COULD THIS BE THE END OF SOMETHING BEAUTIFUL?

Last April 1, 2015, Urbandub announced that they will be holding their last concert as a band on May 9, 2015. Some fans, including myself, were not convinced because it maybe an April Fools Prank.

UNFORTUNATELY, the post turned out to be true!. After 15 years in the music industry, Urbandub will disband and take a hiatus. Prior before the announcement, the band posted concert posters with the words Endless and 5.9.2015. Little did we know that the said poster was just a precursor of the bomb that is about to drop on April first. 

The band played a huge role for me in appreciating OPM music even more. Back in High School, I was a fan of popular bands like Eraserheads, Parokya ni Edgar, RiverMaya, South Border among others. However, when I got into College in 2005, I was introduced to the fresh and new kind of sound, the Independent music or Indie. My dormate who eats and breaths OPM bands introduced me to Urbandub. He lend me his copy of their Birth and Influence Album. 

I was blown away by their music. Never did I imagine that heavy guitar riffs and slick bass lines could work with poetic lyrics. The lyrics were 'intellectually' written. It was really poetry. Picture this, Get any Lang Leav poem you can think of and put on a Rock music. For me, that is Urbandub music right there. 

I only watched the band perform twice. 

The first one was in the 'infamous' Rock Elbi held in the Freedom Park grounds. After their set,  I got my CD signed by John Dinopol after I sneaked in the backstage.  If I sneaked in much earlier, I could have asked Gabby, Lalay and Jan Jan sign my copy of their album Embrace.

The second one was very memorable for me. 

It was in the middle of our Midterm examination week. That was a Wednesday. I have 2 exams scheduled that day. Negotiable Instruments Law and Taxation Law 1. It was mentally and physically draining. I barely got sleep just to review. Actually I try to keep awake in the library by drinking a bottle of Cobra energy drink. Instead of having that second wind in order to stay awake, my brain was just too tired to function and I fell asleep.

Fast forward, After finishing the 2 exams, I suddenly remembered that the Urbandub will playing at the South Station at 9 pm. 

As I arrived there at 9:10 pm, the band had just come up at the stage. Songs from their past albums and new Album, Esoteric, were played. 

Songs like Soul Searching, A new Tattoo, Dim the Headlights, Never Will I Forget, Call to Arms, First of Summer, Evidence, Guillotine were played. 

Upon hearing those songs, my body felt so alive. For a moment, I felt like there were no Midterm Exams to worry about. 

Then, Gabby Alipe introduced the song 'The Fight is Over'. As the intro was playing, I felt a tear roll down in my face. The physical and mental toll of the exams seemed to much to bear and I just had to release the emotions and the stress that is consuming my body. You can't help it when Gab pauses before and after he sings the line "Could you explain to me?..." 

The last song was extra special for me because it was Endless, a Silent Whisper. My personal favorite track from the album Embrace. 

I love how Gab sings it. You know that he sings from the heart. Actually, collectively, the band plays with their heart. They love their craft, they love their fans and they stay true to their style of music. Lalay's bass lines gives the needed groove to their songs. The drums and Lead Guitars were just perfect!. Fans noticed and seconded by his other bandmates that Janjan took the Urbandub to the next level. They created the distinct UDub sound. 

I went home that night super happy. I may not have a picture with the band nor a signed copy of their new CD. But, I was still very much contented because hearing the music of Urbandub live is enough for me. 

Now that the band is about to disband or a hiatus, I felt extremely sad because the band members look so good together. A single unit playing top-notch songs which are comparable with foreign acts. 

Hopefully, the band will just take a hiatus for a year or two in order to take have time with their families, then comeback with a huge album!.

Frontman Gabby Alipe said in Rappler article that it is not the end of Urbandub. He particularly said that there are no such things as endings, only new beginnings.

So there is hope Dubistas!!!