by RUPERT BOTTENBERG

“Pakistani people have never been so focused, and their resilience never tested so much before,” announces a statement from Dr. Matlub Hussain, president of the Pakistani-Canadian Society of Quebec, on the subject of the recent earthquake in Pakistan and Kashmir. “Almost one-and-a-half times the population of greater Montreal is still heavily affected by this catastrophe. More than 87,000 people are dead. With a harsh winter approaching, more are likely to die. Houses are gone, so are the previously established infrastructures. Thousands of schools, hundreds of hospitals and clinics, and thousands of miles of road need to be rebuilt. It is a huge task and Pakistan does not have economic resources to do it. Canadian help is miniscule. We can do better than this.”

We certainly can, and a good start is the Quake-Aid concert at Club Soda this Friday, organized by musician/promoter Tariq Khan (whose family hails from Kashmir), with help from Neo-Chi (aka beatboxer Quadraceptor, aka the Mirror’s Lateef Martin), the PCSQ, CKUT, Steve’s, Pakistan Post and many more.

“About two days after it happened, we figured it might be necessary to start movin’ and find a venue,” recalls Khan, explaining the timely nature of the event. The generosity of Club Soda’s team was matched by that of Amon Tobin, Zale Seck, P-Love, the Solid State breakdancers, Patrick Watson, Kalmunity, VJ Paul Warne and KOPS Crew. They’ll all be on hand for an evening jam-packed with outstanding sights and sounds, as will Quadraceptor.

Still want more? “There’s this young, co-ed, Pakistani-style dance troupe coming in from Ontario to perform,” notes Khan, “in traditional dress, performing some more popular Bollywood-style moves, and possibly some Western-influenced pop/hip hop dancing.”

The evening’s highlight, though, may be the jam between Khan’s band the High Breed (featuring Dr. Noh’s Neal Gupta and NYC trumpeter Aaron Shragge) and his mentor, Montreal-based tabla virtuoso Ustad Dawood Khan. “He is a monster musician and master of Indian music. When I say monster, I mean he’s about as heavy as it gets. He’s played with the legendary Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan and apprenticed with the same masters as Ravi Shankar’s musicians. He’s also the closest thing I’ve seen to a living saint—I’m not exaggerating, he’s a true guru, cooler than Miyagi from Karate Kid.”

Khan modestly adds, “Prepare to be blown away by this, man.”

This emergency-aid fundraiser strikes a note of hope after the catastrophe, and so does the conclusion of Dr. Hussain’s statement. “Pakistan has taken initiative and India has reacted time and time again as far as the Kashmir issue is concerned. They opened a few border posts to cross. Kashmiri leaders on both sides of the line of control have welcomed this gesture. They think the line of control is like a Berlin Wall and will come down someday. The earthquake might have started that process!

“I think South Asian countries are realizing that with almost one-fourth of the world’s population, it is going to be one of the most influential regions, if they only cooperated and didn’t fight among themselves. The key is a resolution of the Kashmir issue and a healthy relationship between Pakistan and India. A prosperous South Asia means the world as a whole will achieve higher levels of well-being.” n

At Club Soda on Friday, Nov. 18, 8 p.m., $15

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