An adrenaline night

Remixed songs and Hindi hits got the crowd going
SANKETH

It was a scintillating evening at the Perotutsav,hosted by Perot Systems in their campus on February15. The annual day celebrations,which marked the culmination of two months ofcultural activities, was organised on a grand scale.

VJ and singer Anoushka Manchanda and Bollywood singer Kunal Ganjawala were the highlights of the evening. After the presentation ceremony, the hitherto laidback crowd went into afrenzy as soon as Anoushka started off with the first song. The dance floor beside the stage was soon chock-ablock with dancers. Anoushka rocked the crowds with remixed songs from movies like Golmaal and Bhool Bhulayya,and sounded like a pro despite suffering from a cold.

Kunal Ganjawala took over from her and didn’t let the tempo drop as he started out with a couple of Kannada hits. As the show progressed,the crowd put the song order into a mix as they shouted out for the songs they desired, forcing the singing star to bring out hits like Tere Bin, Hum Dum etc. Extravagant lights and fireworks added to the effect as Kunal sang Bheege Hont from Murder.

ROCK HEAVEN

Even the rains held off until the last act at the smash hit Rock Ethos wasn’t over

SANKETH

This is what Woodstock must have felt like. Rock Ethos, that showcased 13 of the top bands around town, created a carnival of sorts for the 8000-odd rock fans who thronged the arena at Palace Grounds,on Sunday. Originals by bands like Slain, Inviktus,Spitfire and others rocked on the whole day. The crowd swelled towards the evening when lights and pyrotechnics took over.As the sunset, the crescent moon madefor the perfect backdrop for an impressive stage that added to the electric atmosphere.

The highlight of the event was without doubt, Bhoomi,which has been signed on by an international producer.

The band looked like the pro it is as it belted out numbers like Inside Story and Uncultured. Motherjane was another band which made an impression despite being the last band, with its India inspired solos.

The festival had other attractions like bungee jumping and paintball. Beer and food, available in plenty, added to the marvel.

And if it all wasn’t enough the lightning added to the magic. Thankfully the rain gods held back the shower until after the concert.This is one event that everyone will surely be looking forward to in September when its next edition is scheduled.

Coming up: A rockin’ good show

Rock’s not dead in Bangalore. In fact, it’s so alive that it may actually bang your head off this Sunday

SANKETHAll you Indian metalheads,here’s what you have been waiting for! Rock Ethos, a music festival on February 10, promises a new platform for diehards and original composers.
Though the city’s rock machine has been gaining tempo of late, the emphasis was always on entertainment – with bands playing international hits that our neighbourhood headbangers are familiar with. Original compositions usually drown out in the blaze of international acts, often just managing to make a temporary mark in competitions. And soon, bands that start out with
a lot of zeal and enthusiasm realise that music as a career is not worth it. It’s sad but true;
most of the music greats in Bangalore work in software companies because they know that their chosen career would never be able to get them their daily bread!
But this fest aims to change all that.

Rock Ethos, which is scheduled to start off at 11 am, will go on till 10 pm. While entry to the festival is free, you would need free passes to get in – something that would be given away by the organisers at coffee shops and road shows. It will have various other attractions as well, the main ones being paintball and gaming zones. The organisers also plan to sell t-shirts and concert merchandise at the venue.
The organisers said there was good response to the idea, with more than 60 professional bands sending in applications. “We have chosen the top 13, based on music quality, experience and popularity,” said Srinivas VT, artiste director of Rock Ethos. “Usually, in any
concert, we are instructed to work within a given budget. We compromise some part of the
setup to fit into the budget. But this time, we are going all out. Money is not the focus here… it is music,” says Vishnu P of V&P Sound Private Ltd, which will be managing the audio aspect
of the festival. The food court will be managed by Desmonds.
And, if the organisers are to be believed, there will a lot to see at the fest too. “We are aiming to create an experience that everyone will remember for a long, long time to come.
There will be pyrotechnics and stage setups that one gets to see only in international acts! I don’t want to disclose the exact details, but I promise that the opening will be grand. And yeah, if your band wants to play covers, this isn’t the place for you. Rock Ethos is primarily a platform where bands can showcase their original compositions,” says Raj Hansoge, director, Buenos Entertainment Pvt Ltd.
So, if you are a rock fan, you better be there at Rock Ethos because this will be — as they say — legendary! And for a sneak preview, visit On Da Roxx this Saturday at 7 pm because Bangalore bands will be playing some real original music then.

METAL MOUTHS AT ROCK ETHOS
1. Bhoomi
2. Mother Jane
3. Galeej Gurus
4. Myndsnare
5. Kryptos
6. Threinody
7. Spitfire
8. Extinct Reflections
9. Inviktus
10.Slain
11.Inner Sanctum
12.Whitenoiz
13.Illuminati