Head’s Set
The unfinished business was coming to a close. The gates opened two hours ago. It was not easy to hold myself at McDonald’s and locate my cousin amidst the swift rush of people I share the same passion with. It was way harder to fight against my desire to leave her instead and go inside the venue by myself—but she had my ticket, the only thing that kept me from breaking the gates of the event of the year. Due to certain lethargy and some financial constraint, I missed their first reunion concert so I gave no chance of missing this for the second time. I was starting to enjoy the pictures of what could happen inside when I finally saw my cousin. Exchange of ideas of the expected was made while we rushed to stuff ourselves with food. Coming from nowhere, people with their fancy shirts that displayed pictures of the event started to increase in volume. After thirty agonizing minutes, finally, the last pieces of fries were taken. Without second thought, we hurried to get in to the queue. While waiting for my turn, I began to remember things that happened the day before this concert. Everybody was shocked about the unexpected death of Francis M., one major name in the Philippine music industry. All I know was that he was diagnosed with leukemia and all of a sudden, the music industry suffered a great loss. It was quite hard for me to accept that Ely’s friend had to leave that way and couldn’t even make it to the concert. He was supposed to be a surprise guest. I could perfectly picture him singing Super Proxy with Ely. I guess sometimes, we just have to let things go and surrender them to the One who knows better. I was pondering this while surrendering my ticket to the personnel. What else could welcome us inside but the many different faces of people gathered by the band who sang the songs of our lives. Getting in front of the 300-peso area was a bit hard because I had to endure various smells from different people, but nothing could stop me from rocking with the official mouthpiece of the Filipino everyman. All around the place were wide screens. Interviews and documentaries about the band before they disbanded came flashing before the eyes of a hundred thousand fans. As expected, everything pleased me including the countdown from Z to E that made the crowd chant in chorus. It was total excitement when I finally saw them. Indescribable. Their music was truly unprecedented. Singing the first song and total hit Magasin was my Ely, Buddy, Marcus and Raimund—yes, together. Everybody was nostalgic and euphoric to witness the four, back on stage once again perhaps for the last time. The crowd was just incredible that Ely even commented “Ang bait nyo.” In an instant, nothing else mattered anymore. Their music was simply magical to wake up all the spirits as if hypnotizing the crowd to sing with them and applaud every song in the list. Three sets. 26 hit songs. Yet there could never be enough. Pare Ko, Alapaap, Minsan, Overdrive, Spoliarium and Julie Tearjerky—they’re just not enough to cover years of missing the band, waiting for this reunion and dying to hear them again as one. Time passed so quickly that I didn’t realize fireworks were already painting the sky and Ely, turning atypical, ended the last set with the all-time favorite Ang Huling El Bimbo. It all happened in just four hours—time stood as the silent witness on how the band proved that they captured the essence of our time with their music. I hated to admit that the show was over when they finally thanked and bid the crowd goodnight. But I felt needed to do some more. I wanted to make the most out of it. It couldn’t just end like that. We took pictures for a while. And when we were about to leave, some started yelling. Next thing I knew, Buddy was on stage, again, as if he, too, had to do something to make the most out of this event. I was at the top of my voice when I helped the crowd call on the other three. They didn’t disappoint us. At once, the four were back. Ely announced another three on the road. I couldn’t ask for more when they started singing Ligaya, Sembreak and Toyang at their best. Knowing that this would really be the last, everybody cried for a group hug. Everybody was just dying to see one. But they didn’t relent to the crowd’s request. Maybe, I was right all along thinking that it was asking too much from the band, or they couldn’t give in with the demand because this might not really be the last. “It never ends, it never ends” as Trip to Jerusalem would say. After all, maybe they really don’t do group hugs. They just make great music. (Julie Ann Ramos) Possibly Related Posts:
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i like this one.
ayun addict talaga kay ely..
okay, nakakexcite yung storya parang dinala mu na din ako sa pangyayare. magaling. congratz sa bagong eic.