After all the flak that preceded Rock In India 2010, the event finally took place at the Palace Grounds in Bangalore on Sunday, February 21. No metalheads picketed the nearly empty afternoon ticket counters. There were far less black t-shirts than one would expect at a *cough* rock *cough* show. The average age of the audience was 14. A large segment of the audience was from south-east Asia. One dude wore an ‘N Sync Tour 2000 t-shirt, and we’re not sure if he was being ironic.

And then there was the gig itself.

On the bill were Kolkata rock act Five Little Indians, homeboys Swarathma, drum-bashing-mask-wearing-metal-something Jayce (pronounce Jay-s, not Jay-cee) Lewis, South African alternative act Prime Circle, that Richard Marx and those Backstreet Boys. When opening act Five Little Indians took stage, there were only about 400 people in the audience. The audience, while appreciative of FLI’s Indian-emo-alt, was clearly there for one band only. Even Swarathma w/ghodi couldn’t really get the as enthused as they usually do with the animal as part of their set. Jayce Lewis was instantly forgettable, and Prime Circle, while efficient, played a very dated sound.

Richard Marx was welcomed by rapturous applause. He does have a catalog that extends further than ‘Right Here Waiting’. That catalog however sounds entirely like mid-’90s Bryan Adams.

Once Marx was done with his set, a 40-member cleaning crew appeared. Within minutes drums, guitars, amps, grand pianos and any semblance of “rock” was removed from the stage.

As the lights dimmed and the Backstreet Boys AVs began playing on the PA, that familiar girlie-twee-screech of early Beatles live videos engulfed the now 2,500 strong crowd (a far, far cry from previous instalments of the event).

The Backstreet Boys headlined Rock In India 2010. By no means was the gig as its title claimed.

Indiecision: F

Vijay Nair filled in as lensman for us with Pavan from Swarathma’s camera. Hat tip to both.

To put all doubts to rest, the Rock In India 2010 headliners are in fact the Backstreet Boys and Richard Marx, as announced on the event’s official website. Here’s the entire list of acts performing

New Delhi – Saturday, Feb 20
Backstreet Boys
Richard Marx
Prime Circle
Jayce Lewis
Swarathma
Indigo Children

Bangalore – Monday, Feb 22
Backstreet Boys
Richard Marx
Prime Circle
Jayce Lewis
Swarathma

UPDATE: Kolkata alternative act Five Little Indians have been added to the Bangalore lineup and the date for the Bangalore gig has been changed to Sunday, Feb 21.

That’s right, as we sneaked into our last post about the event, homeboys Indigo Children and Swarathma will open for these pop giants. Ticket details for the gigs have also emerged.

So there folks. We’re going to try our darndest to be at one of these gigs. Eternal kvlt beckons. What say you?

Rock In India will take place in two cities this year – New Delhi (on Saturday, Feb 20) and Bangalore (on Monday, Feb 22). While ticket details for the gig in the capital (which is at NSIC) haven’t been revealed yet, tickets for the Bangalore event at Palace Grounds will cost Rs 1,000 a pop.

Event promoters DNA Entertainment have not yet made an official statement about Rock In India, and judging by the flak they’re getting, we’re not expecting one soon.

What do you think about Backstreet Boys headlining Rock In India 2010? Leave a comment!

Yes, here’s when you go “WTF!” Loudly.

DNA Entertainment Networks, the company that organises the annual event, has undoubtably pulled off the Indian gig mela of this new decade, in just its second month. Rock In India takes place on Feb 20-21. A recent announcement on the official website stated

The 2 previous Rock ‘N India festivals proved to be an unmatched meeting ground for Indian and international Rock acts. But we promise you that the next Rock ‘N India is going to be bigger and better. Keep an eye on this page for the next Rock ‘N India.

More when we hear it. Watch this space.