SA ROCK DIGEST ISSUE #204 http://www.sarockdigest.com 9th June 2003 Established 27th January 1999 ---------------- EDITOR'S NOTE: ---------------- All correspondence welcome! mailto:editor@sarockdigest.com If you would like to contact us, please do not reply to this newsletter! -------------- IN THIS ISSUE -------------- Music really is good for you!... Fresh Music turns 5... Ja Rule in SA... Mickie Most dies in London... Who or what are The Buckfever Underground? John Samson joins the search... Kurt gets his chance to review the new Wonderboom album... Biltong & Potroast on CD... Carina Laubscher was at the Pretoria launch of Piet Botha's 'Die Mamba'... Wicked Mike reports on new Durbands... New June Releases at Oneworld.co.za... a new look Events section... charts... and all the recommended gigs at http://www.sagigs.com ---------------------------------- SOUTH AFRICAN ROCK DIGEST ONLINE ---------------------------------- For a full-colour and clickable HTML version of the SA Rock Digest with images, please visit http://rock.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 Deddy' 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. ------------- SAKLANK.com ------------- Sluit aan by http://www.SAKlank.com deur e-pos te stuur aan mailto:intekenaar@saklank.com?subject=SAKlank Alle rasionele idees, gedagtes, bydraes, briewe en konsert-/CD-resensies is altyd welkom! ------------------------- ONE WORLD ONLINE CD STORE ------------------------- Selling South African Music to the World http://www.oneworld.co.za/index.cfm?bec=4321 ----------- CONTENTS ----------- 1.NEWS: Music Heals!, Fresh Turns 5, Jah Rule's coming, Mickie Most dies in London 2.CHARTS: Top 30 mp3s & albums 3.NEW RELEASES: mp3s & CDs: Biltong & Potroast, Ed Jordan, June Releases 4.USA FOR AFRICA: Wonderboom - 'Tell Someone Who Cares' 5.A NAARTJIE IN THE UK: Buckfever Underground - 'TAAAFL' 6.HISTORY & TRIVIA: Springbok Radio charts, birthdays, Vinyl Junkies 7.SOUND SOLUTIONS: A Readers Forum 8.LIVE MUSIC: Events round-up, Piet Botha, Durbands 9.INFO: Subscriptions & contributions _____________________________________________ 1.NEWS -------- SA (AND OTHER) MUSIC IS GOOD FOR YOU - IT'S OFFICIAL! In his current best-selling book, 'Total Renewal', US health guru Frank Lipman MD outlines the many different cures available to today's legions of stressed-out and unhealthy folk, a combination of which Lipman practises as part of his popular Integrative Medicine program. In the chapter titled 'Reconnect to Yourself, Others, and Nature', Lipman discusses the role music can play as part of the healing and renewal process, and lists some of the recommended musicians and albums he uses as a supplementary part of his healing programs. Frank Lipman is an ex-South African who was born and raised in Emmarentia, Johannesburg, and was educated at King David and Wits University. He trained as a medical doctor in various hospitals in South Africa, and the (then) homelands like KwaNdebele, before settling in New York. There he came into contact with Chinese Medicine and other forms of effective traditional complementary treatments, which he now applies alongside Western Medicine at his well-known practice in New York City. Describing himself as "an African Music freak" in a recent article in the US edition of O Magazine, Lipman has used his broad knowledge and collection of rock, jazz, and mostly World music to find appropriate music for his patients during treatment and after. So the sounds of artists like the Mahotella Queens, Abdullah Ibrahim, Youssou N'Dour, Wasis Diop, Ladysmith Black Mambazo, and even the Kalahari Surfers, are among those filtered through the headphones of patients undergoing the acupuncture treatments for which the Eleven Eleven Wellness Center in Manhattan has become renowned. The book contains a short list of albums for specific moods. So, if you want to "snap out of a mild depression", then bung on Oilver Mtukudzi's 'Tuku Music', Cesaria Evora's 'Miss Perfumado', or Manu Chao's 'Clandestino'. If you are looking for some "music to invigorate", then take your pick from 'The Indestructible Beat Of Soweto Vol. 6', Orchestra Baobab's 'Specialist In All Styles', or Africando Allstars' 'Mandali'. Finally, if you need some music to "connect to strong emotions" then choose between Ali Farka Toure and Ry Cooder's 'Talking Timbuktu', Baaba Maal and Mansour Seck's 'Djam Leelli', or Sigur Ros' 'Aegetis Byrjun'. It's like 1 Giant Leap for healing! Frank Lipman is also the co-founder and president of Nomadocs, a non-profit organisation that trains local doctors and other health-care providers in disadvantaged communities around the world. See http://www.nomadocs.org 'Total Renewal - 7 Steps to: Resilience, Vitality, and Long-term Health' by Frank Lipman MD is available online at http://www.amazon.com ---------------------------- FRESH MUSIC TURNS 5 Win a copy of the Fresh Music 'Wanna Get Fresh?' anniversary CD sampler. There's a lot of action at the Fresh Music offices in Johannesburg. It is the company's 5th anniversary year, and they are celebrating with a bunch of upcoming new releases. There's the debut album 'Ceremony', from Cofield Mundi, the label's latest female star; Cape rockers TAIT will have their debut out soon; second albums are coming in a while from established label artists BLK Sonshine and Nianell; the Biltong And Potroast TV comedy show is now on CD (see 'New Releases' below); and expect some new RetroFresh reissues from No Friends Of Harry, Celtic Rumours, and the next 'Rocking Against The System 2' compilation. TAIT, the label's big rock signings, featuring front man Chris Tait, have just completed final mixes for their debut Fresh album, tentatively titled 'Back Seat Driver', which is set for a July release. While their brand new power ballad, 'In My Arms', is shooting up charts countrywide, these Cape Town melodic rockers are rapidly developing an enviable reputation as a great live act. Although TAIT live dates have mainly been in the Cape, the band will shortly be bringing their anthemic brand of rock to the rest of the country. TAIT's debut album, 'Back Seat Driver', will include the aforementioned 'In My Arms', as well as the band`s first single '(I Think I Can) Relate', plus a host of new songs including 'The Best Days Of My Life', 'Tea For 2', 'Don't Let Me Go', and 'I'll Be The One'. Fresh Music have been inundated with calls and emails over the last few months enquiring whether Blk Sonshine have split. A company spokesman (ok, it was Benjy Mudie...) put the record straight: "Here`s the real deal, ok? The band have not split at all, they are currently on sabbatical with Neo busy on promoting his debut solo album, 'The Listening Room' (through BMG), and Masauko back in NYC writing new material. The duo recently performed in London for a major UK charity event and (according to sources) completely blew the Brits away! Blk Sonshine will be reconvening in late July to finalise tracks for the second album." To mark the label's 5th anniversary, Fresh Music released 'Wanna Get Fresh?', a 20-song CD compilation featuring most of the artists released on the Fresh Music label. The tracklisting includes Tait ('Relate'), Cofield Mundi ('Leave The Bones'), Nianell ('Have Faith'), Sunways ('Colour Me In'), Helen Desbois ('Anything'), Blk Sonshine ('Born In A Taxi'), and other tracks from Frank Opperman, Acoustic Kitchen, Egyptian Nursery, Helloangel, Biff 'n Jethro, Naked, and Citrus. Fresh Giveaway!! - To win one of the 10 Fresh 'Wanna Get Fresh?' CD samplers, kindly donated by Benjy Mudie and Fresh Music, please just email us at: mailto:editor@sarockdigest.com?subject=freshsampler and tell us the names of the new albums by TAIT and Cofield Mundi. READ LISTEN BUY http://www.freshmusic.co.za http://www.SAmp3.com/fresh.html ---------------------------- JA RULE IN SA in association with 5fm, Metro FM and Good Hope FM Ja Rule, the multi-award winning Hip Hop superstar, is coming to SA in July for three shows. The tour, which is produced jointly by Big Concerts and Famous Concerts, will be kicking off at the Dome @ Northgate in Johannesburg on Friday the 4th before heading to Durban for a show at Kingsmead Stadium on Sunday the 6th, and finally at the Bellville Velodrome in Cape Town on Wednesday the 9th of July. Ja Rule's signature rap-meets-rhythm sound has earned him an impressive accumulation of awards, including a MOBO Award, a World Music Award, a GQ Man of the Year Award, a Teen Choice Award, four Grammy Award Nominations, an American Music Award Nomination, and a Soul Train Award Nomination. In South Africa, Ja Rule has had significant success, with chartbreakers on 5fm, MetroFM and Good Hope FM. Itinerary: Friday 4th July - Dome @ Northgate, Johannesburg Sunday 6th July - Kingsmead Stadium, Durban Wednesday 9th July - Bellville Velodrome, Cape Town Tickets: Computicket www.computicket.com Computicket Call Centre 083 915 8000 For more information on upcoming shows www.bigconcerts.co.za ---------------------------- 'BIG BAND BREAKOUT' Following the success of last year's successful 'Big Band Breakout', promoters Witchdoctor Records will again be staging this 'battle of the bands' competition during July and August 2003 at The New Winston Pub in Durban: If you win this year's 'Big Band Breakout', you will also win the following string of groovy prizes: 1. 3 days' recording time at Dog Ear Recording Studios. 2. A music video worth R5000 from Dog Ear Studio. 3. A 100 disc pressing of your recording. 4. A CD Launch at CD Wherehouse. (Gateway) 5. 20 band T-shirts. 6. 2000 full colour flyers. 7. An interview in Stage magazine. 8. An interview in Blunt magazine. 9. Distribution through witchdoctorrecords.com There will also be lots more prizes for 2nd and 3rd places as well as prizes for best drummer, bassist, vocalist and guitarist. All entrants receive a 25% discount voucher from a music shop. To enter, send your details to mailto:wickedmike@wickedrock.co.za or call on 031 3091643. ---------------------------- OBITUARY: MICKIE MOST "Sad News - heard about the death of the rock session Playboy/impersonator, who turned a generation of East Rand Gold miners on to Chuck Berry" - David Marks [The Hidden Years Music Archive Project (Est. 1994) www.3rdearmusic.com] LONDON (AP) -- Mickie Most, a music producer who helped craft the sound of the 1960s' "British invasion," has died. He was 64. Most died of cancer on Friday at his home in north London, his family said. Born Michael Peter Hayes in Aldershot, England in 1938, Most broke into Britain's fledgling rock 'n' roll scene in the 1950s as a member of the Most Brothers. The band failed to make it big, but the name stuck. Moving to his wife's homeland of South Africa, he topped the charts by covering U.S. hits with his band, The Playboys. But his biggest influence was as a producer who helped British acts like The Animals, Lulu, and Donovan break into the United States. Among the hits he produced were The Animals' 'House of the Rising Sun' (an international smash in 1964), 'I'm Into Something Good' by Herman's Hermits, and Donovan's 'Sunshine Superman'. "He had an incredible skill in picking songs, he could pick a song on the moon", said songwriter Nicky Chinn, who worked with Most in the 1970s. Through the 1970s and `80s Most worked with commercially, if not always critically, successful bands including The Sweet, Suzi Quatro, Smokie, and Hot Chocolate. He was also a panellist on the TV talent show 'New Faces', renowned for his withering assessment of hopefuls' talent. He is survived by his wife, two daughters and a son. His funeral will be held on June 9 in London. Courtesy http://music.lycos.com/ READ http://www.rock.co.za/files/mmost_index.htm ---------------------------- WIN A JAMES STEWART SPECIAL COLLECTION AT JAMESONLINE James Stewart's two latest single releases off his forthcoming album - 'A Man Like Me' and 'Shine' - are currently doing very well on the SAmp3.com charts. So the ex-Usual front man is busy reconnecting with many old and new faces as interest in his upcoming, as yet untitled, debut solo album, grows. Prior to that album's release, James Stewart has made a few copies of his multi-format promotional package available to his fans. The SA Rock Digest and Street Level Studios are giving away three of these limited edition 'James Stewart packages'. These are aimed at those dedicated Usual devotees, and are classy collector's items containing two CD's (new album tracks, as well as all The Usual's charting hits); the 'Born in a Storm' video; live-footage; interviews; and loads of archive photo's - all presented in a stylish hardbound cover. To find out how to get hold of one of these, please go to http://www.jamesonline.co.za __________________________________________ 2.CHARTS ----------- TOP 30 SOUTH AFRICAN MP3s OF THE WEEK http://www.SAmp3.com 1. [10] (1) Shine - James Stewart (SAmp3.com/Street Level) 2. [18] (2) Anything - Helen Desbois (Fresh) 3. [5] (3) Wonderboom Sampler - Wonderboom ('Tell Someone Who Cares'/DGR) 4. [12] (4) Die Mamba (demo) - Piet Botha (SAmp3.com) 5. [7] (5) Push-up Bra - Uzo Blaker ('Volk Jou Ook'/Wildebeest) 6. [1] (1) Awakening - HappyFourTwenty ('Awakening'/Go!Hemp Music) 7. [6] (6) Springbok Nude Girls Sampler (SonyMusic) 8. [2] (2) Spook - Spinnekop ('Soet September'/Afrimusik) 9. [3] (1) Jy Is Opium - Valiant Swart ('Song Vir Katryn'/Rhythm) 10. [10] (10) Mooie Vrou - Kaal ('Blues To The Bone'/Indie) 11. [8] (5) Let Us Be Heard Sampler - Various ('Let Us Be Heard'/Wicked Rock) 12. [4] (4) A Man Like Me - James Stewart (Indie) 13. [11] (1) Tweak Sampler (Micassomix) - Tweak ('Dirty Sanchez and the Misfit Kidz'/BMG) 14. [14] (4) Pre-Seether Sampler - Saron Gas ('Fragile'/Musketeer) 15. [9] (6) Pretty Baby - KJ Stone ('In Different Voices'/Sonic Orange) 16. [25] (16) Get Some - Soil 7t7 ('Soil 7t7'/Indie) 17. [21] (17) Moan In Blues - Akkedis with Albert Frost ('Husse Met Lang Ore'/Wildebeest) 18. [28] (18) Mellow Drama Sampler - Phringe ('Mellow Drama'/USM) 19. [22] (19) Bleed - Loogaroo ('Loogaroo'/Indie) 20. [30] (20) The Banded - The Narrow ('Selfconscious'/Intervention) 21. [23] (21) Geraamtes - Ekstra Dik ('Uit Ons Koppe Uit'/Indie) 22. [-] (22) Madiba 1990 - Bright Blue (Indie/SAMP3.com) 23. [26] (23) Pink Pork Noise - Benguela ('Digital Inability'/Rhythm) 24. [27] (24) Ek En Jy In Die Kaap - Lize Beekman ('Iemand Het Gesê'/Indie) 25. [-] (25) Race Past The Sun - Dolly Rockers ('Glory Glory'/Indie) 26. [16] (26) Die Gipsy In Jou Oë - Anna Davel ('Gypsy'/Rhythm) 27. [15] (27) The Mississippi Muthers Blues - The Mississippi Muthers ('The Mississippi Muthers'/Indie) 28. [13] (28) Elungelo - RSL and Ladysmith Black Mambazo ('Re-Rooted'/FreshMusic) 29. [-] (29) 'Sense' - Forest Moon ('Forest Moon'/Forest Moon) 30. [-] (30) Let's Get Naked - Evolver (Indie) -------------- TOP 30 SOUTH AFRICAN ALBUMS OF THE WEEK http://www.sarockdigest.com/charts This week [last week] (highest position) Title - Artist (Label) 1. [1] (1) Song Vir Katryn - Valiant Swart (Rhythm) 2. [7] (2) Selfconscious - The Narrow (Intervention Arts) 3. [5] (3) Teaching Afrikaans As A Foreign language - Buckfever Underground (Indie) 4. [3] (2) Dirty Sanchez And The Misfit Kidz - Tweak (BMG) 5. [11] (5) Soil 7t7 - Soil 7t7 (Indie) 6. [9] (6) Kaal - Blues To The Bone (Indie) 7. [6] (6) Gypsy - Anna Davel (Rhythm) 8. [4] (1) Tell Someone Who Cares - Wonderboom (DGR) 9. [2] (2) Wicked Rock: Let Us Be Heard - Various (Wicked Rock) 10. [24] (10) Wrapped In Stone - Watershed (EMI) 11. [15] (11) Adam Tas - Nag Van Die Nerf (Wildebeest) 12. [10] (1) Awakening - HappyFourTwenty (Indie) 13. [19] (13) Uit Ons Koppe Uit - Ekstra Dik (Indie) 14. [8] (3) In Different Voices - KJ Stone (Sonic Orange) 15. [12] (1) Ligdag - Laurinda Hofmeyr (Rhythm) 16. [27] (16) Wicked Demos - Various (Wicked Rock) 17. [13] (2) Something Cool - Eden Brent (Rhythm) 18. [16] (1) Luxury - Robin Auld (Free Lunch) 19. [14] (4) Khetha - Khumbula (African Cream) 20. [17] (2) Sacrificial Etchings - The Awakening (Intervention Arts) 21. [20] (1) Catfish - Albert Frost (Rhythm) 22. [26] (22) Confessions In Dub - Jerome Arthur (Forest Moon) 23. [23] (23) Roger Lucey - 21 Years Down The Road (3eM) 24. [-] (24) Mellow Drama - Phringe (USM) 25. [18] (4) Motive For Breathing - PetFlyz (Intervention Arts) 26. [-] (26) Ceremony - Cofield Mundi (Fresh) 27. [21] (5) Elephant - Tim Wells (Indie) 28. [-] (28) Afrikaanse Reggae - Various (Hoezit) 29. [29] (1) The Listening Room - Neo Muyanga (BMG) 30. [28] (2) Into The Night We Slide - Radio Rats (RetroFresh) READ http://rock.co.za/legends/2000plus LISTEN http://www.SAmp3.com BUY http://www.oneworld.co.za/index.cfm?bec=4321 _____________________________________________ 3. NEW, RECENT AND UPCOMING RELEASES ----------------------------------------- ------ MP3s ------ Kobus - 'O Boereplaas' No further news on that second Kobus! album (with the Nude Girls playing together again), but here's something to tide you over, as the doomy duo take on this old Afrikaans heart-wrencher. Evolver -'Snakes And Ladders' First mp3 single, 'Let's Get Naked', has just entered the SAmp3.com charts, this is the next instalment from the quirky gang. Kop - 'Telefoon Blues' You just never know what you are going to hear at SAmp3.com, here's more from the Kop lads from PE. Who said you need to sing like Heinz to be a star? Jerome Arthur - 'Never Sleep Again' First song released off 'Confessions In Dub', Jerome Arthur's laid-back solo follow-up to Forest Moon's successful debut album. Springcan - 'Ugly' Hard-rocking spacey sounds from Bloemfontein band, Springcan Kaal - 'Waiting' Some tasty pop-reggae off Kaal's 'Blues To The Bone' CD. Nice organ sound. Also: Track4 - 'Drop 'n Roll' HappyFourTwenty - 'Passing Time' The Narrow - 'Promised The World' Pyramid Tongue - 'Incision' Download South African mp3's from http://www.SAmp3.com ----- CDs ----- WHO OR WHAT ARE THE BUCKFEVER UNDERGROUND?? The sudden appearance of the Buckfever Underground's latest release, 'Teaching Afrikaans as a Foreign Language', in the upper reaches of the album charts, has caused a surge of interest in this strange bunch. We approached the group for comment, but not a stack was forthcoming. While there are unconfirmed reports of small-scale acknowledgements, no official spokesperson for the band exists, and so the claim could not be verified - although speaking from his teacher's desk in Seoul Korea, vocalist Toast Coetzer was adamant that "Yes, things like this do happen". The rest of the band were strangely 'unavailable for comment' claiming to be too busy filming bad shampoo commercials (Jon Savage), reporting on development in the small to medium business sector (Steven Timm) and recovering from Hepatitis (Gilad Hockman). But we could establish that the Buckfever Underground spent years pushing a philosophy of stream-of-consciousness poetry, combined with even more stream-of-consciousness music, that was accepted with as much bemusement as outright joy. The group then spent 2002 experimenting with the concept of having a) a real drummer; b) two musical instruments in the band; and, c) practising (but only once before each gig). It might not seem like much but the result is a vague form of rhythm that is likely to change, if not your life, then at least your afternoon. The Buckfever Underground are: Steven Timm, Jon Savage, Gilad Hockman, and Toast Coetzer. Their previous releases include 'Jou Mede Mens is Dood' and 'Survival is Personal'. Due to a large demand for 'Teaching Afrikaans as a Foreign Language', Janus Musiek will be re-printing the album and the CD will soon be in stores nationwide. That's all we know! But you can read a further review of the album by John Samson below..... Copies of 'Teaching Afrikaans as a Foreign Language' are always available online at One World Music http://www.oneworld.co.za/index.cfm?bec=4321&searchfor=buckfever or from Bastard Media mailto:info@bastardmedia.co.za ---------------------------- VARIOUS - 'BILTONG & POTROAST - UNCOOKED' No one who was around in the early days of SA TV is likely to forget the 'Biltong & Potroast' comedy series. It ran for several years and was one of the most watched shows of the time. It was instrumental in establishing the careers of comedy legends like Mel Miller, Cyril Green, Len Davis, Cy Sacks and Noel Glover, many of whom continue to tour and perform to this day. 'Biltong & Potroast - Uncooked' is a double disc dose of comedy from the show, available on CD for the first time. It was recorded in 1982 at a late-night stag show and was recently unearthed by project producer, Cyril Green. However, unlike the TV series, the 75 minutes of material on the album is very explicit, and geared towards a more adult/mature audience. So, in order to keep the traditional B&P fans happy, Fresh have included an additional disc, which contains the same material which has been 'bleeped' without losing the flow of the jokes and stories. 'Biltong & Potroast- Uncooked' will be released in early June, at a single album price, just in time for Father's Day! ---------------------------- ED JORDAN - 'FOR ALWAYS' SAMA Award-winning artist, Ed Jordan, has been very visible on the SA pop music scene for the past 12 years. Jordan supported Crowded House, Hootie and the Blowfish, and Bryan Ferry on their SA tours as well as performing solo all over Southern Africa and touring Taiwan. Jordan's involvement in television has been extensive, from T.V. One's 'Fast Forward', to M-Net's 'Big City' and 'Super Saturday', to SABC3's 'Popstars' and, currently, 'The Wedding Show'. Since the release of his third studio album, 'Crazy", Jordan became a judge on Coca Cola 'Popstars', which took him all over the country helping to mould 101, the eventual five-piece winning group. His brand new fourth studio album, 'For Always', was recorded in March and April this year with producer Dennis East and engineer Keith Forsyth. It features 13 classic love songs, including the brand new hit single, 'Goddess', as well as the re-release of 'To Have And To Hold', and the timeless 'Always'. BUY http://www.oneworld.co.za/index.cfm?bec=4321&searchfor=jordan ---------------------------- JUNE RELEASES AT ONE WORLD The following are now available from http://www.oneworld.co.za/index.cfm?bec=4321 POP & ROCK: Watershed - 'Wrapped In Stone' Second excellent album from SA's top acoustic pop-rock group. Includes single 'Closing Down'. Wonderboom - 'Tell Someone Who Cares' First, full, loud and energetic rock album from this Gauteng rock gang. ONE80 - 'One World Bleeds To Another' A lot of interest in this debut from these big contenders on the SA rock scene. Boo! - 'TNTLC' Latest instalment in the BOO! story. Phringe - 'Mellow Drama' An accomplished debut album from this smart band with a firm focus on pop-rock success. Ed Jordan - 'For Always' Ed Jordan covers some classic love songs in his unique way. Includes 'Always', his popular song from the wedding series on TV Rina Hugo - 'Your Favourite Songs' 21 of your favourite songs by one of SA's favourite singers. Plush - 'The Dialogue Between Us' EP Short but sweet debut from this hot duo. DANCE/ELECTRONICA: Constructus - 'The Ziggurat' African Dope have outdone themselves with this concept - one of the boldest releases in SA music history. There's a high quality book, with amazing text and illustrations, and a music CD soundtrack featuring Sibot, Markus Wormstorm, Felix Laband and other African Dope regulars. AFRIKAANS: Various Artists - 'Geraas Volume 1' A compilation to celebrate this popular Afrikaans TV show's 5 years of success. Various Artists - 'Afrikaanse Reggae' A unique collection of the best of those Afrikaans reggae tunes you've come to love from Koos Kombuis and all the other big names in Afrikaans music. Amanda Strydom - 'Hotel Royale' Finally available again. COMEDY: Ashifa Shabba - 'Live Volume 2' This funnyman, from the dusty streets of Pretoria, is well known to the listeners of Y-FM, and has crammed his best material on to this LOL CD. JAZZ: Moses Taiwa Molelekwa - 'Live Nantes 97' The late, great Moses Molelekwa will never be forgotten. Hear why on this emotional live recording - just released. Dondo - 'Changing Times' Vusi Khumalo is the leading man in some of the best line-ups in SA Jazz. This was also Kaya FM's 'CD of the Week'. Audrey Motaung - 'Best Of' A collection of this popular vocalist's finest moments. Deepak Ram - 'Beauty In Diversity' The haunting sound of Deepak Ram's evocative flute, with an apocalyptic feel to it all. Donald Tshomela - 'All Of Me' With the feel of a bygone era, memories of that great Marabi sound. Abie Thomas - 'At The Waterfront Volume 1 & 2' An album of superb medleys and cover versions. REGGAE: Lucky Dube - 'The Other Side' Brand new album from SA's Reggae King and biggest international seller. TRADITIONAL: Joe Shirimani - 'Best Of' Traditional music from the north of Gauteng, your dose of Shangaan. Temba Ngwenya - 'Soul' A truly fresh approach to i Scathamiya music, you be the judge. Untshebe - 'Inkonzo Kantshebe Vol 1' A Vusi Ximba type release for those who appreciate that sound. GOSPEL: Soweto Gospel Choir - 'Voices From Heaven' Watch out Joyous Celebration, there are some new voices on the block! Raymond Cilliers - 'Sacred Path' The boy wonder is no longer a boy, and this album is a mature and accomplished release. TOWNSHIP POP: Steve Kekana - 'African Lady' A new album from the father of Township Pop. Joe Nina applies his distinctive touch and quality to this production. Jeff Maluleke - 'Mambo feat. Hugh Masekela' A stomping album, very much in the same vein as his previous releases. The title track features the big Bra Hugh. Gumba Gumba - 'Gumba One' Party Party, gumba is township slang for "party"! Enough said. Lira - 'All My Love' A surprise package from the legendary Arthur's 999 stable, but this time it is quality R&B on offer. KWAITO: Mshoza - 'Bhoza' She is back again, and she's gonna make you dance again. Msawawa - 'Home Sweet Home' A really strong follow-up from the ever-consistent Msawawa. Twasa - 'Kwaito Soul' The new direction of kwaito? Whatever the case, we enjoy it. HOUSE: Rudeboy Paul - 'Azanian Pulse' (A Rudeboy Mix) Our album of the month for May and for good reason. A great mix, with traditional African melancholy and a beat to move the feet. Features greats like Oliver Mtukudzi, Louis Mhlanga, Busi Mhlongo and Zim Ngqawana. Roxxy - 'Blue Skies' A star is born - this deep house diva has released a gem of an album! INTERNATIONAL: Flip Kowlier - 'Ocharme Ik' This talented and well-known Flemish artist has been given a South African release on Rhythm Records. No need to try and search out those elusive imports any more. KIDDIES: Bibber Bobbejaantjie En Ander Bobbejaanstories Afrikaans kiddies album. --------------- MORE REVIEWS --------------- More reviews can be found at: Open Record http://www.openrecord.co.za Amuzine http://rock.co.za/reviews.htm ______________________________________ 4.USA FOR AFRICA ------------------ Texas-based Kurt Shoemaker gives his unique views on SA music WONDERBOOM - 'TELL SOMEONE WHO CARES' [CDDGR 1561] Wonderboom rips out a sudden opening with 'Dead Right' on their newest, bestest, album, 'Tell Someone Who Cares', and give us energetic hard rock all the way to the closer, 'House of Cards'. It's amazing what can still be done with the basic rock unit of guitar, bass, drums, and vibrant frontman. Herein the boys blast out a harder style, though they never were candlight-and-bobotie crooners. They rock all the way through this twelve-track wee beastie and move me with the energy I need since I'm the kind of guy who does not need music to relax, being already relaxed and downright sluggish, but one needing music providing constant fixes of get-up-and-go, such as the fuel of Wonderboom's guitars and drums. The title comes from the hellfire preacher's intro (the Church of Shirtless Cito?) to dance rock song mixing religious imagery with rock show. And, you know, Wonderboom has a point: rock like this can save you from many evils (such as boredom). So "Cast your hips to the left/Cast them to the right"! Cito, Danny, Wade, and Martin almost ignore the tradition of at least one slow song per set, which is not always necessary or suitable. But 'Trippin'' and and 'Night Falls like a Grand Piano' fill this slot early on. Overall, the big guitars, drums, and singer dominate and make this album a big bubble of rock, not an intimate work. That suits me, I like big rock bands that make big music and fill venues with pleasing rock music and touches of humour. So they slow down a couple of times, but only in tempo, not in big sound or energy--this album moves and moves me. I think I could plow a field and dance all night with this kind of energy. I like this rock, I really do. I smile, feel the sense of wonder and joy, I rise to the dance floor amid the happy, celebratory crowd. For this hemisphere, I've got my summer energy needs met. READ http://rock.co.za/legends/90s/wonderboom.html LISTEN http://www.SAmp3.com/samplers.html BUY http://www.oneworld.co.za/index.cfm?bec=4321&searchfor=wonderboom 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 THE BUCKFEVER UNDERGROUND - 'TEACHING AFRIKAANS AS A FOREIGN LANGUAGE' I've checked all my London Underground maps and there is no Buckfever Underground in London, so I guess these guys are teaching Afrikaans as a foreign language somewhere other than London. In fact, listening to this CD it seems that they are teaching English and Afrikaans as the lyrics alternate between songs. The Buckfever is a foursome made up of Stephen Timm, Jon Savage, Gilad Hockman and Toast Coetzer, and this talented bunch of musicians have produced a rather intriguing album of sardonic vocals and poetic lyrics set against a backdrop of piano, drum and bass sounds. It is not an easy album as the opening track 'Who Cares (Not Us)' proves. There's a psychotic angularity to the jerky piano while the almost disjointed lyrics stutter out a day in the life with a tangible paranoia. At times I'm reminded of the Breyten Breytenbach albums particularly on the track 'Love In A Time Of Visas' where the lyrics are spoken over atmospheric music. But while 'Love In A Time Of Visas' is a semi sweet love song, it is followed by a rather terrifying account of 'Die Bure'. Starting with the lyric 'Die Bure skop hulle diere', you realise that these are not nice people who live next door. With topics like these, there is a mix of feelings and textures to this album that requires your full attention while listening. It's edgy music with harsh, sometimes disturbing lyrics. Not for those who like their music cheerful and poppy. BUY http://www.oneworld.co.za/index.cfm?bec=4321&searchfor=buckfever John Samson, London mailto:john@sarockdigest.com _________________________________________ 6.HISTORY & TRIVIA ------------------- NORTHERN SOUL AND THE SOUTH AFRICAN INVASION By Tertius Louw Decca's "the Northern Soul Scene" compilation CD released on DERAM in 1998, contains wonderful examples of sixties clubland favourites. Of particular interest to me were the inclusion of songs by Danny Williams and the Bats. I scanned the liner notes for information about their South African roots, but to no avail. Danny's career is well documented and I have nothing to add. The Bats, however, is a different story. They landed a recording contract with Decca when they moved to the UK in 1966 and recorded three singles for the Label between 1966 - 1967. The liner notes introduced them as ... "an Irish group who originally recorded for Columbia in 1964." Their maiden single for Decca, "Listen to my heart" [track on cd] was an immediate success and peaked at no 11 on the London charts on New Year's Day, 1967. Their follow-up single "You look good together" also featured on the charts in early 1967. "Listen to my heart" is described in the liner notes as a "...terrific up tempo dancer ... which has long been admired by UK label collectors." Tom Jones can also be heard on the CD and it is worth mentioning that one of his earlier band members, lead guitarist Pete Clifford, joined the Bats during 1968 and remained with the band to this day. Pete also recorded with 004 and Floribunda Rose. He returns to the UK this month for various gigs with ex-004 members. Recommended websites: http://www.radiolondon.co.uk http://www.rock.co.za/files/four_index.htm http://www.rock.co.za/files/bats_index.html ---------------------------- SPRINGBOK RADIO CHARTS http://rock.co.za/charts This week [Last week] Title - Artist 30 YEARS AGO (08 June 1973) 1 [2] Never, Never, Never - Shirley Bassey 2 [1] Can't Keep It In - Cat Stevens 3 [3] We Believe In Tomorrow - Freddy Breck 4 [7] Get Down - Gilbert O' Sullivan 5 [4] The Morning After - Maureen Mcgovern 25 YEARS AGO (09 June 1978) 1 [1] Stayin' Alive - Bee Gees 2 [3] Night Fever - Bee Gees 3 [2] Make Love To Me - Kelly Marie 4 [4] It's So Easy - Linda Ronstadt 5 [5] I Can't Stand The Rain - Eruption 20 YEARS AGO (10 June 1983) 1 [1] Total Eclipse Of The Heart - Bonnie Tyler 2 [2] Up Where We Belong - Joe Cocker & Jennifer Warnes 3 [4] Let's Dance - David Bowie 4 [3] Billie Jean - Michael Jackson 5 [5] Der Kommisar - After The Fire 15 YEARS AGO (09 June 1988) 1 [1] Beds Are Burning - Midnight Oil 2 [2] Get Outta My Dreams - Billy Ocean 3 [5] My Arms Keep Missing You - Rick Astley 4 [6] I Should Be So Lucky - Kylie Minogue 5 [7] Love Changes Everything - Climie Fisher After 2 weeks of knocking on the door of the top spot, Shirley Bassey finally made the top of the charts in 1973. By doing so, she joined a list of 70 artists who had 1 number 1 hit, and no further top 20 hits. This list also included the previous number 1, Freddy Breck and the 1988 chart topper Midnight Oil. Gilbert O'Sullivan (not to be confused with songwriting duo Gilbert & Sullivan) was getting down with his 2nd top 10 hit. A slight shuffling at the number 2 and 3 spots in 1978 meant that once again the Bee Gees were occupying the top 2 positions. This feat is unequalled in the history of the charts. It was 'Stayin' Alive's' 7th week at the top, in fact it had been at number 1 the week 'Night Fever' entered the top 20. Bonnie Tyler spent her second week at number 1 in 1983. The recently disposed 'Up Where We Belong' stuck at the second spot while Michael Jackson and David Bowie swapped positions. Climie Fisher consisted of ex Naked Eyes member Rob Fisher and Simon Climie. 'Love Changes Everything' reached number 2 in the UK and 23 in the US. Fisher died in 1999 while Climie went on to work with Eric Clapton, writing and producing material on Clapton's album 'Pilgrim' as well as being involved in the collaboration between Clapton and B.B. King called 'Riding with the King'. South African's at number 1 this week: Michael Row The Boat Ashore - Richard Jon Smith (1979) South African New Entries this week: 08-Jun-73 That's Why I Love You - Richard Jon Smith 09-Jun-78 So You Win Again - Copperfield 09-Jun-78 Rosie - Gene Rockwell 13-Jun-69 Bicycle Bill - Matt Hurter 13-Jun-75 Before The Next Teardrop Falls - Bobby Angel 13-Jun-75 Goodbye Is The Saddest Song - John Edmond 14-Jun-68 Baas Jack (an Afrikaans cover of Master Jack) - Al Debbo 14-Jun-74 Tchip, Tchip (also known as the 'Birdie Song') - Dan Hill 14-Jun-74 Little Soldier Blue - Gwynneth Ashley Robin --------------- VINYL JUNKIES --------------- This section is for collectors of vinyl, both South African and International. MABU VINYL 34 Kloof Street, Gardens, Cape Town Dickie Loader - 'Greatest Hits' (LP) Lionel Pillay - 'Deeper In Black' (LP) Jack Hammer - 'The Judas Chapter' (LP) Mike Makhalemele - 'Walking Spirit' (LP) Ballyhoo - 'Ballyhoo' (LP) Jungle Tou - 'Jungle Tou' (LP) Dollar Brand - 'Manenberg'/'African Herbs' (2LP) Soundtrack - 'King Kong' (LP)* *It's not from that Monkey movie!! It's about a South African boxer, okay!? - Film Ed. Cash paid for records in saleable condition. Jacques Vosloo (+27 21) 423 7635 mailto:vinyl@sarockdigest.com ------------------------------------------ VIBES VINYL Stadium-on-Main, Main Road, Claremont Circus - 'In the Arena' (LP) eVoid - 'éVoid' (LP) Rabbitt - 'Rabbitt 1972-1978' (Limited souvenir edition 12" Maxi single) Sweatband - 'No Sweat' (LP) V/A - 'Folk '75' (2LP) V/A - 'Original Mountain Rockers' (RED Vinyl) 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 ----------- BIRTHDAYS ----------- 05 - Jonathan Handley (1954, The Radio Rats) 06 - Billy Forrest (born William Broadman, 1940) 11 - Nielen Mirror (born Nielen Marais, 1951, Falling Mirror) 19 - June Dyer (1942) If you info on any South African artists dates of birth, please send them to mailto:brian@rock.co.za?subject=birthdays ______________________________________________ 7.SOUND SOLUTIONS ------------------- A Readers Forum A selection of the email requests, questions, searches, and other pieces of random info we receive each week at the Digest. Sometimes we can assist, other times we look to you, our collectively well-informed readers to contact these writers and help out as well. Thanks! ---------------------------- HowCanIGetADecentEmailAdress@ACoolDomainLikeYours.Com.Or.Co.Za Hi, please can you guys help me? I have such a lousy email address! You know how hard it is to find a nice prefix when you have a Hotmail or Yahoo email account! Mine is JasonSS397@hotmail.com I see you have a lot of cool domain names floating around and I was wondering if I could use one of yours as a redirect address? Something like jason@rock.co.za or guitarman@rock.co.za? Hope you can help, Jason JasonSS397@hotmail.com Ed. - We have received quite a few requests like yours, and we do make all our domain names - including Rock.co.za, SAKlank.com, SAmp3.com, Sugarman.org, etc - available for redirectable email addresses. The new redirect email address costs R150 for a year, and you can choose your own prefix name on any of our domains. You can email mailto:CanIgetAnewEmailAddressPlease@rock.co.za for details. ---------------------------- CDB - LISA Is it still possible to get CD copies of Chris De Burgh's album 'Live In South Africa'? Arvid Storli Norway Ed. - Sure, that elusive, and consistently requested album (from fans world-wide) is available online at: http://www.oneworld.co.za/index.cfm?bec=4321&id=MMTCD2025 "CDB LISA" is the international abbreviation for this highly desired Chris de Burgh album, containing the (only on this SA pressing) live version of 'Riding On A Rainbow', CDB's song written specially for the Rainbow Nation, sweet hey! ---------------------------- MICKIE MOST AND THE PLAYBOYS This email arrived, sadly, as did news of Mickie Most's passing (see 'News' above)..... I suppose by now you will have read or heard that Mickie Most passed away in London on May 30. I was saddened by the news. I only wish I had kept in touch with him and Christene over the years. He had one son and two daughters. In the early 60's, when Mickie Most and his band toured Northern Rhodesia (now Zambia) in conjunction with Pepsi Cola and then Coca Cola, I organised his tours in Northern Rhodesia. By the way: Dickie Loader and his band in particular, Graham Beggs and Dave Pollecutt were also friends of mine as I also organised a Northern Rhodesian tour for him, also in the early 60's. Another very good friend was Hennie Bekker who was a great pianist and Jazz musician who did some shows for the old SABC (including TV) in its early days. I would love to get hold of some of his records on tape or disc. How would I go about getting (tapes) if possible of some of Mickie Most's records? Please e-mail me at mailto:nigel592@yahoo.com Thanks! Nigel Thompson Coolbreeze Bungalows Kata Noi Road Kata Beach Phuket 83100 Thailand ---------------------------- B-WORLD SEARCH I have one for you: Was a BIG fan of an SA band briefly called "B-World", somewhere in the late '80's early '90's. I knew Sheryd Van Rooyen (guitarist, previously Backwater Blues Band) from the days when Grosvenor St. in Hatfield Pretoria was a den of iniquity & best student commune parties (before it became a shopping mall!). If ever there was potential for an SA band to crack the UK/US rock scene it would have been these boys... Any luck on getting my hands on CD of theirs (Had a tape but lost it at one of those rough parties....)? Francois Botha 2 Lower Sandfields Send, Woking Surrey mailto:f.botha@btinternet.com ---------------------------- HIDE AND SEEK I am looking for the song 'Hide and Seek' by The Attraction - old SA song of the late '60's or early '70's. Anybody that can help me? What are the chances for more CD's in the line of 'SA Pop' or 'Yesterday's Best'? There are still many old SA songs which have not yet appeared on CD. Cobus Nieuwoudt mailto:jmnieuwoudt@icon.co.za ---------------------------- DRUMS FOR SALE The drums are: One full set of 'Tama Rockstar' (value R11000) with an expensive "Pacific Throne" leather Seat (value R900). A retail value of approx R12000. Will sell for R8800 ono Contact: mailto:editor@sarockdigest.com?subject=drums -------------------------- GOT A QUESTION? Please email any musical questions to mailto:soundsolutions@sarockdigest.com ---------------------------- This section is sponsored by: SOUND SOLUTIONS Sound Solutions is 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@rock.co.za ______________________________________________ 8.LIVE MUSIC --------------- ------- EVENTS: ------- Full details at http://www.sagigs.com Watch Out for: KAREN ZOID IN LONDON - Karen Zoid and her band will be performing two shows in London during July at the Ukkasie Festival at Wembley in London (July 12), and at the Underworld in Camden (July 19). JA RULE - Multi-award winning Hip Hop superstar, Ja Rule, is coming to SA in July for three shows. 'A MEETING OF THE GIANTS' - Sheer Sound present Winston "Mankunku" Ngozi, Zim Ngqawana, and Music Ye Afrika. JAMMIN' IN DA PARK' FREE2SPEAK CONCERT - With Springbok Nude Girls, Tweak, Wonderboom, Bongo Maffin, Skwatta Kamp. Monday, June 16th, Parktown Boys High School, JHB FRESHLY GROUND - The Cape Town sensations are just back from an appearance at the Arts Festival in Harare, and are very excited about playing at home again. This gig is a warm-up in preparation for the album launch, which has been delayed due to "constraints and post-production difficulties" HENRY ATE SA TOUR - All the dates for the nationwide tour from June 25 - July 26. HEINZ - The SA Pop Idol winner will be performing a special 'Youth Day' Anniversary Concert at the Cape Town City Hall (opposite the Grand Parade) on June 16 at 16:00. NEO MUYANGA - A Personal Journey Through 'The Listening Room'. At the CD Wherehouse at the V&A Waterfront in Cape Town. A rare and intimate performance and discussion - Fri 13 June at 6PM THE ROSWELL KINGS - Back with a new line-up in residency at the Independent Armchair Theatre, Thursdays in June (see below) BOO! - The crazy trio are taking their new album, 'TNTLC' for a European jaunt till August with one quick stop at The Bassline in Melville. NIANELL - Still riding high on the nation's charts and playlists with 'Who Painted The Moon?', Nianell continues to tour the country with her very special brand of aural magic, and has been in the studio finalising the production and mixes of tracks for her soon-to-be-released second album. STEVE NEWMAN AND DAVE GOLDBLUM - Acclaimed guitar guru Steve Newman (Tananas), and singer songwriter Dave Goldblum, will be performing at The Taphuis in Grahamstown on Wed. 11th June from 8.30pm, as part of a coastal tour they are doing together during June. ROCK CONCERT 4 - The fourth in this series of dumbly-named, um, rock concerts will take place on 14 June at Carnival City. 'Rock Concert 4' will feature Wonderboom, Tweak, Cutting Jade, Jo Day, Soil 7t7, Grounded, Prime Circle, SMS 3, The Finklesteins, The Narrow, and El Camino. Jo Day will be using the occasion to launch 'No Warning', her new album (and the follow-up to last year's 'Icon') which will be available soon. The album's title track, 'No Warning', is an ode to Derrick van Niekerk, the guitarist for punk band '4 Minute Warning' who was senselessly murdered in a hijacking last year. THE OPPIKOPPI 'HOND UIT 'N BOX' FESTIVAL - 8-10 August, OppiKoppi farm, Northam. (see below) Details of all these events at http://www.sagigs.com ---------------------------- ROSWELL KINGS The Roswell Kings are back on the local live scene with a couple of new members and a fresh, new sound. The 'Kings' are now a four-piece, and sounding cleaner, sexier and more relevant than ever before. The new band line-up is vocalist/guitarist Andy Lund, drummer Nick Lord, and new members Jason Ling on bass, and Dylan Dalton on second guitar. Roswell Kings will play a residency, every Thursday in June, at the Independent Armchair Theatre. They will be performing an intimate, compelling and incredibly personal acoustic set. This acoustic fiesta will be ably complemented on the 5th and 19th by Velve, a band with untold talent and incredible musical presence, and on the 12th by Piscies, an exciting new band from Somerset West area. Roswell Kings are very honoured to be joined on the 26th by the godfather of Cape Town music, Robin Auld, who will be joining the boys for a few songs of their set as well as doing a set of his own material. At The Independent Armchair Theatre every Thursday in June: 5th and 19th with Velve 12th with Piscies 26th with Robin Auld ---------------------------- GUY BUTTERY Guy Buttery will be bringing his acclaimed guitar style to Cape Town for a short 2-3 week tour in mid-late July/early August. With the final gig list still to be finalised, those who are interested in featuring Guy in performance at their venues, please contact his management (see details below) with details of available dates, sound system set-up, times etc. Guy Buttery recently released his debut album, 'When I Grow Up...' on the Sheer Sound label, and it was nominated for both 'Best Instrumental album of the Year' and 'Best Newcomer for 2002' at this year's South African Music Awards (SAMA's). For these shows, Guy will perform solo acoustic guitar and sitar. Listen and Buy 'When I Grow Up...' online: http://www.oneworld.co.za/index.cfm?bec=4321 Website: www.sheer.co.za/guy.html Contact Details: 031 - 5611945/ 5612955 082 361 0615 mailto:buttery@iafrica.com ---------------------------- THE OPPIKOPPI 'HOND UIT 'N BOX' FESTIVAL 8-10 August, OppiKoppi farm, Northam. The August festival is back on the farm again, with the focus of this riotous occasion leaning more on rock, punk, blues, folk and pop bands, with a sprinkling of comedy acts and a few DJ's thrown in for good measure. The die-hard fans who have followed the festival from its infancy on the farm in 1995 to a 15 000-strong audience in 2000, can now return to the much loved bushveld venue. Women's Day on the 9th August falls on a Saturday this year, so without a long weekend, it is strongly suggested that patrons book sick leave for Friday the 8th in advance. Sommer for Monday the 11th as well; you're going to need it! OppiKoppi's other festival at Fountains Valley in Pretoria (Tshwane) takes place at the end of November and will differ significantly in line-up, concentrating more on progressive live acts, DJ's, Urban dance styles, Kwaito and Hip Hop bands. More information on the November jol will be made available shortly. Tickets: Ticketing distribution details will be made available shortly and will also be displayed on the website. However the prices will be as follows: I-AM-SAVING-MY-MONEY-FOR-SUN-SOAKED-SUNDOWNERS-IN-THE-BUSHVELD TICKETS: Will be on sale up to the 15th of July. The price will be R200. I-FORGOT-TO-GET-A-CHEAP-TICKET-IN-TIME (AND-INCIDENTALLY-ALSO-ONLY-GOT-MY-CARD-LICENCE-IN-THE-SECOND-BATCH) TICKET: Will be on sale from the 16th of July. The price will be R250. www.oppikoppi.co.za mailto:info@oppikoppi.co.za -------- SA PUNK -------- THE CURBDOGS TOUR Sat 14 June - The Whammy Bar -8.30/R20 With Half Price and Zero Tolerance -------------- LIVE REVIEWS: -------------- PIET BOTHA LAUNCHES 'DIE MAMBA' IN PRETORIA Die "Man met Kitaar" launched his new album, Carina Laubscher was there. Yes. It was going to be one of those nights. By early morning I felt it knotting my guts like a voodoo snake. The launch of Piet Botha's "Die Mamba" would be magic. Filled with rock - in the voices of guitar, drums, harmonica, and the men. Piet Botha and Jonathan inside the mikes and guitars, Duke Paul on drums and Tertius on bass. And oh, sweet Mother of the Earth - the saxophone. Born for the hands and mouth of Leon van Zweel. And they were ready for us. Everybody was there. Loved ones, trusted ones, good ones. Cameras, notebooks, recorders. The sight made me shiver - Café Barcelona was packed to the ceiling; at least 250 people milling around, greeting, hugging, looking for seats, flopping down with a drink, music in their throats - in an atmosphere thick with that trusted electrical buzz called "This is gonna be good. Real good." The lights dimmed and the silence came. Piet put the microphone to his mouth and greeted his people. And so it began. Easing us into the cold windy night with some of the old stuff, Jack Hammer sweating through every note, sharing a smoke with Piet Botha in the rough raw beat. All the CDs were playing in front of our eyes. "Blues Vir Louise", "Staan Saam Burgers", "Goeienag Generaal" - all the favourites. "Liberty" - and again I saw this old man peering at me from the body of an angel, singing with the secret knowledge of a rock musician's heart. Piet moved closer to Jonathan, his body close to the Fender. Tertius coming in with that big guitar, closing the circle. Applause and screams rising again and again from the back of the room like a heated wave, repeating itself with every beat of my heart. Piet smiled. Walked back to his mike, looked over at his band, nodded and slammed our eardrums with more blowtorch poetry. "Die Mamba" was thrown on the stage with Fender and Gibson, gleaming with a frantic energy in the yellow lights, harmonica blended with sweat and throaty rock beats, sultry saxophone touching every note with the tongue of a siren - and I was floating. "Kitty" started, dark and deep. We disappeared into Leeudoringstad, to De Wildt, following the story. Looking for the woman who stole the priest's soul. Floating on Piet's voice - then yanked back by that impatient "rufff-rufffff!!!" from Duke's corner, sticks dancing on his fingertips, his body contorted by the beast called Rhythm. Out of him came this solo, a thing with the colour of Mexican chillies, drawing us close, his hair flung back, the voices of stones and canyons and deep dark caves echoing the beat. Jonathan, Piet and Tertius with a seamless re-entry, heads rocking and veteran fingers fastened on guitar strings that wouldn't stop. "Bordello" and "Die Gemmerbroodman" presented themselves with gusto. Piet's dad sat and watched - his smile a mixture of fresh surprise and unadulterated pride. While we yelled, stamped our feet, beat the tables, punched fists in the air, gulped more beer, and fell - once again - all over in love with this man's music. Piet Botha made "Die Mamba" with hardcore talent, persistence, passion, unease, love, dust, myths, travels, the earth, his heart. "Die Mamba" arrived last night in 200 CDs. Midnight came. And then there were only 3. Grab your copy very very soon. Let Piet Botha show you how to wear a mamba like a tie. "Hulle roep my Die Mamba - die hele kontinent behoort aan my." Carina Melville (Jhb) READ LISTEN BUY http://www.PietBotha.com ---------------------------- DURBANDS: CYNOSURE, ALLISON ROAD, SUTHERLAND & QUZO It's rare to catch two good nights of music within a Durban week, never mind watching four good bands within two nights like I did. Thursday was an acoustic charity gig at the Bat Centre alongside Durban Harbour. It was good to be in a different venue to my normal route of The Winston and the Wavehouse. I ordered a way-too-expensive beer and caught the final two songs of the opening act. Don't know who they were but despite them being a bit off the beat, they came across as fun. I ordered way-too-expensive beer #2 and checked out the crowd. Ecletic bunch. Everything from 16 to 50 years of age ... and a lot of them. I wondered how the bands would appeal to this broad range. Wow! Allison Road were unbelievable. The set had a very uptempo Barenaked Ladies vibe and included new material that they were playing live for the first time. The crowd loved it. In every song's wake was applause. The same applied to Cynosure. They couldn't go wrong with their acoustically alternative Simply Red sound. I left just before the end of the set (I forgot to tell you about way-too-expensive beers #3, #4 and #5) and felt solidly satisfied with being drunk having nothing to do with it. Friday night was a jump to the Winston Pub for metallers Sutherland and quirky Quzo. It was a special night before it had even begun because this was to be Quzo's first gig in one and a half years owing to the fact that two of the band members were overseas (and only here on holiday). Their performance erased the time barrier. They are still of Durban's best boasts. Each band member is good at what they do. The lead singer begins so gently to eventually end with a crescendo of vocals and facial expressions. If Nick Cave were a shout, this is what he'd sound like. Sutherland are the metallers who have shunned time as well but in a totally different way. They don't care to compromise their old-school sound with the nu-metal that tears at today's music charts. They're rock defenders of the Manowar code. And they can rock! From start to finish they had metalheads seeking sore heads. It was another sweat-wringing performance and in a way, I preferred this over their main stage performance at Splashy Fen. The Winston's so intimate that you can clearly see the dedication on every band member's face. Very live! Very in your face. That was definitely the best gig I've attended at the Winston in a long while (oh, and if I forgot to tell you ... this was a Wicked Rock gig). WICKED MIKE www.wickedrock.co.za ---------- GIG GUIDE ---------- The SA Rock Digest list of recommended gigs can be found at: http://www.SAgigs.com. Please send all gig info to mailto:sugar@sagigs.com?subject=gigs in a plain text e-mail. ___________________________________________ 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 an e-mail to: mailto:subscribe@sarockdigest.com?Subject=SubscriberAddressChange To unsubscribe - please send a blank 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 -------- Brian Currin & Stephen Segerman mailto:editors@sarockdigest.com?subject=SARockDigest ------------- CONTRIBUTORS ------------- Don Bryce Carina Laubscher Tertius Louw Daniel Neville John Samson Kurt Shoemaker Wicked Mike Proofed by Ronx <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>