GAIA, the Concert

1st & 2nd July, 2000

The much aviated event, sadly the least publicised. The setting for the music bugs was Guru Nanak Bhavan.

Day One, 1st July, 2000

The guitar amps and drum kit was brought from Peter's farm, Hoskote courtesy of George Mathai's jeep and Peter's jeep. The PA system arrived later and the mixer snake and power amps and mixer were set up by 2pm, and all was ready for the sound checks and show.

The musicians to be originally featured on Day One were Thermal and a Quarter, Rughupathy Dixit, Mixed Fruit Jam and Peter Isaac, but Agni was included. The number of performers were reduced to give a longer time for each musician to have more time to freak out!

We had a bustling and live audience and that added to the music magic. Agni opened the show and was the replacement for Thermal and a Quarter. Having ample stage space, clean sound of a Fender Twin Reverb and Roland Studio 100 Bass amps, and a good PA sound system (AV Tec) they went on to render some Deep Purple, Doors ( Hope I am right) and a couple of their own compositions. One really feels that they need a keyboard to fill up when the lead guitarist takes a run. Perhaps in future Agni would make their act a little tighter. Wouldn't say it was their best performance, personally I feel that their gig at the Richmond Town Park was more alive!!

Rughupathy Dixit was next, with his infectious grin, sitting upon the bass drum case (a very stable seat!!) with an electrified acoustic guitar. Doing his pieces with encores from the appreciative audience. His ringing voice on 'like Cocaine' needs to be heard to describe, and shows the Indian Classical Music background upbringing on voice timber. A real joy to listen to. A little more about Rughupathy.

Although Thermal and a Quarter did not perform as a band, (Agni filled in), they were represented by Bruce Lee Mani, who did a few vocal solos and even ventured to do some 'group' compositions. Being put in the spot, infact spotlight, Bruce was more aware that people were listening to him, and he did justice to the music he produced. It was quite a sight to see Bruce sitting on the drum case dishing some real sober ballard stuff.

Next we had a rock and roll group called Mixed Fruit Jam, and they performed well to their fans who filled a good percentage of the hall. The switching between the drummers and lead singers by a girl/boy combination added a little variety and feather in their caps and they did play well. Lead guitarist George almost had a heart attack when he witnessed his guitar fall off its stand in slow motion, accidentally lynched by the guitar cable of Bruce, who couldn't get over what he did!! Hope George and Bruce learnt from this, always watch your butt or what you can drag behind and never keep your axe out of your hand!! Well George has to grin and bare it for a guitar without a scratch is either kept packed very carefully or very rarely used!! Sorry a photo of Mixed Fruit Jam was taken when they were on stage, but seems to have been screwed up by the photo processors, I remember someone taking photos during their performance, I hope to get my hands on that!)

The show ended without Peter Isaac playing. All were happy I am sure, and they had a full evening. Because of the hiring times restrictions of the Guru Nanak Bhavan the show had to end early.

Day Two, 2nd July, 2000

The program did start a little late because of late arrival of musicians to set up their kits and do a sound check. It was quite an insult to the audience that they refused to come into the auditorium till the programme actually started.

Geetha opened the program, playing her veena and was accompanied by an assorted four piece set of Indian instrument musicians. Some really serious listening was required and was given by the audience, unfortunately very small.

Raghupathy Dixit filled in with his magic for about half an hour. Although he had a very inactive audience compared to the day before, he sang like he always did, and dedicated some of his songs to his friends who came. He performed a song called 'Chewing Gum', much to the delight to all.

Followed by Gerard Machado and the Network. It is disappointing to see that the delay and fuss of starting their session seems to be a standard when they perform. (I have seen this at the Richmond Town Park, and at the Pinch of Jazz). It took almost half an hour to get started, so much for etiquette to the audience and courtesy of an early arrival for a sound check before the program started. The start of the show was delayed because of the drummer walking in just Geetha was to perform to set up his drums, and showed no inclination to do so at a quicker pace. I am told that even the bassist landed up without a bass guitar!! One may be a good talented musician, but if no respect is shown to the audience then results will show, perhaps the dismal attendance is an indication, just a thought?

Their performance was excellent as musicians, and one would have expected a more enlivened patch from the rhythm section with perhaps a drum or bass solo! Raman on his clarinet and sax was definitely below his superb performance. Gerard, no doubt is a very talented guitarist, and can hold his own anywhere. He has the experience, and even the great Gussy Rikh has a lot of respect for him and rates him par excellence. We all wish Gerard took a little more notice of his audience from time to time, that way he would improve his overall.

Finally Ashley Williams and the Black Roses took the stage and performed. This performance was not one of their top ones, and they even had to re-arrange their singing set up. I guess they will get back to a better action in the near future. Various members took vocal solos, which shows that the group is very versatile, and can deliver a variety of music.

Somehow the magic of the previous was missing and the audience already bored by delays were restless and really did not help the musicians along. Because of lack of time, Peter Isaac did not perform much to the disappointment of many of his die-hard fans who had come to see him.

One can learn from these two days on the 'crowd pullers' and how 'it pays to advertise'. Relying on the Press to report on the show before the show is a false dream, but then, one can even have a set back on reporting after the show. Half the time the report is cockeyed and unconnected to music, or highlighted a personal favorite leaving the real essence out.

Let's hope that Bangalore can support and encourage her musicians by attending their performances. Lets bring live music back to Bangalore and show all that DJ's and VJ's are not the only thing that is connected to music, in fact, they sometimes help stifle music and musicians. Of course we all need to live side by side and respect each other's music styles and bring about a blend of live and electronic sound!

A special mention needs to be made for the almost single handed effort of Peter Isaac to put up this show to support the musicians when they play at Richmond Town Park again when the weather gets better. He has put this platform for musicians to perform and give their all. Besides the setbacks of a major cancellation of Radio Therapy and Thermal and a Quarter, the overall of the show needs to get a standing hand for the musicians' musician, that is Peter. Peter's friend Vivek needs to be commended on his mixing.

More when the next show is on, keep checking out on this page for further links and photos.

Ronnie

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