Staying Radioactive!

Here I am again, eight days later, in a different coffee house but back for more Radioactive! This time, I had to fight for a table and not only has Mitul managed to bring along people from his office, he has also roped in his girlfriend, Laura, to sing!

Before I tell you about the gig, let me tell you a little about the charity that the band supports, the Jaago Foundation. The aim of the Foundation is to provide children from poor families with education of international standard through the medium of English. By making students adept in communicating in English, JAAGO believes that it can bring about a sustainable development in their lives through education. All the children enrolled in the school are from families, where the average daily income is below the international indicator of poverty of less than US $1. The children of these families would otherwise have no scope for any sort of formal education. The Foundation is also trying to develop medical facilities and support for parents. Please have a look at their web site and consider sponsoring a child.

Back to tonight and the venue is the Roll Express cafe (Road 2, House 34, Banani) where the interior is rather more clinical than the last venue but, outside where the band (for that is what I have decided they are) is playing, there is a very pleasant terrace with a covered pagoda for the performers. It is a balmy evening with gentle breeze from the (electric) fans. I have uploaded two clips of the venue and performance but my recording abilities are not brilliant so let me distract you first with Mitul’s photo!

The opening numbers were the same as last week but, with more space and in the open air, the delivery is more subtle. This is a full performance lasting for more than two hours although time certainly does not drag. Perhaps I am biased but I just loved Mitul’s performance although the lead singer is also extremely talented.

Laura, who sings with a band called “Bangladesh” (sadly, they don’t have a web site), joined the band in their second set and delighted the audience with an eclectic choice of songs ranging from John Denver’s “You fill up my senses”, through Gloria Gaynor’s “I will survive” to Tracey Chapman’s “Give me one reason to stay”.

For those with laterally thinking minds, the band played what could be a theme song for NDI and its staffers – the Eagles’ “Hotel California”. If you can’t work out why, it’s because of the last part of the lyrics, “You can check out any time you like, but you can never leave”! There was also a song for Bangladesh as we approach the December elections – the Scorpions’ “Winds of change”.