Kaavish is one of the acts that generates excitement whenever they perform live...
COVER STORY
There can be something downright magical about experiencing music live. Being a part of a crowd that takes in the ephemeral notes and gives off a buoyant collective energy as they react – singing, dancing, swaying – together, while a group of musicians unite onstage to deliver a performance that will never happen the exact same way again … it can easily rival the highest of dopamine hits. Which is why it’s no wonder that the concert experience is cherished by music fans around the world, and tickets often sell out within minutes for artists – especially mainstream popstars and outfits returning after a long absence – who have established a loyal fanbase.
Kaavish is one of the acts that generates excitement whenever they perform live. And not just because they do so infrequently. The semi-classical, pop-fusion group, comprising Jaffer Zaidi (vocals and piano) and Maaz Maudood (guitar), have filled the niche of reflective, understated music in the Pakistani industry, focusing on introspective melodies instead of flashy spectacle. Between their debut album Gunkali (2008) and their standout appearances on Coke Studio, the group has made a name for themselves with their soulful vocals, sonically melancholic arrangements and poetic lyrics, merged with contemporary instrumentation.
Their beautiful tunes have clearly resonated with a lot of people, because the arena was packed on the 23rd of May when the Karachi-based duo made their musical voyage to Lahore. Organized by Rafi Peer Global Entertainment, the seated event was one of two Kaavish shows planned at the Expo Centre for that weekend. And while the pricing of the tickets – from 6K for standard seats to 18K for premium tickets according to Ticket Wala – might have given some of our wallets an inferiority complex, that clearly wasn’t an issue for their fans, who showed up in numbers – friend groups, couples, families – on the scorching Saturday evening, dressed to the nines (for some reason) and eager to see Kaavish display their musical charms.
You walked in through the entrance arch erected just outside the building where the concertgoers were sorted by their ticket tiers. Each person was then banded with a paper wristband that was tightened with such ‘you’re not sneaking this off’ energy that even Houdini would’ve found it a bit much.
Then, amped up by the anticipation that you were minutes away from experiencing live music, you entered the venue, found a seat in your assigned section and waited for the concert to begin … which gave you – and by “you” I obviously mean “me” – plenty of time to wonder why on earth someone thought flat seating was a good plan because dagnabbit you can’t really see the stage clearly from your supposedly fancy schmancy gold seat.
Resigned to the fate that you’re going to have to watch much of the proceedings on the screen behind the stage while you yearn for tiered stadium-styled seating that offers better sightlines (and curse your genes for your average height), you managed to stop tugging at that boa constrictor of a wristband long enough to clap as the guys – all dressed in black because of course – took the stage.
For the next hour and a half, Kaavish serenaded the crowd with many of their most-loved songs, some twice! From the opening chords of ‘Bachpan’ to the closing notes of ‘Intezaar’, the duo and their supporting musicians – bassist Waleed Attique, guitarist Danish Khawaja, master violinist Javed Iqbal and drummer extraordinaire Louis J. Pinto – delivered the group’s trademark longing and yearning with musical dedication.
Within the first few songs – the lovely ‘Bachpan’ (with which they opened the performance to the absolute delight of the crowd), the twinkling ‘Daikho’ and the tuneful ‘Piya Daikho’, ‘Moray Sayyaan’ and ‘Dil Main Meray’– the band had effortlessly proved that Gunkali has stood the test of time. Each tune evoked nostalgia as Kaavish took fans back to the noughts and reminded them why they fell in love with the group in the first place.
A couple of singles – ‘Tere Naam’ and Coke Studio’s ‘Nindiya Re’ – gave way to some of the band’s duets: ‘O Yaara’ (twice amidst “once more” chants) with Maaz substituting for Abdul Hannan, ‘Baat Unkahi’ with the crowd filling in for Samra Khan and ‘Faasle’ (also twice) with Jaffar also singing Quratulain Balouch’s part. Then came the timeless ‘Tere Pyar Mein’ before the group closed the show with their latest single ‘Intezaar’.
The event showcased the band’s musical prowess and proved that they excel at beautiful, solid melodies and are masters at evoking heartache. Jaffar’s vocals were on point, and the seasoned musicians performed consistently well, which isn’t exactly a surprise when you have talent of Gumby’s calibre onstage.
The show, much like the band, was mellow, placid, professional, giving the (remarkably well-behaved) audience an enjoyable evening in the presence of a group of skilled artists. A different seating plan or perhaps a different venue might have given some of us a better chance to really enjoy the proceedings. (We had to ask the lovely couple who came and sat in the row directly in front of us if they could swap seats with each other so that we could have a better view of the stage, and they were kind enough to oblige. The sightline still remained an issue though, partly because of the angle and distance from the stage.)
All in all, it was a lovely evening, with melodious, soulful music played by a competent team of musicians. There was plenty of singing along, enthusiastic cheering and revelling in nostalgia during the performance. The crowd’s energy showed just how much they appreciate Kaavish. If you are a superfan who still hasn’t seen the group live, then you might want to amend that post-haste. The band certainly won’t disappoint.
