Last band standing takes it all
KICKING off your shoes at a beach bar, sipping on an ice cold beer and listening to young, enthusiastic upcoming local bands thrashing it out on the stage is a pretty cool way to end a working day. And you get to do this gazing at the backdrop of Chapman’s Peak, glowing a fiery pink from the setting sun, with the smell of the ocean lazily drifting into your nose. We are rather lucky in Cape Town.
But it’s not all about the audience. Band Survivor Hout Bay is offering local unsigned bands a free platform to show off their stuff and – in the words of event organiser Aidan Harper – “help to launch their music careers more so than dragging a drum kit from gig to gig, or using beer money to replace snapped guitar strings”.
The winning band walks away with R10 000 and a production recording of a single. Second prize is the production recording of a _single. Third prize is two threehour rehearsal sessions.
Band Survivor runs for six weeks at La Cabane, a super-chilled beach restaurant and bar. Bands play in front of the audience members, who all receive voting slips. Each vote contributes to the final weekly score. The top four acts of the week will compete on the Saturday. The semi-finals are on March 24. The final is on March 31.
So far, the bands that have made it through to the semi-finals include Al Bairre, Hotel Iris, K Ray and the Bird, The Ratrod Cats, Wild Lettuce, and Shamanzi.
These guys are relatively unknown, but they are playing their hearts out to make a name for themselves.
Four-piece band Hotel Iris pulled in a good crowd with their soulful bluesy rock pop songs. They are less than three months old but seem determined to fight their way to the top. It’s a rather eclectic band that jams with an acoustic guitar, electric guitars, harmonica, drums, mandolin, bass guitar and keyboards.
The Ratrod Cats certainly got my vote for the day. Their style is a rockabilly “psychabilly” fusion of old and new.
They dress up in two tone shirts and shoes, vintage glasses, slicked back hair and lots of tattoos. One of the categories on our audience voting sheets include appearance, stage presence and audience interaction, and the guys are giving it their all.
The girls in the audience are quick to get up and gyrate in the setting sun and they howl when it’s the Cat’s last number.
The Ratrod Cats write all their own music and it’s a refreshing new style that doesn’t fall into a specific genre; they are striving to not follow the style of popular American bands.
Bands bring their own gear, but the sound, lights and promotions are professionally managed by Aidan Harper of Mymusicmatrix. com who has a seemingly endless passion for growing the local music industry.
The venue, La Cabane, is perfectly suited for Band Survivor. With its gorgeous mountain backdrop, custom-built stage and plenty of dancing and seating spaces under stars, it’s aiming to establish itself as a leading live gig venue. And the food is delicious. Belgian owner and chef Joe De Jonk lusts after good music and great food, combining the two in an easy-going venue which makes you want to kick back and relax.
Play-offs take place every night of the week, from 7pm to 9pm, with two bands per night. Audience members each receive a voting slip. Each vote contributes to a final weekly score.
The audience only pays to watch the semi-finals and final, which are R20 and R30 respectively, and a percentage of proceedings go to Darg (The Domestic Animal Rescue Group) in Hout Bay.
Darg, a pro-life non-profit organisation that rescues and re-homes abused and neglected cats and dogs, has had four break-ins over the last few weeks and certainly need the support.
So go have a fun night out and help them get back on their paws.
Some of the judges include studio owner Lionel Jardin, producers John Belyeu and Cedric Sampson, La Cabane’s owner Joe De Jonk, Toni Lehmensich from MymusicMatrix.com, Thought Police drummer Darrel, and bassist for Long Time Citizens Anton Marshall,.
Unsigned bands interested in competing still have until March 20 to sign-up. Call 021 820 3851, or e-mail martinette@mymusicmatrix.com See more on the venue at www.lacabane.co.za Two doubletickets are up for grabs for the finals. E-mail competitions@mymusicmatrix.com for a chance to win.