When winter comes, so does Christmas!

When winter comes, so does Christmas! It’s cold but it’s also fun. You can almost bite the feeling, a feeling of warmness, that sense of joy, just like an ant who has toiled long and hard just to keep itself warm and content during a very long winter ahead. I certainly feel a sense of accomplishment and although we have gone through good and bad times right through the year but the coming few weeks and months are days to feel happy and glee. Soon we will take out our thickest furs and ware our warmest shoes and although you have to brace the cold winter breeze, yet your soul is filled with the spirit of Christmas. A season enjoyed by all, irrespective of religion and believes, it unites our souls in one universal spirit and we share and make merry, we exchange gifts and we help out. As the saying goes “there is no place like home during Christmas”; many who are away from their beloved families will get ready and make plans to visit their near and dear ones. Families are occupied in prepping their house, stitching up new garments, planning for celebrations, young kids shout out with glee as they are almost done with their yearly school activities and it’s time for them to have fun to the fullest and not have to worry about studies for at least a couple of months. Every corner shop has signs and decorations of their fondness of the season; you can hear Christmas bells ringing, carol singing, market place booming with activity. People buying Christmas trees, Christmas cakes fills up the bakers shop e and although it’s cold outside, not snow or a cold breeze can stop people from coming out and visiting their families and dear ones. It’s a time for joy, a time to rejoice and a time to be happy, a time to forget all our differences, a time to put an end to any arguments and make peace with your fellow men and most importantly with one self.
I hope this winter brings out the best in all of us and although I will be missing not being home for Christmas this time around, I will surely remember everyone and what it’s like to be home for Christmas. So until Christmas, enjoy the winter and Happy Holidays.

Metallica in Bangalore

Finally the much anticipated event of the year came by; so me, my brother, a couple of his friends and two of my temporary roommates got ready and headed out to the show. The ever so popular, one of the most influential bands of the last two decades was here in town and was ready to rock the city off their ass. The iconic band “Metallica” who has been churning out classics and ever green numbers for so many years were not only awesome but they were encouraging. A band that has gone through a lot, with changing of band members, their personal struggle with addiction and their recent struggle of not being able to bring out superb albums as they have done in their twilight years, was not only superb on that day but was also all awe inspiring. To see them performing with such zeal and finesse at their age gave me the encouragement to not let go of what you truly believe in and keep working towards whatever your goals are.

Most of us have grown up listening to rock and metal bands of the 80’s; Metallica was always one of our favorites. I remember finding the album “And Justice for All” at my uncle’s cassette drawer for the first time, although I have heard Metallica before, at that time I was only a kid and I didn’t understand or knew the epicness of Metallica as a band and the “And Justice for All” as an album. For someone who have listened to Metallica they will surely know what I’m talking about; with its rawness and fast rhythm guitars and crazy double bass drums, one can only imagine the technicality involve during the artistic process while creating this album. This album still remains one of the best Heavy Metal albums of all time and also one of my favorite. A band that has brought out albums like “Master of Puppets” which is undoubtedly the most influential Heavy Metal albums of all time was not only blowing our minds off but was giving as the shivers with the set list they had in store for us that evening. No one was expecting them to be as good as they were and at least for me I had big doubts if they could even give me the same chills I experienced when I heard the album “and Justice for all” for the first time. They churned out classics after classics making the crowd go mad and the crowd only hoped that the night would last forever. It was evident in the way the band was performing; they were out for vengeance; for all the bad press they have received in the last few years. They played out of their skin and in the same time always lifting the crowd to different levels throughout the concert. James Hetfield in particular was super amazing; his voice sounded sober and sounded like he wanted to give his 101 % at any cost come what may. Maybe the cancellation of the show in Delhi had its effects on the band and they were out to please the crowd to their level best, which was only great for the crowd in Bangalore.



Although there was much confusion going into the concert due to the fact that the show which was supposed to happen in Delhi got cancelled, lots of people have flown from different parts of the country to witness this once in a lifetime event. Needless to say the fans in Bangalore were amazing; more than 20,000 fans turned out for the concert; a sea of black T-Shirts filled the concert arena and no rain or thunder could stop us from having a good time. Although we had mud all over our shoes and the grounds was slippery and wet, but this couldn’t stop us from head banging and singing along with the band.

We slipped we fell, we tripped on 5 inch of mud, our throat sore, back aching, neck hurting, but it was worth all the pain. People who never saw them this time must only hope for a better one next time, but I can only say that the first show will always be remembered and one of the best concerts I have attended till date. Kudos to Metallica and thanks for a killer show; and ending up in the words of Chuck Schuldiner – “ support music not rumors” & “let the metal flow”.

Cheers.