Friday, December 6, 2013

South Asian Bands Festival - Day Two - 30 November 2013, Purana Qila, Delhi

This article must begin with an apology. Due to a historically unprecedented event, and a run of bad luck, this article is nowhere as inclusive as it ought to be. Defying every law of concert experience, the festival started right on time. This is the historically unprecedented event referred to earlier. To make matters worse, Delhi metro, for reasons unknown, chose to make a stop of more than half an hour between stations. This is the run of bad luck, also mentioned above. The combination of these two factors meant that your beleaguered journalist missed the first act of the day.

I suppose I had better start writing in first person now.  By the time I made it to Purana Qila, Stigmata, the Sri Lankan band that had started the evening’s proceedings, were wrapping up their set. Gutted and more than a little annoyed with myself, I was nevertheless filled with anticipation, for Papon& The East India Company were playing tonight, as were Strings, the melodic phenomenon from across the border. But before that, we had Eman’s Conspiracy from Maldives took stage. Eman Thawfeeq, the band’s eponymous vocalist, asked the Delhi crowd if it was ready to rock. To the loud cheers of ‘Yes!’, he said, ‘Alright! So let’s rock!’ And boy, did they rock! Right from the first track, they showed they meant business. Lots of energy, all the right moves, and a chorus with a great vibe, with a guitar solo thrown in for good measure – yes, this was a good start, by any standards. The band then moved to a song about a girl called Rezna, who’d allegedly been a bad, bad girl. Again, very tight, with a solid groove and catchy chorus, the song inspired much dancing and headbanging. Oh, and did I mention that the band were not singing in English, or Hindi? Yes, all their songs are written in Dhivehi. Even though not a word was understood, a brilliant time was had, because, like Eman put it after the song, you don’t always need to understand the words, because music is a universal language.




The conspirators then followed it up with a heavily funk driven number, reminiscent of RHCP’s Walkabout. A lazy rhythm, underpinned by fluid basslines and Sunday-afternoon-repose drums, was rounded off by a wah-pedal solo, making everyone sway. Changing gears, they moved on to a song about tickling. Yes, you read that right. And what an amazing song that was. The bass held a frenetic rhythm, as the high energy song chugged on. Every member of the band was on overdrive. The vocals holding the high notes comfortably, the twin guitar attack unceasing and on target, and the rhythm section churning out a serious groove. The song ended amid hysterical laughter from all band members. One couldn’t help but marvel at the connect that the band had built up with the crowd, which was swelling by the minute.






That these guys are gifted musicians individually is beyond dispute. But there’s more to them than that – they are great performers. They traded witticisms with the crowd, acknowledged the roars of approval, and put on all the correct Rock-God poses. Swell, especially when one considers the fact that they are a fairly recent unit, having come together only in August this year for a gig. After they completed their last song, they promised to come play in India again, and I fervently hope to see them live again. Eman, you’re right, music is not restricted by barriers as inconsequential as language.



The atmosphere had built up and reached electric levels by now, and there was a deafening roar as Papon & The East India Company started their set. Over the last few years, Papon has built up a massive fanbase, and Delhi welcomed him with open arms.  A small sound glitch at the beginning of the set was resolved quickly, and for the next hour, Papon & The East India Company had everyone present at Purana Qila under their spell. ‘Khumaar’ was easily one of the best performances of the evening. The rapt audience hung on to every word, arms waving, singing along. This rendition was as good as, if not better than the Coke Studio version. One definitely missed Kalyan Baruah on the guitar, but Jeenti Dutta handled the six string department with equal parts aplomb and finesse. Papon’s mellow vocals perfectly suited the sensuous song about love and longing. As the song ended amid a thousand waving arms, the only word I could come with to describe the experience was ‘Sublime’. 



Up next was another Coke Studio hit, ‘Dinae dinae’. The band played a different, faster version of the song, with Papon taking on both the Assamese and Punjabi vocals. After some banter with the crowd, Papon regaled the audience with ‘Kyun’ from the soundtrack of the film ‘Barfi’, and had everyone singing along. This was followed by one of my personal favourites – ‘Tokari’, from the previous season of Coke Studio.  This is a traditional song from Assam, which talks about the antics of Lord Krishna. Combining the traditional vibe with modern pop and EDM sensibilities, this is a song that one can’t listen to standing still. The feet move, the head bobs, and the arms trace patterns in the air, all of their own accord. Keeping to the Coke Studio theme, the next song was ‘Tauba Tauba’, a vastly improved version as compared to the one with Benny Dayal. ‘Jiyein kyun’ was another highlight, a song with so much soul. It conveyed pain, sorrow and nostalgia in a heady mix, brought to life by Papon’s magical voice. Here is a man who sings from the deepest part of his heart. If you haven’t heard him yet, ladies and gentlemen, I urge you, please do.



Deciding to infuse some frolic into the proceedings, Papon gave into the crowd’s demands and launched into ‘Banao, banao’. Now this song has become an anthem of sorts, with references to how green the, ahem, grass, is. Papon recounted his days in Assam, his college life in Delhi and his quest for making music. A fictional ‘Babaji’ apparently espoused the virtues of grass (ahem again) as the cure for all of life’s tribulations. The gifted raconteur that he is, Papon weaved his tale as the crowd lustily sang ‘right now’ to the ‘banao banao’ refrain. That was to be the last song of their set, but such was the crowd’s demand for an encore, that the band obliged with ‘Pak pak’, a breezy bihu song. One felt again the universal language of music - this song was entirely in Assamese, but looking at the crowd who were lapping up the dance party and folk fest, all in one, one would never guess. Papon tutored the audience on bihu dance moves and invited them to join him. The band deserves a special mention, seamlessly blending folk instruments with new age music and rock riffs. Birthday boy Tanmay on the drums, Kirti on various percussion instruments, Deepak on bass, Brin on keyboards and Jeenti on the guitars provided a perfect foil to Papon’s vocals.





It was time for the final act of the night. Having been around for years and boasting of a long list of hits under their belt, Strings really need no introduction. They have played a number of shows in India and their melodic tunes and thought-provoking lyrics have won them many admirers. Their first song of the evening was ‘Naa jaane kyun’, and it was followed up by the upbeat ‘Koi aane waala hai’. Two things were immediately apparent – in guitarist Adeel the band have a virtuoso, and Faisal seemed to be holding the vocals back for some reason. This is not to say that anything was amiss with the music that the band was dishing out. ‘Anjaane’ was delivered in a new avatar, segueing into the riff of ‘Sweet child o’ mine’ and then to ‘Socha hai’ from ‘Rock On’ before ending back where it started.


Special mention must be made of Aahad, the drummer. Looking like a young Mike Portnoy, he matched the legend in terms of his energy on stage, and treated the crowd to a fantastic double bass drum solo. Adeel, meanwhile, showed his guitar prowess in every song with racy, melodic solos. Faisal took the crowd back to the yesteryears, making them sing along to ‘Ye dosti hum nahi todenge’ and ‘Jaanu meri jaan’, altering the latter’s lyrics slightly to bring forth the friendship between India and Pakistan. It was a theme throughout their set, and Strings emphasised how much they appreciate the love they have received in India. Faisal, always humble, effused warmth and invited those present to visit Pakistan and partake of their hospitality. Ah! Such great ambassadors of friendship music gives us! ‘Yeh Hai Meri Kahaani’ was welcomed with a thunderous applause and given the full crowd singalong treatment. ‘Chhaaye Chhaaye’ was reinvented for the stage, and the song’s infectious groove inspired much dancing. Next, Bilal took on the vocal duties and sang ‘Sar kiye ye pahar’ which was one of Strings’ earliest hits in India. I’ve always thought Bilal to be the better singer of the two, and he didn’t disappoint at all.





The eager crowd was clamouring for their favourite songs and shouting for ‘Duur’ and ‘Dhaani’. Reassuring the gathering, Faisal said ’Itminaan rakhiye. Itni duur se aaye hain, saare gaane gaake hi jayenge’. ‘Duur’ was received with much cheering and singing along, and ‘Dhaani’ of course, was a huge hit. This was followed by the band’s introduction, with every member wowing the audience with his dexterity. After Aahad’s breathtaking drum solo, Khaled on the bass and Haider on the keybaords acknowledged the cheers with a display of their talent. But the showstealer was Adeel on the guitar. He played ‘Saare jahaan se achcha’ to wild applause and marched on to showcase some deft runs on the fretboard, putting the whammy bar to liberal use.  It is a testament to the band’s popularity that the crowd sang along to every song, often singing the whole verse while the duo held out the mics to them. This is a band that always touches a chord with the audience. I have been to four of their gigs so far, and every time I have enjoyed how the band interpret their songs differently in a live setting. But most of all, it’s how they bond with the audience which is the most striking feature of their shows. Needless to say, I’m already looking forward to seeing them on stage again.






Well, that’s it. Day two of the South Asian bands festival was a fantastic experience. I was filled with regret that I’d missed day one and would have to forego day three, but this one evening made for some great music, and sure gave some good memories to take back. Live, I always feel, is how music ought to be.

Thursday, September 12, 2013

Ditty & Mark - Live at SpeakEasy, Gurgaon

‘ The Jazz Lab’ written in big red letters demanded to be noticed. Not a genre of music easy to come by in Gurgaon. And a jazz duo certainly seemed an intriguing prospect. Having never heard them, or even of them, I was more than curious, and made my way to Speakasy on Saturday night. The name of the pub is a tip of the hat to the prohibition era. While distilling, selling and serving alcohol were all prohibited by law, a number of illicit bars, called Speakeasies,  mushroomed all over the US. The dimly-lit place gives you an old world feel, with its cosy atmosphere, retro-dressed servers, and the superb B/W posters. Just the sort of place you would wish to go to, to listen to some smooth jazz, while nursing a drink.
Over the banter at the bar, suddenly a voice piped up…hello everyone! With a shy smile, a likely schoolgirl said “I am Mark, and he is Ditty” pointing to her guitar-slinging companion on stage. A few nervous laughs, and her companion assures everyone that he is, in fact, Mark, and she is Aditi, or Ditty. The duo start off the night with a mellow song, the title of which I could not catch. Very easy on the ears, the vocal-guitar track takes on a new dimension with an unexpected addition – Ditty’s trumpet.
Not an instrument one sees often, it somehow added to the soothing effect of the song. After the great start, Ditty invited on stage Nikhil Mawkin on the drums and Arpan Guhathakurta on bass. The quartet moved on to a song called ‘Music’. It turned out to be one of my favourite tracks of the night, and I was very happy when the band did an encore. The unhurried fingerstyle guitar lines with their warm tone created a spiral through which Aditi’s vocals delved deep and soared high. The young lady marched to her own tune, totally lost in her music. The spoken word interlude was superbly executed, and the rhythm section had everything down pat. Glad I recorded the song during the encore.
Next up was a song that Mark introduced as Anglo-Nigerian Jazz, followed by another track which reminded me of ‘Black Velvet’. It started off soft and mellow, with the tempo slowly building up. Loved the ‘big-drum’ sound. The band played a couple more originals. I couldn’t catch the names of the tracks, but I didn’t much care. It was turning out to be a calm, unhurried experience that a Saturday evening ought to be. I had never heard these songs before, but their music has a comfortable familiarity, making me feel I had known and loved these songs for a spell.
The band shifted gears, lest anyone typecast them, and showed that they can shake things up a bit. Launching into the next number that had clear funk influences, Mark switches from his restrained guitar playing to some superb licks and a brilliant solo that was surely one of the highlights of the evening. Ditty too holds nothing back, hitting the high notes just right. There’s tremendous energy on stage, and the four are clearly having fun. Seamlessly moving from a Brazilian song to Tom & Jerry to Janis Joplin’s ‘Piece of my heart’, getting the crowd to join in on the ‘who-oh-take it’ refrain, the duo have an air of assurance about them. They have been playing together for a year now, but seeing them on stage it’s easy to believe they’ve been doing this a lot longer.
Over the next few songs they showcase their influences, ranging from latin, funk and R&B, which make up their brand of alternative Jazz. The trumpet comes into play at just the right times, sounding mournful or cheery, depending on the song, while the (mostly) minimalist guitar creates interesting spaces. Their interpretation of ‘Jailer’ by Asa was very well received. It was their own compositions, however, that make for the most compelling listening.  ‘Moonlighter’ has a lilting, haunting melody, a song for everyone who comes alive at night. ‘I know I’m a moonlighter, are you?’ Ditty asks, and tells you to let the night make you step out of yourself.  Since the gig, I’ve tracked this song down and it’s on repeat play. ‘Just to let you in’ has noticeable funk elements and is a very jam-worthy song. The latin-influenced ‘Illuminated’ is about a matchstick that is wants to be lit up, but is waiting for the right stroke.
Having regaled the audience for two hours, they announced that it was the end of their set, but the spellbound crowd clearly wanted more. Amid loud cheering, Ditty & Mark agreed to play one more song, and I was delighted that they chose ‘Music’. As they took a bow, the duo introduced their guest musicians again, and mentioned that their regular drummer had to drop out at the last moment and Nikhil had agreed to come on board on the morning of the gig. Considering how well he held the rhythm section together, one can’t help but applaud the guy, who is equally competent with the guitar. I’d first seen Nikhil at the NH7 Weekender as guitar toting half of Parvati and Mawkin. Arpan provides brilliant low-end grunt, and is quite a charged up presence on stage.
Right. This had turned out to be a great evening. To go and watch an unknown act live, and to be totally blown away is an experience we all crave, because there isn’t nearly enough of it. Because not every band is so uncompromisingly original. Because not every band makes music from the heart, and not the head. Because not every band can entwine poetry and melody perfectly. Because not every band is Ditty & Mark.
Watch out for them guys. If they are playing in your city, catch them live. When they release their album, get hold of it. Listen, as they tell you stories through their songs. And be thankful. For Ditty & Mark represent everything that is right with India’s music scene right now.

Monday, March 11, 2013

A Day Less Lived

Reminisces from the good old days in Signature Towers, back in 2004...........

I wish to make it abundantly clear at the very beginning, to whoever cares to listen, that I utterly, completely, positively detest coming to the office on a holiday. I reckon that I am entitled to the occasional day-off as much as the next man. But evidently, people higher up the hierarchical ladder do not share my belief. So, as it transpires, I end up in the office on yet another holiday. As I make my way to the fifth floor, grumbling and scowling for all I’m worth, I discover that the front door to the office is locked. Perhaps God is on my side after all, I tell myself. Alas, spoken too soon. The guard materializes, unlocks the door, ushers me in and proceeds to lock the door behind me. My startled look prompts him to explain that the State Government has issued a directive that all the offices be closed today, so we have to be very discreet. I make my way into the office, turn on my computer and sit there feeling sorry for myself. Just then, Avantika arrives, another soul unfortunate enough to be working today. We both sit and rue our fate and denounce the biased treatment meted out to us. We both agree that it is unfair to expect us to come to work when the rest of our colleagues are enjoying the day, staying at home, watching TV, sleeping and doing God knows what else. For the next couple of hours, we do very little work, crib a lot more and generally come to the conclusion that life is unfair. Eventually, both of us feel the need for a cup of coffee. Being chivalrous (actually junior) I shuffle across to the cafeteria. But of course, something has to go wrong. All I end up with is some bitter black concoction in my cup. The guard materializes again and with a smug grin, informs me that the coffee machine is out of milk. I mutter under my breath, telling the guard to go forth and multiply, although in not so many words. I tell Avantika of my misadventure. She accepts the bad news in a surprisingly calm manner, almost as if she expected this to happen. I crib some more and work even less. It’s almost one O’ clock now. I begin to worry about lunch. Just then Nitin and Rejo arrive. Two more of the unfortunates. At least we have company now. Strangely enough, these two don’t seem the least bit perturbed at the prospect of working on a holiday. I convince myself that they are both sadists (i realised much later tha ti meant masochists, but that's not the point). Having thus satisfied myself, I proceed with my cribbing and continue to hack away at the keyboard. Finally, it’s lunch time. At least the powers-that-be have been considerate enough to make proper dietary arrangements for us. The four of us morosely chew our way through lunch. At least, I fail to find occasion to rejoice. Lunch being dispensed with, I resume my work with reluctance, and my cribbing with a renewed vigor. Some uneventful hours later, the day’s business being taken care of, I prepare to leave. Some semblance of life seems to creep back into me. As I make my way out of the office, I’m almost cheerful, looking forward to a peaceful evening at home. Right at that moment, the thought that I’ll have to work on many more such holidays assaults me. All my happiness evaporates in an instant. I walk out an unhappy man. What could be worse than working on a holiday? Oh, and I forgot to mention, the AC wasn’t working that day, like every other day I was unfortunate enough to be working when the rest of my colleagues were having a lazy, busy, fun, whatever day. But I consoled myself with the thought that HELL IS HOTTER. Enough said.

Have you ever been lonely?

Life........lots about it that I can't figure out. I am not sure I want to. I have come to accept it as it is. But I sure could do without the shackles of loneliness that sometimes envelop me. I come back to an empty house and I don't feel like turning the lights on. Darkness seems like a protective cover. There are times when I would do anything to dispel that gloom. How many books can you read, how many songs can you listen to? There's the guitar lying in the corner, but that too does not sounds musical at all times, its discordant notes screaming for company. I watch FRIENDS for dinner-time company - I make believe that those six guys are here and I am just watching their antics. Stupid, you may say, but it's funny what a lonely man would do to try and convince himself that he is not alone, not forgotten, not unwanted. I have read the same books over and over again at times, just to have something to do. The ending never changes. The good guy still triumphs, although at times he loses some beloved people on the road to victory. The bad guys die or go to prison. It's the same with the hundreds of movies I watched, and when it all ends, it's just a matter of time before loneliness sneaks up on me. Well as they say, you can break the mirror into a thousand pieces, but they will only reflect your face. I know this is something I have to deal with for quite some time now - not sure how long. I know there are many people out there who feel the same way. On the surface, you appear this cool guy who is in control. But scratch just a little beneath the surface and there is a sad, needy human being, desperately trying to fit in the scheme of things, begging to find acceptance. This is not an exercise in self pity, I am not wallowing in my loneliness. There are times, indeed numerous, when I find my solitude fulfilling and treasure it dearly. I am just putting my thoughts to words, hoping that on a bad day I can read these lines again and find peace within myself, or atleast gain solace in the fact that this too will pass. To be sure, this phase has taught me a lot, and I wouldn't trade this experience for anything on this earth. Well, a little easy on the loneliness perhaps.....And now, I shall take your leave. It's time to have dinner with my FRIENDS. Hello Chandler..........Good to see you again!!