The Eraserheads once again sealed their position as OPM legends with an epic 3-hour concert attended by a 75,000-strong crowd that brought to life the whole 2-hectare space of the SMDC Festival Grounds.
A Setlist of Epic Proportions: 3 Decades In 31 Songs
Beyond a carefully curated 31-song set, even the house music as gates opened to the opening act and intermission set by The Diegos, the soundscape set the mood that took fans on a journey to the 90s.
There was no better way to open the show than having Francis M to join the band brought to life via hologram to perform “Superproxy.” It was a powerful number layered with meaningful nostalgia as Francis M’s sons Elmo and Arkin Magalona also jammed with their father alongside Ely, Raymund, Buddy, and Marcus.
After opening with “Superproxy,” they played “Back2Me” which fans immediately recognized as the track that follows Superproxy in the Cutterpillow album. As if to prove a hunch right and much to the fans’ delight, the band proceeded to play the entire Cutterpillow album in its true succession except for one song which they saved for the second act. The first act ended with “Fill Her” performed by Ely with a singular spotlight that sent chills throughout the crowd.
“When you play rock and roll, you can’t just play at 20%, it always has to be 110% or it won’t be rock and roll,” Marasigan said previously, during the concert’s press conference. And as if the first act wasn’t enough, the entire second act is definite proof of the band giving more than 110% for their fans from across generations of OPM-lovers.
The second act opened with the song “Pop Machine” after a 30-minute break. Different music personalities joined the Eraserheads to bring more of their hits to life: Jazz Nicolas, Mikey Amistoso, Audrey Dionisio, select cast members of the musical “Ang Huling El Bimbo,” and the A.M.P. (Asosasyon ng Musikong Pilipino) Orchestra Band conducted by Mel Villena. They played “Sembreak”, “Sabado”, “Ligaya,” and “Lightyears” in varying levels of different arrangements that lent a new flavor to the music. Arkin Magalona returned to the stage with Ely’s son Eon Buendia for a performance of “Saturn Return,” while Gary Valenciano amped up the energy with a version of “Christmas Party” that also featured him playing bongos and drums right beside Ely.
Everything Onstage A Show of Its Own
It wasn’t just the music that concert-goers raved about after last night. A humongous stage fitting for a farewell show of the OPM legends also came to life with a giant reversed E logo that moved at different parts of the show. The stage was also filled with LED screens that showed visual fit for each and every song, adding dynamic layers of story and spectacle to the whole music experience. The UP Pep Squad also performed during the intermission which was a nostalgic nod to the roots of Eraserheads as students of UP Diliman.
Another heartfelt moment was when the band played a version of “With A Smile” with the orchestra, preceded by Ely telling the crowd that the newfound appreciation for “With A Smile” as a song of hope during the pandemic also inspired them to come back together as a band.
After “With A Smile”, the mood shifted again with a high-energy rendition of “Insomnia.” The second set ended with the songs “Spoliarium” and “Magasin,” where the reversed E logo onstage started moving and changing back to yellow to signal the end of the concert.
Even as the stage blacked out with only the band logo left with light on, the crowd did not move and just started chanting in their own sections as if knowing the night still hasn’t ended. After a few moments, they came back and performed an encore set of “Pare Ko,” “Minsan,” “Alapap,” and – as the fitting final number – “Huling El Bimbo” which ended with a 5-minute display of fireworks that wowed the entire crowd.
A Music Experience Enjoyed From Start To Finish
There was no doubt that the actual performance would be reaping praises, but another noteworthy feedback from concert-goers was the seamless concert experience. People took to social media to share their appreciation for the constant live updates, the organized queues across all sections, and even the numerous food booths all over the SMDC Grounds.
The concert was also streamed via SmartLive, Cignal, and iWanTFC allowing fans from all over the Philippines and the world to also see the concert from wherever they are.
The local music scene has never seen such a historical show, and there’s no better group to set that bar than frontman Ely Buendia, lead guitarist Marcus Adoro, bassist Buddy Zabala, and drummer Raimund Marasigan. From the Philippines, the Eraserheads is also set to do the Huling El Bimbo World Tour 2023. Stay tuned in the official social media accounts for more announcements.
The Huling El Bimbo Concert – Eraserheads Reunion Concert 2022 is a production by WEU Event Management Services, Ant Savvy Creatives and Entertainment Inc., DVent Productions and Myriad Entertainment Corporation. The event is presented by SMART, Coke Studio, PLDT, Angkas and Maya. This Concert is co-presented by SM Supermalls, and in participation with San Miguel Corporation and Okada Manila. Tickets are made available at SM tickets outlets and online.
