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

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