Our Correspondent
KOHIMA, DECEMBER 3
LEGENDARY English rock band Smokie enthralled a crowd of over 10,000 packed here at the Hockey Ground (IG Stadium), Kohima Wednesday as they took to stage a string of their hit songs of the past three decades.
Although the concert began two hours behind schedule, the eager audience was not disappointed.
“I cannot believe that I am here watching my all time favourite band perform live…This is Smokie we’re talking about. Nothing can be more exciting,” exclaims a 55 year old Kohima-based businessman, Theja.
For Tiatemsu, a middle aged government employee and father of four, “This Smokie concert is like the best treat that one can dream of.” He said he grew up listening to Smokie throughout his high school and college days, and claims he still does.
“Decent rock music, that is what Smokie music represents……I sometimes wonder why our younger generation fail to be inspired with this kind of music while we certainly were and still is,” says Kavi Sema, a mother of two and a doctor by profession.
“It was good though we don’t know much about the band….We all know Livin’ Next Door to Alice, it was disappointing that the band said they won’t be performing that song,” is what Timothy, a high school student has to say.
A host of state legislators and bureaucrats led by the Chief Minister, TR Zeliang, who is said to be a music aficionado himself, also attended the concert.
The band performed their hits like Don’t Play Your Rock ‘N’ Roll to Me, I’ll Meet You at Midnight, Oh Carol, I Don’t Wanna Talk About It, If You Think You Know How to Love Me, Wild Wild Angels and Have You Ever Seen the Rain, among others.
During the concert, the band members remarked this was the second time they were performing in Northeast India, the first being a show at Mizoram eight years ago. “We need to come to India more often,” they said.
K3M and Highland Oracle of Nagaland opened the show. The concert was organized as part of the Hornbill International Music Festival 2014 and the show was put together by NOC and Sky Inc.
