People are distracted by smartphones: Indus Creed's Uday Benegal

(From Left to Right) Krishna Jhaveri (bass), Uday Benegal (vocals), Mahesh Tinaikar (guitars), Zubin u00c2u0080u00c2u0088Balaporia (keys) and Jai u00c2u0080u00c2u0088Row Kavi (drums)

Do you still feel butterflies in the belly before a gig after 30 years in the band circuit?
They are different butterflies; fireflies (laughs) too. There is an anticipation to ensure the gig goes well, not only in terms of performance but connecting with the audience. With time, live concerts have gained different dimensions. There are levels of discomfort too.

...Discomfort? Could you elaborate?
Live music is on the edge now. It used to be a different scene years ago when more people turned up for gigs. Now, people have easy access to a lot of things (social media, live streaming). There are distractions like smart phones, iPad, IPL. We are constantly competing with time, and rushing. But talking about comforts, the audience today
is far more open. Sound systems at venues are great. The love is still there but it is a different kind of love.

How do you see your band mates now as compared to earlier?
Zubin (Balaporia), Mahesh (Tinaikar) and I have been playing for long. I can speak about them. Zubin was the mellow, diplomatic guy; Mahesh and I were upfront, quick-to-the-mouth. Zubin is very driven with the new Indus Creed stuff and is also the official photographer by default. I have softened, so has Mahesh. Remember, we are friends as well as colleagues. Work and friendship, if mixed, could be combustible, but we balance it out.

Have you planned new tunes for tonight's gig?
We will play a new song called Paper Walls. Another, which people asked for, is Still In Flight - we had played this tune in the Harley Rock Riders gig last year.

When was the last time you played the cult Rock And Roll Renegade?
I don't remember. We do our old stuff from time to time because our sound engineer raps us on the knuckles and says, ‘don't forget the songs that made you guys famous'. He is right, but we tend to get bored. We are scolded now and then for not playing them. There are people who still listen to the music we made in the Eighties.

You guys jammed with Slash in 1995 and then, opened for him last year in Bengaluru. Did you get to meet and relive memories?
We would have loved to, but the Paris bombings took place then. His management got concerned and there was a security cordon around him all the time. He barely came out.

How did Mumbai as a city help you make music?
Places inform and feed me. The energy of the city will beat you and nourish you. Mumbai is exactly like that. It will put food in your mouth and whack you at the back of your head. Anybody living in Mumbai will talk about a love-hate relationship. If there is anybody speaking only about hate, he should leave since he may fall ill. If people speak only about love, they are on drugs. I was born and raised here, I ran away from here and I returned. I am happy here.

Uday's picks
Favourite bands: Pangea, Blackstratblues, Soulmate
Best venue: The Humming Tree, B Flat (Bengaluru)
The right sound: Warren Mendonsa (guitar), Rudy Wallang (guitar), Jai Row Kavi
The Indus Creed song: Come Around

On Today, 8.30 pm onwards
At Hard Rock Cafe, Bombay Dyeing Mills Compound, Pandurang Budhkar Marg, Worli.
Call 30151554
Cost R750 (full)