Overboard with Overload


The concept of enjoying music that is purely instrumental is still relatively new in Pakistan. In a country where most of the music listening population relates more to the lyrics of a song then to the music, Overload, primarily a drums and percussion band, decided to host an all instrumental gig in Karachi’s Bahria auditorium. Along with themselves, they featured the ever popular Puppo Sain and his student, Jhoora Sain.

Coming to the performance with only a hazy idea of Puppo Sain’s dhol-swinging stunt, and not knowing what to expect, one was confronted by a dimly lit stage on which separate platforms had been set for each musician to perform on. The arrangement was such that every musician on stage was clearly visible.

The gig started roughly around an hour late, much to the annoyance of the band who waited until the people filled up the auditorium seats. Coming one by one, each band member settled into his desired place with light-works being displayed to accentuate their arrival. With of different seasons and places on earth being projected in the background, Overload, featuring the Sains started off with a relatively mellow and slower number number, Days gone by, which eventually merged into the more upbeat Only to the deafeningly energetic Storm. One must mention here that once the band starts performing, they do not stop after every song and continue playing till the end of the performance. Each song transitions into the next smoothly and without any interruptions.

The light work and the scenes projected would alternate and change according to the beat and the mood of the song that was being played. The sound quality can be described as delightfully-deafening. Every beat could be heard clearly and every chord from each instrument could be deciphered singularly. The coordination between the bandmembers was flawless: Farhad (drums) would nod to Puppo and in turn Puppo would nod and Jhoora, and lastly Farhad would exchange muted looks with Hasan (tumkinari – Egyptian drums) whenever a slight change in the beat being played was needed. Sheraz, who was on keyboards, did not seem bound by any such confirmations.

Overload closed their performance with Dhamaal, which incidentally will also be their next video on television. In this track Puppo swung his dhol around in the middle of the stage and continued playing it while swinging it —a feat he is famous for. After performing Dhamaal, the band left rather abruptly. The audience was left seated in their chairs with several of them demanding an encore. And so the bandmembers reappeared a few minutes later to render their performance of Dhamaal.

At the end of it all, Farhad introduced the band members, at popular request spoke in Punjabi but switched back to Urdu since not all present could understand Punjabi well. At the mention of his name, Puppo got a standing ovation and it was amusing to watch him wave back.

What was notable about the performance other then the lack of a vocalist was the attempt at creating an ambience for those attending. Keeping an audience engaged for an hour is no small feat, and Overload managed to do more then just that —they left an audience hungry for more.

credits: photos taken by Amean J

First Published:
Images
November 26th, 2006