Oh shut-up…!
My journey towards being an ace part-time vocalist is peppered with some bizarre, almost surreal experiences.
The day before yesterday I get a call from Mr L, who has a smart alec-y edge in his voice. “Are you a vocalist?” he asks.
“Yes,” I say. When i ask him for more information on himself ( and I meant his musical inclinations), he says, ” What do you want to know? I am married to a beautiful woman, have some beautiful kids.”
“Er…I meant what do you sing.” He sounds irritated and and then demands,” Merril, do you want to sing with me tomorrow or not?”
The man is obnoxious! I yelled at the top of my lungs,” No, I don’t. You are arrogant and rude.” Sulagna who was walking alongside me on a main road in Bandra, started with fright.
” No, no. I am not like that. Don’t get me wrong. Why don’t you meet me for coffee and we can talk.”
So, I say allright, thinking that an arrogant, pompous arse might still be a good musician.
We meet in the evening and he is full of gyaan. I decide to do the gig, more out of curiosity, to see of Mr L can actually sing.
I reach the venue to next day and am twiddling my thumbs, in the lobby. My friend Alan, comes to my rescue and we have coffee. Mr L arrives about an hour late.
Alan flees after meeting him. We start to sing and he is REALLY, REALLY BAD. I want to flee, but my sense of integrity dictates otherwise. Sulagna drops in for a bit. L proceeds to spread his innumerous dogmas on politics, smoking and various other facets of life. She is soon asleep and not subtle about it at all.
The gig ends, and he orders dinner for us. I tell him we are joining friends in the vicinity. Call them here, he commands. By now, I am fuming. We have a bite and then head out. He is not happy about out abrupt departure in the least.
A few minutes later he lands up too, very strangely. Luckily he does not sit with us, but walked in to the restaurant, said goodnight and walked out. What was that all about? Anyways, the evening gave us much fodder for discussion and we shared lots of laughs.
He calls me this morning to ask me, ” So did you have a good time or a great time yesterday?”
I give an excuse of being at work and not being able to speak. I suspect he wants me to sing again, because he kept telling me that I sing well. Fat chance! This one is pshychotic.
