Jamsteady x Princeton Club gifted Calcuttans a night full of rock 'n’ roll as the Chennai-based band The F16s, who were on an India tour, visited the city on August 6 and delivered a mesmerising performance at the club on Prince Anwar Shah Road. The band with members Josh Fernandez (lead vocalist and guitarist), Abhinav Krishnaswamy (on guitars), Sashank Manohar (on bass), Harshan Radhakrishnan (on keys) and Tapass Naresh (as the members choose their drummer in the city, he played for their Calcutta concert), put up a rocking concert.
From humming along with the band to embracing each other while listening to the soulful and rhythmic pieces, the crowd did it all, like they’d been whipped into a frenzy! After kicking off their Rock n’ Roll is Dead — India 2023 Tour in their hometown, Chennai, the band performed in Indore, Hyderabad, Shillong, Guwahati, Goa, Mumbai, Delhi, Bangalore and Calcutta. For over a decade now, the four-piece band has been impressing with their relatable numbers. Clasped in the shackles of everyday mundanity, we’re in the throes of many passing emotions, which the alternative band seems to capture with their numbers.
There’s something catchy about the quality of the music that they produce. After their debut in 2013 with Kaleidoscope and several singles to their credit, the band has become one of the most prominent alternative groups in the country. They dropped their EP, Is It Time to Eat the Rich Yet? and mesmerised music lovers with their unique soundscape. Meticulously crafted pieces, head-turning pop vocals and groovy bass are what the audience witnessed at Princeton Club.
“When Pagal Haina’s co-founder Lucy got in touch with me about The F16s tour and that they would be interested in performing in Calcutta, I had to ensure this happens anyhow, as a lot of bands skip Calcutta due to various reasons. It took a lot of effort and belief to be able to pull off this gig but in the end, it came together beautifully and we had a big turnout,” said organiser Nishit Arora.
t2 got into a quick chat The F16s guitarist Abhinav Krishnaswamy and here’s what he said:
What was the concept behind Is It Time to Eat the Rich Yet?
The pandemic had hit everyone hard, and we began to notice a pattern of the wealthy lining their pockets even more while the poor and disenfranchised were rendered even more helpless. We just felt like turning people’s heads away from cooking videos and Dalgona coffee to an already prevalent evil.
What’s the key point about the music you make that sets you apart?
We’ve toyed with what this could be, but ultimately the key is that we keep doing what we do with the hopes that people will catch on, even if at their own pace.
Tell us a little about the tour.
We’re playing familiar places like Mumbai, Pune and Bangalore but wanted specifically to take our music back to places like Shillong, Guwahati and Calcutta — a region we hadn’t visited in a while. These kinds of homecomings deserve a longer well-rounded set and we’ve pulled out a good 100 minutes of music for it.
How important do you think touring is for musicians?
It is the lifeblood of a band. With streaming being the way it is, touring and merchandise sales are the only ways to turn this into any sort of livelihood.
Which genre would you categorise your band under? Whose music inspired it?
We are an alternative pop band that thrives on rock 'n' roll. Inspired by the Strokes, Foals, classical music like Chopin and Vivaldi, and the grandeur of acts like Tame Impala.
Can you tell us a little about your upcoming projects and album.
We took a short trip to the hills to close ourselves off and write new music and were rewarded with a dozen new songs. Some of them are being debuted on this tour as well.
What had you planned for your show in Calcutta?
Hits, deep cuts, unreleased material, impeccable sound and lights, but more importantly, pure entertainment.