After
recording the Pronounced: FATE session, Paul dropped a copy of
three tracks off at Malu Van Leewen, editor of Mu'te in the ever
popular SL Magazine. It was merely to get his buddy to hear what
it sounds like, but got thrown in the pile of the Oppi Koppi Battle
of the Bands and the fuckers liked it! There was a week to prepare
to play with 5 other bands at the River Club, Cape Town!
The winner of the
regionals got to play Oppi Koppi 7-10 August 1998, only the biggest
bash in the country (Paul's band V.O.D played Oppi Koppi that year two nights in a row, on the Black Label stage, and Main stage).
Up until that point F8
had no concrete live plans, although live concepts had been brooding.
For a live show a guy and his drum machine just don't cut it, baby.
Besides, it was a big enough mission for Paul to play bass and 'sing'
independently, never mind sing AND play at the same time!
In steps Francois (rather reluctantly at first), as Uncle
Vinnie, to handle
lead vocal duties. Paul on bass & backing screams, the drums pelted out from a digital track, Dirk Van Straaten on the desk.
Two additional personnel couldn't
make it, diminishing the visual effect greatly and with the venue's inactive
video projector, the bizarro tape could also not be screened.
Nonetheless, the uncompromised audio assault and liberal presence of
PVC & latex, and halfway through, red satin underwear on Uncle
Vinnie shocked the
crowd! Needless to say, the audience and judges were left dumbfounded,
freaked out, Uncle
Vinnie's transvestite
costume-change dropping countless jaws, Dirk's killer sound making several
ears bleed & putting the other bands to shame.
The closing track was "Drone" almost "Version 2.0" with Paul, Theo (Springbok
Nude Girls guitarist)
and Simon (Lithium
drummer) adding individual live drum patterns to the programmed mayhem.
Climactic and abrupt.
Regardless of the outrageously removed style and stage show of F8,
the designated spot was 3rd.
Big wank...
Our friends Blunt won and went
on to win the Oppi Koppi finals - mooi so, manne!
(Sadly we didn't get any photos or video of this show, so it currently remains in the mythical ether and a memory for those who attended - if you happen to have any evidence of the evening, do get in contact!)
Word of the fun traveled quite a distance, but was a far cry from the prospective F8
live show(s) which would've been one hell of spectacle, not just... a guy and a
drum machine!!
V.O.D played
Oppi Koppi, but guess what? The fuckers omitted the band
name from the Oppi Koppi T-shirt!!!! Official instructions are:
Write a big V.O.D
at the top of the list of bands who played there!!! |