Singer Benny Dayal keeping musician Greg Howe company on stage. Photo: Special Arrangement 

It's Wednesday evening and the city has a date scheduled with Greg Howe. Considering his credentials, at least half the city should've poured into the Museum Theatre. But there are barely any people. Franks Got The Funk and Borrowed Halos open for Greg Howe; they are competing for the finals of the Underground Band Hunt. Perhaps people will start arriving soon. Rows and rows of empty chairs and a bunch of bored old-men — the sight is unbearable.

No buzz

Franks Got the Funk and Borrowed Halos try their best to rock the place, but no one is moved. There are a couple of teenagers and a bunch of foreigners. The same bored expression is on everyone's face. The place is dead. One of the world's greatest shredders, Howe's played with NSYNC, Justin Timberlake and Michael Jackson. But he's not played with any rock bands. Whatever could this hype be all about?

Most people who seem to have bothered with a concert in the middle of the week look like they're here only because they had nothing else to do and wanted to experiment experimental jazz-fusion. Shredder doing jazz-fusion, interesting...

Nevertheless, the evening seemed never ending. Time had suddenly decided to stop. The sound setting took hours. The theatre seemed to have been gassed with a strange poisonous concoction of boredom and absolute darkness. The only place where there was any bit of light was a soft yellow spot on the stage. All one could see was shadows move. Sound setting.

Finally Saroop Oommen, of Unwind Centre, decided to come on stage. After a long lecture on HMI guitars, one of the sponsors, Saroop finally blessed the audience with Greg. On stage is a tall thin Afro-American guy with two skin-heads and an Italian drummer. Neither Greg nor his band-mates look like they can do much. Saroop Oommen, of Unwind Centre, introduces the band. There is a slight whimper, it was someone cheering and Greg hits the notes. Everyone's hit unawares. For a minute, dead faces were replaced by wide-open eyes and mouths gaping for air.

There are people other than musicians walking on the stage. Everyone's so agape that no one seems to notice them. The sound of the guitar is deafening. A million notes are flying out of Greg's guitar at the speed of light tearing Museum Theatre apart.

Greg is performing for the first time in India, and he's living up to his reputation of being one of the best shredders in the world. His self-titled album ranked the 10th greatest shred albums of all time by Guitar World magazine. Greg is Trey Anastasio, Hendrix, McLaughin, and Malamsteen all rolled into one.