This weekend I was able to get to the My Coke Fest 08 held at the New Market Racetrack near Johannesburg. It is billed as the biggest Rock Festival held in South Africa, with a line-up of:
Local bands -
Lonehill Estate
Crash Car Burn
Wonderboom
Prime Circle
International bands -
30 Seconds to Mars
Kaiser Chiefs
Good Charlotte
Chris Cornell
Muse
Korn
The Venue
The stage looked pretty good, with two video screens on either side and a big one behind the stage. The sound was also actually OK. I have been to quite a few big festivals in South Africa, and often it is the sound that disappoints.
Facilities were also pretty good. Two years ago I attended this same festival at another venue, and I believe that people nearly died from dehydration. This time, apart from being allowed to bring in 1 litre of water each, it was very easy to buy drinks too. Parking was fine and everything very well organised.
The Shows
I arrived in time for the last few songs in Wonderboom's set. They are one of my all time favourite SA bands, and I was disappointed to have missed most of their set (my GPS had issues with the exact location of the venue). Regardless - what I heard was great, with them finishing off with their excellent cover of Rabbitt's 'Charlie'.
Next up was Prime Circle - I have seen them several times and they definitely improve every time. Live their blend of AOR and MOR comes across heavier, rockier and fun. On stage with them was an additional guitarist from the Nudies. It was a quick set of 5 songs only and then the wait for the International bands was over!
30 Seconds to Mars came on amidst a huge girlie scream. Jared Leto looked the picture perfect emo rocker. They screamed and shrieked through a fairly solid set, with Leto spending quite some time between songs chatting to the crowd. Apparently 4 tracks from their last album were recorded in SA. At one stage Leto moved out into the crowd to try for some more interactive stuff, but this was cut short by what seemed to be a power failure (I thought that maybe he had been mugged - this is Johannesburg after all). After a couple of minutes they were all back on stage and completed their set.
Next came Kaiser Chiefs, to me like a refreshing burst of sunlight after the doom, gloom, shrieking and wailing of 30 Seconds. They kicked off with 'Every day I love you less and less', and contrasted completely with 30 Seconds. Strong, witty and melodic tunes seemed to suddenly turn the party on! The crowd were singing along, and the number of songs they could play that everybody recognised were surprising to me considering that they only have two albums out. Ricky Wilson impressed with some astounding one-legged dancing! One song was introduced as a new one - either called 'History' or 'Memory' which gives an inclination that album number 3 will be just as good as the last two.
Considering the paucity of good international acts venturing into South Africa, it was incredible to witness an act as slick as this laying the party down so effectively - for me, I could not believe it was happening. I'm not sure how things sounded on the stage to the band, but I had a concern that crowd participation was not what they were used to, but looking around me, the crowd were certainly having a good time. The Chiefs finished off their set as the sun set.
After a longish wait, Good Charlotte came on. They went down extremely well with the younger element in the crowd, but I heard quite a few derogatory comments coming from the Korn faithfuls. Their brand of radio friendly pop had the crowd singing along, and it was quite amusing to hear all the guys in the open air latrines singing: 'Girls don't like boys, they...'.
Joel was effusive about the country, and the crowd. He also dedicated The Cures 'Love Song' to his new born baby daughter (I prefer the Cure version).
After GC came Chris Cornell. Another complete contrast when compared to the act before. No funny hats, no twiddly poking at keyboard keys and not much chit chat. What we got was intense guitar riffing, rock solid sounds, extremely strong songs and The Voice. This was good hard rocking with solo songs alongside Temple of the Dog, Soundgarden and Audioslave songs. Cornell is, without a doubt, a rock god. His backing band delivered an immense sound and Cornell was on fine form. In the middle of the set he invited a local guy on stage (called Gareth) to play along on an acoustic track. This set was definitely over too soon, but the sense of anticipation for the next group carried me through with euphoria levels maintained.
After a longish break, and my witnessing some amusing altercations between the Vice Squad and underage drinkers, the next act came on - Muse.
Chris, Dom and Matt came on stage and transformed the evening! I don't believe that they had their full lighting set with them as I saw no lasers, but they had enough. Song after song was delivered with a flourish, and there was no reason to doubt the judges who saw fit to proclaim Muse the best live band in the world. Witness Matt doing knee slides across the stage while peeling off blistering guitar solos. Matt's fingers flying across the piano keyboard, guitar slung across his back - only to leap up and peel off some huge demolishing riffage.
The crowd were stunned. I heard grown men singing along word for word in high keening voices (I cast about for my BB gun as I momentarily thought the cats were on the garden wall again), and just as what I thought must have been the best live performance of a song ended, the next one started and bettered the previous one. I can't remember how many songs were played and how long the set lasted, but I remember thinking as they sang '..time is running out...' that yes indeed it was. We would have to wait a very long time here in South Africa before seeing something as awesome as this again.
After an inordinately long break, Korn came on (I amused myself visualising them in a fluster after a late start to their make-up application routine - maybe there was a bit of a bust up over who stole Munky's mascara). Eventually they made it on stage and looked dressed to kill - literally. Davis in his skirt of course, with me hoping not to catch a glimpse of what was going on under there, as he lept up and down on-stage. The sound was truly mind numbing, and I don't think SA has witnessed anything as formidable as this ever before. Everything was there including the bag-pipes, and the crowd lapped it up.
Overall, Muse came out tops for me, then Chris Cornell, the Kaiser Chiefs and then Korn.
The biggest rock festival in SA, and probably the only one this year - it was all over too soon!
Local bands -
Lonehill Estate
Crash Car Burn
Wonderboom
Prime Circle
International bands -
30 Seconds to Mars
Kaiser Chiefs
Good Charlotte
Chris Cornell
Muse
Korn
The Venue
The stage looked pretty good, with two video screens on either side and a big one behind the stage. The sound was also actually OK. I have been to quite a few big festivals in South Africa, and often it is the sound that disappoints.
Facilities were also pretty good. Two years ago I attended this same festival at another venue, and I believe that people nearly died from dehydration. This time, apart from being allowed to bring in 1 litre of water each, it was very easy to buy drinks too. Parking was fine and everything very well organised.
The Shows
I arrived in time for the last few songs in Wonderboom's set. They are one of my all time favourite SA bands, and I was disappointed to have missed most of their set (my GPS had issues with the exact location of the venue). Regardless - what I heard was great, with them finishing off with their excellent cover of Rabbitt's 'Charlie'.
Next up was Prime Circle - I have seen them several times and they definitely improve every time. Live their blend of AOR and MOR comes across heavier, rockier and fun. On stage with them was an additional guitarist from the Nudies. It was a quick set of 5 songs only and then the wait for the International bands was over!
30 Seconds to Mars came on amidst a huge girlie scream. Jared Leto looked the picture perfect emo rocker. They screamed and shrieked through a fairly solid set, with Leto spending quite some time between songs chatting to the crowd. Apparently 4 tracks from their last album were recorded in SA. At one stage Leto moved out into the crowd to try for some more interactive stuff, but this was cut short by what seemed to be a power failure (I thought that maybe he had been mugged - this is Johannesburg after all). After a couple of minutes they were all back on stage and completed their set.
Next came Kaiser Chiefs, to me like a refreshing burst of sunlight after the doom, gloom, shrieking and wailing of 30 Seconds. They kicked off with 'Every day I love you less and less', and contrasted completely with 30 Seconds. Strong, witty and melodic tunes seemed to suddenly turn the party on! The crowd were singing along, and the number of songs they could play that everybody recognised were surprising to me considering that they only have two albums out. Ricky Wilson impressed with some astounding one-legged dancing! One song was introduced as a new one - either called 'History' or 'Memory' which gives an inclination that album number 3 will be just as good as the last two.
Considering the paucity of good international acts venturing into South Africa, it was incredible to witness an act as slick as this laying the party down so effectively - for me, I could not believe it was happening. I'm not sure how things sounded on the stage to the band, but I had a concern that crowd participation was not what they were used to, but looking around me, the crowd were certainly having a good time. The Chiefs finished off their set as the sun set.
After a longish wait, Good Charlotte came on. They went down extremely well with the younger element in the crowd, but I heard quite a few derogatory comments coming from the Korn faithfuls. Their brand of radio friendly pop had the crowd singing along, and it was quite amusing to hear all the guys in the open air latrines singing: 'Girls don't like boys, they...'.
Joel was effusive about the country, and the crowd. He also dedicated The Cures 'Love Song' to his new born baby daughter (I prefer the Cure version).
After GC came Chris Cornell. Another complete contrast when compared to the act before. No funny hats, no twiddly poking at keyboard keys and not much chit chat. What we got was intense guitar riffing, rock solid sounds, extremely strong songs and The Voice. This was good hard rocking with solo songs alongside Temple of the Dog, Soundgarden and Audioslave songs. Cornell is, without a doubt, a rock god. His backing band delivered an immense sound and Cornell was on fine form. In the middle of the set he invited a local guy on stage (called Gareth) to play along on an acoustic track. This set was definitely over too soon, but the sense of anticipation for the next group carried me through with euphoria levels maintained.
After a longish break, and my witnessing some amusing altercations between the Vice Squad and underage drinkers, the next act came on - Muse.
Chris, Dom and Matt came on stage and transformed the evening! I don't believe that they had their full lighting set with them as I saw no lasers, but they had enough. Song after song was delivered with a flourish, and there was no reason to doubt the judges who saw fit to proclaim Muse the best live band in the world. Witness Matt doing knee slides across the stage while peeling off blistering guitar solos. Matt's fingers flying across the piano keyboard, guitar slung across his back - only to leap up and peel off some huge demolishing riffage.
The crowd were stunned. I heard grown men singing along word for word in high keening voices (I cast about for my BB gun as I momentarily thought the cats were on the garden wall again), and just as what I thought must have been the best live performance of a song ended, the next one started and bettered the previous one. I can't remember how many songs were played and how long the set lasted, but I remember thinking as they sang '..time is running out...' that yes indeed it was. We would have to wait a very long time here in South Africa before seeing something as awesome as this again.
After an inordinately long break, Korn came on (I amused myself visualising them in a fluster after a late start to their make-up application routine - maybe there was a bit of a bust up over who stole Munky's mascara). Eventually they made it on stage and looked dressed to kill - literally. Davis in his skirt of course, with me hoping not to catch a glimpse of what was going on under there, as he lept up and down on-stage. The sound was truly mind numbing, and I don't think SA has witnessed anything as formidable as this ever before. Everything was there including the bag-pipes, and the crowd lapped it up.
Overall, Muse came out tops for me, then Chris Cornell, the Kaiser Chiefs and then Korn.
The biggest rock festival in SA, and probably the only one this year - it was all over too soon!
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