Tepid peppermint wonderland

In Durban, it’s always green. In summer, in spring, in autumn, even in winter when the rest of the world dries out to become a dull, brownish grey. It’s also never really cold. Even the chilliest nights pale in comparison to some of the cooler nights that are already setting in here in Jo’burg. That’s what I’m used to, so driving through suburbs lined with golden leaves is an everyday novelty.

I’ll miss the weather back in Durban one day soon, probably after my first full week of reluctantly rolling out of bed into a chilly, wintery morning (up to now I’ve only ever had to cope with the odd weekend) and wondering why I ever wanted to leave Durban’s tepid winter paradise, but for now the fact that I can actually notice the seasons change, and the prospect of actually getting to wear the coats and boots I love so much, are keeping me annoyingly optimistic. And it’s still too early to put the car-to-gig dash I perfected last year into practice.

I spent some time in an igloo this weekend. Not a real one, obviously, but a big polystyrene and papier mâché one that, for no apparent reason, was in the outside area of Lemon8, the venue where US band Redflecks played this weekend at a party called Sexy Results.

If I ever wanted any proof that I need to grow up, it’s that I was unable to resist crawling inside and forcing my friends to get cosy and tell ghost stories, in the same way everyone did when they were little and built tents in the lounge (or was that just me?). It was a good place to escape the generally awkward atmosphere that sort of ruined my impression of the whole gig. Not that trying to retain some illusion of ladylike poise while clambering through a tiny entrance wearing a pencil skirt wasn’t awkward in itself, but the general consensus was that our cosy little corner was much more fun and relaxed than anything the party itself had to offer.

There wasn’t really anything wrong with the bands that played, or the DJs, but as a whole, the combination of the constant delays, the waiting around between bands and the fact that the DJs were playing to a crowd that seemed totally disinterested (rather than the mad thrashing they usually inspire) left many people feeling generally irritable about the whole event. The three bands playing were FiveMenThreeMissing (a pretty impressive instrumental duo), Redflecks and Jozi favourites (with one of the best names in the country) Desmond and the Tutus. There was also the usual line-up of indie/electro DJs.

The venue was confusing. It’s a big white space, with lots of curves and corners that form little lounges around the edge of the dance floor, and every time I went looking for someone I ended up outside.

Out of fear of losing myself forever in that labyrinth (and I realise that I might have been the only person to have had that problem), I made myself at home by the bar for most of the night, where I had a good view of the whole venue. It’s a really interesting, good-looking place, but maybe not quite right for this sort of party. There were just too many distractions for a party where the “main” band was one most people didn’t know, where the audience wouldn’t be a bunch of fans that would watch regardless. I thought that this was proven by the fact that the venue suddenly seemed fantastic when Desmond and the Tutus played (last), and the crowd, which proved many of the usual critics wrong by being more excited about a local band than an international act, rushed forward and gave them all its attention. And it was strange to be at a party that became fun just before it ended.

Like I said, there was nothing really wrong with any of the elements that made up the event, but the sum of its parts was a bit of a disappointment (and, in some silly, childish way, part of my bitterness was that the song Sexy Results after which the party was named, which happens to be one of my favourite songs by my one of my favourite bands ever, was only played in an unrecognisably remixed form). But it is always good to find a new venue. Especially when that venue has an igloo.