What do you get when you take chart-topping indie rock OGs Shortstraw and put them on a bill with the globe-trotting Afro-psychedelic seven-piece BCUC? The answer is nothing shy of amazing. The team behind Jim Beam’s Welcome Sessions have made it a habit of pairing two unlikely acts on one bill with the result being an unforgettable performance that exposes crowds to something new and unexpected.
The vibe at Sowaar Bar on Saturday night was infectious and the crowd was quick to jump when Year of Dogs, a last-minute addition to the line-up, hit the stage. Year of Dogs are an indie band from Cape Town that combine tight grooves and sweet vocal melodies to create indietronica that is super easy to dance to – think the early days of Jungle or Toro Y Moi.
Shortstraw took the energy in the room up a notch. Fresh off the back of their recently released album Fine, thanks and you? they have earned a reputation from over a decade’s worth of gigging as one of the most fun live acts in SA. Hearing the entire crowd chanting the lyrics to songs like “Couch Potato” and “Bikini Weather” is a testament to the band’s enduring fandom.
BCUC (Bantu Continua Uhuru Consciousness) are undoubtedly one of South Africa’s best musical exports of the last couple of years. However, despite extensive touring of Europe, their reputation is far from what it should be in South Africa.
The experience of watching the afro psychedelic seven-piece is such a visceral one that it’s hard to explain what makes them so special. The high energy of their largely percussive sound combined with call and response vocals result in a show that feels improvised, once-off and ephemeral. It’s no exaggeration that every time I watch them they raise my expectation.
This Jim Beam Welcome Session without a doubt exceeded itself by bringing different acts together under one banner for an intimate and unforgettable night.
Pics courtesy of ByeEvanCaptures.
