The Mad Sar from Peshawar

Mountains & Molehills
By the Peeved Bug

The Mad Sar from Peshawar

This person does not even merit a full piece, but I guess my irritation is getting the better of me. It is my job to bug people, so it irritated me evermore that this bug from Peshawar took to getting up my nose at a concert in Islamabad. So I shall doubly bash him for encroaching on my territory.

The said concert was organized as part of the Peace (do we really want it?) overtures with India that seem the rage these days and by the fine people of Civil Junction – one of the few people who manage to provide fun in the Wasteland of Islamabad. How they managed to get the ICP building for a rock concert is beyond me, but that in itself was a great feather in their cap. The concert promised performances by Corduroy, Electric March and Surge among others and started up quite well, if a tad late. I was eagerly anticipating the bands as most Isloo artists are more into blues and jazz than simple pop-rock as in Lahore and most of what they do over there has a harder edge than over here in the L-town.

Anyways, Corduroy came on first and rocked. Thereafter halfway through the Surge set which was not all that good and all over the place, the Mad Sar, producer of sorts and co-author of the lightweight pap of Rungg, who was guesting on guitars took over the mic to lambast the management of the event. It was painful to see him stammeringly ramble on about how ‘this is the worst organized concert ever’ (it wasn’t, it was quite excellent) and how Surge were supposed to go on first. Sarmad man, here’s a hint: It is alright to rant if you are good, coherent or have something even half intelligent to say. You had none of the above justifications and should have just shuddup. It was particularly painful to see the Civil Junction manager respond equally stammeringly thereafter rather than ask the band to leave the stage if they had a problem with performing on his stage.

Anyways, it wasn’t just Sarmad who was not great. Surge was an utter disappointment too (though the ten relatives and friends of the band in the crowd did not seem to notice). The band really need to get their act together and jettison their lead singer who while he does have stage presence and the tight jeans to go with the leadman role, he surely does not have the vocal chops (even lesser than Fawad from EP who according to last reports has been improving). The performance was sad to observe as Surge are one of the few bands who dare to be political and at times (when not playing music or in the least with the singer not singing) show a lot of promise (the rhythm section and lead guitars are great though). Here’s hoping this was a one off. Or that one or two from the band get off.

As regards the third bands on show, Electric March was the best thing on view on the night. Zeeshan is far and away the best guitarist in town and my favourite in the country. He plays the blues with the requisite passion and fire, and if only he would stop making such clichéd faces mid-solo, one would be in utter awe. Listen in and forget Zak, Faraz and all others: Shaani (Zeeshan) is the true lord of the strings. You might have even seen him in the Abbas Ali Khan Chori Chori video (he did not play guitar on the recording though.)

Anyways, nuff bitchin’ and backslappin. I pen off now. I remain as ever touchable at KiraMaqora@gmail.com.

(I held on to this piece for a bit thinking it may well have been too mean spirited. But naaah…)

(Published in Sunday Magazine, Daily Times)