Live and alive: Where watching cricket and listening to music blend

Cricket fans and music lovers gather to watch Pakistan face Sri Lanka at the underground music studio.

LAHORE: In Defence, cricket fans and music lovers gather to watch Pakistan faced Sri Lanka at the underground music studio, Jam Sessions, to satisfy two of their passions, music and cricket.

The studio, which serves as a platform for underground bands such as SYMPTH, Poor-Rich Boy, Roadhouse Blues and Grain, was recently opened by Salman Haidri. Haidri is the vocalist of the now famous underground pop-rock band, Rage. The idea originated from Haidri’s personal struggle with finding spaces where they could jam.

“The only things the youth have, to escape the madness surrounding them, are music and cricket,” said Haidri. During the World Cup, the Jam Session organises live sessions with underground bands alongwith screening cricket matches. “The bands play during breaks. After the match ends, they have a long jam session,” he said.

Aqib Rahman, who loves the idea, said that students from the Beaconhouse National University, the National College of Arts and the Lahore University of Management Sciences were among the regulars.

“It’s great because you can watch the match on huge screens and you get a chance to make friends, who share your passions,” Rahman said while explaining why he loves the place. “Listening to the music creates a kind of Jazba-i-Junoon,” he added.

Rameez Asif, a director and producer, said that he felt that Lahoris had lost the passion they were known for. “You have to have the will to revive that passion and this place is an attempt to do just that,” he said.

Umer Ikram, a producer at a television channel, Jam Session allowed the youth to mirror and experience the same that the players are experiencing on the field. “It’s (Jam Session) like a cult in the making. It’s a rebellious attitude that you bring here,” said Ikram.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 27^th, 2011.