Friday the 7th, Mercury Live: It was a time and place etched into my mind in the tiny portion of my brain capable of remembering where I’m meant to be and when. When the Hog Hoggidy Hog waved the teaser for their Sherry Anne music video around the web I joined those who sat up and took notice. It was an occasion I would not allow myself to miss.
Come the appointed night I headed through to Mercury. I didn’t take my camera. This wasn’t going to be one of those nights where I sat around trying to get the right lighting to snap a clear picture to use here. That night I had one purpose: to go completely mental, and nothing would be allowed to hold me back.
First up were newcomers, Dustland Express. With everyone still fairly sober and them being fairly unknown it was the usual Cape Town vibe of everyone standing back watching the guys playing their hearts out without ever joining in. It’s a sad fact that in Cape Town: if you’re not known, no one will be the first to go out there and rock with you. We live in a city where everyone is far too cool to be the first to go out and jam to an unknown band and it’s fucking depressing. People really need to stop giving a fuck and show some appreciation for the music regardless of whether anyone else thinks you look like an ass.
Next up were The Rudimentals – a band with no worries about being unknown. They warmed up the crowd nicely with their infectious ska, playing a tight set as everyone has come to expect from them. My one comment is that they have become more serious over the years, more mature. While this is often regarded as a good thing
I have fond memories of the heady days when a Rudies gig meant circle pits and stage diving. It was a feeling shared and summarised by a friend in a singe phrase, “Play NoTV.” It’s a song they removed from their setlist and those who remember it don’t know why.
When they left the stage the usual band changeover bar rush occurred, but rather than taking the acquired drinks and waiting casually for the next band, everyone picked their spot to keep a decent view of the screens. It was a worthwhile exercise because the video is truly something incredible to behold.
The ‘Sherry Anne’ video took 2 years to make, was filmed on green screen and was animated by the Hogs’ guitarist Amos Keeto. A feat which explains the time taken when you consider the fact that everything in the video other than the people is computer-generated. It is truly a must watch. To make things easier for you I’ve embedded it in the page, a feat which amazes me every time I get it right. I’m completely clueless with this internet thing.
With the introductions and formalities now over the Hogs took to the stage. While some may have noticed that George was wearing trousers rather than shorts, a completely unheard of event, most did not. Because from the first note they played the crowd went mad, although mad is not quite strong enough to describe the chaos which occurred. For the entirety of the set there was at least one person borne aloft after a stage dive.
There were a few failed stage dives too, most notably the chap who chose to attire himself in his birthday suit prior to taking the stage. Unsurprisingly his jump was a failure, with him as moses and the crowd as the Red Sea; no one wants to risk grabbing a handful of sweaty nutsack. When the band finally left the stage after their encore they left behind a sea of battered but euphoric fans. This was quite possibly the wildest gig I’ve been to since my school days.
Until the next video, which I happen to know is in the pipeline, (You heard it here on The Daily Discharge, unless I’m wrong in which case I’m gonna come back and edit this so you’ll never prove anything) or, closer to now, the next gig, I bid you a battered farewell.
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