I Love The Eraserheads

I write this hours before their supposedly final concert dubbed as, 'Eraserheads: The Final Set', driven by the thought of how much I really loved and still love this band. Was it 15 years ago when I first heard of them? They did not exactly fit the this-band-will-make-it formula, but Eraserheads did and not only did they make it big, they made Philippine music history.

But what made them tick? Ely (Buendia) was not the best singer in the land; more glaringly so when balladeers Martin Nievera and Gary Valenciano ruled the airwaves back then. None of them looked or even acted like stars - no mohawk, no glaring tattoos, no long hair and inverted crosses. They had no "act", none of them wore a skirt, no silly dancing-with-guitar onstage and rarely did they engage a crowd. They played around with synthesizers but there were no jaw dropping drum solos or scorching guitar riffs. But when the music gets started, no person (not even parents who came with their kids) would be caught sitting down. Mosh pits would form (yes, and they don't even play punk), girls would scream and everyone moved to how their music conducted them. And that's it. With Eraserheads, it's all about the music. Their songs have gone beyond who Ely, Buddy, Markus and Raymund are as individuals.

Who did not sing "Pare Ko" at one point in their lives? When Ely sings, "Gagawin ko ang lahat pati ang thesis mo...” , girls swoon- whether they have an idea of what a thesis is or not. When they sing about something, anyone could relate to it. They wrote about a lot of things simply but with a lot of expression. Their lyrics, at times, were raw, gritty, street smart. Sometimes, they were gentle, sweet, tragic but always intelligent. People laughed and cried at their songs. People can discuss about Eraserheads songs and philosophize or just grab a bottle or two of their favorite brew and simply sing along. Their songs could be over thought about or just simply taken in as they are. And that’s what I really love about them: no hype, just their lyrics and their tunes.

Tonight, I will watch their final concert and I bought the cheapest ticket. I do not need to see them. I would just want to feel that vibe once again- sing, dance and reminisce with people who love their music as well. And for a concert, that’s Ligaya.