An awe-inspiring finale to a constructive and colourful festival; Rock Your Shanaakht not only drew the largest — and most vociferous — of crowds but also witnessed thunderous applause from seated guests that would have seldom graced that indoor auditorium.
With the inspiring Shanaakht backdrop, the stage lineup consisted of Taal Kharisma, Ali Alam, Zeb & Haniya with ADP’s collaborative efforts with the latter two before their own virtuoso performance. Saad Haroon, father and former member of Blackfish, was handed the responsibility of hosting the event and a 20-minute slot to get the audience’s stomachs rolling before they got their heads banging.
Initiating the euphonic passage of play, Taal Kharisma, a group of final-year students at National Academy of Performing Arts (NAPA), captivated the public with an intro that consisted of tapping hands on knees, blown-up cheeks and the snapping of fingers. All in a rhythm, of course. With Gul Mohammad on the sarangi, Farhan Anwar on keyboards, Ahsan Bari on guitar and Josh Fernandez on percussions and drums, there was plenty of instruments, sounds and activities to watch out for as displayed in the brief on-stage stint with C’est La Vie and Soul.
A short delay hindered the proceedings (providing a deserving break) as the equipment was ushered off and the stage revamped to a more standing, and vocal, act of Ali Alam (remember Ganda Banda?). Taking lead, Ali, assisted by Omar Bilal Akhtar (OBA) on guitars and backing vocals, Yasir Qureshi, the maestro Darbukian and the menacingly ferocious drumbeats of Omar Khalid, dived in right away. An apt delivery of Jaanay Walay and Raat Jagi shoved the soothing and calm atmosphere that previously prevailed due to Taal Kharisma. Hum Na Rahay, Ali Alam’s final performance of the night, however, sent cronies head-banging and speaker cones begging for mercy as Rock took centre stage.
Perhaps to calm things down or maybe the need for pretty faces was pressingly felt, Zeb & Haniya were introduced to the Karachi audience for the very first time. As pertinently put forward to the world by the act, Z&H were not just two pretty ladies from Lahore and Islamabad (well, they are, but there is more). Performing Rona Chor Diya, the blues-inspired Aitebaar and rounding thing off with Chup, which had the audience shushing each other for a long time, the duo had a pleasant and glitch-free synch not only between themselves, but also the supporting cast of ADP. Zeb & Haniya had clearly gained admirers in Karachi as well.
As the pony-tailed Imran Lodhi appeared with a smile to join his ADP members, the crowd braced themselves for a clobbering of culmination to the event. OBA, with his pre-concert verdict of “it’s going to be one hell of a night” did his all to stick to that. And succeed he did. Opening with Sultanat, which has hit the radio waves and television screens by a storm, ADP once again stimulated an excellent night of rock to a truly exceptional one. A solo by OBA, lead by Imran, conjury of the often-forgotten Yasir and brief solo by Omar Akhtar comprised ADP’s sojourn on-stage.
And then came Meray Dost. Probably the loudest and the most complete single by the band, a pruned (from 19 minutes to about five minutes) version of Meray Dost not only allowed for individual brilliances, but a sign-off to an event that should have enlightened Karachiites about the history of the nation, providing that much inspiration to be a part of a better future.
© Faras Ghani 2007
Published in Images (Dawn) 19th Aug 2007
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