Did you feel the magic?

If you were at The Assembly last night, you certainly did. We were all part of it, surrounded by it.

aKING opened with a spell-binding acoustic set - the stage was certainly set for awesomeness. But what followed was a three-piece band of beautious melodic rock music that took us on a journey much like Carl Cox would create an aural pathway on which to float, taking us towards turns and twists, keeping us in a steady state of awareness until the next subliminal crescendo capped the moment! Enter Civil Twilight!

Lead singer Steven McKellar played a piano in parts, adding a timeless quality to their incredible sound. And with Steven looking strangely similar to the one and only Edward - it seems fitting that they chose a name so aptly aligned to the zeitgiest and the google antics of their demographic!

The sound behind the name is a fusion somewhere between Snow Patrol, Muse and Kings of Leon - and yet it was completely their own Civil Twilight creation - and most definitely of international stadium standards!

In fact, I count myself very lucky to have seen this show - and especially lucky for scoring last minute tickets (hugest thanks to Ant Martin and Julia!) since this gig was super sold out (with a queue of about 150 still trying to get in!)! I put my words firmly in digital ink that - although already based in the States and obviously doing well for themselves - 'Civil Twilight will soon be the global SA rock music flagship band, doing sold-out stadium tours of the States, followed by a sizeable world tour to share the Civil Twilight sound with the world!' They are just that good. But more than good, their music makes you feel something! Its music to listen to in so many situations and circumstances, and with lyrics that can be interpreted and analysed a thousand times over in different life phases.

Steven's brother, Andrew McKellar, also added something incredibly special by playing his guitar with a violin bow - the ethereal effect touched everyone in The Assembly last night!

Their own songs stand seven feet above the ground, each one as head-high, chest-out proud as the next... so when the Massive Attack cover of Teardrop kicked in, I wasn't sure what to expect of a song not their own...! Well, I don't know how long the version went on for - it certainly felt like forever as they stretched it out, slowed it down and isolated each of the instruments before adding them back in one at a time, Civil Twilight style - but I do know that I didn't want the song to stop! As Simon Cowell would say if this was X Factor - 'Civil Twilight made that song 1000% their own!'

WOW! WOW! WOW! I want to go back and do last night all over again! The Assembly was also a marvellous venue, so I shall be back for more of that. And as soon as Civil Twilight play again - London or SA - I certainly won't have to be asked twice! 

Rock on Civil Twilight,
x

PS. And who ever was responsible for the video visuals - a massive well done to you! Those were outstanding!

Civil awesomeness, the true Twilight...

Now this is an easy band to write about - three Cape Town boys who are based abroad, this is SA music making it on an international scale (and they played in London for the first time in June!)

Following a 5,000 strong crowd to see Civil Twilight at Kirstenbosch on Boxing Day and with close on 40,000 facebook fans (38,682 to be exact), these Hout Bay boys are playing their home city of Cape Town at The Assembly tonight. Together with aKING, this is to be one epic show! R60 gets you in, doors open 9pm. 

On the same US label as Seether, Wind Up Records released their album earlier this year and Civil Twilight have had major hits with Letters from the Sky and Anybody Out There!

I also love how they've covered Massive Attack's Teardrop, much like Seether did a George Michael cover of Careless Whisper. It just works!

Cant wait for tonight, rock on,
x

Boxing Day bash with a twist...

Its a personal conundrum I face every time I wanna blog about a SA-based band who perform in South Africa. Hmmm, 'SA music in London', how can I post it here I ask myself...?

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:

Tracy with Ross Learmonth of Prime Circle

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

A 'goat' night to remember...

Wow, a night to remember indeed! Imagine arriving at a restaurant and being told that you can eat and drink to your heart's content...! 

Champagne on arrival, of course. Ordering each of the four fabulous salads on the menu for starters, let's do it! Calamari and prawns as well, why not! Not to mention mains... Kingklip, risotto and fillet steak beautifully matured and gorgeously presented! And a coffee pinotage with the steak, certainly! 

So it was that we dined at the Sidewalk Cafe in Vredehoek one December evening, with Lion's Head framed by the window to our left, and a sweeping view of the city lights from the front. This was my fabulous prize - a dinner for four to the value of R1,500, plus my very own beaded goat!



As one of a handful of restaurants owned by the magical theatre dining experience of Madame Zingara, I'd entered a competition by writing an 'ode to a goat'! One of three beaded goats sat at three different Cape Town restaurants: Cafe Mozart, the Bombay Bicycle Club and Sidewalk Cafe.

I in fact wrote two such odes before diverting my attention back to work stuff one random Friday morning. Oddly, it was Cafe Mozart and the Bombay Bicycle Club which were 'oded' (along with 'oding' the goat of course!) And yet, it was Sidewalk Cafe where I was invited for dinner!

Now, as I always ponder with non 'SA music in London' posts, what relevance does a restaurant review have on this here blog... and so I've adapted a Shakespeare quote accordingly... 'If food be music to the senses, eat on...'

And so it was that we were awed and delighted with each course, each flavour, each mouthful of amazingness. The ambience was playful, amidst a dangle of hearts and a healthy buzz of laughter and busy tables. Our waiter was wonderful with recommendations, patience and even mid-meal massage!

And the best part of all was our very own beaded goat - a life-size African creation of beads and wire! He was utterly adored from the moment of arrival, his very own goat photoshoot, plus nibbles of salads and such throughout the meal (he says he most enjoyed the chocolate brownies at the end!)




As hard as we tried - my mom ordering more prawns alongside her Kingklip for mains, plus my fave white, Haute Cabriere, as well as the Diemersfontein Pinotage - we made a very good dent in the mammoth budget, but didn't quite hit our R1,500 total! (I also had to take a 'goat bag' of steak home with me :)

So... the hugest thank you to Sidewalk Cafe - you were the ultimate hosts and we'll def be back! It was a 'goat' night indeed (Greatest Of All Time!) For an authentic, awesome and quaint dining experience, I urge you to book a table for a bunch or go for a romantic dinner amidst the hundreds of hearts!

As for our goat - he is being well fed and much loved at his new suburban home - and is currently grazing next to the Christmas tree (and was a much-talked about addition to Christmas day!) We have also decided to name him in honour of our experience. And so he is now known as 'Sidewalk'!

Rock on goat odes and amazing experiences!
x

PS: My odes are below for those who are curious:

Oh little African goat made of pride, love and magic,
brought into the mother city by a mystical Zingariagic 
(or perhaps a Zingarian, but that didnt quite fit in ;) 

Oh how your whiteness reflects beautious light,
and your gruff dangles with delight...
Your belly so round, full of fabulous local cuisine,
Oh how lucky to be a goat on the Bombay Bicycle scene!


- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

A goat is a-grazing, somewhere amazing...
In the mother city they do roam (its a great place to call home!)
Filled with fabulous spots to drink, dine and eat,
Its the atmosphere that's always a treat!

So get goat savvy... (they say a good goat has a built-in sat navvy!)
...for good food that is! (and who could argue with a goat food whiz!)
Best you get goat-smart...Cos they're all flocking to Cape Town's Cafe Mozart!

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Photo essay: Puma pop up night club

It was a windy Wednesday night in the Mother City. I was invited to attend the Puma Social Club launch along with singer songwriter Roland Albertson (and a whole other bunch of cool Capetonian music and sports personalities... from Faryll Purkiss and Jon Savage to Schalk Burger and Herschelle Gibbs)

We followed the neon lights to a room alive with pings and pongs, beats and buzz. Adjusting to our surroundings, we soon cottoned on to the concept...

Puma was honouring 'the after hours athletes'....        

Get it? In a room filled with chalk board walls, ping pong tables, photo booths and fun bars - all aimed at the 'late night sports sector' :)

We were entertained by a DJ (pictured) and also watched Jack Parow perform, aptly sponsored by Puma, as we gazed at neon pink symbols and pondered what they could be...

Ten-pin bowling, fussball, pool, table tennis, darts and karaoke... honouring the activities of the 'after hours athletes'.

(I'm sure they should have added a bottle too, as many consider drinking to be a serious sport :)

But not stopping there, Puma of course incorporated the shoe element of their business... and in a cool room at the back of the club bit, you could browse a gallery of shoes designed by local SA super stars. From breakdancer Vouks No Jokes, to SA style queen Lindiwe Suttle and rapper Jack Parow.

In honour of his original creations, Roland and I did a fun little photoshoot to really engage with Jack Parow's shoe creations...

And surely the best shoe of all - in true Jack Parow style.... and saving the best shoe for last...

But not only could our very own Jack Parows and Lindiwe Suttles create their own shoes... so could we! And using iPad's awesome touch technology, we settled in to design a shoe that suited our style. 

Roland got involved with a bit of this and a bit of that while designing his ultimate high top takkie (and I discovered that he has a strange liking of mustard yellow!?)

What a fun night Puma put on indeed - and more excitingly, this was not just for one night... in fact, this pop-up nightclub is still around for tonight and tomorrow night! So go and draw on the walls with chalk, play some table tennis, design a shoe, have a beer and who knows who you may spot hanging out in this cool conceptual club! 

Where you can find it... 120 Buitengracht Street, Cape Town (next to the Coral International Hotel)... and as I was told by someone in the toilet queue, apparently this was previously a car showroom and before that an Xtra shoe shop where she got her matric dance shoes for 40 bucks many years before! 

Puma's Social Club proves once again that Cape Town is brimming with creativity and filled with incredible conceptual and kick ass people!

Roland Albertson and Jack Parow hanging out with the after hour athletes!

Rock on Puma promoting SA music,

x

Synergy... all over too soon!!

It was already a week ago that I was gathering my festival gear and heading to the Franschoek mountains for a weekend of live outdoor SA music at Synergy Live!

I somehow managed to forget a few key things - toothpaste, handwipes, pocket tissues, a mirror etc - so I just embraced the true festival vibe of not caring! With a little stream to cool down, and the overall festival area being a cosy and ve walkable distance, it was an ideal homely spot for a weekend of music.

Unlike UK festivals where you walk for miles between stages, I was thrilled that the main stage was only a short hop from the electro stage (and only just out of aural reach) - and then another hop and a jump from the Your LMG stage - a first time stage from the free Cape Town music magazine - bringing up and coming bands to new ears!

I love Your LMG's tagline -'Passed out in a bar near you'. Hmmm... ponder that... (It took me two reads :)

I spotted some interesting talent there - Jinx were my LMG discovery of the weekend. A 'circus electro mix' the guys explained as I chatted to them before they went on stage. Id stopped to ask them who they were, cos they were the only ones dressed in theatrical circus flair at 5pm in the afternoon! Turns out their quirky singing style woo'ed the audience no end! And with the Johnny Depp-esque moves of Willy Wonka crossed with the Mad Hatter, the lead singer was uber entertaining! His female vocal counterpart also added some much needed beauty. Mesmerising - check them out!

Also on Your LMG - I checked out Ree-burth, the exciting rock band from Soweto - an amazing sound that doesnt match the stereotyped visual you're expecting! Ve cool! Such a striking combination of onstage energy! I also saw the Red Huxleys - a band I've heard lots about but not seen live - and their style of rock also impressed! I kind of wish I'd checked out more on that stage, but as with all festivals - the choice is just too much!

Meanwhile, on main stage - things were happening from early hours... too many amazing bands to list! But in chronological order - it would be Friday night's headlining slot of Jax Panik and his first ever live performance that blew both me and the listeners away! They had the crowd eating out of their hands and everyone was singing along! It was like a 30 Seconds to Mars rock show. Except Jared Leto was in a larger-than-life LED illuminated mask  - and there were five of these Jax Panik characters glowing against the bold digitised screens! Hard to believe it was their first time live! What a show!

Other discoveries of the weekend included Mccree and The Rescu - both before lunchtime on Saturday morning, proving that its always worth checking out all band slots and not just waiting for the Prime Circles and Hogs of the SA music world who most people know!

This was also Mccree's first ever festival - and to be on the main stage - oh wow! It took me a while to work it out, but when I did I was grinning like a school girl! It was the lead singer's voice which grabbed me - so similar it is to one of my all time favourite bands, a band who started out as small fry on the London scene (and consisting of two South Africans in their mix, including Beukes Willemse as lead singer), and who have now been living and performing in Berlin for the past two years, and blowing away local audiences with German precision! They are of course, Livingston! I was honoured enough to interview them and write their first ever article - back in 2004 - and then ended up following them at near every gig for about two years until they left London! All my friends and family got to hear about Livingston :) So watch out peeps, Mccree is the next one you will be listening to at a braai with me soon!

Mccree have what I call a 'big sky' sound - ideal for outdoor vibes, music that makes you breathe a little deeper and stand a little straighter, your heart feeling like everything will be ok.. it makes you wanna drive all day with the window rolled down and a big open blue sky leading you forwards!

Saturday night's line-up consisted of Prime Circle knocking out a good set, plus UK band Feeder who headlined - and I was surprised and thrilled to hear that their drummer now, is in fact a SA boy - an ex-Amersham drummer. You see, us South Africans infilrate everywhere! SA music is making its way into every nook and cranny - its just a matter of time before it explodes and is as acceptable the world over as Aussie music has become! No more 'special SA sections' at festivals cos 2010 is World Cup year, or the novelty Die Antwoord's, but many more Livingstons, Parlotones, Soweto Gospels, Johnny Cleggs, Nibs van der Spuys and all those other SA bands who tour abroad regularly!

Closing Saturday was an epic Goldfish set - say no more, who better to keep a crowd very much alive and awake til 330am! Plus the animated video to their latest track 'Get busy living' - a tale of two suitcases, in love. Too clever! I will never look at my luggage the same again when travelling! :)

Synergy sure was the sum of all the parts - from once dance party to now rock fest - and just the right size vibe at that. So much great SA music is out there! We just gotta get busy living and supporting all the small bands. Cos who knows who will be the next Prime Circle or Goldfish. Then you can say you saw them first. Not to mention become a groupie and get to watch every gig while you can afford it!

Rock on SA music and fabulous SA festivals!
x