I am officially in heaven. My cat, however, may never be the same again. Which is probably not such a bad thing since she was pretty twisted to start off with. The vision of her beloved owner dancing around the lounge and singing to the TV at the top of my lungs may have finally sent her over the edge. But I have always wished there was a live Nudies DVD on the market and when it finally arrived at my local post office thanks to the kind people at Kalahari, I was there before they could even send me the slippy thing to tell me it had landed. Not even the torrential downpour was going to keep me away from this much coveted and anticipated item.
Springbok Nude Girls – Live at the Astoria was filmed, as the name suggests, at the famed London Astoria on 20th May this year. And it is a masterpiece. The set list is a perfect combination of old and new songs, and they are performed with characteristic style and energy. The show opens with the stomach-clenching, adrenalin-fuelling Gang Gang and it is evident right from the start that the boys mean business. There’s not too much in the way of fancy filming on this DVD – it’s straight up footage of an astonishingly good band performing before a capacity crowd of adoring fans. I had to watch it twice in a row and the only thing that prevented a third viewing was the thought of an early morning start and the cat crying piteously in the corner. She likes her routine that one. The live performance itself contains 19 songs, about 90 minutes of pure bliss for a fan like me. There is no denying that Theo Crous is a god on that stage and he wields his guitar with almost frightening ferocity. It’s also really great to note that in this recording, his vocals come out quite clearly and it adds an extra dimension to a stellar performance. There is a synergy amongst the members of this band which tells the tale of their many years together and creates an atmosphere on stage which even via the television, raised the little hairs on the back of my neck. There are moments when you watch a band and simply know that this is the way music should be performed, and this DVD is packed to overflowing with such moments. Something else which makes this one special is that for once Arno Carstens is quite chatty on stage and jokes and laughs with his audience. His performance is as always unparalleled and the aura which surrounded SNG when they smashed their way onto the SA music scene in the 90’s is back in full force. Arno C undulates those hips while delivering the voice that made him an SA brand, Theo whips his guitar and his hair into a rock n roll frenzy, Adriaan shows us yet again just how multi-talented he his and proves that men can multi-task, even breaking into an air-guitar on the trumpet moment, Arno B is as ever the calm in the eye of the storm while he grinds that bass, and Francois is a crazed drumming demon. And all the while, the London crowd, many of whom may arguably have been in SA when this phenomenon was born, are going absolutely berserk. This is the only complaint I have about an otherwise incredible DVD – the crowd are patently going off….and you can’t really hear them. There is nothing quite like hearing a massive crowd sing along with the band they love but the audio on this DVD does not really seem to allow it. Nonetheless, from the writhing mass of people and the wealth of outstretched hands, it’s evident that that this band could do no wrong in the eyes of their audience. And when they wrapped up with that old moshpit favourite Bubblegum on my Boots, sheer mayhem broke out. There was even a guy in the front who I think may be my soul mate….he looked the way I feel at SNG gigs….as if he had been transported to some otherwordly place that was quite simply all about the sound of the Nudies.
As if 19 outstanding songs weren’t enough, there are also a few extras on the DVD. Two music videos for tracks from the band’s latest album are included, namely for Fallen and Illuminate. The former was surrounded by some controversy because it features scantily clad strippers performing the song in the place of the Nudies – a tongue in cheek dig at the fact that the band’s name often inspires false hope in the unknowing. It’s a funny concept and it’s carried off well. Personally, I prefer the video for Illuminate and not just because there’s only so many times I want to watch a bunch of girls in g-strings gyrating around a pole (the boys may feel otherwise of course). The video shows SNG rocking out the way they do best, but in an eerily atmospheric old building. Not exactly a novel concept but it suits the song and I’d rather watch the band give it horns than a bunch of strippers. Both videos are well produced and are a nice addition to the live performance. The other bonus feature on the DVD is a mini-documentary, lasting about 10 minutes, entitled The Build up to the Astoria. It’s a candid piece, including footage of the band being interviewed by various radio and television presenters, warming up for the show, and doing a spot of shopping in Camden. At this stage the guys appear pretty comfortable with a camera around, and we get to see their slightly strange senses of humour as well as getting a bit more insight into their hiatus (a very dark period in my life – I prefer not to talk about it…). It’s a lovely way to let fans feel they have a connection with the band.
All in all, with a total running time of 108 minutes, this little gem is definitely well worth the purchase. It eases the fact that we don’t get to see SNG in concert that often (well certainly not in Durbs anyway) and unfortunately for my neighbours and my cat means that from now onwards there’ll be a gig in my lounge every night.
Full tracklisting:
1. Gang Gang
2. Looking for Master
3. Spaceman
4. Supergirl
5. Illuminate
6. Fallen
7. Managing Mula
8. Peace Breaker
9. Baby Murdered Me
10. Pack the Punches
11. I Love You
12. 1 More Time
13. Giant Love Affair
14. Wolfmen
15. Little
16. Totally Committed
17. Genie
18. Blue Eyes
19. Bubblegum on my Boots
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
Arno Carstens & Kasia – Society, 04.11.07
Every year Society hosts the Levis Vintage Sundays around this time and they always seem to be a roaring success. So much so that I had nightmares on Saturday night about whether I was going to get there in time to secure a good spot, given that I had to work on Sunday. You may think this is just one more piece of evidence in the case for my neuroses, but the previous two years saw us pinned in one position from 7pm onwards as the crowds thronged around us and made getting to the bar or bathroom an expedition worthy of screening on National Geographic.
I must admit I felt a little silly when we got to Society and there were maybe 20 people there. But clearly all the chilled out Durbanites were just getting off to a late start, because by the time Kasia took to the stage, the venue was teeming with people. I’ve seen Kasia’s name on the line up at Splashy and the like a couple of times, but I’ve never really made the effort to go and watch her. On this occasion she was accompanied by Dave Birch of Squeal legend, who is also responsible for recording her recently completed album. Kasia has loads of personality on stage and was relatively entertaining to watch. She also has a very pretty voice, well-suited to the folksy music she makes. In fact, she sounds as if she should be performing in theatres as the star of a musical, or in dimly lit piano bars, draped over the aforementioned instrument in a slinky cocktail dress. However, after a while, the songs started to get a bit samey & I was more entertained by her quirky performance than by her music. Of course, Dave Birch was, as ever, outstanding.
Next up was the reason everyone had dragged themselves out on a Sunday night (although it is always nice to drag the weekend out….even if you pay for it come Monday morning). Arno Carstens and Albert Frost took to the stage to show off an almost illegal amount of talent. While Arno may not play guitar in the Nude Girls, it is clear he is more than comfortable to be doing so during his solo efforts. And of course Albert Frost plays so well it leaves even the most blasé reaching for the asthma pump to catch their breath. The only downside of these gigs at Society seems to be that they are primarily attended by the pretentious ‘we’re only here because it’s cool to be here’ set, which leaves for a bit of a lacklustre crowd response. That being said, maybe I am being unfair because there was lots of raucous cheering and clapping between songs, I just find it impossible to sit perfectly still and watch with a blank face. It does take a certain kind of band to be able to hold that level of attention for over an hour, and Arno and Albert pull it off with effortless grace. Luckily for me, there was a pocket of zesty people where I was standing, who were also singing along and whoohooing their lungs out, and the guys on stage responded to this with enthusiasm. I might have been the only one dancing though. Ahem, anyway. Every time I watch Arno solo, it seems to me that the line between SNG & New Porn is growing more & more blurred. Gone is the dulcet toned, adult contemporary radio friendly style, and in its place are far more of the growls and screams that characterise the Nudies. Naturally, I love it! There is no doubting that the pair are having loads of fun on stage (not only because Arno keeps asking for shots of Jager!) – they stamp and whirl their way through their set with nuclear energy. Let me not forget to give Gavin Minter credit for playing drums using essentially his hands and a box. The first time I saw this I was transfixed – the man must be in agony by the end of the night! The band played a mix of material off their first and second album, as well as a new song, hopefully off a forthcoming album, and I have to say, I just enjoy them more and more each time I watch them.
So, all in all, it was a great evening – the perfect way to round off the weekend in fact. And well worth the sleepy head on Monday morning.
I must admit I felt a little silly when we got to Society and there were maybe 20 people there. But clearly all the chilled out Durbanites were just getting off to a late start, because by the time Kasia took to the stage, the venue was teeming with people. I’ve seen Kasia’s name on the line up at Splashy and the like a couple of times, but I’ve never really made the effort to go and watch her. On this occasion she was accompanied by Dave Birch of Squeal legend, who is also responsible for recording her recently completed album. Kasia has loads of personality on stage and was relatively entertaining to watch. She also has a very pretty voice, well-suited to the folksy music she makes. In fact, she sounds as if she should be performing in theatres as the star of a musical, or in dimly lit piano bars, draped over the aforementioned instrument in a slinky cocktail dress. However, after a while, the songs started to get a bit samey & I was more entertained by her quirky performance than by her music. Of course, Dave Birch was, as ever, outstanding.
Next up was the reason everyone had dragged themselves out on a Sunday night (although it is always nice to drag the weekend out….even if you pay for it come Monday morning). Arno Carstens and Albert Frost took to the stage to show off an almost illegal amount of talent. While Arno may not play guitar in the Nude Girls, it is clear he is more than comfortable to be doing so during his solo efforts. And of course Albert Frost plays so well it leaves even the most blasé reaching for the asthma pump to catch their breath. The only downside of these gigs at Society seems to be that they are primarily attended by the pretentious ‘we’re only here because it’s cool to be here’ set, which leaves for a bit of a lacklustre crowd response. That being said, maybe I am being unfair because there was lots of raucous cheering and clapping between songs, I just find it impossible to sit perfectly still and watch with a blank face. It does take a certain kind of band to be able to hold that level of attention for over an hour, and Arno and Albert pull it off with effortless grace. Luckily for me, there was a pocket of zesty people where I was standing, who were also singing along and whoohooing their lungs out, and the guys on stage responded to this with enthusiasm. I might have been the only one dancing though. Ahem, anyway. Every time I watch Arno solo, it seems to me that the line between SNG & New Porn is growing more & more blurred. Gone is the dulcet toned, adult contemporary radio friendly style, and in its place are far more of the growls and screams that characterise the Nudies. Naturally, I love it! There is no doubting that the pair are having loads of fun on stage (not only because Arno keeps asking for shots of Jager!) – they stamp and whirl their way through their set with nuclear energy. Let me not forget to give Gavin Minter credit for playing drums using essentially his hands and a box. The first time I saw this I was transfixed – the man must be in agony by the end of the night! The band played a mix of material off their first and second album, as well as a new song, hopefully off a forthcoming album, and I have to say, I just enjoy them more and more each time I watch them.
So, all in all, it was a great evening – the perfect way to round off the weekend in fact. And well worth the sleepy head on Monday morning.
The Kooks – Inside In/Inside Out
You may be wondering why I’m choosing to review a CD that’s been on the market for quite a while now. Well, frankly, I just couldn’t resist writing about one of my new favourite bands. I’ve had this disc in my car CD player for over a month now, and while I feel a little guilty because usually my car is a haven of local music, I just can’t seem to hit that eject button. I’m thoroughly and irretrievably addicted to The Kooks.
The Kooks formed in Brighton, UK in 2004 and Inside In/Inside Out is their debut full length album which was released last year. When their first hit single Naïve made its way to South African shores, I was instantly hooked. My friends and I were also introduced to the need for careful interpretation of the thick accent of Luke Pritchard (vocals & lead guitar), which adds a certain charm to their songs and allows for some highly entertaining misunderstandings – my favourite being one friend’s version of Naïve in which the singer claims he’s “not from Nowowski”…when what he says in actual fact is that he’s not fond of asking. We decided that Nowowski was somewhere in the wilds of Nebraska and never let her live it down. Listen to the song though and you’ll see how she came up with that priceless little mondegreen.
Although I fell in love with Naïve straight away (it’s even my alarm tone!), it took me a while to get around to buying the album. But another friend who generally has the same taste in music as me kept raving about it so eventually I abandoned my whole “try & only buy SA CDs” campaign and went to buy it. Only to discover it was sold out and I would have to wait while they ordered it. So either the store in question didn’t get much stock in, or everyone else figured out way before me what an awesome band this is. I’m open to either interpretation. In any case, it was well worth the wait. From start to finish, this disc is catchy without being cheesy, and has an irreverent, tongue in cheek humour that I love. They very kindly included the song lyrics in the CD sleeve so that not only could I go to my friend and say “see, its NOT Nowowski!!”, I can also sing along quite happily. And sing along is what this band implores you to do with their indie sound encompassing everything from ska to rock. There is a ‘laddishness’ about The Kooks that makes you feel like you could be mates with them, as evidenced in songs with titles like Jackie Big Tits and lyrics like “she pulled those panties down and loved me wetter…” – definitely giving the impression that they’d be quite interesting to hang out with at the bar! Their songs all invite you to sing along but they are diverse in their range from slower-paced ballads such as Seaside to my favourite, Matchbox, which never fails to make me want to drive faster, sing louder, and go out dancing as soon as possible…and if that’s not soon enough, I’ll do a little dance in my car!
So do yourself a favour if you haven’t already got this album – go out and buy it as soon as possible. You won’t be sorry and you won’t be able to stop listening for a very, very long time. Oh, and make sure you check out those lyrics in the CD sleeve before you go belting out any of the songs in public…you’d be surprised at what they really say….
The Kooks formed in Brighton, UK in 2004 and Inside In/Inside Out is their debut full length album which was released last year. When their first hit single Naïve made its way to South African shores, I was instantly hooked. My friends and I were also introduced to the need for careful interpretation of the thick accent of Luke Pritchard (vocals & lead guitar), which adds a certain charm to their songs and allows for some highly entertaining misunderstandings – my favourite being one friend’s version of Naïve in which the singer claims he’s “not from Nowowski”…when what he says in actual fact is that he’s not fond of asking. We decided that Nowowski was somewhere in the wilds of Nebraska and never let her live it down. Listen to the song though and you’ll see how she came up with that priceless little mondegreen.
Although I fell in love with Naïve straight away (it’s even my alarm tone!), it took me a while to get around to buying the album. But another friend who generally has the same taste in music as me kept raving about it so eventually I abandoned my whole “try & only buy SA CDs” campaign and went to buy it. Only to discover it was sold out and I would have to wait while they ordered it. So either the store in question didn’t get much stock in, or everyone else figured out way before me what an awesome band this is. I’m open to either interpretation. In any case, it was well worth the wait. From start to finish, this disc is catchy without being cheesy, and has an irreverent, tongue in cheek humour that I love. They very kindly included the song lyrics in the CD sleeve so that not only could I go to my friend and say “see, its NOT Nowowski!!”, I can also sing along quite happily. And sing along is what this band implores you to do with their indie sound encompassing everything from ska to rock. There is a ‘laddishness’ about The Kooks that makes you feel like you could be mates with them, as evidenced in songs with titles like Jackie Big Tits and lyrics like “she pulled those panties down and loved me wetter…” – definitely giving the impression that they’d be quite interesting to hang out with at the bar! Their songs all invite you to sing along but they are diverse in their range from slower-paced ballads such as Seaside to my favourite, Matchbox, which never fails to make me want to drive faster, sing louder, and go out dancing as soon as possible…and if that’s not soon enough, I’ll do a little dance in my car!
So do yourself a favour if you haven’t already got this album – go out and buy it as soon as possible. You won’t be sorry and you won’t be able to stop listening for a very, very long time. Oh, and make sure you check out those lyrics in the CD sleeve before you go belting out any of the songs in public…you’d be surprised at what they really say….
Jo’burg Day – Randburg Sports Stadium, 15.09.07
Okay, so obviously I am not from Jo’burg, meaning that lots of the ‘rah rah we love Jo’burg’ patriotism of this show was lost on me, but I am a sucker for a good gig, so I had to catch this one. The line up was kind of weird with really amazing bands interspersed with truly hideous ones, but it was the kind of event where you could relax on your blanket and do your best to block the badness out if necessary, so we weren’t too phased. There were loads of acts packed into the day, so I’m just going to give the briefest of details. Well, as brief as possible, being me.
First up were NKD, some kind of amalgamation of Idols performers I’m told. We had actually aimed to miss this lot but found parking much easier than we had anticipated. Fortunately we still had to find somewhere to sit as it seemed all 15 000 people who bought tickets got there before us, so it was relatively easy to tune them out. Think covers and synchronised dance moves with lots of hair flicking. Yawn.
Next up was Jamali, another Idols spin off. The best moment of this performance for me was when I realised that the people we’d been laughing at earlier at the petrol station for their hideous outfits were in fact the girls from Jamali. There is no reason why anyone should ever wear jeans with the front and back seat area cut out a’la cowboy chaps, with bikini pants underneath. EVER. And that was about as much of an impression as they made. More yawning.
I’m not even going to get into the ‘surprise’ performance by Kurt Darren or the fact that the crowd was singing along. It hurts too much. Maybe it’s ‘cos I’m from Durban – I just do not get it.
Anyway, next on the bill was my main attraction, Wonderboom. By this point we had of course wiggled our way to the front so that we could jump around and enjoy one of our favourite bands. The shoes came off and the whoohoos came out. It was great, and the band was filled with their trademark energy. I initially felt like they had been a bit cheated by getting such an early slot, but as the day progressed and I saw that some of the crowd left long before sundown, I think maybe they actually scored in a way. Either way, Wonderboom really captured the spirit of the day with their quintessentially South African sound, and the crowd quite happily sang along under the glaring sun. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again – Africa at an outdoor event with the crowd chanting in harmony is quite possibly one of the most sublime things I have ever experienced. It rolls up love for my country, for SA music, and for this band in particular into a tight ball of warm and fuzzies, and makes me break out into a grin every time. Beautiful.
Another strangely early slot was handed out to The Parlotones, who of course performed with their usual style. We had wandered back to our blanket to regroup and rehydrate after some vigorous gig jumping during Wonderboom, but nonetheless it was another enjoyable performance from a band I suspect is going to become our top export. Certainly it was one of the best performances of the day.
After that was Denim. More covers, more synchronised dance moves, only this time with boys. I don’t really understand why you would have a band that plays only covers at what should be a celebration of South African music, but I guess that’s just one of my weird notions raising its ugly head again. Whatever.
I think Danny K was next, though I may have got the order scrambled in my attempt to block this horror from my memory. Excruciating is one way of describing this individual’s ‘performance’…and I use that term loosely. Basically he sounds as if someone has kicked him in the balls. And all I could think throughout his set was how unfair it was that I didn’t get a chance to do it first.
Mango Groove had not played in South Africa for about 10 years, so there was a lot of anticipation surrounding their performance. They definitely did not disappoint. Like Wonderboom, they have a sound which is undeniably South African and are legendary amongst those who love South African music. They performed all their old hits and the 15 000 strong audience was singing with all their might and jumping and dancing in the parched earth. Definitely another highlight.
Another round of covers was delivered by Dr Victor and the Rasta Rebels, who I’m told has a reputation as the original party band. Well yeah, I guess there was something of the wedding band about it all. This was of course enhanced by the fact that they started off with Pretty Belinda, a song I must have heard at least 3 times at my own 21st, never mind the 21sts of other friends/boyfriends. Sigh. Anyway, they were kind of fun, and certainly injected their covers with a lot more enthusiasm and spark than the other wannabe-girl/boy bands.
Is there anything I can say about Watershed that won’t have me being held up for libel? Hmmm. One thing I do find highly entertaining is the furore that was created a little while ago when the lead singer came out in the press saying that he was the sole driving force of Watershed, the band would be nothing without him, the other musicians are just session background noise musos etc etc. What I couldn’t understand is why the other guys in the band were upset. I mean, if dear Craig wants to take full responsibility for the soulless, mechanical disaster that is Watershed, I say leave him to it! Anyway, some people love them, god knows why, so they had some fans singing along while they wanked away on stage and vomited out their mind-numbingly bland songs. Cringe.
One band I was really looking forward to was Freshlyground, as this was the first opportunity I had to see them. By this point we were back in front, in what had turned into an absolute dust bowl, which allowed us to appreciate the atmosphere created by this band. My only complaint was the people with kids on their shoulders who literally shoved us out of the way to get closer to the front. I am whole-heartedly behind the idea of growing young fans of SA music, but I do think a little consideration could be exercised. Firstly, if you have someone on your shoulders, no matter the age of that person, you need to stand behind every one else, or it just isn’t fair. Secondly, if you insist on moving to the front, please don’t use your child as a battering ram – I don’t care how cute she is in her little princess tiara, if you shove her into me, I’m going to use language you don’t want her to hear. And lastly, it may be fun for both of you when you flail around and in so doing fling your child into the people behind you, but the rest of us are trying to watch the band too and that’s just annoying. Damn breeders. Anyway, that still couldn’t detract from a majestic outpouring of song and dance by this richly talented group. There is a reason why they won an MTV Music Award and we should be damn proud of them. Yet despite this lofty accolade, it still brought huge grins to their faces when the crowd poured their heart into singing along to my favourite song of theirs, I’d Like, so much so that the band could not be heard over the voices of the audience. Spine tingling stuff.
The last spot of the evening was reserved for guaranteed crowd pleasers, Prime Circle. Luckily the breeders scampered away at the prospect of the very energetic leaping around that usually accompanies a Prime Circle show, so we weren’t getting kicked in the faces by toddlers anymore. The energetic leaping did, however exacerbate the dust bowl situation, and there were moments when my friends and I were doubled over gasping for breath, and not just out of excitement. Nevertheless, their show was as exhilarating as always and allowed us to end the evening on a high note. Some may wonder how I can be such a fan of Prime Circle, and so anti-Watershed, when the criticism of being middle of the road is often levelled at both bands. My take on it is that listening to Prime Circle’s songs still makes me feel connected to the band – there is emotion, sincerity, and a certain humility there, no matter how radio friendly they may be. The same cannot be said for the very lacklustre Watershed. No matter – the sterling performance by the boys of Prime Circle managed to wipe the memory of less pleasant bands from the slate, and although some families may have left before their show, the area in front of the stage was charged with a special energy that could have come from a crowd 10 times the size, such was the love for this band.
All in all, it was a wonderful day, and my friends and I really enjoyed rocking out during the great bands and chilling out during the hideous ones. Hopefully I’ll make it again next year…and hopefully next time I’ll remember to put sunblock on my back before it’s too late. Ouchy.
First up were NKD, some kind of amalgamation of Idols performers I’m told. We had actually aimed to miss this lot but found parking much easier than we had anticipated. Fortunately we still had to find somewhere to sit as it seemed all 15 000 people who bought tickets got there before us, so it was relatively easy to tune them out. Think covers and synchronised dance moves with lots of hair flicking. Yawn.
Next up was Jamali, another Idols spin off. The best moment of this performance for me was when I realised that the people we’d been laughing at earlier at the petrol station for their hideous outfits were in fact the girls from Jamali. There is no reason why anyone should ever wear jeans with the front and back seat area cut out a’la cowboy chaps, with bikini pants underneath. EVER. And that was about as much of an impression as they made. More yawning.
I’m not even going to get into the ‘surprise’ performance by Kurt Darren or the fact that the crowd was singing along. It hurts too much. Maybe it’s ‘cos I’m from Durban – I just do not get it.
Anyway, next on the bill was my main attraction, Wonderboom. By this point we had of course wiggled our way to the front so that we could jump around and enjoy one of our favourite bands. The shoes came off and the whoohoos came out. It was great, and the band was filled with their trademark energy. I initially felt like they had been a bit cheated by getting such an early slot, but as the day progressed and I saw that some of the crowd left long before sundown, I think maybe they actually scored in a way. Either way, Wonderboom really captured the spirit of the day with their quintessentially South African sound, and the crowd quite happily sang along under the glaring sun. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again – Africa at an outdoor event with the crowd chanting in harmony is quite possibly one of the most sublime things I have ever experienced. It rolls up love for my country, for SA music, and for this band in particular into a tight ball of warm and fuzzies, and makes me break out into a grin every time. Beautiful.
Another strangely early slot was handed out to The Parlotones, who of course performed with their usual style. We had wandered back to our blanket to regroup and rehydrate after some vigorous gig jumping during Wonderboom, but nonetheless it was another enjoyable performance from a band I suspect is going to become our top export. Certainly it was one of the best performances of the day.
After that was Denim. More covers, more synchronised dance moves, only this time with boys. I don’t really understand why you would have a band that plays only covers at what should be a celebration of South African music, but I guess that’s just one of my weird notions raising its ugly head again. Whatever.
I think Danny K was next, though I may have got the order scrambled in my attempt to block this horror from my memory. Excruciating is one way of describing this individual’s ‘performance’…and I use that term loosely. Basically he sounds as if someone has kicked him in the balls. And all I could think throughout his set was how unfair it was that I didn’t get a chance to do it first.
Mango Groove had not played in South Africa for about 10 years, so there was a lot of anticipation surrounding their performance. They definitely did not disappoint. Like Wonderboom, they have a sound which is undeniably South African and are legendary amongst those who love South African music. They performed all their old hits and the 15 000 strong audience was singing with all their might and jumping and dancing in the parched earth. Definitely another highlight.
Another round of covers was delivered by Dr Victor and the Rasta Rebels, who I’m told has a reputation as the original party band. Well yeah, I guess there was something of the wedding band about it all. This was of course enhanced by the fact that they started off with Pretty Belinda, a song I must have heard at least 3 times at my own 21st, never mind the 21sts of other friends/boyfriends. Sigh. Anyway, they were kind of fun, and certainly injected their covers with a lot more enthusiasm and spark than the other wannabe-girl/boy bands.
Is there anything I can say about Watershed that won’t have me being held up for libel? Hmmm. One thing I do find highly entertaining is the furore that was created a little while ago when the lead singer came out in the press saying that he was the sole driving force of Watershed, the band would be nothing without him, the other musicians are just session background noise musos etc etc. What I couldn’t understand is why the other guys in the band were upset. I mean, if dear Craig wants to take full responsibility for the soulless, mechanical disaster that is Watershed, I say leave him to it! Anyway, some people love them, god knows why, so they had some fans singing along while they wanked away on stage and vomited out their mind-numbingly bland songs. Cringe.
One band I was really looking forward to was Freshlyground, as this was the first opportunity I had to see them. By this point we were back in front, in what had turned into an absolute dust bowl, which allowed us to appreciate the atmosphere created by this band. My only complaint was the people with kids on their shoulders who literally shoved us out of the way to get closer to the front. I am whole-heartedly behind the idea of growing young fans of SA music, but I do think a little consideration could be exercised. Firstly, if you have someone on your shoulders, no matter the age of that person, you need to stand behind every one else, or it just isn’t fair. Secondly, if you insist on moving to the front, please don’t use your child as a battering ram – I don’t care how cute she is in her little princess tiara, if you shove her into me, I’m going to use language you don’t want her to hear. And lastly, it may be fun for both of you when you flail around and in so doing fling your child into the people behind you, but the rest of us are trying to watch the band too and that’s just annoying. Damn breeders. Anyway, that still couldn’t detract from a majestic outpouring of song and dance by this richly talented group. There is a reason why they won an MTV Music Award and we should be damn proud of them. Yet despite this lofty accolade, it still brought huge grins to their faces when the crowd poured their heart into singing along to my favourite song of theirs, I’d Like, so much so that the band could not be heard over the voices of the audience. Spine tingling stuff.
The last spot of the evening was reserved for guaranteed crowd pleasers, Prime Circle. Luckily the breeders scampered away at the prospect of the very energetic leaping around that usually accompanies a Prime Circle show, so we weren’t getting kicked in the faces by toddlers anymore. The energetic leaping did, however exacerbate the dust bowl situation, and there were moments when my friends and I were doubled over gasping for breath, and not just out of excitement. Nevertheless, their show was as exhilarating as always and allowed us to end the evening on a high note. Some may wonder how I can be such a fan of Prime Circle, and so anti-Watershed, when the criticism of being middle of the road is often levelled at both bands. My take on it is that listening to Prime Circle’s songs still makes me feel connected to the band – there is emotion, sincerity, and a certain humility there, no matter how radio friendly they may be. The same cannot be said for the very lacklustre Watershed. No matter – the sterling performance by the boys of Prime Circle managed to wipe the memory of less pleasant bands from the slate, and although some families may have left before their show, the area in front of the stage was charged with a special energy that could have come from a crowd 10 times the size, such was the love for this band.
All in all, it was a wonderful day, and my friends and I really enjoyed rocking out during the great bands and chilling out during the hideous ones. Hopefully I’ll make it again next year…and hopefully next time I’ll remember to put sunblock on my back before it’s too late. Ouchy.
The Black Hotels and Wonderboom – The 88 Lounge, 14.09.07
Back to JHB for more gigs…all I can say is thank god for low cost airlines and Visa. I think the debt counsellors may be after me soon though – I’ll just tell them what I keep telling myself…you only live once! How many times do you get to say that before it is rendered meaningless I wonder? Anyway, I was looking forward to seeing my JHB girls, and definitely to watching this gig. Unfortunately for the bands, Friday night was not only Jewish Sabbath, but also Rosh Hashanah, and since this club is generally frequented by a Jewish crowd, the gig was not that well attended.
This was my first time seeing The Black Hotels and I was really keen to check them out. I have heard pretty good things about them from the JHB girls, and quite like their current single on 5fm. They definitely did not disappoint, and I was well impressed with their tight performance. They did fall prey to my pet hate, looking bored on stage, but it actually works for them. They have a very Brit-pop, indie thing going on, and remind me of bands like The Kaiser Chiefs and Frans Ferdinand, who also have that whole deadpan look while on stage. I enjoyed them and will certainly try and catch them again.
I think by this stage everybody knows how I feel about Wonderboom, the trick is to find new ways in which to say it! There was a time when if I got to see them play once a year, it was a lot, and the excitement that surrounded such gigs was indescribable. Now, not only do I venture up to JHB more frequently than Visa would recommend, they also seem to be spending a lot more time in the KZN region than they used to. Score for me. Because even though now I may get to see them once a month instead of once a year (and sometimes even twice in one weekend), the excitement is still the same. I know I am going to hear songs that I love, and I know that this band will never put on a performance that is anything less than whole-hearted. The crowd may have been small on Friday night but they were dancing and singing along to a band who once again showed us why they have managed to last this long in a music scene that has taken other bands, chewed them up and spat them out. Incredibly talented, incredibly passionate, Wonderboom are what makes SA music great.
We didn’t stick around too long after the show – headaches, tequila overload, the usual stuff – but we had an awesome time, and left secure in the knowledge that when Wonderboom took to the stage at Jo’burg Day the next day, we’d get to have an awesome time all over again.
This was my first time seeing The Black Hotels and I was really keen to check them out. I have heard pretty good things about them from the JHB girls, and quite like their current single on 5fm. They definitely did not disappoint, and I was well impressed with their tight performance. They did fall prey to my pet hate, looking bored on stage, but it actually works for them. They have a very Brit-pop, indie thing going on, and remind me of bands like The Kaiser Chiefs and Frans Ferdinand, who also have that whole deadpan look while on stage. I enjoyed them and will certainly try and catch them again.
I think by this stage everybody knows how I feel about Wonderboom, the trick is to find new ways in which to say it! There was a time when if I got to see them play once a year, it was a lot, and the excitement that surrounded such gigs was indescribable. Now, not only do I venture up to JHB more frequently than Visa would recommend, they also seem to be spending a lot more time in the KZN region than they used to. Score for me. Because even though now I may get to see them once a month instead of once a year (and sometimes even twice in one weekend), the excitement is still the same. I know I am going to hear songs that I love, and I know that this band will never put on a performance that is anything less than whole-hearted. The crowd may have been small on Friday night but they were dancing and singing along to a band who once again showed us why they have managed to last this long in a music scene that has taken other bands, chewed them up and spat them out. Incredibly talented, incredibly passionate, Wonderboom are what makes SA music great.
We didn’t stick around too long after the show – headaches, tequila overload, the usual stuff – but we had an awesome time, and left secure in the knowledge that when Wonderboom took to the stage at Jo’burg Day the next day, we’d get to have an awesome time all over again.
Fire through the Window, The City Bowl Mizers & Martin Rocka and the Sick Shop – Burn, 12.09.07
Even now, almost a week later (yes, yes, I’ve been too busy to write the review), looking at the line up makes me quiver with excitement. I mean, really, it’s not that often that I get to see three of my favourite bands in a row on one night. And like the smart little puppy I occasionally (um, very occasionally) am, I had taken the next day off work so I was all set for a big night out.
Unfortunately, due to logistical difficulties (i.e. no one being ready on time), we missed the beginning of Fire through the Window. Nonetheless, I really enjoyed what I did see and so did every one else I chatted to. The sound was not great, so once again Sinead’s vocals got somewhat lost in the rockier songs, but given the venue and clientele, it was definitely necessary to play these. All in all, I think this is a band that is just going to keep going from strength to strength, with their strong melodies and pretty lyrics. I’ll certainly keep making the effort to watch them.
The City Bowl Mizers have impressed me on the other occasions that I have seen them, and they were once again well-received on Wednesday night. Strangely, they were not as ebullient as when I had seen them previously, which is really part of their charm, and I heard others commenting that they had seemed a bit flat. Nonetheless, they are still a very talented band, and one of my favourites in Durban, so I still enjoyed them. After all, every one is allowed to have an off night, and their off nights are way better than the ‘on’ nights of some of the bands I was forced to endure on the weekend!
Martin Rocka and the Sick Shop are just entirely in a league of their own, both in terms of talent and pure entertainment factor. They played quite late, and it was after all a school night for all those other suckers, so the crowd had dwindled slightly. Those who stuck around were jiving all over the dance floor and yelling along to the lewd lyrics. James was of course once again without his double bass (kinda tricky to fit on a plane when you think about it), but I am starting to come to terms with this deprivation. They all do incredible things with their instruments, but it is the masked filthmonger, Rocka, who raises the temperature of the room exponentially with every vicious stroke of his guitar. Even if rockabilly is not your shot of tequila, there is no escaping the remarkable expertise displayed by this trio and no way of watching them without having a riotously fun time. The best news is that they’ll be back in November.
Besides the incredible performance by the boys of the Sick Shop, the highlight of the night for me was probably watching the boy who had minutes previously mocked my cat facing over shooters, throw his own shooters up all over the floor. Not exactly what you want to look at, but it seemed kind of like justice. Who’s the girl now big boy?! Hah!
Unfortunately, due to logistical difficulties (i.e. no one being ready on time), we missed the beginning of Fire through the Window. Nonetheless, I really enjoyed what I did see and so did every one else I chatted to. The sound was not great, so once again Sinead’s vocals got somewhat lost in the rockier songs, but given the venue and clientele, it was definitely necessary to play these. All in all, I think this is a band that is just going to keep going from strength to strength, with their strong melodies and pretty lyrics. I’ll certainly keep making the effort to watch them.
The City Bowl Mizers have impressed me on the other occasions that I have seen them, and they were once again well-received on Wednesday night. Strangely, they were not as ebullient as when I had seen them previously, which is really part of their charm, and I heard others commenting that they had seemed a bit flat. Nonetheless, they are still a very talented band, and one of my favourites in Durban, so I still enjoyed them. After all, every one is allowed to have an off night, and their off nights are way better than the ‘on’ nights of some of the bands I was forced to endure on the weekend!
Martin Rocka and the Sick Shop are just entirely in a league of their own, both in terms of talent and pure entertainment factor. They played quite late, and it was after all a school night for all those other suckers, so the crowd had dwindled slightly. Those who stuck around were jiving all over the dance floor and yelling along to the lewd lyrics. James was of course once again without his double bass (kinda tricky to fit on a plane when you think about it), but I am starting to come to terms with this deprivation. They all do incredible things with their instruments, but it is the masked filthmonger, Rocka, who raises the temperature of the room exponentially with every vicious stroke of his guitar. Even if rockabilly is not your shot of tequila, there is no escaping the remarkable expertise displayed by this trio and no way of watching them without having a riotously fun time. The best news is that they’ll be back in November.
Besides the incredible performance by the boys of the Sick Shop, the highlight of the night for me was probably watching the boy who had minutes previously mocked my cat facing over shooters, throw his own shooters up all over the floor. Not exactly what you want to look at, but it seemed kind of like justice. Who’s the girl now big boy?! Hah!
Fire through the Window & Cito – Zack’s Windermere, 08.09.07
My friends and I had been eagerly anticipating this gig for what seemed like aeons and finally we could stop counting the sleeps. A restaurant may not seem like the ideal venue for a gig but given that Cito’s solo act is not really Burn material, and given the lack of other venues in the city, it was pretty cool that the owners of Zack’s came to the party and hosted Cito for two shows. Given that it was also a good friend’s birthday celebration, the evening was bound to be a heap of fun!
First up was Fire through the Window, once again playing with full band, although they have a new drummer since Adam went back to the UK. The sound seemed a lot crisper this time compared to when I saw them at Vacca Matta, and it was much easier to hear Sinead’s vocals even during their rockier songs. This show cemented my earlier thoughts that this band is really one to watch out for. Sinead’s confidence seems to be growing and her vocals are simply beautiful, and well complimented by Marc’s harmonies. They are releasing their debut album later this month, and I think it will definitely be one to add to the wishlist. For those who enjoy pretty love songs with a rock twist, Fire through the Window comes highly recommended.
In case you’ve been living under a rock somewhere in a far flung land, let me explain why we were so excited to see Cito solo. An incredibly talented musician who has also started to make a name for himself in the world of theatre, Cito has been a force to be reckoned with in the local music scene for well over a decade. He is most renowned for his role as the frontman of SA supergroup Wonderboom – we all know how I feel about them so it really should come as no surprise that I was as excited as I was for this show. I’d also been lucky enough to see Cito perform solo last year, so I knew we were in for a treat. Cito’s solo show is not the adrenalin-raising rollercoaster rock of Wonderboom, it is a far smoother, more languorous ride – ‘dark chocolate and red wine’ as he describes it. His set consisted of some of his own original material, including a heart rending song written for one of his sons, some Wonderboom classics pared down to beautiful simplicity, and a number of his favourite covers such as Radiohead’s High and Dry, and an absolutely spine-tingling version of Leonard Cohen’s Hallelujah. The essence of what makes Cito’s solo show so good is not simply his accomplishment as a vocalist and guitarist, as impressive as this is. It is the emotional depth of his performance which captures the attention of his audience and gives you goose bumps – you feel as if he is laying his soul bare when he steps up on stage. It must take a lot of courage to do this without the backing of a band, and I found it endearing that such a talent would admit to being incredibly nervous when he opened up the show. The crowd responded with evident enjoyment and everyone I spoke to afterwards said they absolutely loved it.
The next day Cito played at another of the Zack’s restaurants, this time on Wilson’s Wharf. Unfortunately the timing wasn’t ideal since he was timed to go on as the Springboks kicked off their opening World Cup match against Samoa. He took all this in his stride and opted to play the bulk of his set after the match was over. It may not have been the perfect situation, but the people who stuck around after the match were once again transfixed by a magical performance. And I of course was in heaven because I got to hear my all time favourite Wonderboom song, Bang, not once, but twice in a weekend. What more can a girl ask for.
First up was Fire through the Window, once again playing with full band, although they have a new drummer since Adam went back to the UK. The sound seemed a lot crisper this time compared to when I saw them at Vacca Matta, and it was much easier to hear Sinead’s vocals even during their rockier songs. This show cemented my earlier thoughts that this band is really one to watch out for. Sinead’s confidence seems to be growing and her vocals are simply beautiful, and well complimented by Marc’s harmonies. They are releasing their debut album later this month, and I think it will definitely be one to add to the wishlist. For those who enjoy pretty love songs with a rock twist, Fire through the Window comes highly recommended.
In case you’ve been living under a rock somewhere in a far flung land, let me explain why we were so excited to see Cito solo. An incredibly talented musician who has also started to make a name for himself in the world of theatre, Cito has been a force to be reckoned with in the local music scene for well over a decade. He is most renowned for his role as the frontman of SA supergroup Wonderboom – we all know how I feel about them so it really should come as no surprise that I was as excited as I was for this show. I’d also been lucky enough to see Cito perform solo last year, so I knew we were in for a treat. Cito’s solo show is not the adrenalin-raising rollercoaster rock of Wonderboom, it is a far smoother, more languorous ride – ‘dark chocolate and red wine’ as he describes it. His set consisted of some of his own original material, including a heart rending song written for one of his sons, some Wonderboom classics pared down to beautiful simplicity, and a number of his favourite covers such as Radiohead’s High and Dry, and an absolutely spine-tingling version of Leonard Cohen’s Hallelujah. The essence of what makes Cito’s solo show so good is not simply his accomplishment as a vocalist and guitarist, as impressive as this is. It is the emotional depth of his performance which captures the attention of his audience and gives you goose bumps – you feel as if he is laying his soul bare when he steps up on stage. It must take a lot of courage to do this without the backing of a band, and I found it endearing that such a talent would admit to being incredibly nervous when he opened up the show. The crowd responded with evident enjoyment and everyone I spoke to afterwards said they absolutely loved it.
The next day Cito played at another of the Zack’s restaurants, this time on Wilson’s Wharf. Unfortunately the timing wasn’t ideal since he was timed to go on as the Springboks kicked off their opening World Cup match against Samoa. He took all this in his stride and opted to play the bulk of his set after the match was over. It may not have been the perfect situation, but the people who stuck around after the match were once again transfixed by a magical performance. And I of course was in heaven because I got to hear my all time favourite Wonderboom song, Bang, not once, but twice in a weekend. What more can a girl ask for.
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