Last night at the MOA Concert grounds was one of the best experiences of my life that will be alive in my memory until i die. It was the Final Set of the Eraserheads that shaked the reclaimed land right beside the Manila Bay. I shared this moment with a special woman in my life, Miles, along with the thousands of eheads fans from as young as 10 years old to mid 40s to 50s. It was a night filled of joy and emotions as the ‘heads played their hearts out and mind you, everyone felt it. The crowd was sometimes silent because everyone was listening as if it was a dream hearing the 4 boys play their songs live again. Although we were watching in the big screen most of the time, it was worth it because just the feeling of being in that concert was phenomenal, it was stellar and dream-like.

The first song they played was Magasin, a very calssic song from their album Circus, after a cool alphabetical countdown from Z-E. Name that tune. Ely said before playing Maling Akala when Raim was preparing his beats. It was also memorable when Ely introduced Raims on vocals when they did the song Slomo and it was a Raimund-sandiwch-like performance. The entire first set was:
Magasin
Walang Nagbago
Maling Akala
Maskara
Poorman’s Grave
Waiting for the Bus
Huwag Mo nang Itanong (Marcus on vox)
Slo Mo(Raymund on vox)
Alkohol (Raymund on vox)
Insomya(Raymund on vox)
Torpedo

Then a long break. Everyone was waiting anxiously hoping that Ely would still be fine. When they came back, an acoustic set up was in the stage and Ely asked, “How do you like our new house?”. Ely was convincingly happy playing again. He interacts with the crowd everytime he likes as well as the other 3. Buddy was silent all through out while Raim and Marcus were crazy.
The second set includes 5 acoustic and unplugged songs that areall my favorite. I’m even listening right now to Wishing Wells! Julie tearjerky was amazing, Ely inserted a line from the song Jump of Van halen while singing the chorus. Trip to Jerusalem was amazing as if i transcended from my elementary years, whoa. While Spolarium was played, the intro sounded like the Beatles’ Strawberry Fields Forever and it was very fantastic. The set list includes:
Julie Tearjerky (acoustic/unplugged)
Tikman ang Langit (acoustic/unplugged)
Wishing Wells (acoustic/unplugged) (Raymund on vox)
Fine Time (acoustic/unplugged)
Pare Ko (acoustic/unplugged)
Kailan (acoustic/unplugged)
Back2Me
Trip to Jerusalem
Spoliarium
Overdrive (fireworks again!)
After Overdrive, Ely shouts goodbye but everyone is not going anywhere since it was bitin. I was not also leaving because i know there will be an encore. Through out the performance, Ely numerously told the crowd if they can still handle it and some of the peeps beside me answer back “Ikaw, kaya mo pa ba?” and “Kamusta ka naman?” These sarcastic statements was because of the first reunion concert that Ely broke down and got his 3rd Angioplasty.
The encore was happening as they give their tribute to the late Francis M who passed away just a day before the concert. Kiko was supposedly going to perform as a surprise in the number Superproxy. Dealing with the tragic event, Ely sang Kiko’s part. They also played a part from the song Kaleidoscope World and gave thier goodbyes to Francis M. At last, the song Ang Huling El Bimbo was played which was I believed to be the last song. Ely portrayed Jime Hendrix at the last part while he set the Sticker Happy piano on fire and destroys it. The encore list was:
Superproxy (tribute to FrancisM)
Minsan
Alapaap
Kaleidoscope World (tribute to FrancisM)
Ang Huling El Bimbo

Okay, okay. Everything was done, people started to go out and we also started walking towards the gate. “Bitin pa ba ako?” Gusto ko pa ba?”. Raymund grabbed the mic while tech peeps slowly packs up and returned everything to normal after Raims called out the rest of the heads. They huddled and told the crowd that this is not included in the set and Ely said “3 for the road!” and we started going back. This time, most of the crowd infront of the silver section was jumping over to the gold section until the barricades were down. Miles was insisting to go infront and i was quite hesitant because it might be a stampede but i did not mind anymore and we ran as fast, bumping others and voila, we are in the gold section and we can see the guys playing at the stage! Stage was set and they played couple of classics Ligaya, Sembreak and Toyang. The VIP section was very lucky that they sang the last song. Then, the show is over. The concert is done but the memories are just starting to sync into me.
It was a very solemn night i guess for many of us who are accompanied by our folks, girlfriends, husbands and wives. Ely was right, it was a movement in music during the ’90s that continues today and they were part of it, I was part of it and most of us are part of it. This concert is a reward for the ever loving fans of the ‘Heads although many are not in the event to witness it. After so many break-up stories, allegations and rumors, all of us are very happy and forgotten al that have happen.
Is this their Final Set? Honestly, i wanted them to be back as ‘heads for an album and hopes are high that they are now in good terms with each other. For all who stand by them and continued their support just like me, lets just wait and something good will be coming for us.
Images from Circus lister: Jiggs http://jiggsv3x.multiply.com