UPDATE nieuws SET views = '222' WHERE id = 2552 Zefling review: Die Antwoord @ Toronto

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Zefling review: Die Antwoord @ Toronto

23.07.2010

The Phoenix in Toronto last night was no place for the weary as Sleigh Bells and Die Antwoord, two of the hardest rap-rave nu-music blog buzz bands, tore the roof of the room like only groups who’ve risen to popularity outside the mainstream truly can. Either band could’ve headlined; in fact, the two acts switched spots only a few hours before the gig, with Die Antwoord coming on last.

But first, Sleigh Bells is something to see.

The duo is Derek Miller and Alexis Krauss and the rugged Brooklyn scenesters dropped beats harder than the G20 riot squad. Sure, Krauss might’ve been singing over recorded vocals (as Gentlemen Reg in the sweat locker pointed out), but the band’s energy felt authentic and fresh. When I walked into the show, security was dragging out a guy with no shirt and as I made my way to the bar, I saw another guy throw a punch at the bouncer before getting sent out the back door. Punk rock has definitely found a new outlet — this summer, the rave kids are in the mosh pits and pissed.

Die Antwoord are from Cape Town, South Africa and, equal parts anarchists and performance artists, the trio had the crowd from their very first middle finger. Many in the audience had DA shirts that read “Zef Side,” which may be an Afrikaans slang term for marijuana. Consisting of Ninja, the perma bare-chested tattooed white rapper, and Yo-Landi, a pint-sized sex bomb who sings in a squeak, the group was playing their second Canadian gig to draw attention to their Aug. 3 new record release.

First, Yo-Landi warmed up the audience. Then, Ninja came out and did Enter the Ninja, and soon afterwards security threw another handful of revellers out of the club. Their music is rap-meets-rave-meets-industrial, but the group’s also talented musicians. Ninja has breath control to rival his idol Eminem and the back-and-forth between him and Yo-Landi is tight and well-rehearsed. Like Lady Gaga, much has been mentioned about their visuals and persona, but I went backstage after the show and I can be certain: these guys are the real deal. I’d never been so scared before in an interview room (and we’ll be posting the audio from that interview soon enough).

They rocked I Don’t Need You, Fish Paste and Rich B—h, and at no moment of their hour-long set was there not someone leaping off stage. The music might not be to everyone’s Zef flavour, but there’s no denying the cheap, sledgehammer beats and brutality of their package: the group’s lyrics, tattoos and sex appeal makes a statement (whatever that is). The band will be back on the road in October and there’s no doubt — if they make it that long — they’ll play a venue bigger than they did last night. Toward the end of their set, Ninja took the stage in Canadian flag underwear and Yo-Landi, who’s as suggestive as Nikki Minaj and just a fraction above Gary Coleman’s height, the duo struck poses as the music froze. They could’ve been thinking about how to take Zef Side to the ACC or they might’ve been thinking about meeting their connection (and after interviewing them I’m still not really sure), but the crowd roared in a frenzy over the silence.

Sleigh Bells and Die Antwoord are bands that your mother won’t like and you won’t find on the radio. To the people jammed into the Phoenix last night, that just gave their crowd more to cheer.

by Ben Kaplan  (source)

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Zeflings comments

Next time i'll be there fo sho' !!!
Gerry j @ 28.07.2010 @ 16:14