This night I have been looking forward to since The Ragdolls told me they were going to have a small intimate launch in Cape Town, then even greater news came that I had to review this event. At first I was stoked, but as time progressed I started to wonder whether I am the right person for this job, due to the fact that I am one of their biggest fans in Cape Town, but that thought did not stop me from going to the EP launch as a reviewer and as a fan/friend.
As I walked into Mercury I was already shocked by what these dolls did with the place. The walls were covered with white and the stage had their signature mark of old fashioned wall paper, creating the feel of a comfortable lounge in a vintage home mixed with some rock. There were photos on the Mercury ceiling with some interesting poses and facial expressions from the band members, which resulted in some of the fans being very tempted to steal a couple to get signed. The place was packed with everyone knowing everyone.
The Ragdolls took the stage with a very eager crowd on the floor. At first I did not know how to act: Whether I should jump up and down screaming cause I am a fan or just remain poised because I am here to review these guys. At first I went with being decent, standing still and just observing their gig, but not long into their set I was singing along, tapping my feet and this was all noticable in the crowd. In my mind I broke down the crowd into three catogories: First was their close friends singing word by word with Sarah, but still trying not seem too eager; the second group was the admirers. These guys were amazing. As I observed them during the performance one could see they want to be The Ragdolls and their eyes were filled with admiration. In short, these guys were in love with everything The Ragdolls touched and last but not least, the third group who were the people that have worked with The Ragdolls on a professional/ business level. These guys had the look of proud parents, standing at the bar with the sparkles of achivement in their eyes.
The Ragdolls had a rocking performance as always with Sarah Pope flirting with band and audience members, not standing still for a split second, walking into the crowd dancing, flirting and smilling. Neil Broers their newest member fitted in as if he had been with the band since the beginning of time. Damian Upton, the Bassist seemed shy and introverted but he oozes sex appeal without even breaking a sweat. Lastly, Steven Jacobson, a former Ragdolls drummer still charming the audiance members with his smile over the drum kit.
All in all this was an unforgettable evening with friends and The Ragdolls favourite drink... Jagermeister.