10 iconic anthems from Indian indie bands

What electronica is to Indian music listeners today, rock was to their predecessors yesterday. Starting 90’s, India witnessed the emergence of several indie bands that showed lots of promise. 

We have listed some of their tracks to leave you with this thought - what if they all came back to the ‘scene’ from wherever they are right now?

PENTAGRAM - DRIVE

A list like this is incomplete without Pentagram. After all, who wouldn’t
acknowledge their contribution in shaping India’s independent music movement.
Since its inception in 1994, the band has played several prominent venues in
India and around the world including the 2005 Glastonbury Festival.

Drive from the album Up is reminiscent of The Prodigy sound from the
90’s. Feel free to exercise your right to break stuff while it’s blaring on your
speakers. 

ZERO – PSP12

Zero is a band with a fan following few others in the scene today can rival.  Any current rock band worth its salt will vouch for that.

Legend has it that PSP 12 from Hook was laid down in 3 minutes. While waiting for Warren and Garreth D’Mello (of Split, Dischoridan) to show up for practice, Bobby started slapping his guitar on top of which Sidd wrote the song. That’s how the ‘Teri Maa’ song was born.

BLACKSTRATBLUES – ANUVA’S SKY

A big shout to Warren Mendonsa for making it again on our list. A solo-project of the ex-Zero guitarist, Blackstratblues is Warren’s attempt at presenting himself as the instrument’s true devotee.

Anuva’s Sky from the album, Nights In Shining Karma, was home-recorded. It is rich with lush layers of guitars, and devoid of unnecessary shredding. A blessing for the musician and the listener.

SUPERFUZZ – 4 TIMES AND ONCE AFTER

Superfuzz, the Delhi based rock-n-roll outfit with a garage-punk soul is now Indigo Children. While they are yet to revive their original mojo from the days of Superfuzziness, the country still remembers them for their sound from early 2000’s.

4 Times And Once After is a 2-minute punk soiree set against the backdrop of sounds similar to Artic Monkeys’. Having said that, it’s replete with 95% original lyrical wit.

SCRIBE – ANALYSE THIS

Scribe still holds the title of the most technically proficient hardcore/experimental/post-hardcore/metal outfit in the country. It’s little surprise that their Confect earned fifth spot on Rolling Stone Magazine’s list of Top Ten Indian Albums in 2008.

Analyze This from the album starts with a homage to The Matrix and ends with a reminder that we are only onlookers until we act. And Akshay’s underlying textures tell you instantly what makes this track killer. 

THE SUPERSONICS – YEAH WHATEVER

The Supersonics are from Kolkata and they like to get tighter with every tour. That pretty much sums up why they have a loyal and steadily increasing fan base. 

Yeah Whatever from Maby Baking is the stuff that gets a band its place in the line-ups of UK’s Great Escape Music Festival, NH7 Weekenders, Puma Loves Vinyl, the Roadkill Tour, the Indiecision Tour and the debut run of the Red Bull Tour Bus. Do us a favour, listen to the track.

JUNKYARD GROOVE – IT’S OK

Part alternative, part funk, part rock – that pretty much sums up Junkyard Groove’s repertoire of sounds. They have opened for Iron Maiden, Incubus, Prodigy and Robert Plant in the past.

It’s OK from their first album 11:11 was popular on most English radio stations in 2009. Give it a listen to know why.

SHAA’IR + FUNC – TOGETHER AGAIN

Before Monica Dogra made her acting debut in Aamir Khan’s Dhobi Ghat, she had already established herself as Randolph Correia’s able collaborator. The Shaa’ir and Func sound stands out, giving a sense of what makes this duo a favourite at gigs.

Their Together Again is an example of how synths can be used to create a unique Indian club anthem. If you haven’t heard it yet, thank god for YouTube, you still can.

SPLIT – HOLY GHOST MACHINE GUN

Split keeps losing band members but never cries over spilt milk. It’s always a quintet of blokes that knows how to infuse conflict and resolution with its music.

Holy Ghost Machine Gun from the album P Is For Pig is a post-grunge phenomenon that questions the use of violence in the name of religion or god. A cliché topic, only dealt differently.

THEM CLONES – MY LIFE

Sometimes thoughtful, sometimes confessional, Them Clones never fails you with its grooves and melodies. It’s remarkable how they transformed from a band that was too noisy for its neighbourhood to being hosts of their own festival ‘Clonefest’ in New Delhi.

 The band’s My Life is a head-bang-worthy anthem and an experience in itself. It still continues to win over new listeners.

HELGA’S FUN CASTLE – SMOKE SOME GANJA

Helga’s Fun Castle broke into the scene as a jam band that took their set very seriously by not rehearsing at all before gigs. This collective of gentlemen with previous experience in rocking the country sometimes even made up songs right on the stage. 

Their Smoke Some Ganja can mislead the uninitiated into believing that it samples vocals of Bob Marley. Well, trust your ears a little to tell you that it’s Sidd Coutto’s.