"Thank you everyone for supporting the reunion of the Eraserheads, we however regret to inform you that due to my brother's poor health because of the emotional and physical stress that his been experiencing, we apologize for cutting the concert short, my brother had to be rushed to the hospital for medical attention, again we apologize and thank you all of you for coming here tonight."
This was the announcement made by Lally Buendia, Ely's sister, after the Eraserheads reunion concert held at The Fort Open Field was cut short. Ely was rushed to Makati Medical Center due to chest pains and overfatigue that according to reports, made him collapsed after the first set of the supposed to be thirty song concert.
I was there!!!
I was there around 8:00 p.m. last night (August 30), and I was upset at first because my belt was confiscated by security bulldogs around the general admission entrance, because it had metal on it. The place was a full-packed, and everyone were so excited as the count down was flashed on the big screen, signifying the number of minutes for the concert to commence.
It brings back memories of my high school days, my freshmen year, at the University of Mindanao's school canteen at Bolton St., eating noodles, when I first heard their song "Pare ko" from their Ultraelectomagneticpop album, and as I looked at them at the concert, there's alot of reflections and memoirs in my head, that made me miss those wonderful years in the era of the Philippines most influential and prominent Pinoy rock band of the 1990s, the Eraserheads.
At the count of 00:00:00, the lights went out, the fans screamed their hearts out, and those screams are saying, this is it! this is what we've been waiting for a very long time, the music, the talented individuals behind the guitars, the bass and the drums, a reunion of Ely, Buddy, Marcus and Raimund, then "SA WAKAS..." flashed on the big screen.
I heard Tug! dug! tug! dug! tug! dug! tug! dug!, as fans were yelling woooooooohhhhhhh!!!, with mixed emotions and it was really a great feeling seeing them live for the first time (for me), then lights went out again, and there it goes they are being elavated on the stage, as they started playing "Alapaap", and everyone on my right side started jumping, like kids on the loose, as a gesture of how happy they were as they sing along with the first song of the reunion concert. Most of the audience, anchored their friends shoulders, like "hey buddy remember those times when we were...there, like this, and like that..."
I love way the way Raimund revived his green colored hair, It really reminds me of their poster on a songhit mag that I can't buy that time, due to the limited allowance my parents gave me. Well luckily I memorize the song lineup from the first set that includes,
Alapaap, Ligaya, Sembreak, Hey Jay, Harana, Fruitcake, Toyang, Kama Supra, Kailan, Wag Kang Matakot, With a smile, Kaliwete, Shake Yer Head, Huwag mo nang itanong, and Light Years.
Although the concert was cut short after the first set, I am still satisfied. I am grateful, that once in my lifetime, I saw them perform live, and was part of an event that would become a page on the Eraserheads history.
Hope Ely is fine and well soon. I remembered him quoting "They try to tell us were to old, to old to really be to young..." while starting the song Toyang that really amused me.
As a fan I am thankful and blessed. As a songwriter, they will always be on the top of my musical influences, and they will always be remembered by the next generations to come.
Note: pic was taken from schizo-archives.com
Also see related post:
anima9.wordpress.com
philippinesfunwall.wordpress.com
greyweaver.wordpress.com
www.abs-cbnnews.com
news.abs-cbn.com
and Eraserheads Reunion Concert pics: tabblo.com
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