Parikrama In Town: Events in Hyderabad

REVIEW FOR PARIKRAMA IN TOWN

We heard that they were arguably the best in the circuit; we heard that they were
all attitude; we heard that they really pack in a punch... and then we heard them
- live and scorching! They'd promised to blow the roof off the sky, they came
on stage and went on to do just that. 'Parikrama', the rock-band from the capital,
literally made the sparks fly, what with psychedelic lights and pyrotechnics.

With what is fast becoming the unwritten law of the city, the night started some one hour later than promised and then, too, it was only the band checking on their instruments and setting them up to perfect tune with their music engineer. This took so long that the audience's patience wore out and some booing started. The band quickly departed promising to come back soon after getting dressed, doped... whatever. The stage was taken up by a local band, Shangri-la, who dished out some extremely ordinary rock fare. But they had to perform under a very difficult situation, with the booing continuing. In fact, they only just managed to keep the audience awake till 'Parikrama' came back on.

There really was only some two hundred strong crowd, and that after counting the stoned and the asleep. As booze was being served right there (though at an astronomical price), it gave everyone ample opportunity to get into 'high spirits'... so to speak. It was not before ten when the band finally started their ensemble. But none present, sober or not, had any idea what was about to hit them. And 'Parikrama' did hit out... and hit hard. With 10,000 watts of pure power, that is. Starting out with "We Will, We Will Rock You" they set the pace to what was to come for the rest of the night.

With a special preference for Led Zeppelin (which incidentally is also the keyboards artiste's dog's name), the gang of Shubir (keyboards), Nitin (lead vocalist), Sonam (lead guitar), Sharat (violin), Dilip (drums), Vipin (rhythm) and Chintan (bass guitar) went on to dish out a spectrum of popular and not-so-popular numbers. Pink Floyd, Deep Purple, Skynard, Jimi Hendrix and so many more were immortalized this night. Clad in designer kurtas and torn-at-knees jeans the band performed with great gusto and professionalism, not withstanding the small crowd.

The Hyderabadi rock freaks made for a great audience, as everybody seemed to know all the lyrics and there were quite a few who made Woodstock come alive by discarding their shirts and dancing away bare-chested. None seeing them would have believed that we are well into the winters here. A special mention here is needed of the sponsors of this extravaganza. Gold Flake Lights and Music World gave the city a Christmas gift in advance, in bringing great rock to the city.

The most enjoyable piece of the evening is a throw up between the lead of "We Don't Need No Education" (Pink Floyd) played on a constructed 'machaan', with fire all around him, by Sonam; and an absolutely out of this world display of pyrotechnics at the end of the show. But we loved both, so who cares, anyway? The pyrotechnics apart, the lights used just enhanced the ambience multi-fold.

It was in all, a great display of undiluted rock by what is obviously a very gifted
group. And it only left all of us with a desire for more. And for those who feel
that they've missed out, and rock freaks in general, there is good news, yet,
as the band is returning to rock the city anew in March. And as rock great Yngwie
Malmsteen would say, "It was nothin' but a good f****** time..."