CD Review: Tuck Shop

Desmond & the Tutus have just launched their debut album, Tuck Shop, featuring all their greatest sing alongs like Saggy Bottom Speedo Swimmer and Peter (I can't love you, the way you need me to). They were recently in Cape Town launching the new album. The album (and all of Desmond's songs) prove that lyrics don't have to be all "arty" and "deep" to be enjoyable or accepted. Songs focus on themes such as girls with boys names, hard high fives, speedos and other ridiculously comical ideas. The album is well put together by Adrian Levi and is a MUST have for any music lover. If you enjoy bands like Kings Of Leon and The Vampire Weekend, you will definitely enjoy this very South African act.

Above photo from We Are Awesome.

Tuck Shop

1. “Peter” (song about a girl with a boy’s name)

2. “Good and Guilty”

3. “Old Girls”

4. “Kiss You on the Cheek” (about everything inside of you wanting to kiss this girl on the cheek)

5. “German Modern” (a song about a new dance move coined by Desmond)

6. “Crazy Rebel”

7. “Saggy Bottom Speedo Swimmer” (song about a kid who has lost his swimming trunks and has to swim in a speedo)

8. “Pictures”

9. “High Fives” (song about a kid who gives really hard high fives)

10. “Head to the Side”

11. “Too Late”

If you would like to get your hands on a copy of Tuck Shop (the greatest album I have got this year), email the band at hi@desmondandthetutus.co.za! They would love to help you out with a copy.

Unit.R and Kidofdoom: A pair for a Party

Unit.R and Pretoria based instrumentalists, Kidofdoom paired up for two nights this weekend to promote their new music and just have a jol. On Friday night they performed at Mercury and Saturday night they invited Desmond & the Tutus to join them in Stellenbosch at the Klein Libertas.

Unit.R got proceedings under way with some new tunes and a few familiar ones. They have really come into their own in the last year, and performed out of their socks. They are well worth a look in!

Above: Unit.R Below: Kidofdoom

Next on the bill was none other than the music sensations, Kidofdoom who played the greatest of the two sets I have had the pleasure to view. From huge guitar riffs to thumping bass lines, Kidofdoom lack very little in ability and stage presence.

After Kidofdoom's energy sapping display, patrons had the opportunity to catch some fresh air and get drink before Desmond & the Tutus made the evening complete!

Stellenbosch turned out to be a great gigging evening for bands, local and traveling. Lets do it again sometime.

Cape Town Disco with Desmond

This weekend saw Desmond & the Tutus in Cape Town to show off their latest creation, Tuck Shop. They played two packed out gigs, Friday at Evol and Saturday at The Klein Libertas. They enjoyed favour and love from the Evol crowd as dancing was more of a reaction than anything else. An involuntary combination of dance moves is standard at any Desmond gig. Sweat flew from shaking brows and drinks were spilled. White shoes turned a black/brown colour and everyone was happy.

Desmond & the Tutus at Evol (above)

Saturday night saw the Tutus pair up with Unit.R and Kidofdoom in Stellenbosch for a giant merrymaking. Together with Shane's (vocals) ridiculous larger than life stage presence, Nick (bass) and Doug's (electric guitar) charismatic dance moves and The Klein Libertas' huge lighting, Desmond won the hearts of every attendee and worker.
One of the secrets to the Desmond live performance success is the absence of an instrument to hold Shane back. Even when he whips out the harmonica, it compliments his character.

Above: Shane showing off his futuristic dance moves, which are mimicked enthusiastically by the crowd. He calls this dance the German Modern.

Daddy Certainly Don't Disco!

The much anticipated Daddy Don't Disco was launched at The Assembly on Friday night to a very large and expectant crowd. But after no gigs in Cape Town for about 4 months, and a wicked cool deal from Sony BMG, The Dirty Skirts were boring. Baring their single, Can't Remember Your Name and the oldies that everyone know and love, the new songs left one wondering whether the correct response was to dance or just watch. For the most part, they were just watched. As much as Jeremy and the lads were giving it everything on stage, they lacked the energy of the Skirts of old.
Having said that, Cape Town's support was unfounded. With two other massive gigs just a stone's throw from The Assembly, The Dirty Skirts managed to grab the lion's share.

The Launch of all Launches!

After years of listening online to your favourite garage recorded songs, it has arrived! Desmond & the Tutus have released Tuckshop, their debut album! About [expletive] time too! What’s more is they are on their way to the Mother of all cities (Cape Town) to launch it at two EXPLOSIVE parties at Evol and the Klein Libertas (Stellenbosch) this weekend.
Desmond is well known for its African feel indie music creating possibly the most original sounding act in South Africa currently. They have even played in Cape Town with our (Cape Town's) very best, the New Loud Rockets. Check out previous posts for more pics and info on the band.
To be at either (or preferably both) of the parties, click along to the Evol invite for Friday and the Klein Libertas invite for Saturday. Saturday night also boasts PTA act Kidofdoom and another Cape Town favourite, Unit R. Wow.

It is going to be a weekend like no other.

See you there Cape Town…

Photos by Angie Batis

Watch this space for an album review!

Athlete - Hurricane

Athlete, an English indie rock act out of London released there 3rd Album in September last year, Beyond The Neighbourhood, which entered the UK charts at #5, not nearly as successful as the album, Tourist, which preceded it. Tourist set the standard as far as music and originality was concerned. When Beyond the Neighbourhood came out, some fans were disappointed. Some critics complained that the new music sounds like Coldplay (suddenly Coldplay's sound is exclusive?). Besides, Coldplay's new album, Viva la Vida or Death and All His Friends, has a refreshingly new sound.

Anyway, the album is very typically Athlete, not too much new, a few new electronic sounds, but very safely put together. I am happy with my purchase.

Have a look at the their single below, Hurricane, and make your own mind up. When you are done with that, they have just released their latest EP, definitely worth having a look at. It's called Outsiders.

Justice live in London

I recently had the privilege of travelling abroad to some beautiful countries and islands. I went to Greece and Croatia, and spent a day in Italy and London; hence the reason for the lack of blogging in the last month.

The one evening we were in London, Justice were ripping it up in the London rain at Somerset House. We went along.

Marlon, in his massive trench coat, Tyrell boasting new red skinnies and his terrorist scarf (so last year) and yours truly sporting my newly acquired shutter shades and borrowed neon peak cap.

We arrived just as the opening act ended, perfect timing. The Londoners were pretty nonchalant about the weather as the icy rain poured down on the open air venue while we (Marlon, Tyrell and I) huddled under our small umbrella for warmth and the thought of being dry. The rain did stop for a bit however and we gave up on the idea of being warm and embraced the elements.

Just then, Justice came on stage and stood in the darkness behind their massive tables and Marshall stacks. They started with what must be a popular opener, Genesis. They are a class act. They played many familiar tunes from their newish album, “†”, mixed with oldies like, We are your Friends and even a riff from the Klaxons. The lighting was out of this world as well and synced so very well with the music making the show run like a well oiled machine.

There has been some criticism of the songs D.A.N.C.E. and The Party. People are often of the opinion that they didn’t do enough with them. They talk about dancing and partying, but it’s very difficult to move violently to these songs. But, the live performances of these songs silence all critics, well certainly me. They were so huge, we didn’t want them to end.

The rain came down once again to try and end proceedings, but bye this stage everyone was warm and couldn’t care less if they got a little wet.

All in all, a good night out in wet, miserable London. Check out the "Never be Alone" video below.

Action photos by Marlon Leggat.