Who else does it...

I've been listening to - and enjoying - the country music trio from Nashville of 'Need you now' fame. None other than, Lady Antebellum. And it got me to thinking...

Does South Africa have many, or any, duo male and female mixed bands where both genders sing?

Internationally there have been many bands over the years who have done the shared vocal contrast - from The Mamas and the Papas to ABBA, Australian brother and sister duo Angus and Julia Stone, the UK Mercury 2010 prize winning The XX and of course the Lady Antebellums of the country world, as well as many artists from the folk world who have existed in such duos over the years. But in South Africa, who has done this or is doing this?

I really battled to think of any South African examples. I considered Cassette, but quickly realised it is only Jon Savage who sings. Then I thought of two bands I saw recently at Synergy - Fire Through The Window and No One's Arc.

Fire Through The Window, the only Durban based band at Synergy, reminded me of a sort of pop rock outfit who's energy reminded me a bit of Blink 182 in their later years. Sinead Dennis and Marc de La Querra both sing, often bantering as they go. It works!

Then No One's Arc, while more what I would call a male-fronted group, do have a fabulous backing vocals female who adds a Zolani-esque feel to their sound.

Then I thought of Goldfish who have featured the incredible vocals of Monique Hellenberg. But guest appearances and collaborations are slightly different from groups like Lady Antebellum who are using both the male and female voice as instruments...

While collaborations don't quite count, I'd still be keen to see more collaborations or male/female duos existing in SA. Anyone know of any good ones, or any suggestions of which artists should get together and create gender combination tracks?

Rock on new creations,
x

How shall I miss thee...

I've just watched my last episode of Expresso for this time round. Its a morning TV show on SABC3 that I've come to love since its launch in October last year...

And my favourite bit (to do with music of course), is at the end of the show - the part between 7:20 and 7:30 - when they interview a different SA musician or band each day! What a service they are doing for our local music scene!

With the live studios set against a backdrop of Table Mountain, Cape Town is an ideal setting for this fun breakfast show. And the fact that they have Michael Mol as a TV presenter also adds so much to it! Vuyo has his own bouncy vibe to bring to the mix and Liezl van der Westhuizen adds her own flair too as the three of them rotate on who interviews the artists.

On this morning's show was a statuesque chap by the name of Mathew Moolman - with only one 't'! With an album entitled 'Rhythm & Harmony', he sung a track called Break Loose which showed off his soul-infused style. His short radiating dreads stood out against the mountain as he sung in the fresh morning air, bathed in beautiful Cape Town morning sunshine.

Aaah, Cape Town... I am going to miss you dearly! You are such a fabulous place to call home - but more so South Africa, with your silent power and presence - you really do have a fabulous energy about you, and I cannot wait to spend more time getting to know you!

So as I pack my suitcase with summer clothes and head back to London's freezer effect where I shall lavish in all my scarves, hats and other fun winter items (yes my awesome uggs, I'm coming for you!), I feel like I'm merely pressing a temporary pause on my time here - because I feel I will be back sooner than I realise...

And so as Mathew Moolman - with a 't' - said this morning on Expresso, even though his album is not yet available in shops, there is still a way to get hold of it. And that is, if you order it by sending an email to bookings@mathewmoolman.co.za, he will not only hand deliver it, but also sing you a song of your choice when he does! (I'm not quite sure what this service costs!?) And so, while I will not be available in South Africa for a while, feel free to email me if you wish my presence and services (or just a hug), and I will make a plan to personally deliver when I'm back in SA (though I can't promise any singing (",)

And because of artists like Mathew and his passion to put himself out there - that's exactly why I have such a passion for South African music! Musicians here just love what they do, they do it with real desire and intent and they are hard working!

So thank you to all the wonderful musicians who have made these last four months so fabulous... you need only read back on this gig blog to know who they are... but special mentions go out to Jax Panik, Jack Mantis Band, Mccree, Chris Tait and Dave Owens as I've joined them temporarily on their journeys. And to some others such as Shen Winberg, Evolver One and Civil Twilight for the beautiful songs that have been the soundtrack to my working days!

Rock on SA music in South Africa and beyond,
x

Yes, I'm guilty...

As a true original, rock-loving, leaning-towards-acoustic singer songwriter lyrical loving music type girl, I feel I've commited some sort of music sin...

I've got Musica partly to blame for making such music so accessible and reasonably priced at R99.95. And for a double CD - score! Now, it is time to admit my little secret and tell you just what it is that I bought... Any guesses thus far? Any particular CDs you would consider as a shocking purchase?

Well, the moment of truth is that the album I bought isn't even an original album. Its a compilation. Ok, so that's the second hint. Double CD compilation. Ok... so, I have just become the owner (by choice of course) - of Now 56! Does that make me a bad music person?

I have this thing about not supporting big international commercial artists unless they are true musicians and passionately into their art. Especially since this is where most record labels tend to spend their marketing budgets, because they know that these are easy artists to sell. So instead of investing in local talent, they'd rather spread the next J'Lo or Justin Bieber - of which neither probably writes their own songs, music or gets involved with much more than photo shoots, press events and live performances.

But what did ease my conscience was just how many SA artists are actually on the album. And also, the reason I bought it - as is often the case with music - is for purposes of nostalgia...

You see, this trip to SA has been just shy of four fabulous months - and I've been loving my driving time, while listening back and forth between 5FM and KFM. And with many awesome SA tracks on the radio a lot more than I've recalled in the past, its been delightful to hear some great SA songs on radio.

While the SA artists on Now 56 are the more well known SA ones, at least they are on there. And at 9 tracks out of a total 41 on the two CDs, that is nearly 25% which is akin to the local radio station local radio play. I hope that by Now 58 we are at 50% of local stuff versus international commercial overkill.

SA artists on Now 56:
- The Arrows: Lovestruck
- Goldfish: Get busy living
- The Parlotones: The stars fall down
- Locnville: Love rush
- Prime Circle: Breathing
- Civil Twilight: Next to me
- Arno Carstens: Heartbreak Monday
- Freshlyground: Fire is low
- Jax Panik: Get up (if you're hot)




Other SA songs on local radio that I'm totally digging right now:
- Evolver One: Move along (wow, incredible when really loud and in a private driving space)
- What now: Toy soldiers
- Mccree: What is it
- Jax Panik: Rockstar (how can you not be in a good driving mood when this comes on! And the crazy cool video for this fabulous track is being released today - keep an eye out)
- Dirty Skirts:  Strike the match
- Civil Twilight: Love letters to the sky
- Good Luck: Taking it easy

Rock on local music getting out there,
x

A man like me...

This is the title of his album that I got to know so well... A man like me - one of the honey-sweet voices of the SA industry. Plus he is a piano-playing muso, writing beautiful songs of romance, love and appreciation...

James Stewart at Backsberg

He is none other than James Stewart - the brush-cut blonde guy from the 90's band The Usual. These days, his usual hang-outs include wine farms and fire-side restaurants in the Franschoek region which he calls home.

And so, beneath a breezey tree, James entertained us beautifully last Sunday on the gorgeous green lawns of Backsberg wine estate as part of the kykNet Backsberg Picnic Concerts.

"So I thank my lucky stars each night... because they're the only reason I can see, why a woman like her could ever love a man like me..."

Without fail, James dedicates this 'A man like me' song to his lovely wife Lauren, serenading her every time! And as their two blonde TV ad-perfect kids ran around the lawn that afternoon, you can see why James Stewart thanks his lucky stars. He is both talented and blessed with an amazing family, living in the fabulous surrounds of Franschoek and with a dedicated fan following of his piano ballads.

He also does a cover show of The Police on occasion, so we were treated to some such tracks, as well as a few Bob Marley interpretations! James did a few more of his classics, including Gravity, Beautiful Lies, Shine and The Usual's big track, The shape that I'm in.

It was a very chilled picnic vibe and perfect for a Sunday afternoon. It even came complete with imaginary percussion. Alas, Barry van Zyl - James' drummer as well as the dummer for Johnny Clegg - had come through to play the gig, only to find out that the drums had not arrived. Oh well, its always interesting knowing the behind the scenes happenings, but the audience would never have known otherwise!

Chris Tait and I chilling summer picnic style (and Gill's foot!)

I was also told by my fellow picnic'ers (who have worked with James over the years), that not only did James Stewart open for Ronan Keating in South Africa (of which I course remembered the date and location of the gig - 2 January 2005, Kirstenbosch, sad sad sad I know). So I was told by Gill Strawberry, that she had in fact met my Ronan (read 'Some of my favourite boys' to get the full story). And she too confirmed that Ronan wasn't very tall, but again, I've been so close and yet so far...!

I'd also chatted to Mr Backs himself (the man of Backsberg that is) - and asked about the Jax Panik, Goldfish, Locnville, Die Antwoord Sonic Summer Tour that took place at Backsberg on 18 December that I'd missed (and yes, am still kicking myself for!) Apparently it pulled a two and a half thousand crowd and was a fabulous show! Locnville even arrived, and left, in a helicopter one of the waitresses told me!

Now that's how to rock the winelands, perhaps there is a market in helicopter rides to these wine farm summer picnic concerts. Then we could truly enjoy the full wine farm experience and actually indulge in decent amounts of wine, and not just of the quaffing kind!

For more wineland picnic concerts, you can catch Laudo of aKING this Sunday 16 January, followed by Albert Frost, Robin Auld and more in weeks to come! (Karen Zoid, Koos Kombuis and Hot Water have already played!) Alas, I shall be leaving the warm and open surrounds of our Western Cape next week and heading back to London's buzz to see what SA music I can blog about there...

Rock on wine farm summer concerts, and James Stewart's piano ballads,
x

Worth the wait...

With a giggle I discovered that the very Julia whose 'Julia plus one' had gotten us into Civil Twilight weeks before, was in fact the same Julia Jakobsen who would be playing at The Waiting Room on Tuesday night in town...

Introduced to her by Chris Tait - both on that amazing night at The Assembly and now knowing that she was playing a little acoustic set before The Brothers Streep - and I was delighted to see someone new!

Julia is in fact Danish by birth, and has lived the world over - and most recently in mid 2010, was building popularity in her birth home with her band The Fireflies as they did superbly well on Denmark's X Factor! But cue Cape Town, where Jules has lived from 14 to age 22 - and where she considers home she says! We are totally digging that!

Beneath a thick fringe, she morphs her pouty red lips into many shapes as she babbles on between songs with stories and jokes that make you want to take her home and put her in a jar, and label it 'Fabulous friend - open when in need of laughs, giggles and good times!' She's natural and cute, and there's something a little awkward and hugely endearing about her. Oh, and the girl can sing. Boy, can she sing. And as she babbles on about too, she can also sing a lot about boys. Good stories in her songs. Good times.

One song with the line, 'You had me at hello and goodbye...' a heavy heart comes through in her creations, yet beautiful acoustic expression sets these lyrical bombs to light.

Then there are The Brothers Streep - of which Dylan with the dark hair and pink swoosh of a fringe had played money collector moments earlier. My friend Drew requested more than a dot on his hand - he wanted a zebra. Next up, I felt an Octopus was what I needed. To which our money collector drew an arrow to the octopus and wrote 'Paul'. I thought maybe he was tagging his work, much like any graffiti artist would, so when I asked him if his name was Paul, he just looked at me funny and said, 'I thought you'd get it...'

So I thought about it a second or three longer, and it dawned on me - oh yes, Paul the Octopus. Of course. To which I lifted my hand to my mouth and asked Paul who was to be the best band of the night. I listened, and waited... (we were in The Waiting Room afterall)

And Paul say, 'Something Streep'. So I told the dark-haired guy with the pink fringe, and at first he didn't get it. So I looked at him strangely, saying, 'I thought you'd get that...' He thought for a second or three and he got it.

So that was how the night began with interactions of The Brothers Streep. And it didn't get any less weird. 

If you come expecting music, you will get so much more from a Brothers Streep experience. And the fact that The Waiting Room have couches, instantly turned it into some sort of comedy show at best, or perhaps just like a live lounge act - in the comfort of a friend's really large living room, and with a serviced bar and good lighting.

I can't recall the first song. But they had me at the second song. Any band who can immortalise Steri Stumpie - or a song about 'flavoured milk' as they call it - gets my vote. 

In fact, I think I did a slightly over-zealous 'Yeah', when they announced that they had a song about flavoured milk. As a Nesquick chocolate milk girl of note, I just understand the passion. Plus Steri Stumpie in all its rainbow of flavours is just so incredible - I mean where else can you get bubblegum, creme soda, toffee caramel or banana milk at such convenience. Its not like you want to keep a permanent stash of creme soda Nesquick - but for that odd occasional craving, what better than a creme soda Steri Stumpie. (In fact, my new year's day 2011 started that way - firstly with a much-needed chocolate one, and topped with creme soda! I was creating a new version of the much needed 'groen ambulans'... the 'groen melk ambulans'!)

But back to their song. With lines like, 'How can we feel down when strawberry milk is still around?' and 'How can we feel glum when banana milk is filled with so much fun!' and the chorus which just captures the essence of any true flavoured milk lover... 'When the road is bumpy, drink a Steri Stumpie!'

Besides milk-inspired outputs, there was an Afrikaans song, a cover of The Rocky Horror Picture Show (hey Brad... Yes Janet...), a pirate song, a song about Disney princesses (why not?) and the immortalising of another South African institution... They did an ode to Joshua Doore (your uncle in the furniture business and all). Singing 'Joshua Doore, supplier of bathmats and hope for us all!'

Simon van Wyk and Dylan Hichens of The Brothers Streep

I think my favourite must have been the shopping song, a song about logic and arithmetic as they explain. '10 means 10 and less means less. 11 or 12 just wont do. So take your 27 items and get out of the express queue!'

I want to bottle them too and label them 'Fun times, laugh a minute. Good for road trips and around braai fires.' I mean really, who thinks of this stuff..?

Well, Simon van Wyk and Dylan Hichens I guess. And since taking their show to the Edinburgh Fringe last year its definitely got an international flair to it despite all the fab localisms. And then there was when they were live (on Skype) on the Graham Norton show last year some time too I think. Graham's team was interviewing Anna Pacquin on the show - and in their remit of bizarre research, they came across a little band in Cape Town who had done a song in honour of Anna. And 'APS' was its name - Anna Pacquin Syndrome. So their moment of bizarre international TV fame began that day. But it won't end at 15 minutes for these chaps. And if you wanna find out what APS is all about, you'll just have to get down to a live show yourself. 

As we drove home from town last night, curving down Hospital Bend - of which Julia had a song by that very name - I was sipping on my Steri Stumpie from the Orange Street Engen, an institution for late night stops on the way home (except as Drew pointed out, it was exceedingly quiet at midnight in comparison to 3am!) So, I was sipping my Steri Stumpie with a sense of ownership and pride in honour of the flavoured milk song that inspired my purchase. (Subliminal marketing perhaps? Do The Brothers Streep own shares in Steri Stumpie I wondered..?) 

And I was most chuffed to have discovered a new flavour on the Engen fridge shelf last night. Coffee my friends. Yes, Coffee. I'm surprised Steri Stumpie hadn't latched onto this clever flavour before!  Well, I do feel that The Brothers Streep need to add a new verse to their song in honour of Coffee (And I think its only fitting that they dedicate it to me, and especially since 'coffeee' rhymes so effortlessly with 'Sooosi' - I'll be following up on this!)

(Although I did ask Paul when I got home, and he says that Chocolate is always the ultimate winner!)

Its soon time to part with Paul as I wash away Dylan's delightful drawings and with it, the memories of the fabulous night before. (Oh, and I forgot to mention that I went back and requested a jellyfish too!) So both Paul and my elongated jellyfish will soon be at one with the water of life again.

This was my first full Brothers Streep show since seeing them play a few songs before Roland Albertson in London last year. And worth the wait! But apparently their full set is much longer. So I can't wait to experience more whacky wonderfulness in the future. And I def want to see Julia Jakobsen again - delightful!

Rock on weird and wonderful musical creations combined with comedy and flavoured milk,

x

Some of my favourite boys...

"Johnny, Jack and Jim - some of my favourite boys," so says the blonde bar owner in the film Coyote Ugly. Johnny Walker, Jack Daniels and Jim Beam of course...

Well, I have my own version from a while back. "Damien, Daniel, Donavon, Jack, John and Ronan - some of my favourite boys" (Sue Northam) 

My favourite singer songwriters of that time that is. Circa 2004 / 2005. Damien Rice. Daniel Bedingfield. Donavon Frankenreiter. Jack Johnson. John Mayer and Ronan Keating.

A lot of people may wonder how Ronan made that list. But what I must explain is that when I first moved to the UK, I had a list. (Another list from the fave boys list that is). And on that list were various things to do while I was in the UK. One of them was to see Ronan play live.

And another not so written down Ronan reason, was in fact that I wanted to marry him. There was the issue of the wife, and the kids. And the very squeaky clean life he'd lead (yes, I read the Ronan autobiography). I once thought I'd spotted him in Putney in fact. He was driving a beaten up Ford, and with the window rolled down on that hot summer's day, I spotted the same tattoos on the driver's arm as Ronan has... I was so sure it was him that I ran frantically down that high street, dodging people and pavement traffic. Heart-a-flutter. Heart-a-racing to be honest. I'm not entirely sure what I would have done had I caught up with the car. And though I didn't quite reach that beaten up Ford, I believe that it was Ronan driving down the road that summer's day. I had been that close.

My friend Em did spot him once on Oxford Street, and of course she texted immediately to tell me. But not only to tell me that she'd walked straight past him (no fair!), but that he was in fact quite short. Now Ems is already a gorgeously tall girl at approx 5 foot 9, or even 10... whereas I am just over 6 foot! Hmmm, why do celebs always look so much taller on screen and in photos! This was a fact I had not taken into consideration.

I guess I grew up a bit since my tween Ronan crush, plus I started to discover many more amazing musicians as I matured. Of which Daniel Bedingfield was a little big crush when I first got to London, around 2003. For any housemates of 8 Sprewell House, I sincerely apologise for all those 9am Saturday wake-up calls with Daniel's 'Girlfriend' blaring through the bottom floor of our house! But what a song! And that opening strumming til it kicks in...

"Giiiiirlfriend, you make my head start spinning around... And all I can hear is the sound of your heart beating in my ears. Giiiiiirlfriend, this boy has found another reason to sing... You're reminding me of everything that I hold dear in my heart!"

And I'm feeling elevated, lifted to my highest dreams. My whole world is revolving circles around your heart! You've got to be the one for me, or else life makes no sense... so wrap your arms around and kiss me til I'm dead! Giiiiirlfriend, a girl like you would take an army to find. How glad I am that you said you would be mine.... "

I was a true fan, even going to his Hammersmith Apollo show on my own when I could only find one ticket! Instead of being despondent, I went boldly and unashamedly by myself, singing along to every song!

Then there was Jack Johnson. Shared with me on a drive to Muizenberg in Cape Town, ahead of my first attempt at surfing with a friend and his dad's long board. How fitting. And I was hooked from first listen.

When I got to Thailand in 2004, everywhere we went they were playing Jack Johnson - Brushfire Fairytales or On and On. And if they weren't playing it, I'd request it. What a soundtrack to an epic trip. Memories were made of it. I remember writing postcards one afternoon, outdoors and in sunshine, palm trees to my right, Jack in the background, a gorgeous man next to me - and the feeling that life couldn't get much better than this!

Then in 2005, Jack did a world tour. And he was coming to London. Except that I wasn't the only Super Fan. And tickets sold out instantly. And then they went onto the online black market where £300 a pop on Gumtree seemed a little excessive. So I did what any true fan would do - and checked out his other tour dates. I matched his tour schedule with where I had friends in the world. And Madrid was the winner!

£50 return flights from London into Madrid and out of Barcelona. Bargain. Plus £15 a ticket to see the one-and-only Jack Johnson - Bargain Of The Year! Did the Spanish not know, or appreciate who he is I wondered with exasperation!?

Tapas and small beers eased us on our way to the venue that balmy May evening in Madrid. And inside a venue with a life-size, and fabulously fake palm tree smack centre in the room, we were able to scooch up super close to that stage. I remember shaking for most of the concert. And calling my friend NPK all the way in Cape Town, still shaking from sheer delight as I held the phone up while singing along, engulfed in utter happiness.

You see, I was literally shaking - not a single photo in focus!

Plus it was through Jack, that I'd met Donavon. Knowing that Jack only hangs with awesomeness, I'd made the acquaintance with Donavon Frankenreiter outright - since he was opening for Jack's Madrid show, I'd bought Donavon's album without a pre-listen! And so I knew every one of Donavon's songs too. And so he also made it, quite quickly, onto my list of boys.

Then there was John Mayer. Our introduction was quite a surreal one. In a top-down Mustang while driving round Beverley Hills back in 2004, interspersed between The Eagles, was this man with an amazing voice - and the first song to grab me was the fabulous 'Your Body is a Wonderland'. Its been a love affair with me and John ever since. I've bought every album. From Room for Squares to Heavier Things which I immersed myself in, to sticking with him over the years as he's tried his jazz hand and other side projects. So he makes the fave list effortlessly.

So that's about everyone. Aaah, not forgetting Damien Rice. I remember hearing Canonball, and being impressed. But then I heard The Blower's Daughter on an ad on TV, and I went out and bought the album the next day without further interrogation. I knew instantly I'd found another one for my favourites list. That violin. That emotion. That voice! "I can't take my eyes off of you, I can't take my eyes off of you..."

Thinking about all those artists now, and the impact of their songs and their music, it takes me to a very special place and an amazing time of my travels and my London life!

Now, as always, what got me to thinking about this, was who I would be able to say are my favourite SA boys - singer songwriter boys that is. And oh my, its a growing list at best...

There are the ones who have long since held a place in my heart, such as Dave Owens, Shen Winberg, Nibs van der Spuy and more, to the newer discoveries including Jack Mantis with his intensely beautiful voice, and Joshua Grierson with his bluesy beautiful raw real sound. I'm a sucker for an acoustic guitar. And when the music makes me feel something, that's me, I'm finished. I'm theirs forever.

But you've heard me go on about Dave, Shen and Jack many times before. So I want to add some new ones to the gig blog mix for you to explore... Jasper Dick (very new to my listening repetoire and so fresh and new that he's practically still a secret), Chris Tait (with an abundance of material from his previous band Tait in 2003, with the ability to master styles from raw emotive to edgy rock, its hard to find a box for Chris, so let's not. And more on him separately I promise)... Then there's Roland Albertson (fresh surf style acoustic rock and with a new online project just released, more soon on this too)... and Dave Fisher who I met at Splashy Fen this year and played for us around our campfire, now he needs to get his stuff out there, he's got some beautiful melancholic songs! And then not forgetting the Ian Hendersons, James Stewarts and Farryl Purkiss'es of the male singer songwriter world who have been around for a while, and indeed are worth mentioning!

Aaah, Dave, Shen, Roland, Nibs, Farryl, Chris, Ian, Josh, Jasper, Jack and James... some of my favourite SA boys! (Sue Northam)

And to top an already awesome weekend, we're off to see James Stewart and his fabulous piano ability at Backsberg wine estate in Franschoek this afternoon!

Rock on amazing SA singer songwriters,
x

PS. For those of you who are wondering... near everything on that original London to do list has now been ticked off, well, except for seeing a real wild hedgehog. So as I head back to London in just over a week, it is hedgehogs I shall be looking for (and yes, I still get excited when I see foxes around the neighbourhood at night!) Cos once my hedgehog is ticked off, well my list will then be complete. And we all know what that means...

So I did indeed get to see my Ronan play live - and at an outdoor event in a natural amphitheatre at Kent Castle! It even rained on us, but it is England afterall. And I was not one to complain :)

The secret is out...

The heat stuck to my skin like a thin film of syrup...

There was no wiping it off or escaping its clingy closeness. But it felt good. It slowed me down to a pace proportionate to purposeful interaction and thinking...

Sitting very still was one very clever option, or alternately, walking at a medium speed to muster enough of a freeflow to cool the skin. And if someone touched you, you really felt it - as if a merging, momentary adhesion of sweaty palm to sweaty skin, an Avatar-esque acknowledgement of 'I see you'.

What started as a 'mini pub crawl' on one side of Long Street, ended on a side street called Hout, off the bottom of the famous one-way entertainment street of Cape Town... And into a little blues establishment we did go. Boo Radleys was its name. A long backlit whisky bar greeted us with soft light, away from the garish heat of the town centre which held the memory of Cape Town's 38 degrees in its cement, its tar and its grid of constructedness.

A long cool colonial drink seemed most fitting, yet after a song or two from the little songstress we'd been tipped to come see, I felt transported in time and place. As if sitting somewhere in the US, New Orleans maybe - but definitely not in South Africa...

'Gimme one reason to stay here...' a Tracey Champman cover was the song of choice which our dark-haired blues guitarist chose to croon as her opening track that sticky Wednesday night as she sat on a bar stool, all legs and arms around her electric guitar, and a voice which emanated from her tumble of dark hair. How she stayed cool under there I don't know, and where such a big voice came from in such a tiny package of a person, I'm not sure either.

As Your LMG stated on its January cover, 'Natasha Meister - no longer a secret' - having now seen her for myself, she sure is one of those rare gems. Yet at a tender 20 years old, the secret herself doesn't even seem to quite realise her secret power.

And herein lies one of the most beautiful aspects of discovering up and coming artists - they themselves often don't know just how good they are yet, so what you get in these performances is completely different to the polished shows when you will pay a whole whack more to watch them in years to come!



Thanks to Mike Smith of Your LMG for letting me know that Natasha was playing last night, Boo Radleys for putting on such quality music for free, Natasha for playing - and to everyone who shared the Meister secret last night in that sticky heat: Brendon Rowen (music vid director amongst many other things), Donna McCallum (aka The Fairy Godmother), Peter Lacey (of Musketeer / Seether fame) and Graham Lowndes (guitarist for The Rescu)! Was an awesome bunch of people to have in one room!

So now my secret is also out... get out and see as many up and coming SA bands while they are still in their secret stage - and support our local musicians - cos that's where the real treasure lies! And then you too can say, 'I once saw Natasha Meister at a free gig at a blues bar called Boo Radleys...'

Rock on secret discoveries,
x

I've got my eye on you...

...and your online activity!

Back in June I had a little list of artists I was impatiently waiting on for debut albums... Well, as it goes on the inside of the industry, there are usually heaps of versions of songs produced and outputted until the final  final mastered album is ready for public consumption and worthy of our 100-150 bucks!

I've now had the pleasure to listen to near all of my highly anticipated artists with pre-release albums and EPs in varying forms... So I suggest you too start following these bands and checking out some sample release tracks online, so you too can be part of their unfolding stories...

Below I am starting to track their online following as I intend to watch them grow over 2011 - and the * shows that the first six are all due to release debut albums in 2011 which should add fans in leaps and bounds. Join the journeys online:

• The Truth* - this new project by Chris Tait (of Hey Mister, and Tait fame before that) was only launched in October 2010. It has a wee 133 followers for now and the first five songs of this album have already been released on facebook. I think this is a great way to engage fans, show them the money - give them a taste of the music! Since this is rockier than Tait's previous style, it is a new journey for Chris too. I'm a new Tait fan, so I shall enjoy this journey of The Truth from its infancy and see where a project like this may lead!

• David Beretta Owens* - 426 puts Dave Owens - or David Beretta Owens as he is now officially known - just before Shen in the fan race, and with 28 stated days (as of today) until his album release, let's see how quickly Dave's fan momentum can develop! He does of course have the added element of being the ex-Lithium frontman, so much like when Arno Carstens went solo from Nude Girls, people will know his voice and will be keen to see what he's up to these days! And with that depth of voice, delightful character and natural rockstar quality to him - I can't wait to see how fans respond to the softer sound of Dave on his debut solo album!

• Shen Winberg* - with 482 likes on facebook, the secret is still to a very select bunch of fans. And what a lucky inside circle, since Shen plays around Cape Town so much that its at these intimate gigs where one can get closest to an artist, and 90% of the time its for free! So sign up to his facebook page now - and 'discover' his John Mayer / Jason Mraz African-blended flavour soon!

And I've been lucky enough to have watched Shen over the last 5-6 years as he's gone from cover songs to his own creations!

• The Rescu* - 540 fans sees them next up after Shen... heartfelt, gut-wrenching stadium style rock, with a message. Very easy listening. Very rock. With great guitar. (Plus I love the emotive violin effect). I've seen them once at Synergy, liked what I saw, and I'm super keen to see more!

• Mccree* - measuring 1,086 on the facebook fan scale, these boys are way under-attended online. But it is with glee that I know I'm part of the first 1,000 facebook fans - cos when the world gets wind of their sound and the Mccree team picks up the pace of their online presence - you'll scream and I'll scream, we'll all scream for 'Mccreeeee!"    In fact, I'd even say, "See them now in SA while you can, cos they'll be somewhere overseas soon if any wise sponsor or label can spell Mccree and envision their name in lights already...!"

• The Jack Mantis Band* - close on Mccree with 1,195, this is another SA band set for a seismic explosion when mainstream SA gets to experience them live! Mantis maketh magic where ever they do go! They've done a bit of touring to date - the White Mountain Folk Festival in KZN and the Garden Route Summer Festival in December 2010. But until they have an official product and a national tour, who knows what other fabulousness may unfold... Music with conscience and soul. Or as JMB describe their music, "Peace, love and politics..."

• Jax Panik - with approx 8,000 fans when they released their second album in September 2010, Jax Panik have grown their fan base to over 44,500 facebook fans in less than four months! With their daily, and often hourly, interactions with fans, I am Jax Panik is a clever concept and one which keeps fans uber engaged. If you don't get it yet - just head over to their page and read a snapshot of the wall to see how they communicate with and include the Jax Panik clan of fans! Jax Panik is a fascinating facebook fame example and one I will continue to watch in 2011 with delight!

And without intentionally trying, this list has turned out to be a bunch of boy bands, or shall I correct myself and say male-fronted bands, of which most of them are not too shabby on the looks level either. Proving that not only do we have some very fine sounding talent coming out of our country, but also extremely pleasing talent on the eye, providing more reason to follow them online and at a gig near you for a full sensory experience! (and if you're a guy, just think of all the girls following all the hot guys!) But hey, the music is the strongest drawcard afterall! :)

(And just as an extra brag, just cos I can... I am also ve chuffed to say that all of these bands hail from Cape Town too!)

Rock on facebook fan followings and fab Cape Town bands... we will be checking back in with your fan followings in the near future!

x

More live music to start the new year... (part 2)

Once we'd rested a bit on the 1st - attaining enough strength to do it all again - we hopped in the car and headed towards Wellington for the second day of the first ever Rock the River festival...

On the banks of the Berg River, at a place called Buffalo Drift (complete with a buffalo skull at the entrance), it was a funky location with two distinct stages.

The main stage area was a bit muddied from the morning's rain and so the rock 'n reggae ska line up had to be remixed and some band stage times were shortened. Alas, the much-awaited Mccree also suffered technical stage delays at the hands of the sound guys, so by the time they played they only got about five songs in!

But what a fab five songs they were. I'm still itching to hear a full pure Mccree show, but I guess one appreciates more what is delayed in gratification. Or not. More Mccree I say!

Following Mccree were the Hogs - Cape Town's ska kings or the only band in the 'pork rock' category. Other bands worth a mention were in the hard rock category. Starting with Stone Collar - strong in name and voice of lead singer Leshem Petersen - and also a female-fronted Cranberries style group called Silent Side. Its always nice to hear new bands at festivals and get the full effect of the live energy delivering their lyrical creations!

And then to the MuthaFM guys - Nick E Louder and Lilian - for putting on an electronic stage amidst the blue gum trees, with fab tunes flowing from the little dance area next to the river! I don't profess to know too much about one DJ or the next, just that if the music makes you feel something, or connects you - then it has done its job. And as Lilian said, "This is some of the best dance music I've heard in ages, a line up hand-picked by Nick E!" Nice one Mutha!

The best band this 1 Jan 2011 - without a doubt - was Mccree (did you expect otherwise? ;) ...So get used to the name, cos they have fast become one of my favourite rock sounds of the future - and you will be hearing more about them right here!

So besides rain and mud, insect bites and a few sound problems and line up re-scheduling, Rock the River went down well for a first time and was a perfect way to spend the first day of a new year.

Rock on 2011,
x

Nothing beats live music to start a new year... (part 1)

I couldn't think of a better way to see in a new year than surrounded by live music! As always, there was too much choice... but as always, plans came together perfectly at the last minute!

Plan A was to head to the Falls Fest at Vic Falls in Zimbabwe, where Mann Friday were playing with the Parlotones. Cost cut that option short alas. Plan B emerged soon after when I spotted the Rock the River festival. Alas, there was a contesting evening of rock at the V&A Waterfront. So, as always, I aimed to do a bit of everything...

The evening started with sushi and champagne, followed by seeing 2011 in with Zebra & Giraffe (and some Jaegie and Millers!) I even scored a delightful blue head scarf from the lovely Josie, and thus was able to avoid the wind having its way with my hair!

We caught the end of CrashCarBurn when we arrived - long on my list to see - and I was thrilled they saved top tune Twisted to last! Zebra & Giraffe after them were indeed great, and after them - a fabulous surprise, unannounced on the bill - Good Luck!

Self-described while chatting to Ben Peters before he went on stage (Ben is brother of Dom of Goldfish duo and part of the Good Luck trio), he said, "We are kind of a Goldfish rip-off!"

I guess no one could say it quite as frankly as a blood brother, but I'd challenge Ben by saying we could do with more Goldfish-esque acts in our arsenal of SA music reaching the world! A delightful blend of electronic music with live on stage instruments and vocals - it is a fabulous recipe to close a stage, lift a crowd or just create a vibe! It was no wonder that this was Good Luck's third gig of the night! Good Luck performed a few current commercial winners, including 'Americano' - and they sure added fuel to the blaze of an already vibing new year's energy!

Rock on rocking new years (part 2 to follow!),
x