My first Rock concert

At the tender age of 59 I have attended my first Rock concert. It wasn't in a huge football stadium. There was no screaming or fainting, and everyone left with underwear in its proper place. But don't think the audience was stodgy - there was no sitting on hands - the audience clapped, gestured and swayed in delight. Even I was moved to clap a little and tap my toes, despite my being "rhythmically challenged" and embarrassed by public displays of enthusiasm.

No, The 'Stones hadn't sneaked into town. It was a two part fusion concert at the Artscape, which had been organised by the Indian High Commission. A local band opened proceedings. They played a selection of Indian favourites and some 50s golden oldies. An enjoyable hors d'oevres.

The main course, Mrigya, was stunning. I quote the SpeakIndian blog:

"Mrigya’s music has its origins in various eras, countries and cultures – merging snatches of blues, folk, jazz and classical. Mrigya is the quest for sensuous, earthly, soul lifting fusion music. It is based on musical realities of the past, picking up the potentialities of the future. Their music creates a unique texture (a rich blend of Classical, Blues & Jazz) bordering between Indian Classical to World Music. It is their “recontextulization of Indian rhythms and melodies, taking them and placing them in the middle of jazz – rock fusion and light funk, and their guitar playing (which, on slower ballad features some Clapton – esque blues)”, which is their most captivating feature...

'Powerful performers Mrigya combine vedic Hindi chants, classical raga, tabla and Muslim quawwali singing to utterly move audiences wherever they play. Their funky baseline will have you dancing.' Dominion Post, New Zealand "

So I can be excused if my sang froid melted a little.

I was particularly fascinated by the Qawwali singer. The movements of his voice and fingers communicated intense joy and excitement, though he didn't move from his seat. Ancient praises of the divine swelled and danced with the strident riffs of two electric guitars and the fast-pulsed tabla.

I did find the music very loud, but to tone the volume down by sticking balled-up tissues in my ears was not an option. The loudness was integral.