Cover Story: ‘The Pretender’

Where would Indian indie be without covers? Back playing ‘Mustang Sally’ every August? Oh, wait. Indiecision scours the interweb to find you great (and sucky) covers performed by Indian indie artists during live performances, studio sessions and whenever the urge to bust out ‘Smells Like Teen Spirit’ hits them. Presenting, Cover Story.
Song: ‘The Pretender’
Original Artist: Foo Fighters
Cover Artist: Galeej Gurus

Bangalore alternative act Galeej Gurus played the Kyra theatre earlier this year. Their set included a cover of Foo Fighters’ ‘The Pretender’ from the 2008 album Love. Hate. Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace.

The angsty first single from the Foos last album is pretty standard-issue, radio rock material, and is a regular feature of the Gurus’ live set. The quintet’s cover is played almost exactly the same way as the original; the Gurus choosing to let the energy of the song do its thing while they basically fill in the roles. Unfortunately, vocalist Nathan Harris is no Dave Grohl. ‘The Pretender’ works as the anti-establishment anthem it aims to be primarly because of Grohl’s harsh, edgy delivery. Harris’ vocal work lacks that spunk, because of which, despite the efficient rendition of the music, the cover doesn’t quite cut it.

‘The Pretender’ features on the new Foo Fighters Greatest Hits compilation and you can win yourself a copy!

Galeej Gurus on MySpace
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