I somehow managed to forget a few key things - toothpaste, handwipes, pocket tissues, a mirror etc - so I just embraced the true festival vibe of not caring! With a little stream to cool down, and the overall festival area being a cosy and ve walkable distance, it was an ideal homely spot for a weekend of music.
Unlike UK festivals where you walk for miles between stages, I was thrilled that the main stage was only a short hop from the electro stage (and only just out of aural reach) - and then another hop and a jump from the Your LMG stage - a first time stage from the free Cape Town music magazine - bringing up and coming bands to new ears!
I love Your LMG's tagline -'Passed out in a bar near you'. Hmmm... ponder that... (It took me two reads :)
I spotted some interesting talent there - Jinx were my LMG discovery of the weekend. A 'circus electro mix' the guys explained as I chatted to them before they went on stage. Id stopped to ask them who they were, cos they were the only ones dressed in theatrical circus flair at 5pm in the afternoon! Turns out their quirky singing style woo'ed the audience no end! And with the Johnny Depp-esque moves of Willy Wonka crossed with the Mad Hatter, the lead singer was uber entertaining! His female vocal counterpart also added some much needed beauty. Mesmerising - check them out!
Also on Your LMG - I checked out Ree-burth, the exciting rock band from Soweto - an amazing sound that doesnt match the stereotyped visual you're expecting! Ve cool! Such a striking combination of onstage energy! I also saw the Red Huxleys - a band I've heard lots about but not seen live - and their style of rock also impressed! I kind of wish I'd checked out more on that stage, but as with all festivals - the choice is just too much!
Meanwhile, on main stage - things were happening from early hours... too many amazing bands to list! But in chronological order - it would be Friday night's headlining slot of Jax Panik and his first ever live performance that blew both me and the listeners away! They had the crowd eating out of their hands and everyone was singing along! It was like a 30 Seconds to Mars rock show. Except Jared Leto was in a larger-than-life LED illuminated mask - and there were five of these Jax Panik characters glowing against the bold digitised screens! Hard to believe it was their first time live! What a show!
Other discoveries of the weekend included Mccree and The Rescu - both before lunchtime on Saturday morning, proving that its always worth checking out all band slots and not just waiting for the Prime Circles and Hogs of the SA music world who most people know!
This was also Mccree's first ever festival - and to be on the main stage - oh wow! It took me a while to work it out, but when I did I was grinning like a school girl! It was the lead singer's voice which grabbed me - so similar it is to one of my all time favourite bands, a band who started out as small fry on the London scene (and consisting of two South Africans in their mix, including Beukes Willemse as lead singer), and who have now been living and performing in Berlin for the past two years, and blowing away local audiences with German precision! They are of course, Livingston! I was honoured enough to interview them and write their first ever article - back in 2004 - and then ended up following them at near every gig for about two years until they left London! All my friends and family got to hear about Livingston :) So watch out peeps, Mccree is the next one you will be listening to at a braai with me soon!
Mccree have what I call a 'big sky' sound - ideal for outdoor vibes, music that makes you breathe a little deeper and stand a little straighter, your heart feeling like everything will be ok.. it makes you wanna drive all day with the window rolled down and a big open blue sky leading you forwards!
Saturday night's line-up consisted of Prime Circle knocking out a good set, plus UK band Feeder who headlined - and I was surprised and thrilled to hear that their drummer now, is in fact a SA boy - an ex-Amersham drummer. You see, us South Africans infilrate everywhere! SA music is making its way into every nook and cranny - its just a matter of time before it explodes and is as acceptable the world over as Aussie music has become! No more 'special SA sections' at festivals cos 2010 is World Cup year, or the novelty Die Antwoord's, but many more Livingstons, Parlotones, Soweto Gospels, Johnny Cleggs, Nibs van der Spuys and all those other SA bands who tour abroad regularly!
Closing Saturday was an epic Goldfish set - say no more, who better to keep a crowd very much alive and awake til 330am! Plus the animated video to their latest track 'Get busy living' - a tale of two suitcases, in love. Too clever! I will never look at my luggage the same again when travelling! :)
Synergy sure was the sum of all the parts - from once dance party to now rock fest - and just the right size vibe at that. So much great SA music is out there! We just gotta get busy living and supporting all the small bands. Cos who knows who will be the next Prime Circle or Goldfish. Then you can say you saw them first. Not to mention become a groupie and get to watch every gig while you can afford it!
Rock on SA music and fabulous SA festivals!
x
2 comments:
what about fri and sun?
Friday was amazing - with Jax Panik being the highlight! I also loved seeing Taxi Violence for the first time!!
On Sunday I'd have to say seeing SouthPaw at 10am was the ideal start to the morning, followed by some fab reggae from Temba (together with EJ von Lyrik), followed by the always awesome Jack Mantis Band, and topped off with Plush who closed the main stage and an overall amazing Synergy Live!
Who were your favourites?
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