Itchyworms
The Itchyworms are a Filipino rock band whose music is primarily guitar-driven rock with pronounced 1960s and 1980s pop sensibilities and embellished with two or three-part vocal harmonies. The group made their name in the OPM (Original Pilipino Music) scene in 2006 with their sophomore effort Noontime Show with songs such as "Akin Ka Na Lang" and "Beer".
The Itchyworms | |
|---|---|
| Origin | Manila, Philippines |
| Genres | |
| Years active | 1996–present |
| Labels | |
| Associated acts |
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| Website | Official site |
| Members | Jazz Nicolas Jugs Jugueta Kelvin Yu Chino Singson |
| Past members | Haji Cruz |
Members
- Jazz Nicolas - lead vocals, drums, piano, keyboards, keytar (1996–present)
- Jugs Jugueta - co-lead vocals, rhythm guitar, percussion, keyboards (1996–present)
- Kelvin Yu - bass guitar, backing vocals (1997–present); lead guitar (1996-1997)
- Chino Singson - lead guitar, backing vocals (1997–present)
Former member
- Haji Cruz - bass guitar, backing vocals (1996-1997)
History
Early years
Formed in 1996, the band consisted of Jazz Nicolas, Jugs Jugueta, Kelvin Yu (then on lead guitar) and Hadrian "Haji" Cruz (then on bass). The band performed at various school-based events and competitions with a handful of original songs and Beatles covers. Unfortunately, communication and scheduling issues forced Cruz to leave the group. This predicament forced Yu to take up the bass guitar vacancy, effectively making the band a trio.
The group continued as a trio until the middle of 1997, when a common friend in the Ateneo Musicians' Pool recruited Chino Singson to play guitar with the group at a school event. Singson eventually went on to become a permanent member, which solidified the group's current lineup.
In 1998 the band put together Revenge of the Unsigned, their first official CD. They did this with the help of their manager Earnest Mangulabnan-Zabala, Eraserheads, Ely Buendia, Buddy Zabala and Romel "Sancho" Sanchez (Loquy, Cynthia Alexander). The band intended for Revenge to be their independently released debut album in the event that no major record label would sign them.
As luck would have it, then-A&R manager at Viva/Neo Records Mike Dizon (Teeth, Sandwich) got hold of Revenge. He helped push for Viva executives to sign the band and eventually release Little Monsters Under Your Bed.
Little Monsters, the band's first major-label album, was released in 2001 and contained songs from Revenge plus new compositions by Nicolas and Jugueta. The song "Antipara" was probably the most well-known song on the album. The release of the album was somewhat ill-timed as its glossy pop-rock sound was an aberration in the Korn-influenced OPM Rock landscape of the late 1990s to early 2000s.
Breakthrough success
In 2005, the Itchyworms released Noontime Show, which gave them modest national success and industry recognition. Buddy Zabala and Raimund Marasigan, by this time both former Eraserheads, co-produced the album with the group.
Most notably, the album went on to become Album of the Year at the 2006 NU Rock Awards, with Nicolas winning Drummer of the Year and the group winning Producer of the Year jointly with Marasigan and Zabala.
Commercial breakthrough
The popularity and radio-friendliness of the band's songs have gained the attention of several well-known commercial brands in the Philippines. The song "Akin Ka Na Lang" has been used by both KFC and Close-Up in separate television advertisements. In 2008, Pringles used "Salapi" for a nationwide campaign/songwriting contest. In addition Enervon, Close-Up and San Miguel Beer have also commissioned the band to write original songs for their advertising campaigns.
The band also wrote and performed "Kabataang Pinoy", the theme song for the first season of ABS-CBN's Pinoy Big Brother: Teen Edition. This is arguably the band's most widely publicized song because of the series' popularity and media exposure. They also performed the station ID "Para Sa 'yo Kapatid" of TV5.
Recent Achievements
In early 2016, songwriter Davey Langit asked the band to interpret "Dalawang Letra," his entry into the Himig Handog P-Pop Love Songs competition. The song went on to win top prize at the finals night in April. Only a few months later in July, the band’s drummer/vocalist Jazz Nicolas with songwriting partner Wally Acolola, won the PhilPop grand prize with their composition "Di Na Muli," also performed by the itchyworms.
In August of the same year, the band released "Pariwara," a song written in collaboration with Ely Buendia. The new release blends the best of their songwriting sensibilities. According to Buendia, the song had been in his chest of unfinished ideas since the days of the Eraserheads. The song remained untouched until early 2016, when vocalist Jugs Jugueta asked after any partial songs Buendia may have had lying around. Buendia gave the Itchyworms “Pariwara,” and in short order, Jugueta and Jazz Nicolas delivered more lyrics and a new bridge. Shortly thereafter, Ely and the Itchyworms got together at his home studio, known as the Bunker, to hash out a final arrangement.
Influences
Although the individual members of the band draw on distinct influences, their common affection for The Beatles and The Eraserheads heavily defines the quartet's musical sound.
Discography
To date the itchyworms have released four full-length studio albums and one EP. They have also contributed songs to numerous compilations, most notably including the Kami nAPO Muna tribute albums. In 2014 they launched their fourth full-length studio album, After All This Time. This new deluxe edition of the album contains six bonus tracks aside from the ten main tracks. These include the current single Ayokong Tumanda, the title track After All This Time, and a remake of the classic Juan dela Cruz song Panahon.
Studio Albums
- Little Monsters Under Your Bed (Viva/Neo Records, 2001)
- And The Worm Jumped Over The Moon (Independently released, 2003)
- Noontime Show (Universal Records, 2005)
- Self-Titled (Sony BMG Philippines, 2008)
- After All This Time (Independently released, 2013)
Compilations
- "Happy House" - Songs from NU107 In The Raw (Sony Music, 1998, also re-recorded for Little Monsters Under Your Bed)
- Pulp Freakshow (Viva/Neo Records, 2001)
- Gimik Nation (Viva/Neo Records, 2002)
- "Awit Ng Barkada" - Kami nAPO Muna (Universal Records, 2006)
- "Season Of Smiles" - Close-Up Season of Smiles Christmas CD (Universal Records, 2006)
- Astig...The Biggest Band Hits (Universal Records, 2006)
- AYUZ! Pinoy Alternative's Power Cuts (Viva/Neo Records, 2006)
- SUPER - The Biggest Opm Hits Of The Year (Universal Records, 2007)
- "Princesa" - Kami nAPO Muna Ulit (Universal Records, 2007)
- Musika Sa Bahay Ni Kuya: The Best Of Pinoy Big Brother Hits (Star Music, 2008)
- Gusto Ko Ng Rock (Sony Music, 2009)
- I-Star 15: The Best of Inspirational Songs (Star Music, 2010)
- "Maling Akala" - The Reunion: An Eraserheads Tribute Album (Star Music, 2012)
- "Dalawang Letra" by Davey Langit - Himig Handog P-Pop Love Songs 2016 The Album (Star Music, 2016)
- Super Astig Hits (Universal Records, 2016)
Singles
- After All This Time (2013)
- Akin Ka Na Lang (2006)
- Antipara (2001)
- Armageddon Blues (2020)
- Awit Ng Barkada (Original by APO, 2006)
- Ayokong Tumanda (2013)
- Beer (2006)
- Buwan (2003)
- Dalawang Letra (2016, Grand Winner For Himig Handog P-Pop Love Songs 2016)
- 'Di Na Muli (2016)
- Freak-Out, Baby (2009)
- Gaano Ko Ikaw Kamahal (2011)
- Gusto Ko Lamang Sa Buhay (Mutya ng Masa Theme, 2009)
- Kabataang Pinoy (Pinoy Big Brother Teen Edition Theme, 2006)
- Huwag Na Sana 'kong Gumising Mag-isa (2014)
- In Love Ako Sa'yo (2015)
- Loco (2018)
- Love Team (2007)
- Maling Akala (Original by Eraserheads, 2012)
- Misis Fely Nimfa Ang Pangalan (2009)
- Panahon (2015)
- Penge Naman Ako N'yan (2008)
- Princesa (Original by APO, 2007)
- Rainy Days (2015)
- Salapi (2006)
- Sisikat Muli Ang Araw (Original & Acoustic Versions,
- Suplado Ka Pala Sa Personal (2010)
- The Silence (2020)
- 我真不想变老 - Wo zhen bu xiang bian lao (Chinese version of "Ayokong Tumanda," 2019)
Other projects
Itchyworms lead singer Jugs Jugueta is also a TV noontime host & comedian of It's Showtime on ABS-CBN 2, and also Juggie guested in various TV shows on Channel 2 like Matanglawin, Panahon Ko To, I Can See Your Voice, "ASAP Natin To", Minute To Win It Last Man Standing & his recently seen on Kapamilya Deal Or No Deal, and also he guested Maynila on GMA Channel 7 as his band Itchyworms were performed on TV. Juggie is also an actor on a Holy Week Lenten Drama Special on It's Showtime held every Holy Week of every year since 2013 up to 2016, together with his long time best friend Rocksteddy frontman Teddy Corpuz also acted on a Lenten Drama special. In 2019, Jugs & Teddy hosted a Lenten Documentary Special of It's Showtime instead of a traditional Lenten drama special.
Jazz Nicolas also guested on MYX Olympics, a popular quiz show on MYX Channel in 2016.
External links
| Awards | ||
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| Preceded by Slapshock |
NU Rock Awards Best New Artist 2001 |
Succeeded by Boldstar (band) |
Authority control  |
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