Journalism of Courage
In the age when most bands with the slightest bent towards rock music want to resort to a whiplash/bang sound,The Yellow Pages like to tune down their sound. The Mumbai-based musical duo comprises of Gaurav Jagwani (vocals/rhythm guitar/piano),and Simran Talreja (vocals/guitar),and has developed a style few bands like to stick to on a consistent basis a full-fledged commitment to acoustic performances. In early 2004,we were both just starting off. I was in Australia then,so we would have gigs whenever I would come down, recalls Jagwani. What followed a few successful gigs was an EP,which the band put up for free download in 2007. This helped spread word about their music,which started off with an all abiding focus on covers of popular songs at first,but has now expanded to include a sturdy set of originals,most of them written by Jagwani. This Sunday,on May 13,The Yellow Pages will perform at High Spirits,Koregaon Park. It was originally slotted to be a performance in support of their maiden album,but the release date has been shifted to next month.
The band channelises inspiration from musical acts from across the decades,roping in the styles of The Doors,The White Stripes,Adele,Nirvana,Oasis,Pearl Jam,and many more. When people usually think of alternative/psychedelic,they think of an electronic sound,but our songs are all acoustic. Even our percussion sound is from the djembe,or a cajon. That makes us stand out,and every time we perform,it helps us sound different, says Jagwani. In an effort to distinguish their sound,the band tweaks the leads and drum patterns of even the covers it performs. It may not be like the original, says Jagwani. The band is primarily composed of the two founding members,and they regularly rope in other performers for gigs. For the Pune performance,the duo will be accompanied by guitarist Suprateek,and Vikas Munipalle on percussions.
(The Yellow Pages will perform at High Spirits,starting 9 pm)
