THE CONCERTS!

by ChUcK

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A small spiel about three groups of gentlemen.

When you have immense talent, and just moderate success for 15 years in the business of playing live music in a country that traditionally does not take to rock, does not prefer artists performing own numbers and thrives on music piracy, what do you do? Quit?

Or get into your 16th year, open for the world's biggest rock band in Bangalore, then open for the same blokes in an event no bigger than the Download Fest at Donnington, UK, before going on to set the rest of the country on fire.

Parikrama were always of age. The world, and indeed, their home country, had realised it now.

Even before hitting mainstream, the Delhi-based band was a household name. Among the few households that spoke the esoteric language of Indian rock, that is.

The author of this masterpiece of an article has had the privilege to be there, that Evening (note the capital E) at the Palace Grounds on the 17th of March, 2007 (if you call yourself an Indian rock fan and don't know the significance of that date... Tsk... Tsk... Even if Dr. Google comes to your rescue...) where Parikrama performed. What was clear was the way they took the audience in their hands, and the maturity, humility and experience. All-in-all, it was a great opening act for the Gods.

Tracks like Rhythm and Blues and But It Rained are concert staples and crowd favourites.

Now, moving to another band, another style, another city... This time a band that's been around only since 1998, and don't have too much of a history to write about.

A motley bunch of people got together and formed a band to perform at IIT Bombay's prestigious Mood Indigo. And today, Zero are one of India's most successful and more importantly, popular rock bands - a band that is now in the league of the Motherjanes and the 'kramas. Or maybe just a league of their own, as their supporters would say.

Strongly advocating original rock are the men, whose PSP 12" keeps blaring from hostel 2.1 speakers all over India with it's incredible bassline and screw-everything-and-just-yell-along chorus.

Now, moving a little more mainstream. And when we talk about pop/rock acts from our neighbouring continent... Actually the whole subcontinent... Who've made it big, what name springs to mind? Yes, there's Jal, Fuzon and eP... But before them were Strings... Bilal and Faisal... The men who gave us some imminently hummable tunes... Songs like Duur and Na Jaane Kyun appealed to the common man... Whereas the guitar lead and drums on Anjaane excited the rock fans.

Their albums have sold millions in Pakistan and India, and their fan following is immense. Wannabe Hendrizes on the guitar across thousands of colleges in India try to get that G-C-Dm-Am-G progression on Duur right. Their aesthetic appeal has also left the band in the better books of impressionable young ladies. In short, Strings are big. Bhery bhery big.

Strings have gone from strength to strength, and their music is now Hollywoodised (yes, that's an H, not a B) - with their track contribution to Strings. It's the first major contribution by a subcontinental band to an international music album after Moksha's Dine With The Devil on the Iron Maiden tribute album a few years back.

Now, MICA is proud to present on stage, on the humble main lawns - this band that has given a face to Indian rock - followed by the band that looks to be the future of Indian rock - live in concert, on the 27th of October. And as if that were not enough, Strings on the 28th. On the same stage.

Yes, three bands. Two days. One event.

At 50 / 100 / 250 bucks a pass, it's a great opportunity to see the bands play live in a wonderful surrounding. Be there! :)

For ticket reservations and queries and things of that nature, our hotline is 09979039022.