Ambulance

No I really don’t need an ambulance but if you read this blog on a regular basis you will know I will always pick a song title. Today it’s a new one from No One’s Arc “Ambulance” – for now you can only hear it at one of their lives shows at this stage. Like the STRAB at Blue Moon of two weekends ago, at 1 am I still don’t know where I got the energy from. Maybe because I can express myself truly in music perhaps, I told a friend recently that others smoke, others use drugs and others drink a lot, I listen to music day in and day out. I am late with this post so please bear with me here ;)

Happy birthday to my friend Roelof Loots for his birthday on 25 October, hope it was a good one! Also happy birthday to my cousin in Aussie land, Stacey, miss you lots my cousin. And also before I go on any further and huge thank you to every one who hugged, slept, stood, drank, eat under the Wonderboom fig tree next to the N4. If you have no idea what I’m talking about please check out this (link here). I know I didn't get my full hippy on, duty called during the week but it doesn't mean I sat in silence! It just shows you Nelspartans still cares about our nature heritage without moving before they got what they wanted! Well done Christine, Cal and the rest of the crowd who continued to stay put and not moved! You can sign the petition as well here please no matter we need your signature.

I also want to thank each and every person who did attend the weekend, I know money must have been super tight and you guys still rocked out. Play out and pass out in the sun, sounds like STRAB to me. To those who still don’t know what STRAB is click here and find out. You really going to kick yourself for not coming or it’s just not commercial enough for you like Oppikoppi. I want to say a big thank you to the artists who hanged out around the pool, the house, the stages and the bar. Without you guys this weekend wouldn't have been so much fun especially Tori, Kobus, Andre, Jessi, Robynne and Mimi. The 3 cows of our cow herd also made the weekend Alice, Gomez and Sunny were very popular and watched the acoustic stage with love.

Friday slowly dragged itself to our doorsteps with a full sunny day. I was happy since the whole week leading up to the weekend it was raining on a daily basis. After a lovely hair cut (and in a new style for me) I pack MJ and Alice and took a nice chilled drive to the second home I've come to know and love over 10 years. The dirt road for the first few kilo’s looks like it’s ass but never the less it brought me home. After checking in with name on the guest list under “A-Team” Sally helped me set up my camp. I got one of those pop up tents, on the picture you throw it in the air and it pops out, no this one smack me on the head first then did a ninja kick in the tree and then fell down without popping up. Sally was standing there giggle ling like some freaky squirrel, and then I got the tent open. Next was the “pomping” of the mattress and this is where Sally was having fun, every time one of us say “pomp” we start laughing ending up me stopping mid way of “pomping” to take a breath. After 15 minutes of laughing and “pomping” the mattress was nice and stiff, into the tent it goes. Now this tent is really small like one man or in this case one woman tent. After the sleeping bag was in, Alice got another “pomp” we went to greet friends Kobus and Jessie at the swimming pool. Alice immediately became a hit with Kobus and Jessie gave her kiss on the snoet. The shift calls were coming in and the 3 of us made our way up to the Moon.

Arriving I was greeted by Justin Swart, who busy setting up with his fellow bands mates as they were the opening band. The place was near empty except for a few muso’s that hang around, Conrad Jamneck of STRAB at the sound board. Greeting Pete, Alice was in the bar with me for the first time. I had to taste that the R&R was correct but since we can’t get the Moz rum here uncle Moby Dick had to do. Watching the Post-colonial Paperweights (Justin Swart and his band) do sound check I had to prepare for my next artist interview. Yes watch this space I will be posting another local muso interview really soon. After the interview was handled off, a few pictures were taken and shots were cheers to we waited for the masses to come. The sun set, 6pm rolled by and we started the show.

You can catch the Postcolonial Paperweights on Facebook or either follow Justin Swart or Faantie Martiz (bass player) on Twitter. They going on tour on December so make sure you catch them live then.

Next up was local’s Voetstoots and as always they delivered. Thanks Stefan for reading the blog as well my friend, I appreciate your support in full! When can we hear some news of an EP or album coming out?

The party was very slow and not a lot of people showed up for the great line up, however we waited for The Tidal Waves. It was good to hear their reggae/rock sound ego through the mountain again. They are certainly one of these best upcoming bands right now, if you haven’t seen them live you catch them on (Live)5 on 5FM on 12 November 2011 (next week Saturday) at 5pm. After the show Conrad band was up and yes the man can sing and make music all at the same time. I had a lovely chat with Jinx, Sammy and Charlie of Tidal Waves. They going some places and are going to be one of the band performing at the Seether concerts this December in Cape Town so make sure to catch a pretty decent local line up with our international local guys from Jo’burg. The Fake Leather Blues band is always a classic to see live especially if they are the last band to play, make sure you got some Jaagmymeester close by for the whole band.

A stroll down to the swimming pool with a bottle of red wine and few friends was a lovely way to catch up with the loud music pumping through your head. After the wine was gone (not the rum) it was back to the top sitting around the fire having a chat with Sammy, Mimi and Charlie and this is where I loved and left my friends at 2am, time for bed the next day was a craze Saturday.

Saturday morning the whole A-Team and Simi mom was awoken to someone alarm WAY too early. My friend Mimi didn't switch off her alarm and after waking her we were all pretty much awake and she falling back to sleep. I still want to know how she does it, anyway at 7am it was time for beer breakfast, and I heard that this is like a “camp rule”. Anyway Eddie started making us a lekker breakfast, I got some coffee with Anna Mart and Anthony on the balcony of the main house over looking the dam (we call it Tortuga) breakfast called my name and the A-Team (minus Simi who was way on top of the mountain with friends) had some grub. Then it was off to the swimming pool for some wake up and fun, we had a Rambo enactment, sun screen being passed around, tattoos being showed off and babelas measurements being taken.

I felt the sun was getting a little too hot for my liking and got almost everyone out of the cool water and out of the sun. Getting dressed for the day it was time for the acoustic show and took Alice up with me. At the original STRAB in Mozambique they have the bar stage where muso’s can acoustically perform with a back drop of the ocean behind them. In this case Arcade Empire was the stage sponsor with back drop of the Nelsparta valley behind the fans. Some R&R’s made it to my dry lips and Alice got to see her two friends, Sunny & Gomez, which caught a lift with Lee. There was also a new blow up face in form of a tequila drinking dolphin, yes once you've seen this crowd you will understand. They are pillows, mattresses, drinking buddies, photo posers and made friends with some awesome people.

The sun and rum caught up with me and I went for afternoon snooze, it was still a long way till 1 am. After the snooze I didn't feel any better thanks to heat and a nice refreshing shower was the doctor orders. All dressed up and behind the bar it was still hot at 6pm and the crowds also start to show up. It wasn't as busy as usual but never the less the spirit of STRAB was now in full blast.

Still all our energy levels were low and surely building up as the night went on. The Southern Gypsy Queen came on and the first shot of adrenaline was in. Tammy, Grant and Paul really delivers as always, with their tattoos, skinny jeans and trade mark sound they got almost the whole crowd in front of them. After them it was The Black Cat Bones, they realest their new album a few weeks ago and they played most of the new songs, wow. As always they got us moving and grooving between the bar, the deck and the stage. They did play one of my old favourites “Mojo” and got me more energetic, second shot of adrenaline. Then No One’s Arc was busy getting ready behind stage, after getting some water for them and being the band aid it was time to get our funk on.

What was kick ass about this show was that because of the time they went on, our bar was pretty much empty and the A – Team for once could enjoy a full No One’s Arc show without keeping one foot in the bar. With Gooph checking his mic he slowly rap his part in “Breaking Habits” and the biggest fans, yes Simi and I, said it back to him giving him that trade mark Gooph smile of his. Hot as the devil left open hell door this time of the morning we had the Halderman’s standing in front as well waiting for the rock show. And as on que the opening song was “Rock Show” and Mimi dedicating it to us A-Team. Thanks Mimi we love you! The show was energetic as always and Sally said it was one of the best shows for her. I personally think it’s because it’s their favourite venue to play at, its home. Despite the little crowd in front of them (and this is what I love about this band) they still give you the same performance as if it was thousands in front of them. Bongs made used of the box that was on stage for some reason, blowing his trumpet up in the air, legend stuff I say. Somewhere a top hat appeared and turns were took between us to wear it and now after the release of their “UFO” video it made me notice all the things they also did in the video. After their show it was time for an ice cold glass of water, followed by a ice cold R&R. Greeting the boys as they travelled back home for some well deserve sleep it was time for me and Alice as well to go to bed.

Sunday morning not waking up to alarm but rather the heat was not fun. We all were dead tired and the search for coffee became an endangered species. I found Sally and Mimi in the kitchen busy making coffee for all who wanted and then I hear they haven’t slept yet. They were giggling like a bunch of hyenas after a massive night out. Sjoe where they got the energy from I don’t know but they were wide awake. I joined them at the now burnt out bonfire with Kobus guitar case laying by my feet, Jona a good friend of Eddie and I, sitting laughing still at the time spent with the people there. I was just happy I didn't pull that trick as I would have been grumpy as hell. Hearing more and more voices from the house and the now dodgy looking swimming pool I head back to the tent for my clothes and another shower.
Eddie made us breakfast again, Mimi went to bed and we slowly but surely started to pack up our tents and camp site. In between the swimming pool, house and parking lot we greeted new made friends, old friends and comparing our sun burn from the previous day. Huge thanks to Shotgun Tori for the autograph! I hope to see you soon again.

After breakfast and Eddie leaving us girls, I slowly packed up MJ, gave a near flat Alice another good “pomp” Mimi arose for breakfast. After this it was time to slowly make our rounds and Anthony said we should stay at least for the rugby world cup final, “Ag okay let’s go then” was my words to Mimi and we drove up to the bar instead of walking.

A quick cold drink and talking about the original STRAB it was time to greet everyone. Adriaan you still a legend my friend, as you say “Die kat kom weer”.

After dropping off my sweet friend Mimi, Alice decided to hang out with her for a few days and me leaving for home. I caught the last bit of the rugby and congrats New Zealand you did well.

Between the Mountain and the Tree it seems like we all had a good time in the sun. You can check some photos up at Mpumalive to see what you missed – one craze party. The next Blue Moon is on 10 November Freshly Ground and 26 November Locnville. I myself personally I can’t wait for next weekend but I can’t really tell you what I’m doing (it’s all legal I promise). Then watch out for the November issue of the Get It! Magazine, there is a photo of me in there…somewhere

Also if you want to see UB40 live at the Mbombela Stadium on 17 December make sure you early for some tickets when goes on sale this week on Computicket! It's going to sell very fast so keep an eye out for any annoucements on their website

Avontoer is really coming to me faster and faster! The December Streets and No One’s Arc have announced that they will be part of the bands touring on Avontoer again! Yes! See this happy band aid/fan/see rower/woman shaking her tail feathers! E-shay it is..? If you still wondering what the dog I’m talking about why don’t you check out DPK website

Last thanks for all the compliments regarding the blog and enjoying reading up on Mimi the rock starlet. I really hope that I can pull in more muso’s as it if wasn't for them working so damn hard at their music, us fans would have one boring life in this town of ours. You can email me at themusicfan@webmail.co.za if you want me to come see your band or got any suggestions or complaints.

Till later Nelspartans (and world!)