MUMBAI: Last night, India’s oldest Hard Rock venue welcomed a crowd of a magnitude usually witnessed during tribute gigs or an Indian Ocean/Parikrama performance. The entire café, populated with enthusiasts and followers, turned up in huge numbers to show support towards five bands from Bengaluru, Mumbai and Delhi (playing original compositions) as part of audio giants Sennheiser’s annual competition Top 50.

Symphony Novel – that replaced Run it’s the Kid in the Top 5 a few days before the finals – took to the stage late in the evening. The Mumbai-based band faced the similar issue that extends to every opening or first band in every competition – losing its sound among the fans’ memories as the competition progressed. To be fair, the bands that followed Symphony Novel carried groovier, heavier and refreshing sounds; having said that, perhaps, fate could have offered different result for Symphony Novel had they played in later slots. The band finished fifth best. Peepal Tree, one of the two Bengaluru bands, missed out on the ‘top band’ honour as the judges – comprising Papon, Uday Benegal and Ashish Manchanda – voted the band as second best.

Mumbai-based Daira is made for live performances. And last night, the five-piece act exactly showed how performances need to be more than a sonic experience. Unfortunately for Daira (and other bands) though, Parvaaz brought its ‘A’ game. Not only adapting to the ‘not-so-ideal’ setting for Parvaaz’s sound, the band carefully chose its compositions for the competition. Khalid’s effortless vocals coupled with the seamless transitions led by Kashif through his guitar propels one to believe that the band, arguably and gradually, remains on the verge of being ‘the next big deal’ from the alternative music space. With ‘Beparwah’, ‘Gul Gulshan’, ‘Roz Roz’, the four-piece band – that would execute its highly anticipated audio-visual experience ‘Noom’ today in Bengaluru – consciously portrayed its versatility in its sound, thence providing the jury panel enough reasons to call them the best band of the competition.

Writer’s view:

The jury comprised musicians and experts who boast immense knowledge and experience on similar fronts, however, I, personally, believe either Daira or the only Delhi representative Barefaced Liar deserved the second best position. Despite a few hiccups to Barefaced Liar’s sound arrangements, the band reminded the attendees once again that Rock n Roll isn’t dead. With typical rock n roll solos, and supporting vocals from co-founder Balakrishnan, guitarist Akshay Choudhary seemed like a man on a mission. Unfortunately for the band, the mission didn’t quite reach its potential.

Sennheiser and its associates for the second edition deserve credit for organising the second edition for raising the benchmark and further emphasising on the vitality of band competitions. Last edition’s winners The Local Train’s growth and evolution as a band that reflects on its popularity justifies Sennheiser’s cause. Director of Professional Segment, Sennheiser Electronics India Pvt. Ltd., Vipun Pungalia assured that the brand will continue to endorse the music scene through several forms, and Top 50 competition is a mere beginning.