SA ROCK DIGEST ISSUE #226 http://www.sarockdigest.com Established 27th January 1999 17 November 2003 ---------------------- IN THIS WEEK'S ISSUE ---------------------- The '466 64' Project was set up as a joint initiative between Nelson Mandela and a group of musicians who have joined forces in the fight against AIDS in South Africa. The '466 64' - Give 1 minute of your life to stop AIDS' campaign combines a ground-breaking music launch on the web and phone networks around the world, an all-star concert in South Africa, followed by a CD and DVD release. '466 64 - The Concert', in association with MTV's 'Staying Alive', takes place at Green Point Stadium in Cape Town on Sat November 29th, the weekend before World AIDS Day. Seether are on their way back to good ole SA for a triumphant homecoming tour, opening at the Blue Moon in Nelspruit on December 29th ... Major changes are on the way for the 2004 staging of the North Sea Jazz Festival in Cape Town ... LIVE return to SA this week for the 'Birds of Pray Tour' and a total sell-out is expected. Anna Davel and Steve Hofmeyr are among the big names of the Afrikaans music industry who will perform at the Geraas Music Awards (GMT) on 17th November ... freshlyground picked up a KORA Nomination for 'Most Promising African Act' ... What's the link between the groups Mellow Candle, Flibbertigibbet, and the Nukular Stompers?? ... and there's an informative "Pamphlet for Groupies", courtesy of the Nimbus Experience Nimnews email. 'Rock The Bay 2003' is happening on 26 Dec 2003 when some of South Africa's hottest bands will converge at Firlands in Somerset West for a live music summer concert to crown off the year on an extremely high note ... There are some updates on the Sugar Bush Festival taking place from Thursday 18 - Sunday 21 December on Tuckers Farm, Ifafa ... You can enter The Global Battle of the Bands, the first-ever worldwide talent competition for pop and rock bands. New mp3's from Jamie Jupiter, The Fallen, Morning Haze, Myburgh, Zero Tolerance and a classic from Urban Creep ... Bed On Bricks are about to release their debut album, 'Humanarium', and dates for the band's SA Tour have been announced ... Koos Kombuis and Valiant Swart's new CD now available ... And Valiant took time out to produce and play on the debut CD by Die Melktert Kommissie ... Old Mol's excellent 'Rock The Bedsprings' album is putting this young Jo'burg rock band on the map ... 340ml are a Maputo dub group, now based in Jozi, who have released their debut album, 'Moving' ... Anton Goosen & Vrinne live CD just released by Gallo ... We have some info on Durban group Lilo and their next release ... Mitsoo are Cape Town's favourite all-girl punk trio and are about to release an EP, but they are looking for a guitarist. Waverley's "new anthem for South African rock", titled 'Give Back The Radio', has been released to launch the band's new 7-track EP ... LAD tells us all about Esjay, the name of both this new SA band and their lead vocalist ... John Samson looks back at Valiant Swart's 'Deur Die Donker Vallei' album ... and Kurt Shoemaker looks back at 'The Best of SA Pop - Volume 2'. Daniel Neville reviews the new album, 'Try Whistling This', by Serving Suggestion ... We review the Craig David and Danny K concert at the Bellville Velodrome in Cape Town ... and Carina Laubscher takes us into the heart of the madness that is a BOO! gig at the Roxy in Melville. There's also the usual weekly mp3 and album charts, recommended SA gigs, letters to Sound Solutions, old SA charts, Vinyl store specials, and SA punk gigs ... And that's SA Music (This) Week! ---------------- EDITOR'S NOTE ---------------- If you miss any issues of the Digest, then you can still read each week's Edition, in full colour, online at: http://www.cd.co.za (updated Tuesdays). You can also find all the Previous Editions of the Digest archived at: http://www.sarockdigest.com/archives The deadline for Digest submissions and SA gig info is Friday 12 noon. If you would like to contact us, please do not reply to this newsletter! Rather send an email to mailto:editor@sarockdigest.com?subject=Digest Thanks! Ed. ------------------------------------- SOUTH AFRICAN ROCK DIGEST ONLINE ------------------------------------- For a full-colour and clickable HTML version of the SA Rock Digest with images, please visit http://www.cd.co.za where the online version of the SA Rock Digest can be found. Updated every Tuesday. -------------------------------------------- SOUTH AFRICAN ROCK DIGEST ON THE RADIO -------------------------------------------- Digest co-editor Stephen Segerman presents his SA music slot on the Bruce Millar Show on SAfm (103-106fm) on Monday evenings between 9 and 9.30pm. ----------------------------------------- THE SOUTH AFRICAN ROCK ENCYCLOPEDIA ----------------------------------------- From Abstract Truth to Karen Zoid, from 'Astra' to 'Zen Boulders', from 'Ag Pleez Daddy' to 'ZX Dan'... visit the South African Rock Encyclopedia at http://www.rock.co.za ------------ SAGIGS.com ------------ The SA Rock Digest list of Recommended Gigs can be found at: http://www.SAgigs.com ----------------------------- ONE WORLD ONLINE CD STORE ----------------------------- Selling South African Music to the World http://www.oneworld.co.za/index.cfm?bec=4321 ----------- CONTENTS ----------- 1.NEWS: '466 64', Seether, NSJF-CT 2004, 'Rock The Bay 2003', Geraas Awards, Mellow Candle, freshlyground, Sugar Bush Festival, The Global Battle Of The Bands, 'Pamphlet For Groupies'. 2.CHARTS: Top 30 SA mp3s & albums 3.NEW RELEASES: SA mp3s & CDs: Jamie Jupiter, The Fallen, Morning Haze, Urban Creep, Zero Tolerance, Myburgh, Bed On Bricks, Koos Kombuis & Valiant Swart, Old Mol, Mitsoo, Waverley, Anton Goosen & Vrinne, Die Melktert Kommissie, Lilo, Esjay. 4. USA FOR AFRICA: 'The Best of SA Pop - Volume 2' 5.A NAARTJIE IN THE UK: Valiant Swart - 'Deur Die Donker Vallei' 6.HISTORY & TRIVIA: Springbok Radio charts, birthdays, Vinyl Junkies 7.SOUND SOLUTIONS: Letters and requests, a Readers' Forum 8.LIVE MUSIC: Events round-up, SA Punk: Serving Suggestion, Craig David, BOO! 9.INFO: Subscriptions & contributions _____________________________________________ 1.NEWS --------- '466 64' "Aids is no longer a disease, it is a human rights issue." Nelson Mandela - International Aids Conference - Paris 2003 Nelson Mandela and a group of musicians have joined forces in the fight against AIDS in South Africa. The '466 64' campaign (pronounced: "four double six six four") was conceived by Dave Stewart and put into place in partnership with the Mandela Foundation and Brian May and Roger Taylor of Queen. Global media partners include Tiscali and MTV Staying Alive, industry partners include Coca-Cola, BBC World Service, Virgin Atlantic, SABC, Fedex and The Fleming Media Group. '466 64' was Nelson Mandela's prison number on Robben Island, Cape Town, where he was held in captivity for 18 years. The issue in South Africa then was Apartheid - the issue today across the continent is AIDS. 30 million people in Africa are currently imprisoned by the HIV virus, a death sentence among the poor due to lack of affordable medicines - since the start of the pandemic 2 decades ago, 17 million Africans have died. The '466 64 - Give 1 minute of your life to stop AIDS' campaign combines a ground-breaking music launch on the web and phone networks around the world, an all-star concert in South Africa, followed by a CD and DVD release. '466 64 - The Concert', in association with MTV's Staying Alive, takes place at Green Point Stadium in Cape Town on Saturday November 29th, the weekend before World AIDS Day. 40,000 people are expected to attend the 3-hour show, which will be broadcast free to hundreds of millions around the world via TV, webcast and radio. To date the international stars who have been named to perform alongside leading African artists at the Green Point concert include Beyonce, 50 Cent, Bono, Anastacia, Queen, Zucchero, Samantha Mumba, The Corrs, Eurythmics, Moloko, and Paul Oakenfold featuring Shifty Shell Shock and TC. Those overseas acts (and some still to be confirmed) will appear alongside local heroes Johnny Clegg, Baaba Mal, Watershed, Danny K, Bongo Maffin, Ladysmith Black Mambazo, Ready D, and Zola (no, not Budd). As well as stars from the world of music, '466 64' is supported by such international figures as Bill Clinton and Oprah Winfrey. In South Africa, SABC will broadcast the entire show live. Highlights will premiere on MTV channels globally on World AIDS Day - 1st December - and will be made available rights-free at no cost to all TV and radio broadcasters worldwide to a potential audience of more than two billion people. The European Broadcasting Union and the Asian Broadcasting Union will distribute the programme to its member broadcasters. The internet webcast will be distributed worldwide by Tiscali to the world's most important portals and ISPs, making it the biggest music web event in history. The 46664 campaign is calling for: · People to join a global petition via local call-in numbers on which they can hear songs written by contributing artists, contribute directly to the fight against AIDS in Africa, and be directed to the 46664 website to hear more music; purchase exclusive 46664 tracks; download ringtones; make donations and leave their email addresses. · All governments to declare a global AIDS emergency. This means developed country governments must give much more money to the Global Fund to fight AIDS, and the global community should strive to get 3 million people living with AIDS on lifesaving anti-retrovirals by 2005. Telephone networks around the globe are also joining in the campaign, with AT&T providing the service in the USA. Additional to the music, callers will hear messages from celebrities such as Beyonce, Robert De Niro, Britney Spears, Pink and David Bowie. Simply by phoning the appropriate number callers will join a global petition. They will further be invited to visit the campaign website where they will be able to register and give their email address adding their support to the call urging governments to fully fund AIDS treatment. In the UK all telephone users can call a premium line using the number 09060 1 46664. The fund raising element will vary from country to country, with the Nelson Mandela Foundation being the ultimate beneficiary. The Foundation will apply funds raised in its work which provides key services on AIDS in South Africa where 25 per cent of the population has HIV. Some of the featured tracks for the '466 64' event are now available for download, the latest being 'Whole Life' written and performed by Paul McCartney and Dave Stewart. This track can now be sampled and downloaded from www.46664.com. The availability of this superb blues-flecked rock n' roll number follows on from the soaring and soulful Queen & Anastacia track, 'Amandla', which was made available last week. Other '466 64' tracks currently available for download include: 'Long Road To Freedom' - Dave Stewart, Bono and Youssou N'Dour 'People' - Jimmy Cliff and Sting 'Amandla' - Queen & Anastacia 'Whole Life' - Paul McCartney and Dave Stewart Check back to www.46664.com very soon for '46664', the next track by Mick Jones (ex-The Clash). '46664' The CD and '46664' The DVD are planned for release in early 2004. Proceeds will benefit the global fight against AIDS, and will encourage customers to join the global petition. Give 1 Minute of Your Life To Stop AIDS - Dial 082 1 46664 or connect to www.46664.com NOW and Join the Global Petition Tickets for the '466 64' Concert at Green Point Stadium are available at Computicket and will range from R65 to R450. Gates open at 2pm and the concert starts at 7pm. More Info: Jackie Busch Real Concerts - Cape Town Tel: + 27 21 465 5733 mailto:jackie_b@iafrica.com -------------- SEETHER TO KICK OFF SA TOUR AT BLUE MOON IN NELSPRUIT Miller Genuine Draft is proud to announce that Seether will be appearing live at Blue Moon in Nelspruit on 29 December. This will be the opening concert of the band's first return tour to South Africa since making their mark on the US hard rock scene. Seether needs little introduction. Formerly Saron Gas, they performed twice at Blue Moon to capacity crowds. Their move to the USA and onto the global stage along with their instant stardom remains a source of major inspiration and hope to other SA bands. The story of Seether's departure to the USA is an interesting one. Heading off to New York City to work on the release of their debut album with Wind Up, the label that took Creed to the top, the band members, Shaun, Dale and David were a bit punch drunk, being swept along by the momentum created by their landmark signing. A seven-album deal overseen by Deftones' producer wasn't something to be blasé about and with a lot of Americans questioning the decision to sign a band all the way from Africa, Saron Gas had a lot to live up to. How did they manage such a major coup? It all started with their SA manager sending a demo CD to Germany who in turn handed it on to Wind Up in America along with a recommendation. Wind Up liked it, phoned and requested Saron Gas to come over and visit. The rest is history! Choosing Seether as their new band name was most appropriate. The dictionary meaning of the word Seether is "a small pot for boiling things", but to the band it really explains how they feel - seething with anger and frustration! According to 5fm's Barney Simon, the way in which they were snapped up by Wind Up Records, can be credited to the band's lyrical recipe. Since their arrival in the USA, Wind Up Records kept Seether extremely busy. After re-mastering their album for American and global release - a Herculean task in itself - Seether hit the road starting their backbreaking tour schedule of 300 concerts in 365 days. During their concerts they played extensively alongside Evanescence, 3 Doors Down and Creed and performed at major concerts like the Ozzfest. They produced a number of US hits including their single, 'Fine Again', which had an extensive run on the US charts. Seether featured on the 'Daredevils' movie soundtrack and their current hit, 'Out Of My Way', can be heard in the highly profiled movie, 'Freddie vs Jason'. The Seether concert at Blue Moon in Nelspruit will be opened by two new and dynamic SA bands, Soul Proxy and Faultline (at 20:00), with Seether coming on stage at 22:00. And if anyone has headspace left to accommodate even more surprises - Seether will bring along a guest artist from the USA who'll make her debut appearance in SA! Tickets for the Seether concert are available from the Plumstore/Nelspruit for R100 from 17 November. Please note that no tickets will be sold at the gate nor will additional tickets be made available after the show is sold out - this translates to one thing only: Get your tickets early!! Enquiries: 013-744 9033 -------------- EXCITING CHANGES FOR 5TH NORTH SEA JAZZ FESTIVAL IN CAPE TOWN IN 2004 EspMOJO - the joint South African (esp Afrika) and Dutch (MOJO Concerts) organisers of the North Sea Jazz Festival in Cape Town - have announced some important changes to mark the Festival's upcoming 5th anniversary in 2004. The North Sea Jazz Festival - Cape Town 2004 (henceforth referred to as the NSJF-CT2004) will be moving to its new home at the Cape Town International Convention Centre for the staging of next year's event. NSJF-CT2004 will also be held in a different month to previous years, but only for the 2004 event. The North Sea Jazz Festival's 5th anniversary in Cape Town in 2004 will happily coincide with the launch of South Africa's "Ten Years into Democracy" anniversary celebrations. Those celebrations will now -in the best possible way - be a part of "Africa's Grandest Gathering", the nickname by which the two-day Jazz Festival in Cape Town has become affectionately known, as dubbed by the media. In 2004 the NSJF-CT will be taking place in April, instead of the last weekend in March as has been the case for the previous festivals. The 2004 event will take place on Saturday 10th and Sunday 11th April, but will be reverting to its traditional March-end staging from 2005. The (free) community concert, now called 'North Sea Heats the Cape', is scheduled for Thursday 8 April in the city. The change of dates for the 2004 event is the result of unavoidable capacity constraints at the Cape Town International Convention Centre on that last weekend in March 2004. As with previous North Sea Jazz Festivals in Cape Town, espMOJO are expecting a large attendance, with jazz fans arriving from across Southern Africa, Europe, USA, Asia, and many other distant spots on the globe, to attend the annual festival, which is now an established fixture on the World Jazz Festival circuit. The success of the previous four Festivals has proved to be a major boost for jazz music and musicians in South Africa, and also for the City of Cape Town, whose long-standing support has seen a huge financial spin-off for the city from all the visitors in town over the festival weekend. The NSJF-CT2004 will also be moving to its new, long-term home at Cape Town's International Convention Centre on the Foreshore. Over the past four years, the Festival has outgrown The Good Hope Centre, which had served admirably as the venue for the first four North Sea Jazz Festivals in Cape Town. The NSJF-CT2004 will be held at its new Cape Town International Convention Centre home for the next 13 years, according to the new agreement between espMOJO and their Cape Town International Convention Centre hosts. EspMOJO were also determined to ensure that all the serious jazz fans who faithfully attend these Festivals have all their previous frustrations addressed and resolved. This is good news for those ardent and serious jazz-lovers who frequented the smaller Rosies stage venue as they will now be more conveniently and comfortably accommodated at future festivals. Rosies stage was the one venue of four in the Good Hope Centre where there were scenes of over-crowding creating disturbances for those jazz purists who wanted to appreciate the music of artists like Toots Thielmans, Yusuf Lateef, Archie Shepp, and Zim Ngqawana in appropriate listening conditions. Fortunately, the new Cape Town International Convention Centre offers the organisers far broader options for accommodating the rapidly expanding Festival. Rosies stage fans specifically will be pleased to note that they have a 1500-capacity, all-seater, plush new all-purpose auditorium earmarked for their specific needs. EspMOJO also announced that this move to the Cape Town International Convention Centre now opens up the possibility of an extra fifth venue for the Festival in the future, which will ease any lingering congestion and increase the possibility of a larger bill than those in previous years. Another unavoidable change from previous years will be the slight increase in the price of the Festival tickets, which have, until now, remained fixed at their original price for the past four Festivals. Tickets for NSJF-CT2004 will now cost R260 (single day) and R399 (weekend) and are now available at Computicket. Details of all the venues, the appearing artists, sponsors, travel packages, and other innovative new offers, will be revealed at the official launch of the 5th North Sea Jazz Festival - Cape Town, which will take place in mid-December. More information contact Thompson n Team (TNT) Tel: (021) 465-3314 Fax: (021) 461-3669 Mailto:thompsonnt@xsinet.co.za -------------- LIVE'S SA TOUR ALMOST A SELL-OUT LIVE return to SA this week for the 'Birds of Pray Tour' and fans of the band who have not yet purchased their tickets are urged to do so immediately! With only a few hundred tickets still available nationally, a total sell-out is expected. LIVE will be supported by new local favourites, Prime Circle, and will be performing in Johannesburg on Saturday 22nd Nov (Dome @ Northgate), in Durban on Sunday 25th Nov (The Durban Exhibition Centre), and in Cape Town on 28th of November (Bellville Velodrome). Just as the American supergroup rocked South Africa to the core in 2000, they are expected to thrill fans with their hyperactive energy and powerful performances during the highly-anticipated tour this month. Tickets now from computicket or www.5fm.co.za, More information on upcoming shows at www.bigconcerts.co.za Big Concerts information line: 082 233 2342 LIVE's official website: www.friendsoflive.com -------------- 'ROCK THE BAY 2003' It is going to be a big December in Cape Town, with packed beaches and the holiday spirit in high gear. Thousands of people are flocking to the Mother City looking for a good time and some big parties. One of the biggest of these is happening on 26th December 2003 when some of South Africa's hottest bands will converge in Somerset West for a live music summer concert to crown off the year on an extremely high note! Previously known as the Firlands Castle LOUD Festival, this is the second year the event will be held. Last year's event was a big success, with the venue bursting its seems as 1,500 party seekers flocked to Firlands and rocked to the sounds of Cutting Jade, Tweak, Wonderboom and 5FM DJ Barney Simon. This year Barney will be at it again, entertaining the crowds from as early as 10 am in the morning, rocking all the way through to past midnight and into the early morning hours. Quality music will not be in short supply with a whopping 17 bands rocking the house from start to finish. Apart from featuring well known Gauteng bands, who generally benefit from a thriving and professional music scene up north, 'Rock The Bay 2003' will also prove that the Cape Town music scene rightfully deserves the national interest it has been gradually receiving recently. Barney Simon is the MC for 'Rock The Bay 2003' and he will be introducing the strong SA rock line-up featuring Andre De Villiers, Stellar Nursery, Never, Southern Gypsey Queen, Tamarin Seed, Skallabrak, Serving Suggestion, Six of Nine, Soul Proxy, Surreal, Jesse Jordan Band, Jo Day, Zen Arcade, Cutting Jade, Wonderboom, Not My Dog, and Loki's Realm. 'Rock The Bay 2003' is to be held at Firlands, just before Sir Lowry's Pass on the N2, past Somerset West. Far from just an over 18's gig the festival will be divided into two equally important parts. 10am to 8pm sees fun for the whole family, with children under the age of 12 attending for free, after which the doors will close to minors as the festival's headlining artists take to the stage to entertain the adult segment of the audience. Tickets are already available through Computicket at the following rates: Normal: R60, VIP: R150, U18's: R30 (Only allowed in the venue until 8pm, accompanied by a parent). As already mentioned U12's are free (Only have access until 8pm). Any volunteers who would like to work as ushers at the event or on the beaches during December can contact Eugene at: mailto:eugene@solarpop.com. For full concert listing, band information and more info: visit www.rockthebay.co.za or contact Gary at Mailto:gary_power100@hotmail.com -------------- BIG NIGHT PLANNED FOR GERAAS MUSIC AWARDS 2003 Anna Davel and Steve Hofmeyr are amongst the stars of the Afrikaans music industry who will perform at the Geraas Music Awards (GMT) on 17th November, presented by SABC 2 and PUKKE (Potchefstroomse Universiteit vir Christelike Hoër Onderwys). Davel grabbed a total of four nominations and is the artist with the second most nominations. Davel and Hofmeyr will fill the Globe Theatre at Gold Reef City with their distinguished sounds, but will also be joined on stage by various other artists. Piet Botha, ddisselblom and the astounding team of the performance theatre group Stok will boost the evening with top-class entertainment. Hofmeyr will be performing one of the highlights from his recent 'Toeka' show. He will sing one of his hits with the duo Johnny and Vivian. Davel, also a member of the a cappella group Cut Glass, will sing the title track of her critically acclaimed album, 'Gypsy'. ddisselblom, the popular folk pop group from Bloemfontein, and Piet Botha, also known for his veteran rock group Jack Hammer, will each sing one of their recent hits. Stok is a powerful team of musicians and percussionists consisting of Wouter van de Venter, Jahn Beukes and Leon Ecroignard. Their performance piece with the same name was a sold-out sensation at both the Klein Karoo and Aardklop arts festivals. At the GMT's, Stok will perform their popular Pavarotti send-up and set the stage on fire with their high-octane rhythm spectacular. During the course of the evening they will also produce three different installations. The 2003 GMT will be hosted by energetic Geraas presenter Jacques du Preez and the dazzling Eloise Cupido from Belboks. The musical director of the event is Fanie Fouché, who will be supported by a full band. One of the glamorous categories in this year's Geraas Music Awards is Most Stylish SA Artist presented by Rooi Rose. Ex-lead singer of the Springbok Nude Girls - Arno Carstens, Amor Vittone, Nataniël, Carike Keuzenkamp, Bianca le Grange and David Fourie are the finalists in this category. Well-known style and fashion gurus will decide on a winner. The prize will be presented to the winner by the current Rooi Rose supermodel, Karen Lombard. The GMT will take place on 17th November in The Globe Theatre, Gold Reef City. Belboks - SABC2's interactive Afrikaans music show - will broadcast live from the event. The GMT will be broadcast on SABC2 on 19th and 26th November in the regular Geraas time-slot, with a GMT special on 18th December at 21h30. "The Geraas Music Awards ceremony promises to be a blast of the best of our musical talent, backed up by excellent performances," says Erik de Jager, Executive Producer of Threshold Collective - the producers of Geraas (broadcast weekly on Wednesdays at 6pm on SABC2). Winners will be announced in a total of 27 categories. Female rocker Karen Zoid leads the pack with an incredible five nominations. -------------- WHAT DO MELLOW CANDLE, FLIBBERTIGIBBET, AND THE NUKULAR STOMPERS HAVE IN COMMON? A chance conversation at a Record Company year-end bash last week picked up an interesting link between a '70's UK folk group and the mad manne behind SAmp3 hit songs like 'Sheriff Bush And Deputy Blair' and current release, 'Viagra La Buena'. An article in the Digest #223 By FMR DJ and rock historian, Shiloh Noone, focused on the UK '70's group Mellow Candle, whose vinyl album, called 'Swaddling Songs', is regarded as one of the rarest LP's of its genre, currently changing hands among serious vinyl collectors for upward of 500 Pounds! In that article, Noone talked about Dave Williams and Alison O'Donnel, two of the members of Mellow Candle. In the same edition of the Digest, the main news item was about The Nukular Stompers, described as "...a mysterious gang of established Cape Town musicians, vocalists, and studio folk who even donned bad fake beards for a recent appearance on the eTV news. The Stompers' gang includes Rob Anderson, Richard Black, Martin Drake, Rupert Mellor, and Dave Williams..." That conversation between Digest co-editor, Brian Currin, and Nukular Stompers guitarist Richard Black at the BMG Bash, raised the possibility that the unassuming Cape Town musician who played fiddle and mandolin on the Stompers' tracks, was also Dave Williams of Mellow Candle fame. A phone call to Dave Williams quickly confirmed the connection. (Did they ask if he had a few spare copies of 'Swaddling Songs' maybe?? - Vinyl Junkie Ed.) According to Shiloh's article, Mellow Candle were from Dublin and began around 1964 when Clodagh Simonds and Alison O'Donnel formed the Gatecrashers. Alison later played in a nightclub band called Blue Tint alongside the South African guitarist, David Williams. The couple later married and formed part of the Mellow Candle line-up. The group regularly shared the bill with Gary Moore's Skidrow, Thin Lizzy, Lindisfarne and Steeleye Span. When the group ended, Clodagh Simonds went on to session for Jade Warrior and Mike Oldfield and also appeared on albums by Paul Kossoff and Linda Thompson. David and Alison returned to South Africa where David took up a post as head of Light Music with the SABC, as well as working as a record producer. Apart from secular employment, the couple kept their folk spirit in flow by forming a group called Flibbertigibbet and released one seriously underrated album titled 'Whistling Jigs To The Moon'. And now Dave Williams is back on the charts with the Nukular Stompers' latest single, 'Viagra La Buena', and album, 'Can Of Worms'. What a long strange trip, as they say! Mellow Candle's 'Swaddling Songs' album is extremely rare. Fortunately the Nukular Stomper's new CD, 'Can Of Worms', isn't. [DS] Buy 'Can Of Worms' online at: http://www.oneworld.co.za/index.cfm?bec=4321&searchfor=stompers -------------- FRESHLYGROUND GET A KORA NOMINATION With their debut album, 'Jika Jika', currently topping our SA Album charts, and their first single, 'Castles', currently topping our SAMP3.com charts, it's just one good piece of news after another for the flourishing Cape Town group, freshlyground. The seven-person African-world-pop group, with sensational Zolani Mahola on vocals, has been nominated for a 2003 Kora award in the category 'Most Promising African Group'. Based on the very brisk sales of the group's refreshing 'Jika Jika' album, and the many disappointed supporters turned away from the regularly jam-packed venues wherever freshlyground appear, it seems the Kora judges have done their homework. No details at this stage as to who the competition in that Kora category are, they'd better be hot to compete against this exciting new act. -------------- SUGAR BUSH FESTIVAL UPDATES Tickets for the Sugar Bush Festival, taking place from Thursday 18 - Sunday 21 December on Tuckers Farm, Ifafa, (just 62 kms south of Durban International) are now on sale at Computicket. The family day and night outdoor experience and music festival has been intricately compiled to fuel our holiday spirit and kick-start the sunny season. The familiar face of Castle Lager, as one of the festival sponsors, will be present and running promotional activities with prizes for participants. Not leaving their reliable product out of the party, the beer will flow from Castle's traditional beer gardens and patrons can settle into sounds from the 'Gigrig'. On Saturday evening, 20th December, the festival crowd will be treated to lyrics from the trio who are veterans in entertainment, the Blarney Brothers. Their tunes are widely known for creating a festive atmosphere and instigating some humorous crowd participation. With the emphasis placed on being family orientated the Beach and Bush Adventures motorised scooter track has been designed to provoke the men, the ladies and the kids into a few rounds of speed demon behaviour. With the incentive of available prizes a few laps on a 'suped-up' scooter can get desperately competitive! Tickets can be bought at the gate at R50 for the day or R150 for three-day campers, kids 12 and under come in for free. If you have bought your ticket and present this article at the gate you stand the chance of winning a year's supply of Castle Lager. Beer and prizes aside, the Sugar Bush festival is warming up to be an event that can't be overlooked so gather your spirit of adventure and prepare to head South. The Sugar Bush festival runs from 9am on the 18th of December until the 21st. For further information as well as constant updates, check out the website: www.sugarbushfestival.co.za Email: Mailto:info@sugarbushfestival.co.za or contact Ann on 082 578 9989 -------------- THE GLOBAL BATTLE OF THE BANDS Arctic Talent Management (ATM) is organising The Global Battle of the Bands, the first-ever worldwide talent competition for pop and rock bands. Forget about artificial Pop Idol-style competitions, this is the real deal with real bands playing real music - live. Encompassing all musical genres, The Global Battle of the Bands will strive to bring the best un-manufactured new talent in the world to a wider audience. Throughout each year, beginning in 2004, local qualifying heats and national finals will be organised in countries around the world, with the eventual winners of these going forward to The Global Battle of the Bands, which will be held in a different major city each year. To kick off the competition, ATM are organising a 'soft launch' of the concept with the European Global Battle of the Bands on January 20 2004 at London's Mean Fiddler (formerly Astoria II). This will feature 16 invited bands from around Europe chosen on the strength of their music and live performances by ATM's network of scouts and industry experts. The winning band on the night will win the BOB Awards' Best New Band in Europe title and $10,000. The best bands on the night will be also eligible to go on to The Global Battle of the Bands World Final, to be held in a major world city as yet to be decided in November 2004 and which carries a first prize of $100,000 and the BOB Awards' Best New Band in the World title. ATM has already received hundreds of entries but still want more. ATM are seeking as many exciting new signed or unsigned bands as they can find for consideration. Any band entering the competition has to be able to perform live on stage at the European Global Battle of the Bands at London's Mean Fiddler on January 20 2004. A band can have up to eight members and there is no age limit. For any band to be considered ATM will need to receive a music CD (or MP3) with two or three songs, band information and a photograph (or hi-res jpg). From this initial introduction ATM will make further enquiries about suitable candidates locally through their agents. Further details can be found at www.bobawards.net All material should be sent to: Arctic Talent Management, 7 Willow Road, London NW3 1TH, United Kingdom or by email to: mailto:music@arctictm.com Meanwhile, Arctic Talent Management is currently recruiting promoters around the world to help organise local and national The Global Battle of the Bands events in their country/territory. For further details contact: info@arctictm.com www.bobawards.net [Ed's note - Dave Marks of 3rd Ear Music passed this article on to the Digest. Dave said: "Amazing what a little noise can do. You may recall 3rd Ear's objections to international talent search events that rely on recorded product but claim to judge music & musicians - like our SAMAS? We got no media feedback - but almost every musician we approached agreed. Now here's a change of tactic - I'm not suggesting that we had anything to do with the change - but this event seems to be aimed at young musicians and not old product. It may be interesting to look/listen into!"] -------------- BREAKING INTERNATIONAL NEWS... ----------------------------------- PINK FLOYD REUNITE AT STEVE O'ROURKE'S FUNERAL The funeral service for Steve O'Rourke, who sadly passed away on 30th October in Miami, Florida, was held today [14th November] at Chichester Cathedral in Sussex, England. As part of the service, David [Gilmour], Roger [Waters], Richard [Wright] and Nick [Mason] put aside any differences, got back together as a band, and performed in tribute to the man who helped shape their career. It is believed that they performed 'Fat Old Sun' and 'Great Gig In The Sky', and that Dick Parry played the saxophone whilst following the coffin. A very fitting, and moving, tribute. Reprinted from Brain Damage website http://www.brain-damage.co.uk --------------- AND FINALLY... --------------- 'PAMPHLET FOR GROUPIES' (Another informative rock article, courtesy of the Nimbus Experience and their Nimnews Newsletter) So, you're a groupie and not sure how to go about it. Worry not! The government's groupie-aid program is sponsoring the release of the groupie-information campaign! Here's where YOU get your tax money back! Vital information in the upcoming pamphlet includes; Am I a groupie? Have you sculpted your favourite rockers features on the soap you use in the bath? You're a groupie! Will you name/have you named your firstborn after your favourite musician? You're a groupie! Do you have a tattoo of song lyrics across your tight but supple, firm skin? ...sorry, lost myself for a second there. What do I do, now that I'm a confirmed groupie? Let's divide this answer into two sections: Legal and illegal. Legal: Apart from the obvious requirements of attending the shows, paying the cover charge and removing your bra/underwear during songs and throwing them onto stage, there are few demanding expectations placed on the average groupie. A musician would not pooh-pooh the idea of you paying for his/her rent, of course. And food. And satellite subscription. And alcohol. But music is not just about money. No. There's also credit. A real groupie goes right ahead and just gives the musician his/her credit card details. Thank you. Illegal: Well, now. Since your email-software will probably boot out this email if I use any of the adjectives and verbs (ooh, the verbs) associated with this topic, here's a censored summary: Always ****** your ****** for the ***************. And *****. Remember to tip. Is there a cure to Groupie-itis? Seeing your favourite musician without their kit on will probably do the trick. If that fails, try to have a conversation with them. If, however, your favourite musician is gorgeous and can think, you have a serious problem. We recommend you do whatever they ask of you. Especially if we're talking about that guy from Nimbus Experience who is currently writing this article without his kit on. Where do I get my very own Groupie? If I knew that I wouldn't have all this time to write emails, would I? Get your own problems. So, make sure you pick up your helpful pamphlet at your nearest government office. If they claim they've never heard of it, lose your temper and scream and shout about poor service and the friendly clerk will direct you to the nearest pharmacy for your prescription refill. Mailto:theband@nimbusexperience.com website at www.nimbusexperience.com ---------------------------------------------------- 2.CHARTS ---------- TOP 30 SOUTH AFRICAN MP3s OF THE WEEK http://www.SAmp3.com 1. [2] (1) Castles (Remix) - freshlyground ('Jika Jika'/Freeground) 2. [3] (2) Lilly Dance - De-Javu (Single/Bowline) 3. [5] (3) Rich Folks Hoax - Amanda Strydom ('Verspreide Donderbuie/Scattered Thunder'/JNS) 4. [6] (4) Above My Room - Jo Day ('The Truth'/Indie) 5. [7] (5) Suikerbossie Blues - Jakkie Louw ('Klein Karoo Cowboy'/Afrimusik) 6. [1] (1) Plan My Attack - Soulja (Indie) 7. [4} (3) Things 2 Consider - Skwirmish ('The EP'/Indie) 8. [12] (8) All The World - Zen Arcade ('Release'/Indie) 9. [13] (9) Woman - Soil 7t7 ('Soil 7t7'/Indie) 10. [9] (1) James Brown (I Ain't) - Martin Rocka & The Sick Shop ('Martin Rocka & The Sick Shop'/Gosatango) 11. [8] (8) Ek En Jy En Die Kaap - Lize Beekman ('Iemand Het Gesê'/Indie) 12. [11] (10) Meisie Van Die Ooste - Alta Joubert ('Warrelwinde'/Hoezit) 13. [10] (9) Only If It Rains - Off The Edge ('Site Under Construction'/Indie) 14. [17] (14) Time To Change - Grant Nuss ('Diversity'/Bowline) 15. [15] (1) Humanarium - Bed On Bricks (Indie) 16. [14] (8) Sugar Man - Rodriguez ('Cold Fact'/PT Music) 17. [20] (17) Viagra La Buena - Nukular Stompers ('Can Of Worms'/Indie) 18. [19] (18) Scream (demo) - Velve (Indie) 19. [22] (19) Trash Like You - Martin Rocka And The Sick Shop ('Trailer Rash'/Gosatango) 20. [16] (1) Cosmo Girl - The Fallen (Indie) 21. [24] (21) Die Ballade Van Dracula Havenga - Andries Bezuidenhout ('Insomniak se Droomalmanak'/Rhythm/Bowline) 22. [23] (22) Twisted - Believable Addiction (Indie) 23. [25] (23) Face - Ystervark ('Living It Up'/Indie) 24. [18] (2) Milk Cow Blues - Delta Blue ('Inbluesstation'/Merchant Records/Bowline) 25. [21] (19) Misvuurtjie - Laurinda Hofmeyr ('Ligdag'/Rhythm Records/Bowline) 26. [26] (26) Jerk Motormouth - Michael Payne ('DeCOMpress'/Indie) 27. [27] (1) Beach Girl - Natalia (Indie) 28. [-] (28) Life Away - My Shade ('Bedtime Musick'/ Indie) 29. [-] (29) Duiwel Kom Ons Haal - Springcan ('Are You Confuzed?'/Indie) 30. [-] (30) Anything - Mike de Jager and Adrian Clark ('With These Hands'/Indie) -------------- TOP 30 SOUTH AFRICAN ALBUMS OF THE WEEK http://www.sarockdigest.com/charts This week [last week] (highest position) Title - Artist (Label) 1. [1] (1) Jika Jika - freshlyground (Freeground) 2. [2] (2) Verspreide Donderbuie/Scattered Thunder - Amanda Strydom (JNS) 3. [4] (3) Rock The Bedsprings - Old Mol (Legend) 4. [6] (4) Hello Crazy World - Prime Circle (David Gresham Records) 5. [7] (5) Vari-ous - Tassenberg All Stars Volume 4 (Trippy Grape/Bowline) 6. [3] (1) Another Universe - Arno Carstens (Epic) 7. [5] (5) Greatest Hits - Tsepo Tshola And Sankamota (CCP) 8. [8] (4) Sagtevlei - Alex Van Heerden and Derek Gripper (Open Record/Bowline) 9. [14] (9) The Truth - Jo Day (Indie) 10. [12] (10) Diversity - Grant Nuss (Indie/Bowline) 11. [9] (1) Inbluesstation - Delta Blue (Merchant/Bowline) 12. [10] (2) Johnny Clegg - A South African Story - Live (Value) 13 [13] (1) Back Seat Driver - Tait (Fresh) 14. [15] (14) Rough Cuts - Janie Jones (Sugar Music) 15. [16] (15) J23 - Danny K (Gallo) 16. [21] (16) Melt With Me - Drop Dead Gorgeous (Indie/Bowline) 17. [11] (2) Sui - Benguela (Open Record/Bowline) 18. [22] (18) Breathe Sunshine - Various (Amabala) 19. [20] (19) Various Artists - The Thula Project/ An Album Of SA Lullabies (Worldgoround) 20. [17] (1) Chasing The Sun - Karen Zoid (EMI) 21. [24] (21) Luna - Luna (Indie) 22. [19] (1) Release - Zen Arcade (Indie) 23. [26] (23) Power - Tribe After Tribe (RetroFresh) 24. [25] (24) Flat To Round - David Foster (Rhythm/Bowline) 25. [28] (25) More Fire - The Rudimentals (Indie) 26. [30] (26) Perelsvoordieswyne - Best Of - Johannes Kerkorrel (Gallo) 27. [-] (27) Can Of Worms - Nukular Stompers (Indie) 28. [-](28) Mkhukhu Funkshen - Skwatta Kamp (Gallo) 29. [23] (19) Insomniak se Droomalmanak - Andries Bezuidenhout (Rhythm/Bowline) 30. [-] (30) Sliq Angel - Sliq Angel (Sony) READ http://www.rock.co.za/files/sarock_legends_2000.html LISTEN http://www.SAmp3.com BUY http://www.oneworld.co.za/index.cfm?bec=4321 _____________________________________________ 3. NEW, RECENT AND UPCOMING RELEASES ------ MP3s ------ All the mp3s listed here are available to download at http://www.SAmp3.com - the biggest South African mp3 website in the world. --------------- THIS WEEK'S NEW MP3'S Jamie Jupiter - 'The Doop Doop Song' I don't think we are supposed to take a song titled 'The Doop Doop Song' seriously, so I didn't. Ex-Honeymoon Suites vocalist, Jamie Jupiter wrote this song with Helena Doe Kingwell and Ben Amato about sheepherding in the dust of the Karoo. Take a listen and laugh along to the exploits of a cowboy and his girlfriend Lindy Lou. ----------------------------------- Zero Tolerance - 'Mowgli' Ska seems to have an ever-growing following, what with bands like Hog Hoggidy Hog, Fuzigish and The Rudimentals. Zero Tolerance took some punk attitude, added some ska rhythms, trumpets and stuff, read Rudyard Kipling {saw a Disney-movie, more likely - ed.} and gave us 'Mowgli'. ----------------------------------- The Fallen - 'Unity' 'Cosmo Girl' went to number 1 on the SAmp3 charts and as it moves down the chart, we have another great song from The Fallen. Strong rhythms and powerful vocals combine to make another hit, I'm sure. ----------------------------------- Morning Haze - 'Need' If those producers of the TV series 'Going Nowhere Slowly' are still looking for songs to accompany their travels around Southern Africa, they need look no further than Morning Haze. 'Need' is one of those great 'driving-on-the-highway-with-the-top-down' type acoustic rock songs. ----------------------------------- Urban Creep - 'Noah' (live at Splashy Fen 1994) This song performed live at 1994's 'Splashy Fen' Festival featured urban legends Brendan Jury (currently with Arno Carsten's New Porn), Chris Letcher, Simon Pontin and Ian Jeffries better known as Urban Creep. The band didn't last that long but they are fondly remembered by many. ----------------------------------- Myburgh - 'Kuslangs' Another song for the road, but this time its for that slow Sunday drive along the South African coastline. Myburgh sings in Afrikaans over a lightly-strummed 'Wish You Were Here'-style acoustic guitar accompanied by an English-speaking echo who translates the lyrics for us. Very clever and it works. And then there's a cool electric guitar solo as well. On second thoughts this isn't really a driving song, it's a sitting-with-a-bottle-of-wine-and-watching-the-sun-melt-into-the-sea type of song. --------------- SEARCH FOR MP3's Use the SAmp3.com onboard search engine, powered by Google, to search for mp3s on http://www.SAmp3.com by artist or song title. ----- CDs ----- BED ON BRICKS LAUNCH NEW ALBUM AND SA TOUR 'Humanarium', The eagerly-awaited debut CD by Bed On Bricks, will be available on Wed 19 Nov 2003 at the Mercury Live in Cape Town where Bed On Bricks will perform live. The very successful title-track of the album has already topped the Samp3.com MP3 Charts for two consecutive weeks and has featured on at least five other Radio Stations, of which two are international. Bed On Bricks are: Mike Hardy on vocals and saxophone, Schalk van der Merwe on bass guitar and backing vocals, Dave van der Linden on electic guitar and backing vocals, and Tim Rankin on drums and percussion. The 'Humanarium' album contains 12 original tracks, all written by Bed On Bricks except for 'War', which was co-written by Dave van der Linden, Paul de Villiers and Phillipo. All recording, mixing and mastering were done at Paris Studios in Fish Hoek, Cape Town. The cover of the album was designed by FUEL Design, who also provided great support towards the production of the CD. 'Humanarium' can be viewed and heard as a successful collaboration of rock, hard rock, funk, reggae and samba. The album is of international quality and all four members of the band get a chance to strut their individual talent. The band produces a unique sound throughout the album which is distinctly Capetonian but also unmistakably South African. The official launch of the 'Humanarium' CD will take place early in December when the band gets back from the first leg of their national tour, which kicks off this week on Wednesday 19th November in Cape Town. The band will then play at the following venues countrywide: November: Wed 19 - Mercury Live - Cape Town Fri 21 - Gecko Bar - Hermanus Sat 22 - Siebies - Struis Baai Mon 24 - The Station - Mossel Bay (t.b.c.) Tue 25 - Rock Art Café - Oudtshoorn Wed 26 - Mystic Boer - Bloemfontein Fri 28 - OppiKoppi - Pretoria Sun 30 - Cool Runnings - Pretoria (t.b.c.) December: Mon 1 - Tings 'n Times - Pretoria Wed 3 - Café Barcelona - Pretoria Sat 6 - Armchair Theatre - Cape Town Sun 7 - V&A Waterfront Amphitheatre Fri 12 - Mercury Live - Cape Town Mon 15 - Gecko Bar - Hermanus Tue 16 - Al's - Knysna Thu 18 - Full Stop - Cape St Frances Sat 20 - Boneyards - Jeffrey's Bay Sun21 - Tapas al Sol - PE (t.b.c.) Mon 22 - Buccaneers - East London (t.b.c.) 30 & 31 - Flux Festival - Durban For more information or to book Bed On Bricks at your venue, contact: Ilse Uys - Rhythm Productions & Artist Management tel/fax:021-919 0863 cell:083-411 0901 ilse@rhythmrecords.co.za www.rhythmrecords.co.za -------------- KOOS KOMBUIS & VALIANT SWART - ''n JAAR IN DIE SON' (RHYTHM RECORDS) The Britannica dictionary describes "synergism" as "the interaction of discrete agents or conditions such that the total effect is greater than the sum of the individual efforts." Well, this is just what you get when you combine these two great pioneering Afrikaans Rock poets. This new collaborative CD features the best of both their styles plus something new and exciting. Slow romantic ballads, folk songs, rock 'n roll and blues; they're all here. And then there's a sing-along rugby song called 'Diknek en Kleintandjies' and a couple of other surprises. Synergism, indeed. Highly recommended. (BC) READ, LISTEN, BUY http://www.rhythmrecords.co.za -------------- OLD MOL - 'ROCK THE BEDSPRINGS' [LEGEND] Old Mol are a new Johannesburg rock band who have been electrifying Gauteng audiences for the past year with their powerful live show. Two of the band's songs, the instant rock classic, 'Sobriety Friend', and the slightly-unhinged 'Cyril 1' (with its famous line: "I don't know what rhymes with Hasselhoff") will be immediately familiar to 5fm listeners, with both long-time airplay staples. The young band's debut album, 'Rock The Bedsprings', has a generous share of smart, catchy rock songs that run the gamut from melodic punk rock to mature modern rock, and some that even take a lighthearted stab at the rap/rock crossover genre. Some pundits feel that Old Mol have taken on and beaten Tweak at their own game, delivering a more consistent album, and redefining the far broader parameters available to emerging rock bands in SA. 'Rock The Bedsprings' is a clear, refreshing and optimistic signpost to just how relevant and entertaining these young South Africa rock bands can be. Throughout the diverse mix of songs on offer here, the quality remains high, and there are plenty of new singles jostling in the wings. Among them are 'Arthur Radley', 'Over Now', 'All Over Me', and 'Turtle Power', which is a cheeky version of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles theme ... perfect for Summer radio. 'Rock The Bedsprings' reveals a young SA rock band who are confident in their skill and diverse songwriting abilities, and quite willing to experiment with the genre, injecting it with a healthy dose of humour and irreverence and plenty of fresh song ideas. Definitely one of the best SA rock albums of 2003! [DS] -------------- MITSOO SET TO RELEASE DEBUT EP They started out as Mitsoo Bitchy, then they became The Mitsoo Bitches, but now they are just plain Mitsoo. But there's nothing plain about this all-girl Cape Town punk trio. Mitsoo's debut single, the wonderfully irreverent 'Hillary', spent plenty of weeks around the top of the SAmp3.com charts. That song, coupled with some manic gigs, earned the girls a strong local following. Mitsoo are currently putting the finishing touches to their upcoming, as yet untitled 3-track EP. That EP will give 'Hillary' its first official release having previously been only available as rare home-made copies. The other tracks on the EP will be 'Better Than', and next single, 'Suburbia'. 'Better Than' is a fast, fervent song with great build-ups while 'Suburbia' takes an axe to the white picket fence mentality with its catchy melodies and old style punk antagonism. The EP was recorded during October, with the drum tracks being laid down at Paris studios in Fish Hoek one howling Sunday afternoon (after Mitsoo had to hunt down the studio with the aid of hazy directions and a picture of the house, hand-drawn by their quirky producer, Galen Hossack). Galen, of Afrocanvas, recorded the guitar, bass and vocal tracks. Mitsoo are now looking for another guitarist (must be a girl!!) to join their passionate, demented group. See their ad in the Digest classifieds below... [DS] LISTEN http://www.SAmp3.com/artists_l_s.html -------------- 340ml - 'MOVING' Since first appearing on the SA music scene over three years ago, 340ml have established themselves as firm favourites with discerning SA dub fans. Those fans will be thrilled to know that 340ml have just launched their independent-released debut album, 'Moving'. The popular four-piece from Mozambique made the finals of the April 2000 RP Emerging Sounds Competition and went on to make memorable appearances at SA Festivals like OppiKoppi, Woodstock, Flux, and Awesome Africa. 340ml are Pedro da Silva (v), Tiago Correia Paulo (g), Paulo Chibanga (d), and Rui Soeiro (b). The Maputo group are now based in Johannesburg, and have managed to capture their unique sound on 'Moving' which contains all the group's best-known live tracks. On the seven-song 'Moving', 340ml show off their winning fusion of dub, ska, bossa nova, and plenty of reggae in songs like 'Shotgun', 'Michelle', '21:40', and 'Midnight'. The album was produced by 340ml and recorded, mixed, mastered, and co-produced by Jazzworx Studios in Gauteng. Many of the band's friends turned up to perform guest slots on 'Moving', including Tumi Molekane (Tumi and the Volume), Tebogo Moloto (Jazzworx, Rise), Ryan Tarboton aka the Skankin' Daddy (ex-Fuzigish), and Inge Schreuder (Spindle Sect) who added her lovely, haunting vocals to the album. 340ml will be appearing at OppiKoppi 2003 in Pretoria later in November. This is a result of the SADEC Initiative, whereby OppiKoppi, with the help of the Norwegian Arts organisation, Mmino, is bringing a line-up of great artists from around the Southern African region to the Festival. 'Moving's track listing is: 'Shotgun', 'Michelle', 'Midnight', 'Nancy's Nightmare', '21:40', 'Good Things Happen To Those Who Wait', 'Movimento'. [DS] LISTEN http://www.SAmp3.com/artists.html -------------- WAVERLEY RELEASE 'GIVE BACK THE RADIO' Waverley's "new anthem for South African rock", titled 'Give Back The Radio', has been released to launch the band's new 7-track EP. The song has been playlisted on 5fm and a stylish video has been completed. The Durban-based band will be releasing the EP at the end of November with distribution through Universal. The likely follow-up singles are 'How You Doing?', 'Hundred and One Ways', and 'Smoke Screen'. -------------- ANTON & VRINNE & DIE BUSHROCKBAND (GALLO) In 1979 Anton Goosen released his 'Boy Van Die Suburbs' album. I loved his songs about real South Africans living real lives and this was the first Afrikaans album I ever bought. Fast forward to August this year. At the State Theatre in Pretoria, Anton gathered a whole bunch of his friends (both old and new) and went through his extensive songbook. This double live CD is the result. The album opens with a 'Guitar Overture' featuring Mauritz Lotz, Albert Frost, Juan (Floors) Oosthuizen and Anton L'Amour, South Africa's own G4 perhaps? This CD covers the whole show and features all Anton's popular songs, some with new arrangements, and contributions by the likes of Theuns Jordaan, Piet Botha, Fred Koch, Sonja Herholdt, Gian Groen (from Spinnekop), Charles (from Beeskraal), Gito Baloi (from Tananas), ddisselblom, Karen Zoid, Andre Swiegers and others. (BC) LISTEN http://www.samp3.com/artists_e_k.html -------------- MELKTERT KOMMISSIE - 'VOLROOM' (Rhythm Records) Valiant Swart has been busy. Besides his acting career and a collaboration with Koos Kombuis (see above), he found time to produce this debut album from Die Melkert Kommissie and played a bit on it as well. Die Melkert Kommissie are a 5 piece band (3 girls and 2 guys) who recorded this album of original Afrikaans pop-rock songs at the famous Sunset Recording Studios in Stellenbosch. Karen Zoid is a definite influence ('En sal jy someday met my trou / as ek net oppitch en sê: Ek hou van jou") and Koos Kombuis gets name-checked (twice!). Example: 'Jy't a lyf soos Johnny Bravo / en 'n stem soos Koos Kombuis'. Give them a listen, they're tuneful and fun, and this will make a great summer Sunday afternoon braai CD. (BC) READ, LISTEN, BUY http://www.rhythmrecords.co.za -------------- SPOTLIGHT ON: ---------------- LILO Born and bred in the moist, narcotic soil of Durban on the East Coast of South Africa, lilo is made up of Alexander Sudheim, Graeme Barnes and Dean Henning. Sudheim writes and sings the songs while Graeme "Bottleneck" Barnes is king of the heartbreak slide guitar, and Henning hits the skins. In a nutshell, lilo are alt-country rock SA-style with the songs slanted and enchanted stories and poems of an occasionally X-rated nature telling of life, lust, love, death, etc. in personal yet unsentimental fashion. The music of lilo could vaguely be described as cyanide-centred, caramel-flavoured eroded rockdust anthems. The band has performed on the national stages of Oppikoppi, Splashy Fen, and Southern Cross and appears regularly in various disreputable dives in their hometown of Durban. During 2001, Captain Asthma recorded the band's first "proper" album in The Iron Lung, his Durban bedroom/studio. Entitled 'A Film', the fully-fledged long-player is 12-songs strong and sports a rich, professional sound and diverse array of songs that range from sweet country blues to enigmatic instrumentals, raucous rock, haunting tales from the dark side of love and sparse, simple voice and instrument pieces. 'A Film' was released independently by the band in March 2002 with songs from the album receiving airplay on SAFM, 5FM and various independent radio stations. Tracks have also appeared on national compilations Burn Rock Machine, Saltwater Girl, and SL Selections while a video of the song 'Gutterball' has been made. Lilo is currently putting the finishing touches to their new album, 'To Bad Your Gonna Die' (sic) which sees the band moving towards a lusher, more expansive songwriting style. The first single off this recording, 'Perfect 10', will soon be released on 'C-Weed 3'. Previous more experimental lilo efforts, 'light me up a lucifer', and 'last of the great weather poets', are still available in limited quantities. Lilo have been playing all new material at their recent gigs, details to follow. Inquiries: 033 396 6710 (courtesy Maritzburg Music Injection) -------------- THE ZAZONE.COM SA BAND SPOTLIGHT http://www.zaZone.com LAD, the dedicated webmaster of zaZone.com, throws his regular spotlight on one of the many SA bands currently affiliated to his SA music site. ESJAY If you like a little Foo Fighters with a dash of Alanis then this explosive mix is something to check out! Esjay is a new hardcore-pop-rock band hailing from Durban. The female-fronted rock band is named after the lead singer Esjay, and backed up on stage by Mike McCauley on bass, Darren Richter on lead guitar and Darryl Swart on drums. Esjay is an "axe-wielding" rocker who writes all the band's explosive songs like, 'Pass You By' and 'Obstructing My View'. Every song has good variation; there is nothing boring about the music! She has a solid band behind her that add to her electrifying vibe causing a mammoth force to hit the crowd, bringing them to their feet! Esjay's first single, 'Somewhere', was first aired on Nicole Fox's show on 5fm and her EP will be released this week. The band played a good set at Woodstock 5 this year and will be undertaking a South African tour in Feb 2004. Next year (March) she will be off to New York to hopefully clinch a record deal. In the meantime, Esjay is playing at Thirsty's (Point Waterfront, Durban) every Monday night (Student night, starts @ 19h30) until the end of November and will then be playing every second Monday until the end of January. Note: the gigs at Thirsty's are free of charge (just bring drinking money!) Esjay will also be playing at the Ballito Festival in December (dates to be confirmed -- watch the website for details) website at: www.esjayband.com (should be up and running by the 20 Nov) (Portions of this article were contributed by Claire Banks) LAD If you're in a SA Band or are a SA artist and would like to appear in this slot please mail mailto:tony@zazone.com Sponsored by zaZone.com Promoting SA Music... http://www.zazone.com -------------- Email your mp3 reviews to mailto: editor@sarockdigest.com?subject=mp3reviews mailto:editor@sarockdigest.com?subject=mp3reviews Download South African mp3's from http://www.SAmp3.com South African Music: Loud 'n Proud -------------- ONE WORLD http://www.oneworld.co.za/index.cfm?bec=4321 Selling South African Music To The World --------------- MORE REVIEWS --------------- More reviews can be found at: Open Record http://www.openrecord.co.za Amuzine http://www.cd.co.za/reviews.htm ______________________________________ 4.USA FOR AFRICA ------------------- Texas-based Kurt Shoemaker gives his unique views on SA music. VARIOUS - 'THE BEST OF SA POP' VOL 2/CD2 - CDGMPD40486 Some say nostalgia isn't what it used to be, but that doesn't apply to this CD. I've been listening to this old favourite and finding it just as good, just as exuberant, as when SA music was a virgin experience for me. After 'The Very Best of Four Jacks and a Jill' (Volumes 1 and 2), this was the first CD I bought from One World. Consider that a plug, a recitation of fact, or both. Subsequent CDs included bands appearing on this CD, and others: Radio Rats, Just Jinger, Bright Blue, the three Sharp Cuts comps, Battery 9, Springbok Nude Girls, Squeal, and Sugardrive - and the rest of 'The Best of SA Pop' series. The other five discs in this three-volume set of double CDs are pure pop, boys in love and bouncy girl singers, some C&W, and many slices of Sixties and Seventies pop perfection. However, the second half of the middle set, Volume 2, CD 2, pounds a bit more and digresses from the Sixties' pop formula. Top cuts start with a killer tune in 'Buccaneer' (in Texan, "Crank this sumbitch up!"), then the loveable and catchy rockin' teen joy of 'ZX Dan', and closing with the brilliant song 'Weeping'. Include 'Venus', 'Charlie', 'Blue Water', 'Substitute', 'Better the Devil You Know', 'Shadows', and 'Hey Boy', and the album becomes rich with memories and loaded with classics. Some of the songs, such as 'Take My Heart' by Pendulum and 'Let Me Into Your Life' by Flood, are overwrought with over-the-top emotions, but balancing that is a charming innocence, unlike the too-worldly, too knowing, jaded pop emotions of today. To show how this CD introduced me to SA rock and pop, out of the 18 tracks and 18 groups, I sought and bought full-length CDs by 11 of these groups and bands, notably: Rabbitt, Julian Laxton, McCully Workshop, Clout, Via Afrika, éVoid, Radio Rats, Petit Cheval, and Bright Blue. A taste bought to sample SA musical wares, this CD whetted my appetite for more SA music, and the songs on the 'Best of SA Pop' Volume 2, CD 2, sound as fine now as they ever did. BUY http://www.oneworld.co.za/index.cfm?bec=4321&id=CDGMPD40486 Kurt Shoemaker, Blanco, Texas mailto:kurt@sarockdigest.com -------------- 5.A NAARTJIE IN THE UK London-based John Samson gives his own twist on SA music: This week John is away on a well-earned break. So, with Valiant Swart back in the news with his new duet with Koos Koombuis, we thought we'd look back at John's review of one of Valiant's classic albums. VALIANT SWART - 'DEUR DIE DONKER VALLEI' A wise man once said to me that 'Deur die Donker Vallei' by Valiant Swart was the best Afrikaans Rock album ever. Later in the same conversation, the same wise man admitted that he had had too much to drink. At this point I recalled the old adage 'in vino veritas' or perhaps I should have thought 'in vino veri-tassenberg' as it was of that famous fruit of the vine that the wise man had partaken. The other thing that persuaded me to seek out this album was that the wise man was none other than Koos Kombuis. I must say Oom Koos, that I agree wholeheartedly with you. 'Donker Vallei' finds the mystic one at his soul-baring bluesy best, creating 12 lovingly crafted songs of love, loneliness, lost love, just cruising or at times about being pissed off or if you look a bit closer, there's a definite political slant to them. As the title suggests, it's not a happy album, but it is also not a 'oh woe is me' album. Apparently this album was made at a time when Valiant had just broken off a relationship. Although I haven't had that confirmed, the lyrics do tend to suggest a man coming to terms with lost love and finding solace in being alone and on the road. There's a sensitiveness and openness about this that is quite disarming but comforting at the same time. Musically it's Valiant's beloved blues that dominate, but there's a healthy dose of country rock and in the case of 'Die vloek van die Kitaar', a good old blast of unadulterated rock. The band's playing is superb throughout, and the awesome blues guitar contribution of Albert Frost is enough to send shivers down your spine. To paraphrase Forrest Gump, this album is like a box of chocolates, you like all of them, but every one has their own favourite. It's not easy to choose a favourite amongst this quality selection as they're all so darn lekker, but at a push I would say my favourite is 'Gange van Babylon' a song that flows so smoothly and melancholically through your speakers that you can't help but be engulfed by it {My favourite is 'Banneling' (The Exile), in case you were wondering - ed}. While there have been a large number of quality Afrikaans Rock albums of late, this one still comes out tops for me and is never far from my CD player. So Koos Kombuis I take my velhoed off to you for your choice of album, and those of you who have ever wondered where Eminem and his homies in D12 got the idea for their song 'Purple Hills' check out the cover of this quite special album. READ, LISTEN, BUY http://www.rhythmrecords.co.za/valiant_swart.html John Samson, London mailto:john@sarockdigest.com _________________________________________ 6.HISTORY & TRIVIA -------------------- SPRINGBOK RADIO CHARTS http://www.cd.co.za/charts This week [Last week] Title - Artist 31 YEARS AGO (17 November 1972) 1 [1] I Can See Clearly Now - Johnny Nash 2 [4] It's Too Late Now - Lauren Copley 3 [3] I Need Someone - Alan Garrity 4 [5] A Shoulder To Cry On - Denise Freeman 5 [9] Sunday, Monday, Tuesday - Jessica Jones 26 YEARS AGO (18 November 1977) 1 [1] I Need You - Joe Dolan 2 [3] Barracuda - Heart 3 [2] Angelo - Brotherhood Of Man 4 [9] I Never Loved A Man (The Way I Love You) - Margaret Singana 5 [8] Star Wars Theme - Meco 21 YEARS AGO (20 November 1982) 1 [1] Da Da Da - Trio 2 [4] Come On Eileen - Dexy's Midnight Runners 3 [2] Down Under - Men At Work 4 [3] Eye Of The Tiger - Survivor 5 [6] Don't Fly Too High - Joanna Field 16 YEARS AGO (21 November 1987) 1 [1] La Bamba - Los Lobos 2 [3] Funky Town - Pseudo Echo 3 [2] It's A Sin - Pet Shop Boys 4 [4] Never Gonna Give You Up - Rick Astley 5 [5] You Win Again - Bee Gees http://www.cd.co.za/charts ------------- CHART CHAT ------------- With Jessica Jones bouncing back into the top 5 it meant that apart from the immovable number 1 from Johnny Nash (6 weeks now) the rest of the top 5 was entirely South African. In fact with Sharon Tandy & Billy Forrest lurking at number 6 with 'Hello-A' it meant that 5 of the top 6 were local. Barbara Ray & Lance James were replaced in the top 5 in 1977 by another local act, Margaret Singana. Lady Africa, as she was known, hit the charts with 'I Never Loved a Man (The Way I love You)' which was not a cover of the Aretha Franklin hit. Also climbing into the top 5 was Meco with his version of the theme from the soon-to-become massive series of movies 'Star Wars'. 1982 also saw a local act in the top 5 with country singer Joanna Field sneaking into position 5. As in 1972 Billy Forrest was lurking outside the top 5, this time with 'She Can't Say That Anymore' at number 6. Trio clung to the top spot despite a strong challenge from Dexy's Midnight Runers. The 1987 top 5 saw positions 2 and 3 swap places. Pseudo Echo had fared better with 'Funky Town' than the original version by Lipps Inc. The latter only made it to number 5. South Africans at number 1 this week: Mammy Blue - Charisma (1971) Man On The Moon - Ballyhoo (1980) John Samson --------------- VINYL JUNKIES --------------- This section is for collectors of South African and International vinyl. -------------- MABU VINYL Cape Town's finest vinyl store is now back at the Top of Long Street. At No. 2 Kloof Street - diagonally opposite the Long Street Baths. Trevor Rabin - 'Wolf' (LP) Trevor Rabin - 'Face To Face' (LP) Pocket Lips - 'The Rhythm Of Life' (LP) Dickie Loader - 'Moods' (LP) The Central Malay Choir - 'Malay Quarter' (Double LP) Please contact: Jacques Vosloo - 082 534 6006 mailto: vinyl@sarockdigest.com mailto:vinyl@sarockdigest.com -------------- VIBES VINYL Stadium-on-Main, Main Road, Claremont This week's specials: Alan Bird - 'Jesus was a Teenager' (LP) Joy - 'High Life' (LP) Lionel Petersen - 'Gold' (LP) Stingray - 'The Best of Stingray' (LP) Trebleaires (Sias Reinecke) - ' Meet the Trebleaires' (LP) Various Artists - ' VIVA - Music for New South Africans' (LP) We pay top prices for top quality. Want Lists Welcome! Call us at: 021-683 5676 mailto:claus@vibesvinyl.com Visit our website at http://www.vibesvinyl.com Website catalogue now also at http://www.vibesvinyl.gemm.com ----------- BIRTHDAYS ----------- 26 - Guy Buttery, 1983 If you have info on any South African artists' dates of birth, please send them to mailto:brian@rock.co.za?subject=birthdays ______________________________________________ 7.SOUND SOLUTIONS --------------------- A Readers' Forum featuring 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 and erudite readers to please contact these writers and help out as well. Thanks if you do! --------------- THEM STONES, THEM STONES, THEM ROLLIN' STONES, WE ALL COLLECT THEM STONES... Hi, I'm a Rolling Stones CD collector and am searching for real South African CD-releases from the Stones. Can you help me to find any? I hope to hear from you asap Regards Erich Seitz Mailto:e.seitz@ib-seitz.de -------------- WANNA BUY SOME VINYL??? Hi there, I've now managed to replace most of my vinyl with CDs and have decided to sell my LPs. All LPs are in exceptional condition and most still have their original inner covers with lyrics. SA Music: Falling Mirror - Johnny Calls The Chemist (1985) Various Original Soundtrack for 'Deadly Passion' (1985) - artists include: Face to Face, Pauline Wildon, Steve Wetherbee & Chris Urmston, Jay Ferguson, Soho, On-Line, Tahnee Cain & Tryanglz Face To Face - Face To Face (1984) Celtic Rumours - This Day... (1989) Other: Madonna - Like a Prayer (1989) Bryan Adams - Waking up the Neighbours (1991) Simon & Garfunkel - Historic Reunion - Concert in Central Park (1981) (double LP) Simon & Garfunkel - Bridge Over Troubled Water (1969) Billy Joel - Greatest Hits I & 2 (1985) (double LP) Billy Joel - The Stranger (1977,1983, 1991) Billy Joel - 52nd Street (1978) Dire Straits - Live Alchemy (1984) (double LP) Dire Straits - Love Over Gold (1982) Dire Straits - Brothers in Arms (1985) Bread - Baby I'm a Want You (1972) Bread - The Best of Bread (1973) Kate Bush - The Kick Inside (1978) Alison Moyet - Alf (1984) Far Corporation - Division One (1986) Enya - Shepherd Moons (1991) Enya - Watermark (1988) Cher - Cher (1987) Michael Bolton - Time, Love & Tenderness (1991) Kim Wilde - The Very Best of Kim Wilde (1984) George Benson - In Your Eyes (1983) Joe Jackson - Laughter & Lust (1991) Chris De Burgh - Spanish Train & Other Stories (1975) Dan Hartman- I Can Dream Of You (1985) Weapon of Peace - Rainbow Rhythm (1983) Bob Marley & the Wailers - Buffalo Soldier 12" Remix (1983) Katrina & the Waves - Katrina & the Waves (1985) Rodriguez - Cold Fact (1974) Pete Townsend - White City - A Novel (1985) Dance to the Best - Vol 4 The Sex Album (1991) Mandy Wells Mailto:mandy.wells@shell.co.za 083 255 7028 -------------- A SOUNDTRACK? Hi, In 1987 a band called Cinema had a hit, 'My kind of girl'. I've been searching for the lyrics but can' find it anywhere. Please help!!! Thanks, Celest Mailto:c_viljoen83@hotmail.com -------------- BOKKSE! Hi, I am looking for pictures of Springbok CD covers. Hope u can help me. David Mailto:david.de.bruin@nashua.co.za {Try http://www.oneworld.co.za/index.cfm?bec=4321&searchfor=springbok - ed.} -------------- BRING SOME JOY INTO NICOLENE'S LIFE! Hi, I'm looking for the lyrics of 'Paradise Road' as sung by Joy. If you can help, I will really appreciate it. Thanks Nicolene Mailto:nfourie@randwater.co.za -------------- BUY "A LOT" OF CD'S Hi, I have 720 CD's which I would like to sell in one lot. 50's, 60's, 70's, 80's, 90's... Mainly 50's & 60's - Ricky Nelson, Fabian, Johnny Restivo, Chan Romero, Johnny Preston, Johnny Kidd & the Pirates, Searchers, Sandie Shaw, Lulu etc. The CD's are in mint condition. Do you perhaps know of a serious collector in the Gauteng area who would like to buy my collection? Thanks, Allan Schlosberg Mailto:slosh@hixnet.co.za -------------- FREEDOM'S CHILDREN ALBUM QUERY - #1 Hi. I'm looking for an album by Freedom's Children called 'Battle Hymn of the Broken Hearted Horde' - 1968, Parlophone, PCSJ 12049 My father, Dennis Robertson, was in the band in 1968 and recorded the album with them. He was also in a band (Not A Secret) around the same time. Do you have any ideas how I can get copies of the album? Thank you Justin Robertson Mailto:juzypants@hotmail.com -------------- FREEDOM'S CHILDREN ALBUM QUERY - #2 Hi, I have in my hand a 45" that does not appear in your Freedom's Children discography: Parlophone SPD 3030 'The Homecoming/Sea Horse' I will pay any sensible price for a playable vinyl copy of 'Broken Hearted Horde' or the 'Remains' LP on SA Epic incidentally. Thanks, Jon Groocock Mailto:jon@noiseplate.com -------------- LOOKING TO BREAK THE MUSICAL DROUGHT UP NORTH Hi, Will Watershed be playing in Botswana again any time soon? They were great at the Kalahari Summer Festival. Thanks & regards, thornhill@info.bw -------------- WIE'S JOU PAPPA!! Hi, I always check that there's another Johnny what writes for you ous every week from London. Which of his parent's names is Sam? Thanks, Johnny from Boksburg -------------- GOT A QUESTION? Please email any musical questions to mailto:editor@sarockdigest.com?subject=soundsolutions ----------------------------- THE DIGEST CLASSIFIED ADS ----------------------------- To advertise in this section please email: mailto:editor@sarockdigest.com?subject=classifieds -------------- MITSOO SEEK GUITARIST Established all-female band in Cape Town seeks female lead electric guitarist. Influences L7, Hole, Perfect Circle,etc. Contact Lindsay: Phone: 082 841 3324 or 082 828 5139 Mailto:Lravensc@pawc.wcape.gov.za --------------- VAGABOND MUSIC & WEB (now part of the Sugar Music Group) Get your band or business online. We design from scratch or take over the maintenance when your hotshot designer gets bored with updating. Our design philosophy is to create sites that pull people in and keep them coming back, through user-friendly designs, good web architecture and cost-effective web-marketing. If you want a quick, friendly and fun website, then Vagabond Music Web is your answer. Vagabond Clients include: Fresh Music Rhythm Records Entertainment Industry Services Piet Botha Off The Edge 25 Hour Studio Gregs Golf Tours 4 Sure Golf Tours James Stewart Tait Bright Blue Jack Hammer Janie Jones Brian Finch Soil 7t7 Rodriguez Steve Louw and Big Sky Street Level Lorraine Shannon Joe Public Please contact Brian on 082-567-8779 or visit http://www.sugarmusic.co.za for more info. --------------- 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 -------------- GET YOURSELF A NEW REDIRECTABLE EMAIL ADDRESS Are you tired of complicated hotmail or yahoo email addresses, or is your corporate address very uncool? Or is your favourite nickname already taken? For only R150 per year we will supply you an email address such as mailto:yourchoiceofname@rock.co.za which will redirect to your current address. Choose from the list below: sarockdigest.com rock.co.za samp3.com saklank.com sagigs.com sugarman.org Email: mailto:CanIgetAnewEmailAddressPlease@rock.co.za for details. -------------- The Sound Solutions and Digest Classified sections are sponsored by: SUGAR MUSIC - a private music library in Cape Town that offers music searches, and the sourcing and recommending of songs and music soundtracks for television, film, and radio productions and commercials. Contact: Stephen Segerman - (021) 461-9541 mailto:sugar@cd.co.za ______________________________________________ 8.LIVE MUSIC --------------- ------------------- UPCOMING EVENTS ------------------- Full details at http://www.sagigs.com Watch out for: '466 64 - THE CONCERT' - in association with MTV's Staying Alive, takes place at Green Point Stadium in Cape Town on Saturday November 29th, the weekend before World AIDS Day. 40,000 people are expected to attend the 3-hour show, which will be broadcast free to hundreds of millions around the world via TV, webcast and radio. SEETHER - Miller Genuine Draft is proud to present Seether at Blue Moon in Nelspruit on 29 December - the opening concert of the band's first return tour to South Africa. TAIT - Friday 21st November at the Armchair Theatre with Steve Van. Tait has also been confirmed for this year's OBS Festival on Saturday 6th Dec - the line-up confirmed so far is freshlyground, The Rudimentals, Semisane, Golliwog and more. 'THE AMAZING DisasTOUR' - This national punk rock tour runs through December with headliners, ATFN ("All this for nothing") from Pretoria, and Mr. Smug from Durban. 'ROCK THE BAY 2003' - 26 December at Firlands, just before Sir Lowry's Pass on the N2, past Somerset West. Barney Simon will be introducing the strong SA rock line-up featuring 17 bands including Jesse Jordan Band, Jo Day, Zen Arcade, Cutting Jade, Wonderboom, Not my Dog, Southern Gypsey Queen, Tamarin Seed, Serving Suggestion, Six of Nine, and Soul Proxy. BED ON BRICKS -The official launch of the 'Humanarium' CD will take place early in December when the band gets back from the first leg of their national tour which kicks off this week on Wednesday the 19th of November in Cape Town. JO DAY - It's Darren's official B.A.N.D. Farewell on Fri 21 Nov at Roxy's, Melville (w/ El Camino) - see other upcoming live dates RADIO BIJOU - a weekly Wednesday night broadcast of fine music for the feet as selected by enchanting people across Cape Town City. The broadcast takes place at the Curve Bar at the Bijou Cinema in Observatory ANTON GOOSEN AND LISE SWART - Live dates in November announced. CASTLE LAGER WORLD MUSIC FESTIVAL - To be held at Ratanga Junction on 18/19/20 December 2003. To prepare for the event, the 18 finalists will stage a mock concert on 15 and 16 November (9 bands per night) at Rockerfellows, Montague Drive, Montague Gardens. OPPIKOPPI FESTIVAL - PRETORIA/TSHWANE - 28 & 29 November 2003 CINDY ALTER - The ex-Clout vocalist will be returning to South Africa to perform two concerts at The Agterplaas in Melville, on the 21st and 22nd of November. Cindy will be backed by the Tony Russel Quintet, and will be playing songs from 'Silver Moon' and 'Dark Heart'. SWAMP FUNK QUARTET - Appearing every other Friday until the end of November at the Acoustic Café (neé Wipeout), corner of Main and Atlantic roads, Muizenberg. SUGAR BUSH FESTIVAL 2003 - Thursday 18 December - Sunday 21 December in KwazuluNatal INDEPENDENT ARMCHAIR THEATRE - Live in Observatory, Cape Town this week are: Liesl Graham, Nick Turner and Dave Van de Linden, and Tait with The Steve Van Band SEMISANE - South Africa's premier pop/rock band return with new material, and new lead singer Holly Rose. A nationwide tour is planned for November/December -------------- Live In London: FETISH - 27th November at the newly re-opened Old Fiddler (formerly Mean Fiddler. Support from UK Feds (stoned beats & breaks... damn fine), 22-28a Harlesden High St, London NW10 4LX, Doors: 7.30 / £5 on the door, 3.50 with a flyer. -------------- Upcoming International Artists in SA: RONAN KEATING IN SA - Big Concerts International, Jacaranda 94.2 and KFM 94.5 are very proud to announce that Ronan Keating will be performing in Sun City for New Year's Eve, 31 December and in Cape Town's picturesque Kirstenbosch Gardens on the 2nd of January 2004. LIVE - Big Concerts, in association with 5FM, have announced that US rock band Live will be returning to SA for another three live dates in late November supported by Prime Circle. Those dates are Johannesburg (22nd November at the Dome in Northgate), Durban (September 25th at Durban Exhibition Centre) and Cape Town (November 28th at the Belville Velodrome) -------------- 'THE AMAZING DisasTOUR' Maiden League Records have announced 'The Amazing DisasTOUR' national punk rock tour which will begin on Dec 5 at the Nile Crocodile in Pretoria and run through December until it winds up at the Purple Turtle in Cape Town on Dec 20. The two great new South African bands who will headline the tour are ATFN ("All this for nothing") from Pretoria, and Mr. Smug from Durban, Support slots will go to various local bands as the tour moves around the country. The tour will invade your culture and show you firm punk roots and principles. This tour won't only be a succession of a few gigs, but for the bands taking part, it will be a lifestyle for the two weeks on the road. So get to a gig in your area to see what the Maiden League culture is all about. There will also be a lot of merchandise on sale. Maiden League will have some specially made 'DisasTOUR' T-shirts on sale and their upcoming compilation release, 'Maiden Voyage', will also be available at most shows. The dates for the tour are: 5 Dec: Nile Crocodile (PTA) with The Slashdogs and Watermark High 6 Dec: Bohemians (JHB) with The Kiddiefiddlers, 2 Strikes Against and Crossing Point 6 Dec: Tempo's Eurobar (JHB) with 16 Stitch, Fatigue, High Society, Pyramid Tongue and more 8 Dec: Trotters (JHB) with The Slashdogs and Stevie Wonderfuls 10 Dec: Coyote Bar (DBN) with Sibling Rivalry 12 Dec: Settlers (EL) with Undignified 13 Dec (morning): Billabong Festival 13 Dec (afternoon): Boneyards (J-Bay) with BGF and FFD 17 Dec: OBar (Hermanus) with The Doppler Effect 20 Dec: Purple Turtle (CT) with Toyland, HOAX and The Doppler Effect The Maiden League Records Team Milto:adriaan@maidenleague.co.za Website: www.maidenleague.co.za -------- SA PUNK -------- By Daniel Neville SA PUNK CD REVIEW: SERVING SUGGESTION - 'TRY WHISTLING THIS' [DAYPLAY RECORDS] I'm not really sure what I first thought when I heard this album. But now, after listening to it for about two weeks, I can safely say that I think it is definitely an extremely good piece of work (Phew! - Worried Ed.). Serving Suggestion have changed a lot over the few years that they have been around. They used to have a very punky sound (if that is possible) but now I think they have moved more towards a new style that I am going to call "catchy/jumpy rock". Serving Suggestion have evolved into a confident sounding and tight three-piece, and I believe they are approaching that very important period of a band's career, where they can either make or break it. And, the way things are looking, they are going to make it big, if they play their cards right. 'Try Whistling This' has ten tracks on it, including some that were on their 'What's in a Box' EP, but these tracks have been re-recorded and are sounding a lot better. The album was recorded at Paris Studios and, as a result, the recording is of the high standard that usually comes out of those Fish Hoek studios. The actual CD packaging is very well done and has a very thoughtful layout, where space is provided for you to get a signature from Tim, Nic and Dave. All the songs are very catchy, hence my new name for their style, and I have often caught myself with the tune to some of their songs stuck in my head. I particularly like the song 'Arbitrary Mosquito' - maybe that's because I hate shoe shopping (get a copy of the CD and listen to it to find out what I mean). So, 'Try Whistling This' is a very good effort from the Serving Suggestion boys and I can tell you now that there will be more from these guys. Check out SAmp3.com for an upcoming track from these guys and when you download it make sure you have space to jump. [DN] -------------- SA PUNK RECOMMENDED GIG GUIDE: DURBAN - THE WINSTON PUB - Fri Nov 21 (R20; 9pm) Toyland Album Launch & My Shade KZN-Tour: Toyland My Shade crossing.point EDENVALE - SIX PACK - Fri Nov 21 (Free; 8pm) FREE GIG: The Kiddiefiddlers Misled DURBAN - THE WINSTON PUB - Sat Nov 22 (R10;9pm) Pta Punkers in Dbn: Dammit (Pretoria) Sibling Rivalry CAPE TOWN - PURPLE TURTLE - Sat Nov 22 (R20; 8pm) The Amazing DisasTOUR: Pre-Party: The Doppler Effect HOAX War-on-Salt False Pretense UVONGO - DOUGLAS MITCHELL SPORTS GROUNDS - Sat Nov 22 (R20, 5pm) Margate Mini Fest: 3rd World Order crossing.point My Shade My Shade (Cape Town) See http://www.SAgigs.com for details and other SA Punk gigs. -------------- LIVE IN SA ---------- CRAIG DAVID AT THE BELLVILLE VELODROME It was a pity this concert was scheduled for a Tuesday night that fell in the middle of the Cape Town school and Varsity exams. Otherwise there's no doubt the cavernous Velodrome would have been a lot fuller then it was for the final concert on Craig David's three-date SA tour. We don't get that many decent international acts coming out here, so making it possible for all his younger Cape fans to see him would have been a smarter move by the promoters of the tour. Still, Craig David roused the half-full Velodrome audience into a continuous frenzy, slinking his way through his impressive list of songs off his two big-selling albums to date. And the audience responded with carefree dancing, singing along faithfully to every word, and roaring their approval after every energetically performed song. The band behind the young UK superstar was slick, solid and gave this last gig of the tour the best they had. Danny K opened the show with a short set that showed that this young SA "pop idol" can confidently handle a stage, venue and audience the size of the Velodrome. Flanked by two giant stage-side video screens and wearing a perky white 'Sinatra' hat, Danny K preened, crooned and yelped his way through his better known hits like 'Hurt So Bad' and 'You Don't Know My Name'. Danny worked the crowd with plenty of "Hey y'alls" and "we're proudly South African", and also made a short speech about "peace, etc" which introduced his slowed-down version of the Black Eyed Peas' 'Where Is The Love', which naturally the entire crowd sang lustily along to. The first single off Danny K's second album, 'J23' is 'I Can't Imagine' which was written as a tribute to his late brother Jarron, who died tragically earlier this year. At the concert that mournful song was delivered with great pathos, while images of a broad range of famous dead people, from Elvis to Marvin Gaye to Nkosi Johnson (to really name just a few), flitted across the video screens, finishing off with pictures of Danny with his late grandfather, and then, finally, photos of his dearly-missed brother and domestic servant. Cue dubious frowns all round... But the super-smooth Craig David oozed sheer class and kept the enthusiastic crowd in full ecstatic party mood, strutting and seducing his way through his many garage-rap-pop hits like 'What's Your Flava', 'I'm Walking Away', and 'Fill Me In'. He opened his show with the title track off his second album, 'Slicker Than Your Average', and went on to perform 'Fast Cars', 'Eenie Meenie', 'You Don't Miss Your Water' and others off that album including its biggest hit, the duet with Sting on 'Rise And Fall'. Sting couldn't make it to reprise his vocal on the song, but the backing vocalists still did a fine job. So despite the smallish turnout, Craig David delivered the goods, and like his many fans in the audience, who danced and sang along to every very wordy line, I just threw my hands in the air like I just don't care! 'Cause I don't! [DS] -------------- BOO Carina saw SA's finest rock trio dishing out some live 'TNTLC' at the Roxy in Melville Ooo yessss, so there's this torrid trio of musically inclined human beings called BOO! Whatchoo mean, who are they? They've even been on SABC 2's homely '7de Laan', for crying out loud. That night they shocked the uninitiated soap-induced masses into a catatonic stupor. But, fear not. They are the eternal burst of zest under your tongue, they're surreal, they're funky, rather visual, and strange without reason. They're silly monkipunk with a MENSA-membership card. And they're local. Chris Chameleon with his metallic blue eye-shadow, washboard stomach and the most stunning legs this side of the Congo. And a voice with a range that splits your spleen in the secret corner of every bloody song. Ampie Omo with trumpet, trombone, triangle and keyboard - and several other things that he creates sounds with. This man gives multi-faceted a new face. And that hair. Good grief. A golden mane ever so slightly more manic than the killer smile. Then, of course there's the enigmatic Prinses Leonie (now renamed Boney Leonie) - the psychotic percussion plotter with the rubbery wrists. They've changed. Yes. They're actually in maximum overdrive with sharper tunes, totally unskanky lyrics, undiluted joy and enhanced sweat glands. Picture Roxy's in Melville filled with heated bodies up to the second floor. They're screaming, writhing, bouncing, sweating, sipping breezers, and rocking to the beat of the monkipunk. Chris Chameleon is bare-chested, sinewy muscles rippling with the beat of the guitar, his face scrubbed clean like a schoolboy, the eyeballs rolling in tune with the contortions of his limbs. Ampie Omo goes nuts in his skin, utters slick and peppered guttural monki-sounds, and breaks his triangle. He grins, shakes his mane, and grabs the keyboard. The screams rise from the crowd in a heated exclamation of bliss and glee while arms trail above tousled heads like lost tentacles in a slipstream. I am bobbing to the beat five feet away from Boney Leonie and I feel everything. Passion for the beat spills from his hands, his fingers, his feet. His hair dripping wet within the first 30 minutes. The insane quickening on the rim of each song and how it sucks you in. The man has eight arms. And with a quiet smarmy sneer he proceeds to pulverise the boundaries of textbook drumming. I can only gape at him in awe. The new tunes on 'TNTLCO' - "There's Nothing That Love Can't Overcome" are severely and unashamedly addictive. Don't be alarmed when you hear the rave-ish pooottt-poottttt-pootttity-pooohhhtsss leaking an occasional trickle of silver glitter. Specifically in 'Noel' and the title track. They're balanced ever so cunningly by those primitive dark drumbeats in the last two songs of the CD. You will recognise the familiar impish traits in each one of the twelve tracks. 'Come' is spiced with Theo Crous and guitar, and Chris Chameleon uttering "Since you've been gone, I don't feel I belong..." followed by an almost sardonic "Ah, ah, ahhhh" and "you're my lover, you're my best friend" in the chorus. 'Play' is dark but more than bearable. "Spinster serpent sister cold, only one thing on her mind, to watch the downfall of Mister Soul..." entices you to explore. In here you find the bitter side of love: "Gone my desire for you to die, gone my action, aptitude intrusion, gone your loan on my ears for lies." Get a load of 'Room', 'Positive', 'Open' and 'Star'. Come on, feed that hole in your soul. BOO! knows how. "Trust in the dark to reveal who you really are ... " [CL] ----------- GIG GUIDE ----------- The SA Rock Digest list of recommended gigs can be found at: http://www.SAgigs.com Please send all gig info, in a plain text e-mail by Friday 12noon, to: mailto:sugar@sagigs.com?subject=gigs ___________________________________________ 9. INFO ------- ------ LINKS ------ Links to artists, gig guides, resources, record labels, recording studios, music trivia and more at: http://www.sarockdigest.com/links ---------------- SUBSCRIPTIONS ---------------- To subscribe - please send e-mail to: mailto:subscribe@sarockdigest.com?Subject=NewSubscriber Address changes - please send e-mail to: mailto:subscribe@sarockdigest.com?Subject=SubcriberAddressChange To unsubscribe - please send e-mail to: mailto:unsubscribe@sarockdigest.com?Subject=Unsubscribe ------------ BACK ISSUES ------------- http://www.sarockdigest.com/archives Online and keyword searchable ----------------------------------- PRESS RELEASES & CONTRIBUTIONS ----------------------------------- Please submit all press releases, contributions, reviews, gig & festival dates, requests, searches and comments to: mailto:sugar@sarockdigest.com?subject=SARockDigest ---------------------- EDITORS AND PUBLISHERS ---------------------- Brian Currin & Stephen Segerman mailto:editors@sarockdigest.com?subject=SARockDigest --------------- CONTRIBUTORS --------------- BC - Brian Currin SS - Stephen Segerman JS - John Samson KS - Kurt Shoemaker CL - Carina Laubscher (Katvrou) TL - Tertius Louw SN - Shiloh Noone DN - Daniel Neville ML - Moonshine Lee LR - Lindsay Ravenscroft WM - Wicked Mike DB - Don Bryce DM - David Marks DS - Don Sweeto LAD - LAD MC - Michael Currin (Curmic) And others too numerous to mention, but gratefully acknowledged! 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