CAMP ARIFJAN, Kuwait - U.S. Soldiers stationed at Camp Arifjan got a taste of Kuwait's underground music scene July 12.
Kuwait-based bands took the stage to show the Soldiers that rock 'n' roll is alive in Kuwait and to thank them for their sacrifices.
"It's an honor to play for the troops, they protect us and do a lot for us and this is a good way to give back to them with what we could, which is music," said Abdul Hadi Albouni, percussionist for psychedelic rock band Zanjebar.
Albouni and his band mates, all students at American University of Kuwait, are among a small population of Kuwait-based rock groups, but have high aspirations for the growth of rock 'n' roll in Kuwait.
"We want to live it, this rock 'n' roll sense; people getting up, being happy, forgetting all their troubles and living in the moment," Albouni said. "We want people to live it with us by hearing our music."
The band had been hoping to play at Camp Arifjan since they formed last year.
"I think the troops might appreciate some of this music a little bit more than the audiences we normally play for. Our music is considered foreign in Kuwait, so it's harder for them to appreciate it," Albouni said.
The gig finally came through and the three-piece band delivered a set of originals and classic-rock covers with a unique twist.
"We play hard rock, psychedelic and mix it with a little bit of orientalism from our culture," said Taymour Khajah, lead guitarist and vocalist for Zanjebar. "We take influence from Jason Mraz, Led Zeppelin, Johnny Cash and some modern music as well."
The band said they also take influence from a number of other American rock groups and hope their performance at Arifjan will allow Soldiers to see a different side of Kuwait.
"Kuwait does have people that live this life, this rock 'n' roll sense; you don't see that a lot in Kuwait. The fact that we can bring that into Kuwait and show the troops that it's here in Kuwait, I think that creates a musical bond which is as strong as any bond that might happen," he said.
And that bond was evident as Soldiers sang along to the classic and modern covers of Led Zeppelin and Imagine Dragons they had adapted to fit their own style. The band noted that they had arranged a new set hoping the Soldiers would recognize the cover songs.
"I'm hoping the troops enjoy it as much as we do," said Fadi Albouni, Hadi's twin brother and bassist for the band. "They work so hard to protect us and they deserve to be happy while they're here. If there is a possibility we can make them happy, that means the world to us."
Fadi said he also hopes the show will help to dissolve some misconceptions.
"There are some people who have wrong ideas about Arabs, a lot of Arabs love Americans. If we could show people that not all Arabs are conservative then we are doing our job. If we could prove that we are open-minded and love the same things everyone loves, which is music, it's a bond that we can create. If we feel it we know you feel it," said Fadi.
Although they plan on finishing college first, Zanjebar aspires to become a famous rock 'n' roll group and tour the U.S.
"We want to get out there, we enjoy our music and I know that a lot of people would enjoy it if they heard it," Hadi said.
Though the evening may not have been a major stepping stone for the rock 'n' roll music scene in Kuwait, for a few college students who dream of making it big, it was a step in the right direction.
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