SA ROCK DIGEST ISSUE #209 http://www.sarockdigest.com 14th July 2003 Established 27th January 1999 ---------------- EDITOR'S NOTE ---------------- If you would like to contact us, please do not reply to this newsletter! Rather email us at mailto:editor@sarockdigest.com The deadline for submissions and gig info is Friday 12 noon. -------------- IN THIS ISSUE -------------- Madiba Tops Charts at 85... Tweak on International Tour... OppiKoppi Line-up... Cape Battle of the Bands.... Redd-Angel Album... 'Rocking Against The System 2'... Lazarus... Hot RS 2...Overdope... The new BOO! album and the old Otis Waygood album reviewed... 'Lets Start A Fire' tour... 'Zimbabwe Ruins' In London... readers' letters to Sound Solutions... Charts... Recommended Live Events... with a full list of those concerts and all the details 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 Daddy' to 'ZX Dan'... visit the South African Rock Encyclopedia at http://www.ROCK.co.za ------------ SAGIGS.com ------------ The SA Rock Digest list of Recommended Gigs can be found at: http://www.SAgigs.com ------------- 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: Madiba tops Charts at 85, Tweak on International Tour, OppiKoppi, Cape Battle of the Bands 2.CHARTS: Top 30 SA mp3s & albums 3.NEW RELEASES: SA mp3s & CDs: 4.USA FOR AFRICA: BOO! - 'TNTLC' 5.A NAARTJIE IN THE UK: Otis Waygood Blues Band - 'OWBB' 6.HISTORY & TRIVIA: Springbok Radio charts, birthdays, Vinyl Junkies 7.SOUND SOLUTIONS: A Readers' Forum 8.LIVE MUSIC: Events round-up, 'Zimbabwe Ruins' in London 9.INFO: Subscriptions & contributions _____________________________________________ 1.NEWS -------- MADIBA TOP OF THE SA CHARTS AT 85 Nelson Mandela, who turns 85 on Friday 18 July, has an extra reason to celebrate on his birthday this year. While good wishes have been pouring in from around the world to honour South Africa's beloved statesman, music fans around the world have been consistently downloading Bright Blue's new tribute single, 'Madiba 1990', from SAmp3.com, pushing it up to the Number 1 spot this week. 'Madiba 1990', which is not yet available for sale, was given an exclusive release on www.SAmp3.com by Bright Blue, making it freely available to anyone in the world as a birthday tribute by the well-known Cape Town band. Madiba also shares a birthday with SA musician Piet Botha, who has also paid tribute to Madiba in the song 'Al Die Stede' on his new 'Die Mamba' CD (see new mp3's below). 'Madiba 1990', and all other Bright Blue info, is available at http://rock.co.za/brightblue See a special Bright Blue/'Madiba 1990' feature on Geraas on SABC 2 at 18h00 on Wednesday 16th. And we wish Madiba a rocking 85th Birthday!! LISTEN http://www.SAmp3.com -------------- TWEAK OFF ON INTERNATIONAL TOUR Tweak, SA's hottest punk upstarts, are finally preparing for the long trek to international destinations, with immediate tours in both hemispheres. Tweak depart on the Qantas QF064 flight direct to Sydney, Australia on the 14th of July to support the release of 'Dirty Sanchez and The Misfit Kidz', which was released in Australia on the 7th of July through MGM Distribution. The showcase tour sees them promoted by Trading Post Agency, which represents artistes such as Silverchair, Grinspoon, Killing Heidi, The John Butler Trio, Cog, Pacifier and other top Australian artistes. Tweak will be in Oz from the 14th to the 28th of July, when they will return to SA to depart immediately that evening on the British Airways flight to London. The United Kingdom tour takes place from the 29th of July to the 7th of August. The band will perform at the Newquay festival with Wheatus, The Naked Apes and several other top international artistes as well as performing shows in London. Tweak will be returning for a small break in their touring schedule due to Bugsy's school commitments. The band will play a few select shows and will film the 'Girls Rule The World' music video before headlining the 'Woodstock 5 Music and Lifestyle Festival' which will be held at Roodeplaat Dam just outside of Pretoria, over the weekend of the 25th-28th of September. TOUR DATES: Australia: 17 July: Barwon Club - Geelong (Melbourne) with Best Kept Secret, Lamexcuse, Lost Boy Found 18 July: Armadale Hotel (Melbourne) with Best Kept Secret, Trial Kennedy, King Pin, Four Forty 19 July: Casey's nightclub (Hawthorne - Melbourne) with Best Kept Secret, and No Joel. 24 July: Vic on The Park, Enmore, (Sydney) with Best Kept Secret, Sans Chavelle, Years From Now, Four 'n Twenty 25 July: Yo Yo's Frenches Forest (Sydney) with Best Kept Secret, Boy Meets Ground, Combat Edition 26 July: Mayfield Hotel (Newcastle) with Best Kept Secret, Draw The Line and Inside A Lie 27 Jul: Woy Woy High School with Best Kept Secret and guests. England: 30 July: Newquay Festival (with Wheatus) 31st July: Newquay Festival (with Wheatus) 1st August: Newquay Festival (with Wheatus) 5th August: The Garage, Islington (London headline show) (More shows to be confirmed.) For more information on Tweak, please contact: Authentic Ideas +27 11 646 6467 mailto:nancy@authentic.co.za LISTEN http://www.SAmp3.com/samplers.html BUY http://www.oneworld.co.za/index.cfm?bec=4321&searchfor=tweak -------------- OPPIKOPPI ANNOUNCE "THE CHOSEN FEW" FOR 'HOND UIT 'N BOX' Northam over 8, 9 August The act of selecting and booking bands that takes place in the heart of the OppiKoppi demo machine is a constant process, with many bands being chosen to perform at the various shows that OppiKoppi produces throughout the year. The most sought-after slots however, are at OppiKoppi's own festivals, and this year the applications ran into the hundreds. It is heart-warming to see so many new bands from all over the country and abroad keen to play at the Festival, which is one of the reasons OppiKoppi will host two events this year. Not only was the number of demo's received overwhelming, but the quality of material continues to improve every year. Rest assured that there is a load of talent in the South African live music scene, never mind what the not-so-local playlisting radio stations would have you believe. After weeks of debate and listening sessions, the OppiKoppi selection committee has almost completed the line-up for the August 'Hond uit 'n Box' Festival to be held on the farm at Northam over 8,9 August. Here follows an alphabetical list of the bands booked so far: 340ml* (Mozambique), Albert Frost* & Ollie Viljoen, Andries Bezuidenhout (BMRO*), Arno Carstens' New Porn, Beeskraal*, Brothers from the Y (Kimberley), Cutting Jade*, Dan Patlansky and the Mississippi Muthers*, Dave Goldblum (Port Elizabeth), Fuze, Gert Vlok Nel (Beaufort West), Greg Georgiades, Hog Hoggidy Hog (Cape Town), Jack Hammer*, Jorge de Almeida (Angola), Karen Zoid*, Kristoe Strauss, Luna*, Mamba Washamba, Marlowe*, Max Normal (Original line-up), Misericord, N8ive, Not My Dog*, Pestroy, Plum, Rhütz, Soil 7T7*, Surreal, The 206 dj Posse, The AK Massive (KwaZulu), The Finkelstiens, The Narrow*, Tidal Waves, Tribe*, Trike, Tumi and the Volume and Ystervark (Bloemfontein). This line-up continues to grow, and regular updates as well as pictures and a short description of each band are posted at www.oppikoppi.co.za The time to get a ticket is NOW, at only R200 until 15th July. After the 15th July tickets are R250 for the weekend. Tickets can be bought at Look and Listen stores in Gauteng, or at www.lookandlisten.co.za or www.artslink.co.za. Tickets are, of course, available at the gate as well, but the early bird gets the discount, so don't delay the inevitable. The ninth year for OppiKoppi looks set to be another groundbreaking and historical one, with many new plans, two main festivals, and other exciting new musical projects. e-mail: mailto:info@oppikoppi.co.za Phone: 012 460 7431 * Listen to mp3's of these artists at http://www.SAmp3.com -------------- REDD-ANGEL ALBUM DUE Redd-Angel will shortly be releasing his long awaited 'Redd-Angel' debut album on the Sexy Records Label. This Cape Flats R'n'B artist, who was discovered busking at a CT petrol station, is being hailed as SA's answer to Craig David by the UK Music Industry, and will henceforth be promoted as a solo artist. The act will however still involve founder member Reds (Ricardo Wessels), who will be Redd-Angel's MC and will continue to be fully involved in the project. Redd-Angel opened for Jah Rule on his SA tour and is planning an intensive promotion of his forthcoming 'Redd-Angel' album to be released in September in SA by Sexy Records SA. Redd-Angel's SA hit, 'Fabulous Day', will be released in Italy in August via EMI (ITALY) and the video for this forthcoming European release has been shot in Venice (Italy) -------------- REVIVAL OF THE CAPE TIMES 'BATTLE OF THE BANDS' The Cape Times Battle of the Bands is on again. Bands that made Cape Town rock, and the fans scream, in the sixties and early seventies will battle for recognition again, in a series of five shows at Dockside. These start with the first of four preliminary rounds on July 27 and the finals on August 31. "It all started as a fun thing", said Derek Gordon, a director of Dockside and a playing member of former winning band Omega Limited in the era of the big beat. "Our first thoughts were for a reunion of bands still playing which took part in the original Battle shows. However, because of restrictions at the time, a lot of bands were prevented from taking part. So in fairness we decided to open the 2003 Battle to all old bands still playing, from all areas." The Battle of the Bands was a Cape Times-supported project to provide a platform for up-and-coming musical talent, and was the starting point for the rise to fame of many amateur bands and individual musicians and vocalists. According to Peter Sorrell, former promoter of the Battle of the Bands for the Cape Times, who is on board again, this will still be the case with talented newcomers having taken the places of retiring members in many of the old bands over the years. Ideally, 20 bands will take part in the 2003 Battle, which will offer performance money, prize money and trophies, also a recording contract, Sorrell said. The following top bands from the past have been contacted and are in the starting line-up: The Idiots, Shellac Proof, Metallic Sunn, Alpha Set, the Paddy Foot Blues Band, Nu Trend, Cosmic Prism, Triangles, Black Frost, Onion Jack, Omega Ltd, History, Nature's Conception, Glass Onion, Drifters, Auroras, The Threads, First Acquaintance and Gayan. Any band could enter providing they were active up to 1972, which is the cut-off date. The criteria with which a panel of celebrities will judge bands taking part, will include stage presentation, showmanship, musical ability and audience reaction. The venue for all five shows will be the three-level main arena at Dockside. In the rules of the competition, which is open only to groups which were active up to 1972, two of the original members must be in the playing line-up. There will be four preliminary rounds - on July 27 and August 3, 10 and 17 - leading to the finals on August 30. The Judges of the Battle of the Bands were named this week, and include: Derek Marks - a Battle judge in the sixties who played with the Square Set and other famous groups Jerry Barnard - who toured South Africa and Australia with Holy Black and whose recording studio won a SARI award; Mynie Grové - an icon in the music industry who writes music, sings and is well known to TV audiences; Al Etto - well-known musician, producer and songwriter who wrote "I Love You Daddy", and runs a recording studio; Stavro Michel - accomplished musician and singer and former DJ; Peter Sorrell - a promoter of the original Battle of the Bands series in the sixties. The Battle of the Bands offers cash prizes to the top three groups, also awards to best individual musicians and the best vocalist. Stage equipment is being sponsored by Paul Bothner. Judges will be awarding points for best performances of the music and songs of the sixties and seventies, but also for best individual musical talent. In addition to prizes for the top three bands, the competition - in which about 20 groups from the past will be taking part - will offer awards to the artistes judged to be the best guitarist, best bass player, best drummer, best keyboard player and best vocalist. The Revival will comprise four preliminary rounds, leading to the finals on August 30. All shows will be staged in the Main Arena at Dockside and the playing line-up at the various shows will be announced shortly. The organiser-in-chief, Derek Gordon, said competing bands would all use the same backline equipment comprising drum kit, keyboard and amplifiers for guitars and microphones, sponsored by Paul Bothner. "The amplified sound will be relayed through the house sound to produce a result which will take people back in time to one of the most exciting eras in musical history". Entries closed last week. ---------- 2.CHARTS ---------- TOP 30 SOUTH AFRICAN MP3s OF THE WEEK http://www.SAmp3.com 1. [3] (1) Madiba 1990 - Bright Blue (SAmp3.com/Bright Productions) 2. [8] (2) Incision - Pyramid Tongue ('Wicked Demos'/WickedRock) 3. [14] (3) Fallen - Velve (Single/Indie) 4. [1] (1) The Banded - The Narrow ('Selfconscious'/Intervention) 5. [12] (4) Paralyzer - Ghetto Muffin ('Paralyzer'/Milestone) 6. [9] (5) Moan In Blues - Akkedis with Albert Frost ('Husse Met Lang Ore'/Wildebeest) 7. [5] (5) Bleed - Loogaroo ('Loogaroo'/Indie) 8. [2] (2) Drop 'n Roll - Track 4 (Demo/Indie) 9. [7] (1) Get Some - Soil 7t7 ('Soil 7t7'/Indie) 10. [17] (10) Let's Get Naked - Evolver (Demo/Indie) 11. [13] (11) Race Past The Sun - Dolly Rockers ('Glory Glory'/Indie) 12. [6] (3) Geraamtes - Ekstra Dik ('Uit Ons Koppe Uit'/Indie) 13. [15] (13) Sense - Forest Moon ('Forest Moon'/Forest Moon) 14. [16] (1) Ugly - Springcan ('Wicked Demos'/WickedRock) 15. [18] (15) War - 12th Avenue (Demo/Indie) 16. [4] (1) Die Mamba (demo) - Piet Botha (SAmp3.com) 17. [21] (17) Sold Out - Sons Of Trout (Demo/Indie) 18. [20] (18) Girl - Myburgh ('Burnt Bachelor'/Indie) 19. [11] (5) Mellow Drama Sampler - Phringe ('Mellow Drama'/USM) 20. [27] (20) Firelight - Brian Finch ('Never Look Back'/Indie) 21. [23] (21) Die Mamba (Album version) - Piet Botha ('Die Mamba/Rhythm Records) 22. [10] (2) Springbok Nude Girls Sampler (SAmp3.com/SonyMusic) 23. [30] (23) Geek - Jakkie Louw en Daai Band ('Klein Karoo Cowboy'/Afrimusik) 24. [-] (24) Hillary - Mitsoo (Indie) 25. [22] (15) Pink Pork Noise - Benguela ('Digital Inability'/Rhythm) 26. [19] (3) Mooie Vrou - Kaal ('Blues To The Bone'/Indie) 27. [28] (27) Jacob Klipkop - Piet Botha ('Die Mamba'/Rhythm Records) 28. [25] (1) Shine - James Stewart (SAmp3.com/Street Level) 29. [-] (29) Lungile Tabalaza - Roger Lucy ('21 Years Down The Road'/3eM) 30. [24] (1) Anything - Helen Desbois (Fresh) -------------- TOP 30 SOUTH AFRICAN ALBUMS OF THE WEEK http://www.sarockdigest.com/charts This week [last week] (highest position) Title - Artist (Label) 1. [2] (1) Die Mamba - Piet Botha (Rhythm) 2. [4] (2) Ceremony - Cofield Mundi (Fresh) 3. [7] (3) TNTLC - BOO! (BMG) 4. [6] (4) Confessions In Dub - Jerome Arthur (Forest Moon) 5. [1] (1) Mellow Drama - Phringe (USM) 6. [11] (6) Paralyzer - Ghetto Muffin (Milestone) 7. [14] (7) Healing Destination - Mac McKenzie and The Goema Captains Of Cape Town (Afribeat) 8. [5] (1) Wrapped In Stone - Watershed (EMI) 9. [3] (3) Uit Ons Koppe Uit - Ekstra Dik (Indie) 10. [8] (8) Nag Van Die Nerf - Adam Tas (Wildebeest) 11. [9] (2) Soil 7t7 - Soil 7t7 (Indie) 12. [22] (12) Chasing The Sun - Karen Zoid (EMI) 13. [12] (3) Blues To The Bone - Kaal (Indie) 14. [10] (3) Wicked Demos - Various (Wicked Rock) 15. [13] (1) Song Vir Katryn - Valiant Swart (Rhythm) 16. [19] (16) Roger Lucey - 21 Years Down The Road (3eM) 17. [25] (17) Amandla! - OST (BMGSA) 18. [16] (2) Selfconscious - The Narrow (Intervention Arts) 19. [15] (3) Gypsy - Anna Davel (Rhythm) 20. [18] (2) Dirty Sanchez And The Misfit Kidz - Tweak (BMG) 21. [17] (3) Teaching Afrikaans As A Foreign language - Buckfever Underground (Indie) 22. [20] (1) Awakening - HappyFourTwenty (Indie) 23. [27] (23) Mamani - Joy Denalane (Sony) 24. [21](1) Tell Someone Who Cares - Wonderboom (DGR) 25. [24] (2) Wicked Rock: Let Us Be Heard - Various (Wicked Rock) 26. [-] (26) Homegrown Vol 2 - Various (EMI) 27. [26] (3) In Different Voices - KJ Stone (Sonic Orange) 28. [-] (28) The Best Of - No Friends of Harry (RetroFresh) 29. [28] (1) Catfish - Albert Frost (Rhythm) 30. [-] (30) Release - Zen Arcade (Indie) 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 ------ We will occasionally be featuring some readers' MP3 reviews in this section in the future. If you feel the urge to tell us, in less then 50 words, why you like a particular MP3 currently hosted at www.SAmp3.com, then please email us at mailto:editor@sarockdigest.com?subject=mp3reviews and all worthy contributions will be published. -------------- NEW MP3's: Lazarus - 'Make It Your System' http://www.SAmp3.com Curmic's sneak preview last week, of this first mp3/single release from Lazarus, described it as "Air guitar riffs, cool Chad Kroeger vocals, '80's rock sound". He's on the money! This hot, new Cape Town rock band have announced their presence with the strongest track off their 4-song debut, 'Parallax View'. 'Make It Your System' features a bubbling bass, drums and guitar brew with Niels Bouman's naked vocals riding the storm into the big chorus of "give me asylum from where I'm fleeing, some silence, to soothe my being..." Powerful stuff from an important new band. Read more about Lazarus in New Releases next week. -------------- Not My Dog - 'Fallacy' http://www.SAmp3.com Lani van der Walt explains: "'Fallacy' is the first track to be released featuring Not My Dog's new vocalist Albert Meintjes. The band is busy writing and recording new material for their next album due for release late 2003" Lani was the guitarist on Jack Hammer's 'Death Of A Gypsy' album, and producer of Piet Botha's latest CD, 'Die Mamba'. He also added his guitar skills to the track 'Die Gemmerbroodman'. 'Fallacy' is available on SAmp3.com by kind permission of Lani van der Walt and Not My Dog (Wolmer Records). -------------- Affliction - Scarlet Host http://www.SAmp3.com This popular progressive-metal-grunge band has been building a loyal following on the Cape rock scene for quite a while now. The arhythmic 'Affliction' is taken off their 4-track demo EP ambitiously titled 'Do It Yourself Volume 1'. -------------- Piet Botha - 'Al Die Stede' http://www.SAmp3.com Piet Botha and Nelson Mandela share the same birthdate (18th July) and 'Al Die Stede' is Piet's tribute to the man they call Madiba. "Maar in al die stede van die hele wêreld sal hulle jou naam ken, Nelson Mandela" (In all the cities of the whole world, they will know your name, Nelson Mandela). http://www.pietbotha.com -------------- Hot RS - 'House (mix) Of The Rising Sun' [off 'Hot RS II'] http://www.SAmp3.com HOT RS was a studio band formed by Kevin Kruger and Dan Hill in 1977. And here they are again revisiting that infamous house, re-recorded and remixed for the 21st century. This new version, which features the voice of Veronique Lalouette, is available on the EMI CD, 'HOT RS II - I Get So Excited'. The mp3 appears here by kind permission of Kevin Kruger. Be warned, this track is very HOT! http://www.rock.co.za/hotrs Read a full review below.... -------------- READERS' CHOICE: More reviews from Curmic: Petflyz - 'Almost Wide Open' http://www.SAmp3.com/intarts.html It starts up slowly with acoustic guitars, then it gets to the hard rockin' up-tempo punk. Excellent drumming with cool heavy metal riffs. Too Old To Rock - 'Arthritic Shredfest' http://www.SAmp3.com/artists_t_z.html An extended guitar workout in a Joe Satriani style. The first four and a half minutes of the song is just the intro! Then it really gets going into a raucous jam. HappyFourTwenty - 'Rock 'n Roll Model Cliché' http://www.SAmp3.com/artists_e_k.html Classic rock 'n roll with saxophones and surf guitars. Love those "waah-hoo's"! New World Inside - 'Rock City' http://www.SAmp3.com/artists_l_s.html Skatepark punk. I was at NWI's final gig at Boogaloos at Canal Walk a while ago. I think all the NWI songs on SAmp3.com are amazing and well worth a listen. Download all these mp3's at http://www.SAmp3.com -------------- Email your MP3 reviews to mailto:editor@sarockdigest.com?subject=mp3reviews Download South African mp3's from http://www.SAmp3.com South African Music: Loud 'n Proud ----- CDs ----- VARIOUS - 'ROCKING AGAINST THE SYSTEM 2' [RETROFRESH, freshcd133] The second of these RetroFresh SA rock compilations has now been released and this time it focuses on the bands and songs of the '90's. The CD's liner notes begin by explaining that "It was 1990, a new decade, and South Africa was emerging from years of politically and culturally imposed isolation. Like a slumbering giant the country tentatively made the first steps into 21st Century democracy, the mood on the streets was one of excitement and this was evident in the new music filling the airwaves and exploding out of the clubs". So 'Rocking Against The System 2' celebrates that new SA rock spirit with the pick of the tracks for '90's SA rock legends like the Springbok Nude Girls, Squeal, The Usual, Just Jinger, Sugardrive, Henry Ate, Wonderboom, Fetish and other well-known names from that era. The full tracklisting is: B World ('Rain'), Noa Noa ('Remember (Neon Sand')), Springbok Nude Girls ('Managing Mula'), Squeal ('Runners'), Naked ('Naked'), The Usual ('The Shape That I'm In'), Egyptian Nursery ('God's Window'), Just Jinger ('Stand In Your Way'), Sugardrive ('Disco Lazarus'), Henry Ate ('Hey Mister'), Blue Chameleon ('Hoss'), Wonderboom ('She Cries'), Fetish ('Constant'), Amersham ('Monkey'), Arapaho ('Wild Warrior'), Louise Carver ('It Don't Matter'), Qcumba Zoo ('Cloud Eyes'), AntiGravity ('Disaster'), Slam Factory ('Listen'). READ http://www.freshmusic.co.za LISTEN http://www.SAmp3.com/fresh.html BUY http://www.oneworld.co.za/index.cfm?bec=4321&id=freshcd133 -------------- HOT RS II - 'I GET SO EXCITED' (EMI, CDEMIM060) Over 25 years ago a studio collaboration between drummer Kevin Kruger and orchestra leader Dan Hill (remember those 'Sound Electronics' albums?) led to a disco-rock album that is still available today and has sold over 100 000 copies in South Africa and Europe. In the late '70's disco music internationally was dominated by artists like The Bee Gees, Donna Summer, Chic, Gloria Gaynor, & the Village People. The rhythm was everything and musicianship was secondary. In South Africa, however, disco seemed to take on a distinct harder edge, with a number of classic hard rock and heavy metal songs being given the disco treatment. Paul Ryan's classic 'Eloise' was extended to 17 minutes by Zane Cronjé's Rouge and Peter Vee's Buffalo covered Steppenwolf's heavy metal anthem 'Born To Be Wild'. Ex-Rabbitt Trevor Rabin with his Disco Rock Machine, recorded the Kinks' 'You Really Got Me' while his bandmate, Neil Cloud (Rabbitt's drummer), covered 'Time Of The Season' originally done in 1968 by Rod Argent's Zombies. Hot RS covered Iron Butterfly's 'In-A-Gadda-Da -Vida' (cleverly combining it with Frankie Vaughan's 1957 UK #1 smash hit 'Garden Of Eden'). 'In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida' came off Hot RS's second album 'Forbidden Fruit', but it all started with the 1977 album 'House Of The Rising Sun' (the initials of the song giving this faceless studio band its name). Hot RS albums never credited any musicians on the covers, but a short list that we know of includes: Kevin Kruger (who cut his teeth with bands like The Kynd, Music Corporation, Gentle People and many others) played drums and keyboards, Trevor Rabin (ex-Rabbitt and Yes, now blockbuster soundtrack composer) added his guitar and bass skills, Mutt Lange (über-producer) played bass, Duncan Mackay (who has played for Kate Bush, Steve Harley, 10cc, Budgie, Elkie Brookes and many others) played some keyboards and the voices were provided by Penny Croft, John Wedderpohl, Ballyhoo's Stewart Irving, Clout's Cindy Alter and possibly Mercedes Kornfield. And there are probably many others as well. Fast forward to July 2003 and 'I Get So Excited' by Hot RS II. Once again the musicians are uncredited, but Veronique Lalouette (daughter of Denny) provides the vocals and Bobby Louw helped with some arrangements and even composed 2 tracks. 'House Of The Rising Sun' has been reworked and re-recorded for the 21st century and 'Slow Blow' from the first album also gets a new lease on life. Certain songs have changed in gender; 'He' was originally a big hit in SA in 1973 for Osmosis as 'She (Didn't Even Remember My Name)' (based on 'Via Vado', by Italian star Drupi). 'Shy Guy' is a cover of the Kynd's 'Shy Girl'. Kevin was a founder member of the Kynd and he also covered this song with his band Kariba in the early '80's. Though it's still the middle of winter here in South Africa, this CD could just be a big summer dance hit. The clues? Covers of Cream's 'Sunshine Of Your Love', the Lovin' Spoonful's 'Summer In The City' and a 'Hot Summer Nights Medley' including 'Here Comes The Sun' (by The Beatles and covered in 1972 by SA's own Hawk). So get ready for a real hot summer with a very hot album from Hot RS. Tracks: 'House (Mix) Of The Rising Sun', 'Slow Blow', 'I Get So Excited', 'Summer In The City', 'He', 'Hey You', 'Shy Guy', 'Je'taime', 'Hot Summer Nights Medley', 'Sunshine Of Your Love', 'You're So Hot', 'I Get So Excited' (Dance Remix) Read more about Hot RS at http://www.rock.co.za/hotrs/ Listen to an mp3 of 'House (mix) of the Rising Sun' at http://www.SAmp3.com by kind permission of Kevin Kruger Catalogue: SA Rock Digest ratings ***** essential, genre defining **** recommended, worth buying *** ok, interesting in context ** poor, for collectors only * kak, avoid at all costs House Of The Rising Sun (1977) RPM, CDRPM1120 (****) http://www.oneworld.co.za/index.cfm?bec=4321&id=cdrpm1120 Forbidden Fruit (1978) RPM, RPM1125 (****) http://www.oneworld.co.za/index.cfm?bec=4321&id=cdred605 Heads or Tails (1980) RPM (***) http://www.oneworld.co.za/index.cfm?bec=4321&id=cdred605 Forbidden Fruit & Other Delights (1997) Gallo, CDRED 605 (****) http://www.oneworld.co.za/index.cfm?bec=4321&id=cdred605 I Get So Excited (2003) EMI, CDEMIM060 (****) http://www.oneworld.co.za/index.cfm?bec=4321&id=cdemim060 Recommended: Disco Fever (1999), Gallo, CDREDD627 (*****) http://www.oneworld.co.za/index.cfm?bec=4321&id=cdredd627 Disco Rock Machine (1978) RPM, RPM1123 (***) http://www.oneworld.co.za/index.cfm?bec=4321&id=cdredd627 (The 'Disco Fever' CD includes the complete 'Disco Rock Machine' album which featured Kevin Kruger, Trevor Rabin and Via Afrika's René Veldsman) The Julian Laxton Collection (1994) Gallo, CDGMP40458 (****) Kariba (1997) Gallo, CDRED612 (***) re-issue of 2 early 80's albums on 1 CD Worth hunting for: 'Dan Hill and his Sounds Electronic plays Music To Watch Girls By' has been valued at 25 Pounds by some rare record collectors! -------------- WANT YOUR 'HAIR' BACK? The soundtrack to 'Hair', the movie version of America's first "tribal love-rock musical", has been re-released in South Africa two decades after the motion picture debuted. The soundtrack was previously only available on import but is now available at an affordable mid-price. Songs by Treat Williams ('I Got Life'), Beverly D'Angelo ('Good Morning Starshine'), and Nell Carter ('Abie Baby' and 'White Boys') are as fresh and uproarious as ever, while Cheryl Barnes's 'Easy To Be Hard' remains a brilliant gospel number. 'Hair' opens with the classic 'Aquarius' and ends with the anthem-driven 'Let The Sunshine In'. All the tracks on this album have been re-mastered and re-worked, resulting in a version of the soundtrack that takes the original songs and really funks them up! If nothing else, this album is a glorious reminder of a time when social awareness, brotherly love, and mind expansion were mantras, not marketing rhetoric on the sides of soda bottles! ----------------- ONE WORLD http://www.oneworld.co.za/index.cfm?bec=4321 Selling South African Music To The World --------------- MORE REVIEWS --------------- More reviews can be found at: Open Record http://www.openrecord.co.za Amuzine http://rock.co.za/reviews.htm ______________________________________ 4.USA FOR AFRICA Texas-based Kurt Shoemaker gives his unique views on SA music BOO! - 'TNTLC' [BOOCD005] Possibly the best Boo! album so far. That's not to say their previous works are slouches in the tutu department, but here they sound like they gave their musical direction some thought, met with Brian O'Shea who helped them in some way, went through some changes, and came up with a more polished, but no less Boo!-ful, album. TNTLC is still Boo! music all the way through. Anyone modestly familiar with their music, as opposed to someone immodestly familiar, will recognise our favorite wacky trio. Chris Chameleon is always in control of his voice, Leon's drumming is varied and creative--not merely skin-slamming to move the dancers, and Ampie Omo adds all the rest: horns, percussion, keyboards, and background vocals. Some Christian references and allusions appear on this work, apparently sincere ones, too--nor are the references subtle or in passing. Another song even has some clever thoughts on free will, believe it or not. But most of the Boo! songs on TNTLC are good ole love songs, and in Boo! style they are neuter in pronoun, not neutered in dance energy. Overall: an oh-so-smoothly produced record. The vocals are the tight and controlled style Chris has been working for in all the previous albums. And in referring to their previous work, I slight them not because those previous albums are all fine works I'm glad to own, but...dare I suggest this is a more mature Boo! record? Our Boo! boys are growing up and channeling their vast energy and talent more efficiently, perhaps. Whatever it is, if you thought you enjoyed any previous Boo! albums, you'll play this one over and over back to front, and if you thought you didn't care for Boo! this may be the start of a new relationship, knowing There's Nothing Love Can't Overcome. READ http://rock.co.za/legends/90s/boo_index.html BUY http://www.oneworld.co.za/index.cfm?bec=4321&searchfor=boo 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 OTIS WAYGOOD BLUES BAND - 'OTIS WAYGOOD BLUES BAND' When I was a lightie, I remember saying XYZ to people as a subtle way of letting them know that their fly was down. XYZ stood for eXamine Your Zip. I can certainly say XYZ about The Otis Waygood Blues Band, not because they have not dressed themselves properly, but rather because I think you need to eXamine Yonder Zippers. The Zippers in question being Rob and Alan Zipper, two brothers from the then Rhodesia, who along with Ivor Rubenstein, Leigh Sagar and Martin Jackson formed the band in the late '60's and took South Africa by storm in the early '70's. And just how did they do this you may ask. Well, according to the sleeve notes of the Retro Fresh re-release of this classic album, by playing frantic, thundering live gigs to rock-starved South Africans. This is translated on to the album with the feisty opener, 'You're Late Miss Kate', which is a cover of the classic tune and introduces the listener to Rob's gruff vocals in this glorious 2 minute and 8 second rockerfest. However, after this raunchy opening, the album slips into more of a blues and soul groove with Jackson's flute setting a mellow tone on tracks like 'Watch 'n Chain' while some impressive guitar work and drumming on 'Wee Wee Baby' moves the album into stunning blues territory. The bonus tracks taken from the later 'Ten Light Claps and a Scream' reveal the heavier rock side of the band and sound more akin to the descriptions of the live shows. But it is the reworking of the song made popular by Peggy Lee, 'Fever', that is the centrepiece of the album. The song smoulders along with a Pink Panther Theme Tune surreptitiousness broken now and then by the surprising wail of 'Fever'!. As the song builds, Rob's vocals become more prominent, edgy and desperate. It then climaxes with a delicious interplay between Rob's vocals and Jackson's flute. The coolest thing about this 'Fever' is that, if you own the CD, you can listen to it any night of the week, and not just Saturday Night. Otis Waygood arrived in South Africa during the great barber shortage of 1970, shook their long locks at the establishment, played blistering blues, shattering soul and rebellious rock and, with the help of producer Clive Calder, made some excellent albums that today fetch pretty good prices on the world's vinyl markets. However, thanks to people like Benjy Mudie of Fresh records we can enjoy this classic as well as the recently re-released 'Simply Otis Waygood' at reasonable prices, and without the added bonus of not having to dig out your old record player. READ http://www.rock.co.za/files/ow_index.html LISTEN http://www.freshmusic.co.za/retrofresh2002.htm BUY http://www.oneworld.co.za/index.cfm?bec=4321&searchfor=waygood John Samson, London mailto:john@sarockdigest.com _________________________________________ 6.HISTORY & TRIVIA ------------------- SPRINGBOK RADIO CHARTS http://rock.co.za/charts This week [Last week] Title - Artist 30 YEARS AGO (13 July 1973) 1 [1] Kentucky Blues - Lauren Copley 2 [11] And I Loved Her So - Perry Como 3 [4] Get Down - Gilbert O' Sullivan 4 [3] Tie A Yellow Ribbon Round The Old Oak Tree - Dawn & Tony Orlando 5 [2] Never, Never, Never - Shirley Bassey 25 YEARS AGO (14 July 1978) 1 [1] Rivers Of Babylon - Boney M 2 [2] Heidi - Peter Lotis 3 [3] If You Can't Give Me Love - Suzi Quatro 4 [7] Follow Me - Amanda Lear 5 [5] Make Love To Me - Kelly Marie 20 YEARS AGO (15 July 1983) 1 [1] Total Eclipse Of The Heart - Bonnie Tyler 2 [3] Drop The Pilot - Joan Armatrading 3 [2] Der Kommissar - After The Fire 4 [4] I Eat Cannibals - Toto Ceolo 5 [5] Let's Dance - David Bowie 15 YEARS AGO (14 July 1988) 1 [1] I Should Be So Lucky - Kylie Minogue 2 [3] Love Changes Everything - Climie Fisher 3 [2] Get Outta My Dreams - Billy Ocean 4 [6] Stay On These Roads - Aha 5 [5] My Arms Keep Missing You - Rick Astley ------------ CHART CHAT: ------------ Lauren Copley enjoyed her 2nd week at number 1 in 1973, but was under huge pressure from a certain Mr Como. The similarity between Perry's surname and the state listening to his music left you in is purely coincidental. Still South Africans must have loved him as much as he loved her as the song had rocketed up from number 11 to number 2. It was 4th week in a row at number 1 for Boney M in 1978. Meanwhile Amanda Lear was making herself known to South Africans and inviting them to follow her. Lear had featured on the cover of Roxy Music's classic 1973 album, 'For Your Pleasure', and had been touted as a transsexual by none other than David Bowie, though this was apparently just a publicity stunt. Joan Armatrading wiggled a place closer to the top in 1983, pushing After The Fire down a spot. Despite these manoeuvrings, she could not dislodge Bonnie Tyler from pole position. While the Aussie, Kylie, stayed at number 1 in 1988, the Norwegians were invading the top 5. Morten, Pal and Mags had forged a successful career in the music world following the US success of 'Take On Me' which topped the charts there. 'Stay On These Roads' was their 5th top 20 hit in SA, and their first since 1987's Bond theme, 'The Living Daylights'. South Africans at number 1 this week: Kentucky Blues - Lauren Copley (1973) South African New Entries this week: 14-Jul-72 Maar In Amerika - Roy Memphis 15-Jul-77 Gimme Dat Banana - Strobe 17-Jul-70 Why Can't It Rain - McCully Workshop 18-Jul-69 Turnaround - Ken J. Larkin 18-Jul-81 How I Feel Inside - Roy Bulkin 19-Jul-74 Joey - Barbara Ray 20-Jul-73 My Children, My Wife - Gus Whyburd 20-Jul-79 Magic Carpet Ride - Buffalo Featuring Peter Vee John Samson --------------- VINYL JUNKIES --------------- This section is for collectors of vinyl, both South African and International. --------------- MABU VINYL 34 Kloof Street, Gardens, Cape Town Via Afrika - 'Via Afrika' (LP) Joe Malinga and Southern Africa Force - 'Sandile' (LP) Joe Malinga Quintet - 'One For Dudu' (LP) Kalvasa - 'Searching' (LP) David Kramer - 'Bakgat' (LP) Circus - 'Circus' (LP) The Fragile - 'Reggae Bump' (LP) 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 This week's specials: Blondie & Pappa - 'Together' (LP) Square Set - 'Loving You Is Sweeter Than Ever' (LP) Sebastian Temple - Africa Belongs To The Lion' (LP) Tolla van der Merwe - 'Tolla van der Merwe se Weskus REP' (LP) Various Artists - 'Concert In The Park' (2LP, sealed) Original Cast - 'King Kong - All African Jazz Opera feat. Miriam Makeba' (LP sealed) 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 ----------- 16 - PJ Powers (born Penelope Jane Dunlop, 1960), Hotline 17 - Julian Laxton (1944), Freedom's Children, Hawk, Julian Laxton Band 18 - Nelson Mandela (1918) 18 - Piet Botha (1955), Raven, Wildebeest, Jack Hammer 23 - Amanda Strydom (1956) If you have info on any South African artists' dates of birth, please sendthem to mailto:brian@rock.co.za?subject=birthdays ______________________________________________ 7.SOUND SOLUTIONS ------------------- A Readers' Forum featuring a selection of the email requests, questions, searches, and other pieces of random info we receive each week at the Digest. Sometimes we can assist, other times we look to you, our collectively well-informed readers to contact these writers and help out as well. Thanks! -------------- VAS IS THIS ALL ABOUT?? Greetings Fungidelici and Fishwipes! Just a short note to remind ya about the 'Network Session' for all those who dig muzik at the Springbok Bar in Liverpool Street on Saturday 26th July 2003. This is a cool opportunity to shag prospective fans, poach other band members, imbibe copious amounts of your favourite tipple or triple and hey even get to share some good 'business practice' with fellow artistes! Now remember I don't know all of you so make your self known. Remember if you`re not South African just act like one...Nick at the venue is having our own area cordoned off (probably in the basement hahah) so look out for the sober lot and you'll know it's not this group. For those of you who are making the sojourn from outside of London as my Gooze and I are/am, there is a sleaze motel around the corner, Travel Inn, within slithering distance! We'll also be passing the hat around for 'Nowhere Near The Garden' who had all their gear stolen. All foreign currency accepted except South African rands or Zim dollars! 'Long Live The Loud' Vas mailto:marqvas@yahoo.co.uk http://www.nowherenearthegarden -------------- HUH? Howzit Mr Solutions I heard that David Kramer ou once played with that '60's group what had a hit with 'Lola' and that they called themselves Kat and the Kinks. Is this true? Cheers Johnny from Boksburg Ed. - Kind of.... always good to hear from you Johnny! -------------- SEEKING UNUSUAL SA VENUES Does anyone know of live venues (and their contact details) in Kimberley, Welkom, Kroonstad, Bethlehem, Ladysmith, Escourt, Kokstad, Newcastle, Vereeniging, Howick and Iraq (I had to add in the last in case you weren't already laughing at me)? WICKED MIKE http://www.WickedRock.co.za mailto:wickedmikenet@hotmail.com -------------- XTREMELY INPORTANT Van Pepper Productions, a Cape Town-based xtreme sport video company, is looking for bands to include on their latest project. For more info, contact Van on 082 372 9822 Email: mailto:info@vanpepper.com website on www.vanpepper.com -------------- ANOTHER CONSPIRACY THEORIST! Does anyone know what happened to the Peanut Butter Conspiracy and if there are any CD's available (or does anyone have any LP's for sale maybe). I know that they had three hits here in SA. Are they a local group? I have it in my head that they are from Durban I but could be wrong. Does anyone have any info? Kobus mailto:jgb1900@yahoo.co.uk {Ed. - there were 2 unrelated Peanut Butter Conspiracy's; one from the US and one from SA. The SA band released a number of singles, 3 of which hit the Springbok Radio charts ( http://www.rock.co.za/files/springbok_top_20_(P).html ). No albums have been released on CD.} -------------- NOT QUITE SO 'PICTURE PERFECT'! Hey Everyone! The reason why I'm e-mailing is because of the Perez break-up a little while ago... Well they were my favourite band and I Love Their music!!! It's quite different from a lot of bands if ya think about it. But anyway-getting to the point.... What was the exact reason for their break-up I mean they were doing so well? What made them decide to split up and go overseas or where-ever. They could've done great overseas as a band yeah! I really miss them and I hope you guys miss them too! C-ya Deon mailto:erina@intekom.co.za {Ed. We heard it was "musical differences", a big band and a big pity - and missed around here as well.} -------------- TIPS FOR GOODER GRAMMAR We get a lot of submissions from young writers looking to contribute to the Digest. Many of them are looking for helpful hints regarding grammar and other useful writing tips. So here are a few to always keep in mind! Always pick on the correct idiom. If any word is improper at the end of a sentence, a linking verb is. Don't never use no double negatives. Analogies in writing are like feathers on a snake. Even if a mixed metaphor sings, it should be derailed. Puns are for children, not groan readers. Sentences without verbs - bad idea. Run on sentences cause all sorts of problems for readers and people should never use them and must try to write better and divide their sentences. Use the semicolon properly, always use it where it is appropriate; and never where it isn't. Hyphenate between sy-llables and avoid un-necessary hyphens. Use hyphens in compound-words, not just where two-words are related. Be carefully to use adjectives and adverbs correct. It is incumbent on us to eschew archaisms. Steer clear of incorrect forms of verbs that have snuck in the language. "Avoid overuse of 'quotation "marks."'" Courtesy, The Editors -------------- GOT A QUESTION? Please email any musical questions to mailto:soundsolutions@sarockdigest.com -------------- GET YOURSELF A NEW REDIRECTABLE EMAIL ADDRESS Are you tired of complicated hotmail or yahoo email addresses, or is your corporate address very uncool? Or is your favourite nickname already taken? For only R150 per year we will supply you an email address such as "yourchoiceofname@rock.co.za" which will redirect to your current address. Choose from the list below: sarockdigest.com rock.co.za samp3.com saklank.com sagigs.com sugarman.org vagabond.za.net Email: mailto:CanIgetAnewEmailAddressPlease@rock.co.za for details. -------------- 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 --------------- ------------------- UPCOMING EVENTS ------------------- Watch out for: AFRICAN DOPE SA TOUR - a month of weekly simultaneous events in 6 cities, from 12 July - 17 August, featuring: Krushed & Sorted, The Real Estate Agents, The Kalahari Surfers, Honey B, A Blunted Stuntman, Markus Wormstorm, DJ Trouble, and Low. (see below) ROBIN AULD AND MARK SAMPSON - Two of False Bay's most famous mavericks - singer/songwriter Auld and Cape Comedy Collective founder Sampson - present 'Growing Old With Sampson' - an hilarious and heart-warming guide to embracing encroaching middle-age at Habanero's. GUY BUTTERY - A 19-year-old multi-instrumentalist, Guy Buttery is currently performing around Durban and KZN, and will then be in Cape Town for a 3-week tour promoting his highly acclaimed debut album 'When I Grow Up...' THE CAPE TIMES 'BATTLE OF THE BANDS' - Bands that made Cape Town rock, and the fans scream, in the sixties and early seventies will battle for recognition again, in a series of five shows at Dockside with the first of four preliminary rounds on July 27 and the finals on August 31. HENRY ATE SA TOUR - All the dates for the nationwide tour from now until July 26. NOT THE MIDNIGHT MASS - Q-LYN - Graham Weir, Mzwakhe Kheswa, Donal Slemon and Herman Hardick are Not The Midnight Mass- Q-Lyn, the all-male version of Not The Midnight Mass, performing at On Broadway during August, September and October. OPEN RECORD LAUNCH - Open Record, the newly established Cape Town record label, is about to launch its first four albums into the world. Those four new albums are from Benguela; Enkeleen; Alex van Heerden and Derek Gripper; and Brendon Bussy. Tues 15 July at Mercury Live. PIET BOTHA - Currently touring as a part of the launch of his new album, 'Die Mamba', on Rhythm Records. RP STUDIOS EMERGING SOUNDS COMPETITION - The heat continues to get turned up during July with the RP Studios Emerging Sounds Competition taking place in Johannesburg, the Vaal, Pretoria and Bloemfontein. SIX OF NINE - Cape Town band, previously known as Dayspring, heading off in August on the Solarpop X-Tour around the Cape. Details below. SPRINGBOK NUDE GIRLS - At the Blue Moon in Nelspruit - Sat, 19 July JAMES STEWART AND TOM FOX - James Stewart (The Usual) on vocals and piano will be joined by guitarist Tom Fox (The Usual/Bright Blue) to entertain with some well-known favourites ('Shape That I'm In', 'Born In a Storm', 'Weeping'), and debut some yet-to-be-released new stuff. Nova Constantia - Cape Town - Sunday 20th of July. 3RD EAR SUNDAYS AT BLUE BOTTLES - 3rd Ear Music is starting up at Blue Bottles again at the harbour mouth. There's a new menu of Sunday evening words & music from Bright Blues to Light Rock, Country Maskandi to City Folk 'n Jazz - food for thought; get SAfrican words & music heard again in Durban - laid back and casual as usual. 6pm for 7pm, each & every Sunday. TWEAK - SA's hottest punk upstarts, are finally preparing for the long trek to international destinations, with immediate tours in Australia and the UK KAREN ZOID IN LONDON - Karen Zoid and her band will be performing one more show in London during July at the Underworld in Camden (July 19). Details of all these events at http://www.sagigs.com -------------- OVERDOPE African Dope proudly presents their biggest nationwide tour round SA - a month of weekly events in 6 cities simultaneously, bringing the dope where it's needed most from 12 July - 17 August 9 dope DJs, 6 cities and a farm, 23 events over 4 weekends. www.africandope.co.za/overdope Can you handle this much dope? Catch weekly events in these cities each weekend starting next weekend: Jozi (115 Anderson street, Tokyostar bar, 206 Carfax) Durban (the Wavehouse complex) Stellenbosch (Mystic Boer) PE (52 Parliament) Grahamstown (Pop Art Cafe) Bloemfontein (Mystic Boer) and a brief stopover at Oppikoppi festival on Northam farm. featuring: Krushed & Sorted, The Real Estate Agents, The Kalahari Surfers, Honey B, A Blunted Stuntman, Markus Wormstorm, DJ Trouble, and Low rotating around the country. Most events feature 'Dope Door Deals' - where you can buy African Dope CDs at discount prices as part of the entrance fee at the events. It's going to be huge - but, why read this plain text page about it when you could be checking out all the details on a funky webpage - for full tour details, check out www.africandope.co.za/overdope -------------- FIRST BAND LINE-UP ANNOUNCED FOR 'NUSOUNDS' SHOWCASES Stage Magazine, Mercury Live and Urge Media are proud to announce the first band line-up for NuSounds, a series of free events showcasing new original bands on the Cape Town circuit. NuSounds is a series of free concerts showcasing the newest bands on the Cape Town live scene. The bands that will perform at the first NuSounds Showcase on July 18, 2003 are: Overgraze - 'Psychedelic folk punk' is how Overgraze describes its own music. Playing out of Hout Bay, Overgraze has been around for about nine months, in that time building a catalogue of around 17 tracks. EyeSpy - Hailing from the Northern suburbs, they characterise themselves as 'progressive original rock'. The four-piece has played the Mercury Lounge previously. It will be interesting to see them move upstairs to the Live arena. Antipathy - An energetic four-piece, these youngsters from Worcester play a brand of progressive style that will surprise and intrigue any listener of rock, jazz-fusion and hardcore. The line-ups for the August 22 and September 19 shows will be announced shortly. NuSounds takes place at Mercury Live, 43 de Villiers Street, Cape Town. The doors open at nine, and admission to NuSounds is free. -------------- RP STUDIOS EMERGING SOUNDS COMPETITION The heat continues to get turned up during July with the RP Studios Emerging Sounds Competition taking place in Johannesburg, the Vaal, Pretoria and Bloemfontein. Under Sound won the June Regional finals of the RP Studios Emerging Sounds Competition held at the Coliseum Show Bar at Caesars Gauteng on Sunday, July 6. Performing before a packed venue - Under Sound delivered a unique funky vibe incorporating elements of ska, reggae and rock laced with soulful vocals. As a result of winning the June Regional finals the band now get to record at RP Studios under the guidance of Darryl Torr, they perform a month of Saturdays at Tempos starting July 12 ending August 2, and the band is also now added on to the bill for the Annual Band Festival taking place on Saturday, August 30 at Tempos. You can catch the band in action from Saturday, July 12 from 18:00 - entrance is free and Tempos is situated on 191 Hans Strydom drive, Kyasands, Randburg. There is still one place available for the Annual Band Festival and bands in Johannesburg have two weeks left in order to try and secure their place, Pretoria bands have one opportunity on Wednesday, July 30 to see whether they can progress through to the July Regional finals of the RP Studios Emerging Sounds Competition and the same with the Free State bands on July 18 and the Vaal bands on July 26. Upcoming Dates: Sat, July 19 - Johannesburg leg · Morning Haze · Rezonance · Rack 4 Sat, July 26 - monthly finals - Free State leg Friday - July 18 - Vaal Triangle leg Saturday, July 26 - Pretoria leg Wednesday, July 30 - July regional finals of the RP Studios Emerging Sounds Competition Sun, August 3 - It is the regional finals of the RP Studios Emerging Sounds Competition for the month of June at the Coliseum Show Bar at Caesars Gauteng. This is a strictly over-18 venue and no under-18s will be allowed in the venue on the day. Those under-18s are however catered for in the entertainment area at the casino which also features a day-care centre for young children. In action on the day will be one Pretoria band, one Free State band, one Vaal band plus two Johannesburg bands. For further information and to book your band for the July RP Studios Emerging Sounds Competition contact Simon "Squire" Foulds on 082 770 7524. -------------- NOT THE MIDNIGHT MASS - Q-LYN Graham Weir, Mzwakhe Kheswa, Donal Slemon and Herman Hardick are Not The Midnight Mass - Q-Lyn, the all-male version of Not The Midnight Mass performing, at On Broadway during August, September and October. Although NTMMQL will perform three Graham Weir original numbers, the production team have decided to do a show that features cover songs, the first time the group have performed covers since the mid-Nineties, so on the bill you will find tunes by Juluka, Themba Mkhize, Johannes Kerkorrel, Men At Work, The Beatles, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Prince, Grace Jones and many more!! Megan Choritz (Theatre Sports big cheese) will direct, and Amanda Tiffin will arrange and musically direct. This is the first time the group will work with an arranger, and Amanda, who musically directed the singers on 'NTMM - Live at the Planetarium', has promised some kinky, wild and harmonically pleasing stuff. Costuming and styling will be in the hands of stylish Craig Leo who recently returned from trapezing and scarf acting his way across Europe. Craig recently styled the performers in 'Graham Weir Plugged'. Sound will be engineered by Simon Ratcliffe, who was recently seen playing a multitude of instruments in 'Graham Weir Plugged' Highlight of the Not The Midnight Mass - Q-Lyn season will be guest appearances on certain nights by the Mass girls - Tina Schouw, Christine Weir, and Amanda Tiffin. Watch the Press for details!!!! -------- SA PUNK -------- By Daniel Neville THE SECOND LEG OF THE 'LETS START A FIRE' TOUR Headlining the tour are the Dutch metalcore outfit Mossfet. They describe themselves as a 'family' band consisting of members of existing bands: Garlic, Money Power, Bacchus, 28 Stitches and Coolsell in Holland. As Mossfet they play straight up, no nonsense, hardrocking blasting hardcore. Insane breakdowns and gang vocals encourage crowd participation and you should see lots of mike grabbing singalongs. If you like bands like Hatebreed you will be very happy and content at these shows! The band are joined by top bands from each city along the way: 'Lets Start A Fire' tour dates: Thursday 17 July; Venue : Boneyard, Jeffreys Bay, Over 18 + Doors 8pm - Bands start 9:30pm SHARP Bands: Crossing.point, Mossfet (Holland), 1000 Hours (PE), BGF (Big Giant Friendly) Saturday 19 July; Venue: The Mercury Live * ALL AGES * Bands @ 1pm Bands: Crossing.point, Mossfet, Toyland, Tonight We Die (ex Aftertaste) Saturday 19 July; Venue: The Mercury Live, Over 18+ Doors 8pm Bands: Crossing.point, Mossfet, Toyland, Tonight We Die (ex Aftertaste) See http://www.SAgigs.com for details and other SA Punk gigs -------------- LIVE REVIEWS -------------- 'ZIMBABWE RUINS' - MANN FRIDAY The Latchmere Theatre, London - 6 July 2003 The Latchmere Theatre is a small theatre above a pub in South West London that holds about 50 people. Last Sunday night this little theatre was full of ex-pat Zimbo's coming to see Zim band Mann Friday perform a warm up version of their Zimbabwe Ruins show before heading north for a good run at the prestigious Edinburgh Festival. The show's format is quite simple; lead singer Rob Burrel sit barefoot on a stool centre stage surrounded by the band while images are projected on a screen behind them. Rob delivers a soft spoken narrative chronicling his life as a white boy/man growing up in Zim from the innocence of his childhood through to the current tough times and his trying to adapt to life in a foreign land and clime ("I marvel at what this coin in my hand can buy me back home"). This moving monologue is wonderfully matched by the images from Rob's family photo album. As he "grows up" the images become more politicised and culminate in a picture of Hitler morphing into Mugabe. While this is happening the band play some solid rock tunes. The whole show works well and is a sensitive tale of a young man's absolute love for his country and the good that it has to offer. It would have been easy to focus heavily on Zim's current plight and wallow in self pity, but the show ends on an optimistic note with the beautiful song, 'Hope Stone', leaving a few with lumps in their throats or tears in their eyes. John Samson And at http://www.SAgigs.com ---------- 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 --------------- John Samson Kurt Shoemaker Carina Laubscher Don Bryce Tertius Louw Daniel Neville Wicked Mike Gabi Muller Proofed by Ronx A SUGAR MUSIC PRODUCTION http://www.sugarmusic.co.za <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>