Monday, October 27, 2008

Slashdogs Jhb “hunger” album Launch

Walking into Classic Corner Head Quarters at an unselected time other than the start time due to unforeseen circumstances I was met by a surreal bunch of Slashdogs fans and supporters. The attendees were tattoo clad with beautiful attitudes and one goal “let the good times roll” and they did. There were no boundaries of the band or fans, people were people, no one was more important than the other. That projects the Slashdogs aim within and without what they sing about, one day a person the next day another.

Opening the stage was Cortina Whiplash a band to watch out for, amazing stage presence enigmatic in a sense partially due to the vox; partially due to crazy lyrics and some heavy covers. Their last song they played was indeed a Slashdogs song which went down well with the rock-a-billy crowd. So the time came for the Slashdogs to come out and play and yes they played with mirrors behind them it was indeed a double creature feature. Playing on the Dance floor with the crowd on par with them gives a sense of intimacy and trust with band and fans alike. Intense communication, no break down. The crowd was the Slashdogs and the Slashdogs were the crowd. The surreal settings of the venue did play a part as the backing canvas as everything just was meant to be as it was.

There were just so many hi lights within their set that it would be impossible to mention all of them. The opening song Habitual got the crowd going with a bell kicker , well in all earnestly a bell wrecker. The set was a well induced almighty long haul “of never ending I don’t want it to end in my personal opinion”. They are technical musicians at their best doing what they love doing, music. Not many bands in S.A. music can get with saying 6 years of pay off and still get the thrill of coming off stage and knowing they did a superb and spectacular job , without having to get reassurance from anybody. Yes that is how good the stage presence of the Slashdogs ‘is’. (Note to Ed, I’m not putting “are” they gonna stick around)

So within omnipresence of the album launch I have one thing to say, as far as album launches go I’d say this one had to be in the top five, The vibe, the band, the fans, the no ones, the everyone’s… the selectiveness of the venue. All combined, all well thought of, all good, let the good time roll, this is Rock ‘n’ roll. The Slashdogs are the hunger.

“Hunger” is available at all Look n Listen stores .

written for www.undergroundpress.co.za