Well, besides the internal argument that its my blog and I can post what I want, I figure that most things these days are inter-linked in some way - and when I wanna write, 'I mos find the konneksie ek se!'
Sunday 26 December was simple. A gig of top class SA bands went down. Bands who should all be performing in London! Boom! (And the fact that Ross Learmonth of Prime Circle and Ard Matthews of Just Jinjer were there just to watch says a lot for the quality of the music!)
I especially enjoyed Evolver One, headliners of the very humid Boxing Day bash at the badly ventilated Purple Turtle in Cape Town. It was the first time Id seen and met these Joburg-based boys. I discovered that the drummer, Tulsa by name, was previously with Watershed - and a pile of smiles on drums! Lead singer Peter Pote - always slick and quite serious in his press shots - was warm, professional and very normal 'n nice when we met. He seems like the kind of guy you'd easily want to be friends with!
When I saw they had a keyboard (Sean Murphy), I was super keen to hear their vibe......but as they kicked off the opening track, I was not prepared for such quality as Peter Pote stepped on stage as a true rock star with effortless flair! His on-stage energy and playful vocal ability moves between Arno Carstens and Chris Chameleon. Nice one Evolver One!
Prior to Evolver One, I finally got to see a long awaited band on my list - touted as 'one of SA's best live acts' - Van Coke Kartel! I now understand the much-hyped Van Coke live experience! Epic comes to mind. As does crazy. If you haven't seen them in 2010, add them to the list in 2011! Afrikaans and awesome!
Then there was Merseystate before the Van Coke boys. With a recent return to stage following a year and a half hiatus of studio building and song writing, Merseystate are back as a threesome and with a rockier sound. They are slick, they are cool and they have always been rocking. The songs are still sounding super radio friendly just with the dash of rock edge, much like their current radio single 'Say, say, say' - of which my favourite line is: 'I could imagine everyone so free if we all dissolve right now and let our egos drift away!' Carry on Merseystate - can't wait to hear more!
So... three quality SA bands who should be performing in London, though I've always though that Merseystate's sound suits the US rock style too!
But besides the awesome bands, what impressed me more on the sticky sweaty Sunday of Boxing Day 2010, was a girl called Tracy Cohen. Sitting at the door together with her friend Michel Joffe (pictured right), together they spoke to and invited all who entered to contribute a charitable R10 towards the Chaeli Campaign - an initiative to raise funds for disabled kids who have cerebral palsy and other muscular diseases... Now thats a good idea that takes guts to go out and do!Chaeli is a young girl who at age 12, needed R20,000 for a motorised wheelchair, came up with various ideas to raise money, and within just seven weeks had enough for her wheelchair. But she did not stop there! Now 15, the Chaeli Campaign has gone on to raise funds to make other children with disabilities more comfortable and independent. (Chaeli even does ballroom dancing in her wheelchair, together with an able-bodied partner - and in 2008, they represented SA at the Wheelchair Dancing World Cup!)
But back to Tracy, who also has cerebral palsy, and is taking part in the 2011 Argus Cycle Tour - completing 10km on a hand cycle, raising funds for and as part of the Chaeli Campaign relay team! Wow! What a great idea - and what a clever audience to get involved and aware of those who probably don't get to go to enjoy gigs and live music much!
So the next time you're dancing or moshing, or doing whatever tapping, bopping or bouncing movements you do... think about the Chaeli's of the world who are restricted in movement! And if you're asked to contribute R10 at the door of the next gig you go to, just imagine the lives you could be mobilising! Check out more: www.chaelicampaign.co.za
Herewith a photoshoot of Tracy with the various people who helped bring her dream to life that Boxing Day night:
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| Tracy with Ross Learmonth of Prime Circle |
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| Tracy with Peter Pote (left) and Tulsa Pittaway. |
(L to R: Wayne Joshua - Merseystate lead singer, with friend Michel Joffe and Peter Pote of Evolver One!)
Rock on SA music being world class - and South Africans making a difference!
x
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