Ole

So damn sorry I have been absent the last couple of weeks, I had a hectic test schedule and nearly died. Ok that is an exaggeration, but it was tough. I'm going to try my best to keep this blog updated from now on.

Here is a little treat for ou ears (It is Afrikaans, but I'm sure you'll love it anyway, if, however you are struggling to understand the lyrics, just drop me a line, and I'll translate it for you).
Bouwer Bosch - Vertel My

Things to do...

If you are as lucky as I am, to be on HOLIDAY right now, then there are a couple of things for you to do each night this week! ole!

Tonight has Stepdog playing at the famous &union, if you're in the neighbourhood drop by.

Tomorrow night I'll be having a VERY good time at ol'Bohemia for some shedding of my skin with the Pretty Blue Guns: Here

Friday night Machineri & Shadowclub is playing at the Kimberly Hotel in Cape Town, I have not yet seen them play, but I've heard a couple of their songs and I like it :) FB Event Here. If you want to learn more about the bands (and by learn, I obviously mean have a listen to some of their songs),go Here.

Saturday is the long awaited RED STAG event at Assembly. For the past week, my timeline (on Twitter), has been filled with tweets of excitement, i mean, have you seen the line-up? No? What are you waiting for, go here

And to end off this fun-filled weekend, Aandklas is hosting an unplugged session with Louwtjie Rothman and more. FB Event here

Something for every night. Wowzers.
Lets hope we survive this extended weekend.

Roadtrip Adventure #1

For the past couple of weeks I’ve hardly seen one of my better (well, only sometimes) halves, Lola. She has been working very hard on her application portfolio for Michaela’s Fine art School and I was being consumed by my course. Today, finally, she finished her portfolio, I took an ‘admin’ day from class, and we spent the entire day together. Isn’t that nice?

 Lola and her mother, Suzan, picked me up, before 9am (on my day off! , and we missioned to the great Cape Town, it was like an explosion of verbal dihoerea, we literally could not stop talking. We were so excited to see each other and finally, Lola could hand in her portfolio and take one step towards her big dream, being an artist. After the year we’ve had it was so good to see her relaxed, happy and excited (with a touch of nerves, obviously) and her mother could not have been more enthusiastic, eager as a child on Christmas Eve! After dropping off the mighty package, we did a little happy-dance/ trot outside the building and drove off to Kalkbay, our little guilty pleasure-treasure.

First stop in Kalkbay, Cape to Cuba. We had some Pongraz, some snacks and a very good time. We talked about being a women, a mother, a child, an artist, friends we’ve loved and lost, boyfriends, we laughed, we cried, we remembered and everything in between. And at one stage Suzan and I even danced around in our little nook. Then it was time for cocktails. This is when things got interesting and some of us compared the other to Jesus. After a couple of cocktails and more fits of laughter it was time to tone it down a notch and get a caffeine overload that could induce a coma.

Then it was time to hit the streets and do some bargain hunting, I mean, have you ever left Kalkbay and not bought yourself a little something? Exactly. We tried on vintage sequence, vintage mesh with sequence detail and ostrich feathers and very happily gave them back to the shop’s assistant after hearing the very “good” price of R5000 (and by we, I mean Lola). Next up, we headed off to a relatively new vintage shop [I think it’s called London, but this is just a guess as there are many British flags and a cloth with Wills & Kate.] there Suzan and I spent a couple of minutes looking at the vintage baby clothes, before moving on to some fantastic gloves, hats and shoes. Eventually I found something that I liked (and could afford) a BRIGHT pink jumpsuit with LOADS of potential. It is still in alterations, but be sure to catch my new outfit at the Pretty Blue Guns & La.VI gig @ Bohemia on 8 Sep 2011 (Link Here).

From here on we strolled on the main road, back to Café Olympia. If you do not know what I am referring to, I am assuming you’ve never been to or spoken to anyone who has been to Kalkbay? No? So you’ve just been living under a rock then? Oh, yes, that seems like a good enough reason. On our way we saw everything you can imagine; legit art, candle art, Borat thongs, jewelled underwear and so much more. At Café Olympia (if you haven’t Google’d it yet, you are a fool!) we had the loveliest lunch imaginable. Lola had a Cajun Chicken Salad, which was yummy as can be; I had the Deli Pasta, traditional Mediterranean pesto pasta with el dente pieces of steak, Nom, while Suzan had the Tomato & Carrot soup with some scrumptious freshly baked bread.

More conversation and more laughter passed when we realised it was already 5pm. It was time to leave, but not before Suzan shared with us, the Czech word for ‘passing gas’ is, “prd”, pronounced “prrrt”, this conversation inspired by the random Pritt stick (glue), she had carried in her handbag. We drove home, tired of the days excitement and enthusiastic about the prospects of tomorrow and the next ‘spontaneous’ adventure.

Where I'll be Tonight.

Since I have not been out in weeks due to my ridiculous academic schedule, I have decided to take the night off and treat my ears to a little City Bowl Mizers and Captain Stu. I have not seen these guys perform live yet, so I'm stoked to see what they're all about. Keep your eyes peeled, if it's an awesome event you'll definetly read about it here.

Do yourself a favour and join in! FB Event :Here

Blues, Covers, Marlboro's & Fleur du Cap

Last Wednesday night was spent sipping on some delicious Fleur du Cap, taking drags of a Marlboro Light and gracing my ears with the beautiful sounds of Johanine and The Pretty Blue Guns. Where were you?

Johanine kicked off the night with a laid back number, shifting me back in my seat, just what I needed after the week I’ve had. From the first strum of Jonathan’s guitar, I remembered why I love this 3piece so much, Jon and Roxi’s vocals are a powerful combination and one cannot help but be reminded of Angus Stone, The Tallest Man on Earth and Bon Iver.

Jonathan- Johanine (photo by: Nadine Aucamp)

Sadly after only 4 songs, their set is over. This is too short. I would have loved to hear more of their music and I simply cannot wait for their E.P to be released. No doubt it won’t be as magical as a live performance in the ‘Aan de Braak’ theatre, but imagine being able to listen the sweet sounds of Johanine in the comfort of your own home with some red wine and a fireplace. Bliss.

The Pretty Blue Guns take the stage and opened their set with Karen. I am impressed. I’m an avid Guns fan and very fond of their live performances, but an acoustic show was what I’ve been waiting for, for quite some time. It was refreshing hearing these songs we’ve all known for months, in a ‘slower’ version.

Andre Leo was amply enthusiastic to share the exciting news of their Bass player, Greg’s negative HIV status, well done to you! More songs were played, more red wine was consumed, I was in my happy . The Guns also included Country Hell and Pills from their previous album, Cutting Heads. I have to mention how well they transform (or whatever process it is musicians follow to acoust-ify their music) from rock ‘n roll to a gentler acoustic version, still sounding very PBG, not to mention the great country feel to their songs.

Andre - The Pretty Blue Guns (photo by: Nadine Aucamp)

Next up was a Tom Waits cover sung with Chantel van T (front lady from LA.VI). I love the guns’ ability to take on wildly famous songs and do their very own versions, making the song their own, without losing the essence of the original artist.

After the break, Jonathan joins the 4-man stint on stage for another cover, followed by ‘Dadada’. Chantel again joined the boys on stage for ‘The Ride’ followed by ‘Misery’ (also added to my favourite songs). And for the first time, ever, the Guns performed ‘Babydoll’.

From here on, the Pretty Blue Guns took it up a notch, back to their usual Rock ‘n Roll with ‘Bad Liver Blues’. And it was about time, I could no longer sit still and watch them; I wanted to start grooving, getting to my feet and moving (YAY! for rock ‘ roll).  Andre, proudly, shares the news that their first single and title of the latest album, ‘Shed Your Skin’, has made it onto the 5fm Rock Chart.  Congratulations!

The last two songs were covers; Valerie by Amy Winehouse and Venus in Furs by Velvet Underground, I’ve come to love these repeat covers, after hearing it the first time in Bohemia. There are hardly words to describe my excitement upon hearing the intro for Valerie and again I have to mention the Guns’ incredible ability to translate songs and making it their own.

Obviously the crowd could not handle the end of the night arriving and demanded another song. Andre.does.solo.about.death. The rest of the band joins in, Lucas and Brandon on backing vocals, or at least they were trying. They were more into finishing the bubbly that was passed around through the night, than singing along. Greg also joined in to play the harmonica to ‘Red Crow’. a Beautiful ending to a beautiful night.

Andre (photo by: Nadine Aucamp)

If you have not seen the Pretty Blue Guns perform yet, shame on you. Don’t despair the boys have us in for a little treat on 8 Sep @ Bohemia and again on  14 Sep when they open for Fokofpolisiekar at Klein Lib. I’ll be seeing all your beautiful faces there! (FB Link to the events; Bohemia: Here AND Klein Lib: Here
*these photo’s has been taken and published by Nadine Aucamp

Where you'll be tomorrow.

Tomorrow night I'll be getting my groove on to some aKING tunes, if you know whats good for your soul, you'll be there too.
They have recently launched their new album (and by recently I mean a couple of months back) and this will be the first time I see them performing  their new album, needless to say, I am very excited and so should you be!

The Facebook Event details (So you have no excuse not to be there): http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=219859778049583

Here is also their latest music video. Enjoy.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gwjHyJwJsxs

I am Back

I do believe I owe you an apology. My 2month absence was due to the fact that I wrote exams followed by a much needed holiday. I am sorry.
Classes at Stellenbosch University has restarted and i am returning to my routine, which means more posts to follow. And as a little tingler...

The Black Keys- Tighten up

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mpaPBCBjSVc