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Contents
This week's contents: Editorial: The week in brief News: Semisane, Freshlyground, Oliver Mtukudzi, Bafo Bafo, SAAV, SAMA 10, Living Music Workshop, Toyland, Emerging Sounds. Charts: SA Rock Digest MP3 and Album Charts New Releases: New SA MP3's and CD's, Van Zyl, Van Der Spuy & Vennote, Drop Dead Gorgeous, The Innovators, Bored, Wendy New, Kobus!, Rus Nerwich, Soulja, X4. Classic SA Rock: USA For Africa; A Naartjie In The UK; Vinyl Junkies; South African Rock Lists Sound Solutions: A reader's forum - letters, info, questions and answers Live Music: Events round-up, SA Punk, Southern Gypsey Queens, Soulja, Askani. SA Music Links And Resources: Contact Details Editorial THE WEEK IN BRIEF Breaking news in SA pop-rock land is that popular SA band Semisane have split up according to a short release to the press from the band's founder and drummer, Sascha Muller ... We did manage to track down that full list of nominees for the 10th annual SAMA Awards, and we have some of those categories listed below ... Last weekend Freshlyground played a very successful gig at the North Sea Jazz Festival in Cape Town and are about to head up to Johannesburg en route to Zimbabwe for some more ... The Zimbabwean "Elvis", Oliver "Tuku" Mtukudzi, will appear alongside Freshlyground before leaving for his fifth North American visit with an 11-city tour from April 12-26 with his long-time backing band, The Black Spirits. The Elizabeth Sneddon Theatre in Durban will host a unique musical event later this week when two local guitar greats, Syd Kitchen and Mzwakhe "Madala" Kunene, appear live and solo on Friday and then together as Bafo Bafo on Saturday ... South Africans for the Abolition of Vivisection (SAAV), Earthlife Africa Animal Action Group and Friends of the Cat have planned a number of activities to commemorate World Day for Laboratory Animals (WDLA) which falls on April 24th every year ... There are some very interesting workshops in Cape Town this week as a part of the Living Music Workshop series ... SA band Toyland have recently undergone some changes and the remaining members are beginning a search for a new vocalist. Bookings are now open for bands for the May event of the RP Studios Emerging Sounds competition, taking place this month in Johannesburg, Durban, Pretoria, Vereeniging and Bloemfontein ... We have new mp3's from the 'Hadeda' crew alias Van Zyl, Van Der Spuy & Vennote, Drop Dead Gorgeous, The Innovators, Bored, and a first track from the exciting Wendy New ... This week it's Piet Botha's chance to list his ten best SA songs in 'Celeb:Select' ... Kobus! have launched and released their second album called "100% Skuldegevoelvry" ... We have an interview with Soulja by the Zululand Observer ... and X4 are a new pop band in town. Kurt Shoemaker looks back at the Little Sister album, 'Along The Way' ... Along with his brother Lucien, Erik Windrich formed the nucleus of the seminal '80's band éVoid. John Samson was at Erik's recent London concert and reviews his new album, 'Backyard Discovery' ... Southern Gypsey Queen continue to rake in the plaudits for their live gigs, this one was at the KKNK ... Soulja report back (Sir!) on their trip to play at Splashy Fen ... And Francis Bryan tells us about a new Cape Town band called Askani. There's also the usual weekly mp3 and album charts, recommended SA gigs, letters to Sound Solutions, Digest Classifieds, old SA charts, and what's new on the shelves at Mabu Vinyl and CD and Vibes Vinyl. And that is some of SA music, this week ... If you would like to contact us, please send an email to mailto:editor@sarockdigest.com?subject=Digest Thanks! Ed. ----------------------------
From Abstract Truth to Karen Zoid, from 'Astra' to 'Zen Boulders', from 'Ag Pleez Deddy' to 'ZX Dan'... visit the online archive for the history (and future) of South African Rock at: http://www.rock.co.za The SA Rock Encyclopedia is an archive of South African pop and rock music - past, present and future - and includes sections on classic albums, rock legends, rock lists, charts, trivia, family trees, a hall of fame, weblinks and more... ---------------------------- SAKLANK.COM Sluit aan by http://www.SAKlank.com deur e-pos te stuur aan intekenaar@saklank.com Alle rasionele idees, gedagtes, bydraes, briewe en konsert-/CD-resensies is altyd welkom! ---------------------------- THE OFFICIAL RODRIGUEZ WEBSITE 'Cold Fact', the classic album from the 70s, as well as 'After The Fact', the second Rodriguez album, have been re-issued and both are now available at Sugar Music. All Rodriguez Info at: http://www.sugarman.org ---------------------------- SA ROCK DIGEST http://www.sarockdigest.com If you would like to receive all the SA music news on this page, as a free weekly Monday morning email newsletter with no attachments, then please enter your email address in the SA Rock Digest banner on the left. News
SEMISANE SPLIT One of South Africa's most successful bands over the past few years has split up. Semisane's drummer, Sascha Muller, issued the following statement last week: "After 4 years together, 2 albums and the platinum-selling single 'Life' from Big Brother 1, Sascha Muller (drummer, founding member, manager) and Semisane have parted ways due to musical differences". This move has surprised a lot of local observers since Sascha Muller and guitarist Chris Akker have been together through many different line-ups since they first emerged on to the SA scene as Black Diamond during the '90's. Akker and Muller tried a variety of female vocalists before recruiting the novice singer Tikara, and new bassist Nick Muller (Chris' brother), changing the band's name to Semisane, and signing to BMG SA for whom they produced the multi-single producing album, 'A Life Less Strange'. The five hit singles off that album, followed by their hit theme song, 'Life', for the first Big Brother series, catapulted them into the SA pop spotlight. A second, less-successful album, 'Room2Breathe', followed. The band then replaced Tikara with Holly Rose, a singer from the UK, and recently released a new single on their Cherry Pie label called 'You Don't Know'. It is believed that Chris Akker will continue working with Holly Rose. Sascha Muller has been working with the Wayne Joshua Band and is considering some future offers to set up a new line-up. Anyone wishing to contact Sascha can do so at sascha@waynejoshua.com or on 0824396109. -------------- FRESHLYGROUND HEADING NORTH Freshlyground are about to head up to Johannesburg en route to Zimbabwe. Last weekend they played at the North Sea Jazz Festival in Cape Town and received a wonderful response from a large and very appreciative crowd. The group will be playing three gigs in Johannesburg, their first in the city (details below). During the day they will be in Downtown Studios recording sketches with a Johannesburg-based producer for their new album, to be released in September this year. If things run smoothly, Freshlyground plan to be based up in Johannesburg during June and July to record. After Jo'burg the band heads up to Harare, where they are closing the Harare International Festival of the Arts. This year's festival boasts a line-up that includes Oliver Mtukudzi, Soweto Kinch, and Ismael Lo. The festival is somewhat of a miracle, in that it manages on a yearly basis to attract exciting and eclectic international artists who gather to perform within the confines of a crumbling social and political climate. The result is a festival unlike many in the world. Last year the line-up included German trio, The Jazz Pistols, and Norwegian pop group, Gate, whose 17-year-old lead singer sings reinterpretations of early Norwegian folk melodies. Anyone who knows Harare will understand how incongruous this sounds! What this all means is that Freshlyground will be away from Cape Town for the next six weeks (including that extended stay in Zim). Tour Dates: Friday 23 April - Club Lingo, Melville, JHB - 2100hrs R40 Sat 24 April - Moyo Restaurant, Melrose Arch, JHB - 1930hrs Eat in Thursday 29 April - Colour Bar, Mill Park, JHB - 2100hrs R40 Sunday 2 May - HIFA Festival, Main Stage, Harare - 2000hrs Z$25000 -------------- TUKU IN THE US Putamayo Presents: Oliver Mtukudzi On Tour - From Zimbabwe to America: An 11-City US Tour, April 2004 Making his fifth North American tour since his debut on the very last Africa Fête tour in 1999, Mtukudzi will be on an 11-city tour from April 12th through the 26th with his long time band of 25 years, The Black Spirits. In 2003,Tuku sold out his 30-concert tour. With performances on Late Night with David Letterman and Austin City Limits (with Bonnie Raitt) and 2 national NPR features, Oliver's profile was raised considerably setting the stage for a very powerful return tour. Released in 2003, 'The Oliver Mtukudzi Collection' features some of the most enduring and appealing songs by this extraordinary artist from Zimbabwe drawn from the 6 albums he released during his most creative period (1998-2002). A legendary figure in contemporary African music, Oliver's albums are consistent best sellers in his native Zimbabwe, and his previous three acclaimed releases on Putumayo have helped catapult him to international recognition as one of the African continent's most important artists. In the last two years Oliver Mtukudzi has won "Best Male Artist" at the Kora Awards (Africa's version of the Grammies). Tour Dates: (Dates subject to change. Please verify with venue) Date: City & State: Venue: 4/19/04 South Hadley, MA Mount Holyoake College 4/20/04 Bar Harbor, ME College of the Atlantic 4/22/04 New York, NY SOBs (Two Shows) 4/23/04 Minneapolis, MN Cedar Cultural Center 4/24/04 Madison, WI Wisconsin Union 4/25/04 Chicago, IL HotHouse Cultural Center Putumayo CDs are available at thousands of record, gift and other speciality retailers around the world. For more information, please visit our website: www.putumayo.com -------------- SAMA AWARD 10 NOMINATIONS Here are a selection of the categories and nominees for the 10th SAMA Awards (the "SA Grammys" if you prefer) which will be handed out at Sun City in the Superbowl auditorium on Saturday May 29. For a full list try the Recording Industry of South Africa website at http://www.risa.org.za Best Rock Album: Arno Carstens - Another Universe Justin Bergh - Out of my Hands Karen Zoid - Chasing the Sun The Narrow - Self-Conscious Wonderboom - Tell Someone Who Cares Best Female Artist: Busi Mhlongo - Freedom Gloria Bosman - Nature Dances Miriam Makeba - Reflections Swazi - My First Love TK - Black Butterfly Best Male Artist: Arno Carstens - Another Universe Bheki Mseleku - Home at Last Danny K - J23 Winston "Mankunku" Ngozi - m Abantwana Be Afrika Zim Ngqawana - Vadzimu Best Duo or Group: Mafikizolo - Kwela Musik Ye Afrika - United We Stand Skwatta Kamp - Mkhukhu Funkshen Tumi & The Volume - Live at the Bassline Watershed - Wrapped in Stone Best South African Traditional Jazz Album: Bheki Mseleku - Home at Last Darius Brubeck & Afro Cool Concept - Still on my Mind Voice - Songs for our Grandchildren Winston "Mankunku" Ngozi - Abantwana Be Afrika Zim Ngqawana - Vadzimu vBest Contemporary Jazz Album: Condry Ziqubu - Condry Ziqubu & Friends Dondo - Changing Times Musa Manzini - Tributes and Memories Oupa Makhubela (Poy-Poy) - African Spirit Tsunami - From Clay Best Jazz Vocal Album: Dorothy Masuka - Lendaba (This Matter) Gloria Bosman - Nature Dances Miriam Makeba - Reflections Swazi - My First Love Thando - Smile upon my Face Best Kwaito Music Album: Brown Dash - Puff 'n Pass Kabelo - And the beat Goes On Mapaputsi - Kleva Mzambiya vs Chippa - Undisputed Mzekezeke - Storotoro Best Adult Contemporary Album: English: Arno Carstens - Another Universe Eden - Point of No Return Miriam Makeba - Reflections Sacha - Sacha Watershed - Wrapped in Stone Best Adult Contemporary Album: Afrikaans: Amanda Strydom - Verspeide donderbuie/ Scattered Thunder Anna Davel - Gypsy Anton Goosen - Anton & Vrinne - Live in die Staatsteater Dozi - Siyaya Ons Gaan ... Lize Beekman - Iemand het gesê Best Adult Contemporary Album: African: Busi Mhlongo - Freedom Gloria Bosman - Nature Dances Jabu Khanyile - Wankolota Umanji - Ndlala Wanda - Voice Best Pop Album: Danny K - "J23" Brandon October - Temptation Cofield Mundi - Ceremony Tamara Dey - The First Lady and The Boys Watershed - Wrapped in Stone Best African Pop Album: Jabu Khanyile - Wankolota Joe Nina - Angeke ng' iphinde Mafikizolo - Kwela Malaika - Malaika Ringo - Ringo Live Best R&B Album KB - Rock Lefatshe Lira - All My Love Noss - Amazing TK - Black Butterfly Best Dance Album DJ Christos - Spiritual Journey Revolution - The Journey Continues . Roxxy - Blue Skies Various Artists - Cape Town 2am - Approaching Dawn Zwai & Guffy - Babathane Vol. 1 Best Rap Album Amu - The Life, Rap and Drama Hip Hop Pantsula - O mang? Mizchif - Supernatural (My Return) Skwatta Kamp - Mkhukhu Funkshen Tumi & The Volume - Live at the Bassline Best Single: Anke Pietrangeli - Silver Lining Eden - Point of No Return Jacques Terre' Blanche - Endlessly Lebo M & Friends - Celebrate Swerve feat. KB, Shaluza Max, Caz, Priyesh - Take it up Best DVD: Miriam Makeba - Live at Bern's Salonger, Stockholm, Sweden, 1966 Ringo - Live - The Greatest Hits Ladysmith Black Mambazo - Live at the Playhouse, Durban Joyous Celebration - Live in Cape Town Vuyo Mokoena & Pure Magic - Live at the Civic Theatre Winners to be announced and rewarded at Sun City in the Superbowl auditorium on Saturday May 29. -------------- BAFO BAFO, SYD KITCHEN & MADALA KUNENE The Elizabeth Sneddon Theatre in Durban will host a unique musical event later this week when two local guitar greats; Syd Kitchen and Mzwakhe "Madala" Kunene, appear live in on Friday, April 23, each performing a one-hour set of original, solo material. The following evening, Saturday, April 24, will see them appearing together as Bafo Bafo. Both evenings will be recorded live and filmed for DVD. Bafo Bafo have just returned from a very successful appearance at Splashy Fen with visiting Danish percussionist, Lars Stork, and are currently in the studio putting the finishing touches to their debut album, 'What Kind?!'. Madala Kunene is renowned for the transcendental and ethereal quality of his songs and his uncanny ability to develop a groove that burrows itself into one's consciousness; his music is rooted in ritual and tradition, and he has developed a completely original style He plays the guitar and isitololo (a kind of mouth bow), and has built a solid following for his mesmerizing musical mix of Zulu, West African and blues elements; both at home in South Africa, and abroad. He is unquestionably one of South Africa's finest maskanda musicians and he will be performing in the US in early July. Syd Kitchen's unashamed mix of folk, blues, jazz, Afrikaans, African, Cajun and other elements into an eclectic sound that is entirely his own has earned him an enviable reputation. Besides his solo work and his collaboration in Bafo Bafo, Syd is also part of The Aquarian Quartet (with Steve Newman, Tony Cox & Greg Georgiades). Syd will be travelling to the United Kingdom in June, where he will be performing at The Glastonbury Festival, The Half Moon in London, and at a variety of venues across the United Kingdom before joining Madala for appearances in Europe in July, including an appearance at the Kongsberg International Jazz Festival in Norway. Kitchen has just released 'Quintessentially Syd Kitchen'; a collection of 17 tracks spanning the 30 years he has spent recording compiled from several critically acclaimed albums he has released to date. These have all been born of an eclectic, curious spirit unfazed by market-place considerations or the wishes of others. The album draws tracks from 'Africa's Not For Sissies' (2001), 'Waiting for the Heave' (1987), 'Amakoologik' (1999), and 'City Child' (1995), as well as including a Kitchen Brothers' track from 1973 and 3 previously unreleased recordings. The appearances at The Elizabeth Sneddon will be recorded for the intended release later in the year of solo albums by both artists. The recent completion of a documentary detailing the collaboration of these two highly individual musicians will also be released later in the year. Syd Kitchen will record at 20h00 on Friday and perform for an hour after which there will be an interval before Madala Kunene performs for an hour also. On Saturday, Bafo Bafo will perform two sets beginning at 20h00. These shows offer audiences the opportunity to be a part of history as these two artists are recorded solo and as Bafo Bafo. The ticket prices have been kept to (a ridiculously low!) R15 and booking is available through Computicket. Visit: www.bafobafo.co.za and www.sydkitchen.com -------------- SAAV ACTIVITIES South Africans for the Abolition of Vivisection (SAAV), Earthlife Africa Animal Action Group and Friends of the Cat have planned a number of activities to commemorate World Day for Laboratory Animals (WDLA) . World Day for Laboratory Animals (WDLA) falls on April 24th every year, and is recognised by the United Nations, and is marked by anti-vivisectionists all over the globe. The following excerpt taken from a speech given in Berkeley on 1997's World Day for Laboratory Animals, by Marti Kheel, El Cerrito, California: "For many of us, World Day for Laboratory Animals is a day for mourning. It is a time for remembering the pain and suffering of hundreds of thousands of animals in laboratories throughout the world. It is a time for acknowledging those animals who are locked inside laboratories, and whose lives and deaths count only as data to be recorded. And it is a time for calling people's attention to the plight of those creatures who have been brought into this world only to be sentenced to a life of suffering and imprisonment. But World Day for Laboratory Animals is not just a time for mourning, it is also a time for expressing our outrage at the pain and anguish that animals in laboratories endure as they are poisoned, cut, jabbed, injected, dissected and otherwise manipulated and abused. Most of all, it is a time for calling a halt to this senseless suffering and abuse" Upcoming events Friday 23rd of April Anti-Vivisection Picket Protest Anti-vivisection picket protest on Friday 23rd of April, the day prior to WDLA, at the intersection of Carse O'Gowrie and Houghton Drive near the Sunnyside Hotel and also near the WITS Medical School which also practices vivisection. The protest will be 16h15 for 17h15. SAAV has provided posters for the picket. Saturday 24th April Info Blitz Info blitz in Melville on WDLA 2004, at 10h00, meeting on the corner of 4th and 7th Streets in Melville. Will last approx. one hour. Contact Daniel (Cell: 083 391-1101) for further info. SAAV members (or any members of the public) are welcome to do Info Blitz's in their own areas if they would like to contact Daniel for flyers (Daniel 083 3911101) Saturday 24th April World Day for Laboratory Animals Concert (Pretoria) Four live bands will be performing live at Nile Crocodile in Lynwood, Pretoria. Bands performing N8ive, Peepshow, Shadow Lord and Trippple Bypass. Click on the link below for more info on the bands and venue. www.saav.org.za/nilecroc.php South Africans for the Abolition of Vivisection www.saav.org.za/news.php -------------- LIVING MUSIC WORKSHOPS - APRIL LINE-UP Mon 19 April - 18:30 pm to 19:30 pm - Paul Bothner Music, N1 Value Centre - Goodwood Title: Shane Mahoney - Artist Management - What the musician needs to know Due to popular demand, we've decided to repeat this workshop at our N1 Value Centre store. Presented by Shane Mahoney and Narren Sewpaul of ADMIT (Artist Development through Music Industry Training), this workshop focuses on the essentials of putting together a management team - manager, lawyer, accountant etc. Record deals, copyright, publishing and tour management issues are also dealt with. Musicians at all levels will benefit from attending. For more information call 021 7908825. Mon 21 April - 14:00 pm to 16:00 pm - Kwezi Centre - Guguletu Title: Teba - Artistic and Recording strategy Workshop This is your opportunity to meet the backing singer of Cape Town's own FNB SAMA Award-winning bands. Teba has had the pleasure of being part of a band called Skeem, which won the award for 'Best Township Pop'. Emerging from one of Cape Town's ghettos called Gugulethu, where he was born and bred, Teba later migrated to Jozi where he got toasted and buttered into a nationally and internationally acclaimed artist. Teba 's genuine style and energy towards music attracted many well known South African artists, who, though from a diverse music background, had an ardent interest in working with him. As a result he was requested to work in partnership with SA kwaito, hip hop, reggae and African fusion artists. To mention a few, Ishmael, P.O.C, Sharon D, Oyaba, Mdu Masilela, Chronic Clan, Boom Shaka,Oude Meeste Trybe, KB, Do Dope and Jabu Sibumbe. Without losing direction or wasting any time, Teba is back in the studio working on a debut solo album. This is something of pure diversity; a combination of Teba's lyrics that are both thought provoking, inspiring and his ragamuffin style. The workshop will cover the following topics: Artists Rights, Intellectual Property and Dealing with major recording companies. Mon 23 April - 18:00 pm to 19:00 pm - Woodstock Library Title: Frank Paco - Basics in Drumming and how to approach a recording session Renowned drummer, percussionist and singer Frank Paco has developed a unique style after working with band like Sakhile, Loading Zone, Virtual Jazz Reality, Sheer Sound All Stars and great artists such as Jimmy Dludlu, Miriam Makeba, Brenda Fassie, Judith Sephuma, Hugh Masekela and Jonathan Butler amongst others. He has also participated in major festivals such as the North Sea Jazz Festival, at The Hague for four consecutive years and New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival amongst other international festivals. Frank took part in the '46664' Mandela AIDS Concert playing alongside the band Queen and backing artists such as Jimmy Cliff, Anastasia, Angelique Kidjo, Youssou N' Dour, Johny Clegg and Bono. Besides his drumming, Frank's charismatic voice can be heard on the Hansa Pilsener and Coca-Cola Ad, "I am going home" on a worldwide broadcast. Frank also holds an Honours Degree in Jazz Performance with distinction from the University of Cape Town. He is the leader of Tucan Tucan The workshop will cover basics in drumming, groove construction, basic patterns used for interaction in an ensemble and how to approach a recording session. -------------- TROUBLE IN TOYLAND SA band Toyland have recently undergone some changes, below is a statement from the band's drummer, Alastair Pursch: "After lengthy discussions and much thought, Toyland has come to the decision to part ways with vocalist Nicolas Rix and guitarist Annis Moriera to allow them to pursue other interests. Remaining in the band are Joe Mullin (guitar), Wallace Warner (bass), and Alastair Pursch (drums). The parting of ways is very amicable, and the remaining members of Toyland wish Nicolas and Annis every success in their future projects. The band has cancelled shows, but will still play together in the original line-up at Moshfest 4 in Parow, Cape Town, at the end of April. Toyland is now beginning a search for a new vocalist to take up front man duties for the band. There remains the possibility of looking for a second guitarist as well." The guitarist must have a 7-string and a stack or be willing to try and get one. Bands that influence Toyland are, Machine Head, Slipknot, Korn, Killswitch Engage, Chimaira, Darkest Hour, Mudvayne, Unearth, American Head Charge, Poison The Well, Hatebreed, Sepultura, Soulfly and many more If interested please contact 083 406 4063 or mailto:toyland@telkomsa.net LISTEN: 'Bliss' - Toyland http://www.SAmp3.com/songs.html -------------- EMERGING SOUNDS IN MAY The RP Studios Emerging Sounds now in its seventh year continues growing from strength to strength. Bookings are now open for bands for the May event of the RP Studios Emerging Sounds competition, taking place this month in Johannesburg, Durban, Pretoria, Vereeniging and Bloemfontein. Groups irrespective of musical style - be it pop, hip hop, kwaito, reggae, jazz, rock, punk or metal; in fact any musical group is welcome providing you have a minimum of three members and a maximum of seven members. If your group would like to be part of this exciting musical event which over the past seven years has created platforms for bands and groups to further their musical careers then please contact Simon "Squire" Foulds on 082 770 7524. -------------- CHARTS 
SA ROCK DIGEST TOP 30 SOUTH AFRICAN MP3s OF THE WEEK http://www.SAmp3.com 1. [1] (1) Gimme Da Weed - Chronic Clan ('African Dope Sound System'/African Dope) 2. [3] (3) FCK - Teba ('Silvertab Harambe Dope Sessions'/African Dope) 3. [4] (3) Gravity - James Stewart (Street Level) 4. [6] (4) Diengele - Kalahari Surfers ('Muti Media'/African Dope) 5. [7] (5) Vier by Vier en Visvang - Blomkrag ('Boere Country'/Indie) 6. [2] (1) Gangsta - The Rudimentals ('More Fire'/Indie) 7. [5] (5) Parallel - Saturnine ('Silence Is Deafening'/Wicked Rock) 8. [10] (8) Long Riders Of Nam - Brian Finch ('Never Look Back'/Indie) 9. [12] (9) Something In My Eye (Live) - Boulevard Blues Band ('Tassenberg All*Stars 4'/Trippy Grape) 10. [14] (10) Living As Numbers - Zero Tolerance ('A Perfect Life?'/Indie) 11. [8] (4) Die Ding Ruk Mal - Kallitz (Mothermix) 12. [9] (9) Musical Chairs - Serving Suggestion ('Try Whistling This'/Indie) 13. [15] (13) Gone Away- Sam Paddock (Indie) 14. [11] (2) Saad van 'n Psigopaat - Abel Kraamsaal ('Woorde Op 'n Wynboks'/Indie) 15. [17] (15) Snakes And Ladders - Evolver ('Evolver' EP/Indie) 16. [13] (1) Met My Stukkende Kitaar - Koos Kombuis & Valiant Swart (''n Jaar In Die Son'/Rhythm/Bowline) 17. [19] (17) Don't Walk Away - Larry Amos ('Going Up'/Indie) 18. [21] (18) Georgia - Sitter (Wicked Rock) 19. [-] (19) Charlie Kaufman - Fallen ('Last Chance For The Forgotten'/Indie) 20. [22] (20) Drowsy Maggie - DNA Strings ('DNA Strings'/Afrimusik) 21. [26] (21) Break Down - Believable Addiction (Indie) 22. [16] (4) Close To Me - Six Of Nine (Indie) 23. [20] (1) Miles - Moodphase 5ive ('Steady On'/African Dope) 24. [27] (24) Jou Ma - Thys Nywerheid (Indie) 25. [18] (1) Lovesong - The Dollyrockers ('The Heat'/Indie) 26. [23] (1) Fokofpolisiekar - Fokofpolisiekar (SAmp3.com/Rhythm/Bowline) 27. [29] (27) Love Is The Hunter - MacAngel ('Summer In Berlin'/Sonique) 28. [-] (28) Revolution - Swim Club (Indie) 29. [25] (1) Madiba 1990 - Bright Blue (Indie Single) 30. [-] (30) Cola Wars - Willem Kitshoff ('Silvertab Harambe Dope Sessions'/African Dope) Download South African MP3s at http://www.SAmp3.com ---------------------------- SA ROCK DIGEST TOP 20 SOUTH AFRICAN ALBUMS OF THE WEEK http://www.sarockdigest.com/charts This week [last week] (highest position) Title - Artist (Label) 1. [5] (1) True North - Spoonfeedas (Sesalos) 2. [1] (1) Boerecountry - Blomkrag (Indie) 3. [2] (2) Africa She Too Can Cry - Hawk (RetroFresh) 4. [3] (1) Muti Media - Kalahari Surfers (African Dope) 5. [8] (5) Moving - 340ml (Indie) 6. [6] (6) Never Look Back - Brian Finch (Indie) 7. [4] (1) The Heat - Dollyrockers (Indie) 8. [10] (8) A Definition - Chiaroscuro (Indie) 9. [7] (5) I-Ternal Fire - Lions Of Zion (Indie) 10. [14] (10) Big Red (Songs From 'Going Nowhere Slowly') - Various (Ripchord) 11. [13] (11) Dissolve In The Sun - Wendy New (Indie) 12. [9] (1) As Jy Met Vuur Speel Sal Jy Brand - Fokofpolisiekar (Rhythm/Bowline) 13. [12] (1) More Fire - The Rudimentals (Indie) 14. [11] (2) Sui - Benguela (Open Record) 15. [24] (15) Blomdoorns - Derek Gripper (Open Record) 16. [16] (1) African Dope Sound System - Various (African Dope) 17. [20] (17) Angel Tongue - Nianell (Fresh) 18. [23] (18) Site Under Construction - Off The Edge (Indie) 19. [15] (1) Steady On - Moodphase 5ive (African Dope) 20. [19] (3) 21 Gunslut - Soulja (Indie) 21. [28] (21) All That Is Should Be - Plush (Indie) 22. [17] (1) Humanarium - Bed On Bricks (Indie) 23. [18] (1) 'n Jaar In Die Son - Koos Kombuis & Valiant Swart (Rhythm/Bowline) 24. [21] (16) High Society presents: 14 Steps towards Self Actualisation - Daniel Friedman (Independent) 25. [24] (1) Jika Jika - freshlyground (Freeground) 26. [22] (8) Naked EP - Hog Hoggidy Hog (3 Chord Records) 27. [26] (1) Rock The Bedsprings - Old Mol (Legend) 28. [-] (28) Born Guilty & Other Stories - Colin Shamley (3rd Ear Music) 29. [29] (1) Die Mamba - Piet Botha (Rhythm) 30. [27] (8) With Every Breath - Toyland (Witchdoctor) MP3s by all these artists are available to download at http://www.SAmp3.com More info on all these artists at: SA Rock Legends The hosting of MP3s on the SA Rock Digest website is thanks to the Future Perfect Corporation http://www.futureperfectcorporation.com Building online communities to make the future perfect Chart statistics at: http://www.sarockdigest.com/charts New Releases
MP3's: New MP3'S At SAmp3.com: 
'Driehoek' (edit) - Van Zyl, Van Der Spuy & Vennote
Master musicians Barry van Zyl and Nibs van der Spuy really need no introduction. And they've surrounded themselves with a variety of friends on their new release on the Rhythm Records label, 'Hadeda'. The review on the CD Wherehouse website sums it up best; "'Hadeda' outlines a resonant world music canvas that organically evokes the very pulse of Africa's cross-continental flow". Got it? -------------- 'I'm A Doctor' - The Innovators This hip hop song from the African Dope label starts with some Far-Eastern instrumentation and what sounds like a Japanese man speaking backwards. So sort of an East meets West kind of thing, then. And you'll soon be rapping along to, 'I'm a doctor, stick a needle in your butt, let me operate'. Be cured. -------------- 'What It Takes To Breathe' - Bored Bored formed in early 1999 in Pietermaritzburg and consist of Mark on vocals and guitar, Brad on bass and Jono on drums. 'What It Takes To Breathe' is a powerful, grunge song that rocks really hard. They have been compared to Seether/Saron Gas (whom they opened for on that band's SA farewell tour in 2001) and like them they also seem to be able to combine catchy choruses with punchy, crunchy riffs and screamed vocals. Definitely not boring! -------------- 
'Pain' - Drop Dead Gorgeous
A catchy, edgy Spanish-style guitar opens this hard-hitting song and then the echoed voice of Mish L lets you know about her pain. The tango-ish drumming on this track from the 'Melt With Me' album is superb, and I don't understand the spoken French words, but they really add to the overall effect. Feel it. -------------- 'No Matter' - Wendy New This track is taken off the 'Dissolve In The Sun' album which was first released in 2002 and recorded over about 5 years, partly in New York and partly in South Africa. Ms New describes her music as, "...strong unplugged, acoustic kickass kind of thing - more along the lines of Ani DeFranco" and we can't fault her there. -------------- All the mp3s listed above are available to download at http://www.SAmp3.com - the biggest South African mp3 website in the world. --------------- SEARCH FOR MP3's Use the SAmp3.com onboard search engine, powered by Google, to search for mp3s on SAmp3.com. ----------------- All the full-length mp3s are available for free download at http://www.SAmp3.com by kind permission of the artists and/or their labels. ---------------------------- 
CELEB-SELECT: PIET BOTHA
Every week we ask an SA music celeb to tell us which are their favourite SA songs. This week it's Piet Botha's chance to list his ten best: 1. Tribal Fence - Freedom's Children 2. Slowly Towards The North - Freedom's Children 3. 1999 - Freedom's Children 4. Playgrounds In Paradise - Finch & Henson 5. Sleep Tight Margaret - Vusi Mahlasela 6. Safari Music - Not My Dog 7. The Witchdoctor Of Hillbrow - Ramsay Mackay 8. Johnny Calls The Chemist - Falling Mirror 9. Mannenberg - Dollar Brand 10. Belinda Lou - Finch & Henson There are probably many others... but these are the first that came to mind... Piet http://www.PietBotha.com -------------- 
KOBUS! LAUNCH NEW ALBUM(It is called "100% Skuldegevoelvry" and it's the highly anticipated sequel to one of the most unique debuts in SA rock history. Kobus! have released their second album and Ernie Pap has all the details) Kobus! made a triumphant return to the live SA music scene with a storming set at Kaktes Op Die Vlaktes at the KKNK Festival in Oudtshoorn, where they induced a serious mosh. They then returned to Cape Town last Tuesday evening (13 April) to rock out at The Mercury Live as they launched their second CD, "100% Skuldegevoelvry". The only way to describe it is "skreeusnaaks tussen maats" - there's nothing like a band you know making good! Kobus! were good but now they are great as a full band. Francois Blom is the perfect showman and the most dynamic vocalist in SA. Theo Crous is an amazing guitarist, and hilarious when doing back-up vocals. Paul Blom, Francois' brother and formerly of VOD (Voice Of Destruction), F8 & Terminatrix, is back with his rock-solid beat, and Rob Nel (ex B World) supplies the bass(ic) instinct to the best SA Band in the universe. The CD launch was electric, as we were all expecting great things and we got greatness. The new songs are mostly heavy thrash metal like old VOD, while still containing the biting Afrikaans satire and delicious black humour. The crowd was made up of members of Hog Hoggidy Hog and the Dollyrockers, as well as Arno Carstens, Cristina Storm, hardcore fans (like myself) and impressed journalists. We were all treated to a show of an international standard. There was a smile on everyone's faces, and old favourites like "Wie Is Kobus?", "Sondagmiddag" and "Gee Raad" were greeted with a roar. The set was a mix of old and new, and soon every song will be a classic. Any one of "Kultuurfeestent", "Ek Wil Jou Soen" or "Ry In Die Kar" could be a hit and the huge applause proved that. The show ended with everyone's favourite, "Hoenderman", which now rocks hard in an almost Black Metal way ... but I miss those chicken samples... After the all too short gig I asked Arno (Carstens) what he thought and all he said was: "They kill". They do that and so much more, so see them now (and buy the CD) before the queue goes round the block. Kobus! are embarking on a tour of Pretoria and a few gigs in Bloem. and Jo'burg, where everybody will feel the power of Kobus! You have been warned! (Ernie Pap) -------------- RUS NERWICH - 'BEYOND THE WALLS' (INDIE) Rus Nerwich is a Cape Town saxophonist who has just released his second album called 'Beyond The Walls'. This collection contains deep and emotional arrangements of holocaust-related songs that originated during the war in the ghettos and concentration camps of Eastern Europe. The album's title, 'Beyond The Walls', explains how these timeless melodies, born in pain and tragedy, have been sensitively re-interpreted in a contemporary jazz idiom and given a new life. This serves to capture the essence of their composers' creative expression, amidst great horror and pain, and stands as a testament to the power of music and to the enduring power of the human spirit. On the album Rus Nerwich plays soprano and tenor saxophone and is accompanied by his group, which includes Andre Peterson on piano, Dominic Peters on bass, and Kevin Gibson on drums. The Digest recently spoke to Rus Nerwich about this important release: SA Rock Digest: Having released a mostly traditional jazz album debut called 'As Above So Below', what caused you to take this different direction for your second album? Rus Nerwich: In May last year, after finishing my debut album, I spent a lot of time thinking about what kind of role music played in my life and what kind of contribution I thought I could make to the world of music....a very overwhelming thought. I realised that the only way to make an authentic and sincere contribution was to deal with themes, subject matter, and music that was part of who I am, my heritage. I had spent much time playing standard jazz compositions and as beautiful and engaging as that experience was, there was something missing - this was not my story. As an improviser I felt I was reflecting on a reflection, as opposed to being the reflection. SARD: So what did you do? RN: I decided to go to the Gitlin Library, which is a local Jewish library, to see what books they had on Jewish music, as the obvious starting point on this journey was to go inward. After looking around for a little while I came across a book entitled, 'Yes, we sang! Songs of the holocaust ghettos and camps'. I saw the title and immediately knew that I had found what I was looking for. I brought the book home and immediately began playing through the melodies. Each note resonated inside me like I was the saxophone and the melodies felt like they had always lived inside me. I played them over and over again, and realised that if ever I wanted to make a contribution this was my opportunity. SARD: What did you do then? RN: Inspired by the approach of the jazz masters I decided to immerse myself in the challenge of breaking down and rebuilding musical possibility. I realised that these songs were born in ghettos and were therefore screams, cries and prayers that were never heard. I wanted to lift them out of those ghettos and bring them to a place where they could breathe and where they could sing. I thought very much about the kind of energy that was contained in the melodies and how as a sensitive soul and musician I would have the opportunity of engaging with that energy and what kind of creative experience that would be. My brief to myself was that I wanted to do a creative interpretation of songs that emanated from the Holocaust ghettos and camps, and I wanted to do it in the context of a jazz quartet that would allow for a spontaneous response to the music and also wanted to respectfully and sensitively honour the writers and musicians who, through their art, created and shared their truth. Now I wanted to share mine. With this in mind I proceeded to get hold of the musicians I felt could most appreciate and relate to what I was trying to achieve and see how they felt about embarking on what would be a very intense and emotional journey. I called Andre Petersen (pianist), Dom Peters (double bass) and Kevin Gibson (drums) - all people that I respect as friends and musicians - and spoke with them about the idea. SARD: How did they respond to the idea? RN: At first they were unsure, but that quickly faded as the power of the message and significance of the work became apparent. I was on a mission and I wasn't stopping till I had finished what I started. SARD: How did you begin? RN: I would spend hours playing the songs, grappling with which ones would be most appropriate, which song would be most conducive to the quartet set-up, and which melodies would stimulate improvisational ideas. There had to be much consideration about rhythm and feel. I knew it was important to choose songs that reflected the victory (as hollow as it was) as much as the pain. For the album to be well-rounded and balanced there needed to be a broad range of feels, rhythms, moods and musical approaches and still have a cohesiveness to bind the songs into a collective statement. In many cases theses songs had been written with words, presenting a further challenge, how does one accurately communicate the message and emotional depth of the writer or the piece without including the lyric, so the lyric became very important during arranging the songs. Many a time Andre and I would read the words and that would guide us to the kind of textures and harmonies that were needed. We were constantly making every effort to remain true to the original feeling of the pieces and what we perceived the intention of the composer and poet to be, while still rearranging it and reworking it to fit into a more modern context. There were however times where the significance of the lyric was so great that the melody and lyric could not be separated. SARD: Did you try and contact any of the composers or survivors? RN: That was another challenge but also an opportunity for a creative solution, so I decided that I would try and get in touch with some of the survivors and see if they would be interested in making a contribution to the project, they would also bring a level of authenticity that only they could bring as well as being a bridge for the musicians to connect with the incomprehension of what happened to the Jews of Eastern Europe during the Holocaust. I went to the Holocaust Museum and was given the names of a few survivors living in Cape Town and, after a few brief conversations, I knew that this whole project was being guided from up above. SARD: How so? RN: The voices that I had heard reciting the poems in my head were the voices I was hearing on the other end of the telephone. The pieces were all coming together. Mrs Miriam Lichterman, a survivor of four different camps, as well as the infamous death march, had agreed to contribute by reciting a poem by famous writer Shmercke Kascerginski on the album. The poem was written over a melody which had been written by an eleven-year-old and encapsulated the pain, desperation and sheer horror of life for the Jews of Eastern Europe. This was to be the emotional climax of the album and my way of recognising and honouring the souls that had lived through the torture. SARD: How long did the album take to complete? RN: Andre and I worked for four months, three times a week, arranging the songs. When I wasn't with Andre I was thinking and engaging with the music, the themes and the subject matter. I bought books written by survivors, I read survivors' stories of loss and love regained, of hope and hopelessness, and questions of God and where he was when his people were being reduced to ashes. I lived the Holocaust in the only way I could, through the stories of people and through the emotion contained in the songs and the music. I was thrust into a world that I was not really prepared for and the process of preparing for the recording became more and more intense. SARD: So was the recording process difficult? RN: We took it one step at a time, one song at a time. Andre and I arranged each song, fashioning each piece with absolute respect and love, and with full understanding of the significance of the work we were doing. As we would finish arranging one song, I would choose the next one in what was a very natural and flowing process, not without its stresses and creative blocks but always moving forward. Once we had finished the arrangements, rehearsals started and the refining of every detail was considered. 'Beyond The Walls' was coming alive and soon would be born. It was nearly time to go into the studio. SARD: Did you have any outside support in making the album? RN: I was always helped and supported by the two men who had agreed to fund the project, so the task was made that much easier because I had access to the best studios, musicians, artists and writers. I really needed and wanted to put together a world class product and package. After six months we had rehearsed the band and were ready to record. SARD: How were you feeling at that time? RN: It was to be the most challenging week of my musical life. I'm proud and honoured to have been blessed with the inspiration to record this work. I believe it is a testament to the power of the creative spirit to transcend all situation and time and be the ultimate tool for communicating and sharing the most profound and intimate of human emotions. 'Beyond The Walls' is available at Mabu Vinyl & CD and other major CD stores in Cape Town and across SA. It is also available online at http://sugarmusic.gemm.com or by Email Order from: mailto:mabu@sugarmusic.co.za -------------- X4 X4 is a brand new girl band, with an international sound, that has just hit the South African music scene. Essy, Phia, Lola and Elle were chosen at auditions that saw hundreds of singers trying out for international record company, Top 3 Entertainment! The foursome was then flown to Belgium to record their first release. For the first time ever, the album is released in two versions - an Afrikaans and English version, with precisely the same songs on each. Both the Afrikaans and English albums also have a karaoke CD The X4 music has already sold three million plus albums in Europe, and is soon going to be all over the SA media, including a long-term deal with SABC 2's 'Tube' brand, and appearances on Bling (SABC 2). X4 also performed at KKNK's 10th birthday festival in Oudtshoorn and appeared in Huisegenoot in the first week of March. The music video for the first single, 'Heya Mama', was filmed late last year in Cape Town and showcases X4's singing and performing abilities along with their popstar looks! A television programme, 'X4 In Disneyworld Paris', is being edited for broadcast later in the year. -------------- ARTISTS -------- AN INTERVIEW WITH SOULJA [This is a copy of the Soulja interview that appeared in the Zululand Observer just before their Splashy Fen appearance] Zululand Observer: What distinguishes you from other SA rock bands? Does Cape Town influence your music? Soulja: We started out from a point where writing well-penned listenable songs for the folk across the music spectrum in the extremely wide genre of 'rock', became largely important. Over time, this objective, married with a killer stage performance and hailing from a cosmopolitan city such as Cape Town where there are so many sources and angles of influence, we've reached a juncture and have been able to step back and say, we seem to have something different, now let's advance. ZO: You have received some great reviews. To what do you owe your musical influences and what do you aspire to? S: We've always ascertained that influence is not confined to one or a handful of other artists that inspire us in the now. It's rather a conscious and subconscious collection of all that has passed audibly through our passage of life until this point. Sure we have a nu-metal influence and there are traces of ska reggae in our songs but at the end of the day, there's a whole bunch of styles that have been borrowed from the 70's, 80's and 90's. This combined with the African sounds that have permeated our pips since birth create for a crazy influential environment. The songs pretty much come naturally from this obscure though palpable bank of ideas buried within our musical existence. Naturally, there have also been some transformations and changes in life paths brought about by realisations, personal traumas and loss that have brought us together at this time in Soulja. ZO: What does performing at Splashy Fen mean to you? S: It's an honour for us to be returning to Splashy after playing here in 2002. We can't wait to tap into the vibrant energy the KZN festival revellers have on offer and hopefully be able to give it back through our performance. Splashy Fen is such a great festival that seems to cover not only music but lifestyle living as well. It's also a sort of homecoming for Warren as he grew up very close to where the festival is taking place, and it's also one of the only big festivals out of iKapa that seem to have taken notice of our existence by inviting us up here. When we tour Gauteng later this year we're hoping that the big guns and organisers there will be taking notes. ZO: What does the band's name reflect? S: It's one helluva big symbolic idea really where different meanings and ironies from time to time form its finality at the end. We wanted the band from the outset to be a fight to assert individuality and a recce through uncharted musical territory. Along the way there've been a few curve balls but like Soulja's we seem to be extremely resilient and pick ourselves up again, moving forward at a rate for some cause that seems to blow us away sometimes as well. We are not a State threat to Government like some have quizzically asked but we hope that whoever draws off our music can also understand that they are Soulja's too. You all have that resolute, fighting part within you that relentlessly takes you forward and you trust in it - vote for yourself, really... (Courtesy Zululand Observer) Read Soulja's account of their gig at Splashy Fen on the Easter Weekend in our 'Live In SA' section below... LISTEN: 'Plan My Attack' - Soulja http://www.SAmp3.com/songs_l_s.html -------------- MORE REVIEWS More reviews can be found at: Open Record Open Record Amuzine Reviews -------------- CLASSIC SA ROCK:
Kurt Shoemaker (Texas), John Samson (London), Tertius Louw, and Brian Currin browse through the best of SA rock - its history, its people, and its music, past, and present. USA FOR AFRICA - Texas-based Kurt Shoemaker gives his unique views on SA music. 
LITTLE SISTER - 'ALONG THE WAY' (GALLO MUSIC CDGMP40366)
Little Sister is sincere singing, earnest lyrics, rock guitars, slammin' beats, and nice lines such as "You get one chance with too few choices...." And it is Debbi and Jenni Lonman. Little Sister's 1993 'Along the Way' packs crafted song after song into 42 minutes of female-fronted rock duet singing action, plus some wilder moments when the Lonman sisters let the rock become uninhibited and the lead guitar soars, snarls, buzzes, roars, stomps, and strides. That one of the guys on the axe is Moritz Lotz explains the fancy guitar work. The title track, 'Something Happened (Along the Way)', rocks mid-tempo nice as the second track--but the attention-getter opening is the fairly profound 'Mystery of Life' Some songs are unarguable truths like, "Never Know a Good Thing Till It's Gone", and some have melodic singalong lyrics like the chanting melody chorus on 'Never Say Never', or the suggestive 'When the Sun Goes Down'. Yes, the sisters do emote a tad too earnestly on 'Love's a Bitch', but they belt out this number like a controlled riot--and I'll bet they're pretty tough ladies. After all, they do sing about how 'Love's a Weapon' and 'Love's a Bitch'. Slick and quality production without sounding too slick or contrived. 'Along the Way' sounds like Little Sister mixed a magic rock chemistry with this band (Wally Cullis on drums, Denny Lalouette on bass, Robin Walsh and Mauritz Lotz on guitars, and Marc Bentel on keyboards), and with producer Mike Flicker {who also produced another band featuring 2 sisters, Heart, led by Ann & Nancy Wilson, including their huge hit 'Barracuda' - ed}, with an assist from Dennis East. This album crisply captures Little Sister as singers, writers, and rockers - as nonchalant, yet confident, on their third album of good, concise rock work. We close this rock and songwriting workout where we began, with a sweet unplugged version of the electrified opener, 'Mystery of Life'. And we get a lyric booklet decorated with the lovely ladies, too. Nice. READ LISTEN BUY http://www.cd.co.za/littlesister/ Kurt Shoemaker, Blanco, Texas ---------------------------- A NAARTJIE IN THE UK - London-based John Samson gives his own twist on SA music: 'BACKYARD DISCOVERY' - ERIK WINDRICH Along with his brother Lucien, Erik Windrich formed the nucleus of the seminal '80's band eVoid. Their eponymous debut album was the first by a local act to top the SA Album charts and spawned 2 great singles - 'Shadows' and 'Taximan'. The brothers then moved to London in the mid-'80's and performed for years in the Springbok Bars there, but other than 'Here Comes The Rot', the follow-up album, very little material seems to have been forthcoming from the Windrich's. A recent stint at film school has inspired Erik to start writing and performing again and 'Backyard Discovery' is the result. This album is generally a laid back, contented affair, although there are still questions to be answered. It seems that Erik has lost that urgency of youth to find immediate answers to all questions, but this has been replaced by a mature view that spending too much time trying to find answers means that you forget to enjoy life. The questions and answers are no less important, but often the answers come when we're not looking for them. 'Weeping', the opening track written at a similar time to Bright Blue's song of the same name, asks some of the questions about identity while 'Jeremiah And Josephine' (a track also recorded by éVoid) and 'Martha's Necklace' refer to some of the issues that apartheid threw up. These are the questions, but they are tempered by the bouncy Latin-tinged 'Wild And Wonderful Summer' and the beautiful 'Drift Away' which features the wonderful kora (African harp) playing of Mosi Conde. The latter two are examples of Erik's more relaxed approach to life. The album still has moments of the afro-pop sound of éVoid, but this is less prominent. The sound is more expansive drawing on wider influences such as the West African kora already mentioned. A number of songs are almost entirely acoustic guitar with Erik's voice stretching and arching over this simple sound to startling effect. 'Backyard Discovery' is currently only available from Erik's website (www.erikwindrich.com) where he can only work with UK cheques, but I believe that he is trying to get some copies to www.oneworld.co.za and also doing the necessary to accept credit cards on his site, so keep your browsers peeled. Those of you who grew up with éVoid and have matured may well find yourself seeing a lot of your own development reflected in Erik's, but if you're still young, angry and impatient, get the eVoid re-releases to relate to, but try and get your hands on this too and learn from someone who's been there, done that and sold the T-shirt. éVOID http://www.rock.co.za/files/evoid.html John Samson, London ---------------------------- * CHART CHAT: John Samson takes a weekly look at the the SA pop charts from 20, 25, 30 and 35 years ago this week. 59 years after their name, the 1910 Fruitgum Company crashed into the top spot, jumping an incredible 7 places. 'Indian Giver' would prove to be the band's last US top 5 hit. Tommy Roe's run at the top had lasted only 2 weeks while Manfred Mann's 'Fox On The Run' which made way for the Fruitgum Co. had only enjoyed 3 weeks in the top 5. 'Love's Theme' had also only had a 2 week run at the top before making way for Dr. Marigolds. Canadian Terry Jacks' 'Seasons In The Sun' was unable though to emulate the 1910 Fruitgum Co's feat, but came close. Jacks went on to produce such acts as The Beach Boys and Nana Mouskouri. More importantly Crocodile Harris was into the top 5 with the McCully brothers-composed 'Miss Eva Goodnight'. It was 3 weeks in a row at number 1 for Toto in 1979 as the top 4 remained unchanged. It was lucky 13 for Abba as their 13th top 20 hit went top 5. Except for 'Take A Chance On Me' which peaked at 6, all their previous hits had gone top 5. 'Red Red Wine' was now into its ninth week at the top in 1984, a feat only 17 acts would manage. Matthew Wilder was essentially a one hit wonder, although the follow-up to 'Break My Stride', 'The Kid's American' and the title track of his album 'Bouncing Off The Walls' would chart on the radio 5 charts. Wilder was also a producer and produced amongst others, No Doubt's 'Tragic Kingdom'. South Africans at number 1 this week: Love Is A Beautiful Song - Dave Mills (1970) I Won't Give Up - Bruce Millar (1976) South African New Entries this week 19-Apr-74 I Need A Little Love - Lionel Petersen 20-Apr-73 Harmony - Neville Whitmill 22-Apr-66 Die Gezoem Van Die Bye - Des Lindberg 22-Apr-83 Last Night A Deejay Saved My Life - Margino 23-Apr-71 Put Your Hand In The Hand - Alan Garrity John Samson ---------------------------- BIRTHDAYS April 21 - Iggy Pop (aka Iggy Stooge, born James Jewel Osterburg in 1947) April 22 - Peter Frampton (1950) April 23 - Roy Orbison (1936, died 7 December 1988) April 29 - Una Valli (1950)
SOUND SOLUTIONS A Reader's Forum: This is a selection of the email requests, questions, searches, and other pieces of random info we receive each week at the Digest. Sometimes we can assist, other times we look to you, our collectively well-informed readers to contact these writers and help out as well. Thanks if you do....! Send all letters, short contributions, small band-ads, musical questions and other snippets to: soundsolutions@sarockdigest.com ---------------------------- AG PLEEZ TELL ME WHERE JEREMY IS? Hi, I wish to make contact with Jeremy Taylor. I had his e-mail address but appear to have lost it. Can you help? Otherwise, perhaps you can tell me whether he wrote an autobiography (I seem to recall coming across reference to it) which covers the period he spent in SA. Incidentally, I'm surprised that there is no entry on him under "Rock Legends" [on the SA Rock Files website]. Thanks, Gary Baines Ed. - Jeremy's email is mailto:sonjaandjeremy@lineone.net. And yes he did write a book titled 'Ag Pleez Deddy' which was published in 1992 by Jeremy Taylor Publishing. And he's not under the Rock Legends section, but there are a few mentions on the SA Rock Files website for him, including the lyrics for 'Ag Pleez Deddy'... Try here: http://www.rock.co.za/files/ag_pleez_deddy.html And there's a website at www.jeremytaylor.info -------------- HOW DO YOU MEAN "NATIVE" ??? Hi, I'm searching for vintage 78 RPM records with native African music. Do you have anything available? Thank you Emerson Mailto:emerson@francanet.com.br -------------- A SUGGESTION! Hi, I need the new song of Arno Carstens, 'Another Universe', PLEASE! Thanks, Karl Mailto:karlb@incredible.co.za Ed. - Sure, we can help.... go to a shop and buy the bloody CD!! Also available at One World http://www.oneworld.co.za -------------- AFRICAN CONSCIENCES Dear Sir, I am the producer of a PanAfricanist cultural project called AFRICAN CONSCIENCES. This project is centred around an album release in Europe with Universal and we are now finalising the DVD of the 'African Consciences' project with: - Gorée or the door of return (23min) a documentary including the concert in Dakar and the visit of the house of slave trade in Gorée - Diaspora the video clip of the Amenophis song on the album - Making of the second video clip with Dead Prez, La Rumeur, and Me - The video clip of the Rumor with M-1 of Dead Prez La rumeur and Me - The interview of all the artist who take part of the album. We think that this kind of social cultural project could be a real opportunity for African music business - that is why we are looking for a label for a release in South Africa. Don't hesitate to contact me for any further information. Sincerely yours, Mbegane Ndour Tel: 33-6-84-69-53-76 Fax: 33-1-53-75-05-45 Mailto:AICSX@yahoo.fr -------------- A DREAM ANSWER In a previous Digest, Dick asked: From around 1966/7 Freddie and the Dreamer's (All I want is just) 'A Little You' - does anybody have any idea where I can get a copy of this song - I have been searching for this particular gem for years! The song starts...... "there's a little truth in every lie you tell me - a little good in all the bad you do - instead of running away, listen when I say - all I want is just a little you....." Thanks to Kurt Shoemaker who replied with the following info: I pulled out my Freddie and the Dreamers 'The Very Best of' CD, and track 17 is "A Little You", with the lyrics quoted above. The CD is on the Collectables label, # COL-CD-2727. -------------- A.... ACTUALLY... "THE" SCHOOLBOY WRITES 
Hi,
I used to live in SA. When I was at school, the Asylum Kids made a single called 'Schoolboy', and a few friends and myself were on the cover of the single! Would you know where it would be possible to get a copy of the single, I don't know where to start looking. Would be grateful for any information. Thanks, David Harman mailto:Dave.Harman@pblogistics.com Ed. - Try contacting Mabu Vinyl at mabu@sugarmusic.co.za and vibesvinyl@mweb.co.za who might be able to help find the original single... The song 'Schoolboy' is available on the compilation CD 'Rocking Against The System' released a couple of years ago by RetroFresh at http://www.freshmusic.co.za/retrofresh.htm If you're just looking for the picture it can be found here: http://www.rock.co.za/files/asylumkids_schoolboy.jpg Dave Harman is the cool dude in the middle holding the guitar. -------------- PLEASE HELP TO "SAVE A LIFE" HERE!! Hey, Its quite possible you can save my life. I have a friend originally from South Africa who moved here, to Northern Ireland, about 2 years ago. She leant me her favourite CD, which to my horror was stolen amongst my other CDs when my car was broken into. I haven't told her yet. I've been trying to track it down via Google and Ebay, but this band isn't exactly huge. They're called "Naked Lyric" and the album title is "Spellbound" - I think the record label is "Do Music" I still have the CD case and sleeve - the bar code No. is 6 006523 001047. If there is any way you can source a copy of this album, I'd be most grateful. Many thanks, Andrew Mailto:amcanally@f2s.com -------------- OLD FLAMES AND OMEGA LTD WANTED Howzit. Please can you help. We moved to the UK 3 years ago and I really miss my "oldies" which I had to sell in order to finance the trip. Is there anywhere that I can find an MP3, CD of..... 1. Omega Ltd - Tchakovsky 1 2. The Flames - Soulfire LP Please advise soonest as my mom is coming over in May for my daughter's wedding, so if there is a way to buy /get these in SA, she can bring with. Regards, William MacLean. Bedfordshire Mailto:wpshark@onetel.net.uk -------------- STEPPING UP Hi, In the #244 issue Fred was asking about the song "He's gonna step on you again" by John Kongos; I've got the original 7 single if he is interested. Johan Mailto:jd.e@absamail.co.za -------------- JOHNNY'S GRATERS HITS Howzit When I described to the Rock Dye-Chest I was told I would get a Free Graters and Four Nuffinx. I'm still waiting for my Graters and my Nuffinx whatever they are. Johnny from Boksburg -------------- GOT A QUESTION? Please email any musical questions to editor@sarockdigest.com ----------------------------- ----------------- MUSIC SHOPPING ----------------- MABU VINYL & CD Cape Town's finest record and CD store is now located at the intersection - "Where the four streets - Long, Buitensingel, Kloof, and Orange - meet" Visit our new CD Stall on the Pavement Piazza in front of the Mabu shop opposite the Long Street Baths. Mabu stocks SA and International Record and CD titles, and a growing list of independent SA CD and CD-R releases - including a large range of all the African Dope releases. Latest Vinyl additions: Des Lindberg - 'Come Near And Listen' (LP) Various - 'The History Of Rock - The SA Connection' (LP) Petula Clark - 'Live In SA' (2LP) John Ireland - 'Thinking Aloud' (LP) Jonathan Butler - 'Jonathan Butler' (LP) Flood - 'Flood' (LP) Latest independent SA CD additions: Tumi and the Volume - 'At The Bassline' SteveVan - 'Getting Stronger' Top Sellers: 340ml - 'Moving' Bed On Bricks - 'Humanarium' (Bowline) Bluescream - 'Bluescream' (Independent) Benguela - 'Sui' (Open Record) Chiaroscuro - 'A Definition' (Independent) Dollyrockers - 'The Heat' (Independent) Brian Finch - 'Never Look Back' (Independent) Fokofpolisiekar - 'As Jy Met Vuur Speel Sal Jy Brand' (EP) (Rhythm) freshlyground - 'Jika Jika' (Independent) Forest Moon - 'Forest Moon' (Independent) Goema Captains Of Cape Town - 'Healing Destination' (Mountain) Derek Gripper - 'Blomdoorns' (Open Record) Hog Hoggidy Hog - 'Naked' EP (3 Chord) Kalahari Surfers - 'Muti Media' (African Dope) Lions Of Zion - 'Iternal Fire' (Independent) Mitsoo - 'Afterglow' EP (Indie) MoodPhase5ive - 'Steady On' (African Dope) Not The Midnight Mass - 'Live At The Planetarium' (Independent) Russ Nerwich - 'Beyond The Walls' (Independent) Off The Edge - Site Under Construction (Independent) Plush - 'All That Is Should Be' [Indie] The Rudimentals - 'More Fire' (Independent) Colin Shamley - 'Born Guilty & Other Stories' (2CD set) (3rd Ear Music) Soulja - '21 Gunslut' (Independent) Skwirmish - 'The EP' [Indie] Various - 'Silvertab Harambe Dope Sessions' (African Dope) Various - 'African Dope Sound System' (African Dope) Various - African Dope Volume 1' [Sony] Various - 'Cape Of Good Dope' (African Dope) Various - 'Breathe Sunshine' (Amabala) Various - 'A Moment In Cape Town' (Revised edition) (Afribeat) Various SA Artists - 'Big Red' - From the TV series 'Going Nowhere Slowly' [Ripchord] Zero Tolerance - 'A Perfect Life?' (EP) (Independent) This week's best-selling CDs at Mabu Vinyl & CD are: 1. 'Big Red' - Songs from the TV series 'Going Nowhere Slowly' 2. 'The Heat' - The Dollyrockers 3. 'More Fire' - The Rudimentals 4. 'Sui' - Benguela 5. 'Muti Media' - Kalahari Surfers All these South African CD titles are available to customers not in Cape Town... Online at: http://sugarmusic.gemm.com By Email Order from: mailto:mabu@sugarmusic.co.za Please contact: Jacques or Stephen (Ph): 021 423 7635 (Cell): 082 534 6006 mailto:mabu@sugarmusic.co.za Mabu Vinyl & CD Shop 2, Buitenkloof Centre 8 Kloof Street, Gardens. Cape Town 8001 "We buy and sell LP's, CD's, DVD's, Videos, Cassettes, and books." -------------- VIBES VINYL Stadium-on-Main, Main Road, Claremont This week's specials: Tony Cox - 'In-To-Nation' (LP) Jo Day - 'One Woman' (LP) John Ireland - 'Revelation' (LP) David Kramer - 'Baboondogs' (LP) Morocko - 'Morocko' (LP) Trevor Rabin - 'Beginnings' (LP) Trevor Rabin - 'Face To Face' (LP) Trevor Rabin - 'Can't Look Away' (LP) Tananas - 'Tananas' (LP) Tananas - 'Spiral' (LP) New record accessories, now in stock at Vibes Vinyl:- - Turntable replacement needles available from us. - We have a wide range of 12" Maxi Singles in stock. - Now available: soft plastic sleeves for 7" Singles. We pay top prices for top quality. Want Lists Welcome! Call us at: 021-683 5676 Postal address: PO Box 24045, Claremont, 7735. mailto:vibesvinyl@mweb.co.za Website catalogue now also at Gemm and Netsounds: http://www.vibesvinyl.gemm.com and http://www.netsoundsmusic.com/vibesvinyl -------------------- GEMM GEMM is your best online source for those otherwise impossible-to-find music titles on Record or CD! http://sugarmusic.gemm.com -------------------- THE DIGEST CLASSIFIED ADS ----------------------------- To advertise in this section please email: editor@sarockdigest.com -------------- ARCANA XXII If any of you are doing any shows soon and can help Namibian power metal ARCANA XXII by putting on some shows for them, then please contact Johan ASASP at: Mailto:johan@mac.com.na Thanks in advance! Shaughn Pieterse Label Manager/Webmaster www.witchdoctorrecords.com shaughn@witchdoctorrecords.com Tel/Fax: +27 (0) 31 208 0905 Cell: +27 (0) 72 384 2407 ----------------------- LOOKING TO EARN EXTRA MONEY IN THE MUSIC INDUSTRY? This is an interesting new SA music business concept. We suggest you take a good look at this opportunity. Simply send a blank e-mail to mailto:lazyman200@freeautobot.com to receive further info. (Ed. - Nope, it's not spam, but genuine and potentially worthwhile, and anyone can do it!) -------------- RECORDS RESTORED TO CD Have your favourite LP transferred to CD with full colour label and box printing. We restore the LP music/tracks in order to extract the original sound, before transferring them to CD. Only single copies are made and returned with the LP. What is done... 1. Firstly, your precious LP is put through our professional record cleaning machine to ensure that we start with as pure an original sound as possible. 2. We then play the record on the very best audiophile equipment (Thorens turntable, SME arm with Shure V15-III cartridge) and capture the music at a high sample rate, into our "Top of the Range" computer. 3. The Vinyl background noise and "Fried Eggs" sounds are gently removed from the recording. 4. Any remaining "Pops" or "Clicks" are isolated and repaired and the tracks are separated as on the original LP. 5. Then, and only then, do we copy the sound to CD. 6. Finally, the LP cover is scanned front and rear, reduced to fit and printed in full glorious colour. A label is printed for the disc itself in full colour, as on the original. There is a range of prices from R65.00 to R120.00 - depending on the postage costs, and the required and desired degree of cleanup on your single copy. Contact: Terence Tel: 021-787-0205 or Cell: 082-939-077 Email: Mailto:tegner@absamail.co.za -------------- SOUTH AFRICAN MUSIC QUOTA COALITION Support the SAMQC, as this SA musicians' initiative, looking to greatly increase the amounts of SA music played on the nation's radio stations. Join the movement, sign up, or read more at http://www.samqc.org.za --------------- RODRIGUEZ One of the most frequently Asked Questions on the Sugarman.org Forum is where to buy Rodriguez CDs. Well, you can buy Rodriguez CDs online at One World ---------------------------- DIGEST CLASSIFIEDS DETAILS * To have your advert featured in the Digest Classifieds, and to find out the prices to do so, contact mailto:sugar@cd.co.za The Sound Solutions and Digest Classified sections are sponsored by: SUGAR MUSIC http://www.sugarmusic.co.za Contact: Stephen Segerman - sugar@cd.co.za LIVE MUSIC
RECOMMENDED SA GIGS See http://www.sagigs.com UPCOMING EVENTS ------------------- Full details at http://www.SAgigs.com THE 'VAN HELSING' TOUR - Marlowe, Stick up Kid and Nemesis will be touring around the country to celebrate the release of the movie. EZRA - Idols finalist, Ezra Lingeveldt, will be launching his sensational debut album "Funk 'n Roll" at the Blues Room, Village Walk Sandton on the 22 April 2004. SAAV - South Africans for the Abolition if Vivisection (SAAV), Earthlife Africa Animal Action Group and Friends of the Cat have planned a number of activities to commemorate World Day for Laboratory Animals (WDLA). SLASHDOGS - South Africa's favourite dirty rock-n-rollers, The SlashDogs, have been confirmed to join Cape Town's Fokofpolisiekar on stage at Club Recess (Hatfield) on Tuesday night the 20th of April. 340ML - Live in Cape Town - Monday 19 April at Jo'burg in Long St PYRAMID TONGUE - This rated local rock band have been forced to relocate the venue for their "farewell" gig (before the band's international tour) which will now be held at Tempo's in Kya Sands on the 26 April GOTHFEST - Two nites of of unadulterated underground gothic glamour in Cape Town and Pretoria, with the finest live bands, undead DJs and side-show acts that we could dig up. From Germany comes top nu-goth rock gods SANGUIS ET CINIS! From South Africa, The Awakening, Silex and Revelus. THE INDEPENDENT ARMCHAIR THEATRE - This week's line-up includes A-Bomb, Linda Koffman, Straight and Narrow, Paul Q, and Plush - In Lower Main Road, Observatory, Cape Town. THE RUDIMENTALS - Cape Town's ska-punk sensations have lined up a string of gigs over the next few weeks. ---------------------- LIVE IN LONDON SUNWAYS - The band's first London date is on Friday 30 April at the Halfmoon Putney - (supported by The Lanes * Little Spitfire) ---------------------- UPCOMING INTERNATIONAL ARTISTS IN SA: ENRIQUE IGLESIAS - Vodacom, 5fm Music and Big Concerts have announced the forthcoming tour of music sensation Enrique Iglesias to South Africa. Kicking off on the 27th of April in Cape Town, he will then be heading to Durban on the 29th, Sun City on the 1st, and finally Johannesburg on the 2nd of May. Support from Tamara Dey.. WITCHDOCTOR RECORDS ANNOUNCES SA TOURS BY ENTOMBED, AND KATAKLYSM - Entombed, those Swedish masters of metal return to our shores for two exclusive shows in April, and Kataklysm, the Swedish masters of metal return, to our shores for two exclusive shows in May LORD OF THE DANCE - The dance spectacular, which has played to over 50 million people in 36 different countries, returns to South Africa by this March, for a whopping two-month tour. -------------------------- WORKSHOPS The Living Music Workshops have announced a series of workshops in Cape Town over the next few weeks -------------------------- SA MUSIC FESTIVALS THE V-TOWN MUSIC FESTIVAL - The V-Town Music Festival is an all day event that will be rocking the Vaal-Triangle on the 1st of May 2004. The Festival will feature Wonderboom, Tweak, Cutting Jade, Jo Day, Mean Mr Mustard, Arno Carstens, Wickhead, 16Stitch, Zen Arcade, Summersalt, Tait, Jesse Jordan Band, Six of Nine, SMS 3 and Swallow 15. ------------ GIG FOCUS ------------ DIESEL WHORES, WHITE GUYS TO HEADLINE COUNTRYBILLY III The CountryBilly BBQ Breakout III - May 14, 2004, 9pm - Mercury Live, Cape Town Starring The Diesel Whores, Three Bored White Guys and DJ Mygarageissofullicantevengetmycarin The third edition of this glorious celebration of country, blues, and stop drop n' roll graces the Mercury Live on May 14, 2004. As always it is hosted by those conniving Capetonian cabaleros Three Bored White Guys (there are four of them) and that special guest star of note DJ Mygarageissofullicantevengetmycarin (read it slowly if you have to). But of special interest - and we mean 'special' - is the official announcement of the featured artist for CBBBQB III; none other than the Dastardly Daltons of Downtown Jo'burg, The Diesel Whores! Yes, it's shaping up to be a knockdown, burnout affair as the slide guitars kick in over the wailin', yee-haaing and ya-hooing. Frank starts up the fire around 9pm for everyone who wants to bring along some roadkill and share in the fine eating festivities. In addition, expect some novel activities inside the venue to distract you from ordinary things like beer n' whisky, courtesy of that fine saloon The Mercury Live. This edition's theme, after all is 'Eat! Drink! Shoot! Dance!'. Not that your own firearms will be permitted. City ordinance demands that all firearms be checked in with the sheriff, and no young folk of 18 years or less be allowed into the premises, so y'all best leave yer spawn at home. Entrance is R30 at the door. A limited amount of 50 discounted pre-sale tickets are available at the Urge Shop until May 12. Discounted tickets are available for R20 each. Email shop@urge.co.za for details or to buy tickets. This here BBQ is made possible by these fine folks: Urge Events Media for CountryBilly BBQ Breakout, Three Bored White Guys Gosatango Records for The Diesel Whores The Mercury Live and Lounge EMI Bobby Bare Anton Marshall URGE EVENTS MEDIA 0722047539 anton@urge.co.za www.urge.co.za -------------- SA PUNK By Daniel Neville SA Punk Gig Guide: Fri 23 April - Paarl - Lanners Landing - R20,7pm The Rudimentals Hog Hoggidy Hog Perfect Day Impropriety & more Sat 24 - Cape Town - Parow Boys Scout Hall - R30, 3pm Moshfest 4 Carea Death by Chocolate Antipathy Power Trippin Caroline Coon Ghost Toyland Daniel Neville mailto:daniel@neville.za.net ------------------- LIVE IN SA ----------- SOULJA AT SPLASHY FEN (Cape Town's power rock squad report back on their KwaZuluNatal sortie) Now that sleep has been accomplished successfully after a most incredible South African journey for Cape Afro-Rockers Soulja, let us capture your imagination and most precious time with a report back on the past few days... We marched westward towards Underberg, where thousands of people had already descended in the name of a single festival called Splashy Fen, now held over the Easter Weekend. It was Friday, which was met by an evening of the best SA Rock on the Blunt Stage hosted by Blunt Magazine of course. From Sibling Rivalry, What Now?!, Stick Up Kid, Mr Smug to Waverley, it seemed like the atmosphere and sound was readying itself for the onslaught of what was to come...and it did... It's 8 O'clock and Soulja hit the stage. While Prime Circle were rocking through their set on the Bamboo Mountain Stage, we began our charge...From the tremors of 'Never Not Guilty', through to the manic opening bars of 'The Song Remains the Same/FailureSummerSon', this set has already blasted off to Pluto and back again. Warren on vox can't stop smiling at the amount of fans that have amassed in front of the stage. We give them more. 'Plan my Attack' steadies into 'War/No More Trouble' and then the Marquee erupts as we jol through Lee's opening licks of 'Amandla', aided on drums and mini bongos by Stuart aka Flashback McLaren, who at this stage thinks he's playing at a Johnny Clegg gig. SAB Black Label six-packs are jettisoned into the can-hungry crowd along with some beanies and shirts. These festival revellers who seem to be almost possessed are making more noise than ever now. Curve on bass joins them with writhing movements on stage that emulates his booming bass guitar. A new skanky afro-energized tune called 'To be Free' gets them oscillating now. But it was the new tunes that really shone for us, and seemingly the audience as well - Greg's (Rhythm Guitar and backing vox) punky penned steamtrain of a tune called 'Lost and Lonely' then proceeds to blow a hole right through the fixation of the crowd so that an airy space is created for the beautiful ballad 'Like a Spider' written by our frontman. With only three minutes to spare and another three songs to play, a quick decision was required. Soulja then broke into 'Fok Amerika' which was played at frenetic pace, and the stage was left vacant for The Narrow and Marlowe to take over, after which Pestroy totally blow our brains apart with some of the best hardcore stuff we've ever heard. You guys ROCK!!! Backstage we are greeted by Blunt Ed who showers us with mags and gifts from Lizard. The rest is history and this is also a fitting place to say a word of thanks to all that made this supremo festival possible for ourselves, and the ticket buyers. Band thanks go to festival director Peter Ferraz, Festival Manager Pedro Carlo, wonderfully and refreshingly professional Stage Manager Albrecht Wessels, SAB Black Label, Blunt Magazine, Lizard, WickedMike, Viv Haviside and anyone else we have sorely missed out. This festival goes down in our brill books ma chinas. Watch out for Soulja Uncircled and Unplugged at Mercury, Cape Town in May. -------------- SGQ AT THE KKNK - THE COLDEST TOWN IN SA PRODUCES HOTTEST NEW ROCK BAND!! Southern Gypsey Queen 'rock and blues band' has been on everybody's lips after their spectacular breakthrough performance at the KKNK festival 2003! The exciting new band has received great ratings from both fellow musicians and music gurus alike with comments like, "fabulous nuwerige band, hulle is glo spectacular live!" and Riaan Niewenhuys, from Delta Blue, saying that they are the only band with the potential to do what AC/DC did for Australia and revive the rock revolution in South Africa. This band originates from Molteno, a sleepy little town nestled into the Stormberg Mountain Range in the chilly depths of the Eastern Cape, with regular winter temperatures of -5 to -12 and even reaching -18! The town's population is only 500 with its only claim to fame being "Home of the Ouma rusk", but that has all changed thanks to this group of talented young musicians! Gareth Wilson, the leader/visionary of the band is key song writer as well as lead vocalist and guitarist. His wife, Tammy, on bass guitar, offers 'angelic' backing vocals while brother Paul is an exciting, energetic drummer, also on backing vocals. Thys Smit, lifelong friend and neighbour shows off his innovative skills on rhythm and lead guitar. Coming from the back-end of nowhere does not mean that their music lacks! With strong influences such as AC/DC, Pink Floyd and Stevie Ray Vaughan, they have a very unique style with an uncanny interpretation of Southern rock and blues. They have a way of keeping the crowds on their toes by occasionally slipping in an old classic of Deep Purple, Led Zeppelin, AC/DC and Muddy Waters. SA music guru, Dirk Uys, recognised their potential and was the first promoter to give them a major break. Of late, Piet Botha of Jack Hammer, is working with a record label that will be recording their new material later this year. For a full biography and all the latest info, check out their website on www.sgq.co.za v You can see Southern Gypsey Queen performing live at the following venues and festivals: 20 April Dorp St Theatre, Stellenbosch 21 April Bohemia, Stellenbosch 22 April Siroccos, Gordons Bay 23 April Acoustic Café, Muizenberg 24 April Hangklip Hotel, Hangklip -------------- ON THE RISE: Askani at Stones (8th April) Askani, an aspiring band from the Southern suburbs of Cape Town, are beginning to hit the mainstream of South African music. They're a band who, as always, have had to get through initial difficulties to establish themselves as a fully functional four-piece, but after gigging for a year they are showing signs of maturity. They have recognisable elements of the Red Hot Chilli Peppers and Offspring in their music, and indeed they consider their style to be "funky punk rock". Angelo, the energetic vocalist, says they are looking to entertain a younger crowd. "Most of our songs are about having fun," he says. "We want people to abandon their inhibitions and express themselves." After a few more gigs, they may well attract the crowds they deserve. Askani is still new on the Cape Town circuit. With drums sometimes struggling to keep up with the dynamic guitar and bass arrangements, they are set to engage the Cape Town alternative rock scene with freshly rehashed sounds from the '90's. Francis Bryan --------------------- SA GIG GUIDE The SA Rock Digest list of recommended gigs can now be found at: http://www.SAgigs.com. If you cannot access SAgigs.com then e-mail gigs@sarockdigest.com?subject=gigguide and we will e-mail the gig guide to you each week. Please send all gig info to sugar@sagigs.com in a plain text e-mail. SA Music Links And Resources
SA MUSIC LINKS: THE SA ROCK ENCYCLOPEDIA WEBLINKS PAGE: Links to the world of SA Rock - artists, gig guides, resources, record labels, recording studios, music trivia and more at: http://www.sarockdigest.com/links ---------------------------- SA MUSIC RESOURCES: THE SA ROCK DIGEST ON SAFM (104-107KHz) THE BRUCE MILLAR SHOW - MONDAY EVENINGS @ 9.15PM Stephen Segerman, Digest co-editor, talks to Bruce Millar about SA music news, new releases, and charts from each week's Digest. ---------------------------- SA ROCK DIGEST CONTACT DETAILS: SUBSCRIPTIONS: To subscribe to The SA Rock Digest - please send an e-mail to: subscribe@sarockdigest.com Address changes - please send an e-mail to: subscribe@sarockdigest.com To unsubscribe - please send a blank e-mail to: unsubscribe@sarockdigest.com ---------------------------- SA ROCK DIGEST BACK ISSUES http://www.sarockdigest.com/archives Online and keyword searchable ---------------------------- PRESS RELEASES & CONTRIBUTIONS Please submit all press releases, contributions, reviews, requests, searches and comments to sugar@sarockdigest.com ---------------------------- EDITORS Any thoughts, requests, problems, complaints, praise or interesting and relevant SA music news, CDs, or mp3s... please contact: Stephen Segerman sugar@sarockdigest.com Brian Currin http://www.vagabond.za.net/contact ---------------------------- MAIN CONTRIBUTORS BC - Brian Currin SS - Stephen Segerman JS - John Samson KS - Kurt Shoemaker CL - Carina Laubscher (Katvrou) TL - Tertius Louw DN - Daniel Neville NN - Nadia Neophytou WM - Wicked Mike DM - David Marks LR - Lindsay Ravenscroft DS - Don Sweeto LAD - LAD EP - Ernie Pap MC - Michael Currin (Curmic) FB - Francis Bryan JFB - Johnny From Boksburg And others too numerous to mention, but gratefully acknowledged! Proofed by Ronx A SUGAR MUSIC PRODUCTION |
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