You know one of those concerts that are going to be special even before they happen? That’s the feeling that American/European neo-prog and jazz rock trio The Aristocrats brought with them.
Their performance at Indiranagar Club saw their biggest audience ever. Over 1,000 people watched with rapt attention – some counting the time signatures of drummer Marco Minnemann, others regarding the prowess of guitarists Guthrie Govan and bassist Bryan Beller – as the trio jammed out their funniest career-spanning favourites. Apart from a 10-minute drum solo by Minnemann that was literal gymnastics, Bengaluru witnessed three musicians who are one of the very best at what they do across the world. There can be no chances of a wrong note struck or a moment’s hesitation. With bassist Bryan taking the mic for the most part, Marco and Guthrie also threw in their introductions to songs and the occasional anecdote – from how the film A Serious Man inspired the title for the fusion-leaning song ‘Culture Clash’ (and Guthrie never understood the Indian head nod) and writing a wistful song for their rubber animals called ‘Pig’s Day Off’.
Before his baffling drum solo on ‘Desert Tornado’ that pretty much had every phone camera up in the air to record, Marco narrated a new story that they’d picked up from their India tour. Coming in straight from a show in New Delhi, the drummer recalls he and Bryan were out drinking after the show, with a group of friends and on the taxi ride back to their hotel, they were stopped by cops whose hands were clearly itching for a bribe. “They asked the driver for his license and he just drove away,” Marco said in incredulity. “I was never so happy to see a hotel room in my life after all that,” he added with a laugh.
As Bryan got the crowd to work their vocal chords on ‘Smuggler’s Corridor’, the crowd interaction finally indicated the numbers were right – there were probably a thousand fans in Bengaluru who were there to catch them and be a part of every moment of their 90-minute set list. Of course, with additional tickets on sale after co-promoters The Humming Tree moved from their venue to the Indiranagar Club, everyone who’s anyone was at the show.
Members ranging from Swarathma, Suraj Mani and the Tattva Trip, Peepal Tree, Final Surrender, The Raghu Dixit Project, Slain and more were in attendance, just because they knew The Aristocrats were the best in the business. A supergroup that features members who play with artists ranging from Joe Satriani and the G4 guitar gods like Steve Vai and the sort, Marco, Guthrie and Bryan gave the city a show that will remain unmatched for a while.
