Kovai's musical experiments

When the Goan multi-genre band Two To Tango came down to Coimbatore to perform at a popular three-star hotel recently, the two musicians Angelo and Roger Fernandes, were at once charmed by the warmth of the city, and admits to feeling at home here.
The duo, who maintain that they don't want to be restricted to any genre and plays a whole range of music from pop, rock, jazz, reggae to hip-hop, says that they have found the crowd in Kovai to be pretty understanding and appreciative of what they play.
Two To Tango is not the only musical outfit that has found favour recently in the city. Though film music nights have always been popular here, ranging from Ilaiyaraaja nights to live outdoor gigs with much sought-after playback singers, Coimbatorians have always had another side ' from the devotees of Black Sabbath to the ones waiting for the next bass to drop!
Says Suchith Suresan, singer, 'It's a completely different feeling every time I perform in Coimbatore. The crowds are so enthusiastic; they sing, they dance and they completely enjoy their film music! But this is also the same city that appreciates the non-film work I have done. Though my Indi rock band Udaan is a Chennai-based outfit, I have had college students from Coimbatore approach me every year to do a gig for them. They have listened to and appreciate the non-film sound we have and the kind of experiments we do!'
Meanwhile, Angelo and Roger, who have had a string of notable performances ' the collaboration with Graeme Hamilton, former member of British reggae-pop band UB40, and Fine Young Cannibals, being the biggest, say that the energy of the people of Coimbatore at a live gig is completely infectious and they notice a contrast between the musical tastes of the city from the others they've played at.
'We have been performing together as a band for the last two years, but have performed for different bands all over the country and abroad for eight years now. Up north, there is an extensive knowledge among the audience on genres such as classic rock, jazz, reggae and metal while in the south, it is more of pop rock that wins favour with the audience,' says Angelo.
The city, meanwhile, has been catering to quite a few metal gigs, the most common in the past few months being Mushroom Lake, a psychedelic act from Kerala. While there is not much of an audience for the heavier stuff, there are students and fans who are putting together a few metal acts in pubs and any venue they could find. Yet another kind of musical act that finds an audience among the younger crowd is the standard 'jam band', which deals primarily with covers and improvisations.
'It'll be a while before there's a metal 'scene' as such in Coimbatore. But that's no reason to say Coimbatore doesn't have metalheads,' jokes Keshav Nair, student. 'City-bred musicians are many and the audience is equally curious and enthusiastic too! But the major problems any local promoter or artist face are the sheer lack of venues, and low sponsorship amounts,' he adds.
'It's not that there is lack of interest towards metal or any other non-film genre. It's just the lack of gigs. Coimbatore is an enthusiastic town and good music is always welcome here,' Keshav concludes.