Indiecision: Music Blog: Independent Music in India and Elsewhere

THIS WEEK’S TOP GIG PICKS

Your guide to the top gigs in town (Mumbai town), weekly.

If you were wishing that the new year would be an instant F5 for your life, then you’re destined for a sad, sad few minutes of morose realisation.

New year downer’s apart, 2009 promises to bring us more exciting gigs and, er, stuff, starting off with all the action this week.

Thursday, Jan 8, sees the launch of folk-rock act Swarathma’s debut full length studio album. The band play Bonobo (above KFC on Linking Road in Bandra) at 8pm. Entry at the gig is free, but get to the venue on time as the gig will end at 10pm sharp. Swarathma have embarked on a mini-tour of the country in support of their album, and hit Indiecision tomorrow (and all of Jan) for an exclusive behind-the-scenes tour diary.

Also on Thursday, Brit indie rock act The Juice hit the Blue Frog for the Mumbai leg of their India tour. The band’s music is a mix of classic rock and blues which you can sample with a free download of the song ‘Blow’.

More gig news as we hear it.

Have a week, and a year, folks.

LIVE: THE GIRAFFES @ BLUE FROG

It’s about time Blue Frog was shaken up.

The Giraffes, an Israeli rock act, had the sparse Tuesday night Blue Frog audience hooked; those who came for the music were caught by the music while those who came for the food were caught by charismatic frontman Gilad Kahana.

We met a tired (and hungry) Kahana, who was being denied food because of damage caused to one of Blue Frog’s lighting pods (details after the break), after the show and he told us that he’d like to be back in India soon. We can’t wait.

If you’re in Goa and wondering what to do on Dec 28, head to Hilltop, Anjuna and catch Girafot.

Take the jump for the review, pics and the Indiecision.

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THIS WEEK’S TOP GIG PICKS

Your guide to the top gigs in town (Mumbai town), weekly.

There’s just two good gigs this week and, as our shitty luck would have it, they’re both on the same day. Tomorrow. Tomorrow is that day.

If you’re looking for some Indian classical blended, via the zitar (a guitar and sitar combo instrument thingy), with some folk-y rock trappings + you have an affinity for Appletinis, then head to Hard Rock Cafe for a Niladri Kumar set that promises to be entertaining and easier on your wallet than,

The Giraffes, an Israeli rock band who sing predominantly in Hebrew. According to Blue Frog, where they play tomorrow night

The Giraffes are considered Israel’s best performing band, much because of Gilad Kahana, the band’s leader and charismatic vocalist, who turns every act to a wild improvisation show that issues everything from politics, social issues, culture & relations. Their music is spontaneously improvised as well, which makes each show a unique, original one-timer act that never resembles its previous.

The band’s website is killer, and you can stream some of their moody tunes there. Say hi to the two dudes in glasses and fresh lime sodas if you turn up tomorrow.

Have a week Mumbai.

ASHUTOSH PHATAK TO PLAY SXSW 2009

Ashutosh Phatak will play a showcase at South By South West 2009, making him part of a very small club of Indian indie artists who have played at the festival.

Phatak, who recently played at Amsterdam with Blue Frog label mates Shaa’ir + Func, is currently on tour supporting his album Sigh Of An Angel. Tour dates

10th – blueFROG club (Mumbai)
12th - Zafraan (Pune)
13th - ONE (Pune)
16th - Opus (Bangalore)
19th - Delhi (TBA)

Never seen Ashu play live? Here are some reviews - at the launch of Sigh Of An Angel, in May at the Blue Frog.