At the same time that heavy rains and high-velocity winds were expected to lash the coast of Karachi due to the tropical cyclone brewing in the Arabian peninsula, a music tsunami hit the city with full force that went relatively unnoticed amid all the flurry: Jal made landfall in the metropolis, replacing the low pressure weather conditions with a high pressure music storm.

Kicking off much later than the slated time, DJ Bobby amid his trademark jokes invited the band Exile who jump-started with the song Shor by Karavan with Raheal (guitars), Zohaib (bass) and Shabbir (beats). Basically, the band tuned the mood for the perfect gig ahead.

The white t-shirt and lousy baggy jeans rapper Q’zzar brought the house down with an amazing Boom Boom Karachi, fusing it with the electric Up in the Sky. It concluded while interlacing nicely to Jal’s Teri Yaad.

Syed Ziauddin, a guitarist as well as a solo singer arrived on stage with a compilation of eastern and western numbers, with DJ Bobby joining him in Mera Pyar.

By the time Jal the band made it to stage half past 10pm, the venue was bursting at the seams with the older generation seated while the youngsters gathered in the aisles and the small open area at the foot of the stage. The band immediately ripped right into an extended version of Woh Lamhe, followed by a hit parade of songs from the play list.

Wearing a blue t-shirt and a scarf around his neck, Gohar screamed “Karachi kay larkay bohat badmash hain” and pumped out O’ lal meri rapturously loud and high on rhythm.

The boys offered a poignant collection of some of old hits and their tribute to the legends of Pakistan, Kinna sohna tenu rab ne banaya.

Singles like Chaltay chaltay phir kahan and Aadat added more zing to the gig, however it was their much-hyped Coke Studio number, Ik Arzoo, that the crowd craved and received with overwhelming response. Whenever the band goes on tour, be sure not to miss their live performance.