Rocking to the wrong note!
Profanity is better known to be a brutal vice and users are no gentlemen. This evasive fact has always been put to its contrary uses in every sonic event held in the State.
Patience, composure and other fluid natures take a backstage as rage, aggression and hand gestures rule the night of any musical event of genres ranging between the tearing of drum sets and literal grinding of guitars to enthralling tunes.
It is never easy to reach a high in the music world.
The competition is brutal and once at the top of the charts you have to slog to maintain the status. There is a very thin line between retaining the tag of ‘Rock Capital of India’ and being labelled ‘Swear Rockers Galore!’
The adrenaline rush is normal when the music takes control of our emotions but holding our own against the adrenaline push takes effort and some discipline.
The raw energy emanating from the crowd is what bands thrive on. The least that rock fans can do in return for a magnificent show is lend every bit of support for striking the chords in front of a literal ‘human race’!
Alas there are some disoriented rock star wannabes with tattooed bodies for whom, the stature of the band, Local, National or International makes no difference who must be entertained for the money spent and who go berserk at the slightest hiccup. From swearing at an outgoing band to a solo Hindi song, the wannabe’s sure tarnished the image of Shillong rockers. Even Hoobastank was not spared when the sound system decided to play pranks right in the middle of their track list.
But can we play judge when we ourselves don’t know which way to rock without rolling?
Its Hoobastank all the way and ‘The Reason’ was Shillong
The city rejoiced for what was expected to be a gala-event after years of despondency (as far as hosting international bands are concerned).
The stage was set, passes circulated. It was music’s turn and ‘the reason’ for the buzz was the touring American band, Hoobastank.
On show day the skies held up longer than they usually would, pretending exception for a special occasion. However, three hours and 45 minutes into the event, the showers and Hoobastank came down simultaneously as if on cue!
The downpour seemed to compete with the rockers from California in attracting or rather distracting the attention of the thousands gathered for the musical extravaganza.
Just as ‘the charmers from the US’ were leading big in the battle, ‘the Rain Gods conspired with the machines’ and the sound system gave in. Moans of frustration from the crowd that resonated far were followed by a not so silent hush. Some left, the hard core hopefuls stayed on and had the last laugh for ‘the reason’ they persevered for was The Reason.
And more importantly ‘the reason’ was Shillong. The rock capital of India aptly stood by the undying spirit of music.
Taxi drivers at the receiving end…
The morning hardly shows the day when it is monsoon time in Shillong. Unexpected rains are known to test the composure of even the most composed especially when it comes to commuting on a wet day.
Those at the receiving end though are not always the so-called victimized service takers. It is the standard complaint that the cabbies overcharge and take more passengers than they are allowed to, taking advantage of the urgency imposed by the downpour.
However, on a few occasions, the poor cabbies too have been on the ‘unfortunate side of things’.
For instance, in the mad rush to take shelter from the showers, passengers assume that all cabbies will take a particular route.
A driver heading towards Laitumkhrah is given a mouthful for not taking the Malki route. Cabs refusing to go in a particular direction should also be ready for far less than pleasant remarks.
On Saturday, a cabbie was accused of being ‘merciless’ by an elderly lady.
His fault was that he drove along the Bishnupur route instead of Jhalupara where the lady was heading towards. The next time passengers board a cab they should first speak up their destination rather than catch the driver unawares. After all even taxi drivers are humans looking for a decent livelihood; they are not our enemies.