TAAQ Tales – bedtime stories that will keep you awake!
The first ever episode of TAAQ Tales, in which we uncover the stories behind our music. The words, the pictures, the dramatis personae, the unspoken words between the lines, the unsaid lines…. everything.
Be there, ask, and go home with our secrets.
Back in the day when we had a heavier prog-rock sound dominated by Bruce Eddie Shredder on lead guitar, Rajeev with the Alice in Chains cap on drums and the elemental Mr Sunil Chandienne on bass, we used to play this absolute crowd-immobilizer called Late O’Clock. We started performing it around 1997-8 and essayed it live as late as 2005.
If you haven’t ever heard of it, take a listen to this unreleased studio session from the taarchives.
The legend (for those who like to keep a tidy catalogue):
Late O’Clock (Instrumental)
Recorded 1997-98 @ Ebi Studios, Banaswadi, Bangalore
Personnel: Bruce Lee Mani: Guitar | Sunil Chandy: Bass | Rajeev Rajagopal: Drums | Bryan Richard: Rhythm Guitar
Yes, yes, we’re feeling generous. So, head to our ReverbNation page and download it. Just one thing — please don’t heckle us for lyrics.
Fête de la Musique, celebrated every year by Alliance Francaise, is a great get-together for Bangalore musicians. We got some of our best opportunities here, especially in the late 1990s, when we were a band with more teething troubles than teeth.
This year, the festivities are spread over the weekend, and we have a fantastic slot on an evening otherwise reserved for classical music. This is the second episode of our Jazz Yuppies Double Bill, after that fantastic evening at B Flat. And, yes, we will be joined by Nate Linkon and his slinky sax.
Friday, June 19. 9 pm onwards.
Rendez-vous du vendredi soir!
The Shut Up and Vote tour was fabulous right through the five cities. Thank you for attending the finale at Bangalore, and thank you for staying and cheering through every song, and singing along to every last word of every chorus. We love you. But now, please go and vote.
We’ll leave you with some fabulous pictures taken by Shrenik Sadalgi.
Bruce Lee Mani
Rzhude
Rajeev Rajagopal
Thanks, Shrenik!
There are more fabulous pictures taken by one (and only) Mr. Gaurav Vaz. Facebook people: you’ll find them here.
We’re all a little red-eyed from playing Mumbai last evening and gearing up for this evening’s gig at St Joseph’s College of Commerce, Bangalore.
7 PM. Entry free.
Anushya Badrinath has shot some amazing pics of our gig in Mumbai.
TAAQ – Shut Up and Vote – Mumbai – © Anushya Badrinath
TAAQ brings the Shut Up and Vote tour to the capital
The capital. Power center with no power cuts. Karims. Gulatis. Great gigs. TAAQ quite infested this joint between 2006 – 2007, playing some super shows in the colleges, pubs, etc. Delhi’s always been good to us!
Bruce at the Shut Up and Vote tour, Delhi
Staying at the Tata Tea guest house, while crew (who, btw, are beginning to look more like the rockstars than us) stay at a place called (see? see?) ‘Rockland’. Manage to catch up with old pal Hebbani Raghu Rao Venkatesh (of CNN IBN Anchor fame) and his lovely wife Anu at their home in Noida. Thanks for that great dinner!
Rzhude in full flow at the Shut Up and Vote tour, Delhi
Pragati Maidan is such an amazing place; last we played here must’ve been for GIR, way back in the late 90s, at the Hamsadhwani theater. Lal Chowk is also a striking location – the pics will speak for themselves. Sachin’s sound and lights were spot on, and everything came together just right. Changed the set list a bit; threw out the medley and put in Jupiter Cafe and Sanity instead. The jams were cooking! And there was a bunch of folks in front who seemed to know all the licks and lyrics… nice!
Rajeev skins 'em at the Shut Up and Vote tour, Delhi
Post gig Colonel’s (overpriced) Kebabs and Swagath Pomfrets later, we’re ready to move on.
Must be quite a trip to do this kind of thing 200 days a year.
Tonight, be there in Mumbai. We have a huge stage, full power sound and the works in terms of lighting and multimedia. And it won’t cost you anything except the train fare.
If you miss this one, you’ll rue it. We know Nerul isn’t exactly Near-ul, but it ain’t Far Out either. Please note the correct address of the venue:
Ramrao Adik Institute of Technology (RAIT) grounds (D Y Patil Academy campus), Nerul, Navi Mumbai.
See you there tonight!
Happy Ugadi to all of you in Bangalore. We’re coming at ya live on Saturday evening at St Joseph’s College of Commerce Grounds. 7 pm onwards. Entry free.
The Shut Up and Vote tour has come to Mumbai after a scintillating gig in the capital.
So all you Mumbaikars and Bombayites, whichever side of the nomatophobic divide you may subscribe to, get yourselves over to Navi Mumbai.
Mark your calendars – 7 PM on Friday, March 27
Venue:
Ramrao Adik Institute of Technology (RAIT) grounds, D Y Patil Academy, Nerul, Navi Mumbai
Entry free.
Sob kuch theek taaq
Calcutta (er, Kolkata) felt like we went back in time by around 40 years. Everything’s old and has a quaint feel about it. On the other side of its quaintness, even the traffic, honking and road rage is played out so realistically in true barbaric form, unlike Bangalore where the same scenes are enacted by formally dressed yuppies driving their mid-sized luxury cars (my great self shamefully included).
Rajeev at Shut Up and Vote, Kolkata
Been to Cal a few times before but this was the first time at college street and its many narrow gullies. What an amazing place! You know, I’ve never got it when people speak about their favorite cities and how they are absorbed and soaked in the character of these cities, etc. (pretty much like how I don’t understand auto buffs who speak of how their vehicles handle and hug and kiss the road so well, etc… what the!!! ).
Bruce at Shut Up and Vote, Kolkata
Anyways, I think Calcutta did it for me this time. It drizzled a bit as we were rushing back from Bhojohori Manna to Presidency College for sound check. It was a mad drive back.
Calcutta may not save me, but together we can cry 
It’s the closest to my idea of the real real reality of an Indian city. To me, in the end everything boils down to being some shade of grey and Calcutta has the most shades to choose from.
So as Calcutta handles amazingly well, and gently hugs and caresses the road, we move to the next big city on our tour – Ny Dhilly.
adios
Rajeeb
About the gig: Suffice to say it happened!
TAAQ takes the Shut Up and Vote tour to Kolkata
TAAQ kicks off the Shut Up And Vote Tour at IIT-Madras, Chennai
The heat. The dust. The burden of the beast… Chennai is a true ‘Look At Me’ situation. Love it!
IIT OAT – the last time we played here was at least eight on nine years ago – when the Greenpeace Rainbow Warrior was docked in Chennai’s port, sounding a clarion call for ‘No More Bhopals’. Was a great gig then (will always remember this one moment: everyone in the crowd was given a candle and asked to light it at the same time… never seen so many stars in the audience like that before – it was stunning); and last night was no less.
Rzhude on bass at IIT-Madras, Chennai
Soundcheck doesn’t quite go according to plan; there’s some conference going on and the Dean keeps ringing us to say ‘Oldein’ (travelers on B’lore buses will know that distinctive sound). But it’s all looking good… the backdrop, the lights, the stage.
Chennai band Greyshack open the gig and get the crowd going with a high-energy medley. We get on after a quick AV and intro; start with Shut Up And Vote and crowd is already roaring. Nice!
Rajeev on drums at IIT-Madras, Chennai
Saw a few Walkie-Taaqies in front singing along to Paper Puli, Look At Me, etc. One Small Love was one of the highlights; used good friend Angshuman’s Taylor acoustic (need more work on getting it to sound right, though) and played the video on the AV screen. Happy lads, kudos! Every pair of hands in the audience spontaneously came together when Rzhude drew that smile on… It was a great moment.
Bruce on guitars and vocals at IIT-Madras, Chennai
Wrap up with Humpty Dumpty, Chameleon and finally, Motorbyckle, complete with sound effects.
Good Gig! Hope we got folks to at least start thinking about the message. Make a date with us – the tour is coming to your city, or at least close!
On to Kolkata now.
Ciao!
TAAQ performs at the Shut Up and Vote tour at IIT-Madras, Chennai
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