Sunday, March 8, 2009

Die Heuwels Fantasties at Aandklas

3 March 2009 Having enjoyed their music immensely from when I first heard it on CD and radio, I was eager to catch this mini superband live! Even more so because I had heard some negative reviews about their performance at Stilbaai’s Groot Gees Rock Fees in 2008, arguments being it is no different from listening to it on disc. So off we missioned to Aandklas, despite having to get up at 4.30am, hoping it would be worth it... I was of the opinion that R40 in a student town to see one band only was a bit steep. Apparently few others shared my views: Aandklas was bursting at the seams with eager fans just panting for a glimpse of Fokofpolisiekar and aKing’s Hunter Kennedy and Lukraaketaar’s Pierre Greeff. I cannot recall the last time Aandklas was so full that staff could not even leave the kitchen! Minutes past 10pm, Hunter, Pierre and Johnny took to the stage. The reaction was an instant eruption of excitement from the crowd’s side, and as the first humming sounds of ‘Hang, hang in die hemel’ reverberated into the crowd, the response just kept building... A word of warning from my side: Do not enter, expecting a live gig like others. It is a good show, and it sounds as much as it does on disc as your heart may desire. But it is as much as one can expect from two vocalists and a laptop. On the other hand, Hunter and Pierre were energetic and engaging, and there is something about seeing the expression on a musician’s face that translates so concretely his love for what he does no? On top of an entertaining show, plasma screens were put up all around the venue for your viewing pleasure or for those who cared not to brave the turbulent crowd of aficionados. These showed images of the band as well as psychedelic colours and all things random [like jellyfish] to complement the electro vibes on stage. Every track was well-received, from the ones we all know by heart to the sizeable sample of new material, and watching the crowd punching holes in the air from start to finish got me thinking that maybe, just maybe these guys have started something, and soon South Africa will have an electro music scene to speak of. We can only hope...

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

Awesome show...awesome review LK.

It was a gig to remember!

Lize Kay said...

without a doubt! saw them again last night, it remains a great show!

Anonymous said...

A "mainstream" electro scene.