KARACHI: Not that the youth of the city need any reason to look forward to a weekend, but when the Redbull Soundclash was announced, every rock music enthusiast had their calendar marked for the big day. The ‘leaked’ videos and concert promotions that followed later, continued to build up hype and so naturally, everyone stepped into the arena brimming with a ton of expectations.
Ali Azmat leaked video and Umair Jaswal response to it started a debate on social media with negative and positive comments. Audience was expecting a brand campaign soon and PMR started off a debate on official fanpage – Who is supporting Ali Azmat and Umair Jaswal. Red Bull official fanpage shared the picture of Ali Azmat & Umair Jaswal with caption on it “Lets settle this on stage. #AliAzmat #UmairJaswal”.
Saturday witnessed the most anticipated concert in Karachi in recent years — a clash between rock icon Ali Azmat and the promising Umair Jaswal.
Representing two generations the two went head-to-head for four rounds on separate stages with a crowd of fans, celebrities and media in the midst to decide the winner at the end of each round.
The 29-year-old actor, singer/song writer Umair Jaswal was very excited to be a part of this friendly rivalry between the old school and new age.
Representing the golden era of Pakistani Pop/Rock, seasoned star Ali Azmat was more than happy to witness the role this event would play in bringing back the lost glory of concert culture.
Playing their own songs in different styles with guest musicians of their own choice, the icons of two different generations were joined by the likes of Omran Shafique, Gumby, Meekal Hasan, Faraz Anwar which made the first ever sound clash a big hit.
There were, however, a few things that compromised the overall experience. One of the most prominent issues being the small space allocated for the show. The indoor hall at Karachi’s Expo Center muffled the sound to an extent that the performances at one point turned into sheer noise, threatening to induce permanent tinnitus. Perhaps a better venue or a better sound system could have gone miles in making the show one truly worth remembering for years to come.