Yesterday once more

The F16s playing in Mumbai in November last year

Here's a sign that the pandemic has come full circle. Last November - when there was false hope that things would return to normal after lockdown restrictions were temporarily lifted - The F16s had played the first live gig to take place in Mumbai after the fateful day of March 25, 2020. Those hopes were dashed when the second wave reared its head like a cobra ready to strike its prey. But we are now back to square one, with the lockdown seemingly over completely, and The F16s returning for a gig at the same Lower Parel venue this weekend. This time around, the Chennai-based alt-rockers will be joined by funky city-based act Madboy/Mink for a musical evening that promises to end with tired feet. We caught up with The F16s guitarist Abhinav Krishnaswamy to find out what made them tick during the pandemic, and what's in store at the gig. Edited excerpts from the interview.

How would you describe the period in between your gig last year and the one that's coming up?
That [last] AntiSocial gig sort of sealed a belief we had about being crash test dummies. The period in-between had us write, record and finish our latest EP, Is It Time to Eat the Rich, Yet? and we'd like to say it's some of our best work.

Imaad Shah and Saba Azad make up Madboy/Mink

In what ways did the pandemic affect the songs that feature in Is It Time to Eat the Rich, Yet?
It forced our eyes open to ever-expanding social inequalities. Scrolling through Twitter all day introduced us to volatile opinions held by real people about other real people. It made us realise that when the chips are down, we will eat each other. Songs like Apocalypse and Sucks to be human were written fully during this phase.

You are a self-confessed fan of [American indie-rockers] The Strokes. What did you think of The New Abnormal [an album The Strokes released during the pandemic in 2020]?
We loved it, and heard it obsessively through the first few months of the pandemic. It came as a welcome respite. The whole album worked; it's right up there with their best.

Describe the feeling of being able to tour again, and what it felt like having your hands tied during the lockdown.
We're excited, but waiting for the inevitable moment where another lockdown will send us back into a limbo. You can't have too much of a good thing, right? Without live music, we turned to other occupations that brought in the rent money, so we'll just continue doing that.

What have you got lined up for Saturday's gig?
It will be a new kind of set, for sure. Expect songs from the new EP, guaranteed! Also, maybe a song with Madboy/Mink, who knows?

On December 4, 8 pm onwards
At AntiSocial, Mathuradas Mill Compound, Lower Parel.
Log on to bookmyshow.com
Cost Rs 800