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Indian hard rock band ‘Girish and the Chronicles’ delivered a powerful first appearance on America’s Got Talent on 3rd June, electrifying the stage with a rock version of Adele’s ‘Set Fire to the Rain’. Their bold reimagining of the ballad earned a standing ovation and unanimous approval from judges Simon Cowell, Sofia Vergara, Mel B, and Howie Mandel.
The group, which hails from Gangtok, Sikkim and is now based in Bengaluru, brought a full-blown rock energy to the AGT stage. Dressed in classic rock attire and led by frontman Girish Pradhan, they transformed the emotional pop track into a roaring spectacle, complete with soaring guitar solos, heavy drums, and gritty vocals. Viewers and judges alike were struck by the band’s confidence and tight musicianship.
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Formed in 2009, Girish and the Chronicles — often known as GATC — have carved out a space for themselves as one of India’s leading rock exports. They’ve supported international acts such as Poets of the Fall and Destruction, and have performed in countries including Nepal and the United States.
Adele’s ‘Set Fire to the Rain’, which originally topped the Billboard Hot 100 in 2012 and earned her a Grammy Award, has remained one of her most iconic tracks — amassing over two billion streams on Spotify.
Their performance was part of a varied episode that saw multiple acts compete for a place in the next round. Also on the show were Phobias, a duo of silent clowns who added a creepy twist with their horror-inspired skit, and the Messoudi Brothers, who stunned the audience with a tense, shirtless knife-juggling routine.
Other Performances
Other featured performers included Citilimitz, a trio of singing brothers evoking early-2000s boy band nostalgia; gym teacher Amanda Badertscher, who surprised the crowd with her precision football trick shots; and others.
Girish and the Chronicles' fiery AGT debut may have just opened the door for Indian rock to take centre stage on a global platform.
