DIARY OF A JANIAC

October 5th 2014 will remain a special night. It'll be remembered for a long long time. And here's why.

For people that know me, or even people who've read my blog, know how big a fan of motherjane I've been. It's hard to put to words the significance that they have on my life. I wouldn't be doing any of the things that I'm currently doing in the music industry if it weren't for them. Hell, I wouldn't even be listening to other Indian bands if it weren't for them. I've walked around proud for the last few years with nearly everyone forgetting what my real last name was and simply calling me "Hari Amajaniac" instead.

I'm fortunate enough to have worked in this industry now for three years, in whatever capacity. But my real journey into music started seven years back, with motherjane. I've been truly blessed to have caught 50+ gigs of the band(with the Maktub lineup). And trust me, when I say I'm truly blessed I do realize the weight of those words. And maybe, over the course of this blog I'll be able to explain why.

I've been able to spend a lot of special moments with them. Birthdays, surprises, big ass college festivals, meeting Opeth in their green rooms because of them, and a whole lot of other stuff. But when they went on stage, I never lingered by the side of the stage. I would paint my face. Ten minutes before they went on, I would always make it a point to run right to the front, from the other side. Touch the barricade. Hold any fan who was right next to me and start screaming along with them.

As far as the past few days go, there's probably been only one major thing on my mind. Leaving a job that I held for the past two years. Now, I don't say job in the conventional sense. Since October 2012, I've been the tour manager for the Baiju Dharmajan Syndicate. And two years since, in October 2014, I've now decided to bid adieu to this role.

Now the reasons are many fold, and I'm not even going into them. After all, though it may be a real rarity in today's world, privacy is still something that everyone deserves. But as a passionate motherjane fan, I do remember that two years ago when I was asked to be the tour manager of the band, that it was easily one of the best days of my life. Granted, it's not the most glamorous job. But I got to help a man that I adored and really looked up and got to watch every single one of his shows from the best seat in the house, right next to him.

Now whether I was good at the job or bad at it, I'm not quite sure and it isn't for me to answer either. But I do know that I had a fantastic time all along.

That first gig at Bflat, the first workshop at Furtados, mixing for Baiju at Opus, the Mindstreet Tour, headlining college festivals, the catastrophic days that we turned into our own little victories, like Pilani and MEC, the Weekender, the GoMAD festival, the college competitions that I was asked to judge, solely because I was the manager, the workshops that he let me mix, letting me plan live collaborations like the ones with The Down Troddence, Bryden, Harish, and Warren. And a hell of a lot more.

There are a lot of memories that I take back from this journey. And I'm incredibly thankful for all the good times and I'm thankful for the bad ones too because they've helped me learn and helped me grow.

To all the organizers and sound vendors that I've worked with, I'm sorry if I was harsh, but I only did it to get the job done and bear no ill will whatsoever. Each and every one of you have been exceptionally supportive. It isn't said enough, but you guys are the real champions. Putting in the hard work every day and not even being seen by most crowds.

To my co-workers at HIJK, the passion you show towards helping our artists is incredible. The goal has always been clear, to help the artists that we've come to adore in whatever small way we can. No matter what our skill set was, HIJK always found a way to make us seem a little valuable.

To the members of the band(present and past), I do hope that I've served you well. I will definitely continue to help in whatever little way that I can. I can't wait to see you at the next show, it'll be a different view from the other side of the barricade, but it'll still be a good one I'm sure.

To Baiju Chetta, thank you ever so much for all the opportunities you've given me. I am humbled by the amount of confidence you had in me, both as a manager and a sound engineer. These days have been some of the best days of my life and hopefully one day we'll be able to work together again. In whatever capacity. But I really do hope that you once again reach the heights that you so richly deserve. And I can't wait to see you blaze up that stage again ..

Cheers!

It's been forever since I took to this page. Quite frankly, I don't even remember the last post I wrote. But a recent realization that I need to be slightly more productive with my life has led me back here. Whether blogging does add any amount of productivity to said life, I have no idea but it's a thought I'd like to pursue and see where it leads me. And as far as whether I'm going to go through with this or drop it half way like most of the other things, I'm not quite sure of that either. But hey it's a start. Let's see where that goes.

17 Years ago, a cultural head came up with a band just to fill in for a professional act that had backed out of his college fest. The band went on to cover a few songs and played their first live gig in a few days.

In a span of 17 years since then, they have seen the absolute peaks of the Indian Rock Scene to the gory depths. MOTHERJANE. One of India's premier rock acts turned 17 today and it was incredible to talk to John today. For two reasons, though he was extremely proud of the achievement of having survived in an industry as shaky as this one for such a long time, there was a tinge of nervousness. 17 years later, and John, a legend in his own right, at least in my eyes, still has doubts about where it will all go from here. Still challenging themselves to push the boundaries that may exist. It is easy for one to just settle or even call it quits. One might say that Maktub was their best period, and they've struggled post the departure of two of their lead members and that they should have called it quits before facing the crap that they've had to go through. But John and the other members, decided to move on, head held high. Come sunshine or rain.

It was a bold step indeed. Yes, they've had a few setbacks but to think that these guys have got the courage to move completely away from all previously existent frameworks to create something entirely new is a refreshing thought.

An entirely beginning after 17 long years. As was indicated by John tonight, there's a tinge of familiarity and a lot of uncertainty. But I know for sure, that irrespective of what happens, what has happened and what is happening right now, they will have my unanimous support forever, in any quest they wish to take up. Cuz these 5 men, and the people who were a part of them in any capacity, have created such a huge impact on me, I can honestly say they have largely shaped the person I am currently. Absolute role models each and every one of them.

Amajaniac! Will always be one. Cuz there aren't too many who deserve as much respect as this band does. I hope to see them back on the pedestal they once were on. It would be quite incredible.

Also, one day, Creative differences, personal issues, etc all aside, I would love to see all of these people come together one last time for a jam, orchestrated in heaven.