The gig marked Call’s second public appearance since the announcement of its reunion. PHOTO : AH ANAS HASHMI PRODUCTION
Returning from a hiatus back in August this year, rock band Call had largely been in hibernation mode. But with the arrival of Pepsi Unplugged’s fall edition, things changed for the band that itself changed so much in the Pakistani rock scene back in the day.
Thursday was a memorable day for the band’s longtime followers in Lahore. Pepsi Unplugged has begun to pick up pace with live gigs, helmed by actor and dancer Hasan Rizvi, in both Karachi and Lahore. While the show featured Noori in the previous edition, this time it had Call and Pakistan Idol winner Zamad Baig on offer.
Coke Studio: Pulling the strings tight
The gig marked Call’s second public appearance since the announcement of its reunion. The band’s three constants — guitarists Zulfiqar Jabbar Khan and Sultan Raja, and vocalist Junaid Khan — were present on stage alongside drummer Bilawal Lahooti and violinist Sharon Leo from Zulfiqar’s Nescafe Basement. Bassist Farhan Ali was also present, lacing Call’s memorable tracks like Sab Bhula Ke, Pukaar, Shayad, Jilawatan, Dharke Jiya, Ho Jane De and chart topper Laari Chootee with generous helpings of groovy undertones. The band also performed covers of Queen’s We Will Rock You and Michael Jackson’s They Don’t Really Care About Us.
While the attendees at the show’s last edition in the city complained of the lack of space at the venue, this time around the organisers opted for an upscale hotel where the arrangements were top of the range.
Zulfiqar, also known as Xulfi, said since the band has started performing together after a gap of a few years, going on stage brings backs lots of fond memories. “Pepsi Unplugged gives artists freedom to experiment with their music, be it jazzing it up, slowing it down or singing the slow songs on an electric guitar.” We had made new arrangements for some of our songs and we played them in a different way, he said.
Talking to The Express Tribune, Junaid who donned a Munib Nawaz outfit said, “When the crowd is seated they are calmer, even if it’s a school or a college where you expect them to be electric!” However, owing to the show’s thematic setting in mind, he maintained the seating system was necessary. “Organisers actually had all our equipment fully plugged but the seating arrangement was like that of an unplugged gig so that’s where we felt the gap.”
4-on-the-floor
The band is set to perform next on November 28 (today) at PMR’s The Revival Show in the city. Other acts to feature at the gig include Soch, Rutaba Yaqub, Parizae Azhar and Bayaan. Call will also be going ahead with more gigs in both Karachi and La hore in the upcoming months. “We will be releasing a track soon and then start working on our next album,” said Junaid.
Having emerged as a rock band during the mid-2000s, the group went on to release two albums, Jilawatan and Dhoom, in addition to contributing songs to a few Bollywood movies. In their latest incarnation, they hope to stay true to their original rock sound and are “unwilling to compromise on it”.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 28th, 2015.
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