Indian Idol, Here I Come November 20, 2008
Posted by Vikas Tandon in Life, Music.Tags: Hindustani Classical Music Guru
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At long last, I started taking lessons in Hindustani Classical (vocal) music today. Shri Shripati Hegde, who tutored under Pt. C R Vyas is my Guru. The first day was great, and almost felt too slow – wanted to learn so much, ask so many questions.
Actually, I’ve been in a dilemma as to whether I should take advanced lessons in Guitar to progress from my (low) current level, or take singing lessons. Finally decided I’d rather do the latter cos not only do I feel more comfortable singing, but also wanted to learn about Indian Classical music.
I only hope between work, family and all the other activities I have taken up, I can keep this going.
Viva La Coldplay! June 21, 2008
Posted by Vikas Tandon in Coldplay, Music.Tags: Coldplay, Rock, Viva La Vida
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Like any other Coldplay fan, I was eagerly awaiting their new album Viva La Vida and bought it in the first week. I have to say though that I’m a bit disappointed, after X&Y which I thought was brilliant. Parachutes and Rush of Blood…are of course masterpieces too, but Viva La Vida does not compare IMHO. I’m a bit surprised at some of the media reviews in fact, which seem to suggest its as good as their previous effort.
And yet, there is one track, Lost! which is just mindblowing. Have to listen to it at least 2-3 times everyday. Some of the other good tracks are Strawberry Swing, Viva La Vida and Violet Hill, but they’re not in the same league their other hits or even Lost!
Coldplay is one of the last of the Big Bands apart from U2 and I hope this doesn’t mark their downward spiral. All the other greats, whose albums we used to look forward to, hardly have any releases – Sting, Pink Floyd, Eric Clapton, Jethro Tull, Mark Knopfler. Some of them still have the odd release but again these are not a patch on their older work. Stings last two outings for instance have been disappointing.
Bottom-line, should you buy this album? Yes, but don’t expect too much. Or maybe this post is premature and the album will grow on me like Rush of Blood…I sure hope so!
Hang Drums April 2, 2008
Posted by Vikas Tandon in Music.Tags: Hang Drum
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Thanks to my new guitar tutor, Aviv, I discovered this phenomenal new percussion instrument called the Hang Drum. You can get the entire low down on it here, but in short its a steel drum that combines percussion AND melody in the same instrument.
Check out this solo. The sound is really new and soothing.
Iron Maiden Rocks Mumbai February 2, 2008
Posted by Vikas Tandon in Iron Maiden, Music.add a comment
Wooooooooooah!!
Thank you Sarosh, for introducing me to Maiden all those years ago!!
Rime of the Ancient Mariner
Aces High
Eddie
Wasted Years
Finally, a view from the ground December 18, 2007
Posted by Vikas Tandon in India, Life, Music.1 comment so far
After years of tripping on their soulful folk rock music, we finally got to see America live in Mumbai. Unlike the regular rock concerts, this was a sit-down affair in an indoor auditorium (Shanmukhananda Hall, Sion), in-keeping with the type of music and the fan profile. After a long time, we were among the younger ones at a rock concert 
.
The music, as expected, was great. They played all their greatest hits (I think all the songs in History for sure), and some new ones which sounded pretty good too. I think America was a bigger nostalgia trip than most other acts cos I don’t listen to it so often. So the “I haven’t heard that in ages” feeling was more frequent.
The sound was disappointing though – very flat, there was no punch or depth, and though I’m not expert, I thought the mix was not right either – the vocals could have been a bit louder.
But overall, paisa vasool. Check out some pics & Videos (sorry about the sound quality on the video)
