• For Love of Eraserheads

    No, this isn’t another one of those blog posts that bear the news about the recent Eraserheads concert. I’m sure you’ve read all about that in other websites and/or have watched it on TV. I guess when you have a blog and you were able to watch the reunion concert last Saturday, you just sort of have this urge to write about what you feel. Hence, this post. It’s been two days, but up till now, I still feel really, really sad about what happened.

    When I was younger, I wasn’t a big fan of Eraserheads. Though that was the case, I still know most of their songs by heart. The music of Eheads was the kind that gets stuck in your head even if you didn’t want it too. All through my elementary and high school days, their songs were just everywhere, you can’t escape them. I didn’t have their albums (which were just in cassette tapes back then) but my older brothers did.

    Remember that 90’s movie Pare Ko starring Mark Anthony Fernandez? Hee.

    Honestly, I hardly minded when the group disbanded in 2002. But I think, as time passed by, that “hole” representing the absence of Eraserheads in the music industry got bigger and bigger that a simple rumor of a reunion concert was enough to send fans my age (and older) into a frenzy. I think the younger (emo?) generation wouldn’t be able to appreciate Eheads the way the older ones do.

    When news articles and interviews began to shed more light on the rumor, I decided that, by hook or by crook, I was going to watch that concert. I even registered in that cigarette company’s website and pretended I was smoker, heh. I followed several blogs and watched out for juicy updates in Twitter, Multiply and Plurk. To be honest, I was relieved when they announced two Sundays ago that the rumored free concert wasn’t free anymore. That way, I can definitely ensure my “pass”.

    Despite what transpired last Saturday, the short-lived concert was a success. It was so heartwarming how each and every one who attended were all smiles, just singing or humming along with Ely the whole time. I remember thinking, “Wow! Ang daming Ely!” I swear I got goose bumps! Lol.

    The only thing I hated about the concert though is the poor way they designed the venue layout. I agree with what Luis said about it. I was pretty pissed that night after I stepped inside the venue and saw the horrible, horrible set up! And for good reason. They put that sound stage (which was probably as big and as tall as the actual stage itself!) right behind the VIP section as though the VIP are the only ones who came to watch. I pity those people in the faraway land of General Admission who I’m sure were cursing the organizers to their graves for robbing them the PhP 800, and just letting them live off what little the video walls were giving them. But of course, when the countdown began, all the negativity toward the concert venue (and the musty smell of the crowd) just kind of flew out the window. Even more when Ely’s familiar voice filled the place.

    Do I regret shelling out PhP 1300 for a concert that didn’t end the way it’s supposed to end? Not at all. Seeing them all together again live on stage was definitely worth it. It was very emotional and nostalgic. I’m glad I was part of the the crowd who only responded positively when, halfway through, they announced that they had to cut the concert short because Ely was rushed to the hospital. Upon hearing the news, everybody was pretty shocked but was very understanding.

    Let’s see if the rumor of another reunion concert is pushing through. I wouldn’t wanna miss that one too! I still want to hear them play Magasin, Overdrive, Para Sa Masa, Pare Ko, Ang Huling El Bimbo, and more. I definitely won’t mind making my way in the jam-packed venue and standing up for hours again. Praying for Ely’s fast and complete recovery..

    What’s your opinion of the concert?

8 Comments


  1. tarits says:

    kahit na online na video lang nakita ko, kinilabutan pa rin ako at medyo teary eyed nung narinig ko ang opening bass chords ng “alapaap”…. grabe grade 5-6 ko naassociate ang kantang yun! tas siyempre natatawa ako sa ligaya, (remember the advice to suitors: gawin mo ang lahat pati ang thesis ko? hehe)

    same here, was not really a big fan of the band when they were active, but their songs seem to have become the soundtrack of my undergrad years. parang beatles… eheads na ata ang banda ng henerasyon naten.

    sana may reunion concert sila part 2../ gusto ko sana marinig ang spolarium, minsan, atsaka kailan. sana tumugtog sila sa UP centennial lantern parade (wiiiissh ko laaang).

  2. jireh says:

    i used to collect tapes and CDs of Eraserheads… I just love their songs… I felt bad when I found that they have disbanded… will be praying for Ely’s fast recovery too… Ei joni? The meme fever… haha :) and btw, would you like to share a part of your blessings? Just drop by my blog :)

  3. julie says:

    Love these guys, batch ko sila (sus, shows my age), Used to listen to the band in an alternative music radio show, back when they were still unknown :)

  4. Joni says:

    Tarits: Nood tayo kung magkakaron ng part 2! Yup, I remember, theme song mo yung “Ligaya”. haha! :p miss ya!

  5. Joni says:

    Jireh: Aw, sorry, wala ko pa naubra ang meme mo… :(

    Julie: Bata ka pa naman eh. :) I love them too!

  6. anna says:

    Parang gasgas na ata utak ko kakaulit sa opinion ko about the concert, but what the hell.. for the love of Eraseheads nga! :P

    Glad to know Ely is in stable condition right now, heard that he went under angioplasty (sp?) treatment again, its his third time na. The poor guy, I’m thankful he still continued the concert even though, physically, emotionally and maybe spiritually he’s not feeling well anymore.

    I wasn’t a fan of the band when I was young too. As usual, I was into Britney and all that shiz (and slowly going back to that… okay, nvm).. but during 6th grade – 4th year someone got me hooked to the band, the rest is history. :D Didn’t have their albums in tapes though, puro MP3’s.. hehe, sure, I hope they understand that. *crosses fingers*

    Seeing the 4 together in one stage that Saturday really made my night, parang celebration nga eh. I’m glad I did went, and didn’t listen to my conscience driving me nuts NOT to go to the concert (cause of laziness, haha!).. glad to be a part of history.

    Hey I think I’m part of the newer generation who are fans of the band who appreciates them as well, and I listen to a wide variety of genres. Actually medyo new-ish lang yung pakikinig ko sa ‘wide variety of genres’, dati Eheads/90s OPM lang talaga pinakikinggan ko. ;) Ewan ko lang sa mga emo dyan, tsupe! Haha joke.

  7. Joni says:

    Anna: Did you see those emo kids standing outside? Lol. I think it’s only Ely’s second angioplasty, the first one was in 2007. I hope he recovers soon, and I hope what Raimund Marasigan has been spreading around (about a second reunion) is true!!!

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