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Junoon Rocks the West Coast
The premiere Pakistani-American Rock band JUNOON (or “Passion” in the Urdu
language) recently completed a concert series covering major cities in the
western part of the United States during the month of June 2003.
Junoon at San Jose during Deewar Tour 2003
Pakistan Link caught up with them at San Jose State University in California’s
Hi-Tech Silicon Valley as they were hosted by the Pakistan Students Association
at this Campus (a refreshingly active group of Pakistani youth) at the Morris
Dailey Auditorium on June 8. This particular concert was promoted by Humad
Asghar.
The opening act at this venue was none other than Sacramento’s very own TJ Kool
(Ahmad Jilani) who is himself slowly developing quite a following in Northern
California. His new CD is about to be released at the end of July (which I hope
to review). TJ already had quite a number of friends and well-wishers in the
audience because most of the crowd that evening appeared to be from the
Lodi-Stockton-Sacramento area. It seems that Junoon is reaching out strongly to
California’s Central Valley, far beyond their traditional LA or San Francisco
Desi fan base.
Attending a Junoon concert can be quite an experience. The group’s young fans,
mostly of South Asian origin, are no less enthusiastic (maybe more) about them
than the followers of many popular Rock bands in the West. And it is due to this
enthusiasm that this reporter has learnt to get near the stage before the first
minute of Junoon’s opening number and get in as many photographs as possible.
There is no point in trying to compete with people half my age for floor space,
and that too just to take photographs.
And it is not just the young men that are being alluded to here because some of
Junoon’s female fan following can be quite aggressive too.
As predicted, things were quite calm when TJ and PSA representatives were on the
stage but the appearance of Junoon was a different story. Opening up with their
ever popular “Sayonee” number, Ali Azmat, Brian O’Connell and Salman Ahmad made
quite an impact. And at the same time, so did the young “Junooni” fans who
rushed the stage from then on and never left till the very end (they were a lot
tamer than last year and only got on top of the chairs past the half way point
of the show).
The second song was “Dosti” followed by “Mitti Mein Mil Jayain Ge” through which
I decided to leave the stage area to the youngsters, even though I should have
stayed for one of my own favorites “Saeen” which was performed soon after.
Pakistani flags started appearing when “Mera Mahi” was being performed and they
too stayed till the very end.
At this point it should be okay to break and comment on Junoon members,
especially the transformation of Ali Azmat from “Long Hair” to “No Hair”. Ali is
an extraordinary entertainer and often vocal about a number of issues. He was in
great form that evening, sporting a new (for us) “Michael Jordan” look. He
offered much hope to those of us whom nature is impacting via the receding
hairline route (as we age), because no matter how different he looked Ali has
only improved since his last long-haired appearance in San Jose.
Salman Ahmad is still the serious musician intellectual who was also the
co-founder of the “other” big band from Pakistan - the “Vital Signs”. Since 9/11
Junoon in general and Salman in particular have been extremely vocal that the
peaceful message of Islam be not equated with terrorism. Junoon’s first English
song “No More” was an effort in this regard. Junoon’s special on VH-1 called
“Islamabad: Rock City” was their effort at offering a view of Pakistan seldom
seen in this country. And Salman’s appearances on “Politically Incorrect” were
quite commendable. He has recently taken a more reclusive posture in private,
and if he does change his mind, he knows whom to contact at Pakistan Link.
Brian O’Connell is the America-born member of Junoon and from what I have found
over the years, he has been a gem of a guy. Married to a Pakistani, Brian is
connected to both the worlds (actually three if you count the Junoonis who often
appear to be from another planet). Pakistani-Americans are very appreciative of
his statements in the TV Special and in the Seattle Times. It has not always
been easy for Junoon to get its message of “Junoon for Peace” across, but Brian
is certainly the man to do it.
People of Pakistani origin are Junoon’s strongest fan base. The band is somewhat
of a controversy at times but as we heard the cries of “Pakistan Zindabad” on
several occasions at this concert, it made my wife and I proud. And since the
band is popular in many households including ours, it is for that reason that we
had to make it to San Jose for the third time to see them since 1997. But now
back to the concert.
After seeing Ali getting literally carried away during a slower number and
watching the crowd from a now safe distance during “Mast Qalandar” followed by
another favorite “Sajna” and “Yaadain Teri” and the song we all return to hear
“Jazba-e-Junoon” and a new song that that I’d not heard before (possibly from
the upcoming Junoon Album Deewaar), things were really getting interesting.
“Yaar Bina” followed by a nice ballad by Ali was shaken up by “Heeray” and “Husn
Walon” and Allama Iqbal’s “Khudi”. Baba Bulleh Shah’s Kalam and “Ghoom” and
“Zamanay Kay Andaaz” closed the regular show. The encore presentation was an
appropriate “Kyoon Pareshan Hai Tu” and a fast number.
In conclusion, it was wonderful to see people connected to Pakistan and other
South Asian countries appreciate one of the biggest acts to come from that part
of the world since the late Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan. And I must admit that at
times during this concert my eardrums were telling me that maybe I’m too old for
this kind of thing and would much rather listen to a Junoon CD in the comfort of
my car or home. But Farah and I were inspired by a lady of about 60 years of age
in Pakistani attire who was standing up and swaying to the music till the very
end of the concert. Maybe, just maybe, we are not too old for Junoon yet.
(Junoon will possibly appear on the PBS show Wide Angle Titled Junoon: The Rock
Star and the Mullahs on Thursday July 17, at 9 p.m. Please check the TV schedule
in your area)
Ras H. Siddiqui
PakistanLink
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