a happy band ..... 5 boys with a cute smile...
All the way from down south - Cagayan de Oro City, Philippines, comes the in-your-face style of groovy fast music from Teachers Stand Together. It was roughly June 2005 when the band saw its birth. Composed of Paolo Dumagat (vocals and chief lyricist), Dove Vallar (guitars, vocals), Norway Gabucan (bass, vocals), and Tonton Duo (drums), this 4-piece unit is at the forefront of the underground scene in the relatively small city of Cagayan de Oro.
Teachers Stand Together seems to have a knack of attracting “moshpit warriorsâ€; delivering their feisty fast music with a touch of danceable tunes. Harboring towards their main influences, punk and ska, the band takes pride in their roots as a product of the CDO music scene.
The band saw many changes in their line-up as the years progressed. A former 5-piece act, the first wave of members were Jet, Kim, Pokong, Jed, and Paolo. But it was when the band came to be a 4-piece act that they settled and made their presence felt to the people and to their fellow musicians.
When the scene was penetrated with so-called “underground†sugarcoated bands left and right, Teachers Stand Together chose the road not taken and countered the movement. They stuck their feet on the ground of not conforming to what the mainstream media dictates them. Feeding the crowd with songs that tackles with the society and life as a whole rather than sweet-pop-tinge songs, was the band’s focal point.
Because of their lively performances, the band was awarded the nods of approval and respect from their peers. The line – “bomba, bomba, bomba, bo..†(lyrics from one of their songs entitled Drop the Bomb) was used significantly in the underground scene as a testament to the crowds appreciation to their music.
Still, they continue to evolve their music with-in the context to where they feel comfortable at, which is punk and ska. Furthermore, the band, year by year, grows and matures evidently, allowing each members’ own influences to sink in and making it a certified Teachers Stand Together-sound.
Currently, Teachers Stand Together is very active in the underground scene. Even though the band’s history was not a “fairytale-typeâ€, they still manage to rekindle everything and make it as their inspiration for making music. Albeit things were never easy for them, they have no complaints. Because what matters most is that their happy with their craft.
(NENA)99 red ballons cover
TEACHERS STAND TOGETHER - GF
