Laughter track

The gig,which was at the Blue Frog,Lower Parel,on Thursday,saw a slightly sparse crowd that quickly grew into a large appreciative audience. There’s no doubt that Das’s fame as a stand up comedian was the fact that pulled in a lot of the crowd; something that the performer acknowledged to an especially enthusiastic member of the audience. “Thank you stupid man,you’re one of the three people here who does not know us and so actually bought a ticket to hear us perform.” It was all in good humour,of course,and as the evening progressed and Das continued to take lighthearted digs at the audience,the people showed that they could appreciate a good joke,even if the joke is on them.

In keeping with Das’s tradition of encouraging ‘hamateurs’,the show was opened by a member of the audience,Ashish Shakya,with a stand-up routine. With it’s rather risqué and brash humour,it nicely warmed up the crowd for what was to follow. Alien Chutney,which featured Vir Das on the lead vocals and guitar,Kaizad Gherda on assisting vocals and keyboard and Johnston on the keyboard,opened with Soundcheck. The song was intended as a spoof of the frequent throat-clearing and guitar strumming that passes off as ‘sound check’ at most concerts.

Most of the songs we heard would be tagged with a ‘parental advisory’ if they come out on an album. From You Look Like a Ladki,But Feel Like a Man to Man Boobs,the songs,all written and sung by Das,delighted in risqué humour. Especially notable was the rather soulfully sung I’m Your Tadka,a love song to a sabziwalli. Replete with puns and double entendres,the song was undoubtedly the hit of the evening.

The only jarring notes were struck when Gherda and Das exchanged banter in between,and even during performances —they seemed a little too rehearsed.

A little more spontaneity would be much appreciated.