Dischordian Plays At Horniman Circle
Mumbai folk rock band is the first to perform at the series of open air gigs as part of Ray-Ban’s 75th anniversary celebrations
Dischordian. Photo: Niyati Dhuldhoya
Dischordian played an intimate set at the first-ever Songs From A Room show held at a living room in Powai, Mumbai in October and are now exploring various alternative venues across the city. At Horniman’s Circle Gardens, a fantastic open air venue that has hosted several gigs in the past, the band will perform an hour-and-a-half long set, their longest in a while for Ray-Ban’s 75th anniversary celebrations. The band will perform as part of a series of open air gigs which will also see unplugged sets by alt rock trio Blek and garage punk band The Lightyears Explode at Carter Road on November 30th.
Dischordian frontman Garreth D’Mello feels that his band is at its best at open-air gigs and home concerts. “We like playing small, intimate gigs. This one is an informal gig with people walking in and out whenever they want,” says D’Mello.
The band’s horn section will be slightly retooled minus trumpet player Agnelo Picardo and with two saxophonists including longtime collaborator Nigel Rajaratnam and Amar Sukhi, who performs with the band for the first time. Says guitarist Howard Pereira, “Nigel may just end up playing all of Aggie’s [Agnelo’s] parts since he’s familiar with all our music and Amar may take on Nigel’s parts. We’ll know during rehearsals.”
Pereira also says that their plans for the upcoming festive season will include a 45-minute electric ”˜plugged’ set at a one-night-only gig. He adds, “We are also planning jam sessions with other Mumbai musicians for home concerts.” The jam sets will be recorded and uploaded onto the band’s YouTube page. “There are so many places you can play at ”“ at the beach or a friend’s balcony,” says Pereira, who hopes that his band can create alternative venues in the city that seems to be starved of performance spaces.
While Dischordian has played gigs longer than two hours, including their album launch of Feni Farm Riot in April last year, D’Mello says this is one of the longer shows they have played this year. Their set will include gig regulars such as “Lover,” “The Old Whore,” “The Curtain,” and “November.”
Dischordian  plays at Ray-Ban’s 75th Anniversary Celebrations on November 28th at Horniman Circle, Mumbai from 4pm onwards. Blek and The Lightyears Explode will perform on November 30th at Carter Road, Mumbai, 6pm onwards. Entry free.
