Harley Rock Riders IV Kickstarts in Pune Today

Arquebus

The last time Mumbai punk rockers The Lightyears Explode performed, at Mumbai’s Kino 108 last week, fans thronged the tiny, suburban venue until it was packed to capacity. Through their 45-minute set, the restless guitarist/vocalist Saurabh Roy looked like he wanted to jump right into the crowd to mosh with them. The Lightyears Explode plan to perform roughly the same set, which includes the moshpit starter “Kunj Gutka” [“with a few more additions,” says Roy] as part of Harley Rock Riders IV that brings them back to Pune after a gap of almost a year.  “We never really plan all of this. The setlist is pretty similar, so it’s upto the audience,” says Roy, adding that they will also perform songs such as “Revenge of Kalicharan” as well as their punked-up version of the Kishore Kumar hit, “Eena Meena Deeka,” which didn’t make it to their Mumbai gig.

Also performing at the show in Pune are Mumbai hard rockers Arquebus, who will make their Pune debut tonight. The band, formed by Pradeep Pande, former member of death metal band Infernal Wrath, also features members from other metal acts such as Infinite Redemption, Shadow Fiend and Cosmic Infusion. “We all met around 2010, when I was hoping to form a hard rock band,” says Pande. Now a five-piece band, Arquebus was a sextet until recently when their keyboardist quit the band two months ago. For now, the band has released only two singles, “Devil Inside” and “Ray of Hope,” which addresses terrorism. “”˜Devil Inside’ is the first single we ever wrote. It’s about a bunch of mad, wayward bikers causing destruction and mayhem,” says Pande, ahead of their performance at the fourth edition of Harley Rock Riders. At the gig tonight, Pande’s band, which admits to being “heavily inspired” by acts such as Alter Bridge, Europe, Guns N Roses and Slash, will perform a couple of covers, besides performing their originals, including their brand new single “Colourless,” as well as their politically-charged track “Into the Wilderness.”

The Lightyears Explode and Arquebus perform as part of Harley Rock Riders IV at Hard Rock Cafe, Pune. Entry: Rs 600 [including Rs 500 cover}For details, click here.