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?
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