Rocking in the twlight...

For a wealth of info on SA music and SA movies, check out the Oct issue of SA PROMO - very proudly my movie issue which Ive been planning for a long time now! 


From the Top 5 SA films across a few categories as well as an overview of the industry from different view points - the industry film commission dude, the animator and the rookie actress.

Talking about music and movies, I have been impressed lately by the cross-pollination in the Twilight series. A soundtrack as perfect has not been so suited for quite some time. And the soundtrack to the second film, New Moon, out in November in the UK, it will feature The Killers, Radionhead's Thom Yorke and the hauntingly incredible Bon Iver amongst others!

On starting the second book, my second sojourn with Edward, I was uber chuffed to see her acknowledgements upfront about the music she listened to, and which inspired her, while she was writing the books. Wow, this is the stuff Im talking about - a social conscience of recognition and appreciation of what music adds to - and inspires - in our world.

Just the other day I was a bit down and I reminded myself that without music, I would not be the me I am. And if ever faced with that impossible dilemma of choosing over one's sight or hearing - I think Id have to choose hearing, for how can one not live with the sweet sound of music, the whisper of a lover's warm lips on your ear or the internal purr of a cat who knows contentment like no other.

Talking of cats, whenever our family goes out for the evening, my dad leaves the radio on - and one night it was James Stewart playing when we returned - I asked what station it was on and he replied, ' its cat music radio'. Haha - the radio station my cat most enjoys when left alone. And yet strangely, this cat who always sleeps on beds, will sleep in the lounge waiting for someone to return, as if enjoying her solitude and personal station, before she later heads off to curl up on the foot of a comfy bed!

So it is that cats seem to know the pure secrets of life - music, sleep and lots of love, affection and cuddles.

And now back to Twilight, there have been a few songs by artists over time... both Vanessa Carlton and U2 have songs entitled 'Twilight'. And Im sure that SA melodic rockers aKING have a song called 'Into the twilight' - though Ive been listening to the latest album Against All Odds, and I didn't bring the cover with me, so I cant be sure. And on that note, it is now time to bring on the Daaaaaiiisies! Rocking the Daisies to be exact - Cape Town's premier eco-friendly music festival an hour up the West Coast in Darling! aKING is up tonight amongst others, with Goldfish closing the evening at Rocking the Daisies! Wahoooooo!

Rock on daisies in the twilight,
x

So parlo right now...

Back in March I wrote about the Parlos and invented the word 'parlo' - a new addition for the Oxford / Collins or who ever would take it... Im wondering now if I should in fact contact the dictionary dudes and get that word in soon...

These boys are definitely doing it PARLO style! My implied meaning was that parlo meant 'huge' - a way of expressing when something is massive and totally awesome, almost surfer like -'whoa, that was totally parlo man!'

So, why are the Parlotones so parlo right now?

Firstly, they are currently on a(nother) world tour. These guys just havent stopped since being internationally recognised about three years ago from that one song in an ad in Ireland.

That one song in an ad in Ireland was Beautiful - and the same song is also now used on SA telly in the Bokomo ad. There is also another Parlos song on rotation in a Pick 'n Pay ad - what is going on? Seems the trend is to be associated with SA's national treasure in any way or form.

Now, when I say national treasure - they are more like SA's golden ambassadors - the ones who are out there and showing the world what SA music has to offer (although not always so proudly promoting themselves as SA, but these debates come down to management more than the boys themselves we hope)! 

In the past, in many a press release issued by another SA rock band - the opening line always stakes the claim as 'SA's biggest rock band...' or biggest selling rock band or something else shadowed by the likes of the Parlos. Hmmm. Well, step back - this goes farther than you realised, and the depths of those shallow waters are nothing in comparison to the waters the Parlotones are now treading!

With a third album coming out soon - the Parlos are storming ahead. The second album went down an absolute treat - albeit the album that makes or breaks - these guys are golden in their wake. And even more bizarre, as I was recently told, is that they now also have their own wine - also named after a track, not Beautiful, but Giant Mistake!

This October, they've already played in London and around the UK - and are off to Amsterdam soon, followed by playing a music festival in Perth Australia. Parlo carbon footprint, parlo experience, parlo on all levels!

Rock on parlo bands,
x

All hail Josie...

More time has passed - and weekends have again been toss-ups between the likes of Durban-based The Arrows, Belville's own bad boys of Afrikaans rock Fokofpolisiekar and another Durban boy, now CT based - Guy Buttery. 

It was Saturday 26 October - and I went for the acoustic magic of Guy Buttery. Besides, it was a dark, rainy kinda night and Guy's gig was in the gorgeous Monkey Valley in Noordhoek, perfect for a stormy night of being cosy inside. I even had a cat on my lap the whole gig through as Guy impressed with this guitar brilliance as well as sitar and saw playing!

But onto the most recent weekend past, where Sunday was spent working on the suntan on Hillcrest wine estate out in Durbanville, a celebration of the season of Sauvignon! There were two bands I was there to see - my main interest was the headliner of the day - Bed on Bricks, a local Cape Town band who have been on my list of to see for quite some time...

By that stage I think the Sauvignon had sunk in and we had then met My Hillcrest himself, the delightful winemaker who's wine was making us merry! So Im pleased to say that I am getting a second chance of seeing them at Rocking the Daisies this weekend in Darling - although they are also closing the festival, so I will need to keep away from the wine on Sunday too!

The other band of the day was Chasing Friday whose on stage energy was just fabulous as the lead singer flopped around like a theatrical clown in the style of a slapstick Laurel 'n Hardy type comedy! Or more to the era - he was very Jack Black in his antics and floppy hairstyle to match!

The music wasn't bad either, in fact - it was the injection of rock that the day needed. After an acoustic sax and piano duo eased everyone out of their Sunday morn slumber, some old toppies played a few catchy covers, followed by some Mexican wannabees who got the audience to jiggle tamborines and wiggle to Gypsy Kings. Chasing Friday were the rock 'n roll revival the day was after! And a perfect set up to Bed on Bricks too.

But then it got interesting... while dancing to Chasing Friday - the frontman starting talking about a song about a girl called Josie... now, there are not many Josie's out there. I know of Josie Borain - the Lux beauty from when I was young, and now a talented photographer. And the other Josie was none other than I was off to see that evening... Josie Field!

And would you believe, that out on a wine farm in Durbanville, this Cape Town band sang about Josie Field! We headed home with a tan and a head full of fermented Sauvignon - and I was soon off to Kirstenbosch where the next session of music would begin for me! On telling Josie about her own personal song - she was both flattered and surprised - and completely unaware!

Kind of a cool music coincidence for one day Id say! So... Josie Field now knows about an up and coming Cape Town band and this up and coming Cape Town band has immortalised Josie.  Indeed a topical talking point all round as both are talented artists in their own right and respected cities. 

We even saw Ferdinand Rabie at the wine festival - and he is promoting an up coming music festival in mid November called Forbidden Fruits. Who knows - maybe he should get Chasing Friday to come along and play a little song to introduce Josie who will also be playing there. Hmmm... the possibilities are endless!

Rock on fate and songs about a girl,
x

PS. For an intimate interview with Josie - check out the Oct issue of SA PROMO for insight into her latest album, Leyland.