This is it. The last NU Rock Awards happened last October 29, 2010 at the NBC Tent, Taguig. NU preferred to give away tickets by invitation only and the event became a private affair with no jumping Orcs , just like how the NU Rock Awards started back in 1994. I’m no VIP however I was able to score tickets courtesy of my colleague, Pax (you’re the best!) on the day of the Rock Awards itself. I wasn’t prepared to go but who could not resist those tickets??!!! Two of my motivations to go to the Rock Awards this year: 1) because this will be the last and I wanna be there and 2) I want to see my band photos on the AVPs for some categories (particularly Urbandub). This is the first time that my photos will be used in a big event like this

Kevin Roy Singing the Philippine National Anthem

After the office Halloween party, I went straight to the Fort with Karla. I was expecting that there will a lot of people but apparently, there are more VIPs compared to the complimentary ticket holders who got their tickets from either the sponsor contests or “connections”. Well, I didn’t go there to rub elbows with the VIPs and the VIP wannabes so I’m contented with where I was. 8:30 pm, the actual show hasn’t started yet although I already saw the shadows of Buddy Zabala and Jet Pangan onstage. The actual awards ceremony began with Kevin Roy singing the Philippine National Anthem. It was one of the most awesome performances at that night, Kevin Roy was wearing a suit!

Ebe Dancel of Sugarfree

Performers that night were: Franco, Sugarfree, Up Dharma Down, Greyhoundz, The Youth, Itchyworms, Kamikazee, Slapshock, Pupil, Archipelago, The Dawn, Rivermaya, Wilabaliw and Urbandub. The Dawn opened the awards proper and performed “Iisang Bangka” and “Salamat” medley. The whole show was  about reminiscing the past NU Rock Awards, some bands even performed their old time hits. Greyhoundz performed Pigface with Ian Tayao of Queso, Urbandub performed “Soul Searching” and “First of Summer”, Kamikazee made a medley of their songs such as “Tsinelas”, “Martir Nyebera” and “Ambisyoso”. Kamikazee was with their typical crazy self that night and dressed up as senior citizens. Jay Contreras of Kamikazee kept on “smoking” the giant cigarette while Franco was performing. Wacky guy! I was interested to see The Youth performed “Multong Bakla”,one of the popular punk tunes during my adolescent years. (Hey, I was a 90′s kid!)

Kamikazee

Since I was infront of the gig stage, I wasn’t able to take much photos of the presenters and winners. One of the interesting presenters that night was Hayden Kho who presented the Best Music Video Award together with Kim of NU 107. Because he was popular with his “video”, there were expected reactions from the audiences *wink*. Other celebrities who presented the awards were Vicki Belo, KC Concepcion, Anne Curtis and Tuesday Vargas. KC and Anne presented the Artist of the Year Award together with Ely Buendia and Atom Henares.

By the way, here were the winners of the NU Rock Awards 2010 (got this list from Francis Brew’s Facebook) :

Artist of the Year

• Franco

Album of the Year

• Franco – Franco

Vocalist of the Year

• Gabby Alipe – Urbandub

Guitarist of the Year

• Peavy “Sideshow” Nicolas, Fran Lorenzo – Sleepwalk Circus

Bassist of the Year

• Lalay Lim – Urbandub

Drummer of the Year

• Otep Concepcion – Ozawa / In Love and War

Song of the Year

• This Gathering – Franco

Best New Artist

• Tanya Markova

In The Raw Award

• The Flying Ipis

Listeners Choice

• Franco

Video of the Year

• Disney – Tanya Markova

Best Album Packaging

• Sleepwalk Circus

URock College Band of the Year

• Reese & Vica of Ateneo

Producer of the Year

• Angee Rozul & Ely Buendia & Robert Javier – In Love and War (Ely Buendia was ready to perform with Pupil when he, Angee Rozul and Robert Javier were announced as the winners of this category. Robert Javier was with Ely on the performers stage and not the Awards stage.)

Best Live Act

• Tanya Markova

Hall of Fame

• Angee Rozul

Most of the bands/individuals  I voted won in the different categories. I expected that Franco, Urbandub, Sleepwalk Circus and Tanya Markova will be bagging more than 1 award. Congratulations to all the winners!

Ely Buendia

Rivermaya’s performance was memorable because all the NU 107 staff and former DJs were onstage and performed “Awit ng Kabataan”. This was the perfect song to describe this particular moment. Francis Brew suddenly appeared onstage with his awesome guitar and played the lead with Mike Elgar. Somewhat reminded me of Slash appearing on Michael Jackson’s performance of “Come Together”. It was that awesome!

Francis Brew Reyes

As the categories came close to the Artist of the Year, I was already getting sentimental because I know that this will be the last NU Rock Awards. When Franco was announced as the winner, all the NU staff went onstage led by Francis Brew Reyes for his final words. I can see him being teary-eyed from the big screen, as well as the other NU staff. He’s not directly saying what will happen next but what we confirmed is that this will be the last Rock Awards. NU 107 enjoyed 23 years in the airwaves while the NU Rock Awards was 17 years. Whew, didn’t realize that it was that long! As mentioned in my previous blog post, change is inevitable. What I am looking forward to is how Pinoy Rock will continue to live. I know it will not end. Whether mainstream or underground, Pinoy Rock will still live. I will truly miss NU 107.5 and the Rock Awards.

I can now proclaim that I am no longer a Rock Awards virgin.

Please check the videos I took here (apologies, it’s not that HD enough ) :
The Dawn
Greyhoundz with Ian Tayao
The Youth
Rivermaya with Francis Brew and NU 107 staff
Wilabaliw

Other photos are in my Flickr.

(photo from NU 107 website)

Rumor has it that NU 107.5 will now be reformatting to become more appealing to the “masa” and bigger crowd. Will this be the start of its new tagline, “Home of Nu Pop”? Got this news from a Facebook note of a former NU 107 jock, Jaedee (which she also posted in her blog here). Hmm, was this the reason that Quark Henares was being reminiscent of previous NU Rock Awards in Facebook? It’s saddening to know that NU 107.5, the radio station I grew up with will be closing its doors now to playing purely rock tunes. This was one of the stations that gave way to local and independent rock talents. They were the ones who were shrugged by mainstream radio stations because they’re not “pogi” bands. It’s really sad to know that one by one, my adolescent favorites are beginning to disappear. This is the reason that I am sad, it’s because I am not getting any younger anymore.

I understand the struggles that NU 107 management is going through. I actually thought about the people who are currently working there. Change of management = Change of Staff. I know change is inevitable, and so I am accepting the fact that they’re reformatting. Now I’d have to find another radio station where I can be comfortable with, something to revive my adolescent past. Hay, sad.

Wish I can watch the upcoming Rock Awards, too sad that they’re not selling tickets and they’re just gonna raffle it off. Wow, the odds of me winning is so blurred and definitely me scoring tickets from someone there is way too impossible. If someone can score me two tickets I’d be more than grateful!

So good luck to the NU 107, I’ll give your new format a try on 2011. Hope that the employees will be able to cope the loss of jobs. Haha, apologies, I’m being HR again.

** photo from www.eheadscountdown.com

I recognize the fact that the tickets for the Eraserheads Final Set are quite expensive for some so I decided to compile some of the contests (that I know of) that can make you score some tickets for free. So if there are other contests that I was not able to post here, feel free to comment so that we could share the information to everyone else.

SMART
Being one of the major sponsors of this event, they have ways on how to get tickets for free. One can do this by texting EHEADS to 234 so that you can get their Eheads ringtone of the day. By doing this everyday, you can have the chance to win VIP Tickets (worth Php 5,000 each) and have a ‘meet and greet’ session with the Eraserheads. Now isn’t that cool? This is the only contest/promo that will give away VIP tickets. Of course you have to have a whole lotta Smart and Talk n Text Load in your mobile phones. Everyday, Smart will be giving away 5 Gen Ad tickets. This promo is valid only until March 1. For more official information about the concert and also some articles about the Eheads, log on to www.eheadscountdown.com. ** Updated 25/02/09

MTV PHILIPPINES
Aside from Smart, MTV Philippines is also one of the major sponsors. For this contest, you would have to have an MTV account. You can do that by registering at www.mtvphil.com and then when you already have the account, go the promo page (click here). Answer the very simple question “What is the title of the Eraserheads Concert?” . No coaching needed, you already know it! Deadline for this contest is March 4.

SAN MIGUEL SARAP MAGBABAD SUMMER PAINOM KICK OFF PARTY
San Miguel will be raffling off 2500 tickets to the people who will be attending the Kick Off Parties that will happen simultaneously at Baypark View (Roxas Boulevard) and Taal Vista (Tagaytay). The gigs will happen on the night before the Eheads concert itself, March 6.

JAGERMEISTER
If you’re an alcoholic, take advantage of it! Just buy shots or bottles of Jagermeister from their participating branches and you can get VIP tickets. Here is the list of the participating outlets:

Antakya Bar & Grill
Off the grill QC
Gweilos MOA
Coco Mangas Laguna
Trucos
Quattro QC

For any inquiries call or text : Ged 0928-9734440 or 0917-5243756

CIRCUIT MAGAZINE
This is one of the easiest contests ever, you just have to answer the question “What is your favorite Eraserheads song and why?” and then send it to info@circuitmag.net. They will be getting 5 winners (2 tickets per winner).

NU 107.5
This radio station has been playing Eheads songs for the past weeks and for you to be able to get some tickets (I know for sure that this is the bronze tickets worth Php 300.00 each) is to call immediately once you hear an Eraserheads song being played on air. The DJ does not need to introduce it, you just need to be alert and grab the nearest phone. I think the number you have to dial is 6366 1075 (i’ll verify it, promise). They will be giving 4 tickets (bronze tickets) for every winner.

Magic 89.9
They also have an ongoing contest by calling in to their station and by answering some questions about Smart Buddy Rewards. Most likely the DJs will be giving the queue on when to call so again, be alert for this one. They’ll also be giving away bronze tickets.

COCA COLA
I also heard in NU 107 that Coca Cola will be giving away Silver A tickets (worth Php 3000) to the first 100 individuals who will queue on the concert venue (on March 7) itself. All you have to do it wear the Buhay Coke Smile Shirt (available at Bench outlets). Line starts at 5 pm sharp. ** Updated 25/02/09)

SM MALLS
**updated 25/02/09: According to an Eheads mailing lister mark_wellgrin (thanks for this one), he saw a promo at an SM Mall. You can avail a bronze ticket (worth Php 300) for only Php 155 when you buy a Smart Sim Card (worth Php 40) and get a load worth Php 115. This promo is available at SM Megamall and SM North Edsa. Most likely, you can buy the sim card through customer service.

Well, if everything else fails, you can approach the people who are connected to these sponsors (or the Eheads themselves). Try your luck with them. If not, you can also solicit money from different friends so that you can come up with enough money to buy the ticket that you want.

( photo courtesy of Karla Redor, from NU Rock Awards 2002)

It’s the last quarter of the year and it’s time for the NU Rock Awards once again! This year would be its 15th year of awarding Pinoy Rock’s finest. This will be held on November 27, 2008 at the Silvercity Frontera Verde, Pasig City. Performances by: Pupil, Sandwich, Markus Highway, Urbandub, Pedicab, Razorback, Radioactive Sago Project, Rico Blanco, Bamboo Greyhoundz and The Dawn.

If you haven’t voted yet, you can vote online at the NU 107′s official website. As for me, I have already casted my votes. I hope the ones I voted win

I also hope I can attend the event, if I could score some tickets hehe.

Click on this tabachoi’s blogpost to check on this “reunion” theory.

I’ll also add another “clue” to this theory or probably a sign hehe.

It might be a coincidence but today, Markus Highway’s “American Gurl” was number 1 while Sandwich’s “Betamax” and Pupil’s “Disconnection Notice” are also part of the top 7. Hmmm.

CLUE or Sign number 4: The University Student Council in UP Diliman wants to have an Eraserheads reunion gig in UP for the centennial.
I was able to speak with the current USC president and was asking me if it would possible for a reunion gig. He would even let the UP President talk to them to make it possible, and she’s also willing to speak with them about it. I doubt it will happen but anyhow, they’ll still give it a shot. Well, they’re from UP after all even though they did not graduate their respective degrees.

Even though they won’t reunite this year, that’s fine. I can wait.