SAMAPI's Kwentuhan Sessions featuring IMAGO

Just like I mentioned the last time, Imago was slated for SAMAPI's 3rd Kwentuhan Session, much to the delight of the Pisay students. Aptly titled "Kwentuhan Take Three", the 3rd installment of SAMAPI's year-round Kwentuhan Sessions featured Imago, who had just released their much-awaited and LONG-OVERDUE sophomore album called "Take Two".

Room 103 - home of our Kwentuhan Sessions - was bustling with so much activity! Shirts and CDs were selling like crazy at the merch booth, and around 40-50 students were eagerly listening to the band as they played mostly new songs from their latest release. But of course, the most fun part was the actual Kwentuhan, where we got the usual panalo questions such as...

"May boyfriend ka na?"
"Anong cell number mo?"

Of course, such inquiries were directed to the frontwoman herself, the cute-as-a-button Aia, who was amusingly game to answer them silly questions.

"Ang sagot ko diyan - kung anong gusto niyo! Sige, pagkalat niyo lang na girlfriend niyo ako. Ayan, dami kong boyfriend!" :)

And the question about her mobile number? The deal was that the inquirer would find out if he bought their album - 1 digit per CD! :D And lo and behold, the guy came back later cradling a number of CDs in his arms, cellphone out and ready to type the coveted phone number. LOL!

Another funny moment was when this cute kid ran in front of the band, enthusiastically shouting "Tita Aiaaa!", eliciting giggles from the audience. The kid was none other than Kaio Dancel, who came to Kwentuhan Take Three with his Daddy Vin (Twisted Halo) and Mommy Kris (Cambio). Those rockstar kids never fail to amuse me.

And just like Zach is crazy on the radio, baliw rin siya sumagot sa mga tanong! It was fun listening to his wacky answers (kahit seryoso yung tanong, ha). Jane from the audience also requested him to do his Puss-In-Boots impression, to which he obliged. Pero pagkaalala ko the request for Bokbok the Chicken was politely turned down hehe.

As for the new Imago album, I have five words for it: It was worth the wait! "Taning" and "Akap", and the song where Gabby of Urbandub does backups (the title escapes me now) are instant faves. They've lost the world music feel and traded it for something edgier but still as soulful as ever, owing that intense quality to Aia's unbelievable vocal prowess. And although the rap parts were hard for me to digest initially, I still gave em a couple more listens and eventually got to appreciate them (same as when I first heard Kris rap on Derby Light :P )

Kwentuhan Take Three was one fun gig. To top it off, I bought myself an Imago shirt and the Take Two CD with messages from the band to boot! :) If there's one local release for 2004 you shouldn't miss, that should be Take Two ;)

Pictures from Kwentuhan Take Three can be viewed here.