Paul Marney Leobrera: A Man of Blues

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UPDATE...since the time of this writing, The Bleu Rascals are looking for a new bassist. To super nice guy and bassist Spencer Reymonte, I'm sorry to see you go. Onwards and upwards!

[See the Bleu Rascals upcoming gigs HERE]

Let’s talk about talent. But first, let’s talk about hard work. Let’s talk about Paul.

In 2012, HeyGarch.com published an infographic detailing themost active bands in the Philippine live music scene (pictured below). Last year (2012), the Bleu Rascals gigged at least 82 times, more than once a week, every week. This year, they are consistently doing 2-3 gigs a week (regularly at Salon de Ning and 121 Allegro in Makati, Roadhouse Manila Bay in Pasay, and thebar@1951 in Malate, and the occasional diplomatic events, casino lobbies, and the odd burrito restaurant).

In particular, let’s focus on  the activity of Paul Marney Leobrera, frontman. Paul is an ever-improving blues guitarist who is still quite green at the ripe age of 22. Despite his success and recognition, he is feeding off this prolific “8-days a Week” work ethic, and every single week that Paul bends a string, or turns his knobs, he gets better and better, pulling out new tricks and adding to his and his band’s repertoire.

Ask Spencer Reymonte on bass, or Jay Garcia on drums, or mentor Tomcat Colvin, or friend Henry Strzalkowsi, or thebar@1951 owner Butch Aldana, or avid fan and bluesman Dixie Mabanta. The young man of blues is burning through licks, riffs, and songs like a man who has waited for this moment all his life, and wants to get to the next chapter of his career.

Or, secretly—or unwittingly—is he not?

Paul’s climb to the top is heavily reliant on his exposure to other musicians. When I asked him what music he plays when he’s alone in his bedroom, “Haha! It's still blues and John Mayer, I haven't [been] listening to [current] music these days.”

While Paul is still young, he can be forgiven for existing in the vacuum of his own pleasures. While the band did a virtual world tour in 2012 (International Blues Competition, Memphis, February 2012; Timbre Rock & Roots, Singapore - March, 2012; Jakarta Blues, Indonesia, October 2012), they’re back in the local scene in 2012 with full force, as well as in the studio working on an album.

In a couple of days now, he’ll be playing the Japan Blues Festival with Mr. Shun Kikuta, an incredible sign that global blues in on a revival. This trip to Japan is set to unearth a new side of Paul, as he won’t have the comfort of being with his high school buddy Spencer, or on a stage that he knows well; he will be outside of his vacuum.

I asked Paul how he felt about that. He said, “It's going to be an adventure and challenging show for me. It will be a different feel, dynamics, attacks, new licks maybe, and also attitude may change too.”

I predict this gig will have immediate and long-lasting consequences for Paul and the Rascals’ musical story. Personally, he says, “Mr. Shun Kikuta plays with pure heart and soul, And by just listening to his music, I have learned something from his songs…I'm more on the Texas Power Style blues and Mr. Shun Kikuta plays that really sweet, heart pounding blues.”

Aside from the growth achieved by finally opening his ear to another player other than SRV or Mayer, Paul is prescient in predicting an “attitude” change. For one, he won’t be at the helm, dictating pace. He will have to keep his headlights up, watching for bends in the road and changes in the weather. Playing with Japanese blues artists, he will learn to be a gracious host, while learning what it’s like to be the guest for the first time.

In my opinion, this is a long time in the coming. Sharing the stage, being the number two, and being “just Paul” without the band has been the 800-pound gorilla in the room. When he played at the International Blues Competition, the chemistry between him and another young blues guitarist, Trent Romens was flat at first, and Trent worked hard to engage. Eventually, Paul loosened up and they finally gained steam, trading 8-bar solos, as one would expect of a two-guitar blues band. After just two rounds Paul, made the hand signal and terminated the song.

During local Rascals gigs, the band is long on guitar solos and short on bass and drum solos. Not that there’s anything wrong with that. People follow Paul to new venues (I sure did). And Paul clearly works hard to learn and learn and learn. This is something I would like to see from his band, so I can comfortably say that they, as the Bleu Rascals, will be on their way.

Otherwise, the band will hit a wall. The band has all the potential to spiral upwards. But this can only be achieved by the following: 1) more originals; the more—the more gutsy—the better; you don’t improve by mimicking forever; as Samuel Beckett says, “Fail. Fail. Fail better.” 2) Stronger presence by Spencer; I can hardly remember a solo by the bass man. 3) Likewise for the drums; Jay has added a backing vocal, but hasn’t yet made his drums sing. 4) Paul, as the focus of attention, has to lift his gaze more often from his fret board, and even connect with the audience more.

Right now, Paul draws the crowd, and everybody gets their money’s worth. When Paul comes back, the Bleu Rascals' next gig is at thebar@1951, and then they play at their regular Second Thursdays spot at 121 Allegro on the 9^th of August. What I expect to see is a new Paul, one who has learned more than a new riff. I expect to see a new trick, and that trick is something Paul won’t be able to pull off on his own.

You can email the author at heycarlos@heygarch.com