, Justin Hinds and the Dominoes, Laurel Aitken, Desmond Dekker, The Wailers, The Specials, The Selecter, The English Beat, The Bodysnatchers, Madness, Bad Manners, The Toasters, Hepcat; and local Philippine artists like Shuffle Union, Coffeebreak Island, Neighbors, Brownbeat All-Stars, Jeepney Joyride, Skabeche, Ruska, Run Lucy Run and the legendary heroes of ska in the Philippines, Put3ska a.k.a "Manila's Finest". Even though the band's brand of music pretty much sounds like Jamaican and British, they are still very much a proud product of the local scene in Cagayan de Oro City.
They were first introduced in the underground circuit under the banner of Corridor Music Group. It was through these underground gigs that The Superflirts made a name for themselves which was to the delight of the audience; from the young to the old, the white collars to the blue collars, and the fashionable to the unfashionable, they embraced gladly the sound of the band. The fun and festive music these guys create during their on-stage performances defines the Visayan term "lingaw" (fun). The ambiance they exhibit amplifies the people into a ska-frenzy groove that transcends deep down the soul and stay stuck there for a long time.
After many nights of gigging and traveling, The Superflirts encountered their first major set back when some of the members had to bid farewell for different reasons. These were Bell Govico, RR Gaylo, and Pete Galupo. Govico had to leave the band because of his relocation to Cebu City; Gaylo had to manage their family business which made him very busy and soon left the band for good; and Galupo, one of the band's founding-member, gave his final goodbye to the band to concentrate more on his studies. This key members' exit made The Superflirts lay low for awhile. But as luck would struck, the band found new blood who were willing to carry the torch and continue the fire burning that the band started. Randomly asked by the remaining original members to join the group, since they also came from the same school, were four guys who took the vacant spots, Kevin Billedo on trombone, Leroy Llenas on the keyboards, Henry Vergara on drums, and Van Allena on alto sax. The Superflirts were then again ready to ska, but this time more intense and a nine-piece unit.
It was no stopping The Superflirts as they played around the bars in Cagayan de Oro City and toured ruthlessly the roads of Mindanao. They visited neighboring cities like Iligan, Malaybalay, and Davao several times and even headlined major events with other mainstream bands from Manila and Cebu. They also landed a nomination for Best Ragga Artist in the Muzika del Sur Music Awards 2007 for Mindanao artists, only to fall short behind a big name in the local music scene. Having been featured in magazines, given TV and radio exposures, the band still pushes hard to break the boundaries and spread the sweet sound of ska outside their hometown.
Now, after all the lineup changes, after all the traveling, after all the gigging, after all the issues, and after all the problems, the band still remains strong and intact. The Superflirts have set a trend in which they conjure that playing music should be fun and hassle-free by allowing each members' creative juice to flow and by looking out for each other as bandmates and as good friends. They do not force their music to be loved by the many, but makes the true fans appreciate it even better. Keeping it simple by all means is the main formula of this unit. Easy music for everybody. These nine guys – Ramos, Cando, Tahud, Inotao, Bacabis, Billedo, Llenas, Vergara, and Allena – along with their passion for music and the love for ska have brought them together. The fire still burns in them, and the story of The Superflirts still continues...
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Bookings & Inquiries
contact: Team Superflirts +63916.671.5886 | +63927.223.3125
email: [email protected]
website: www.thesuperflirts.tk
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The Superflirts @ Insomnia Bar - Kaamulan Festival, Malaybalay City, Bukidnon
The Superflirts @ Fountain Place - Kadayawan Festival, Agdao, Davao City