Still propelled by the momentum set by their epic Ang Huling El Bimbo reunion concert in December 2022 and a short run of shows in North America last year, the iconic and occasionally active Filipino rock band Eraserheads have announced a world tour for 2024.
Entitled the Huling El Bimbo World Tour, it will see the band perform in different cities in the United States and Canada in July, Singapore in November, and Dubai in December. As the Singapore show was only made known to the band on the day of their announcement and press conference (June 19) itself, it’s likely that more tour stops may be announced in the future.
The band — consisting of singer/guitarist Ely Buendia, bassist Buddy Zabala, drummer Raymund Marasigan, and guitarist Marcus Adoro — promise to share many of their greatest hits and fan favorite tunes, which they all affirm that they never get tired of playing because of the energy that they get from the crowd. “I know these are really old songs, but it’s the first time we’re playing it to them, and it’s probably the first time they’re hearing it live,” says Marasigan. “So there’s an energy that you can’t replicate anywhere else.”
“It’s also great to see young faces in the audience, who weren’t even born in our heyday back then,” adds Buendia, “so that just means that the music still translates to the younger generation.”
The frontman even gets mathematical when giving details about the setlist for the tour. “Eighty percent is decided by the fans, fifteen percent is decided by family and friends, and five percent is decided by the fans,” explains Buendia. “If we were to choose 100% of the setlist, baka wala nang pumunta sa (no one would come to the) gigs because it would be super deep cuts and obscure E-heads songs, which we, as the parents of those songs, would want them to be more exposed to the world, just to give them a chance. But it’s not a perfect world, and we have to do it for the fans, so most of the songs are still the greatest hits [and] the fan favorites, with a little bit of the 5% thrown in there.
But Buendia also mentions something he calls a “Soundcheck Experience,” in which some of the shows will offer VIP ticket buyers the privilege to watch the band in soundcheck, during which the band will perform those deep cuts they’ve always wanted to play. “We would do it during soundcheck because we know that the fans who paid for the VIP ticket will appreciate whatever we play.”
There will still be surprises during this tour, as Marasigan talks of “Easter eggs” for every show — a special song that the band will play for that city alone, which is related to the city itself — a practice that the band started during last year’s North America tour.
The North America leg of the Huling El Bimbo World Tour is promoted by Tiana Entertainment and Live Nation PH. ABS-CBN Global Asia Pacific is the promoter for the Singapore show, while ABS-CBN Global Middle East is the promoter for the Dubai show.
See the complete list of shows for the Huling El Bimbo World Tour 2024 below:
- July 6: Hawaii Convention Center, Honolulu, Hawaii
- July 12: The Warfield, San Francisco, California
- July 13: The Peacock Theater, Los Angeles, California
- July 19: Pechanga Resort Casino, Temecula, California
- July 21: The Great Canadian Casino Resort, Toronto, Ontario
- November 23: The Arena @ Expo, Singapore
- December 8: Dubai Exhibition Centre, Dubai, UAE