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SINCE Poptimes Magazine celebrated it's 3rd year last February, it is just fitting to remember the good old days by revisiting the very first issue of the magazine.

Back in 2005, Poptimes had no website like what it has now. It was but a monthly electronic magazine/newsletter delivered to registered subscribers through email. The maiden issue was produced in January and delivered the following month.

On the cover were Bleud, The Third Element, Rubberband, and Patricia Javier.

Also featured were Inu (Now The Kuwagos), Version Four (now Blue Mellon Pop), and Sigh Robes. 

 Go back in time and download the PDF

THE BUGS. The Moonbugs from Maryland  playing at FIve Points last month. (Photo by Feliza Mirasol)

EVER since the small venue along Mott Street in the heart of New York City’s Chinatown hosted Filipino-American
artists a couple of years back, it has become part of the Filipino-American music and art movement.

Almost all the important bands, solo artists, comics and poets in the New York/New Jersey region have played in the venue. In fact, if a Filipino-American music fan wants to catch a FilAm artist either playing or just hanging around, there are more chances of seeing them at Five Points than any other joint in town. If Britpop had Camden Town, The FilAms have Five Points.

Alfa Garcia at Five Points (Photo by Michael Lesley. More photos here ) 

THE first time I heard Alfa play was about three years ago at Five Points in Mott Street. Back then it was still carrying the name Teabag, and it was being staged in the basement of Silk Road place.

Two things struck me the first time I heard her play: Brilliant songwriting and guitar skills. Her songs even back then were mature–devoid of bubblegum and sugar coating. There were no pretentious attempts to be cool, angry and cute– just real and honest songs.

She sang about airplanes, meaningless conversations and being un-Filipino.
She played her meticulously crafted songs with above average guitar skills that reminded me of the Indigo Girls and Joni Mitchell.
 
Right then I could tell she is special. 

It has become a necessary strategy nowadays for artists to take charge of their musical careers head on, and launch their albums independently. Chelsea is no stranger to that method.

Having started her professional recording career in an all female music group called SX4, Chelsea has been working in the competitive world known as the music industry since the age of fifteen. Although promising at first and as fate would have it, the group ended its run shortly after. Determined to keep her dream alive, to move people with her voice, Chelsea gathered her thoughts and ideas and started to do her own music. Now a solo artist, Chelsea is releasing her new record "I’m that Girl."(Available online and in some stores)