LA and back: Rousing return for home-grown rapper

ISLAMABAD:

On a sticky Saturday evening in the capital, Adil Omar performed his first gig since returning from LA at Eclipse Café. Managed by Farrukh Abbas, the event manager and general manager Eclipse Café, the invite-only night was enjoyed by an intimate gathering.

Zeelaf, an upcoming singer, opened the night for Adil with Catherine Perry’s Jar of Hearts and Rockstar. The young singer has been training for five months. “I am very excited to open for Adil. It will be great fun,” said Zeelaf.

Dressed in all black down to the accessories, Adil Omar ignited the night with some hardcore rap. Singing eight songs, Omar also gave a teaser from his upcoming album Mushroom Cloud Effect.

With some of their all time Adil Omar favourites, the audience also got a flavour of his new album with some unreleased songs. Farrukh Abbas was hopeful that the night would be a lot of fun as this event is the precursor to his upcoming event, “Capital Hip Hop”, where Adil Omar, Salman Asif, Rap Engineers, Catharsis and Zeelaf will perform at Benazir House in F-11.

Catharsis, another local underground band, performed four songs to the audience’s surprise. With two John Mayer songs, Why Georgia and In Your Atmosphere, the audience also got a feel of some of their original music.

The band sang ‘yaar’ and ‘mein’. The night was filled with an eclectic taste of music that kept the audience entertained and enthralled throughout. Even though the location was dingy and congested, the audience was there to see their friends perform and enjoyed the concert nonetheless.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 11^th, 2011.