Stick Figgas out to light up Eastern Visayas

POSTER announcing Stick Fugga’s tour. FROM STICK FUGGA

After a two-year hiatus forced by the COVID-19 pandemic, Stick Figgas, recognized as one of the pillars of modern Filipino rap music, is out on the road again, starting with a tour of Eastern Visayas.

Fronted by Loonie and Ron Henley, two of the country’s most popular rap artists, Stick Figgas conquered Ormoc and Tacloban in Leyte on Sept. 9 and 10 and extends the tour to Calbayog on Sept. 11 before finishing the tour in Catbalogan on Sept. 12.

For Stick Figgas, which includes an all-star lineup including vocalist Kat Agarrado and musicians JC Sebastian (guitar), Tuts Calinawan (bass), Bboy Garcia (turntables), Nikki Cabardo (keyboard) and Macky Brillantes (drums), there is nothing like performing live in front of an audience and feeding off the energy from the fans as well as the members of the band who are locked in tight and united in music.

Loonie, one of the leading lights of the Fliptop Battle League, said it was right to go back on the tour scene in the Visayas because a big portion of Stick Figgas’ support comes from Visayas and Mindanao.

“We are missing that southern hospitality and energy ever since the pandemic. Also, being born in Leyte makes it all the more special to me personally,” said Loonie, who was nevertheless busy during the pandemic doing daily vlogs for his Break it Down series on YouTube and streaming regularly via Kumu.

Henley, on the other hand, was happy to be together with the other members of the band and with the fans in Eastern Visayas.

“It’s been some time since I’ve returned to Samar that’s why it’s exciting to be back,” said Henley in Filipino.

Both Loonie, whose hit single “Tao Lang” elevated him to the mainstream, and Henley, who has his own album with popular songs “Biglang Liko”, “Venus” and “Hagdan”, have successful solo careers but Stick Figgas is special because the band with the unique blend of rap and soul and funk music offers something new for them and the audience.

For Loonie, it’s the feel of the live instruments that make Stick Figgas unique.

In 2016, their single “Lamanloob” won Best Rap Recording during the 29th Awit Aards. The ensemble eventually released their first full album “Realistick” in 2018 under MCA Universal Records and got multiple Awit Award nominations through the hig single “Ubasan” for Best Performance by a Group, Best Rap Recording and Best Rock/Alternative Recording. The band was also nominated for the People’s Voice Group Artist award.

They plan to duplicate, if not exceed, these accomplishments when they put out their next album, with the members energized by their return to the live stage.

“The creamy basslines, the sexy drum rolls, the guitar solos, keyboard licks and turntable scratches make our raps sound a hundred times better. Kat’s sultry vocals also add another layer of soul and balance in terms of melody. There is certainly one thing better than music and that’s live music,” Loonie said.

Henley could not agree more, adding that the diversity in their backgrounds only enhance the music of the whole, and one which Eastern Visayas fans will get to enjoy on this tour.

“Despite our differences as solo artists when it comes to our style in music and genre, when we perform as a band, we try to experiment with new ideas para makabuo ng mas maganda at de kalidad na tunog. For me, masasabi kong magic yon,” he said.

TSB