Rock 'n roll in cyberia
If this site is anything to go by, then Indian rock ’n roll has certainly come of age. The catchy name, first-of-its-kind premise and the ultimate prize (I’ll come to that later) are what really lured me in. And before I knew it, I was sucked in.
Started by an anonymous bunch of 20-something sounding youngsters (I’m taking liberties with that) who call themselves anEcho, BANDS INC.2009 is the country’s first PAN India corporate band competition. This is the group’s third event property and the experience shows. Not only is the site thorough and self-explanatory, but it is entertaining enough for me to spend more than the requisite amount of time on it.
As for the language, it’s simple, clever, pleasing to the eye and leaves little room for doubt. Of course, no website is complete without the mandatory blog. The write-ups are an eclectic mix of interviews with participating bands, exclusive question-and-answer sessions with judges (mind you, they include esteemed folk Seymour Stein) and even basic information on how to make a Demo CD.
Curiously enough, parts of the site look like work-in progress. For instance, the ‘Schedule’ menu contains no information except the deadpan ‘To be announced soon’. The ‘how to get there’ section is completely blank.
Another hitch, at least on our system, is the music player. Each page has a different song playing but I couldn’t hear a thing, though I did manage to hear the intro soundtrack, a rather upbeat number I must add.
The site is not set up for finding information or tidbits on music and you really wish it were. But if you’re a music enthusiast looking for an outlet, or someone who needs an entertaining distraction, I recommend it by all means. Oh, and the winner of the contest gets to play at the Rock ’n Roll Hall of fame in Cleveland, Ohio. Reason enough.
Views expressed are of the writer alone