Dirty Skirts, New Loud Rockets Assemble

Lightronic was pretty much the ideal name for the indie/dance-rock fest at Cape Town’s hottest new venue, Assembly, last night. New Loud Rockets, The Dirty Skirts and Lapse were welcomed by sharp lasers, the right crowd and a clean vibe to celebrate the new wave of MP3-shifting SA music.

The litmus test of a serious musician or band is what they drink on stage. Water may be boring, but at least it won’t leave you feeling like you’ve been on a stellar bender at the MCQP the night before. It’s not a backstabber like that.

The Assembly, CT: what a spot! It looks like an abandoned parking garage from the outside, but once you’re inside, you’re taken on a slick Hacienda-clone factory layout with LOADS of space, a (still) spotless floor and cool air conditioning. Beers go for R12, the crowd is a straightforward crew of middle-to-upper crust hipsters, with funky accessories and the occasional pink hairdo. With the degenerated but familiar Mercury Live and The Shack just around the corner, this could quickly become the best live music venue in town, o ye fickle, vibe-chasing Cape Town kids.

The Dirty Skirts and their now classic sound…    More Vids

The bill was New Loud Rockets, Dirty Skirts and DJ Lapse, who we skipped in lieu of midnight swimming at the Mount Nelson (seriously — nobody asks questions at 5-star hotels.) He’s on again on the 27th, and we may check ‘im then [email the ed if you feel like covering the gig -- we're looking for journalists: john@overtone.co.za].

New Loud Rockets is the latest incarnation in the rubber-stamp indie dance-rock factory (a la The Beams, Greenisforturbo, etc). Led by a stylish, suited Brandon Flowers-esque Johnny Seth, the five-piece did well last night, over-priming the crowd for the Skirts. In the words of one of our crew, “it’s the testament to a good disco-rock support band to draw people to the floor.” The New Loud Rockets boast a rehearsed freehold over both vocal and instrumental dance-rock that will soak your attention, no matter how far back you’re standing.

Aaah, The Dirty Skirts. Funny that, their act was surprisingly cleaner than when we last saw em, and, yes, water. You all know their music, so we won’t bother with that. According to another buddy, guitarist David “don’t look like he fit in — maybe with a pink jacket or something.”

Nonetheless, it was a flawless, CD-quality set from the Skirts, but one can’t help but ask “what’s next?” They’ve been around for ages now, and it’s gonna either be one of two things: innovate, or just keep pumping the volume. For a band with a shaizer-hot new website, and electro remix of opening song Feeling the Pressure as their backing track, we won’t be surprised if the Skirts follow their creative calling to move beyond the boundaries in SA dance-rock that they themselves have pioneered. Hint hint: we’ve personally seen drummer Markie De toying with an electronic drum sequencer…

Beyond the music, it was a celebrity-packed affair last night. Spotted were Van Coke Kartel’s Francois van Coke and Wynand Myburgh, Kidofdoom’s Johan Auriacombe, Fokof’s Hunter Kennedy, New Academics‘ freestyling emcee frontman Joe Penn, Lark’s Inge Beckmann fresh off her stop on the Rollercoaster. You get the idea. MP3-fuelled live music culture is out of the dip. Get to Assembly if you’re in Cape Town, and SIGN UP FOR OUR NATIONAL GIG GUIDE NEWSLETTER on the left hand side — all SA’s gigs to your inbox. Now, where’d I leave my towel…?

Think we’re cool? Wanna cover gigs for Overtone? Join the growing editorial team and live music industry. Email the ed for more: john@overtone.co.za