IN THE MIX BY MIC DIAZ
Several days ago, loyal fans and music enthusiasts flocked to The View Music Bar & Lounge in Torrance for a show that seemed to be an antithesis to celebrating romantic love. Local band Playback Jukebox mounted a post-Valentine’s Day show aptly called “How do you fix a broken heart?”
So how do you do that? Just like the song “Fixing A Broken Heart” by Australian pop rock band Indecent Obsession suggests, Playback Jukebox took cues and sang a selection of carefully curated songs that sound as though they were especially made for the brokenhearted—songs reminiscent of days of longing for love long gone and pondering could have been.
The trio composed of vocalist Benjie Collantes, drummer Paco Arespacochaga and keyboardist Jj Buencamino carried out a slew of well-loved OPM songs such as “Ipagpatawad Mo” by VST & Co., “Don’t Know What to Do” by Ric Segreto and “Di Na Natuto” by Gary Valenciano along with a series of hits by popular Pinoy rock band True Faith. Playback Jukebox also performed New Wave chart-toppers such as “Everybody Wants to Rule the World” by Tears for Fears, “Stitches and Burns” by Fra Lippo Lippi and “A Little Respect” by Erasure.
Playback Jukebox dug into their treasure trove of covers of ‘80s hits from their album Got You Covered Vol. 1, and sang “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You,” and their recently released cover of ‘90s hit “Fixing a Broken Heart” from which this post-Valentine’s show was named.
The trio now has two original songs to their name, “Won’t You Come Home (I’m Sorry),” which was released last year and their latest single “Lungkot,” which was launched at this show.
Drummer Paco Arespacochaga reminded the audience not to lose hope and that when there’s sadness, there’s happiness, and urged everyone including DJ Jake Martin who opened the show with unforgettable tunes from the ‘80s and ‘90s, members of Party Party People, Club Manila Los Angeles and the La Salle Alumni Association to join him in singing “Kung mayroon lungkot, may saya.”
He further exclaimed, “good things are about to happen in 2025.”
