Oh my peter!* I'm feeling pretty banged up this morning. I'll blame the late nights and interrupted sleep. I do apologize for the lack of posts during this past week. I really must apologize. But I’m back. As always I thank everyone who stops by on a regular basis and those who de-lurked to leave a comment last week.

This past weekend, on a delightful Saturday night, Pete and I went to E-Zone, a club in Marathalli, to catch a bit of music. Fortunately for me my friend is an avid listener of everything great and he had stumbled upon this band named ‘Something Relevant’ from Mumbai.
On this night the cover was 150 rupees, the beers were 200, and the music was more than worth the long ride back and forth on the frozen evening. Fortunately their performance was quite honestly brilliant. It’s the type of brilliant that lets you know that these boys, will, in fact be on the top ten lists of Indian bands at the end of the year. It’s the type of brilliant that blacks out all other bands for a solid amount of time while you attempt to sate your addiction on whatever songs you can get your hands on. ‘Something Relevant’, lived up to their billing as they played through a set of funk infused jazz with a cover of Smooth Criminal, and quite possibly the best live version of anything I have ever heard since Soulmate. And the fact that they managed to cram all of this fun onto a tiny little stage in one corner of this ground just added to the night.
This band was quite dazzling in a live setting, easily surpassing studio recordings. Might I add that the saxophonist, the trombone player and the vocalist are quite possibly the best I’ve ever heard. If I’m a sucker for anything it’s a good saxophonist, especially one that looks similar to Eric Marienthal. You got me good ‘Something Relevant’ (wonderful band name by the way), you got me good. Get the album ‘Feels Good to Be Live’, thank me later.

The playful nature of the vocalist, Aazin Printer, also presents itself very well in a live setting and I strongly encourage anyone with a chance to catch them live to get out and see a set. It’ll be a fun evening.

* an expression Elvis frequently used to express surprise.

FRIDAY! About Time You Showed Up

Oh dear friends, I missed you today. I got trapped - trapped I tell you - in a terrible day at the office. But it's Friday. Two extremely large cups of tea into the day and I'm starting to feel slightly more alive. Apologies if I seem a bit murky...you see, it was a shitty day overwhelmed with absolutely frustrating labour without a break. I won't bore you with work stuff but have you ever had one of those days after which you feel wholly and entirely overpowered? That was my day today. In any case, that's ended and, since I've pulled so many epic days recently, I'm glad tomorrow is an off. Needless to say, there's been no Friday happy-dancing going on this evening. But that’s only because I'm way tired.

What's today? Well, okay, yes, it’s Friday. But really, the answer I'm going for is De-lurking Day!
Today is the day for my readers to come out of hiding for a couple minutes to comment and say hello. And for all of you who quite regularly comment here? I want to hear from you today too.

And since it’s the whole Friday music thing I figured I'd better give you something good. I was thinking about the whole acoustic thing a little while ago and remembered an old song that I love. Just hit play if you don’t want to read a little bit about the artist...
Joshua Radin released two albums: We Were Here (2006), and Simple Times (2008). They’re both essential. Just buy them. I’d like to think that, in 20 or 30 years or so, when the musical wheel turns and the world reassesses all that has been overlooked, these albums will be recognized as the stunning successes they are. Joshua Radin is a comparatively new artist has been making music for four years now. If you like Acoustic and Folk music, you might like him. His albums have been critically acclaimed and have received an ardent listener comeback. It’s an incredibly amazing body of work. Do yourself a favor and check him out now, before the musical wheel turns. Joshua Radin with ‘Only You’

I have decided to watch American Idol this season because it’s said to be the last season of Simon Cowell as judge and Simon Fuller as writer of the show. But here’s a funny fact of AI. If it proves to be a representation of society, then it shows a ridiculously soaring population of people who are just clearly kookoo. There are a lot of people who, as it appears, have no self-control systems, are nuts and/or absolutely psychos, and enclose themselves with friends and family who have the same opinion that they're brilliant when they, in reality, sound like dying animals.

Folks, you need to start taping your voices before you try out for the biggest competition in your country. Apart from torturing people with voices you never thought you had, I simply can’t believe some people are so dense to not know if they can sing or not. If I ever decide to sing in public, shoot me before I hurt anyone.

Oooh, the degree of separation between me and cute guy is about to shrink by a factor of about a thousand. I now sit just a few rows away from him. Just a note, I meant that in a totally non-freaky-stalkerish way. ... And I’m hoping this guy will help me out with a few tips.

I have nothing against R&B and Hip-Hop. In fact, their songs have formed the backbone of my music listening. And so I keep finding myself returning to this genre when I find a particular artist or song is a great pleasure to listen to. R&B found a new canon, and if the old standards will never entirely go away, there was plenty evidence that the genre was growing, incorporating the great music of the near past, just as it always has.

Alicia Keys was my great musical discovery of the past week. I missed catching up with the album as soon as it came out, dismissing it as miserable new school pop droning. My loss. Keys’ career started off good, lost her way in the middle and then got ridiculously great. And she saved the best for last. Keys’ released her most recent album 'The Element of Freedom' in December 15, 2009 that will, someday be recognized as one of R&B’s masterpieces.

It’s About Time to Meet You

Every afternoon when I walk down three floors to the cafeteria, I’m on the look out for cute guy. And every day, I try to wear on some courage, look him in the eye and try to think of some way to communicate with him in the two seconds we pass each other. Short of yelling “Hey!” or carrying a sign that says ‘HELLO SIR I THINK YOU ARE SO SO SO CUTE’, I have no idea.

He sort of looks like if Prince William got his act together and started working for some corporate firm. I like his glasses and his short cropped hair, his cute straight fit pants, and watching his lips widen into a smile - gives my heart this fluttery little pang. I’m pretty positive he has a girlfriend and although we glance at each other and never smile I have no doubt that he wouldn't pause a second to take a slug for me, were there slugs for the taking. Quite recently I found out that cute guy is into photography and has bought a camera similar to mine. I mean, if we ended up together, it’d be perfect, so I’m willing to build on that. Any dazzling and levelheaded thoughts, readers?

If you're expecting an exciting recap of the week, well, you're shit outta luck. Don't get me wrong - I had some fun. It was my parent’s 30^th anniversary and the ways in which it was celebrated are pretty much a blur at this point. I recall lots of eating and old people.

But I’ve realized that my parents have understood the simple fact that relationships take constant maintenance. As they say, in marriage...you take the good, you take the bad, and you take it all. It will obviously take a long while for me to understand and make sense of this giant conundrum since I’m a sucker for the single life and that I revel in the sense of possibility. I like being able to focus primarily on me and my goals for now and I like being a single, 20-something woman in B’lore city, writing about my experiences. I have a bad habit of being a bit of an experience whore, but it’s at least gratifying, and I hope useful and/or amusing to those of you reading in some small way.
I’ve been blessed this year already; in that I’ve had an almost continual stream of new music to captivate my ears. One band that I seemed to have asked to listen to is Bright Eyes. Their clever brand of indie folk and rock is fascinating and attention-grabbing and the music in the track ‘Lover I Don't Have to Love’ is every bit as mischievous as you’d expect. But for some reason Conor Oberst’s voice adds just the right amount of gravity to make this song worth a second, third, or tenth listen.

Do come back often and read some of the regular posts where I basically tell you what you should listen and what you should not, and I succeed in compelling you that you’re not cool unless you’re just like me. Oh, and make sure you check back soon to catch more. Cheers.

Moving on

Blues band, Soulmate has been breaking down barriers and putting forward their musical identity, inspiring and cultivating a legion of fans. Some nearly-obsessive fans, including me, broke out in a frenzy when word finally leaked that the band was going to perform in B’lore before they took off to play at the music festival in Memphis. Last night was my first taste of the band’s music this year, and what a taste it was.

I journeyed by an auto to the Soulmate concert that took place on late Friday night at B-Flat (in B’lore). 9 of my friends and I, sprinted toward the venue, trying to make sure we caught good seats and didn’t have to stand it out until 11:30 P.M.
“Set Me Free” was the encore, and as we approached the end of the first set we found a massive crowd had formed, all to show the band their support. This time I would have to wait a while before I could speak to either Rudy (the guitarist) or Tips (the vocalist). Sad, but ecstatic about the show, I met fellow blogger, Anupama, to discuss how brilliant the band had been. And as the perfect emotional coda for the night, Rudy Wallang, dedicates one of the songs to me. I didn’t need to actually see or hear anything to know what was happening because everyone turned towards my direction.

The band was completely in sync and music of one of the best concerts of all-time was ringing in my ears. It had the usual buzz and exhilaration, but also melodies to sing along with, beats to bop your head to, lyrics that were fun and momentous. Tips’ voice and Rudy’s playing was transcendent and timeless; the music - entirely modern and original. Soulmate has shaped the Blues so that it can be well received by dance-happy teens as easily as it could be played to know-it-all 40-somethings. Songs, if not listened to live, can also be blasted from car speakers on a warm summer day or listened to tenderly on headphones on a rainy one.

Looking back at 2009 I reached that music that changed everything. And if you’ve kept an eye on this page you’ve realized it too. I put up as much about Soulmate in hopes that you guys will chime in the comments and share my favorite musical moments. It’s an epic band that can lift you up when down, fill your heart with happiness when it needs it, give you that kick, that sense of urgency to get going. This band is true testament, for the music scene, to wake the hell up.

I also want to thank my wonderful friends- Runa, Pete, Saina, Sama, Tamara, Kaushyk, Charlie, Anupama, Kanchan, Zoe, and all the others, on behalf of the band, for making it to the show.

P:S Those in Delhi, please catch Soulmate’s show on 14 Jan 2010, 09:00 PM at The HARD ROCK CAFÉ.

“Moving on”