A trend that I am liking...

I am noticing a trend. And I like it. I noticed a little something recently, like finding well hidden Easter eggs, there they are... musical influences worth noticing. The lists from a band of who their musical inspirations are. And not from just one source, but from two, well in fact three if I count a cover song as an indicator in my trend theory! 

I'm talking about the South African bands who are quoting other South African bands as their musical influences. Hoorah! Our industry is at that stage, where people are being inspired by 'made in SA' talent! And more so, that they are stating this 'proudly SA' association too!

Now Johnny Clegg is one such SA band who has been mentioned a good few times, his world music style has earned a reputation in a category all of its own that inspires other SA bands!

But I am most excited about the young up and coming bands who are looking to other young SA bands for inspiration!

On Top Billing last week, The Graeme Watkins Project  (the band formed from the runner up from Idols 5) featured the making of their latest video which includes Madame Zingara's gorgeous circus-style cabaret and an array of quirky costumed characters (a glimpse on the right)! Graeme cited The Springbok Nude Girls and Boo! as influences, as well as The Killers, much more akin to their sound I thought, but it made my ears prick up none the less.

Then there was the Henry Ate cover of Just I mentioned from a gig last week when Franki Black did her version of it, thus reliving its legacy. And a legacy it does have. It was voted 5FM's song of all time in 2001, or something like that. I forget the exact award, but the stuff legacies and influences are all about - music that makes an impact!

And most recently, while browsing the female-fronted, London-based, SA band Neon Choir's recently refreshed and sparkly Facebook page, they list fellow SA band aKing as one of their influences, alongside K's Choice, Radiohead and Elbow! And today they find themselves playing their first show of the season, a Sunday tsunami relief gig for Japan, in Camden at The Enterprise.

Rock on the self-inspiring circles of SA music,
x

We're similar like that...

It was 2008 when we met. At the Music Exchange Conference in Cape Town. Plus I was at the Alma Cafe in Rosebank last night, and so was she. And I watched Franki Black perform a few hits, so did she. 

Shannon Hope and I, we're similar like that you see! We have things in common. 

Ok, so none of these things essentially mean anything other than we were in the same place at the same time when we met, and again last night... at her gig. Support act Franki Black opened with a few highly entertaining country-style songs. I liked very much. Not many SA artists explore the country genre. She also did a Henry Ate cover of 'Just', that made me happy.

And it made me think how more SA bands should do covers of other SA bands...

Next up, the singer songwriter we'd all come to see. Seated in the cosy home-style vibe of Alma Cafe in Rosebank, Durban-based Shannon Hope took to the stage with her keyboard, her traveling companion on the long journeys down the N2 from Durban to Cape Town, stopping along the route to share the Shannon Hope sound. It was her farewell Cape Town gig last night, for this month-long tour at least!

She told stories. She really, really sung her heart out. She poured her passion into the songs and the way she played. And she blew us away. With a sparkle in her eye beneath her red and black bit of fringe and hints of humour interspersed between tracks, she charmed the audience with her normalness and niceness (sic!), and yet she overly impressed with her talent (to the point of pure audience silence)!

She shared with us how she quit her corporate job two years ago in order to give her all to her passion of music. Shannon and I, we're similar like that... I too quit my corporate gig in order to give my media and love of SA music passion a run for its money!

She sung a song which must be called 'Just believe' which was like a self-talk soliloquy: "Take every chance you can possibly take, chase every dream you have ever believed in and treat every moment as if its your last. Just believe!" Sounds like something I'd say to myself.

She told of another song that she wrote at work one day, made up of a collection of her friend's Facebook statuses. She called it The Waiting Room. I too have written a short story once entitled The Waiting Room. Shannon and I, we're similar like that!

Shannon sings and plays amazing piano. A mix between Tori Amos and Ani Difranco. Me, I adore female vocalists and piano is one of my most emotively moving instruments!

She tells stories through her songs. I share stories in my articles.

Ok, so Shannon is one super talented musician, and I am a fan of the sound, passion and output she shares in the form of stories and song, and I get to write about what she does. She is quirky and honest and realistic! And it makes her personable. It makes you feel like you know her like a friend!

And then she hints at her second album, due out in winter. (Another reason besides feather duvets and hot chocolate, to look forward to the colder months ahead!) She sung one of the tracks, 'Fighting a new day':

"Of all the things I've lost along the way, I've missed my heart the most.
I've come out fighting, to fight a new day.
There's one thing I regret, the time wasted on you.
Pretending that I'm ok.
Forgetting what I was before.
And getting up to fight another day.
But I've come out fighting..."

I relate. In fact, is it plagiarism if someone steals your thoughts word for word?

Everyone should aim to catch an intimate Shannon Hope show at somewhere like the Alma Cafe. Up close and personal. Just like her songs. Just like Shannon.

Rock on Shannon Hope, road trips and being quirky and real at the same time,
x

Looking back on a fab trip home...

Sitting on the other side of the world, thinking back on the trip to South Africa and wishing it hadnt gone by so fast...

But we did so much - from wine and cheese tasting in Franschoek to sundowners and seafood by the sea, as well as catching the perfect Henry Ate reunion gig at the Brass Bell (extending my stay in Cape Town by a day and paying an extra £1,000 on my ticket to Joburg cos Nationwide decided to go bust that weekend!) But it was all worth it!

Pretoria was also wonderful - as well as going up north to Pilanesberg and Sun City for some game viewing and intense sunshine while running round the Valley of the Waves and going down super tubes in the African bush. We even jet skied and para-sailed. What a lot we did!

Then I went to Look and Listen in Pretoria - and after being bitterly dissappointed by the SA rock selection in Musica - I was wonderfully surprised to not only find en-mass variety of up and coming stuff, but also a uber helpful sales assistant who knew his SA stuff and pulled a few off the shelf for me.

So with a suitcase very full of exciting new South African music, I am now returned to the UK and ready to fully embrace the summer season of music ahead!

Some exciting names were recommended - aKING in particular. Plus The Sick Leaves and a female singer songwriter called Andra. Plus I got all the other recent albums that were missing from my collection due to bands not heading this way yet... I buy the albums in anticipation of their arrivals...

South African artists are once again out of hibernation and heading across this way as teh weather cools down south! Like migratory birds with a song to sing, they are flocking to us!

But more on that in due course. Finishing up on my SA reflections - I was ve chuffed to see Josie Field will be opening for James Blunt on his SA tour... and Flat Stanley , who was nominated for a SAMA, has the honour of opening for Counting Crows!


And today, the 14 May - it is only a month away til Seether will be playing at Download - and with much credibility they shall come as they have just snapped up the SAMA award for Best English Rock Album for 'Finding Beauty in Negative Spaces' - an album written following the death of lead singer Shaun Morgan's brother!

Other SAMA highlights around the rock arena include:
- Best female solo artist: Karen Zoid
- Best Duo / Group: Freshlyground
- Album of the year: Freshlyground - Ma'cheri
- Best Adult Contempary Album: Freshlyground
- Best Engineer: Freshlyground
(Yip, that's 4 awards out of 7 nominations for Freshlyground!)

- Best newcomer: Tasha Baxter
- Best global chart DVD: Harris Tweed
- Best instrumental album: Tony Cox
- Best Afrikaans rock album: Kobus! - Swaarmetaal
- Best pop album: Tasha Baxter - Colour of Me

And my favourite category: Best Sokkie album (only in SA!!!) - Kurt Darren... tho ihn fairness, I have never actually listened to Kurt Darren! Bless!

The SAMAs were held at Sun City on Sat 3 May - a few days before we went there. And to our horror - the petrol station and parking lot outside was covered in broken glass where party goers had 'celebrated' on the night!

Well, another year for artists to ride the (valley of the...) wave with their SAMA scoopings! And another year for more artists to work towards earning their spot...

Rock on South Africa,
x

Gig Giveback: Henry Ate...

Yip, you read that right - a Henry Ate gig! A reunion tour comprising Karma and Julian - together on stage. Friday 2 May 2008. Cape Town, South Africa!

And not just any venue - but thee venue that started my love of SA music all those many moons ago. The Brass Bell in Kalk Bay. A divine drinking spot, in the sunshine, by the sea!

And so it came to be that when Karma was planning the Henry Ate Reunion Tour in South Africa that I suggested that she just had to play the Brass Bell. So her people spoke to their people, a music license was obtained for an afternoon show - and Henry Ate was set to go!

To make the day even more memorable for me - I was super blessed to have my best friend also in Cape Town on holiday - down from Dubai.

And so we relived the moments together, over 10 years later and singing at the top of our lungs, not missing a line!

Sitting on the other side of the Bell from the first concerts many years before, in an area now known as the Bikini Deck - Karma and Jules filled the space with the immense memories of our youth! And it was at the Bell that while singing 'Waves of Salt' that a giant wave had crashed over the wall of the restaurant and sprayed the unsuspecting concert goers who were all eyes on the band! Karma spoke fondly of such Henry Ate memories - and allowed the audience to request the songs they really craved...

I shouted out for 'So he says' - no 11 on Henry Ate's SAMA-winning debut album Slap in the Face for those who knew it well... And so with Julian's harmonies hugging up to Karma as though not a day had gone by between them playing together, 'So he says' was sung - perfectly!

All the hits were pulled out the bag... Hey Mister, Pandora's Child, Eudaimomia, Henry and of course the classic 'castles in the sky' song - Just!

Plus everyone sung along to "You're so damn fat, tell me how the hell you get like that? loset munchies, all of you. Have you got nothing else.. to do? So eat yourself to death before Sunday afternoon!"

It was the most ecstatic afternoon of reminiscing, singing along and watching Karma smile the whole way through. She even apologised to those who grew up on the songs and stewed in their melancholy whilst she sat there and sang them all with the biggest smile slapped across her face. It was for her as memorable as it was for us. The sweetest slap in the face, reliving memories of pure Brass Bell bliss!

Rock on reliving our youth,
x

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!
x

Gig Giveback: Karma

What a special gig last night was! Karma has definately improved with age! And that is saying a lot as a self-declared Henry Ate hugest fan as a teenager!

Karma was amazing on the small stage of the Halfmoon, Putney. Bathed in blue light with her jagged blonde long trendy fringe hanging in her face as she mesmerised the audience with a mix of old and new!

  Performing all the favourites from her Henry Ate Days, she sung the classic 'Just' TWICE, much to everyone's delight when she ended the show with it as a final special touch! In fact the entire show was a gift of memories and special moments... from Karma's quirky stories inbetween songs proving her to be quite the comedian, to an on stage rendition of 'Hey Mister' with her London-based sister, Tanya!

And after a good few Henry Ate tracks, Karma confessed that her second album 'One Day Soon' is her favourite of the lot, and of the songs on it, she went on to sing 'Indian Giver', another self-confessed favourite!

She also covered tracks off her last album 'Don't Walk Fly' with hits such as slow and meaningful 'Countless Occasions' which she confessed was written about a stalker, and that stalker being a heartbroken her... lightly humourous and bonding to Karma the human behind the music!

She also sung her '0 miles' song, a link to the longings of her home of South Africa "15,000 miles of sky separates this life from one I knew. Cos I'm too close to Cape Town's coast..." and so she was in London town for two fabulous nights before heading back to her now home of Florida. But Karma did promise to be back sooner than her last two year turnaround for a UK visit!

And with her Henry Ate catalogue being re-released in SA this month, maybe she will need to head home to do a reunion tour there, and what better place to stop along the way than London! Plus she is soon to release her new Karma album. So we a good chance for a return between the two! Let's hope we see her back here soon!

Rock On Karma,
x

PS: And how can I forget fellow South African singer songwriter Samantha Horwill on support... adorably animated on stage, Miss Horwill is a little package full of Oooomph, and with a fabulous voice on top of it, she will take many a stage by storm as she continues to build her career having only recently launched her debut album as a solo artist!