Eraserheads reunion gig: We’ll keep it fun and light

"I've been a fan since I was 10 years old," said the 40ish female journalist at the media conference for Huling El Bimbo — hyped as the last Eraserheads reunion concert to be held three days before Christmas at the SMDC Festival Grounds in Parañaque.

Laughter broke out at ABS-CBN's Dolphy Theater where the media meet was conducted, and there would be more humorous moments as the country's most famous band cracked jokes while fielding questions about the coming show.

Daily Tribune pointed out it's been 30 years since the first Eraserheads album, ultraelectromagneticpop, came out, and asked the group's members to describe what's the journey been like.

"The journey has been full of detours for each of us and our side groups," said bassist Buddy Zabala. "I think the stuff we've learned the past 30 years, on our own, we'll bring it to the concert. We've grown as musicians, we've matured as performers, and this is the first time we'll do this. We'll keep it fun and light."

Frontman and chief songwriter Ely Buendia added: "I thought I would be sick of the journey by now, but so far, it's been full of surprises."

Concert promoter Francis Lumen opened the press con proper by teasing the highlights: a hologram appearance by "the fifth Eraserhead," the late Francis M; a hundred drones taking every possible shot of the event; an 18-piece orchestra conducted by Mel Villena.

"Don't be late. It's gonna be spectacular," Lumen added.

But whose idea was the 18-piece orchestra?

"Somebody mentioned it in the first meeting," said drummer Raymund Marasigan. "We thought it was funny, but I think Francis (Lumen) was serious… We're not sure if we're gonna make it… Today (7 December) was the first time we rehearsed with them… It's gonna be dangerous."

Said guitarist Marcus Adoro: "Excited kami lahat, first time naming tumugtog with a full-blown orchestra… parang… wow, hininaan ko gitara ko para marinig ko sila…"

Commented Buendia: "About the orchestra… even though we're a small band from Diliman, we had our punk roots to begin with… most of our songs kasi are super-layered, lots of guitars… being true-blue music fans, we also dabbled with orchestral arrangements. I think this is the first time we will play the songs as we intended."

Added Zabala: "Sa orchestra, we can't say no to real violins, cellos, horn section, nothing can beat that. I experienced it this afternoon, the practice, tumayo balahibo ko… Mel Villena is a wonderful conductor and arranger."

A revelation: "Lightyears," a track from the Eheads' 1996 album Fruitcake, is on the concert setlist — and Marasigan said that hearing it during rehearsals with the orchestra was an extraordinary experience.

Zabala and Adoro concurred.

As more questions were thrown, a few things came to mind. The band we watched one afternoon in 1993 auditioning before executives of the then BMG Records at the old Club Dredd in Quezon City sounded pretty bad — Marasigan missing a beat, Adoro flubbing on a chord, Buendia singing off-key.

But they were obviously having fun and the noise they made was beautiful because their songs spoke to the youth of their time.

The Eraserheads today will surely sound better, and, as Buendia himself said, "So far, it's been full of surprises."

Tickets to The Eraserheads: Huling El Bimbo concert are still available in limited numbers: https://smtickets.com/events/view/11503#