feels like a cup of tea

i havent been to a gig in a while, so this is going to be a little different. was just thinking about this band last night, and thought i should pay them some kind of a attribute (as much as it pains me because i am NO ONE's fan!)

last year jamie and i packed a mad picnic, bottle of wine included (naturally!) and went to kirstenbosch to see aking. i had never seen this band before, let alone really heard of them. but when the sun is shining, and life is sweet, why not. this marked the beginning of a new era in our lives. it represented a significant part of the next stage in terms of music and in terms of life.

from that day, jamie and i were all about aking. and we used them to describe things that we were feeling but had no idea how to articulate. thank you hunter kennedy for your inspirational lyrics. i have no idea what the band will do without you now. but yes, the lyrics moved us, and motivated us. and with that, we found a connection with the band (sorry james, i am just including you in this. but i know your sentiments are the same. feel free to comment if im incorrect at any which point). i liked the beat, james was about the words, and together we were about that thing we called music. we learnt about visceral heights and malignant regret. we learnt to be scared of wolves, and to undress people with our eyes. and most importantly, we learnt not to lose speed, baby. in short, we became fans. yikes!

we didnt go to all their gigs and become groupies, we just enjoyed the music for what it was. and then we had the crazy oportunity to have them play at a party that was being thrown for us! what?! yes!! i know!!! nothing in the world could have prepared us for this moment, where we would finally meet the faces behind the words, and the hands behind the strum. and they didnt disappoint....really. basically we were treated like fans, and this only ruined the illusion we had created about the band. we renounced our vows to love aking forever, and that was that. never to be seen or heard again.

but as time has gone on, we have gotten over ourselves, and moved on. and there are times when i will hear an aking song and think back to good times and good feelings. at the end of the day, they were an integral part of our lives for those short few months, and personal feelings aside, we do love them. they offer a comfort and show how much we have grown. we got into a chat about this yesterday when i mentioned that i might go see them this week at lentelawaai, and that i was excited. she responded by telling me that she does miss them, and that they are like cup of tea. which i was in total agreement about. we laughed about the gigs we went to, and laughed about the words we took to heart. and appreciated all those moments, and more.

so now, i have decided that aking are still in fact one of my favourite SA bands. as full of shit as i am most of the time, i cant hate them. their music moved me at a particular point, and when i hear a song of theirs, i smile, and remember happy and interesting days. i am not a fan, but i do appreciate. hopefully i will see you all on wednesday to appreciate together!!

so, lets step into the night, and bring into it life