Eraserheads: The Final Set

More than 10 million fans. Only 100,000 witnessed. And I'm lucky to be one of them.

Thank God for the excellent weather. For the mature crowd. For Ely's excellent health. For the Eraserheads' one helluva show.

Bubbles and I were positioned near the parking lot ticket booth at the Silver (1,300) area to have a good vantage point of the screen. Despite a sub-par hosting by the MTV VJs who just read their cue cards the entire time, the Final Set was a real deal enjoyment. The program which started with a short collection of Eheads' MTV appearances gave the crowd the added excitement. And when the countdown started, this time a lot shorter starting from the letter Z up to the traditional inverted E, the crowd just went ballistic! After that, we just had a fantastic time!

Set 1 started with the electrifying hit from their album "Circus", "Magasin" started like it was of a different tune. I really thought it was Toyang that they were introducing, until they started playing the familiar intro and hum, followed by a striking fireworks display! Then everybody just started cheering, and of course, singing with Ely as he started with: "Nakita kita sa isang magasin..."

Even the other members of the band had their share of the lead vocals, with Marcus Adoro doing a reggae version of the Cutterpillow hit "Huwag mo nang Itanong," while Raimund Marasigan left the drumming role and sang three hits, Alkohol, Insomya, and Slo Mo, in the first set. This was probably intentional, to give Ely's vocal chords a good rest, to ready him for the next two sets. Multi-talented Jazz Nicolas of Itchyworms substituted Raimund in the drums during his vocal stint, while he played the piano in the lounge version of "Kailan." He wore the shirt that said "Extra" with an inverted E. :)

Set 2 had a rather laid back atmosphere, with Ely Buendia sitting in his couch. He even bantered "Eto ang bago naming bahay." The crowd responded by cheering on to the next few tracks of the set, performed using acoustic instruments. Ely gave a good solid curse and a few funny tweaking of the lyrics when he sang the explicit version of "Pare Ko." They did a rendition of "Spoliarium" with a guitar distortion similar to the Beatles hit, "Strawberry Fields Forever." This is also when Ely performed a hidden track in Circus, the Lounge version of "Kailan." Jazz Nicolas of Itchyworms played the piano.

Set 3 contained the Eheads' most addicting tunes. It also featured a tribute to their close buddy in the music industry, Master Rapper Francis Magalona, by singing Superproxy and the chorus of Kaleidoscope World. It was reported that Francis Magalona is supposed to be the guest artist of this concert, and he was supposed to sing the rap portion of Superproxy. Unfortunately, he did not make it. The Eraserheads gave a good tribute to a good friend and a solid foundation of the Filipino music industry.

In this set, the band also gave a different twist to the first track of the first reunion concert, "Alapaap. They gave it a slower mood, with Ely starting the song from the chorus "Masdan mo ang aking mata..." The background sound of the winds gave a more vibrant trance-type twist to the song.

The "Official" Set ended with the band's most famous song, "Huling El Bimbo." Fireworks were lighted, while Ely symbolically ended a great era of Pinoy Rock Music by setting up on fire the famous sticker-clad piano seen in the cover of Sticker Happy. People sang along, cheered at the fireworks and Ely's stunt, while they reminisce all the individual memories tied to this song. The concert "ended with a bang! Ely Buendia then ended the set with the words "We are the Eraserheads. Thank you!"

As we were about to leave the jampacked premises, Raimund went back to the stage, saying he still wants to play! So he asked the crowd to call on the other members of the Eheads! Buddy then went up the stage, followed by Ely. Marcus was the last to get back. They then huddled in the middle of the stage to talk about their surprise set. Ely then announced that they are going to sing three more songs! They sang their first-ever single, Ligaya, Sembreak and Toyang!

Below is the set list:

Set 1:

Magasin

Walang Nagbago

Maling Akala

Maskara

Poor Man's Grave

Waiting for the Bus

Wag Mo Nang Itanong

Slo Mo

Alkohol

Insomya

Torpedo

Set 2:

Julie Tearjerky

Tikman

Wishing Wells

Fine Time

Pare Ko

Kailan

Back 2 Me

Trip to Jerusalem

Spoliarium

Overdrive

Set 3:

Superproxy

Minsan

Alapaap

Kaleidoscope World (chorus)

Ang Huling El Bimbo

Bonus Set:

Ligaya

Sembreak

Toyang

This is probably the best concert I have seen ever! To the Eraserheads, thank you for bringing out the best show ever in your careers. Cheers!

"Do be successful. Don't be famous." --Ely Buendia, in an MTV interview

Eraserheads: The Final Set
March 7, 2009
SM MAll of Asia Concert Grounds