Good Start

So the new year has been a pretty good start for me... and for the band.. The band has got 4 gigs so far for the month, one of them we had to refuse and hence 3 so far. So it so happens a few of my friends and I are enjoying dinner at Martin's Chinese Nook, when my brother Chris (who is also our band manager) got a call from Channel [V]. They said they loved our performance at Blue Frog and would love to have us at LaunchPad. Hence we registered for it, not really knowing what it was. On Sunday evening I was out for dinner at Pizza Hut with my friends Mr. & Mrs. Scott when we get a call from Channel [V] saying we have been shortlisted for Launchpad and that we need to perform the next day at B69 at 3pm.

Now that was indeed a shocker for most of us guys, cos we had to literally bunk work and play the gig. Well it happens I was the only one who had to bunk work, my vocalist went to work after the gig and the guitarist before. I had been sick since Sunday evening, so I told my boss I was sick and went for the gig. But it got worse there.. So I bought a bottle of cough syrup and drank it until I find relief for my throat.. I finished the entire bottle but never really found the relief, in fact my throat went dry during the gig and I had to hunt for a bottle of water. We left promptly after our slot was done. One of the reasons being I was drowsy having finished the whole bottle of the syrup. My friends said that I was performing drunk in the influence of Alcohol in the cough syrup. I did not really care for what they had to say, until I crashed after getting home and got a hangover the following day.

Happy New Year!!

So another year passes by.. And that was so quick.. hardly realized how quick that passed by. The year 2010 was pretty interesting.. lot of things happened.. for example.. lot of new crushes, lot of new friends, lot of new projects at work, the formation of the Rock Band Supervibe, new songs composed... and more.. There are lot of things I regret and things I am proud of that happened in the previous year.. but I am totally looking forward for this new year.. So far it looks pretty interesting.. with my album almost completing its Post Production and Supervibe playing their shows next week onwards.

Now That Sucks!!!

Yeah now that totally sucks that I got so busy all of a sudden.. and have posted just 2 posts in the last month... Woah!!! whats up with me?? he he

Guess I am just getting too busy these days... Lot of things happening in life and career... don't know where to start.. Well.. got a band manager at last.. one of my old college class mate, who promised me would finish MBA and become my band manager if I was serious about my band.. and Yes I am serious so there he keeps his word... :)

So there goes the band thing... pretty soon we would be playing a few gigs at places like Not Just Jazz By The Bay, Aura (Powai), Firaangi Paani... to name a few... but one of our most sorted out place is the Blue Frog. But we aren't sure how long would it take us to get to there... But nevertheless we are enjoying every moment of our lives now... :)

So Practically it doesn't suck... he he...

In The Studio - Day 3

Yesterday, we had our 3rd day in the studio. Was a crazy day. I had my drummer Ashish Malvi too with me this time. We left on his bike and half way down it began to rain. It was just slight showers to begin with but soon it began to pour and I was half wet before I reached the Studio. But it was nice getting wet for once in the rain. You remember all the childhood memories. So anyways we reached the studio before time and began to work on the guitar parts for the track 'All I Need'.

It was indeed a long day but a terrific one. We loved every moment of it. We had Nyzel working on the guitars. He completed the drives and the solos. He is so creative and talented and totally skillful that he just blowed our mind. He was totally on fire buring the riffs, and we just can't wait to get to hear the final mix of this track. It's been really difficult to juggle between work and the recordings and especially now when my boss needs me in the office during work hours that I cant get any more offs. But in the midst of these busy lives, some music to your soul and you are rock n roll... ;)

In The Studio - Day 2

So it was 'Day 2' today at By Grace Studios. My engineer, Mr. Nyzel was on a week's vacation out to mangalore for a music retreat. Yeah he sure did have fun, I could see that on his work today ;)

I worked on the bass parts for 'All I Need' and it was terrific. I thought I did awful by taking an hour and half recording the parts for the whole song, but Nyzel comforted me by saying that there were bassists who take more than 3 hours to record a song. That sure is comforting for someone who was playing the bass for the first time in a recording studio. I had got my Yamaha Rx170 4 string bass to the studio, but Nyzel wanted me to use his 5 String Fender Jazz Bass. As he felt the Fender had more thick sound to it, and sure he was damn right. It was a total honor to play with one of those beauties. So we are still on Track 1 'All I Need' and so far we have finished with the Drums and Bass, got lot of guitar work to be finished tomorrow and the vocals the day after. So stay in tuned here to read more about what's happening on this project.

Back to the studio...

So I am back to the studio... It's been almost more than 2 years now that I have given it a serious thought to work on my debut album after I lost interest the last time. Lot of reasons why I lost interest, but I wouldn't want to divulge it. So anyways today was a super cool day, as I began working on my album all over again. We did 'cue-tracks' for 2 of my songs 'All I need' and 'In my head'. It was really nice. I am working with Nyzel D'lima on this. He is the sound engineer as well as the guitarist and my producer for this project. It's been a really exciting day today, and I am just waiting patiently to see how it results once we are done. Stay tuned here to read more about the progress of this project.

Oh yes... if you really feel like sponsoring me on this project, you are more than welcome to do that... ;)

BONO: A True Christian

There has been a lot said about this guy, and a lot of debate between Christians about this man's approach to Christianity. But today I can confidently say, Bono has always been a true Christian. He confesses that he used to hate Christians because of their double standards but that just got him more determined to know more about who Christ was. David Ruis one of the leading worship leaders from Vineyard Music states, "that he has yet to meet someone with as much passion for God as Bono." He further states, "U2 came from the church, but at the time they started, the church didn’t know what to do with them."

Bono himself said once in an interview, "I’d join the movement, if there was one I could believe in, I would break the bread and the drink the wine if there was a church I could be received in, because I need it now."

But its just that the church for so long never accpeted him, and many more like him who were just different and looked different. It was by God's grace and plan for his life that Bono still held on to what he believed and who he believes in.


There have been so many songs of U2, where they show their desperation to work together with the church and be a part of it... but it took so long for the church to not be judgemental and accept these people with open arms. Here are some of the songs that U2 speaks openly to the church about what they feel and their passion for God.

One - You say love’s the temple, love’s the higher law, you ask me to enter, then you make me crawl, I can’t keep hanging on to what you’ve got, if all you’ve got is hurt. One love, one blood, we’ve got to carry each other.

I still haven't found what I am looking for - I have run I have crawled, I have scaled these city walls, Only to be with you, But I still haven't found.

Where the streets have no name - I want to run, I want to hide, I want to tear down the walls, That hold me inside, I want to reach out, And touch the flame, Where the streets have no name

In their biographies, they talk about how they contemplated splitting up the band because they felt like they couldn’t play their music and still be called Christians. Their passion and their talent is incredible, but what we as the church didn’t know was where to place them.

Check out this incredible interview with Bono by the Willow Creek Pastor Bill Hybels.

How to save a life?

I was just hovering around on the 5th floor at my workplace and heard my friend Violet listening to this song. I was so caught up with the music of the song. It sure is a broken-hearted's song but its so beautiful that I had to look it up on youtube. And I managed to find this video of the song. Ladies & Gentlemen this is 'How to save a life' by The Fray.

Step one you say we need to talk
He walks you say sit down it's just a talk
He smiles politely back at you
You stare politely right on through
Some sort of window to your right
As he goes left and you stay right
Between the lines of fear and blame
You begin to wonder why you came

Where did I go wrong, I lost a friend
Somewhere along in the bitterness
And I would have stayed up with you all night
Had I known how to save a life

Let him know that you know best
Cause after all you do know best
Try to slip past his defense
Without granting innocence
Lay down a list of what is wrong
The things you've told him all along
And pray to God he hears you
And pray to God he hears you

Where did I go wrong, I lost a friend
Somewhere along in the bitterness
And I would have stayed up with you all night
Had I known how to save a life

As he begins to raise his voice
You lower yours and grant him one last choice
Drive until you lose the road
Or break with the ones you've followed
He will do one of two things
He will admit to everything
Or he'll say he's just not the same
And you'll begin to wonder why you came

Fun In Unpredictability

It so happened last Friday... Everything seemed as usual, I attended by Red Hat training at 7am and reported to work by 11.15am. I didn't really have anything particular in mind about what the day in store for me. I thought perhaps I would return home and laze around in front of my computer. But my 2pm Ajay pings me on gtalk and asks me if I am available to play the bass guitar for a gig that evening at Bandra, as their bass guitarist wasn't available for the evening. I asked what time is the gig and he replied it would begin at 6.30pm and I had to report by 4.30pm for the sound check.

I casually checked with my boss if there was any chance I could leave a little early for the gig. My boss was too cool to give me a break. I left from work by 3.30pm and reached Bandra, the National College Auditorium right on time with Abigail. We didn't get to do a quick rehearsal and played most of the songs Live. It was one crazy night... we loved every moment of it. It was a wonderful time with some of my friends and fellow musicians...

But the best part was the unpredictability of that day... with the surprising turn of events that unfolded that day. It was an amazing feeling. I so hope every day would be a very unpredictable packed with lots of surprises just like this.

Crazy Ride Back Home...

The last few days Ashish and myself have been making trips to Kandivali (East) for our practice sessions for the Big Gig that we are about to have on the 21st Nov (Friday) at C.G.S. Grounds. Yesterday evening was a crazy session. One reason because the sound levels weren't balanced... and it was one crazy time practicing with the weird sound. I usually get really upset and mad at the sound guy, but yesterday I was in a different mood. I was enjoying the chaos...

Anyways we were done with the practice and Ashish and myself left. And we couldn't just stop laughing about it. We were acting like 2 drunk morons riding on a bike. And as we were riding, this once he applied a sudden brake. It was so hard that I felt the seat go off my ass... :P
I told Ashish to drive cool and how I got freaked out. Ashish thought it was fun.. and began to deliberately speed up and apply sudden brakes. I held him and told him, Dude if I am going down... we are going together... I am taking with you... he he he he...

Just then a young couple were riding besides us and found out how I was holding onto Ashish and they had a very weird expression on their face... I kinda found that really amusing and kinda fun... So from then every time he would speed up and we could pass by some young folks I would hug Ashish tight. It was really fun to do this... and I was pretty successful to freak not only the passerby's but also Ashish himself... Ultimately the battle was won and Ashish drove cool and dropped me safely home.

But it was one hilarious evening we don't think we would forget so soon... :D

Women Of Honor :: We 'Guys' rocked it...

It all began when I received this sms on 7th Nov 2008 from Ajay Cardozo the worship leader from New Life Fellowship Bandra Church, inviting me to be a backup for their bassist who had fallen sick. I was more than excited to be a part of something Big... for the "Women Of Honor" Conference which was held on 13th Nov 2008. Though this conference was held by over 1400 women I didn't get to see a single person's face as this spotlight constantly hit my eyes temporarily blinding me... But it was truly a great time with the folks...

PS. It was really really really uncomfortable playing in the suit...

Make You Smile

A really beautiful song by the Band Plus 44 :)