prakalp

Well this is one story to tell.... I have to tell...

11th December...

It so happens when a band from Vasai has to perform in a place like Sion, traveling is a major hurdle. So, to avoid any mad rushes at the last moment some members of the band traveled to Dadar, to stay overnight with a friend and keep the instruments at his place for the night. Excitement is always at its peak when a band braces itself for their biggest and most challenging gig yet. So, the 5 gentlemen (or is it volunteers) took off at sometime around 10 p.m. IST with a bass guitar, a guitar, a keyboard, keyboard stand and two processors (including a magnificent Digitech GNX 3000). Well the crowds in the trains are pretty fkall at night, so the guys and the equipment were scattered all around the compartment. Comes Dadar and all of ‘em are off, and so is all the equipment, all except the deadly precious GNX 3000 which was left behind on the train. This was realized later by the band members after the train had already sped off the platform. Disaster! the Digitech costs a something around 32k, and is coveted but not owned by some of the best in business, and was the most precious piece of technology for Prakalp and the lead guitarist (who incidentally owned it). They had to find it. They Panicked. Ashwin (manager saahib) was on the trail immediately. A lot of havoc followed (including a near death experience for Drummer-boi Vinit who dangled off a running train with hopes to find it). What happend after that didn’t matter as it wasn’t found. And at around 5 in the morning i got a message that drowned me... drowned every one in the band... we weren’t gonna play. Owing to the terrible loss of something so magnificent, Anant called off the gig... Charles owned the processor. He, in spite of the events that occurred the night before, coaxed the boys to go and play. No one was in their senses, not at least when i saw them, they were dazed in the morning. Lying sprawled on the sofa as the clock struck 10, hadn’t it been for the ghastly tragedy, they would be playing. Things happen, Good and bad. But then everything that happens fires a chain of events that in someway compensates in a small way (if not fully) for what’s gone wrong. This gig was precious to Prakalp. Would be their biggest, and a true competitive test for the guys against kickass metal bands from across the city. Now, it wasn’t to be. As the guys lay broken hearted, we decided, why not visit the venue and see what’s happening out there, now that we are past our time slot, no one is going to force us to get in. No one WAS in a frame of mind to play (even at gun point). And above all, without a lead guitarist like Charles, Prakalp had no chance of even making it to the last four. But then, to lighten up their spirits and keeping in mind what Charles said, they all stepped into their boots and were off, mere spectators to a concert they were supposed to be kick-starting (not headlining exactly). we entered the hall and saw a new thrash metal act Crystal Meth play, pretty cool. Next up were something we owe a lot to (you soon will know why). Memories flashed through my mind as i stood in the crowd, will Hindi Metal be taken kindly to? No idea. Some SIES college kids asked us as we passed the restroom, “Hey! What do u guys play?” “Hindi Metal” “What? HImesh?” “Hindi Death MEtal” + (a scrawny middle finger from Gavril, wonder where the guts came from). Anyways, they opened with Garas Baras... a very bollywood number, reincarnated as a heavy metal number, Courtesy:Prakalp. So! it ws time, some folks boooooooed us for singing Bollywood numbers and were silenced in a moment as Ally started the intro... they were silent very silent. Then the second verse and a wave of demonic possession swept across the crowd. People headbanging to a bollywood number???? I still do not believe what I saw. Then, next, Maut, a true death metal number, Ally and Vince were possessed on stage, headbanging like they wanted to knock their lice off, but well, in front of a crowd like this, it’s routine. Maut won many hearts, as females joined the headbanging brigade too. As I stood near the stage I was stumped! bewildered! Not possible! a response like this! Without a lead guitarist! With a 2 minute sound check! Well, next on was another deadly OC, Inteqam, first time they were playin it! The crowds screamed and swung their bodies across to the deadly beats of Vinits Drum and Vincents Killer Bass Machine! A hit! finally it was time to get off, but then, luckily, Anant realized there was more time, more time for another number, 7/11, their fourth original, made a few days ago, that had a lot of Charles in it. Yes, ally started off the number and the message by Anant to the crowd (the theme of the song being the recent Mumbai bombings) stirred a round of applause! Gavril gracefully covered Charles’ part on the keyboard. No band all evening had used keyboards. And finally after 7/11, Anant signed off, and so did Prakalp, and to the amazement of all of us, we heard a wild roar of the bands name being chanted!!! Wow! Here we are, one moment, all charged up to play, next moment gig cancelled, and another moment, up there basking in glory! People patted the backs of the sweaty band members as they made their way backstage, Crazy! They actually have a chance of being selected now! Destiny plays awesome games with everyone, this time it found a hard working band Prakalp from Vasai as its playmate. It’s over, we await the result on 12th evening, if they win, and they play on the 13th. if not? Who cares!!! They have got all they deserved, more than any cash price, the love, recognition and appreciation that any band would be proud of!!!
u fkers rule!!! Am proud of u all!!!! \m/

13th December...

It sounds incredible, but Prakalp actually started on their way to Bansi's place with tiny hopes of qualifying. The next evening there were bigger bands on show. We knew which the favorites were. We voted for Reptilian Death, Black, Red Cube and some others. However, on the evening of 13th I read a message on RSJ that shook my bones out of me. This is what I read:
In the finals:
Red Cube
Skincold
Prakalp
Atmosfear
It was crazy. I didn’t know that miracles do happen like this. The adventure wasn’t over yet. It had only just commenced. I called Vinit and told him to call an organizer. The man calls back say that we are to open at 5 the next day. The calls began to fly across the MSEB network. And what’s more, Charles decides to play for Prakalp. He gets a temporary GNX3000 from some friend. We actually overcame bands like Black, Reptilian Death, Metal Messiah and Crystal Meth. We geared up and left for the show. It went well. the crowd was pretty much the same as that of the elims. We opened but sadly during Maut, the sound was put off because of cops outside. However, rest of the gig went well. The event ended on a good note. Of course we couldn’t make it top here too. Skincold were winners with Red Cube second. We came next. However. The gig was our first competition. Prakalp learnt more from this one than what most bands learn after a year. There is never an end and everything happens for the best. Yes, now on, whenever Prakalp travels in a local train, the racks are closely watched for a GNX3000 we lost sometime back.
\m/

Piczo