When the Bluebirds take the stage for ‘The Piano Man’ and ‘The Guitar Man’ at Bay 146 on Valentine’s Day, they will do more than play music. They will revive an era when love ballads and rock anthems shaped romance and relationships. The Chennai-based band, with roots stretching back to 1969, is set to perform a tribute to Billy Joel and Eric Clapton — two musical giants who defined what it meant to love, lose, and live.
“We grew up listening to Billy Joel and Eric Clapton,” says Rajan Muthukrishnan, the band’s bassist. “Their music is absolutely mesmerising. A piano man and a guitar man — it’s a rare combination, but a beautiful one.”
“This concert is special for us,” says Jesudasan Rajasekaran, the band’s lead vocalist. “I discovered Billy Joel in 1978 when my American girlfriend gave me two of his songbooks. That was my introduction to Valentine’s Day. Since then, his music has been a part of my life.”
For drummer Shyam Rao, the tribute is also about legacy. While their audience includes older fans who are nostalgic for the music of their youth, younger listeners are equally drawn to these classic tunes.
“Recently, we did a Deep Purple tribute, and I was surprised by how many 20-somethings knew the lyrics,” says Shyam, “Music evolves, but the roots matter. As an older band, it’s our job to keep that fire alive.”
Through the ages
Originally founded in Madurai in 1969 by an Anglo-Indian family, Bluebirds first played dance music at weddings and community events. By the 1980s, they had embraced rock and roll. Then, in 1985, they disbanded. “We had nothing going on until after 2000,” says Rajan. “It was supposed to be a one-off reunion gig, but we never stopped.”
Now, the band is a mix of old and new members. Rajasekaran, once a young musician in Madurai, is now its charismatic frontman. Rajan, who once admired him from afar, is his bandmate. Shyam, who left his IT job to pursue music full-time, is the group’s backbone.
Rajan Muthukrishnan, Jesudasan Rajasekaran, and Shyam Rao
| Photo Credit:
Special Arrangement
A night of memories
The Valentine’s Day setlist is deeply personal. Each song is tied to a memory.
“’Vienna’ and ‘Only the Good Die Young’ by Billy Joel. These two songs always remind me of my beautiful girlfriend from the ‘70s, who must be in her sixties now,” Rajasekaran reminisces.
For Shyam, Clapton’s ‘Wonderful Tonight’ is a song that lingers long after the night ends. “We used to play it on long drives. It was always the last song of the night,” he says.
And for Rajan, ‘You May Be Right’ by Billy Joel and ‘Lay Down Sally’ by Clapton capture the sheer joy of performing. “When we play those songs, the energy in the room shifts. People can’t help but dance.”
At Bay 146, an intimate venue with a devoted music-loving crowd, Bluebirds expect an audience that spans generations. “We see young people enjoying our music even more than the older crowd,” Rajan says, “They tell us, ‘Wow, what an inspiration.’”
Rajan is in his 60s, Rajasekaran in his 70s, and Shyam in his 50s. But as they talk about music, memories, and love, they seem ageless. Their laughter is easy, their enthusiasm infectious. They are romantics at heart. I ask them what keeps them young. All three say the same thing. But Rajasekaran says it best: “The day I stop singing, that’s the day I start ageing.”
On February 14 at Bay 146, Royapettah. For tickets (at ₹250 for entrance and ₹1000 redeemable cover charges), call 9710976876
Published – February 12, 2025 06:11 pm IST
