December 22, 2022. SMDC Festival Grounds. ERASERHEADS. Huling El Bimbo.
Bombarded by birthday greetings from family, friends, colleagues and insurance company 😂.
Today is gonna be the day that they're gonna throw it back to...me? Haha!
Eraserheads will be playing their final (final?!?) reunion concert in PH. I was the happiest person in the entire universe when I learned that they're going to play on my birthday. No more questions asked, no buts and ifs, I will be there come hell or high water, even dead and cold hahaha!
Dizizit! Bzzzt bzzzt! I'm going to experience once more (or for the last time?) that euphoric feeling, nostalgic ecstacy - ultraelectromagnetichigh.
The Diegos started stepping on the gas at around 8:00 P.M. to fill our dehydrated souls with music that we, the heads generation, love to death.
The 90s kid in me started giggling and mumbling, with the occasional head bounce (cannot do the head bang now, vertigo will kill me 😵💫) and stomping, eyes closed, to entirely feel the moment. OPM Megahits from FrancisM, Yano, Wolfgang, Razorback, P.O.T., Mastaplann, Pu3ska and even Gary V were included in their catalogue, combined with the famed 90s anthem from Nirvana, RATM, RHCP, Cypress Hill, Beck, Salt-N-Pepa, Naughty by Nature, Arrested Development, Breeders, The Cardigans, Blur, Daft Punk, Chemical Brothers, Beastie Boys, Fatboy Slim and merry more. They capped off their set with Teeth's Laklak, which heightened our sentimental senses and rebellious teen spirit.
8:30 P.M. The whole festival grounds went black and silent (just for a few seconds). Then the jumbo LED screens flashed a montage of Eheads' journey counting down to this epic finale.
5. 4. 3. 2. 1. Wooooooooooooohhhhh!!!
Lights off. All of us are guessing the first song. My previous assumptions were Fruitcake (why not? it's christmas time!), Superproxy (coz of the main producer's bragging of the hologram tech that made the ticket prices soar high way up in the sky 🤣) & Pop Machine (this is my current favorite). And then baaaaam! We all went insane and in flames!
We were all screaming our hearts out. Although the audio and visuals were disappointing (we barely hear the solid sound of guitars/bass, the screen display at the Moshpit/VIP section was out of sync with the music), our energies were intensified more than ever. Sing. Scream. Jump. Bounce. Stomp. Repeat. Then Elmo, Arkin and Eon went down the main stage to perform with their respective dads, and the much-awaited hologram of the great Francis Magalona unfolded right before our fiery eyes. I must admit that I am not impressed with the 3-D moving figure (with that ticket price they could've done better), but the illusion of him performing was undeniably a feast.
Oh my God. They're going to shove the whole Cutterpillow album to our face! The album art at the back of their most successful album were flashed one by one in the screen. BTW, I love their all black outfit for the 1st set.
Upon hearing Raymund's familiar drum patterns, we screamed in unison again. Saan ka nagtungo, tumila na ang ambon, sana man lang naghintay kahit na konting sandali, weee weee weee!!! (takatakatakatak) Sorry for all the people near me recording that important moment of your lives, you'll definitely hear my voice singing along, that was unforgivably cringeworthy. 🤣You can still hear my voice and it gets more annoying as the night progresses.
When they played Overdrive, we were loaded with nitro boost during the whole song and we stand by near the end, not sure if we wanted to hear the monologue of Marcus (Pare 'di na magstart yan, buti pa kain na lang tayo) or let them proceed onto the next song.
Slo mo. They let Ely rest for a bit. Raymund on vocals! Also one of my favorites, I love every bit of this masterpiece (written by the 4 geniuses). My twitter username was inspired by this song.
Another trip down the memory lane - Huwag mo nang itanong - I was in 5th or 6th grade when this song was released. It made me laugh when I first heard the line, "ewan ko, hindi ko alam, pwede bang huwag na lang nating pag-usapaaaaan. Huwag mo nang itanong sa akin, 'di ko rin naman sasabihin", I thought, oh dear, that was sooooo me haha! I don't talk much when I was younger (until now?), that was a waste of time for me, I value my solitude more than the nonsense chitchats.
Next! First time to hear Paru-Parong Ningning live. Though Raymund & Ely were upbeat, I was unable to move because I'm having cramps hahaha (signs of aging). Standing still while enduring the agonizing pain, I didn't want to be pulled out of the concert grounds. I just need water and I'll be fine 😂
I'm still singing and dancing with the crowd (even with recurring cramps haha) and then Raymund strikes again! Yoko - A very fitting song for the current madness we have these days. "Tigilan na 'tong raket, raket ng gobyerno, 'di ko na kelangan ng pang-aabuso niyo" / "milyon-milyong pilipinong estudyante, tumiwalag, palayain ang sarili!"
Ely showcased his acoustic guitar prowess, singing along with the crowd, as Fill her ended the first set.
The 30-minute break started with Cutterpillow playing in the background of the countdown timer. I used to have a cat, who wouldn't ever wanna get fat! I kept singing while in a rush to buy water. Aaaaaaahhh my throat was dry and painful. But I don't care, I'm going to sing my heart and lungs out all night. Haha!
Opening song for the second set - Pop Machine! At last, wish granted! As I've said earlier, this song is my current fave. The beat, the rhythm and the lyrics were perfect. Kailan ba ako magkakapera? Yeah!
I was surprised to hear them play Sabado. They released this song back in 2014, along with 1995 (the song, not the year). The limited edition CD was included in the Esquire Magazine September 2014 issue. Buti na lang, I got my own copy hehe.
Of course they also played their very first single (Ligaya) that captured the entire nation. Who would've thought that a tshirt, isaw, tansan and thesis (I don't even know thesis at that time, I was only in 3rd grade playing jackstone & patintero when I heard it on the radio) will make them legendary rock icons.
Buddy introduced Maestro Mel Villena who helped them arrange Lightyears - my ultimate favorite song from Eraserheads. No words needed. Just listen. The orchestra almost made me cry.
Aside from the orchestra and the back-up singers from AHEB cast, they were assisted by their auxiliary band members: Audry Dionisio, Mikey Amistoso and Jazz Nicolas.
Surprised again upon hearing the back-up singers sang the lines: In a hostile takeover bid... Whoa! Saturn Return! One of the songs in my wishlist. I wanna see a showdown from Ely and Raymund. But it got a lot better! Backed by the orchestra, the rap parts of Rayms were performed superbly by Arkin Magalona and Eon Buendia. I think after the 2nd set, I saw Diane Ventura (Eon's mom) and told her that Eon was impressive, then she shouted loud and proud, "Galing ni Eon!". The kids are alright.
Got another one in my wishlist - Tama Ka. At long last, been wanting to hear this live. Buddy didn't disappoint. "Minsan nagtatanong kung saan, kailan, paano nasimulan, ang katapusang mahirap takasan, pero 'wag na, ibato mo na lang sa ulan."
After With a smile, the band continued to play Insomya, perfect timing to pump up the crowd. We were on fire again! SWWWWW
Amazed and delighted when I heard the intro of Christmas Party. Another fave from the Fruitcake album. Did not expect this song, I was more convinced that Fruitcake will make the cut. Gary V sang the parts originally sang by the late Francis M.
The Sticker Happy piano was used as a backdrop during Spoliarium and made it more melancholic and gloomy. Remember The Final Set concert 13 years ago? That very same piano was set on fire. We can also feel the show's about to end soon.
They ended the second set with Magasin. Short break.
Encore. During Pare Ko, Raymund walks around the stage recording the event while drinking haha! "Lalo lang madadagdagan ang sakit ng ulo at bilbil sa tiyan" 🤣
Alapaap's intro was playing and the crowd sing along. But that was a mistake, that's why Ely's opening spiel doesn't add up haha! Minsan was the correct song, followed by Alapaap and the final song, Ang Huling El Bimbo. One of the greatest songs ever written, it was really doing well on its own, but when backed up by the orchestra, it went more magical and breathtaking. They ended the night with the magnificent fireworks display and loads of confetti shower.
1. Superproxy 2. Back2me 3. Waiting for the bus 4. Fine time 5. Kamasupra 6. Overdrive 7. Slo Mo 8. Torpedo 9. Huwag mo nang itanong
10. Paru-Parong Ningning 11. Walang Nagbago
12. Poorman's grave 13. Yoko 14. Fill her
15. Pop Machine 16. Sembreak 17. Sabado
18. Ligaya 19. Lightyears 20. Saturn Return
21. Maling Akala 22. Tama Ka 23. With a smile
24. Insomya 25. Christmas Party 26. Spoliarium
28. Pare Ko 29. Minsan 30. Alapaap
Only three songs on my wishlist weren't included in their awesome setlist: Fruitcake, Maselang Bahaghari & Balikbayan Box. But still, one for the books! Thank you for the best birthday ever!!!
From the 8 year old kid in 1993 who listened to your songs & stick (still kick!) until the end. Amen? AMEN!!!
