Holiday Cheers!!!

"As we struggle with shopping lists and invitations, compounded by December's bad weather, it is good to be reminded that there are people in our lives who are worth this aggravation, and people to whom we are worth the same" - Donald E. Westlake

The night SRV and Joplin played the blues, together!!

Another great Saturday night (Dec 10). The night the blues rained down heavily on the capital. The night SRV and Joplin played the blues, together. Hard to believe, right!

Well, to tell you the bluesy truth, it was the Soulmate - the absolutely amazing, soulful, compact and immaculately blue... - the blues band from the heavenly green vales of Shillong.

Soulmate comprises of a rare breed of musicians who still believe in creating music for music's sake, devoid of chip generated sounds and effects, full of soul and feel - Rudy Wallang on guitar, Tipriti Kharbyngar on rhythm and vocals, Sam Shullai on drums, and Ferdy Dakkar on bass.

Presented by the British Council and the Rock Street Journal and misleadingly titled 'Late night at the British Council' (misleadingly 'cos some @#$% dame from the high council was hell bent on packing up the show since the time it started), Soulmate created absolute bluesy magic.

Rudy displayed amazing mastery over the guitar with a very pronounced Stevie Ray Vaughan feel. Listening to Tipriti with your eyes closed was like getting to hear Joplin live. By the way, Rudy got great vocals too. Sam and Ferdy showed what seasoned musicians are made of.

Soulmate's compositions were 'true blue' blues pieces to the last note, packed with feelings. The evening air was chilly, the crowd a bit thin, but the mood was happily blue. 


Someone whispered - Damn right they've got the blues! They did, mate...

"I don't mind dying, I just don't want to be there when it happens." - Woody Allen

Real Deal Blues at the Garden Of Five Senses

The mood was perfect - a cool and chilly Saturday evening; the venue - the secluded and beautifully laid Garden Of Five Senses; the music - real deal raw blues, dripping with feelings by good old Chicago bluesman John Primer.

Sponsored by Delhi Tourism, the evening of Nov. 26 was a rare treat for all genuine blues lovers (for pseudo ones too to get a feel of what real, pure music is all about).

Mr. Primer and his men were in their full bluesy elements - amazing musicality, coordination and improvisation on stage, fired up with classics like Hoochie Coochie Man, Mojo Workin'...It was music beyond commerce. Music with lot of feel and harmony, to be felt and savored. To cut a long story short - John Primer and The Real Deal were beautifully blue. I woke up Sunday morning feelin' pink. PINK???

About John Primer:

Chicago blues guitarist began his career playing at Theresa's with Sammy Lawhorn, for a year with Willie Dixon's Chicago Blues All-Stars, played with Muddy Waters band between 1979-1983 (until Waters' death) and for the last 13 years with guitarist Magic Slim.

The Camden, Mississippi-native began playing the guitar as a child, and moved to Chicago in 1963. He began hanging out at Therea's Lounge, where he jammed with legends like Willie Dixon (in 1979 he joined Dixon's Chicago Blues All-Stars), Junior Wells, and Sammy Lawhorn.

Recordings include his major label debut The Real Deal (Atlantic), You Got to Watch (Earwig) and Blues Behind Closed Doors.

For more information, visit: www.johnprimerblues.com