Live
Great Indian Rock X: New Delhi
Photographs by Sandeep Madhavan | Click here to Launch Photo Gallery
Date: February 17, 18, 19, 2006 | Venue: Pragathi Maidan, New Delhi
Scenes From A Rock Festival
So. You’ve already heard about the Great Indian Rock, and are aware of both Levi’s and the RSJ, right? Excellent. Moving along quickly, then, let me commence my woefully incomplete review of three evenings of rock ’n’ roll at Pragathi Maidan, Delhi.
[ Evening The First ]
The bands I missed: Magdalene, Descant.
What I saw:
As my accomplices and I wandered in, Bombay’s Split [no relation to this magazine] closed their set with an Audioslave cover. Tight enough, decent vocals.
Next on stage were Delhi’s own Joint Family. Formed in order to offset the lack of nu-metal bands in the capital city (a lacuna that one would have thought would have been best left as-is), they’re very enthusiastic and into what they do. They’re also rather short. Their songs are definitely nu-metal fare, played quite tightly and competently, even if the style doesn’t really grab me personally. My only real qualm were the slow bits. I had the distinct impression that people in this band went through a phase of wanting to play spacey Floydian fare at one point in their lives, and over-extended the slow instru segments in order to live out these dreams. These segments were rather at odds with the jump-the-f**k-up energy of the rest of the set. The best way to do the pretty-tinkly bits in a nu metal context is to make like KoRn and restrict them to 30-seconds-between-song bits and bobs.
Next up were Orange Street. Their set was a truly surreal and disturbing experience, not without its unintended comedic value. The music is your basic middle-of-the-road modern rock, further sullied with guest Hindustani vocals — ostensibly a good idea, but delivered in such a predictable and over-the-top manner that it crossed over into parody. Yet another addition to the mix was a laptop or groove box or whatever churning out what the electronic crowd quaintly calls ‘loops’. So naturally one of the covers was Prodigy’s “Smack My Bitch Up�?. Sigh.
Moving on quickly, the headliners were Norwegian stoner rockers, El Caco. This three-piece outfit is tight and possesses a modicum of aptitude for what they do. The songwriting is very Kyuss, but that’s not a bad thing at all. The guitarist had an awesome tone, low and dirty and so, so stoner. His riffing was generic, but good of its kind. The singer is really good at the more growled bits, but his higher, raspier post-grunge moments were less edifying. Drums were tight and energetic. They had the crowd moshing, and all in all put in a good show. So far, so good. Night: one ended on a decent note, despite the loopy shenanigans witnessed earlier.
[ Evening The Second ]
Once again, your fearless correspondent arrived late! This time, I missed Cassini’s Division and Medusa. Sorry, chaps.
I came in during Demonic Resurrection’s set. As usual, they played simple, tight and effective metal, augmented with keyboard backings and melodies. A very powerful and definitive feel, delivered with conviction enough. I think the new guitarist was a bit sloppy around the edges in his lead work, but I’m picky that way. I generally enjoy the little Demonstealer’s onstage excursions, and this one was no exception.
Next up were the spelling-challenged connoisseurs of late-’80s USSR politics, Prestorika. They played original songs, which bore the clear impress of Iron Maiden and sundry derivatives.
Things got a bit more entertaining with Bombay’s Zero. Unpretentious, fun rock music that you can jive to and sing along to. Original guitarist Warren, reckoned by many to be India’s finest, sat in with the band. I think he was just a bit rusty, seeing as he was playing with the band after a gap of seven months, but he was still far and away the most entertaining and convincing guitarist to stalk that stage yet. I’m not sure I really get, or like the lead vocalist’s attitude, but I’m hard to please.
Next up, UK alterna-rockers, yourcodenameismilo, climbed on stage with an agenda of solidarity and integration on mind. They aimed to prove that a boring, directionless set can be played by musicians of any caste or creed, and they succeeded in spades. The music was your typical Muse-style Brit rock with attempts at Pixie-ish noisy bits. The singer was a rather annoying fellow with a very unpleasing wannabe-Cobain rasp. The rest of the band were your standard louts, competent enough to safely ignore for the most part. The audience didn’t react all to well to them — bottles were thrown and the singer was hurt. Emotionally, that is. My friends and I left during their set. We spent the rest of the night in a pub, being served beers by faux-cowboys with very unconvincing accents, and considered ourselves better off for it.
[ Evening The Third ]
Here’s where I reveal my utter unsuitability to be a rock ’n’ roll journalist! On the third night, I managed to miss The Superfuzz, who were later judged the best new band at the show. Hmf.
I did get to see Acrid Semblance. They play a very Gothenburg style of melo-death, so there are many shades of Children Of Bodom and the likes in their sound. Which made for an energetic and basically satisfying set. Guest drummer Yasmin, from Namma Bengaluru’s Myndsnare helped out with the backbeat and the grooves. A nice blast of fun, melodic metal.
Next up were Nakshatra, who seem to be very prog-oriented. Now, see, I don’t have any particular axe to grind against prog rock. It’s an often amusing, sometimes amazing genre of music. But when your prog rock horizons need to extend beyond Dream Theater. I’ve heard a number of prog-wannabe bands who seem to be unaware of the possibilities of the genre beyond those explored by DT and their ilk — I come from Bangalore, after all. Without the experience and chops of the DT boys, and the wider exposure to more musical textures, these bands come off as woefully dreary. Long, overextended keyboard-saturated mood-pieces, occasional bursts of riffing weighed down by overwrought key work, reaching-too-far solo breaks and allegedly mature and introspective lyrics. Not my recipe for a rocking good time, sorry. Nakshatra embodied all these flaws, and in a terribly predictable way. I could see each drum fill, tempo change and lead break coming up before it happened, and the band never failed to deliver on my expectations. I wish they had. I like being surprised, even if it isn’t always pleasant. Mangling Deep Purple and Rush along the way didn’t help. Their singer is a rather good rock vocalist though, and their drummer was pretty neat too.
And then, No Idea took the stage. They’re from Madras. They have a very talented guitarist, and a singer who does sing well, but perhaps tries a little too hard to sound black, when she is, in fact, a rather delectable shade of brown. The music is inoffensive moderate rock, and often sounds like good material for ad jingles. The end result is somewhat akin to Whitney Houston fronting Journey. The audience basically fixated on the singer, alternately abusing her, making sundry propositions of a rather pornographic nature, praising her, and proposing marriage. Wowser.
Finally, it was time for the band I’d come all the way to see: Swedish funkajazzametallic superchefs, Freak Kitchen!!! This three-piece band combines a bewildering range of musical influences and the talents of freak guitar virtuoso, Mattias Eklundh to cook up a spicy, steamy main course of crunchy grooves and sizzling leads. Okay, enough with the trying-too-hard culinary metaphors. Basically, Freak Kitchen rock. They’ve got big, groovy, crunch riffs, brilliant guitar work, funny, sarcastic songs about the peculiar entity that people call society and as if being the tightest, most accomplished band at GIR wasn’t enough, they were also the most entertaining. Eklundh made the audience feel like part of the show with his earthy, spontaneous humour and disarmingly self-mocking gags. Also — and I suspect a few attitude-bloated Indian frontmen could take a cue from him here — his handling of the crowd was awesome. A section of the audience had a moshpit going, and it was getting pretty violent. Eklundh had his eyes on them, asking them to keep it clean at one point. When things got really ballistic, he read them the riot act. He reminded them that they were here to have fun, not fight, and they could either stop their fighting and enjoy the show, or go out to the parking lot and kill each other for all he cared.
It worked.
There was applause, and the pointless aggression subsided. What does it take to teach people from Gandhi’s land a spot of non-violence? A dressing-down by a hairy Swede, that’s what.
I really can’t say enough about Freak Kitchen’s set. And if I tried, it would dwindle into incoherent fanboy hyperbole. Suffice it to say that They Brought The Noise! And it was good.
At the end, the band did a jam of Hendrix’ “Purple Haze�? while a succession of desi guitarists got on stage for a duel / trade-off with Eklundh. Amit Dutta [of Skinny Alley] gave a good account of himself, I thought. He didn’t even try to match Eklundh’s post-Zappa / Vai fireworks, but simply stuck to his own classic blues-rock style. Mahesh Tinaikar [ex-Indus Creed] was a different story, though. He marched on stage with that whole ‘Yeah, I’m a guitar virtuoso but I’m so down with the cool kids, too’ look going on — the big shades, the colourful vaguely rave-esque top, the smarmy smile that one usually sees at parties where the music is provided by some chucklehead with a mixer and turntable. He took the first solo break, wanking all over his fretboard to little end. Eklundh quickly sized him up and demolished him without too much further ado. Tinaikar vanished offstage pretty rapidly. The last Indian axeman to spar with Eklundh was Warren [ex-Zero]. He handled himself much more creditably, backing Eklundh on rhythm to get a feel for the direction the musical context was heading in, and deferring to Eklundh in terms of solo time, which only led to Eklundh urging Warren on to longer solo breaks. Truth be told, Warren was clearly outclassed, but very few people wouldn’t have been.
And that was that. It was announced that The Superfuzz (whom I did NOT see, blast!) were the best among the competing bands. I imagine some more awards may have been given but really, who cares? I cannot understand this fetish for running rock festivals as talent contests. It gets totally absurd with the mix of styles on display — like trying to objectively judge between The Beatles and Slayer. It simply doesn’t make sense.
And with that last spot of cribbing, my GIR review must come to a close. Thank you, and good night.
Hey Jaya -read ur review on split magazine website - mostly fair but a have a bone to pick with u about your comments re. the so called “jam” with eklundh - have to agree that i was completely destroyed by eklundh - without trying to sound like i am making excuses, i was handicapped by a unfamiliar guitar and completely dry amp without having time to suss out the gear, get warmed up and comp;etely unrehearsed. Tell me mr. Jaymurthy or whatever ur name is - what was the reason to make personal and malicious comments about me whern you havent even met me? Do i know you? Who the fuck areyou? I have been playing music professionally since you were sucking on your mothers tits u little runt and i dont need to prove anything to anybody - least of all to arseholes like you who pretend to be music critics. Music business in this country is a small world and im confident I’ll run into you one day and would love to take this up personally with you - in the meantime, as Steve Vai would say “GO FUCK YOURSELF”!!!
Warm regards,
Mahesh Tinaikar
I agree with Mahesh’s comments - chanced upon this site while searching for Indus Creed content. Its obvious that this reviewer knows nothing about music but goes to “wank off” at these concerts. Mahesh has some incredible solos to his credit ; this idiot of a reviewer cant tell cheese spread from pigshit . “Vanished off stage ” ? I dont think Indus creed’s brilliant guitarist has anything to prove to asshole reviewers … if theres anybody who need to vanish from rock concerts , its this fucking asshole called Jaya whatever ..
Mahesh,
Thanks for your kind words. I do appreciate that playing music on stage requires guts and determination. However, it also requires developing a thick skin because not every review will be positive or indeed written by your personal lapdogs and hangers-on.
cheers,
JP
I agree with Mahesh.
It’s not about the chops. You really need rehearsal time to play over a progression as elementary as Purple haze…..Hey wait a minute, this jam was decided a day or two in advance so this guy must’ve busy shopping for metrosexual accessories.
I kid I kid. Mahesh Tinaikar is really really good.
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FOR ME TO POOP ON!
No seriously. This is not the first time we’ve seen this in Indian rock. This guys here has two fucking decent pop-rock albums in close to 20 years and the attitude of a Malmsteen. It’s as if these guys are some kind of musician’s musicians. The moment these mofos start “what have you achieved? you’re not half a musician as i am” drill, they deserve zero fucking respect.
i believe its just “presto”rika :)
@ Mr.Tinaikar n Co. :u people make me laugh! Grew up lissenin to some of your music and while i am grateful for it, i thought u wud have figured by now that indian crowds are easily amused!
This pretty much reminds me of No Idea’s version of “Please forgive us for our incompetence and sorry for boring your grandmother to premature suicide”. Underachievers, they called the crowd at GIR, who were simply hell bent on being entertained.
Now what kind of attitude is that? If we grew up sucking on musician’s tits, then these monoliths of “The Indian Rock Scene” must also realise that we paid for their musical upbringing, by going to their concerts and buying their cd’s.
Now, it’s unfair to pit Eklundh’s chops from hell with our guitar players, bred on a 80’s and blues-rock diet. But if you have a bad day at the office, and then claim that it was your secretary’s fault, you need to get a new job.
And the”My daddy is better than your because he gets to stand on stage”is lame. Weak. Screw you guys, I’m going home.
“Not all reviews will be written by your lapdogs..” - this Jaya guy makes me crack up with his dumb comments. Who hired this guy !! Mahesh’s rep as a superlative player does not come from “lapdogs” and is pretty well established for years. Has this idiot ever watched Mahesh before , ever ??? Do a fucking google search and check out all the reviews which I am sure have not all been written by lapdogs ! I mean, the guy deserves some respect - some of the comments were totally uncalled for and obviously quite personal. I have watched him right from the Rock Machine days and he;s an incredible,brilliant live performer everytime - I can imagine being asked to perform without your own gear and not having any say in the sound along with someone who is all hot and wired after performing for an hour with an effects rack in full throttle. A bad sound can screw up any good guitarist. Any discerning “reviewer” with any knack for understanding music would have figured that out but of course thats too much to ask of this Jaya character. Mahesh -watched your performance at the Kala Ghoda Arts Music Festival in Bombay and you were sizzling! You have far more fans than this Jaya guy who probably cant hold a guitar straight will ever realize since he obviously knows fuck all anyway and I imagine has never heard any of your stuff or ever watched you play before. And one word of advice - dont get into situations like this again - where they fuck you up with some really bad acoustics and gear and then there are some creeps like this jaya fellow in the audience who’s standing there drooling with an idiotic look on his face because he knows fuck-all about whats going on but has to write this review you see! A lone swallow does not a summer make.
“here’s where I reveal my utter unsuitability to be a rock ‘n roll journalist..” - straight from the horse’s mouth too ! truer words have never been said.
1. Are you guys actually Indians? If you can’t recall and spell a name like Jayaprakash, maybe you should consider applying for citizenship in a nation where they have simple names like Abu and Tink.
2. Stop being Mahesh’s lapdog, Alok!
3. Mahesh: I’ve bought all three tapes by your first band, attended every show they did in my city back when I was in college and they still existed. So you grew up sucking my titties as it were.
4. Seriously guys. This is such fun. Could you be any less lame and predictable?
5. The moment someone goes ‘if you think you can criticise show me your music’ it’s time to confiscate their keyboard. Music is not played only for erudite musicians and appreciative winnebagoes — the only qualification one needs to be an audience member is to have bought the ticket and to be willing to listen. Opinions are inevitable so get your panties out of your buttcracks and DO BETTER NEXT TIME.
Ok.
1) Mahesh is an accomplished guitar player, has been part of one of India’s pioneering rock bands, and no one is here to question that. JP never does that in the article either.
2) JP DOES mention, however, that his performance at the gig was less than spot on. Not just his guitar playing, but the whole act was less than can be expected of a guitarist of Mahesh’s stature. If Mahesh was a shit musician from some seedy club in coastal Orrissa, then perhaps JP wouldnt have had any expectations of him. But, there were expectations, and Mahesh did not live up to them. we all have bad days, musicians, and critics alike. JP heard and saw a bad performance and called it the way it was. I’m sure that if ekhlund had a bad gig, that would have come out in the review as well.
If JP knew the reasons for Mahesh’s non-performance, he may or may not of mentioned it in the article. Whether he did or not, it DOES NOT take away from the fact that the performance wasn’t any good.
3) No “personal” affronts were made. JP rather colourfully described his impression of Mahesh’s performance. If Mahesh believes that the article was “mostly fair”, it seems incongruous that he only finds a “bone to pick” on the subject of his own playing. A bit SouthParkChef-esque, if you ask me.
4) This sort of outburst from a musician who is as well-respected as he is (take alok’s advice and run a google search) does not make for good PR. If there is any question of the comparative professionalism of the critic and the critiqued, simply look at the nature of their responses. No Effs and Bees on comment No. 3, as far as I can see. There are guys, like me, who enjoyed the 3 Rock Machine/Indus Creed albums a lot, and are more than slightly dismayed at this display of egotistical excess.
Methinks Alok is Mahesh’s psuedonym. Cause it’s not possible to get so upset over someone else being dissed.
Also, since this journalist is a self-proclaimed ‘unsuitable rock n roll journalist’, I don’t see why Mahesh is getting all riled up (unless he REALLY had a bad performance). I suggest Mahesh wait for better reviews of the show. :D
I grew up watching Rock Machine when they were the rage of the Bombay college circuit with some real kick ass guitar playing- an inspiration for folks like me who dreamt about playing like that but could never match that kind of talent and spent hours (even now :-) ) trying to work out those solos. Even now after that reunion concert and the occasional shows that Mahesh plays, you are left wondering about what might have been had these guys stuck together. This JP guy appears to have made up his mind to diss him right from the time he “marched” on to stage even before he started to play (self proclaimed unsuitable rock journalist so that was expected I guess) so I can understand Mahesh getting pissed off and riled up and overreacting ; he IS a fantastic player but probably had a bad day. and he does acknowledge that Eklundh was/is a by far a superior player. To imply that he is a “smarmy”, overrated flash in the pan musician who cant hold his own was to my mind a cheap shot. Mahesh though gave you more importance than you deserve by overreacting. You got one thing right JP - you are quite “unsuitable” for this sort of thing. its time for another job, dude. move on man, move on … Mahesh - been your “lapdog” ever since I heard that solo on “Screaming Out” which for the life of me I still cant figure out . Peace .
Dear JP,
Read your comments. Utterly ridiculous. And coming from someone with 0 credibility as a musician makes it worse. I think youre the one who needs lessons in music appreciation rather than shoving us with your unartistic crappy opinion about mahesh tinaikar. Like the man says- he doesnt need to prove JACK to anyone- least of all you. generation of rockers (TRUE ROCK GUITARISTS) in this country have grown up listening and being inspired by mahesh tinaikars guitar playing on albums like rock and roll renegade and second coming. Man- are you really really ignorant or stupid; or as i suspect; both. And if idiots like you would keep your ears open rather than keep your head in the sand- it would be guitar players like mathias lining up to play with mahesh.
You damn moron.
sigh…this isnt fun anymore! such repetitive and uninteresting defences!
oh btw…terrific review! : )
I agree Anu. This smacks of Gigpadness.
Looks like this JP guy can dish it out but cant take it back. Opinions are inevitable for sure (even snarky comments) but just being in the audience doesnt necessarily qualify for being a rock n roll journalist. So dont pretend or try to be one when it appears you know crap about music.
Basically, you guys are saying that you have to be a good guitarist to like music and review shows?
Most of us fans and reviewers understand and appreciate the courage and talent it takes to play on stage, but what we appreciate more is the ability to take criticism gracefully.
Mahesh, I am sure you must have a lost a few of those fans since you posted that comment.
Dear all,
friggin intellectuals. No we re not saying you have to be a good guitarist to review music. But being a terrible critic doesnt cut it either. If its the way in which mahesh tinaikar plays- thats the way he plays- by some a@#hole forming an opinion of him and his guitar playing- and enlightening us with this display of moronesque- it doesnt change the fact that mahesh is still a great guitar player. period. over to the friggin intellectuals.
No one said he wasn’t a good guitarist, all we said is he can’t take criticism. Which is an important part of being up on stage. Dont you agree, you self-proclaimed non-intellectuals?
The way I look at it, I think Mahesh was already pissed off at the whole “setup”, and this review must have just pushed him over the edge. I am sure the reviewer would have trashed him no matter what because his sarcastic comments make his objectivity suspect. And whatever issues with the sound or gear would have been gladly pounced on. But again, what does it matter ? Who cares ? This reviewer might do it again, tomorrow, next month or next year ! And I’m sure he will. It doesnt take the shine from Mahesh’s brilliant work and does absolutely zilch to his talent. All it does is give undue importance to a reviewer and review ( that would have been good enough for a junior college magazine :-) that folks would barely have read and much less commented on ! Now if the guy had said all those things to Mahesh’s face then Mahesh was well within his rights to say FO. Or if Warren or Amyt or all those guys or lapdogs or hangers on that he is seen with had said that then Mahesh would have a problem. To quote the immortal Frank Zappa - “shut up and play yer guitar” Mahesh because we just know how good you are and can be. Its not worth it because this guy will do it again. Remember at every concert there will a smarty pants who cant play a simple blues progression who’ll think hes better than you. So know where this is coming from, take it with an ocean of salt. Rock on dude and get the other blokes for another reunion soon !
People from Delhi please raise your hands!!!
For people who can’t go through the whole melodrama above….
Tinaikar is a genius. Period. And the premier Indian guitarist and his fanboys are pissed off because of this negative review by an unknown non-scene guy on India’s premier rock e-zine.
Cute huh? I think so too.
well i think mahesh took the criticism all right. and thats the way he responds when he doesnt like something. What part of that do you not understand? do you like criticism? anyone?? so stop being a ideosyncratic asshole with a over the hill bent of mind and appreciate what the mans saying. he deserves more respect than some flimsy incompetent reviewer passing judgment and his kapooras supporting him without reason.
Its seems pointless to continue this nonsense any more but heres my last 2 paise - If you knuckleheads had bothered to read my response you would see that i agreed that i was completely outplayed, outclassed and generally made to look like a bumbling amatuer that night ( for reasons i wont go into again) - my problem is that this jp guy had no reason to comment on my personal appearance other than the fact that he obviously doesnt like my face - fair enough - if only i could see what u look like Mr. Jp - its so easy to be anonymous these days and sit in front of your computer screens hiding behind some stupid username, pass judgement, form opinions and generally flame people without ever having to meet them.If This Jp arsehole had the guts to tell me to my face about my “smarmy smile / ravesque top / cool shades”, i would have reponded less politely than i did on this site! Still looking forward to meeting you Mr. Jp.
Anyways thanks to Alok, Ashish p and others for supporting me and a BIG FUCKYOU to all those other little dickheads ( you know who you are dont you?)
Cheers!
The world isnt ready for u, JP! lol
Mahesh,
It appears you’re a tad more mature than your lapdogs. I look forward to you blowing away my criticisms of your playing the next time I see you play. Do come down to Bangalore if you can, or maybe I’ll see you at next year’s GIR.
I am not hiding behind a pseudonym. I would also give you my personal site and mail ID, but most likely the ‘tards wld use it to troll me. I hope you understand.
Which is not to say I won’t snark at you again. I’m just a mean bastard at heart. I blame society for this. :p
Lastly, all you other turd-waxers:
What does it matter if I have zero reputation as a musician? Are the lot of you Joe Kshatryianis and Steve Vaiyers, since your great bone with me is that you have to be a bloody Berklee Grad or smething to criticise music? If so, why should I even accept your ignorant opinion that Mahesh is any good? It has no validity, by your own standards! Seriously, you numbskulls just owned yourselves.
Finally, to correct some unwarranted assumptions about me:
I’m not a kid, unless you count nearly-30 as being a kid. I am, of course, rather childish for my age. Screw you, I don’t want to grow old, as Tom Waits once gravelled.
I actually do have some musical skill and experience. Nowhere in the Tinaikar league whatsoever, but apparently I can crank out a 12-bar backing track for someone better to solo over, at least. I don’t see how this has any bearing on the fact that I like and enjoy music and enjoy writing about it. If you don’t want to read what I write, hey, it’s a free world. I can’t help it if you have bad taste in rock journalism!
I am in fact a professional writer, but I would never stoop to writing for a junior college magazine.
Unless of course they paid me.
But my word-rate is pretty high, unless I’m doing pro bono work, for which you better have a pretty good cause.
cheers, kids. It’s been fun. Thanks for all the help. Can I have two sugars with that?
JP
hi just came across this on the net and am quite amused reading whats going on here. i was not at mahesh’ concert at GIR but somehow i do think its unfair to say that he was decimated by Eklundh !!! being a guitarist myself i have been in jam situations where my playing has fallen aprt due to so many reasons one of them being bad sound or not having the gear that you are used to playing through. i know some of the musicians who were there at the same gig and they were saying that mahesh had to go an plug into an amp that he was not used to without his proper efx set up and was playing a guitar that he had never played before !!! this can only spell disaster am sure had things been more organsied he would have made more of a statement. i have myself walked in on a gig in jazz by the bay where my friends performing told me to come and jam i kinda refused because i didnt have any of gear with me including my guitar !!! they wouldnt hear of it and i was like egged on by everyone including the audience to go on and jam. i used the lead gutiarists guitar and then began the biggest musical disaster i have faced !!! with every note i bent the guitar went out of tune , the amplifier had so little sustain that the guitar was sounding like a fucking marimba !!! so all the fanfare and announcement about me jamming with the boys went down the drain and i played the worst 12 bar blues of my life. i completely relate with what went down on stage with mahesh so i think one should really get behind the scenes and find out what went wrong before using words like ‘ decimated !!! ” in any case i am sure it was not eklundhs intention to decimate anyone , musicians are a lot more sensitive than that !!!!
cheers
ehsaan noorani
shankar,ehsaan,loy
Of course Eklundh had no such intention! Still, we of the audience can’t really be expected to sympathise with every little problem the people on stage face. We pays our money, we gets our show. You’re the professionals, but we’re the customers. It actually is a symbiotic relationship. Anyway, I trust the various remarks here by myself and others have made clear that Mahesh has a followng and repute that will survive one bad night and one negative review.
JP. Youre a genius, and have finally made a point. I completelyagree with your last statement.Peace.
I have been following Mahesh Tinaikar since his first gig in 1982 with Indus Creed and have been completely awed by his performances. I believe Indus Creed was a living legend and only one of the top Indian bands ranked so well in the world Rock and Roll community and making their way to world fame, something that was even no mother’s nightmare in india at a time when rock and roll was only getting to grow in an emryonic pace, Mahesh Tinaikar set the stage at “Raspberry Rinocerous” a reputed stage for reputed artists with nothing but his soul music. The best thing about this personality his his unspoken, unsung, extremely evident flamboyance which didnt need to be supplemented with any words or action, it speaks for itself.
The kind of comments that have been written in this forum for him can only be a job of a newbie who has not known the glory of this artist and doesnt know to be just in writing a criticism and also doesnt know how to use an open forum.
I have known the kinds of Joe Satriani and Steve Vai screwing up their performance due to technical snags and lack of warm up but they have never been written off in such an ir-responsible manner.
mahesh tiniakar isthe best guitarist in india .when i say this i am talking of his original music.i am a guitarist too.if u are used to playing on an ibanez with a locking nut and have to play a fender onstage u get get ur best perfrmance.maheshs solos on tracks like “chainsand black leathers” and “fire dance”(instrumental) are fucking grent.in fire dance his left handed legatos are as good as satrianis man.and jp who the fuck are u to comment on his smiles and shades.if u guys can digest fucking indian cricket team being bowled for 80 odd runs cant u digest an unfamiliar axe and gear setup instead of poking at the guiatrist.tiniakar rules man
tinaikar’s a fine player. I’ve always loved that solo on “Top of the rock”. But I have to say, I’m really dissapointed with his response here. I expected him to be more mature than that.
Hey, ur in showbiz, u win some, u lose some, big fucking deal. Asking a reviewer to go fuck himself because he didnt find the review favourable? thats so juvenile.
and that comment about the shades just cracked me up. I can picture that - lookup the “Top of the rock” vid on youtube to get a feel of that shit!