Music echoes at kitchen bin camps in Thiruvananthapuram

Thiruvananthapuram: Young music bands in the city have found an unusual launch pad – the Corporation’s kitchen bin demonstration camps. Crooning next to a set of kitchen bins may not be something they wished for, but they are not complaining. “We could perform in front of the Mayor. Moreover, the response was positive. One said, though we were just three members, we were like thirty members performing,” says Jishnu R Varma, the percussionist of ‘Chumaduthangi’ band.

It is not just sweet compliments that they got. A few have approached them to see if they would be available for more performances. And this is just their fourth show. The fact that the audience is varied, unlike the audience of a college show, makes the experience special for these young bands. Rajeesh P R, who performed under the name ‘Kichu Drummer’, says, “The stage is small, but all kinds of people listen to you. It is a joyful experience.” Rajeesh is now associated with the more established ‘Kodambakkam’ band, and had to say no to people who wanted ‘Kichu Drummer’ on stage again.

The bands which have performed talk about the warmth of the experience. Akhil A Thomas, the founding member of ‘Vaythari Nattupattukkoottam’ says, “Someone who heard us at the Palayam kitchen told us that he would help set up microphones and a sound system for free.” The band was ready to perform at a lesser rate, as it was for the cause of seeing the city clean. And performing next to bins, they drove home the point that those were odourless, as well.