Vishal Dadlani in Gangtok on Tuesday. Picture by Pema Leyda Shangderpa

Gangtok, March 12: Vishal Dadlani’s Pentagram is ready for Political Dance Party.

Nothing to do with the polls though, but the fourth album of the band is expected to be released almost at the time when the general elections are to be held: two months from now.

Vishal, of the Vishal-Sekhar duo fame, gave an electrifying performance with his band here on Tuesday night to a packed crowd who had thronged the latest music hangout and restobar, Live & Loud, at Sonam Gyatso Marg.

Widely known more for his music directions, many were not aware of Vishal’s vocal abilities and forays into singing as he jammed up the night with his band’s own compositions.

Although the Pentagram frontman was ready to speak of his band, he clamped up when it came to Bollywood ventures. The Vishal-Shekhar duo have to their credit the music scores of Jhankar Beats, Om Shanti Om, Tara Rum Pum, Salaam Namaste, Dus, Bluff Master and Tashan to name a few.

Pentagram had last performed at the Sikkim Manipal Institute of technology at Mazitar recently. It has also another show lined up at Jalpaiguri.

“When we were here the last time, we heard of Live & Loud. It is a special place and one like this, which promotes music cannot be found even in Bombay. Sikkim is a beautiful part of the country. It's awesome that people here have a lot of energy for music,” said Vishal, who had for company Shiraz on drums, Papal on the bass and Randolph playing the guitar and electronics.

The band not only belted out compositions from their three albums We're Not Listening, Up and It's OK, It's All Good, it also played covers from Bob Marley, U2, Red Hot Chili Peppers and Radiohead in its own style. “We play a lot of our own music. A lot of mad stuff and we make a lot of noise, music that is electronic, rock, funky and also rap. It’s a special mix we play and we make music that is unique,” Vishal said.

He praised the Shillong-based Soulmate which is expected to perform on March 14 at Live & Loud. “They are a great band and we may extend our stay here to watch Soulmate perform.”

Soulmate, a blues and jazz band, has the distinction of being the only one from India to perform at the Memphis Blues Festival in 2007.