Music over a Meal

Consequently,their programming differs. Chez Moi,for instance,wanted to give their patrons the gigs they were not likely to have heard before. “We laid down one condition: artistes do something they have never done before and probably won’t again,” says Amman Dua,co-owner of the restaurant. “So Tewari sang songs he had written in college,D’Souza did an unplugged gig and Coutto made impromptu songs based on words and suggestions from the audience,” he says. Although these gigs have been stopped temporarily,they will resume this month when the restaurant launches its second outlet in Oshiwara,Andheri. This will be a bigger space than the one at Bandra Reclamation and will,therefore,host electronica artistes besides singer-songwriters.

For some,these shows bring in more customers,and consequently profits,while others don’t see either profits or losses. For Narang,the important thing is the change in programming. “Even if it’s a loss on that night,at least the change in programming breaks the monotony,” he says,adding that it is also his passion for music that made him bring back Acoustic Tuesdays this February. Chez Moi,on the other hand,has seen the restaurant go packed during these gigs. “For our first gig with D’Souza,we had to turn people away as we had more than 80 in a venue meant for 60,” says co-owner Kanish Behl.

Some of these places are only just beginning to host gigs or do the occasional live show,but their importance in the indie scene can’t be discounted. “It’s about building a community and the smaller places are important in doing this,” says Mumbai-based singer-songwriter Siddharth Basrur,who has been a part of the scene for more than a decade. The culture,he believes,should be encouraged,even if there are 30-40 people attending these gigs.