The Blue Rats are a Manila-based blues band that serves up a menu of straight-up electric blues, old-time R&B and blues-based music. Founded on the tradition of blues improvisation, the Rats mix up their sets, try not to play a song the same way twice and churn out unique versions of the songs they cover. The fact that some of the band's members rotate on any given night assures a fresh sound, provides a hint of danger and moves the musical goalposts up and down the field from one performance to another.
The Rats were founded by in mid-1995 by three friends -- Butch Roxas, a classical guitar professor at the UST Conservatory of Music, Apa Ongpin, a business executive, and Andy Locsin, an architectural design consultant. The current core lineup in rotation consists of Melinda Torre (also of Baihana, vocals), Joey Puyat (Mother Earth and Kiss the Bride, guitar), Kedy Sanchez (Working Stiffs, vocals and guitar), Johnny Besa (The Breed, bass guitar) Vic Borgaily (KO Jones, drums), Bennii Obana (Overdrive and Tempestuous Jones, drums), Roxy Modesto (Radioactive Sago Project, saxophone), Tom Epperson (harmonica) and Andy Locsin (guitar).
Over the years, many talented musicians have been regular members of the band -- something made possible because of the improvisational nature of the music. Even more remarkable is is the range of musicians that have jammed, performed onstage, or done time in the studio with the band -- a virtual who's who of Pinoy blues, rock and jazz: Mike Hanopol and Joey 'Pepe' Smith (Juan de la Cruz), Sampaguita, Jun Lopito (Cociojam, Bodhisattvas), Chikoy Pura and Nitoy Adriano (the Jerks), Dondi Ledesma (Wally Gonzales band), Miyakee de Castro (Sampaguita), Binky Lampano, Edwin Vergara, Tom Colvin, Edmund 'Bosyo' Fortuno, Norman Belardo (Advent Call) and many more.
Sixteen years later, an all time 170 song menu, and ever-evolving roster and an unwavering committment to fly the blues flag, the Rats continue to plug in at venues in and around Manila.
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