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.

Reunion Concert, Family Feud, and Miriam

Few months ago, Eraserheads staged a reunion concert in Taguig. As reported in the papers, they were supposed to perform 30 of their songs. After performing 15 songs (or after the first half of the concert), the band however was not able to continue because Ely Buendia, the lead singer, was brought to the hospital to be treated for his heart problem. Ely's sister apologized to the crowd and on the news days afterward, band members assured themselves that their audience understood. With that, maybe they mean the other half of the money paid for by the audience for the songs that were not sang was already forfeited in the their (band's, organizers', whoever) favor.

“ 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. ”

Before I proceed, I would like to make this clarification: I was not in the concert nor did I buy one ticket. Also, that I am a fan of Eraserheads as "With a smile," "El Bimbo," and others used to be my favorite guitar pieces.

Stress was the reason for the cancellation of the other half of the concert and the hospitalization of Ely. According to the reports, Ely's mother's passing away added to the stress Ely was experiencing in connection with the band's rigorous preparations for the concert. Ely must have been so excited for the concert when her mother died. It must have been an emotional roller coaster ride that would turn the stomach inside out.

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. The second explanation is stupid and unprofessional.

***

The game show "Family Feud" aired by GMA 7 right before "24 Oras" would have been a boring show. The game staff asks a set of questions to 100 people before the show. The same questions are asked the contestants who would guess the first five or ten top answers with the corresponding points (I guess based on the number of people who answered the particular answer). The family who earns the highest point wins, of course.

“In one word, Richard was "refreshing" to watch.”

The contestants last night were asked about the things that could be found in a wake, the places where couple who dates for the first time go, and the most common things sold on board the passenger busses. I was not interested about the questions, neither was I interested about the answers. What was so interesting about them, anyway, and about the game show? The host, Richard Gomez. Richard was just having fun, as if he was not hosting at all. He was not at all nervous, giddy nor did he exhibit any body language that set my expectations high. In one word, Richard was "refreshing" to watch. So, I rode along, and before I knew it, the show was over and the Gatmaitan family had won 500,000 pesos.

***

“Not Miriam. She was as articulate as she was angry.”

I loved seeing Miriam Santiago on TV news lashing out against the Chief of Police and the head of the Department of Interior and Local Government. No one among the two officials could explain where such a huge amount of money the wife of Retired Police Comptroller dela Paz was carrying came from. Moreso, the two could not explain why dela Paz himself was not present but was instead represented by his counsel who objected to the power of the Committee on Foreign Relations to conduct the hearing. Indeed, as Santiago highlighted, dela Paz had many times assured the public through the press that he has nothing to hide, and that he would cooperate and be present in the Senate Investigations. Needless to say, he was absent time hearing came.

If people noticed, since this controversy erupted, Government Officials including Secretary Puno and General Versosa, had different versions of the story. This fact is very curious because, as far as I can remember, after the "Hello, Garci!" controversy, officials from the Executive Department had been synchronized. May it be in defense of the president or attacking her critics and opponents, they speak with one voice; and although with different words, they point to the same idea. But now it is different. I wonder if this is intended. People are hanging on to what they say, and as people get confused, they do not care anymore so the issue is forgotten. It is like going into a maze. When a person is tired figuring out the where he comes from, where he is going or where he is, he simply gives up.

Going back to Miriam, what amazed me was that, when she was angry, every one in the hall was still. She was not threatened by the officials in front of her. In fact, it was she who threatened them never to assassinate her character because she would defend it "to death". I had seen Jamby Madrigal angry. But when Jamby was angry, she could almost not speak. Not Miriam. She was as articulate as she was angry.