Kathmandu:

The ambience at the Absolute Bar was rocking as the people were enjoying the live music being played. Some well-known media personalities also made their appearance at the event and had a blast, making it a memorable night for all. Apart from the house band Kitcha, a very popular rock band Mantra from Darjeeling performed their numbers. After giving their lively performance at Up Stairs and Maroon Lounge, the band was performing at the Absolute Bar, Pulchowk on January 12.

Formed in 1999, Mantra started with four members Bhaskar Dewan (vocal), Pragyat Lama (lead guitar), Pravash Subba (bass guitar) and Bishal Rai (drum). Today the band consists of six members. Bishal Rai left the band and Birju Chaudhary replaced him. The other additional members are Mahesh Thapa (keyboard) and Bidhan Thapa (flute and saxophone). Their first album was named after the band, which came out in 2003, followed by Rock Yatra (2005) and Himali Nepali (2006). They participated in the Great Indian Rock Festival 2006 and their song X Generation was included by the Rock Street Journal of India in their 2006 album.

“We have come to Nepal before but did not perform and now we plan to organise a huge concert very soon,” said Dewan.

They played numbers like Uile baje ko pala ma, Akasai ma and many more. Rashmi Singh of the Kitcha band also performed songs like I love Rock and Roll and What’s going on. The band Kitcha was successful in infusing romance in the air with Jaba sandhya hunchha. But

the most pleasant surprise of the event was the spontaneous performance by Adrian Pradhan of 1974 AD, who sang all-time favourites like Yo maan ta mero Nepali ho and Pahilo juni ma with Mantra. — HNS