Moshpit 2013 :: Part 1 (The Return of Metalabad)
I had been meaning to write this article for a while now. It has been a couple of weeks since Moshpit 2013 came to an end. Ah Moshpit, the gig that started it all for us, the gig that gave the Ahmedabad scene the much needed kick-start it required, and the gig that has been nothing but legendary over all these years.
At the beginning of 2011, Metalabad pretty much went on a hiatus as an organization due to certain financial issues stemming from one of the concerts we organized. I was very disappointed in how things turned out at that time, and had decided to give it a break for some time. I couldn’t continue something my heart wasn’t into.
I had expected that since Metalabad had gone on for a long time prior to that, there was a lot of momentum that the organization had given to the Ahmedabad Rock scene, and I had hoped that it would carry on and many more gigs would be organized in regular succession.
Surely, there were gigs. But not nearly as many as I had hoped. Much to my surprise there were many, many new bands coming up in the scene. Competitions being leeches were deriving the maximum benefits out of these new artists by getting them to play stage after stage, competition after competition for petty 10 minute slots with 5 minute sound checks.
But what really inspired me to bring Metalabad back, was this little project that I took on.
I was going through all the old files on my computers, and found a lot of old Metalabad videos, and I decided to put them into a nice video compilation, just for old times’ sake. Here’s that video in case you haven’t watched it:
This brought back a lot of memories, and a lot of old friends. During the making of this video, I got back in touch with all the people that were responsible for making Metalabad what it is today. These people being those bunch of teenagers back in the day, who really didn’t give a damn about anything or anyone but Metal. We were all friends, many years after our issues, differences and problems. But this montage, even though it was just a five minute video-album, made magic happen.
Ravi, Siddhant, Ian and Me, with Abhinav joining later were the five guys that started Metalabad, and many years later we were all back together. Metalabad was back.
And that’s how we decided, that it was time to take the scene by storm. We weren’t children anymore. Our approach to things had changed, it was going to be much bigger and better this time, it was going to be the return of Metalabad and that could have only meant one thing; the return of MOSHPIT.
Anyone worth their salt knows about Niflheim, Ahmedabad’s oldest Metalcore band, and anyone that knows Niflheim, knows Sanam Munshi. The amazing drummer and an even better person, one of my most closest friends. We met up one day and I spoke to him about Metalabad coming back and a potential gig happening soon. Sanam is a guy who is always willing to work for music and therefore immediately pitched in his support. It was 28th March, and on that day we had all finally decided, that Moshpit was going to happen.
We needed to work out the logistics, and a lot of things were to be decided. Putting a gig together is much bigger a hassle than it seems on the outside, we really had to make sure things were taken up a notch this time and exceeded everyone’s expectations. It was going to be hard, but we knew we’d make it happen. It was all, eventually, for Metal, and Metal always reigns supreme.
Next Article: Moshpit 2013 :: Part 2 (Planning the gig)
Caution, Moshpit Ahead.
By Sheel “Alwaysgoingcrazy” Shah
Some very common phrases we often hear people say; “I love music! I love metal! Yeah I heard their latest song! Dude check out the band’s new album!” But are they serious? Are they really into all the shit they claim to be into? Or are they just another crowd/trend-following group of wannabes trying to impress everyone with their “kewl quotient”!
Honestly I was a bit jittery at first about the crowd at Moshpit and eventually about writing a review too! I mean, what would I write? About how great the night was! How awesome the crowd was! How everyone enjoyed it!
This was Ahmedabad we were talking about after all. Yes the crowd is modern but that is only a show they put up to be labelled as “westernized”. I would be and truly was startled with the event though! To be honest and subtle I was appalled, amazed, shocked, surprised, awed and left with my jaw hanging open!
The time was 6:30 but due to technical difficulties apparently they still hadn’t started and were still doing a Sound Check when I walked in to the L and P Hutheesing Art Center at CEPT University. Although it wasn’t a surprise considering you’re hosting a metal gig in Ahmedabad I was definitely stunned to see how packed it already was! There were metalheads-or that’s what they did look like-everywhere! On every inch of the walls sitting or standing or occupying every corner in the pit!
The soundchecks were a little time-consuming in the beginning but it was worth the wait! Upcoming bands ‘Inertia’ and ‘Screams of Insanity’ opened up with stupefying performances that screamed with momentum and had everyone enthralled as they continued into their acts! Although Inertia didn’t have any of their own songs their covers of “Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door (Guns N Roses version)” and The Doors’ “Break on Through” literally had the crowd wanting to knock on their doors!
Screams of Insanity had the crowds moving to their rendition of “Roots Bloody Roots (Sepultura)” which they covered along with one of their originals “My Fate”.
Contravene(india) was amazing as usual and anyone who stayed through the performance could guess why they had all the massive fan-following. They performed two originals which included Social Suicide and their latest song iBreakdown as well as a cover of Kataklysm’s As I Slither And then things got serious!
It was time for a Cosmic ingredient which when finally infused created a bubble so hypnotic you’d forget you were in Ahmedabad and actually at wacken banging away to glory…;) haha! It was a “Journey” you couldnt miss and the music so bewitching you’d want a “Burial of Thy Own”! Also they performed “Crephius” and “Acronycal Eloge”. Although my biggest regret was missing the two main acts ‘Dark helm’ and ‘Grimmortal’! I so wish I could’ve stayed.
The headbanging was at a Zenith! the audience was beyond what you may call conscious! If a normal person looked at it from the outside they’d consider us crazy drunks gone wild! But hey it wasn’t drunk so much as it was high, high on music!
Regardless, I’ll sum it up in a few lines. My first live metal experience was Amazing for a gig taking place in such a dormant city like Ahmedabad! Like I mentioned above I wasn’t really convinced people here were true fans, but after the moshing I witnessed and after those amazing bands, I’m 100% sure metal will still survive! The scene here will improve! The crowd was real, and it always will be! Because metal, it’s a genre you gotta love with all your heart and soul or you’d regret the consequences of betraying it…lol! Just kidding guys! Anyway keep the scene kicking and screaming!
We’re gonna riff and growl so well not only Ahmedabad but the entire nation’s gonna hear it and I mean actually listen to it, understand it, start believing in it! Destroy God and keep rocking my fellow atheists! Moshpit 2013 by Metalabad gives me faith! Waiting for Moshpit 2014! Keep rocking! Peace! \m/
Because the Scene needs to survive
Expenses. Don’t all bands have them?
Bands have to pay for everything. Instruments, Jam sessions, Recordings, Album releases and what not. Everywhere a band goes, there is one or the other thing they have to end up paying for. Of course, now we also have all these shady businesses popping up everywhere that have decided to make a nice profit off these music aficionados by organizing “competitions” with Entry Fees.
I don’t really understand WHY a band would be required to pay a FEE to play a competition? It doesn’t make any sense. These awesome organizers sell passes to these events, and of course they also charge the bands to play. So they basically have this one dimensional approach towards making as much money as possible while exploiting as many people as they can on their way.
Enough of that.
We at Metalabad.com are musicians ourselves, we have our own bands or we are artists that pursue our passions independently. Whoever we are, we understand how important it is for a scene, whatever kind of scene it may be, to survive.
For a scene to survive, gigs need to be viable. Not just for the organizers, but for the bands as well. I have been in this scene for such a long time now and I’ve barely ever seen a Local band getting paid for a performance at a normal Rock gig. The only bands that ever get paid are outstation bands who have established a name for themselves.
The result? Bands don’t take their own music seriously. They don’t think they’re bound to be providing any quality and hence put up lackluster performances which receive numb responses from the crowds and these bands disappear about as quickly as they had been put together. There is no motivation to do anything! Being in a band is treated as a hobby and not a serious priority. Barely do any bands last longer than an year.
Our scenes are small, there’s no commercial viability. But expecting people to do all kinds of work and provide top notch professional performances for absolutely nothing in return, is something that doesn’t make any more sense to me, as a musician and as the editor of Metalabad.
So, I have now decided. That all bands that play in Metalabad gigs, will get paid. We will not be doing any more gigs unless we can make sure that we can pay all the participating bands. We may have to work twice as harder, maybe increase the passes a bit, work out a solution, but this is something we’re surely not budging on.
It doesn’t matter if it’s a local band, or a big band from another city, or a debuting band. Hours upon hours of jam sessions, dedication, hard work and passion deserves to be rewarded. Some might argue that a stage in front of 500-odd screaming Metalheads is reward enough for a band that debuts, and it is. We are not denying that. But all that fanfare can’t and won’t pay for the band’s jam sessions, or their instruments, or their recordings.
We don’t make any money from our gigs. Our best gig has been one where we barely made it even. However, paying bands and musicians for their performances is something that really needs to be done now. That’s how we will sustain the scene, and that’s how we’ll make serious musicians and bands. We might not pay handsomely, but we will make sure it pays off for the performers to put in their time and efforts into putting up a performance.
And with that, I’ll sign off for now. Thanks for reading.
Dushyant
METALABAD MOSHPIT 2013 : TICKETS INFORMATION
Metalabad’s Moshpit 2013 is less than a week away. One of the biggest gigs this season is already already being spoken of in the city. It has already attracted a lot of people and it is expected to be a very successful concert. Metalabad is back after a year and half and it is surely going to be a very kickass comeback.
Now, focusing on the ticketing information. The tickets are rated at 150/- each (Single Person Entry). This event associates are Bikanerwaala (Official FnB Partners) , Icy-Pik Frozen Foods (Event associates and Ticketing Partners) , Sharma Muzik (Event and Promotions Partners) , Heavens Music Shop (Instruments and Music Partners) , Unplugged Cafe’ and Grill (Ticketing and Promotions Partners). Indianstage.in (Online Ticketing Partners).
The tickets have been printed and are available at the following places :
1.) Bikanerwaala – This equisite Sweets and Namkeen’s shop is situated at Nehrunagar near Satellite. Bikanerwala is the city’s most renowed namkeen shops. Our official FnB partners have also started their own Restaurant. To contact them call on 26303803 or visit their shop at 239/B Nehrunagar Circle, Satellite Road, Satellite, Ahmedabad.
2.) Icy-Pik Frozen Foods – This shop is a reliable place to buy Mutton, Sausages, Salami, Prawns, Chicken etc. One of the most favorited Frozen Foods store by the people of Ahmedabad also have exotic veggies, turkey , and a whole range of canned foods, condiments and sauces. Call on 27913039/27913182 or visit Shop No. 3 & 4, Basement Floor, Shyam Gokul Complex, Drive In Road, Navrangpura, Ahmedabad , 380009 near Vijay cross roads.
3.) Sharma Muzik – One of the finest and oldest Music Shops in Ahmedabad. A name every Rock musician relies on for the latest and best guitars and music accessories. They’ve very generously agreed to sponsor a top end Slammer Electric Guitar for Moshpit’s Draw! The guitar is a beautiful red axe with two pickups and has an MRP of 14,000/- . Contact Sharma Muzik at 2929 7615 or visit them at 007, Sunrise Shopping Mall, besides Swaminarayan Temple, Mansi Cross Road, Vastrapur, Ahmedabad, India 380015.
4.) Heaven’s Music Shop – They have been our Instruments and Gears partners since quite sometime now. Metalabad and institutes like PDPU , NIRMA etc have also approched and trusted Heaven’s Music Shop for their accessories to be used in live concerts. Our official Instruments and Music Partners have the tickets. Call on 26768287 or go their shop at #145, Satyam Mall , Jodhpur Cross Roads, Vastrapur, Ahmedabad -380015.
5.) Unplugged Cafe’ and Grill – A place where every youngster is familiar with. Unplugged Cafe’ is a place where we can sit, chat, eat and listen to music personally choosen by us. Exotic food is served here and it even has a special Karaoke’ night every week. To collect passes contact our Ticketing and Promotions Partner Unplugged Cafe’ and Grill at 9825000979 or visit 3 Acumen, Near Passport Office, University Road, Ahmedabad, India 380015.
6.) Indianstage.in – A site where people always purchase tickets to visit major National Metal Festivals across India. Buy tickets from Indianstage.in and get them delivered to your doorstep. To book tickets visit http://www.indianstage.in/EventDetails.do?eventId=4483 or call +91-09243777970.
If you still have any query, collect tickets from us personally. Contact Dushyant Dubey [ 8905177387 ] , Sanam Munshi [ 9913464630 ] and Baibhav Chatterjee [ 8980181637 ].
METALABAD MOSHPIT 2013, APRIL 27TH, CEPT UNIVERSITY. TIMINGS : 6:00pm TO 11:00pm.
Come, Mosh and Bang your heads. Experience metal like never before ! See you all at the venue.
-Baibhav
Surat, and all things Metal
By Ananta
Surat, which is known to the outside world as the diamond city or the city of textiles, always busy in the hustle-bustle of the ongoing transactions and the clattering of textile machines. These noises when heard, let through something that’s unexpected. Something that is lost in the hectic schedules and busy routines… Music. This word does not suit a business oriented city where the main occupation is entrepreneurship but sometimes expecting the unexpected turns out into some of the most interesting things that life has to offer.
It is common knowledge that Metal in Gujarat is rare to find, but over the past few years the scene has taken off and we have come across some really good bands such as Decayed Souls, Contravene, Murder my Sweetheart, Reserpine and many more. As a Metalhead, the major attraction for me are the beginnings of a Metal scene in Surat. The scene here, one can say, is in the nurturing stages. Till now we have come across 4-5 really amazing bands which induce a lot of headbanging amongst their listeners. One of my first inspirations which connected me to this genre of music, inspired from Children of Bodom, Arch Enemy, Bullet for my Valentine, Amon Amart, Lamb of God and many other Metal bands is Ceborgium 106. Aminesh Rathore as he is known, is the former lead guitarist and vocalist of the band along with the members Jay Chaudhary, Drashti Thakkar and Bantei Sangma. they’ve composed some really amazing compositions. Their live performances are brutal and worth looking forward to.
