|
My Most
Memorable Gig |
||
|
Maybe it is just the repressed relativist in me, but I have always found using phrases like “most memorable” problematic, as it tends to discount the value of other related experiences. What is more, Bedlam’s relatively short span on what was then the SA metal scene had a number of rather memorable experiences – some bad, some too weird to want to remember, but most good. Hence, this column will briefly peer into what I remember to be our biggest, and most debaucherous, gig. The gig started with a phone call from Marq Vas – then the vocalist of SA metal giants MetalMorphosis – first to my guitarist Floris and then to myself. Needless to say, it was an invite (or, if you know Marq, more like an order), to open for MM and their leading peers Agro at club Icon, then at 207 Marshall Street (just down the road from the original Doors Nightclub). The gig was entitled “Judgement Nite – The Ultimate Heavy Metal Showdown”, sort of a mock battle to see who is the biggest of the two bands, and was to take place on Saturday 5 July 1997. I rapidly changed holiday plans, and we were set to go. We arrived at Icon at roughly 11 am that morning for setting up and sound checks. The first thing I saw when I entered was a spectacular array of Jack Daniel’s posters on the wall, one of which somehow ended up on my wall (now block mounted to ensure a lifelong memory, and presently serving as a muse for many a task!). The reason for this was of course MM’s JD sponsorship; something which was to come in very handy later that evening. Sound check was done in reverse order, which meant that we would be doing it last. What a pleasure it was to step on stage with all of these guys, and the gig didn’t even begin yet! Apart from that, this was our first gig with substantial sound behind us – each guitarist was playing through a full Marshall stack, the drummer had a noticeably large Pearl kit to amuse himself with, and I had access to a rather splendid Marshall myself. Not being much of a techie, I can’t elaborate much on the remainder of the equipment, but suffice to say that I knew my hearing would never be the same again. Skipping through the boring details of sound check and a quick visit home, we returned at about 7pm. As if we were not nervous enough already, we found quite a few people gathering around outside. We grabbed a booth, had a few (sponsored) JDs, and watched the club fill to capacity. And what seemed like five minutes later, we were up. Like all gigs fuelled by nerves (or JD), it was over before we knew it. But I remember a few details. Like playing about nine songs, with titles ranging from “M.P.D et al.” and “Master Demise” to “Docile, Iota” and “Six Feet Under” - most of which were in the fast and deadly thrash/death metal genre. And seeing quite a few people, including many of the members of Agro, MM, and a few other bands that came to watch, swinging their heads on the dance floor. And seeing Marq leaving somewhere in our first song to, what can be described euphemistically as kindly requesting the sound technician to (what I only heard later) raise my vocals’ levels. And our guitarist at the time Ian experiencing hand cramps during a song called “Leash” – a song he wrote! When we got off stage, I was exhausted and could not talk for the rest of the night, but I felt absolutely great. Marq welcomed us off stage with a bottle of JD, and being a poor student, I stashed it for days to come. We hung out in the band room (always loved those) for a while, had a drink or two, and left to the dance floor to support Marq and the boys… Like with all the MM gigs I saw, they kicked off with the vicious “Boneyard”, showing us how the big boys do it on stage. The almost seven foot Marq, backed by his band of lunatics, was great as always – aggressive to a point that borders on - no, crosses – murderous, on songs like “Passion Mother” and “Flesh”. Halfway through their second song he held up a JD T-shirt to throw into the crowd, which I promptly removed from his talons and stashed (with my poster and bottle) in my guitar case. A few songs later, he passed on a bottle of Uncle J, again straight into my hands, which the Bedlam boys and I thoroughly enjoyed before the rest of the crowd got a bit restless… MM put on a show that would be impossible to beat, but Agro surely at least paralleled it. In the true spirit of ‘Judgment Nite’, the Alberton five appeared on stage, much to the crowd’s delight, dressed in boxing gear. But when the first note struck, the joke was over and the true power characteristic of Agro was there. Like always, Cliff and the boys were on fire with songs like “Eyes”, “Yo Baby Yo”, and their great cover of “Lean on Me”. And to put it lightly, they failed to disappoint. After the completion of Agro’s set, the crowd systematically started leaving. But most members of the three bands still stuck around for quite a while, having a few drinks, comparing notes, packing up the equipment, and just having a “post-thrashing chill-out session”. And of all the things that happened that night, the only thing I regret is not locking more away into my memory. |
