I like metal… I mean, I’m not a massive fan and I don’t know much about the local scene, but every time I shoot a metal gig I really enjoy it. There’s just always a great energy that’s so exciting to shoot and be a part of. Plus long-haired headbangers make for fun shots.

With all this in mind, I was really looking forward to Protest The Hero’s show last Saturday in Stellenbosch. Here are some shots from what was indeed an insane and super fun night.

Actual performances aside, the coolest thing about the gig for me was the fact that the organisers arranged a (party) bus for those who’d otherwise struggle to get to Stellenbosch. For a ridiculously nominal fare (R40 return) you could hop on the bus at one of several designated pick-up points spanning from Tokai to Brackenfell, and get shuttled back the same way after the show.

I got on at the Cape Town stop (aptly outside the Shack) and was greeted with a smile and a beer from coordinator and all-round stand-up guy Patrick before we departed for the next stop. The bus ride in itself was a really entertaining experience – the metal was blasting from the speakers from the get-go and at one point we pulled up next to a rubbish truck and the three guys inside, parallel to my window, smiled and waved and headbanged along.

Later at the N1 City stop (which we skipped on the way back, I don’t think anyone actually boarded there) we were all mesmerised by some kind of matric dance photo shoot or something happening in the parking lot along side us…the strange part, aside from the totally unphotogenic location, was the serial killer-esque hockey mask hanging from one of the motorcade’s rearview mirror…weeeeeeeird…

We arrived at the venue at 7, right on time to amble in, grab a drink and catch the first band on the line-up, All Guns Full Ammo, who set the night’s tone for loud volume and loads of energy.

Up next were Ill System, whose drummer Ramone described their sound to me as ‘reggae metal’, an intriguing thought…when they started I could see what he meant – there are some interesting elements that the band incorporate into their sound.

Theirs was another energetic performance, perhaps even a little too much so – Ramone had issues with drums falling over which would continue throughout the night until the troublesome toms were finally restrained with vast amounts of duct tape during a later set…

I was secretly most excited to see Zombies Ate My Girlfriend, though I was a little worried they wouldn’t be able to live up to their epic band name…happily this was a needless concern – they were so much fun and had a great visual presence. There were some sound issues (I couldn’t hear most of the vocals in spite of standing right in front) but the band didn’t let that slow them down and blasted through their set with crazyily engaging ferocity. Definitely a band I’m keen to see again.

I’d heard good things about instrumental act Ohgod and they lived up to the hype – I really enjoyed their intense but melodic set and am keen to check them out again too in the future.

If things were rough and sweaty up till this point, they were about to be kicked up into unimaginable levels – as the Canadian headliners Protest The Hero took to the stage, the crowd swelled to well past claustrophobic levels and left no doubt that by the end of the night everyone was going to be thoroughly covered in everyone else’s sweat..

For the most part, I was concentrating on staying vertical (and not dropping my camera) more than the music, but the band were undeniably entertaining. They seemed really down-to-earth and funny and the fact that they’d returned to SA to play some small shows for their devoted fans is really cool.

Frontman Rody Walker is hilarious. He joked about how this was his last show as he’s going to be the new vocalist for Asking Alexandria (I didn’t get it at the time, but then I saw the video…) and when he said how great it was to be in Cape Town because they only came to Joburg last time, his reaction was priceless when someone started the crowd chanting ‘Fuck Joburg!’ over and over. “You guys are dicks! We were in Joburg and everyone was like ‘oh you have to check out Cape Town, it’s beautiful!’ then we get here and and a bunch of dicks shout ‘Fuck Joburg’ at me!” to which the crowd just cheered even more, it was amazing.

At one point a guy leaned over the monitors and started fiddling with the multi-plug on stage, so Rody made some comment about “oh yeah sure man, charge your phone, you gotta get this shit up on Instagram” to which the crowd instantly replied with a chant of ‘Charge the phone!’ for the next few minutes. It was a great vibe, a strange mix of chilled and funny and frantic sweaty roughness.

I am still bruised all over my legs from being slammed repeatedly into the stage but I had a smile on my face the whole time: it was a really really fun show.

As a side note – after like 5 hours of sleep I went wine-tasting in Paarl the next day, amusing myself at the thought of partaking in such a cultured activity after such a crazy night, and actually bumped into and briefly chatted to both the drummer and guitarist from Protest The Hero who were also doing a wine tasting…the world is a very small and very funny place.

– – –

Shot for Texx and the City:  See the album on Facebook here  |  Read Stian’s review here

Protest the Hero  |  Turning Tricks Entertainment  |  Ohgod  |  Zombies Ate My Girlfriend  |  Ill System  |  All Guns Full Ammo