I wish I could give you a proper review of Synergy Live. Unfortunately I can’t. I started the weekend with good intentions, I had a pen and a piece of paper. I wrote stuff down. However, by the second band I’d seen, both paper and pen had left the picture, never to be seen again.
Instead I provide my thoughts based on the few flashes of memory remaining after the weekend. I’ve taken this long to write this because I was trying to pull together a moderately coherent recollection to give to you, and unfortunately failed.
The weekend began at 9 on Friday morning. The cold goods were removed from the deep freeze and fridge and thrown in the car. A brief stop off was made at Spar to pick up cigs and gum, the fuel financiers were collected and ensconced in their respective seats, and the road was hit. Excitement filled the car as we tore up the N1, stopping briefly to load 12 Kg’s of ice into the otherwise empty coolerbox.
On arrival we were greeted with a green grassed, mud free field and a murderously hot sun. We checked in through the gate and found the scouting party. Two heavily overloaded trips later and all the supplies and equipment had made it from the car to the campsite. Beers were cracked, cigs were lit and hearty congratulations were exchanged all round. After a brief flurry of activity the tents were up and more beers then consumed.
A campsite. Similar to ours but not it.
We settled in to wait out the afternoon while constantly adjusting the seating to keep the gazebo farm between us and the sun. At some point the evening fell and the first trip to the stage was made. To see… something. From here things become hazy. I’m pretty sure I saw Dirty Skirts and Zebra and Giraffe. I know I saw Flash Republic. At some point there was someone on my shoulders but I have no idea who. Flash Republic finished their set and ashamedly so did I.
The Dirty Skirts - According to time stamps
Upon waking, the first priority was boardies. The second was the river. After that the recollections fade again until someone pointed out that it was time for Hog Hoggidy Hog. Slops were exchanged for proper shoes and the dash to the stage was made. I downed my beer upon arrival in the knowledge that it would simply water the ground were it taken into the pit. Life became a fight to survive the absolute rager of a moshpit. This is what I live for. And this is what the Hogs live to provide. Life was awesome. A Rocking the Daisies hat found it’s way to my head. I assumed it belonged to a friend and took it back to the campsite with me. It didn’t. Score!
Method to the Madness
With the sun making it’s way out of the sky it was time for a last swim to wash off the dust from a day spent in the pursuit of hedonism. Shorts were swapped for jeans, T-shirts were dug out for the first time in the day and inebriation became the overwhelming goal. Once again recollections become a set of brief flashes. A ride on some vile spinning fairground ride activated my upchuck reflex and despite my best efforts a small part of the day’s hearty excess escaped.
The power went out during a set, possibly Prime Circle. It didn’t matter, good humour prevailed and the power was restored. Glowsticks were acquired, activated, broken open and sprayed everywhere. It seems chicks dig the dude spaying glowing goop around, bear that in mind for the future. In the process of spraying all of my sudden group of disciples I sprayed some in someones eyes. Seemed painful for them, avoid doing that. I also, while spraying a girl, hit her in the arm by mistake and cut her with some or other part of the stick. She seemed to take being stabbed with something full of apparently poisonous fluid better than I took having done it. Goldfish ended and a resupply run was made. Then the night became a blur of electro tent shenanigans and wanton abuse of the human liver.
The most evil machine ever made
After awakening on Sunday, a trip was made to watch Captain Stu. The crowd was dead or walking-wounded. A tour up north ending with Saturday night at Synergy seemed to have taken a toll on certain members of the band. The songs were played to a standard only slightly lower than usual, however the on-stage chatter had descended to idiocy. Most of the crowd identified with the bands’ struggles. As the set ended the realisation dawned that perhaps we had exhausted our bodies’ ability to endure abuse and it was time to give up and head home. Better people than us could give the final bands of the day the support they deserved.
"Why the fuck am I awake?"
The overall impression of the event was that it was well organised.The bands were “polished”. The weather was fucking awesome, the food was well priced, as was the merch. The crowd was young and beautiful and the vibe was relaxed. In a comparison with Rocking the Daisies, Synergy comes out as a definite winner.
Perhaps a bit harsh?
I will be there next year. So should you. Till then, there’s always Ramfest.
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Pendulum… Ramfest.. Winner!
Definitely dude. Even bigger campsite this time?
im keen!