Upstairs and outdoors. We ask, what makes a good gig?

 

What started out as a typical Durban summer night, suddenly was atypical as we got down to our evening on Friday at St Clements. The night started with former Tree63 frontman and now solo artist John Ellis playing a few numbers from his new album entitled "Come out Fighting" which is definitely worth hearing.

 

St Clements is a quaint venue that hosts local artists before an audience seated at tables and dining on their home-cooked-feel menu. Its pretty, its small, its outdoors and its intimate. A few things need to come together for a gig to be a success here. The weather needs to be good, the crowd need to be willing and the artist needs to be able to connect with the audience. In the case of Shannon Hope's "Farewell Durban" gig, all 3 almost came together - in a little twist of fate the weather decided to play its hand by almost ending what was an exceptional performance by one of South Africa's finest live performers.

Almost as if rehearsed, mid way through her song "Blue Skies", and as she sang the line  "Blue skies on a cloudy day make me think that anything is possible but things don't always work out that way, not every time it rains..."

 

...the rain came down. 

 

It came down just enough to force Shannon off the stage while the audience sat through a brief spurt of drizzle praying for it to ease. Thankfully it did ease, and Shannon was able to return to the stage.

 

 

What was to follow was a compelling, emotionally charged and 100 %  authentic display of the talent that is Shannon Hope. Shannon lives every one of her songs. If you have listened to just a few lines of any of her tunes you will know that they come from the heart. There is an edge, a raw reality as she sings every line, baring her soul to the audience. Sometimes delicate, sometimes theatrical and sometimes angry, you feel where Shannon is coming from. Combine her fierce yet balanced energy with one of the most magnificent female voices, a melodic piano and a perfect setting and you have a good gig, a great gig. 

 

 

Toward the end of the set John joined Shannon on stage for a few numbers. John and Shannon have a certain aura about them on stage which is a pleasure to watch. They compliment each other, both hugely respected musicians in their own capacity. They ended the show with a rendition of Michael Jackson's Billie Jean which had the small packed out venue begging for more. A cover of "Feeling Good" (a song Nina Simone made famous)  ended the night. You could tell the crowd was immensely satisfied with what they had just experienced. Shannon is not just a good artist. I think she has the beginnings of greatness and someone that has to be both seen and heard to be appreciated. 

 

 

Check out this amazing cover of Billie Jean performed as a duet by Shannon Hope and John Ellis.

 

 

The gig for me defined a simple recipe for a successful performance. 

The venue wanted the crowd.

The crowd wanted to listen.

And most importantly Shannon was eager to share her songs, and share them she did!

 

We wish Shannon all the best in Cape Town. 

 

Eel

A Fanbible Founder

 

 

Upstairs 

 

 

Upstairs is a new venue above Spiga d'Ora on Florida Road, which played host to Nibs van der Spuy and Guy Buttery early Sunday evening. As Guy called it, it was a "christening" of the venue, since theirs was the first live music event to be held there. You can always expect a lot of magic from the Buttery/van der Spuy combo, so who better to do the christening. The event was part of their tour of their debut duo album "In the Shade of the Wild Fig." The pair have finally formalized their relationship on stage with a truly remarkable album that reflects both their individual styles and the World Music richly experimental sound that emerges when you blend them together. 

 

 

The gig was well attended despite the bold R100 cover charge. You may think that's expensive for a Durban audience, but when you realize you're watching two of South Africa's finest guitarists performing their latest material, you're paying for something really special. To be in the presence of these performers is kind of transcendental. They lose themselves in their instruments, and you can expect to lose yourself as well. You really don't have to doubt or analyze or dissect them. As soon as they start playing you're comfortable, and shortly after, you're transported to a world where only sound exists, in its most organic state.

 

 

When we say we watched a good gig, we generally don't explain ourselves. We just know it felt good to be there. For me, being in a space with such an attentive audience (silent and marvelling), was what made it special. The audience exists like a kind of giant personality, and each member's behaviour is influential on the others. It's great to observe when everyone's attention is channelled to the stage and we're all sharing the same experience. 

 

I urge you to buy a copy of the album "In the Shade of the Wild Fig." I would say it is the finest collaboration between two South African musicians available.