Here’s why Zinkplaat’s reunion show sold out

After damn near nine years (counting a little reunion in 2015), the boys from Zinkplaat graced the Daisy Jones Bar last weekend with a reunion show for the ages.

When they made the announcement, tickets literally flew. The first show sold out in about two hours. Then, a second show was announced – which also sold out.

If you haven’t heard of Zinkplaat, they’re an iconic Afrikaans band. Their lyrics tell small town stories of heartache whilst making reference to Afrikaans pop culture, and their music videos represented a generation of Afrikaans students, music lovers and normal people who just wanted to listen to stuff that mattered.

Their songs are the soundtrack to many an older millennial’s youth, and this past weekend was like entering a time capsule.

An incredibly well-balanced setlist didn’t let diehard fans (and their children) down. Today, bandmates Bertie, Beer, Basson and Beitel live in different cities, and while there was firm encouragement towards the crowd to help with vocals, the show was everything you could expect from a band that never truly got the recognition they so thoroughly deserved.

A nicely timed break, and the banter between songs made the show feel like a catch up between friends rather than a reunion. Even though it was a reunion of sorts, I spoke to different people who all agreed.

This past weekend felt like that time when we had too much Tassenberg, whether it was in Stellenbosch at Bohemia, in Potchefstroom at Pablo’s, in Pretoria at the Atterbury Theatre, or in Bloemfontein at Die
Aasvoël. Hell, maybe even at Die Avontoer.

And so I reiterate – these guys, along with the many high spirited fans in attendance at Daisy Jones, have all had a hand in some of my most treasured memories.

All images courtesy of Pierre Rommelaere.