My Eraserheads Reunion Concert Experience

We were there as early as 4:00PM at the Patron section. Although we bought the most expensive ticket for sale for that concert, it was quite disappointing that we are still far-away from the stage because of a large area given to the VIPs.

4 hours later, the place was filled with people. The countdown began. And then, came the Eraserheads grand entrance, emerging from the bottom of the stage, playing the intro to Alapaap. People screaming. Happy to see the four together again. Everyone was on cloud 9.

This is the first time that I’ve watched a concert live, and even though it was cut short, it was memorable. More than an hour of continuous Eraserheads songs, sung by the band themselves, with all the people in chorus singing with them. And the band was playing as if they’ve been playing these songs all these years. They really gave their 100% for the show. No drama. Just music. Full of Eraserheads music.

Well, we all know what happened later then. We were all waiting for the next set when the announcement came. Ely was rushed to the hospital.

Now, here’s what could have happened if Ely was not rushed to the hospital (got these details from the Eraserheads Yahoogroups):

Now it can be told.
Aug 31, ’08 7:43 PM for everyone.

We were all supposed to dance the Huling El Bimbo with a fantastic fireworks display. It was going to be the perfect song to end a perfect concert.

I know because my sister said so. She was one of the band’s PAs (guess which one!) and was there during the production meetings. On Sunday morning, as we gathered for our family lunch, she told us what was supposed to go down during the Eheads concert.

The first set went exactly as planned, except of course for Ely’s collapse. To refresh your memory, these are the songs we heard:

1. Alapaap
2. Ligaya
3. Sembreak
4. Hey Jay
5. Harana
6. Fruitcake
7. Toyang
8. Kama Supra
9. Kailan
10. Wag Kang Matakot
11. Kaliwete
12. With A Smile
13. Shake Yer Head
14. Wag Mo Nang Itanong
15. Lightyears

During the second set, the band was to sing ten more songs, in this order:

1. Maskara
2. Poor Man’s Grave
3. Torpedo
4. Trip to Jerusalem
5. Back To Me
6. walang Nagbago
7. Maling Akala
8. Tikman
9. Spoliarium
10.Magasin

When Magasin was to be played, the screen behind them would have montages of various news and magazine clippings of them. It would flash alternately with shots of the band and audience until the song reached the coda where Ely sings “…ay centerfold ka naaaa…woo hoo-hoo, haaa-haaa” part of the song. Then there would be fire works and a fountain of sparks, going on til the last note of the song. Then the hydraulic stage would be lowered and the band would make a “fake ending”.

The lights would then go out.

My sister said the band would wait til the crowd chanted “more”. “It would take two beers’ worth of chanting “more” she said. Then in the darkness, a very dramatic keyboard solo would be heard, and it would be the opening chords of Para Sa Masa.

The hydraulic stage would rise again and there they would be.

After Para Sa Masa, they’d switch into Overdrive. With the crowd pumped within an inch of insanity they were to hit us with Pare Ko. And then we would slow down and reminisce with Minsan.

Finally, they would perform Huling El Bimbo. Again, after the last refrain, at the coda (la la la laaa…) the grand fireworks display would go off, fountains of light surrounding the stage. The next la-la-la parts would see fireworks from behind the general admissions section, and as the song ended there would be a burst of confetti all over the audience.

Then the hydraulic stage would be lowered for the final exit.

Those were the plans for the Ultraelectromagnetic night. It may not have happened as planned but at least we knew they were going to give us a show we would never forget!

We asked my sister if the band knew about all these plans and she said they did. In fact they were so excited about all the gimmicks and couldn’t wait to party with the audience. “Nag-usap pa nga sila kung may mga kailangang saluhin na kanta just in case (di na kaya ni Ely),” she said. “And Ely said, hindi, Kakanta ako!”

I’m putting out an order to the Universe that we all get to watch the second set!

Source: Dangling Tea Leaves

I will surely watch them again if a Part 2 pushes through.

Update: Here are some links to good quality videos from the concert courtesy of Inquirer.net:

• Alapaap
• Ligaya
• Sembreak