there is a breeze in here

why hello there. i haven't written a post for this blog in a very long time, but that is because i haven't felt compelled to write a post about music for a while. until tonight that is, for 2 reasons: a) i FINALLY have internet at my flat, so can satisfy the urge when it needs to be done, and b) i saw a band tonight that reignited my passion for music.

the windy city

i first saw this band at their first gig last year december. good mates of mine, so thought i would pop by. it is incredible to see how far they have come in less than a year. after hounding the local music scene here in cape town for months, then deciding to venture across the seas to the little land down under (where they were very well received i hear), they have come back with a new confidence, energy and self assurance that i hadn't seen in them before.





incase you havent heard of this band, they are 3 absolutely gorgeous boys from cape town, who make music for the sheer love of it. their sound is described as 'ambient-indie-electro-rock' (i think, i don't really remember), but i would describe their sound as another kind of awesome. something soothing, different, quirky but with a sense of order and comfort in it.

we were given 2 sets from them tonight at the waiting room, their acoustic set (which had never been performed here on SA soil i hear), and their live set. and i was left speechless, with a giant cheesy grin on my face. who were these creatures who had matured so majestically in their sound and within themselves? i personally preferred the acoustic set because it seemed a lot more raw, and you could clearly hear the sweet smooth vocals of the lead singer adrian. you could see, and understand, the meticulousness in jean's guitar skills. and marco added the ambient groove that brought the whole thing together. the live set was also good, but i felt that the drums drowned out adrian's voice which is something that shouldn't be allowed. but a great show none the less.

if you ever get the chance to check them out, please do. you will be doing yourself a favour. i would suggest going for the more intimate location option if there is one, because that is where they really shine, but check them out whenever/wherever you can. if you can't get to a show, download their latest track for FREE. and we all know that things taste/feel better when they are free.

tried to upload their music video, featuring the uber fabulous kelly berold (who took that awesome picture of them, but i don't know how to add captions), but alas my computer keeps showing me flames. but it can be seen here

enjoy

x

can i have a little anthem with a side of butchered f&*% up

i am sure that you have all seen the ard matthews clip from supersport. the one where he 'sings' the national anthem? if not, have a look.

watching this clip was one of the most painful 2:15mins of my life. it was like watching a car crash where you don't like what you see, but you can't look away. let's discuss...

we as south africans are a very proud group of people. we are quick to judge and scrutinise our country, and more often than not, threaten to leave. but if one person takes one jab at our country, we are up in arms and are quick to defend our birthplace and our home. and having someone anally rape the national anthem is one of the deepest stabs to our belly.

yes, ard matthews made a complete fool of himself on national television, and i will be interested to see how his PR team handles this one. sex and drug scandals are easy to sort out, but this kind of shenanigan, not so much. but he highlighted a problem that a lot of south africans have, and that i have most definitely noticed growing up.

our national anthem is such an intricate part of our country's history. it was the first mark of democracy and equality. it signified us moving forward as one, and growing as a nation. i remember being in grade 1 in 1994, and having to learn how to draw the new south african flag, and learn the new anthem. it was the beginning of a new world. a world filled with growth and opportunity.

there are 4 verses in 4 different languages: xhosa, sesotho, afrikaans and english. we have a11 official languages, but to put all of them in a song would keep us singing for 3 hours straight; so we have 4. these are 4 important verses that every single south african should know, with no excuses. if you cant pronounce the words, thats okay, as long as you get the gist of it, and are still able to sing the entire song with pride. but the problem is that too many people don't know all 4 verses. they only know 2, namely english and afrikaans.

you have all heard it. when you are in a big stadium or hall, or even a bar, and everyone gets up to sing the anthem with their hands on their hearts. there are people singing, trying their best, but the minute 'uit die blou...' starts, the crowd erupts, and sings from a part of themselves that wasnt present at the beginning. suddenly the words to the song come back to them.

now this is just embarrassing. appalling in fact. it highlights the segregation that we are trying so hard to fight. i don't know if its a case of people not wanting or not willing to learn the whole anthem, but it just isnt right. i get upset about it, and i have black friends and white friends alike who are also insulted by this.

how is it that people don't know the anthem? are you no longer taught it at junior school? where is this falling off the map?

yes, ard matthews royally f&*%ed up, but he just highlighted a problem that a lot of people are experiencing, and that needs to be addressed. we should be proud of who we are, and how far we have come, and something as simple as not knowing the anthem is a slap to the face of millions.

but hey, #imjussayin

rabi

embarking on a musical adventure

tomorrow i leave for australia, and many people have asked me why on earth i would want to go to australia. what am i going to do there? what do they even have to offer? and my answer is always the same, besides the blatantly obvious answer of 'sloring', but its to check out the insane music scene.

and with this, i have had people ask, 'music scene? seriously?', and i answer, 'yes, seriously'. because some of the most insane artists are from the oceanic region. as puse says to me all the time, 'its something in their water'. and it really is. so during my holiday time in the land down under, i am determined to see as many bands as possible, and expose myself to this special kind of art and talent, and regail all my tales to all of you.

so which bands have inspired me to make this move? well, obviously kylie minogue and olivia newton john. thats a definite given. but this list of artists include pendulum, guest vocals for zero 7, empire of the sun, AC/DC, INXS, natalie imbruglia (ha, those were the days) and more. ok, honestly, i only knew about 3 of those musos off the top of my head, google supplied the rest.

but the point is that australia is a mad creative export, and i hope to get my hands on some of this amazing product. i will try my best to keep the blog updated with the things i hear and see, but me sitting in an internet cafe typing, requires that i miss out on 15-30 minutes of exploration. hmmm, yeah, i dont think so.

as an aside, check out summadayze music festival happening in melbourne on the 1st. if i am able to get my grubby paws on some tickets, then i have to make my way there just to see pharell williams in le flesh. mmmmmm.

so, bon voyage to you all. have a mad new years, and i cant wait to share my musical journey with you all :)

what are you doing this weekend?

there is only one word to that question: SYNERGY!!! and if you are not there, then you clearly do not have your finger anywhere near the pulse of whats happening.

this is just a quick one. if im not chilling in the river, arbing around or drinking with all of you fine cats, this is where i will be (and where you should be too). some bands i do know, some bands i dont, but im not going to pull daisies stunts, im actually going to watch these bands because either they are brilliant, take me to a happy place, or have a hot lead singer/drummer/trumpet player ;)

FRIDAY

i have an all day workshop on friday so going to get to synergy late and miss a few peeps i wanted to jam with e.g. tommy gun at 6 in the electro tent. good luck, young cat! but after i arrive all flustered from sitting in afternoon traffic and watching the minutes where i am not sipping on a mojito go by, im going to get my shit together, crack open a black label and check these peeps out:

foto na dans at 9pm at the main stage. they should make for a spectacular performance, and i have yet to be disappointed by them. have heard good things about their new album, so keen to check it out. plus, we all know im a sucker for a brass instrument in a band!

thereafter its taxi violence, van coke and jax panik. im pretty indifferent as to whether or not i see these bands. i would really like to see jax though cos have never seen a performance. lets hope that i make it. yikes. someone told me that he hasnt done a live performance before/in a while, i dont know, so i guess it should all make for an interesting experience.

SATURDAY

today is the day where you will more than likely find me at the LMG stage. what they are offering is pure brilliance and good times. bone collectors, natasha meister, and we set sail are my must see bands, and should be yours too!!! i have a music crush on natasha meister and will be front and centre drooling and the musical brilliance. LMG are totally bringing it, and you will be a fool to not be at this stage with good people, good vibes and fucking fantastic music.

the only muso i will be jamming to at the main stage is napalma. saw them last year at daisies and at synergy, and i love them. always a treat. if you like 340ml, then this shit will blow you out of the water. was considering catching aking as loyalty memoribilia, but saw that mix n blend are playing at the same time in the electro tent, so that wasnt a hard choice.

i still have no idea who feeder are. and i dont really care.

gotta bounce early on sunday morning, but if for some reason im still kicking it around lunch time, then i will be checking out jack mantis band.

cool beans.

see all you fine individuals this weekend for some irie good vibes.

back to the time when music was alive

the blog is still under construction, but this just needs to be said.

spent a FABULOUS evening at studio 7 last night. honestly the best time i have ever had there. it may have been due to a combination of factors- no school to think about, not tired from a long day on campus, good people..um, ja, thats about it. or it also could have been about the music? i dont know. maybe al four? but was one of the most spectacular gig events i have been to in an age. perhaps ever. and i know i say this after every studio 7 gig, but i think this time its for real.

so, whiskey, a comfy couch, some good people and the blues. the musical era of all musical era. the grooves and lyrics that have catapulted and influenced every musical genre thereafter (and if you dont agree, then get off my blog site). a man by the name of Gerald James Clark was jamming some original tunes from various genres, but with that same underlying blues feel. he came with a sweet, smooth raspy voice that completed the set and the mood, and transported you to a different time and place. i wasnt in a living room. i wasnt here. i wasnt even me. i was a part of the music.

thereafter a incredible young lady by the name of natasha meister rocked out on the electric guitar. wow wow wee wah! i fell in love. i literally could not take my eyes off this chic. such amazing talent, and a beautiful voice. every lyric and note wasnt played in vain, and you could feel and hear the emotion behind everything she said. this was music in its original form. the kind that cant be tainted, and that we so rarely get the opportunity to experience.

they then joined forces and played some classics for us. never having jammed together, you would have thought otherwise. in fact, you would have believed that they came out of the same womb rocking it out on their guitars in perfect unison and harmony. these two worlds and vibes colliding to give us something new, fresh and just a little bit incredible.

has an accordian ever been cool? no, right? i mean, what do you think of when you think of an accordian? not every accordian will have a bottle of richelieu inside. but some contain a little bit of magic. yes. i promise you, thats what i saw yesterday.magic. and not that harry potter kind of bullshit. the real kind. the kind that moves you, and makes you question your belief in reality and the accordian. a gentleman by the name of domenico giuliano benigno made this happen (i think he is also in jack mantis band cos he looked eerily familiar). i literally found love. no lies.

so we have an acoustic guitar, an electric guitar, an accordian and a dream.

ah, im still reeling. studio 7, thank you.

(natasha meister is the only one with a fanpage, thats why i havent done links to the others *sad face* )

under construction

this is just a note to say that this blog will be man down for a while. im currently not too happy with it, as im not sure of the direction i am taking with it, and to be frank, im not stoked with the whole layout and shit. so im shutting this bitch down until i know what to do with her. its not fair to the blog, or to those 11 followers (athankyou!) if im writing absolute crap about nothing in particular in relation to SA music.

so let me take this badboy into the back room, and spend some time with it. perhaps with a whiteboard marker and some cheese, and hopefully inspiration will come in some form or another that will bring you a new and improved tambourine popeye.

but i have recently acquired a camera (not a hipster one with 5million gizmos, gadgets and flashes, just a regular mainstream one that i can actually work), so at least there will be socially revelant pics on board.

but if for some obscure reason you are craving a dosage of the atrocities i comment on in everyday life and within this muddled up brain, then check #imjussayin or find me anywhere they have red wine.

stay tuned for further updates :)

somewhere beyond the sea...

last night assembly brought us the RTD after party. i dont know why they had to hide behind the veil of the daisies, but whatever. the night was still an awesome vibe #goodtimes (i recently received a tutorial on twitter language, and cant get enough of the '#' symbol-even though i use it on the #imjussayin blog. but the love of the # has been reignited. stay tuned for the introduction of @, but i think we are still a while away from that).

i missed jakkals ONCE AGAIN!!! tck, i think you guys need to start later, cos i will never be there on time if you're on at the likes of 9.30. once again, a million apologies for missing it...again. next time i will arrive at sunset and wait with a sign like a crazed fan. that ok?

but the issue that i wanted to address here is that of we set sail. the issue? they are awesome. so awesome in fact, that its an issue. you see what i am saying? the 20-million piece band put on a stellar show, and they are a band that i have been meaning to watch for some time now. last night presented itself with an opportunity.

they are completely instrumental, and it works for them. i have mentioned before my thing with instrumental bands i.e. kidofdoom, and i think they are amazing in that they can still portray a story and emotions without the use of emotive lyrics. its a feat that i think very few bands can achieve. i am one about the music, where some are about the lyrics. i like the way it speaks to me, and the freedom to interpret it in any way that i want. we set sail offered me that freedom last night.

instead of a lead singer, they have a lead trumpet player. and again, we know how i heart brass instruments in bands. and that seems to be the main vessel for communication. i dig it. jazz infused rock. different. interesting. something i can myself growing to love. and they play with such passion, because without the use of words, the passion has to be portrayed in other ways. rock stars to the full.

they dont play music for the sake of it being music. they play it for a purpose. a purpose you yourself can decide.

cant wait to jump aboard again. SYNERGY! do yourselves a favour, and come play.

flowers anyone?

well, rocking the daisies has finally hit our shores. well, not really shores, but the general west coast region. same same, but different. yay! some people wait all year for this particular weekend, others, like myself, decide at the last minute to stop being a punk and just go with it. normally UCT knows all about this, and therefore assigns a crap load of work around this time of year because they are sadistic dictators, but for once, i have managed to work around it (i still have a crap load of work, but its manageable).

still trying to decide whether the line up is average, or slightly below average. im not going to peg it at brilliant, because lets face it, it isnt up there. but you cant buy energy like the energy of RTD, so that in itself is reason enough to go. that, and drinking beer out of a plastic cup with the sun in your face (eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeek!). yes, thats exactly what i am going for. and to find some sexy talent ;) if you are looking for me and im not in the beer tent, you can find me watching the following musos (which you should check out too, cos they are awesome):

city bowl mizers at 1pm on sat
my aim is to be best buds with these guys by the end of this festival, and have shared many a tequila induced tale

new holland at 3pm on sat
i have written enough about them, so one should know my feelings toward them. that, and when i saw them on my birthday at mercury, all i did was check out the bassist and force my friends to tell me who in the band they would close with. i plan to do the same this time.

i shall then be traipsing about, but by 6pm i will be in the red bull studio checking out mix n blend
and niskerone at 8pm.

oh, lets not forget guy buttery who is on at 5.30pm in cuervo nu world beat barn. fuck, i dont know how im going to work this out. hmmm.

wow, i only have 5 must see acts? interesting. oh ja, and taxi violence at 11pm. mustnt forget about them!

then sunday will give me holiday murray at 11am. and i will just generally be arbing around picking up scraps of my dignity perhaps. or that of my friends. who knows?

not going up tomorrow unfortunately. its the idea of not showering for a whole day that irks me out. i mean, how is one meant to close if they smile like a combo of smoke, booze, dirt and perhaps shit and pee? precisely. so i will be gettting there bright and early on saturday morning, smelling like a new lease on life. but if i was there, i would def be checking out she man lion, tidal waves and goodluck. the dirty skirts and zebra and giraffe can kiss my fabulously black ass. athankyou.

but for the full line up, click here (i love that i FINALLY learnt to do that!)

dont forget to bring sunscreen, winter jacket, alcohol, condoms and a generally good vibe!

see you there!!!

feels like a cup of tea

i havent been to a gig in a while, so this is going to be a little different. was just thinking about this band last night, and thought i should pay them some kind of a attribute (as much as it pains me because i am NO ONE's fan!)

last year jamie and i packed a mad picnic, bottle of wine included (naturally!) and went to kirstenbosch to see aking. i had never seen this band before, let alone really heard of them. but when the sun is shining, and life is sweet, why not. this marked the beginning of a new era in our lives. it represented a significant part of the next stage in terms of music and in terms of life.

from that day, jamie and i were all about aking. and we used them to describe things that we were feeling but had no idea how to articulate. thank you hunter kennedy for your inspirational lyrics. i have no idea what the band will do without you now. but yes, the lyrics moved us, and motivated us. and with that, we found a connection with the band (sorry james, i am just including you in this. but i know your sentiments are the same. feel free to comment if im incorrect at any which point). i liked the beat, james was about the words, and together we were about that thing we called music. we learnt about visceral heights and malignant regret. we learnt to be scared of wolves, and to undress people with our eyes. and most importantly, we learnt not to lose speed, baby. in short, we became fans. yikes!

we didnt go to all their gigs and become groupies, we just enjoyed the music for what it was. and then we had the crazy oportunity to have them play at a party that was being thrown for us! what?! yes!! i know!!! nothing in the world could have prepared us for this moment, where we would finally meet the faces behind the words, and the hands behind the strum. and they didnt disappoint....really. basically we were treated like fans, and this only ruined the illusion we had created about the band. we renounced our vows to love aking forever, and that was that. never to be seen or heard again.

but as time has gone on, we have gotten over ourselves, and moved on. and there are times when i will hear an aking song and think back to good times and good feelings. at the end of the day, they were an integral part of our lives for those short few months, and personal feelings aside, we do love them. they offer a comfort and show how much we have grown. we got into a chat about this yesterday when i mentioned that i might go see them this week at lentelawaai, and that i was excited. she responded by telling me that she does miss them, and that they are like cup of tea. which i was in total agreement about. we laughed about the gigs we went to, and laughed about the words we took to heart. and appreciated all those moments, and more.

so now, i have decided that aking are still in fact one of my favourite SA bands. as full of shit as i am most of the time, i cant hate them. their music moved me at a particular point, and when i hear a song of theirs, i smile, and remember happy and interesting days. i am not a fan, but i do appreciate. hopefully i will see you all on wednesday to appreciate together!!

so, lets step into the night, and bring into it life

another man with a guitar

so tuesday night saw me heading back to studio 54 for some more good music, good people and most importantly, good wine. oh, this was where i had seen the marvellous muso, guy buttery.

this time it was to check out a man by the name of gary thomas. a name that sounded familiar to me, but as i said to the old chic sitting next to me, 'gary' and 'thomas' are both quite common names, so i probably just made something up in my head.

another incredible evening. once again, it was a man and his guitar, but this time with a different take on things. this was music that i had never heard before, and got very involved in. quite heavy at times with the intense chords,he put but very rich, like charly's brownies or a steak with blue cheese sauce. you love it, but cant have it all the time otherwise you will throw up (k, if i had thrown up, it would have been due to the wine cos my body and alcohol are currently at war).

he put an interesting groovy funk into his songs that i didnt expect, and consequently loved. i would say it was funky folk, with a irish twist (yes, i sit there and think of adjectives to describe what i am feeling and hearing). and the irish groove came through towards the end. i thought i was at a river dance party, but one that i could properly groove to. i found myself bopping my head to the beats he was creating on his stomper, and nothing makes me happier than an unexpected head bop.

and a great performer he was, constantly looking up to the heavens. i dont know if he was praying to the gods, adorning them with him melodic gifts, or praying to the music gods that his guitar string didnt finally give in. either way, it worked. he was at one with the music, and the music was at one with hi. brava! i rate if you get the chance, and enjoy some good, real music, check his album launch on 12 August at alliance francaise. i might do that myself (http://www.facebook.com/garythomassa?ref=search&v=wall)

and apparently he and guy buttery used to live together in a hippy home in kalk bay. i can totally imagine the musical competitiveness and genius that reverberated on the walls, and for that experience, i would have been very happy being a total groupie (this is the one and only time..until the next studio 54 perhaps).

brava!

a shark out of water

so this past weekend gave us the launch of the hardly anticipated debut album from The Plastics, 'SHARK'. i am sure everyone heard about this, there were posters everywhere, and if you were fortunate like me, you had a flyer stuck to your window after a rainy evening, leaving the damn print as a reminder.

as usual, i enjoyed holiday murray and captain stu. i always do. they feel like a cup of tea to me :) and then it was time for The Plastics. now, i have defended them in the past (there is a blog post somewhere), but this time, i dont think i have the energy, stamina or even the desire to defend them. and this isnt because they are a carbon copy of the arctic monkeys, which seems to be everyone's issue. its because i just found them....for lack of a better phrase...painfully boring.

granted every song did sound like an arctic monkeys cover, which is fine, but with that, every song sounded like the same arctic monkeys cover. i can listen to 'i bet you look good on the dancefloor' only so many times. and thats what really annoyed me. little variation or creativity was involved. i felt like i could have gone to the bathroom, come back, and nothing will have changed. in fact, that is exactly what one of my mates did and said. and he was right.

i just ended up leaving thoroughly annoyed that i didnt get a full musical experience. screw having gordon raphaely (of strokes fame) producing you. it really means nothing in the long run. i think these guys could have done better, but what do i know? but if you really do heart, 'i bet you look good on the dancefloor', then totally go get yourself the new album. if like me, you like a bit of creativy and exploration, save yourself the R100.

waiter, there is a guy in my butter

when i was about 10, i started taking guitar lessons. i lasted a year. and not because i am musically inept (i played the flute for 8 years), but because my teacher was insanely boring, and never at one point indicated that one could play the guitar the way i saw the guitar being played last night!

went to this insane gig last night, and possibly one of the best gigs i have ever been to. no, not possibly, it was. the performer was a man by the name of guy buttery, with a hippie air to him. just him, a guitar, some weird musical contraption that made crazy martian sounds (how i imagine martians to sound), and a saw, in a living room with red wine flowing and a fire blazing. can we say 'heaven'? HEAVEN

if you ever have a chance to see this musical genius, please do. i actually cant think of words to describe the music itself, because there are no words. and not because of the amazing technicality of the chords he chose, but because he wasnt playing music. he was playing a story. feelings. emotions. it all transcended musical barriers, and entered a space where you were lost in your own world, and he was providing the soundtrack to your thoughts.

he broke every musical rule i had learnt- timings, tempo, beat, variation in tone. threw a descrescendo in here. a mezzo forte in there. skipped from andante to adagio in a millisecond, and without thought or caution. like i said, it wasnt music. not in the classical, conventional sense. it was something i had never heard before.

just a man and his guitar.

perfect location. perfect people. perfect music.

Plan B - She Said

Miike Snow - Black and Blue

Corinne Bailey Rae - Closer

Two Door Cinema Club - Something Good Can Work

SMILE :)

its been a while, and i havent been to a gig in a MINUTE (trying to decide if the wrestlerish/ashtray gig in the jhb counts, cos even though they played, jhb as a venue is just fucked up crazy and i dont understand the 17 year olds who attend these things and try to start mosh pits during 'quite overstared'. can someone please explain that to me? please? we ended up being those pretentious cape town fucks who were shouting at the youngbloods telling them, 'we dont mosh here. stop it', which was met by confusion. but these kids need to learn)

these are songs that i currently have playing all over my house and in my car, that just make me feel good, groovy, happy and sexy. enjoy. tell me what you think.

2 door cinema club - something can work
my mate, kelly, introduced me to this band, and she just kept going on about how happy they are. and they really are. i sent it to jamie who was a bit skeptical, but she too was smiling at all times, telling me to 'play the happy song again...and put the volume up'. she then sent it on to her work mate, who described it as 'indie toto'. and then it went to fix. where my CD is now is beyond me.

corinne bailey rae - closer
this came from one of my sisters mates. and my my, has corinne bailey rae changed over the years. she moved on from sweet, innocent melodies and lyrics, to a more mature, soulful groove. its very reminiscient of old school r&b/soul, the way it should be and the way the muso gods intended.

miike snow - black and blue
i dont know what it is about this song, but i can never tire of it. perhaps its the dirt old man in the vid who is in dire need of a shower and some love, but finds solace in the music? i dont know. but i find it interesting how its a dance song that isnt a dance song. sounds like it should be at first 'glance', but after the 3rd time, you realise that it really isnt one, and that miike snow has somehow mixed classical sounds effectively with techno beats. does that make sense? i dont know.

plan b- she said
i love this song because it sounds so theatrical. old school jazz band with a dramatic twist. and then this dirty english chavvy accent comes in. classic. this dude, made chav sound seemingly cool, which is an amazing feat and should be featured on everyones playlist. but i dont think its everyones cup of tea. i just like big band sounding tracks. and there is this really cool, simple bass beat. sounds like a cat walking on the street before the big number. haha. and the video is just hilarious.

i would go through more songs, but i want to upload the vids so you can check them out yourself, and i dont know yet how to put the vids onto the specific blog that is been written. but i have learnt how to share vids on blogs, so all the vids will be below. if you know how to do what i have been attempting for a minute, PLEASE TELL ME!!! otherwise, enjoy and tell me what you think :)

i'll mix, while you blend

today we are taking a different angle on the usual things i comment on. lets mix it up a little bit here. so going to jump straight into it.

so saturday there was aking/wrestlerish at mercury, jack parow/heuwels/thieve at assembles, and mix n blend at fiction. choices choices choices. it started off on thursday with me being totally keen for assembles, moved on to saturday morning plans to go see aking, then saturday afternoon plans to be a spoilt brat and see aking AND mix n blend (whom i had never seen before). due to logistical issues, i missed out on aking/wrestlerish vibe. am i sad about it? no, not at all.

so, made a solo mission to le fiction (dont worry, i was meeting a mate or 2 there, and hoping to just bump into some fabulous people, which i did anyways :) ). i actually forgot how much i love dubstep, electro vibes. being in the electro/indie/rock scene has made me forget about the other things i used to love oh so much. mix n blend brought me back. reminded me of my roots, and why i used to love fiction so much. had heard so much about this dj crew, and FINALLY took the chance to go see them. aaaah, just listening to them now as i type, and im learning that its incredibly difficult to type and dance at the same time (when i figure out how to put links on this site, it will make all of our lives much better-we can enjoy the vibe together).

crazy, dirty, sticky beats that make you want to take your clothes off and just groove. a trip down a musical lane that makes you feel many things and nothing all at the same time. experimental sounds, beats, rhythms, vibes. groovy base lines. synth pop beats (i dont even know what that means). everything just hits you in the soul. a straight shot. i actually dont know what this genre is, but i love it. i shook my bootay, which is something i havent done in a MINUTE!! literally shook it. eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeek!!! mix n blend, i want to dry hump your vinyls. done.

FREEDOM!

im not going to get into my usual apologies from the get go, because at this point they are completely useless, so instead i am just going to get right into it. welcome back, by the way.

so went to the assembly last night (this blog was started on sunday, and has taken me days to complete!! sorry!). been a MINUTE and a half, if not longer since i saw band there (since i saw a band full stop-last was taxi violence and the plastics). ended up making a solo mission, and that was the only way to do it actually. just me and the music, not against it (ref: britney spears-clearly APA referencing isnt a formality here). so lets just get right to it.

Caught this band called 'The Pinkertons'. retarded name for a band, but their sound is far from such. name and the voice just dont link up, but thats okay. maybe like other great bands in history (i cant think of one off the top of my head), they will change their name to suit their bad ass sound. or maybe its all a tactic? who knows why people do what it is that they do these days, but we are not here to discuss the psychology of the human mind, we are here to discuss the beauty that is the universal language of muzac.

so the pinkertons (i keep wanting to say 'parlotones' which evokes a completely different kind of emotion) were pretty fucking sweet. deep groovy basslines, bad ass guitar riffs, and crazy drumming were vessels used to transport you to another time and place, specifically the midwest circa 1970. soul for the common white man. they reminded me of a specific song, but i cannot for the life of me get the name/artist..perhaps because i never knew the name/artist and only know it courtesy of vh1's top 50 soft rock songs of all time (thank you vh1 for giving me chicago, chris isaacs and the doobie brothers). i think its something about a tale of a rising sun? i dont know. google in all of its infinite wisdom actually cant help me!!


after this groovy introduction to the evening, we were then entertained by the plastics. now, i dont know why people in the bizz have an issue with the plastics, but i personally dig them lank. i dont know why, but i do. they are just fun and free-spirited, and very reminiscient of british indie rock. think: arctic monkeys; the strokes-those kind of people. i think of the beach and good times when i hear them, i dont know about you. but what people keep complaining about, and which will bring me to a bit of a discussion here, is that they sound like the arctic monkeys. ok, so what? there is no band today that doesnt sound a little bit like someone else, purely due to the fact that they are influenced by other musicians. it is almost impossible to be truly innovative when it comes to music, all that one can do is put their own twist on what they know about the environment around them. for generations bands have been recycling what they heard growing up and what they currently hear around them, in order to produce a sound that they feel comfortable about. ashtray sounds like the shins, captain stu like cats empire (i dont know them, but thats who they reminded my mate of), taxi violence sounds like some rock band circa 1990 (maybe nirvana, i dont know), but the fact of the matter is that everyone uses someone elses sound and this has occurred throughout history. it is all just an evolutionary process. so with that, i think the plastics should be cut a little slack for sounding like the arctic monkeys. if their sound works for them, so be it! and i bet that you will look good on that dancefloor when you hear them!

and lastly, the reason why i love doing this 'job', is New Holland. i even capitalised the first letters of the name. thats some deep respect right there!! i loved this band before i went to this gig (had them playing in my car for a MEENIT), and i love them even more after the fact. they managed to get me to go to the assembly by myself, stand in the middle of the dancefloor (i always stand at the back), actively dance (i generally just groove) and mouth the words loudly along, even though i dont know half the lyrics. thats some serious power!!!

but what is it about this band that makes me behave in this crazy way?? i dont know. is it the electro-synth guitar riffs? is it the loudspeaker used to sing with in 'this(is)home'? is it my issue with the lead singers hair do? its all of the above, and then some. the melodies resonate through my soul, and the lyrics identify with whats in my heart. they say the things i cant put into words and provide a backing track to my life. that is it. plain and simple. they are something different that i just cant put my finger on. perhaps its the pulse. the energy, the fruitfulness and the meticulous way each and every sound, note and chord is constructed that can be seen and appreciated with an effortless enjoyment. i love it i love it i love it.


but the highlight of my evening was the impromptu performance (if you want to call it that), by the guys from thieve. perhaps one too many tequilas were had, but the lead singer and drummer hopped on stage during 'freedom' i think, and proceeded to sing along with the band whilst fighting over microphone rights. was classic and delightful, and reminded me what is right with south african music. no one takes themselves too seriously (or at least they shouldnt). so whilst they are causing a scene on stage, a bouncer comes to escort them, but the drummer proceeds, i assume, to drunkingly slur that they had in fact obtained permission (all this whilst the lead singer is shaking his bootay). after the bouncer realised that he was fighting a losing battle, he let the guys finish off their escapade, and their performance was concluded with the drummer of thieve attempting and successfully completing a stage dive. viva zuid afrika viva.

chunder

hello fans and friends,

i apologise that my posts have not been filled with their usual zest, spark and interesting anecdotes. varsity has been a bitch (or has it?) and i have been taking my time to tend to this precious flower, therefore she hasnt received the love that she actually deserves. fly-by-night posts=very little water and nourishment. as with all withering plants, it takes time to get them back to their original, fiery disposition, so lets get to it then, shall we?

last night i headed to mr pickwicks to FINALLY see my friend, faith's gig. i have been invited a number of times, and i keep putting it off, so last night i took a stand and made a solo mission to mr pickwicks. interesting choice of venue i thought on my way there, but totally understood when i got there.

some chic by the name of amanda something (i cant remember) opened the show. wow. fabulous. she had a voice light a big jar of honey, sweet sweet sweet, and powerful if you have a huge spoon of it! i loved it. faith described her as 'taylor swifty'- on top of her game, and i totally got that. her voice and a guitar set a beautifully romantic mood with simple chords and quirky lyrics. she made spooning sound sweet and romantic. a bit of norah jones coupled with some regina spektor me thinks. thats the kind of vibe.

and on to the real star here, faith. one must ask her, 'faith, why are you always running?'. i still dont know the answer to that question. maybe someday she will answer it for me. faith, a guitar, and a stage was all that was needed (not the amp cos she kept fiddling with it!!!). someone said she was like the arctic monkeys, im more inclined to go with the streets. funny, sharp, quirky lyrics about everyday life for a young individual in this world. yeah, totally the streets. talking and singing to you at the same time. there were some lyrics that i wanted to remember to tell all of you, but now i dont remember them. maybe later. i think she just needs to work on the actual music itself, cos all the songs sounded exactly the same. but there is a talent there that just needs some nourishment. im excited to see where this chic goes. it should be a fun ride.

oh, and she did the BEST T.I cover i have ever heard. she claims she sucks at them, but that was my favourite track of the night. she made 'whatever you like' sound indie and quirky. exactly the kind of sound i like (well, one of) faith, well done, well done.