The Newest Member of the 012 Family
BUNK PRESENTS
So. Let's discuss the elephant in the Pretoria sized room here.
The strip.
First off, I have no idea what people make of this place. Personally it's somewhat of a dead zone to me for the majority of the time. I would and have not stepped foot in the area past sundown besides a few very specific occasions. Which brings me to this article.
The Grind has been marred by the recent police crackdown on Hatfield pubs and venues (a fucking travesty considering the lack of viable live venues we already have.) Now it's back however, and fuck did it deliver.
Intergalactic Hook Up, presented by the lovely BUNK Events (all links included below) showed off a stellar line up to mark one of The Grind's first major events.
Them Dirty Shrikes kicked off the night with their brand of seering vocals and heavy riffs blended beautifully with some slower harmonies. If you haven't seen these guys make sure you see them live, to ensure you experience their music raw and unfiltered as it should be (although their online catalog kicks just as much ass.)
Relative newcomers Die Horries showed off their skills next. Although seeing them live you'd think these guys have been around for ages, and if you count their individual experience together they sure as fuck have. ) Although together they smash the ball out of the park. Intricate bass lines, well crafted riffs and an incredibly enigmatic frontman that might actually make frannie van coke turn his chair (haha fuck The Voice though) make for a group that grabs your attention from the word go and make for an exciting project to keep an eye on.
Lastly the behemoth that is Shadowclub took the stage in one of many shows on their album launch tour. I'm not gonna say too much about these guys because a.) you already know everything I'd say and b.) these guys have been around since before 99% of today's local acts and inspired nearly all of them too. All I will say, however, is fuck Mr. Moolman please have my children.
As for the venue, it's well worth a visit. the stage area is beautifully crafted around the space making for an excellent acoustic vibe in a relatively small space ( a massively impressive feat considering the size of the bar.) Incedentally it proved just too small for the mosh pit however, I'm still nursing my wounds.
Of course, Hatfield being Hatfield, there were the usual hiccups including several stolen phones and a crowd that were probably a little bit too thirsty for their own good. But to be fair it has to be expected considering the location and number of people grouped in one spot, usually pretty smashed. (I am guilty as charged of course.) The venue itself and their security were refreshingly gentle and kept the peace perfectly throughout the increasingly wild night, which made for the perfect atmosphere.
Most importantly however, The Grind has shown an incredible commitment to helping out the music scene in SA. The importance of live music having a representative on Pretoria nightlife's busiest square kilometer can not be understated. So a round of applause is in order for the owners of The Grind and Bunk Events. With a little bit of luck and a hell of a lot of hard work they've begun to achieve what many, including myself, thought impossible.
Exciting times lie ahead friends, and as I will always say at the end of these articles, get your ass the fuck over to these shows. We want you, need you and welcome you to help us make South African music thrive as it should. So see you there.
Writer's instagram
@andre.l.meyer
Links and references:
BUNK events
The Grind Bar and Grill
Them Dirty Shrikes
Die Horries
Shadowclub
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