The Chennai-based alt rock band will play in three cities this month
Junkyard Groove frontman Ameeth Thomas in Mumbai in October. Photo: Prashin Jagger
Junkyard Groove frontman Ameeth Thomas in Mumbai in October. Photo: Prashin Jagger
If you’ve ever been to a Junkyard Groove show, then you know that the Chennai alt rock band’s frontman Ameeth Thomas doesn’t ever get on stage sober. From dropping his pants (unintentionally, by the singer’s own admission) to goading his band members, Thomas has had his drunk moments at nearly every show. It’s partly what’s led to the band’s management announcing a three-city tour called The Ameeth Thomas Sober Show. Says Thomas, “It actually started out as a joke, but now I’m going to have to be sober before every show.”
After releasing their full-length album Accidental Hero in October last year, Thomas says “the band is going back to the way it used to be.” Junkyard Groove currently includes Thomas, bassist Sajith Satya [from Chennai funk rock band Franks Got the Funk], drummer Shashank Vijay and guitarist Joshua Mark Raj. The frontman says this lineup has made things easy for him. Says Thomas, “I don’t have to teach them how to play songs from nine years ago and stuff. We’ve got to that stage when we just get on stage and play.” For their shows this month, however, guitarist Raj is on tour in Canada and Thomas has roped in Vikram Vivekanand from rock ”˜n roll band Grey Shack. Says Thomas, “All of us used to hate him at some point, but I know he was a great guitar player. When he came in, within two jam sessions, he nailed it [the songs] to the ground.”
Thomas is also working on a new three-track EP, slated to release by August. Like Accidental Hero, the EP is entirely produced and recorded at Thomas’s Yoshi Studio in Chennai. Says Thomas, “The EP sounds nothing like Junkyard Groove’s sound. We’re usually known for somewhat happy tunes, but that’s not exactly the case with the EP.” Although Thomas has finished recording one untitled track for the EP, the band won’t premiere any new material on their upcoming tour. Says Thomas, “I won’t play it [new material] or release it until I really love it. I still need to get these songs to that lovable point.”
The Ameeth Thomas Sober Show By Junkyard Groove
June 12th ”“ Blue Frog, Mumbai (w/Almost There)
June 13th ”“ Euriska, Pune
June 20th ”“ Opus, Bengaluru (w/Lagori)
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