About
HISTORY
Bandolong started getting its act together in the Philippines in 1969.
The original members were:
• Eddie Mesias – Lead Guitar & Vocals
• Carlos Buenaventura – Bass, Lead Guitar & Vocals
• Andrew Tani – Bass, Rhythm, 2nd Lead and Vocals
• Rey Rodriguez – Drums
• Alberto Sadsad – Vocals & Percussion
The band’s repertoir included blues, rock and roll, hard rock and
country rock music that was popular in the 70s. Music by Mike
Bloomfield (Albert’s Shuffle), BB King (Thrill is Gone), Johnny
Winter (Jumpin Jack Flash), Eric Clapton (Sunshine of Your Love,
Layla, Alberta, Nobody Knows You When You’re Down & Out,
White Room, etc), Chuck Berry (Johnny B Goode), Deep Purple
(Smoke on the Water), Grand Funk Railroad (Heartbreaker, etc),
Rolling Stones (Can’t Get No Satisfaction, Honky Tonk Woman,
etc.), Neil Young (Cowgirl in the Sand, etc.), Crosby Stills Nash
& Young (Long Time Gone, etc.) Arlo Guthrie (Coming into Los
Angeles), Santana (Black Magic Woman, Oye Como Va, Samba
Pa Ti) and James Taylor (Sweet Baby James, etc.)
The band played at parties and concerts in several cities in the
Philippines. It disbanded in 1972 because Eddie Mesias
repatriated to Okinawa with this mother, who is Japanese.
Rey went to the United States shortly after.
In 1973 the remaining members of the band recruited its newest
member, Koko Cuenca, and played at folk houses and neighborhood
parties. The last gig of Bandolong was at a Makati party.
INTERIM
Bandolong members continued their passion for music. Eddie
now works for the US Air Force and owns Sunset Music School
by the bayside in Okinawa, trades electric guitars on eBay and
plays lead guitar for Jet, an Okinawa rock band, weekly on Friday
and Saturday nights at a music bar of the same name. His wife,
Mimi, plays the keyboard for Jet. Carlos continues to play his
guitar at his gentlemen’s farm and works as a subcontractor in
Koko’s construction business. They jam on weekends. Andrew
owns a management consultancy firm based in Singapore and
has shifted to writing songs for praise and worship. Rey played
on weekends at US Navy gigs.
REVIVAL JAM SESSIONS
In September 2007, Eddie got hold of Andrew through the internet.
A telephone conversation bridged a 34 year divide. The band
regrouped in Jakarta, minus Rey, who is still in America.
There are have been six gigs since November. Three gigs at the
Hang Lekir Members Club (see poster), two gigs in the Philippines
in February (one at 7th Note music resto and a high school reunion
attended by a thousand guests), and the last one at Jet, the rock
music club in Okinawa.