SA ROCK DIGEST ISSUE #80
The South African Rock Music Digest
is a free, subscription e-mag, edited
by Brian Currin and Stephen Segerman
and delivered direct to your e-mailbox.
Established January 1999.
To unsubscribe: reply to this issue
with "unsubscribe digest" as subject
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CONTENTS
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1.WHAT'S NEW - SA Rock Files, Old Mutual Jazz Encounters, Kora Awards, Sharkbrother, Retro Fresh
2.CHARTS - Top 10 CDs, Top 20 SA songs, Top 20 Rock Albums, Top 10 SA MP3 downloads, This week 30 years ago
3.ON STAGE - Woodstock 2000
4.NEW RELEASES - Koos Kombuis, Sharkbrother, Nick Taylor
5.USA for SA - A Letter From Texas
6.CLASSIC ROCK - Dog Detachment's Barriers
7.FORUM - Vusi Mahlasela
8.REQUESTS - Indian Rock, Pierre de Charmoy, SA Rock Legends
9.ON THE NET - Afrimusik
10.WHAT'S ON
11.LINKS
12.BACK ISSUES
13.CONTRIBUTIONS
14.SUBSCRIPTIONS
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1.WHAT'S NEW
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SA ROCK FILES WEBSITE
http://www.rock.co.za/sarock
22 October: Added complete alphabetical list of Hawk's songs.
22 October: Completed "SA Top 20 Hits by Year" lists,
thanks to John Samson.
21 October: Added info on November CD release of Hawk's 'African Day', thanks to Benjy Mudie from Retro Fresh.
21 October: Updated Hawk's 'Africa She Too Can Cry' pages,
thanks to Bas Möllenkramer.
21 October: Added 'Thinking Aloud' by John Ireland,
thanks to John Samson.
20 October: Added "SA Acts on US charts" page, thanks to John Samson.
19 October: The onsite Search Engine now also searches René Mullenders' extensive South African music history websites as well.
11 October: Added "SA Charts 1969-1989" listed by artist, thanks to the incredible work done by John Samson, with help from Chris Kimberley and Kevin Farquharson.
8 October: Added 'A New Day' gospel album from Colin Pratley and Kenny Henson, released in 1990 under the Freedoms Children name.
Thanks to Andrew King.
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RETRO FRESH RELEASES
6 November 2000:
éVoid - éVoid (freshcd 106) with 5 bonus tracks and a 12-page booklet
Via Afrika - Via Afrika (freshcd 107)
Late November 2000:
Hawk - African Day (freshcd 108)
Otis Waygood Blues Band (The "Black" album) (freshcd 109)
Lesley Rae Dowling - Conspirare (compilation) (freshcd 110)
January 2001:
The Dynamics (freshcd 116)
February 2001:
Falling Mirror - Johnny Calls The Chemist (freshcd 112)
Visit the SA Rock Legends website for more info on the artists mentioned above.
http://www.rock.co.za/legends
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TAJ MAHALA - SHARKBROTHER
Pop music is very dire at the moment in a general way of speaking - and sometimes in a specific way of speaking.
In a sense the element of surprise and risk is masked out by producers, engineers, backers, friends and sometimes even the band themselves. The result of this is processed pap (or "pap", in South African-lingo). It's presented very slickly, very well played, and often even the voices are programmed to fix glitches. Now, to try to describe what Sharkbrother are up to is a little easier. Introspective, spacey and melodic (hooray!) they are obviously writing where the muse takes them, and not what they are told to do by some well meaning hack.
The hippy dream of 'Nature's Child'
'Gonna smile at the Sun,
Gonna talk to the Moon'
kicks off the album and sets the tone. With sparse guitars (not too many overdubs) and looping bass and violin, it's folksy and pleasant. There's an air of introspection, almost melancholia which stays with much of the album, but translates into an ephemeral beauty rather than a downer.
Soon things start to change and the album morphs into the mesmeric 'The Sea' which has a haunting almost Joy Division-like dream quality, but as quiet as Brian Eno's ambient stuff. '3rd Set' takes you by surprise again and we're out of the Seventies and into the new millenium. Or are we? Isn't this what Hawkwind and Tangerine Dream were doing? It's melodic and beautiful and the next few minutes take you away on layers of sound far removed from the folk-song beginnings of the album. But it all fits together so well... The '2000 leagues remix' could be a chilled out Morcheeba. Sharkbrother manage to do two things at once on the album and make it work.
There are stuctured songs spun around experimental space rock tracks and they don't clash but flow into each other. The weird electronica of 'Americans' with its slow steam train pace leaves one checking on the CD player reading to see if it's really finished - haven't we only just started getting into this?
Andy Harrod
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INTRODUCING THE SWAMP FUNK QUARTET
One of South Africa’s best contemporary rhythm sections has joined up with two of the country’s more accomplished guitarists to form the Swamp Funk Quartet (SFQ). The band comprises drummer Paul Tizzard and bassist Yoyo Buys (both recently of The Usual) and guitarists Tom Fox (Bright Blue, The Usual) and Ted Baumann (Woodshed, Lonesharks, Groove Kings).
The Tizzard-Buys section is the common factor. Fox’s work with them in The Usual is well known. Less-known is their decade-long association with Baumann, in whose early 90s outfit The Infidels, Tizzard and Buys first met and played together. Over the intervening years the three have worked together on numerous occasions, including the briefly infamous Lonesharks, with harmonica player Dave Ferguson.
STYLE
Besides the historical overlap, the four musicians share a common interest in complex, funky, R&B-inflected music. The Fox-Tizzard-Buys trio made this clear in the Usual, extending and augmenting the syncopated Africanised style developed by Fox from his Bright Blue days. When meshed with Baumann’s own smoky blues style, with its roots in Eric Clapton, J.J. Cale, and Jeff Beck, the result is a wholly new sound. Neither blues, nor R&B, nor Afro-pop, the SFQ sound is both identifiably South African and highly accessible.
SFQ isn’t a blues band by any means, but the style does provide an important bridge for the band.
"There are two problems with blues, per se, in the South African context", says front man Baumann. "Real blues played by knowledgeable musicians is almost unknown here, since South African ‘blues’ bands tend to play ‘toy’ cabaret blues, blues-rock, jazz, or just badly. And it’s seen as ‘old boy’ pub music, not for younger or more discerning audiences. But Tom, Paul, Yoyo, and I speak a common language in R&B guitar-funk. Classic BB King-style riffs sound lekker over Tom’s chord changes and the Paul-Yoyo groove. So we’ve combined a knowledgeable, competent blues ethos with South African rhythmic content to
produce something really interesting. Call it Cape Town blues-hop."
GIGS
The Swamp Funk Quartet’s first ‘gig’, at Cape Town’s Independent Armchair Theatre, was double-booked by the venue, so SFQ graciously offered to cede the stage to a local hip-hop act and wait for another day - which will be Saturday October 28th. The group then travels
to Knysna for an obligatory turn at the Tin Roof Blues on 10-11 November. Also in the offing is a gig at The Jam later in the year.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
Cell: 082-602-4330
Tel: 021-788-2311
Fax: 021-788-2311
Email: mailto:blues@iafrica.com
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OLD MUTUAL JAZZ ENCOUNTERS 2000
NATIONAL WINNERS ANNOUNCED - GALA EVENT IN NOVEMBER
The Old Mutual Jazz Encounters 2000 national talent search began back in April this year with the initial call-to-entries. Over the past months, the panel of judges - Sibongile Khumalo, Jack van Poll, Don Albert, Dizu Plaatjies and Sipho Gumede - sifted, listened and adjudicated the many entries that were received, before announcing the Regional Winners in each of the three categories namely Jazz, Afro Jazz, and Vocal.
These Regional winners then performed in a series of Regional Showcases, called "Hot, Live & Otherwise", before the judges began the second stage, the National Adjudications, to select the three National Winners as well as the winners of a number of extra awards. These winners will receive their prizes, and perform live alongside a star-studded line-up, at the Old Mutual Jazz Encounters 2000 Gala Event which will be taking place on November 10 at the Vodaworld in Gauteng. Headlining this glittering awards ceremony will be two of South Africa’s brightest jazz stars, Jimmy Dludlu and Moses Taiwa Molelekwa.
The National Winners of the Old Mutual Jazz Encounters 2000 are:
VOCAL Category:
Xolisa Gqoli Dlamini (Durban)
JAZZ Category:
Highway Jam (Johannesburg)
AFRO JAZZ Category:
African Devoted Artists (Johannesburg)
Each of these winners will receive a prize of R10,000.
Also announced were three COMPOSITION awards and an additional nine MERIT awards for certain artists in each of the categories who showed great promise in the opinion of the judges. The winners of the COMPOSITION awards will each receive R3,500 and the nine MERIT winners will each receive R2,500.
The winners of these additional awards are as follows:
AFRO JAZZ COMPOSITION Award:
‘Come Back Home’ - by African Devoted Artists (Johannesburg)
JAZZ COMPOSITION (Two Winners):
‘Escape From The Mystic Frog’ - Melissa van der Spuy (Cape Town) &
‘15th July’ - by Mageshen Naidoo
MERIT Awards:
1.Sponky Mphatse - Flute (Cape Town)
2.Melissa van der Spuy - Piano (Cape Town)
3.Clinton Heneke - Percussion (Cape Town)
4.Dominic Peters - Bass (Cape Town)
5.Tshepho Mngoma - Violin (Cape Town)
6.Sean Patrick Ou Tim - Drums (Johannesburg)
7.Mpumi Nhlapo - Marimba (Johannesburg)
8.Emily Bruce - Vocals (Cape Town)
9.Nonthuzelo Puoane - Vocals (Cape Town)
Tickets for the OLD MUTUAL JAZZ ENCOUNTERS 2000 GALA EVENT are available to the public at a price of R50 from Computicket.
(KSP/SS)
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8 KORA NOMINATIONS FOR GALLO ARTISTS
The 2000 KORA All African Awards are going to be handed out at a very fancy ceremony at Sun City on 18th November, and Gallo Records and their top artists are looking well placed for a few trips to the prestigious podium. These awards recognise a broad range of musical excellence from across the African continent and these days the competition is getting stiffer.
Still, Gallo managed to land seven nominations among six of their stars. Lucky Dube is up for both the ‘Best Artist or Group from the Southern Hemisphere’ and ‘Best Video’ awards (for ‘The Way It Is’). Otherwise it’s one shot each for Jabu Khanyile (who is up against Lucky in the ‘Best Artist or Group’ category), Mahlathini and The Mahotella Queens take on Soul Brothers in the ‘Best Traditional Artist or Group’ category, Ladysmith Black Mambazo are in the ‘Best African Group’ category and Lekgoa will represent SA and Gallo in the ‘Most Promising Male Artist’ category.
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2.CHARTS
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TOP 10 SOUTH AFRICAN CDs
This week [last week] Artist - Title
1. Mandoza - Nkalakatha
2. Not My Dog - Dogumentary
3. Brasse Vannie Kaap - Yskoud
4. Various - Tassenberg All Stars
5. Positive K - Plus 8 Various Mixes
6. Oleseng - Oa Lebona Naa?
7. Steve Hofmeyr - Beautiful Noise - The Music Of Neil Diamond
8. Fassie, Brenda - Memeza
9. DJ Nasty - 2
10. Blk Sonshine - Blk Sonshine
Supplied by One World
http://www.oneworld.co.za
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THE SA ROCK DIGEST TOP 20 ROCK ALBUMS OF THE WEEK
This week [last week] Title - Artist (Label)
1. [1] Almost Human - Even Flow (demo)
2. [-] Greatest Hits - Koos Kombuis (Gallo)
3. [2] Lately When She Cries - Jesse Jordan (Universal)
4. [3] A Life Less Strange - Semisane (BMG)
5. [5] Serial Boyfriend - Frank Opperman and PTA (Gallo)
6. [6] The Best Of Black Sabbath (Castle)
7. [12] Sailing To Philadlephia - Mark Knopfler (Mercury)
8. [8] Tassenberg All Stars (live) - Various (Rhythm)
9. [4] The Instrumentals - Off The Edge (Independent)
10. [9] While No One Was Looking - Little Sister (Gallo)
11. [10] Sherry Lee - Sherry Lee (demo)
12. [-] No Regrets - Kevin Duke (Ugly Duck Records)
13. [13] Die Ander Kant - Johannes Kerkorrel (Gallo)
14. [15] World - Albert Grey (AIR)
15. [11] Something To Believe - Liesl Graham (Gallo)
16. [17] Yvonne and Friends - Yvonne Chaka Chaka (Digital Cupboard)
17. [14] Bushrock 1 (live re-issue) - Wildebeest (Wildebeest)
18. [-] Miyela Afrika - Vusi Mahlasela (BMG)
19. [19] In The Meantime - Watershed (EMI)
20. [-] Version 1 - Mjojo (Digital Cupboard)
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THE SA ROCK DIGEST TOP 20 SOUTH AFRICAN SONGS OF THE WEEK
This week [last week] Title - Artist (Album/ Label)
1. [4] Endless - Even Flow (off demo CD ‘Almost Human’)
2. [1] Eastern Bridge - Jesse Jordan (off album 'Lately When She Cries'/ Universal)
3. [3] I Need Your Sex - Casey B (off ‘I Need Your Sex’ EP/ DGR)
4. [-] A Proud People - Vusi Mahlasela (off album ‘Miyela Afrika’/ BMG)
5. [2] Your Song - Just Jinger (off album ‘Strange World’/ BMG)
6. [-] The Rains Fell - Albert Grey (off album ‘World’/ Air music)
7. [7] African Dance - Mjojo (off album ‘Version 1’/ Digital Cupboard)
8. [-] Miyela Afrika - Vusi Mahlasela (off album ‘Miyela Afrika’/ BMG)
9. [5] Slow Down - Yvonne Chaka Chaka (off album ‘Yvonne And Friends’/
Digital Cupboard)
10. [6] Right Here - Semisane (off album 'A Life Less Strange'/ BMG)
11. [9] Northern Sky - Jonathan Martin (off album ‘Tassenberg All Stars’/ Rhythm Records)
12. [12] Satisfy - Dreamshop (off EP 'Satisfy'/ BMG)
13 [13] Woman - Ras Sheehama (off album ‘Traveling’/ Digital Cupboard)
14 [14] Kwaito Right - Paul Hanmer (off album ‘Playola’/ Sheer Sound)
15. [15] Those Days - Just Jinger (off album ‘Here’s To You’/ BMG)
16 [11] My Hope Is In You - Youssou N’Dour (off album ‘Joko’/ SonySA)
17. [-] Agitation - Blk Sonshine (off album ‘Blk Sonshine’/ Fresh)
18. [10] Hoelykit? - McCoy Mrubata (off album ‘Hoelykit’)
19. [19] 69 Tea - Saron Gas (off compilation ‘Showcase 2’/ Sony SA)
20. [8] All Roads - Liesl Graham (off album ‘Something To Believe’/ Gallo)
Sponsored by Networld
http://www.new.co.za
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TOP 20 SOUTH AFRICAN MP3 DOWNLOADS
This week [last week] Title - Artist (Style)
1. [2] Margarida - Choppa (Latino Kwaito)
2. [15] Stagefright - Boo! (Munki Punk)
3. [9] Say-Grin - THC (Modern Tribal)
4. [2] Wena U Bani...? - O'Da Meesta (Kwaito)
5. [4] Hypnotic - Benguela (Instrumental)
6. [10] Beautiful Thing - E'smile (African R&B)
7. [-] Crush - Fruit Fly Navigators (Modern Rock)
8. [-] Far & Away - DJ Stevie (Dance)
9. [3] Get Me a 303 - MantratraX (Dance)
10. [-] War On the Dancefloor - Nexus (Dance)
11. [-] Breakdown - Binary Dredd (Dance)
12. [-] Jaws of Life - Mjojo (African House)
13. [7] Party On - Ashaan (African Hip Hop)
14. [-] The Kid - Nexus (Dance)
15. [-] String Along - Mjojo (African House)
16. [-] Everything is a Cliche - High (Dance)
17. [RE] Joburg Stomp - Mr Bishop (Dance)
18. [RE] Kom Kom - Kom Kom (Kwaito)
19. [-] Asyn - Brixton Moord & Roof Orkes (Afrikaans Alternative)
20. [-] Wit Wolke - Brixton Moord & Roof Orkes (Afrikaans Alternative)
Supplied by Digital Cupboard
http://www.digitalcupboard.co.za
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SPRINGBOK RADIO CHARTS: 30 YEARS AGO
Friday, 23 October 1970
This week [last week] Title - Artist
1.[1] Burning Bridges - Mike Curb Congregation
2.[5] Looking Out My Back Door - Creedence Clearwater Revival
3.[2] Mademoiselle Ninette - Mike Holm
4.[4] I (Who Have Nothing) - Tom Jones
5.[3] Brown Eyes - Chris Andrews
6.[9] Ain't Love A Funny Thing - Sam Evans
7.[10] Poor Little Rich Girl - Dickie Loader
8.[15] Cha-La-La, I Need You - The Shuffles
9.[7] Push Mr. Pride Aside - Percy Sledge
10.[6] Lola - The Kinks
Supplied by John Samson
mailto:Thesamsons@aol.com
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LM RADIO CHARTS: 30 YEARS AGO
Sunday, 25 October 1970
1. Band Of Gold - Freda Payne
2. Burning Bridges - Mike Curb Congregation
3. Mademoiselle Ninette - Mike Holm
4. Montego Bay - Bobby Bloom
5. Cracklin' Rosie - Neil Diamond
6. Green-Eyed Lady - Sugarloaf
7. Candida - Dawn
8. Wild World - Jimmy Cliff
9. Like I Do - Barbara Ray and the 5th Association
10. Indiana Wants Me - R Dean Taylor
Dave Malherbe sent us a copy of Impact magazine from November 1970 and it included this chart from the late, great LM (Lourenco Marques)
radio. Nostalgia rules, OK?
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ALL-TIME GREAT SA ROCK ALBUMS
As voted by visitors to the SA Rock Files website
Position (no. of votes) Album - Artist
1. [35] African Day - Hawk
2. [34] Africa She Too Can Cry - Hawk
3. [33] Battle Hymn Of The Broken Hearted Horde - Freedoms Children
4. [27] Boys Will Be Boys - Rabbitt
5. [27] A Croak And A Grunt In The Night - Rabbitt
6. [24] Astra - Freedoms Children
7. [24] Live And Well - Hawk
8. [21] Ten Light Claps And A Scream - Otis Waygood
9. [20] Hungry For Love - A-Cads
10. [20] Jack Of All Trades - Jack Hammer
Go here and cast your vote:
http://www.freevote.com/booth/sarock
NONE of these albums are really freely available on CD. 'Astra' can be found online at One World <http://www.oneworld.co.za> and in some CD shops in SA if you really hunt for it. 'African Day' will be released very shortly by Benjy Mudie on the Retro Fresh label. Watch out for it.
'Jack Of All Trades' is available as a special request CD-R from 3rd Ear Music <http://www.3rdearmusic.com/reissue/legends.html>. Most of 'Battle Hymn' can be found as bonus tracks on the unofficial CD release of 'Galactic Vibes', available at Amazon <http://www.amazon.com>. Otis Waygood has been seen as an unofficial CD on the Never Never Land label from Japan.
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3.ON STAGE
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WOODSTOCK 2000
Thursday, 21 September 2000 started with birds waking me up. I realized today is the day I will be going to Heidelberg Kloof for the start of Woodstock 2000. This was going to be a gas of a long weekend. We packed the camping gear and plenty of food and drink. We got there at 15h00 and found a few festivalgoers there already having fun. We found our spot only to find out later we were standing in the Dance valley. We unpacked and put up our tents. There were no bands that day. We walked around and saw all that was available for the festival. Our neighbors came and put up their tents. We introduced ourselves to the people around us. The evening came and we had our first braai. Tonight was a night for chatting. The neighbors came over and we built our own bonfire. Chatting and drinking was the order of the night. I think we retired to bed around 03h00.
Friday, 22 September 2000 started with a slight headache. The sun was up and it was a start of a good day. We had breakfast and relaxed again. We were told the bands would start playing today. At 12h00 we went to look at all the stalls that were there. We bought a CD and got a program of the festival. The bands will start at 17h00. By this time the festival was really getting into a buzz. Lots of people came and they were putting up tents nearly in the road. We had our lunch at 15h00 to get to the main stand on time for 17h00.
The line up was;
17h00 FLY
17h45 WATERSHED
18h30 SEMISANE
19h20 SUNWAYS
20h15 VALIANT SWART
21h05 PROPHETS OF DA CITY
21h55 HENRY ATE
23h00 SPRINGBOK NUDE GIRLS
Personally I found the bands all good but the ones that stood out for me was Watershed and the great Nudies. We went back to our campsite and had a braai. The dance valley was in full swing. We did not have much sleep that night. Saturday, 23 September 2000 began with rave music in my ears. We had some coffee and spoke about what we will be doing that day. We went to the cult cinema but they could not show movies because the generator was down. We went to the paint ball course and had a look. We had lunch and waited for the bands to start. The line up was;
14h00 SOUTH
14h45 BLACK CAMEL
15h30 HALCYON
16h15 57
17h10 SHARON GAS
18h05 TWEAK
19h00 JIMMY 12inch
19h55 ETHEL MY LOVE
20h50 AMERSHAM
21h50 WONDERBOOM
23h00 SUGARDRIVE
Once again what a gas. The last three bands were great. We went back for a braai and ended up in the dance valley again. This time they were steaming. DJ Speed and Dizzy knew their music. While dancing the sun came up. Sunday, 24 September 2000 and we were a bit under the weather. We had breakfast and the neighbors all came together. Today we will catch a movie and look at some bike jumping. Everywhere people were having a good time. This was the last day of Woodstock 2000 and we all knew it. The band line up was;
14h00 LEERY
14h45 TIDAL WAVES
15h30 BIK SONSHINE
16h20 SSHHH
17h10 OHM
18h00 FRANK OPPERMAN
18h55 THC
19h50 BRASSE VANNIE KAAP
20h50 SQUEAL
21h55 BOO!
23h15 BATTERY 9
The music was good. Battery 9 was excellent. They were the last band and they really ended the festival in style. We were drained and made our way back again to our campsite. Once again we had a braai with meat that started to look old. It tasted good and we all went dancing again. The sun came up and we had our last breakfast. All came together again and we had our last chat. We packed up all our gear and headed off home.
What a great festival. The organization was great. To Shawn and Mandy from Sandton, Peter from Durbs, Marie from Bloem, Kevin and Sue from CT, Zelda from Villiers, George and his wife (sorry I forgot) from Nelspruit and all the other good people we met that weekend - WE WILL SEE EACH OTHER AGAIN NEXT YEAR AT WOODSTOCK 2001. However Just Jinger was sadly missed and hope to see them soon.
Frank from Edenvale
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4.NEW, RECENT AND UPCOMING RELEASES
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KOOS KOMBUIS - GREATEST HITS
A great collection of hits from Andre le Roux du Toit, better known as Koos Kombuis. This CD includes the "violin" version of 'Lisa se Klavier'. Strange to have a song about a piano with no piano-playing, but then Koos has never ever pretended to be ordinary, has he?
Sex ('Springbok Held' - sex and rugby, great combination!), drugs ('Johnny is nie dood nie') and rock and roll ('Verslaaf aan Ruk en Rol' - listed on the cover as 'Versleef..') are balanced delicately with bitter Afrikaner angst ('Sommige ou Tannie Blues') and stunningly beautiful love songs ('Bicycle Sonder Slot' - "ek is so lief vir jou soos die Kaap" [I love you like I love the Cape]).
But where is 'Who Killed Kurt Cobian'? Surely one the world's greatest
unknown rock songs and a tribute to Nirvana's late frontman. Oversight, licencing problems or marketing ploy? You decide... it can be found on the 'Madiba Bay' CD, released on Wildebeest in 1997.
http://www.kooskombuis.co.za
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SHARKBROTHER - TAJ MAHALA
Atmospheric, ambient, haunting, stunning. Nick Cave meets Leonard Cohen in Tom Waits' lounge. This CD is different and wonderful and well worth a listen.
http://listen.to/sharkbrother
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FREE WHITE AND AFRICAN - NICK TAYLOR
Nick's first album of his own songs since 'My Time Will Come To Shine' in 1983, and only his second CD ever. He made more than 20 vinyl albums in the 60s and 70s.
These and any other South African CDs are available from One World
http://www.oneworld.co.za
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5.USA FOR SA
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A LETTER FROM TEXAS
A year ago I became enthused about South African rock music. As I
enjoy saying, I came looking for Four Jacks and a Jill and stayed for
Squeal, Off the Edge, Springbok Nude Girls, Sugardrive, Battery 9, Little Sister, and on and on. In South Africa, I discovered dozens of bands whose work satisfies, pleases, and intrigues to the point that these days I listen to little else but South African rock, and my kids sing along to Just Jinger's 'Paradise In Summertime', Rodriguez's 'Sugarman', Four Jacks and a Jill's 'Master Jack', and many other great songs. Some bands I know only by a song or two, but I have bought the catalog of other bands -- and innovative and popular bands of the past have work being re-released. This is one Yank who eagerly looks forward to these re-releases.
I came looking for Four Jacks and a Jill and stayed for a strong,
competitive, and vibrant musical scene. Someday, I'll time a visit to South Africa around as many music festivals as possible, and connect with as many South African wonders as possible, including every club in my path.
In my Internet travels, I have found many friendly South Africans who
were willing to help me learn about South African music and South Africa itself. This friendliness is the heart of South Africa.
What does South African Rock mean to me? Great and pure rock. The new
and modern South African music possesses the creative spirit that hooked me on rock in my early teens. No matter the genre, from dance rock to intellectual rock, South African musos seem to give a little extra, seem to try a little harder, and they make music that sounds better than the new stuff I hear elsewhere. Why listen to anything else?
Like the new rock, classic South African rock is alive, fresh, and
crackling new to me. Freedoms Children hooked me, Falling Mirror is out of sight, and every Helicopters song I've heard is entirely hit-worthy. And if there is a bigger Jack Hammer fan in Texas, I'd like to meet him or her.
South Africa has contributed a large number of people to the world
music scene, both performers and producers. Many individuals have gone on to success in the world, but I'm holding my breath for the big breakout rock band. South Africa has given to the world stars in all categories except the rock band. Who will it be? And who will follow the band that bursts onto the world, as Sugar mentioned last week? These are exciting times to be a South African music fan, even a Yank.
Sure, I came looking for Four Jacks and a Jill, and I found them, they
are perennial favorites. But I found more in South Africa. Along with all of the fine music, the international language of rock, came new friends and a fascinating, friendly country. Thank you South Africa -- good music y'all!
Sincerely, Kurt
Kurt Shoemaker
mailto:kbshoe@hotmail.com
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6.CLASSIC ROCK
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BARRIERS - DOG DETACHMENT
After the relative commercial success of "Fathoms of Fire", one thought that Dog Detachment would build on this and go on to bigger and greater things. Sadly this did not happen and it was no fault of the music they made. "Barriers", their 3rd album seemed to sneak out of the record companies back door without so much as a peep about it on the radio or in the press. It is criminal that this album was ignored, if anything it was a more accessable album then either of it's two predecessors.
The anger of "The Last Laugh" and the broodiness of "Fathoms of Fire" had subsided, but this is definitely not at the expense of great tunes. There is still an edge to Brian Armstrong's angst filled vocals, there are still the great guitar riffs and an overall maturity to this album that should have made people sit up and listen. The anthemic "Beat the Drum", the pop sensibilities of "Heartwheels and Mindmills", the harsher "Secrets", and the big sound of "Love will Come" all combine to create an album of balanced diversity.
A political element filters into the lyrics. 'United stand, divided fall, let's start standing one and all' from "Beat the Drum" alludes to the ironic motto of the country Ex Unitas Vires (Unity is Strength).
Other strong tunes are the pacey and dramatic "Monochrome Man" and "I come Running" both being upbeat with some great riffs.
Dog Detachment have always made great music, all three of their albums are worth owning and that is a tribute to their ability to combine anger, angst and unrequited love with melodic, guitar driven tunes. If you like "The Last Laugh" or "Fathoms of Fire", there is no reason why you shouldn't love this album. Why didn't the record company and radio have faith in this. On "White Flag", Dog Detachment ask 'Where did we go wrong?', a fair question as they produced a worthy follow up to the brilliant "Fathoms". I don't think they did anything wrong. It's ironic that an album containing the lyric 'Give me the white flag' turned out to be the last from this great underrated group.
The good news is that there is a possibility of a retrospective CD release of Dog Detachment material in the new year. Hopefully they get the recognition they deserved.
John Samson
mailto:TheSamsons@aol.com
Dog Detachment on the net:
http://www.rock.co.za/legends/dogdetachment
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7.FORUM
---------
VUSI MAHLASELA
Later this month Vusi Mahlasela will be appearing live alongside new guitar talent Selaelo Selota in a series of co-headlining live performances. Selaelo Selota will be showcasing tracks off his well-received debut album, ‘Painted Faces’, and Vusi Mahlasela will be doing the same for his latest album, ‘Miyela AfriKa’.
The guitarist with the delicate chords and sweet voice has been no stranger to SA stages this past year or so. He and Louis Mahlanga (producer of ‘Miyela Afrika’) dazzled audiences with their ‘Vusi & Louis’ guitar double live act, which featured on their excellent album, ‘Vusi & Louis - Live At The Bassline’. Then Mahlasela played some solo gigs before appearing at the 2000 OppiKoppi. A further highlight was his support slot on the SA leg of Sting’s recent ‘Brand New Day’ world tour. Sting selected Mahlasela as his ’running mate’ after previewing a number of potential SA acts. One of the highlights of these concerts was when Sting brought Mahlasela back on stage to join him for the encore of his song ‘Fragile’.
This new album’s title translates as "Be Still Afrika" and its 15 tracks are a solid delight from start to finish. It’s all unmistakably vintage Mahlasela in the grand tradition of his previous albums - ‘When You Come Back’ (1992), ‘Wisdom Of Forgiveness’ (1994) and the award winning ‘Silang Mabele’ (1997). But on this album he has been given full license to expand his wings and dabble in a far wider range of styles from the jazzy opening track ‘The Earth I Know Is A Woman’, to the gorgeous instrumental ‘A Proud People’, to the effective title track which doubles as the first single.
The backing musicians on the album read like a who’s who of SA jazz - Vusi Khumalo (drums), Herbie Tsoaledi (guitar, double bass), Themba Mkhize (Grand piano and keyboards), and Faith Kekana and Stella Khumalo on backing vocals. Among the guest musicians are Tshepo Tshola, Sipho Mabuse (on flute!), Fana Zulu (bass) and steel pans master, Andy Narell on the track ‘Mme Motswadi’.
This Mamelodi musician has played his music through the darkest days in SA right through to the new dawn of liberation and after. His indomitable spirit and uplifting music are still a part of SA’s most valuable musical treasures and his live performances are a sure and good thing. The hot and acclaimed brass and marimba ensemble, Phambili, who are Mahlasela and Selota’s BMG SA label mates, will be the opening act for their co-headlining concerts at The Baxter’s Concert Hall in Cape Town on 26th and 27th October. (SS)
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8.REQUESTS
-------------
INDIAN ROCK
I want to contact indians who have rock/pop bands in SA to perform in India.
Harsh Rao
mailto:harshr@hotmail.com
Omniflex Event Management Pvt. Ltd.
---------------
PIERRE DE CHARMOY
Pierre recorded some songs in the mid-80s and I can't find anything about him anywhere. Do you know where he is or where I can find his music?
Thanks!
Randy Baca
mialto:pilgrim@earthlink.net
--------------
SA ROCK LEGENDS
I was amazed to stumble on your web site and find classic rock music of South Africa. Before my eyes appeared names such as Hawk, Abstract Truth, Otis Waygood and others. Names that I haven't heard for years and have always wanted to see again. The album 'Silver Trees' by Abstract Truth is one I used to have and would like to hear again. Is there a CD by the same name? One question, do you have any information on a band called Jacob Hay and Hocus. If so I would love to know about them. Please let me know.
Rosie Kraxberger
mailto:rosie@liwest.at
____________________________________________
9.ON THE NET
---------------
AFRIMUSIK
http://www.afrimusik.com
______________________________________________
10.WHATS ON
--------------
AMETHYST
Amethyst will be playing at The Big Easy, Langerman drive, Kensington on 02 November 2000. Come and listen to the best full tilt rock this side of the world. We will be playing all original music on a double bill with the band Hard To Find. Bands start from about 21:30.
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BARLEYCORN
Cape Town's Music Club
http://twisted.co.za/barleycorn/
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THE BIG TREE
Gant's Centre, Strand
http://www.icon.co.za/~diner/gigs.htm
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HARBOUR MUSIC CLUB
The Troubadour, Kalk Bay
Every Wednesday night 8:30
Entrance R15 - bar available
Rob Anderson (021) 7891021
mailto:anderson@botzoo.uct.ac.za
Nadia Scaillet (021) 4489834
mailto:noid@netactive.co.za
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BASSLINE
Tues 24th: KARMA - R 30 - 9:30pm
Wed 25th: GITO BALOI - 9:30pm
Thurs 26th: BIG VOICE JACK - R 30 - 9:30pm
Fri 27th & Sat 28th: PAUL HANMER - R 40 - 9:30pm
Sun 29th: AQUARIAN QUARTET (Steve Newman, Tony Cox, Greg Georgiades, Syd Kitchen) - R 50 - 9:00
Mon 30th & Tues 31st: THE FRANK OPPERMAN BAND - R 30 - 9:30pm
Please note that performance starting time on Sunday is 9:00pm
Bookings: 011 - 482-6915
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FETISH
unplugged tour
24 OCT Chilli & lime, Somerset Rd CAPE TOWN
mailto:fetish@iafrica.com
http://www.fetish.org.za
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GRAMLICH
Halloween 2000 - Dress up!
28 Oct. The Purple Turtle (CT)
Grämlich will be appearing live at THE BIG TREE (Strand) on Sat 4 Nov.
Doors open 9pm R10 cover (Ladies free entry before 10pm)
Free Teq for first 30 people and much more!
The Big Tree - Fabriek str., Gants Centre, Strand.
contact: mailto:Gramlich@webmail.co.za
http://www.crosswinds.net/~gramlich
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iBOOGI
iBoogi (Jonny Blundell, Reini Adelbert, Tim Faull & Eric Newton) playing the blues at Dorp Street Theatre on Sunday 29 October
contact 083 658 8181 for details
---------------
JESSE JORDAN
BIG TREE - Strand
Friday November 10 21:30
Friday November 17 21:00
Friday November 24 21:30
Wednesday December 6 Rock Festival Sponsored by Bavaria 20:00-02:00
4 bands for R20
Tuesday December 26 Rock Festival Sponsored by Bavaria 20:00-02:00
4 bands for R20
HIDDEN CELLAR - Stellenbosch
Saturday November 18 21:30. Couvert charge: R10
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LITTLE SISTER
http://www.littlesister.co.za
27 October
"Who Cares", Burnette street, Hatfield, Pretoria tel: 012 362 58 25
15 November
Up the Creek, Hatfield, Pretoria 9pm, tel. no 012 362 3712
16 November
Up the Creek, Hatfield, Pretoria 9pm, tel. no 012 362 3712
17 November
Pee Jays restaurant, Louis Trichardt
18 November
Pee Jays restaurant, Louis Trichardt
18 November
Fiksburg Cherry festival
24 & 25 November
The Barnyard, White River, tel no. 0137501117
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SARON GAS
Saron Gas to embark on a nationwide tour to support their new album release "FRAGILE".
24th November 2000 Boogie Nights Pretoria
25th November 2000 The Underground Bloemfontein
5th December 2000 Buccaneers East London [TBC]
7th December 2000 Tapas Port Elizabeth
8th December 2000 Tin Roof Knysna
9th December 2000 Independent Armchair Cape Town
23rd December 2000 Burn Durban
New album: FRAGILE available from all good music stores - 30th October 2000, includes the new single "FINE AGAIN" and the chart topping hit "69 Tea".
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11.LINKS
---------
Due to space constraints we have now rationalized this links section.
Use the links listed below to take you to where you need to go.
We are happy to exchange links with any good website supporting SA music. A good website needs to informative, regularly updated and linked back to us. If you already link to us and you believe your link should be here, please contact Brian Currin at mailto:sarock@new.co.za
LINKS PAGES:
3rd EAR MUSIC
http://www.3rdearmusic.com/links.html
AMUZINE
http://www.rock.co.za/links.htm
SA ROCK FILES
http://www.rock.co.za/files/sarock_links.html
VAGABOND
http://www.rock.co.za/files/links.html
ONE WORLD
http://www.oneworld.co.za/links.cfm
SA MUSICIANS ON THE NET FROM A TO Z
http://members.tripod.lycos.nl/Rembrandt/SAArtists.html
SEARCH ENGINE:
GOOGLE
http://www.google.com
highly recommended
ARTISTS:
BERNARD BINNS
http://www.bernardbinns.co.za
PIET BOTHA & JACK HAMMER
http://www.rock.co.za/legends/pietbotha
FOUR JACKS AND A JILL
http://www.fourjacksandajill.co.za/
LIESL GRAHAM
http://www.lieslgraham.com
KOOS KOMBUIS
http://www.kooskombuis.co.za
JULIAN LAXTON
http://www.at.artslink.co.za/~julian_laxton
LITTLE SISTER
http://www.littlesister.co.za
OFF THE EDGE
http://www.rock.co.za/offtheedge
SHARKBROTHER
http://listen.to/sharkbrother
ARCHIVES:
3rd EAR MUSIC
http://www.3rdEarMusic.com
THE LEGENDS OF SOUTH AFRICAN ROCK
Where SA rock legends still live
http://cd.co.za/legends
SOUTH AFRICA'S ROCK FILES
The online archive for the History of South African Rock
http://cd.co.za/sarock
SPRINGBOK RADIO CHARTS 1969-1989
http://www.rock.co.za/charts
MESSAGE BOARD:
TOO GOOD TO BE FORGOTTEN
Post your message on the SA Rock message board
http://www.insidetheweb.com/mbs.cgi/mb311757
NEWS:
AMUZINE
News, views, reviews and interviews
http://www.rock.co.za/
AFRICAN INVASION OF ROCK
http://www.air.org.za
POWERZONE
http://www.powerzone.co.za
SHOPPING:
ONE WORLD
Selling South African Music to the World
http://www.oneworld.co.za/
RECORD COMPANIES, LABELS & STUDIOS:
AFRIMUSIK
http://www.afrimusik.com
BMG
http://www.click2music.co.za/
CAVEMAN PRODUCTIONS
Kevin Shirley's virtual cave
http://www.cavemanproductions.com
MELT2000
http://www.melt2000.com
MOUNTAIN RECORDS
http://www.mountain-africa.com
SUNSET RECORDING STUDIOS
Stellenbosch
http://www.sunsetrecording.com
RESOURCES:
BACKSTAGE
http://www.backstage.co.za/
MAGAZINES:
AMUZINE
African Music Magazine
http://www.cd.co.za
RADIO:
SAFM (104-107KHz)
Sugar, Digest co-editor, chats to Bruce Millar every Wednesday at 10.30am
http://www.safm.co.za
BOOKS:
THE HISTORY OF CONTEMPORARY MUSIC OF SOUTH AFRICA
Garth Chilvers and Tom Jasiukowicz (TOGA, 1994)
http://www.rock.co.za/files/book_order.html
TRIVIA:
CLIMB UP ON MY MUSIC
A site dedicated to Rodriguez, the Sugar Man
http://www.rock.co.za/files/rodriguez.html
SPACE HYMNS
Ramases
http://www.rock.co.za/ramases
VAGABOND'S WORLD
Rock Trivia
http://cd.co.za/vagabond
PIOTR'S GREEN PAGES
Discographies and lyrics for the legends of rock
http://www.zetosa.com.pl/piotrus/greenpages
MUSIC ON-LINE:
DIGITAL CUPBOARD
African MP3s
http://www.digitalcupboard.co.za
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---------------
BACK ISSUES
http://www.rock.co.za/sarockdigest
Online and keyword searchable
DOWNLOAD
Download all back issues of the Digest as a zip file (just over 1MB).
http://www.rock.co.za/files/sarockdigest.zip
__________________________________________
13.CONTRIBUTIONS
-----------------
This e-mag is a discussion forum for rock and pop music --
South African and International -- past, present and future.
All contributions are welcome, send them to:
http://www.rock.co.za/contact
or email Brian Currin at:
mailto:sarock@new.co.za
All contributions in plain text e-mail format with no attachments, please.
Any CDs for review can be sent via snail mail to:
Brian Currin
PO Box 521
Eppindust
7460
________________________________________
14.SUBSCRIPTIONS
----------------
Send an e-mail to mailto:sarock@new.co.za with any words or phrases that vaguely indicate acceptance or... visit http://www.rock.co.za/sarockdigest and fill in the simple form.
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Want to unsubscribe from this e-mag?
Surely not, but if you really must, then just reply to this e-mail,
saying "I'm bored" or "get me out of here" or "I've had enough" or whatever. I'll get the idea, eventually.
"unsubscribe digest" has been known to work too...
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