Eraserheads

I was eating dinner with two friends from the office at a local fastfood (hehe... "karenderya"). TV Patrol World was on and we caught news regarding the abrupt, almost tragic end to the Eraserheads reunion concert last Saturday, August 30. Ely Buendia, vocalist, reportedly collapsed backstage as the band was preparing for their second set. No details whether Ely lost consciousness. He was rushed to a nearby hospital.

If I were in Manila at that time, I'd be in the concert. I remember there was no bigger Filipino band around 1994, 1995. There will probably those who'd disagree, but seriously, song for song, hit for hit, there is yet to be a bigger local band than the Eraserheads. Their only album that I own was "Cutterpillow" (1995). It was a cassette tape. I was a scholar in high school and what little allowance I had at the time I saved for stuffs other than cassettes that were, quite frankly, luxuries for me. But I still saved money and I bought the tape. I was happy I did. I'd play it over and over at home. And I even brought it with me to school. The jeepney ride from school to home was around 30 minutes (from home to school I'd ride the DM bus for free) depending on the number of stops it had to make along the way. I'd ask the drivers if they could play the tape. They would. More than one time, I'd be in a jeep and my fellow passengers (mostly students) would sing along or at least mouth the words to the Cutterpillow hits.

While eating and upon hearing the news.
Me: Remember how popular they were back then?
Friend 1: Hmm... don't know.
Friend 2: Believe him. It was during his time. He's that old.
Me: (Shrugs) There's nothing more popular than them. I'm glad I was old enough to enjoy their heyday.

According to Jessica Zafra, these were the fourteen songs they played before the reunion was cut short: 1. Alapaap 2. Ligaya 3. Sembreak 4. Hey Jay 5. Harana 6. Fruitcake 7. Toyang 8. Kama Supra 9. Kailan 10. Wag Kang Matakot 11. Kaliwete 12. With A Smile 13. Shake Yer Head 14. Huwag Mo Nang Itanong Sa Akin.