Gig Preview: Achint, MILK and Bigfat at Blue Frog, Mumbai

MILK | Photo: Omar Iyer, Harshvir Oberai

Remember that dengue and viral fever scare going around Mumbai last month? Turns out Mumbai guitarist-producer Achint Thakkar was one of its most unfortunate victims. The former frontman of prog/psych rock band Rosemary, Thakkar was all set to launch his debut world/fusion solo album Shalimar at Blue Frog, Mumbai on September 24th, but he fell ill just a few days prior to the gig. Says Thakkar, “I got out of the hospital on the day of the gig. I was really weak.”

Now out of the woods, Thakkar has a second chance playing at this month’s edition of live gig series Ribbit at October 22nd, alongside Mumbai psychedelic rock band MILK and dubstep DJ Aniruddh Mehta aka Bigfat. Thakkar played his first solo gig in May last year in Mumbai with drummer Viraaj Saxena [also co-vocalist for hardcore band Scribe] and Rosemary bassist Suraj Manik. He has now roped in violinist Ajay Jayanthi [from fusion rock act Anand Bhaskar Collective] for the first of a few more Shalimar launch gigs. For their set at Ribbit, the band will play eight songs off Shalimar, completely changing around songs such as “Meeting the Mountain” and “Komal,” while also premiering compositions such as “Forest Fires,” “Tandav” and “Impression” live for the first time. Says Thakkar, “We want to keep it energetic and upbeat.”

Joining them will be up-and-coming psychedelic rock band MILK, who came together in college in January this year. Working on a three-track debut EP at Mumbai studio Theatre 74 with Rishi Bradoo [frontman of alt rockers BLEK], the four-member band will play everything from blues to Seventies rock. They count legends Led Zeppelin and Velvet Underground as their influences. Says vocalist Rohan Rege, “We aren’t a retro band, though. There’s a fine line between modern and retro. We’re a little more open-minded.” Watch out for everything from pop-leaning “Hey Honey Tree” to the catchy early composition “Are We Polar?”

Ribbit includes a closing set by dubstep DJ Aniruddh Mehta aka Bigfat, who has been playing and mixing sets for seven years. Graphic designer by day, Mehta admits he’s got tough acts to follow in terms of the overall sound of the evening. Says Mehta, “I’ll probably start off with something melodic and sub-bass-driven. I usually play dubstep, but it’s not like Skrillex, it’s more minimal.” Including cuts from UK bass labels such as Innamind and Crucial Recordings, Mehta says he’s taken down all his earlier mixes and plans to record the Ribbit mix for his Soundcloud page. Says Mehta, “I’ll mix a much deeper sound, it’s different from my earlier chunkier stuff.”

Ribbit ft Achint, MILK and Bigfat perform at Blue Frog, Mumbai on October 22nd, 2015. Entry: free. Event details here.