Kathmandu:

It was nothing short of spectacular. Over 3,000 had people gathered at the Tudikhel ground to witness the Pakistani prodigy, even as many more broke through the security ring, to savour the songs that kept the December chill at bay.

With the ostensible opening performance by X-Mantra, Winter Warm-up at Tudikhel on December 16 led way for 1974 AD that for the next hour held the crowd enthralled with the ever-fresh numbers like Yo man ta mero Nepali ho, Dherai dherai and the eponymous number from their new album Madhumasta. No wonder, the crowd greeted each number with thunderous applause as the band rocked the crowd for almost an hour.

It was only after two hours, that Jal took centre stage and had the crowd hopping and gyrating to its sonorous Sufi numbers. The band started its performance with the number Bheegi din, which was greeted with lukewarm response, as the influence of Sufi music was a bit strange for the crowd who’ve been fed with heavy doses of metal and rock. But the band which has already bagged awards like the Indus Music Jazz Awards, The Best Pop Group Award, soon felt the pulse of the Kathmandu crowd and switched over to the number Woh lamhe.

And the effect was overwhelming.

For the next hour or two, the Pakistani band entertained the crowd with what seemed like an endless repertoire of their ravishing compositions.

But the biggest wonder of it all was — the crowd that has little reputation of keeping well mannered in a concert — was all too docile before the musical prowess of the Pakistani band.

Jal also performed to a packed house at the Hyatt Regency on December 15.

The concert was presented by the Kathmandu Mall, in association with Mc Dowell’s No 1 Whisky and Plantain IIFT, and the event was managed by Rings Entertainment Pvt Ltd.