May 25, 2011

Nagaland's Imli Imchen: Guitars, Fingerstyle, Fingerflair


Nagaland's first Fingerstyle instrumentalist, I believe   

When his debut album hits the stores in June in Mumbai, the least of reactions in Nagaland would be vigorously nodding heads agreeing that his brand of music is the first of the kind ever to come out from the Naga talent pool. In a state where traditional guitar playing-styles – such as contemporary rock guitar playing and the classical guitar – are as common as smoked pork, Imli Imchen’s acoustic instrumental music will stand out stark and indisputable. 

21 year old Imli Imchen – a devout Andy McKee addict and acoustic junkie – plays Fingerstyle and his tunes are centuries away from the normal fingerboard menu 12 lakh Nagas have been playing since the age of the dinosaurs. On his album release, Imchen shall be solely blamed for shoving Wes Borland and Joe Satriani out of Nagaland and introducing Bucky Pizzarelli and Guy Van Duser here.

Imchen, a 5’9 tall monster sparkling with dexterity even a young George Winston would appreciate, played to select patrons at Dimapur’s Jumping Bean, Wednesday May 11. He treated the patrons to his gift, playing a guitar style that has taken the American and European music industry by storm –Fingerstyle. He could be making history. Wait and watch.

Fingerstyle for Dummies 

For those who came in late, Fingerstyle or Fingerstyle Guitar is a recent and highly specialized guitar style. In contrast to traditional guitar styles such as flat-picking (eg., the contemporary rock style) or chord repertoire (eg., the classical guitar style) Fingerstyle’s chief characteristics are the use of entire digits accentuated mainly by percussive and open tunes as opposed to picking individual notes, repertoire or strumming. Artificial harmonics, hammer-ons or pull-offs in open fretting and yes, using the acoustic body of the guitar as percussion, used alternatively with playing the notes, are some of the main features of the technique. A recent boost for the Fingerstyle movement (also called New Age Fingerstyle for modern arrangements) was the Grammy for the Eurells – John Eurell Sr. and John Eurell Jr. Guitar enthusiasts will know Andy McKee’s ‘Rylyn.’

(Right: Guitarist Imli Imchen)

Jumping Gaga 

A little jumpy Imli Imchen – nervous to the point of apologizing – and baby sister Nukshinaro Imchen performed a gig of covers and numbers from the guitarist’s yet untitled album. His nervous mutterings notwithstanding, Imchen’s special skill with the guitar, and his originals made sure he was swiftly forgiven for getting jumpy. A dulcet Nukshi accompanied her brother on Chandler’s’  ‘I know you’re there’ before retouching John Mayer’s 2005 Grammy Song of the Year ‘Daughters.’  On the higher pitches, Nukshinaro actually sounds like American singer Anastasia. The brother-sister duo then nailed the patrons good with Coldplay’s ‘Fix You’ and of course one unidentified flying number that even had  Lady Gaga helping out in the chorus.    

However, Imchen’s originals were the main course. An incredibly beautiful, emotional and poignant instrumental Imchen played was ‘Kohima Night Sky’ – a tribute to his missing home when in Mumbai. The piece was replete with all theatrics even a rock guitarist would envy – double-handed harmonics in the middle of repertoire; soaring ascensions and flowery arpeggios; exquisite layering. ‘Kohima Night Sky’ is destined for greatness, especially for ringtone junkies. ‘Since that Day,’ another original from his upcoming album, was next – an instrumental powerfully reminiscent of the iconic ‘Midsummer’s Daydream’ (Rick Emmet).  You could see jaws were having a day off when Imchen played his originals. 

Promoted by Nagabit.com, a Naga website, Imchen’s debut is scheduled for summer. For all his dexterity and fine musical sensibilities are worth, Imli Imchen could be the first of the new breed of Naga guitarists who have renounced worldly pleasures such as the rock styles and dedicated their lives to more fingerly pursuits.

May 13, 2011

Nagaland's Imli Imchen: Guitars, Fingerstyle, Fingerflair

Nagaland’s first Fingerstyle instrumentalist I believe


When his debut album hits the stores in June in Mumbai, the least of reactions in Nagaland would be vigorously nodding heads agreeing that his brand of music is the first of the kind ever to come out from the Naga talent pool. In a state where traditional guitar playing-styles – such as contemporary rock guitar playing and the classical guitar – are as common as smoked pork, Imli Imchen’s acoustic instrumental music will stand out stark and indisputable.

21 year old Imli Imchen – a devout Andy McKee addict and acoustic junkie – plays Fingerstyle and his tunes are centuries away from the normal fingerboard menu 12 lakh Nagas have been playing since the age of the dinosaurs. On his album release, Imchen shall be solely blamed for shoving Wes Borland and Joe Satriani out of Nagaland and introducing Bucky Pizzarelli and Guy Van Duser here.

Imchen, a 5’9 tall monster sparkling with dexterity even a young George Winston would appreciate, played to select patrons at Dimapur’s Jumping Bean, Wednesday May 11. He treated the patrons to his gift, playing a guitar style that has taken the American and European music industry by storm –Fingerstyle. He could be making history. Wait and watch.

Fingerstyle for Dummies

For those who came in late, Fingerstyle or Fingerstyle Guitar is a recent and highly specialized guitar style. In contrast to traditional guitar styles such as flat-picking (eg., the contemporary rock style) or chord repertoire (eg., the classical guitar style) Fingerstyle’s chief characteristics are the use of entire digits accentuated mainly by percussive and open tunes as opposed to picking individual notes, repertoire or strumming. Artificial harmonics, hammer-ons or pull-offs in open fretting and yes, using the acoustic body of the guitar as percussion, used alternatively with playing the notes, are some of the main features of the technique. A recent boost for the Fingerstyle movement (also called New Age Fingerstyle for modern arrangements) was the Grammy for the Eurells – John Eurell Sr. and John Eurell Jr. Guitar enthusiasts will know Andy McKee’s ‘Rylyn.’

 (Right: Guitarist Imli Imchen)

Jumping Gaga 

A little jumpy Imli Imchen – nervous to the point of apologizing – and baby sister Nukshinaro Imchen performed a gig of covers and numbers from the guitarist’s yet untitled album. His nervous mutterings notwithstanding, Imchen’s special skill with the guitar, and his originals made sure he was swiftly forgiven for getting jumpy. A dulcet Nukshi accompanied her brother on Chandler’s’  ‘I know you’re there’ before retouching John Mayer’s 2005 Grammy Song of the Year ‘Daughters.’  On the higher pitches, Nukshinaro actually sounds like American singer Anastasia. The brother-sister duo then nailed the patrons good with Coldplay’s ‘Fix You’ and of course one unidentified flying number that even had  Lady Gaga helping out in the chorus.    

However, Imchen’s originals were the main course. An incredibly beautiful, emotional and poignant instrumental Imchen played was ‘Kohima Night Sky’ – a tribute to his missing home when in Mumbai. The piece was replete with all theatrics even a rock guitarist would envy – double-handed harmonics in the middle of repertoire; soaring ascensions and flowery arpeggios; exquisite layering. ‘Kohima Night Sky’ is destined for greatness, especially for ringtone junkies. ‘Since that Day,’ another original from his upcoming album, was next – an instrumental powerfully reminiscent of the iconic ‘Midsummer’s Daydream’ (Rick Emmet).  You could see jaws were having a day off when Imchen played his originals.

Promoted by Nagabit.com, a Naga website, Imchen’s debut is scheduled for summer. For all his dexterity and fine musical sensibilities are worth, Imli Imchen could be the first of the new breed of Naga guitarists who have renounced worldly pleasures such as the rock styles and dedicated their lives to more fingerly pursuits.

Photo: Soreishim Mahong

May 7, 2011

Metallica’s India Concert Tickets Sale Date Postponed


More: Band confirms F1 Rocks' concert venue: Leisure Valley, Gurgaon (Haryana) 

Metallica has announced that tickets to the band’s two concerts one each in Leisure Valley, Gurgaon and another in Bangalore, have been “delayed.” This is a tad too much. Just too much. Earlier, the event's organizers had announced Metallica’s concert tickets to start selling from May 4 from www.ticketgenie.in and www.dnanetworks.com

Metallica did not offer information on the date the tickets for their India concerts would go on sale but I have strong notions that ticket booth will open around May 20 – the time when tickets to the inaugural Indian F1 Grand Prix, to be held near Delhi, goes on sale. The event Metallica is playing is F1 Rocks - the entertainment segment of the Indian Grand Prix. The band has a concert scheduled at the event on October 28 and another in Bangalore on October 30.

     Metallica's Bassman Rober Trujillo during the band's November 3, 2009 show in Ottawa, CAN

According to Metallica’s website, tickets to the band’s two concerts in Noida and Bangalore have been “delayed until further notice... we will be sure to update you here when we have new information, which should be very soon.” The “very soon,” I suspect, would be around May 20. Trust me, my experience with international rock bands tells me the whole affair is a Media coup. You build the hype, tantalize the hunters (example: announce tickets, postpone ticket sale dates, announce it again etc), feed the hype more and in about a week to the event – announce the tickets. It is total psychological warfare in the case of Metallica’s India concert tickets and the shows. 

Keep checking in, I will keep you updated when my thrash metal cats meow.

PS: Also, for the first time since Metallica announced its 2011 ‘India tour', the band has said it is play at F1 Rocks, will be in Leisure Valley, Sector 29, Gurgaon and not at the Inaugura Indian Grand Prix, which is in Noida. Please note that the inaugural Indian Grand Prix is to be held in UP’s Noida, near Delhi. Metallica’s Bangalore concert is at the Bangalore Palace Ground, Main Palace, Bangalore, on October 30 as part of the Sonisphere Festival.


(Attention: Please note that all content in this blogsite are personal and original works of the author - they involve efforts of observation and research, personal experience and participation, news information and personal insights. 

If you desire to use any of the content or any information in the blogs, you are very much welcome to do so (but only for non-profit use. Copyright libel would be employed against you if you use the content for profit - such as submitting to paid article sites, rewriting them for sites that pay money for submitting etc). So long as it is not for monetary gain, you are free to refer or use information in my blogs. In case you do, I shall really appreciate if you credit this blog/author or at least link back to this blog site or article you desire to use. Thank you for understanding)

May 4, 2011

Metallica India Concert Tickets announced 2011

Hey, here's another update on Metallica's India Concert Tickets 2011. Metallica's newsletter has said the admissions to both the band's (Noida, near Delhi) and Bangalore concerts would be general admissions. The tickets will be sold online on www.ticketgenie.in and www.dnanetworks.com starting from May 4. The price of the dates haven't been announced but I am guessing it could be somewhere around $175 (Indian Rupee Rs. 7, 750 ) to $225 (Indian Rupee Rs 9, 950).

Phew, be thankful that those prices are just my assessment considering that ticket prices for Metallica's concert in Yankee Stadium on September 14, 2011 is priced from $175. But then the Yankee stadium show has Metallica performing with Megadeth, Anthrax and Slayer so the price is heftier. My guess for Metallica's India concert ticket prices starts from around at least 3, 000. I'll keep you updated.

Metallica confirms India Tour Dates 2011: Delhi, Bangalore

Metallica has confirmed Greater Noida (near Delhi), October 28 and Bangalore for October 30, 2011. I just got the confirmation here for the band's India tour dates, check it out!
 
Metalica's India Concert tour has been confirmed by the band today. I just received the details' of the dates from the band's newsletter. Can you believe your good fortune, you lucky India metal nuts! Metallica has added Delhi (or more precisely Noida, UP) and Bangalore to the band's October 2011 tour of India. The band will play in Noida (they wrongly said Delhi in their website) on October 28 and later in Bangalore October 30 at the Bangalore Palace Ground, Main Palace.Check the band's website here for the India concert dates.

Delhi? Its NEAR Delhi, NOT Delhi

I am a bit puzzled why Metallica said  "Delhi" to play the F1 Rocks inaugural Formula 1 Indian Grand Prix. The Indian Grand Prix is scheduled to be held October 28-30 at the Buddh International Circuit, which is near Delhi and in Greater Noida, not Delhi. Oh, Noida is in UP, by the way. Anyway forget Delhi or Noida, just go to the venue and enjoy your metal steaks, dudes.

As for Metallica's Bangalore concert, October 30 will be every metal fan from the south's dream come true. The main palce grounds of the Bangalore place is just too apt for a band like Metallica. The Palace square is consistent in ambiance to Metallica's darkly thrash music - the granite seats are the icing on the cake. But more about it later.

                Metallica's frontman James Hetfield during the band's May 19, 2010 Lisbon concert

Another thing: DNA networks, the organizers of the Metallica concert for Bangalore aren't letting go of information about the tickets and their prices. The band has already confirmed and announced the dates for the India tour but these probably-bloody organizers aren't letting out the cat. What you can do here is subscribe to DNA network's newletter and grab the details as soon as they release the info on the ticket prices. That way your hunting for a seat for either Metallica's Noida (near Delhi) or the Bangalore concert would be off to a good start.

So what are you gonna do now? Well, just make sure that you shut your computer now and go get some metal air! Start hunting for a booking for the concerts and of course those priceless Metallica tickets. Lakhs of people have already visited this blogsite (Thank you for putting my site on all Top-7 ranks on page-1 Google!) - it shows India is already on the move to greet the planet' biggest thrash metal band, the one and only Metallica. I'll keep you guys updated, especially the price of the tickets to Metallica's Delhi (or Noida, I am getting so friggin' tired of explaining this location now) and Bangalore concerts.

(Attention: Please note that all content in this blogsite are personal and original works of the author - they involve efforts of observation and research, personal experience and participation, news information and personal insights. If you desire to use any of the content or any information in the blogs, you are very much welcome to do so (but only for non-profit use. Copyright libel would be employed against you if you use the content for profit - such as submitting to paid article sites, rewriting them for sites that pay money for submitting etc). So long as it is not for monetary gain, you are free to refer or use information in my blogs. In case you do, I shall really appreciate if you credit this blog/author or at least link back to this blog site or article you desire to use. Thank you for understanding)