It was a hot Friday afternoon, 6 February 2015, and I remember my nerves starting to get the best of me. I was at my then girlfriend’s house a mile or so away from the venue and I poured a bourbon while answering last minute messages and sending directions to out of towners braving rush-hour traffic on their way to see an unknown band at a venue as legendary as it was obscure.
A month or so earlier Rufus’ brother got me a meeting with Chrisna, the owner of the legendary Cafè Barcelona in Pretoria. The venue had hosted the cream of the crop in South African rock, folk, country and blues and getting an opportunity to play there would be an incredible privilege and a dream come true. Chrisna let me know in no uncertain terms that Café Barcelona did not book unknown bands without a decent resume, let alone on a Friday but based on Fredrich’s recommendation she was willing to take a gamble on The Giant Strides. Playing Cafe Barcelona was a rite of passage for musicians and I knew the stakes were high.
I couldn’t stop smiling on the drive home and I had proactively lined up everything that needed to get done in order to deliver on my part of the deal, already weeks earlier. My friend Dan Augustine would be making the gig poster, my Facebook Band profile was ready to be shared to everyone I knew and a setlist was already spinning in my mind. I knew I had some good songs and could add covers out of my repertoire to put together a memorable show. I also knew that my bandmates, at that stage, only Rufus on guitar and vocals and Michael on piano, were ready and well rehearsed.
The uncertainty was killing me. Soundcheck went well and we got a few beers and something to eat. Our friends Darryl and Jason set up some cameras and go-pros to record the show and slowly the people started to arrive. Colleagues, friends, family. Our folks from far away. To our surprise, with showtime approaching, I could see the waitresses and kitchen staff scrambling to call out reinforcements to serve the unexpectedly large crowd. I could see Chrisna and her husband Jose looking at this scene in slight disbelief. A few minutes later I counted in the first song and by the end of the third The Giant Strides were flying. People drank, clapped, laughed and cried. It was an incredible and humbling feeling to share our songs and music with an excited and accepting audience. We were by no means great but people could sense the empathy and truth in the music. Most of all, they gave us a chance and we did not disappoint. The bar made a lot of money and the last of us left the parking lot well after two am. That would be the first of many memorable gigs over the next nine years. The band grew, got Lihan Puren on bass and Loedollf Muller on Drums. We also added Thinus Scheepers on drums when Bok couldn’t make it during international airline flying commitments. We recorded with Jaco Naude at Audioculture studios and you can find the album on all streaming platforms and my website www.johnbarnardmusic.com.
It is uncertain when The Giant Strides will play again. The guys are raising kids, working abroad and tending to more important things at the moment. We still talk often and from time to time we reminisce about the great and beautiful force of The Giant Strides.
I would like to thank every one of my brothers in the band for the love, care and commitment. Every venue owner who took a chance on us over the years. Too many to mention. Thank you to our fans and our patient spouses and families. I do not take this for granted and I can’t wait to get the band together again in a few years, line up a venue and play you our songs. I know what we’re making is some kind of love.
See you down the road !
JB