Tsunami live in concert

Pehelwaan Khattak on lead guitar, Ad Rasheed on bass, Hack’em Mehsud on drums and Immy Khan on vocals

Tsunami, the underground hard rock band that rose to the mainstream in October 2011 following a blockbuster concert in Minto Park, performed live in front of hundreds of thousands of their diehard fans last night at Aabpara. The Aabpara concert has been dubbed by music critics as the band’s most ‘close-to-the-heart’ and ‘personal’ performance yet, since the covers performed showcased Tsunami’s quintessence and every single one of them was an emotionally arousing dedication.

The band’s latest lineup features Pehelwaan Khattak on lead guitar, Ad Rasheed on bass, Hack’em Mehsud on drums and Immy Khan on vocals, as Tsunami stole the show by giving some of the all time classics a whole new meaning. The crowd was initially divided into what seemed like two different segments of bearded mullahs and upper class hipsters, but as things heated up, the maulvis and the burgers were seen head-banging in unison.

Stairway to Heaven – Led Zeppelin

Opening up with what is regarded by most as the greatest rock song of all time, Tsunami sprung to life immediately. Before Khattak – also known as Teeli Pehelwaan – struck the A minor chord to kick start the intro, IK described how the stairway to heaven for Tsunami is a very explosive concept, one that blows up every mind that it touches. When Khattak went down on his knees to perform Jimmy Page’s legendary solo, the bearded aficionados were seen waving suicide belts.

Blackwater Park – Opeth

The second song was a dig at a private contractor that Tsunami’s chums aren’t too fond of. Following the concert Hack’em Mehsud in reply to the journalists’ queries regarding the animosity with the US contractor said: “How would you feel if your story was filed under someone else’s byline?” He also told everyone to watch out for the band’s next single called Xe Services.

Paranoid – Black Sabbath

Khan sang this entire song looking up towards the sky. Despite doing a stunning job imitating Ozzy Osbourne’s voice, he was particularly animated while singing this line: “People think I’m insane because I am frowning all the time”. At the end of the track IK made the devil’s horns pointing to a fan carrying a “Say No to US Drones” poster.

Bomber – Motorhead

This track was obviously dedicated to the US president Barack O Bomber, but Tsunami resoundingly upped the ante on the song. Khattak’s riffs were pulverising, Rasheed’s bass line was deadly, as Mehsud beat the living daylight out of his drums. Khan made exaggerated hand gestures as he sang:

The way we fly,

Five miles off the ground,

Because we shoot to kill,

And you know we always will,

It’s a Bomber

Holy War… The Punishment Due – Megadeth

Before they started playing the track, the band members wore t-shirts which read “My Jihad”. After Khattak nailed one of the greatest metal intro riffs of all time, the band members took out swords as Ad and Hack’em displayed swordsmanship, rarely witnessed in rock concerts.

Holier Than Thou – Metallica

Many a music critic believes that this track describes the true essence of Tsunami. Hence, as a shout out to the critics, Tsunami burned the stage with this one. However, the band didn’t complete the track as it appeared that Khan got a rude awakening after these words:

Before you judge me take a look at you

Can’t you find something better to do?

Point the finger, slow to understand

Arrogance and ignorance go hand in hand

Hallowed Be Thy Name – Iron Maiden

Watching Tsunami perform this live was as emotionally invigorating an experience as one would ever have. The track was dedicated to their former bassist Waliur Rehman who died on May 29, earlier this year. Rasheed had tears in his eyes as he masterfully wove together Steve Harris’ favourite chords. Hack’em Mehsud however, was visibly mundane on drums as Khan began looking up towards the sky again.

London Calling – The Clash

London, for Tsunami’s lead vocalist, is a place where hospitals transform into halls, doctors evolve into dancers and treatment turns into entertainment. The band believes when London calls, you leave all your life and responsibilities behind and go have a good time in the British capital. Khan did the wild elephant dance he’d learnt from Prince Charles as Tsunami played the track.

Jailbreak – AC DC & Thin Lizzy mash up

Dedicated to the 248 Tsunami revolutionaries that managed to escape from the shackles in Dera Ismail Khan, the band chose to play both the AC DC and Thin Lizzy tracks of the same name as a tribute to the towering effort of the freedom fighters. At the end of both the tracks Khan played his customary, “Whose war is it? It’s their war,” game with the crowd.

I am the law – Anthrax

Jailbreak was scheduled to be the last track of the evening, before DJ Iftikhar stormed out of nowhere and jumped on the stage. He grabbed the mic from Khan as Tsunami played “I am the law” featuring DJ Iftikhar. At the end of the concert DJ Iftikhar was seen dragging Khan backstage, as the rest of band looked on in disbelief…

The writer is a financial journalist and a cultural critic. Email: [email protected], Twitter: @khuldune