By Jim Ayson (www.philmusic.com)
Sunday, 31 August 2008
Unless you were hiding in a cave in Afghanistan over the weekend, you’re already hip to the story. Ely Buendia was whisked away to the hospital after the first set of the long-awaited Eraserheads Reunion concert, essentially putting a halt to the show around the half-way mark.
It was the musicians in the audience who got the word first. Halfway into the intermission after the concert’s first set, after being approached by a representative from the production, they got the news that Ely had been rushed to the hospital and that the concert would not be continuing. The production was still grappling for a way to break the news to the audience.
To avoid getting caught in a big crowd exodus, they formed a single file queue and snaked their way through the crowd that was massed at the SVIP section right the front of the stage, and headed towards the exit.
As shocking as it was for fans later on, it was really no different for Ely Buendia’s comrades in arms from other bands and the music scene silently filing out. Among those I saw were Quark Henares (wearing his black Eraserhead shirt - relating to the David Lynch film, not the band), Mark Escueta of Rivermaya, Aia De Leon of Imago, Kris Dancel of Cambio, Vin Dancel of Peryodiko, Diego Castillo of Sandwich, Diego Mapa of Cambio/Pedicab, RX 93.1 DJ Monica “Francesca” Tobias, ex-Eheads band manager Karin Araneta, and Dawn film/video director Mike Sandejas.
They made their way out the SVIP exit quietly into the street fronting Bonifacio High Street, avoiding mentioning what they knew out loud. They were still in a state of shock, as was everyone. People were calling and texting, trying to make sense of what they had just been told.
Ten minutes later, an official announcement to the audience that the concert would be stopped was made by The Eraserheads, Lally Buendia, and Francis Lumen of concert producers Radiohead and MTV.
To add to the confusion, there was a rumor that Ely had a heart attack and was undergoing a “triple bypass operation” at Makati Medical Center, due to a breaking “news” report chock-full of false information was released online by entertainment website Pep.ph . This bit of misinformation was quickly debunked - no such operation took place - and pulled from the site hours later.
So when the word went out that Ely was in stable condition and resting, the musicians just had to celebrate. The night was still young.
The crowd gathered at the underground dive Saguijo in Makati, to celebrate. Saguijo was supposed to have been the site of the after-party, and in a way the crowd that assembled was there to release the bottled up tension from the evening and to celebrate the news that Ely was doing fine.
Raymund Marasigan himself gave his account of those moments, posting on the Subsandwich mailing list:
after the first set I was so hyped. I went looking for Buddy to check up on him cos his bass effects was malfunctioning.
i found him coming out of ely’s tent and said ely was rushed to the hospital. we were all stunned and after a quick production meeting and meeting with his family we had to announce that the concert had to be cut short.
we prepared 3 sets. the first was just a warm up. the remaining two was going to be the fun part. there was more videos and light shows and pyro in store for everyone.
after getting fans family and friends safely out of the venue maps and i headed over to saguijo bar to meet sandwich pedicab cambio and some friends to hang.
after a few beers buddy arrives so we decided to play the second set on borrowed equipment. thanx to mark maya for the stix. we had a little help from ebe, kris, vin, aia and tani. by the time we were playing el bimbo marcus shows up so he got to play also.
i guess we just did not want to go home to our posh hotel rooms all down and defeated. i’m thankful we have great friends to support us, cheer us up when we’re sad, pick us up when we’re down.
here’s my new motto:
drum now ask questions laterraym<s>
Part of the get-together was an impromptu jam of some of the songs that were supposed to have made up the second set. Raimund, Buddy, and Marcus teamed up with Kris Dancel of Cambio (a former member of the Eraserheads herself, since she joined the quartet for a short-lived run after the departure of Ely Buendia) and her brother-in-law Ebe Dancel of Sugarfree and Aia de Leon on vocals.
Songs performed included “Minsan,” “Magasin,” Spoliarium, “Pare ko,” and “Ang Huling el Bimbo.”
Luckily for those of who weren’t there to witness the scene, there was some impromptu video coverage promptly posted on YouTube by Quark Henares and Mark Escueta.
Quark’s commentary about his video:
After the reunion concert was cut short due to unforeseen and sad circumstances, the remaining members decided to debrief and talk Saguijo. Everyone was in high spirts info came out that Ely was well and good, and maybe as an act of celebration (or simply because nabitin sila sa concert), they decided to jam when there was no one left. The result is one of the most heartfelt and inspiring performances i’ve ever seen in my life. You’ll have to forgive me singing out loud at one point. I couldn’t help it.
Video: “Ang Huling El Bimbo” at Saguijo (video by Mark Escueta)
And so it goes - if you think about it, one of the biggest OPM concerts of the decade (with estimates ranging from 20,000 to 60,000 people in attendance, depending on who you believe) actually ended — in a tiny bar on Guijo street in Makati.
Even if he has been touring with Journey as new vocalist and has just finished recording Revelation, his first album with the group, Arnel Pineda feels that his own “journey” to international stardom has just begun.