Empirical Tribe is a LIVE band, based out of the capital city of Manipur, Imphal. The band was formed in 2009. The name Empirical Tribe speaks much about the origin of the band and its music. 'Empirical' means something that is based more on experimentation and observation rather than theoretical laws, and the term 'tribe' reflects the diverse cultures and communities of the north-eastern part of India. Khlain Ryntathiang replaced John Lyngdoh on the bass, which further added variations and solidness to the band as Khlain had been playing bass in quite a few established rock acts in Shillong. The first performance of the five-piece band was in 2009 and since then, the band moved by leaps and bounds to becoming one of the top rock acts in Shillong today. The first taste of success and recognition for the band's talent and efforts came in the form of Gregory Fancon, winning the award for the Best Vocalist at the prestigious Meghalaya Icon 2 in 2011. The next big leap for the band happened in November 2011, when they won the Kolkata Autumn Music Festival organised by the American Center, Kolkata. This put them at the forefront of the Shillong music scene, which was heavily dominated by commercial, pop, rock, and underground heavy-metal bands. The band's unique sound stems from a varied but seamless blending of the band members' individual tastes and influences. The band's style of music can be described as 'hard rock with a progressive and melodic edge'. Their songs are mostly about life itself and the present state of the society as a whole. Empirical Tribe's collective influences range from rock bands like Europe, Gotthard, Skid Row to progressive acts like Dream Theatre, Queensryche, Circus Maximus, and even to metal bands like Lamb of God and Korn. However, the band has its own distinctive and unique sound, which no doubt sets it apart from the other rock bands from Shillong and it has become somewhat of a trademark for the band. The group currently focuses on songwriting and recording, and they hope to come out with an album in the very near future that will be, for sure, a treat for music lovers and the fans of rock music. Band Members: Gregory Fancon – Vocals (2009–present) Rocky Lyngdoh – Guitars (2009–present) Banshan Nongkhlaw – Drums (2009–present) John Lyngdoh – Bass (2009–2012) Anthony Sohtun – Additional vocals Khlain Ryntathiang – Bass (2012–present)