Bamboo is a Pinoy rock treasure. Remembered as the frontman of 1990s alt-rock giants Rivermaya and then as lead singer for the now defunct band that bears his name, the former Filipino-American shoe seller and busboy worked in the United States before returning to Manila to form his namesake former outfit. He remains a flamboyant stage presence brimming with shambolic energy. Since going solo, Bamboo has released two eclectic albums, including 2015’s genre-colliding Bless This Mess, which was recorded in Brooklyn and showcases his masterful bilingual poetics and soaring, half-crooning voice that covers the full gamut of emotion. Bamboo’s voice and lyrics form an integral part of the Filipino alternative rock story, while his lyrics have become the blood and bones of Pinoy pop culture, conveying everything from national pride to tongue-in-cheek punchlines. The band may have defined anthemic 2000s rock, but Bamboo’s solo efforts continue to draw sold-out crowds.