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Karavan returns
Blistering. That, in the most conservative of estimates, is the best way to describe a recent live performance by rock group Karavan in Karachi. Though the fine-tuned foursome — guitarist Assad Ahmad, bassist Sameer Ahmad, lead singer Tanseer Daar and drummer Alan Smith – have long been in a state of dormancy, the group showed the woefully thin crowd present that night that despite the unusual quietude, Karavan is still capable of bringing the house down with their arena-rock sized riffs.
Actually, it boggles the mind why this group, undeniably one of the most energetic and technically adept live acts on the lukewarm circuit, doesn’t fill larger venues in a heartbeat. Though it isn’t exactly clear if weak marketing, lack of videos or some other malaise is responsible for their not bringing in numbers, Karavan have — from the gritty days of their first album Rakh Aas – always been cult favourites, often missing mainstream success by a tiny fraction. But in an atmosphere that is now finally becoming conducive to making rock music in this country, perhaps the band can capitalize on the market’s newfound love of electric guitars and stake their claim at the top of the big rock mountain.
After having had to wait a long time, aficionados of live music were shaken from their slumber as Alan counted off the monstrous drum intro of ‘Rakh Aas,’ the title track from the group’s first record
After having had to wait an unbearably long time, aficionados of live music were shaken from their slumber as Alan counted off the monstrous drum intro of Rakh Aas, the title track from the group’s first record. One wondered if the small venue of M Live could take such a sonic beating as Assad, with his signature palm muting, and Sameer, launched into the rock hard riff and bass line of the tune respectively. But rest assured, the roof did not cave in, but the walls sure did resound with maximum wattage.
Right after the pummeling that was Rakh Aas, the band launched into a seamless version of Beqarar off their second album, Safar. The transition was so smooth that many in the crowd didn’t realize the band had already kicked into their second tune of the night. Lending percussive support was Shahid who did double duty on the tablas and Turkish drum. Sporting a rich, fattened guitar tone, Assad made his axe wail on the superb solo of Beqarar.
The band did a fair number of cuts from their first record, going back to do Jhoom Zara Jhoom, a funked up mix of bass and lead guitar that was cushioned by Alan Smith’s trademark jazzy drumming. Karavan brought the souped-up crowd back to cruising altitude after the high-speed intro with Saadgi, a relatively slower cut off Gardish, their third album, which was performed with an absolutely wicked feel, courtesy of Ahmad’s guitar.
Though Tanseer Daar has gotten a lot of flak from fans (and one admits he had huge shoes to fill after Najam Sheraz split), he has improved vastly from his early Safar days as he held his own on Sajni, another palm muted barnstormer from the first record that was anchored by Alan’s stop-on-a-dime drumming. Though he may not be the most powerful drummer on the circuit, Alan’s timing is unmatched. Much like the set-opening deuce, the band roared into Aja Mere Pas Aja, again flawlessly.
After much goading by the crowd, the band relented and launched into the super-hard Gardish, the Led Zeppelin-inspired title track of the latest album. Though the band claimed they hadn’t jammed in about two months, they were remarkably tight that evening, save for a few instances where members slipped up on what chords to play, but made up for it with explosive, innovative patterns.
On Tum Hee To Ho, the band built up nice and slow and exploded, like a store of potential energy. After storming through originals, taking generous slices from each of their three albums, the band slowed down by playing covers. The choice of covers was a little baffling (Seal??), but what they did, they did well, though one is sure a searing version of Detroit Rock City would have been more befitting. Karavan topped off a firm set with U2’s With Or Without You, followed by an encore version of Gardish.
With a mean live act, brilliant, edgy songs and three absorbing records under their belts, these senior musicians should be on top of the heap by all standards. Whereas most of the other acts that are doing well on the circuit these days either have great songs or are great live performers, Karavan possess both these traits, along with ability and attitude. One hopes they can break on through to the other side because there is no time like the present.
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