I have a brother who has jock tendencies, much like James Boonzaier and the Huson brothers. On occasions they tend to venture into places where people request the dj to play Goldfish and the like. You know what I mean.........Dario?
Anyway, last night was one of those nights. He went to Chevelle, a hundred metres up the road from Assembly, attracting boys who dress in Dad's blazor, dads trying to rediscover their youth and girls competing for the prize of shortest dress and biggest heels. I am trying to build this up, to create some suspense, but without much luck I fear. In fact, by now you are barely reading, more like skimming to actually get to what I am trying to divulge. The Dirty Skirts played at Chevelle last night.
That's all I have to say. Oh, and would you call them sell outs? They have played with Goldfish before, hence their latest video.
Front man John Seth announced earlier today, that the New Loud Rockets have broken up. This comes three weeks after their last show and the dismissal of drummer, Phil Erasmus. [Now would be a good time to stream and view their first and last music video, Bleeding in a Cab as you sob through the rest of this post.]
The four remaining Rockets set out recently to find a replacement for Phil, but due to what they call "personal issues amongst us", Jadan has left the band. Anyway, read what Johnny boy had to say:
"dear friends and lovers
it is with a heavy heart that i announce that the economic unit once known as new loud rockets has come to an end.
i know. it's a kak one. sadly, due to personal issues amongst us, J-dog mccullough will no longer be with us and as such we are down to three dashing young men in search of musical glory.
however...worry not, dear friends, the end is not as nigh as one might have thought. we will persevere, possibly under a new name and most definitely with a fresh new approach. we've had many positive responses to our appeal for a drummer and we'd like to make it clear that you can expect a whole lot more from...new found prophets??? it's a band name i've been sitting on for months...no but seriously we'll think of something cool.
we'd like to thank all of you for your love and support over the past two years. we started this band as 5 clueless kids with nothing other than having some fun in mind, and it has grown into something beautiful and special that we all hold close to our hearts (and hopefully you do too :)
our first gig was in a very dingy club called lepht in front of maybe 30 of our dearest friends. What turned out to be our final one was in front of close to 700 of our dearest friends too. we love you all. thank you for being part of this journey with us. every word, every chord, every song came from a place of sincerity and honesty.
all of us have made some amazing friends, played with some incredible bands, and realized what in many ways were impossible dreams. for this we thank you. here is to the next chapter.
upwards onwards and
love and rockets
P.S - we don't, and have never sounded like, the fucking strokes."
I think everyone has a favourite New Loud Rocket experience. Their Hidden Cellar show with Desmond was probably mine, or maybe, their video launch? Good times. For all the posts ever done by Smack Talk on NLR, click here.
The very Strokes influenced band played their last show at Assembly in January with The Plastics and Dear John Love Emma. What a rocker. RIP guys, RIP. [Photos by Adriaan Louw and Zahra Robertson]
If you were unfortunate to miss out last time, you have another chance! Albeit in Stellenbosch. Yes thats correct friends. Nigel James Moore is not quite ready to leave, and so he has got his man friends (Dave, Steve and Tim) together for one last shindig. It's all going down on Thursday night at the Rock Room on Dorp Street. Get there early and have some dinner in Stellies. Should be wicked. On top of this exciting news, the lads from the Pretty Blue Guns have agreed to come along and play an unplugged set for us. Fun times. If you were at the Waiting Room, you will remember Andre from the Pretty Blue Guns. He was the bloke who played the Harmonica. No doubt he will be show face in both acts.
[The kids from Pretty Blue Guns]
[Fun times with Nigel Moore and friends at Waiting Room]
If you missed out and would like to read about what happened last time and see some pics, click here.
If you would like to hear a little more of his music before deciding, click here. [Bare in mind, he sounds much better live.]
How many bad hair styles are there in the music industry. It seems as though people are trying to make a statement with their hair. We all remember when good ol' Britney went mad and shaved her head.She then tried to cover it up with braids.
So Nasty!
How about American rockers, Leeland? This pic is their current pic on Last.fm.
So naff! Worst hair [centre guy] and worst beard [second from right]??
Don't get me wrong, these guys are awesome musicians with thought provoking lyrics. Maybe a little pop-like for my taste, but very good.
If we bring it closer to home, how about Davy Huson's half peroxide half roots hairstyle from a few months back? Is he going to look back in 20 years (or less) and question what he did to himself? You know these kids are going to hate themselves when they grow up.
It's interesting how one thing that is so accepted and even loved at one stage can be so hated and despised even just a year later. Remember the mullet? I loved my mullet. Now, I wouldn't be caught dead with a mullet. I have a friend who used to sport the mullhawk. That is a mullet and a mohawk on one head of hair. Special times.I think Andrew still has a mullet though? I nearly had the opportunity to shave his head. We had a bet. Neither of us won. Sad.
On 30 September (a Tuesday evening) Nigel Moore from the band that used to live, Howard Roark, will be playing a one off gig to promote is latest solo EP, called a.m. cocktails. I say "one off" because if my sources are anything to go by, Moore is leaving Cape Town for London and then, quite interestingly, he is moving to New Zealand indefinitely.
The gig is at the Waiting Room above Royal (the burger place) in Long Street. Check out the FB invite and his so-rough-it-does-him-more-harm-than-good recordings of the songs we can expect to hear come that Tuesday night. It will sound a whole lot better, I assure you.
The band for the night is made up of a few interesting characters, namely Nigel Moore, the brothers, David and Stephen Huson from the New Loud Rockets and a new kid, Timothy Cole King (drums).
This is what I imagine the setup will look like. Some differences though, Nigel will be taller, Dave won't be so bright, Tim will have a t-shirt on and a drum kit, and Steve won't change (he doesn't have very many outfits).
Next up in our Members series, is David Huson the bassist from New Loud Rockets. He also happens to be the fashion trail blazer of the band while studying Dentistry at UWC.
1. What is your earliest musical memory?
If referring to pseudo-participation, then definitely my rendition of treble-clef-flair, whilst sharing a piano stool with my father. Christmas carols from a book with a particularly pretty cover.
Otherwise, trying to pajama-sidestep to MC Hammer.
2. What are your biggest musical influences?
Home (where the heart is; with brothers, parents and the like).
The weight of the world.
Childhood (the happy parts of adolescence, too).
Oh, and, Michael Jackson.
Also featuring guest appearances from: Television (Marquee Moon), Red Hot Chili Peppers (ah, pre-pubescent summertime), Shout Out Louds (“Trackin’ and a trainin’” is how I seem to live my life)…yes, The Strokes too, and a host of obscure, ultra-indie-electro-thrash/thrash/thrash band names that I’d like to make reference to here.
3. What is your fondest band memory?
Possibly our first show in Stellenbosch, upstairs within the Hidden Cellar. It marked our first performance with Desmond & The Tutus. The evening I met you too, Rich. Stephen, John and I proceeded to mount the stage and dance – maniacally – to their set. Or, maybe the time we slept in what seemed like a concentration camp dormitory, stumbling in after a show (the small hours of the morning), and someone left a note in my shoe (in lipstick; I might add) that read “I heart KidOfDoom”.
4. What do you do when you are not playing music?
Hanging with Jesus. (In a sincere way.)
Video store - clerking-it, um…yo.
Running. (The road and I.)
Investigating the intricacies of beard growing.
Invading peoples’ personal space in an attempt to help them feel better about their smiles. (Yes, that’s how I justify it.)
Surrounding myself with teeth, mouths and such pleasant things that Dentistry has to offer.
It’s a modest business. But, we get by.
5. What band are you listening to at the moment?
MGMT. I know it’s no “revolutionary” answer. I can dig that.
I guess, ‘I’m feeling rough, I’m feeling wrong in the time of my life’.
You know, ‘picking insects off plants – no time to think of consequences’.
6. What is the next big fashion accessory in the “Indie” world?
The BetaMax-cassette-suspended-from-a-shoelace-around-one’s-neck.
(Contrary to popular believe it is NOT the headband. Total fashion faux.)
7. When are we expecting a feature length album from the New Loud Rockets?
Our Commerce department (i.e. my brother, Stephen) has been swamped with accounts, trying to make sense of our year-end financial statements. We’re not quite financially sound as of yet – to venture down the path of a feature length album. But, we’re optimistic cats. Sometime in the very near, future present. We hope.
8. Who is the craziest member of the band?
I would have to say…Bernard - our invisible oboe player and resident, band badminton champion. Hands-down.
9. Have you ever been stalked by a fan?
A bizarre girl, who previously stayed in an apartment near the park where I once lived, would phone me, arbitrarily, to ask me stuff. I quite obviously never had the correct answers (or any at all) to her questions. I am not especially good with being blunt, and so, interrogations would continue (to undesirable lengths). There is a pending fear that if I ever see her again, she might beat me into submission – for avoiding her – as she boasts an impressive body mass index (for a junior Ukrainian weightlifter).
There was also this golf instructor from Tygervallei, Willie, who continued to buy me drinks one night, after a show of ours.
Ewww.
10. What are your personal dreams for the band?
Romantic, celebrity entanglements involving Natalie Portman or Keira Knightley. (A good friend of mine, James Boonzaier – from Howard Roark infamy, and the infamy that goes with being ludicrously tall, too – have a running debate as to whether they are in fact the same person.) I just hope for his sake they are two, separate human beings, ‘cause we all know the appeal of a man of average height and untamed facial hair.
Having a message; that a kid hears when he’s eating his cereal in the morning. While listening to the radio, or when watching television, and he realises something. Something most other kids won’t see or feel. And, he wants to let them know; the other kids. So, he draws it or writes or portrays it in the form of interpretive dance.
(Ok, maybe not like that. But, something along those lines.) Inspiring someone, deeply, maybe?
11. Anything else?
Yeah, I would like show how to solve one of those Chinese finger puzzles...or, the Rubix cube.
A quote would be good right now, like David Starsky’s ‘Be yourself. That’s what’s really cool.’ But, I can’t think of any.
So that’s my good friend and New Loud Rockets band member David. If you want to see David and the rest of the NLR perform some time soon, you can! Hop along to the Rocking the Daisies in early October and see them perform alongside some other big SA bands and some not so big SA bands. If you are patient, you may even get to see one of the biggest international washed up has been of the 90’s! Drum roll……… Eagle Eye Cherry!
Go along, it’ll be fun. No really, there are some exciting acts. I wish I could be going. I have exams.
I love music, and most things that relate to music. I also enjoy writing. So I have decided to create an amalgamation of my interests. Therefore, Smack Talk serves to entertain, create awareness and be an outlet for my interests.
If you have a band and would like to be seen, known and loved, you can email me. richardcoleking[at]gmail[dot]com
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I have a brother who has jock tendencies, much like James Boonzaier and the Huson brothers. On occasions they tend to venture into places where people request the dj to play Goldfish and the like. You know what I mean.........Dario?
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