a couple submitted/personal reviews are shared below:

posted: Oct 08.02
Reviews of the third stop of my Living Room Preview Tour [OCT.4] have come in:

JP Sunga Goes 2/2!
Laraku's Journal - Sunday, October 6, 2002 06:35 p.m.

"Once again JP, you never fail to amaze me. Your concert on Friday was just phenomenal. From an Emm Gryner like "girl version" of Nirvana's "Heart Shaped Box", to the emotionally moving "Caterpillar", and the hard-rocking "I Loved You"...JP you did it again...with no need to say "OOPS!" JP graced us with another fine set including the three aforementioned songs, which already showcase his immense abilities, as well as the crowd pleasers "The Two Least Likely", "Movin' On", "Go 'Head", and "Operator".

Watching one of his shows is an intimate experience that really takes you through the journey of your life, even though the words aren't your own. Each time I listen to "Caterpillar" and "I Loved You", it's a struggle for me not to cry. "Caterpillar" is about JP's cousin James who died of cancer. The song indicates the process a caterpillar undergoes to become a butterfly (in James' case, I'm sure it's the process of death and rebirth). For me, the song represents all the changes I've had to undergo (and I still am currently undergoing) in order to become the person I am today. It hurts me that often in order to reach that goal you have to suffer (unbearably in some cases). I don't like thinking about the last two years...especially the recent months in which I hit rock-bottom by putting myself in a compromising position. When JP sings "I Loved You" ...I do indeed feel that I'm "aching"...that "I feel NAKED"...and although it was in vain, "Just remember, I loved you, I loved you..." May be in hindsight it was indeed infatuation, and I'm not even thinking of that person anymore, but I feel that a song like "I Loved You" rips me apart and reads my inner-most thoughts.

But as I said to JP on Friday night, I'm in the "Movin' On" stage and happier for it. I just never thought that I could relate to a friend's music on so many levels. Of course "Sticky" was JP's main accompanist (tickling the keys as usual), but he was also joined by Rice Junkie guitarist Dave Cheng (Rice Junkie Collective/Yellow Fellow Cafe Crawl), Soul Singer Rodney Ronquillo and the ever-so-talented Mike "Dave" Dizon.

Mike Dizon btw was JP's opening act, gracing our ears with such goodies as Antonio Carlos Jobim, Harry Connick (his inspiration) and of course his own music, which is always fantastic. This blog-mistress got dragged onstage to do the introductions (so Saloni could keep crowd-control in her house) and as a resort, cajoled JP into performing Lady Emm's version of "Pour Some Sugar...", dedicated to myself ^^v As an added bonus, JP pulled up Rice Junkie front-man Keith Javier to sing "Ease Your Mind" (one of my personal favourites). Poor Keith struggled some, but his voice was still top-notch. And it was kind of him to oblige the audience (including a nameless Rice Junkie Uber-fan ^^;;) so it's all good. So thank you JP for giving me something to talk about, and thank you Saloni for being so gracious to host the event."

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"MY REVIEW" By Melissa Torres

"What to say? What to say? A wonderful night filled with music, friends, seating made out of blankets, what more can you ask for? An intimate dimly-lighted ambiance, accented with halogen and scented candles. This set the stage for the notes and words which blended sweetly with the vibes from the flames. Truly a magical night that was made so magical, first and foremost, by the music and the men behind those notes and words. A night extraordinary."

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