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 :)

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

Aaah, feet in sand, live music and sunshine...

Being home is always such a delight in so many regards. Firstly, there's the the 3 F's... Friends, family and familiarity...

This means that the first week of being back always flies, especially when birthday celebrations and new babies are part of the equation. One of the delights of being home are all the opportunities to see those bands and artists Ive been following, listening to, writing about, interviewing and dying to see live...

Alas, on Saturday past was a night of amazing music I missed in Cape Town. But one which demonstrates just how incredible the quality is of music in SA. With three awesome gigs to choose from - it was maybe a good thing that I wasn't able to go to any!
- Sugardrive, Farryl Purkiss, 3rd World Spectator and Bed on Bricks @ Mercury
- Zebra & Giraffe @ The Assembly
- Taxi Violence launched new album The Turn @ Albert Hall

By Sunday I had my toes in the sand, looking up at the Hout Bay mountains surrounding Dunes - the perfect Sunday afternoon spot. And, complete with live music - and free live music nogal, in honour of International Peace Day apparently. Feet in the soft sand, sunshine pouring down and being outside with the beach in full view, I was left to wonder how I live in London, so emotionally removed from this epic grandeur of Cape Town in its simplest most beautiful state!

As part of this peace festival, there were six bands - organised by some kids from one of the local schools. It started by watching a six year old kid smash some drums - Yamaha's youngest endorsed musician - endorsed from the age of four, and recently returned from New Orleans!

There were a couple of other bands who had been on my list of ones to see while down - first up was Checked Zebra - a six piece ska band with both trumpet and trombone and lots of chilled latent energy.

Headlining were the newly re-jigged three piece, Little Kings - also on my list as one Ive recently written about in the Sept issue of SA PROMO. With Ryan Kidwell on vocals, looking 100% the part of a front man, as well as Nick on drums and a super chilled bassist, Little Kings were a fab end to a Sunday spent outside as the day turned to night and the lights came up on stage adding a romanticised tinge of light to the set.

Check out the Sept issue of SA PROMO online for an article on the ska scene in SA and coming up in the October issue, for an interview with Taxi Violence about their new album and upcoming tour around Europe, amongst other interesting interviews and music insight.

Rock on SA rock,
x

PS. Its good to be back after spending much time and love on the SA PROMO magazine, I am now making time to tell you all about SA music in and around London as it happens, and for now - as it unfolds in SA too as an added bonus to get you back up to speed and to make up for my distance!

Gig Giveback: a whole bunch...

Its been a week, but I figure I still have the grace of it not being two weeks since I did the 'Gig Giveback' - a bit of a reflective thank you to the awesome SA artists who entertain us so excellently. 

The crazy thing is that Ive seen so many diff SA bands in the last week, that I dont know where to begin... and I find myself comparing them and getting a bit fussy about who I need to listen to again in the near future...

And I dont think I am alone. You see, the SA music scene in London is getting a wee little bit umm, saturated. A-hmmm. Didnt think Id ever feel like this being the ultimate intimate-gig music lover - of which most SA gigs are - but I feel a bit oversubscribed between work, life, having a social life and then seeing gigs - the ones you actually want to listen to that is - not just the ones you talk your whole way through as background music!

On the intimate level - I am now gutted that I made the call to miss out on seeing Seether. Currently in the UK for 2 shows - one was last night at the small hall style venue of ULU - or less cooly, the University of London Union! It was apparently brilliant - and they only played about 4 songs off the new album that just won them a SAMA for best rock album. Not bad for a band on tour post an album release. Normally bands kill audience desire and plug the new album so baldy that people walk away wondering if they ever knew the band they just listened to!

Well done Seether for playing all the faves! Alas, come back soon - cos I wont miss you again!

Then onto bands as background music - well, sad to say that the Sunday night event of 'Simply South African' as organised by Southern Fire events - well, it just didnt fit together very well. The place was empty for a start, maybe due to the glorious day outside of about 28 degrees - but the empty Clapham Grand dancefloor just looked a bit miserable with only a few scattered bodies.

We arrived to Faryll Purkiss - who was great. I do love his title track 'Better Days' - though he was growing some sort of a beard and wearing a hat, and he looked much older than his usual fresh faced boy with a guitar vibe!

Then there was Guy Buttery and Nibs van der Spuy - playing separately bar a few together - and at first I wasnt sure how a potentially rock-expectant audience (Arno was headlining) would take to these two guitar geniuses... but the applause over-did any of the other artists in the noise-o-meter!

Guy Buttery just keeps getting better every time I see him - such a guitar and sitar and saw playing wonder - he makes sounds that I have neevr seen before float off a guitar! I also had the delight of seeing him and Nibs at the Troubadour last week Wednesday! Troubadour is a truly intimate venue, steeped in history and so tiny that you almost want to reach out and touch the artists!

It was something indeed special for Nibs van der Spuy and his whisper-wonder voice as he touched many souls with his songs!

But back to Simply South African... following Guy and Nibs we saw Chris Letcher - def a talent waiting to be spotted. Something of an enigma in his lyrics and depth - Letcher is an awkward kind of wonderful - nothing commercial stamped on them - just real music being made!!

And following Chris Letcher was the SA rock god, ex-Nude Girls - one and only: Arno Carstens. But after only two songs, he was already onto a Nude Girls number and playing Blue Eyes. To which the audience responded fabulously. But quite dis-heartening for Arno to look out onto a near empty dance floor - and a few homesick South Africans singing along to a hit he has probably sung more times than he's driven a car!!

I am left wondering why a South African 'festival' didnt work.. and I fear it is for the reasons of a) we have so much choice between SA artists in London already... b) when an artist does come - they dont play a festival exclusively - in fact they play as many times as humanly possible... and c) a lot of the artists were ones either permanently or temporarily based in London where they are available often...

Added to that - it was a Sunday night - and well, as much as we want to think we're all still wild at heart, well we cant seem to cut three nights out a weekend - energy or money wise. Plus a little bit of outdoor sunshine never hurts to truly make a festival feel like a festival!

Hopefully the Toast Festival in Sept will capture some of these elements - and with a smaller select band line up - both of which are flying in exclusively for the event - we should have a good day out! All we can hope for there is a little bit of sunshine! Lets hope Freshlyground can bring a bit from SA - and Just Jinjer can def organise some Californian rays!

And then the last gig to talk about - one last week Thurs - and always a fab gig at the venue of the Halfmoon: A Mann Friday sell-out as usual!

Supported by the up-and-coming angelic/devilish little delight of US Terra Naomi, and followed by Lightning Type (another SA band sounding sometimes Scissot Sisters and sometimes Pearl Jam - hmmmm!?) - the MF gig was a grand affair of fabulous favourites and some new wonders too!

Rock on all things SA music! And big up to all the super talented guys out there!
x

SA Music starting with F...

I will never forget being told about washing the 3 F's as a girl... face, feet and well, umm, you fill in the last one!

Well, today's post lends itself to three SA Music artists beginning with F...

First up of the F's is Fevertree who are playing at The Clapham Grand tonight for their first UK show ever! To find out more about how these guys run their music like a business with all sorts of clever corporate sponsors and how they fully back the digital age of interacting with fans and taking their music digitaly to the world, check out this week's Live Music SA section of the South African newspaper!

Also in this week's edition of Live Music SA is a CD review on Durbanite singer songwriter Farryl Purkiss (also the second of our F's) who performed a one-off show in London this Saturday past!

And the last of the F's is Miss Field, Miss Josie Field who on her way to Europe will be playing a set at the Filthy's Sunday Jam, a rock/acoustic/blues afternoon of entertainment from 430 - 8pm. Josie will be on around 6ish! More on Josie to follow!

Rock on SA Artists beginning with F...
x

Friday I'm in love

Easing us nicely into the second weekend of September, is Recoup with their residency at Leonards tonight, and tomorrow night is singer songwriter Farryl Purkiss performing part one of his two city tour in London and Paris. 

So get on down to the gig, buy the CD and then check out next week's South African for the Tune Me CD review of Durban's fine troubadour!

And then for a bit of Afrikaans acoustic rock, check out Lukraaketaar tonight and tomorrow night at the all South African Aardvark.

Perhaps, like me, you do not know much of the Afrikaans rock music out there, so I will begin to endeavour to educate myself in this area and I invite you to take the journey with me! Watch this space!

After much anticipation, next week sees the exciting arrival of hot Joburg-based band Fevertree who will be in the UK on their debut tour.

Check out the South African for an interview with lead singer Garth Luke on how the band are getting on in their mission of world domination! For some easy Friday afternoon listening, check out their MySpace to hear a fabulous cover version of "Friday I'm in Love"

Rock On Farryl, Recoup, Fevertree & Afrikaans rock!
x

Much music in September

In South Africa spring has sprung, and this means that in the northern hemisphere we are headed to autumn already!? Am I the only one left wondering how we skipped summer completely?

The mornings are definitely getting more grey making getting out of bed that little bit harder, reminding us of that winter awaiting us up ahead.

But, grey and gloom aside, there is much to look forward to in September with regards to South African music. I am currently reviewing some great CDs and doing some interesting interviews.

London audiences are being spoilt with two great SA-based bands this September, both quite new, and touring the UK for their first time. The first up is Fevertree, a Joburg-based rock band. They're hot in many ways, from their stylised looks and band images, to their slick sound and passionate online presence.


Also Joburg-based & currently on European tour, is Harris Tweed, with their quirky & playful music fronted by a female vocalist with quite a vivacious voice!



Also currently on a European tour, though not stopping in London for some strange reason, are SAMA 'Best Rock Album' winning band, Cassette, whose CD I have been killing lately! Its damn good!


Somewhere between Smashing Pumpkins and Kasabian, their stuff is truly international and will watch with much anticipation as to how they get on. Their album will be released in the UK on 1 October. Review to follow soon.

Then there's London-based music veteran Chris Letcher whose experience oozes into his music in the most creative ways. All concoctions of sounds are created, coaxed and consolidated in his songs. With his calm Damien Rice controlled voice, its good stuff worth a def good few listens.

This weekend coming, Farryl Purkiss will be in London for one night only as he does a two city hop to London and Paris. Read more on Farryl in this week's South African paper, out tomorrow.

So, get those earplugs in and head on down to MySpace to meet some of these bands:
- Fevertree
- Harris Tweed
- Letcher
- Cassette
- Farryl Purkiss

And then needing not much introduction, is the lovely Karma (ex-Henry Ate) who will be heading from Florida to London for a couple of gigs in early October.

So even if the sun doesnt make an appearance this month, we are spoilt for choice with the South African music on offer!

Rock on September,
x

Catch 'em while you can!

Hooray for short weeks and the light at the end of the tunnel only four days away following a fabulous weekend of sunshine!

Just a quick reminder that if you havent yet seen Rory Eliot, tonight is your last chance and at the wonderful ear-heaven of the Halfmoon. Also, catch Parlotones last night tomorrow night, plus my fave London SA band Livingston playing in Camden tomorow night!

Lots coming up in September, but more on that to follow soon!

And don't forget to pick up a copy of today's South African which features a CD review on Durban-born singer songwriter Farryl Purkiss, a troubadour who is going places fast! Under record label Sheer he released his debut over here just under a month ago on 4 August.

Read Tune Me to find out more... and then get out to buy the CD and get to know his songs before Farryl flies into London for his gig on 8 September in London!

Rock on four-day weeks!
x