5 Gum Presents: The Kooks Live In Cape Town

My soul can rest easy... I have seen The Kooks perform “Sway” and it was amazing.

The hype started when 5 Gum announced that they will be bringing a band over for another ‘5 Gum Experience’. Asking on Facebook and Twitter who people thought it would be, many said The Black Keys, Alt-J, The Wombats etc… and obviously The Kooks. I was one of those begging for The Kooks. I knew I had to hear “Sway” live within my lifetime. It’s my jam. Something about that song and its lyrics makes me content. Once they confirmed that the band coming to South Africa will be The Kooks and the application for tickets opened, I was on it. But… being the lazy person I am, I only entered my 5 Gum barcode the day before the application closed. Just my luck, I didn't get tickets. What a sad face I was. Lucky for me, a dear friend , Shannon Nicole, offered me her tickets, she’s out of her mind! I’m forever grateful. Side note to those who bought tickets. I see you. 


I was so excited on the days leading up to the event on Saturday April 20th. What was I going to wear? Fellow Kooks fan and I decided band t-shirts would work, we are cool like that. She - Crash Car Burn, me - Jim Morrison. When we arrived at Maitland Secondary School, I was pleased to see how smooth things went. Parking was done orderly, the line to get searched and ID’s checked before entering the bus went swiftly and then actually getting on the bus after a few minutes wait, gave me nothing to complain about. The bus trip was a quick one to Salt River Studios, the secret venue for the concert. A massive warehouse, used for films, adverts, etc, was the perfect venue to fit the thousands of Kooks fans. Upon arrival we were once more searched, asked for ID and got our tickets scanned. Oh* we were also given free chewing gum at the entrance. 

Haasbroek was on when we got there. A DJ I hadn't known, but after Saturday I wouldn't mind hearing more of his music. I enjoyed it, it got me dancing and I like anyone who can make me dance. Next up was Beach Party. I like them, quite a bit! They are so much fun to watch and listen to. High fives to the lead singer. I found myself in the center of the crowd during their set. It was crazy hot and crazy Kooks fans were being fussy about their space. It’s understandable, but my friends and I rather left the tight squeezed crowd area. We weren't going to watch the headliners like a bunch of sardines. Up next during the changeover of bands was Haasbroek again. And then The December Streets. I like those dudes. Their set was tight and well done. They covered The Lumineers “Ho Hey” which was pretty cool, I dig that song.

In between all of this my friend and I managed to hit the porter-potties, what I believe was the longest bar ever and the food stalls. All really well done, YAY to 5 Gum. I was outside when I heard the first strumage (yes I think I just created a word) of guitar to The Kooks’ first song “Ooh La”. It was amazing to see how everyone ran, fast walked or shimmied their way to try and get as close as possible to the stage. My friend and I found other friends and stood on top of random block things around the bar area, to be able to get a clear view. Ah. I was so happy. An indie paradise I called it. They did my favourites such as Sway, How’d You Like That and crowd favourites such as Junk Of The Heart and Naïve. After making ladies swoon and men reconsider their sexuality, the guys came back to do a two song encore. Ending with Naïve and I’m so serious when I say the crowd went ape to it. My favourite image was that of ladies sitting on their boyfriend’s shoulders. Luke Pritchard, front man extraordinaire, and nice looking too, you sir… are quite suave. Once they ended everyone pretty much decided it was time to go. Everyone walked in an orderly fashion toward the buses. But the vulture inside of us all awakened and it became a zombie apocalypse to catch a bus. I loved it! I found it absolutely hilarious.

Visuals and sound, although a bit dodgy for the opening acts, gets thumbs up from me. Well done 5 Gum. I’m hooked; see you at the next 5 Gum Experience.

xx

Fashion Friday #2

Matric Ball. Every girls dream day, apart from her wedding day of course. As girls, we spend most of our High School years thinking about it. The glitz, the glam. Your special day. Your time to shine. To feel like a celebrity. To walk (in some cases), the prestigious "Red Carpet". 

My Matric Ball was one of the best moments of my life. I spent months gushing over dresses, shoes, hairstyles – what would the event be like? Would I dance? Would I look pretty like all the other girls, and most importantly, who would I take as a partner? Okay, I'll admit it... I spent years thinking about it and it came and went in an instant. After months and weeks of preparing, just like that, it was over. I had my hair done at my usual hairdresser and I was in awe that she actually did the style exactly like I wanted it. *Yay* to her. My dress was a red beauty sent straight from the Dress Gods. I absolutely love it! I even cropped it and wore it as a braids-maid dress to my sister's wedding. It's not everyday you get to parade around in full make up, heels and a stunning dress. Some people get the dress code so right. It makes me want to cry enough tears to last a few chick-flicks. And then others... They make me want to poke my eyeballs out. Hello. Please don't wear your grandma's curtain. It's not dress fabric. Bye. But my sister explained to me that not everyone has an older sister, with a wild/mad fashion skill that will help them and guide them in the right fashion direction - and that we should not judge. Sure Candice, take credit for my fashion sense why don't you. 

This made me question: Who do we take our fashion inspiration from? Obviously the media and celebrities. But ladies, we also have our grannies, mums, aunts and big sisters. None of you can tell me that you haven't fitted on your mum/big sisters high heels and paraded around like the Queen of England when you were a kid. Am I right? Yes. We've all done it.

It took me forever to find the perfect dress for my matric ball. In one morning I fitted on thirteen dresses. And if you know me... You know I was not happy. I'm the laziest person ever and that was so much effort. THIRTEEN! Sheesh. I made the decision to purchase a dress (laziness does not accommodate designing and having a dress made). After browsing through most of Cape Town with the guidance of my mum and two sisters, I went as far as Pretoria to find a dress. My pride and joy was purchased at a boutique type shop in Menlyn Park shopping mall. I swear. It was like one of those moment just out of the movies. I put it on and knew it was "the one". I fell in love. My earrings were from Sass Diva. Ring, a random jewelry shop. Bracelet, from my sister, I don't know where she bought it. And peep-toe nude heels from Aldo. *Yay* Oh and perfume - Kate Moss Vintage, a gift from my cousin and his wife. 

My sister kept it with her in Pretoria. Apparently if I looked at it too much I would become less excited. Uhm ok? But they were right. I couldn't contain myself in the week leading up to the ball. September 29, 2012. Forever etched into my heart. Putting on the dress, showing my family and friends, driving up to my school, walking the red carpet and dancing whole night in my pride and joy will forever stay with me as a memory I treasure. I thank my family for that wonderful opportunity. 

Here are some matric ball dresses the popular girls should wear. ( I'm a secret mean girl and we all want to look better than the popular girl right?)

 (Trance Party or Matric Ball?)

(Your mother must be so proud)

And here are some dresses I would recommend to those closest to my heart, my entourage. (kidding, I love my friends)

xx

Dillon Francis - Suite & Tie (Remix)

First of all. It must be known that I really love the original 'Suite & Tie' by Mr Justin Timberlake. Yes Mr. 

We've all always loved him. How can you not? Even guys, you all wanted to secretly sing and dance like him. Come on. Admit it. Glad he's back to making music.

But this post is not about MR JT... It's about Dillon Francis. 

'Dillon Hart Francis is an American electronic-dance musician, known for being one of the pioneers of moombahton, a fusion genre of house music and reggaeton, and moombahcore, a sub-genre of electronic dance music deviating from moombahton.' 

Is that Greek to you? For those of you not well acquainted with electronic dance music, just know that he makes... well... music that makes you dance. Take a listen to this...

A banger right? Yes. I love it. I heard it when I was listening to the 'Das Kapital Radio Show' on Assembly Radio -hosted by DJ Va-VA and Rvwr (for this week/episode). And I decided... you all should hear it too. It's that cool. I've gotten really into EDM lately and I really like this track, it's been out a while already.

Here's a little cool/random fact: " Dillon enjoys cats and they influence much of his work and cover art. Dillon plans on making enough money to save as many cats' lives as he can. He is particularly fond of the Scottish Fold." 

meow

xx