Below The Cellar Door For The last Horror Time

David — Wed, 07 Feb 2007 02:59:05 GMT

So, it appears the rumours are true. The Horror Café, as and where it stands now is closing. The building is owned by SAB and they have decided not to renew the lease of the guys who currently run it, despite the fact that they have really managed to turn the venue around. Apparently it would make money for th4 SAB as a News café or some such abomination. The Horror Café guys are planning to move to a new venue (as yet unknown) in Newtown, so it won’t be gone, but that actual physical venue is lost to us. Another live music spot bits the dust. Thank you Jozi Town.

Cellar Door: Moving to Melville!

So, this means that the February Cellar Door was the last one ever to be held at The Horror Café. While as a venue it doesn’t have its short comings, the inside/outside and upstairs/downstairs arrangement have always made for a good music venue... plenty of space to move and to be wherever you are most comfortable. And Saturday 3 Feb saw this principle in play big time. Punters chilled on the balcony in the warm summer air, to dash inside for the bands or favourite songs as they saw fit. Good stuff...

The turn out was pretty good. Not huge, but not bad at all. The cross section of ages though, mainly due to the bands, was quite astounding. Cellar Door is not a youngster’s crowd. Neither is it a bunch of old fast seeing as Marc and Martin do play plenty of brand new, international material, but the young indie kid crowd certainly lowered the average age somewhat!

Eat This, Horse! Yeah, whatever dude!

Cape Town’s somewhat idiotically named Eat This, Horse were up first and showed that, while they may have a silly name, they are a damn good band. They had a killer short tour to Gauteng and this show proved that they are a force to contend with. All bad hair and tight jeans, they rocked out big time with a couple of catchy tunes and an overall impressive and vibrant live set. Very much in the Bloc party mold of indie band, you could def hear the influences of The Doors and other, older music coming through. To be highly recommended as they are still new and raw and time will no doubt hone their cutting edge razor sharp.

Up Next was Kidd Of Doom. Hmm, first time in a very long time that I have seen an instrumental band live on stage. Obviously, the whole Sovereign Academy set knew what they were in for, but most of the crowd didn’t and it was a pleasure to watch. With stirring, emotive music, Kid OF Doom, somehow managed to spellbind an audience for their entire set, despite no talking and no singing. I love the Jozi live crowd! They really DO know how to appreciate new music, a fact I have not always recognised. Eat This, Horse was new to virtually everyone, and yet they got a great reception. The Cellar Door live session have turned into a magnificent showcase for the best underground and indie sounds in SA at the moment.

Kid Of Doom: No, They Don't Sing!

My main cause for concern is that attendance at these Cellar Door parties is not what it should be. Is it because they only happen monthly? Is it because they take place in Newtown? Come on readers, please pitch in here with comments and tell me. Martin and Marc play a good mix of old alternative favourites, sprinkled with plenty of brand new international hits. They only ever put on the very best of new SA indie bands, yet month on month; it’s an uphill battle to get people to come. They do media, SMS, email and flyers…. Come on, some intelligent input would be valued!

Anyways, so a killer live weekend in downtown JHB once again!

The next Cellar Door part will be in the Dungeon at Cool Running’s Melville, and is a straight DJ party. News on the next Live party to follow!

visit www.myspace.com/cellardoornightclub for updates, pics.

So come on, make yourself heard, and give me your take on the problem if getting like minded people out to the jorl!

The Chiz : horse

Below The Cellar Door For The last Horror Time