MANILA, Philippines — Journey lead singer Arnel Pineda, back in town after recording his vocal parts in Los Angeles for the American rock band’s new CD, is trying his hand in the music club business.

He has pooled some of his earnings with a few partners and put up a club that will feature live band music.

The club’s name, Knellsky’s Rockville, is located on Timog Avenue, Quezon City, near Tomas Morato just off the Boy Scouts Rotonda going towards Edsa.

The place will have a soft-opening on October 30, according to Pineda’s wife Cherry.

In an interview last month, Pineda had informed the Inquirer about the club. He has performed in countless clubs all his life, and to open his own place is a dream come true.

“The music you will hear there is all rock ... pop-rock, folk-rock, metal, basta rock. Yun naman talaga ang hilig ko e,” he said.

He had originally wanted to call it Rock Bar, but apparently it sounded too generic; its new name, Knellsky, is a playful variation on “Arnel.”

Needless to say, Knellsky’s Rockville will gladly open its doors to promising young groups, as well as the country’s best bands.

At a time when live gigs appear to be thriving here and abroad in the face of diminishing album sales, the opening of Knellsky’s Rockville is a practical business move on the part of its owner.

 

The magic of Annie Brazil, Jack Jones

We were rushing from work late Wednesday night to catch Annie Brazil’s annual homecoming gig at Merk’s — and got a bit worried when we arrived to find the club pitch-dark and closed.

One of the waiters, who was coming out of the door with a bag full of drinks, informed us that something blew up in the club’s sound system and the problem could not be immediately remedied; Brazil’s show had to be hastily moved to MyCinema at Greenbelt 3.

Club owner and Brazil’s son Richard Merk was at the MyCinema lobby to receive guests. “Welcome to the new Merk’s,” he joked.

Inside the theater, which was designed for small private screenings, a sprinkling of jazz fans was seen enjoying the music.

Onstage, a relaxed Brazil sang while sitting on a stool, backed by the Merk’s house band led by keyboardist Romy Posadas, bassist Colby de la Calzada, percussionist Cesar Cruz and trumpet player Terry Undag.

The set consisted of familiar standards (“Shadow of Your Smile,” “Ipanema,” “That’s All,” “Satin Doll”); every now and then Brazil obliged her audience with requests.

But the generally laid-back atmosphere was punctuated by Brazil’s signature whoops and squeaks, which tumbled out of her lips to accentuate tempo changes in the songs. The small crowd loved it.

Hearing Brazil’s atonal singing style, partly inspired by Billie Holiday, took away the stress and worries of the day.

At 77, this wispy woman could still hack it.

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Similarly, Jack Jones at 72 is still quite a revelation, judging by his recent concert at the Araneta Coliseum.

The American pop singer has settled into a jazz crooning style a la Frank Sinatra and Tony Bennett; backed by a four-piece band, Jones put on a reflective mood, but amazed the crowd with blazing vocal crescendos at the end of many songs.

His rendition of “Impossible Dream,” which hewed close to the original musical theater version, was a tour de force.

Early in the show we thought Jones should’ve just retired, because he sang with a rasp that seemed a result of old age. We were gravely mistaken.

 

New Merk’s

Back to Merk’s, we just got word that the successful “Birdland” tribute gigs will have another repeat on October 28 — but this time in an entirely new location. Richard’s wife Roni Tapia-Merk says they have decided to move the new Merk’s at 910 Pasay Road (beside Love Garden), Makati. Grand opening this November.