“Totully Tullified!”">“Totully Tullified!”
February 2nd, 2004 | Published in Music | 22 Comments
I see that my smart cat has kept you updated on my moves. It’s true, I’ve been distracted lately.
But first things first. Let me tell you what happened yesterday.
For starters, I had nearly left my entry pass to the Tull-Chaurasia show behind. I remembered at the last moment and scurried back home to retrieve it!
Then, on the ride to the venue, I suddenly noticed a January 31, 2004 date printed on the pass.
My heart did a double take. It sank. I had trouble breathing.
Did they accidentally send me tickets for the wrong day? Had I missed the event I had been preparing for the whole of the week?
Then across the other corner, I noticed the February 1, 2004 date printed. Aaahhhhh.…. I let out all my relief.
Reached the venue nice and early. There was quite a crowd. All dressed up for the show. I passed my time looking around. There was a woman in tight leather trousers. Another in a shiny black and white top with silver thingies dazzling in the light. I thought I’d accidentally strayed into the wrong hall. But the average age of the people around was enough proof that it couldn’t possibly be a boy band concert!
The Homi Bhabha auditorium is a pretty decent hall. The seating arrangement is good and you get a decent view even from the last rows. Unless a really tall guy sits in front of you, that is. And it’s quite compact fitting a little over a thousand people. A lot of people apparently missed out because of the size of the venue. Ideally, a concert of this nature would have been perfect at the Rang Bhavan, which seats about 5000 people. But apparently the government has sent a directive against holding such events there because of noise pollution.
The evening began on the dot (what a surprise) with Chaurasia and his accompanists. Worth mentioning is the tabla player Vijay Ghate, who was really good. The tabla is a really rich instrument and it’s quite amazing the depth and variety of sound that can emanate from it, especially under the hands of an expert player. I really enjoy live Indian music, especially jugalbandis.
Then it was Tull’s turn with the team of guitarist Martin Barre, keyboardist Andrew Giddings, bassist Jonathan Noyce and drummer Doane Perry who came on stage. Ian Anderson then followed assuming his trademark flute and piper position.
What followed was a truly amazing session, a feast for the ears, especially for Tullaholics who have grown up with their songs and were finally witness to their masterful performance in person.
They performed many of the classics. Living In The Past, Nothing Is Easy, Bombay Valentine, Thick As A Brick (an excerpt), With You There To Help Me, Bouree, a medley of songs (Songs from the wood, Too Old to Rock ‘n Roll, Heavy Horses), Aqualung, Locomotive Breath.
Of course, it would be impossible to accomodate all of them. And most were accompanied by a minimum of lyrics, with Anderson singing just portions of each song. But it was pretty awesome watching him juggle between his flute (s), his little guitar (which he said, makes him look big!) and his vocals of course. Barre displayed his prowess with a few mindblowing guitar stretches.
The last bit was a fusion performance by all the artists and though it was Anderson and Chaurasia who were supposed to be in the spotlight, the guys who stole the show were Ghate jamming with drummer Perry. Brilliant.
What can I say? I wish the concert would have lasted longer. It just wasn’t enough. I could have sat there and listened for a few hours more! The band apparently were catching a flight back to England the same day, while Anderson is off to Goa for 4 days along with his wife. So if you glimpse a long haired guy with a flute on the beaches of Anjuna and Calangute, you’ll know who he is!
Came back to Bandra and grabbed a midnight coffee and a burger at Mac’s to break the long journey back home. While paying off the cab guy, he said he didn’t have change so I had to part with an extra 10 bucks. ‘You don’t have the change or you don’t want to give me change?’ I asked him rather nastily, banged his door and then walked off.
A few minutes later, inside Mac’s, I heard a jangling noise and the cab driver holding up my house keys in front of me. I had dropped it on the backseat. I felt like a little insect just then.
The day before, I watched Maqbool, yesterday Tull and am hoping to catch the third installment of LOTR on Friday. I think it’s the week of cultural excess for me, but I’m not complaining!
February 2nd, 2004 at 3:00 pm (#)
3 Posts back to back…coool job. Sad that I miss mumbai like anything.…more after reading that LOTR is playing in Regal. I had seen the whole Speilberg Series there.
February 2nd, 2004 at 8:03 pm (#)
Jethro Tull is my favorite act too.
When they were Mumbai in 1994 ‚I couldn’t afford the Tickets in my Student Budget ..
But got a chance to attend their concert in Minneapolis.
But Chaurasiya Anderson should have been a great experience. I’ve attended so many concerts but one that always eludes me is ” We are the Shakti”
Have Fun
February 2nd, 2004 at 8:05 pm (#)
BTW if U stay in Bandra ,
Bismark Sir is Best Person to teach you Guitar .
February 2nd, 2004 at 8:37 pm (#)
Mahesh: I actually stay pretty far away from Bandra and my current tutor would be heartbroken :). But how does one find Bismark sir?!
February 3rd, 2004 at 3:18 am (#)
I have his phone# on my cellphone phonebook in Thane… but currently I’m in Chicago.Go to Bhargava’s Music Shop in Bandra (Off Linking Road),ask the owner address of Bismark Sir.
And This Guy is a Proven Guitar Guru,Most respected in Mumbai.
Important part of learning Guitar is not to learn any wrong habits ‚which takes awaful lots of time to be undone … any other Guitar related info more than glad to be of help
February 3rd, 2004 at 4:41 pm (#)
Yeah am looking forward to LOTR too. Ha ha me went to a circus and enjoyed a lot .. after a lon time… man I envy you TULL… SIGH…
anyways, good to know that you enjoyed the show..
me finally managed to finish the Goia write up with snaps.. check it out when you are free…
Baki am waiting to blog about the circus… made me feel like a kid again !! h ehe !!
February 3rd, 2004 at 6:25 pm (#)
wowow… Wish I could be in your shoes… Must say, you having loads of fun…
February 4th, 2004 at 3:41 am (#)
Hi Anita,
Hope you enjoyed LOTR as much.. the fight scenes were awe-inspiring..
February 4th, 2004 at 5:00 am (#)
Wow — for some reason I couldn’t imagine any JT fans outside this island’s shores — but hey — what can I say: sounds like it was a great show! You into early Genesis or Floyd by any chance?
February 4th, 2004 at 9:19 am (#)
looks like someone is having a great week :) good for ya…love the Eas-West jugalbandi always…
February 4th, 2004 at 9:23 am (#)
Mahesh: Thanks for that. Will definitely pick your brains if I need to at any stage :0)
Pallavi: Wish you were here! We could have watched it together!
LL: You bet! How did your Hyderabad meet go?
Sathish: Actually, I have yet to watch it. Hopefully, will.
Jag: JT fans are everywhere! They have a really heavy world tour this season and are popular, especially among the oldies :0– Floyd yes, early Genesis, I must admit I haven’t heard a lot of. But I am a big old time rock enthusiast!
February 4th, 2004 at 9:24 am (#)
Patrix: It’s pretty awesome, especially if they are good musicians. Always worth a watch!
February 4th, 2004 at 9:51 pm (#)
hiiiiiiiiiii.…where is my blog’s name on ur list??
February 5th, 2004 at 11:37 am (#)
your cat writes well, too… why not a blog for her?
February 6th, 2004 at 11:21 am (#)
Sonali: You have to submit it first!
Ranjan: Actually, she does have one. Only she hasn’t been updating it and she calls me lazy!
February 13th, 2004 at 1:44 pm (#)
hello
i read ur article last morning in rediffblogs
hay it is just amazing that u r too cool and wht i say about fellings.….….….….….……
February 21st, 2004 at 4:10 pm (#)
You have a pretty nice blog. English is not my native language but it was please to read your site. From Russia with love :)Sincerely yours..
February 18th, 2005 at 4:33 pm (#)
hey everyone.…
i have been a student of Mr. bismark. he is truly an awesome guitarist and a great teacher.
and guys, Let me know if there are any great concerts happening in the city.
May 1st, 2005 at 2:15 am (#)
Hi Anita,
Are you Assamese? Well i’m a Jorhatite in Mumbai. Have lost touch with people from Assam. So was just wondering…
Keep up the good work..great site too :-)
Pranab.
October 8th, 2007 at 5:49 pm (#)
I am interested in learning guitar and classical dance.Would highly appreciate if any of u guys can help u with few names & nos.of good tutors.By the way,I am Mumbai based and wouldn’t mind travelling upto Bandra.
Shamiyana
September 13th, 2008 at 3:52 am (#)
hi.…!!
can somebody plz help me wid mr.bismark’s contact details.…hav tried out in many ways .…cudnt get it…!! i wud be higly obliged for the help.…!! thanx in advance…take care
November 26th, 2009 at 3:27 pm (#)
Mr.Bismark
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