April, 2008
Rene's Supper Club

What Rod said of his concert:

I made some stupid flubs in the guitar. Rocky was great. So was the drummer-Rick Briham--pretty amazing. Russ--who went with us to the Philippines--was his usual steady self and very expressive in his violin. I could have done better. Anyway--Feed The Hungry was the beneficiary-They were happy. It was in what's essentially a night club. The Consul General came with his wif

What his fans said:

Rod,
Thank you for the beautiful evening -- despite the weather. The concert was good.
My friend and I enjoyed it. Very informal but very warm performance and friendly atmosphere.

Nilda

* * * * *

Hi, Rod -

It was a great Concert! I enjoyed your songs, especially "Sana."
Rocky played the sax so well!! He rocked…so did Rick and Russ!
On behalf of Feed the Hungry and all the people who will benefit from the proceeds of your Concert, thank you so much and more power!
- Mila

* * * * *

Hi, Rodney:

J.P., my brother, was in town and wanted to attend your concert. But he
had to return to Manila last week. (Sayang.) He wants to extend his regards.

Congratulations. It was another good concert. May I suggest that next
time, please follow the sequence of songs mentioned in the program so the
audience would know the titles. (I hope you don't mind the suggestion.)

Pls. extend my regards to Ella.

Have a blessed day,
Joy

* * * * *

Rodney,

I had a very good time. Your style is a mix of Apo Hiking Society, Jim Croce, and Bob Dylan. It was so refreshing to see our Legal Counsel in an artistic light. I was so inspired listening to you, especially with your "I'm Like You" rendition. Keep it up. Never mind the mistakes--I never noticed any, besides, it was your human essence that comes across--and that was the experience. Thank you for the music.

Patrick

* * * * *

Rod,

... I was in awe the first time I heard your music and ...Here's to your beautiful music -- today and always.

Cheers,
Sonia

* * * * *

Hi Rod, ......You have a special and loyal following. You’re a lucky guy ; )

.. ... just wanted to let you know that “Welcome Good Times” has been swimming quite pleasantly inside my head today. Very nice, indeed.

Take care,

russ

* * * * *

Rod,

Please let me know when your next concert will be. I want to be there.

And, if you have a CD and lyrics, etc., I would like to get a copy. Great going!

Patrick

Rod,

... . It was fun, ...

Maurese

* * * * *

Hello Rod,

Hindi naman halata and ang mistakes. ...there should have been a sound technician during the concert. Anyway it was for a good cause.

Bernie

August 18, 2007
American Legion

June 2007

Dear Rod,

What can we say? To use the venacular you "Rocked the House" last night and brought joy to everyone who was fortunate enough to spend some time listening to your band and spending some time with your wonderful family. Do you guys every just chill and do nothing? No, we didn't think so. We're sort of cut from the same cloth. There's so much to experience and life is so precious, we want to absorb every experience that is ours to share. Please pass us the E mail addresses of your band members so we can personally thank them for giving of their time, talents and energy to bring a unique brand of joy to Manila Cafe last evening... Again, thank you for all you do.

Your friends and fans,
Julian and Linda
............................................................................................................

Rod

You were wonderful! We enjoyed a whole lot even if we were seated at the back. I wanted to talk to you about our ASPIRE conference this coming June but you were quite busy. Let me know if you can do a presentation at our ASPIRE National conference this coming June and how much the fees are so I can put it in the budget right away ok?

Thanks much,
Jane
............................................................................................................

Rod,

We enjoyed it. I am truly impressed with your family's talent. It's all in the genes, huh. How do you keep your kids so interested? Whatever it is you're doing, keep up the good work. It's wonderful to see a family having so much fun together. Tell Jitter and Rocky their performance were truly outstanding and kudos to you for not only recognizing your children's talent but also for getting them to remain so involved in all your musical compositions. It would be so nice if you can run your musical once again with your family, this time. We are hoping to see your other daughter's performance at the National Theatre.
Keep those creative juices flowing.

Rodney Concert - Big Success! @ Manila Cafe February 18

It was standing room only at Manila Cafe. Julian and Linda started off the evening with the story of a filipino inventor of a vehicle powered by water. Linda read a very touching poem to Rodney.

Jitter Garcia

Rod's compositions are a mix of acoustic folk and jazz, some of which are
derived from his other creative works. One song uses poetry quoted in a
story in his fiction collection, "The Right Place and Other Stories,"
which was published in the U.S.

A set of songs was created for his musical play "Hacienda" which was
staged in Virginia, while a couple of songs were done for Krip Yuson's
full-length play "Luto, Linis, Laba" which was presented at the Writer's
Center in Bethesda, Maryland.

Rod played in pubs in the Washington DC area to help support himself in
law school back in the '80s, and now does concerts in
the U.S. for various charitable causes.

The title song from his 2004 sampler solo CD, "I'm Like You," hit the No.
6 ranking in the Washington Post.com Top 50 downloads. Rod is currently
working on a new CD album with his band.

Joining him for the special single set at Mag:Net are his daughter, Jitter
Garcia (who will soon appear at the Kennedy Center, in the musical play
"Arabian Nights"), and Rocky Garcia, his ten-year-old son on alto sax.

The Garcias' family act precedes the usual Lee's Night on Tuesdays, which
features a variety of youthful pop and rock bands.

Hi everyone,

Back from Virginia Beach music festival a few days ago. We did one gig 9 p.m. Saturday night on the sand in a venue called the Romantic [acoustic] Stage --which was basically a tented 8 by 8 platform. We were supposed to play twice-- -another time at the main stage, but I opted for one performance at prime time.

A terrific acoustic group called Ask For Megan [all acoustic versions of U2, Mary J Blighe, etc.) wowed the crowed earlier on, but that crowd dispersed when they were done, leaving the next group (called Eight Day) with a bare handful of watchers. Their playing wasn't in the same professional level as Ask For Megan, but they were earnest enough with their music. Unfortunately, they did not elicit too much interest from the beach folk, and I worried that by the time Eight Day finished, no one would be left to watch us when we came on stage at 9.

After Ask for Megan finished and Eight Day was setting up, a beautiful woman appeared in front of me, smiling. I realized I knew this girl but didn't place her immediately, so I started conversing with her as if she was this other lady I knew who had helped in one of my readings in Washington DC, and I thought to myself how much she improved her looks. When I introduced her to my bandmates, and to Ella and Jitter, I identified her as this other person I thought she was; but she gave me a face and said, "I'm Eva!" -- and it came to me that she was my legal secretary quite a few years ago. She said she was in Virginia Beach for the festival and heard Ask For Megan announce that I was coming up, and so she looked for me in the crowd. Eva asked about my practice and about my other activites, and wondered if I had a CD she could buy. She was a very loyal and effective assistant to me back then. She asked about Karla and was surprised about how Jitter and Rocky had grown so tall.

We finally took the stage but had all sorts of trouble plugging in the guitars and finding a mic for the saxophones. So Romeo (his last name is Casanova -I kid you not) started playing some funk/fusion stuff while I tried to figure out what to do. I was lucky to have Rom play with us. He's the only one among us who has a tattoo [on his right shoulder]. Now married, father to a really cute three year old, Rom used to be leader of a very popular local Maryland band called "Topnotch" back in the early to mid 90s. Their combination fusion and "go-go" sounds were getting a lot of airplay in WKYS - the then-hippest funk/jazz station in the DC area. He somehow took a liking to my music and has joined the band (at least on a spot basis).

Remember the rockers I befriended a few weeks ago at the Falls Church, Virginia concert? They had performed also the night before as well as that day. Worried that no one would be watching us perform, I had asked them to stick around so at least there would be a semblance of a crowd -however incongruous it would look.

We finally started our set. Even as it was apparent that very popular rock band The Speaks were about to take main stage a few blocks down, the rockers -bless their hearts- stuck with us and cheered us on with the same infectious energy they would accord a jam rock band. One of them even leaped into the others [is it called a mosh?] as we were in the middle of an R & B piece.

Anyway, by then a nice crowd had already gathered around the stage, and by the end of the set, they were asking for more.

That's the end of this long run of gigs starting from the benefit concert last February. Now it's time to get back to writing new material (music and a new book), as well as recording.

Peace,
Rod

This was a difficult concert because of a variety of things. But it worked out fine. Angie Pepa, a beautiful and talented up-and-coming singer/songwriter in the DC area, was launching her maiden CD that night. She asked some artists, including me, to perform with her. Packed house, noisy, boisterous crowd, a sound-system that didn't have monitors and was made for rock (strange, because Angie is an acoustic blues girl, not a rocker herself -so it seemed she and I were at a disadvantage). At 7 p.m. there was this group called Sad But True, followed by a a band called Nerojoc - heavy-metal to the extreme! But they were good at it though. They came on at 8 p.m. (Another rock group was First Rays -reggae rock- came on much later at 11 p.m.)

I was given one of the prime time slots though - the 9 p.m. to 10 block; and Angie did her thing after me at 10 p.m. (She had opened for me at Manila Cafe back in May when I had my own concert, so I was returning a favor. I just wasn't sure I was in the appropriate venue for folk/jazz acoustic style.)

My usual instrument - a Taylor 714 Grand Auditorium -had developed a buzz; so I couldn't use it that night. I borrowed my friend's guitar --a 712. Using my friend's guitar was tough at first because it's what's called a "dreadnought" -a large guitar that's meant for banging/beating/strumming, not really for a fingerstyle picking. And on one song, the capo I was using snapped out and flew into the floor in mid-song (but I thankfully managed to transpose into non-capo chordings on the fly.)

Anyway, the nice thing about it was at the end of my set, the crowd wanted me to play more, but Angie herself was next; so I politely declined. The rockers (long-haired tattooed musicians) came up to me gave me some rather genuine compliments, and I felt there was a minor victory in winning these folks over and being accepted.

Angie's manager told me I should put my CDs on the display table with Angie's so they can be sold like hers. I felt it was her night, not mine so I declined. Wouldn't you know it -but as I was bringing the guitar out to my car, a young girl approached me and asked if I had a CD she could buy. She was beaming and said she studied at University of Virginia, third year, and that she loved the acoustic set I just did. I did have a few CDs in my bag so I gave her one, asking her to just donate money to her church. She said, "But I don't go to church," and so I said "well what about a charity?" And she said, "I'll just give you a check and you can donate that to your charity." So I told her the amount and she gave me three times more in the check! Those U.Va. kids must be loaded (aside from being smart.)

After I loaded my stuff, I came back in to watch Angie. A reporter from a community paper sat at my table and asked questions. So I was nice to her.

In the future, I'll be a little leery about playing in loud- rocking places, because I don't know if I'll be as lucky next time.

Feedback

On June 25 I was part of a group crowded into the small performance space at Savory (Takoma Park) to hear the singer-songwriter Rod Garcia. Performing with his band ? which comprised a teenaged daughter on vocals, a young son on sax, and two neighbors on guitar and saxes ? Rod sang of his Philippine roots, and of love, family and friendship, among other themes.

While the interweaving harmonies delighted the ears, the group?s pleasure at making music together brightened the room.

Mara Cherkasky
Washington D.C.

Not too many Filipinos really. Long before I was invited to play at
the Savory, many from the Filipino community had purchased tickets to either the visiting Manila Ballet at the Kennedy Center or the Hot
Babes II Show -at the Strathmore, starring someone named Maui Taylor. Seemed to me a glorified strip show- but I guess that would trump folk/jazz music anytime.

Anyway, one of my personal highlights of the night was when I had my
10-year old son, Rocky (nicknamed after you-know-who) join the band and play his own alto sax in the final number. A good time was had by all.

Manila Cafe
May 14, 2005

The Savory Café
March 12, 2005.

Rodney Garcia's Saturday Night Show

What a great concert!

You and your posse are remarkable artists! Thanks for asking me to join in your special event.

- Cheryl

Rod,
I enjoyed listening to your music and appreciate the efforts you put into supporting local talent! My son enjoyed that too.

- Marina

Mr Garcia,

i can't thank you enough for letting me be part of your music. you are a prime example of a true musician. i can say without hesitation that i view you as a role model and have been inspired by this whole experience. thanks again!!

-Martin

Music ... poetry....excerpts from shorts stories ... a saxophonist ... Angie Pepa with her guitar ... other guitarists....cool stuff.

Such was Saturday night ... live at Manila Cafe. To an almost full house, Rodney Garcia brought his talents and his friends' talents together, entertaining with music and poetry. It was a lively show, intimate enough so he chatted with the crowd, and professional so the audience knew this was a special treat. Proceeds went to Gaward Kalinga.

Just the night before we had listened to him talk about living wills and how to make them, and on Saturday night, Rodney was a totally different person strumming and singing. If you weren't there on either night -- you missed seeing the two sides of Rodney Garcia!

by Maurese and Kevin

We really enjoyed it … even my 11-year-old Brendan, who resists almost anything he hasn’t done or tried before. You and your daughter sounded great together. That was a very pretty song you played in the middle, something about good times? I especially liked that one. The Savory is a cute little place – seems like a real neighborhood spot. I’m sorry that my family didn’t get to meet you and Jitter, but we’ll show up for another performance and try to be on time next time around!

Thanks,

Rose Lally, (Virginia)

Thank you and your lovely daughter, Jitter, for gracing our little venue with some truly beautiful tunes, poetry, and spirit. And also, please extend and pass on the same huge thanks to Rico and Badette both of whom exude such a wonderful joy and love of life. So much talent...so much heart... You were... each of you... totally inspiring!

Take care. Get over that cold. Talk to you soon!

Russ, Takoma Zoners
(guitar, fiddle player)

Community News & Calendar
Wednesday, March 2, 2005
COMMUNITY NEWS

"BAGYO" AID CONCERT
The Feed the Hungry and the Philippine American Foundation for Charities (PAFC) thank all the donors and sponsors and everyone else who supported this fundraiser for typhoon victims in the Philippines. Special thanks to the Acoustic Concert performers who donated their time and talents for this noble cause: Agos (Badette & Rico Ortanez, Joe Penano), Angie Pepa, Average Joe (Odie Sotomayor, Pong Velasquez and Allan McGary), Justin “Icy” Moral, TheSpeaks (Raf Toledo, Jerry Delino, Johnny Abelende, Sigfried Fuster, Archie dela Cruz), Fractured Zone and of course to Rod Garcia whose “wild idea” of putting this concert together turned out to be a big hit! Bringing musicians together to showcase their natural talent is quite a remarkable feat. Thanks also to Glenn Davis, Bob Caparas, Lovette Rosales, Estela Sanidad, Mila Nazal, Becky Pagsibigan and all the FtH and PAFC volunteers who toiled behind the scenes to make this event a success.

Bagyo Concert: Washington, D.C., February 26, 2005

FEEDBACK

Hi Rod,
Sorry did not get to see you after the show. Just wanted to tell you I was very impressed with your performance. I also bought your CD and listened to it. You have incredible talent! I found the tunes quite interesting, well paired with the lyrics. I sensed a hint of melancholy in the music (starting out in minor tones) and the words (references to winter and the dark) but always ending with hope (spring, shift to major tone) Can't help feeling you are haunted by some dark thoughts ...But your words are often appealingly honest ,in your stories and songs. I hope to get to hear the rest of your compositions in the future. Count me as one of your fans.
Take care and keep the creative work going
--- Dulce

Rodney,
Wow, I thought the concert was awesome! My friends and I had such a good time. All of the talent, most certainly including yourself, gave stellar performances-- and, of course, Tito John kept us laughing the whole time! Anyways, I just wanted to give my congrats to a great show! I'll be in touch soon
--- JADE

Rod,
Thank you to you for giving up all your precious time to good cause such as that great concert. We all had the best of time and I personally kept my natural high which the concert provided me to this day. They were all great musicians/performers, however, you are still the greatest. Your music and lyrics have touched the audience and more importantly, it made us feel proud of ourselves for being there.
--- Lorna

Dear Rodney,
First, let me congratulate you for your guts to propose your "wild idea." PAFC bought and worked on this idea and voila, a success!
Your new proposal for next year and the succeeding years is something to be seriously considered, a good source of fundraising and at the same time an opportunity to showcase the talents of the young, new and/or upcoming musicians in our community. If it happens, the "wild idea" becomes a "wonderful idea."
... I must commend Glenn Davis for his professionalism through and through. I have observed him to be very patient, understanding and well grounded. There were a lot of technical demands on and backstage but he kept his cool all the time ( ex.- one group arrived a few minutes before the start of the show and did not have the chance to rehearse. Very quickly, Glenn told them where to plug in the wires of their guitars when they are being announced to perform and .... hoped for the best). I will be very glad to work with him again in the near future.
You were also a talented performer. Your music left many people inspired. Congratulations!
--- Becky

Dear All,
It had been a delight to work together with all of you. Your dedication and professionalism have shone since this event was proposed by Rodney about six weeks ago. Based on the number of attendees/sponsors/donors and comments we received after the program, the concert was a success! Mario and I really enjoyed it. Again, it reinforces our belief that Filipino musicians are the best, especially our very own Rodney!!
On behalf of Feed the Hungry, I would like to thank you for letting us be part of this noble endeavor.
--- Estela

Thanks Rodney, for pulling the artists together. they were tops!
--- Maurese

FROM DCPINOY [ERROL LLANTOS]:
Hi ya folks,

Congratulations to Feed the Hungry and the Philippine American Foundation for Charities for this past weekend's highly successful and very entertaining Bagyo Aid Benefit Concert.

Kudos to the performers for generously offering their support to the event. Kudos to the Sponsors and Donors who helped make the event possible. High praise for the army of volunteers who worked tirelessly from the moment multitalented Rodney Garcia hatched the idea of this event to the time before, during and after the show.

And of course, thanks to those who came out to support the cause.
Relive the event ... check out the pictures
Angie Pepa Pictures: http://www.dcpinoy.com/ibf/dcpinoy/index.php?showtopic=621
Average Joe: http://www.dcpinoy.com/ibf/dcpinoy/index.php?showtopic=622
theSpeaks: http://www.dcpinoy.com/ibf/dcpinoy/index.php?showtopic=623
Justine Moral: http://www.dcpinoy.com/ibf/dcpinoy/index.php?showtopic=624
Rodney Garcia: http://www.dcpinoy.com/ibf/dcpinoy/index.php?showtopic=625
Fractured Zone: http://www.dcpinoy.com/ibf/dcpinoy/index.php?showtopic=626
Agos:
http://www.dcpinoy.com/ibf/dcpinoy/index.php?showtopic=627
Miscellaneous: http://www.dcpinoy.com/ibf/dcpinoy/index.php?showtopic=628
Added Bonus:
I've also posted the Color Souvenir Progam and the Sponsors/Donors list "slideshow".
* Program Souvenir: http://www.dcpinoy.com/ibf/dcpinoy/index.php?showtopic=620
* Sponsor & Donors: http://www.dcpinoy.com/ibf/dcpinoy/index.php?showtopic=629
I hope you enjoy them.
Thanks,
--- Errol
dcPinoy
http://www.dcPinoy.com