Mathures Paul

The Other Side Of Dawn inspired a new generation of Indian singers. After having won a million hearts with original songs, Gary Lawyer is set to release a compilation. Is this a new chapter in the singer’s career, asks Mathures Paul The past is untouchable, out of reach. Yet every time he puts on that old jacket, wiggles into a pair blue jeans and hums those lines, somehow you lose sense of time to relive the best years of your life. Here's one singer who could have lived in America to make pots of money. He decided against it. On the hindsight, a wise decision, for without Lawyer a chapter in Western music in India would have been missing. A home loving man, Lawyer is not the kind of person who shows off the rock star hidden inside. He is content to be himself. Posters were up in Kolkata that Gary Lawyer was flying down to play at Park Hotel's Someplace Else, the home of quality English music. After dialling a few numbers, an appointment is made and we meet at the hotel's ...

There are three ways to get close to the King ~ listen to his music, visit Graceland and meet a tribute artiste. Stephen Kabakos visits Kolkata to belt out the King’s greatest hits, writes Mathures Paul ‘Yes sir, I will try to answer your queries.’ Dressed in a loosely fitting suit, hair neatly combed, Stephen Kabakos made his entry into the room. He reminded one of the many youngsters who went head over heels listening to Elvis Presley, caring little for the revolution that would strike America a few years later ~ The Beatles. Instead of calling himself an impersonator, he likes to be known as a ‘tribute artiste’ and he indeed presented a great show. Prior to the concert, we found him practising wearing a flaming orange top, belting out Don’t Be Cruel with Presley’s trademark smirk. He followed it up with Love Me Tender, his voice longing to match the King’s. “But I will never be the King. There was, is and will be only one King ~ Elvis Presley,” he told The Statesman later. After a f...

SPINNING OUT OF CONTROL Consider yourself lucky if you own the last LP released in India by HMV (now known as Saregama). When you visit Calcutta, don't forget to take a walk down Dharmatolla (Lenin Sarani), which is dotted with makeshift stalls selling LPs. Pick up Abbey Road or Blondes Have More Fun or Tony Brent or Champs for as little as Rs 30.