The band as of late 2018. L-R: Zild, Badjao, Blaster
IV of Spades is a Filipino band hailing from Manila. They are known for an Alternative Rock sound (and more often than not, their outfits) heavily influenced by The '70s and The '80s. The band was formed in 2014 thanks to Allan Silonga and his friends banding their sons together, and rose to fame thanks to singles like "Hey, Barbara!" and "Mundo". In 2018, vocalist Unique left the band to pursue a solo career. Memes aside, the trio seemed to have taken it in stride.
Their long-awaited full-length debut CLAPCLAPCLAP! was released in January 2019.
Members:
- Blaster Silonga - guitar, backing vocals (2014-)
- Zild Benitez - vocals, bass, keyboards (2014-)
- Badjao de Castro - drums, percussion, backing vocals (2014-)
Former members:
- Unique Salonga - vocals, rhythm guitar (2014-2018)
IV of Tropes
- Album Intro Track: CLAPCLAPCLAP! has a 15-second Title Track that is Exactly What It Says on the Tin.
- Artifact Title: Used to be four members but after Unique left, the band name itself became this.
- The Band Minus the Face: After Unique's departure.
- Caps Lock: IV OF SPADES. UNIQUE also uses this trope on his own.
- Catapult Nightmare: Book Ends for the music video for "Bawat Kaluluwa".
- Color Wash: The video for "Hey, Barbara!" seems to like warm colors, particularly orange.
- The Comically Serious: "Where Have You Been, My Disco?" has all the band members giving you The Stoic looks while in brightly colored settings. Demonstrated best in the moment Zild lightly slaps Unique towards the camera.
- Costume Porn: More often than not, a part of the Genre Throwback appeal. "Ilaw sa Daan" averts this, though.
- Dude Looks Like a Lady: Unique. Sometimes Blaster and Zild.
- Epileptic Flashing Lights: "Bawat Kaluluwa" has a warning note for this as the band's Dress Rehearsal Video parts make liberal use of the trope.
- Everything Is an Instrument: In "Where Have You Been, My Disco?" Badjao slaps a cymbal with flowers of all things.
- Generation Xerox: All band members are sons of musicians.
- Genre Mashup: Alternative Rock mixed in with disco, funk, and Manila Sound.
- Genre Roulette: They used to do this in their early days but ultimately settled for a 70's/80's sound.
- Genre Throwback: "Where Have You Been, My Disco?" is only the most obvious example.
- Guyliner: Zild, at least ever since Unique left. Blaster likes a bit more color around his eyes.
- Junior Counterpart: "Bata, Dahan-Dahan!" features the three band members becoming office workers while dealing with their junior counterparts still in their band clothes.
- The Knights Who Say "Squee!": Especially Blaster just about turned into this when the band was asked to open for Panic! at the Disco of all things.
- Lead Bassist: Zild is a Type B and D, and sometimes a C.
- One-Woman Song: "Hey, Barbara!" is an eight-woman song.
- Precious Photo: "In My Prison" opens with Zild holding a framed picture of Barbara behind his back.
- Progressive Rock: Ventures into this with "Bata, Dahan-Dahan!"
- Visions of Another Self: The bulk of the Dream Sequence in "Bawat Kaluluwa" is the protagonist chasing a hatted Doppelgänger through the woods.
