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Karachi jams to the sound
of rock
KARACHI: Four of the country’s top bands, one a revolutionist, the other three
promising teens of their genre, made hay while the moon shone against the
sparkling Karachi sea as the coastal metropolis made a comeback to its concert
scene.
Entity Paradigm (EP), Noori, Fuzon and Junoon were the entitled performers of
Jammin’ Karachi, a charity concert for special children of the Al Shifa Trust.
And though the performance was tardy to take off, the event was still very much
on schedule.
Early hindrances however did pose ‘minute’ problems. EP was asked to open and
did it in style, but not before having to waste the initial 15 minutes adjusting
their sound system. People in the audience complained of the band’s immature
attitude, but later it was EP’s Ahmed Ali (Jutt sahab from Jutt & Bond) who also
showed his displeasure to the sound people from the stage on to the mike saying,
“All of this should have been catered to in the morning. It’s not my band’s
fault.”
Sound engineer, Ishtiaq Ahmed, when asked about the electronic variables said EP
themselves was responsible for the sound predicaments “since they themselves are
handling everything for their session”.
EP is the next best thing to happen to Pakistan. Many audience members, who saw
and heard the group for the first time in Karachi, have predicted that EP, like
Junoon, will be the next music revolutionist and will change the very outlook of
the country’ music scene. But the Linkin Park cum Limp Bizkit of Asia will have
to wait until the time is right for them to reveal their glorious rock, new-age
artillery. Ahmed Ali’s group did a couple of originals, like “Kahan Hai Tu”, the
army fiddle “Hamain Azmaa” and “Hameshaa”, but their strength still lay in the
manner how they performed their cover songs. The group maintained their
robustness alive for cover songs as well like, “Tu Hai Kahan,” Sajjad Ali’s old
goldie, “Bolo Bolo”, besides doing famed numbers of Linkin Park, Rage Against
The Machine and Limp Bizkit. Totally mind blowing was their dictation of the Tom
Cruise starter “Mission Impossible” second feature’s soundtrack. Head banging
remained the top feature in the group’s dance diction as the thousand or so
audience also followed their act.
EP’s exit followed Noori’s entrance. The group continued playing their
favourites from their album, “Sonu Ke Me Hoon Jawan” but it was Ali Noor’s
“Manwa Re” that stole everybody’s hearts. Noori remained on course for an
outstanding image building and sang songs much to the public’s hearts-content.
They were however overshadowed by Fuzon who created a stir of hope and joy as
soon as they took the stage. An interesting aspect of Fuzon was their bass
player, Sameer Ahmed, who though being a permanent member of rock group, Karavan
was doing the bass for Fuzon. Apparently word has it that since Karavan is led
by the nihilistic Asad Ahmed, who is always against the way concerts in Pakistan
are played, nobody wants to hire them. Hence, the one night stand for Sameer
with Fuzon. Another one of Karavan’s bogeymen, Alan Smith was also seen doing
sessions performance with Junoon.
Fuzon hanged onto their boots for an incredible singsong evening and that too
when the clock ticked half past two. But it was “Akhiyaan” that raged the
audience who stood up and danced to their hearts content.
The issue of VIPs remained a prick in the side – both for the singers and the
public. VIPs have the habit of sitting right in front of the stage. And being
VIPs, they cannot be questioned for their foolish attitude or sitting area. The
situation was so disgusting that it even made Ali Azmat puke. “We know all these
VIPs cannot dance and are too sensitive to shake a booty or two, but I just
wanna say that Junoon is with the public. We will always be with you,” Ali
screamed his tonsils out.
The situation was further aggravated when the so-called VIPs called in their
goons and ordered them to clear the front area of all the dancing youngsters,
since it was disturbing their visions. A word of advice for such people! If you
cannot take the excitement then sit home. Music concerts are not social outings.
It’s a place where five to six thousand people are asked to let loose the devil
that’s inside them. A ‘farshi mehfil’ that night took away half the fun, as
people engaged in brawls by the PAF guards. However, security on the whole was
pretty tight and there were no reports of any ‘love fights’ or even fistfights
for that matter.
Junoon took the stage as the granddaddies of the rock machine. With “Mera Mahi”
they launched their tribute to their fans. With the amnesiac, “Neend Ati Nahin”
they let loose their only humble accolade for romancers everywhere. All of this
and Ali hitting out at the VIPs sitting right in front of him made things worth
the money spent on the tickets. And it was when Ali asked the crowd to go wild
that, ironically if you want to call it, that more PAF guards were called in ‘to
protect the Air Force officials’ sitting in the front lane.
“Garaj Baras”, “Mazaa Zindagi Ka” and even the Allama Iqbal kalam, “Khudi Ko Kar
Buland Itna”, made the band stand out at the top among the rest.
The night was long but fast. Junoon made a statement in the last by dedicating
Jazba-e-Junoon to peace and the will of the peoples around the world. Salman
Ahmed asked Fuzon and Noori to join them onto the stage, but the latter already
gone home. Together, Salman, Ali, Brian, Shafqat Ali Khan, Immo and Shalym
performed Junoon’s ‘bucket of pride rendition’ as if saying a long goodbye to
the crowd, for whom the rockers had performed after almost a year.
Khurrum Anis
Daily Times
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