Rocking the Daisies 2011 - Band of Skulls
Originally published at magependragon.co.za . You can comment there using your LJ login as an OpenID.
Rocking the Daisies 2011 - Band of Skulls, a photo by magependragon on Flickr.
"High ho triple salco
I got a feeling like a tidal flow
but I know what I am, they know what they are so let me be
Gasoline saccharine
I got no reason for the state I'm in
But I know what I am they know what they are so let me be"
Date: 8 October 2011
Venue: Rocking the Daisies
Location: Darling, Western Cape, South Africa
I encountered Band of Skulls first on Guitar Hero: Warriors of Rock - their hit "I know what I am" is on the playlist. Their first album "Baby Darling Doll Face Honey" quickly found its way into my collection and onto my playlist, along with their track "Friends" from "Twillight: New Moon" which is as awesome. It follows that when I found out that this band would be performing close to home, I just had to see them. (I also wanted to see how Matt Hayward [drummer] managed to get the beat right on the high-hat for "I know what I am" because I can't just get it.)
Catch: They were playing at Rocking the Daisies, a local out door 3 day weekend fesitval out on a farm near Darling. This normally involves people camping for the weekend.
Problem: I don't camp. Well, more accurately, I have never camped. Not ever. As a family, we had a caravan at one point, an autovilla at another but we mostly stayed in self-catering chalets, B&Bs, one or two lodges, and hotels of various levels of luxury. The closest I have ever come to staying "under canvas" are the permanent tents in the Tamboti and Skukusa camps in Kruger Park.
After chatting to several friends and finding the most weren't too interested in heading out there for the weekend or a night or even just to catch their set. So things looked bleek. Late the Saturday afternoon though, I decided to head through on my own. Band of Skulls were out for a single gig and who knew when they were going to be back. I bought my ticket online at webtickets.co.za, grabbed a map and after gussying-up headed out to catch the gig.
It was about an hours drive out to the venue through the growing dark but not difficult to find, thankfully. Pre-paid ticket speeded up the process through the gate and soon I was striding my way through the rocking canvas of the tented camp towards the pulsing bass of the main entertainment area. I arrived just in time to catch the last half of Prime Circle's set.
Between that act and Civil Twilight, I walked around in search of food, drink and further entertainment. Rocking the Daisies were thoughtful enough to provide portable ATMs, unfortunately though, they under estimated the amount of money people might not be carrying with them as one of the two was empty and people in the other queue were joking about playing "roulette" as to who would be the unfortunate soul to empty the piggy bank.
I grabbed a large plate of slap chips from one of the vendors and wobbled down past the various "hippy" stalls towards the trance/house marque where the happy thumping beat was coming from. The laser light show was awesome and it totally reminded me of how much I miss the outdoor raves I used to go to in Joburg.
Wandering back up passed the stores, I acquired some glow sticks and a spray on dragon tattoo on my upper arm. The biggest faux tat I've had thus far and it last most of the rest of the week too. I ended back at the main stage queueing for beer when Civil Twilight took the stage. Those boys are cute but I was more interested in the head liners.
Soon, Band of Skulls took the stage in front of a mostly clueless gathered crowd. They were awesome and soon I was bouncing happily along to the music (in between taking photo fo course ;-) .) Unfortunately, Part of Rocking the Daisies involves handing out these awful can and fabric giant daisies to the crowd which pretty much obscure the view of the stage. Added to this was the over-sized jerk who worked his way in front of me, daisy in hand, and proceeded to bash into me repeatedly and bonk me on the head with said offending item repeatedly too. Thankfully, said high individual eventually got distracted and charged through the crowd like a rampaging bull to go jump like a frog in a blender all over someone else. For those about to suggest he might have been trying to get close to me, his very obvious girlfriend would slay that idea even if he had been my type.
Band of Skulls put on an awesome show, playing all the songs from their debut album (which was available at the merchandise shop) for an excited crowd. They were un-prepared to be called back on stage for an encore, which was kinda sweet, and so played out a one or two tracks they were working on and otherwise just jammed together a bit. It was particularly awesome watching Matt Hayward, the drummer, rocking out and seeing that he has a foot pedal the "high hat (yellow)" beat in "I know what I am" which is why it is so hard to play with sticks.
I left shortly after their set as it was late and I have no interest in the next act. The trip home was long but the evening was well worth it. I went alone and had an awesome time. Good memories of previous solo gigs added to this one, means I might do this again too.
Support this awesome new band and buy their debut album on TAKEALOT.COM or KALAHARI.COM