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!
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Music marks the spot!

Ahead of tomorrow, election energy will inspire people in South Africa to stand in queues for their right to make the X that marks the defining spot... and potentially make a difference… Also making its stand, is MUSIC!

Electro funk artist Gazelle for one, is taking his stand and declaring himself as ‘President of Funk’ – swearing himself in tonight at his inaugural party at The Assembly in Cape Town. Check out the April issue of SA PROMO for an interview with this weird and wonderful artist making a mark on the music scene!

And elections totally aside, what is it about the animal kingdom taking over the music scene in SA? (and worldwide as I think of a few that float to mind – Wolfmother, The Animals etc)

Is it 'Animal Farm' coming to life... from the author of 1984, making bold statements about society through seemingly absurb contracts and comparisons? Or is it just me noticing this trend… in SA atleast, check this out – from varying grazing animals such as zebras, giraffes and gazelles to the more carnivorous types such as jackals, cats and chameleons – and not of course forgetting the cold blooded ones, goldfish!

Am I going crazy – no! Here is the lowdown of cool SA bands with funky animal inspired names:

Checked Zebra
Zebra & Giraffe
Gazelle
Mr Cat and the Jackal
Chris Chameleon
Goldfish

Rock on animal inspired artists,
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The time is here...

We sit in exciting SA music times - today I talk of things that have happened, others that are in the midst of being and something big about to unfold in SA this weekend!

Already happened was Oppikoppi this weekend past - up in Northam, my namesake affiliation for which I am still determined to be thee on site reporter atleast once!

Currently unfolding in London is the super exciting Mann Friday campaign... with the single Sunburn and Wonder launched on Monday 28 April 2008 - this is " THE WEEK YOU MADE US FAMOUS "

Catch the campaign on an underground station near you - this pic taken at Stockwell station in south London...


Kelly of Living it Live - Mann Friday's management company - spotted this on her tube travels !

To help the MF guys achieve their ultimate goal of reaching the UK download charts this week - google 'the week you made us famous ' - and from there you can download their single for only 79p as well as get last minute tickets to their single launch gig tomorrow night at Astoria 2!

And then from Oppikoppi happening - and having earned itself recognition in a recent international survey as one of the worlds top 10 best festivals - we move onto the South African Music Awards, that time of year when SA artists get the industry recognition they're after!

Watch this space as the event takes place this weekend in Sun City on Sat 3 May! Ads are underway on local SA tv (yes, Im still in SA!) and the buzz is building!

There also seems to be a fairly new TV programme delivered by local SA social critic Barry Ronge - Artcha - the hottest art in SA! With three 'Artcha angels' - ala Charlie's Angels style... Barry's angels are the beauties who do the screen-facing snippets and interviews between stories with art-based coverage of painting, music, dance and other cultural art related stuff!

On tonight's show I saw Chris Chameleon who says that he spends about four months of his year overseas - good for us (in London) and good for these guys as they get to spread their music and increase their exposure! Chris is currently finishing up an next English album and deciding on a name, which means we should expect him again soon in the UK!

But of course with summer on the way, we can expect many of our SA guys to be in London soon as they chase the sun! Something we should all learn to do more!

Well, my days of sun here are winding down. Ive had some great ones for a Cape Town autumn! A few more days in Cape Town, closing off this leg of the trip with the Henry Ate reunion tour show at Brass Bell in Kalk Bay! Since this venue holds particular fondness for me and many a Henry Ate memory from 10 years ago, it was on my suggestion that Karma arranged this gig! How apt then that I am actually in CT to see the same band who started so much of my love for SA music all those years ago! Sundowners. Savanna. Starter calamari. Great company (my best friend from Dubai is down!!). And a little bit of a reminisce around the Henry Ate faves of Just, Waves of Salt, Eudomania and So he says! What a perfect ending to the CT trip this shall be!

Then off to Joburg on Sat and hopefully gonna be able to catch another favourite in Nibs van der Spuy who is playing in Potch tonight and Joburg on Sat! Alas, I have not seen any new stuff since I have been here due to a busy stretch of socialising - but I am gonna make a swing past a good music store and pick up some new SA music. Alas, far too few music stores have dedicated SA rock music sections I have so far found and when I flick through the endless racks of CDs, I am still disappointed not to find many SA bands on the shelves. What a shame!

If it were up to me, Id be pushing for more display space for SA music in record stores. It seems the main focus is on African music - traditional, jazz etc as well as Afrikaans stuff. Maybe this says something about the market and what sells, but surely the displays can be a bit more sexy around South African rock!? And maybe this would push the sales a bit more!? Whether this is up to the msuci stores of the record comapnies to focus on I dont know, but something should be done. In fairness, Look and Listen in Claremont do have a pretty good section and I was pleased to see a good few names of bands I do have on my list to buy. But what about the other bands I am after? Where do I find their CDs? Perhaps Robin Auld's Coalition about increasing local bands' airplay quotas should add this to their focus as well!

Well, its been a long one tonight! I will continue to keep my musical eyes and ears open while Im here and add any more relevant insight into the SA music scene as I go!

Rock on sunshine and music combined!
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Kom kyk SAAM met my: Chris Chameleon

Catch him tonight at the Aardvark for an intriguing insight into this fabulous creature of a human being. I'm not sure what Chris Chameleon's show will hold, but since seeing him in May this year, I am now a converted Chameleon fan!

This artist has talent, charisma and a hugely endearing quirkiness. This is a perfect way to ease yourself into the week! And if Monday is your 'do-your-washing-and-bond-with-the-couch night', then you even get a second chance to see him tomorrow night!

Rock on the chameleon!
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Looking ahead: November...

A pinch and a punch for the first of the month, and an 'oh my, can it be November already!'? 

Christmas has started to creep into the stores, which means that at home in South Africa the summer is well on its way! And with summer comes many outdoor music festivals and such things!

But onto London side, a few exciting opportunities and festivals going down in London town... From charity music events, to Living it Live launch parties and some of SA's best in between.. expect Chris Chameleon, jazz diva Simphiwe Dana and much more...

Rock on November,
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