From Monday morning blues, most of us have now graduated to experience what is fondly being referred to as ‘mid-week blues’. Some argue that it is just a convenient excuse for people to head to a bar in the middle of the week, but as long as we find ways to shake away the blues and hold on till the not-too-far-off weekend, why should anyone really complain. And honestly, apart from the ever-friendly alcohol, what better company to deal with the blues than a blues band!
Playing at Radisson Blu, Egmore recently, city-based Blues Conscience stepped up and put some life back into some brooding Chennaiites. Everyday I have the Blues is a classic blues composition that has been recorded by various artistes over the years. In their own familiar version, Blues Conscience went for a somber and well, very blues-y adaptation, making it the perfect start to what went on to become a long, high-spirited (Pun unavoidable) night.
Considering it was ladies night, the band thought it would be apt to sing a tribute to soul musician and songwriter Janis Joplin, a woman they claimed they loved. If it wasn’t enough that they had written an entire song especially for her, their original and straightforward, not to forget dramatic, lyrics I’m in love with Janis Joplin did the trick for them in conveying their adoration for the American singer.
“Let’s get the juices flowing,” yelled guitarist and vocalist Aum Janakiram, in his pitch-perfect tone, but little did he know that thanks to quite a delayed start, the juices were already flowing aplenty.
With Joe Cocker’s version of Unchain My Heart, the band deviated slightly to rock mode, but it only set the groove going. If in most of the songs the band performed, it was accompanying artiste Maarten Visser on the saxophone who was the highlight, it was keyboardist Sid Kumar in the vivid rendition of Vehicle.
Anek Ahuja (vocals and bass), Neil Smith (drums) and not to forget Janakiram, along with the rest of the band, proved their versatility and authenticity as individual musicians in each of the songs that were played that night, but their talent was especially evident in Buddy Guy’s popular number Feels like Rain.
The theme of the night might have been ‘Rowdy Ladies Night’, but with the intimidating crystal accessories and fruits placed in bowls on countertops and shelves, grooving a little in their seats or carefully shaking a leg in a corner was probably as rowdy as the gathered ladies could get. But hey, at least now the only shade of blue that they were feeling came from the music!
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