Metro Plus
Bangalore
Chennai
Hyderabad
Rock rules
|
Energetic riffs and vocals from participating bands ruled the rock competition at `Felicity 2005'
|
Photo: Mohd. Yousuf
IF CAMPUSES earlier rocked to Another brick in the wall, the anthem with the head banging Gen X student community in town today is For whom the bell tolls. And Iron Maiden, Nirvana, Metallica, GnR and Korn, their new idols.
Energetic riffs and vocals from participating bands ruled the college rock competition organised here as part of IIIT's Felicity 2005. The opening act from the new-kids-on-the-block host campus band Out of Nowhere filled in the night air with Oasis and Collective Soul covers, followed by an ode to Metallica by CVR College's Stigmata. One of the newer college bands in the city, Stigmata participated in Sarang recently with the acoustic versions of one of their own compositions. "We have written seven songs and probably might compile them later," says lead singer Soumya. The band bagged the runners up place at the contest that was judged by none other than Hyderabad's apna metal heavyweight Sledge.
Bagging the first prize on home turf was Insomnia with their rendition of Garbage, Creed and The Cranberries hits. Started in 1998, this IIIT band has members belonging to different batches. The current line up being Srikanth on vocals, Arun (lead guitar), Pavan (bass), Bhaskar (drums) and Kiran Satish who comes in as the female lead vocalist. Incidentally the band had the privilege of opening for Parikrama recently. "We are also working on fusion. Kalyan Vasant (violin) and Bhaskar (doubling up on mridangam) bring in the Eastern sounds," explains Srikanth.
"We have a very strong music tradition at the campus. Last year we had invited Strings and this time we had Pandit Debu Chaudhuri, Anoop Ghosh and Bombay Vikings playing at the fest. The response for the gig has been tremendous with people coming in from NIT, NIFT, ICFAI— B and Tech schools, and other institutions," explains Avik Banerjee, co-ordinator Felicity 2005.
As for campus rock scene in town, "we are getting there. Probably there is more prize money that attracts students to Mood Indigo and similar rock events in other metros. But IIIT Hyderabad is into metal big time owing to the student mix here from around the country," observes Kiran. Here's hoping for the Great Hyderabadi Campus Rock and more non-local and local bands to jam together, in coming years.
SYEDA FARIDA
Printer friendly
page
Send this article to Friends by
E-Mail
Metro Plus
Bangalore
Chennai
Hyderabad
|
