A week prior to the show, professional and personal bumps were waving at me. Almost 300 miles away from home, in a census-designated rural place with investigations to close, I managed to exit on time, despite being brain-fatigued with physical back pain from a soft mattress not good for the scoliosis, inspired by the fact that I shall see THE best band over the weekend.
My grade goal is 95 to 100%. Long drives and outdoor walks were punctuated with Eraserheads songs in the background as I did my "review."High school and college year playlist was mostly about their songs from ultraelectromagneticpop, circus and cutterpillow albums.
I have watched the band live a few times already, back in the 90's, and the last time was in 2009 when they had a reunion concert in Mall of Asia grounds in Manila. Then came May 20, 2023 at The Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles for their Huling El Bimbo World Tour. Soon as I entered the venue, I screamed my lungs out already, I told fam members I might pass out coz of the inner excitement I was having. The fact of the matter is I was soooo tensed, worried, stressed and sad lately yet could not manage to have a good cry as I was busy trying to get all work tasks done in time. Imagine, I had to choose not to cry coz I did not want to waste time and had to set aside my emotions in the back burner. WTH!!!
On the night of the show as lights were dimmed and the 2-minute countdown started, all the heaviness of the recent heart break, loss of a bestie, unimaginable work- related challenges and the chronic feeling of emptiness vanished. Seeing all four onstage- Ely, Raymund, Marcus and Buddy was super surreal but oh so amazing. I danced, jumped, sang, screamed the night away. Misty- eyed to see and hear them with their timeless pieces, I knew I deserved this night of fun and euphoria.
Thank you to Eraserheads. Tunay na LIGAYA, I felt I flew to ALAPAAP, I slept past midnight WITH A SMILE in my heart. Thank goodness, I got to sing and rock and rolled with them while my knee joints are still arthritis- free. They are still the same. The Ely who does not move yet has everyone in the audience under his spell. The Raymund with his grin and magical hands on the drums. The Marcus that has sariling mundo and The Buddy that is quiet yet simply at their best with guitar strings.
Eraserheads, THE best band ever forever. I think I got a grade of 96%, three of the 27 songs played nonstop for three hours, I did not know much.LOL!! Toyang they did not sing this night yet it came as a better surprise for me to hear them play Maselang Bahaghari, one of my most- favored Eheads compositions.
All my worries indeed were erased by Eraserheads this night.
Eraserheads.Music.Happiness.
