Pics: Shkabang @ Blue Frog, Mumbai

Anushka Manchanda’s new project Shkabang played the Blue Frog on Thursday, August 20. A lot of neon, a few sound problems and a bunch of facepalming later, we got these pictures and a few notes.

Notes

1. We weren’t entirely convinced by Shkabang’s first sampler ‘Asshole’ when we heard it on the band’s MySpace. The music came off as turn-of-the-century pop trying too hard to incorporate Shaa’ir + Func-esque electronica into an overproduced package floating on weak lyrics.
2. Unfortunately, this was the theme for the entirety of Shkabang’s first, full-fledged live outing at the Blue Frog.
3. Division B of Indian indi(e)-pop turned up in numbers to ‘support’ Manchanda’s set, but neither they nor the copius amount of UV lights could save the gig from being almost entirely disappointing.
4. Musically, Shkabang finds itself churning out sugar coated pop (video soon) that’s largely forgettable.
5. This isn’t helped by cringe-worthy lyrics about relationship troubles and man problems.
6. Or by the sound problems that the band had as the gig started.
7. Or by the fact that Shkabang is trying a little too hard to be Shaa’ir + Func, without Randolph Correia’s chops or Monica Dogra’s kitsch.
8. Alanis Morissette made a career out of a break up. Despite Anushka Manchanda’s efforts, it’s unlikely she will.

We took a bunch of pics at the gig. Here are a few.