Nisha - Endless Fire

NorioDS

I met Nisha a few years back while we were on holiday in Zanzibar. He played at our hotel every night in a cover band but the name escapes me now. I remember listening out for his solos and applauding like a lunatic at the end of each song. (The other visitors didn't really appreciate the music much)

They played all sorts from Queen (I want to break free) & Toto (Africa) to Santana (Black magic woman) and some others. Nisha was playing on some very entry-level equipment and made it sound amazing.

They (the band) were originally from Sri Lanka and living in Zanzibar during their contract. They played cricket with the tourists on their days off but, make no mistake, it was no holiday for them. When your audience doesn't appreciate your skill and dedication to your music, it's tough to keep on doing it every night.

I introduced myself and sat in on one of their rehearsals. We've kept in touch via email since then. Not too long ago, he left the band and moved to Cape Town. And, just recently, he sent me this link to his video. I don't know much of what happened in between but it's fantastic to hear him finally doing what he's passionate about: Playing & recording instrumental guitar music with a message.

Ladies and gents, I give you, Nisha Peiris. A name I hope we'll be hearing a lot more of in the future ?

[deleted]

(Aside: Black Magic Woman = Fleetwood Mac, BTW.)

CDee

Very nice!

Heath

very nice sound he has

NorioDS

Stratisfear wrote (Aside: Black Magic Woman = Fleetwood Mac, BTW.)

Ja but he was playing the Santana version ?

Renesongs

Yes the Santana Version. Small World - Nisha was living in Cape Town until November last year trying to make a go of it as a musician in SA. We started a two man band doing classic rock covers, Hendrick, Clapton, Floyd, Santana, Gary Moore, Dire Staits et al. We back tracked the bass and drums and both did guitar. We alternated on vocals and lead breaks. Nisha has an excellent voice, a bit like Rod Steward but but with a slight Asian lilt and an excellent guitarist. We did a few successful gigs. But our nemesis was a disastrous night at a dive called the Tavern in Diep River. Half the audience were complete Neanderthals and the men were even worse. We were pulled off stage halfway into our second set because the owner didn't like our vocals and didn't like our repitoure, I guess that wanted U2, Bok van Blerk and other shyt that no respectable musician would play

Anyway I'm pleased to say that Nisha is doing pretty well since his return to Sri Lanka. He often tells me that I should come over as well because audiences there really appreciate good musicianship.

Sean

Renesongs wrote We were pulled off stage halfway into our second set because the owner didn't like our vocals and didn't like our repitoure, I guess that wanted U2, Bok van Blerk and other shyt that no respectable musician would play

? ? Good grief, that is insane!!!

NorioDS

Renesongs wrote Yes the Santana Version. Small World - Nisha was living in Cape Town until November last year trying to make a go of it as a musician in SA. We started a two man band doing classic rock covers, Hendrick, Clapton, Floyd, Santana, Gary Moore, Dire Staits et al. We back tracked the bass and drums and both did guitar. We alternated on vocals and lead breaks. Nisha has an excellent voice, a bit like Rod Steward but but with a slight Asian lilt and an excellent guitarist. We did a few successful gigs. But our nemesis was a disastrous night at a dive called the Tavern in Diep River. Half the audience were complete Neanderthals and the men were even worse. We were pulled off stage halfway into our second set because the owner didn't like our vocals and didn't like our repitoure, I guess that wanted U2, Bok van Blerk and other shyt that no respectable musician would play

Anyway I'm pleased to say that Nisha is doing pretty well since his return to Sri Lanka. He often tells me that I should come over as well because audiences there really appreciate good musicianship.

He's a lekker guy hey? So humble and really a "natural", I'd say. Pity he left SA. I didn't know :/ Well maybe we all need to go to Sri Lanka and at least be appreciated. What say you? ?

Keira-WitherKay

yeah i lived in singapore and thailand for a while , and there all the guitarists are into speed metal(if thats the right genre name.... the more notes for your money type playing) or jazz... thats why i was there... lots of jazz especially in singapore....but what i saw of the asian rock guys they were really at greater higher level of playing to what i see here .... in their local bands by far ..... saw some super hot guitarists and bassists...

.... hehehh and yeah i can see that they would try do instrumental music to crack world market ...cos the asian accents on english lyrics always brings a smile to ones face.... but hey i can't sing in Thai either without having them giggle at my performance ......

so yeah a thumbs up to this video also nice imagary for a rock video

peace and light
Keira

FatBoy

So you metal head, what kind of metal is this with what type of core? ? Is this even metal?

Sean

Cool video Norio, enjoyed it ?

TomCat

Sean wrote
Renesongs wrote We were pulled off stage halfway into our second set because the owner didn't like our vocals and didn't like our repitoure, I guess that wanted U2, Bok van Blerk and other shyt that no respectable musician would play
? ? Good grief, that is insane!!!

Has anyone here ever done a famous six-to-six gig...........and survived with themselves and their gear intact. ?

Keira-WitherKay

TomCat wrote
Sean wrote
Renesongs wrote We were pulled off stage halfway into our second set because the owner didn't like our vocals and didn't like our repitoure, I guess that wanted U2, Bok van Blerk and other shyt that no respectable musician would play
? ? Good grief, that is insane!!!
Has anyone here ever done a famous six-to-six gig...........and survived with themselves and their gear intact. ?

ok i give up Tomcat whats a six to six gig???? is it a venue???

and oh wow... can't believe the owner would pull you off the stage .... thats almost unheard of..... you musta pissed him off somehow.... cos if i see this guy play it shouldnt be cos of the music it's pretty together package and pro standard ....

inflames

Norio, Insane video!!! Hope he does well in the future!

Rene, you are no small man, hope you smacked the owner! I would have used my guitar on his head!

Renesongs

and oh wow... can't believe the owner would pull you off the stage .... thats almost unheard of..... you musta pissed him off somehow.... cos if i see this guy play it shouldnt be cos of the music it's pretty together package and pro standard ....

Yeah, We couldn't believe it either we had just finished a Floyd's Breath/Time/Breath with I believe we did flawlessly, Gilmour lead breaks slide guitar et al. We had 2 of the patrons up on stage shaking our hands while the manger was asking us to pack up and leave on half pay. I spoke to the agent that placed us there the next day because I thought we must have done something to piss the manager off. But apparently he just thought our vocals were a shambles. I had a couple of markers in the place who said the vocals were fairly good. And we were very well received at two previous venues. Maybe there was some sort of friction between the Agent that placed us and the establishment.

Rene, you are no small man, hope you smacked the owner! I would have used my guitar on his head!

I think my guitar is worth a hell a lot more than that fella's head

NorioDS

Renesongs wrote I think my guitar is worth a hell a lot more than that fella's head

Bahahahaha! Damn straight! ? You can't worry about a-holes like that. You just gotta move on and know that Karma will bite him in the ass when HE least expects it!

Keep on rocking on! \m/,

TomCat

Keira WitherKay wrote
TomCat wrote
Sean wrote
Renesongs wrote We were pulled off stage halfway into our second set because the owner didn't like our vocals and didn't like our repitoure, I guess that wanted U2, Bok van Blerk and other shyt that no respectable musician would play
? ? Good grief, that is insane!!!
Has anyone here ever done a famous six-to-six gig...........and survived with themselves and their gear intact. ?

ok i give up Tomcat whats a six to six gig???? is it a venue???

and oh wow... can't believe the owner would pull you off the stage .... thats almost unheard of..... you musta pissed him off somehow.... cos if i see this guy play it shouldnt be cos of the music it's pretty together package and pro standard ....

Six to Six gigs were very popular in the eighties and ninety's, mostly in townships and would be attended by thousands. They started at Six in the evening and went non stop until six the next morning (in theory that is).

Invariably in the early hours of the morning one of the scheduled artists would not pitch up for the concert, resulting in usually the entire audience going on a riot, destroying everything in site (Instruments, Stage, PA - Everything) and the musicians and crew heading for the hills with an angry mob after them.

Great fun to say the least...... ?.

There have been a few engineers that have run straight through riot fencing to get away from the crowds.

Sean

TomCat wrote
Six to Six gigs were very popular in the eighties and ninety's, mostly in townships and would be attended by thousands. They started at Six in the evening and went non stop until six the next morning (in theory that is).

Invariably in the early hours of the morning one of the scheduled artists would not pitch up for the concert, resulting in usually the entire audience going on a riot, destroying everything in site (Instruments, Stage, PA - Everything) and the musicians and crew heading for the hills with an angry mob after them.

Great fun to say the least...... ?.

There have been a few engineers that have run straight through riot fencing to get away from the crowds.

You weren't by any chance one of those engineers Tom? ?

TomCat

I was on a few occasions.

Luckily all the artists pitched on my watch and I managed to avoid the riot fencing/beer bottles/ pangas etc. ? ?. Some other weren't so lucky.