Soulmate

Photograph by Shiv Ahuja

I first met Rudy Wallang way back in 1988 when we shared the same bill at a concert in Kolkata. At the time, he was the bassist for Shillong-based band the Great Society. My next meeting with him was two years ago when I saw him perform with Soulmate at the Blue Frog in Mumbai. I had no idea he was a guitarist and was completely blown away by his genuine blues playing. There are, anyway, very few blues bands in India and here is a band that plays the blues with real honesty and a genuine mojo vibe. Their arrangements are very tight and well-rehearsed and the band has an inherent sound that is very “them.” Rudy plays the blues with all the soul and heart that the music requires and Tipriti’s vocals are a perfect match for his wailing guitar. The entire band displays a very high level of musicianship which doesn’t necessarily mean that their music has to complicated – after all it’s the blues. They simply deliver the goods with gusto and waterfalls of emotion. As guitarist Mike Bloomfield once said, “If you love those blues, play ’em as you please.”

By Ehsaan Noorani of Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy