This time, all the way

Unlike their grand reunion concert on Aug. 30 last year at the Bonifacio Open Field in The Fort, Taguig City, the Eraserheads’ concert on March 7 at the Mall of Asia (MOA) Convention Center will go all the way — no more rude interruption... hopefully, keep your fingers crossed.

The Aug. 30 musical event that drew 60,000 E-Heads fans was cut short during the intermission when vocalist Ely Buendia suffered chest pains. He underwent angioplasty and has sufficiently recovered since then, fit enough for another gruelling concert with fellow former E-Heads members Marcus Adoro, Raimund Marasigan and Buddy Zabala. On the side, Ely was even able to put together an album of inspirational songs with Francis Magalona who’s bravely battling with leukemia.

Contrary to what its title, Eraserheads: The Final Set (with SMART and MTV Philippines headed by Francis Lumen as presentors), implies, the E-Heads guys insist that the MOA gig is an entirely new concert and not just a continuation of the “first set” in which the guys sang only 15 of the 30 songs in the repertoire.

“Actually, it’s a little bit of both,” explained Ely. “It’s a continuation because our fans are expecting more songs from the first concert and songs that we were not able to sing. It’s a totally new concert because we are doing new stuff.”

“Songs that our fans haven’t heard ‘live’ for a long time,” added Buddy.

“Tuluy-tuloy na talaga ito,” seconded Marcus.

“Wala na talagang bitin,” agreed Raimund. “The fans were bitin then and so were we.”

Besides, unlike during the first time, the E-Heads have no more, so to speak, ice to break because they had let bygones be bygones and buried whatever animosities were there among them.

“Raimund, Marcus and Buddy were frequent visitors at the hospital when Ely was confined,” said Diane, Ely’s wife.

“There were just too much stress and too many pressures at that time,” said Ely whose mother died two days before the concert. “This time, things are going smoothly, including the rehearsals. Parang polishing na ang ang ginagawa namin. Everybody is more prepared now — the producers, etc. And we have more time now.”

Now as good as new, Ely is getting as much rest as he can before the concert, per his doctor’s advice.

The big question is: Are the E-Heads thinking of reuniting for good, making beautiful music just like old times?

There might be some stumbling block since all four have new commitments. But then, who knows?

Asked when they were still together what the Eraserheads had that other bands did not, Marcus said, “Wala silang Ely Buendia.”

Asked the same question during the presscon Monday, Ely returned the compliment, “Wala silang Marcus Adoro.”

Incidentally, the countdown to The Final Set concert has started. Signature E-Heads songs such as Alapaap, With A Smile and Ligaya can be downloaded in full-track format from the store for only P50, while MP 3 true tones are available for P30 and Caller Ringback Tunes for only P15 for 15 days. Surfing the SMART wapsite (http://wap.smart.com.ph) and browsing the SMART Buddy Music Store (http://wap.smart.com.ph/musicstore) is free, and subscribers pay only for the content that they download and use. To start enjoying the Eraserheads reunion concert tracks, send EHEADS to 3456. The service is exclusive to SMART subscribers only.

(Co-presentor of the concert is McDonald’s; with special thanks to Armvet Printing Company, Italiannis and Sony BMG, with Business Mirror, Business World and NU107 as media partners.)

TV5 CEO quits

Primedia announced yesterday that its CEO, Christopher Sy, is intending to leave the company after a suitable period of transition. However, he will remain with the company thereafter on a consultancy basis.

According to Sy, “I am very proud of TV5. From our first week of operations, TV5 has been ranked No. 3 in the ratings game. There is also steady increase in all-day viewership and its morning belt is consistently at double-digit share levels.  I am very fortunate and thankful for being given the opportunity to be a part of this.”

The TV5 team with Sy at the helm has posted noteworthy achievements since launch with strong positive momentum going into 2009.

Primedia through its Marketing Communications head, Pat Marcelo-Magbanua, reiterated the company’s commitment to continue investing on TV5.

“We will continue to provide our viewers bigger and bolder programs to give Filipinos more choices in entertainment. Primedia through its various departments are already geared up for the rest of the year’s challenges.”

(E-mail reactions at [email protected] or at [email protected])