Photo essay: Mr Testicles in SA (And Jax Panik meets our page 3 girl)...

Over a week ago, a giant pair of testicles and a beautiful girl blessed with a bountiful pair of breasts flew into SA from the UK. They were here as part of the 'Rhian's Got Balls' challenge... 

We're talking Mr Testicles and the gorgeous blonde glamour model, Rhian Sugden of course - and yes, you do need to see it to believe it!

Who's the Daddy!?

Rhian Sugden, with her mostly male target audience (and over 16,000 Twitter followers @Rhianmarie), is working with the Male Cancer Awareness Campaign in the fight against male cancer.

'Rhian's Got Balls' is a series of extreme adventure challenges which Rhian is taking part in, to raise awareness for testicular cancer. Early detection is key as testicular cancer is one of the most treatable cancers.

From diving with Great White Sharks in Gansbaai, to ziplining across a gorge in Ceres, as well as skipping through the vineywards at Steenberg Wine Estate, Mr Testicles and Rhian had the best of times in South Africa!

(Videos of each of her challenges will be released, one-per-month, to raise awareness for testicular cancer and promote the new Mr Testicles website, due out in July - watch this space)

Rhian and Mr Testicles even met and mingled with some local Cape Town whos' who...

Michael Rutzen, The Shark Man

Liezel van der Westhuizen of Expresso

Ricky & Sean from MyCityByNight

Michael Mol at Hello Doctor

Seth Rotherham & the 2OV crew

And Jax 'Get up if you're hot' Panik!
(and hot hot hot he is, having just won
the SAMA for Best English Pop Album!)

And as a thank you to the people of Cape Town, Mr Testicles and Rhian hosted a little braai with some beats on the rooftop of the Grand Daddy Hotel on Monday 9 May...

Rhian's first boerewors roll!

You too can get involved in Male Cancer Awareness Campaign's next project, the BBQ World Championships!

Now show me a South African male who could resist a challenge with that title (and yes, we did tell them its called a BRAAI!), check out the BBQ World Championships Facebook group for how to sign up... and for more on Mr Testicles and his charity champion friends, check out the Male Cancer website!

Rock on awesome awareness raising initiatives,

x

PS. And don't say I didn't mention SA music... our very own Jax Panik got to meet the world's one and only Mr Testicles as well as Rhian Sugden! Congrats again to Jax Panik for the SAMA win last night - and all other SA artists!

PPS. More to follow on the SA artists who've graced ZAmmm! cyber space in the last year and who won SAMAs last night (sneak peak mentions: Locnville, Prime Circle, Parlotones, Die Antwoord)

Look who made the list...

I always find this a fun litmus test for how much of the industry I actually know! From my love of rock and singer songwriters in South Africa - the SAMA nominations always remind me just how much more there is out there in our rainbow nation! From Maskandi to Venda, Afrikaans to jazz, gospel and Kwaito - oh, and not forgetting the overwhelming following of dance music in SA!

Here are a selection of SAMA categories and nominations that got me excited and crossing digits and congratulating artists (with little stars to show extra love):

Album of the year

Flash Republic – Killer Moves *

Liquideep – Fabrics Of The Heart *

Prime Circle – Jekyll & Hyde *

Professor – University Of Kalawa Jazmee

Zakes Bantwini – Love, Light & Music

Duo/Group of the year

Flash Republic – Killer Moves *

Kwela Tebza – Gauteng Made In South Africa/Mzansi

Liquideep – Fabrics Of The Heart *

Prime Circle – Jekyll & Hyde *

Tumi & The Volume – Pick a Dream *

Best Music Video of the year
Freshlyground – Chicken To Change *

Nomfusi – Nontsokolo

Teargas – Goodfellaz

The Parlotones – The Stars Fall Down *

The Parlotones – Life Design

Best Rock Album: English
John Ellis – My Own Way Home

Prime Circle – Jekyll & Hyde

The Narrow – You Don’t Get To Quit *

The Parlotones – Live Design

Zebra & Giraffe – The Inside *

Best Pop Album: English
Danny K – Across The Line

Jax Panik – I Am Jax Panik *

Locnville – Sun In My Pocket

Louise Day – Swallowed By The City 

The Arrows – Make Believe *

Record of the year (the only category voted for by the public - my thoughts below!)

Alone – Liquideep

Breathing – Prime Circle Good song, but not a winner in this category.

Bum Bum – Zakes Bantwini

Dreamer – Arno Carstens * 

Fire Is Low – Freshlyground

Get Busy Living – Goldfish

Hobie Beach – Kinky Robot

Imoto – Professor

It's A Party – Jozi

Lovesick – The Arrows * It's stuck in my head and I don't mind

Love You Better (w/ Rue-Groove) – Crazy White Boy * Addictive. Like.

Mama (w/ Ringo) – Black Coffee

Ngisemthanda (w/ Joocy, DJ Tira & Dr Duda) – DJ CNDO

Potoko (w/ Juice Matute) – DJ Mahoota

Show Dem (w/ HHP) – JR I'm sure this was on the same list last year!?

Turn Up The Volume – Auriol Hays

Twisted – Crash Car Burn * Impressed every time I hear it on radio!

Warrior – Louise Carver Great track, great collaboration!

Woza – Jaziel Brothers

Wrong For You – Loyiso


Click here for the full list of 2011 SAMA nominations.

Almost as good as live music for me, is the chance to buy a really good SA music DVD - something which not many artists in this country have done well yet - so some other nominations I'm excited for include Nibs van der Spuy's amazing 'Live at the Vagabond Cafe' DVD  for 'Best Jazz/ Instrumental/ Popular Classical DVD' and both Locnville and The Parlotones in 'Best Global Chart DVD'!

Coming up tops as SA artists who have been abroad a fair bit with most nominations from a quick glance, we have Prime Circle leading with 6 (ahead of Parlotones with 4), Liquideep with 5 and then a few more with 4, namely Flash Republic, Freshlyground, Zakes Bantwini (must google), Professor (need to find out more about this Durban Kwaito artist), Louise Carver and Goldfish, followed by Locnville with 3 - and a couple of nods for Karen Zoid, Nianell, the Arrows, Jax Panik and Loyiso Bala too!

Rock on to all those celebrating the night away at the SAMA nomination party,

x

Increase the consciousness...

A song that I'm loving at the moment, is Katy Perry's Firework. Its pop. Its catchy. Its clever. And more intriguingly with the spirit of the times, its uplifting and inspiring, instilling a sense of awareness and consciousness. 

Lyrically it leans towards a more reflective style not usually aligned to pop, but set to the excitement level of Guy Fawkes as she literally explodes as she sings, both in her intent behind the words and literally, in her music video! Of course being American, she sings about the 4th July and not Guy Fawkes, but its the motivation in her lyrics that intrigue me. How music can inspire and motivate society.

And this is the phase I feel we are in / moving into... where musicians will realise the importance of the platform they hold, their influence of setting positive intention...

Music has always been inspiring and mostly with message, but in pop it adds an uplifting kick to the urgency of this message!

Do you know that there's still a chance for you

Cause there's a spark for you

You just gotta ignite the light

And let it shine

Just own the night

Like the Fourth of July

Jax Panik track 'Jumpstart' also speaks some fab uplifting pop truth. Opening with the line 'Nothing is real when nothing is what you feel' it creates a sort of double negative anti-inspiration. Nothing is real if nothing is what you feel. And to keep us uplifted and inspired and on the up, we have catchy, clever pop tracks to remind us. Jumpstart indeed!

Rock on catchy, clever, conscious pop,
x

Today is the day...

As cliched as it sounds, I really never did imagine this day arriving! I know there will be more days like this, such as the day I actually get on the plane as I say goodbye to London for now! 

Though I think the day my boxes get collected will be the weirdest of them all... Nine years of stuff sorted into two piles - to be chucked, and to be shipped. What will be will be, to be sure, to be sure!

While shopping in the Wimbledon Tesco earlier this afternoon, I was looking around, with hope, for a can of South Africa's best Caramel Treat - you know that yummy stuff you put into peppermint crisp tart!? Except we've always called it 'Transkei Mud' - a far more exciting and fun name for kids is what my mom must have been thinking. Anyways, it stuck - and to this day, I still call it that even though everyone detests, 'But isn't this peppermint crisp pudding?'

So, shopping in Tesco. In Wimbledon. Aka Saffaville. And I spot it - my delightful caramel treat - and all for the tidy sum of £1.29! Fabulous!

It was a week ago that I entered a South African shop at Victoria station - great for pre-train biltong snacks no arguing that, but at £4.29 for a can of the caramel stuff, I just felt a little bit ripped off! I knew I'd seen it at a Tesco in Hammersmith once, and hence I'd tried my luck in the Wimbledon one today!

But what surprised me the most was that not only was it caramel they had, but in fact an entire shelf dedicated to South African stuff!!! How had I missed this all this time? Was it new? Or had I just been living too far from central Saffaville to realise?

This UK supermarket's shelves stocked the ultimate SA favourites - Ouma rusks, chutneys in a few flavours, TEMPOS (yum yum!), NikNaks (both cheese and chutney flavours), Creme Soda and a variety of spices and sauces!

So while I sit here with an e-ticket in my hand, my return home now imminent after all these years, I am laughing at just how entrenched South African culture has become in this country! But one thing they can never import, is 300 days of sunshine. 

So, what I am left with thinking is two things after 9 years in the UK, and over 3 of this gig blog:

1) Why are SA CDs not yet as readily available as Tempo bars and cans of caramel treat. Yes, the UK has endless types of chocolate and sweet treats of their own - and musicians by the dozen of course - but there is still a definite market here for some of our sweet sweet SA music!

And...

2) What am I going to do with the name - and intent - of this blog when I head back to South Africa? Do I keep on at providing a centralised listing of all SA gigs in London as no one else has ever sustained at doing it for longer than a few months... or do I change the name to something more exotic, more global, more 'out there'? I will of course keep on doing exactly what it says on the label though - and that is spreading the word about South African music beyond our borders, bringing you the insight and interesting stories behind the music so that you too may go off and discover some of these fabulous artists!

 So in my departure, my final wish is for the influx of loads more SA music into the UK! And maybe in years to come, I will one day delightfully discover an album of Josie Field or Mccree or Jax Panik on sale in Tesco!

Rock on caramel treat, and things-a-changing...,

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

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

Synergy... all over too soon!!

It was already a week ago that I was gathering my festival gear and heading to the Franschoek mountains for a weekend of live outdoor SA music at Synergy Live!

I somehow managed to forget a few key things - toothpaste, handwipes, pocket tissues, a mirror etc - so I just embraced the true festival vibe of not caring! With a little stream to cool down, and the overall festival area being a cosy and ve walkable distance, it was an ideal homely spot for a weekend of music.

Unlike UK festivals where you walk for miles between stages, I was thrilled that the main stage was only a short hop from the electro stage (and only just out of aural reach) - and then another hop and a jump from the Your LMG stage - a first time stage from the free Cape Town music magazine - bringing up and coming bands to new ears!

I love Your LMG's tagline -'Passed out in a bar near you'. Hmmm... ponder that... (It took me two reads :)

I spotted some interesting talent there - Jinx were my LMG discovery of the weekend. A 'circus electro mix' the guys explained as I chatted to them before they went on stage. Id stopped to ask them who they were, cos they were the only ones dressed in theatrical circus flair at 5pm in the afternoon! Turns out their quirky singing style woo'ed the audience no end! And with the Johnny Depp-esque moves of Willy Wonka crossed with the Mad Hatter, the lead singer was uber entertaining! His female vocal counterpart also added some much needed beauty. Mesmerising - check them out!

Also on Your LMG - I checked out Ree-burth, the exciting rock band from Soweto - an amazing sound that doesnt match the stereotyped visual you're expecting! Ve cool! Such a striking combination of onstage energy! I also saw the Red Huxleys - a band I've heard lots about but not seen live - and their style of rock also impressed! I kind of wish I'd checked out more on that stage, but as with all festivals - the choice is just too much!

Meanwhile, on main stage - things were happening from early hours... too many amazing bands to list! But in chronological order - it would be Friday night's headlining slot of Jax Panik and his first ever live performance that blew both me and the listeners away! They had the crowd eating out of their hands and everyone was singing along! It was like a 30 Seconds to Mars rock show. Except Jared Leto was in a larger-than-life LED illuminated mask  - and there were five of these Jax Panik characters glowing against the bold digitised screens! Hard to believe it was their first time live! What a show!

Other discoveries of the weekend included Mccree and The Rescu - both before lunchtime on Saturday morning, proving that its always worth checking out all band slots and not just waiting for the Prime Circles and Hogs of the SA music world who most people know!

This was also Mccree's first ever festival - and to be on the main stage - oh wow! It took me a while to work it out, but when I did I was grinning like a school girl! It was the lead singer's voice which grabbed me - so similar it is to one of my all time favourite bands, a band who started out as small fry on the London scene (and consisting of two South Africans in their mix, including Beukes Willemse as lead singer), and who have now been living and performing in Berlin for the past two years, and blowing away local audiences with German precision! They are of course, Livingston! I was honoured enough to interview them and write their first ever article - back in 2004 - and then ended up following them at near every gig for about two years until they left London! All my friends and family got to hear about Livingston :) So watch out peeps, Mccree is the next one you will be listening to at a braai with me soon!

Mccree have what I call a 'big sky' sound - ideal for outdoor vibes, music that makes you breathe a little deeper and stand a little straighter, your heart feeling like everything will be ok.. it makes you wanna drive all day with the window rolled down and a big open blue sky leading you forwards!

Saturday night's line-up consisted of Prime Circle knocking out a good set, plus UK band Feeder who headlined - and I was surprised and thrilled to hear that their drummer now, is in fact a SA boy - an ex-Amersham drummer. You see, us South Africans infilrate everywhere! SA music is making its way into every nook and cranny - its just a matter of time before it explodes and is as acceptable the world over as Aussie music has become! No more 'special SA sections' at festivals cos 2010 is World Cup year, or the novelty Die Antwoord's, but many more Livingstons, Parlotones, Soweto Gospels, Johnny Cleggs, Nibs van der Spuys and all those other SA bands who tour abroad regularly!

Closing Saturday was an epic Goldfish set - say no more, who better to keep a crowd very much alive and awake til 330am! Plus the animated video to their latest track 'Get busy living' - a tale of two suitcases, in love. Too clever! I will never look at my luggage the same again when travelling! :)

Synergy sure was the sum of all the parts - from once dance party to now rock fest - and just the right size vibe at that. So much great SA music is out there! We just gotta get busy living and supporting all the small bands. Cos who knows who will be the next Prime Circle or Goldfish. Then you can say you saw them first. Not to mention become a groupie and get to watch every gig while you can afford it!

Rock on SA music and fabulous SA festivals!
x

What do stickers, lawsuits and SA music have in common?

Since erupting across universities in America in 2004, the story of Facebook - the online platform most couldn't imagine life without - is put into context, and contractual dispute, right before your eyes in a concise two hour movie!

Popcorn in hand, The Social Network feels like a web 2.0 lesson in law as much as  it is a vibrant unfolding of events even more enticing than an episode of your favourite soapie! And like Isindingo, its topical and current!

So where does an idea begin and end? When does an idea become intellectual property, when is it evolution of an idea and open to improved interpretation and hearty capatilism and competition?

The Social Network is released in SA
on 5 November through Ster Kinekor

These are some of the questions one considers as your heart and head is pulled between siding with the different parties involved. We're talking about Mark Zuckerberg, the guy who built Facebook - and the Winkel-Voss twins, who originally approached Zuckerberg to build their Harvard-based online idea. 


What we see of Facebook today has come a long way, and its definitely worth logging off for long enough to watch this film and to ponder what attracted you to it in the first place!

Find out what Jax Panik did today...
www.iamjaxpanik.com 

Elsewhere on Facebook (since this is a SA music blog afterall), I feel it is appropriate to point out the Jax Panik online pandemonium of late. Since releasing a new album in September, the Jax Panik logo has been spreading around the country in a guerilla sticker-bomb campaign with photos being sent in as Panik fans find the stickers in all sorts of locations! 


Like most ideas, the sticker-bomb campaign has been done before (and since this is a blog about 'SA music in London', it satisfies me to weave in that a few years back, the SA band Dorp, who were for many years based in the London, in fact plastered all manner of surfaces with Dorp stickers!) 






In the case of Jax Panik, they have taken a simple, yet potential-laden awesome idea and implemented it with precision and snowball-intent, thus allowing the beauty of online to then show, by popular demand, what people think! You need only look at the Jax Panik facebook group - which grew from 10,000 to 25,000 in a few weeks - to see how the Panik is spreading! (like what he did for Halloween today, you might have seen the face above across many profile pics... hmmm - the power of viral!)

So whereas Dorp had less online access at their disposal a few years back when sticker-bombing the old-fashioned way, from Jax Panik and me, and all my hundreds of online friends, we can now say thank you to Zuckerberg - or is that Winkel-Voss or the dude from Napster - for the virally fabulous, global online platform of friendship - and everything else public - that is Facebook!

Rock on online freedom of creativity!

x

PS. Since the film is not released yet in SA, below is the golden ticket that got me into the premier screening of The Social Network last week, courtesy of 2Oceans Vibe - and including free Coke and popcorn! Nice!

Remember this face...