Category: Music
Just A Gent – Friday 18th November, Northcote Social Club
Friday night felt a lot like a bunch of friends in a mate’s garage having a mini rave; it was a team effort both on stage and in the crowd (for the purposes of this review I’ll be calling the audience the team now).
Supported by Kuren, feet were lifting and heads were rolling in a good way through the crowd by the time Just A Gent and his trademark curls and waistcoat unceremoniously strolled out to greet his sold out, max capacity team.
The sprite-like Ella Vos truly belongs in a daydream, bringing the hyperactive team to a standstill as she told us all to come on come on and close our eyes… Staying on stage for most of the set, she arguably held as much attention as the Gent himself.
Crowd fave: Rolling dice
Personal fave: Heavy as a heartbreak or arguably sounds of her mind for its live quality.
I feel as though I have so many questions about the night; Were there three artists on stage at all times? Did everyone make at least two friends? Is Northcote Social always like this? Why didn’t he pass out wearing a waistcoat and shirt for the whole set under the lights? How was I almost off training wheels when he wasn’t even born yet?
Didn’t take any photos as I was too busy dancing with my new friends , but just looked at a photo Just A Gent posted from the stage, and no way did it feel as packed as it looks (a good thing, no?).
Would see again, especially with Ella Vos and Kurin in tow. Yas.
Bey.
One balmy Sunday evening, I was sitting outside with three amigos, happily drinking Heinekens and debating where we wanted to venture, when somebody had the clever idea of pulling up an old Beyonce clip from youtube.
Needless to say, the combined power of youtube and Bey quickly took hold, and an hour later we were all still rooted to the spot, plans forgotten, huddled around the laptop. After watching e v e r y Beyonce video known to man, including some from her Destiny’s Child days, (those were the days) we had now naturally moved onto watching Bey receive the lifetime achievement award from Jay-Z and Blue Ivy at the VMAs (I couldn’t find a version to share that didn’t have some asshole’s commentary over it, So stop at 1:40 before shit gets weird. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Diyaoa_554I).
After the video finished, we were silent, none of us taking our eyes from the screen to look at each other, because (and I’m not ashamed to admit it) there was not a dry eye in the house, or yard, rather. Bey and her beautiful life got us, and she got us good. This night in hindsight now infamously known as accidental Bey appreciation night.
While we haven’t yet followed through with our heat of the moment-conception of potential Bey-themed tribute nights, and/or parties where everyone has to come as their favourite Bey, and the playlist is entirely Beyonce and her various collaborations… We can still appreciate. It is now Tuesday, and we all need a little distraction on a Tuesday. So can we stop for a moment, close down our facebooks, get out of the fridge, and backtrack to 2006 to appreciate the chameleon Queen B and the many, many flavours of her fierceness? I can’t decide which is my favourite, the red lippy and bangs with the figure-hugging white dress, or wild-maned, crazy Bey in green, kicking up dust…
This video has it all. I would say Jay-Z better appreciate what he has, but you get the feeling that he definitely knows. Definitely.
Bump it up to full-screen (kapow) and enjoy.
Because Bey.
jac writes 