Independence Rock XXIV – Day 2

Day 2 of I-Rock started where the first day left off – metal. Reverse Polarity, the Channel [V] Launchpad winners of 2009 took the stage. The two-vocalist theory seems to be catching on with metal bands these days – the addition of Viraj seems to have added a dimension to their repertoire. Although they were less aggressive on stage than on previous occasions – in their defense, the rain was a huge damper as only about 100-odd people had turned up by the time they started their set –  they managed to extract wild responses from the crowd. In fact, the audience’s request of Rev OCs (“My Paper Princess,” “Gollum,” “Love Lust,” “I-Pood,” “Johnny Horny,” “Cross Pollination”) confirms the far-reaching potential of reality TV! Besides, they dress better than most metal bands and also seem to have a strong sense of humor (refer to the song titles). [Gaurav (vocals), Viraj (vocals), Shikhar (guitar), Jordan (bass), Jonathan (drums).

On the couch that was warmed up by Rev, carnality was brought to a loving consumation by Bhayanak Maut, thanks primarily to their new drummer, Jai Row Kavi. Along with Jai’s insane double-bass patterns, Bhayanak Maut’s two-pronged vocal-assault lines matched up to their bumping about on stage. The madness spilled over to the crowd too. Their set included “Ranti Nasha”, “Tit for Twot,” “Ungentle,” “Habemus Papam,” “Violate.” Vinay’s sense of humor prevailed over the steady drizzle – and serves as a fine example of how to smartly manage the audience. It’s easier to joke up than to sneer away! [Vinay (vocals), Sunneith (vocals), Jai (drums), Venkatraman (guitar), Aditya (guitar), Vinit (bass).

Last year’s I-Rock winners Silver (from Pune) brought I-Rock back down to its hard-rocking roots. The assembled crowd, that had increased to about 300 despite the rain, howled and hooted for the all-OC set comprising “Decide,” “Hunger for Anger,” “Desire,” “Feel the Heat,” and “Funky Junky.” This is where the beauty of I-Rock and Mumbai amalgamated – I-Rock supporting live rock across the country and Mumbai supporting I-Rock by consistenly turning up despite all obstacles (in this case, the weather). [Mahesh (vocals), Savio (guitar), Rishi (bass), and Amit (drums)]

The section of I-Rock previously known as “Dinosaurs of Rock” was replaced by something dubbed as “Warren Mendonsa and friends.” Was it a nifty re-packaging attempt? Well, Warren (ex-Zero) and (guess who?) Jai Row Kavi teamed up in succession with a few musicians to recreate the past. Bobby Talwar (Zero) came in first on bass, jamming Zero’s “Christmas in July”. He was followed by Loy Mendonsa on bass guitar jamming “Stratus,” “Happy Billi Song” and “Hoochie Koochie tune.” Sabha joined in soon to perform vocals for “Whole Lotta Love” and “Fire.” And as a finale to this made-over section, Farhad Wadia came in on the acoustic guitar/vocals to jam songs like “Higher” and “Sweet Home Alabama.” More than anything else, this set succeeded in creating a wave of nostalgia for Warren and his guitar prowess.

The grand finale was flown in all the way from Cochin – and they did manage to put a smile on everyone’s face. Motherjane, probably India’s premier rock band, got a chunky 70 minute slot. Other bands might have struggled to sustain the interest of the audience; even under better weather conditions. However, Motherjane’s classiness and aura managed to not just sustain, but to embellish an already resonanant evening of music. The crowd requests for and responses to their songs, including “Mindstreet,” “Broken,” “Question,” “Walk On,” “Maya,” “Fields of Sound,” “Maktub” etc., were just phenomenal..

Suraj’s serene vocal melodies and Baiju’s amazingly Indian-sounding guitar work, layered over a succulent base formed by Deepu (guitar), Clyde (bass), and John (drums) could be compared to the most alluring dessert. Suraj requested the organizers to let the crowd in past the barricade during their last song “Karmic Steps,” and for an entire 5-minute period, the rained-out I-Rock looked like a real rock concert – where the artists and their fans are not separated by a moat (which was the reality this time, thanks to the rains). Befittingly, Baiju wound up the evening with an electric guitar rendition of the national anthem. The opening slot for a Mr. Big (Shillong) isn’t going to be that ‘big’ for these pros.

I’ve always been inspired by live music. Being a musician, I-Rock, indeed, has been the most looked-forward-to event on my rock calendar. This edition, again, proved why! Despite the snags (especially event management) and the weather, I-Rock XXIV has proven to be a resounding success for Indian music. Next year, the 25^th anniversary of I-Rock, it’s slated to go international – both at the level of the band competition and headlining acts. Here’s to next year!

Krishna Kumar Venkitachalam (KK) is a surgeon, bass guitar player, songwriter, editor, freelance writer, performance photographer and a human rights activist. His musings have appeared in newspapers, web magazines, and music blogs. Visit Engaying Life for your fix.