02.09.2009
PEACE-ING IT ALL TOGETHER
TWO MUSICIANS RECOUNT THEIR RESPECTIVE CLOSE ENCOUNTERS DURING LAST YEAR'S ERASERHEADS REUNION SHOW
[Part 1 of 2 parts]
August 30, 2008 is now Pinoy rock history. Despite the fact that the Eraserheads have not even been apart for a decade, the clamor for a reunion equaled, and sometimes even surpassed, the clamor for things of a more life-and-death nature. For that brief blink of an eye, the abysmal state of national politics almost became a pinkie to the reunion show, which was—to several people brought up in 90s “alternative” at least—the imposing thumb. For a band with members all under forty (alive and kicking, you could say), nostalgia towards the 'Heads was manifested pretty prematurely: a tribute album here, a lifetime achievement award there. I mean, don't these things belong to graying, withering dinosaurs? But, “whatever,” as the kids would say. The Eraserheads were back, for at least one chilly night last year. Everyone we knew was there, and it was, more than being a reunion, a communing of friends, enemies, lovers, and everything in between. It was a rectification, almost. How we wished we could have been up there to see their twitches and their tics. How we pined to see if everything was okay. Were the lines that barred them from being completely together still there—some smoky, intangible matter? With them on the stage and by the wings that night were, among others, two people—Itchyworms drummer Jazz Nicolas, who was their session musician; and The Purplechickens guitarist Marco Harder, who was Marcus Adoro's guitar technician—and these are their accounts of the now-legendary rock show.
Jazz Nicolas: “Itchyhead”
Aldus Santos: Tell us about the day you got the call, Jazz.
Jazz Nicolas: Siguro mga May or June [of 2008], si Buddy, tumawag siya sa Liquidpost, kung saan ako nagwo-work. “'Uy, busy ka ba? Kailangan namin ng keyboardist.” “Para sa'n?” “Sa...gig.” “Ano'ng gig?” “'Heads.” Sabi ko, “Shit! Shit! Yes! Yes!” At that time, nakarinig ako na meron nga. Tapos, tumawag siya; du'n ko na nga na-confirm na meron nga—at kasali ako! Siyempre, “Yes” agad ako; bahala na kung may gig 'Worms [laughs]. “Bahala na; 'eto na 'yun!” Sigaw ako nang sigaw sa phone nu'n.
A.S.: I know this is not the first time you're working with any or all of them.
J.N.: Dati nakapag-session ako sa 'Heads, nu'ng mga time na wala si Raimund. Mga ano na 'yun, Carbon Stereoxide. Busy si Raims sa Sandwich nu'n, so ako 'yung pumalit. Nagpra-practice kami dati sa Thridline—'yung management nila dati—sa Xavierville. Tapos nag-keyboards din ako sa kanila para sa NU Rock Awards; [tinugtog namin 'yung] “Palamig.” Si Raimund 'tsaka si Buddy, nakaka-work ko sa albums namin. 'Yung first album namin, produced by Sancho [Sanchez] and Buddy—si Sancho na connected din sa 'Heads. ['Yung] Noontime Show naman, produced by Raimund and Buddy. Sa Boldstar, sina Raimund and Buddy din. Si Ely, naka-work ko rin—kinuha niya ako before para mag-drums [para] sa album ni Lally [Buendia], si “Domino.” Si Marcus lang hindi ko naka-work nu'n.
A.S.: What did they say was going to be your job description?
J.N.: At first, sabi ni Buddy, keyboards lang talaga, and backing vocals. Tapos, nu'ng nakita ko si Ely—nakasabay namin sa gig 'yung Pupil—sabi ko, “Ely, may reunion daw? Kasali daw ako?” Sabi niya, “Oo nga. Maggitara ka na rin; 'di naman lahat ng songs may keyboard, eh. Mag-a-acoustic ako, eh; mag-electric ka. Kasi, ano'ng gagawin mo sa stage 'pag walang keyboards?” “Eh, wala naman ako sa stage, 'di ba?” Parang ghost player. “Hindi—kasali ka; nasa stage ka!” Siyempre, ayaw din n'ya ng daya na, “Sa'n nanggagaling 'yung sound na 'yun?” Nu'ng nag-debut si Kris [Dancel] sa 'Heads, sa Hard Rock, nag-ghost player din ako nu'n, eh. Nasa booth ako, pine-play ko 'yung harmony sa keyboard, na naka-rekta sa mic ni Buddy.
A.S.: What is the Eraserheads' attitude in song arrangement? Did you guys have to work on rearrangements?
J.N.: 'Yung 'Heads naman—kahit nu'ng dati natin silang napapanood—'di naman nila pine-play nang saktong-sakto; lagi nilang jina-jam.
A.S.: Take us to show night. What were you feeling?
J.N.: Nagba-buzz lang 'yung utak ko nu'n. Parang ang bilis ng lahat. Wala rin kaming masyadong communication onstage nu'n; tinginan lang. Walang masyado usap-usap. Tahimik lang si Ely 'tsaka si Marcus. Si Raimund at si Buddy lang usually nagkwekwentuhan at nag-uusap. Nu'ng reunion, siyempre, excited din ako just seeing them together. Meron din akong feeling of dread na, parang, “Oh, shit, ano'ng mangyayari?”
A.S.: How were they relating with each other? With the exception of Raimund and Buddy—who never stopped working with each other—how were they?
J.N.: 'Yung “drama” naman, parang, kung ano lang 'yung alam natin, eh. Pero, 'pag tinignan mo sila, parang wala namang dramahan.
A.S.: How many rehearsals did you guys have?
J.N.: Naka-tatlong practice. Para sa akin,'yun 'yung best state nila as musicians. Ang galing nila ngayon than ever before. Lahat sila nag-improve. Tapos, kunwari sa “Ligaya,” pakinggan mo 'yung mga lumang recording, ta's i-compare mo du'n sa live ngayon—ang linis na nila tumugtog. Ang galing ni Raimund; si Buddy, magaling naman talaga dati pa. Mas steady ngayon.
A.S.: Tell us about the first rehearsal.
J.N.: Ang call ko, three o' clock. 'Yun pala, one o' clock pa lang, nandu'n na sila; nagja-jam na sila pagdating ko. So, parang may feeling na, “Sayang, na-miss ko 'yung kanina!” Grabe din 'yung feeling nu'n; nu'ng nakita kong tumugtog na sila, parang, “Shit, iba na 'to.” Tapos, [ang daming] mga tao around—wala silang gustong papasukin du'n [sa studio], eh; ako, later on na ako tinawag para sumalang. Gusto nila sila-sila na lang daw muna. Lahat kami, nagkwekwentuhan sa labas, sobrang excited.
A.S.: Do you think they're more a studio band or a live band?
J.N.: Matagal ko nang s-in-suggest kay Ely na, “Gawa kayong live album!,” kasi sobrang ibang-iba 'yung mga songs live, eh; kailangang ma-capture 'yun. Iniiba nila 'yung areglo, tapos, magkakaroon sila ng moments na mawawala 'yung ibang instrumento; maiiwan, 'yung vocals lang. Sobrang nakakakilig—'pag fan ka talaga, 'pag kabisadong-kabisado mo 'yung songs, tapos, 'pag live, iba 'yung presentation sa 'yo. Magaling silang live act talaga. At siyempre, magaling din sila sa albums; sobrang magical. Magaling talaga silang craftsmen ng songs.
A.S.: I agree.
J.N.: Nu'ng “Kailan,” 'di ba sa album, meron silang lounge version, tapos meron sila nu'ng band version? Tapos, du'n, ginawa namin, halo. 'Di ba merong part na ako lang natira—piano—tapos kumakanta 'yung mga tao? 'Di ko alam na mangyayari 'yun! “O, ano'ng nangyari?!” Tinuloy ko lang! “Kumakanta 'yung mga tao! Wow! Astig 'to!” Tapos, may ilang kanta rin na, may pause, tapos, papakantahin 'yung tao—tapos hindi ko alam!
A.S.: What was your personal favorite, during the first show?
J.N.: “Harana” 'yung favorite ko. Actually, nu'ng una akong na-invite mag-play, 'yun agad 'yung unang song na pumasok sa utak ko, kasi 'yun 'yung may keyboard, eh. Tapos, excited ako sobra na ako 'yung gagawa ng part na 'yun.
A.S.: In a nutshell, Jazz, what does this experience mean to you?
J.N.: In a nutshell, dream come true! 'Yun 'yung mga pinagdadasal mo nu’ng bata ka—“Sana, kung kailangan nila ng keyboardist, ako kunin.” [laughs]
[Read part two here.]
TAGS: Eraserheads Sandwich Pupil The Dawn Ely Buendia Marcus Adoro Buddy Zabala Raimund Marasigan
