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.

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.

THIS WEEK’S TOP GIG PICKS

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

When the stock market’s down and the cricket team’s winning matches, there’s something wrong with India.

Head to Hard Rock Cafe on Tuesday, Dec 16 for the Appletinis and a set by Something Relevant. The band has been readying their debut album for a while and the set promises to be fun.

This show will feature a special acoustic set of originals by Rohan and Brad! 2 guitars and 2 part harmonies form the core of this duo’s sound.

On Sunday, heat to Powai for IIT Bombay’s annual festival Mood Indigo that features Livewire. Every year, hundreds of anxious engineering students brave long queues to watch the show with the very realistic possibility that they might not even make it in to the amphitheatre because the IIT organisers usually have a stick up their ass. Still, if you make it in, it’s usually a good gig. This year Finnish act Ensiferum headline. IIT Kanpur and IIT Madras have also brought down international acts this academic year.

Have a week folks.

THIS WEEK’S TOP GIG PICKS

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

We’re back to regular gigs this week and if you’re not a weekend person, then that’s just swell.

Head to Hard Rock Cafe on Wednesday (Dec 10) to catch British pop singer/songwriter Laura Critchley live. The gig is part of VH1’s Global Music Express series. Win tickets here. Critchley plays three other dates in other cities, so non-Mumbai peeps can also catch her.

Update: The Laura Critchley gig has been canned. In its place there’s an album launch; percussion guru Sivamani unveils his latest release. Props to Animesh and Bobin James for the heads up.

Fork out Rs 300 at the Blue Frog on Thursday (Dec 11) for Shaa’ir + Func. According to the Blue Frog gig calendar

They have recently been selected to represent the indie music scene in India in Cannes and now…

THEY NEED YOUR SUPPORT

The proceeds from this show will be used to send the band to Cannes.

It’s for a good cause, and you haven’t watched S+F in a while.

Have a week Mumbai.