by Colette Davidson
The stage was set on April Fools Day for a veritable rock concert in Mcleod Ganj. Wedged in a corner of the Yongling school rooftop, the Exile Brothers showed that their blend of thumping beats and sweet percussion appealed to Tibetans, Indians, and Westerners alike. Joined by an Australian singer on the mike and a Jerry Garcia look-alike playing a makeshift tamborine, the group rocked out in front of a “Never Give Up” banner and several large Tibetan flags. The front row was packed with people of all ages, even young children shaking and twisting, with one girl strumming a yellow plastic tennis racket like a guitar.
The show began with an intro by the boys’ mother, who called on the crowd to shout, “Free Tibet” three times, throwing her fist in the air in salute. Then, the lights dimmed and a rainbow of colors spewed from the strobe light, lending a psychodelic effect to the brothers’ first set. With a blend of The Doors and Jimi Hendrix, the Exile Brothers have a retro, american rock sound. Their second set had a much more harsh, Black Sabbath feel,with a song about whiskey and political overtones in “Hey my brothers and sisters, I’m not free in this world, this world belongs to you and me and them.” Because their lyrics appeal to many, they have been a big success with young people. Most recently, the band wrapped up its India tour where they hit Delhi and Dehredun, and shared the stage with Parikama, one of India’s bands of the moment. Next, they have tentative plans to play in Germany, although nothing is scheduled yet.
With enthusiastic applause and chants of “once more” by the crowd, the band came back to the stage for an encore. Their closing song was a Tibetan jingle that everyone seemed to know by heart with catchy pop beats, causing the mosh pit near the stage to bop in unison. As the band left the stage, the crowd booed in disappointment. Nestled in the mountains under the stars, the Exile Brothers showed Mcleod Ganj that Tibetans really know how to rock.
