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The
premiere Pakistani-American Rock band JUNOON (or “Passion”
in the Urdu language) recently completed a concert series
covering major cities in the western part of the United States
during the month of June 2003.
Pakistan
Link caught up with them at San Jose State University in California’s
Hi-Tech Silicon Valley as they were hosted by the Pakistan
Students Association at this Campus (a refreshingly active
group of Pakistani youth) at the Morris Dailey Auditorium
on June 8. This particular concert was promoted by Humad Asghar.
The
opening act at this venue was none other than Sacramento’s
very own TJ Kool (Ahmad Jilani) who is himself slowly developing
quite a following in Northern California. His new CD is about
to be released at the end of July (which I hope to review).
TJ already had quite a number of friends and well-wishers
in the audience because most of the crowd that evening appeared
to be from the Lodi-Stockton-Sacramento area. It seems that
Junoon is reaching out strongly to California’s Central
Valley, far beyond their traditional LA or San Francisco Desi
fan base.
Attending
a Junoon concert can be quite an experience. The group’s
young fans, mostly of South Asian origin, are no less enthusiastic
(maybe more) about them than the followers of many popular
Rock bands in the West. And it is due to this enthusiasm that
this reporter has learnt to get near the stage before the
first minute of Junoon’s opening number and get in as
many photographs as possible. There is no point in trying
to compete with people half my age for floor space, and that
too just to take photographs.
And
it is not just the young men that are being alluded to here
because some of Junoon’s female fan following can be
quite aggressive too.
As
predicted, things were quite calm when TJ and PSA representatives
were on the stage but the appearance of Junoon was a different
story. Opening up with their ever popular “Sayonee”
number, Ali Azmat, Brian O’Connell and Salman Ahmad
made quite an impact. And at the same time, so did the young
“Junooni” fans who rushed the stage from then
on and never left till the very end (they were a lot tamer
than last year and only got on top of the chairs past the
half way point of the show).
The
second song was “Dosti” followed by “Mitti
Mein Mil Jayain Ge” through which I decided to leave
the stage area to the youngsters, even though I should have
stayed for one of my own favorites “Saeen” which
was performed soon after. Pakistani flags started appearing
when “Mera Mahi” was being performed and they
too stayed till the very end.
At
this point it should be okay to break and comment on Junoon
members, especially the transformation of Ali Azmat from “Long
Hair” to “No Hair”. Ali is an extraordinary
entertainer and often vocal about a number of issues. He was
in great form that evening, sporting a new (for us) “Michael
Jordan” look. He offered much hope to those of us whom
nature is impacting via the receding hairline route (as we
age), because no matter how different he looked Ali has only
improved since his last long-haired appearance in San Jose.
Salman
Ahmad is still the serious musician intellectual who was also
the co-founder of the “other” big band from Pakistan
- the “Vital Signs”. Since 9/11 Junoon in general
and Salman in particular have been extremely vocal that the
peaceful message of Islam be not equated with terrorism. Junoon’s
first English song “No More” was an effort in
this regard. Junoon’s special on VH-1 called “Islamabad:
Rock City” was their effort at offering a view of Pakistan
seldom seen in this country. And Salman’s appearances
on “Politically Incorrect” were quite commendable.
He has recently taken a more reclusive posture in private,
and if he does change his mind, he knows whom to contact at
Pakistan Link.
Brian
O’Connell is the America-born member of Junoon and from
what I have found over the years, he has been a gem of a guy.
Married to a Pakistani, Brian is connected to both the worlds
(actually three if you count the Junoonis who often appear
to be from another planet). Pakistani-Americans are very appreciative
of his statements in the TV Special and in the Seattle Times.
It has not always been easy for Junoon to get its message
of “Junoon for Peace” across, but Brian is certainly
the man to do it.
People
of Pakistani origin are Junoon’s strongest fan base.
The band is somewhat of a controversy at times but as we heard
the cries of “Pakistan Zindabad” on several occasions
at this concert, it made my wife and I proud. And since the
band is popular in many households including ours, it is for
that reason that we had to make it to San Jose for the third
time to see them since 1997. But now back to the concert.
After
seeing Ali getting literally carried away during a slower
number and watching the crowd from a now safe distance during
“Mast Qalandar” followed by another favorite “Sajna”
and “Yaadain Teri” and the song we all return
to hear “Jazba-e-Junoon” and a new song that that
I’d not heard before (possibly from the upcoming Junoon
Album Deewaar), things were really getting interesting. “Yaar
Bina” followed by a nice ballad by Ali was shaken up
by “Heeray” and “Husn Walon” and Allama
Iqbal’s “Khudi”. Baba Bulleh Shah’s
Kalam and “Ghoom” and “Zamanay Kay Andaaz”
closed the regular show. The encore presentation was an appropriate
“Kyoon Pareshan Hai Tu” and a fast number.
In
conclusion, it was wonderful to see people connected to Pakistan
and other South Asian countries appreciate one of the biggest
acts to come from that part of the world since the late Nusrat
Fateh Ali Khan. And I must admit that at times during this
concert my eardrums were telling me that maybe I’m too
old for this kind of thing and would much rather listen to
a Junoon CD in the comfort of my car or home. But Farah and
I were inspired by a lady of about 60 years of age in Pakistani
attire who was standing up and swaying to the music till the
very end of the concert. Maybe, just maybe, we are not too
old for Junoon yet.
(Junoon
will possibly appear on the PBS show Wide Angle Titled Junoon:
The Rock Star and the Mullahs on Thursday July 17, at 9 p.m.
Please check the TV schedule in your area)
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