1. What would you like to see TAAQ do in the next 10 years?
2. What are we doing now that doesn’t make sense to you?
3. Which TAAQ song would you like to see on video?
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Our first real "outing"…
On a cold chilly day we step out of our cumulative jet lag and take main stage at Barfly – Glasgow. Tony’s guitar refused to behave and kept sliding out of tune.
We started cold and ended ‘Hot’ – given the response from the last gig we did on our first UK tour and the 5-star review we got in the Scottish Herald for it.
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Madein India
What a gig this was! I will leave the gig review to the more music-educated.
Cheers to what happened back-stage. First off, a big hats-off to the guys at DNA. It’s getting bigger and better every time. To manage a gig is a Herculean task and to manage a Herculean gig needs that something more. The logistics, the stage set up, the crowd control (except the size of the exit gates & the traffic snarls), the coordination – just fantastic. The lights & stage was brilliant. I think Bangalore is ready for Aerosmith, Mettalica & U2. Even though I was a little worried when Mr. Dickenson climbed up the scaffolding…
Another crib that is going around is that only the older bands are coming here. I will say for sure that only these bands are going to pack the venues. Look at the economical scenario. When India was getting exposed to the rock scene through mass media, we were in high school. These bands were in their prime and making so much noise that we heard it in India with just one international music channel. Now a decade and a half later, the people most influenced by this music, have the moolah to get to these gigs. I personally know more than a dozen people who took flights the night before to get here from far & beyond. Thank budget airlines for that! It’s the economic reforms in India over the last decade that have made these gigs happen. Watching iron maiden from the front row, paying US$ 30 is awesome. And look at how many people were there. So what if the performers are growing old, their audience is getting there too.
Another interesting thing – Tee Shirts! 96% wore black, 78% had a HeavyMetal band’s name on it and 56% were branded “Iron Maiden”. Here is what takes the cake – 88% of Tee’s were Made-in India.
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On International Women's Day…
Grandmothers, mothers, sisters, wives, girlfriends, daughters, aunts, nieces, mothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, grandmothers-in-law…
(And not to forget wet nurses, nannies, ayahs, baby-sitters, nurses…)
To all the beautiful women in our lives, here’s lots of hugs and kisses.
For all the warmth and love and understanding. And the faked indifference when we were being bad boys.
For encouraging our best and suffering our worst, here’s a juicy big thank you.
Happy Women’s Day, ladies. We love you. Have a ball!
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Last date with Nate
Update:
The occasion: Nate’s farewell party
The song: Keep the promise
The players: All of us, and more
You know how things are. Just when everything sounds normal, something or someone (in this case, both) comes and shakes you up… and then things get radioactive. So it was with Nate. We weren’t doing too badly, you know. We had Bruce on guitar, Rzhude on bass, Rajeev on drums, Tony on guitar and Chandy doing his keyboard-guitar number. And then, out of the woodwork comes Nate Linkon. And he brings not just himself but his saxophone as well – and suddenly, Thermal And A Quarter sounds different, fuller, madder…
But now, work takes Nate and his sax to London. We knew from the start that it was going to be just a sojourn, the briefest of honeymoons, but we didn’t think it would gnaw at all of us like it does now. Nate has played close to ten gigs with us and toured through some of the best ones in Delhi. It’s been a fantastic trip with this sax-toting, speed-racing, beer-guzzling, heart-breaking young fella.
Love you lots, man. This is not adieu, just au revoir.
(Bobin: Thanks for the pics of the Stephen’s gig)
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Midnight Masala in the Capital
Tonight, we’re in Delhi again.
Rendezvous: The School of Planning & Architecture, 4, Block-B, Indraprastha Estate, New Delhi.
Time: Midnight to 2 AM
That shouldn’t be such short notice after all.
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Getting there before the music starts
Last week’s Livemint carried a fresh take on marketing music online. What makes it all the more interesting to us is the opening, which quotes the opening lines of Paper Puli.
The article, titled ‘Net is the new mosh pit for local rock bands’ also talks about the online music marketing successes (read MySpace) of other Indian bands.
When Plan B was released online in 2004, most people thought we were mad to give away good music for free. Ok, so we had the online music license but it was still free music. Given away with the conviction that it will be widely shared. Around that time, we discovered BitTorrent and legal file-sharing and Plan B was distributed there, too. And by the time the NPR starburst happened in February 2005, Plan B was very nearly a buzzword. Downloads had shot through our small, threadbare roof and we had to invest in extra bandwidth.
Well, there was no MySpace then so it was DIY project for us. And now, there is MySpace and we have a buddy list that’s growing like a mushroom cloud.
What shall we say to this?
a) Been there, done that
OR
b) Wait till we show you what’s coming?
Read the article on LiveMint (you must register for free if you don’t have an account)
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Guitar Dr. turns one!
Happy burpday, daaktersaab!
Bruce Lee Mani’s celebrated agony uncle column celebrates its first birthday. Excerpts from recent conversations between Mani and the Mani-acs:
Q. I’m sure the thought was entertained before but… have you considered doing a clinic (on topics like basic guitar care or even playing style)?
A. Definitely possible… but I don’t know if the swine of my limited knowledge will reveal any pearls before a cast of musicos…
Q. One question I always have had is whether or not I need to detune my guitar after every session. I got different answers from different people…
A. Guitars are built to withstand the inexorable pull of six strings; if you’ve scanned the back of a pack of D’Addario strings, you’ll have a rough idea of how much force each string can exert when tuned up to pitch…
Q. I’m new to floating bridges… and like a jang i removed all the strings… the bridge collapsed with a thud!! please suggest somebody who will help/teach me how to set it up again…
A. Floyd Roses can seem like frightening animals at first, but they’re quite the pussycats really, once you figure the basics…
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Not the Grammys, but still…
If you heard it on the grapevine, it’s true. No sour grapes.
Thermal And A Quarter has been awarded the WorldSpace honor for outstanding contribution to Indian rock.
Catch a three-day TAAQ special on Radio Spin.
Schedule:
16th Feb, 9pm onwards – Interview with fans about TAAQ’s contribution to the Indian rock scene
17th Feb , 9am – RJ Hari walks you through TAAQ’s music
18th Feb, 12 noon onwards – Extensive Interview with the band on ’10 years of TAAQ’
Thank you all for making this happen. We’ve plenty of juice.
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The Gods are Back
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6sHXCs84iJc
I wanted to catch them once before I bite the dust. Now is the opportunity I guess!
While am at it, back in Glasgow. Missing Temptation Wines, Pecos, Tavern and bike rides to HSR layout in total fog! Bleh!
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