Yes! We’re

going back to the Fatherland!

A lot of the music we cut our teeth on came to us via ‘Thomsun Original’ audio-cassette tapes carried down to India in bulging VIP briefcases by Fathers and Uncles returning from the ‘Gelf’. A brief vacation in God’s own backyard; replete with

large easy-chairs, relatives eager for tales and boons, quick impregnations and lots of coconut oil. Then it was back to slogging in the arid desert, squirreling shekels in the Sheikhdoms. And those tapes – ah,

from Boney-M to Steely Dan, Toto to Guns N’ Roses, Osibisa to The Police – that was the stuff that got us going. We wore them out, gleaning the chords to Josie or sweating that solo on Eye in the Sky.

When we played in Dubai for the first time, back in 2007, we promised to return. So, like the, ahem, ‘contraption’ in that book The Naked Lunch, we’re doing it again. On 25th October 2013, TAAQ will play

the Music Room at the Majestic Hotel in Dubai – one of the city’s hottest new venues.

Calling all ye friends and countrymen – show

up! We promise to inject every bit of the enthooseeyaasum we showed the Thomsun Originals into our show. And originals you’ll hear – a bushel full.

Salaam!

The post Going to Abroad – Again!
TAAQ Live in Dubai, October 25 appeared first on Thermal and a Quarter (TAAQ).

their events. Lots of friends made. Lots of sausages (the veggie kind too) eaten. Lots of miles walked. Lots of flyers, well, flyer-ed. Let’s get to the reviews. Here’re some quick excerpts: “Brilliant, brilliant, brilliant. These folks play boldly and 642-902 dumps brilliantly across all genres wrapped up in solid driving rock. They challenge themselves with a unique set every night. It matters not where they

are from as they are an excellent force in the universe of Rock.” – Christopher Frick (audience review, on EdFringe.com) “Excellent band with terrific instrumental fluidity; saw the show twice..”

– Steve Kelsey (audience review, on EdFringe.com) “Clapton, Bruce and Ginger

Baker eat your heart out! Saw them live last night (7th). These guys are a seriously good power combo and deserve to be playing in front of 1000s. Intelligent and visceral rock music with funk and edge. See them now.” – Mark Hardcastle (audience review, on EdFringe.com)

So there ye have it. Are we makin’ ye proud yet?

The post Let’s Hear It: TAAQ Reviews from Crowds and Critics… appeared first on Thermal and a Quarter (TAAQ).

TAAQ makes the cover of Rolling Stone!

Yep. That’s Thermal And A Quarter on the cover of Rolling Stone Magazine.

A big ‘Thank You’

to Air India and

ProFx for

their support on the tour!

The post That’s Right. TAAQ is Now A ‘Cover’ Band ;-) appeared first on Thermal and a Quarter (TAAQ).

The 2012 Jack Daniels/Rolling Stone Rock Awards

turned out to be more than just another wild Bruce chase, with TAAQ’s resident guitarslinger winning the Best Guitarist award for the second time! When asked if he’s in training for a hat trick, Bruce grinned inscrutably and could be heard to mutter ‘I’ll get you in the end’.

This chronicler caught up with the Kung-Fu guitar man for a quick chat:

What do awards like this mean to you?

BLM: Oh, it’s all in a day’s work, ha ha. But seriously, it nice to be recognized by your peers in the ‘industry’ as it were. The whole ‘best guitar

player’ thing is so subjective anyway, so I count myself lucky that this year’s jury liked what I do. And the award itself – oh yes, that looks nice on that shelf in Taaqademy…

What’s more important to you as a guitarist: technique or songcraft? Or can you separate these two things at all?

BLM: Ah, now we’re

talking. Guitar playing technique and songcraft can be viewed as essentially different things – you can find some amazing technicians on the guitar that don’t write great songs, and some amazing songwriters that don’t play very good guitar . For me it’s all part of the same formless ‘musician’ thing. Being self-taught, with guidance from some amazing folks at opportune times, I guess I’ve grown as a musician and songwriter mainly with this one band. I’ve played for all kinds of ensembles, but TAAQ is the only thing that’s consistently kept me evolving – both as a guitar player and songwriter. There are times when I focus only on the technical aspects, improving my facility with the instrument, and there are other times when I’m just writing and composing and putting lyrics down – it’s all very organic I’m afraid. Which means that it smells weird at times, but that’s good too. Very natural.

The post Two for the Mani appeared first on Thermal and a Quarter (TAAQ).

Writer and cartoonist Bijoy Venugopal believes that anger makes protests look ugly and diverts attention from their core cause. People often feel that to protest, they must shout slogans, burn effigies or blacken the faces of suspected villains. As artists and writers, we must find unique expression for our protest. We must stretch our imagination to channel righteous anger into thought-provoking and enduring art that adds meaning and lends perspective to protest.

Join Bijoy and other Bangaloreans at ‘One Small Love – Bangalore for Mangalore’, a celebration of creative freedom and artistic independence with musicians and opinion leaders. Be there at Opus in the Creek, Whitefield Road, Bangalore on February 14, 2010.

Draw the line. Spread the love.

The post One Small Love – Bijoy Venugopal draws the line appeared first on Thermal and a Quarter (TAAQ).