INTIMATE SHOW. Paul Simpson of the 80s band ‘Wild Swans’ and ‘The Care’ will be in Manila on Oct. 19 and in Baguio on Oct. 26 with the Baguio band ‘The Edralins’ doing the front act in their concert at the summer capital and in Metro Manila. Simpson last visited the Philippines in 2011, where he did shows in Manila and Cebu. (Photo grab of promotional poster from Waltrix Productions)
BAGUIO CITY – The 80s British new wave singer Paul Simpson will be in Manila and Baguio for two "intimate" shows that will surely be a welcome treat for fans of the post-punk era.
Simpson is the co-founder of the “Wild Swans” who in 1982 recorded and released “Bringing Home the Ashes” which has a cult following in England, the United States, Europe, and the Philippines.
Simpson will be in Okada in Pasay City on October 19.
On Oct. 26, the Liverpool native, which is also home of The Beatles, will visit Baguio to hold a show at the 18BC Music Lounge.
The Baguio show is brought by DMC Entertainment Production Management Philippines and homegrown Waltrix Productions.
A popular Wild Swans song is “Whirlpool Heart”.
After the break-up of the Wild Swans, Simpson formed “The Care” known for its hit single “Burning Sword”.
Simpson, along with his band, last came to the Philippines in 2011, where he did shows in Manila and Cebu.
Local Baguio favorite band “The Edralins” will be the front act for Simpson's shows in both Manila and Baguio.
“I am pretty excited to meet one of my idols,” said The Edralins frontman Bong Manansala.
Manansala has a lot to thank Simpson, whose band Wild Swans released “Space Flower” in 1982 before the band’s split up the following year.
The said album became the inspiration for Manansala to form the all-family band which he called “Space Flower” in 1994.
It featured him on vocals, brothers Francis on lead guitar and John on bass. Francis is now in London where he also has his band, “Sky Love”, while John is now a full-time accountant. The other members included cousins and brothers Pot and Ian Clint Quiambao. The former is back playing drums for The Edralins.
“It was the Wild Swans that inspired us to form our band and name it after their album,” he said. “This is a dream come true, I am really inspired to play in front of Simpson,” Manansala said.
The Edralins have released at least three albums including the novelty hit “Wow Kalabaw” and recently “Pop All You Can”.
In early 2000 until 2008, Manansala was with the Space Flower Show, an evolution of his old band that played ska-reggae which had a sizeable following in Manila.
However, Manansala suffered a heart attack in 2008 that saw the band split.
In 2009, he formed The Edralins, after his second name.
Its latest members include Jeng Nufable (lead guitar), Japs Esplana (bass), Janrome Galimba (keyboards) and Pot Quiambao on drums. The band is expected to release its fourth album, “Alaws” soon. (PNA)
