Mid-life Crisis or mid-life Oasis?

Today is gonna be the day

That they’re gonna throw it back to you...

When Noordhoek singer/guitarist Dan Green hits the opening line of this classic Oasis track from almost 30 years ago, the crowd jammed into Café Roux on a cold, wintery Friday night sings along in unison, perfect in its imperfection.

Looking around the room, my wife and I don’t feel too awkwardly out of place. We’re both 50-somethings who’ve braved the deep south freeze to venture out after 9pm. Normally, we’d be tucked in front of the TV trying to stay awake, as Harry Potter escapes Voldemort’s evil spirit for the umpteenth time!

But tonight, we all seem to have the same objective. Get a little drunk, dance like no-one’s watching and sing at each other to the soundtrack of our lives. Yes, I did say ‘AT’ each other.

It’s a funny thing when the band plays a song you know so well that you feel compelled to out-sing the lead singer, who’s already doing a perfectly fine job without your help, I might add. And what’s more, you somehow feel it necessary to sing at your dance partner, not with them.

“And after all, you’re my Wonderwall”

Xmas in July

It’s Café Roux’s annual Xmas in July bash where they push the tables back and clear the floor, so that local punters just like us can let our collective hair down a little.

Café Roux is arguably the standout live music venue in Cape Town playing host to the best musos in South Africa, week in, week out.

For the last 7 years, Cape Town's premier party band Me & Mr. Green (formerly Me & Mr. Brown) have made this festive mid-year gig one to remember. Tonight, Dan has his full band on board with special guest Louise Day sharing lead vocals.

“We’re pretty much a wedding band” says Dan, an ex-pat Brit with an uncanny knack for getting the crowd involved.

“Two steps forward everyone. Now jump. C’mon jump”.

We all wave our glow-in-the-dark wrist bands and do exactly as we're told.

And even though this isn’t a wedding, it kind of feels like one. One brave, or possibly slightly tipsy man in his 60’s, gets up on stage and proposes to his partner. It could go pear-shaped, but she says “YES”, a random bunch of total strangers cheers, and the band plays on.

Right song, right time

With over 800 shows behind him, Mr. Green knows a thing or two about reading the room. Playing the right song at the right time comes naturally and his super tight band follow in harmonious sync.

Lead guitarist Jeandre Schulz  is Dan’s partner in crime, an insanely talented muso with a lively stage presence. Louise Day adds another string to Me & Mr. Green’s musical bow, extending their repertoire to recent covers of Taylor Swift, Miley Cyrus and Shakira. It all works beautifully.

While the band do their thing, I get to share my best (or worst) Kevin Bacon moves to long-forgotten 80’s star, Kenny Loggins.

“Everybody cut, everybody cut footloose.”

My lovely wife does her best Stevie Nicks to Fleetwood Mac’s Dreams, beautifully interpreted by Louise Day.

“Thunder only happens when it’s raining.”

And we both have our own respective Springsteen moments when they play Dancing in the Dark. She pretends she's Courtney Cox up on stage with The Boss, circa 1984. I smile and lament with Bruce.

“We sit around getting older, there’s a joke here somewhere and it’s on me.”

When Green and co. crank out a killer rendition of Video Killed the Radio Star my wife yells in my ear.

“Who sings this again?"

“The Buggles," I yell back, struggling to be heard.

“The Snuggles?”

“No, the Buggles!”

“You’re making that up,” she says with a grin.

Ironically, I can’t remember what I had for breakfast yesterday, but I’ll never forget who sang that quirky one-hit-wonder a lifetime ago.

Mid-life crisis or mid-life oasis?

Grumpy cynics may call nights like this some sort of feeble attempt to recapture our youth, and they might be right.

But despite the creaky knees and croaky throat telling us in a Bonnie Tyler rasp “you’re way too old for this shit, go home”, we both dance with abandon and do just the opposite.

“Tequila anyone?”

So, what holds true for nights on the dance-floor when you’re in your 50’s?

Is it some sort of midlife crisis, lurking underneath the creeping crow’s feet like an unwelcome intruder?

Or could it be a midlife oasis: a space to have a bit of harmless fun where no-one gets hurt? A moment in time to celebrate being here now. 

After all, you’re only as old as you feel. And tonight, we both feel like 20-somethings. Just for a little while.

Looking forward to next year’s Xmas in July at Café Roux with Me & Mr. Green – we should have recovered by then ;-)

See what you missed right here!

Check the Cafe Roux calendar for what’s up next at Cape Town's premier live music venue.