Mighty Odoño

Mighty Odoño - Mightier Than  Any Instrument

Blues is considered the forefather of the rock n roll genre. Locally, the blues genre is non-topic among the new batch of musicians. Gary Perez, Resty Fabunan, Wally Gonzalez, Ian Lofamia are artists who have been known to carry the flame of Blues to the next generation. We caught up with a man on a mission for the propagation of blues in the local music scene named Michael Odoño.

Growing up in different places must have a great impact on his social skills; his singing prowess displayed and stage presence were enhanced exponentially. “I remember when we transferred to Cavite permanently, my father had a friend named Bernie Fineza of Hagibis. My father called me and my brother and performed a Hagibis song in front of him..i think I  was given P50 for that performance”, chuckles Mighty-as he is fondly called by his friends and peers

One of Mighty’s talent is to flex his vocal chords and almost always imitate a voice undistinguishable. His grandfather a World War 2 veteran, was a kundiman singer from Bohol. “I would always watch him sing and play the guitar. He tunes the guitar by ear instinct only”, remembers Mighty. He used to dance during programs, but in-between practices be flexes his vocal chords  and sings. 

Having a family who has the same passion as him in singing is a treat for Mighty. His family collectively likes to listen to Kansas , John Denver , Steely Dan , Kenny rogers , Thin Lizzy , Queen , which was altogether imbibed in his system . Locally, Asin, Coritha, Maria Cafra, AnakBayan, Heber, Florante, Juan dela Cruz, Cinderella and even Tito, Vic & Joey’s Tough Hits made a big impact in his subconscious mind.

In college in 1998 at DLSU-DASMA, he met his future bandmates Paul Naval on drums, Waku Saunar on bass, Ivan Vidallo  and Mike Caceres on guitars. Collectively known  as ‘The Funky Blues Genesis’.

After some members of the band left for other endeavors, a name change was in order to heighten the band’s mysticism. The band was renamed to Memento Mori. They started writing songs and participated in battle of the bands. And at one time was awarded the Best Live Act. The band was lucky enough to open for Pepe Smith’s concert at the Montano Hall in Cavite City. Pepe Smith gave Mighty an advice, that up to now he still cherish and follow to the letter: You are lucky your family supports your career in music, continue your dream and spread the gospel of music. “Or something to that effect”, reminds Mighty

Elmer Robles, one of the judges where Mighty’s band participated in a Battle Of The Band, offer to manage their band. The band landed gig after gig to prominent watering holes in Cavite and some neighboring area. They performed in RJ Bistro in Makati. Their repertoire widened with covers from Deep Purple, Grand Funk Railroad, Mountain, The Doors, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Mr.Big, Poison, Black Crowes, Razorback and others. It was at this juncture that Mighty started to play the harmonica.

Mighty’s songwriting ability has landed them an album contract with Rebolusyon Records and Sound Weavers Studio courtesy of Gerry Diwa. Their album “Rock N Roll Heart N Soul” came out last 2009. The 12-track album has an extensive marketing blitz with sponsors from GSM Blue, Odyssey Records, NU 107, 105.9 RJ Underground Radio and some tv guesting. Although majority of the songs were conceptualized by Mighty, he shares the credit to the rest of the band who have inputted some ideas. “Hawak ko oras ko that time kaya madalas ang kasama ko si Waku. Yun chemistry namin in creating songs , total jive .The song- ‘Yosi Blues’. I remember I started putting the lyrics altogether and Waku would input groovy bass lines. That is how we created music together”, reminisces Mighty. Some of the tracks of their debut album includes ‘Lambuchingan’, ‘Sulutan’, ‘Swallow My Pride’, ‘Barangay Tagay’, showcases the band’s blues and rock foundation in as far song approach is concerned.

Diablong Buang Brothers, a 4th generation rock band from Cavite noticed Mighty’s vocal prowess and was invited in the band. After a couple of years, he put up his own outfit “Mighty Gunjoes” another blues inspired band. “Django Project” was next to his long line of band affiliation. Then just last year he founded  “Mighty Tino Experience”,  and later still “D' Backyard Mikes”. His latest creation is now called “Mightrio”. A blues trio with a touch of locally infused angst.