Friday nights are usually exciting, but for the members of Tollygunge Club it is doubly so. Live at Pantiles is one such event which allows you to let loose and blow off some steam. Last Friday saw homegrown band, Blue Mist, perform at the club and it turned out to be an evening that will be etched in the memory of the guests for a very long time.
With the father-daughter duo Dean Martin and Samantha Martin as lead singers, Darren Manuel as the drummer, Carlyle Highland as the keyboardist, Dominic Caszo on bass guitar and Mrinal Dhote on lead guitar, the band played covers and had a playlist that had something for everyone.
The evening started with the band playing the popular R&B/Soul number, My Girl by Temptations, as everyone readied themselves for a memorable close to the day and that of the week. “It is always a pleasure to come back to Tolly. However, don’t forget to make use of the dance floor,” said Darren as the band segued into a perfect rendition of the ’80s hit, Every Breath You Take. However, it was Time of My LIfe from the runaway hit Dirty Dancing that made the members get up on their feet and groove to the music. The band hardly gave the audience a chance to catch their breaths when they broke into a performance of I Want to Break Free, leaving the crowd bursting with excitement.
Guests at the event groove to the music
“The ambience at the Pantiles is always exquisite. Generations don’t count, the young and the old mix together and become one family,” said Zul Hirji, a member of Tolly since 1983, who was spotted on the dance floor with his wife, Parveen Hirji. Indeed, it was a pleasant surprise for the younger members of the audience when the band performed Taylor Swift’s Love Story.
Later in the evening the band performed other major hits from the ’80s such as Voulez Vous, Mamma Mia, and Presley’s Jailhouse Rock showing off their best dance moves. But the musical ability of the audience was best demonstrated when the audience crooned Mustang Sally perfectly when asked to join in by the band. For Malini Sarkar, the chairperson of the Entertainment Committee, it was the choice of songs that she found to be the most enjoyable. “I expect good music and good food with friends every Friday night and tonight has definitely lived up to my expectations,” she added.
“We started this initiative to connect generations through music and it has been one of the most successful initiatives that Tolly’s had. After all, music is what everyone loves and there’s love all around,” signed off Anil Mukerji, CEO and managing member of Tollygunge Club.