NEWS

Mysore has started rocking both on the Richter and on
the decibel scale! This otherwise peaceful city with
its rich tradition in Indian classical music is
experiencing a rock revival of sorts.
The months of August, September and October are loaded
choc-o-block with rock shows and competitions,
bringing in bands from Mysore and Bangalore alike.
The latest in this series was ‘Rock Chronicles’, a
rock show held at Fun Fort, Mysore.
The date was 25th august, the time 7.30pm and the
weather hostile. Yet under the stormy skies both bands
and crowd rocked. Rocketing them into head-banging
heaven that night were two Mysore bands ‘Osmium’ and
their opening act ‘Omerta’.Making their stage debut
‘Omerta’ a young and spunky band played through a
rain soaked sound check to get the crowd going for the
main act. From then on it was Osmium-time.
Now there is something about this band and rain. Born
in 2003 Osmium made their stage debut on the stormiest
night of 2004 at Jaciana, soaking the audience in a
deluge of rock. Thus baptized by the elements they
moved on through the usual procession of college
fests, competitons and shows to become a part of
Mysore’s rock landscape.
Guaranteed to blow amps and minds their music is a
journey from the rocking sixties through the metallic
nineties to the grungy new millennium.
The band has seen a stream of talent from founders
Nikhil Joshi (drummer) and Bharat Raj(guitarist) to
their current line up of Clinton Lopez (lead
guitarist),Laxmi Chetan(rhythm guitar),Anup Ravi
Thomas(drummer) and the two surviving members of the
original band, Vishwas Kanthraj(bass guitar) and
Dr.Ravin Chengappa(vocalist).
All this talent came to good play as they rocked the
chronicles that Saturday night.
Covering a really broad range of music as early as
Uriah Heep and Deep Purple they sped up and slowed the
pace with everything from Iron Maiden, Metallica and
Pink Floyd. Playing on through two encores they ended
the night three hours later with the crowds hungry for
more.
While Clinton had the crowd air-plucking away with his
endless lead bits, drummer Anup had the crowd neck
breaking with his machine- gun double bass. bassist
Vishwas laid a sound and unbreakable foundation to the
proceedings ,while Mysore’s first lady of rock Laxmi
vowed the crowd with her skills. All the while Keeping
all together with his antics and sonics Mike-man Ravin
had the crowd connected with the band all through.
All in all a Rocking Gig!