I (ain’t gonna) Rock

India’s most established mother of all rock events-cum-band talent hunt, I Rock takes an abandoned turn as rockers from Pune decide to walk out during the performance of Mumbai bands.
Well that’s quite a headline if I was ever to start my own Rock music tabloid. Oh I wish! But, since, I’m not going to write here about my wishes and fantasies so here is a peep-in.

I Rock-24th, 2009 got messier with the release of dates and names of bands participating in it and how! You see, the list has four Mumbai-based bands, Shor Bazaar, Tripwire, Workshop, Khiladi playing from Pune. So? So Pune Rockers are pretty upset with this “unfair” decision by E18 (I Rock management). Therefore, they have decided to boycott the Mumbai bands when they perform. The selection criterion for bands for I Rock have always been to select bands from their respective cities based on the demo entries. The festival gives them enormous platform to showcase their talent. This time I guess there was kahani me twist which has disturbed the Pune Rockers.

In these 23 years I Rock has become a household name across India. It has made most of us Rockers believe that Rock is here to stay. The festival has seen its ups and down and also hailing glory. It’s because of festivals like I Rock that we have more than 5000 bands in India.

So, I guess putting bands here and there just to make it more entertaining is not such a crime. “Where do you get to see such line up?” says Rishu Singh of Rolling Stone magazine. “You have four Mumbai bands coming to your city, why not enjoy them?” he explains his take on Mumbai band playing the Pune leg.

Social networking sites like Orkut have a forum on the same subject which is fraught with the fuming arguments of disgruntled Pune rockers who have their own views. “Personally, I don't find it fair in anyways. Why call it a "Pune leg" when most of the bands performing here would be from other cities? These cities all have their own leg happening as well!” writes Akshay on Orkut.

I agree that playing for I Rock for any band becomes a USP (Unique Selling Point) in their band’s resume and losing that chance is somehow an opportunity lost but hey! there will be another I Rock so take a rain check! “I don’t care whether it is Pune or Mumbai or Uttar Pradesh, it’s all about the music in the end” I’m absolutely fine playing from Pune” says Sagar Chitre who plays bass for Mumbai based band, Tripwire.

I didn’t get to speak to Pune rock fans/bands but after speaking to Riju on the phone, who plays in Mumbai based band Workshop, I started thinking, do we really care who performs from where? No. I don’t think so. I guess it’s all about the love for Rock music which is paradoxically still a myth to a lot of Indians. I know Pune Rockers will hate me for writing this but trust me in the coming years Rock music will become one of the highest paid businesses to cash on in the entertainment arena. Although, Abhishek Kapoor’s movie, Rock On wasn’t much of a help but thanks to festival like I Rock and MR. Farhad Wadia (organiser) that I can sing my heart out. “I love Rock and Roll”

RA

Keep the FAITH!

I don’t like the way most music critics use long, fruity images to describe the bands they're writing about, but since I have to fill this article up somehow, here goes. I spoke to my dad on the phone. He asked what I was up to. I told him I was going out to a show. I always feel a bit odd telling my dad I'm going out to a show, because I believe he thinks I'm always on a date and desperately looking. Perhaps I don't give him enough credit. He immediately reacts "So who are you seeing?" I tell him FAITH. "The winners of independence rock 2006..." "They are great." "Yes they are," I said with a smile. Like I said, I don't give DAD the credit he deserves.

I assume that lots of people who normally wouldn't know FAITH can remember IROCK 2006. FAITH was formed in the year 2004 when Deepu (bassist n bandleader) met Tariq a well known guitarist of the city and planned to do some original music which they called ASSAMESE ROCK. But this is not about the band’s bio so; I reached Aura, Hira Nandani around 9.15 pm. It was a Deep Purple tribute gig organised by B.R.A. (Bombay Rock Association)

It was IIT Bombay’s Black Pumpkin who opened the event. Weirdly, the band gave too much of importance to their origin (IIT) than the songs and performance. I must say it was a little strange watching these guys. Anyways, shi* happens! I swear to God, I am not giving Black Pumpkin a bad review here. I think what I'm trying to say is that I'm not the target audience for this brand of band. This is the band for the young, and since I’m 30, I should keep my angst to myself. Forget what I said – just read my review of FAITH:

It was the time for FAITH. Needless to say, FAITH is something of a miracle in the Indian Rock scene. This was my first FAITH gig so I didn't know exactly what to expect. Although I knew there will be too much of Deep Purple and some originals. FAITH didn't take any chances and opened with Deep Purple’s "Hush." The crowd rose to the occasion, screaming back the lyrics and sending the band on an hour-long set. The second number they performed was "Perfect Stranger" – and it sounded splendid. FAITH's performance was untiring, honest and inspirational, rare in an age of poseurs and one-hit wonders. They did their own modified version of Soldier of Fortune and Eye of a Tiger which was very well accepted by the crowd.

FAITH has achieved a sizeable level of popularity and success in the Indian Rock scene with virtually no support from radio, TV, or the Press. FAITH's gig at Aura gave a further proof of this and though I've seen half-a-dozen B.R.A shows before, but, something about this show made me realize just how awesome a live band they are.
The crowd was good. Loads of teenagers with their cover charged beer in hand and also some old Rocker friends. Kudos to B.R.A for the great show! After a very long time it felt just like the old Razz days. Good to see Sujeet Ramanna hosting the show in his favourite, “screw the swine flu” spirit!

R.A.

Little bit of me & Zedde

I want to be in ZEDDE, I want to be in a band. Tonight I’ve brought along my imaginary guitar, drums and microphone. I have a bass guitar tucked in my socks. I am ready to sing, and rock & roll. Tonight I will lift my spirits high, high enough to hold back; outshine even, the trundling clouds behind them, because in every lyric there is always the possibility of rain, or thunder. This is what makes ZEDDE sound and shine so immediately and brightly now. They’re like a picnic with lightning and wasps.

Extremely popular, super friendly, highly energetic Zedde make me feel awestruck when they perform Stairways to heaven I feel like I’m being softly spoken to by a lover. In mid 2008, singer 2Blue and guitar player Claver, musicians best known for their work in VAYU and Rust Angels respectively, got together to form Zedde.

Upon hearing news of 2blu leaving Vayu, I never thought that he'd hit the road again. So, when he did, I couldn't turn down the chance to see him live once more.
The burning question was: Can he repeat his success on stage? The reply is a big Yes!

Zedde set the stage on fire with their breathtaking performance at the suburban club, Firangi Paani. Not too surprising perhaps, but the fact that Zedde delivered an energetic and totally committed performance in front of the club crowd was just about the best start imaginable for their new rock calendar.

Zedde are great, fun, and exciting, you cannot help being excited and enjoy their music. For those who miss the taste of classic rock from today's gig scenario should get themselves to a Zedde gig.

RA