Radioactive in Dhaka

So here I am, on a Thursday night (the start of the weekend in Bangladesh) sitting in the Cuppa Coffee Club sipping a mango yoghurt. Why am I here when I could be in the executive lounge at the Westin gulping free wine during the two-hour happy hour? A very good question and the answer is that Mitul persuaded me to come and listen to his group perform.

Mitul is a talented young man (I know he is because he told me so) who is working with the National Democratic Institute for International Affairs (NDI) coordinating their election observation here – we are due to have a general election on 18 December. His band, group, or however I am supposed to refer to it, is called Radioactive and they play “pure rock from the 80s and 90s and some hard rock”. Those of you who know me will already be raising your eyebrows but bear with me – they are about to perform!

So how was the performance? I was won over at the beginning by their playing a song I actually recognised, Lionel Richie’s Hello. The second number was also one I know, and love,  Bryan Adam’s Everything I Do – not that I really think of either of those as rock! It just kept getting better and better and I have no intention of reciting the entire play list but, suffice it to say, if that was rock, I am a fan. If it was not rock then I can only say that I am in awe of Radioactive’s musical interpretations.

Did I have fun? Absolutely. Did I enjoy the music? Almost completely. Would I do it again? Probably and the hesitation is a function of my antiquity rather than any failing on the part of Radioactive – I just wish it was possible to have music played at a level that does not induce bass vibrations throughout my body!

Cuppa Coffee Club, by the way, is a great place to hang out. the menu is reasonably priced, the staff are courteous and helpful, and it is only one block away from the Westin. Gazing round, as I enjoyed the music, I realised that I was older than almost everyone else by about 20 years but it didn’t matter, to me or them, and that is why it is my favourite coffee house in Dhaka.