‘Too magical to miss’ surprise appearance in 5th edition of ‘Campfire Sessions’

Ely Buendia (left) and Jay Contreras of Kamikazee —@ANGKARAGATAN ON INSTAGRAM

The annual “Campfire Sessions,” a series of out-of-town gigs that marries rock music and tourism, usually discourages the use of phones or cameras during performances to preserve a sense of intimacy between the artists and the audience.

But on its fifth and recent edition—held at the Crystal Beach Resort in Zambales—some revelers couldn’t help but whip out their gadgets when rock icon Ely Buendia made a surprise appearance and shared the stage with the band Kamikazee—this year’s featured act.

“We have a strict rule about taking photos and videos. However, the campers really wanted to document the event as it was too magical to miss. Some of them, of course, opted to keep it gadget-free and just savored the moment,” Typecast bassist Chi Resurreccion, who mounts the event through his company Green Turismo, told the Inquirer.

Led by frontman Jay Contreras, Kamikazee, together with Ely, performed “Pare Ko,” “Narda” and “Ang Huling El Bimbo” before an enraptured crowd of about 430 people.

In its official Instagram account, Kamikazee described the show as “solid masyado!” “I hope everyone enjoyed our surprise… We really prepared for it to make sure the campers are happy,” the group’s message—written in Tagalog—read: “It was a night we will keep in our hearts forever.

While the fans didn’t have an inkling about what was in store for them, Chi said, Jay let slip in one of their meetings that the latter had been intending to bring in Ely as a special guest. “We were surprised and that got us even more excited, especially for the campers, who had no idea what to expect,” he said.

The rest of Kamikazee’s set was every bit as absorbing. Individually stationed on five small platforms surrounding a fire pit, Jay and his bandmates—guitarists Jomal Linao and Led Tuyay, bassist Puto Astete, drummer Bords Burdeos—delivered bare-bones renditions of their well-loved songs, including “Huling Sayaw,” “Halik,” “Martyr Nyebera,” “Unang Tikim” and “Chiksilog.”

The “Campfire Sessions” was initially conceptualized by Chi as a way for him and his Typecast bandmates to bond with their fans over music. But after its first three years, he decided it was about time to invite other music acts to their shows.

Last year, at a beach club in Bolinao, Pangasinan, Urbandub held court. This year, choosing Kamikazee was a “no-brainer.”

Entertaining onstage

“I have been a big fan of Kamikazee since I saw them perform and got to share the stage with them in 2003… We want to see them perform in a very intimate setup,” said Chi, who finds Kamikazee’s songs—riffs and all—infectious. “They’re entertaining onstage, as well. Jay is like a stand-up comedian and loves to crack jokes.”

As for his future plans, Chi envisions “Campfire Sessions,” his passion project, having more artists, including newer ones.

“The bands we feature are some of the most talented and influential of our generation, and it would be a total treat for their fans if they could see them perform their songs with a minimal setup,” Chi said. “It’s refreshing for both the artists and fans because the venues we choose are entirely different from those of the usual club shows and concerts.”

But more than the featured artists, the shows are about the fans. “Allowing the campers form a bond with other campers is also important,” he added.