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Contents  
This week's contents: Editorial: The week in brief News: SAMA Awards, Tamara Dey, 'Amandla!, Alex Gregori, Living Music Workshops, 'Under The Influence', Tributes to Gito. Charts: SA Rock Digest MP3 and Album Charts New Releases: New SA MP3's and CD's, Fallen, Swim Club, Blomkrag, Luna, Willem Kitshoff, Mitsoo, Abdullah Ibrahim, Steve Van. 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, Tait and Justin Bergh, Dala Flats, "Pay To Play", Gothfest, Spindle Sect. SA Music Links And Resources: Contact Details Editorial THE WEEK IN BRIEF The finalists in the 10th annual South African Music Awards (SAMA) were announced at a function in Johannesburg last week ... SA's "First Lady of Kwaito", Tamara Dey, has been selected to open for Latin hero Enrique Iglesias during his upcoming SA tour ... On Saturday 17th April 2004 at 21h00, SABC2 will broadcast the brilliant, multiple award-winning documentary film 'Amandla! - A Revolution in Four-Part Harmony' ... And we have a list of the upcoming Living Music Workshops in Cape Town. We caught up with Alexander Gregori, MD of Mothermix, to ask him about his thoughts on Musica's recent price move as reported in last week's Digest ... South Africa sits in terror and waits as the mighty Wrench Productions and Drunk Punks team up to organise a national Punk rock tour featuring Half-Price and the Stevie Wonderfuls during April .... As our country celebrates ten years of democracy - Emerging Sounds is celebrating seven years of creating a platform for emerging bands to further their musical career as well as its seven-year partnership with RP Studios. Cape Town all-girl punk band, Mitsoo, has released their debut three-track EP called 'Afterglow' ... Struan Douglas, the noted African jazz writer and editor of www.Afribeat.com, was recently commissioned by Expressions magazine to write an article on Abdullah Ibrahim to celebrate ten years of freedom. Contrary to his knowledge or any further explanation Dr Ibrahim, after reading a draft copy insisted the article be dropped from the magazine. Here is the full article, you decide ... We also spotlight Cape Town artist, Steve Van. Kurt give us some background on Four Jacks and a Jill's 1978 album, 'Boy on the Border' ... John Samson listens to Joe Publics' 'The Terrible Two's' album and is terribly impressed ... Daniell Neville was at the socially conscious "The Make A Change Organisation Show (the M.A.C.O. show)" on 3 April at the Purple Turtle. A top-rate SA pop-rock double feature hits Stellenbosch on Saturday night when Tait and Justin Bergh rock The Mystic Boer ... We welcome back the 'Pay To Play' tribute concert to Kurt Cobain ... And Lindsay Ravenscroft was amongst a crowd who braved a rainy Easter night to watch local hip hop favourites, Spindle Sect, at the Independent Armchair Theatre in Observatory, Cape Town. 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... ---------------------------- 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 Sugar Music. 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
BMG ARTISTS' STRONG SHOWING IN SAMA 10 NOMINATIONS LIST The finalists in the 10th annual South African Music Awards (SAMA) were announced at a function in Johannesburg last week. SAMA 10 takes place at Sun City in the Superbowl auditorium on Saturday May 29, 2004. The Awards event will be televised live on SABC1. The Digest had not received a full list of the nominations at time of "going to print", but we did hear from a company source that the BMG artists had again proved their songwriting and musical strength by featuring strongly in many categories. Newcomers proved their capabilities with nominations in several new and high profile categories. Ex-Idols finalist, Brandon October, is up for 'Best Pop Album' for 'Temptation'. The 'Best Rock Album' category sees Justin Bergh in contention with his release, 'Out of My Hands'. Critics' favourite Umanji is up for two awards - 'Best Contemporary Album: African' for 'Ndlala' and 'Best Male Composer' (a new category) for the title track of the same album. But it's in the 'Best Single' category that BMG really shines with two of their artists earning nominations in this hotly-contested category: Idols winner, Anke Pietrangeli, is nominated for 'Silver Lining' while another Idol, Jacques Terre'Blanche, earns his nomination for 'Endlessly'. Best Male Composer also sees a double nod - Joe Niemand earns a nomination for 'Just a Boy' by David Fourie and, as mentioned, Umanji is in for 'Ndladla'. And Nicole Billingham shines in the newly announced 'Best Female Composer' category - earning a double nomination for 'Innocent' and 'I Don't Belong'. Finally TKZee are back - this time with one of 10 nominated songs vying for the title of 'Song of the Decade'. The track, 'Dlala Mapantsula', (off the 'Halloween' album) is one of a list of 10 from which the public will decide which is the song that best sums up South Africa's decade of democracy, as well as 10 years of the SAMAs. Music fans can also vote for Artist and Song of the year (2003). We hope to have a full list of those nominations for you next week ... -------------- "THE FIRST LADY OF KWAITO" TO SUPPORT ENRIQUE! SA's "First Lady of Kwaito", Tamara Dey, has been selected to open for Latin hero Enrique Iglesias during his upcoming SA tour. Enrique will be kicking off on the 27th of April in Cape Town, before heading to Durban on the 29th, Sun City on the 1st, and finally Johannesburg on the 2nd of May. The tour is brought to us by Vodacom and 5fm Music, supporting Unite Against Hunger. Over the past few years, Tamara Dey has managed to cross all cultural, age and language barriers. She has been recognized as one of the few SA artists contributing towards bridging the gap between all cultures, ages and races, celebrating the heart and soul of South Africa. Shortly after releasing her debut album, 'The First Lady', she was nominated for three Standard Bank SAMA Awards Her second album, 'The First Lady and the Boys', is a dance CD filled with jazz, pop, rock, funk and kwaito influences. Within a week of its release, the track, 'Uyazi Mos', was climbing the charts, with the second single off the album, 'Its Disco' hitting the number 1 spot on national radio earlier this year. The chart-topping album led to an invitation to play alongside Mandoza at the Cairo Music Festival in Egypt, a performance at the President's Cup, and an opening slot for American R&B sensation, Beyonce. Tamara was then nominated for "Best Female Vocalist" at a local music awards ceremony, "Awesome Women of the Year" by Cosmopolitan Magazine, "Most Stylish Female Singer in a Music Video" at the Elle Magazine Style awards, and was elected by De Beers Diamond Company to represent their "Shining Lights" collection. Enrique Iglesias, the biggest-selling Spanish language artist in the world, has enjoyed world-wide sales of over 30 million records, 5 American Music Awards, 2 Grammys, 2 Billboard Music Awards, a World Music Award and more! He proficiently made the transition into mainstream pop, with the European version of 'Bailamos' quickly becoming the most-requested radio track in the U.S, and scoring him a number one in both the Pop and Latin charts. Just as Tamara Dey embodies our potential for cultural fusion, global phenomenon Enrique embodies the crossover of Latin music to mainstream America. Don't miss an evening that promises to be a musical adventure, with catchy dance tunes, smooth ballads, and something for everyone. Enrique supports Unite Against Hunger, a crisis food relief program driven by Food & Health Care Giant, Tiger Brands, providing immediate hunger relief to more than 80 000 South Africans per month. Sms the word "hunger" to donate R10 towards "Unite Against Hunger" 082 003 9040 Tour Dates: Tuesday 27th April - The Bellville Velodrome, Cape Town Thursday 29th April - Westridge Park Stadium, Durban Saturday 1st May - The Sun City Superbowl Sunday 2nd May - The Dome, Johannesburg Ticket Prices: Cape Town -R150; R225 and R300 Durban -R150; R225 and R300 Sun City -R295; R320 and R320 Johannesburg - R150; R225 and R300 Buses run to Sun City daily from Eastgate shopping Centre, at 09:00, 12:00 and 18:00. Tickets are R190 (one way), available from Computicket. Please note that Tamara Dey will not be performing in Sun City. *All excluding Computicket service charges Computicket Internet Site - www.computicket.com Computicket Call Centre- 083 915 8000 For more information on upcoming shows: www.bigconcerts.co.za or www.5fm.co.za Enrique Iglesias' website: www.enriqueiglesias.co.za For further media information, please contact: Lara at Big Concerts - 021 422 3500/ 082 379 0002 e-mail:lara@bigconcerts.co.za For more information on Tamara Dey, please contact: Kerry Friedmann at Madiba Music on 082 455 3447 or dewberry@iafrica.com -------------- AMANDLA! ON SA TV! On Saturday 17th April 2004 at 21h00, SABC2 will broadcast the brilliant, multiple award-winning documentary film 'Amandla! - A Revolution in Four-Part Harmony'. This film by Lee Hirsch focuses on the role music and song played in the SA democratic revolution. The 'Amandla!' film and Soundtrack Album features 29 songs, including classic tracks from the legends of South African music like Hugh Masekela, Vusi Mahlasela, Miriam Makeba, Abdullah Ibrahim, Sibongile Khumalo, Tananas and many more... Don't miss this if you have not yet seen it! -------------- "IT'S THE PRICE, STUPID" [There has been a lot of reaction to last week's Musica announcement regarding a reduction in price for Top 20 titles. This week the Digest takes a closer look at this via an interview with someone who has been proposing this for some time now, Alexander Gregori, the MD of Mothermix Records.] The results of a VH1 poll, conducted among viewers of the music television station in the US in 2003, were summed up by the statement "it's the price, stupid!". The VH1 poll wanted to know why people buy less CD's!! That statement, which brought long-held consumer sentiments about CD price policies down to a point, was also another smack in the face for those who blame internet downloads for declining music sales. They should have started wondering about their assumptions back in 2002, when the most downloaded artist that year, was also coincidentally the same artist who sold the most CD's in that year - Eminem. Now, in an almost unprecedented move for the South African music industry, Musica have announced a 33% price cut for their Top 20 sales charts titles, from R149.95 to R99.95. "Almost" unprecedented, we must point out, because we remember a certain Cape Town record company, who already introduced a revolutionary CD price strategy, when they entered the market with their debut release, KGB's 'The First Born'. Mothermix Records retailed 'The First Born' for R49.95, and the SA Rock Digest was the first publication to report on Mothermix' price strategy in an interview with the label's Managing Director Alexander Gregori (see Interview). So, in light of Musica's announcement, we thought this was reason enough to catch up again with Alexander Gregori and ask him about his thoughts on Musica's price move. RD Musica has just slashed prices for its top-selling CD's by 33%. We remember you were the first to talk about the price issue. What do you think of Musica's move? AG It's definitely very positive for consumers and the industry. One of the biggest challenges facing us in South Africa today is lack of competition. This ultimately slows down growth and development, and makes both consumers and industries suffer. Musica now introduced this much needed competition factor at the price level. RD Why do you think this is so crucial? AG It's the only way to kickstart real growth in the music industry. To give you an example: we commissioned a market survey in 2002, which found that South Africans would buy 3 - 5 times more CD's at a price of between R60 and R70. Taking into account R600 million current turnover of the South African music industry from CD sales, and assuming an average price of R100 per CD, we would almost double our income, if we could only sell 3 times as many CD's at R60 each. A VH1 poll, conducted in 2003, showed similar results in the US. The UK was the only country to report an increase in CD sales at the end of last year, after they lowered their CD prices from between 12 - 15 UK pounds to below 10 Pounds. If you think about it, it's common sense. RD So you believe that South Africans will now buy more CD's? AG First of all Musica will sell more CD's. They are the biggest music retailers in the country, and I can't see why anybody would buy a CD for R149.95 anywhere else, if they can get it for R99,95 at Musica. Other retailers will have to react. You must remember that the disposable income of the average South African is lower than that of Americans or Europeans, yet, taking into account the inland buying power of the Rand, we had to pay the equivalent of US$50 - US$60 for a product, that retails at around US$15 in the US or Europe. We know now that "high" CD prices are the main reason for people buying less CD's. If this is true for countries where people have a higher disposable income, it is safe to assume that it is equally true for South Africa. Musica's price slash brings CD prices down to the equivalent of US$30. RD Still pretty expensive, if you compare it to US$15, isn't it? AG Yes, but as I said, Musica made a start. If their sales go up, and they will, others will follow, maybe even lowering prices even more. RD OK, so that's great for consumers. But what about artists, producers, record companies? Won't they earn less? AG I don't think so. Everybody in the music industry earns a percentage of total turnover, and the UK example showed us that you will actually earn more, if you cut prices. This was also the indication of our own research. The only question remaining is: how low must the price be to considerably increase turnover. RD Is R99.95 low enough? AG It's a start, but I believe we should get to a price of between R50 - R60 for top titles to boost turnover significantly. We retailed our first release for R49.95, and sold 500 copies of a totally unknown band, which didn't even gig, in only two weeks. And we sold this through Musica. They were very receptive to our price strategy and immediately supported us. Other independents, for whom we distribute, and who bought into our price strategy, are selling for R69.95, and it's going very well. RD Musica has already been criticised for being hypocritical in their claims that the price slash is "for the love of music", when in fact they can just not sell the CD's. AG Of course they lowered the prices to sell more CD's. That's the whole point. And if they achieve an increase in sales it's definitely in the long-term interest of the music industry. So I don't think that their argument of "doing it for the love of music" is hypocritical. It's realistic, and it benefits everybody. RD Alex, thank you very much for the interview! (SS) -------------- LIVING MUSIC WORKSHOPS - APRIL LINE-UP Mon 12 April - 14:00 pm to 16:00 pm at EKwezi Centre - Guguletu Title: Teba - Artistic and Recording strategy Workshop This is your opportunity to meet the backing singer of Cape Town's own FNB SAMA AWARD-winning bands. Teba has had the pleasure of being part of a band called "Skeem'", which won the award for 'Best Township Pop'. Emerging from one of Cape Town's ghettos called Guguletu, where he was born and bred, Teba later migrated to Jozi where he got toasted and buttered into a nationally and internationally acclaimed artist. Teba 's genuine style and energy towards music attracted many well known South African artists, who, though from a diverse music background, had an ardent interest in working with him. As a result he was requested to work in partnership with SA kwaito, hip hop, reggae and African fusion artists. To mention a few, Ishmael, P.O.C, Sharon D, Oyaba, Mdu Masilela, Chronic Clan, Boom Shaka, Oude Meeste Trybe, KB, Do Dope and Jabu Sibumbe. Without losing direction or wasting any time, Teba is back in the studio working on a debut solo album. This is something of pure diversity; a combination of Teba's lyrics that are both thought-provoking, inspiring and his ragamuffin style. The workshop will cover the following topics: Artists' Rights, Intellectual Property and Dealing with major recording companies. Mon 19 April - 18:30 pm to 19:30 pm - Paul Bothner Music, N1 Value Centre - Goodwood Title: Shane Mahoney - Artist Management - What the musician needs to know! Due to popular demand, we've decided to repeat this workshop at our N1 Value Centre store. Presented by Shane Mahoney and Narren Sewpaul of ADMIT (Artist Development through Music Industry Training), this workshop focuses on the essentials of putting together a management team - manager, lawyer, accountant etc. Record deals, copyright, publishing and tour management issues are also dealt with. Musicians at all levels will benefit from attending. For more information call 021 7908825. Mon 23 April - 18:00 pm to 19:00 pm - Woodstock Library Title: Frank Paco - Basics in Drumming and how to approach a recording session Renowned drummer, percussionist and singer Frank Paco has developed a unique style after working with bands like Sakhile, Loading Zone, Virtual Jazz Reality, Sheer Sound All Stars and great artists such as Jimmy Dludlu, Miriam Makeba, Brenda Fassie, Judith Sephuma, Hugh Masekela and Jonathan Butler amongst others. He has also participated in major festivals such as the North Sea Jazz Festival, at The Hague for four consecutive years and New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival amongst other international festivals. Frank took part in the '46664' Mandela AIDS Concert playing alongside the band Queen and backing artists such as Jimmy Cliff, Anastasia, Angelique Kidjo, Youssou N' Dour, Johnny Clegg and Bono amongst other international artists. Besides his drumming, Frank's charismatic voice can be heard on the Hansa Pilsener and Coca-Cola ads "I am going home" on a worldwide broadcast. Frank also holds an Honours Degree in Jazz Performance with distinction from the University of Cape Town. He is the leader of Tucan Tucan The workshop will cover basics in drumming, groove construction, basic patterns used for interaction in an ensemble and how to approach a recording session. Tue 27 April - 15:00 pm to 17:00 pm - Guga S'thebe - Langa Title: Spindle Sect - Hip hop production, executed by producers. This is your opportunity to meet Cape Town's well known band "Spindle Sect ", from Mowbray. If you want to be or are a Rap or Hip Hop artist, come to this workshop. The Spindle Sect will take you through the ups and downs of the Music industry. The Spindle Sect record label, "Headcharge ", will be presenting the fundamentals of Hip Hop production, executed by producers. The Spindle Sect will focus on performance values executed by MC's. -------------- THE 'UNDER THE INFLUENCE' TOUR South Africa sits in terror and waits as the mighty Wrench Productions and Drunk Punks team up to organise a national Punk rock tour featuring Half Price and the Stevie Wonderfuls. These two bands are on a mission of national destruction that begins April 2004. Half Price have been belting out their drunken anthems in their home town, Cape Town, for ages now and have been on a number of successful tours. Their abrasive punk-ska tunes are irresistible and are sure to set an entire nation's feet a-skankin' during April. They will be joined on their national path of sonic assault by the fabulous Stevie Wonderfuls, a Johannesburg-based hardcore band that has been tearing apart the stage since 2002. These guys know how to stir up a storm and could even get the dead to rise from their graves and rock the hell out. (Are you sure about this? - Ed.). Pure, intense old school hardcore faster than a speeding bullet is this band's business. They will be appearing in major cities across South Africa so be sure to check them out, if you dare! Dates and venues are up on www.wrenchproductions.co.za as well as www.drunkpunks.co.za - check them out for more information. This tour is set to be an amazing experience, South Africa's best punk and hardcore bands playing at all the shows, so be sure to come or you'll regret it! Check out the Tour Dates, Times, Bands & more at http://www.sagigs.com This tour is brought to you by Mighty Wrench Productions (JHB) & the 'druNk puNk' misfits (Cape Town). And our sponsor, Blunt Magazine. Wrench Productions - www.wrenchproductions.co.za mailto:wrenchproductions@hotmail.com Cell: +27 82 580 0707 Tel: +27 11 609 1929 Fax: +27 11 609 3536 -------------- RP STUDIOS EMERGING SOUNDS - UPDATE As our country celebrates ten years of democracy - Emerging Sounds is celebrating seven years of creating a platform for emerging bands to further their musical careers as well as its seven-year partnership with RP Studios. There was limited standing room only as over 250 people crammed into the Coliseum Show Bar, Caesars Gauteng on Sunday, April 4 during the March regional finals of the RP Studios Emerging Sounds. Congratulations to Swallow 15, winners of the March regional finals who will soon be heading to P8 at the SABC where Darryl Torr will be their engineer and record their most radio-friendly song. Don't forget - by attending any of the RP Studios Emerging Sounds events this April - you also have the opportunity of winning a Gibson Epiphone SG400 guitar courtesy of UIP and Ster Kinekor as part of their School of Rock campaign. To qualify for the grand finale taking place at Tempos on Saturday, April 24 all you have to do is brush up on your air guitar techniques, bring all you friends to cheer for you and then wait for the Squire's cue. The air guitarist who entertains the crowd the best and gets the loudest cheer from the crowd each week goes through to the final on April 24. On this day the finalists will all be back on stage playing their air guitars to find out from the crowd who will walk away with this Gibson Epiphone SG400 guitar. For all the action within the world of the RP Studios Emerging Sounds see listings below: Johannesburg; Durban; Nelspruit; Pretoria & School of Rock. RP Studios has been sponsoring this event over the past seven years and if you visit their website - www.rpstudios.co.za - you can see a 360-degree view of the studios. For further information contact Peter Jaquire on (011) 714 4666. Johannesburg leg - RP Emerging Sounds - April Saturday, April 17 · Play Time Raid · Plus More · Summersalt - Tempos Band Slam on the main stage after the RP Studios Emerging Sounds (this is not part of the RP Studios Emerging Sounds and is organised by the owners of Tempos). Saturday, April 24 - monthly Johannesburg final - R30 cover Other Options · Burnt Reason · Winners from Sat, Apr 10 · Winners from Sat, Apr 17 Not only will two bands proceed through to the monthly regional finals taking place at Caesars Gauteng on Sunday, May 2 but also one person goes home with a Gibson Epiphone SG400 guitar as part of our School of Rock campaign. SMS - showcasing just before the final play-off for the guitar. Ster Kinekor then presents this guitar to the winner. · Red House - Tempos Band Slam on the main stage after the RP Studios Emerging Sounds (this is not part of the RP Studios Emerging Sounds and is organised by the owners of Tempos). Durban - RP Emerging Sounds - April Friday 16 April - Winston Hotel - cover charge R10 · 12 Gauge · Saturnine · Divinity Denied · Lucid Congratulations to Detach and Sitter who now proceed through to the first RP Studios Emerging Sounds Quarterly Finals. Watch this space. For further information contact Mike at Wicked Rock on 083 742 5145. Nelspruit leg - RP Emerging Sounds - April Sat 17 April - Personalities Pretoria leg - RP Emerging Sounds - April Thurs 22 April - Nile Crocodile · Malice in Thunderland · Catalyst · Others April Regional Finals- RP Emerging Sounds - April Sunday, May 2 - Coliseum Show Bar - Caesars Gauteng · One group from Nelspruit · One group from Pretoria · Two groups from Johannesburg The regional finals of the RP Studios Emerging Sounds Competition starts at 15:00, entrance is free but you pay R10 per car as you enter Caesars Gauteng. This is a strictly over-18 venue and seating is limited. For further information contact Simon "Squire" Foulds on 082 770 7524. -------------- TRIBUTES TO GITO BALOI [The Digest has received many emails following the tragic death of Gito Baloi in a shooting in central Johannesburg last week. Here are a few of those:] ---- We wave goodbye to a soft hearted prince of tunes, and friend of the crew and family: Gito. Goodbye Gito, goodbye goodbye. The OppiKoppi Crew ---- Being a family member of Steve Newman, and fellow musician, I cannot even try to express my very deep shock at the loss of such a warm, humble, soft, wonderful human being. Not only the loss of an outstanding musician but someone who always had time for people, no matter what level. To his wife and children, what can I say other than, although we are far away, your tears and sadness are shared by thousands of people, whom Gito had touched with his gentleness and brace yourself in comfort that he has left a mark behind on many people's lives by being an example and his willingness to share part of what was within himself and although he has being taken from you (and us) in such a meaningless way, there is something they can never ever wipe out or steal, is the love for the music that he shared with us and left for us to remember him by. R.I.P. Gito you have not left a hollow in our beings but left us with a mountain of warmth, smiles and joy. Go ahead of us and be part of the "Super Universe" of which you were already a part of ....... till we meet again. Lesley & Guy Halls Night Shuttle ------ Sorry to hear about this recent death. Please do a tribute to Gito Baloi. Nqolobane Sithole ----- I would like to send my condolences to all the family and loved ones of Gito .... It was a great shock to me. Such a loveable musician and so talented, I remember working with Gito at the Roxy Rhythm Bar when he first came from Mozambique with a reggae band that really sounded good ....... my love goes out to all his loved ones. Toni Gozza -------------- CHARTS 
SA ROCK DIGEST TOP 30 SOUTH AFRICAN MP3s OF THE WEEK http://www.SAmp3.com 1. [2] (1) Gimme Da Weed - Chronic Clan ('African Dope Sound System'/African Dope) 2. [1] (1) Gangsta - The Rudimentals ('More Fire'/Indie) 3. [4] (3) FCK - Teba ('Silvertab Harambe Dope Sessions'/African Dope) 4. [3] (3) Gravity - James Stewart (Street Level) 5. [7] (5) Parallel - Saturnine ('Silence Is Deafening'/Wicked Rock) 6. [8] (6) Diengele - Kalahari Surfers ('Muti Media'/African Dope) 7. [9] (7) Vier by Vier en Visvang - Blomkrag ('Boere Country'/Indie) 8. [5] (4) Die Ding Ruk Mal - Kallitz (Mothermix) 9. [12] (9) Musical Chairs - Serving Suggestion ('Try Whistling This'/Indie) 10. [13] (10) Long Riders Of Nam - Brian Finch ('Never Look Back'/Indie) 11. [6] (2) Saad van 'n Psigopaat - Abel Kraamsaal ('Woorde Op 'n Wynboks'/Indie) 12. [14] (12) Something In My Eye - Boulevard Blues Band ('Tassenberg All*Stars 4'/Trippy Grape) 13. [11] (1) Met My Stukkende Kitaar - Koos Kombuis & Valiant Swart (''n Jaar In Die Son'/Rhythm/Bowline) 14. [17] (14) Living As Numbers - Zero Tolerance ('A Perfect Life?'/Indie) 15. [16] (15) Gone Away - Sam Paddock (Indie) 16. [10] (4) Close To Me - Six Of Nine (Indie) 17. [20] (17) Snakes And Ladders - Evolver ('Evolver' EP/Indie) 18. [18] (1) Lovesong - The Dollyrockers ('The Heat'/Indie) 19. [21] (19) Don't Walk Away - Larry Amos ('Going Up'/Indie) 20. [24] (1) Miles - Moodphase 5ive ('Steady On'/African Dope) 21. [23] (21) Georgia - Sitter (Wicked Rock) 22. [25] (22) Drowsy Maggie - DNA Strings ('DNA Strings'/Afrimusik) 23. [19] (1) Fokofpolisiekar - Fokofpolisiekar (SAmp3.com/Rhythm/Bowline) 24. [15] (2) To Confide In - Lazarus ('Parallax View'/Indie) 25. [26] (1) Madiba 1990 - Bright Blue (Indie Single) 26. [-] (26) Break Down - Believable Addiction (Indie) 27. [-] (27) Jou Ma - Thys Nywerheid (Indie) 28. [22] (2) The Countdown - Bluescream ('Bluescream'/Indie) 29. [-] (29) Love Is The Hunter - MacAngel ('Summer In Berlin'/Sonique) 30. [27) (3) Let's Get Naked - Evolver ('Evolver' EP/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. [2] (1) Boerecountry - Blomkrag (Indie) 2. [3] (2) Africa She Too Can Cry - Hawk (RetroFresh) 3. [1] (1) Muti Media - Kalahari Surfers (African Dope) 4. [6] (1) The Heat - Dollyrockers (Indie) 5. [9] (5) True North - Spoonfeedas (Sesalos) 6. [7] (6) Never Look Back - Brian Finch (Indie) 7. [5] (5) I-Ternal Fire - Lions Of Zion (Indie) 8. [12] (8) Moving - 340ml (Indie) 9. [4] (1) As Jy Met Vuur Speel Sal Jy Brand - Fokofpolisiekar (Rhythm/Bowline) 10. [13] (10) A Definition - Chiaroscuro (Indie) 11. [10] (2) Sui - Benguela (Open Record) 12. [8] (1) More Fire - The Rudimentals (Indie) 13. [14] (13) Dissolve In The Sun - Wendy New (Indie) 14. [20] (14) Big Red (Songs From 'Going Nowhere Slowly') - Various (Ripchord) 15. [16] (1) Steady On - Moodphase 5ive (African Dope) 16. [15] (1) African Dope Sound System - Various (African Dope) 17. [11] (1) Humanarium - Bed On Bricks (Indie) 18. [18] (1) 'n Jaar In Die Son - Koos Kombuis & Valiant Swart (Rhythm/Bowline) 19. [17] (3) 21 Gunslut - Soulja (Indie) 20. [25] (20) Angel Tongue - Nianell (Fresh) 21. [19] (16) High Society presents: 14 Steps towards Self Actualisation - Daniel Friedman (Independent) 22. [21] (8) Naked EP - Hog Hoggidy Hog (3 Chord Records) 23. [28] (23) Site Under Construction - Off The Edge (Indie) 24. [-] (24) Blomdoorns - Derek Gripper (Open Record) 25. [24] (1) Jika Jika - freshlyground (Freeground) 26. [23] (1) Rock The Bedsprings - Old Mol (Legend) 27. [22] (8) With Every Breath - Toyland (Witchdoctor) 28. [-] (28) All That Is Should Be - Plush (Indie) 29. [29] (1) Die Mamba - Piet Botha (Rhythm) 30. [27] (2) Perelsvoordieswyne - Best Of - Johannes Kerkorrel (Gallo) MP3s by all these artists are available to download at http://www.SAmp3.com 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
MP3's: New MP3'S At SAmp3.com: Fallen - 'Charlie Kaufman' We immediately like any band who call their first single 'Charlie Kaufman', named in honour of the US scriptwriter responsible for both 'Being John Malkovich,' and then 'Adaptation', that brilliantly-convoluted follow-up in which Charlie and his twin brother are both played by Nicholas Cage. A website dedicated to Kaufman, called www.beingcharliekaufman.com, has also made 'Charlie Kaufman' available as a download! Fallen (without a "The") is a three-piece alternative rock band from Grahamstown that formed in 2003 with a line-up of ex-Hyper Station members Andrew "Pappy" Shepherd (drums) and Chris de Klerk (guitar, vocals), and ex-Nemesis member Rob Scott on bass. 'Charlie Kaufman' is their opening shot and it's going to be heard around a lot. It's a rolling, tuneful rock song, topped with De Klerk's winning vocals, off the band's excellent debut four-song EP called 'Last Chance For The Forgotten'. Also on the EP are 'Die Another Day' (thankfully not that Madonna Bond song), 'Quiet', and the title track, all of them bright, original and clearly indicative of a smart and cool band, seeking to find a new and now SA rock sound. Respect! -------------- Blomkrag - 'Die Aarde en die Mens' (Indie) OK here are some clues to understanding this song: 'Blomkrag' means 'Flower Power', 'die aarde en die mens' refers to 'the earth and the people', and this track is taken off an album titled 'Boerecountry'. So think Nico Carstens jamming with Jerry Garcia... and you won't even be close. This long and convoluted song (its over 6 minutes) features the vocals of Barbora Tellinger, acoustic guitar by Cliff Armstrong, bass by Gary 'Piet Pers' Herselman and the wah-wah guitar of 'Meneer Volume' himself, Willem Moller. The piano accordion is played by Gary Leisegang. Rock on. --------------- Swim Club - 'Revolution' (Indie) 'Revolution' is the first mp3-single to be released by this mysterious band from Johannesburg. Details are sketchy, (no) thanks to a short note that accompanied their five-song CD that told us "Where they're from is not important, neither who they are". We do know "There's a powder blue Tele in there" as well as "A heady mix of twin guitars and electronica" which is true as evidenced by this strange little song that begins with speaker-quivering bass and a scratchy guitar riff before a mournful male voice starts singing "....These days no-one's talking about a revolution". Too true! The other songs on their CD indicate a strong affection for the minimal, hollow clattering percussive sounds of Joy Division, and opener 'Same Same' is almost a direct cover of the Joy Division song 'Atmosphere'. But the rest of the songs work off a spacey and sparse background of electronic sounds, specially the ephemeral 'Seen From Space', which perfectly soundtracks the CD's cover picture of a man floating spread-eagled above the clouds. Dive in. -------------- Willem Kitshoff - 'Cola Wars' (African Dope) An effervescent and bubbly song from Cape Town mixmaster Willem Kitshoff. Chill out. -------------- Luna - 'Grapevine' (Indie) Unrelated to Marvin Gaye's 'I Heard It Through The Grapevine' except in it's soulful delivery. This slow, bluesy song is about saying goodbye to a cheating lover and you can really feel Luna's pain as her voice floats above the superb instrumental backing. Shine on. -------------- All the mp3s listed above are available to download at http://www.SAmp3.com - the biggest South African mp3 website in the world. --------------- SEARCH FOR MP3's Use the SAmp3.com onboard search engine, powered by Google, to search for mp3s on SAmp3.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. ---------------------------- CELEB-SELECT: BOBBY LOUW This is a new series in which we ask some of our SA music luminaries to send us a list of their own, favourite SA songs. This week, SA pop hero, Bobby Louw, gives us his shortlists: Hi, It's not easy to limit it to 10, because of course there have been plenty of other great SA songs. However, all of these made an impression on me when I heard them. Some of them because I liked them, and some just because they made me think "Damn, I wish I'd written that!" So here they are, in no particular order:- 1. Give Me The Good News - Crocodile Harris 2. Paradise Road - Joy 3. Weeping - Bright Blue 4. Celebrate - Julian Laxton Band 5. How It Feels To Be Alive - André de Villiers 6. Man On The Moon - Ballyhoo 7. Jabulani - Hotline 8. Johnny Calls The Chemist - Falling Mirror 9. Buccaneer - McCully Workshop 10. Shabby Little Hut - The Bats Cheers, Bobby Louw. -------------- MITSOO - THE 'AFTERGLOW' EP Cape Town's finest all-girl punk trio have just launched and released their debut three-song EP called 'Afterglow' and will be promoting it at some gigs around Cape Town over the next few weeks. Mitsoo burst on to the SA scene last year with a mean and rough sound and plenty of spunky attitude and punk suss perfectly captured on 'Hillary', their spiky and crazy first single about the ex-US First Lady. 'Hillary' gets an official release on this EP, after previously being only available on a now very collectable CD-R single. But the version of 'Hillary' that appears her is a spruced up version that is slightly slower and cleaner, and it loses a little of the original's rough power and sheer madness. The EP also features the trio's new single, and live favourite, 'Suburbia' as well as 'Better Than'. 'Suburbia' is a classic Cape Town chick-punk tune with plenty of early UK Punk roots and influences distilled into a short, speedy, sneering rant at the suburbs. 'Suburbia' catches the current General Election mood in South Africa with the chant "Suburbia, land of the free", and is as shambolic and addictive as 'Hillary'. Mitsoo has been known to introduce the occasional guest cellist, but generally the line-up is Karen van Niekerk on buzzsaw guitar and angry vocals, supported energetically by the enigmatic Lindsay Ravenscroft on bass, and Anita Carstens clattering away on drums. The EP was produced by Galen Hosack at the Newmarket Studio. Mitsoo will be promoting 'Afterglow' at these upcoming gigs: 23 April with 3 Chord Theory at Lanners Landing, Klapmuts 4 May Student Sessions at Mystic Boer, Stellenbosch 8 May with 3 Chord Theory at Wynberg Sports Club (prob underage gig) 11 May Student Sessions at Independent Armchair The 'Afterglow' EP is available at Mabu Vinyl & CD in Cape Town (see ad in Digest Classifieds section). -------------- ARTISTS --------- SPOTLIGHT ON: ABDULLAH IBRAHIM By Struan Douglas [Author's note: This article was commissioned by Expressions magazine in celebrating ten years of freedom. Contrary to my knowledge or any further explanation, Dr Ibrahim, after reading a draft copy, insisted the article be dropped from the magazine. It is therefore, with respect, that I ask why the master must send the children scuttling?] M1 - MASTER This year Abdullah Ibrahim is turning seventy with the enthusiasm of a man turning twenty. He has lived, suffered, changed and risen. And now the fruits of his labour are being enjoyed. South Africa has seen ten years of democracy, residents are moving home to District Six, and the vision he has lived for is being realised. Quoting from his website: "This musical heritage has been created through the inspiration and aspirations of thousands of South Africans driven to create beauty, harmony and self expression." If you follow the direct line of the setting sun as it moves from the lion's head, down the kloof, through the eye of the mosque and across the windswept plains of District Six; it will settle at an isolated sandwich block of flats next to a parking lot with a single sunflower growing there. It is here at the back of these flats in a large hall (quite reminiscent of famous '50's jazz venues like the Wiseman Hall in Sea Point) that Abdullah Ibrahim has set up the M7 school. M7 is the future. On the lightly blue painted walls of this venue are old black and white photos of many great musicians that have passed. The grand piano is playing and the venue is filled with a welcoming warmth. "We are very pleased with ourselves," Abdullah says smiling to his assistant. He is elegantly reclined in his office chair, dressed splendidly in a deep blue cotton suit preparing grand quotes to spark the inspiration and scribe on the wall. "Why are you so afraid of silence? Silence is the route of everything:" He triumphantly announces RUMI, the author's name, with the confidence of Mohammed Ali chanting through the streets of Congo. "If you want to be strong your whole life you cultivate your spirit." He repeats this again laughing as if it were the truth. It has been an extraordinary life that has taken him to this point. "We resolve conflict that is what we do. Philosophy is built on the conflict between pre-destination and free will." He continues the thought. He lives between New York and Cape Town with much time in martial training in Japan. He is a global citizen. Born Adolfus Brand in 1934, nicknamed Dollar Brand, exiled to America, converted to Islam and given the name of Abdullah Ibrahim. "Give us hope Cape Town." Abdullah said this quite by chance. A lucid rhyme muttered amongst waves of unexpressed thoughts. "I know a Mrs January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August: September, yes I know a Mrs October, November and December," he says in a brief discourse into slavery. In fact according to Abdullah the first slave was from Japan and she was buried on the mountain. M2 - MOUNTAIN Table Mountain and its side men (Devil's Peak, Lion's Head) hold a record of everything. They are unmoving. In Cape Town the mountain is the centre around which people once settled and lived. The mountain is the symbol of strength that has always remained. The mountain is where the masters' temple is situated. The mountain is a place of respect. Abdullah has been studying martial arts in Japan for thirty-seven years. This is a lifestyle for him. His movements are graceful, his instructions minimal and he demands respect at all times. "I am a Senshei," he says with bowed head. One of the only men he has been upstaged by is the former president Mandela who walked in on his 'return from exile performance' at the great hall in Wits. "I played something," Abdullah says with a glaring pause, "and I tried to play it again, but I couldn't." It appears as though the music had been graciously inspired by the unknown entrance of the president. In 1956 Abdullah wrote the song 'Eclipse at Dawn,' dreaming about it from his District Six backyard. Quite miraculously it was forty years later that he woke one morning to say his daily prayers and witness the moon actually eclipsed by the rising sun. A premonition that must sit amongst many! Abdullah has written 2000 songs and released 250 albums. Brilliant Johannesburg composer, Carlo Mombelli, likes to say, "for the muse to appear, I had to disappear." The muse is the smile from the heart, the inner child and the collective voice. M3 - MUSE This music has come from everywhere, like springs to a river's source. The music has been performed all over the world in the most distinguished company on the most important grand pianos, but always by one man. Abdullah Ibrahim. Abdullah is not the one and only. "M7 was founded on the premise that exceptional musicians are merely a creative extension of exception human beings." "Kippie Moketsi is the embodiment," Abdullah says with a striking respect and love. "We owe everything to Kippie." Kippie is a great South African saxophone dignity. Abdullah met him in the 1950's at a time when Sophiatown in Johannesburg and District Six were buzzing. These were twenty four hour creative districts, full of style, action and jazz music. Kippie was a driving force in the musical expression of these times. "He who gave us everything we know," writes Abdullah. M4 - MOKETSI They became friends. And South Africa's only ever all-star band. It was the Dollar Brand trio of Johnny Gertze and Makaya Ntshoko with Kippie Moketsi, Jonas Gwangwa and Hugh Masekela. 'The Jazz Epistles' was formed in 1959. At that time Abdullah Ibrahim went by the name Dollar Brand. At a recent seminar he was saying, "The devil lives on the stage. This is where the ego comes out." The ego was inevitably here released. The Jazz Epistles only lasted a year before the musicians all went in completely different directions. Dollar exiled to America with his wife Sathima Bea Benjamin to return to Cape Town again only in the `70's for the landmark Sun recording sessions. It took seven years but when they had finished that had captured the voice and marked a sensational period in the uprising of this nation. There was so much sweat here that the record cover only holds the quote "Rashid, are you happy with that?" Rashid Valley was Abdullah's non-playing partner in recording this album. It was an ironic quote because 'Mannenberg is where it's happening,' captured in the key of F with the reflective orange of the times, was an anthem. Basil 'Mannenberg' Coetzee is the late great South African saxophone player who together with enigmatic Robbie Jansen (still living in a woodshed on the same road he grew up in) brought the piece alive with rousing performances. Kippie and Basil died paupers and with a hat going round to pay for the funeral. Dollar lived, but Dollar changed. "We are angry, we are angry." Abdullah repeats himself and looks away. In 1968 he converted to Islam and received the 'honoured name' Abdullah Ibrahim. And in 1970 he took his pilgrimage to Mecca. M5 - MECCA Abdullah was in martial training in Copenhagen when certain calligraphic images arrived in the shape of an epiphany. He transcribed them to paper and took them to the Chinese restaurant for translation. The Japanese restaurant owner did a strange kata for a content creature however no concrete definition arrived to this sign. It was two years later when his master, Tone Gawa, called from Japan to say he had discovered the meaning as 'great monkey.' Abdullah laughs aloud as he tells the story of how his new identity was formulated. AI, the initials, is the vowel sound for love in Japanese. It is a hard sound, unlike the soft Ohm vowel sound for love in India and parts of Africa. Perhaps here lies the notorious discipline of the ways of Abdullah Ibrahim. "If you are in the creative field you must learn the art of war," he says. In his hand he is holding a brand new version of Sun Tzu's novel. Cape Town has kind of an island style. We call it Goema. At some stage it was probably a khoisan thing, named after the 'goem' and the 'gaai'; the drum and the fire; the wind; the 'this' and 'that'; of the mountain and the people. At some stage it got creolized with the continual movement of people in and out of the port. At some stage it got pigeonholed with the annual marching carnival. Goema is like the individual, to the family, the community, to the world. It is music but moreover it is a dynamic style and philosophy of people. It is a universal expression. Yusuf Islam (once Cat Stevens) said at the 46664: "We need to concentrate on the simple relationships of love in the family structure. And grow from there" M6 - GOEMA Mac Mckenzie, brilliant composer of Cape Town, describes Abdullah as the 'goema king.' Abdullah wears a crown on the cover photo of his discography (edited by Lars Rassmussan). And it suits him. Yet it is a role he shan't perform. When the little child asked 'if he were God', Abdullah raised his finger and brought the boy to tears. "I am goema," he dismisses the topic, "if you want to find goema go play with the carnivals," shaking his head muttering "it's a brand, it's a brand." "My daddy is a rapper." This is what Abdullah's daughter, a hip hop star in America who goes by the name, 'Jean Gray' said in an interview. Abdullah likes the comparison. He is a rapper too. It was therefore a logical course that the great musician, Abdullah Ibrahim, would turn to teaching. And M7 is the embodiment of his experiences and learning. This vision has taken some years to build and quite some effort. People have died for these successes. M7 is a multi-disciplinary approach to life, centred around music. M7 is a trust with tremendous trustees and a powerful vision to take the cultural expression of indigenous music to the rest of the world. Abdullah is upbeat about the potential successes that await this initiative. He is planning on building an extensive Music, Martial Arts, Medicine complex for Cape Town. And this project is gathering speed. "Hsin is desire; Yi is intention; Li is movement; Chi is Energy; Jing is power." These are the words on the opening page of his examination book, neatly transcribed and highlighted in yellow. "Intention," he says "is as good as prayer." BBC radio is sitting with me in the interview. Abdullah asks them to turn off the recorder as he has a funny story he would like to relate. He shifts his chair closer and opens his eyes wide offering a thoughtless glare: "Meditation," he says "that distant state, is like a dog taking a shit." M7 - MEDITATION By Struan Douglas www.afribeat.com -------------- SPOTLIGHT ON STEVE VAN Steve Van (guitarist/songwriter) has been performing live since 1996 after forming his first band, Junglebook Vultures. The Vultures went on to release two CD singles through BMG Africa and received nationwide airplay. After the Vultures broke up in 2000, Steve teamed up with Adam Black and Gary Beckman (ex guitarist and drummer for Social Piranha and Shooflys respectively), forming the new band, Rust. The band immediately recorded a 5 track self-produced EP at Paris Studios. Their single, 'Factor 35', received daytime play-listing on 5fm and their second single, 'Give It Away', appeared on the cover CD of SL Magazine in June 2002, but was never released as Ross decided to leave for the UK for a year of travelling, putting the band on hold. The next re-incarnation of the band, bringing in the talents of Juan von Wielligh (ex Ambitious Fish), saw the establishment of the Stevevan band under the Silvertree Records banner and the debut album, 'Getting Stronger'. The album was recorded at Street Level Studios and produced by fellow musician Chris Tait. 'Getting Stronger' has received favourable reviews, including CD of the week from Amuzine, charted at number 4 on the top 30 albums of SA Rock Digest and was profiled on the World Chart Show on 5fm. 'Getting Stronger' was featured on the cover CD of the October edition of SL Magazine, 'Thinking about you' and 'Stay' were chosen for SABC3's hit travel show 'Going Nowhere Slowly' and 'Thinking About You' and 'Without You' have been chosen for a movie to be screened on MNet in 2004. 'Just Across the River', an old Steve Van song with the Jungle Book Vultures, has also been chosen for an episode of 'Going Nowhere Slowly' in 2004. The SteveVan band are at present recording a new 12 track album, produced by Craig Ormond at Digital Forest Studio, to be released in July 2004. Songs off 'Getting Stronger' and others are available as free MP3 downloads off the band's official website, www.stevevan.com -------------- MORE REVIEWS More reviews can be found at: Open Record Open Record Amuzine Reviews -------------- 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. FOUR JACKS AND A JILL - 'BOY ON THE BORDER' [GALLO 54934] Yes, the same beautiful, happy, sunny, instantly-recognizable, clear-phrasing voice of Glenys Lynne, and the optimistic pop of Four Jacks and a Jill--but with a difference. Most of the songs on 1978's 'Boy on the Border' are addressed to soldiers. Singing for the boys at the front is an old tradition, and hearing a girl sing makes the sentiments personal. After all, the girls back home, the preservation of that home, and the buddy beside him, is what a soldier fights for. By singing to troops in 1976, Glenys Lynne earned the title "Armed Forces Sweetheart" in Rhodesia, according to Malcolm Lombard in his liner notes to 'The Very Best of Four Jacks and a Jill Volume One'. Of all the albums by Four Jacks and a Jill, this is the only one I know of that consciously addresses social and political events. But since none of their LPs have any political songs that I know of, the contrast is sharp. All right, 'Master Jack' is about a mine worker moving on and was written by David Marks after hearing of the assassination of Prime Minister Verwoerd, 'Mr. Nico' addresses social injustice, and 'Johnny's Gun'...well, they have performed songs of conscience before. Yet, overtly patriotic lyrics make 'Boy on the Border' stand out. Also making this album stand out is the band is posing on the cover with armed soldiers in the bush. Clive Harding, the bass player, cradles a rifle in his arms--this is not your typical 'Timothy' release. Of the six songs on the first side, four are clearly aimed at soldiers: 'Boy on the Border', 'Bless Them All' (a comic song about soldiers and sergeants), 'The Last Farewell', and 'I'll Be Waiting'. A fifth will make the boy on the border grow soft-eyed as he remembers home, 'The World's Greatest Mum'. The second side begins with a song of South African place names, 'Take Him Home Louie, Louie', to remind the soldier of his homeland. That is followed by a rewording of 'He's Got the Whole Land in His Hands' about paratroopers, artillery men, and a trooper in an armoured car defending the land. In 'Papers', a girl is with her boyfriend free on a pass. Clearly, this is not a typical Four Jacks and a Jill album. 'Boy on the Border' is more than a package of a dozen lovely songs that make one feel good, this album has a unity of theme and sings of many aspects of soldier life and patriotic psychology that takes it into the concept album domain, by virtue of the carefully selected songs. Really. All that, and Glenys Lynne, too. Kurt Shoemaker, Blanco, Texas ---------------------------- A NAARTJIE IN THE UK - London-based John Samson gives his own twist on SA music: 'THE TERRIBLE TWO'S' - JOE PUBLIC Joe Public is a name usually used to refer to the man in the street, but this Joe Public sounds more like the man in the studio, or should that be men in the studio. I could also pose the question 'Which One Is Joe?' as looking though the list of names on the inner sleeve, there are no Joe's in the band (or Pink's for that matter). So no Joe's, men in the studio as opposed to men in the street, at least calling the album 'The Terrible Two's' must mean that the music is about that time in a child's life where they make life living hell for the parents. But again, no, the picture on the cover shows Bush & Saddam, Charles & Diana, Winston & Adolf, Sharon & Arafat and Mandela & Botha to name a few, so again the title is misleading. Well if Joe Public can be misleading, so can I. The music on this CD is Nursery Rhymes sung by angelic choirs against a backdrop of sakkie sakkie boeremusiek. Oh hold, I've just been told by my editor that we have to maintain our integrity, so here's what the album's really like: This is an album jam-packed with rough, raw rock. From the grisly vocals of Ryan de Freitas, through the roaring guitars of Aeron Brown to the wild bashing of drums from Pieter Heyns, this is gutsy, in your face rock. Into this is thrown the darker Screaming Trees like 'Lenny' with the cool refrain of 'R.E.M. on the C.D.', a sample-laden cover of The Beatles' 'Day Tripper' and the blues-drenched 'Tanic Twist' which tells the tale of the late great Titanic with not a hint of Celine warble in sight. If you like you music to have great production and a well rounded-ness, then this is not for you. It's rough around the edges, gritty and gruff, but that's not to say it's badly produced. There's real honesty and emotion packed into the 10 tracks that suggest a less is more approach to making the record. This approach seems to have given the musicians space to expand into which they do well. So don't be misled by the band's name or album title. If you're serious about rock music and enjoy your ZZ Top and the like then this is an album you, the man in the street (or in front of your computer or wherever the hell you are) should enjoy. JOE PUBLIC http://www.rock.co.za/joepublic John Samson, London ---------------------------- * CHART CHAT: John Samson takes a weekly look at the the SA pop charts from 20, 25, 30 and 35 years ago this week. 'Dizzy' spent a second week at the top in 1969 while Percy Sledge crept another place closer to the top. Marvin Gaye's classic hit 'I Heard It Through The Grapevine' moved up to number 5. The song was covered by Creedence Clearwater Revival whose version was probably too long to make into a single. Manfred Mann's 'Fox On The Run' had been a Fox standing still, spending the last 2 weeks at number 5, but was now on the move again. 1974 saw no new entries into the top 5, but the order of the songs was mixed up a fair bit. Dr Marigolds' 'Hello Girl' made it to number 2 on the Zimbabwe charts, but was looking to go one better in SA. Gwynneth Ashley Robin's 'Little Jimmy' had topped the Zim charts just as it had in SA. 'Hold The Line' held the top spot in 1979 despite an attempted comeback by Chic. Billy Joel's 'My Life' dropped out of the top 5 after having spent 9 weeks there. This made way for Dire Straits' 'Sultans of Swing', The track was from their eponymously-titled debut album and gave them top 10 success in the UK, US and Zimbabwe. 'Red Red Wine' was into its 8th week at number 1, and being UB40's only top 20 hit meant that they were fast catching up to Charisma who were the biggest one hit wonders to date having spent 12 weeks at the top with their only hit, 'Mammy Blue'. Van Halen were enjoying success with their biggest ever hit. The song had topped the US chart and made it to 7 in the UK. South Africans at number 1 this week: Love Is A Beautiful Song - Dave Mills (1970) I Won't Give Up - Bruce Millar (1976) South African New Entries this week 13-Apr-73 Toy Train - John Edmond 13-Apr-79 Kruidjie Roer My Nie - Anton Goosen 14-Apr-78 Bluest Heartache Of The Year - Clive Risko 15-Apr-77 Isn't She Lovely - Leslie Kleinsmith 16-Apr-76 Shame On Me - Gene Rockwell 16-Apr-76 But I Do - Richard Jon Smith 17-Apr-64 Breathless - Billy Kimber & The Couriers 18-Apr-69 Melody Fayre - Quentin E. Klopjaeger (a.k.a. Billy Forrest) 18-Apr-75 Private Number - Lionel Petersen 18-Apr-86 What Have We Done To The Song - Tom Inglis John Samson ---------------------------- BIRTHDAYS April 12 - Neville Whitmill (1942, died 1998), The Settlers; The Square Set April 14 - Ritchie Blackmore (1945), Deep Purple; Rainbow; Blackmore's Night April 21 - Iggy Pop (aka Iggy Stooge, born James Jewel Osterburg in 1947) April 22 - Peter Frampton (1950) April 23 - Roy Orbison (1936, died 7 December 1988) April 29 - Una Valli (1950)
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 ---------------------------- AN ANSWER Hi, In last week's Digest (#244), someone asked: "From around 1966/7 Freddie and the Dreamer's (All I want is just) 'A Little You' - does anybody have any idea where I can get a copy of this song - I have been searching for this particular gem for years!" "A Little You" can be found on Freddie and the Dreamers: The EMI Years, cdems 1453, 1992 Cheers Tertius Louw -------------- DOWNLOADING IN CANADA Hi, It seems downloading music is now officially legal in Canada - for a while, anyway. Here is that relevant article: The Federal Court just refused to allow record companies to subpoena the names of people they suspect of serving music on the net. ISPs do not have to try and stop them - unless the record companies win a successful appeal. The judge claims it's no different than a photocopier in a library full of copyright material. This is going to be interesting. I'm not so sure I agree with open season. Read more at: Forbes.com Thanks, Sue -------------- MIKE BEHIND THE MIKE! Hi Guys, Hope this finds you all fit and well....scoffing wors and pap (?) in the African sun while we sit here with two ironies between our thighs in this frigging freezing wet place...so were's the "£$%^&&* sun gone!! Guess a week in the Florida sunshine cooked this soutie's brain a tad...so much so I booked tickets today to come back to SA for a 3 week "mini-tour" with the band...now all we need is a promoter interested in taking us on for 3 weeks :-)) The little USA tour was a blast, Al Atkins was treated like a king amongst his old "Judas Priest" fans in the states and a real gentlemen to work with. What an honour it has been for me to play on the same stage as the man who started Judas Priest...and is considered the more suitable vocalist for his old band even as they are today. Dennis Stratton, that lovely guitarist from Iron Maiden, was an absolute pleasure to jam with. We had a good laugh with Dennis - he is the ultimate cockney rebel...and an awesome guitarist of note. We will be on the bill in Milwaukee with Deep Purple & Thin Lizzy on the 30th & 31st July 2004. That should be a killer gig. Hopefully I'll get to meet my all time fav guitarist Stevie Morse backstage...hey you never know. So for now, it's back to reality...hard work learning new tracks...remember Sanctuary? Running Free? Breaking the Law? Aha you do....but I'm giving too much away now...:-)) Take care you guys, send me a ray of the sunny SA...pleeez!! Cheers Mike de Jager www.mikedejager.co.uk www.vaselinerats.com -------------- TO THE VICTOR GOES THE CD! Hi, I`m desperately searching for an artist by the name of Victor Ndlazilwana and the title of his album/CD. I will appreciate your kind assistance in this regard. Hope to hear from you Sonwabo Mailto:SonwaboN@gpg.gov.za -------------- A CORRECTION Hello chaps Just a quick note that the 'Mr Mo & Budhadda' CD (reviewed in last week's Digest 244) is not from the African Dope label - but it is another fine independent product from the CT underground. Any enquiries should be directed to mailto:mofunk@mweb.co.za Thanks roach African Dope -------------- MUSICA'S CD PRICE REDUCTION Dear Ed, It is very pleasing to hear that Musica has initiated & introduced price reductions. It would also be nice if the others could follow suit. However.... there is still one serious problem - that is - don't we all know by now that the music industry in SA has one recipe & one recipe only & that is to only put "sure sellers", "Best of's" & "Greatest Hits" onto the market. Rarities & sometimes not even all that rare, just cannot be found anywhere in SA. Take a look on the internet & it's all there! What I am actually trying to say here is that it is not the retailers' fault - the problem lies at the door of the music companies!!!!! Most of the record companies don't even reply to emails one has sent them. Besides looking for trespassers maybe the music industry can also do some spring-cleaning!!! Maybe you could approach them and ask what they intend doing!!! Regards Rob -------------- MORRIS COHEN - 50TH BIRTHDAY To all you muso's out there........ I am trying to get in touch with anyone who remembers a one-man band, Morris Cohen, from the Bustop. He played a lot of the Holiday Inn circuits around South Africa. He is tuning 50 on the 25 April 2004. We are holding a party/jam session for him in Johannesburg. If anyone is interested in attending, please contact his daughter, Tanya Cohen on 083 302 7142. Many thanks Tanya Mailto:tanya_cohen@hotmail.com -------------- FAMOUS CURTAIN TRICK Dear SA Rock Digest I have recently purchased two Famous Curtain Trick CD's. Where could I find information about this band (discography, band members, etc.) Internet information seems to be very sparse, unless I'm looking in the wrong places. Any help would be much appreciated. Sincerely Wojtek Mailto:wojtek@iafrica.com -------------- WE CAN TELL YOU ABOUT WERNER GREEF! Hi there I see the name of Omega Ltd in the latest mag. Whatever happened to Louis Greef who was their guitarist? He was very good. Lindsay Mailto:lindsay@openup.co.za -------------- ANOTHER UNIVERSE Hi, Please help me out with some music currently being used on SA ads. Firstly there's the new Volkswagen ad on TV which features a father and teenager travelling through some "middle of nowhere" area of South Africa and which features an incredible song which I just have to have... please tell me who sings it and where can I find it... Also, what is the music being used on that J&B Whiskey camouflage ad? Thanks, Brandon Ed. - The song on that Touareg/Volkswagen ad is called 'Another Universe' and it is by Arno Carstens off his debut solo album, also titled 'Another Universe'. Carstens is also coincidently appearing in the new ad for the Citroen C2, the one with the jumping keys. The music on the J&B ad is the song, 'Walking In The Rain', by Grace Jones and was sourced by Ian Rijsdijk and Sound Solutions. -------------- ARCANA XXII Hi, If any of you are doing any shows soon and can help Namibian power metal ARCANA XXII by putting on some shows for them. Please contact Johan ASASP his email is - Mailto:johan@mac.com.na Thanks! Listen to Arcana XXII's 'Breathing In Me' at http://www.SAmp3.com/wickedrock.html -------------- BUY SELL Howzit v With the General Electrician coming up I sees that one Sell phone company is wanting us to Vote a Com, but I reckon that I is going to get a sell fone like what my cherry has got 2 of. She's got a great pair of nokia's. 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 -------------- LOOKING FOR A "JO DRUMMER" Hey! That's right, we (The JO Day B.A.N.D.) need a new drummer! Below, a list of 'criteria': The right dude is: *probably in his 20's *single *Rock music as personal preference *own gear & transport *based in Gauteng (pref JHB area) *previous band experience *studio experience a plus *able to work with a click-track *professional approach *good attitude (no 'drum divas', please!) *willingness to work hard *good, solid player (not too 'busy') Anyone interested in auditioning, please contact Beth at Authentic Ideas: (011) 646 6467 email: beth@authentic.co.za Please be ready to send along MP3's if u have 'em, as well as a pic (on jpg) & personal biog. Thanx a lot! Jo, Martin & Charl www.joday.com Listen to Jo Day mp3's at http://www.samp3.com/artists.html -------------- THANKS FROM ALTER-EGO Hi, Just a quick, heart-felt note of THANKS to all those that in some way contributed to making the recent New Model Army tour of South Africa and in particular the Johannesburg shows, the enormous success that it was. The band enjoyed themselves immensely and were awestruck at the warmth of their South African fans (many of whom had waited 25 years to see them live)! A special note of thanks to our sponsors without whom this event would not have been possible and to our extended family of media partners for the wonderful coverage and positive publicity we received surrounding this landmark event. Going forward, we will continue to bring you phenomenal new and legendary live acts in the coming months, affording alternative music fans top class live entertainment on their own doorstep, whilst affording us the happy opportunity of working with all of you once again. Next up - Gothfest with Sanguis Et Cinis (from Germany) and the finest South African bands and alternative DJs! April 30 in Cape Town and May 01 In Jhb. Therafter - VNV Nation! New Model Army SA Tour t-shirts and the limited edition commemorative tour CD Original 20 will be on sale at the Cape Town gig on Thursday and from our website www.alter-ego.co.za Check the website for details of all our forthcoming events! Looking forward to seeing you there! Jon Monsoon AlterEgo Productions (+27) 82 928-7450 www.alter-ego.co.za (Ed's note - See our Live section below for details of Gothfest) -------------- THE HEARD "The Heard" is an underground music magazine, dedicated to serving as the medium for unsigned artists around the world, and to providing music fans an alternative to mainstream music. The Heard also focuses on advocating social change by encouraging the free flow of thought and ideasthrough the articles published in the magazines. The Heard's underground revival project is fairly new on the scene, but music junkies have already grown to love our twisted humor, our blunt and somewhat illegal-in-certain-states kind of "opinions", and most of all, the bands that we feature in our publications/compilation CDs. So, if you're a fan of humour or good music, check us out. If not, you may be too old. If you have a band and would like to submit any songs for review for our compilation CD, which is included in the magazine, you can submit them at www.theheard.org Also, if you would like a listing for your band placed in our magazine's "Band Listing" section, have any articles that you think is worthy of our magazine, or would like to get involved with this project, hit me back! v ** Please help support The Heard's movement by ordering your own issue, or else. Love, Trevor The Heard www.theheard.org -------------- PA SYSTEM FOR SALE Hello, I'm selling a Roland PA 250 desk/amp and a pair of speakers. The PA 250 has long been considered one of the most reliable amps ever produced and is in perfect condition operationally and cosmetically. The speakers are home made stage monitors with a 12" 150W speakers and Piezo tweeter in each box. These are also in excellent condition. My prices: PA 250 desk/amp: R3200=00 Speakers: R1000=00 for the pair. Please email me at: Mailto:jmayer@ebe.uct.ac.za Thanks, Julian Mayer ----------------------- 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!) -------------- 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 -------------- 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: Brian Finch And Kenny Henson - 'Playgrounds In Paradise' OST (LP) Step Ahead - 'Aah Ha She Is' (LP) Paul Clingman - 'Morning On The Line' (LP) Falling Mirror - 'Shattered' (The Best Of FM) (LP) Juluka - 'Scatterlings' (LP) Fat City - 'Bad Habits' (LP) Latest independent SA CD additions: Mitsoo - 'Afterglow' EP (Indie) Colin Shamley - 'Born Guilty & Other Stories' (2CD set) (3rd Ear Music) Top Sellers: 340ml - 'Moving' Bed On Bricks - 'Humanarium' (Bowline) Bluescream - 'Bluescream' (Independent) Benguela - 'Sui' (Open Record) Chiaroscuro - 'A Definition' (Independent) Dollyrockers - 'The Heat' (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) Derek Gripper - 'Blomdoorns' (Open Record) Hog Hoggidy Hog - 'Naked' EP (3 Chord) Kalahari Surfers - 'Muti Media' (African Dope) Lions Of Zion - 'Iternal Fire' (Independent) MoodPhase5ive - 'Steady On' (African Dope) Russ Nerwich - 'Beyond The Walls' (Independent) The Rudimentals - 'More Fire' (Independent) Not The Midnight Mass - 'Live At The Planetarium' (Independent) Plush - 'All That Is Should Be' Soulja - '21 Gunslut' (Independent) Skwirmish - 'The EP' Various - 'Silvertab Harambe Dope Sessions' (African Dope) Various - 'African Dope Sound System' (African Dope) Various - African Dope Volume 1' [Sony] Various - 'Cape Of Good Dope' (African Dope) Various - 'Breathe Sunshine' (Amabala) Various - 'A Moment In Cape Town' (Revised edition) (Afribeat) Various SA Artists - 'Big Red' - Songs from the TV series 'Going Nowhere Slowly' [Ripchord] Zero Tolerance - 'A Perfect Life?' (EP) (Independent) This week's best-selling CDs at Mabu Vinyl & CD are: 1. 'The Heat' - The Dollyrockers 2. 'Sui' - Benguela' 3. 'Big Red' - Songs from the TV series 'Going Nowhere Slowly' 4. 'More Fire' - The Rudimentals 5. 'Muti Media' - Kalahari Surfers All these South African CD titles are available to customers not in Cape Town... Online at: http://sugarmusic.gemm.com By Email Order from: mailto:mabu@sugarmusic.co.za 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. Cape Town 8001 "We buy and sell LP's, CD's, DVD's, Videos, Cassettes, and books." ------------------------------------------ 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: Ella Mental - 'Uncomplicated Dreams' (LP) Margaret Singana - 'Nomvula' (LP) Sweatband - 'No Sweat' (LP) Una Valli - 'Teenage Sensation' (LP) Sweet Ride - 'The Sweet Ride Album' (LP) Pieter-Dirk Uys - 'Skating on Thin Uys' Soundtrack (LP) Wired to the Floor - 'Art and the Dollar' (LP) V/A - 'Flying Circus - La Freak du Sud Rock Nouveau' (LP) V/A - 'King Kong' All African Jazz Opera (LP) New record accessories in stock: Turntable replacement needles available from us. We have a wide range of 12" Maxi Singles in stock. Now available: soft plastic sleeves for 7" Singles. We pay top prices for top quality. Want Lists Welcome! Call us at: 021-683 5676 Postal address: PO Box 24045, Claremont, 7735. Email: mailto:vibesvinyl@mweb.co.za Website catalogue now also at Gemm and Netsounds: http://www.vibesvinyl.gemm.com and http://www.netsoundsmusic.com/vibesvinyl ---------------------- 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: Green Party Of South Africa, 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, Clayworx. 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 Sugar Music ---------------------------- 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: Watch Out for (full details of all these live SA concerts below): THE DOLLYROCKERS - Currently one of SA's "hottest" bands following the growing success of their third album, 'The Heat'. Catch this alternative group with the inimitable Greg Donnelly on vocals at one of their upcoming gigs around Cape Town. TAIT AND JUSTIN BERGH - A top-rate SA pop-rock double feature hits Stellenbosch on Saturday night when Tait and Justin Bergh rock The Mystic Boer. Saturday 17 April - 21h00 - R20 GOTHFEST - Two nites of of unadulterated underground gothic glamour in Cape Town and Pretoria, with the finest live bands, undead DJs and side-show acts that we could dig up. From Germany comes top nu-goth rock gods SANGUIS ET CINIS! From South Africa, The Awakening, Silex and Revelus. THE 'UNDER THE INFLUENCE' TOUR - Wrench Productions and Drunk Punks have teamed up to organize a national Punk rock tour featuring Half Price and the Stevie Wonderfuls during April 2004. THE INDEPENDENT ARMCHAIR THEATRE - This week's line-up includes the Student Sessions with Velve and Baobab, Mikanik, Straight and Narrow, Superfine, and The Dollyrockers - In Lower Main Road, Observatory, Cape Town. FLAT SOUNDS AFTERWORK PARTIES AT WEST END - [The Rebirth of Goema] - The wait is finally over - The Dala Flat Music story continues with the Flat Sounds Afterwork Parties being launched at West End/Galaxy on Friday April 16 at 5pm. BLOEMFONTEIN EASTER CONCERT - With Fokofpolisiekar, City Under Siege, Defying Silence and Enthrow on Friday 16th April at Theatre of Rock (opposite Waterfront) - 7 pm WINSTON PUB - 12 Gauge (hard rock), Saturnine (emo metal), Divinity Denied (death metal) and Lucid (alternate rock) will be competing in the RP Studio's Emerging Sounds Competition on Friday the 16th of April with Wicked Mike as your host. THE RUDIMENTALS - Cape Town's ska-punk sensations have lined up a string of gigs over the next few weeks. ---------------------- LIVE IN LONDON SUNWAYS - The band's first London date is on Friday 30 April at the Halfmoon Putney ---------------------- UPCOMING INTERNATIONAL ARTISTS IN SA: ENRIQUE IGLESIAS - Vodacom, 5fm Music and Big Concerts have announced the forthcoming tour of music sensation Enrique Iglesias to South Africa. Kicking off on the 27th of April in Cape Town, he will then be heading to Durban on the 29th, Sun City on the 1st, and finally Johannesburg on the 2nd of May. Support is by Tamara Dey. 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 LORD OF THE DANCE - The dance spectacular, which has played to over 50 million people in 36 different countries, returns to South Africa by this March, for a whopping two-month tour. -------------------------- WORKSHOPS The Living Music Workshops have announced a series of workshops in Cape Town over the next few weeks. -------------------------- SA MUSIC FESTIVALS THE V-TOWN MUSIC FESTIVAL - The V-Town Music Festival is an all day event that will be rocking the Vaal-Triangle on the 1st of May 2004. The Festival will feature Wonderboom, Tweak, Cutting Jade, Jo Day, Mean Mr Mustard, Arno Carstens, Wickhead, 16Stitch, Zen Arcade, Summersalt, Tait, Jesse Jordan Band, Six of Nine, SMS 3 and Swallow 15. -------------- GIG FOCUS ---------------- TAIT AND JUSTIN BERGH - LIVE AT THE MYSTIC BOER IN STELLENBOSCH Saturday 17 April - 21h00 - R20 A top-rate SA pop-rock double feature hits Stellenbosch on Saturday night when Tait and Justin Bergh rock The Mystic Boer. Tait have been out showcasing their debut album, 'Back Seat Driver', for the last six months. The album has been selling well thanks to the runaway success of the first single, 'In My Arms', and plenty of radio play for the second single, 'The Best Days of My Life'. The band has been busy recording their next album, at Street Level Music Production in Cape Town, and will be touring from April 29th to May 8th. Tait will be joined by Justin Bergh, who is back from successful showcases in the USA, and who is currently promoting his new album, 'Out of My Hands'. The album, which has been nominated for a SAMA Award for 'Best Rock Album', has so far produced two great radio singles, namely 'Out Of My Hands' and 'Not A Day Goes By'. Also listen out for Bergh's next single, 'Misunderstood', a song he co-wrote with James Stewart (The Usual). So don't miss Tait and Justin Bergh at the Mystic Boer (Stellenbosch) Sat 17th April www.tait.co.za www.justinbergh.com -------------- GOTHFEST First we brought you Diary Of Dreams. Then came New Model Army. Now Alter-Ego Productions proudly announces the alternative music gathering that is to be Gothfest 2004 Gothfest promises a nite of unadulterated underground gothic glamour, with the finest live bands, undead DJs and side-show acts that we could dig up. >From Germany comes top nu-goth rock gods SANGUIS ET CINIS! Comprising Celine Cecilia Angel (vocals, lyrics, programming, choir), Eve Angel (vocals, lyrics, guitar, programming), Phil Angelo Chains (bass, guitars, backing vocals) and Marvin (guitars), Sanguis have recently been taking the world by gorm with their sexy, drop-dead, rock attitude! >From South Africa, The Awakening, Silex and holy Mother City newcomers - Revelus and some top alternative DJs complete the line-up for what promises to be a nite you'll not soon forget!! Gothfest screams into Cape Town on Friday 30th April at Mercury Live (43 De Villiers St, Zonnebloem) with Sanguis Et Cinis, The Awakening & Revelus live onstage and DJs the Minstrel, Poison Ivy & Re-Animator spinning all your favourite hits from the tomb. Look out for the live suspension acts from Wildfire Piercing! Gothfest then continues onto Gauteng on Saturday May 1st at Zeplins Nightclub (384 Pretorius Street, Pretoria) where Sanguis Et Cinis, The Awakening & Silex with DJs Marek, Markus & Sinister Jo and live suspension acts will thrill you to death! Presale Tickets are R150, available soon from Zeplins Nightclub, Mercury Live and direct from Alter-Ego.mailto:info@alter-ego.co.za or for R200 at the door on the nite. Doors open 21:00. Regretfully - No Under 18's! For more info please contact 082 928-7450 or visit www.alter-ego.co.za -------------- "PAY TO PLAY" A tribute to Kurt Cobain and his legendary band Nirvana April 5th 1994 is a day most grunge fans will never forget, it was the very dark day that Kurt Cobain committed suicide. Last year this time the members of the original band "Population Four" put together an extremely popular tribute show dedicated fully to Kurt's legendary band, Nirvana. The show, called "Pay to Play", was an overwhelming success and this year they will once again be performing a few 'not to be missed' shows to commemorate their fallen grunge hero. "Pay to Play" takes you on a two-hour journey through Nirvana's musical career - from the early days of "School" and "Negative Creep" right up until the recently released "You Know you're Right". Hits such as "Smells Like Teen Spirit" and "Lithium" are performed with the energy and aggression for which Nirvana were famous while the softer side of the band is highlighted in the quieter unplugged set featuring classics such as "About a Girl " and "Come as You Are ". The cast consists of Jason Guile on guitar and lead vocals; Gareth Travis on guitar and backing vocals; Ryan Matthews on bass guitar and Sebastian Guile on drums. All the members of the cast began their musical journey round about the time that Nirvana was most famous and were heavily influenced by the band. Jason, Sebastian and Ryan were part of the young, original rock band "Black Rose" who often included a Nirvana cover or two at their gigs and when Kurt died they performed Nirvana tribute gigs in memory of him for a couple of years after his death. Jason, well known for his brilliant Jimi Hendrix impersonations, became a professional guitarist at the age of 16 and has appeared in various shows such as "Milestones to the Millennium", "Sixty Something" and "Claptomania". Sebastian is in Matric preparing for his drumming "performance level" exam and has appeared professionally in "Claptomania" and "Legends of Rock". Ryan has played bass for "Milestones to the Millennium" and is currently also in the band "Chiaroscuro". Gareth is a serious collector of anything to do with Nirvana and his in-depth understanding of the band's music and background coupled with his uninhibited aggressive guitar playing adds spine-chilling emotion and power to the show. SHOW DATES 19th April: Mercury Lounge (20-minute acoustic showcase set at the Shotgun sessions) 22nd April: Mercury Lounge 29th April: Stones, Long Street, CT 30th April: Acoustic Café , Muizenberg 8th May: Dirty Dicks, Hout Bay 14th May: Independent Armchair Theatre , Observatory 15th May: Drum Café, Glynn St, Gardens WHO KILLED KURT COBAIN? Listen to an mp3 of 'Who Killed Kurt Cobain?' by Koos Kombuis at http://www.SAmp3.com/artists_e_k.html -------------- FLAT SOUNDS AFTERWORK PARTIES AT WEST END [The Rebirth of Goema] The wait is finally over - The DALA FLAT MUSIC story continues with the Flat Sounds Afterwork Parties being launched at West End/Galaxy on Friday April 16 at 5pm. You are invited to celebrate the return and rebirth of Goema on the 'Flats'. Presented by one of South Africa's finest musicians, Mac Mackenzie, and one of Cape Town's most progressive DJs, André Manuel, the Flat Sounds Afterwork Parties will give a new magic to Friday afternoons. The Flat Sounds Afterwork Parties, the second in the series of the DALA FLAT MUSIC Flat Sounds sessions, will also feature guest musicians who have established themselves as the forerunners in Goema. Hilton Schilder, Clement Benny, Alex van Heerden and Jonathan Rubain are just some of the musicians who will grace the stage with their presence. With most of these musicians making up the line-up of the Goema Captains of Cape Town, their performance promises to bring with it the same raw energy they delivered on the Democracy Stage during the Cape Town festival. Then DJ André Manuel delivers a set of soulful organic jazz grooves, drawing on new cutting edge tunes as well as a few familiar classics, all the while staying on the progressive tip. Fresh from a stint in the UK, André knows how to treat a crowd, priding himself on 'feeling what the crowd wants'. Don't miss this unique event where we will be celebrating the return of Goema to the Cape Flats where it was born in the klop klop of a Kaapse Klopse beat. Goema has become a phenomenon. It's been celebrated internationally. It's been celebrated all over the country. It's been celebrated at the Cape Town Festival. And now we celebrate it as it comes home. Join us for the Flat Sounds: Afterwork Parties, the Rebirth of Goema Friday April 16 West End, College Road, Rylands 5pm to 9pm Free Entry For details call André at 082 353 4372 or Chantel at 084 478 1107. www.dalaflat.com (live from the 16 April 2004) -------------- SA PUNK By Daniel Neville THE MAKE A CHANGE ORGANISATION SHOW (THE M.A.C.O. SHOW) Sat 3rd April at the Purple Turtle The M.A.C.O. was started by the boys from False Pretense to... well make a change. The idea is to hold various shows and the money made from the door would go to charities or towards various projects that will make a change in the city we live in. This was the first M.A.C.O. show held, the money that was made will help employ homeless people to help clean up the beaches. For every bag of rubbish that a homeless person brings in he or she will be paid R15. Everyone is welcome to join in the clean up which will take place on Wed the 14th of April, it's a public holiday so after you have all gone off and voted come out and help make our beaches cleaner. You can visit www.falsepretense.co.za to find out where and what time the clean up will take place. Well back to the show... Skanking Nelson opened up with the best set I've seen them play yet. The crowd seems to be getting used to their very Tool/A Perfect Circle influenced sound and I think they got the raddest crowd reaction so far. My favourite song was their intro song where Marc put down his guitar and started to play some African vibes on a rhythm drum. Unfortunately Skanking Nelson are going to be going under ground for a while to do what ever bands do when they go under ground, which is write new songs I guess. But rest assured that when they return it will be huge. Then Two Weeks Old stepped up into the lime light and battered forth a very hard and fast set. They are probably the only band of their kind in Cape Town, with a very raw street punk sound Two Weeks Old are very in your face and political but always seem to get the appreciation of the crowd. They also have a short EP out, which is exclusively available at their shows. After Two Weeks Old roughened up the crowd a bit, Zero Tolerance crowded the stage with their six highly energetic members and proceeded to rip through their opening song. Then Sam told the crowd that they were selling out in fact his words were "screw punk, fast rock and lots of money is the way to go" fortunately he was joking and to make up for Sam's little outburst Zero Tolerance treated the crowd to their very unique Metal/Ska sound. And once again Darien, Sam and Odie got the whole crowd clapping along to the 'Cat Shmallen' song, whereafter Sam said "See we are selling out, we got you all clapping like you were at a 50cent concert". After Zero Tolerance's dark yet happy sounds False Pretense made their return to the Turtle stage. Having not played for ages False Pretense has a lot of new material. They have also evolved in sound, they have a much heavier more Metal/Thrash feel to them which lends itself very well to their message. Noel has left the band so Luke from -War-On-Salt- was filling in and he did an excellent job. I didn't get to see the whole of their set but what I saw was new and different. Plus they are really serious about making a change. So after all that some thanks are in order. Firstly, thanks to all the bands for playing and being so willing to give up their time to support the cause (and not demanding to get paid like sell-outs). Thanks to Luan for doing the sound. Thumbs up to Neil and Graham from False Pretense for doing something about making a change in this country. And lastly shot to all those who came out to support the cause, and I hope to see you all supporting the clean up. -------------- SA Punk Gig Guide: Fri 16 April - Lanners Landing - Paarl - R20, 8pm WrenchProductions & DrunkPunks presents: UNDER THE INFLUENCE ~ National Tour. Half Price The Stevie Wonderfuls Antipathy Pulled From Six Feet Perfect Day Fri 16 April - Schivas Rock - Pretoria - R20, 8pm Brothers In Arms a gig dedicated to JP Maritz who passed away on the 9th of March 2004, He was 18. The Terrorists Honey Bee Misled Fri 16 April - The Roxy Rhythm Bar - Johannesburg - R40, 9pm YEAH WINTER IS COMING! : SKANK-O-THON Fuzigish Tidal Waves Sat 17 April - The Purple Turtle - Cape Town - R30, 8pm WrenchProductions & DrunkPunks presents: UNDER THE INFLUENCE ~ National Tour. Half Price The Stevie Wonderfuls Rudimentals War on Salt Mental Junto Sat 17 April - Trotters - Boksburg - R30, 8pm Hostile Hostage Enemy3 The Mel Gibsons Band Gross Misconduct 2 Strikes Against Make sure you get hold of our flyers cos if you bring a flyer to the show, you get 5 bucks off!!! Merch on sale by Give & Take Records 22 Dakota Str Impala Park Boksburg ------------------- LIVE IN SA ----------- SPINDLESECT At the Independent Armchair Theatre, Observatory, Cape Town - April 9 '04 About 100 fans braved the rainy Easter evening to witness hip hop masters, Spindlesect, perform at the Armchair Theatre. DJ Seven Arc jump-started the evening with his laid back electronica. Spindlesect's four vocalists swept up the electronic groove from the stage. Darren's guitar overlays enhanced the mix in the second tune of the set. After the third tune, drummer Damon and bassist Eve joined the crew on the already tightly packed stage. The audience was lured to the dance floor by the fat sweeping sound of Spindlesect. 'Survival', one of the group's fantastic trip hop numbers, spiced up an already powerful set. The four-strong vocal input drives the melody and rhythm of their music. Female vocalist, Enga, has a captivating, well-trained voice and an expansive vocal range. Coupled with the dynamic chanting of Snake, Julian and Gareth, Spindlesect rule local hip hop. Spindlesect stepped off stage and the satisfied crowd partied on to DJ Seven Arc's decks. (Lindsay Ravenscroft) --------------------- 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 DN - Daniel Neville NN - Nadia Neophytou WM - Wicked Mike DM - David Marks LR - Lindsay Ravenscroft DS - Don Sweeto LAD - LAD MC - Michael Currin (Curmic) FB - Francis Bryan JFB - Johnny From Boksburg And others too numerous to mention, but gratefully acknowledged! Proofed by Ronx A SUGAR MUSIC PRODUCTION |
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