Fully capable of headlining any stage in their own right, Moonwind opened the evening’s entertainment at the glitzy Bhubaneswar Club in Orissa for the New Year Eve Bash 2010 to a full house. However, if they were only as half as good as they were at the December gig at the historic Digboi Club for the Renaissance Meet 2009, they will still be a hard act to follow! Trust me for all the more reasons that I was also travelling with this band after a long hiatus. Over the years Moonwind has been more of a travelling band, especially when the season is on and they have delivered the package in the most professional manner. The bands present line-up sees Suman Dutta and Mrinmoyee Sharma Goswami on vocals, Rajib Hazarika on lead guitars, Rakesh Barua on bass guitar, Gaurav Bania on drums and new entrant Munu on keyboards.

Moonwind always somehow crack a great gig. And one more thing that I admire about this band is they never fall short on the construction of a triumphant set list that satisfies everyone. “This has come in with our years of playing and it is very important to judge the crowd and there have been occasions where we have changed set lists over and over again only to satisfy the crowd,” shared Suman.

The meet in Digboi spanned over two days with the senior folks making it on the December 29 and the juniors landing up in full force the next day for an afternoon jam. Moonwind have become one of those few bands who have managed to retain their long term loyal fan base while still attracting the young ones too. Personally for me, performing in Digboi Club has always been blissful — the design, the crowd, ambience, surroundings and to top it all, the place itself makes you rejuvenated.

Nevertheless, we were then treated to a blistering two-and-half hour performance from a band that must now be considered one of the entertaining live acts in the East. “I think it’s a lot to do with the band energy... One can sense it right from the word go and with Moonwind it has always been positive,” this was what Rakesh felt on these lines. “We are also working on our website and we should be up with it soon,” informed Gaurav, the techno savvy drummer of the band.

For the record, Moonwind has been in the business for more than fifteen years at a stretch with no vacations in between. “We strive to make sure our audiences have a great time whatever age group they may be,” mentioned Rajib.

It also is a great feeling to see the togetherness of the band members and in this regard the glamorous Mrinmoyee, who also happens to be the ‘Band-Aid’ of the group, had to reflect. “To put it in simple words I am a committed artiste and my commitment towards the band is limitless... It’s more like a family for us,” she added with a gleam in her eyes.

That they muster this sort of intensity and fervor on every gig is unbelievable, but believe it you must. And now finally to give away the special feel for Digboi which many of you may not know: Moonwind was formed in Digboi in 1995 and I have seen the band closely from the time it saw the light of day and every time it has been like this. No wonder, all of us got nostalgic playing in Digboi. “It’s been almost fifteen years of togetherness and I say it’s a great feeling,” quipped Suman towards the end as we were walking out of Digboi Club that very wintry night after the gig.

Well, some might say the salt and pepper musicians are winning here, and they might just be right. But foot-wide smiles don’t lie. Period.

Sattyakee D’com Bhuyan