SA ROCK DIGEST ISSUE #228 http://www.sarockdigest.com Established 27th January 1999 1 December 2003 ------------- PLEASE NOTE ------------- Please do not reply to this newsletter! If you would like to contact us, rather send an email to mailto:editor@sarockdigest.com?subject=Digest ---------------------- IN THIS WEEK'S ISSUE ---------------------- Thanks to Madiba for the wonderful and emotional concert! 4-doef-double-six-six-four, 4-doef-double-six-six-four, quite a night, lots of stars and collaborations, and Nelson Mandela telling all present and watching that AIDS is now a human rights issue so now everyone is involved, an important point driven home in many of the musical contributions. But for us, being old rock fans at heart, the ‘466-64’ cause was summed up most powerfully on the evening by the lyrics in the suddenly very appropriate closing section of ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ - given that full Brian May soaring guitar treatment with full audience vocal participation - that screamed: “So you think you can stone me and spit in my eye - so you think you can love me and leave me to die - Oh baby - Can’t do this to me baby - just gotta get out - just gotta get right out of here”. Bob Geldof was there, swore, and sang “What’s So Funny About Peace Love and Understanding”. From Live Aid to live AIDS. In the words of Nelson Mandela, Bono, Beyonce, Brian May, Roger Taylor, Angelique Kidjo, Dave Stewart, Peter Gabriel, Yusef Islam (aka Cat Stevens), Annie Lennox, Youssou N’Dour, Jimmy Cliff, Bongo Maffin, Zucchero, Ladysmith Black Mambazo, and others too many to mention. And, of course, John Lennon.... Help! http://www.46664.com So, in the wake of some top contemporary music stars visiting SA for the ‘46664’ concert on Saturday night, we will now be heading back to those long-haired, bell bottom ‘70’s days as Smokie prepare to tour SA in early-2004 ... we have more details on the upcoming Sugar Bush festival ... Look out for the Sovereign Annexation Tour this December featuring Prime Circle, Marlowe, The Finkelstiens, Killjoy, and Ghomez the Geek ... The place to be in Durban this December holiday is Wave House, Gateway with gigs from bands like Prime Circle, Wonderboom, The Finkelstiens, and Seether. Cape Town record store, Mabu Vinyl, has now opened a CD section and is looking to stock all independent SA CD titles ... Vusi Mahlasela supported the Dave Matthews band on a string of the popular band’s live concerts during November ... Find out all about the Ill Academy and all its related events ... The Jesse Jordan Band have a busy December gigging schedule ahead of them ... State Far Better are first heading off on a national tour before beginning work on their debut album in Johannesburg. The Dolly Rockers are about to release their new album, ‘The Heat’, and have some Cape Town gigs lined up alongside 3 Bored White Guys ... Durban band Ketamine are set to work with high-profile recording engineer/producer Bjørn Thorsrud ... SA guitarist extraordinaire, Guy Buttery, will be returning to the Cape in December for eight shows Fallen (not to be confused with Gauteng band, The Fallen...) are a three-piece alternative rock act based in Grahamstown who recently recorded their debut EP, 'Last Chance For The Forgotten', and are curently touring SA ... Mick Raubenheimer reviews 'Blomdoorns’, the 5th release by Derek Gripper on the ever-surprising Open Record, featuring Alex Van Heerden and a very special custom-made 8-string guitar. In this week’s MP3 section we look back at those Legends of SA Rock with tracks from Baxtop, Raven, Robin Auld, McCully Workshop, All Night Radio, Brian Finch, Julian Laxton, Jack Hammer, and Wildebeest ... also LAD tells us all about Liesl Graham ... John Samson looks back at James Phillips’ posthumous album called ‘Soul Ou’ ... Kurt Shoemaker just got his copy of the new 'Tassenberg 4' compilation on Trippy Grape Records and tells us all about it. This week’s spotlight falls on Cape Afrikaans rap duo, ‘Kallitz’ ... We take a look back at Lithium’s album, ‘Zennon Supertrooper’ ... European singer/songwriter Benjamin’s Father will be touring South Africa in December and early January ... the Soweto String Quartet have announced a string of free live concerts to promote their new album, ‘Our World’. Wrench Productions are presenting the Kiddie Fiddlers CD launch with other great bands at The Bohemian ... Cape Town singer-songwriter Grant Nuss has been receiving a lot of interest (and downloads!) for his album, ‘Diversity’, and the single, ‘Time To Change’, and will be performing at Artscape’s ‘Red Wine & Roses’ evenings, at Nino's [Alteatro] on Sunday evenings in December. 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: Vusi Mahlasela, Smokie, Mabu Vinyl & CD, Sugar Bush, Sovereign Annexation Tour, Wave House, Dolly Rockers, Ketamine, Guy Buttery, Fallen, State Far Better, Jesse Jordan, Benjamin’s Father 2.CHARTS: Top 30 SA mp3s & albums 3.NEW RELEASES: SA mp3s & CDs: Legends Of SA Rock, Grant Nuss, Lithium, Kallitz, Liesl Graham 4. USA FOR AFRICA: 'Tassenberg 4' - Various 5.A NAARTJIE IN THE UK: 'Soul Ou' - James Phillips 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, A month of Sundays with Heather Mac and Ayala Katz. 9.INFO: Subscriptions & contributions _____________________________________________ 1.NEWS --------- VUSI TOURING WITH THE DMB The Dave Matthews Band, one of the most successful live acts in the US, had a special guest with them for the support slots on most of their recent November dates. Vusi Mahlasela, the South African singer, musician, & songwriter joined the tour on all the band’s live dates from November 13 - 29 (apart from the two Connecticut dates). Vusi Mahlasela was recently featured in ‘Amandla!’ the critically acclaimed documentary film that explores the role of music in South Africa's apartheid struggle, and which was released on Dave Matthews’ own ATO label. Mahlasela performed a solo set to open the show for the Dave Matthews band and has no doubt won himself many new US fans. ATO Records recently released a compilation of the best songs off Vusi Mahlasela’s previous four South African albums for the US market. Mahlasela also appeared with the Derek Trucks Band. Details of that collaboration are at -------------- SMOKIE - 'THE HIT BOX TOUR' '04 Remember Smokie? The band who lived next door to Alice?? Well it seems Smokie is still “firing on all five cylinders” and will be touring South Africa in 2004. It is called ‘The Hit Box Tour '04’ and Smokie will be touring here 25 February onwards. This year, Smokie released their ultimate greatest hits collection called ‘The Hit Box Set’. This collection consists of 10 CD's spanning the decades from the 1970's through to today and has already gained Gold and Platinum awards throughout Scandinavia. However, this is not to say that Smokie have been away from the studio this year, quite to the contrary. Smokie spent a great deal of time between their touring schedule recording a brand new album written entirely by the members themselves (Wow?, that’s unusual! - Ed.), and due for release in the early spring of 2004. Look at the Guinness Book Of Hit Singles and you could be forgiven for thinking Smokie's success story was a 1970’s phenomenon. After all, 11 of their 14 British hits came in that eventful musical decade. However, their massive success story has continued to flourish around the globe including Scandinavia, South Africa, Germany and even China. Smokie is a band which has sold-out tours and gained platinum records in four decades - ‘70’s, ‘80’s, ‘90’s and to the present day. A quick recap then on past glories. Smokie first got together at school in Yorkshire in the late ‘60’s. After going through various names and styles, they signed with Mickie Most's then ultra-hot RAK label and found themselves chartbound. Songs like 'If You Think You Know How To Love Me', 'Don't Play Your Rock 'n Roll To Me', 'It's Your Life', 'Oh Carol', 'Meet You At Midnight' and the worldwide smash 'Living Next Door To Alice' (all Top 10 entries) became radio staples and gave Smokie their ticket to travel the world. The sound was a combination of hook-laden songs and Smokie's distinctive but unashamedly Stateside-influenced soft-rock harmonies, their secret being their vocal blend - a rasping, emotion-drenched lead set against melodic harmonies that produces a unique, bittersweet result. After accumulating worldwide sales of over 30 million, Smokie made 'Wild Horses', a 1997 Nashville-recorded album that cost the band a quarter of a million pounds to produce. It gave them a foothold in US country radio, while hits collections continue to find a ready market. That trend continued with 'Uncovered' and 'Uncovered Too', which were both huge hits throughout Scandinavia - reaching the top 5 in Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden - achieving double platinum status. Smokie’s guest artists on the SA Tour will be Sunette and Guillaume (except Cape Town). -------------- NEW INDEPENDENT CD OUTLET OPENS IN CAPE TOWN In a move to bring CD prices back to a level where music fans can actually afford and buy them, Sugar Music has announced the opening of a new discount CD outlet in Cape Town. The new CD store will form a part of the Mabu Vinyl store which is now situated at the top of Long Street (or bottom of Kloof Street, depends how you see it) diagonally opposite the Long Street Baths in central Cape Town. The CD store will carry both international and South African titles, and will be stocking a full range of all the independent CDs released by South African artists that are not (yet) available at music stores, nationwide. All South African CD and CDR titles will also soon be available online at the upcoming Sugar Music web store. To make your CDs or CDR’s available at both the online and offline stores, please bring your albums or singles to Sugar Music at Mabu Vinyl (2 Kloof Street - phone 021 423-7635) or email mailto:mabu@sugarmusic.co.za for details of where to post your releases. -------------- BENJAMIN'S FATHER - SA TOUR 2003/2004 European singer/songwriter Benjamin’s Father will be touring South Africa in December and early January. He will do a number of performances in the Cape and KwaZulu Natal provinces, including the Independent Armchair Theatre in Cape Town (Dec 17) and the Flux Festival on New Year’s Eve. While writing experimental new-wave music for a rock group featuring brilliant, current percussionist Jafni, Benjamin’s Father started off his music career by taking lessons from some of the world’s greatest classical guitarists, including Czech Stepan Rak and British David Russell. He soon also explored the art of composing and would later, ’changing his directions and his pace’, compose for the theatre, conducting his orchestral music for internationally renowned stage director Daniel Bohr (Argentina, Spain and Denmark). ‘The music is fantastic!’ Bohr told the press and invited him to write the music for his next play as well, to the lyrics of playwright Arnold Wesker. Classical music and theatre influences can also be found in the songs Benjamin’s Father performs today, for example in the baroque-tango introduction to ‘Confidentially Baby’, and eerie, theatrically vivid ‘Ballad of Muddy Waters and Jeremiah Spleen’. Some called for more. Reluctant at first, he eventually did move from the theatre orchestra pit. At an emotional turning point he showed up in Harare for recording sessions with local musicians and wrote a new series of songs piloted by the strikingly unorthodox souvenir song ‘Zimbabwe’ - now a touching feature of his concerts. In 2003 Benjamin’s Father has taken his songs to venues in London, Scandinavia and finally to South Africa. 2004 will prove equally exciting for audiences that love his music. The album, ‘They Call It Reputation’, is scheduled for release later in 2004 and another tour is in the making. Tour Dates: Dec 17 - The Independent Armchair Theatre, Cape Town Dec 19 - The Acoustic Café, Muizenberg Dec 22 - Barleycorn Folk Club, Cape Town Dec 29- Durban Folk Club, Durban Dec 31- Flux Festival, Mooi River Jan 8 - The Jam, Margate Jan 10 - Midas Music Club, Howick -------------- SOWETO STRING QUARTET ANNOUNCE FREE LIVE DATES With their fifth release, South Africa's own Soweto String Quartet have once again raised their creativity and pushed musical boundaries to record an album that is true to form! Fresh and brimming with vitality, the group’s first release off the album, their version of the hit song ‘Summertime’, is receiving incredible radio support at present! ‘Our World’, their latest album, returns SSQ to the heart of the South African nation, a people that were the first to welcome the group's now signature "classical African" sound with open arms on the release of their debut album, ‘Zebra Crossing’. Look out for these upcoming free live concerts from the SSQ who will be performing material off ‘Our World’ as well as favourites off their previous smash albums. Free Public Concert Dates: 6th December - Hyde Park centre court (11h30 - 12h30) 7th December - Fourways (from 12h00) 11th December - Rosebank Mall - Evening Market (from 19h30) 13th December - Kolonade, Pretoria (from 12h00) 20th December - East Rand Mall (from 10h30) and Sandton City (from 13h30 - 14h30) For more information, e-mail: mailto:maria.kounelakis@bmg.com Full SSQ biography at: www.click2music.co.za/cgi-bin/biography.pl?artistid=9 -------------- WHAT IS ILL ACADEMY? Ill Academy is the annual South African Skate, Surf and Extreme Sports Film and Photography Festival held by Bastard Media. The best film entries will be shown at Cinema Nouveau, screened by Nedbank, and will be in line for awards in the following categories: Best Overall Film, Director, Editor, Cinematographer, Best Action Sequence, Best Performance, Soundtrack, Audience Choice and The Unnecessary Pain Award. The best photographic entries will be on show at Canal Walk and awards will be given for ‘Best Single Picture’ and ‘Best Sequence’. The free Photographic Exhibition (28 November - 20 December) will be at Canal Walk (at the entrance to Boogaloos Skate Park) and will feature photographs by Miguel Howell, Barry Tuck, Gerhard Engelbrecht, Lance Slabbert, Pierre Macqua and Dermot Brogan The Awards Ceremony will be held at Mercury Live on 15 December and will first have a presentation of awards followed by performances by Fuzigish, Hog Hoggidy Hog, The Rudimentals and Hoax (entrance R30) The Film Festival will be held at Cinema Nouveau in Cavendish Square and will be screened by Nedbank. For this Festival, which will run until 14 December, the best entries have been divided into eight groups, which will be rotated throughout the festival. The cost for all shows at the Festival is R17 For more information email info@bastardmedia.co.za or call 021 465 8504 -------------- THE SUGAR BUSH FESTIVAL Inflatable Fun & Music Line-up The family day and night outdoor experience and music festival that is being called Sugarbush is warming up to be the highlight of this South Coast summer. Tuckers farm, Ifafa, just 62 kms South of Durban International is undergoing a rigorous makeover to host the event due to begin on December 18 and keep you entertained right up until the 21st. The Sugar Bush festival is positively geared towards family entertainment, which at times may require the ‘grown-ups’ to re-live their youth a bit. Any volunteers for some youthful shenanigans will be pleased to know that in the midst of all the festive uproar they will find a whole range of inflatable fun. Inflatable arenas, rings and slides will provide the framework for some semi-competitive boxing, a friendly game of paintball and a foam party, where peace can be made. Behind these scenes of inflatable mayhem, the Sugar Bush team is taking care of the not-so-fun issues such as safety and security. Litter control is being implemented as well as a policy of no weapons and no glass. If the endless stream of activity tires you out, the food and craft markets may be more up your street for some relaxing retail therapy. Appealing to the Music lovers, Die Campbells will be wooing the crowd on Friday 19th December and our favourite family band; The Blarney Brothers, will be swinging through Saturday evening the 20th December. For the teens we have some of our favourite SA bands namely: Spoon Feedas, Waverley, Thirty Three, RedHOUSE, Delta Blue, Sevenstone, Cynosure, Déjà vu, Springcan, Sitter, Nimbus Experience, Neels Moir and not to forget our all night DJ parties. The festival holds something for everyone in every mood and is determined to provide value for money. Tickets at the gate are only R50 for day visitors and R150 for the full 4 days; campers, kids 12 years and under come in for free. Sugar Bush is happening so round up the troops and prepare for a long weekend of outdoor entertainment. For further information as well as constant updates, check out the website: www.sugarbushfestival.co.za Email: info@sugarbushfestival.co.za or contact Ann on cellular 082 578 9989 -------------- THE SOVEREIGN ANNEXATION TOUR Rock music will be spreading across the country this December in two enormous waves. Covering most corners of South Africa, to date there has been no sign of a cure for this strange phenomenon. Since it was first discovered in live venues in Johannesburg (Really?????? - Ed.) it has since spread to larger sections of the scene such as Woodstock and Oppikkopi. Not much more is known about the details of the ’Sovereign Annexation Tour’, featuring bands like Prime Circle, Marlowe, The Finkelstiens, Killjoy, and Ghomez the Geek. Watch out for these dates as it hits your town soon! Prime Circle, Marlowe and The Parlotones: 4th of December Unplugged at the Bluesroom in Sandton with The Finkelstiens 13th of December at the Wavehouse 26th of December at Settlers, Gonubie 27th of December Neptunes Festival, Kenton on Sea 29th of December Flashback's, Plett The Finks, Killjoy, Ghomez the Geek 20th of December Wavehouse - Umhlanga 23rd of December Flashback's, Plett 27th of December Settlers, Gonubie 28th of December Neptunes Festival - Kenton -------------- WAVE HOUSE ROCKS THIS DECEMBER! The place to be in Durban this December holiday is Wave House, Gateway. 12 December - Girls go mad, as the country’s most exciting punk rock outfit, Tweak, are set to hit the Wave House stage with hot radio hits such as ‘House Party’, ‘Girls Rule The World’ and ‘Friends?’. This trio, along with other hot musical acts such as Cutting Jade, Wickhead and 16 Stitch, are set for “The Headline Tour ‘03”. 13 December - SA’s hottest chart-topping rock act, Prime Circle, will make another impressive return when the Powerzone Road Show hits Durban. See this local band that supported super-group LIVE on their SA tour., together with the likes of Jo’burg alternative rock group, Marlowe. 19 December - Wonderboom, the legendary hooligans of SA rock, will ignite the stage with a truly outrageous performance. Nominated as one of the top five bands in South Africa by People magazine, this band wowed the crowds at music festivals such as Southern Cross, Easter Rock Festival, Splashy Fen and Woodstock. Wonderboom will be sharing the stage with Jo Day and Zen Arcade. It was once said by Erin Brooks that “you haven’t lived ‘til you’ve seen Jo Day’ live, Jo Day’s hard-hitting lyrics and grinding vocals are brilliant, giving music a new soulful twist.” 20 December - The Finkelstiens are currently one of the top acts in the country and will be playing well-known songs like ‘QQ Me’, ‘Find It’s You’, and ‘A Song’ off their first album called ‘The Dawning Of New Error’. 7th January - Seether will be at the Wave House in 2004, when they return home on their SA tour. Seether’s single ‘Hang On’ appeared on the Daredevil soundtrack and their ‘Out of My Way’ track is on the Freddy vs. Jason soundtrack. So with brilliant first class SA bands along with the picture perfect venue, go no further. Wave House has captured the 2003 summer vibe and is guaranteeing to deliver loads of rocking fun. For More Information mailto:media@wavehouse.co.za -------------- DOLLY ROCKERS BRING ‘THE HEAT’ Cape Town band, The Dolly Rockers, are about to release their new album, ‘The Heat, in the next few weeks. The band’s third album is the follow-up to their critically acclaimed ‘Glory Glory’ album from 2002. The band, which has featured the song-writing and musical talents of Greg Donnelly for the past ten years, will be playing some Cape Town gigs to showcase tracks off ‘The Heat’ as well as playing "classics" from their back catalogue, like ‘Heart Hits The Ground’ and ‘Suicide Annie’. Anton Marshall (of 3 Bored White Guys) has joined their line-up on keyboards, melodica, extra bass and shakey things. The Dolly Rockers, along with The 3 Bored White Guys, will be playing another gig at The Mercury Lounge (43 De Villiers Street, Cape Town) on Wed. 3 December. Speaking about these two bands, the Mercury newsletter said: “These two bands raised the roof at the recent Rockabilly BBQ Breakout. Legends and old favourites, the Dolly Rockers play some new material and classics that are only available on vinyl! And 3 Bored White Guys... well they've confessed that their bassist isn't white, their drummer isn't bored, and their guitarist wears a hat. Definitely the scary side of hick-rock.“ LISTEN to The Dolly Rockers at http://www.SAmp3.com/artists.html -------------- KETAMINE TO WORK WITH BJORN! The beginning of December sees Durban band, Ketamine, begin working with high-profile recording engineer/producer Bjørn Thorsrud. Thorsrud is best known for his work with Smashing Pumpkins, ZWAN, Monster Magnet, Dandy Warhols, Shania Twain and many others for whom his skills have helped earn Billboard USA chart hits. Thanks to the Round Table Umhlanga 155, who is supporting local talent by sponsoring Bjørn’s air ticket and studio time. Kingston Sound is kindly providing additional equipment for the recording. Ketamine will be working with Bjørn for two weeks before he jets back to Chicago to resume work on Billy Corgan’s latest project, his first solo album. During this period Ketamine will be playing a Round Table Christmas Fundraiser Show at the Coyote Bar in Umhlanga, supported by Saturnine, on Saturday 6 December. All proceeds of this event will go to the Round Table Umhlanga 155. LISTEN to 'Stay' by Ketamine at http://www.SAmp3.com/wickedrock.html -------------- GUY BUTTERY - CAPE TOWN RE-VISITED After blowing away audiences in and around Cape Town in July earlier this year, Guy Buttery will be returning to the Cape in December for 8 shows. If you didn't catch SA's new prodigy, recently described as "the most exciting player I've seen in the last 10 years, who is destined for greater heights", by the Daily News, don't miss him this time around! At the tender age of 18, Guy released his highly acclaimed debut album "When I Grow Up...", through the world class record label, Sheer Sound. Being one of the youngest nominees ever in the history of the South African Music Awards, Guy received two nominations for both 'Best Instrumental Album of the Year' and 'Best Newcomer for 2002' for the South African Music Awards (SAMA's). In just his few months of performing publicly, Guy has had the honour of playing with musicians and bands, both formally and informally, such as Landscape Prayers, Perez, Tony Cox & Steve Newman, Nibs van der Spuy and Gito Baloi (Tananas), whilst also playing at all major music festivals and theatres around the country. Guy will be performing his usual unusual set of solo guitar and sitar. Cape Dates: 7th - Olympia Theatre, Kalk Bay, 5.30pm 8th - Independent Armchair Theatre, Observatory, 9.30pm 9th - Independent Armchair Theatre, Observatory, 9.30pm 10th - Acoustic Cafe - Harbour Music Club, Muizenberg, 8.30pm 13th - CD Wherehouse - V&A Waterfront, 2pm 14th - Olympia Theatre, Kalk Bay, 5.30pm 15th - Barleycorn - The River Club, Observatory, 8pm 16th - Independent Armchair Theatre, Observatory, 9.30pm LISTEN to a Guy Buttery Sampler at http://www.SAmp3.com/samplers.html -------------- FALLEN ON TOUR (in association with www.WickedRock.co.za) Fallen (not to be confused with Gauteng band, The Fallen...) are a three-piece alternative rock act based in Grahamstown. Their music is based around the two fundamental principles of melody and energy. The band formed in May 2003 and consists of ex-Hyper-Station members Andrew “Pappy” Shepherd on drums, Chris de Klerk on guitar/vocals and ex-Nemesis bassist Rob Scott. The band debuted during the Grahamstown National Arts Festival 2003, and have since gone on to perform regular gigs around the Albany area, including the Backpacker’s Festival 2003. After regular gigs at Champs Action Bar, where Fallen helped attract the largest crowds since the Festival, they were invited to perform at the Albany Hotel Group’s 15th Anniversary Street Party. Recently the band have recorded their debut EP, ‘Last Chance For The Forgotten’. The tracks were produced by production genius Mark van der Merwe, who spent time touring Europe with MIC. November 26th - Winston Pub - free entrance November 28th - Hillbilly's (Port Shepstone) with Soil 7t7, Redhouse and My Shade - R30 December 3rd - Coyote Bar (Umhlanga) - R10 December 6th - The Vault (Pietermaritzburg) - R10 www.WickedRock.co.za -------------- STATE FAR BETTER - TOUR AND ALBUM State Far Better will be relocating to Johannesburg in early-2004 to begin recording their debut album. The popular Cape Town band will first complete their December national tour before entering the studio to start working on the album, which should be on our shelves by May 2004. The band consists of: Seb Bock (Vocals); Gideon Kretschmer (Guitar and vocals), Deon Conradie (Guitar), and Nicky Bernard (Bass). The band now features an awesome new drummer called Yuan van der Sluys who has only been with the band for six weeks, but is fitting in great and whose style adds a lot in terms of solid mean rock with attitude! Fans of the band should look out for a single from the band that was done for the SL “Unearthed Project”. It will come out with the February edition of Student Life magazine. The single is called ‘What About Me’ and was produced by Theo Crous (the ex-Nude Girls guitarist) in Cape Town. Those December tour dates are: 12 Dec - Armchair Theatre (opening band - Monomen) 20 Dec - Ghecko bar, Hermanus 21 Dec - Weldonkaya, Plett 22 Dec - Boneyards, J-bay 23 Dec - Tobey Joe's, PE 27 Dec - Buccaneers, East-London 29 Dec - Al's, Knysna (supporting band - Soulja) LISTEN to State Far Better at http://www.SAmp3.com/artists_l_s.html ---------------------------------------------------- 2.CHARTS ---------- TOP 30 SOUTH AFRICAN MP3s OF THE WEEK http://www.SAmp3.com 1. [1] (1) Things 2 Consider - Skwirmish ('The EP'/Indie) 2. [3] (2) Above My Room - Jo Day ('The Truth'/Indie) 3. [5] (3) All The World - Zen Arcade ('Release'/Indie) 4. [8] (4) Time To Change - Grant Nuss ('Diversity'/Bowline) 5. [6] (4) Woman - Soil 7t7 ('Soil 7t7'/Indie) 6. [2] (2) Rich Folks Hoax - Amanda Strydom ('Verspreide Donderbuie/Scattered Thunder'/JNS) 7. [4] (1) Castles (Remix) - freshlyground ('Jika Jika'/Freeground) 8. [10] (8) Meisie Van Die Ooste - Alta Joubert ('Warrelwinde'/Hoezit) 9. [7] (2) Lilly Dance - De-Javu (Single/Bowline) 10. [12] (10) Viagra La Buena - Nukular Stompers ('Can Of Worms'/Indie) 11. [13] (11) Trash Like You - Martin Rocka And The Sick Shop ('Trailer Rash'/Gosatango) 12. [9] (5) Suikerbossie Blues - Jakkie Louw ('Klein Karoo Cowboy'/Afrimusik) 13. [14] (13) Scream (demo) - Velve (Indie) 14. [11] (1) Plan My Attack - Soulja (Indie) 15. [19] (15) Twisted - Believable Addiction (Indie) 16. [20] (16) Face - Ystervark ('Living It Up'/Indie) 17. [21] (17) Jerk Motormouth - Michael Payne ('DeCOMpress'/Indie) 18. [24] (18) Zero Tolerance - Mowgli ['A Perfect Life'/Indie) 19. [17] (9) Only If It Rains - Off The Edge ('Site Under Construction'/Indie) 20. [16] (1) Humanarium - Bed On Bricks (Indie) 21. [23] (21) Life Away - My Shade ('Bedtime Musick'/Indie) 22. [25] (22) Anything - Mike de Jager and Adrian Clark ('With These Hands'/Indie) 23. [18] (18) Die Ballade Van Dracula Havenga - Andries Bezuidenhout ('Insomniak se Droomalmanak'/Rhythm/Bowline) 24. [26] (24) Duiwel Kom Ons Haal - Springcan ('Are You Confuzed?'/Indie) 25. [28] (25) Myburgh - Kuslangs ('Burnt Bachelor' EP/Indie) 26. [27] (26) Hands Down - Track 4 ('Demo'/Indie) 27. [30] (27) My Favourite Song On The Radio - What Now?! ('Wicked Rock: Let Us Be Heard'/Wicked Rock) 28. [29] (28) Noah (live 1994) - Urban Creep ('Splashy Fen'/3rd Ear Music) 29. [15] (8) Ek En Jy En Die Kaap - Lize Beekman ('Iemand Het Gesê'/Indie 30. [22] (1) James Brown (I Ain't) - Martin Rocka & The Sick Shop ('Martin Rocka & The Sick Shop'/Gosatango) -------------- TOP 30 SOUTH AFRICAN ALBUMS OF THE WEEK http://www.sarockdigest.com/charts This week [last week] (highest position) Title - Artist (Label) 1. [2] (1) Rock The Bedsprings - Old Mol (Legend) 2. [3] (2) Hello Crazy World - Prime Circle (David Gresham Records) 3. [1] (1) Verspreide Donderbuie/Scattered Thunder - Amanda Strydom (JNS) 4. [6] (4) The Truth - Jo Day (Indie) 5. [4] (1) Jika Jika - freshlyground (Freeground) 6. [8] (6) Diversity - Grant Nuss (Indie/Bowline) 7. [7] (1) Another Universe - Arno Carstens (Epic) 8. [5] (5) Tassenberg All Stars Volume 4 - Vari-ous (Trippy Grape/Bowline) 9. [10] (9) Breathe Sunshine - Various (Amabala) 10. [13] (10) Melt With Me - Drop Dead Gorgeous (Indie/Bowline) 11. [19] (11) Power - Tribe After Tribe (RetroFresh) 12. [12] (1) Inbluesstation - Delta Blue (Merchant/Bowline) 13. [9] (4) Sagtevlei - Alex Van Heerden and Derek Gripper (Open Record/Bowline) 14. [22] (14) More Fire - The Rudimentals (Indie) 15. [14] (2) Johnny Clegg - A South African Story - Live (Value) 16. [15] (1) Back Seat Driver - Tait (Fresh) 17. [20] (17) Luna - Luna (Indie) 18. [18] (1) Chasing The Sun - Karen Zoid (EMI) 19. [11] (5) Greatest Hits - Tsepo Tshola And Sankamota (CCP) 20. [23] (20) Perelsvoordieswyne - Best Of - Johannes Kerkorrel (Gallo) 21. [17] (14) Rough Cuts - Janie Jones (Sugar Music) 22. [25] (22) Can Of Worms - Nukular Stompers (Indie) 23. [30] (23) 'n Jaar In Die Son - Koos Kombuis & Valiant Swart (Rhythm/Bowline) 24. [27] (24) Mkhukhu Funkshen - Skwatta Kamp (Gallo) 25. [26] (24) Flat To Round - David Foster (Rhythm/Bowline) 26. [16] (15) J23 - Danny K (Gallo) 27. [21] (2) Sui - Benguela (Open Record/Bowline) 28. [29] (28) Sliq Angel - Sliq Angel (Sony) 29. [24] (1) Release - Zen Arcade (Indie) 30. [28] (19) Various Artists - The Thula Project/ An Album Of SA Lullabies (Worldgoround) READ http://www.rock.co.za/files/ 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. ------------- LEGENDS OF SA ROCK ON MP3 http://www.rock.co.za/legends A few weeks ago we looked at some of the hottest new names in South African rock. This week we look back at some of the Legends of South African Rock from the ‘70's and ‘80's, many of whom who are still around today, both recording and performing. -------------- Baxtop - ‘Jo Bangles’ Taken from: Work It Out (1979) Also available on: Larry Amos - Going Up More: http://www.rock.co.za/legends Classic blues-rock from 1979 (not to be confused with 'Mr Bojangles') featuring the duelling guitars of Larry Amos and Tim Parr (who later formed EllaMental with Heather Mac). Bassist Fuzzy Marcus and drummer Bruce Williams went on to form Tribe After Tribe with Robbi Robb. -------------- Raven - ‘Wheel Of Fortune’ Taken from: 7" single (1979). Unreleased on an album - due for possible release next year on the Piet Botha retrospective CD 'Gypsies and Ghosts' More: http://www.pietbotha.com 1979 Uriah Heep-style classic featuring Piet Botha on bass, Doc Barendse on guitars, Dino Salvatori on vocals, the late Derek Riley on drums and Gabi le Roux (renowned for his recent work with Mandoza and other Kwaito stars) on keyboards. Only ever released on a vinyl single from which this mp3 is taken. -------------- Robin Auld - ‘Babylon Calling’ Taken from: Zen Surfing in the 3rd World (1993) More: http://www.rock.co.za/legends Surfer boy Robin Auld started rocking in 1978 with the Lancaster Band alongside Brian Davidson from Freedom's Children. This reggae rock song is taken from his 1993 'Zen Surfing In The 3rd World' album. -------------- McCully Workshop - ‘Buccaneer’ Taken from: Buccaneer (1998) Original version available on: The Best Of SA Pop Vol 2 More: http://www.rock.co.za/mccullyworkshop A huge hit in 1978 for McCully Workshop featuring Mike and Tully McCullagh, Richard Black and Rupert Mellor, all legends in their own right as well. This SARIE Award-winning song was re-recorded in 1988 featuring Jethro Butow, and the version featured here was recorded in 1998 and features some additional guitarwork from Falling Mirror's Allan Faull. -------------- All Night Radio - ‘Bernadette’ Taken from: The Killing Floor (1986) Unreleased on CD, due for possible CD re-issue in 2004 More: http://www.stevelouw.com Big Sky's Steve Louw formed All Night Radio in 1984 with Rob Nagel (who went on to be a Blues Broer) and Nico Burger. 'Bernadette' is taken from their second album, 'The Killing Floor' (Nagel had left by this time) which has not yet been released on CD, so this is taken from the original vinyl. Legendary producer Kevin Shirley was the producer & engineer on this Bo Diddley-style blues-rocker. -------------- Brian Finch - ‘Orang Otang’ Taken from: Hero For Heroes (2002) More: http://www.rock.co.za/brianfinch Brian Finch has been around seemingly forever and in 2001 he re-recorded the classic Ramsay Mackay-composed song, 'Orang Otang', which was a hit for Hawk in 1972 and also recorded by Kenny Henson's Harambee, Margaret Singana and others. -------------- Julian Laxton - ‘Blue Water’ Taken from: The Julian Laxton Collection (1994) Originally released on: Celebration (1977) Also available on: The Best Of SA Pop Vol 2 1977 Disco-rock classic from Freedom's Children and Hawk guitarist Julian Laxton. He was also the producer for Suck, Otis Waygood, Stingray and Rabbitt amongst others. Trevor Rabin (ex-Rabbitt and Yes and now blockbuster soundtrack composer) played bass in Julian Laxton's band. Vocals by Eugene Havenga and drums by Kevin Kruger. Co-composed by the legendary SA Rock Hall of Fame inductee Patric van Blerk. -------------- Jack Hammer - ‘Russian And Chips’ (demo) Only currently available as an mp3 Live version available on 'Tassenberg 4' CD (see review below) More: http://www.rock.co.za/jackhammer A recent demo recording of a Freedom’s Children track from 1970, originally titled 'The Kid He Came From Nazareth' (or Hazareth as the censors would have us believe!). Jack Hammer was formed in 1984 out of Raven and Wildebeest by Piet Botha. Vocals on this version are by the young rock-legend-in-training Jonathan Martin. -------------- Wildebeest - ‘Bossies’ Taken from 'Horings Op Die Stoep' 4-track EP (1983) Not available on CD One of the first songs to combine Rock sounds with Afrikaans lyrics. This 1983 incarnation of Wildebeest featured Piet Botha on vocals & bass, Boet Farber on guitar & vocals and Freedom’s Children's Colin Pratley on wild drumming and even wilder vocals. "Bossies" is what happened to the Army guys after spending too much time in the bush during the Border War. -------------- MORE MP3's Browse around the SAmp3.com website for full mp3s and samplers from South Africa's Legends Of Rock, ie Bright Blue, Roger Lucey, Off The Edge, Radio Rats, Alpha Set, Falling Mirror, EllaMental, Sweatband and more... ROCK'S FAMILY TREES See the roots and branches of most of the artists listed above on The Freedom’s Children Family Tree http://www.rock.co.za/familytrees and visit The South African Legends Website http://www.rock.co.za/legends where SA's Rock Legends still live. RETROFRESH Benjy Mudie's offshoot of FreshMusic has released over 25 classic albums from the Legends Of SA Rock. Read more at http://www.freshmusic.co.za/retrofresh.htm --------------- 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 ----- AMABALA GOES COMPLETELY GLOBAL Amabala Records, the London-based South African record label, is pleased to announce that the international reception of their debut compilation album release, ‘Breathe Sunshine’, has been unbelievable! Launched in London in September 2003, ‘Breathe Sunshine’ has been collecting positive reviews and interest from all over the globe. Set up in an effort to prove that SA music is able to compete with the best of the world, Amabala are well on the way to meeting their goals. Since the launch of the album just two months ago, distribution deals have been secured in the following territories: USA, Germany, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Malaysia, Singapore, South Korea, Thailand and the Philippines. Further, agreements with Italy and the Benelux countries are under discussion. ‘Breathe Sunshine’ is distributed in South Africa through Smug Music, and is available at discerning CD stores and online at http://www.oneworld.co.za/index.cfm?bec=4321 For more interviews, review copies and information on Amabala records and Breathe Sunshine, contact: Dave Chislett thechiz@absamail.co.za 083 245 6412 -------------- GRANT NUSS’ ‘DIVERSITY’ GOING STRONG Cape Town singer-songwriter Grant Nuss has been receiving a lot of interest (and downloads!) for his album, ‘Diversity’, and the single, ‘Time To Change’. In a recent review in the Cape Argus, Paul Blom wrote: “ Notwithstanding the album title Grant Nuss does not stray very far from his set parameters. Having grown up on Elvis Presley and Frank Sinatra, Nuss thankfully does not try to emulate these icons. He finds himself in that Robin Auld-Steve Louw acoustic pop-rock realm. The easy listening, almost adult contemporary, commercial sound may seem middle-of the road to many, but it does fit into the broader spectrum. The Cape Town Street Level sound is prominent (half of it was recorded there and the rest at another Cape Town stalwart, Paris Studios). Nuss obviously keeps good company. The Usual's James Stewart assists with some backing vocals, with co-engineer (and Tait frontman) Chris Tait co-producing. While married and a father of three, Grant is holding on to his youth, letting it flow through his music." Grant Nuss will be performing at Artscape’s ‘Red Wine & Roses’ evenings, at Nino's [Alteatro] on Sunday evenings in December (7th,14th 15th December). The Show starts at 19h00 and ends at 21h00, and features Grant Nuss alongside Gary G and Derek Peter, and a few contemporary Artscape vocalists. Grant Nuss will be the only artist performing original material which will include three numbers taken from his album. The cost of ticket [R60 per head] includes dinner, a complimentary glass of wine. LISTEN to Grant Nuss mp3s at http://www.SAmp3.com/streetlevel.html -------------- DEREK GRIPPER - “BLOMDOORNS: 8 STRING SOLO GUITAR” [OPEN RECORD] The Cape in Lime.... By Mick Raubenheimer Derek Gripper is in love with the Cape, hell, we all are. But Derek Gripper is reeally in love. We are in love with the Cape because of her face (those contours.... those coy lips..), ours is an infatuation; Derek Gripper is haunted by her soul. 'Blomdoorns' (Open Record) is Derek Gripper's subtle gesture to those aspects of the Cape incommunicable to the grander sweep of capitalist reality, casual experience... a wink to its intimate history, its secret languages. Ghoema? As such 'Blomdoorns' speaks to the Cape herself, and to her intimates: Performed in its entirety on (dialectically specified) guitar 'Blomdoorns' celebrates a hybrid of musical styles unique to the Cape (termed 'vastrap' by the artist). Sub-consciously conceived in Sweden (Derek's attempt to escape SA's then overpowering censorship of artistic creativity..), 'Blomdoorns' is the Cape's hidden beauty haunting Mr Gripper wherever the globe finds him: the liner notes describe him arrived in this relative utopia of artistic freedom (Sweden) only to inexplicably strum out line after line of ghoema/vastrap-inspired music. Listening to 'Blomdoorns' is being granted a moment of very intimate discourse, a glimpse of secret audio-emotional imagery. Fittingly the entire album follows this sincere hush of tone - the songs are simple, modest and touching, a gifted artist incorporating his multiplicity of influences into the spotlit dialect, distilling all into the fitting frame of a single acoustic guitar. Recorded in under two hours the songs spill into each other, a meditation coloured by interweaving tales and recollections, emotions. A beauty of understatement, 'Blomdoorns' is a soundtrack for all lovers of jazz, folk, acoustic guitar and scenic afternoons. The 5th release by the ever-surprising Open Record, 'Blomdoorns' also features Alex Van Heerden and a very special custom-made 8-string guitar. Take a peek. [MR] -------------- SPOTLIGHT ON: KALLITZ New Cape Town Hip Hop sensation Kallitz (pronounced "Coloureds") hail from Belville South and are ready to take the lead in Afrikaans rap, which is in desperate need of new blood. Kallitz are Boere and Skelm, who formed the group in 1998, backed up by their producer Dokter, who throws in the occasional rhyme himself. Their musical background is sound. Boere plays the piano, boasts a classical music background, won the award for “Most Creative Composer" at his music school in 1999 and was also rated "student with the highest potential musical ear". Skelm studied sound engineering at the Cape Audio College and has been writing music since Grade 8. Dokter passed his sound engineering diploma with 93% and holds both a MCSD and a MBChB from the University of Stellenbosch. After gigging at various school concerts and carnivals they started to produce their own tracks at Dokter's studio in Belville South and presented them to, among others, africasgateway.com. This exposure got them a telephone call from Mel.Vent Communications, who also have "Best Hip Hop Album of the Year" nominees KGB on their books. Mel.Vent Communications offered them a management contract and exposure for Kallitz has grown ever since they decided to sign two months ago. At the MFM Pool Party in Stellenbosch they virtually brought the house down, followed by club gigs in, among others, Peter's Cellars in Paarl. Their first big Cape Town gig was at the Cape Town Festival's Night Vision event, where they played on the SAB Gig Rig. New World Inc., the event management company who organised Night Vision were impressed and called Kallitz' performance a "highlight" of the festival and the co-operation with the group "an absolute pleasure". This kick-start is followed by a "Kallitz month" at Mercury Lounge during April 2003, which already got the attention of eTV's Heita and CPT radio stations GHFM. Kallitz are gigging extensively to promote their up-coming debut album, which will be released early in 2004. This makes their time schedule extremely hectic, since they do have "9 to 5" jobs, play gigs and are in the studio. Kallitz' debut album will be released on Mothermix Records and, after announcing a policy of selling CD's at a price people can afford, the record company has started another "South Africa First" by marketing the album prior to its release. Until 31 December 2003, fans can pre-order Kallitz' debut album for the special pre-release price of R57 (inclusive of package and posting) from Mothermix Distribution, 8 Mamre Street, 7646 Paarl (phone&fax 021 - 872 30 60) Get more information on Kallitz and The Mothermix Group from: www.themothermixgroup.com or email alex@themothermixgroup.com -------------- CLASSIC SA ALBUMS: LITHIUM - ‘ZENNON SUPERTROOPER’ One of the hardest-working and most focused (and most missed!!) of the premier mid-nineties SA hard rock bands was Lithium. The four band members were Simon Portlock (drums), Ian Watson (guitar), Dave Owens (vocals and guitar) and Paul Opie (a mean and stalking bass). Their very strong first album, ‘Broken’, received a lot of support from the very loyal and quickly growing Lithium supporters club but very little from their record company. So these warriors battled their way out of a bad “Major” deal and decided to release their next album independently. You always work that little bit harder when it’s your own money, so to speak. Lithium grew up and put a lot of time and thought into the 17 songs they wrote for 1997’s ‘Zennon Supertrooper’, their second album, recorded and mixed at Paris Studios by Paris Lucas. The band then continued with their usual hectic live schedule and gigged around the country and at all the festivals to promote the new album. So ‘Zennon Supertrooper’ was second album time for Lithium and the boys went out and reinvented themselves. Moving on from the hard rock of first album, ‘Broken’, Lithium went for a more varied and textured approach. The monochromatic 4AD feel of the cover and inner sleeve design, and the sound and production of ‘Zennon Supertrooper’, was a strong nod toward ‘90’s band, The Pixies. The band flexed that Pixies-type musical muscle early in the album on songs like ‘Stampede Stanley’ and ‘Bogey’; but everything then calmed down towards the middle of the album where new ideas began to wave their heads amidst the taut and tight rock roots. There are some of those moments on ‘Zennon Supertrooper’ on both the harder songs like ‘Impending’ and ‘Alice’ and the softer stuff like ‘Innocence’ (the single), ‘Leafcatch’ and the lovely ‘Planet Nowhere’. On ‘Zennon Supertrooper’, the four band members worked hard and played hard and no one let the side down. Dave Owens’ vocals were as powerful as ever, yet were adapted with sensitivity to the less heavy stuff and also to the more expressive lyrics that Lithium seemed to be writing. Overall though, ‘Zennon Supertrooper’ was a brave and ultimately successful gamble by Lithium on their own talent and instincts. Lithium are no longer around, in band form, but still have many old and even new fans, all searching for copies of this excellent album. Maybe a reissue would be worthy here Mr Mudie?? ‘Zennon Supertrooper’ tracklisting: Albino-Anaconda, Stampede Stanley, Bogey, Impending, Innocence, Alice, On Air, Grinn, Leafcatcher, Emilio, The Last Ones, Dry Cell, Planet Nowhere, Pete’s Chariot, Dear Neighbour, Save Me, Green Scooter [DS] -------------- 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. LIESL GRAHAM Cape Town seems to be bringing several great female artists to the fore these days, think Cofield Mundi, Luna and Liesl Graham. Liesl Graham is a Cape Town solo pop rock artist with a smooth voice and stunning eyes. As happens with most artists, Liesl has not been in music fulltime -- she started out studying politics, art and psychology at UCT, but soon left to go to Johannesburg where she started a band and discovered that she wanted to pursue a music career. She hooked up with Andy Innes (who worked with Johnny Clegg). From there Liesl released an album which led to her being signed with Gallo Records. Her favourite gig was the Gaffenberg Festival in Germany where the crowds gave her a standing ovation about 2 years ago. Her CD was sold out even before the sound check was done! Her favourite SA venues include Bassline and the Blues Room in Sandton, she is still "discovering" her favourite Cape Town venue. Liesl’s favourite song on her album would be "Much Too Late" because it holds special meaning for her. It was written about a friend who died in the 9/11 attacks. It's a passionate song. Another of her fave songs is Weather Man, and to quote Liesl it's got a "Cape Town twist to it with a Samba rock sound". Her song ‘All Roads’ also did well for her and people enjoy singing along and participating with her when she performs live. Her gigs at the Independent Armchair Theatre went extremely well, especially considering that some were on Monday nights, which is usually a slow night for live performances. Liesl has just finished a hectic set of gigs around the Cape Town area, but you still have a chance to see her play at Stones (on Long Street) in Cape Town on the 18th of December. More gigs around Cape Town are being planned, so watch her website for details. Liesl is focused on getting her music into the international market (particularly the States) where her open voice and guitar-based acoustic rock should be well received -- she already has an agent and entertainment lawyer negotiating with labels there. She did say, however, that she won't desert SA as she feels this is her home and where her loyalties lie. Her backing band is made up of Timothy Feeder on guitar, Russel King on electric guitar, James Rock on drums and Manne Efinda on bass. There are clips of her MP3's and other snippets of news on her website:http://www.lieslgraham.co.za LAD -------------- If you're in an SA Band or are an 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 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. 'TASSENBERG 4 - VARIOUS’ [TRIPPY GRAPE RECORDS - TRIP 017/BOWCD 014] Any CD that begins with a git-out-of-your-chair 'Russian and Chips' by Jack Hammer can't be all bad. And this CD is almost all fine--the couple of songs in styles not to my taste are nonetheless eminently listenable. But after the three strong openers, Jack Hammer, Valiant Swart, and Gian Groen en Spinnekop, before we even get to Sons of Trout, I'm already enjoying this CD immensely. Rollicking contributions by Valiant Swart and Anton Goosen, and the usual excellence by Frosted Orange. Heavy blues version of Piet's 'Suitcase Vol Winter', by Piet Botha en Jack Hammer. In fact, the general tenor, or main chord, of this CD seems to be lively--no tired tunes here; enjoy 'Tassenberg 4' as the soundtrack of a fun braai. Akkedis, Delta Blue, and The Boulevard Blues Band make up the middle stretch of the CD and groove us along nicely. I tell you what, like we say here, in a time when US pop radio is leaving me cold, this CD's appearance in my mailbox was a glad relief. Here we've got the Musos of Tassenberg from previous CDs making another welcome appearance, and a bunch of hot first-timers, newer bands, dropping in and sharing their best chops. Mostly relegated to the end of the CD are the FNGs. The Rudimentals, Afrotone, Flowerheads, Diff-Olie, African Rhythm Travellers, and Golliwog turn in performances no less rocking or worthy than the veterans' contributions. I've not heard Tassenberg #3, but know 1 and 2 well. The biggest difference in #4 is there are fewer songs in Afrikaans here, and a couple of excellent but decidedly un-Afrikaans songs closing the disc. The accent on English doesn't make a difference to me, and broadens the market for those to whom it does make a difference. If all of these tracks are live, then audience participation is so minimal as to be almost non-existent. No matter, this audience in Texas enjoys them, and won't whistle piercingly during the sensitive bits. The Tassenberg series started after the 5FM series of comps, but Tassenberg is now one ahead. I think it should be a competition. We all could only be the winners. This series is worth having for the chronicle of the times it presents, the mix of styles, and, best of all, because the music is so fun to listen to. READ http://www.pietbotha.com/tassenberg4.html LISTEN http://www.SAmp3.com/tassenberg.html BUY http://www.oneworld.co.za/index.cfm?bec=4321&searchfor=tassenberg 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: ‘SOUL OU’ - JAMES PHILLIPS In the June before he went off to perform at the Grahamstown Festival in 1991, James Phillips sat in Shifty Records studio practising some tunes for the upcoming festival. Fortunately for us, Lloyd Ross was on hand to get these rehearsals down on tape. Although this would not be the Festival that would end in tragedy (that was four years later), these recordings would become James' last album. As these tracks were essentially just practice runs, it is just James accompanied either by piano or acoustic guitar. The effect is quite startling and stark, leaving the songs feeling naked and exposed. Yet despite this, the power of the lyrics, Phillips' impassioned vocals and the uncomplicated instrumentation suck you into that 1991 studio and leave you mesmerised. Songs like the poignant 'Africa is Dying' and 'Sages' have the political edge that we are used to from James. These are contrasted against the beautiful love song 'You Light Me A Light'. There is also a profoundly religious theme running through a number of songs. 'Where Will You Be' asks 'Where will you be when the saviour comes, will you be on your knees or behind a gun'. Compare that to 'When the law breaks in, how you gonna come, with your hands on your head or on the trigger of your gun.' James Phillips has never been renowned for having a brilliant singing voice, yet on these 11 gems, his voice is at its emotion-packed, tuneful and soulful best. He injects meaning into every word and sound. It is difficult to say what stands out the most on the album, the raw, naked instrumentation, the delicately beautiful vocals, or the sheer emotion in the lyrics. It's really the synergy of the 3 that make this album not only a great album, but also an essential one for any music lover. Although these sessions were not originally intended for release, they make a worthy final album for one of SA’s greatest talents. It has spawned at least 2 cover versions (Vusi Mahlasela's 'Africa is Dying' and Not The Midnight Mass' 'You Light Me A Light') which says a lot about this quintessential album from one of South Africa's greatest talents. John Samson, London mailto:john@sarockdigest.com READ http://www.rock.co.za/files/james_phillips.html BUY http://www.oneworld.co.za/index.cfm?bec=4321&searchfor=phillips _________________________________________ 6.HISTORY & TRIVIA -------------------- SPRINGBOK RADIO CHARTS http://www.cd.co.za/charts This week [Last week] Title - Artist 30 YEARS AGO (23 November 1973) 1 [1] Heaven Is My Woman’s Love - Tommy Overstreet 2 [2] Do You Love Me - Geli & Billy 3 [5] Funny Face - Barbara Ray 4 [4] Baby Blue - George Baker Selection 5 [3] I Wanna Live - Tommy Oliver 25 YEARS AGO (24 November 1978) 1 [4] Kiss You All Over - Exile 2 [1] Dancing In The City - Marshall & Haine 3 [11] Break It To Them Gently - Burton Cummings 4 [3] No Hollywood Movie - Lesley Hamilton 5 [9] One For You, One For Me - La Vionda 20 YEARS AGO (25 November 1983) 1 [1] The Safety Dance - Men Without Hats 2 [2] Love Is A Stranger - Eurythmics 3 [4] Tell Her About It - Billy Joel 4 [5] Milk From The Coconuts - Toto Ceolo 5 [6] Shadows - éVoid 15 YEARS AGO (24 November 1988) 1 [4] The Locomotion - Kylie Minogue 2 [1] The Race - Yello 3 [5] Forever Young - Rod Stewart 4 [9] Domino Dancing - Pet Shop Boys 5 [2] Nothing's Going To Change My Love For You - Glenn Mederios http://www.cd.co.za/charts ------------- CHART CHAT ------------- 1973 saw Tommy Overstreet keeping Geli & Billy off the top spot for a second week running. It was Tommy's 4th week at the top. Barbara Ray moved up a couple of places to bring local support to 'Do You Love Me', but Tommy Oliver was unable to maintain his upward trend as he dropped 2 places. Marshall Hain's 3 week stint at the top was broken by Exile in 1978 as their 'Kiss Me All Over' jumped from 4 to 1. Burton Cummings meanwhile was making huge strides towards the top as he jumped from 11 to 3. Cummings had been the lead singer in The Guess Who which also featured members of Bachman Turner Overdrive. Men Without Hats enjoyed their 4th week at the top while the Eurythmics were frustrated for the 3rd week running. More importantly, a South African classic entered the top 5. The Windrich Brothers’ 'Shadows' had remained a firm favourite and rightly so. It was not often that such quality SA songs made the top 5 let alone the top 20, so there was much to be happy about this week in 1983. Kylie had spent 7 weeks at number 1 earlier in 1988 with 'I Should Be So Lucky'. 'The Locomotion' emulated her earlier success by jumping to the top, knocking Swiss weirdos Yello off after only 1 week. The Pet Shop Boys enjoyed their 6th top 20 hit and 4th top 5 hit with 'Domino Dancing'. Described as “The Smiths you can dance to”, The PSB spent a total of 100 weeks on the SA charts. South Africans at number 1 this week: Mammy Blue - Charisma (1971) Man On The Moon - Ballyhoo (1980) South African New Entries this week: 24-Nov-72 Lovely Lorraine - William E. (aka Billy Forrest) 24-Nov-72 I Need Your Love - Letta Mbulu 26-Nov-65 Hungry For Love - A-Cads 26-Nov-71 Mexico - Dave Mills 26-Nov-76 Our Sweet Precious Love - Billy Forrest 27-Nov-70 Zanzibar - Wanda Arletti 27-Nov-70 Green Mamba - Tidal Wave 28-Nov-75 Don Junior - Bobby Angel 28-Nov-75 Bouncy, Bouncy, Bounce - Lionel Petersen 28-Nov-75 The Last One To Touch Me - Barbara Ray 29-Nov-80 Shine On - Spirits Rejoice John Samson ----------- BIRTHDAYS ----------- December: 5 Geoff St John (born Geoffrey Jacobs, 1951) 12 Mike de Jager (1958) 16 Duncan Faure (1957) 27 Gene Rockwell (1944, born Gert Smit, died 3 July 1998) 30 Dickie Loader (1945) ______________________________________________ 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! --------------- OLD CAPE POP Hi, Please can you tell me about other Cape Town groups like Pacific Express, Poison, and a few more in that time span like Richard Jon Smith and Jonathan Butler. Bradley Canada Mailto:bradreddy@yahoo.com -------------- TABS.CO.ZA Hi, I really love BLK Sonshine's music. Sometimes, few and far between, you hear a song that immediately rocks your world, or peels your banana, or fuels your rocket, etc. ‘Born in a taxi’ is one of those songs. Where can I get tabs for BLK Sonshine music? Please help! Jansie Mailto:jansie01@mweb.co.za Ed. - http://www.tabs.co.za -------------- HIYA! Hi, I was wondering if there is any chance of finding 'Ipi ‘N Tombia', (The Warrior) featuring Margaret Singana on a CD. Corinna Lang Mailto:risadinha@gmx.de Ed. - Yep, right here... http://www.oneworld.co.za/index.cfm?bec=4321&id=cdred676 -------------- OLD RHODIE WRITES Hi, Thanks for the really great news letter, sent on to me from a good friend who is sooo high on your site. I’m an ex Rhodesian 'Rocker’, I was born 1953 in Gwelo and lived there (and in numerous other Central African States) until 20 years ago, I obviously miss some of the old groups of my era and would like to know if any of them, or members of them, are still rockin’. I spent most my 'childhood' (emphasis on the 'hood' part) Xmas holidays here in Cape Town and going to gigs like the Electric Circus and the Rotunda where The Bats and The Dealians were big groups as were Omega LTD. Also saw The Flames in action in Durb's. In Salisbury I spent many 'vrot’ nights in Le cock dore (spelling?) where I saw many SA bands and a few Rhodie groups like Peanut Butter Conspiracy and so forth. I sometimes played a bit at Beverly Rocks Motel and attended a few 'Folk' evenings with Clem Tholet, who now resides in Fish Hoek. He is the ex Rhodesian PM's son in law. I hope you will be able to assist me with some info on old Rhodie groups and until then, hang loose and stay cool - (how's that for a bit of ‘60's verbing)? Ciao, Mike Mays Mailto:mays@mweb.co.za Ed. - Thanks for the trip down Memory Lane... visit this website for stacks of info... http://www.bedrockband.com/rhodiemusic/index.html -------------- WHICH SPANIARD? Hi, Is there any way I can get Lesley Rae Dowling’s ‘The Spaniard’? Do u know any websites where I can download the full song? Thanks, Tienie Malan Mailto:blairwitch100@hotmail.com Ed. - not sure about an mp3 but it is available on the excellent Lesley Rae Dowling retrospective CD 'Conspirare' from One World http://www.oneworld.co.za/index.cfm?bec=4321&id=freshcd110 -------------- NOW WHAT IS THIS OU ON ABOUT????? Dear Sir or Madam, The BEST ever SA concert occurred at Ellis Park Stadium in ‘85 i.e. the Operation Hunger Concert in the Park. Maybe you were too young to go but over 100,000 people did go and I was there with my whole family and a black Zulu mate from the south coast called Jackson who has since died of Aids. We were there from 9am till 11pm and the crowning glory was Juluka arriving on stage - late, out of key, but no one gave a damn. I object to you trying to re-write history for the sake of political correctness. Yours with fealing (sic) R Pieles "RG & DP Pieles" Mailto:andy@vonpiel.freeserve.co.uk Ed. The 1985 'Concert In The Park' was great, we agree, but we have no idea what you are talking about or referring to....??? READ http://www.rock.co.za/files/concert_in_the_park.html -------------- US GIG SITES?? Hi Guys... Thanks for the bril info every Monday! Absolutely useful... especially for the local gigs! :-) My friend's heading for the States and UK ... (29th Nov... to around 20th Dec) ... and I'd like to know which site would be the most useful to search for gig dates... for different towns in both the States and UK... Any ideas please? I'd appreciate your reply at the soonest. Thanks and keep up the good work! salma Mailto:sfoods@netactive.co.za -------------- NAME THAT ARTIST! Hi, I was listening to an interview with a South African singer-songwriter some weeks ago and I lost the paper I had written his name on. I do remember that he had a new (perhaps his first) CD coming out this fall. It had a one-word title. He wrote all of the songs and they cover the period under apartheid until the present. Can you help me? Thank you, Lane Benet, CT, USA Mailto:CMBenet@aol.com -------------- A LETTER FROM PORTUGAL Hi, My name is Jon, and I'm 39 years old. I was raised in Durban, where I lived until I was 22. I am now living in Portugal but forever miss S.A. One of my passions in life is music, and this is the reason I'm asking for help. When I came over in 1987 I brought all my goods over on ship including lots of LPs. However a box of LPs went missing where I had some irreplaceable S.A. artists. I was hoping that someone would be kind enough to help me out. I do a radio show here in Portugal and it would be nice to be able to share some of this great music with people that have never heard it. Here is a list of what I'd like to get hold of : Rabbitt - "Boys Will Be Boys", "A Croak And A Grunt In The Night" and "Rock Rabbitt"; Ballyhoo - "Man On The Moon"; Stingray - "Best Of Stingray"; Dog Detachment - "Young Days" (Single), "Barriers" (LP) (This was released after I left but would love to have it as I really love this band). When are the South African record companies going to wake up and release these and so many other great S.A. albums from the past on CD!!!?? In other countries they are proud of their local music and artists and most older music has been released on CD, after all its part of our history and culture, so what are they waiting for in S.A.? I sure hope somebody can help me out, I'd really appreciate it. Please contact me at classicosdorock@clix.pt Thanks a lot, and keep up the good work! Jon (Joao Tavares) Mailto:Classicosdorock@clix.pt Ed. You will find info on all those classic SA pop-rock albums at http://www.rock.co.za/legends and you can buy some of them at http://www.oneworld.co.za/index.cfm?bec=4321 For some strange reason the 2 classic Rabbitt albums have never been re-released on CD, even though they went gold in SA and featured both Trevor Rabin and Duncan Faure. READ http://www.rock.co.za/files/rabbitt_index.html -------------- ALL A QUIVER Hi there, When I grew up in 70's & 80's there was a band called The Arrows - is it possible to get it on CD or tape? I’m deeply looking for it, please help me find one. I am also looking for The Hurricanes.... With thanks, Lesego Mailto:Templeton.Molawa@kumbaresources.com Ed. The Arrows had a reasonable hit with 'Touch Too Much' in 1974 and were the first band to record Chinn & Chapman's 'I Love Rock 'n Roll' (a b-side in 1975) before Joan Jett made it a hit in 1982 and then Britney Spears screwed it up totally. -------------- SEX IN SONGS! Y’ello SARD, Thanks for filling me in on Lady D’Arbanville. Anybody remember her as an actress, I don’t! Thanks too for reminding me of Patti Boyd - Harrison - Clapton! Jingers she was really beautiful. (The schoolgirl in A Hard Days Night! Do I hear some of you saying, ‘Aaaaah yes of course!’) This week my thoughts have turned to groups with risqué names, songs that are equally blue and a little rock trivia, like who were The Nobs? Let’s kick off with the group, The Lovin’ Spoonful. Hits with 'Daydream' and 'Summer In The City' in ’66, boasted that their name referred to the end result of a guy’s passion! (Hey Ed. Buzz-off! You try putting this euphemistically!) 10cc took it one step further by telling you exactly how many CCs you might expect to find in that spoonful! 10cc had numerous hits. 'Dreadlock Holiday', 'I’m Not In Love', 'I’m Mandy Fly Me'. As an aside thought. Other than 10cc and Fleetwood Mac, are there any other groups that can boast such musical diversity as there is between 10cc’s 'Dreadlock Holiday' and their 'I’m Not In Love' and FM’s 'Albatross' and 'Tell Me Lies'. Yes, yes, I know about the change of artists, but are there any other groups who kept their name, but changed everything else? Ek vra maar net! Moving on: The Who were very risky with their 'Pictures Of Lily', an ode to masturbation. Not to be outdone The Vapors did their 'Turning Japanese' in 1980! Never being one to spoon-feed, I’ll leave you to guess which of Cyndi Lauper’s hits was also an ode to masturbation! Ja neef, the girls do it too! I recently had a heated discussion about the group Three Dog Night - The opinion expressed was that the name referred to how cold the nights are in the Arctic. This fellow told me that it meant that a guy would have to bed three dogs - the derogatory term for an unpretty lady - before he’d be able to warm up! Sorry bro, even though you were right in saying that the name referred to a cold night, the bit about the bints was wrong! Huskies, the sledge dogs, or more correctly Malamutes, are by nature loners. However, when the weather gets particularly cold, it has been known for two dogs to curl up together, just to keep warm. This is known as a Two Dog Night! On extremely rare occasions, it gets cold enough for three to curl up. A Three Dog Night! Yep! Jeremiah Was A Bullfrog! Here’s one for the kenners of rock. What group became The Nobs? In February ’70, while on tour in Copenhagen, Led Zeppelin were forced to use the pseudonym The Nobs because Eva Von Zeppelin objected to the group using her family name! (Was this the start of 'Snoopy versus The Red Baron'?) While on the subject of Zep: Did any of you know that a concert was cancelled in Singapore because of objections to the length of the group’s hair?! Ja-nee, believe me, also in 1970! Finally, I’m trying to find out about Creedence’s songs. Apparently most of their songs are politically motivated. 'Bad Moon Rising' - Didn’t this have something to do with Richard Nixon? 'Proud Mary'... I dunno! Let me know, if you do! Chris. chris.boyle@oribi.co.za -------------- A REPLY TO JOHNNY Howzit agên youse ous, Aye jus fawt uv wun faw Johnny in Boxburg, nay while aye wuz tjooning use ous ‘bout odes. An ode to a Dingleberry? Ja man, Vanilla Fudge’s - 'You Keep Me Hanging On'! Tjeers, Chris. -------------- THE BYRDS SA TOUR Hi there The Byrds undertook a short tour of SA during July 1968. Anyone out there who were at any of the shows who can share some of their memories? I was also wondering where in SA they performed and how many shows they did. According to the sleevenotes from The Byrds' ‘Sweetheart Of The Radio’ (Um, that’s Rodeo...! - Ed.) release, their original contracts for the tour stipulated that the group was to play for integrated audiences. During the tour The Byrds were openly critical of the SA government, which led to death threats. Subsequently they were never paid for their performances. Thanks, Ben Badenhorst Maiuto:springbok@nme.com -------------- HAVE YOU GOT A VIDJO? Hi, I need to find out how many bands/acts/groups in South Africa have vaguely presentable music videos for a possible TV program. Please contact afrocanvas at Mailto:info@afrocanvas.com Thank you Regards galen Mailto:info@afrocanvas.com -------------- CD IN SA ON THE BBC Hi, Just seen a piece on Top Of The Pops on BBC1 that showed Craig David in South Africa. He talked a bit about the Kwaito scene and we were shown a short extract of a guy called Ryan Domo doing his Kwaito thing in Langa Township. After that there was a short clip of David performing 'You Don't Miss Your Water' presumably at one of his Cape Town Gigs. Cheers Jan -------------- QUESTION OF THE WEEK! Hi I recently travelled to SA and heard a song being played in clubs which I liked but don’t know the name of - it’s a dance record - any ideas - and do you have a list of current top 40? jim all jimal50@hotmail.com Ed. - You cannot be serious? This is called Sound Solutions not “Find That Track” with Uri Geller! -------------- MR WHO???? HI, I remember in the ‘60's I had a 45 rpm single by a singer who wore a mask. He was only known on the single as Mr. Who I can not remember the name of the single. Could you please assist in his whereabouts today or anything about him, if you have any info. I do believe that he was a South African singer Thanks! Charles Badenhorst charlie@icon.co.za -------------- YOU'VE GOT TO BE KIDDING Howzit The other day I checked a Seedy by that Cucumber's Who what said 'Child Inside' on the box. Firstly is that like legal and (b) how did they find such small lighties. 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 -------------- MABU VINYL & CD Cape Town's finest vinyl store is now at the Top of Long Street. At No. 2 Kloof Street - diagonally opposite the Long Street Baths. Visit our new Sale CD stall on the Piazza in front of our shop. The Dealians - ‘Look Out! ...Here Come The Dealians’ (LP) The Dealians - ‘Dance To The Dealians’ (LP) Finch And Henson - ‘At Home In The Dark’ (LP) Richard Jon Smith - ‘Superstar Smith’ (LP) Bobby Angel - ‘Rockin’, Swingin’, Twistin’’ (LP) The Diamonds - On Tour (LP) Please contact: Jacques Vosloo - 082 534 6006 mailto: vinyl@sarockdigest.com -------------- VIBES VINYL Stadium-on-Main, Main Road, Claremont This week's specials: Paddy Edwards - 'Paddy Edwards at Tiffany's' (LP) Ella Mental - 'Uncomplicated Dreams' (LP) Maureen Moore - 'Moon Love’ (LP) Margaret Singana - 'Nomvula' (LP) Sweatband - 'No Sweat' (LP) Una Valli - 'Teenage Sensation' (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 Gemm and Netsounds: http://www.vibesvinyl.gemm.com and http://www.netsounds.com/vibesvinyl --------------- 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: SEETHER - All the details of Seether's return tour to South Africa - dates and venues. SOUL PROXY - Soul Proxy will be touring South Africa in December together with Seether (formerly: Saron Gas) as part of a promotional tour of the country. LIQUID SKY - Catch Cape Town's exciting new band on December 4 at Stones (21 Long Street) - 10Pm/R20 GUY BUTTERY - After blowing away audiences in and around Cape Town in July earlier this year, Guy Buttery will be returning to the Cape in December for 8 shows BENJAMIN'S FATHER - The European singer/songwriter will be touring South Africa in December and early January. SOULJA - some upcoming gigs from the Cape Town hard rockers including their 'Gunslut' debut album launch at Stones, Long Street in Cape Town on Thurs 11 December ZEN ARCADE - Saturday 6 December is Zen Arcade's last Jozi date for 2003 - Zen Arcade and Cutting Jade will be appearing in an awesome live double bill at Roxy's, Melville. SOWETO STRING QUARTET - Look out for these upcoming free live concerts from the SSQ who will be performing material off 'Our World’ as well as favourites off their previous smash albums. THE SOVEREIGN ANNEXATION TOUR - featuring bands like Prime Circle, Marlowe, The Finkelstiens, Killjoy, and Ghomez the Geek, in a club near you this December THE 'SUMMER VIBES' TOUR - Kelly Rowland and Ludacris will be performing in South Africa (JHB, Durban and Cape Town) as part of the 'Summer Vibes' series of concerts taking place from December 12-16. WITCHFEST - The first in an annual festival of extreme bands from around the country. With guest DJ and MC, Barney Simon - 6th December 2003, Sting Nightclub, Midrand GRANT NUSS - the Cape Town singer-songwriter will performing at Artscape’s 'Red Wine & Roses' evenings, at Nino's [Alteatro] on Sunday evenings in December (7th,14th and 15th December) STATE FAR BETTER - State Far Better will be relocating to Johannesburg in early-2004 to begin recording their debut album. The popular Cape Town band will first complete their December national tour before entering the studio to start working on the album, which should be on our shelves by June. SERVING SUGGESTION - the Cape Town band are off on their 'Whistle Stop' Tour of SA. DELTA BLUE - The SA blues band, currently enjoying success with their 'Inbluesstation' CD and 'Milk Cow Blues' single, are taking themselves on a national tour to Gauteng and then around the Garden Route. NORTH SEA JAZZ FESTIVAL-CAPE TOWN 2004 - The Festival 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 (April) to previous years, but only for the 2004 event. SAVANNA UP THE CREEK 2004 - The popular Festival will again take place from the 6th to the 8th February on the banks of the beautiful Breede River, near Swellendam. SOIL 7t7 - The Soil 7t7 Summer Tour will cover KZN (21 Nov - 7 Dec) and they'll then be on the Cape Coast from about the 14th of Dec till New Year! '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. SUGAR BUSH FESTIVAL 2003 - Thursday 18 December - Sunday 21 December in KwaZulu Natal SEMISANE - South Africa's premier pop/rock band returns with new material, and new lead singer Holly Rose. A nation wide tour is planned for November/December UPCOMING INTERNATIONAL ARTISTS IN SA: RONAN KEATING - 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. -------------- THE AMAZING DISAS-TOUR KICKS OFF Breath Of Fresh Air presents the first stop on the national Amazing DisasTour tour at The Nile Crocodile (Pretoria) on Friday the 5th of Dec 2003 with ATFN (original metal punk), Mr Smug (pop punk from Durban), The SlashDogs (Monster Rock-n-Roll), and The Watermark High (one-man emo-core) This show promises to be one hell of a humdinger with the evening starting off with some relaxed emo-guitar from The Watermark High (guitarist from popular punk band Pet Flyz side project). Then all hell is going to break loose when the Monster Rock-n-Rollers The SlashDogs hit the stage with their brand new singer Ryan "Lucky" Seven who has just recently been released from Johannesburg’s infamous prison. Pop punkers alike will fall in love with Durban’s best, Mr Smug. This is Pretoria’s chance to see what Durban punk is all about. Then, to end the evening off on the highest of highs, catch ATFN as they show you what real guitar-driven music is all about. For more information visit the following web sites: (www.bofa.8k.com) (www.atfn.co.za) (www.slashdogs.za.net) Andrew @ BOFA Tour Booking & Management bofa@webmail.co.za / croakroom@iafrica.com www.bofa.8k.com -------------- A MONTH OF SUNDAYS WITH HEATHER MAC AND AYALA KATZ Teddy boys, mop tops, Jackie mag, Dusty Springfield, minis, hipsters and Mary Quant. Feminism, winklepickers, Dionne Warwick, Vespas, Twiggy and quiffs. This was the Pop generation; visual, a combination of dress, attitude and music. These were the Golden Years, the swinging Sixties. For a “Month of Sundays”, Heather Mac and Ayala Katz will be performing a selection of songs that inspired them as kids. They will be joined by musicians Brydon Bolton on double bass, Sheldon Thomas on piano and Mark Harris on guitar. Expect a feast of fashion and fab sounds at L/B’s, a permanent art-installation of Swiss artist duo Lang/Baumann specially designed for the Jo’burg Bar in Cape Town. Performances every Sunday night in December [7/14/21/28] Show starts at 9.00pm. Doors open at 8.00. Bookings: Phone 021 422 0142 from 9am daily. L/B’s upstairs at Jo’burg Bar, 1st Floor 222 Long Street Cape Town www.lb-lounge.co.za Entrance: R50 -------------- WRENCH PRODUCTIONS PRESENT: THE KIDDIE FIDDLERS CD LAUNCH Sat 6 December - The Bohemian Wrench Productions thought that it would only be fair to provide you, the show go-er, with adequate warning concerning their upcoming event at the Bohemian in Richmond. With a fantastic track record so far in organising local shows, this one will undoubtedly be an amazing night. With some of South Africa's best bands performing - such as Crossing Point (Hardcore from Durban), Mr Smug (also from Durban), Two Strikes Against (arguably Jhb's best new punk band) and the Kiddie Fiddlers (Misfits/slayer/punk blend with deliciously crude lyrics) - the stage is set for a memorable evening. The previous show, organised by the fellows from Wrench, at the Bohemian was packed tighter than a fire extinguisher and received impressive reviews and, with such an incredible line-up, the turnout for this show is expected to be even more impressive. To add to that, Crossing Point haven't played in JHB for years now, and those that have seen them play live will know that it is a show not to be missed. The Kiddie Fiddlers will also be launching their debut CD, which promises to be very much worth your hard-earned rands. R20 will get you in, doors open at eight. If you have any queries please contact Wrench at:mailto:wrenchproductions@hotmail.com or on 082-580-0707. www.wrenchproductions.co.za -------- SA PUNK -------- By Daniel Neville, who is away on a trip to Australia till January! SA PUNK RECOMMENDED GIG GUIDE: CAPE TOWN - THE LEMON CONNECTION - Mon 1 Dec ( 9pm) Northen vs. Southern suburbs *Impropriety *Halfprice *-WAR-ON-SALT- CAPE TOWN - PINELANDS HIGH SCHOOL - Tue 2 Dec (R10, 7pm) Schools Out Show * Serving Suggestion * Skywire JHB - CARFAX - Fri 5 Dec (R40, 9pm) MAD CIRCLE * Ill Audio * Humphrey * Shifty * .crossing .point * Fuzigish. EAST LONDON - SETTLERS - Fri 5 Dec (R10,9pm) * Serving Suggestion * One Thousand Hours PRETORIA - NILE CROCODILE - Fri 5 Dec (R20, 9pm) The Amazing DisasTOUR *ATFN *Mr Smug *Gary Two Teeth and the Slashdogs *The Watermark High CAPE TOWN - MERCURY LIVE - Fri 5 Dec (R20) Fokofpolisiekar - Ep Launch Pre-sold tickets will be sold at: Mercury Live - Cape Town. Bassline Studio - Cape Town. SPF Skateboarding - Bellville. Superunknown Skateshop - Wellington. All Ages: 2pm. Over 18's:9pm GAUTENG - THE BOHEMIANS - Sat 6 Dec (R20,8pm) The Kiddie Fiddler CD launch. *The Kiddie Fiddlers. *Crossing Point. *Mr Smug. *2 Strikes Against. EAST LONDON - STIRLING PRIMARY SCHOOL - Sat 6 Dec (R20,7:30) Guilty of Conciousness 2 * The Finkelstiens * Serving Suggestion * One Thousand Hours BOKSBURG - TROTTERS - Mon 8 Dec (R20,9pm) The Amazing DisasTOUR *ATFN, *Mr Smug, *Gary Two Teeth and the Slashdogs, *The Stevie Wonderfuls See http://www.SAgigs.com for details and other SA Punk gigs. -------------- ----------- 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) MR - Mick Raubenheimer And others too numerous to mention, but gratefully acknowledged! 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