Wednesday, February 11, 2009

Eraserheads' 'Final Set' a rip off

One of the best and the most original bands of the Philippines, the Eraserheads, is ripping their fans off with their "Final Set" concert on 7 March 2009 at the SM Mall of Asia Concert Grounds. They have not finished one concert; now they are again asking their fans to pay another sum for the same concert with a different title.

Fans of Eraserheads were promised a 30 song concert August 30 last year at the Fort in Taguig but the band was not able to continue after 15 songs because Ely Buendia, the band's vocalist, had to be rushed to the hospital for his heart ailment.

In my last post about the Reunion Concert, I observed:

Concert or no concert, what happened to Ely was very unfortunate. People were glad to hear the news he had recovered. We hoped he continues to get better and keep writing songs for the world to enjoy. However sympathetic I was to Ely's condition, I could not agree with the action the organizers had taken to address the crowd in reaction to what happened. I mean, I do not think apologies served as a balm to heal the crowd's disappointment for the abrupt end of the reunion concert they had so long anticipated and were so excited to participate in. I believe the organizer's should have either refunded one half of the ticket price, or advised the audience to keep their tickets for the concert to be used as a discount "card" for the next concert (of Eraserheads, should there be any in the future, or any band with the same organizers). And of course, the band members should have taken only half of the talent fee they ought to receive. They performed only half of the job, anyway.

I am sure what happened to Ely was not one of his choosing. But I am not sure if that event could not have been avoided. According to an Inquirer report, “He had a slight attack because of stress due to the recent passing of his mother (Lisette Buendia), and their sound check which lasted till 3 a.m. today (Saturday),” said MTV Philippines and Radiohead director for marketing Ronald Esguerra in an interview with INQUIRER.net.

A love one's passing away causes emotional stress. This fact should have been enough reason to postpone the concert. They would have done a favor to Ely and the fans of Eraserheads. In the alternative, considering that Ely had undergone angioplasty surgeries, the foregoing circumstances should have prompted him, his band mates, his loved ones, or the organizers to prohibit him from staying until 3 am on the concert day to set up the sound system. That he suffered a heart attack because Ely stayed until 3am the day before the concert is (an excuse that reflects irresponsibility and lack of professionalism).

Inquirer Libre reported yesterday (10 Feb 2009) that when asked if those who attended August 30's concert could avail of the discount for this set, Ely Buendia replied:"Ask the producers."

Such a dismissive response to a valid question. Why not simply answer "no"? Is it because when he answers "no", he will be made to explain why and it is not so much answering "yes" or "no" that he dreads but the fact that he will be made to explain the answer?

It is indeed very hard to explain, especially if he and the rest of the band members took the whole talent fee even if they performed only half the job. It will reveal their lack of sense of justice and consideration for their fans.

Excuse me, Mr. Cuñada, the producers for the "Final Set" are not the same producers of the August 30 concert. Why should the new producers pay for the short comings of the first producers?

Good question and you have a point. But I am not talking about the producers. I am talking about the band members themselves.

And since when did it become funny or cute to tease the fans they short changed for 15 songs by joking that maybe this time they will perform 16 songs and there will be group hugs, as Marcus Adoro said?

The fans do not owe anything to Eraserheads. In fact, it is the Eraserheads who owes so much from their fans. How can Eheads rip off the very people who are loyal to them?

Surely, Erserheads does not just bring in the music and the noise. It also brings disappointments.


Sunday, February 8, 2009

Karylle, Marian and Ding-dong

Karylle's face is all over magazines. This morning in the Sunday Inquirer magazine, she is the cover. Last night somewhere, I also saw her face on the Star Magic January 2009 issue.

I always had this suspicion that the break-up of Karylle and Ding-dong was because of Marian Rivera. Of course, I am not saying Marian stole Ding-dong from Karylle like someone would still a property. No. As the Star Magic article puts it, it happened gradually. As Ding-dong team up with Marian clicked and so they became famous, Marian and Ding-dong spent most of the time together, and Ding-dong and Karylle less and less time.

Karylle says she is not blaming anyone but I do not believe her. If she is not blaming anyone, why is she so hurt that she does not even want to be friends with Ding-dong? There should be a reason for a woman to hate the man she had spent so many vacations with with her family.

Of course, the reason is: Ding-dong and Marian carried their love team off the set and on to real life.

I can understand also why Marian and Ding-dong have to lie to the people. It is not good PR for a man to exchange a woman for another--especially when you are dealing with famous and equally beautiful and talented women. So as with the woman: it is not good PR for her to be involved with a man known by the world to be linked with another woman.

In interviews, Marian has to make a straight face in denying her relationship with Ding-dong. Of course she is always able to pull the acting off. That people are almost always silent does not mean they believe her. Actions speak louder than words.