Random Snowflakes: Eraserheads Reunion Concert - Theatrical Release

What do you do when you get to stand less than one meter away from three of the most legendary, influential, and iconic musicians of your time? Some people may scream, some people may faint, some people may throw themselves at the said musicians and wipe their handkerchiefs on their faces.

I did none of those things. I just smiled. And smiled. And smiled. And I still could NOT stop smiling even though my facial muscles were starting to get numb.

I actually wasn't planning on watching the theatrical release of the Eraserheads Reunion Concert because I was there at the actual event. I mean, what for, right? A movie version couldn't possibly beat rocking out in a pumped up crowd while the reunited Eraserheads play it out LIVE on stage. So despite the excitement in the Eraserheads community I only smiled encouragingly and said, "Enjoy, you guys!"

The movie premiered on Monday, November 24, 2008 at Megamall. That night found me at home early, eating dinner and tidying up the house. Until Darwin, one of the Circus listers, sent me a text message that said, "Sarah, go to Megamall. Now. I've got tickets."

Oooh, free tickets. Nice. Good thing Megamall was close by, so I got there in 30 minutes. I'm going to have to admit that despite my initial reluctance, I got more excited the closer I got to the cinema. After all, I'll get to relive the reunion concert, no matter how toned down the ambiance may be. When I got to the cinemas, I got my ticket and got to meet other Circus listers. Just waiting for the movie was fun, actually. I finally got to meet more online friends! Yey!

So we were just hanging around outside the theater when Marcus Adoro walks by with his bandmates. Twice. I didn't have a camera. Fail. Hi, Makoy. Oh well.

Hanging around, hanging around, and then whoa Buddy Zabala walks by. Uh... Hi, Buddy. Darn, I really wish I brought a camera.

And then we were hanging around, hanging around... And then Ely Buendia walks by. I finally remember that I had a CAMERAphone, so I whipped it out and took a video. Score! But then when I checked my recording, I realized that it was set to low resolution. So I can't post it online because you can't see anything that makes sense. Hay. FAIL.

(If anyone's wondering: Raimund was shooting the FX video with Pedicab.)

So we got in line to get into Cinema 10, while the other people line up for Cinema 9. (yes, there were two theaters for the premier.) And then while we were waiting to get in, Day Cabuhat, Ely's manager passes by and goes, "Hey, why are you guys lined up for Cinema 10? The boys are in Cinema 9."

Oh, drat.

"Here, I've got Ely's tickets. Use these."

Oh. My. Goodness!!!

Needless to say, I was grinning like a giddy schoolgirl at this point, nearly jumping up and down where I stood, because the tickets Ms. Day gave us wasn't just tickets to the same cinema, but VIP tickets!!! (Ms. Day, if you're reading this, you are awesome!)

So we filed into the theater, passing in front of Ely and Marcus (and Diane and Day and Eon and their other friends). Too bad they were being interviewed so we couldn't say hello.

Before the main feature, we also got to watch short films by Marcus and Ely. Marcus' short film was "The Artist is In", which portrays an artist's journey --read: struggle-- to creation. Ely's, on the other hand, was entitled "Waiting Shed", and follows a night in (what else?) a waiting shed. Both films didn't use direct story-telling, and the shot composition was insteresting. But since any review I make probably won't do the films justice, I suggest you go and try to catch them when you can.

And then it was time for the main feature. The countdown started, everyone was excited, everyone was counting down as we did at the concert... 3... 2... 1...

and the video stops.

Hilarity ensues.

There was a collective exclamation of "What?!", Diane yells for a refund, and Ely stands up to declare pack-up. Of course, since we were all fans in there, everyone just laughed it off until the video started again.

Watching the movie was better than I had expected. We were all teleported back to that day, and we found ourselves singing to the songs as if we were at a concert, never mind that we were sitting down in an airconditioned theater. The audio was great, and the shots used were awesome. I especially loved the crowd shots because you could see that great sea of people who had come to watch, and remember the days.... And it was awesome to know that I was part of that. Watching the movie felt almost as awesome as being there, minus the LIVEness of being in the actual concert, but plus the good knowledge that no one was collapsing backstage and had to be rushed to the hospital.

So despite my initial disinterest, it turned out that November 24, 2008 was one of the most rocking, awesome, and surreal nights of my life, coming in second to 08.30.08. Because, really, there's no substitute for the real thing.

Labels: concert, eraserheads, movies, music, reviews