If you have ever had the privilege of attending Arcade Empire’s Halloween party, you will know that it’s one of the best mini-festivals in the country. With 4 stages and 20 acts at one of the best venues in South Africa, it doesn’t get much better. Only, it does because it’s Halloween and pretty much everyone dresses up. One of the awesome bands playing at this year’s event is the one and only Shortstraw, the epitome of indie-rock fun. I caught up with front-man Alastair Thomas, and if his responses aren’t enough to convince you to go I don’t know what will.
Jessica Kramer: So you’re going to rock the stage at this year’s Arcade Empire Halloween party – first things first, are you dressing up and if so, as what?
Alastair Thomas: Umm, we haven’t actually thought that far ahead. We’re really bad at planning things, so we’ll probably just end up going as Desmond and the Tutus or something.
JK: This is such a cool event, but Halloween isn’t really celebrated all that much in South Africa. Why do you think it has been so successful?
AT: People love dressing up. I reckon it’s a huge part of it. But when Arcade puts on a killer show like they do every year, it’s also easy to see why people go bos for it.
JK: What can fans expect from your set on the night?
AT: A little bit of this, a little bit of that. Mostly the usual stuff. Like immature pop songs and bad dancing.
JK: If you were a kid trick-or-treating, what would your trick be?
AT: We would shit on their doorstep if they didn’t give us sweets. Or worse, if they gave us fruit or something sis.
JK: What is the scariest movie you have ever seen?
AT: Gigli.
JK: Have you had any real-life horror experiences?
AT: Bearing witness to Gad’s “unique” fashion sense is an everyday horror story.
JK: Do you believe in any Halloween-like creatures? Do you think there’s a real-life Edward Cullen out there?
AT: Yes.
JK: If you could be any mythical creature – what would you be and why?
AT: Definitely a unicorn. So I could fart rainbows and poo jelly beans. And then stab bad guys with my horn. I’d be a crime-fighting unicorn.
JK: Who do you think would make up the best mythical creature super band? (like Wolverine shredding base with a punk-rock Tinkerbell on vox?)
AT: Well, the Wizard of Oz characters are basically the Black Eyed Peas. Not sure if they’re mythical creatures or not, but you could dress up like them for Halloween.
Dorothy is a loskop who can’t wake up – Fergie on drugs again, c’mon.
The lion needs some courage – AKA the guy that no one knows is in the band (i.e. not Will.i.Am or the horse face guy).
Scarecrow needs a brain – that guy that looks like a horse should be able to not look like a horse – first off cut your beautiful long ‘mane’.
And Tinman needs a heart – ol Will.I.Am has no heart, otherwise he would make better music.
Make sure you get your tickets for Halloween at Arcade Empire before they’re all gone.
