Say Bonjour to Ashtray Electric

The first time I heard of Ashtray Electric was at Ramfest 08 where they, still not that well know, played midday on the Saturday. I remember them quite well even though at the time I was half asleep under a tree because they were a delightful respite from all the heavy heavy metal that had dominated the feast so far. And I remember at the time thinking this is pretty nice though unfortunately it wasn't quite nice enough to rouse me from my shady spot to get a closer look. Though this is mainly due to a very late one the night before.

So just over a year later and with a debut album under their belts and skinny jeans, Ashtray Electric seems to be on the rise and rise. With mainstream appeal while still maintaining a good degree of street cred not to mention a very beautiful front man with an impossibly long name, I predict great things for the band. And seems like I am a not the only one, Ashtray Electric recently won the MK Award 2009 for Best Newcomer.

Ashtray Electric is Andre Gideon Montgomery Pienaar on lead vocals, Reg Nel on bass, Rupert Nel on drums and Rudi Cronje on guitar. The guys have great energy and seem to gel well together on stage. Andre dances like Mick Jagger; Rupert plays drums as if he is on another planet (in a good way) while both Reg and Rudi tie the sound together with some accomplished guitar playing.

However before Ashtray played, Thieve took to the stage to load shouts from, I'm assuming their friends, urging them to get a move on. They eventually did and played a set I unfortunately can't remember much about besides the last song "Last Day December" because it was very good and catchy and because I recognised it from the Bellville Rock City album.

Hopefully things go well for Ashtray Electric and we will be hearing their brilliant single “Quite Overstared” on mainstream radio stations soon.

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