Dear Reader
A few weeks ago Dear Reader, previously known as Harris Tweed, played a show at Assembly on a quiet Thursday night. The show, almost perfect, had a different feel about it. Assembly is one of the largest live venues in Cape Town so a gentle band that is well known for its intimate gigs has a hard time capturing everyone’s attention. Dear Reader didn’t have this problem. I arrived to a seated crowed, couches surreptitiously spread throughout the room, dim light stage, crowed in awe of what was about to happen. Not your average Assembly night.
I am glad everyone was seated as it was clear from the first glance of Cherilyn Mcneil’s ever so engaging smile that they had something that was going to blow us away. They did. Being on the road, touring Europe, has definitely aided Dear Reader in placing themselves above the rest. Cherilyn’s soft, soothing voice makes the world seem slower and the joy felt seem greater. Her performance is full of great vigour and beauty. Making you feel both extreme euphoria and heightened sadness in one sitting.
A friend even claimed to have fallen in love during the opening song. To be fair though he falls in love often.
So they were good, very good. But why did they play on a Thursday night to a less than full audience? They don’t really deserve that. Come support good music, be sure to catch Dear Reader on their next visit to the mother city.
