"How can you not be patriotic?" she asked me (between bouts of nibbling and nuzzling) on Republic Day. Her father was in the Army, though, so I had to watch my answer. (It had a lot to do with fucking uneducated moron politicians.)

Urban Indian musicians aren't half bad, though. Talented, many of them are. Studio production quality is far removed from Western standards, but despite GIR being almost fifteen years old this year, it's still a nascent industry, so nobody minds. (I suppose technically all recorded Indian rock music is "indie" music, huh?)

First up today, a blast from my past. I used to play the drums way back in college (you know, like years ago, dude). Apart from a random one-time in early 2007, I last sat on a drum throne (stool, to civilians) on a New Year's Eve "concert", on the night when 2005 became 2006. Over two years ago. It was pretty funny actually, our bass guitarist quite surprised us when, at 11 pm, he took off his guitar strap and announced that he was very sorry, but he had to go to church for the new year service, and he'd be back as soon as he could! We had to improvise, recruiting my friend Raven from the audience to fill in on bass on the songs he knew. On the songs he didn't, he switched with Motte ("baldie") on the keyboard.

Anyway, this clip isn't from that show, but from September 2003, when the Raven and I were playing with our college band, the terribly-named JamStation, at the rock show that signed off the annual college festival. It wasn't the first time I'd been on such a big stage, but it was the first time I was playing Harmony, and I was pretty darn nervous. Plus it was a strange kit-- I think it was the Them Clones drummer's kit, but I'm not sure. My friends were very sweet, crowding near the stage to cheer Raven and me on.

Being Me had been written the previous year, when Atrey, a 3rd-year from The College Across The Road recruited first-years Raven and me to play drums and keyboard for his band, Incognito. We (or at least I) didn't know at the time that Incognito is also the name of a very well-respected band from America or somewhere, known for its musical talent. We jammed for the first time one afternoon in our college gym, covering U2's Pride (In The Name of Love). Raven hadn't heard the song before (I know!!) and was impressed that I could just play along the first time we tried it. That was also the first time he'd heard me play, and happily, he wasn't disgusted. We eventually competed in various competitions, and were even signed up to play at a private party in South Delhi, where I, then still a novice alcoholic, got royally drunk and found it very funny that I was so. Predictably, the other band members didn't find it funny, but I managed to play anyway, and with above-average intensity. (Was it the first time I broke a drumstick? Can't remember.)

So anyway Atrey and Patrick came up with Being Me, and I was terribly impressed with the catchiness of Patrick's guitar playing. He was quite talented, and quite sweet, that chap, although we had our share of differences later on. Patrick was also the guy who came up with the name JamStation. Urggh. Sadly though, the lyrics to Being Me were lost when Atrey moved to England to study music. (He'd lost the scrap of paper on which he penned them.) Patrick, Raven and I, now in JamStation, all still knew the music, but none of us remembered any words beyond "And I said, "Hey, what'chu gonna do about it? Take your pride, and shove it where the sun don't shine!"" Sam, JamStation's "vocalist", eventually ended up reading from an article in the college newsletter during the verses, and singing the original chorus.

I'm probably my biggest critic, which is a good thing, I suppose. Listening to the live recording now, I'm not impressed with the quality of my playing. I'm not being modest; apart from a lack of technical skill, there are instances where I lose time, which is the cardinal sin for a drummer. Patrick's guitar playing is fine, no issues there. Sam sings as well as the limitations of his voice permit. We're not "tight" overall. But I guess it's okay for an amateur college band.

JamStation - Being Me (Live At Harmony 2003, hehe)

Next up is Raven's new band, Sixth Element, and their OC (orig. comp.) Chimney Star. Like all bands, they've had their share of politics, tension, and creative differences. (It's unbelievable how much politicking there is in any band; it gives you respect for bands that never have line-up changes.) But a love for progressive metal, in particular titans Pain of Salvation, keep them ticking. This song was recorded only a week or so ago, in a Bengaluru studio. (I use that word every time I can, serves Karnataka right for changing it.)

I was mighty impressed when I first heard Chimney Star. I like the production quality and the drummer's style. I also like the guitar-keyboard combine from timestamp 1:56 onwards. Nice little dolphin cries from the guitarist.

Sixth Element - Chimney Star

Now for a really good recording. ('Good recording' as in recording quality.) AVR's bassist was a junior of mine in college. The name stands for Another Violent Response, I think. They regularly do pub gigs around Delhi. The drums on this recording blew me away the first time I heard it, but I later found that (a) they were programmed, not truly recorded, and (b) Shardul from other Delhi regulars Joint Family, who is an excellent drummer, was roped in for the recording instead of AVR's regular drummer.

AVR - Anger Management

And, to round off the bridge quartet, check out Sam (not the JamStation singer, another guy) and his demo Killing Time. Sam recorded all the vocals and instruments himself, a la Enya, on a regular desktop PC. Good for him, I say. The song's a bit slow for my taste, but full marks for effort.

Samuel Chuango - Killing Time

I feature on one of these songs, and the others all feature friends/acquaintances of mine, but comments and criticism are welcome, please. I hate not getting responses to posts.