It’s not often that a new band makes headlines in its infancy. However, Bengaluru-based River Man Band is making inroads in the music capital’s scene like no other band with their unique original music that is vintage and yet fresh.
Formally kicking off on the sunny evening of April 28 last year, River Man Band brings together the 80’s signature pop with elements of funk, jazz, soul, motown, r&b, disco and reggae and tons of more influences.
Formed as a tribute to the legend of musician and composer late Dwight Pattison, whose brother Luke Pattison formed the band, the five-piece ensemble is an amalgam of years of experience bundled into one fantastic sonic offering.
Comprising Luke Pattison on bass guitar, Wesley Newton on drums and percussion, Osi Gomango on acoustic guitar and lead vocals, Jerusha Verghese on lead vocals and Nisha Idicula on backing vocals, River Man Band believes in bringing alive the music of bygone eras.
Luke explains that they play a very varied mix and draw it from the range of inspirations they share from the 60s, 70s and 80s. “We’d like to name it the RMB sound because it’s also our email address and short for the band’s name,” he laughs. Osi pitches in: “We play very listener-friendly music. People coming to our show go back humming the melody. The most important thing for our listeners is that you can take away a song at the end of the show. That’s our USP.”
A chance encounter between Luke and Wesley at a gig birthed the idea of the band. Recalls Luke: “After my brother passed away in June 2013, he left behind a whole list of songs and I wanted to start reconstructing them. But after I met Wesley and we teamed up, the idea really kicked off. After a couple of team changes, we finally settled down after getting Osi down from Kolkata who left a good band to take up this venture with us.” Osi adds: “We are blest to have a fantastic setup. Wesley got Jurusha in. Jerusha got Nisha. Things just fell into place.”
Giving due credit, Luke says Osi is the main composer and songwriter. “He’s got a whole list of songs - some of them over 20 years old.”
On what inspired the name, Luke says: “My brother was very fond of the river. After he passed away, we were clearing the house and we found a book with all his songs written down and it was titled ‘songs by the river’. That’s probably going to be the album’s name as well.”
Looking ahead, the band promises to keep playing as much as possible. “Finance is a very real concern but it will not hinder our efforts. We’d love to get more gigs and support though.”
On Bangalore’s music scene, the band choruses that it’s great. Osi says: “It has a lot of venues to play. I come from Kolkata where there are just two or three places to play. People talk of musicians there like legends but the talent over here is phenomenal. They’re doing stuff that people in other places won’t even attempt.”
Wesley says they have received a lot of encouragement. “We didn’t know what the initial feedback would be. A lot of people said no one has ever done the kind of music we do. But that’s what keeps us going. We are a band doing original music and we won’t change.”
Osi further says that they would like to see more bands doing their own music too. “It’s about time. Bands should contribute something back to music and original music should be encouraged more.”
On what’s at the heart of their band, Jerusha nails it: “We all connect musically. Our music is what brings us together. Everyone chips in, it’s a complete band effort.”
