Old Papa Joe

What a last few weeks...start off with the sad news...

Legend Afrikaans singer/songwriter Lucas Maree passing. He lost his battle with cancer and the man with the thick voice and "Kan doen met 'n miljoen" and "Die rooi rok" is now at rest. Thank you for sharing your talent and made a thick beard popular in the 80's. Rest sweet and peacefully.

Update in the Dirkie (who was involved in a serious motorbike accident late January/early February) camp is that on the 11th of March there will be a golf day held to raise funds for Dirkie rehabilitation. His accident is still sending shock waves through our local music scene and we all very sad that he will not walk again but as for him he is here and we all support him in full. Once I get full details the posting will come up.

With some good wishes...

Happy birthday (19 Feb) to my mom who had been playing music to me since well...sperm? Great lady indeed, great supporter of No One's Arc. As well as happy birthday to Dylan (20 Feb) of the last mentioned, he spending his free time in Finland with his girl, he mentioned something about yellow snow and drunkenness never the less we hope he had a awesome time.

4 weeks now have passed since returning from the adventures of UTC, still photos, videos and wired people are popping up on the social networks. Seems like the flu hit the Nelspruit team hard with at least 4 cases...just glad we all recovered from that. Thanks to Anna Mart who posted the link up on Facebook about this bar tender humble experiences that she shares. Click here to see a video of the Saturday "Anything that floats" competition, look out for the Moon Arc around 01:45 minute or so...just so you don't miss it

It's been an interesting few weeks so far, not so much gigs yet. I'm being asked about the next Blue Moon gig...people please save the date for the 26 March. The A-team will be getting together with the Lord and Mistress and put our heads together for a revolution to 2011 at Blue Moon. I vote for Captain Stu, Tidal Waves and our old friends the Black Cat Bones (watch out for that awesome Blue Moon stage in between) to visit us again. Might be looking at getting those famous Titanic's up there for visit as well *evil smile*

3 Saturdays back we had our first Drumming Circle again. If you are wondering what it is, it kind of self explaining really. You sit in a circle with a drum and join in the beat master and just drum around a moerse fire. The sense of peace and relaxation it brings does you the world good. I know a lot of our friends say why go there but I enjoy it. Plus I got to see the new addition to my friend Raquel and Roelof family, baby Maia that was born just before New Years. Too cute for words and already can sleep to the sound of beating drums.

Also the same drumming weekend but only on a slow Sunday afternoon, my good friend Ewald of (now ex) Nocane : / had an acoustic set at the local Pappas Pizza with him was Smook aka Pensive Pat (aka Etienne of Voetstoots). Mostly covers but never the less awesome, I love the Roxette covers of course. I hope that it won't be the last to see of the rest of Nocane members as they are all decent muso's and good luck to Ewald for his solo career. As we all just sitting there enjoying the few friends that are there mister Dylan shows up to pick up his Sunday dinner. The man shaved his hair off and it's looking good, something about high maintenance and looking like a Nina doll? Never the less it was pretty chilled out kuier with good beer and pizza, telling us with excitement about his (now present) trip to Finland to visit his love.


Last week Friday I had the pleasure of sharing red wine (and SoCo shots) with Ewald and Lee (NOA) on some wildlife estate, "left at zebras and the take a right at the wildebeest". Lets just say the wine could have been better but the conversation and jokes had made me laugh the whole of Saturday *with a babelas*. Many memories and inside trade secrets have been shared...best to leave it at the steps of the stoep. On Saturday night I joined sweet Mimi (NOA) for a well deserved drink at the local watering hole. True rock star in her own word I'm going to miss her again. Just then to recover what was left of my liver on Sunday I just dissapeared between the cushions of the couch with the DsTV remote, glass of coke and the History channel..and the MK...or was it Animal Planet?

We slowly getting there now where summer is busy shaking it's tail feather at us letting us know soon it will be moving North which means the gigs are going to start up soon again. If you just happened to be in Pretoria of Johannesburg look out for the Tidal Waves who is great reggae band, they are raising funds to go make their travels to the United States of America. Check them out on Vleisboek aka Facebook for line up, music and videos. You can also go have a bit of a Doef-Doef of DJ Damian and BongoJustin at Mango Lounge in White River, Piksteel played their first gig last week Friday for 2011 at a new place named Pronk. I hope to see Latte Funk in action again soon as well as what the first gig is going to be at the Moon.

"Ol' Papa Joe/he came to see the show"