Explosive talent
True to its name, loud and explosive Mumbai- based band Laxmi Bomb is quite the ‘ firecracker’ act
The “Laxmi Bomb” is a popular firecracker among those who like their Diwali celebrations loud and explosive. Inspired by its “sonic explosion” as well as its visual quality — the way, once the cracker had gone off, it would “leave behind these charred pieces of paper with the images of ( the goddess) Lakshmi all burned out at the edges” — that prompted Ruell Barretto ( bassist), Levin Mendes ( drummer, songwriter), Keegan Pereira ( vocals) and Joaquim Fernandes ( keyboard) to adopt its name for their band.
The band began in 2013, when Levin and Keegan teamed up for a project. The “reggae-disco-rock- Bollywoodish” sound they came up with proved to be a winner and today, the band’s sound is described as “a blend of Bollywood film music of the 1990s with contemporary electronica”. Reggae Rasiya and Major Major are among their best known numbers.
While Laxmi Bomb has been making waves at gigs all over the country, the band members have some pretty funny anecdotes to narrate as well. Like the time when a reporter came up to them at Ragasthan 2014, raved about their performance, and then asked them, “So what’s it like, being a two- piece live act?” And when they gently corrected the scribe by pointing out that they were a four- member act, she hurriedly said, “Oh, I must have the wrong band!” Keegan has drawn some of their most hilarious experiences into comic strips. They’ve had some heartwarming interactions with fans as well. Bringing up a recent gig in Mumbai, the band recounts how they spotted two girls, dressed in Indianwear — and standing out from the rest of the party crowd — swaying to the music. “They made their way to the stage and we thought we knew what to expect — a request for a Jon Bon Jovi, Enrique Iglesias song. Instead, they asked us to perform one of our dearly loved originals, Pari By Night. It felt grand!”
There are certain to be more such moments at their next scheduled gig in Mumbai on May 14. Of their upcoming performance they say, “We’re going to have a special guest on stage with us — we’re not going to reveal the name! — and we will be playing material from their upcoming EP.”
Before concluding the interview, we ask the band to share a message for those who want to make a career in music. “It’s a great option if you’re a good musician,” they reply, before adding cheekily: “And even better if you’re good looking too!”