Gig Review: Agam at Bak Bak Bar, B'lore

Today, Agam played at the Bak Bak Bar in Bengaluru (The erstwhile Manchester United bar, for those who were wondering where this place was). For the uninitiated, Agam are classified as a ‘Carnatic Rock’ band. Yes, you read that right…. “Carnatic Rock” band (double quotes for effect). The band gets full marks for being able to do a splendid job of merging two diverse musical disciplines… or more like Carnatic music’s discipline with Rock’s so-called-indiscipline.

Agam playing 'Brahma's Dance'

The band kicked off the show with ‘Brahma’s Dance’ and moved on to play a whole bunch of songs from the new album. They did indulge the crowd with some splendid covers, which they skillfully modified to make it their own… the memorable covers were ‘Aaromale’ and ‘Dil Se’. Rahman overdose?!?!?! (Happy there was no ‘Jai Ho’). The crowd went crazy when the band played ‘Boat song’ and ‘Rudra’. Everyone in the house was up on their feet, clapping in perfect time and singing along with the chorus verses in almost perfect pitch. The band clearly has a wide appeal beyond the late 20-early 30’s crowd; evident from some of the maami’s (sorry my fellow Tams, I know not of a better term to use) who were clapping away to the songs. The nearly 1.5 hour set closed with their famous ‘Malhar Jam’, now made famous thanks to Coke Studio. There was a killer percussion solo towards the end of the Malhar Jam that really sealed the deal for everyone present.

Agam covering Rahman's 'Aaromale'

Overall, the show was fabulous barring the terrible lighting on stage. Agam sounded exactly like they do on their new album. The band came on stage, stood rooted to their respective positions and without any theatrics, managed to keep a crowd of 100+ grooving to their sound. Agam are a fine example of how one can blend Indian music with western influences and not sound like the McLaughlin/Zakir Hussian super group “Shakti”.  There were some glimpses of this fusion with ‘Motherjane’ who've failed to impress me after their ‘very different’ debut album.

The super percussion solo on 'Malhar Jam'

Closing remarks – a five star performance by Agam. Folks in other cities should check them out even if you are not into Rock music or Carnatic music. Many who claim to enjoy so-called ‘fusion music’ have not heard anything until they've heard Agam.

Show Review: Junkyard Groove at HardRock Café,Bengaluru

I remember seeing Junkyard Groove for the very first time in 2005 at the IIM-B festival and it’s good to see that Ameeth Thomas is still as entertaining as the first day. While the band has undergone some changes (everyone else quit), Ameeth Thomas has been getting stronger and better as a performer. And that ease came across in today’s disappointingly short but fun set.

Ameeth 'I grin'Thomas

 

The show started almost 40 minutes late, which isn’t a good thing at HRC because I tend to drink more beer. The band started with ‘Imagine’ and went on to do crowd favourites such as ‘Folk You’,’Rock n Roll’, Pearl Jam’s ‘Animal’ and more. Before the start of ‘It’s Ok’, Ameeth pointed out to a girl in the audience for whom he wrote the song. Slight chick-flick ‘Awww’ moment, but the damsel was hitched to another man. Thankfully, a Milas Kunis-Timbelake ‘Friends with Benefits’ flash mob was averted.

Ameeth points to girl for whom he wrote 'It's Ok'

The show was abruptly stopped thanks to the progressive police policy of Bangalore to close all live acts by 10:15. The crowd (myself included) was clearly disappointed at not getting to hear other numbers like ‘Say Goodbye’ and ‘Twinkle’. The entire set had a total of about 8 songs only. The most disappointing bit was that the band did not play any new material. While the live show still rocked, they may soon fall into the category of Indian rock stalwarts – Parikrama’ who have a predictable set list with barely any new material.

Performing 'Folk You'

The line-up for Junkyard Groove had one surprising change. Naveen Thomas (who also plays with Galeej Gurus) was missing, and was replaced by former Junkyard Groove guitarist Siddarth Srinivasan, who I thought had formed Captains of Hook, with former Junkyard Groove members. (Sounds like a certain Guns’n’Roses on a small scale…. Anyone remember Velvet Revolver?)

"This isn't 'Captains of Hook' !??!?!?!"

Sajith on Bass

Closing comments – entertaining show, but a terribly short set with no new material after all this time. The drums were a little too loud and drowned out some of the vocals.

Junkyard Groove

Driven,,,

"Singers and Musicians are some of the most driven, courageous people on the face of the earth.

 They deal with more day-to-day rejection in one year than most people do in a lifetime. Every day, musicians and singers face the financial challenge of living a freelance lifestyle, the disrespect of people who think they should get real jobs, and their own fear that they’ll never work again. Every day, they have to ignore the possibility that the vision they have dedicated their lives to is a pipe dream. 

With every role, they stretch themselves, emotionally and physically, risking criticism and judgment. With every passing year, many of them watch as the other people their age achieve the predictable milestones of normal life - the car, the family, the house, the nest egg. Why? Because musicians and singers are willing to give their entire lives to a moment - to that line, that laugh, that gesture, or that interpretation that will stir the audience’s soul. 

Singers and Musicians are beings who have tasted life’s nectar in that crystal moment when they poured out their creative spirit and touched another’s heart. In that instant, they were as close to magic, God, and perfection as anyone could ever be. And in their own hearts, they know that to dedicate oneself to that moment is worth a thousand lifetimes." — David Ackert, LA Rock Times

PS: I'm still trying to get my first steady band in place, but I understand this sentiment. And I have a day job too.

Dave Grohl - Limitless

I’m going to do my best not to use artist’s birthday to talk about them, but I’m going to need some fuel before I get into a groove of writing about music more often. So here goes.

If there was ever a perfect candidate one was looking for in terms of work-experience and drive, there’s no better resume than that of birthday boy – Dave Grohl. Known most widely as the drummer of Nirvana and the front-man of Foo Fighters, Grohl boasts of an impressive resume that includes gigs for artists such as Tom Petty, Slash, Paul McCartney, David Bowie and more. Not to mention the number of times he’s filled in and toured as a drummer for bands like Nine Inch Nails, Pearl Jam, Queens of the Stone Age and more. I’m not even going to talk about the super group Them Crooked Vultures for today.

Dave Grohl turns 44 today! So here’s a big Happy Birthday to him. I’ve always had a sort of deep respect for Grohl as a musician. Grohl probably serves as one of the finest examples of how a musician can literally metamorphose and evolve over time. For those who remember, Dave Grohl came to the forefront as the drummer of Nirvana. More often than not, while drummers are instrumental (no pun intended) in keeping the tempo of the band and the crowd, they largely go ignored until the quintessential drum solo. Most of the time, this is simply because of their lack of proximity to the audience. The drummer always sits right at the back of the stage and generally gets hidden by his percussion arsenal. This gets further amplified when you’re the drummer in a band with a front man by the name of Kurt Cobain. (We’ll keep that tribute for later). Even then, Grohl is still remembered for the ‘no adjectives can describe it’ drum riff of ‘Smells like a Teen Spirit’ – the song that defined Grunge music for many folks.

We all know the story of Nirvana and the death of Kurt Cobain. When you’re in a band like Nirvana, it’s not easy to find a replacement for a front man of that stature. Nirvana found themselves in the league of The Doors, who pretty much ceased to exist after the untimely demise of Jim Morrison. (Cobain and Morrison were both 27 when they died). This probably was the defining moment for Dave Grohl as a musician.

  

There lies a certain inspiration in the uncertainty of Grohl’s mind who decided to continue to make music and not give up on the dream. In October of 1994, Grohl went back to the studio and recorded a 15 track demo all by himself. He played all the instruments on it. Little did he know that this would one day become the first cut of the band – Foo Fighters. Choosing not to wait out an uncertain future, Grohl continued to tour with Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers as a drummer with the occasional show for Pearl Jam (they almost made him their drummer, praise the lord that did not happen…. grunge fans know all too well about the Cobain vs. Vedder – King of Grunge spat).

The 15-track demo continued to make its rounds until studio execs liked what they heard and signed Grohl up. He put together the first avatar of the present Foo Fighters band and released the self-titled album in 1995. Dave Grohl, who started out as a drummer, thanks to an unusual twist of fate soon found himself with the burden of being the front man of a band. Not everyone gets that the first time around, and sometimes never. Drummers are normally safe and secure behind their little wall, but everyone has their eyes on the front man (double whammy if you’re playing guitars as well). The sheer sense of expectation is enough to break even the strongest of souls. And rock audiences are not known to be forgiving.

The first big show of Foo Fighters was when they opened to David Bowie in 1995. The audience was left unimpressed. The spiritual torch bearer of Kurt Cobain, it would seem, had failed. But Dave Grohl soon figured out that rock was not about being a great singer or having a great sound, but lied in connecting with people. Over time, Grohl stuck it out and is now definitely one of the most entertaining front men of our time. Check out the Wembley show of the Foo Fighters to know what I’m talking about.

The rest as they say is history. 18 years of touring, 11 Grammy awards including ‘Best rock Album’ 4 times, 7 studio albums later, the Foo Fighters are a force to be reckoned with. And with it Dave Grohl definitely a wonderful example for any musician who’s feeling down and out or can’t seem to get their tune right. And the neat part about Grohl at the helm of the band is that it sounds nothing Nirvana.

(Picture: Wikipedia)

With what began as a drummer with Scream in 1986, to the legendary Nirvana in 1990 and now to the ever popular Foo Fighters, Dave Grohl seems to have done it all. Grohl still tours as a drummer with a whole host of other bands including Queens of the Stone Age (Confirmed drummer on their next album) and Cage the Elephant. Besides music, Grohl is also found his groove with directing and cameos in movies. (I’m definitely looking forward to his full directorial debut documentary ‘Sound City’.) He continues to reinvent the music he plays with super groups such as Them Crooked Vultures, and his recently announced super group that will premiere at the Sundance Festival (includes Fleetwood Mac star Stevie Nicks, Cheap Trick's Rick Nielsen, former Nirvana band mate Krist Novoselic, Rick Springfield and Rage Against the Machine's Brad Wilk and John Fogerty....yes, my jaw dropped too) 

Clearly, ‘limitation’ isn't a word Dave Grohl is too familiar with. 

Songs at the 2013 Oscars

I thought I’d take a crack at reviewing the songs nominated for ‘Original song’ in this year’s Academy Awards. I remember a time when all Disney had to do was put out an animation and it would instantly win an Oscar. Songs from movies like Beauty & the Beast, Tarzan, The Lion King and Aladdin are still fab to listen to even today. That being said, here are my two cents worth on this year’s nominations.

Before My Time (Chasing Ice)

 

A lot of folks might not realize it when listening to this song, but the female lead is our very own Black Widow aka Scarlett Johansson. Not letting that affect my opinion, ‘Before My Time’ is a simple song mostly driven by lyrics. The first thing that popped into my mind when I heard this song was Frank Sinatra’s ‘Send in the clowns’. The piano and the violin, only instruments driving the song, give it a somewhat haunting feel. The lyrics are pretty well written and suit the premise of the movie. What accentuates the lyrics is the rawness of Scarlett Johansson’s voice which makes the song believable that it is something that could be sung by any ordinary person. That being said, the song isn’t something that would make people instantaneously sit up and take notice and is forgotten right after you’re done hearing it. It’s quite weak compared to the competition it’s up against.

Everybody Needs a Best Friend (Ted)

Another very Frank Sinatra-ish song, Norah Jones does a wonderful job with the singing. The tune is instantly hummable and sort of lingers even after you’re done listening to it. The Academy has a tendency to nominate such songs almost instantaneously. This song in fact sounds very similar to 2001’s ‘If I didn’t have you’ from Monsters Inc. which won the Oscar that year. There really isn’t anything new the song offers to the audience. Seth MacFarlane deserves a clap for the lyrics. However, chances of winning are slim considering he’s hosting the awards show. But then again, knowing the sort of music the Academy jury goes for, anything could happen with this one.

Pi’s Lullaby (Life of Pi)

This is definitely the song I’m rooting for. It’s new type of song for the academy, considering everyone typically associates India with Bollywood music.(And we’re all still recovering from ‘Jai Ho’) Bombay Jayashree stands out and there is no better ambassador to showcase the non-Bollywood side of Indian music. The music in the song is very soothing, just as how a lullaby is meant to be. If I had to be critical, I’d say that the song was too short and did not completely showcase Bombay Jayashree’s vocals range. The song is unfortunately too radical a choice for representatives of the American audience. But then, none of us expected Jai Ho to become such a rage. It would be a bit of a personal disappointment if this song loses out. But when you’re up against the combined forces of Adele and James Bond, one needs all the divine intervention they can get. (PS: My mum’s rooting for this one too)

Skyfall (Skyfall)

Adele…sigh! What a voice. The song is brilliant in so many ways. The song took one back to the James Bond theme’s that were present in the 60’s when John Barry was running the music for a lot of the successful Bond theme songs. The song is a refreshing change from Madonna, Jack White & Alicia Keys, who sounded nice but just did not give you the feel of a James Bond movie.( Cornell was too ‘rock’ even for Bond) Adele seems to have been born to sing a James Bond theme song. Vocals being deep and soulful, the tempo of the song with the orchestra, grand piano, string section - holding it together, and the  slow build up to a chorus in the end and Adele going ‘Skyfaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaall’ for about 12 seconds, is simply brilliant. The entire song clearly feeds off the original theme song, which is ideally suited for the movie where James Bond finally becomes ‘Bond, James Bond’. I’d definitely put this as a fore-runner for the award. John Barry would be proud.

Suddenly (Les Miserables)

Wolverine (Hugh Jackman) sings in this one. I’m unsure as to why this song gets a nomination. It’s the standard musical one expects from Hollywood. Unless you’re into the Hollywood musical song and dance routine, I don’t think you’d appreciate this. Also, it’s Wolverine singing. Wolverine does not do musicals!!! Jokes apart, Hugh Jackman does a fair job on the singing but like ‘Before my time’ the song is forgotten the moment it’s over. It doesn’t leave the tune in your head, a job done brilliantly by other musical winners such as Chim chim cher-ee from Mary Poppins. 


If I were the jury, objectively, I would give the award to Adele for 'Skyfall'. But then. it's the Oscars. I can't trust them after Slumdog Millionaire ( No offence Mr. Boyle, but we made similar movies before in Bollywood, but no nominations)

Happy Birthday : Jimmy Page

I've been meaning to start a blog where I jabber on about music, for a really long time now. I’ve always dreamt of being like the kid in the ‘Almost Famous’ movie, where I get to travel with bands and experience what they go through and bring the life and soul of bands to the masses through writing. As part of my New Year’s resolution, I've decided to finally not merely sit and day dream but to write about music, and shows, and my experiences in playing with bands and trying to make something of a musician of myself.

What better day to start writing about music than on the birthday of one of the most iconic lead guitar players of all time – Jimmy Page.

(Image: Wikipedia)

Born on January 9th, 1944, Page is probably one of the most worshiped guitar players of all time, maybe even ahead of Hendrix in some circles. While we all know Page for being the iconic lead sound behind Led Zeppelin, we tend to forget that he also played for a couple of years with The Yardbirds (which for some reason in my head will always be Jeff Beck’s gig).

I can spend a lot of time talking about the sheer brilliance of Page as a guitar player. Any guitar or real music enthusiast has to just sit back and soak in the sheer brilliance of ‘Stairway to Heaven’ to know that here was a man who was born to play guitar. Even the fates would have it so. The story goes that Page did not willingly start playing guitar, but somewhere in their wisdom, the Gods left a guitar for a young Page to find when he was shifting houses. No one knew who the guitar belonged to, so there sat a young Jimmy Page not knowing that one day those fingers would be the medium to bring many a follower to fall at the feet of Led Zeppelin. And Page was to become one of the most sought after guitar players of any era.

There are more than enough people who've spoken about Jimmy Page’s time with the Yardbirds and Led Zeppelin. I've come across very few articles that truly capture how Page has been an influence to some of the most iconic bands of that time, and I don’t mean where guitar players tried to emulate Page. Very few people know that Jimmy Page started out as a session’s musician for Shel Tamy who was the producer for The Who and The Kinks, icons in their own right. A lot of the initial tunes by either band had Page being featured as an uncredited guitar player. Besides these two bands, Page even worked on some of the songs for The Rolling Stones, and even went on later on to be hired by the Stones’ Manager to help out on some records. 

A lot of the initial work before the mainstream madness of Led Zep and Yardbirds came along, found their way to  bootleg recordings, and were later compiled into an album ‘Jimmy Page: Session Man’ (Trying to get my hands on this bootleg…bits and pieces are on YouTube). In some of his interviews, Page talks about how being a studio musician helped him inculcate discipline in his playing and the need to be perfect on the first take. I guess music is like sports, you can have your moments in the sun but behind it goes hours of practice and a lot of discipline.

Anyway, here are some fun facts about Jimmy Page that you may not know:

• Page initially played electric bass with The Yardbirds before finally switching to twin lead guitar with Beck.
• ‘Lead Zeppelin’ was formed as a Super group featuring Jeff Beck (Yardbirds) on guitar, John Entwistle (The Who) on bass and Keith Moon (The Who) on drums. Thankfully, interpersonal conflicts led to Page recruiting people who would become the holy quartet of 'Led Zeppelin'.
• Page is one of the 18 artists who have been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame twice. Once with The Yardbirds, and then with Led Zeppelin (Only to be outdone by friend and fellow one-time band mate Eric Clapton who was inducted thrice)

I recently got my hands on the 2007, ‘Celebration Day’ DVD – a one-time reunion show with the remaining members of Led Zep and Bonham’s son on drums. At the age of 69, Jimmy Page has still got the same old demanding stature behind a guitar, playing as effortlessly as he did on the ‘The Song Remains the Same’ concert film. Do check it out. Sheer brilliance. Here’s a little something get you started on the Jimmy Page appreciation journey.