Against All Odds

By Marley

Lots of excitement and I know that 2012 haven't been the best from us yet in blogging BUT you have to understand that all the odds have been against us for a while (thanks aKING for the cool music - it helps). So without wasting any more time let's jump right into it!

After the sound fuck up from Picnic in the Garden a lot of people was either moaners or lovers of Blue Moon. True fans of all the bands and all the involvement said "So what, we will still support you" so thank you again. BUT! I got a bone to pick with the Lowveld article about the Glaskas gig that was on May 5th

I was approached by the organizer, Natasha Kolbe about two weeks before the gig as she got my number through a friend, cool this bartender services and advice are always for hire. The gig was at Blue Moon and despite her marketing through Facebook and fliers hand outs, the turn out was weak. I can't explain why, maybe it's because Glaskas never pulled head lining crowds in Nelspruit ever before or if it was people way for saying to Blue Moon go screw yourselves but one thing you can't blame was the sound at the venue. When I read the article I was a bit "What?! You didn't even stay for the full Glaskas show which was actually great party when everyone warmed up" and then "Whoa...our sound was poor at the gardens so it was poor at the show? No dear you don't know anything then about live shows"

I feel because Blue Moon has been here for 12 years and I might have studied events management and have been to a crap load of live shows across the country then one thing I can tell you is that what happened at one place doesn't mean will happen at another. In the Glaskas case you had to take in consideration that it was after a long weekend, no school holidays, no money...and lots of other factors and yes one of them was the PC gig. But I feel the journalist didn't really took the time out to really look at it at all sides. I saw them leave right after more or less the beginning of Glaskas show and if they would have stayed I would have gotten them a drink with the band so that they could get to know them. But what done is done, that is just my personal feelings.

However I made new friends in the form of Glaskas and I was wonderfully surprised with them. I always didn't really pay attention to their music when I started working at Blue Moon it was hard enough to know the difference between aKING, Heuwels and Straatligkinders...nou I know that Dans Dans Lisa, Glaskas and Bouwer Bosch all got one thing in common = Straatligkinders. And again I have to thank Deon, Francois and Louis for the great kuier afterwards. I'm now the proud owner of Glaskas on my iPod.

The other big gig was the quarter finals of the Mpower FM Open Mic series at the CMDA in White River, thanks to locals who supported! It was cold outside but some of us braved it while the others was packing the tables full. It was nice to see some true local talent coming out of all the corners of the region, good luck to all of you! The voting for now has closed but next month the next round of Open Mic will happen, dates will be announced in the press soon.

Small gigs have been keeping the locals busy, between quiz nights, auction night at AgterStoep, Open mic at AgterStoep and of course the Sunday Pappas Pizza live music - which has a 3rd singer now Blue Torch. On the 27th of May Jan Blohm graces us with his rock presents at AgterStoep (tickets runs for R 100 p/p) and are for sale at AgterStoep. If you are in STRAB or were one of the lucky ones then please TELL ME ALL ABOUT it, I'm so sad that I couldn't attend this year but as it seems I'm saving up for bigger things to come - what that is you just have to wait and see.

Okay so upcoming gigs that I simply have to blog about is....*drum roll please*

and that's not all

AWE! But there is one more....

Yes By Die Maan will be jammin on 29 June 2012 looks like an amazing line up.

Well that's all folks, will be seeing you all around. Please go "like" our brand new Facebook page, took a while to set up but we got it managed.

Till later...peace!
Twitter | Email

Dirty Harry

At Up The Creek that's how we roll, like the song "Dirty Harry" not the actual Clint Eastwood cowboy movie, you will look like him if you don't use sun screen. Never mind this post is half a celebration! Yip a year ago I started the blog to write about the music and adventures that I get to see and do around here. It even went international to Mozambique and Swaziland (and the readers of other countries a big hallo).

Last year we drove down to Swellendam and I made a promise to myself, next time fly. That's my plan, getting on a jet plane 1st of February and getting my Lowveld butt down to Up The Creek (UTC) to work and play again. And true bartender that I am if you are a reader of the blog or this is your first time reading this come find me at UTC and say hallo to me. I will buy you a drink and hear what you have to say about this.

To celebrate my second year running at UTC (and some 5th) I decided to give some hangover ratings. Yes my FB friends saw my note and this I got on email a few years ago. Anyone who gotten drunk on Titanic's might know what I'm talking about when I say you wake up so thirsty that you want to drink the shower water (which you can't) at UTC. Here we go;

1 star hangover

No pain. No real feeling of illness. You slept in your own bed and when you woke up
there were no traffic cones in there with you (or rubber cows)

You are still able to function relatively well on the energy stored up from all those
vodka and Red Bulls.

However, you can drink 10 bottles of water and still feel as parched as the Sahara.

Even vegetarians are craving a Cheeseburger and a bag of fries.

2 star hangover

No pain, but something is definitely amiss. You may look okay but you have the
attention span and mental capacity of a stapler.

The coffee you hug to try and remain focused is only exacerbating your rumbling gut,
which is craving a full English breakfast.

Although you have a nice demeanour about the office, you are costing your employer
valuable money because all you really can handle is some light filing, followed by
aimlessly surfing the net and writing junk e-mails.

3 star hangover

Slight headache. Stomach feels crap. You are definitely a space cadet and not so
productive.

Anytime a girl or lad walks by you gag because the perfume/aftershave reminds you
of the random gin shots you did with your alcoholic friends after the bouncer kicked
you out at 1:45 am.

Life would be better right now if you were in your bed with a kebab and a litre of coke
watching daytime TV.

You've had 4 cups of coffee, a gallon of water, 6 chicken nuggets and a litre of diet
coke yet you haven't peed once.

4 star hangover

You have lost the will to live. Your head is throbbing and you can't speak too quickly
or else you might spew.

Your boss has already lambasted you for being late and has given you a lecture for
reeking of booze.

You wore nice clothes, but you smell of socks, and you can't hide the fact that you
(depending on your gender) either missed an oh-so crucial spot shaving, or, it looks
like you put your make-up on while riding the dodgems.

Your teeth have their own individual sweaters. Your eyes look like one big vein and
your hairstyle makes you look like a reject from a second-grade class circa 1976.

You would give a weeks pay for one of the following - home time, a cheeseburger
and somewhere to be alone, or a Time Machine so you could go back and NOT have
gone out the night before.

You scare small children in the street just by walking past them.

5 star hangover

You have a second heartbeat in your head, which is actually annoying the employee
who sits next to you.

Vodka vapour is seeping out of every pore and making you dizzy.

You still have toothpaste crust in the corners of your mouth from brushing your teeth.

Your body has lost the ability to generate saliva, so your tongue is suffocating you.

You'd cry but that would take the last drop of moisture left in your body.

Death seems pretty good right now. Your boss doesn't even get mad at you and
your co-workers think that your dog just died because you look so pathetic.

You should have called in sick because, let's face it, all you can manage to do is breathe
..... very gently.

6 star hangover

You arrive home and climb into bed.

Sleep comes instantly, as you were fighting it all the way home in the taxi.

You get about 2 hours sleep until the noises inside your head wake you up.

You notice that your bed has been cleared for take off and is flying relentlessly
around the room.

No matter what you do you now, you're going to chuck.

You stumble out of bed and now find that your room is in a yacht under full sail.
After walking along the skirting boards on alternating walls knocking off all the
pictures, you find the toilet.

If you are lucky you will remember to lift the lid before you spontaneously explode
and wake the whole house up with your impersonation of walrus mating calls.

You sit there on the floor in your undies, cuddling the only friend in the world you
have left (the toilet), randomly continuing to make the walrus noises, spitting, and
farting. Help usually comes at this stage, even if it is short lived.

Tears stream down your face and your abdomen hurts. Help now turns into abuse
and he/she usually goes back to bed leaving you there in the dark.

With your stomach totally empty, your spontaneous eruptions have died back to 15-
minute intervals, but your body won't relent.

You are convinced that you are starting to turn yourself inside out and swear that you
saw your tonsils shoot out of your mouth on the last occasion.

It is now dawn and you pass your disgusted partner getting up for the day as you try
to climb into bed. She/he abuses you again for trying to get into bed with lumpy bits
of dried vomit in your hair.

You reluctantly accept their advice and have a shower in exchange for them driving
you to the hospital.

Work is simply not an option.

The whole day is spent trying to avoid anything that might make you sick again, like
moving.

You vow never to touch a drop again and who knows for the next two or three hours
at least you might even succeed.

OK, now hands up all those who have never had a six star hangover!!

Thought so...

Come join us at UTC, Cape Town you guys are always half asleep but don't wake up too late. There is a good time waiting for all who joins us. Our local band also going to be there, yes No One's Arc and our old seerower buddies, The December Streets as well as old Blue Moon friends like The Black Cat Bones, Southern Gypsy Queens, Taxi Violence, aKing....ag just come hey!

Peace!

Top of the Dogs...

...Nah not really more like my Top 10 of favourite videos I stumbled across on YouTube, been posted to my Facebook or something that I have been hiding in the treasure cove that is my hard drive. As the year is fast coming to an end and so is my countdown to Avontoer (to which I shall inform you soon) I thought since we all counting down something why not share some of my favourite YouTube videos with you...

No 10: Mr Cat and The Jackal - The devil always wants to dance

Mr Cat & The Jackal is from Cape Town, I saw them live for the first time at STRAB this year and absolute felt like a pirate on a rum drinking spree...oh wait I was doing that anyway...I love their music.

You can buy their CD at Look & Listen (it's where I got mine) and take a listen. I've seen MK playing this video quite a few times. Check out their cool website, like their FB page & follow them on Twitter. They have some decent gigs coming up this December so make sure you check them out

No 9: The Parlotones - Push Me To The Floor

Oh how I hear my friends swearing at me now for picking the Tones but face it, Kahn and the boys make good music, since 2003 they have graced my ears and yes I do have their CD's among my collection. The reason why I pick this specific video is the raw acoustic version of one my favourite Parlatones songs. Like he said it's about a one night stand to be honest I don't do one night stands but its a general feeling of the lyrics that I share with him here.
Of course you can follow Kahn on Twitter, like their page on Facebook and check out their website. They got their own wine out as well which I haven't tried but hey worth checking out I suppose

No 8: The Tidal Waves - Kia Ora

The Tidal Waves, super nice guys straight out of Jozi. Their connections with Nelsparta runs deep and we have partied like hippies at Woodstock every time they have played here. This is one of their older songs but their music is well worth checking out. Reggae will always remind me of summer and since it is summer right now in SA this a perfect tune to make you want to go down to the beach, light a smoke and watch the tide come in.
Tidal Waves are performing at that big ass Bike Show down in Cape Town where Seether is also going to perform so make sure you go give them a shout, to Tidal Waves. Otherwise give their website a look, like their page or follow them on Twitter


No 7: JR feat DHF & Jack Parow - The Show Goes On

Despite Jack Parow mug on the thumb nail this is an awesome song! This song went through my head all year round behind the bar at our quite times. Times when good friend Dirkie was in a serious bike accident earlier this year, when your soul needed rest and your body some good vibrations. JR is one of the top names in SA Rap and I'm yet to see him live. I have always enjoyed Die Heuwels Fantasties and Jack Parow I've seen live about 3 times now. The last two mentioned will be guest artist on the 6de MK Avontoer and Jack said he is bringing a full band with, can't wait to hear it.

No 6: aKing - You and I

Ahh aKing, what a great band on and off the stage. I love their lyrics and melodies, their lyrics have caused me to post it as status updates because they sum it right up. His voice makes most girls melt, the boys like him cause he is a awesome guy and yes in general this band have come a long way. "You and I" are off their new album "Red Blooded Years" and is now available. This song is beautiful, it is a truth to say that it takes one person to heal all in you.
They also on tour and you follow them on Twitter, like their FB page or go to their website

No 5: The Shadow Club - Drunken Love

Confession here about this band, I only heard of their name about 3 months ago. And when I Google their stuff this video came out first, I love it. The song reminds me of some old The Doors record some of our fathers might have in the dusty vinyl cabinet and would love to see them live. See if you can spot Flash Republic and Zebra & Giraffe in this video with them.

They got a MySpace page and a page on Facebook

No 4: The Black Cat Bones - Old Pappa Joe

Now what will this count down be without a little voodoo and some black cats? Yes you have read numerous times that I write I about the craze boys that is The Black Cat Bones. Kobus with his long hair and long beard can't be missed at all but man their show will leave you breathless. I have really lost count on how many live I've seen them live nor have drank with them. You can't keep up they are all over the place!

"Old Pappa Joe" is one my all time favourites and I know in 2012 I'm going to see them again and take a better listen to their new music.

Of course you can get their new CD at their shows, buy them tequila and roar with them! FB, Twitter and their web site is there for the clicking and liking

No 3: Ewald - I'm Not Your Hero

Aaa some good Nelsparta music in form of Ewald of My Aching Monotone (previous band NoCane). 2011 have been a big year for Ewald both professionally and personally, I'm really proud to call him friend. I put him at number 3. I love all his music one of my favourites "I'm not your hero" (I'm also in one of the pictures in this video) and also "Lief vir Afrikaans", "I believe"...just see all his videos.
He currently performs at random gigs in and around Nelsparta but mostly you can catch him live and acoustic at Pappas Pizza every other Sunday night.

No 2: Captain Stu - Siamese Twin

I will never forget where and how I met the lead singer, James of Captain Stu. It was a fresh hot Cape morning in Swellendam earlier this year at Up The Creek. Mimi only called "Hey Captain Stu" and this long haired delicious looking man greeted her back. Then when I watched them first time I had a Rum and cola in the one hand, standing in the Breede River in the hot sun dancing. They were also on Live@5 earlier this year and I enjoyed it so much. "Siamese Twin" is their brand new video and worth checking out if you want good SA music. They live in Cape Town and I'm sure that they will be around doing what most bands will be doing in the summer, gigs.
Their website is informative, Facebook addicts and Twitter of course and sorry ladies can't give out their phone numbers...that you have to get yourself ;)

And now, ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls over the age of 18...this is what you have been waiting for...the one that made a fire and burnt my fingers the minute I type in the title, one you need an ambulance for after a live show....drum roll please

*drum roll*

No 1: No One's Arc - UFO

A little predictable I know but it was hard okay and this blog is dedicated to the locals, so local is number 1! This video kicks all videos asses that I've seen on MK, MTV and VH1 put together. Catch That Rabbit has certainly captured the energy that is No One's Arc and put it on film. After a decade together the band has settled and their new music is awesome! If you have not seen this band live then put it on your bucket list, grab your rock on and see them on Avontoer this year (again) happening up and down the Western Cape coast. They are playing with Prime Circle at the Kirstenbosch Gardens on 31 December and for the locals they will be performing at the Ali Campbell (UB40 front man) show on the 17th of December. If you are in Joburg they will be at Tanz Cafe on the 15th of December. Twitter, Facebook and website all there you just need to go follow it, like it and play it! Most importantly share it!
Now isn't that how we roll? Fuck yes it is!

That's it! There is GOOD South African music out there, I just handed my Top 10 to you, some missed it by mere centimeters but it is up to you decide what you want to hear. Keep on supporting local music because if ain't for fans there ain't no music.

Peace & Love