Live at the Gasometer

Die Antwoord: Knockout victory against Cancel Culture

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11.04.2024 01:27

Scandal or genius, or both? There are few bands where the line between creative uniqueness and humane dubiousness is as thin as with the South Africans Die Antwoord. After years of accusations from the outside, Ninja and Yolandi are now trying their hand at music again - and wowing audiences at the Gasometer in Vienna.

In many respects, it seems arbitrary where the modern society of excitement draws its boundaries and where it does not. When Rammstein played two sold-out Happel Stadium concerts last summer, several groups formed to protest loudly against Till Lindemann - but the shows still went ahead. US metal heroes Pantera were less fortunate, as their already sold-out show at the Gasometer was unceremoniously canceled because the Viennese Greens got wind of Phil Anselmo's 2016 Hitler salute via Campino, for which he publicly apologized several times. When he played with his band, the Illegals, at the Viper Room metal club a few years earlier, nobody cared - or it went unnoticed. Marilyn Manson, who has been accused by several women of having abused and coerced them, will soon be starting another tour in the USA with Five Finger Death Punch.

(Bild: Andreas Graf)

Thick catalog of accusations
And then there's Die Antwoord. The South African "Zef" duo, consisting of Ninja and Yolandi Visser, who shaped the pop culture of the 2010s with their mixture of rave, rap, punk and openly flaunted anarchy and were considered the darlings of the Californian artist scene for some time. For over ten years, various allegations piled up. The duo were accused of sexual abuse, sex trafficking, recurring homophobia, exorcism and incestuous thoughts. Gabriel "Tokkie" du Preez, one of the foster children of the musicians Ninja and Yolandi, who were once in a relationship, gave shocking insights into his life in a three-quarter-hour interview in 2022, alleging serious sexual, physical and psychological abuse. Details can be found all over the internet and Die Antwoord were canceled.

(Bild: Andreas Graf)

Ninja and Yolandi always denied all the allegations and were never convicted in court. As with Rammstein, the question remains as to how far morally abhorrent behavior can or should be canceled. Die Antwoord went into hiding (the pandemic certainly benefited them) and rose like a phoenix from the ashes back to the top some time ago. Their current "Reanimated" tour is ensuring full halls, and their Austrian comeback at the Gasometer in Vienna was filled to capacity. There were no demonstrators or political criticism to be seen either before or during the concert. In the documentary "Zef - The Story Of Die Antwoord" released at the beginning of the year, Ninja and Yolandi had their story told (rather uneventfully) by their daughter, and the new studio album "Uit De Hemel Gevallen" is already in the starting blocks. So much for the current status.

(Bild: Andreas Graf)

Between aliens and ants
The many fans don't seem to care about the unconfirmed accusations anyway. Around 3400 gathered at the Gasometer on Wednesday evening and experienced a sound quake in a class of its own. The gig began with an incredibly powerful mix of techno beats and the classic "Carmina Burana", before Ninja entered the stage dressed completely in white and caused frenetic cheering with a simple "Yeah". He was joined by Yolandi Visser, who even at 40+ has managed to retain the squeaky voice of her early days. The stage setting looked like something out of a fever dream and was most reminiscent of alien ants in an industrial-futuristic look. With Die Antwoord, the visual aspects and shock effects have always been synonymous with the music, even if the wildest years are slowly behind them.

(Bild: Andreas Graf)

Ninja's sweater fell off after the third song, so the band leader could proudly prove that you can still shine with the steely body of a thirty-something shortly before your 50th birthday. Despite all the scandals and rumors, both are convinced Buddhists and have been strictly vegetarian for some time - which led them to a Viennese restaurant in the third district the day before, which shared the good publicity with a joint photo on social media. Ninja partially addressed the accusations in the first third of the set. In a kind of freestyle rap, he denied the homophobia accusations because DJ Hi-Tek, the third band member, was openly gay, added a diss against Eminem to the long-standing mutual feud and warned his fans about the "fake news" that was available everywhere. In any case, only those involved know where the truth really lies. Musically, Die Antwoord have certainly lost none of the pressure of the old days.

Between metal cowl and sound bowl
They reeled off the cult hits of their short but all the more intense career in fast-forward. "Fatty Boom Boom", "Ugly Boy" and "Rich Bitch", during which Yolandi wrapped herself in a golden glitter jacket, were sung along loudly and lyrically by the fans. The audience turned out to be an interesting mix of heavy metal lovers, singing bowl esoterics and 2000s ravers who, even at an advanced age, are still not thinking about the couch in the evening. During the songs, Ninja got up close and personal with the fans as usual, even letting himself be carried through the audience at times and playing a song from the FOH at the back of the hall. DJ Hi-Tek, as usual with a distorted face mask, laid the foundation for the celebrated tracks with his memorable beats and masterful turntable skills.

(Bild: Andreas Graf)

The fact that Die Antwoord are basically still touring with the same setlist as six or seven years ago didn't bother anyone in Vienna. Between rap with an Afrikaans accent, wild rave interludes and openly flaunted nihilism, the two weird frontmen whirled agilely across the stage. In between, they launched into "Pitbull Terrier", defended themselves against paternalism and censorship with the constantly repeated song line "Fuck Your Rules" in "Happy Go Sucky Fucky" and added "I Fink U Freeky" on the home stretch, probably the band's biggest song, which almost everyone sang along to at the top of their lungs. After less than 70 minutes, Die Antwoord had told their story. During the encore "Enter der Ninja", the same ninja jumped into the audience once again before Yolandi said goodbye to the audience with "Thank you Vienna, Austria. We happy" to the audience. It was short, it was intense, it was loud and it was crazy. The facts: Moral understanding remains an elastic concept and Die Antwoord are currently celebrating a global touring knockout victory against the arousal society.

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