It is back-to-back concerts for western music lovers in the city with the variety on offer ranging from throwback jazz and folk grooves to techno music.
If this month’s ‘Live Music - SecSatPondy’ , supported by the Department of Tourism, featured Four Plus Jazz from Bengaluru at the PTDC Seagulls Restaurant on Rue Dumas, last Saturday, more musical variety is set to define an evening of rock this Sunday as bands KA-19 from Mangaluru and the city-based Anup Mech take the stage at The Storytellers’ Bar (Hotel Promenade).
SecSat Pondy, so named for bringing in artists for monthly shows on the second Saturday, was all about jazz as Four Plus Jazz exhibited their feel for traditions and nuances of the genre.
The band featuring Victor Francis (drummer), Iggy Daniel (keyboardist/electric piano/synthesiser), guitarist Christy George and bassist Eric Gerald essayed their interpretations of golden standards such as Take 5, Spain, Caravan, Monin, Cantaloupe Island, Blue Rondo and Watermelon Man.
Shanks ‘Elvis’ Abraham on vocals brought in the ‘plus factor’ element to the ensemble with covers of Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis, Chuck Berry, Roy Orbison, Sinatra as well as a few recent chart toppers.
Incidentally, it was also Eric’s debut as a bass player for Four Plus Jazz, coming after five solid years playing guitar for various musical outfits in the scene.
SecSat Pondy, which coincided with Bastille Day celebrations also featured a special guest performance of ‘chansons francaises’ by Miriam Divin, who hails from an illustrious musical background as her father is keyboard wizard Dondieu Divin.
Miriam’s exquisite play on the keyboard included evergreen hits such as ‘La Vie en Rose’ and ‘La Javaisdaise’.
Rock fans are in for another treat of varied musical genres as KA-19 comprising the duo of Kishan Hebbar and Austyn Goveas, both musicians from Mangaluru, and city-based band Anup Mech hold court at The Storytellers Bar on Sunday.
Home & away
The duo have been working together in different projects for over 10 years in the professional music scene. The band is best known for their retro, old school rock n’ roll tunes that never fail to get people moving, grooving and singing along. With their foot-tapping music, KA-19 has been travelling across the country to destinations such as Wayanad, Mumbai, Mangaluru, Goa, Hyderabad and many other cities performing at parties and private shows.
Anup Mech, comes with a reputation of exploring various styles in music, be it techno, tropical folk or psychedelic.
According to organisers, he is reckoned “as the next level party animal” for throwing unannounced house parties and stomping to indigenously composed beats. The act has floored audiences at venues such as The Promenade here as well as The Daily (Mumbai), Lager bay (Mumbai) to name a few.
