‘Riders on the Storm’ : nostalgic covers on a full moon night

Classic rock and blues cover band Stone Free performed at The Junction yesterday at an event titled “Riders on the Storm.” Stone Free played covers from classic bands like The Beatles, The Doors, CCR, CSN, Jimi Hendrix, U2, Eric Clapton, The Rolling Stones, and Bob Dylan.

The event began at 8:00pm with Stone Free performing The Beatles’ “While my guitar gently weeps.” Their song immediately hushed the audience, who erupted in cheers as soon as the cover ended. Yesterday evening’s audience were staunch Stone Free fans who attend all of their concerts.

After The Beatles’ cover, Stone Free performed “Riders on the Storm” by The Doors, cheered on by the audience once again. They followed it up with Steely Dan’s “Do It Again,” and The Rolling Stones’ “Beast of Burden.”

Soon, vocalist Chotu Khan asked everyone to imagine they were in the US Civil War with the next song being “Wooden Ships” by Crosby Stills Nash and Young, a conversation between a Northerner and a Southerner.  

Stone Free performed The Beatles’ “And I Love Her,” Eric Clapton’s “Layla,” The Rolling Stones’ “You Can’t Always Get What You Want,”  and many other classic songs.

Soon, the band wanted a break which the enthusiastic audience did not want to give. Chotu suggested the audience sing along with him for the unofficial “second national anthem of Bangladesh.” Someone in the crowd suggested Bon Jovi’s “It’s my life,” to which Chotu wittily replied, “That is our third national anthem.” “The second national anthem” turned out to be John Denver’s “Take Me Home, Country Road.”

After a few more nostalgic covers, Stone Free performed the last song of the  full moon evening of solid entertainment: Bob Dylan’s all-time classic, “Knockin’on Heaven’s Door.”

The Stone Free performers of the evening were Chotu on vocals and guitars, “Captain of the ship” Mishu on bass, talented Fahim on lead guitar and vocals, Nadeer on percussion, and Emon on drums. They also had one guest performer who was handsome hunk Saad on keyboards, who also played with Stone Free in their last tribute to Pink Floyd. 

Finally, this write up would be incomplete without a little something on the full moon evening’s venue, The Junction, brainchild of DLF director Sadaf Saaz Siddiqi. The Junction is in Niketan, and usually organizes concerts, musical soirees, plays, and a variety of other arts and culture programs.