Nepathya rocks Boston again in seven years

By A Staff Reporter,Kathmandu, June 15: When lead singer of famous band Nepathya Amrit Gurung was performing at Royale Boston in Boston of the USA on Thursday evening, an audience threw Nepal's national flag onto the stage.

 Singer Gurung picked up the flag with some written marks on it, draped it over his shoulders and remarked, "Let us always treat this red flag with the moon and sun with the utmost respect. No one should ever be allowed to stain our flag."

His words were immediately met with thunderous applause and cheers from the entire hall. Unfazed, Amrit returned to his performance as if nothing had interrupted it.

It was how Nepathya performed at the Royale Boston, the sixth of the seven venues it has chosen to perform in a month long US trip. Coincidentally, this is Nepathya’s seventh tour in the United States. Like last year, this year’s tour also includes performances in seven cities.

The Boston show lasted for two hours from 8pm to 10 pm. 

Not only Nepalis living in the USA, but also foreigners also reached the Royal Boston to listen to Gurung. 

“I was confused when my Nepali friends invited me to this concert since I don’t understand the language,” said Amanda Roxen Yap, a student from the Philippines studying in Boston. “But I had a great time. I would’ve regretted missing it.”

 This year’s US tour began a month ago in Austin, Texas, and has since included performances in Seattle, Los Angeles, Pittsburgh, and, last week, in Chicago — Boston marked the sixth stop, said Nepalaya in a statement. 

The crowd was a colorful mix — from young Nepalis with foreign friends to elderly community members. Among them was 80-year-old Nandakumari Dhital, who seemed to be enjoying herself thoroughly. She is the mother of Ram Dhital, a restaurant owner in Boston originally from Dhulikhel.

“I brought my mother along because I heard the concert would be enjoyable for everyone,” said Ram, attending a Nepathya concert for the first time. “It was a moment of joy for our whole family.”

Also present were Jesse Ritvo, an American who drove four and a half hours from Vermont with his Nepali wife, Furdiki Sherpa.

“When the audience started singing along with the band, I regretted not learning Nepali from my wife,” said Jesse, who had left his two-year-old child at home for the first time to attend the show. “Being among such an enthusiastic crowd was a joy in itself.”

The concert opened with Koshi Ko Pani and continued with hits like Bheda Ko Oon Jasto, Chhekyo, Jomsome Bazaar, and Udayo Relaile. The audience erupted with excitement when popular songs like Resham and Taal Ko Pani were played.

While singing Shirphool Shirai Ma, Amrit painted a lyrical picture of Nepal’s beautiful villages. He also performed the band’s latest track Karnalika Chhaila, a song about the Karnali region. The concert concluded with deeply patriotic songs Gaun Bata Utha and Rato Ra Chandra Surya.

On stage, Amrit was accompanied by Dhruva Lama on drums, Subin Shakya on bass guitar, Niraj Gurung on guitar, Shanti Rayamajhi on madal (traditional drum), and Dinesh Raj Regmi on keyboards.

Among those who enjoyed the concert were also staff from the Royale Boston venue. 

After performing in Boston, the 14-member Nepathya team has arrived in Greensboro, North Carolina, for their final show at Piedmont Hall on June 14.