On Saturday 14 March at The Daisy Jones Bar, the Stellenbosch public gathered to witness South African legends and icons, Squeal and Springbok Nude Girls. Betty’s Nuklear, a relatively newer band, opened the stage and tore it up with their energy, leaving the audience eager for an incredible night.
Kicking the night off with their “party rock”, as the guitarist, Dean Clarke, likes to describe their music, the audience had a great time but, according to Clarke, so did the band.
“It was one of our best experiences that we’ve had, especially here [at The Daisy Jones] […]. The sound is so incredible and the vibe is incredible, the people incredible. […] The whole […] community pulled through, and I honestly had such a great night tonight.”
Playing in Stellenbosch for the first time in 30 years, Squeal took the stage by storm. With their immaculate stage presence and set list, one could not help but enjoy their performance. David Birch, lead vocalist and guitarist, revealed why they have not performed here in such a long time.
“Well, funnily enough, […] we were all doing other things apart from the band. […] And then a friend of mine […] had a stroke, but he had no medical aid. So Neill Solomon [award winning South African Musician] in Joburg was organising a fundraiser gig, and he asked us if we would play. […] So we all […] pulled up to Joburg. […] We did a benefit gig at the Radium Beer Hall, and it was fantastic, and we raised quite a bit of dosh for the dude. But also, the […] cherry on top was like, ‘Hey, you know, I’ve missed doing this!’” Thankfully, their journey brought them back to Stellenbosch, giving those who attended the chance to experience or relive pure 90s rock.
Ending off the night, Stellenbosch originals, Springbok Nude Girls hypnotised the crowd with their genre-defying music and high-energy performance. Sergio Barbosa, bass guitarist and backing vocalist said, “ This is one of my favourite venues actually.” Adding onto his words, David Watkyns, keyboardist, trumpeter and backing vocalist, noted, “We’ve never had a bad show at this venue. […] I think Stellenbosch will always be a special place because of the history and we are constantly finding new fans, which is also nice. It’s not just the […] generation from Stellenbosch all those years ago.” This was visible in the diverse age range of the people in the crowd. When it comes to the Springbok Nude Girls, it’s clear that there is something for everyone, no matter the age or music taste.
The Daisy Jones Bar blessed Stellenbosch by bringing these bands together! It was truly an event worth attending. And if you are yet to listen to these legends, you are definitely missing out!
By Kerry-Lee Christensen
