Mumbai Gig Preview: Sridhar & Thayil At blueFROG
26 March 2013
They're weird, they're wonderful and consistently label-defying. As the underground threatens to burst with the new, the old and the in-betweeners; some brimming into the mainstream, others drowning in the deep end, Sridhar/Thayil (Suman Sridhar and Jeet Thayil) float through the sea of it all, untouched and mysterious. Since their formation in late 2007, their adventurous spirit has seen them blend the careening soul of bluesy riffs with cabaret-like theatrics and Thayil's gritty spoken work topping off the intriguing concoction.
They released an album in April of last year, following which they played a slew of gigs but maintained a conspicuous absence in the more commercial arena shortly afterwards. Somewhere in between that Thayil's Narcopolis was shortlisted for a Man Booker prize while they continued to straddle the various projects they submerge themselves in in other realms of the performing arts such as their sister project, ‘The Flying Wallas: Opera-Noir.’
Thankfully, the hiatus is over as Sridhar/Thayil unleash their provocative grooves at Mumbai's blueFROG tonight (26 March) after far too long. The duo will then continue their onslaught at Delhi's blueFROG on 28 March and The Kasauli Rhythm & Blues Festival on 30 March.
Considering Rolling Stone once described them as "two of the most uninhibited people that ever came together to play with music," the gig promises to be worth the wait.
Check out this video to get a better idea of what to expect:
Words: Mandovi Menon