Most millenials know the lyrics of She Will be Loved by Maroon 5 by heart, as it was a common favourite for many teens, just as they began to discover love knocking at their doors. Known for their soft rock hits that lean towards pop sounds, the popular American band has released six studio albums — all of which have won hearts easily, as their songs are so relatable. It is no surprise thus, that Kolkata is all geared up and excited about this upcoming tribute concert. For the occasion, a makeshift tribute band called Marooned 5 has been brought together with musicians from the city’s leading bands Underground Authority and Goshai Gang.
The musicians involved include Adil Rashid on vocals and guitar, Swagato Banerjee on guitars, Soumyadeep ‘Bubbla’ Bhattacharya on bass, Shiva on keys, and Sourish Kumar on drums and percussion. The other half of electronic mood music duo Paloma and Adil — Paloma Majumder, who recently won the Tele Cine Awards for Best Playback Singer (Female) for Lokkhiti, will also join the band on some songs, apart from other guests. “I’m just featuring for this edition as I like Maroon 5,” says Paloma. “It’s a play on the name Maroon 5. Being marooned means being stranded on an island, which is how we artistes feel at times,” jokes Adil casually, when asked the reason behind choosing the band’s name. Maroon 5 albums like Keep the Faith and Slippery When Wet have, of course, heavily inspired them.
The musicians already have a history of paying tribute to their musical heroes with concerts dedicated to Metallica, Jon Bon Jovi and Bryan Adams. A special Linkin Park tribute concert was also held in memory of Chester Bennington, after the frontman’s untimely death. On that occasion, they were joined by many others from Kolkata’s music fraternity. At this gig, they plan to play hits such as This Love, She Will Be Loved, Girls Like You, Pay Phone and Animals — all popular singalong numbers. You can also expect some funky songs that are extremely danceable, while most are ideal for slow dancing with loved ones. “A fun night, lots of silly jokes, and quality representation of these hit songs. And a promise that we will return with more tribute material,” is what Adil assures, for those who will turn up for the gig.
At Hard Rock Café. June 20.