The moment the doors of the Dolphy Theatre swung open, we knew: the Eraserheads rehearsal was going to be something else. The sheer optics of it alone was already overwhelming. Ely Buendia, Raymund Marasigan, Buddy Zabala, and Marcus Adoro are back on one stage, preparing for their reunion concert, Huling El Bimbo, happening in December, just a week shy of the new year. 

We’ve seen all of them perform before on separate occasions, but their collective energy is different. But then again, we’re talking about arguably the most influential band in the history of local Filipino music. And according to Marasigan, that rehearsal was their “first simulation of the show.”

“Without the lights,” he said. “Today, we rehearsed na parang how it’s gonna be, [...] na after every song, nobody’s gonna talk like it’s the show." (Today, we rehearsed it like how it’s gonna be, that after every song, nobody’s gonna talk like it’s the show.)

“So we try not to make as much noise as I usually make,” interjected Zabala, jokingly.

“Wala, walang banter at all. Pero [...] the previous ones, we were very noisy (No banter at all. But the previous ones, we were very noisy),” Buendia added, chuckling to himself.

By “the previous ones,” he meant the first four rehearsals they had already clocked in. The band thinks they’ve got a long way to go, though.

“It’s different [now]. It’s been a while so it takes a little bit of warming up,” Zabala said. “But it’s like you’re riding a bicycle. You fall down”—he snickered—“and then you pick it up. We’re getting the hang of it. We’ve been practising a lot.”

“Medyo rusty kaming lahat,” admitted Buendia. “Well, speaking for myself. Sabi nga ni Buddy, kaya kami nagre-rehearse ng nagre-rehearse. It’s a lot of songs. Some of them we haven’t played [in forever] so it’s a mix of excitement and nervousness." (We're all a bit rusty. As Buddy mentioned, this is why we keep on rehearsing. It’s a lot of songs. Some of them we haven’t played [in forever] so it’s a mix of excitement and nervousness)

“Kailangan talagang tumutok (We really need to focus), ” said Adoro.

Familiar sounds made different

Whereas the band thought they sounded bad during practice (with Marasigan even comparing themselves to Battle of the Bands finalists), we sincerely thought otherwise. Perhaps there was something about the songs that we—and the rest of the country—have listened to and sung to time and time again. Maybe combining the nostalgia from these tracks with the act’s stellar presence gives off this certain power that makes us automatically forget small tumbles here and there. However, fans should understand that even the most familiar of Eraserheads' songs will sound different live from what they hear on record.

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“Wala naman kaming particular sound in mind, it just so happens lang na we’re older now, we play differently when we recorded the [songs] so it sounds a bit different too. Si Ely is singing it differently; we’re playing differently.” Zabala said. “The thing with the sound is what you hear is what you get so that’s why we’re practising more. We hope to sound as best as we can. That’s the goal." (We don't have a particular sound in mind, it just so happens that we’re older now, we play differently when we recorded the [songs] so it sounds a bit different too. Ely is singing it differently; we’re playing differently. The thing with the sound is what you hear is what you get so that’s why we’re practising more. We hope to sound as best as we can. That’s the goal.)

Helping them achieve this goal is their session musicians who are not just talented acts but also individuals whom the four found they enjoyed performing with.

Marasigan shared, “I think si Jazz (Nicolas, The Itchyworms) was unanimous because he’s played with us before. And then si Mikey (Amistoso, Ciudad) was just there so it was like ‘Mikey, tugtog ka nga ng acoustic guitar. Kulang pa ng isang acoustic.'” (I think getting Jazz was unanimous because he's played with us before. And then Mikey was just there so it was like, 'Mikey, come play the acoustic guitar. We need someone on the acoustic guitar.')

“And then we needed something, like a heavier sound, ‘Auds (Audry Dionisio, General Luna), tumugtog ka na rin!’” So it was really, really organic. We didn’t, like—no meeting or anything.” (And then we needed something, like a heavier sound. 'Auds, come jam with us as well!' So it was really, really organic. We didn't, like—no meeting or anything.)

“Si Marcus din, nandun na rin siya so sabi namin ‘Marcus, tugtog ka na rin’ (Marcus, too, he was also already there so we said 'Marcus, you should come perform with us'),” Buendia jested. To which everyone laughingly muttered in agreement, “Organic. Organic talaga.” (Organic. Really organic.)

Devil in the details

The band avoided sharing a lot about what to expect during the show. They did, however, let us in on a not-so-secret something.

“May Easter egg yung setlist. Yun na lang muna. Let’s leave it at that.” Marasigan divulged. “I think the hardcore fans would get it right away.” (The setlist has an Easter egg. That's it for now. Let's leave it at that. I think the hardcore fans would get it right away.)

The band also talked about some very creative surprises they wanted to include during the concert, and we totally see it happening. Seeing the concert in the works, it is clear that Eraserheads are not short of support. While the audience (us, and a handful of familiar faces from the local music scene) couldn’t help but tap our feet to the songs we know and love, the production team was intently focused on making sure the four had everything they needed to sound and look their best. 

At the helm is director Paolo Valenciano whose creative input is crucial in turning the show from a concert to a memorable experience—something that the band is excited about as well.

“I’m (...) looking forward to playing the whole set on the actual stage. And the lights. Of course, makikita din lang namin yung lights when the time comes, when the show starts and everything,” Buendia said. “It’s too bad we can’t see the actual light show and yung mga hinanda ni Direk na visuals and everything.” (I'm looking forward to playing the whole set on the actual stage. And the lights. Of course, we'd also only see the lights when the time comes, when the show starts and everything. It’s too bad we can’t see the actual light show and the visuals that our director thought of and everything.)

“Baka pwede sumaglit (Maybe we can sneak off for a bit),” was Zabala’s flippant suggestion, which turned into a semi-serious discussion about TV monitors in front of the stage so they can see what they look like to the audience.

With all their wildly creative ideas on the table, we can hardly wait to see what would go on onstage.

Rough, weird, fun

Putting a concert together sure is no easy feat, but the Eraserheads remind us of one vital ingredient in making it all happen: having fun.

“We’ve been struggling in the past four rehearsals but I think today we’re coming together (...) I think what solved it is that we finally hung out,” Marasigan shared. “We didn’t plan it but it just happened. And then I think we’re playing a little better…like, way better than the past four rehearsals.”

And it seems like having fun is the goal. At least, in terms of what they want concert attendees to experience.

“I want the crowd to really have fun,” Buendia said. “And I hope that they’re satisfied with the show. I think naman masa-satisfy sila.” (But I think they'd be satisfied.)

Zabala added, “We’re having a lot of fun rehearsing and trying to reconnect with the songs. Now I’m reminded how fun it is to perform live. So hopefully the crowd joins us in the fun. We make the music, they make the noise.”

“It’s going to be a little rough, a little weird, but a lot of fun,” declared Marasigan.

Here’s to having a fine, fine time with the Eraserheads once more in December.

The Eraserheads' Huling El Bimbo concert is happening on 22 December 2022 at the SMDC Festival Grounds. Tickets start at PHP 1,222 and are now on sale via SM Tickets.