Dead Ringer: Dirty swamp rock from the KZN Midlands
Swamp rock things Dead Ringer at Midlands Muso Showcase L_R Barron Harley, Gary Bedingfield, Tal Wolf Saville and Braydon Marie. Photo by Echo-Rain Saville.
Ah, the Midlands. Rolling hills, misty landscapes, and beneath it all – the artisanal cheese, hand-thrown pottery, the community art projects – is a vibrant punk rock scene that has lived on through the rise and fall of many a music venue.
The Midlands, home to the legendary Splashy Fen Music Festival, seems to give birth to a constant pool of musical talent. And while some venues may fade, the music never dies. There are hidden gems scattered across the Midlands, tucked away in pubs, barns, restaurants and even old train platforms.
blunt talks to Gary Bedingfield of Dead Ringer, a newly formed band of seasoned KZN-based musicians.
Words: Chantal Graaff. Photos by Steven Leggo and Echo-Rain Saville.
blunt: So, tell us how Dead Ringer came to be?
Gary: The idea for the band kind of sparked when Tal (drums) and myself (Gary) were jamming at home. We met up with Braydon (lead guitar) and decided to have an impromptu jam at the open mic at The Vern in Howick. After a good few beers, we decided we should make this band thing a reality! We wanted to create some really dirty, swampy blues and decided to do a short set at the muso showcase at the Old Mushroom Farm. I had just finished a set with The Barron Harley Band when Barron asked if he could jam some bass with us. We quickly realized that we were all a perfect match for each other, which is how we got the name Dead Ringer.
Tell us about the crew. Who are the Dead Ringer band members?
First, we have some exciting news. We are in the process of putting together our first EP. You can stay updated on our Instagram @dead.ringer.band
The band members are:
- Gary Bedingfield – Rhythm Guitar and Vocals
- Braydon Marie – Lead Guitar
- Barron Harley – Bass
- Tal Wolf Saville – Drums
“Our biggest inspirations are the likes of Led Zeppelin, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Eric Clapton, BB King, Jimi Hendrix, and Robert Johnson, and many more, but these are the sounds we are aiming for. Our sound can be called Swamp Rock or Swamp Punk, I guess, ha ha.” – Gary Bedingfield, Dead Ringer.
What has been your favourite gig so far?
Our favourite gig has to be the closing night of The Vern. Purely because we were really able to let loose and really show people what we’re all about. Plus, the crowd there is always just as amped as the band is on stage, so it’s always a vibe. Our next gig at the moment will be at The Old Mushroom Farm for the Midlands Muso Showcase on the 29th of December.
Dead Ringer logo artwork by Terrel Gouws from Beyond You Tattoo Studio.
What inspires your sound?
Our inspirations, hey? Hmm… I must say we all come from different backgrounds of music, but we all love the blues, man! So, I must say our biggest inspirations are the likes of Led Zeppelin, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Eric Clapton, BB King, Jimi Hendrix, and Robert Johnson, and many more, but these are the sounds we are aiming for. Our sound can be called Swamp Rock or Swamp Punk, I guess, ha ha.
What are your ambitions for the band?
I guess we really just want to be able to put our own music out there and to bring back the blues sound. We all really care about having fun while jamming with each other. Our favorite things to do are playing live shows, getting rowdy on stage, and flipping off the man with our lyrics! We love to create music with soul and feeling and write about what really is going on in the world! I’ll quote Gil Scott-Heron with a bit of what I like to say, ‘We want to play music that people enjoy listening to and have a great time, but we would like them to leave the show having learned something about themselves and the material world we live in!’ But our main ambition is to create some really dirty, swampy rock music!”
One last question… Haha, I love this question: If you were on death row and had one song to listen to, which song would you choose?
Gary: “Whew, now this, you will see the different music backgrounds, hahaha,so mine would be “Ramble On” by Led Zeppelin.. And the other guys:
- Tal: “Jamming” by Bob Marley
- Braydon: “10’s” by Pantera
- Barron: “The Devil in His Youth” by Protomartyr
Remember to check out Midlands Muso Showcase on the 29th of December—And stay tuned as we crank up the volume and shine a spotlight on the bands that are keeping the Midlands, KZN and … indeed the SA music scene alive and kicking…
