If you’ve never heard of Bloodywood then you’ve apparently been living in seclusion for a past several years. While India has brought the world several metal bands over the years such as Demonic Resurrection, Amorphia and Godless, Bloodywood have hit the world with something very special. They have brought to the metal community a blend of folk music, metal, and rap with lyrical content sang in both English and Hindi that is as hard hitting as it is catchy. More importantly, they have done this as in independent act.
From their beginnings in New Deli where Karan Katiyar and Jayant Bhadula did metal cover / parodies of a variety of songs to creating their own sound as well as adding Raoul Kerr into the mix, Bloodywood have gone from a humble and modest start to playing Waken and several other festivals. The band finally made their way to the United States a few months ago although that tour didn’t have them visiting anywhere close to the Pacific Northwest. However, this return trip has them on the West Coast at long last on a tour that for those of us who live here, is very much overdue.
Bloodywood’s stop in Portland found them arriving at the Hawthorne Theater, a club that I generally tend to avoid these days simply due to the set up and the fact that for a photographer, this is an incredibly challenging venue to try and capture photos in. However, there are times when I’m more than willing to set aside my reservations. Without the band having an actual publicist, trying to get a photo pass at all was a bit more tedious than usual. Thanks to my friend Mrs. W (she knows who she is) who happens to be friends with Karan, we were both able to get approved. I even had an opportunity to meet Karan before (and after) the show. The guys in Bloodywood are incredibly down to Earth and easy to speak with so if you happen to hit the show and see them, don’t shy away. You could do yourself an even better favor though and pick up one of their VIP packages for a meet and greet.
As I expected going back to the Hawthorne for the first time in several years, there hasn’t been much improvement on the lighting side. Although I probably could have taken photos using flash, I didn’t bring it because for those who don’t know, one of the rules is in fact, no flash. It’s disrespectful to the bands, the patrons, and honestly using it is the easy way out. Anyone could use flash and call themselves a photographer but in general, most of us don’t use it. Even with the dark lighting situation on the photography end, Bloodywood is still an incredible band live. They bring a great deal of energy with them to the stage, interact with the crowd down to even getting off stage at the end of their set and into the mosh pit, and Jayant even brings in some humor here and there as he tries to get the audience to participate by singing lyrics that he knows that most of us aren’t going to be able to pronounce.
Bloodywood’s set included the following:
Gaddaar
BSDK.exe
Aaj
Dana Dan
Jee Veerey
Zanjeero Se
Machi Bhasad (Expect a Riot)
Ari Ari
(Encore)
Gaddaar (V2)
Bloodywood still has dates left on the tour of the United States so definitely don’t miss out if they are passing through your area or close to it . . . . . or just make a lengthy road trip if necessary. Hopefully their next visit to North America will find the band playing at a better venue in Portland but it was still well worth the wait to finally catch them live. And with any luck we will have an interview with Karan once their tour and festival dates wrap up on a few months.
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