Charlie Hall looks forward to indulging in Udupi cuisine in Bengaluru

.com.Charlie Hall, drummer of The War on Drugs, finds touring a fun part of the job. He's excited to visit Bengaluru for Bandland, a two-day celebration of music featuring Deep Purple and Goo Goo Dolls. Hall loves the feedback loop between performer and audience and travelling the world. He's also interested in Indian classical music and Udupi cuisine. He hopes the audience will be moved by the live performance and the band will continue to evolve and make honest music.

While being a rock band seems to be all about sold out concert stadiums and every jolly excess, there is also hard work involved, including long days on the road, as any successful rocker will tell you. Charlie Hall, drummer of the American indie-rock band, The War on Drugs, however, finds touring a fun part of the job.

Speaking over a video call from Melbourne, Australia, Hall says, “Every night is a new musical conversation with the audience. There is a feedback loop between the performer and the audience. It is in the moment, happening right there, special and unique.”

Bengaluru will have a chance of partaking of the magic as the Grammy-Award winning group, fronted by Adam Granduciel, will perform as part of Bandland. The two-day celebration of music brought to India’s rock capital by  BookMyShow Live, featuring British pioneers of heavy metal, Deep Purple, and Goo Goo Dolls amongst others, will be on December 16 and 17.

Touring, Hall says, has the added advantage of traveling the world. “We get to meet people, see different countries and how people live. We hopefully gain an appreciation and understanding for other cultures. I feel extremely fortunate and I’m grateful for every second of it and will never complain about 14-hour plane rides or whatever.”

It is a privilege, Hall says, to play music he loves, with people he loves, and share that with audiences. “The other thing about a live performance is that after not being able to share in big groups during the pandemic, to feel connected to something with thousands of other people is a pretty cool feeling.”

Hall is excited about his first trip to India. “I’ve been interested in Indian classical music, especially Hindustani music, for a long time. I am excited about visiting Bangalore, both as a metropolis and for the nature. I have one whole day in the city with no travel or work. I have heard a lot about food in Bangalore. There is this vegetarian-based style of cooking, I don’t know if I am saying this right, Udupi? which is prominent in Bangalore, that I would like to try.”

Whether Bengalureans are fans of The War on Drugs music, or have never heard of it, Hall hopes the audience will be moved. “Even if they’ve heard the records, hearing the band live will hopefully be exciting. The audience will be transported to a place where they can use their imagination, and feel a certain way.”