An Acoustic gig by
Alobo Naga was materialized at Dzukou Rooftop Tribal Kitchen,Hauz Khaz Village, in New Delhi on Sat the 18th Sept 2012. The gig was scheduled to start at 9.00 pm night, however due to some unforeseen reasons, it started somewhere at around 10.00 pm. The show was for free hosted and organised by Dzukou Rooftop Tribal Kitchen for promotion. More than 50 people turned up for the
Alobo Naga concert or show in New Delhi , had it been more the restaurant would have collapsed due to space constraints.
For those who missed the show:
That evening - The sound check at Dzukou Rooftop tribal (Naga) kitchen started somewhere between 6 and 7.00 pm, I reached there much early before the schedule in order to run some errands for the owners of Dzukou Rooftop tribal (Naga) kitchen – Karen and Aren. I met them through a colleague and a dear friend of mine – Athozo who’s a bassist of the band called “YOKED” from gurgaon, however that night he was set up to play bass guitars for Alobo Naga. In totality, the band that night constituted of 3 members – Athozo (Bass), Alobo Naga (Vocals & many instrument) and Alobo Naga’s long time friend 'Theja' (seat drum) whom he had met after a year and currently lives in Delhi. Theja played some unique drum which was really amazing. I think it was Alobo Naga's first gig in Delhi (main), prior to this, he had performed in Noida early this year. Anyway, after the sound check was done, the band of 3 brothers left the place by 7.00 pm to freshen up and change in Aren’s house which was close by.
We, a gang of friends, had turned up a little early that day and gotten introduced, had to sit back at Dzukou Rooftop and wait until it was 9.00 pm for the show…….. hmnnnn…. It was still 7.00 pm what do we do?? We decided to catch on beers (tuborg) and some yummy non-veg snacks and started to yap..yap..yap amongst us, general stuff like – “Tui kute laga asa, saathi?”, “Yete, kute thake?”, “Cigarette tanibo?” (lol) etc… after sometime somebody in the gang then exclaims “What time is it, saathi?” somebody who’s wearing a watch replies “8.15 pm!” somebody in the gang then grumbles “assshhh… Laura! aro ek ghonto ase ho! Beer bi kiman khabo na”. we continued yapping amongst ourselves till 9 pm yet the performers did not show up… perhaps it’s an Indian standard system to delay any programme by at least 1 hour… lol… we waited and waited, meanwhile audiences started to show up and the rooftop was all full… the audience/gentry mostly constituted the Nagas and foreigners (maybe Russians and Italians), in no time they had all adapted with the environment and well settled with beers and yummy snacks. People were seen talking, laughing and connecting with friends clicking snaps of each other. Everybody just waiting for the artist – Alobo Naga; Finally at around 10.00 pm, Alobo Naga and his band mates showed up, they were all greeted a hero’s welcome… Alobo takes his seat (a high bamboo chair) and speaks to the crowd of mixed gentry “How you doin’ tonite?” the answer echoes back “Good” then Alobo addresses the entire crowd that he had come to Delhi just a week back and was his first acoustic gig here in Delhi and unfolds the first super hit song of the evening “Someone like you – Adele”, superb lyrics and awesome vocals, the 2nd song in the set list was his original “Where you are” followed by the beautiful hindi song “Sham”, which really complimented the night and all the ladies swayed with the melodious vocals, after this the audience requested for “Kumsujulo (Sumi Naga Song)” and “Painted Dreams”, though I did not understand Kumsujulo but I really liked the folk music tune to it and to listen to “Painted Dreams” was like a dream come true to witness a VH1 song live, Alobo sang some of his originals like “Princess Lullaby”, “Emotions” and “It’s old life” which were very touching songs....
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| It was really a daunting task to phtograph Alobo Naga wid his eyes wide open while singing...lol.. eventually I failed and ended up in making this collage... btw, notice the boy's talent; playing acoustic guitar, hawain guitar, piano, bamhum (anything else... please bring it for him :-)) |
After an hour..... Alobo was half dead and soaked in a bathe of sweat as the weather was very hot and humid and to boost the humidity, there wasn’t any corner on rooftop that was not occupied that day, Anyway sensing the situation, Alobo took a short 5 minute break, during this break also, he was not spared, people started to exchange pleasantries’ and stuff (including me lol) I requested two songs – “Just take my heart (Mr. Big)” Please don’t take me otherwise I am a straight guy (lol), I requested this song because this was the very first song that I checked out Alobo singing in the you tube and in a jiffy I was his fan; the second song “ Tu Jane na (Hindi)” is also in the you tube... He took both these requests and sang wonderfully and I was simply elevated by his vocals and of course the 5th beer in my hand (I think, never mind). Requests started pouring in, some of the songs that I remember in the second half of the gig were “Now and forever (Richard Marx) ”, “Emptiness (Rohan Rathore) “Betterman (Robbie Williams)”, “It will rain (Bruno’s Mars)” and one funny “Sema nagamese song” which was dedicated to Karen and Aren (owner of Dzukou), Alobo on request again sang “Sham” and “Painted dreams”, the band must have felt tired, hot and hungry after singing around 17-18 songs, so he addressed his fans that ‘this is going to be the last song of the night’ and sang one of his own originals (I forgot sorry) after the song ended, the audience demanded for more and would not let Alobo go without singing another song... therefore Alobo had to sing one LAST final song for his fans and well wishers.... i forgot the last song as well (kick me yaa!)... People had no qualms of leaving home early after the gig ended at 1.00 am.... the audience made a straight beeline for the buffet, the Naga food, Dzukou served that night was mouth watering and lip smacking..slurp..slurp... and I can always go to Dzukou for the best food and music. Thank you Karen & Aren for inviting me J. Alobo Naga gig in New Delhi at Dzukou Rooftop was a big success.
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| The best that I cud photograph the 3 of them together, as they were sitting a bit far from each other and my Sony digi cam was not able to capture the angle. |
For those who don’t know Alobo Naga and the band: ALOBO NAGA & THE BAND was formed in the summer of 2010, The band comprises of five musically talented youngsters from Dimapur, Nagaland, hell bent on creating good music. Alobo Naga and the band is the only Indian band ever to be aired by VH1 Channel last year (2011) for their song “Painted Dreams” which ranked at the no. 04th or 48th position in the VH1 INTERNATIONAL TOP 50 MUSIC VIDEOS OF 2011, competing alongside artists like - MAROON 5, RCHP, Jay Z & K. West (OTIS), Lady Gaga etc, They are influenced by bands & artist like INCUBUS, THE SCRIPT, KINGS OF LEON, 30 SECOND TO MARS, BRUNO MARS, John Mayers, Jason Mraz, Steve Vai etc.
Alobo Naga and the band after their “PAINTED DREAMS’ fame soon became very popular both nationally and internationally and is still continuing to extend his popularity through good music. Alobo Naga and the band had composed ‘PAINTED DREAMS’ as the theme song for the prestigious "Guwahati International Short Film Festival" in 2011. He is one of the finest exponents of music from Nagaland whose paradigm of success has lead to the rising of many young talents in Nagaland. To know more about Alobo Naga and the band, please visit his fan page.
For those who haven’t heard of Dzukou Rooftop tribal (Naga) kitchen: Is an exquisite Naga kitchen (restaurant) located in a prime area at Hauz Khaz village in New delhi, it specializes in Naga and thai food. It is run by two lovely ladies, Karen and Aren both are veteran in cooking exclusive Naga and Thai cuisines. Dzukou Rooftop tribal (Naga) kitchen is occupied in 2 storeys of the building (3rd and 4th) The climbing of the stairs to reach the bistro may be a little pain, but once you reach the restaurant, you’d have no regrets; perched on the rooftop provides an awesome view of the Deer park lake and the lush green flora of the Deer park which is widely spread across, to add on to the ambience, Dzukou is finely decorated with Native bamboo and cane decors giving you the feeling of Tribal ambience and a thought that you’re basking on a peaceful hillock, Food is fantastic, Catering is superb. In short, if you love - nature, tribal ambience, Naga food, Rice beer etc. Please bookmark this; Dzukou Rooftop tribal Kitchen is the restaurant that you should be in next. :-)
(P:S: My special thanks to Pawan, Ashulee, Aja, Toshi & his friend for making the company and of course for sharing beers... heheheehehe!)
