It was a superbly organised event with everything, from parking attendants to port-o-loos to performances running like clock-work, but perhaps more cash-money should have been spent on publicity. These are two of the more popular bands in Cape Town with a large fan-base across the city and yet numbers at the event were dismal - my guesstimate is 200 - 250 at a venue that can hold over 1000 people. It was clear that organisers were expecting much higher numbers with security out in full force, but with not much to do. Three 'Men in Black', noted Greg, were posted in front of the stage as if the crowd present were capable of becoming rowdy, clambering on stage to harass the bands (though there was the odd flip-flop and sneaker being flung from pillow to post...).
Regardless of the head count, both bands put on super, lively performances that eventually had a rather placid crowd on their feet breakin' it down to some wicked tunes.
For a long time I've been sitting on the fence about Zebra & Giraffe; I heard them play at the 2009 Coke Zero Fest as well as recently at the Synergy Live Festival in Franschhoek this year, but I didn't really see any appeal at the time. Today they have one more fan to add to more than just their Facebook page - I'm officially a Zebra & Giraffe admirer. After missing their opening performance for The Killers in Cape Town due to poor traffic management at the venue I, among the rest of the crowd at Wynberg, experienced a very intimate performance with the band.
The laid-back audience soon found their dancing shoes and couldn't resist getting up to sing and dance. Zebra & Giraffe put on a flawless performance really putting plenty of energy into entertaining the crowd. Greg has great interaction with the audience and the band performs as a solid unit pushing 100% effort into producing a top-notch concert. There are few acts that are really passionate about what they do; Zebra & Giraffe definitely have the charisma and stage presence to play in any environment and impress wherever they may go.
And the very same may be said for The Dirty Skirts - all band members are very much alive on stage exuding such passion into the crowd that it becomes unavoidably infectious. Jeremy flies around the stage engaging with everyone while the rest of the band thrives on that energy playing enthusiastically as always, usually causing a frenzy amongst fans in the front row.
There is an important lesson to learn for up-coming and already-going bands in South Africa from this first Sunshine Saturday concert. It doesn't matter whether it's 200 or 2000 people you're playing for - your performance really reflects, in both instances, how professional you are and how much love you have for what you do. Both Zebra & Giraffe and The Dirty Skirts were vivacious, spontaneous and inspiring to watch; they were fantastic to say the least. I've watched The Dirty Skirts perform more times than I can count on both fingers and possibly toes and yet I'm still excited to see them perform live. They were called back for an encore and gladly obliged.
Both Jeremy and Greg are superb leaders in helping their bands put on amazing performances regardless of attendance figures and whatever else may come their way. May good South African music continue to thrive and produce amazing artists such as these!
Next up on the Sunshine Saturdays line-up is Prime Circle. For more information, go to www.sunshineconcerts.co.za.
