As we wind down the month of July with the
monsoon at its pouring best, we tend to look around and get a little itchy for
a good party sometimes. June was one big Sao Joao fiesta and August will be
filled with events that revolve around Friendship Day and Independence Day with
our very creative event organisers naming their events using a combination of
the words ‘friends’, ‘freedom’ and ‘forever’. Pick any two words, arrange them
in any order and you have an excuse to party the month of August away. Don’t forget
to add pre and post for 3 times the fun.
The incessant rains also mean no weddings,
outdoor parties, beat shows, fetes, bandstands or even a BBQ. So what is a
live-music-loving, happy-feet-dancing party person to do? Well thanks to the
many pubs, clubs and restaurants around Goa, there still is a place to get your
groove on. While most clubs and pubs stick to DJ music or playlists from an
ipod, there are quite a few that make it a point to have an event night with
live music performances. Most of them will pair a live band with a DJ while
those that have space constraints, will have one- or two-man bands perform at
their venues.
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This relatively new setup has changed the
way bands approach their music as well, with a lot of mainstream wedding bands
playing retro and popular dance music while the DJs also have to change their
style of music to complement the band. This form of up close and personal music
also means that the bands have to be more interactive with their audience with
good showmanship besides their flawless performances. A combination of sound
restriction laws, sound proofed venues, monsoon tourists from across India and
a general lack of other entertainment options have ensured these pub and club
nights flourish.
Being cooped up at home or work all day due
to the rain makes many a person itch to party the night away. The monsoons are
also a great scapegoat for a sick day off from work after a hard night of
partying. The cold or fever is always handy when you need to take the day off.
The heavy rain also keeps people at a venue a little longer then they intended
to stay. “Why did we park so far away? Let’s have another drink while we wait
for it to subside.”
A quick glance across Facebook on a
Wednesday, Thursday, Friday or weekend night and one will come across many
events being organised across Goa on a weekly basis. Ladies Nights are for some
strange reason on Wednesdays everywhere. For some reason we have chosen mid
week to celebrate women with free alcohol and music. I’m sure they would be
happier if we spread out the celebrations and free alcohol to different days on
other venues across the week. Friday nights are band/retro nights at most
places. Saturday nights are traditionally party hard nights while the other
nights are left to a mix of jazz, karaoke, easy listening and pop.
With a huge number of entertainers and
party people itching to get together and have a good time, it seems they have
found their matchmakers in the various pubs, clubs and restaurants across Goa.
Let the rains come down, we Goans will be singing and dancing our nights away.
