Loving Aadeez...
Its been a long time I haven¡t spoke to you on forums but trust me I was really busy and was trying to cherish all of you by being at your places and close to you
Summer beats USA tour was being awaited since winters and this was my 4th Tour to United States but this time it was altogether on a different high level
God was and is always kind as ever to gimme an opportunity to perform at one of the best venues of United States, places where our dream rock stars had been performing
We were a troop of about 35 people including our band kailash khers band,richa sherma, amanat , dancers and the technical support people to perform at 12 diff cities.
Departure
My entire team assembled at the airport at approx 9 pm on May 12th 2008. The Flight to US was a comfortable one. Lots of in-flight entertainment and trust me the food was Good. Go PIA Everyone had plans to sleep on the plane, but I don¡¦t know was it the excitement or what, none of us were able to achieve this particular objective for the entire 18 hours flight.
Chicago.
May 16th, 2008 - Odeum Sports and Expo Center- Chicago
This was Our 1st concert on tour. This was the thing we had come for, this was the thing everyone was yarning to be at. The Concert was held on May 16th, 2008 at the Odeum Sports and Expo Center- Chicago. The concert was organized very nicely and we were taken really good care of by Monty, Majid Bhia and all of their team. The concert was a blast. It was oversold, and the audience was awesome. Ironically the Sound was electrifying and the performance went super. The only flaw that I could identify was that although Amant Ali and Kelish Kher were supposed to be there, but due to visa problems and logistics, they could not make it there.
The best thing was, that after the concert when we reached our hotel, almost the entire fan club was standing at the hotel. There were so many people that the hotel receptionist got so pissed off, she had to call CPD Chicago Police Department. I was told later by my band member that I missed the scene as 4 CPD cars surrounded the hotel and it seamed like a scene from some Al-Pachino movie.
May 17th, 2008 Dallas Convention Center
We met a very good friend Mr. Raza at Dallas, who officially was not our promoter, but he took very special care of us. The concert was at the Dallas Convention Center. He made sure that our stay at the Grand Haytt situated in downtown Dallas and it was flawless, and he had deputed his personal fleet of cars at our disposal.
The good thing was that after the first 4 days, we eventually got our First well earned 3 days break. By this time after looking at our eyes, any normal person would immediately jump to the conclusion that we all were heavily on drugs, because all we had on our eyes were red colors (due to lack of sleep) and halkay
Los Angeles May 24th, 2008 (at The Terrace Theater)
Our next show was in Los Angeles on May 24th, 2008 at The Terrace Theater. This show was also organized pretty well. Thanx to Ballah promoter and his family, with whom we I created a flourishing friendship. Just to mention here, it¡s said that everything in Texas is Big. I guess that¡¦s wrong for Texas, cause everything in LA is Big. As I had a few days to relax, for the very first time I went for a shopping spree. I had been having the craving for getting my hands on a new baby. This was meant to happen In LA as it was here, when I purchased a brand new electric guitar of ¡§Gretsch¡§ and surprised all my band members when I pulled it out from its case just before the concert in LA. That was the official launch of my first shopping and that baby sounded awesome when it was plugged in. (p.s im still talking about my new guitar, don¡¦t get any weird Ideas about who the baby is.)
At this time, all of us had the first chance to go meet up with our friends and families which was certainly a blessing in disguise.
It was here in LA that I went to a private party, and there I met up with the winner of American Idol, David Cook. We had a nice conversation with each other, and I told him about the type of music that we make in the East, to which not only was he very interested in but wanted to have detailed account. Not only did I meet David, but I was fortunate to meet up with Randy Jakson and Simon Cowell, the judges of the American Idol Final show.
Houston May 25th, 2008 George Brown Convention Center
Houston show was very energetic. During our tour, we figured out quit amazing stuff on sound checks and rehearsals, and in our concerts experimented a lot with new stuff. The audience response to it was mesmerizing, specially when we did the numbers of Tayray bin, Berre, Dorrie, Rabba, Mayee, and last but not the least Addat. Apart from all these, there was one day that I heard on the Radio a song called Billy Jeans by Michael Jackson, and while we were backstage before our performance, that I so got into that song that I just picked up my guitar, and started to play it in my own way. Suddenly sameer started the base grove and it was so perfect, that we kept on repeating that song. There was only one slight problem. We did not know the entire lyrics. It was only 20 mints left before we were supposed to be onstage, suddenly someone came up with the brilliant idea, to down load the lyrics for any black berry. A black berry with internet connection was found, and guess what, we downloaded the lyrics, wrote it on a paper, and played that song on stage. It was so funny, that I was singing and Sameer had a paper over my shoulder with the lyrics. I think it was not a bad performance after all, considering that we did not even practice is properly once. All hats off to my band, who are always open for new experiments.
May 26th, 2008 Orlando ¡V UCF (University of Central Florida!) auditorium
There was one incident in Orlando, which I would like to quote over here. While I was on stage, and we were almost at our 2nd last song, there was this one girl who somehow managed to come on stage. Not that I mind that, but within seconds I found myself surrounded with I guess 60 people who were on stage. At that time I was playing the guitars and the mic was not in my hand as it was on the mic stand. And suddenly I see that I did not have the ownership of the mic, and there was this one dude with a white shirt, who had successfully taken over ¡K.and to my surprise was singing as well¡K..the rest of the people just wanted to touch me and kiss me. Not that I mind being with my fans, but hellow !!! I think we were having a Professional Concert. There was no security what so ever, and I was rescued by Aly, who just grabbed me and took me offstage. Now that¡¦s what I call a close call.
New Jersey May 31st, 2008 Sovereign Bank ArenaNJ concert was also organized in a very big arena, but to our surprise this town was really deserted. We stayed at the Marriott. The funny thing that happened here was that on the first night of arrival, after taking a long flight, we all called it quits for the night and every one had affirmed that they will sleep till late in the morning so that they can wakeup fresh for the concert the next day. But fate was thinking otherwise. At almost 6.30 in the morning everyone in the Entire hotel was JOLTED UP by this loud public address system, and all we could here was, This is not a drill, please EVACUATE the building immediately, do not take your belongings, do not use the lift, this is not a drill, please evacuate the building¡¨ ¡K¡K..on my God this is not happening¡K¡K. was my first impression. By the time I reached downstairs, I could see the entire hotel assembled at a designated area, with long faces and unimaginable hair styles. Some were bare feet, some in their sleeping suits while some in their nightgowns and some in their shorts. Every one had to evacuate without taking their personal belongings as this alarm was a fire alarm. As I looked at the people, I saw this one dude who was in is night suit, but carrying a laptop on his shoulders¡K..hey wait a minute, this guy looks familiar. On closer focus, I found out it was Mobin, our drummer, who in all this panic and frenzy, made it sure, that he did take his newly purchased laptop with him. The common statement that every one was whispering and asking to each other was ¡§ oyee tu room main cigarette tou nahee pea rahaa thaa¡¨ jis wajah say fire alarm bajaa thaa. Later it was found out that some Kid in the hotel had pressed the Fire Alarm lever and it went off. Thanks for running our sleep dude. Yet once again like it happened in Chicago, we saw an entourage of Police cars and fire brigades approaching and encircling the hotel.
Toronto June 1st, 2008 Hershey Center
The high time came when we had to perform our first show in Canada (Toronto). The moment we landed in Canada it was totally a change of environment for us. The good thing that I remember about Canada was, that after we cleared immigrations and customs, and as we all were walking out, to our surprise, suddenly out of no where, did we started to hear screams and shouts, and camera flashes going on like bazzuk¡K¡Kit was only after a while that we realized that our arrival in Canada was somehow leaked to the masses, and there was a huge fan following who had come to welcome us at the airport. There were people with bouquets of flowers, welcome cards and what not. At this particular point, I would like to take the opportunity to Thank All of those lovely people, who took time out for us to come and welcome us. And what should I say about the real concert. Goshhh it was soooo amazing. It was held at Hershey Center . The concert was OVER SOLD¡K.which means there were more people in the arena then the actual seating capacity. And the audience was so electrifying. I must say, it was one of the best concerts in our entire tour.
But I think the highest point in Canada was, when out of nowhere did Shahzad bhai appear to join us for the rest of the tour. Just because of his presence, the entire pressure which was being slightly felt by all of us, just vanished and we knew that now our team is complete.Though we still missed Shahbaz and Sheraz and had he been with us on this tour, things would have been so totally different.
Next day after the concert Shahzad bhai showed us around the whole Toronto. My team was also very happy to enjoy a party in Toronto after so many days of hectic performance schedule and they also thought that after the arrival of shahzad bhai only now they have felt that they are enjoying their vacation which was hardcore business before. Mubeen and Aly were really impressed with the cleanliness beauty of Canada and specially Gories
saying that their beauty standards have been revised.
Aly purchased a new laptop and he was all so excited about it and what ever time he could find, he was always flirting with his new gadget. When Shahzad bhia arrived, he wanted to do some work, so he went to Aly and borrowed his laptop. Next morning, Aly came out of his room screaming that his laptop has been stolen, as it was nowhere to be found in his room. While Me and him were trying to figure out kay laptop kon choree ker saqtaa hia, Shahzad bhia walked into the lobby, and seeing our long faces, asked what happened. I told him that Alys laptop is missing. And very coolly shahzad bhia replied..
Yaar aik urgent email aayee thi shahbaz ki from Pakistan and the hotels business center was not working Socha Aly ki neend khrab na karoun so I got an extra key of alys room to pick up his laptop leaving a written note there which I guess aly ko nahin nazar aaya.
Aly replied to me laughing yar sukar yeh nahee hia kay laptop shahzad bhia kay pass thaa¡K..sukar yeh hia, kay I was alone in my room, warnaa pardais main shahzad bhia say kutt per janee thee¡K.¨
Us k baad shughal men shahzad bhai nay aly k new laptop k 51% rights zabardasti own ker liyay and he always use to say to aly ¡§ yaar yeh email ker dain zara mera laptop use ker k ¡§ Alys face was worth seeing at those times.
A friend of mubeen in Toronto gave us a drive to a shopping mall but he was so excited to sit with atif aslam and his band that he couldnt control his happiness n excitement and missed a lot of turns on highways and ultimately we reached the mall in double time hehehe
San Francisco June 7th, 2008 Oracle Arena
Temperature was pretty low in SF we enjoyed a barbq party by promoter there. We had the longest sound check of our tour on this show with about 3 hours of playing. Shahzad bhai as always carried on with his exploration of new cities n places left us at sound check n had a great city tour with his friends. And after such a long sound check the actual sound of the show was really bad. We didn¡¦t know what the sound engineer did to the settings. This show was a sort of a downer. Well the show went superb, but it was the arrangements that lacked professionalism.
The crowd was really a mess after the show for autographs n photographs particularly girls and we had to quit from the venue quickly. We were made sit in a car which was not having enough fuel to run and was having a reserve fuel light on and still people were following us on their cars. Luckily we managed to escape n found a fuel station after 45 kilometers ļ
Though I must say that the high point was that we did have a chance to go shopping in SF especially at the Great Mall where we bought almost the whole shop of accessories and as the sales girl was very pretty my band members wished she might come with the package
The strange thing was that the Small size of Americans were loose to us like the XXL size of Thailand people were equal to small size of us. so enjoyed finding the right size of clothes for us.
continued below....
Its been a long time I haven¡t spoke to you on forums but trust me I was really busy and was trying to cherish all of you by being at your places and close to you
Summer beats USA tour was being awaited since winters and this was my 4th Tour to United States but this time it was altogether on a different high level
God was and is always kind as ever to gimme an opportunity to perform at one of the best venues of United States, places where our dream rock stars had been performing
We were a troop of about 35 people including our band kailash khers band,richa sherma, amanat , dancers and the technical support people to perform at 12 diff cities.
Departure
My entire team assembled at the airport at approx 9 pm on May 12th 2008. The Flight to US was a comfortable one. Lots of in-flight entertainment and trust me the food was Good. Go PIA Everyone had plans to sleep on the plane, but I don¡¦t know was it the excitement or what, none of us were able to achieve this particular objective for the entire 18 hours flight.
Chicago.
May 16th, 2008 - Odeum Sports and Expo Center- Chicago
This was Our 1st concert on tour. This was the thing we had come for, this was the thing everyone was yarning to be at. The Concert was held on May 16th, 2008 at the Odeum Sports and Expo Center- Chicago. The concert was organized very nicely and we were taken really good care of by Monty, Majid Bhia and all of their team. The concert was a blast. It was oversold, and the audience was awesome. Ironically the Sound was electrifying and the performance went super. The only flaw that I could identify was that although Amant Ali and Kelish Kher were supposed to be there, but due to visa problems and logistics, they could not make it there.
The best thing was, that after the concert when we reached our hotel, almost the entire fan club was standing at the hotel. There were so many people that the hotel receptionist got so pissed off, she had to call CPD Chicago Police Department. I was told later by my band member that I missed the scene as 4 CPD cars surrounded the hotel and it seamed like a scene from some Al-Pachino movie.
May 17th, 2008 Dallas Convention Center
We met a very good friend Mr. Raza at Dallas, who officially was not our promoter, but he took very special care of us. The concert was at the Dallas Convention Center. He made sure that our stay at the Grand Haytt situated in downtown Dallas and it was flawless, and he had deputed his personal fleet of cars at our disposal.
The good thing was that after the first 4 days, we eventually got our First well earned 3 days break. By this time after looking at our eyes, any normal person would immediately jump to the conclusion that we all were heavily on drugs, because all we had on our eyes were red colors (due to lack of sleep) and halkay
Los Angeles May 24th, 2008 (at The Terrace Theater)
Our next show was in Los Angeles on May 24th, 2008 at The Terrace Theater. This show was also organized pretty well. Thanx to Ballah promoter and his family, with whom we I created a flourishing friendship. Just to mention here, it¡s said that everything in Texas is Big. I guess that¡¦s wrong for Texas, cause everything in LA is Big. As I had a few days to relax, for the very first time I went for a shopping spree. I had been having the craving for getting my hands on a new baby. This was meant to happen In LA as it was here, when I purchased a brand new electric guitar of ¡§Gretsch¡§ and surprised all my band members when I pulled it out from its case just before the concert in LA. That was the official launch of my first shopping and that baby sounded awesome when it was plugged in. (p.s im still talking about my new guitar, don¡¦t get any weird Ideas about who the baby is.)
At this time, all of us had the first chance to go meet up with our friends and families which was certainly a blessing in disguise.
It was here in LA that I went to a private party, and there I met up with the winner of American Idol, David Cook. We had a nice conversation with each other, and I told him about the type of music that we make in the East, to which not only was he very interested in but wanted to have detailed account. Not only did I meet David, but I was fortunate to meet up with Randy Jakson and Simon Cowell, the judges of the American Idol Final show.
Houston May 25th, 2008 George Brown Convention Center
Houston show was very energetic. During our tour, we figured out quit amazing stuff on sound checks and rehearsals, and in our concerts experimented a lot with new stuff. The audience response to it was mesmerizing, specially when we did the numbers of Tayray bin, Berre, Dorrie, Rabba, Mayee, and last but not the least Addat. Apart from all these, there was one day that I heard on the Radio a song called Billy Jeans by Michael Jackson, and while we were backstage before our performance, that I so got into that song that I just picked up my guitar, and started to play it in my own way. Suddenly sameer started the base grove and it was so perfect, that we kept on repeating that song. There was only one slight problem. We did not know the entire lyrics. It was only 20 mints left before we were supposed to be onstage, suddenly someone came up with the brilliant idea, to down load the lyrics for any black berry. A black berry with internet connection was found, and guess what, we downloaded the lyrics, wrote it on a paper, and played that song on stage. It was so funny, that I was singing and Sameer had a paper over my shoulder with the lyrics. I think it was not a bad performance after all, considering that we did not even practice is properly once. All hats off to my band, who are always open for new experiments.
May 26th, 2008 Orlando ¡V UCF (University of Central Florida!) auditorium
There was one incident in Orlando, which I would like to quote over here. While I was on stage, and we were almost at our 2nd last song, there was this one girl who somehow managed to come on stage. Not that I mind that, but within seconds I found myself surrounded with I guess 60 people who were on stage. At that time I was playing the guitars and the mic was not in my hand as it was on the mic stand. And suddenly I see that I did not have the ownership of the mic, and there was this one dude with a white shirt, who had successfully taken over ¡K.and to my surprise was singing as well¡K..the rest of the people just wanted to touch me and kiss me. Not that I mind being with my fans, but hellow !!! I think we were having a Professional Concert. There was no security what so ever, and I was rescued by Aly, who just grabbed me and took me offstage. Now that¡¦s what I call a close call.
New Jersey May 31st, 2008 Sovereign Bank ArenaNJ concert was also organized in a very big arena, but to our surprise this town was really deserted. We stayed at the Marriott. The funny thing that happened here was that on the first night of arrival, after taking a long flight, we all called it quits for the night and every one had affirmed that they will sleep till late in the morning so that they can wakeup fresh for the concert the next day. But fate was thinking otherwise. At almost 6.30 in the morning everyone in the Entire hotel was JOLTED UP by this loud public address system, and all we could here was, This is not a drill, please EVACUATE the building immediately, do not take your belongings, do not use the lift, this is not a drill, please evacuate the building¡¨ ¡K¡K..on my God this is not happening¡K¡K. was my first impression. By the time I reached downstairs, I could see the entire hotel assembled at a designated area, with long faces and unimaginable hair styles. Some were bare feet, some in their sleeping suits while some in their nightgowns and some in their shorts. Every one had to evacuate without taking their personal belongings as this alarm was a fire alarm. As I looked at the people, I saw this one dude who was in is night suit, but carrying a laptop on his shoulders¡K..hey wait a minute, this guy looks familiar. On closer focus, I found out it was Mobin, our drummer, who in all this panic and frenzy, made it sure, that he did take his newly purchased laptop with him. The common statement that every one was whispering and asking to each other was ¡§ oyee tu room main cigarette tou nahee pea rahaa thaa¡¨ jis wajah say fire alarm bajaa thaa. Later it was found out that some Kid in the hotel had pressed the Fire Alarm lever and it went off. Thanks for running our sleep dude. Yet once again like it happened in Chicago, we saw an entourage of Police cars and fire brigades approaching and encircling the hotel.
Toronto June 1st, 2008 Hershey Center
The high time came when we had to perform our first show in Canada (Toronto). The moment we landed in Canada it was totally a change of environment for us. The good thing that I remember about Canada was, that after we cleared immigrations and customs, and as we all were walking out, to our surprise, suddenly out of no where, did we started to hear screams and shouts, and camera flashes going on like bazzuk¡K¡Kit was only after a while that we realized that our arrival in Canada was somehow leaked to the masses, and there was a huge fan following who had come to welcome us at the airport. There were people with bouquets of flowers, welcome cards and what not. At this particular point, I would like to take the opportunity to Thank All of those lovely people, who took time out for us to come and welcome us. And what should I say about the real concert. Goshhh it was soooo amazing. It was held at Hershey Center . The concert was OVER SOLD¡K.which means there were more people in the arena then the actual seating capacity. And the audience was so electrifying. I must say, it was one of the best concerts in our entire tour.
But I think the highest point in Canada was, when out of nowhere did Shahzad bhai appear to join us for the rest of the tour. Just because of his presence, the entire pressure which was being slightly felt by all of us, just vanished and we knew that now our team is complete.Though we still missed Shahbaz and Sheraz and had he been with us on this tour, things would have been so totally different.
Next day after the concert Shahzad bhai showed us around the whole Toronto. My team was also very happy to enjoy a party in Toronto after so many days of hectic performance schedule and they also thought that after the arrival of shahzad bhai only now they have felt that they are enjoying their vacation which was hardcore business before. Mubeen and Aly were really impressed with the cleanliness beauty of Canada and specially Gories
saying that their beauty standards have been revised.Aly purchased a new laptop and he was all so excited about it and what ever time he could find, he was always flirting with his new gadget. When Shahzad bhia arrived, he wanted to do some work, so he went to Aly and borrowed his laptop. Next morning, Aly came out of his room screaming that his laptop has been stolen, as it was nowhere to be found in his room. While Me and him were trying to figure out kay laptop kon choree ker saqtaa hia, Shahzad bhia walked into the lobby, and seeing our long faces, asked what happened. I told him that Alys laptop is missing. And very coolly shahzad bhia replied..
Yaar aik urgent email aayee thi shahbaz ki from Pakistan and the hotels business center was not working Socha Aly ki neend khrab na karoun so I got an extra key of alys room to pick up his laptop leaving a written note there which I guess aly ko nahin nazar aaya.
Aly replied to me laughing yar sukar yeh nahee hia kay laptop shahzad bhia kay pass thaa¡K..sukar yeh hia, kay I was alone in my room, warnaa pardais main shahzad bhia say kutt per janee thee¡K.
¨ Us k baad shughal men shahzad bhai nay aly k new laptop k 51% rights zabardasti own ker liyay and he always use to say to aly ¡§ yaar yeh email ker dain zara mera laptop use ker k ¡§
Alys face was worth seeing at those times.A friend of mubeen in Toronto gave us a drive to a shopping mall but he was so excited to sit with atif aslam and his band that he couldnt control his happiness n excitement and missed a lot of turns on highways and ultimately we reached the mall in double time hehehe
San Francisco June 7th, 2008 Oracle Arena
Temperature was pretty low in SF we enjoyed a barbq party by promoter there. We had the longest sound check of our tour on this show with about 3 hours of playing. Shahzad bhai as always carried on with his exploration of new cities n places left us at sound check n had a great city tour with his friends. And after such a long sound check the actual sound of the show was really bad. We didn¡¦t know what the sound engineer did to the settings. This show was a sort of a downer. Well the show went superb, but it was the arrangements that lacked professionalism.
The crowd was really a mess after the show for autographs n photographs particularly girls and we had to quit from the venue quickly. We were made sit in a car which was not having enough fuel to run and was having a reserve fuel light on and still people were following us on their cars. Luckily we managed to escape n found a fuel station after 45 kilometers ļ
Though I must say that the high point was that we did have a chance to go shopping in SF especially at the Great Mall where we bought almost the whole shop of accessories and as the sales girl was very pretty my band members wished she might come with the package
The strange thing was that the Small size of Americans were loose to us like the XXL size of Thailand people were equal to small size of us. so enjoyed finding the right size of clothes for us.
continued below....
