A final goodbye
The stage was set and the lights dimmed to create that kind of ambiance you’d only expect to find at a sold out Rock Concert and as the crowds kept swarming into the Dutch Hospital, Colombo 1, where ‘The Slipping Chairs’ were set to perform their final gig, the energy around was surreal.
For nearly nine years, the band was in the industry, slowly but surely winning the hearts of those frequent and not so frequent pub crawlers and of course the music lovers. All of them would come to immerse themselves in a few hours of stellar song covers and since more recently, the band’s new album, ‘The Sweet Escape.’
This was all until April, 2018 when the band posted on Social Media, saying “It’s time for us to say goodbye,” much to the shock of their fans. As per the announcement, ‘The Slipping Chairs’ were to play their farewell shows at three different venues, the final to take place at the Dutch Hospital Colombo. A huge roar was heard from the crowd as the band took to the stage. They opened with a Kings of Leon classic, ‘Use Somebody.’ And with a sound, that’s only unique to the Slipping Chairs, they were quick to mesmerise their audience.
As per their usual routine, the band had the crowd dancing to their renowned covers of “My Songs Know What You Did in the Dark (Light Em Up)”by Fall Out Boy, ‘Budapest’ by George Ezra and even ‘Hallelujah.’ As the music progressed they pushed on, never for once stopping to take a break.
With each passing moment, the crowd only seemed to get larger, making things a little stuffy in the front end, leading one to disagree with the organizer’s choice to put up a tent. However, amidst all the sweat, the shoving the energy levels still remained on a high.
Pix courtesy Julian Claessen
No sooner had Dylan Manuel, the band’s vocalist delivered a stunning rendition of ‘Sound of Silence’, by Simon and Garfunkel, the crowds began to chant “Linkin Park!” The band clearly loved the enthusiasm and their expressions said it all, as they strummed the familiar chords of ‘Numb,’ drawing a roar from the crowd in the process.
As the evening progressed, it was clear that the front end of the stage was soon running out of space. Realizing this, the fans began to make their way backstage. The Slipping Chairs pushed on covering the likes of ‘The Trooper’ by Iron Maiden, ‘Stairway to Heaven’ by Led Zeppelin, ‘Purple Rain’ by Prince and even a local favourite ‘Nadee Ganga Tharanaye.’
But despite the overwhelming responses the audience had for the songs, it was quite clear what they wanted. And that was to hear the band play ‘Zombie’ by the Cranberries, one last time.
This was a song, which The Slipping Chairs had always performed at their shows. But what made the rendition at their farewell concert a special one, was that level of emotion clearly felt by the band. And this resonated in the song.
As midnight approached and the crowd eventually thinned out, the band was still going strong, never for once dropping their momentum. If at all one thing was clearly evident. And that was the fact that for the past nine years since it broke on into the industry The Slipping Chairs and the music they performed, had managed to touch the hearts of many Sri Lankans, both young and old. And although this may have been their final concert, it is certain that the spirit of their music shall live on.
