I got the chills a thousand miles away
One of my favorite coffee-table music books of all-time is I Was There: Gigs that changed the world. It describes in vignettes the major gigs that really defined music. The Beatles live at Shea Stadium. Cream live at the Royal Albert Hall. Jimi Hendrix at Woodstock and the Monterey Pop Festival. All those one time-big time affairs.
I wasn't there, heck I wasn't even in the country to begin with, but man, the Eraserheads reunion concert was, according to all accounts, "mesmerizing", "amazing" and "historical", despite being cut short sadly when Ely Buendia collapsed backstage and was rushed to the hospital during intermission, seemingly another heart attack.
I offer my constant prayers for Ely's speedy recovery. I also offer my prayers for his mom who died a couple of days ago, and my God, I could not imagine the intense emotional and physical stress he faced which eventually got the better of him. He and the E-Heads are definitely one of my biggest heroes when it comes to Pinoy music, alongside Teddy Diaz of The Dawn (RIP), Manuel Legarda of Wolfgang, and the Radioactive Sago. I really hope he pulls through this ordeal. But he's a fighter, and I know he'll pull through with God's help.
Because they played only 15 of the scheduled 30 song set, many are wondering if there's even gonna be a part 2. I say, for the sake of Ely's health, wag muna. If anything, they proved themselves again last night even if there's nothing more to prove. They are the greatest Pinoy band ever assembled.
I saw the video of the introductory countdown leading to the opening bars of "Alapaap" (no other way to open it). I swear to god, I got the chills and was even on the verge of tears a thousand miles away! I mean, I seriously never thought this day would come. Our generation grew up listening to songs about heartache ("Pare Ko") to the simple life ("Toyang") to Christmas ("Fruitcake"), heck even an ode to driving ("Overdrive"). It's not only history, it's epic. They will always be my idols and huge inspirations to myself and those following in the footsteps of real Pinoy rock. Hard to believe the magnitude of their innovation and influence, especially if you think about how they as UP students formed the band back in 1989, "para mapansin naman kami".
Even if it was cut short, that gig will really change the Pinoy music scene for many years to come. People are gonna talk about it forever and Pinoy rock history will place it side-by-side with the 1970 Antipolo Rock Music Festival (our Woodstock!) and the 1986 San Miguel Ultrastorm which transformed The Dawn and Teddy Diaz into legends.
I still wish I was there.
Basketbol sa banyo!
I wasn't there, heck I wasn't even in the country to begin with, but man, the Eraserheads reunion concert was, according to all accounts, "mesmerizing", "amazing" and "historical", despite being cut short sadly when Ely Buendia collapsed backstage and was rushed to the hospital during intermission, seemingly another heart attack.
I offer my constant prayers for Ely's speedy recovery. I also offer my prayers for his mom who died a couple of days ago, and my God, I could not imagine the intense emotional and physical stress he faced which eventually got the better of him. He and the E-Heads are definitely one of my biggest heroes when it comes to Pinoy music, alongside Teddy Diaz of The Dawn (RIP), Manuel Legarda of Wolfgang, and the Radioactive Sago. I really hope he pulls through this ordeal. But he's a fighter, and I know he'll pull through with God's help.
Because they played only 15 of the scheduled 30 song set, many are wondering if there's even gonna be a part 2. I say, for the sake of Ely's health, wag muna. If anything, they proved themselves again last night even if there's nothing more to prove. They are the greatest Pinoy band ever assembled.
I saw the video of the introductory countdown leading to the opening bars of "Alapaap" (no other way to open it). I swear to god, I got the chills and was even on the verge of tears a thousand miles away! I mean, I seriously never thought this day would come. Our generation grew up listening to songs about heartache ("Pare Ko") to the simple life ("Toyang") to Christmas ("Fruitcake"), heck even an ode to driving ("Overdrive"). It's not only history, it's epic. They will always be my idols and huge inspirations to myself and those following in the footsteps of real Pinoy rock. Hard to believe the magnitude of their innovation and influence, especially if you think about how they as UP students formed the band back in 1989, "para mapansin naman kami".
Even if it was cut short, that gig will really change the Pinoy music scene for many years to come. People are gonna talk about it forever and Pinoy rock history will place it side-by-side with the 1970 Antipolo Rock Music Festival (our Woodstock!) and the 1986 San Miguel Ultrastorm which transformed The Dawn and Teddy Diaz into legends.
I still wish I was there.
Basketbol sa banyo!