Davao artists pay tribute to Tsuno
Davao artists pay tribute to Tsuno
by Chris Fabian
DAVAO musicians are set to stage a performance tonight (Feb. 25) in memory of Mindanawon artist Noe "Tsuno" Tio. Popong Landero and his band PLO, Yano, Gauss Obenza, and Regal8 are in the line-up of performers who will pay tribute to the drummer of numerous groups including Joey Ayala at ang Bagong Lumad, the Davao-based band that defined the ethnic character of Mindanao music in the 90s. The gig is set to start by 6:30 pm at Matina Town Square.
Tio — also a well known visual/graphic artist who brought his artwork to numerous album covers, t-shirts and prints — passed away Feb. 11 in a Baguio City hospital where he underwent a brain surgery after suffering a massive stroke two days earlier. Born in Cebu in 1961, Tio was active in Davao music scene in the 80s before moving to Manila
with Bagong Lumad in the 90s. He had been based in Palawan for nearly a decade, and was in Baguio for a commissioned work. Landero who organized the Davao leg of the tribute concert said "Noe is a true artist for peace." "We will be playing songs for peace in memory of our departed dear friend," Popong told TIMES. Popong recalled that he first jammed with Noe in 1985 in their band, Prisoners of the World Bank.
Aside from performing in various entertainment venues in Davao, the musical group was also active in various rallies during the pre-Edsa Revolution days. In 1986, Popong and Noe joined Joey as among the performing artists of Bagong Lumad. Noe joined Joey when the group ventured in Manila in early 90s. Popong remained in Davao.
In 1995, Noe and Popong re-grouped in Manila in the band named Landero for Popong’s first commercially-released album, Kamay Ni Laan, which won the 1997 Katha Music Awards’ Best World Music Album.
Aside from Bagong Lumad and Landero, Noe also became drummer of bands like Tropical Depression, Enkantanda, Badjao Roots, Sisa, Village Idiot, Salasyos, Coco Jam, Sinika and Mitus Tribe. Funds from the charity concert will be used to pay the hospital bills (which reportedly reached P150,000) and for Noe’s two young boys.
In Manila, a similar charity concert held last week was participated in Joey Ayala, Cynthia Alexander, Bayang Barrios, Noel Cabangon, Tropical Depression, Color it Red, Sandwich, Imago, Cambio and The APO Hiking Society.
