Back then, Kamikazee has been just an emerging band. I paid for the ticket, but I wasn’t able to watch because my mother didn’t want me to attend it.
Every UP Fair that I went to, I wasn’t also able to see them perform because they were usually one of the last acts to take the stage.
When Kamikazee announced earlier this year that they are going to be on hiatus and will hold a final concert, I didn’t want to miss it. No more excuses. With or without enough money, I have to see their ‘last performance’ on a big stage.
It was nearing December and still I hadn’t had their concert tickets. My close friend who also had a money problem at that time, wanted to watch Kamikazee as a Christmas gift for her.
Fate had answered our deepest hope. My former classmate from college was selling concert tickets. I immediately informed my friend and we bought the tickets 50% off of the original price. Hooray!
It was a jampacked concert. Fans truly loved one of the most known rock band in our country.Queso, Chicosci and Urbandub, another a hiatus band was an amazing open act for Kamikazee. It was also my first time to watch them perform live! It was like hitting bird with one stone!
Jay Contreras, the band’s lead vocalist didn’t fail the cheering crowd. As soon as he went to step his foot on the stage, he performed Chicksilog which started the audience to get crazy. He then followed it with Seksi Seksi and Unang Tikim.
In between the songs, Jay was throwing so much banter and jokes that made us all laugh, mostly when he said that they couldn’t believe that they could fill up Araneta.He thought we were just ‘cardboard cutouts’. They were scared that people won’t watch them.
Ambisyoso, Hanggan Tingin, Martyr Nyebera, Halik, AIDS and MMM Sarap continued the momentum of the rock fanatics. There were shirt ripping and bottled ‘water’ shower from Jay that leveled up the energy especially for those who were standing in the mosh pit.
The show was unstoppable with Sobrang Inet that caused the fans go wild. I almost cried when they started to sing Tagpuan and the lyrics go, “Magkikita tayong muli...”
When Jay said that they had a special guest, we all thought that it was his best friend Chito Miranda of Parokya ni Edgar. Yet when Kyla came out to sing with Jay for Huling Sayaw, we couldn’t stop ourselves poured our heart out with the bands’ success for 10 years. They deserved the love and support of their fans and this was undoubtedly their night.
When they left the stage, people shouted ‘More’ because we didn’t hope this would end. Not this fast. Good thing they came back with their version of Britney Spear’s Lucky, Girlfriend and Yung Tagalog.
Two lucky ladies were invited on the stage and got a free kiss from Jay and Jomal Linao, the lead guitarist and back up vocals. Who couldn’t forget their smashing hits like Doo Bi Doo and Chinelas?
And of course, they send us off very happy with their most popular single, ‘Narda’.
It was the best OPM concert that I have ever seen and I was delighted that I’ve part of their last performance.
It was not a farewell, but rather see you again soon Kamikazee.