A recent concert by Bangalore-based band Rhythm and Raaga hit all the familiar notes of popular fusion music. Held at the Park Square Mall near ITPB, the midday concert opened with a lengthy section, in which guitarist Steve mimicked the sounds of the Carnatic violin and veena, much to the audience’s delight.
Next, he paired up with percussionist Gopi to evoke the sound of a rapidly-speeding-up train engine. The guitarist’s rockstar-like showmanship won loud cheers from the audience; the percussionist later indulged in a long solo that ended in the failsafe street procession music. The band, which is closely associated with the city-based music school World Music Centre, doesn’t necessarily get its fusion tag from juxtaposing an Indian instrument on to a rock setup. Instead, it’s the tunes that are of a decidedly Indian nature, such as the call-and-response sequences typical of a classical concert. Saxophonist David sat out for much of the concert, only stepping in towards the end to play some foot-tapping blues. By this time, much of the crowd had dispersed.
The concert concluded a month-long schedule of ‘green’ activities at the ITPB, Whitefield.
