Ebe Dancel turns his songs into graceful, beautiful monuments of yesterday, in first solo show

In many ways, Ebe Dancel’s first solo concert felt like a celebration of everything that’s happened in the last 20 years.

It felt like a reunion, with a lot of people attending with their friends, plenty others with their S.Os. Ebe’s whole family came together came in full force to support their own.

And then there were the many jubilant singalongs throughout the show. Everybody knew the songs, even if they came a little different that night, dressed up and carefully arranged.

But in other ways, the concert felt like hearing an echo of all the things you’d rather forget — or have forgotten. Ebe’s songs, especially those laden with so much longing and heartbreak.

It still hit where it hurts, but this time, you're quick to realize it’s not quite the same anymore. It’s almost like waking up and realizing you’re no longer in that dream anymore. In fact, you are here, you made it out alive, and you’re actually pretty okay.

The night opened with an unfamiliar melody, singular notes seemingly escaping the keyboards, haunting and then building up until Ebe sings, “Parang atin ang gabi.”

On cue, the crowd erupts in relief, in joy, in whatever else feelings that may have awashed them.

Opening with “Prom” felt like a promise of a very special night.

Accompanied by the Manila String Machine and under the helm of Chino David, the singer-songwriter performed 20 songs from the last two decades — from his time with Sugarfree and beginning in 2011, as a solo artist.

They were all beautifully arranged; rendering some hits like “Mariposa” and “Kwarto” in a striking new light you never thought possible.

He didn’t address the crowd until before “Kwentuhan,” the 3rd song of the evening, and by then, Ebe had laid down his plans: “We’re just going to have fun tonight.”

And we did. “Hari ng Sablay” saw everybody singing along, as they did in “Makita kang Muli” and “Burn Out.” People allowed themselves to enjoy the little bop of “Kung Ayaw Mo Na Sa Kin” and allowed them to go aww after learning that “Kasayaw” was dedicated to his mom.

He said he’s not good at spiels, preferring to sing more rather than talk but all through the night, Ebe comfortably and candidly spoke. He introduced his songs, told stories about his family in between dedicating songs to them; and shared a few pieces of TMI stories.

Of course, it wasn’t all light and fun, though for the most part it was. Ebe confronted a few important issues with the seriousness they deserved. Before launching “Wag Ka Nang Umiyak,” for instance, Ebe shared he was “diagnosed with depression and anxiety in 2015.”

“I am still here and a big part of that is I know I am not alone,” he continued. Before singing the song, Ebe reminded everyone that we are never alone, giving it a gleam of seriousness and hope and something more important than the popularity being associated with the never-ending TV show affords it.

He addressed his leaving Sugarfree in 2011 in “Paalam Kahapon,” his love letter to Sugarfree fans he said, before asking the crowd to “please forgive me.”

He thanked everybody who helped him along the way: his comrades Chino David and Paolo Valenciano, his backup band, the legendary sound engineer Anggee Rozul, his manager who also happens to be his best friend, Triccie.

In arranging and performing the songs in such a beautiful, grand, and special manner, it feels like Ebe has created grand monuments of and for the past. Maybe it's his way of saying goodbye to the last 20 years. Maybe he's ready to wrap everything up and start something new. Maybe the concert was the one final look people give to a place, a person, a time, before finally, finally moving on. 

That said, we can't wait for new songs from Ebe Dancel. While we're grateful for the old songs — and how they were made better given their new arrangements — we're also ready to let them — and the heartaches and heartbreaks they helped carry us through — rest.