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South African Music Zine edited by Sugar |
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Contents  
This week's contents: Editorial: The week in brief News: Fokofpolisiekar, Urban '03, Klippies and Cola Student Sessions, Marq Vas, Kallitz, Sugardrive. . Charts: SA Rock Digest MP3 and Album Charts New Releases: New SA MP3's and CD's, The Rudimentals, Kallitz, Serving Suggestion, Brian Finch, Tim Wells Band, Jo Day, Fokofpolisiekar, 2B2, Spindle Sect . CD of the Week: 'Africa She Too Can Cry' - Hawk Classic SA Rock: USA For Africa; A Naartjie In The UK; Vinyl Junkies; South African Rock Lists Sound Solutions: A reader's forum - letters, info, questions and answers Live Music: Events round-up, SA Punk, Sedwick, CD stores, Boo! In London, Gert Vlok Nel and Brixton Roof En Moord Orkes. SA Music Links And Resources: Contact Details Editorial THE WEEK IN BRIEF It's time the rest of the country caught a glimpse of one of South Africa's most exciting new bands as the Afrikaans Punk crew, Fokofpolisiekar, set off on their first tour up north, probably without a police car escort ... Good reading for the young lads as they travel around the country could be 'Urban '03', the third in a smart series of previously-unpublished short story collections for new SA writers, which has just been launched and released ... The successful Klippies and Cola Student Sessions are back with names like Afrotone, Andy & Stef, Arbor, Fly Paper Jet, Nick Turner & Dave vd Linden, Fokofpolisiekar, Superfine, and the The Buckfever Underground playing a series of live gigs on consecutive Tuesdays at Die Mystic Boer and The Independent Armchair Theatre. Marq Vas, the oft-controversial, SA hard rock watchdog, recently locked horns with the Star newspaper's Tonight reporter, Charles de Olim, concerning his view on current SA Rock music in an article titled, 'Oppikoppi to Over-the-hill?' ... Musica will be inviting customers to "Spread the love - not the virus" as their Valentine's Day promotion approaches to help The Aids Foundation of South Africa ... Kallitz (pronounce "Coloureds") are being called the new Cape Town Hip Hop sensations and are ready to take the lead in Afrikaans rap as the release of their debut album approaches ... Sugardrive are back with a Roxy gig and an upcoming new album. New mp3's this week come from The Rudimentals ('Gangsta'), Kallitz ('Die Ding Ruk Mal'), The Tim Wells Band ('Say'), Serving Suggestion ('Musical Chairs') and veteran Brian Finch ('Long Riders Of Nam') ... Sean Looney is a new Digest contributor and he takes a look at the Fokofpolisiekar phenomenon ... Marq Vas calms down a little, but is still very excited by Jo Day's new album, 'The Truth' ... The Afrikaans band, 2B2, featuring Jacques Steyn, return in Feb with a multimedia production called 'Dê!' in Centurion at Steak 'n Ale. There are a bunch of great new SA music CDs and DVDs in the One World January releases ... LAD throws his powerful zaZone beam at the very highly rated Cape Town band, Spindle Sect ... John Samson has been contributing to the Digest for 4 years now; this week he picks up the Sharon Tandy story with the release of her new CD ... Kurt Shoemaker is a busy Texan school teacher, but always finds that mid-marking moment to send us a review of his favourite new SA album, this week it's by young Cape rocker, Jesse Jordan. There's news and gig updates on the RP Emerging Sounds competition ... The first in the 2004 free music workshop series at Paul Bothner Music branch in Plumstead, Cape Town is on Monday 9 February 2004 - from 6:30 to 7:30pm and is called: "Communicating with Your Fan Base via the Internet", and will be presented by Digest co-editor, Brian Currin ... In this week's SA Punk section, Daniel Neville reviews the new Sedwick CD and tells us where we can buy decent CDs locally ... John Samson was at the BOO! gig in London last week ... and Carina Laubscher saw Gert Vlok Nel and the Brixton Moord En Roof Orkes and explains the link. There's also the usual weekly mp3 and album charts, recommended SA gigs, letters to Sound Solutions, Digest Classifieds, old SA charts, and what's new on the shelves at Mabu Vinyl and CD and Vibes Vinyl. And that is some of SA music, this week ... If you would like to contact us, please send an email to mailto:editor@sarockdigest.com?subject=Digest Thanks! Ed. ----------------------------
From Abstract Truth to Karen Zoid, from 'Astra' to 'Zen Boulders', from 'Ag Pleez Deddy' to 'ZX Dan'... visit the online archive for the history (and future) of South African Rock at: http://www.rock.co.za The SA Rock Encyclopedia is an archive of South African pop and rock music - past, present and future - and includes sections on classic albums, rock legends, rock lists, charts, trivia, family trees, a hall of fame, weblinks and more... ---------------------------- SAGIGS.COM The SA Rock Digest list of recommended gigs can now be found at: http://www.SAgigs.com If you cannot access SAgigs.com then e-mail gigs@sarockdigest.com and we will e-mail the gig guide to you each week. ---------------------------- SAKLANK.COM Sluit aan by http://www.SAKlank.com deur e-pos te stuur aan intekenaar@saklank.com Alle rasionele idees, gedagtes, bydraes, briewe en konsert-/CD-resensies is altyd welkom! ---------------------------- THE OFFICIAL RODRIGUEZ WEBSITE 'Cold Fact', the classic album from the 70s, as well as 'After The Fact', the second Rodriguez album, have been re-issued and both are now available at One World. http://www.oneworld.co.za All Rodriguez Info at: http://www.sugarman.org ---------------------------- SA ROCK DIGEST http://www.sarockdigest.com If you would like to receive all the SA music news on this page, as a free weekly Monday morning email newsletter with no attachments, then please enter your email address in the SA Rock Digest banner on the left. News
FOKOFPOLISIEKAR F-OFF ON TOUR South Africa's most exciting new Afrikaans Punk band, Fokofpolisiekar, are setting off on their first tour up north. The five-man outfit from Bellville and Cape Town have released their debut 6-track EP, 'As Jy Met Vuur Speel Sal Jy Brand', through Rhythm Records, and have been playing to packed venues at each of their few gigs to date. The band's first single, the self-titled 'Fokofpolisiekar', recently topped the SAmp3.com charts. Fokofpolisiekar will be appearing in Bloemfontein, Pretoria en Johannesburg, with some upcoming gigs planned for the Western Cape soon. The tour dates: Thurs 26 Feb - Die Mystic Boer, Bloemfontein (tel: 051-430 2206) Friday 27 Feb - The Horror Café, Johannesburg (tel: 082-850 9887) Saturday 28 Feb - Cool Runnings (Centurion), Pretoria (tel: 012-643 0326) Tuesday 2 March - Tings 'n Times, Pretoria (tel: 012-362 5538) More info c/o Ilse at 021-919 0863 or 083-411 0901. See a review of the Fokofpolisiekar CD below. READ, LISTEN, BUY http://www.rhythmrecords.co.za/fokof.html -------------- URBAN '03 LAUNCHED New Africa Books (NAB), in association with Nescafé and SL magazine, are proud to announce the launch of 'Urban '03', the third in a series of new short story collections for new writers. Based on the winners from a competition run in June 2003 with SL Magazine, the collection features the winning entry (also published in SL's September edition) and the reminder of the top nine entries. The Urban anthology of new writing was initially conceived and edited by Dave Chislett, and embraced by New Africa Books who began publishing an annual collection under its Spearhead imprint in 2001. Said Publishing Manager Jeremy Boraine: "The Urban anthology has been gathering momentum since its inception. This year we are for the first time able to offer cash prizes thanks to sponsorship from Nescafé. And because we had a media partner in SL magazine, we received many more entries than in previous years. Nearly 400 in fact! First prize was R5000, second prize R3000, and third R2000. The name "Urban" was selected as a theme because it can be widely interpreted and has enough appeal to stand the test of time. "We hope to secure sponsorship for 2004 and beyond, so we can publish an annual anthology of short stories," added Boraine. "SL has always supported and published brilliant writers," said Michelle Matthews, Managing Editor of SL magazine. "It makes sense for SL to merge our annual fiction competition with URBAN '03 as we share the vision of encouraging exciting writing by young South Africans." Said Floh Thiele of the Nescafé Promotions Team: "We at Nescafé are proud to continue our support after a successful partnership on Urban 2. It's just evidence of what we live and feel every day: Nescafé - one thing leads to another." For more information, contact Dave Chislett 083 245 6412 'Urban '03' is now available at http://www.oneworld.co.za/index.cfm?bec=4321&id=urban3 -------------- THE RETURN OF THE KLIPPIES AND COLA STUDENT SESSIONS The Klippies and Cola Student Sessions is a venture by Bastard Media, along with SL Magazine, MFM, UCT Radio, The Independent Armchair Theatre and Die Mystic Boer. It is aimed at establishing a campus-centred live music circuit, primarily at UCT and Stellenbosch University and their surrounding areas. Regional bands are paired and perform together on consecutive Tuesdays at Die Mystic Boer and The Independent Armchair Theatre. Read SL Magazine for more details and catch live interviews with the bands before each event on MFM and UCT Radio. The bands who will feature in these sessions are Afrotone, Andy & Stef, Arbor, Fly Paper Jet, Nick Turner & Dave vd Linden, Fokofpolisiekar, Superfine, and the The Buckfever Underground. We take a quick look at those acts: Afrotone - Formed at the beginning of last year, Afrotone comes from Stellenbosch in the Western Cape and is a fresh reminder that funk does indeed flow in the veins of Capetonians. Mixing it up somewhere between funk rock, reggae/ska and that old blues 'n jazz, they have opened for some formidable names since their inception, including the Springbok Nude Girls reunion gig in February 2003, Valiant Swart at the end of 2003 and Bed On Bricks at their Mercury Live CD launch party. Be warned: wear a tie and dig out your dad's old bellbottoms, `cos this is sophisticated and well-matured cheesefunk. Andy & Stef - Two rising stars on Cape Town's burgeoning acoustic scene, Andy & Stef arrived late last year and immediately began making an impression. Sporting Dave Matthews, Jack Johnson and Gomez influences, the duo are an example of well-crafted songwriting, sultry vocals and fine guitar work. Arbor - Over the past two years Arbor have become firm favourites of the Stellenbosch music scene. Their music appeals to students, young adults and anyone who likes to push the limits of fun and as a result the band has attained somewhat of a cult status by now. Their first CD, 'Harder', has received rave reviews in national publications such as Insig and Huisgenoot, even though they are still relatively unknown outside of the Western Cape. This four-piece band has lots of tricks up their sleeves! Their second album, 'Tower Ape' will be available soon. Fly Paper Jet - Fly Paper Jet shows are always packed with variety, a band whose live act shuffles between the sublime and the ridiculous. The music, which ranges from funk jazz to alternate rock, is peppered with comedy, storytelling and almost anything that will keep the audience on its toes. Fokofpolisiekar - The next (current?) big thing. Preachers and schoolteachers around the country are quaking in their boots. Fokofpolisiekar belt out punk-influenced rock music and angst-filled lyrics, which tear at the foundations of Afrikaans suburbia. They are likely to be the biggest band of 2004. Nick Turner & Dave vd Linden - The duo of Dave van der Linden (Bed on Bricks, Shooting Corrine) and Nick Turner (Sons of Trout, Mikanic) have long ago proved the worth of their extensive talents but as a pair were without a doubt one of the highlights of 2003. Both provide acoustic guitar, vocals and an eclectic mix of original tunes. They have already started to attract a strong following around Cape Town. Superfine - One of the most exciting new Cape Town bands in the past two years, Superfine began in 1996 with three Hout Bay classmates - Andrew McKellar, Kevin Mitchell and Richard Wouters. In 2003, apart from attracting record company attention from a major American label, they also released their second EP, 'For The Kid At The Back'. The tracks on 'For The Kid At The Back' are appealing and fresh, packed with a raw energy and lyrical sincerity that has become synonymous with their sound. Although Superfine gig mostly in and around Cape Town, they have gigged at a few other locations around the country, more recently finishing a successful nationwide tour as the support act for Tree63 in February and March 2003. Superfine are planning to tour around the States in the middle of 2004. The Buckfever Underground - Having spent 2003 in hiding as their critically acclaimed release "TAFL - Teaching Afrikaans as a Foreign Language" soared up the charts, The Buckfever Underground return to the stage for the first time in over a year. Amid unconfirmed rumours that vocalist Toast Coetzer has recently slipped back into the country, a spokesperson for the band said that they were at least partly excited at the prospect of playing live again. Reading from what appeared to be a note written on three squares of single ply toilet paper the spokesperson claimed that the band "would do whatever it takes as long as they felt ok about it". Upcoming Sessions Superfine and Afrotone 10 February - The Mystic Boer, Stellenbosch 17 February - The Independent Armchair Theatre, Cape Town Fly Paper Jet and Arbor 24 February - The Mystic Boer, Stellenbosch 2 March - The Independent Armchair Theatre, Cape Town Nick Turner & Dave vd Linden and Andy & Stef 9 March - The Mystic Boer, Stellenbosch 16 March - The Independent Armchair Theatre, Cape Town Fokofpolisiekar and The Buckfever Underground 23 March - The Mystic Boer, Stellenbosch 30 March - The Independent Armchair Theatre, Cape Town For more Information 021 465 8504 / mailto:info@bastardmedia.co.za -------------- MARQ, UM, DISAGREES Marq Vas is the ever-controversial South African Heavy Metal vocalist who is now U.K.-based but keeps a firm and critical eye and ear on the rock music scene back home in SA. Marq is also renowned for his blunt report backs from London on the Barney Simon radio show. Last week, Marq locked horns with the Star newspaper's Tonight reporter, Charles de Olim, concerning his view on South African Rock music as it stands today, and its future. The article, titled, 'Oppikoppi to-over-the-hill?' appeared in the January 28th 2004 edition. v This was Marq's retort to the article; he is yet to receive any reply... Charles, Sitting here in the middle of a blizzard freezing my South African loins off, I've read your article "From Oppikoppi to over-the-hill?" featured in the January 28th edition of the Star tonight with interest. Right off the bat to throw in nondescript static lifeless acts like Matthew Van der Want as "Rock" is an oxymoron indeed and to lob in Fuzigish is an insult to "Rock" itself. It always amazes me that among South African "Rock" and all its Azanian hybrids, the pariah of South African music, Heavy Metal, is always forgotten. >From pre the fall of apartheid Heavy Metal has stayed true to the cause - delivering loud, original and in your face music never compromising to politics, people or "popular culture". From the early days with the likes of Montreux, Black Rose, Razor, Viking et al gigging to fans stacked to the rafters they churned out original music. Followed by the new wave of South African Metal - Aragorn, Urban Assault, V.O.D., etc leading the charge. (Ultimately resulting in V.O.D. being signed to an international label and touring abroad extensively). Acts like MetalMorphosis followed inspired by the aforementioned acts breaking every rule in terms of Metal bands not being allowed into the "mainstream clique", outselling most mainstream acts chalking up thousands of unit sales across 52 countries and appearing in thousands of music magazines across the globe. Its tentacles extending to outreaches as far as Cuba and Indonesia and becoming a household name in places like Lithuania yet never compromising. Touring to sell out shows across the country and being the first Metal act to make the 'Holy Grail' of outdoor festivals - Oppikoppi, regularly featuring as one of the main attractions. Other acts have followed; Groinchurn clocking enormous success across the globe, also touring extensively in Europe, Agro, Sacrifist, etc. The new breeders, Tyburn, Misericord have held their own against international acts (Entombed, etc), yet no mention is made of this type of "Rock", and as more things change the more they stay the same... To claim that only Seether and Boo! to date have gone onto greater international acclaim is absolute poppycock. If you believe that these acts play to huge audiences night after night is but a pipe dream. Having lived in the U.K. and having spent extensive time in the U.S. all is not what it seems, yes Seether is selling records, why? They have a label prepared to push and a band prepared to work in a country open to ALL styles of music via radio, TV, magazines, the net, etc, etc, etc and not dictated by government and politics, so blatantly prevalent in South Africa. How can we so easily forget the likes of Robbi Robb and Tribe After Tribe who toured with many international acts from Pearl Jam to Nirvana and still going strong? Renier Bester, ex West Rand lad fronting one of Britain's hottest new rock acts, Nowhere Near The Garden, ZP Thiart, Hazeyview-born vocalist for Dragon Force, a British power metal band touring Europe and signed to a major label, Warren Britz, ex Blind now fronting one of Britain's top Stoner acts, Blood Island Raiders, Vincent Rocco, Benoni boy now L.A. based having released two albums through a major label, Tree 63... the list goes on. A true South African "Rock Renaissance" in all its various sub-cultures, genre's, call it what you will, can and will only really take place if everyone in the value chain makes an effort and truly believes, from the bands themselves, the venues, the radio stations, TV, the whole shooting match. Why does an "island" at the wrong end of the world with more desert than people (Australia) churn out quality acts year on year? They take ownership of their talent; they nurture it and protect it. There are definite rules that dictate Australian bands receiving airplay, one being more rotation than international music, venues provide decent gear and so it ripples. Here in the U.K. acts like The Darkness have become overnight superstars, why? Radio, TV, and most of all they're British - the entire loop is swept along and everyone believes and pitches in. The U.K., as with Australia and the U.S. for that matter, live and breathe "home grown" and want the world to see and hear it where in South Africa those who can make the difference create constant hurdles creating stumbling blocks as opposed to stepping stones, Springbok Nude Girls for example who should be bigger than U2! Finally, to infer that "... the crux appears to be to develop a cross-over following or to hone your sound..." is nonsense. The greatest "honed" or "crossed over" band is worthless without an infrastructure allowing for success and the most talentless act can become world famous with an infrastructure allowing for success, the Cheeky Girls is a case in point... oh yes, I've never owned a pair of Doc Martens in my life! "Ride Hard Ride Heavy Ride South African!" Marq Vas www.marqvas.com MetalMorphosis http://www.cd.co.za/legends/90s/vas.html -------------- MUSICA SPREADING THE LOVE - NOT THE VIRUS Many people consider Valentine's Day to be the most romantic day on the calendar. It is after all the perfect excuse to celebrate love. For millions of HIV-Positive people however it is a stark reminder of the reality of AIDS. Bearing the seriousness of the HIV-AIDS pandemic in mind, Musica together with their advertising agency, The Jupiter Drawing Room (Cape Town), have created their Valentine's Day advertising campaign around a social responsibility platform. Throughout their nationwide chain of music stores, Musica will be inviting customers to "Spread the love - not the virus". The gift of music is traditionally a popular Valentine's Day gift, putting Musica in an ideal position to use this surge in sales to help The Aids Foundation of South Africa. In keeping with the romantic theme of Valentine's Day, a number of specially highlighted CDs and DVDs will form part of this promotion during the month of February. Musica will be donating R1 from each and every one of these CDs and DVDs sold to The Aids Foundation of South Africa. Collection tins will also be placed in Musica stores for customers who want to give to this worthy cause. Music lovers will be able to choose from a wide selection of romantic titles - from artists such as Sinatra, the Carpenters and Julio Iglesias to The Temptations, Diana Ross, Barry White and Dolly Parton. For those who prefer a more visual expression of love, DVD titles will include romantic favourites such as Sleepless in Seattle, Bridget Jones' Diary, Dirty Dancing and music DVDs from Celine Dion and Robbie Williams. Rather than producing a campaign that will simply generate sales, Musica believes that they will be able to help make a difference. Commenting on the campaign Musica Brand Leader, Colin Robb, said: "This will be Musica's first project with The Aids Foundation and we will look to host other opportunities throughout the year. Musica believes that the role music plays in society should be used in a positive manner to add value and draw attention to real life situations, such as HIV-AIDS in South Africa." In the immortal words of Shakespeare, "if music be the food of love ... play on". Only this Valentine's Day do it responsibly. -------------- HERE COME KALLITZ New Cape Town hip hop sensations, Kallitz (pronounce "Coloureds"), hail from Bellville South and are ready to take the lead in Afrikaans rap, which is in desperate need of new blood. Kallitz are Boere and Skelm, backed up by their producer Dokter, who throws in the occasional rhyme himself. They got together and formed the group in 1998. Boere plays the piano, boasts a classical music background, won the "Award for most creative composer" at his music school in 1999, and was rated "student with the highest potential musical ear". Skelm studied sound engineering at the Cape Audio College and has been writing music since grade 8. Dokter passed his sound engineering diploma with 93% and holds both a MCSD and a MBChB from the University of Stellenbosch. After gigging at various school concerts and carnivals they started to produce their own tracks at Dokter's studio in Belville South and presented them to, among others, africasgateway.com. This exposure got them a telephone call from Mel.Vent Communications, who also have "Best Hip Hop Album of the Year" nominees KGB on their books. Mel.Vent Communications offered them a management contract and exposure for Kallitz grew ever since they decided to sign two months ago. At the MFM Pool Party in Stellenbosch they virtually brought the house down, followed by club gigs in, among others, Peter's Cellars in Paarl. Their first big Cape Town gig was at the Cape Town Festival's Night Vision event, where they played on the SAB Gig Rig. New World Inc., the event management company who organised Night Vision were impressed and called Kallitz' performance a "highlight" of the festival and the co-operation with the group "an absolute pleasure". That kick-start was followed by a "Kallitz month" at Mercury Lounge during April 2003, which already got the attention of etv's Heita and CPT radio stations GHFM. Kallitz are gigging extensively to promote their up-coming debut album, which will be released in 2004. The debut album will be released on Mothermix Records and, after announcing a policy of selling CD's at a price people can afford, the record company has started another "South Africa First" by marketing the album prior to its release. Until 31 December 2003, fans could pre-order Kallitz' debut album for the special pre-release price of R57 (inclusive of package and posting) from Mothermix Distribution, 8 Mamre Street, 7646 Paarl, phone & fax 021 - 872 35 78. To get the FREE Kallitz fanzine, simply send a blank e-mail to mailto:kallitz@freeautobot.com Listen to the first Kallitz mp3, 'Die Ding Ruk Mal', in the mp3 section below. -------------- SUGARDRIVE ON THE ROAD BACK Johannesburg rock stalwarts, Sugardrive, are set to continue their resurrection with another power set at The Roxy Rhythm Bar on Friday 13th February. The band has recently finished recording material for a fourth album, on which they are currently doing postproduction, so expect to hear some new material at the Roxy gig, as well as the old favourites. READ http://www.cd.co.za/legends/90s/sugardrive_index.html -------------- CHARTS 
SA ROCK DIGEST TOP 30 SOUTH AFRICAN MP3s OF THE WEEK http://www.SAmp3.com 1. [1] (1) Sobriety Friend - Old Mol ('Rock The Bedsprings'/Legend) 2. [3] (2) Duiwel Kom Ons Haal - Springcan ('Are You Confuzed?'/Indie) 3. [4] (3) Lovesong - The Dolly Rockers ('The Heat'/Indie) 4. [2] (2) Rise - Sonar ('Bitterwaste' EP/Indie) 5. [5] (1) Fokofpolisiekar - Fokofpolisiekar (SAmp3.com/Rhythm/Bowline) 6. [7] (6) Met My Stukkende Kitaar - Koos Kombuis & Valiant Swart (''n Jaar In Die Son'/Rhythm/Bowline) 7. [9] (7) The Countdown - Bluescream ('Bluescream'/Indie) 8. [10] (8) Step Outside - Luna ('Luna'/Indie) 9. [11] (9) Blah Di Blah - Drop Dead Gorgeous ('Melt with Me'/Indie) 10. [6] (3) Mowgli - Zero Tolerance ('A Perfect Life'/Indie) 11. [8] (5) Life Away - My Shade ('Bedtime Musick'/Indie) 12. [14] (12) Antipodean Dirge - Tim Wells ('Elephant'/Indie) 13. [13] (13) To Confide In - Lazarus ('Parallax View'/Indie) 14. [12] (1) Hands Down - Track 4 ('Demo'/Indie) 15. [18] (15) Afrikaner Surfer Boy - Vanessa Van ('Leef Die Droom'/Bowline) 16. [15] (1) All The World - Zen Arcade ('Release'/Indie) 17. [23] (17) Take You Down - Glow (Witchdoctor Records) 18. [RE) (3) Let's Get Naked - Evolver ('Evolver' EP/Indie] 19. [16] (4) Twisted - Believable Addiction (Indie) 20. [17] (10) My Favourite Song On The Radio - What Now?! ('Let Us Be Heard'/Wicked Rock) 21. [27] (21) Saad van 'n Psigopaat - Abel Kraamsaal ('Woorde Op 'n Wynboks'/Indie) 22. [28] (22) Bliss - Toyland ('With Every Breath'/Witchdoctor Records) 23. [20] (1) Above My Room - Jo Day ('The Truth'/Indie) 24. [19] (3) Face - Ystervark ('Living It Up'/Indie) 25. [30] (25) The Master Plan - Blood Island Raiders ('For The Sake Of Clarity'/Witchdoctor) 26. [-] (26) Close To Me - Six Of Nine (Indie) 27. [22] (8) Anything - Mike de Jager and Adrian Clark ('With These Hands'/Indie) 28. [24] (22) Seether Sampler - Seether ('Disclaimer'/Musketeer) 29. [25] (1) Things 2 Consider - Skwirmish ('The EP'/Indie) 30. [-] (30) Living As Numbers - Zero Tolerance ('A Perfect Life'/Indie) Download South African MP3s at http://www.samp3.com ---------------------------- SA ROCK DIGEST TOP 20 SOUTH AFRICAN ALBUMS OF THE WEEK http://www.sarockdigest.com/charts This week [last week] (highest position) Title - Artist (Label) 1. [4] (1) African Dope Sound System - Various (African Dope) 2. [2] (1) More Fire - The Rudimentals (Indie) 3. [3] (3) The Heat - Dolly Rockers (Indie) 4. [5] (4) Humanarium - Bed On Bricks (Indie) 5. [1] (1) 'n Jaar In Die Son - Koos Kombuis & Valiant Swart (Rhythm/Bowline) 6. [10] (6) 21 Gunslut - Soulja (Indie) 7. [9] (7) Muti Media - Kalahari Surfers (African Dope) 8. [12] (4) Luna - Luna (Indie) 9. [6] (2) Melt With Me - Drop Dead Gorgeous (Indie/Bowline) 10. [7] (3) Power - Tribe After Tribe (RetroFresh) 11. [11] (1) Rock The Bedsprings - Old Mol (Legend) 12. [8] (7) Flat To Round - David Foster (Rhythm/Bowline) 13. [14] (13) With Every Breath - Toyland (Witchdoctor) 14. [13] (2) Perelsvoordieswyne - Best Of - Johannes Kerkorrel (Gallo) 15. [18] (15) As Jy Met Vuur Speel Sal Jy Brand - Fokofpolisiekar (Rhythm) 16. [16] (1) Steady On - Moodphase 5ive (African Dope) 17. [16] (1) Jika Jika - freshlyground (Freeground) 18. [25] (18) Naked EP - Hog Hoggidy Hog (3 Chord Records) 19. [19] (1) The Truth - Jo Day (Indie) 20. [20] (2) Hello Crazy World - Prime Circle (David Gresham Records) 21. [27] (2) Sui - Benguela (Open Record) 22. [21] (1) Die Mamba - Piet Botha (Rhythm) 23. [24] (23) Boerecountry - Blomkrag (Indie) 24. [15] (15) Blomdoorns - Derek Gripper (Open Record) 25. [17] (3) Breathe Sunshine - Various (Amabala) 26. [-] (26) Africa She Too Can Cry - Hawk (Retro Fresh) 27. [26] (1) Another Universe - Arno Carstens (Epic) 28. [22] (12) Can Of Worms - Nukular Stompers (Street Level) 29. [-] (29) I-Ternal Fire - Lions Of Zion (Indie) 30. [28] (3) Diversity - Grant Nuss (Indie/Bowline) MP3s by all these artists are available to download at http://www.samp3.com Buy http://www.oneworld.co.za More info on all these artists at: SA Rock Legends The hosting of MP3s on the SA Rock Digest website is thanks to the Future Perfect Corporation http://www.futureperfectcorporation.com Building online communities to make the future perfect Chart statistics at: http://www.sarockdigest.com/charts New Releases
NEW MP3's: All the mp3s listed here are available to download at http://www.SAmp3.com - the biggest South African mp3 website in the world. THE RUDIMENTALS - 'GANGSTA' The Rudimentals are currently one of the hottest bands on the Cape Town circuit, creating dance mania wherever they perform with a powerful blend of ska, punk, and plenty of indigenous influences to keep the mix broad and interesting. The group's debut album, 'More Fire' is proving to be a strong seller and the group have just released the first track off the album as an mp3 download. The song is the popular live track 'Gangsta', and is a dynamic intro to the sound of the "Rudies". -------------- TIM WELLS BAND - 'SAY' With 'Antipodean Dirge' moving up the SAmp3 charts, we thought you'd like to hear an earlier track from Tim Wells and his band. 'Say' is a sophisticated and well-produced song of love by The Tim Wells Band. Karen van Pletsen's voice shines alongside Tim's lead vocals. Taken off the CD 'Fallen Through The Cracks', released a couple of years ago. -------------- KALLITZ - 'DIE DING RUK MAL' This is the first single from the Afrikaans rap trio from Belville South in the Cape. Kallitz (pronounced "Coloureds"), are Boere and Skelm, backed up by their producer Dokter and their up-coming debut album will be released in 2004. See full story in news section above. -------------- BRIAN FINCH - 'LONG RIDERS FROM NAM' Brian Finch has been performing since the '60s and is probably best known for his collaborations with Kenny Henson as Finch & Henson in the '70s and '80s. His epic 'Hero of Heroes' from 2002 re-established Finch as a master of his craft. He has now released his new album, 'Never Look Back' and Kenny Henson guests on a few tracks including the incredible 'Ghost Riders In The Sky'. 'Long Riders Of Nam' is an outstanding track which conjours up images of riding long stretches of road through the desert wastelands of Nambia. Going nowhere fast! READ, LISTEN, BUY http://www.rock.co.za/brianfinch -------------- SERVING SUGGESTION - 'MUSICAL CHAIRS' I have seen this group a few times live and they are fantastic! In concert, this bouncy, energized Christian punk rock song is the highlight for me. (MC) --------------- SEARCH FOR MP3's Use the SAmp3.com onboard search engine, powered by Google, to search for mp3s on SAmp3.com. ----------------- Email your MP3 reviews to editor@sarockdigest.com All the full-length mp3s are available for free download at http://www.SAmp3.com by kind permission of the artists and/or their labels. ---------------------------- NEW CD's: FOKOFPOLISIEKAR - 'AS JY MET VUUR SPEEL SAL JY BRAND' [Sean Looney is a new Digest contributor who will be keeping his well-educated ear on the SA alt-rock activity] It's amazing how in a scene so captivated by Americanisms and the dream of hitting the international circuit that a band, one as talented as Fokofpolisiekar, would form a band that is 100% Afrikaans. Yet you'd be a massive fool to judge this band. They are amazing! Not only does the production of this CD symbolise what we can achieve on our own doorstep here in South Africa, but it also displays this band's hunger to be themselves and to make music that appeals to them. I'm an English man myself with little or no understanding of the lyrics, but I'm captivated by the music and the depth of it. Song structures and hooks are in their element on this CD and you can't help but sing along even if you don't know what you're singing about. I can see why all the Afrikaans kids flock miles to see this band play. 'As Jy Met Vuur Speel Sal Jy Brand' takes a fresh approach to South African music, and with this being the band's debut release, I shudder to think what comes next! Fokokpolisekar get 2 thumbs up from me! (SL) READ, LISTEN, BUY http://www.rhythmrecords.co.za/fokof.html -------------- JO DAY - 'THE TRUTH' In this day and age with chicks fronting bands being en vogue, there's one who stands head and shoulders above all, runs with the best of the boys, never mind the girls and that's Jo Day. 'The Truth', hastily released after label politics, piggybacking on what will undoubtedly be a collectors' item in time to come, 'No Warning', (my international album of 2003 - see review at http://www.marqvas.com/showreview.php?reviewid=100), Jo Day manages to keep the momentum steamrolling ahead full tilt. Kicking off the album, 'Multiple Oblivion' entwines song writing excellence, a voice that sends sensual shivers down your spine with pure Rock magic. The album title track, 'The Truth', conjures up a Crazy Town 'Butterfly' style mix with a shift into top gear peeling the paint from the walls - pure Rock 'n Roll kiss and tell! I sit here with my head in hands shaking it from side to side with a silly grin on my face as 'Real' strips away every sensory perception I have, layer after layer after layer... 'Believe Reloaded' delivers a catchy tune full of hooks, full of attitude and full of passion. 'Icon', a track added from yesteryear with a good working over is impressive but in my view could have been replaced by '(Back of) Your Car' or even 'Closer' or 'Moment'. 'Seed' slides rough and ready, just the way we like it... What takes this release to the next level is the stunning performance on 'Remember' and 'Porn' (pity the full on version on 'No Warning' is also not added to this release) both acoustically presented, breathtaking stuff. Many of the power pearls featured on 'No Warning' are featured on this album too - 'Above My Room', 'Prey', 'Never Die', 'Reel God', etc. The final track plants you firmly crow barred into the front row of a Jo Day gig, you can almost taste the mix of sweat and perfume on 'Down and Dirty'... yes please! 9.5/10 Marq Vas www.marqvas.com READ http://www.joday.com LISTEN http://www.SAmp3.com/artists.html BUY http://www.oneworld.co.za/index.cfm?bec=4321&searchfor=jo%20day -------------- 2B2 RETURN The Afrikaans band, 2B2, return on 20 February 2004 with a multimedia production called 'Dê!' in Centurion at Steak 'n Ale. This group was originally formed in 1990 by Jacques Steyn for the first Houtstok Rock Festival and two songs from that gig were included in the 'Houtstok' album. Following the festival, 2B2 participated in the 'Houtstok' tour with Anton Goosen's Kommissie van Ondersoek and Piet Botha. The group soon disbanded, but has since reformed and consists of the two original 2B2 members - Jacques Steyn (vocals, keyboards), who writes all the material, and Kay Brugge (guitar) - and new members Dylan Schwartz on drums, Ettienne Cilliers on bass, who is also involved with Ekstra Dik, and Lee Furter (vocals en keyboards) who was member of the cabaret group, East End. During the revolution of Afrikaans music in the early 1990s, Jacques Steyn's lyrics were regarded of the same calibre as the greats of Afrikaans music such as Koos du Plessis, Coenie de Villiers and Lucas Maree. During the era of the Afrikaans "luisterliedjie" of the 1980s, Jacques performed at the State Theatre on many occasions, but his music was somewhat rough for those audiences. Over the past decade Afrikaans music tried very hard to escape the traditional cultural authority. It was a rebellious teenager. According to Jacques the time has come for Afrikaans music to grow up and be mature and sophisticated. He hopes that 2B2 will contribute to this. The band has nothing to prove, are not on a crusade, but merely makes good music, by chance in Afrikaans. The music presentation of 2B2 is mature contemporary music with an undertone of rock. Some numbers are driving rock, such as 'Suspisie' and 'Die Vure Brand Al Laag'; others are ballads like 'Vat My Hand'; there are also a couple of blues numbers like 'Die Moerse Boere Blues', some reggae ('Wat Ek Wil Hê') and even a salsa number called 'Dwaal'. The multimedia production 'Dê!' is produced in conjunction with the digital images guru Coert Wiechers. Digital video is worked into the show in the style of performance art. For more about 2B2, see the group's website at www.knowsystems.com/2B2/ Limited seats are available. Book now at Steak 'n Ale: 012-664-5155. ---------------------- ONE WORLD JANUARY RELEASES -------------- DVD: Miriam Makeba - 'Live At Bern's Salonger, Stockholm, Sweden 1966' The film of that historic concert that was broadcast on Swedish television in the '60's is now on DVD, to accompany the first official release of the live album on CD in 2003. Various Artists - 'Urban Offerings From South Africa' A welcome SA compilation DVD with 14 tracks by some of the best SA artists including Lucky Dube, Arthur, Joe Nina and Jabu Khanyile. -------------- VIDEO (VHS): Various Artists - 'Urban Offerings From South Africa' The video version of the DVD, see above -------------- CD: Jazz Various Artists - 'Tales Of Afrojazz' A musical journey to the heart of SA Jazz, covering different styles and influences by artists like Jimmy Dludlu, Louis Mhlanga and many others. Dorothy Masuka - 'Lendaba (This Matter)' One of the finest divas from SA in the '60's is back with the follow-up to her hit album, 'Mizilikazi', and it's another winner! Gloria Bosman - 'Nature Dances' The fourth album from the popular Cape Town vocalist is produced by Wessel Van Rensburg and has some intelligent covers (Bee Gees) amongst Gloria's own material. Bhudaza - 'Bo-Mapefane' A great South African saxophonist, who has performed with the best in the business, steps out with this excellent solo album. Various - 'Best Of South African Jazz' This album features all the tracks off the DVD release from 2003 – from artists like Hugh Masekela, Letta Mbulu, Jonas Gwangwa and others. Various - 'African Jazz Standards' A strong line-up, aimed at the more discerning tourist, with 12 tracks that have helped shaped SA jazz to the present. -------------- Pop & Rock Luna - 'Luna' Debut album from the Stellenbosch singer with the beautiful voice and the memorable songs. David Abbate - 'Crush' A new album from the ex-SA pop singer, now based in LA, where he performs regularly at the Polo lounge in the Beverly Hills Hotel, and also at the Miss World pageant. Wendy New - 'I Dissolve In The Sun' An impressive new pop album, with a touch of light electronica, by an SA artist who lived in NY for nine years, where this album was recorded. Andrew Young - 'Touched To Tell' New album from this hot UK-born and London-educated musician (clarinet and sax) who has performed with Jonathan Butler, Shakatak, Shirley Bassey among others. Silicon Fly - 'Here We Are' Debut pop-rock album from a new SA band produced by Cedric Samson and featuring a cover of Fleetwood Mac's 'Little Lies'. Rise Of Black Dawn - 'Case Study #13' Sunuoka - 'Me Saki Saki' Two innovative and laid back albums by Cape Town musician and producer, Dave van Rensburg Bluescream - 'Bluescream' Tully McCully, the legendary Cape Town musician (McCully Workshop) and producer (Falling Mirror), returns with a new band and a bunch of great new songs. -------------- Township Pop BY4 - 'Bhiza' The ladies release their 5th album, and it is what you may call "a coming of age" album, with a more mature feel and a top class production with that distinct Township Pop sound. Chicco - 'Best Of' (Limited Edition) The eagerly awaited and very well assembled 15-track "best of" collection from one of South Africa's favourite pop stars will please his many fans. Includes the smash hit, 'Modjadji'. -------------- Kwaito Gidigidimajimaji - 'Many Faces' Is this album the future of Kwaito? 'Many Faces' works off a fusion of Kwaito and Hip/Hop and could find favour across the SA markets! Various Artists - 'Tales Of Urban SA' A strong Kwaito collection is always welcome and this one has many of that genre's defining moments - with Mandoza, Zola, Kabelo - worthwhile for both beginners and fans seeking a decent compilation. Zombo - 'Mamba' The Ragga-Maffin guru back with his 3rd release, and the title rocks! Ezasenkambini - 'Maififi' This tongue-twistingly- titled group successfully fuse traditional Zulu music with Kwaito. Brown Dash - 'Puff 'n Pass' Better known as Mzekezeke's sidekick, collectively they call themselves the Thembis Connection. The title track, 'Bomb', features Zola. -------------- Rap/Hip Hop Various Artists - 'African Dope Soundsystem' The third in the series of African Dope collections to follow 'Volume One' and Cape Of Good Dope', and another very hip and unique release with a variety of names performing the newest and coolest in SA dub, hip hop – 18 tracks from names like Tim Parr, Black Dillinger, Teba, and others. Cashless Society - 'African Raw Material Vol 1' A dynamic, new SA hip hop release with contributions from some of SA's biggest hip hop names including Tumi and Mizchif. Top stuff. Various Artists - 'Silvertab - Harambe Dope Sessions' Another release on the African Dope label, this is a compilation that shows off the fruits of their collaboration with 'Harambe', a local youth music program where fans can check out new hip hop. Spex - 'Nothing For Mahala' A very popular indie hip hop artist and release, Spex has already been featured on a few SA hip hop compilations and has performed alongside the best in the biz. -------------- Traditional Bhekumuzi Luthili - 'Udumo Lwakhe' A traditional gospel album from this prolific artist, featuring many new tracks. Women Of Mambazo - 'Mamizolo' Another traditional gospel album album from this "sister" group to Ladysmith Black Mambazo, founded by Nellie and Joseph Shabalala of Ladysmith, and produced by Joseph Shabalala Various Artists - 'Tales Of The Mbira (Modern & Ancient)' The tracks on this album show off the versatility of this fascinating acoustic finger instrument. A Sheer Africa release. Soweto Percussion Ensemble - 'Tales Of The Drum' This Gauteng ensemble recorded a series of drum-based tracks for this album aimed at tourists and drum circle fans. A Sheer Africa release. Various Artists - 'Tales Of The Marimba (Modern & Ancient)' The tracks on this album are focused mainly on the SA method of playing this xylophone-type instrument but also contain a fusion with the marimba sounds of west Africa. A Sheer Africa release. Various Artists - 'Tales Of The Kora (Modern & Ancient)' This album features some of Africa's most accomplished exponents of this fascinating and complex instrument. A Sheer Africa release. Other titles in this new series of titles on the Sheer Africa label include: 'African Chants & Harmonies' 'African Drum Beats' 'African Drums' Mosala Kholeho - 'Marimba Mosala' This album features a range of instruments and sounds in true African fusion. Gingirikani - 'Gingirikani' A diverse showcase of the drums and rhythms of SA Akwaaba - 'Akwaaaba' Some covers of some famous African songs, performed with drums and other traditional instruments. -------------- Dance/Electronica Kalahari Surfers - 'Multi Media' The follow-up to 'Akassic Record' and more musical explorations from producer and musician extraordinaire, Warrick Sony. Chilled Alaskan DJ - 'Somewhere We Are Alive' Chilled Alaskan DJ - 'Title X' Two more titles featuring the musical talents of Cape Town producer, Dave van Rensburg. -------------- Afrikaans Fokofpolisiekar - 'As Jy Met Vuur Speel Sal Jy Brand' Debut 6-track EP from the most exciting new Afrikaans band on the SA punk rock scene. Kristoe Strauss - 'Varke, Marbles En Ander Verlore Goed' Something special from the artist who was last spotted performing with Koos Kombuis at the KKNK Blackie Swart - 'Pers Kombers' Blackie is a big favourite in the Afrikaans music scene and this is sure to be another top selling album. Sumare - 'So Adios' Debut album from this gorgeous-voiced finalist in the 2003 Crescendo Competition. Various Artists - 'Groot 5 En Die Lollipop Toer - Ontembaar!' The "Big 5" are Steve Hofmeyr, Patricia Lewis, Dozi, Ferdi, And Sunette Bridges. This is music from their combined "Lollipop Tour". Randall Wicomb - 'Oss Wes Tuis Bes' The latest offering from the very popular Mr Wicomb. Latest Boeremusiek Releases: Die Ghitaar Man - 'Kliphard Boeremusiek' Sollie Marx - 'Lekker Ou Kitaar' Danie Grey - 'Trap Der Boerepomp' -------------- International Thomas Mapfumo - 'Choice Chimurenga' This veteran Zimbabwean music legend has just released a powerful new album through the South African Sheer label, current home to that other Zimbabwean music star, Oliver "Tuku" Mtukudzi Selling South African Music to the World: http://www.oneworld.co.za/index.cfm?bec=4321 -------------- MORE REVIEWS More reviews can be found at: Open Record http://www.openrecord.co.za Amuzine http://www.cd.co.za/reviews.htm -------------- THE ZAZONE.COM SA BAND SPOTLIGHT: http://www.zaZone.com -------------------------------------------------- LAD, the dedicated webmaster of zaZone.com, throws his regular spotlight on one of the many SA bands currently affiliated to his SA music site. THE SPINDLE SECT The Spindle Sect is an 8-piece band who is made up of vocalists Mizkonduct, Mr Oppstropolliz, Snake Plissken, Simian; guitarist Supasillious; bassist Notso; drummer Palistine and Dr Shade on keyboards and samples. Their style can be described as sci-fi hip hop or eclectica fused with hip-hop, rock, metal, opera to jazz and dub! All in all, a sound that's just got to be experienced to be believed. The band started out in October 2002 as a 5-piece band playing over backing tracks, but quickly evolved into an 8-piece band! The band is currently mixing and mastering a limited edition EP which they hope to have out within the next month or so. They're also working on an album, which should be out in May. They played at The Cause in 2003 and are hoping to get onto festivals this year. The Spindle Sect are also looking at participating in community based projects. They're also working on their website, which should be ready within the next month or so. As for gigs The Spindle Sect can be seen on the 13th of Feb at Mercury Live alongside 7th Son; on the 27th of Feb at the Eclectic Circle (details/location to be confirmed); on the 6th of March at the Drum Cafe and on the 31st of March at the Mercury Lounge. Their songwriting process is, like the band, very unique in that they don't have front person in band who writes lyrics/music. Supasillious, Mr Oppstropolliz and Simian generally work on an electronic arrangement with beats and snippets and then work it up into the backing sound of a song and then give it to each of the band members who, individually, work on their accompaniment and then get together at a rehearsal and rework it into a live song. Each of the vocalists write their own lyrics for the tracks, but all keep a common theme for each track. The band would love to play overseas within the next year and would like to tour Europe and Japan. Because of the unique sound which The Spindle Sect has, I asked them if they feel influenced by the other bands they play with (from ska to rock), but they feel that the combination of bands influences the atmosphere in which they play rather than their style -- they are not going to change for other bands and will keep themselves real in spite of the other bands around them. LAD Correction: Last week we featured Niche and stated that their gig with Dave Foster and I55 was on the 28th of Feb... well... it's not, it's on the 19th of Feb at Mercury -- get there! If you're an SA band/artist and would like to appear in this slot please mailto:tony@zazone.com. Remember that you can view the wap site by pointing your mobile to: http://www.zazone.com/wap Watch out for more announcements of interesting things happening at zaZone.com! Sponsored by zaZone.com Promoting SA Music... http://www.zazone.com LAD LISTEN http://www.SAmp3.com/artists_l_s.html If you're in a SA Band or are a SA artist and would like to appear in this slot please mail mailto:tony@zazone.com Sponsored by zaZone.com Promoting SA Music... http://www.zaZone.com ------------------------------- CD of the Week
HAWK - 'AFRICA SHE TOO CAN CRY' - (RetroFresh, freshcd137)
Here is a quote from an email received in 1999 from Krister in Sweden: "I am 24 years old and a university student. When I was about 6 or 7 or so I got hold of this fantastic album, Jo'burg Hawk's 'Africa she too can cry' from 1973. This has haunted me thru the years and I find it an all time great. I suppose that the chance that their album ever got out on CD are minimal. That's unfortunate since my only vinyl is really torn down and scratchy." OK, Krister, your wish (and that of many others) has been granted. At last this classic album from the 70's has been re-released on CD. This album has actually been released in 3 different versions; the first was in 1972 a year or so after the phenomenal 'African Day' album. In 1973 'Africa She Too Was Cry' was released in the UK (and Europe) by the Charisma label (home of Genesis at the time) with a revised track listing and credited to JoBurg Hawk. In the late 90's an unofficial CD with the same title was released by the Japanese Never Land label. Despite the fact that this was a pirate CD, it was also more of a compilation than a re-issue, as it featured tracks from all 3 Hawk albums. After much deliberation and discussion (and lack of master recordings) Benjy Mudie of Fresh Music decided to release the UK version of 'Africa She Too Can Cry' with bonus tracks culled from some singles-only releases and the elusive 'Live And Well' album, which was not actually a "live" recording, despite its title. The 'African Day Suite' is a re-recorded and extended version of the side-long epic which originally appeared on 'African Day'. It tells the story, in spoken words, lyrics and music, of a rampaging elephant that threatens to destroy a tribal village and has to be killed. The fact that the censors missed the analogy to the oppressive apartheid regime at the time is amazing. Freedom's Children's Ramsay Mackay wrote a major portion of the material for this album, and though he did not play on it, his influence is strongly felt. Mackay's compatriot in Freedom's, Julian Laxton, was a Hawk member by this time and his guitar work here is subdued but legendary. The catchy 'Dark Side Of The Moon' song has nothing to do with the Pink Floyd classic album, and in fact was released almost a year before that album's debut. Bonus tracks include the original version of the much-covered 'Orang Outang' (Kenny Henson's Harambee, Margaret Singana, Brian Finch and more have all recorded it) which was also penned by Ramsay Mackay and released as a single in the UK in 1973. The obscure 'Kalahari Dry' song was used as part of an ad campaign for Groovy cooldrink (remember Groovy?) and released as a single in South Africa in November 1972. The original vinyl single was found lurking in Tertius Louw's extensive collection and digitally transferred by him for this CD re-issue. The Chicago-meets-Osibisa styled 'Mumbo Jumbo' is another Ramsay Mackay composition which deserves wider exposure. The closing track of this CD re-issue is the beautiful ballad 'In My Youth' (from 'Live And Well') which sounds like it could have been written for the stageshow 'Hair'. Audrey Moutaung's voice soars on this one and is then balanced by the earthy tones of Ornellas. Excellent and detailed sleeve notes are provided by Raymond Joseph including recent interviews with vocalist Dave Ornellas and guitarist Julian Laxton. This is truly an album of Africa and a must-have for every music fans collection. (BC) READ http://www.rock.co.za/hawk LISTEN http://www.freshmusic.co.za/retrofresh.htm BUY http://www.oneworld.co.za/index.cfm?bec=4321&searchfor=hawk -------------- This and any other SA CD can be ordered online at One World, the best SA CD store on the pla-Net. CLASSIC SA ROCK:
Kurt Shoemaker (Texas), John Samson (London), Tertius Louw, and Brian Currin browse through the best of SA rock - its history, its people, and its music, past, and present. USA FOR AFRICA - Texas-based Kurt Shoemaker gives his unique views on SA music. JESSE JORDAN -- 'LATELY WHEN SHE CRIES' Nice melodies delivered in a velvet-husky voice only one shot smoother than Rod Stewart's. Pleasant songs, pleasantly sung. Most numbers have Jesse's voice and a strummed acoustic guitar to the fore, backed by percussion and the other instrumental accoutrements of a rock band. This is pleasant music, soft rock mostly, with a couple of forays into the lower strata of raucous rock. Pleasant is a good thing, melodic rock is good, too, for there is much to be said in favor of a melody easily and honestly sung in front of a rock band. A couple of the songs rock loud with the sort of electric guitars generally described as "scorching", as in 'Didn't Understand'--a song that melds melody and rock perfectly, 'Feeling Wanted', and 'Who Killed Biggie'. Some have a pleasing plaintive sound, as in the album opener 'Eastern Bridge' (available for a listen over at http://www.SAmp3.com, along with 'Scream', and two songs not on this CD). Many of Jesse Jordan's songs talk about "her" and "she", or about girls, women, and females. This is a topic long supported by rock traditions, and those of all popular music. "She does this", "She said that", and other pronouns, make for a nice personal feel to Jordan's songs, typified by Jordan's lovely 'Lately When She Cries'. The Jesse Jordan Band keeps a pretty busy performing schedule, has a live album, and if his performances sound like 'Lately When She Cries', his performances are solidly professional rock shows easy to like and easy to listen to. From feel-good melancholy, to introspection, to outright rock, this album is smooth rock, like a shot of good Scotch on the rocks. And don't go away after the last apparent track, you'll miss the brief hidden track. Need I mention this hidden track is a pleasant rock ditty? READ http://www.jessejordan.co.za/ LISTEN http://www.samp3.com/artists_e_k.html Kurt Shoemaker, Blanco, Texas kurt@sarockdigest.com ---------------------------- A NAARTJIE IN THE UK - London-based John Samson gives his own twist on SA music: [Ed's note: John's first appearance in the Digest was in issue number 17 (May 1999) where he asked for information about the group Visiting Cousins (but got no response....). His first review appeared almost a year later in 2000. So that is nearly five years of subscribing and nearly four years of contributing! John said: "Its amazing to think that when I started I knew nothing of Hawk, Abstract Truth and even Freedom's Children. I rectified all that". Not just for himself but for many readers as well ... Thanks John!!) 'YOU GOTTA BELIEVE IT'S ... SHARON TANDY' As a schoolboy growing up in Johannesburg, I used to frequent Street Records in Braamfontein as often as my pocket money would allow. The staff were always friendly and really well informed, often recommending some great music. One of those on the staff was a dark haired woman called Sharon. It was only years later that Digest editor Stephen 'Sugar' Segerman told me that Sharon was Sharon Tandy who, apart from a local singing career, had had this amazing recording career overseas with an opening slot on the Stax Volt tour and recording with some of soul's luminaries such as Isaac Hayes and Booker T. Well when I heard this I couldn't believe it, but now that I am holding the recently released CD featuring great liner notes by Sharon herself, with tonnes of pictures of a young dark haired woman who looks similar to Sharon from Street Records I guess I gotta believe it. So now ever since I've got over my amazement, I have been keen to hear some of these famed overseas recordings, but have been put off by the high prices charged for the rare Tandy singles that float around on eBay and the like. 'You Gotta Believe' collection features 26 tracks that cover virtually all of her 1960s singles and a few previously unreleased tracks. Not only does this cover all that, but it also covers a variety of styles. The opening title track is a big bold and brassy number with lavish orchestration upon which Sharon's strong and pleading vocals glide and soar. In contrast to this, 'Hold On' (which charted in Germany) is a get on down, Hendrix-inspired slice of unadulterated rock that features a wonderful guitar solo from Fleur De Lys' (Sharon's favourite backing band) Bryn Haworth. Sharon's vocals are breathy and sexy. Comparisons with Dusty Springfield, Sandie Shaw and the like are unavoidable. This means putting her in a league with the greats, and I have to say deservedly so. If you were to listen to this album without knowing anything about the artist, you would be amazed that she wasn't as successful a star as Dusty, it's that good. Finally we can now all hear what Sharon was up to in those heady days in the `60's without bankrupting ourselves as 'You Gotta Believe' is an affordable CD with over 75 minutes of scintillating soul and blistering rock of the highest order and features one of the great lost voices of the '60's. So grab a copy and discover (or rediscover) the magic of Sharon Tandy. (Sharon will be playing at the 100 Club in Oxford Street London on Thursday 19 February) John Samson, London mailto:john@sarockdigest.com ---------------------------- * CHART CHAT: John Samson takes a weekly look at the the SA pop charts from 15, 20, 25, and 30 years ago this week. Albert Hammond enjoyed his 3rd week at number 1 in 1974 while Ringo had settled comfortably into second spot. This would be Ringo's highest charting hit, and aside from John's 2 number 1's would be the next highest charting solo Beatle song (Paul reached number 2 with 'Band On The Run' but this was with Wings). Before 'Waterloo' won the Eurovision Song Competition and hurled Abba into the spotlight, there was 'Ring Ring'. This was their first song to chart in SA and entered the top 5 this week in 1974. 1979 saw very little action on the top 5. Billy Joel jumped up a spot, Suzi Quatro and Chris Norman fell a place, the rest was as you were. Further down the chart, an all time classic was debuting as Chic's 'Le Freak' entered at number 20. Culture Club whose drummer Jon Moss had spent time in Adam & The Ants and The Damned knocked Lionel Richie off the top spot with their phenomenally successful 'Karma Chameleon'. The song had also topped the charts in both the UK and the US. Jim Steinman was back in action with his big sound. This time he was producing Air Supply and their hit 'Making Love Out Of Nothing At All' which climbed up to number 5. The final ever singles chart was published on 11 February 1989, and despite having hogged the top spot for 11 weeks, Kylie was knocked from the top by the unlikely source of Transvision Vamp. Phil Collins' cover of the Mindbender's 'A Groovy Kind Of Love' made a late dash for the top. The song was from the movie 'Buster' which was about the Great Train Robbery. As the charts finished in 1989, we will start including the top 5 from 35 years ago (1969 for those who're too lazy to calculate this) from next week. South Africans at number 1 this week: Cry To Me - The Staccatos (1969) Substitute - Clout (1978) South African New Entries this week 08-Feb-74 Liefde Is My Nooi Se Naam - Billy Forrest 09-Feb-73 I'm On Fire - Maria 10-Feb-78 Welcome Home - Harvest (Dave Ornellas from Hawk and Sharon Tandy) 11-Feb-66 I'll Step Aside - Tony Wells 11-Feb-66 Jimmy Come Lately - Four Jacks & A Jill 11-Feb-77 What Have I Done - Mike Eager 12-Feb-71 Sailing - Fuzz 13-Feb-76 Twinkle Toes - Roy Bulkin 14-Feb-81 If You Got Nothing On Tonight - Clive Bruce John Samson ---------------------------- BIRTHDAYS Feb. 12 - Dave Marks Feb. 14 - Syd Kitchen Feb. 15 - Greg Georgiades Feb. 20 - Nibs van der Spuy (1966) Feb. 21 - Brian Finch (1947) If you info on any South African artists dates of birth, please send them to brian@rock.co.za
SOUND SOLUTIONS A Reader's Forum: This is a selection of the email requests, questions, searches, and other pieces of random info we receive each week at the Digest. Sometimes we can assist, other times we look to you, our collectively well-informed readers to contact these writers and help out as well. Thanks if you do....! Send all letters, short contributions, small band-ads, musical questions and other snippets to: soundsolutions@sarockdigest.com ---------------------------- SHE DOGON VANISHED! Have you ever heard of Tracy-Lee Dogon - Chelsea Arms Wynberg Cape Town? What happened to her? Thanks, Wayne Mailto:whowes.iams@iafrica.com -------------- HE ALSO USED TO PLAY FOR BRAZIL, YOU KNOW! Hi, My name is Emerson, from Brasil, and I am interested in old 78 rpm records of native African guitar players. I have for trade a big collection of LP's from the 50's and 60's with Brazilian and American rock. All original pressings (from USA and Brasil), no reissues at all, in perfect condition. Anyone interested, please contact me at Mailto:mayukha@yahoo.com Thank you Emerson -------------- JAPANESE R&R PEN PAL Hello, I'm Seiji from Tokyo. I have a band 'Guitar Wolf'. I'm looking for R&R friend of South Africa. If you are interested, mail me please. Thanks, Seiji Mailto:guitarwolf@nifty.com -------------- A 78 RPM WEBSITE Hello Maybe you can tell us we are we can find a page with 78 RPM records. Hopefully can you give it to us, we have a jukebox and need records for this. Thanks and Greetings, Ebe and Marian de Meer The Netherlands Mailto:e.demeer@chello.nl -------------- RE-PIET (Piet was both a contributor and subscriber to the first Digest) Hi, Congratulations guys and a big thanks to Brian for starting it all - keep up the good work. I'll drink a beer on you in a rather cold Washington DC. Piet Obermeyer -------------- PEANUTS Hi, I tried One World but can not find the Peanut Butter Conspiracy or Dickie Loader there. Is there anywhere else I can try? Thanks, Hendriks Mailto:pipefab@mweb.co.za Ed. - Peanut Butter Conspiracy and Dickie Loader albums have not been re-issued on CD, though individual songs can be found on the 'Best Of SA Pop' series of CDs ... available at One World. BEST OF SA POP VOL 1 http://www.oneworld.co.za/index.cfm?bec=4321&id=CDGMPD40485 BEST OF SA POP VOL 2 http://www.oneworld.co.za/index.cfm?bec=4321&id=CDGMPD40486 BEST OF SA POP VOL 3 http://www.oneworld.co.za/index.cfm?bec=4321&id=CDREDD610 -------------- COPYRIGHT QUESTION Hi, Firstly, happy 5th birthday, I hope there is many, many more. I have a question, and I was wondering whether you could shed some light on the subject for me.I am a beginner turntablist and I recently joined a band (We do 99% original music) and we are recording a demo soon. My question is, how do I get permission to use the samples I scratch? Do I actually need permission? I buy most of my vinyl from America and a few state that no permission is required to use any of their samples, but some vinyls state nothing. Others say "For turntablist/DJ use only". And yet others are "White Labels", so I have no way of tracking down a specific artist to ask permission. I assume I will be infringing copyright somewhere, and I would just like to know more before we start recording. Thank You Gareth Houghting Mailto:gareth.h@eskom.co.za -------------- FROM NIGERIA, BUT NOT SPAM! Hello, I am a very talented singer and I have a single that is already getting a lot of airplay on most Nigerian radio stations. I am searching for a label to promote and market my music. It may please you to know that I perform gospel and some situation songs. I will send my CD if you wan me to do so. Thank you, Darlington Omokhape Mailto:darl_smilemusic@yahoo.com -------------- WHERE'S THE PILOT!!??!! Hi there. Does anyone know where I can contact Mike Pilot? The producer of some Springbok hits LP's? Thanks Kobus Mailto:jgb1900@yahoo.co.uk -------------- LOOKING FOR "MISCHIF" Hi, My name is Tracy Downing and I represent a young talented American Hip-Hop/Rap artist who is eager to exchange ideas with a notable South African performer by the name of "Mischif". We frankly have no idea how to contact this performer and would love to have the assistance of any or all of you professional brethren. I can be reached via e-mail or in the US at 217 344-7443 Thank you for your time and please contact me at your convenience. Truly, Tracy Mailto:innow04@hotmail.com -------------- EVOLVING Hi, I heard a song on 5fm called 'Let's Get Naked'. I recognised that from an ad on the radio, do you know which one? Is this song available on mp3? Thanks Joe Ed - You may have heard a snippet of this song in the radio spot advertising the 5fm/SL Unearthed demo search. 'Let's Get Naked' (by Port Elizabeth band Evolver) is available as an mp3 at www.SAmp3.com. It originally hit number 3 on the 28th July 2003 and is currently shooting back up the SAmp3.com charts thanks to its new-found "exposure". -------------- PARADISE LOST! Hi, Why don't you have songs of Eden on your site? Please, their English songs are nice!!!!! Annemarie Robbertse mailto:arobbertse@mweb.co.za Ed - we'd be happy to have Eden songs on SAmp3.com if they asked us, but they haven't, so sorry... -------------- SCRATCHING AROUND TO FIND READY D Hi, My name is Gert-Jaap Hoekman, and I'm a Dutch journalist, working for a Cape Town based internet company called aCrossover. I'm trying to get in contact with DJ Ready D. I was wondering if you guys could help me out. Thanx Gert-Jaap Hoekman Mailto:gjhoekman@hotmail.com -------------- WIE SING? Hi I'm looking for the name of a song or the artist who sings it. It goes "Maak jy nog jou oe toe as ons soen? Of loer jy oor my skouer, vir eimand n bietjie jonger as wat ek is?". Dankie. Terence mailto:terence@dalymorgan.co.za Ed. - It's sung by an artist called Nadine. That song would be on her newest CD - which is titled 'Greatest Hits 1996-2003'. Available at One World http://www.oneworld.co.za/index.cfm?bec=4321&id=MORMCD739 -------------- MORE FROM JAPAN Hello! My name is Teruhisa Isobe from Tokyo, Japan. I'm a member of a Japanese rock band. I'm looking for the record label (rock 'n roll) in South Africa. If you know, please let me know. Thank you, Teruhisa Isobe Mailto:uikukyu@agate.plala.or.jp -------------- THIS CLOWN NEEDS AN EMINEM The other day I checked a Seedy in the shops what said 50 Cent on it, but when I went to pay, the oke wanted to charge me 80 bucks. Is that like legal? Johnny from Boksburg -------------- GOT A QUESTION? Please email any musical questions to editor@sarockdigest.com ----------------------------- THE DIGEST CLASSIFIED ADS ----------------------------- To advertise in this section please email: editor@sarockdigest.com -------------- I NEED A BAND! Hi, I'm Mikki, a female vocalist looking for a band to perform with. My influences are Elle Fitzgerald, Nina Simone, etc. Blues, Jazz, Hip Hop and world Music. I write my own blues songs, please phone 082 689 0355. Thanx Mikki Mailto:mizzpresident2002@yahoo.com -------------- CRISS-CROSS RHYTHMS THAT EXPLODE....!! Hi, OSIBISA are just back from Dubai. Still one of the greatest African festival bands. Contact us direct Kindest regards Mick (Tresnan) Tee www.osibisa.co.uk +44 7976 734417 -------------- CAPE DRUMMER WANTED Our band consists of me (21), a guitarist (17), another guitarist (18), a vocalist (20). We play metal-rock. The drummer's age don't matter too much, as long as he got his own drumset (preferably double bass) and own transport because our "soundlab" is in Paarl. Ruan Kriel. My phone number is 0844075364. -------------- LOOKING TO EARN EXTRA MONEY IN THE MUSIC INDUSTRY? This is an interesting new SA music business concept. We suggest you take a good look at this opportunity. Simply send a blank e-mail to mailto:lazyman200@freeautobot.com to receive further info. (Ed. - Nope, it's not spam, but genuine and potentially worthwhile, and anyone can do it!) -------------- BON ART PRODUCTION PTY We have recently started a new Record Co here in South Africa. We are based in Green Point, Cape Town. BON ART PRODUCTION PTY {Czech Republic} recently appointed me, Deon Crafford, as MD of BON ART MUSIC SA and the company is currently releasing 'Bach's St Luke Passion', recomposed by Jan Jirasek. We will also release very shortly Baroque Gala with the Bon Art Chamber Orchestra. Also in future we will release some wonderful Jazz music, World music and Popular music from Central Europe. 'St Luke Passion' is already in all retail shops countrywide. The 'St Luke' is selling very well because it is the first time that 'Bach's St Luke Passion' has been recomposed for the 21st Century. The 'St Luke' and 'Mathieu's Passion' was written by Bach for the Passover. We are also connected to the State Opera in Prague and will do musicals at all the major Opera Houses in SA. Kind regards, Deon Crafford 5 Pine Rd Green Point 8005 PO Box 50647 V&A Waterfront Cape Town 8002 Tel/Fax +27 21 434 9992 Mobile +27 82 6509796 Mailto:bonartmusic@absamail.co.za -------------------------- RECORDS RESTORED TO CD Have your favourite LP transferred to CD with full colour label and box printing. We restore the LP music/tracks in order to extract the original sound, before transferring them to CD. Only single copies are made and returned with the LP. What is done... 1. Firstly, your precious LP is put through our professional record cleaning machine to ensure that we start with as pure an original sound as possible. 2. We then play the record on the very best audiophile equipment (Thorens turntable, SME arm with Shure V15-III cartridge) and capture the music at a high sample rate, into our "Top of the Range" computer. 3. The Vinyl background noise and "Fried Eggs" sounds are gently removed from the recording. 4. Any remaining "Pops" or "Clicks" are isolated and repaired and the tracks are separated as on the original LP. 5. Then, and only then, do we copy the sound to CD. 6. Finally, the LP cover is scanned front and rear, reduced to fit and printed in full glorious colour. A label is printed for the disc itself in full colour, as on the original. There is a range of prices from R65.00 to R120.00 - depending on the postage costs, and the required and desired degree of cleanup on your single copy. Contact: Terence Tel: 021-787-0205 or Cell: 082-939-077 Email: Mailto:tegner@absamail.co.za -------------- STRAWBS WANT TO TOUR SA! Dave Cousins, from the legendary band Strawbs, is looking for an agent to assist with a proposed acoustic trio tour during 2004. Please contact strawbs@rock.co.za?subject=strawbs ----------------- MUSIC SHOPPING ----------------- GEMM GEMM is your best source for those otherwise impossible-to-find music titles on Record or CD! http://sugarmusic.gemm.com -------------- MABU VINYL & CD Cape Town's finest record and CD store is now at the intersection - "Where the four streets - Long, Buitensingel, Kloof, and Orange - meet" Visit our new CD Stall on the Pavement Piazza in front of the shop opposite the Long Street Baths. Mabu stocks SA and International Record and CD titles, and a growing list of independent SA CD and CD-R releases - including a large range of all the African Dope releases. Latest Vinyl additions: Harari - 'Home Brew' (LP) Malapoets - 'Life Is For Living' (LP) Fat City - 'Bad Habits' (LP) Nick Taylor - 'This Is Our Land' (LP) Zayn Adam - 'The Voice' (LP) Mango Groove - 'Mango Groove' (LP) Mick Jade - 'Time' (LP) Star Mabaso - 'Sing La-La-La' (Very rare LP) Latest independent SA CD additions: Bed On Bricks - 'Humanarium' (Bowline) Bluescream - 'Bluescream' (Independent) Daniel Friedman - 'High Society presents: 14 Steps towards Self Actualisation' (Independent) Brian Finch - 'Never Look Back' (Independent) Fokofpolisiekar - 'As Jy Met Vuur Speel Sal Jy Brand' (EP) (Rhythm) freshlyground - 'Jika Jika' (Independent) Forest Moon - 'Forest Moon' (Independent) Goema Captains Of Cape Town - 'Healing Destination' (Mountain) Hog Hoggidy Hog - 'Naked' EP (3 Chord) Kalahari Surfers - 'Muti Media' (African Dope) Lazarus - 'Parallax View' (EP) (Independent) Lions Of Zion - 'Iternal Fire' (Independent) MoodPhase5ive - 'Steady On' (African Dope) The Rudimentals - 'More Fire' (Independent) Not The Midnight Mass - 'Live At The Planetarium' (Independent) Nukular Stompers - 'Can Of Worms' (Independent) Soulja - '21 Gunslut' (Independent) Various - 'Silvertab Harambe Dope Sessions' (African Dope) Various - 'African Dope Sound System' (African Dope) Various - 'Cape Of Good Dope' (African Dope) Various - 'Breathe Sunshine' (Amabala) Various - 'A Moment In Cape Town' (Revised edition) (Afribeat) Zero Tolerance - 'A Perfect Life?' (EP) (Independent) This week's Best Selling CDs at Mabu Vinyl & CD are: 1. 'As Jy Met Vuur Speel Sal Jy Brand' (EP) - Fokofpolisiekar 2. 'African Dope Sound System' - Various 3. 'More Fire' - The Rudimentals 4. 'Steady On' - Moodphase5ive 5. 'Jika Jika' - freshlyground We buy and sell LP's and CD's Please contact: Jacques or Stephen (Ph): 021 423 7635 (Cell): 082 534 6006 mailto:mabu@sugarmusic.co.za Mabu Vinyl & CD Shop 2 Buitenkloof Centre 8 Kloof Street, Gardens. ------------------------------------------ VIBES VINYL Stadium-on-Main, Main Road, Claremont Our catalogue is now listed on the UK's No.1 Music Marketplace Netsounds and can be accessed directly at http://www.netsounds.com/vibesvinyl This week's specials: Tony Jay - 'I was born... Red Kowalski' (LP) Tananas - 'Tananas' (LP) Tananas - 'Spiral' (LP) Taxi - 'Taxi' (LP) Nick Taylor - 'My time will come to shine' (LP) Toucan - 'Put the Music back' (LP) Township House Band - 'Rise' (LP) Paul Tracey - 'Something else' (LP) Tribe after Tribe - 'Tribe after Tribe' (LP) Dana Valery - 'This is Dana Valery' (LP) We pay top prices for top quality. Want Lists Welcome! Call us at: 021-683 5676 Postal address: PO Box 24045, Claremont, 7735. mailto:claus@vibesvinyl.com Website catalogue now also at Gemm and Netsounds: http://www.vibesvinyl.gemm.com and http://www.netsounds.com/vibesvinyl ----------------- ONE WORLD - ONLINE SA CD STORE Selling South African Music to the World http://www.oneworld.co.za/index.cfm?bec=4321 ---------------------- DEEP PURPLE FANS The very popular Deep Purple Web Index - the ultimate Deep Purple resource on the web - now has a new home at http://www.deeppurple.co.za -------------- VAGABOND MUSIC & WEB (now part of the Sugar Music Group) Get your band or business online. We design from scratch or take over the maintenance when your hotshot designer gets bored with updating. Our design philosophy is to create sites that pull people in and keep them coming back, through user-friendly designs, good web architecture and cost-effective web-marketing. If you want a quick, friendly and fun website, then Vagabond Music Web is your answer. Vagabond Clients include: Jam Alley Music Shop, Joint State, Duncan Mackay, Bluescream, Street Level, Fresh Music, Rhythm Records, Entertainment Industry Services, Piet Botha, Off The Edge, 25 Hour Studio, Gregs Golf Tours, 4 Sure Golf Tours, James Stewart, Tait, Bright Blue, Jack Hammer, Janie Jones, Brian Finch, Soil 7t7, Rodriguez, Steve Louw and Big Sky, Lorraine Shannon, Joe Public. Please contact Brian on 082-567-8779 or visit http://www.sugarmusic.co.za for more info. ------------------------------ SOUTH AFRICAN MUSIC QUOTA COALITION Support the SAMQC, as this SA musicians' initiative, looking to greatly increase the amounts of SA music played on the nation's radio stations. Join the movement, sign up, or read more at http://www.samqc.org.za --------------- RODRIGUEZ One of the most frequently Asked Questions on the Sugarman.org Forum is where to buy Rodriguez CDs. Well, you can buy Rodriguez CDs online at http://www.oneworld.co.za ---------------------------- DIGEST CLASSIFIEDS DETAILS * To have your advert featured in the Digest Classifieds, and to find out the prices to do so, contact mailto:sugar@cd.co.za The Sound Solutions and Digest Classified sections are sponsored by: SUGAR MUSIC http://www.sugarmusic.co.za Contact: Stephen Segerman - sugar@cd.co.za LIVE MUSIC
RECOMMENDED SA GIGS See http://www.sagigs.com EVENTS: Full details at http://www.sagigs.com Watch out for: KAREN ZOID - Karen is performing two special live shows on the 20th and 21st of February at the Centurion Theatre, Pretoria. STEVE NEWMAN - The Tananas guitarist will be visiting Cape Town for a short while, playing at several venues during February. THE KLIPPIES AND COLA STUDENT SESSIONS - These Sessions are aimed at establishing a campus centred live music circuit, primarily at UCT and Stellenbosch University and their surrounding areas. Regional bands, including Afrotone, Andy & Stef, Arbor, Fly Paper Jet, Nick Turner & Dave vd Linden Fokofpolisiekar, Superfine, and the The Buckfever Underground are paired and perform together on consecutive Tuesdays at Die Mystic Boer and The Independent Armchair Theatre. DAN PATLANSKY AND THE MISSISSIPPI MUTHERS - More February dates announced. SUGARDRIVE - At The Roxy Rhythm Bar on Friday 13th February. BLUE MOON (In Nelspruit) - Valentine's Day - Sat 14 February - Miller Genuine Draft presents: Powerzone rocks @ Blue Moon - featuring Prime Circle, The Finkelstiens, Marlowe, The Parlotones, and Nemesis. TUKS RAG 2004 - Tuks Rag and OppiKoppi Productions combine forces to bring us a bumper show and line-up. More than 20 artists will feature at this year's celebrations from 12 - 14th February at the TUKS Rag Farm and the Sin Bin Café. TUKS RAG PRESENTS: KOOS KOMBUIS AND PIET BOTHA IN CONCERT - These artist will perform together at two shows at the Blue Crane Restaurant in New Muckleneuk on the 9th and 11th of February. KOOS KOMBUIS SOLOU - At the Tuks Rag farm on Thursday the 12th of February, and at the Centurion Theatre on 13 and 14 February THE RUDIMENTALS - Cape Town's ska-punk sensations have lined up a string of gigs over the next few weeks. SAHARADJA - Indonesia's top World Music Band is making its South African debut and will be performing at THE SHOWCASE, at Banbury Cross Johannesburg, in February 2004. VUSI MAHLASELA AND JUDITH SEPHUMA - Vusi Mahlasela and Judith Sephuma, two of BMG Africa's biggest names, will be headlining gigs at the Giant Steps Music Festival at Spier in Stellenbosch in March 2004. BOO! IN EUROPE - All those dates for BOO!'s current European Tour THE WORLD IN A GUITAR - This acclaimed musical show has been touring nationally over the past few months and is now heading towards East London (Guild Theatre -13 - 14 February) FOKOFPOLISIEKAR - New Cape Town Afrikaans punk band promoting their debut EP, 'As Jy Met Vuur Speel Sal Jy Brand', around the Peninsula and soon up north. ------------------ UPCOMING INTERNATIONAL ARTISTS IN SA: COUNTING CROWS - The popular US band, fronted by Adam Duritz, will be returning to SA in March to promote their new, greatest hits album, 'Films About Ghosts' LIMP BIZKIT - Edgars and 5FM Music in association with Big Concerts are proud to announce the upcoming South African tour by Limp Bizkit, who will be kicking off their tour in Cape Town on the 2nd, before heading to Durban on the 4th and then Johannesburg on the 6th of April. WITCHDOCTOR RECORDS ANNOUNCES SA TOURS BY ENTOMBED, AND KATAKLYSM - Entombed, those Swedish masters of metal return to our shores for two exclusive shows in April, and Kataklysm, the Swedish masters of metal return to our shores for two exclusive shows in May SMOKIE - This successful '70's/'80's pop group is still "firing on all five cylinders" and will be touring South Africa in 2004 on 'The Hit Box Tour '04' from 25 February onwards. NEW MODEL ARMY - Alter-Ego Productions is proud to announce the forthcoming tour to South Africa of this "legendary" band in March 2004 -------------- SA MUSIC FESTIVALS SOUTHERN CROSS MUSIC FESTIVAL - The three-day Southern Cross Music Festival is known as "The Friendly Festival" and takes place from 19-22 March 2004 in the Hidden Valley in KwaZulu Natal THE CAPE TOWN FESTIVAL - The Cape Town Festival is the Mother City's premiere arts and cultural showcase, bringing together the best in local and international dance, visual arts, music, film, photography, spoken word, theatre and nightlife - 14 to 22 March 2004 NORTH SEA JAZZ FESTIVAL - CAPE TOWN 2004 - "Africa's Grandest Gathering is about to celebrate its 5th anniversary in April 2004, and it will be doing so in style in its new home at the Cape Town International Convention Centre on the Mother City's Foreshore. With Angie Stone, Femi Kuti, Stanley Clarke, freshlyground, Abdullah Ibrahim, Cassandra Wilson and Miriam Makeba. SPLASHY FEN 2004 - One of our country's best loved open-air lifestyle celebration promises the freshest ever delights for body and mind on the Easter weekend, April 8 - 12. -------------- OTHER ITEMS -------------- RP STUDIOS EMERGING SOUNDS COMPETITION 2004 - UPDATES Packed venues in Vereeniging over a week ago saw the latest batch of emerging artists through to the first regional finals of the RP Studios Emerging Sounds which took place at the Coliseum Show Bar, Caesars Gauteng yesterday. In action were Mr Smug (from Durban), Hiccup (from the Vaal) plus Cherry Pill and Higher Ground (from Johannesburg). (no results received at time of going to press). That those groups progressed through to the regional finals is a prize in itself, because they performed and received feedback from people within the South African music industry. Judging on Sunday were Nick Grubb (5FM programme manager), Peter Jaquire (RP Studios), Jono Hall (Arts Editor for SL), Pete Lacey (Musketeer Records), Bojan Andrejevic (Sony), Danielle Delaqua (EMI/Virgin), Dave Chislet (freelance music journalist), Cathryn Pearman (editor of Stage), Dave Owen (musician), Jaco Nel (music journalist from Beeld), Andrew Mitchley (David Gresham Records), Gareth McLeod (Musketeer Records), Raphael Domalik (Sovereign entertainment), Melissa Conradie (Sheer Music), Darryl Torr (Openroom Productions) and Koula (5FM DJ). JOHANNESBURG LEG: Saturday, February 14 · 74% Stupid · Seth Saturday, February 21 · Skin Deep · Aniline Saturday, February 28 - Johannesburg finals DURBAN LEG: Friday February 13 The Winston Hotel - from 21:00 · Crossing Point · Sitter · Azure · Detach Patrons can expect hardcore punk, pop rock, rock and hip hop hard rock all jammed into one great evening. For further information contact Wicked Mike on 083 742 5145. VAAL LEG: Friday, March 26 Perfect Manhatten - Three Rivers RP Studios has been sponsoring this event for the past six years and if you visit their website - www.rpstudios.co.za - you can soon see a 360-degree view of the studios. For further information contact: Peter Jaquire on (011) 714 4666. Simon "Squire" Foulds on 082 770 7524. ----------------------------- UPCOMING WORKSHOPS AT PAUL BOTHNER MUSIC The Paul Bothner Music branch in Plumstead, Cape Town has announced the first in its 2004 free music workshop series. The first workshop is called: "Communicating with Your Fan Base via the Internet" and will be presented by Digest co-editor, Brian Currin. This free workshop looks at the Internet as an affordable way for musicians to build an online community through the use of email newsletters, gig and tour announcements, news of album launches and gig photos. This event is a must for any band or musician wanting to increase their visibility and improve on their public image. This workshop will be held on Monday 9 February 2004 - from 6:30 to 7:30pm At Paul Bothner Music, Plumstead. Please note: Seating is limited, so arrive early. Call (021) 674 4030 for more details. The second workshop is called "Studio Recording" and is a free workshop, brought to you by Paul Bothner Music, and hosted and presented by Street Level Music Productions, one of the country's most creative and productive recording studios. This intensive, one-day workshop will cover the process of recording a song performed by a live band in a studio. Attendees will gain valuable insights from the Street Level team, using some of the latest studio technology, and be shown the procedures of setting up equipment, recording the multi-track parts and doing the final mix down. This workshop will be held on Saturday 14 February 2004 at 9 for 9:30am to 5:00pm at the Street Level Studios at Unit 12B, 3rd floor New Market Junction, Cape Town. As space for this free workshop is limited to 20 persons, booking is essential. Contact Newton Wetter on (021) 674 4030 or email Mailto:info@bothner.co.za to book your place --------------- SA PUNK By Daniel Neville SEDWICK - 'THE REALISATION OF PURPOSE' (Indie) Along with War-On-Salt, Sedwick (or Sedwick the Salesman as most people know them) are one of the longest running and most established of the so-called 'younger' side of the scene. I remember the first show that they played about 3 years ago at a scout hall in Bergvliet. They were, in my opinion, the best band there that night even if they were dressed up in khakis and pith helmets. Over the years I have watched Sedwick grow as a band and, as all bands do, their style changed as the guys in the band got older and different things became more important to them. I can identify three main phases of Sedwick's music. The first would be the early Sedwick which was very well how can I put this?... happy punk, bouncy fun filled songs that were bound to make any crowd get up and go. The second was a very rocky and slightly more serious sound, they seemed to gain a new sect of supporters in this phase, but I see this phase as more of a transition to the Sedwick of now. The new Sedwick is perfectly represented and portrayed on this their first proper release (there are some unauthorised recordings floating around). Sedwick, on reaching their third phase, have evolved into a very interesting band. Sort of their own created style with heavy influences from bands like Dogwood and Thrice, at some points there might even be a hint of metal thrown in for good measure. The CD is a perfect representation of this. Containing seven tracks that all complement each other beautifully, the CD will become one of the most legendary CD's to have come from one of the younger SA bands. The recording is very good quality and was done at Seventh Design Studios, which is a new studio that I can see will be doing many more recordings in the future. The only thing that came slightly close to not being up to scratch is Greig's vocals at some points in the CD. Having said that, the over-all musicianship is of such a high standard that that kind of thing is trampled over immediately. The postproduction on the CD is also very good and I think the cover and over-all production is top notch. The other thing that strikes you, when you listen to the CD, is the way in which the guys sing about what they believe in and what they think is important, and as a consequence their lyrics are very strong and powerful. In this regard my favourite songs on the CD are definitely 'Crash and Burn' and 'The Realisation Of Purpose'. So well done to Simon, Richard and Greig for producing a first class CD and, if you want a copy for yourself, I suggest you go to their CD release on the 20th of Feb at the Claremont Civic Centre in Cape Town before they are all sold out. [DN] -------------- FINDING CD'S IN SA - CAN WE REALLY COMPLAIN? If there is one thing that I can not stand it's not being able to find a particular CD. Unfortunately for us stuck here at the bottom of Africa sometimes finding that particular CD can be pretty hard. In the past the only way to find what you wanted was to do one of three things. The first was to take your chances and go and scour a flea market or something of that nature. The thing about taking this option is that the hours, and sometimes days, that you will spend searching the cluttered table of the local CD peddlar at Greenmarket square will often only yield one or two CDs, and often not the ones you are looking for. Alternatively if you are lucky enough to have a relation who lives overseas (and by that I mean Europe or America) you can ask them to find you that delicate morsel that you have been lusting after. I know some people that have been so desperate to find a particular CD that they have phoned their mom's uncle's aunt and asked them to go on a hunt for them. But like all good ideas there is a problem with this too. Often the people that you ask to find something for you have no clue or inkling of knowledge about what you want and end up getting you some obscure '70's death metal band instead (but hey if they send you a copy of a The Darkness CD you can`t really complain). The third and probably most reliable solution to this problem is actually go overseas yourself. I have just had the privilege to go on a small trip (when I say small what I really mean is a trip to Australia and America) and the amount of small Indie CD shops that I found while just walking down the street was insane. I had to eventually hold myself back after I made my 15th purchase in about 2 hours. Basically you can envy the selection of CD's that they have over there. One of the raddest places was Greenwich and Soho in New York, I kid you not there was a CD store, that had in it copies of some of the most obscure and sought after stuff you could imagine (and they never cost more that $11, about R80!), every 30 metres. Ok obviously the biggest problem with this is that not everybody can go take small trips half way round the world to find CD's. So is our situation hopeless? Can we really complain? Well the answer is NO! There is hope and a very good one at that. We may not have indie CD stores every 30 metres but we do have some sweet alternatives. The first would be Nifty Records, which is a totally independently run distro. Paul the guy who runs it is a really nice guy, he is very professional in the way he helps you find what you want and most of all he has an extensive knowledge of music. I have used him a number of times and can definitely recommend him. You can find out more about Nifty records by going to www.niftyrecords.co.za There are others too like Give and Take, I have never used them but I have many friends who have and they only say good things about it. Find out more by e-mailing mailto:give_take@global.co.za You can also use the Silent Screams distro, run by Jen (who also happens to play bass for Neshamah) which is also highly recommend to cater for all your unique tastes in music. E-mail Jen at mailto:jen@silentscreamsdistro.com Maiden League (based in Cape Town but who also post across the country) also run a distro and I know you will never pay over R150 for a CD, which is very cheap especially when you could never find that you just ordered in a CD shop. Go to www.maidenleague.co.za to check these guys out. So there you have it, fret no more, you do have a chance to get that CD that is so arb that not even I have heard of it. Plus you will be supporting the SA scene and you could help international bands sit up and notice SA. [DN] ------------------ SA PUNK GIG GUIDE: Fri 13 Feb - STENLLENBOSCH - LENTELIS GROUNDS - (R35, 1pm) Stellies Fest The Rudimentals Fokofpolisiekar Soulja State Far Better Tweak and loads more The Rudimentals are playing at about 7pm A one day festival featuring loads of bands, booze, etc Fri 13 Feb - DURBAN - NEW WINSTON PUB - (R10, 8pm) RPS Emerging Sounds Competition crossingpoint Sitter Azure Detached Sat 14 Feb - CAPE TOWN - CHILLI 'N LIME Western Cape Bodyboarding Assosiation The Rudimentals Weird venue for us to play I know, but it should be good! Thurs 19 Feb - CAPE TOWN - STONES ON LONG STREET - (R20, 10pm) The Rudimentals The Tornados Fri 20 Feb - CAPE TOWN - CLAREMONT CIVIC CENTRE - (R15, 7pm) 'Sedwick CD Launch' Sedwick Captain Stu and the Llamas Serving Suggestion. Lots of merch will be available as well as the new Sedwick CD (DUH!) Daniel Neville Mailto:daniel@neville.za.net See http://www.SAgigs.com for details and other SA Punk gigs. ---------------------------- -------------- LIVE IN LONDON -------------- BRIGHT BOO! Boo! at the Half Moon in Putney 6 February 2004 - John Samson was there. A certain part of the Boo! live show has always been a bit of a drag, but as the band walked onto the stage at the Half Moon in Putney on Friday night, there was a distinct lack of drag as Chris Chameleon was living up to his name and changing from his usual feminine look to a somewhat more masculine appearance. Despite this, the mincing and posing was still there and the music was turned up to fully hectic levels. Mixing old favourites with new material from 'TNTLC' the party began from the first note and did not let up even after the band had retired from the stage. Through a programme of constant touring Boo! have become a slick, highly professional band who can have an audience eating out of the palm of their hands with ease. The sound seems to have become fuller in recent times and a few of the rough edges of early concerts have been smoothed away. However this is not to the detriment of the live package, in fact the energy and force of Boo! has become such that the audience is no longer made up of ex Pats, but estimates that at least 20% of the audience were non South Africans pays a huge testament to the power and appeal of Boo! Something not undeserved due to their hard work and astute business sense. Not being distracted by the Drag Queen image of Chris allowed one to witness Boo! in their naked glory and they proved beyond doubt that behind all that make-up there beats a consummate professional's heart that is capable of entertaining with ease. So to anyone that was upset that Boo! was not a drag all I can say is that obviously this bar is too Boo!tilicious for you. (JS) READ http://www.cd.co.za/legends/90s/boo_index.html -------------- LIVE IN SA -------------- GERT VLOK NEL AND BRIXTON MOORD EN ROOF ORKES - LIVE IN PRETORIA Last Thursday Gert Vlok Nel sang his songs in Centurion Theatre, Pretoria. I could only get in because somebody had to cancel. Gert stood there on a bare black stage, barefoot with guitar against his body, and sang to a crowd who could barely breathe. In between the silences, the pauses paired with emotional notes, the movement from a mid-note to a dark bass, I could sense the collective listen. Too afraid to move the wine bottle in the ice bucket, not wanting to make a sound. Just so you can take everything in. With Gert Vlok Nel you can escape from the madness outside your skin. Rat-races, deadlines, clogged toilet pipes and arteries. Where Gert Vlok Nel touches the mike, you find an achingly unsettling sense of loss, but he also gives you peace. Even though he sings about Koos du Plessis' death, a woman trying to cut both her wrists, love that dies, squeezing pimples in the mirror, lying next to his poems in his own pee. You look at him while he puts the words out there, he who painted it with sounds so fine it makes you want to bawl your heart out, and you know this is where he's at. "Beautiful in Beaufort-Wes", "Mr Bean Se Laaste Happy Scene", "Rivier", "Timotei Shampoo". Hear my songs, and let me go. Next time maybe the crowd will remember and respect the fact that Gert Vlok Nel doesn't do encores. Now. A restlessness grabs you after a sunset or two. Images of a minister who sits in a hotel room while the police and his loved ones comb the city in a frantic search for him, firmly believing he's been hijacked and oh God he must be dead, little Karabo's drowned body covered with a plastic sheet, another suicide bomber in Moscow. It makes you want to barf. So. Go catch some music. The restless kind, the kind that makes your eyeballs rattle in their sockets. Brixton Moord en Roof do this with pleasure. In the unassuming visiting venue called Café Barcelona. Conrad Jamneck on sound. Yum. They start slow, with "Geraamtes" and "Inkvis", and our heads bob in unison. "Ek en die inkvis, ons sit op die bus." They pick up with "Beter Dae" and churn it to the hilt with "Wag Op Die Kaptein". Pat Plank on electric lead guitar, and behold - the monster is out. He lets rip with red-hot riffs and piercing solo swirls, gets stuck onto Moord Greeff's insane drumbeats, we gawp and drool, then scream with fists in the air, Roof Bezuidenhout rolls his eyes and grins like the Chainsaw Massacre lead, and roars into the mike: "Rrrroad rage, rrroad rrage, ROOOAAAAD RRHHAAAGE!!!". What deliciously deboning therapy we have here. So we sit tight for more. And we get "Sussie Se Sweep", letting the gooseflesh roll with "... sal jy hard skree as sy jou blootsry" and "... die ding in haar hand, die ding in haar hand ...haar kappie sal sy afhaal net vir jou, haar stewels sal sy opryg net vir jou ..." Yikes. Rural obsessive delights uncovered. Naked to the bone. Brixton Barnard steps up. The bass in his hands turns into that road you never take because it's dark and the forest is deep. He does "Paul van der Zandt" and yes, within a minute or so you will never look at "die babakak blues" or being a drummer in a band the same way again. He hardly moves behind the mike. Just spits out the words in cynic guttural sounds from a depth nobody can fathom. And in a final ruthless backhand slap, Brixton Moord en Roof regroup to wipe the floor with "Trane Van 'n Terroris". It's very eerie, not being able to move. Rooted on your chair, staring at four of the best artists you'll ever experience on this earth, charmingly unsettling your spine and eviscerating your soul with each note, each word, each heated honest in-your-face pulse of the drum. The new album is due just before winter. "Terug In Skubbe" will give you life. Katvrou (CL) READ, LISTEN, BUY http://www.rhythmrecords.co.za/bmro_spergebied.html ----------------------- SA GIG GUIDE The SA Rock Digest list of recommended gigs can now be found at: http://www.SAgigs.com. If you cannot access SAgigs.com then e-mail gigs@sarockdigest.com?subject=gigguide and we will e-mail the gig guide to you each week. Please send all gig info to sugar@sagigs.com in a plain text e-mail. SA Music Links And Resources
SA MUSIC LINKS: THE SA ROCK ENCYCLOPEDIA WEBLINKS PAGE: Links to the world of SA Rock - artists, gig guides, resources, record labels, recording studios, music trivia and more at: http://www.sarockdigest.com/links ---------------------------- SA MUSIC RESOURCES: THE SA ROCK DIGEST ON SAFM (104-107KHz) THE BRUCE MILLAR SHOW - MONDAY EVENINGS @ 9.15PM Stephen Segerman, Digest co-editor, talks to Bruce Millar about SA music news, new releases, and charts from each week's Digest. ---------------------------- SA ROCK DIGEST CONTACT DETAILS: SUBSCRIPTIONS: To subscribe to The SA Rock Digest - please send an e-mail to: subscribe@sarockdigest.com Address changes - please send an e-mail to: subscribe@sarockdigest.com To unsubscribe - please send a blank e-mail to: unsubscribe@sarockdigest.com ---------------------------- SA ROCK DIGEST BACK ISSUES http://www.sarockdigest.com/archives Online and keyword searchable ---------------------------- PRESS RELEASES & CONTRIBUTIONS Please submit all press releases, contributions, reviews, requests, searches and comments to sugar@sarockdigest.com ---------------------------- EDITORS Any thoughts, requests, problems, complaints, praise or interesting and relevant SA music news, CDs, or mp3s... please contact: Stephen Segerman sugar@sarockdigest.com Brian Currin http://www.vagabond.za.net/contact ---------------------------- MAIN CONTRIBUTORS BC - Brian Currin SS - Stephen Segerman JS - John Samson KS - Kurt Shoemaker CL - Carina Laubscher (Katvrou) TL - Tertius Louw SN - Shiloh Noone DN - Daniel Neville ML - Moonshine Lee LR - Lindsay Ravenscroft NN - Nadia Neophytou WM - Wicked Mike DM - David Marks DS - Don Sweeto LAD - LAD MC - Michael Currin (Curmic) JFB - Johnny From Boksburg And others too numerous to mention, but gratefully acknowledged! Proofed by Ronx A SUGAR MUSIC PRODUCTION |
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