By Shahrukh Ali Mirza
For bands right now, Islamabad, unlike the rest of Pakistan, seems like a relatively a better place to be practicing your chops in front of an audience. While people have been talking of doomsday scenarios, there are a number of countries in the world that continue to be plagued by terrorism and yet simultaneously maintain an active cultural arts scene (Sri Lanka, Israel, etc). After a long period (2006-2008) where live performances in the capital were few and far between the live scene has once again woken with a number of new venues and new players.
While the Capital city and its twin Rawalpindi can lay claim to the origins of the country’s biggest pop band, Vital Signs, the band had to relocate to Karachi to earn their stardom. Islamabad, unlike other urban centres in Pakistan (Karachi and Lahore), has always been relatively quiet with regards to a cultural scene. The live scene in the late ’80s and ’90s was much quieter except for sporadic performances by bands in hotels and gymnasiums. The most popular rock band in Pakistan, Junoon, only played in the city once between 1996 and 1999. The local Islamabad bands in the late ’90s including Scar, Lahu and Soulslide had to be content with the odd performances playing in makeshift stages in restaurants, at the opening of a club or opening for any major pop act that would be passing through the city.