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Junoon rocks UMASS
November 15, 2002
JUNOON
Campus Center Auditorium
Nov. 15
Junoon's passion for peace mission thrashed the half-full Campus Center
auditorium last night at a University Productions Concerts effort to spread
peace.
"We did this show to support peace on campus and abroad," said Simba Akinnagbe,
a senior Legal Studies major, and member of UPC. "One of the best ways to
facilitate peace is through music."
A long caterpillar-like line of chatter grew outside the closed doors of the
ballroom. UPC had already distributed more than four hundred tickets.
Sarah Fitzgerald, senior Marketing and Communications double major, is
production manager for UPC. She balanced a tiny red radio in her hand as she
tried to get members of the band into the eating room for an interview. She
explained that this show was a way for students to experience another culture.
"We try to get different styles of music, different genres here ... so everyone
can have their own experience," she said. She further added that UPC had been
planning this event since the beginning of October and that by making tickets
available in advance, members from all five colleges could attend.
Salman Ahmad, lead guitarist, pranced into the room in a purple and black rock
star outfit. He plopped himself down in a chair and began to talk about the
politics of their music.
"We come from a part of the world that has had terrorism for the past two
decades ... our music started as a reflection ... our region has become a
microcosm of the world ... who really knew about Pakistan or Afghanistan before
Sept. 11 [2001]?" he asked.
Bassist Brian O' Connell sat silently observing the conversation with
percussionist Asiq Ali by his side. The lead vocalist Ali Azmat was not present
and the band drummer, Jay Dittamo, spoke mainly about ryhthm.
"Our music, South Asian, is more in the shoulders," he said. "Everything in the
upper body."
Before hitting the stage he said, "It is important to make a statement, not just
to play music but to really have something to back up what you are playing."
On stage, the electric guitar backed by the bass ripped open the seams of
anticipation that had been sewn by the audience waiting in line. It got quiet.
Then ... boom! The tablas began to vibrate under the fingertips of Ali. The drum
kit joined in and everyone picked up the tempo in unison lifting the crowd into
a swirl of intensity.
Ahmad got down on his knees and passionately caressed his guitar. The
percussionist, drummer and bassist held the band's composure acting as glue to
keep everyone together.
The auditorium was roaring but unfortunately distinct sounds were impossible to
hear. The music was more of a blur. Band togetherness loosened up as time rolled
on and the musicians used poor dynamics. Their sound was level with no extreme
peaks or soft points.
The lyrics were mostly sung in the language of Urdu making it impossible for
anyone outside of that culture to understand the meaning behind the music. There
was no dialogue and no explanation of why people were being brought together. By
the end of the night the audience had lost its diversity.
Band members say that their music is about connecting with their audience and
about having a good time. The audience dwindled as the evening progressed
proving the event unsuccessful at bringing people of different cultures together
to share one experience under the name of peace.
Scott Enright
The Massachusetts Daily Collegian
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