The rumors flew fast and thick all weekend. The story was that the Eraserheads Reunion was canceled. After all the relentless pressure from the anti-smoking lobby led by Dr. Maricar Limpin and her cronies at the Department of Health, Philip Morris did pull out of the show they organized. But on Sunday night, Raymund Marasigan himself made the announcement: The Eraserheads are "most definitely" pushing through with the reunion show. On schedule. At the right venue. On 08.30.2008 at the Fort Bonifacio open field.

Lemme tell ya, what a cliffhanger this has been.

Just last Friday, a frustrated Raymund Marasigan vented out on the Sandwich and Cambio mailing lists that forces he referred to as "dementors" are "in pursuit" and wanted to stop the show. This didn't deter the former Eraserheads, who wanted to push through with the concert at the appointed time and place.

Writing in coded, almost Nostradmus -like language,  he wrote that too much time and emotion had been spent on revving up "The Magical Mystery Show" and that it had to go on. Considering all the effort involved in the hatchet burying among the band members, and the anticipation ratcheted up among the eHeads faithful, a cancellation would have been the ultimate letdown.

Here was the e-mail sent last Friday:

from: raymund marasigan
to: subsandwich@yahoogroups.com
date: Fri, Aug 22, 2008 at 11:39 AM
subject: [subsandwich] the magical mystery show

a few months ago:

you asked me to wake the creature up.
you tried to convince me that it was time.
you said the people needed it.
i said it's not a good idea to wake a sleeping beast.
you don't know what will happen when it rises.
you tried to convince me that it will all be good.
you have everything under control.
we argued til the rooster shook and you had an answer to all my fears.
i still don't share your feelings but i will do it for you my old
friend.but be prepared and beware.


now:

the 4 headed hydra is awake. all is not well. the dementors are in
pursuit. the people are restless.promises have been broken.
i'm kept in the dark, but i warned you.

it is changing peoples lives. it is changing you right at this very
moment. too many people want a piece of it.

lives, work, and feelings had been put on hold for this circus. i have
done my part. you must  keep your word and get this thing under
control. keep the dark at bay. take us to the promised land on the
time that was appointed and give the people what they want.

By Saturday, a brief story went out that the show was canceled, and by evening, it was quoted and re-quoted and it was all over the blogosphere.

I was curious, so I texted a friend of mine close to the eHeads inner circle, just to see if it was all true. I wasn't expecting quite a fast reply, but I got one.

"No confirmation yet. They will tell boys final decision on last rehearsal"

Then just a few scant minutes later came a follow-up SMS:

"Update: Looks like it's pushing through. Different producer. No details."

Sure enough, on Sunday night came the announcement, straight from the drummer's mouth:

From: raymund marasigan
date: Sun, Aug 24, 2008 at 8:37 PM
subject: [subsandwich] eraserheads aug 30 08 confirmed   

dear everybody

after much ado. the eraserheads concert is most definitely pushing through.

philip morris and its brands have pulled out from the concert. but another company is taking over the production. the turn over started
yesterday and they have already started work on the site in the fort. so you can check.

there are good news and bad news.

unfortunately it's no longer free. all the long winded registration procedures in the red nation site is now void.

the good news is that the age limit is now 12 years old (for safety reasons) and tickets will be sold so you don't have to wait for confirmation and what not.

the official announcement and ticketing details will come out in major newspapers and on the radio on tuesday.

these are the only details i know for now so no need to email me. i'm just the drummer.

btw. i just got home from the last rehearsal. the band is cooking. we will see you all on the 30th.

raym<s>
 

And so it goes. After all the drums, and after all the drama, the Eraserheads reunion is pushing through. "Most definitely."

And now a summary, for some of our readers who still need things spelled out for them:

What: The Eraserheads Reunion Concert

Where: The Fort Bonifacio open field, Fort Bonifacio Global City, Taguig

When: August 30, 2008

How: For ticket details, watch out for the details on Tuesday August 26, 2008. This will be published in all the papers. And plugged on the radio. And of course, the Internet, the standard bearer for all the news nowadays, both the good and bad.

Wtf: So what about that Marlboro website... ? Fuhggetabout it. Please re-read "how".

As for the whole drama involving the dastardly dementors - and you know who you all are - that is certainly a tale worth re-telling, and re-tell it we shall.

---------------------------------------------

Monday Night UPDATE: Reports trickling into PhilMusic Central have it that the new producer is none other than Sony-BMG, the present reincarnation of the band's old record label BMG Pilipinas. If this is true, props to Rudy Tee for taking on the show, and it means the show is safely in the hands of old pros. This would also mean we smell a live recording out of all this, DVD, double CD, the works. Well, it'll be Tuesday soon, so we'll see if our guesses our right. Our speculative track record has been great so far. :)

As for the show venue, with all the development going on in the Fort Bonifacio Global City nowadays (in two years this is going to be just like Makati), what constitutes an "open field" is a tough call. But I believe I found the place. 

I drove around the Fort tonight and saw the concert site being prepared - a fence was being erected and a stage was going up at a field right behind the NBC Tent. Parking looks like it's going to be tight. I would advise coming early and parking at the Bonifacio High Street parking lot, have dinner, and walk over to the field from there.