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Bands beat it out
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The Golden Eagle Own Town Music Contest 2004 at Geoffrey's brought together bands that played interesting music
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Pic by Vino John
Music unplugged... at Geoffrey's.
AMONG CHENNAI rock bands, these two are blessed with the most interesting names. One is called Powder In The Ashtray and the other, Sound Sleep. While the former gave a punchy start to Golden Eagle Own Town Music Contest 2004, held at Geoffrey's from July 28-31, the latter marked the end [of the contest] with a kind of rousing music that set the pulses racing. The two bands displayed an aggression that had you pricking up your ears. But, neither of these two won the title. It was a band with a downright baffling name - No Idea - that walked away with the winner's laurels. Sound Sleep finished third, behind Renaissance.
Six finalists
Although the six finalists, selected from 28, were extremely different in terms of style, each was as impressive as the other. But, No Idea had that inexplicable something going for them. As a result, they made it with some room to spare. When lead vocalist Nanditha Sashidharan sang the band's original number "We've Got It Made", confidence was oozing from every syllable. Three more originals followed - "Flavour of the month", "Journey on" and "Enough's never enough". Interestingly, all these six bands happen to believe in deviating from the monotony that inevitably flows from playing a laundry list of covers. But considering where the contest was being held, they gave a well-balanced mixture of covers and originals.
Sujan, the lead vocalist of Sound Sleep sounded a good deal like Elvis Presley [he also sported Presley-like sideburns] when he rendered the legend's most popular "Jail house rock". Another band, Shadows Symphony, presented numbers that must sound "anachronistic" to the 1980s and 1990s kids. Theirs was music mostly from the bygone years.
No head-banging
Significantly, the Shadows Symphony's oldest band member is not a day over 18 years! This one and another equally young band, Asteroid, were keeping themselves in check. No head-banging. Or sweeping gestures.
In contrast, Powder In The Ashtray, comprising sophomores, cut itself loose. Their stage presence is simply amazing, to say the least. Especially, lead vocalist Vishal displays what can be called a "Jagger swagger". The evenings were not just about male voices. There was Nrithya crooning for Shadows Symphony and Nanditha for No Idea. While the former made her band look good, the latter made hers sound good. Since the last time you saw her on stage, Nanditha's voice has gained greater range. Nrithya, a visual communication student from MOP Vaishnav, is a new kid on the rock turf. Nevertheless, she shows promise.
Adding a touch of variety were guest performances by Country Boyz, who played a string of country songs, Nivedita and Priyanka, who played acoustic rock and Sajani, who sang solo. Nabrun Ghosh of Arun Icecream's "Oru ara vangina innoru ara free" fame, had Geoffrey's tinkling with laughter with his over-the-top compeering.
PRINCE FREDERICK
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