Moksha brings Iron curtains down

HEARD of Monsters of Rock- Donington Park? This is what I call an affordable Chennai edition'', was how rock fanatic Venkat Ganeshan described the finale of the June Rock Out fest last Friday.

The stage was set for some min-d-blowing rock on the heavier side after `Mercury' rose with Molotov Cocktail last week. The expectations were big. And Moksha surpassed them with ease, and brought the curtains down on the rock festival with a fitting climax - the band's tribute to the ``only other great band in the whole world'' - Iron Maiden.

Going by the intensity of the head-banging generated, Vineyard Centre sure would have reminded rockers of the cult concerts at Donington Park, the heavier version of Woodstock.

The evening started with worthy appetisers, as members of the Vineyard Band played their own compositions in gospel mode set to head-banging rhythm, unfazed by the interruptions due to technical problems.

Nothing wrong with the band's music but maybe the organisers should have slotted it along with the likes of Grasshopper Green or Armageddon. The band would have found a more patronising audience. After the tempo set last week by Mercury Rising, Vineyard Band's music was a mismatch of sorts for the audience hungry for `Moksha' and Maiden.

Vineyard Band, however, does have quite a talented lot who have come together with one common purpose - ``to explore the different musical expressions of worship''. The band does have its own CDs under the Vineyard Music Label.

Moksha hit the stage, with the audience chanting `Maiden, Maiden'. Understandable, for Moksha is supposed to be the only Asian band that has been released in Europe on an `Iron Maiden' tribute album, officially endorsed by the cult band itself. The band is also said to have released its songs on a Metallica tribute close on the heels.

While Leon (vocals) packed quite a bit of energy, be it Metallica (`Sad but true'), Iron Maiden (`Wicker Man'), White Snake (`Fool for your loving', `Here I go Again'), Van Halen (Panama), bassist Bobby paid a sterling tribute to Iron Maiden's signature `running base' and Christy sent the crowd into a frenzy with his solo Steve Vai number as David replaced Moksha regular Allan on the rhythm guitar.

With Renjith wielding the sticks and Timmy at the keyboard, the band showed the audience why it was the best Chennai has seen in recent times, especially as it broke into an innovative finish, blending Iron Maiden's `Can I play with Madness' with `Trooper'.

True to what it promised rock-fans, it was `salvation' for the Chennai rocker who sang, head-banged (some even danced and some stripped their shirts off, Salman style) and cried for more into the night.

The news from Vineyard Centre is that though its curtains down for June Rock Out, the show would go on. Coming up on July 15 is the Soundbuzz talent scan. So get set to rock. Again.

By Sudhish Kamath

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