A smoky bar. A riveted audience. This is not New Orleans or New York. Welcome to New Delhi. The Blues have been introduced to the Capital, thanks to The Blues Club of India. Subir Malik of Parikrama Inc. explains, "The aim of the club is to gather like minded people of all ages, cultures and backgrounds to listen to, enjoy and discuss Blues Music." Started only in May, today, the Club has 500 members, or simply 500 Blues appreciators. They have brought around 20 Blues bands from across the country to the Haze Blues & Jazz Bar, Vasant Vihar, over the last four months. Kiranjit Sant (owner of Haze) and Subir claim that The Blues Club of India is the first of its kind in the country. Kiran, Subir and Priya Paul (the Park hotel chain) started it.

Over this past weekend, Black Market from Mumbai, Soulmate and Lou Majaw from Shillong and the Saturday Night Blues Band from Kolkata entertained audiences. The atmosphere at Haze was passionate, to say the least.

The members, who in Kiran's words, range from "19 to 70," enjoyed the same music in different ways. Youngsters head-banged in the front. Dignified salwar-kurta seniors sipped their beers at the back.

Blue in Delhi

Delhi has never been the Blues Capital. Kiran says, "People in Delhi generally like music. But in most bars they are only exposed to hip-hop and the balle-balle. Bangalore used to be the original Blues home." But, he says, "After the ban on live music, Blues were badly hit in Bangalore." With clear pride he continues, "In the last two-three years Delhi is now on the top. In terms of response, if not in terms of bands."

Evidence of this response was clear at Haze. People were content with standing room only. And the packed venue did not deter a constant stream of entrants. The musicians also appreciated the audience turnout. Asked about audiences in Kolkata, Jayanta of Saturday Night Blues recalled, "We played at Haze last month also and had the biggest turnout ever!"

Considering the strong African-American roots of Blues music, one might wonder at its popularity in Delhi. Jayanta said, leaning on the bar, "Blues is nothing but a good man feeling down."

As Kiran puts it, "Blues is when your woman leaves you. It's when you can't pay rent. It's when you do something stupid."

That's what the Blues is.