(Live On 'The Grass Stage' Splashy Fen 2004)

If there's one thing I can say about High Trailor is that this band takes no prisoners! Two brothers, Jon Perry vox/bass (19) and brother Simon (guitar/backing vox (25) started the band at beginning of 2003. Originally from Pietermaritzburg, they came down to the Mother City in search of a better scene. So impatient they were to start, they began playing with their own backing beats until finding manic drummer Mr. Shaun Smith.  Recently acquiring new guitarist Garry Van Vuuren (brother of Rob Van Vuuren AKA "Twakie" - Most Amazing Show) it seems their sound has started to growl and scream like a finely tuned v8 engine. An interesting fact is that Simon & Gary played in a highschool band with Shaun Morgan (Seether) and still remain buddies to this day.

A goal to be fulfilled was to play at Splashy Fen 2004. So setting off at 10 pm on Thursday night at the beginning of the Easter Weekend, bakkie and trailer loaded with equipment and High Trailors, they drove 24 hrs to Splashy Fen and arrived Friday evening. Registration for Coca Cola free stage was early but their slot seemed to be a bit of a rude awakening. The best time they could get was 9:30am! Rushing to fetch their gear only to find their bakkie had a puncture, a family bakkie was borrowed and their entourage made its way up to the stage. Throwing a good dose of whiskey (First Watch now known as First Kotch) in their cappuccinos the band started looking semi human. Playing songs like the biker style "I Walk Straight" and Queens Of The Stone Age sounding "Lonely Road", anyone still sleeping was then wide awake!  Being told there was only a slim chance they could play again the next day, the rest of the days activities included a skottel breakfast, a freezing cold dip in the river and checking out the local talent. At about 9pm, the notion of taking their music to the masses entered their brains. Fuelled by whiskey, the long drive and the need to be heard they set up on the grass amongst the several music marquees, jimmied the mains box and plugged in….

Playing for 3 hours (with amps cranked to the max) to an average of 100 people at any given time and even a mosh pit going for a while was like a dream come true! Some said they felt they were the best band there that year. Officially dubbed "The Grass Stage", the band let the 'fat lady sing' with Shaun diving into his kit and bringing everything to a sprawling mess on the ground.

The next day they were told that although the promoters allowed it the night before it would not be allowed by anyone again. So it was a once off and a damn fine one!  So it goes to show as the band says, "If life doesn't give you what you want, take it by the balls and do it yourself!" High Trailor now has a guarantee from Pedro Carlo the organiser that next year they will play on a real stage.

So another 24hr drive back to Kaapstad, struggling with wheel bearings and hangovers, the weekend was well worth the effort. The Trailors are busy in the studio recording material for an album and continue to play gigs wherever they like!

Keep haulin boys!
blunt magazine