Pune Sings The Blues

The word ‘blues’ has traveled many decades to take up various meanings. In common parlance,it has become a term to describe deep sadness. In music,it began as one of the most important rhythmic expressions of the life of African-American communities. Today,blues has become a musical form that blends beautifully with latter genres like rock n’ roll and pop to launch many sub-genres. A musical strand that has evolved so much had to find resonance in Pune as well. Shisha Cafe,located in ABC Farms,has been the most popular bastion of blues in the city. But in the past two years,many a live gig venue has picked up on the vibe and invited blues bands from across the country to perform. Giving additional boost to this trend is the rise of local bands which are dedicated to recreating the sounds of classic blues.

On Wednesday,March 21,Mumbai-based singer Caralisa Monteiro presented a pop/blues set list in the city that was inspired from veteran blues singers like B B King,Muddy Waters and many more. To the decidedly blues sound of her dulcet tone,she added a pop sound and paid tribute to the late Whitney Houston. “It was shocking to see so many people come that day. They all stayed and watched,and didn’t walk out,” says Sandy Singh of Swig – Bar & Eatery in Koregaon Park where Monteiro performed. The crowd featured a mix of younger and older listeners in equal measure,a sign that awareness about the genre has spread fast. “Now there is the Internet,and YouTube,so people are more open to the idea of blues. For the youngsters,it is a different sound,because they didn’t grow up with it,but their parents did,” he adds.

The eatery has hosted Pune-based band Blend No. 3220 and Cross+Roads earlier,and will continue the blues connection by having blues/fusion/rock crooner from Mumbai,Karl Peters,performing next week. “We have had three pretty good gigs so far,” says Sumair Zubairy of Blend No. 3220,which was formed last year. He admits he got into blues just six months back,but is happy that listeners in the city are supporting the genre. “There are a few here who are into the old,classical blues,but at places like Swig,the regular crowd also joins in,” says he.

Hard Rock Cafe is another live gig location that has always been open to blues. Shillong-based band Soulmate has performed here multiple times to rapturous response. New Delhi-based blues and rock n’ roll outfit,Big Bang Blues,performed in the city last year,and were struck by the warmth of the audience towards their music. The band plays a good set of covers of blues classics from as far as the 1920s,but give the songs their own slight twist. “We didn’t expect it,” says manager Gary Steele of the Puneri response. He feels that the inclusion of other genres into blues has magnified its appeal. “Like,the blues that is played in Japan will have a bit of the local Japanese influence. It all depends on how much of it is infused. Big Bang Blues plays a lot of covers with a little rock n’ roll added in,because it pleases the average crowd that doesn’t want to just sit back and listen.”