Recently I heard about a new small scale venue in Observatory, Joburg, where you can watch live music, with a meal and drinks included. The setup is reminiscent of a speak easy as one of the majestic old homes in the area has been renovated to suit the purpose. The solid double doors that open the way into the basement add to the vibe. To hear about upcoming events you need to be in touch with the organiser Glynn to get on the mailing list but the word is spreading and the social media channels are becoming more active. But to buy tickets you’re doing an EFT. It’s not a 1000-seater arena organised by Big Concerts, it’s literally underground, in a basement bunker kitted out to deliver a quality audio experience.
Parking is on the street so many folks chose to use a ride hailing service but when you arrive a welcome flute of champagne is served at the door. Then you make yourself comfortable in the lounge and dining room while the chef prepares dinner in the old farm-style kitchen. The stove being one of those gorgeous iron relics of the steam age that runs on fire and coal. The decor is interesting and curated to create a sensory context that prepares you for the performance to come. Signed headshots of some of the artists who have played there adorn the walls along with other bits of folk art and artefacts.
The meals are usually vegan and quite flavourful. I’m happily an omnivore so I don’t shy away from being fed meat but this is seemingly a more conscious kind of operation, taking into consideration its impact beyond the walls of the house. The samosas were particularly tasty. The main meal is served before the show and all the guests find a spot to sit for the meal wherever they can. It’s relaxed and bohemian. A kind of quintessential Joburg experience. Maybe something like you’d read in a Nadine Gordimer story. Sit down, meet someone new. Embrace the company and break bread together.
After dinner, around 20:00 the show began. We went in relatively early to make sure we secured some good seats. It’s a first come first serve situation. The space isn’t big but there are some couches for those who don’t think they could make it through a couple of hours perched on a stool. There is an intermission at about halfway for dessert (we were served various options, all delicious, but the chocolate tart really shone, the rich cocoa flavour was packed into each bite to the extent that it would draw the approval of a Belgian chocoholic).
In the corner of the underground showcase is the small bar where guests can fill up on wine, beer, cider and a few different liquors and mixers. Being in SA there’s brandy and coke available. The helpful bartender was kind enough to keep us well watered throughout the evening. If you’re not a drinker there are soft options.
All of this was a good experience but simply the starter. It was when the lights went down and the performer made their way to the stage that the main event began. This particular evening Louise Carver was performing. I was not particularly familiar with her stuff. I have my tastes and I travel around to get my fill but I’m also always open to trying things outside my particular comfort zone. Especially when it’s in a corner of the city I live in. I may go to Europe to see the acts that don’t come to SA, but I’d much rather go to a gig in SA than have to fly all the way to Europe. It’s about supporting the scene.
Since I wasn’t a very good fan I kept referring to her as Lynda Carter (of Wonder Woman fame) in the week running up to the event. But I did my due diligence and listened to a few of her songs on YouTube before going to see the show live. It’s not my favourite genre of music (to my ear it sounds like a derivative style of Alanis Morisette and other 90’s bands) but the lyricism is not bad and when I came across the track titled Empty Fantasy I recognised it as something that I had heard on the radio back when it came out around 20 years ago.
The Music Box is a unique venue and offers an incredibly intimate musical experience. When you’re only a handful of people in a small space with the artist themselves it feels far more interactive and immersive than other larger venues. It helps that the equipment is top of the range. The quality of the sound is world-class. The acoustics of the stone foundations and custom doors mean that the audience is kept in a captivating capsule where they can experience the music in a way that is not so common in an era where everyone wants to be bigger than The Beatles and play to stadiums of crowds.
Those experiences can be good fun too (it’s the reason I travel to go see the acts I enjoy) but often in SA I’ve seen the quality drop the bigger the production got. Eminem’s show at Ellis Park in 2014 was quite disappointing in its lack of volume and quality sound. There’s no chance of that happening at The Music Box. Although you’re unlikely to see Eminem or other international acts perform there soon, and you may not be able to have a mosh, you can see some of South Africa’s top talent in a setting that puts you closer to the stage than any other.
