There was a sense, walking into Metro City, Perth on Saturday night, that Oz Dhun Live was about to deliver something rather different to our usual Rock Show. The ‘Oz Duhn Live Rock Takeover’ was originally planned as an outdoor event, but as Perth was on the receiving end of the tail end of a cyclone, it seemed rather like good karma that the event had been moved indoors. This after all was not just another rock show, but a cultural statement, celebrating South Asian culture and music, with a mission to become an annual summer event. And it was a huge success on all levels. As vibes go this must have been the most chilled out event I have been to in years with the Hard Rock crowd seamlessly mixing with their fellow Asian concert goers, talking and laughing together as the night unfolded.
By the time Girish and the Chronicles hit the stage, that feeling had turned into something undeniable: this was a full-blown South Asian rock takeover, and Perth was more than ready for it. Seeing the biggest Hard Rock band India has ever produced was something that we’d thought Australia would never get to witness but here they were larger than life and twice as loud.
Sharing the bill with Deepak Bajracharya & The Rhythm Band who put on a wonderful show full of traditional songs with a modern flavour, coloured with cultural references and traditional dancers which only added to the sense of occasion. It all made for a wonderful night that really was as warm as it was unmissable. You might expect Hard Rock and South Asian culture to sit uncomfortably, the former a rather young Western musical tradition and the latter steeped in centuries and carried down generations, but on the night it was clear that when people come together for the love of music nothing else really matters. For a first event Oz Duhn, and the wonderful organizer and compare for the evening Sandeep hit a homerun, I can see this event going from strength to strength and a little earlier in the year outdoors it can only grow stronger.
We, of course, were here primarily to see a band that we never thought we would get to see in Perth. A band I consider to be one of the Top 10 ‘new’ Hard Rock bands on the planet globally. A band who have a catalogue most would dream of with a once in a generation voice. So when GATC took control, they owned the room with the kind of authority that comes from a band operating at the absolute peak of their powers. If you weren’t there then you missed not just one of the best concerts of the year but quite possibly one of the best voices in Hard Rock on the planet today, with a band that could blow away the majority of their contemporaries.
From opener “Ride to Hell”, the tone was set: this was loud, unapologetic, and dripping in old-school attitude. This was Rock and Roll the way it’s meant to be — no gimmicks, no shortcuts, just pure, high-octane performance. “Born With a Big Attitude” followed like a blunt reminder that there are few around today with songs like this, and only a handful with such command of a stage. From there the band barely let up, tearing through a set that balanced muscle and melody with real finesse.
At the centre of it all was Girish Pradhan, delivering a masterclass in frontmanship. His voice — already the stuff of legend after their breakout on America’s Got Talent — was nothing short of astonishing live. Soaring, gritty, and utterly commanding, he channelled the spirit of the Hard Rock greats while making every note unmistakably his own. There’s a reason comparisons to Axl Rose and Sebastian Bach get thrown around — but on this showing, Pradhan doesn’t need comparisons. He is the real deal, and he would be more than a match for either in their prime.
On guitar, Suraz Karki was sheer class. His playing was razor-sharp throughout — whether ripping into the swaggering “Rock the Highway” or lighting up the room with searing leads, he brought that perfect blend of flash and feel that defines great hard rock guitar work.
Locking it all down was Yogesh Pradhan on 5 string bass, whose groove gave the entire set its weight and drive. His playing on tracks like “Kaal” and “Wounded” added a depth that elevated the band’s already huge sound. Behind the kit, Nagen Mongrati was an absolute powerhouse — precise, relentless, and perfectly in the pocket. His performance was the engine room of the night, powering everything from the anthemic highs of “Hail to the Heroes” to the driving pulse of “Identity Crisis.”
The set itself was a celebration of everything GATC do best. “Love’s Damnation” and “Lovers’ Train” brought the melody, “The Heaven’s Crying” and “Every Night, Like Tonight” delivered arena-sized hooks, while “She’s Heavy Metal” closed things out in full-throttle style. Their reimagining of Set Fire to the Rain hit exactly as promised — heavier, harder, and built for the live environment.
And then came the covers — a ripping take on Thunderstruck that had the Perth crowd roaring, before a surprise, and rarely played, arms-in-the-air rendition of Bon Jovi’s ‘Livin’ on a Prayer’ that turned Metro City into one giant singalong and sounded better than it has in years (even with the second verse mishap!) It was a reminder, if one was needed, that this band understands not just how to play rock music — but how to connect with an audience.
What makes Girish and the Chronicles stand out is their absolute commitment to the craft. This is ‘80s-inspired Hard Rock done right — echoes of Aerosmith, Whitesnake and Skid Row woven into a sound that feels both nostalgic and fiercely current. It’s big, anthemic, and — above all — delivered with total conviction. But there’s a heavier more Metallic edge too with tracks like “Kaal”.
By the end of the night, one thing was crystal clear: this wasn’t just a great gig it was an explosion of all I love about Rock music – a real statement of intent. South Asian Rock has arrived on the Metro City stage in a big way, and if this performance is anything to go by, it’s only just getting started. That for me though might just underplay the show. I’ve seen hundreds of Hard Rock bands play Perth over the last two decades, and this was right up there with the very best GLOBALLY.
Sheer class, from first note to last.
Just as importantly, huge credit has to go to the Oz Dhun Live organizers, who didn’t just put on a gig — they curated an event that genuinely brought the culture and spirit of South Asia to Perth in a way that felt both authentic and celebratory. The night the night began wonderfully with and explosion of dance, tradition and modern sounds of Deepak Bajracharya, a true statesman who took to the stage earlier and delivered a stunning, deeply resonant performance that set the tone perfectly.
The crowd itself was one of the friendliest you could hope to be part of — fully engaged, respectful, and there for the right reasons — while the promoters ran the evening with meticulous professionalism from start to finish. In every sense, this was more than a concert; it was a seamless fusion of cultural celebration and undeniably world-class rock ‘n’ roll. In sixteen years of covering shows for The Rockpit, I’ve seen hundreds of bands take the stage — and this one effortlessly rides into the top ten.
Girish and the Chronicles is, without question, one of the best live bands have ever seen, and they deserve to be riding high on the world stage. I chatted to Girish at the end of the night we talked about new music (which is on the way next year) and also about Skid Row…
I’ve seen some unforgettable moments over the years—watching Guns N’ Roses tear through a set in a 400-capacity club, catching The Black Crowes on their very first show outside the U.S., and witnessing Skid Row and Vain share a bill at the absolute height of their powers. I was there for Iron Maiden’s first show with Bruce Dickinson, and caught early, electric performances from Aerosmith and Kiss. Nights like those stay with you forever—pure, unfiltered magic. And something tells me this one’s about to earn its place alongside them.
