By Amar Ayaz

[Originally Published in Instep Magzine]

To most people Louis J. Pinto is known as Gumby, a musician on his way to cementing his name in our entertainment industry’s music history, if he hasn’t done so already that is. When he was starting out as a wee lad dreaming about thrashing his drums amongst the best of them, he couldn’t have imagined that he was going to become a household name and considered as Pakistan’s top drummer by most, if not all. {Read More…}

From L to R: Ahsan Papu, Farhad, Jaffer, Saba, Aamir, Khalid, Faisal Baig, Sikandar, Zoe & Asad.

Since recently, there has been a new boom in advertisement industry of Pakistan to include musicians in the TVCs to target youth. This step specially by the telecom industry hasn’t only exponentially grabbed youth but has also paid off the hard-work of these Pakistani rock icons in the times where the album sales have declined massively .

After recent inclusion of Farhad Humayun, Noori, Call and Ali Azmat in PTCL EVO, Walls, McDonald’s and Ufone’s ad campaigns respectively, Warid glow has taken a step ahead to execute a massive ten-day ad campaign, that isn’t only one of it’s kind but also one of the best executed ad campaigns of Pakistan.

To me everything about this campaign has felt just perfect. By featuring these music maestros playing best of their solos along with state-of-the-art video direction by Soheb Akhtar of Ambiance films and high budgets, Warid has actually stolen hearts of music enthusiasts from around the country. There is something for everyone of us out there from Aamir Zaki’s blues to Farhad Drums. {Read More…}

Wardrobe: Kash Hussain
Photography: Fayyaz Ahmed
Styling: Sajid
Models: Gumby, Khalid Khan & Omran ‘Momo’ Shafique
Fashion Editor & co-ordination: Madeeha Syed

Source: BandBaji | Madeeha Syed

In the Drummer’s Den

By Khaver Siddiqi

Drummer Louis John Pinto, aka Gumby, talks exclusively to Images on Sunday about the new studio he set up with Mauj-frontman Omran Shafique and ace-bassist Khalid Khan, record producers, and what’s next in store for him.

{Read More…}

Omran Shafique, Gumby, Khalid Khan, Rachel Viccaji and Sheldon Emmanuel Live at PACC (FLYING FUNK CONCERT) “GET UP STAND UP” (Cover)

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Omran Shafique, Gumby, Khalid Khan, Rachel Viccaji and Sheldon Emmanuel Live at PACC (FLYING FUNK CONCERT) “FIRE” (Cover)

By the day of the event many variations of the I don’t give a flying funk concert were coined — what the funk, funk it, funk the night. Ignoring the fact that the moniker was a bit of a misnomer, the musicians in the backing band showed that they had the funk in them. In fact, ‘backing band’ doesn’t do justice to the likes of Louis J. Pinto aka Gumby and Omran Shafique. For some of the tracks, the vocalists were almost unnecessary; the audience response was a testament to that. {Read More…}

The people don’t give a flying funk…
but the band did!
Gumby, Omran Shafique and gang gather for a raw and wired jam session…
Khaver Siddiqi
Karachi

Once upon a time, jam sessions were all the rage. It was when The Munchkins led the pack and gigs happened almost every weekend. Those were quite the days for music. These days jam groups have coalesced and members of each often meet up and have special gigs like this one.

‘I don’t give a flying funk’ was one such special gig held at the PACC Auditorium and featured the iconic Gumby on drums, Omran Shafique on guitars, Khalid Khan on bass and Rachel Viccaji on vocals. {Read More…}

Harry Potter and the magical tunes of Pakistani pop!
With the release of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, the story of the ‘boy who lived’ is still ongoing amidst global fanfare.
Instep spoofs Harry Potter with the local pop music industry…

By Maheen Sabeeh and Saba Imtiaz

Atif Aslam as Harry Potter

Harry Potter has uncontrollable hair and a lightening shaped scar – and is the ‘Chosen One’ – who will defeat the Dark Lord and restore order to the magical world. {Read More…}

PHOTOGRAPHER: Muhammad Omair

FOR MORE SUMMER JAM PICTURES CLICK HERE

The ever reclusive Aamir Zaki recently resurfaced alongside Omran Shafique, Gumby, Khalid Khan and a few others in a summer jam gig. Think of Aamir Zaki, and the ability to make guitars dance, mourn and fly with a natural instinct and style isn’t the only thing that comes to mind. His super-hit cult favourite, a blast from the rollicking nineties, the single ‘Mera Pyar’ always finds a way to our hearts. After all, this was the song that brought Aamir from an extraordinaire session player into the minds of those who relied on good ol’ television for music. And it was then when we took another look at Aamir Zaki and decided that he was definitely something else. {Read More…}

Summer Jam was also plugged by numerous solos by Aamir, Momo and Gumby. These displays were a method through which the musicians communicated not only amongst themselves but also with their audience.

{Read More…}

All I want to do is rock!
Musicians par excellence Gumby, Omran Shafique, Khalid Khan and others come together with the reclusive and legendary Aamir Zaki for a musical fiesta

Sara Zia Khan
Karachi

Sunday night, Karachi experienced something, which doesn’t happen a lot. A spontaneous, chilled out blues, rock jam session for a niche crowd at the Pakistan American Cultural Center (PACC). And that too with a man who can make guitars weep and dance, celebrate and mourn with explosive verve and nerve. When he plays live, its no ordinary day. The man is the guitar wizard Aamir Zaki. This night he was in the limelight and he proved why he needs to be there more often. {Read More…}

The legendary guitar player of Pakistan is back. Aamir Zaki performed on Sunday at PACC with Gumby, Omran Shafique, Yasir Qureshi of ADP and Khalid Khan. Singers Sheldon and Sara Memon also featured but this night was all about the guitars Omran Shafique, who swaggered onto the stage to face a horde of screaming fans, introduced Aamir on the stage. {Read More…}

• For Her

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