Pierre Greef with his odd hoodie slash scarf thing embracing the crowd. Photo: Bernard Bravenboer

While the whole of Stellenbosch was practically sick or hysteric about swine flu, nothing stopped the student bravado to jam it out to one massive gig in Stellenbosch Town Hall: Die Heuwels Fantasties, Van Coke Kartel, aKING and Fokofpolisiekar or collectively known as VanFokKingTasties. Nine guys, 4 bands and many many guest appearances resulted in one fantastic aural orgy.

First up was Die Heuwels Fantasties. I’m a big fan of this group. Their electro rock sound is like honey on my ear drums[yum?]. So, giving these guys an objective review is like expecting Kurt Darren to start making hard rock. All the songs had their respective guest musicians coming on stage to do their part. This includes, Arno Kruger, Jack Parow, Laudo Liebenberg, Francois van Coke etc. The highlight must be Pille Vir Kersfees. Check the video below. It was insane!

Van Coke Kartel, while not always being a fan of them, held their own along with a guest cello player and Wynand’s standing bass. The guest appearance by George van der Spuy from Taxi Violence in the song September Fools, was a big suprise. They rocked through their set with some minor glitches, like the phone mic again not working. They should ditch that novelty mic, because it never seems to work!

aKING was up next and provided a flawless performance. They played a great set which mixed songs from both their albums. The songs from Against All Odds went down really well live and proved that no matter how mellow the songs might sound on the album, it will definitely get you dancing in the capable hands on aKING. I bet aKING’s power lies in Laudo’s 80′s pornstar moustache.

Fokofpolisiekar graced the stage next. It’s been almost six years since they rammed anthems into every Afrikaner, yet they still keep on going. For one I’m glad to be of the few who could see them live, but somehow they’ve changed over the years. They’ve grown more mature. I like that, but somehow it looses that rebellish oomph. I don’t usually want that in a band, I prefer bands to chillax on stage (this is relative… as in don’t break down the stage etc, but headbang like crazy please!), but Fokof didn’t have the oomph they had. The previous term I saw them at Klein Libertas and that was a lot better. Perhaps it was the set, perhaps it was me being slightly sick, but Fokofpolisiekar didn’t move me the way they did that one Klein Libertas night. Alas, it could also be chalked up to a sad anti-climax when Snake broke the snare drum for a second time and halted the gig, which meant Antibiotika had to be cut.

All in all, the VanFokKingTasties gig was an immense success. Sometimes the mic levels were a bit off, but like a friend said, who cares if they needed mics, ’cause the crowd sang the songs for them. I read somewhere that they want to tour this thing in the UK. I bet my older bro in London would go crazy. It’s a brilliant idea. Standing in the crowd watching all these bands grace the stage makes one have immense respect for these guys. Their perseverance in their passion for music is commendable and very rare in today’s strong pull of the rat race. I guess it’ll be a story to tell your kids one day. I saw DHF, VCK, aKING and FPK live… in one night. Just next time get a better venue (cause it got hella smokey later) or wait for a sunny Saturday afternoon on Die Braak!

P.S. – Check Bernard Bravenboer’s blog for excellent photos. More updates follow.

Related posts:

1. Coke Zero Fest 2009 – Cape Town Highlights
2. The Pretty Blue Guns @ Aandklas, 22 August
3. Die Antwoord Effect – Coachella

Tags: aKing, Die Heuwels Fantasties, Fokofpolisiekar, Van Coke Kartel, VanFokKingTasties
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