South African music is at a crossroads. The current A-listers that have swaggered their way across stages around South Africa have flown the SA music flag with pride for so long. My issue is that we have seen the Fokofs, the Heuwels and the others so many times. They always put on a great show, but I worry that they have saturated their viewership to a point. I thought this of Spoegwolf, until I saw them in a sweaty club In Irene.
I have watched Danie and gang in many settings. I watched them at a small intimate gig at a brewery in Paarl, I’ve watched them at a huge festival and a staged setting celebrating the anniversary of their first album (my son’s first live concert, by the way) but I had never watched them in a club setting. It has sparked a new excitement in them for me.
Some say the club scene is dying. There are fewer small venues where bands can cut their teeth in front of small, passionate crowds. Gone are the days when you could pitch up to Tings n Times in Hatfield on a random Thursday to watch the early iterations of Desmond or the Dirty Skirts. Obviously I am a bit out of the scene, having grown up and trying to raise a kid.
I had a chat with Danie and Moskou before the show. I told them that I loved their restaurant that has since closed in Stellenbosch and how great they were as chefs and entertainers. Danie was a bit taken aback when I told him to “Not fuck up the show”, a word of advice that the humour failed me on.
Back to the concert. I stood in awe as hundreds of sweaty twenty and thirty somethings pushed hard to get to the front of the stage. I was one of them, screaming my lungs out to the lyrics that I did know. For anyone filming the show on their phone who had a video screwed up by my terrible singing voice, I apologise. The set was short, but the emotions were high and I am always surprised as to the level of intensity that Danie can muster for any show. The oke must be so tired after a show that he basically hibernates until his next.
Spoegwolf, you guys continue to carry the SA music flag so high and we must applaud you for that. Keep it up. If you are reading this and wondering what you are doing this week, I’d suggest you look out for a live band near you – heaven knows they would love the support.
PS, I have realised that I am not a rock photographer.
