Features
Different setup …for this Doctor
However, this particular DOCTOR’s medicine comes in a different form … music!
The band DOCTOR has been in existence for the past 15 years and their ‘patients’, who turn up, in the form of music lovers, have been enjoying their brand of ‘medicine’ – music, of course – thoroughly.
The members who make up this outfit are Lanthra Perera (band leader/ vocalist/ guitarist), Adish Yomal (vocalist), Sangeeth Peiris (lead guitarist), Hashan Jayathilaka (bass guitarist), Shalindra De Silva (keyboardist), and Anupa Kahangamage (drums).
DOCTOR is managed by Nimal Perera, while Navindu Panabokka is the coordinator, and Nalaka Gunasekara is in the setup as sound engineer.
What is interesting is that DOCTOR has the Gypsies connection and that is probably why their music, too, is infectious.
Lanthra Perera, the late Sunil Perera’s nephew:
Leader/vocalist/guitarist of DOCTOR
Leader Lanthra Perera is the son of Nimal Perera, who is the former bassist of the Gypsies, and brother of the legendary Sunil Perera.
In addition to their excitement-generating live performances, DOCTOR has also come out with quite a few original hit songs – ‘Mage Girlfriend’, ‘Athmai Kiyaneh’, ‘Kollo Naraka Na’, and their latest release ‘Darling’.
‘Darling’, they say, is big in the local scene, right now, and there are plans by DOCTOR to have a new series of concerts, in 2024, named ‘Darling.’
Next year, the band isscheduled to embark on a tour of America, Canada, Dubai, and Australia, with more foreign assignments to follow.
A spokesman for DOCTOR indicated that they are keen to make a sound about their 15th anniversary and are toying with various ideas in order to make it an anniversary special.
DOCTOR’s musical repertoire is mainly made up of Sinhala pop and baila, with a little bit of English songs thrown in for added variety.