Got your tickets to the Gun Show?

Levi's Young Guns presents Howard Roark teaming up with class act Ashtray Electric. These two will be rocking out together at 14 Hope Street in Cape Town tomorrow night, 12 June. Go celebrate the end of exams with some quality music and friends.
For more information about being on the guest list, click on the above event picture. Have a look below at the debut Howard Roark music video titled, "You Got The Moves". I shall keep my opinions to myself. You decide what you think.

"You Got The Moves"

Go along and support. From my experience, Howard Roark are much better live than recorded!

I Blogs their video, on my wall!

The famous rockstars from up North have just launched their new music video! Desmond & the Tutus are well known throughout South Africa for their original sound (huge African twist with a touch of Kings of Leon) and lively characters. The video was launched on Thursday, 29 March, at The Tokyo Star in Joburg. With familiar supports like DJ Data Takashi, DJ Sassquatch and others, the party could only have been huge.

Here is the video from one of South Africa's brightest talents, directed by Greg Rom.
Desmond & The Tutus show off, "She Hangs the Pictures on the Wall"

Justice †

Justice, the French electronica/dance duo sensation have recently released there latest album called † (aka Cross). It's full of their own stuff (no remixes).

Justice are known the world over for mixing acts like Digitalism, MGMT and many others. Have a listen to the MGMT remix below.

MGMT- Electric Feel (Justice remix) (zshare)

There has also been A LOT said about there new(ish) video called STRESS. Is it really very controversial? Have a look below.

Stress


Then there is their older video called D.A.N.C.E. Possibly the greatest video of all time. Watch it.

D.A.N.C.E

I am seeing Justice in London on the 11th July.

Freshlyground stand against Xenophobia!

Friday night was one of the happiest gigging nights on Cape Town’s music calendar. Thanks to Zolani, Kyla and the boys who rocked out (or kwaitoed out/popped out/afro-fussioned out?) The Assembly this weekend, loads of chilly Cape Townians came down for a jol with a good cause. Freshlyground decided that all the proceeds from the gig would go to the fight against Xenophobia in South Africa. Zolani apologised over and over again for the way the Africans were treating the foreigners.

It was obvious that Cape Town appreciated this sentiment. Cape Town were getting down. The crowd was diverse; hippies, old folk, youngsters and even the odd indie kid who didn’t get the memo.

Freshlyground, arguably South Africa’s most well recognised band, couldn’t have asked for a better reception. It was huge, but intimate. In the words of the designer, Carly Morgan Ledward, “If you close your eyes, you feel like you are in a shibeen.”

This oversized shibeen was transformed (once again) for this gig. The conventional big stage was sacrificed for a stage against the wall on the left, creating a long hall effect, lined with Red Cross banners and flags. It worked, although (it must be said,) the sound wasn’t at its greatest.

But, big up to The Assembly for hosting one of the most enjoyable nights since Sovereign Academy.

Well done for supporting a good cause Cape Town…

[Photographs from Freshlyground]

The Beams and Rockets Assemble

“Get on your dancing shoes. There’s one thing on your mind.” – Arctic Monkeys. That “one thing” was to squeak some K–Takkie rubber to the sounds of some of Cape Town’s premier acts. 24 May, Saturday, The Assembly, with a stellar line up of bright movers and shakers, physics defying moves and rock star personas…The Beams, New Loud Rockets and spinning the turntables, Orlando Doom and the Hipless couples (Daydream Nation Djs).

Note: There was a refreshing transmutation from The Assembly with the large stages and wide open spaces to The Assembly with a small stage and main bar for an intimate, cosy atmosphere where playing even a simple game of foosball became a challenge.

Doors opened at nine and people were filling up the room rapidly. The buzzing of voices and laughter contributed to the growing excitement for the show to begin…And what a show it was indeed!

The evening kicked off with a warm up set of electronic sounds and beats from Orlando Doom and the Hipless couples.

The Beams were on fire. Their music has grown and multiplied in its awesomeness and maturity since their primitive beginnings in 2006. They have developed and moved away from their Curish sounds towards something of their own. As always, Paul’s epileptic dance moves were expected, Jay’s insane drumming and Bosko’s grizzly guitar commanded respect while Amrik’s smooth bass kept things in check. With influences (arguably) from early Bloc Party (the Silent Alarm album), Chris Chameleon’s Boom album and the Cure, the Beams make one wanna dance until something breaks. The Beams are easily one of the most charismatic and energetic stage acts around in Cape Town. Total crowd get-goers.

Next up was Smack Talk’s most blogged band, the New Loud Rockets who performed their last gig for the next two months! With the ever looming midyear exams and with three of the five going to the UK on holiday, it makes sense that they take a break. The lads trickled onto stage with their SCAR sponsored hair styles and John, Dave and Steve sporting semi-formal outfits. The poetic quality of their lyrics inspires sing-a-longs, especially when Bleeding in a Cab starts to blare through the speakers. Their music electrifies all around and infects the body with a need to dance. As usual, the capacity Cape Town crowd enjoyed.

Exciting news: When the NLR do return they are promising, “that (they’ll) return with a new approach to (their) music and outlook.” Their words, truly.

To close off the evening, Orlando Doom and Hipless Couples returned to their desks inan attempt to keep the takkies squeaking. We got no rest.

- Kate Roux
[Photos from Zahra Robertson]

Question: How important are Band names?

So this is it; I was chatting earlier this evening to my good friend Steve and discussing the importance of band names. How important is the name of a band?



My thoughts are that band names are only important when you are hearing about the band for the first time. After the jokes are put aside, the name means little more than a referencing tool. Look, for example at the Red Hot Chilli Peppers. If you want to talk about terrible names, there's one. But because they are famous, the name means very little.


Those are my thoughts, briefly. What are yours? Comment below.

Rocking under The Beams

This wintry Saturday night (24 May) sees a match up that is certainly not an unfamiliar one. New Loud Rockets share The Assembly stage with the young exciting talent that is The Beams. Both bands have risen in popularity with their super stage presence, awesome off stage personalities and of course, their music. The last time New Loud Rockets performed at The Assembly was for their video launch. What a night.

The Beams is a band that is at home in the indie-electro scene but doesn't for a minute fit the mold. They are made up of interesting characters from as far as Durban and East London, they all study at UCT, specialising in a variety of courses. The Beams aim to have a good time and celebrate the music, plain and simple. If you are keen for some fun and dancing before exams, brave the cold and come on down to The Assembly on Saturday night. You won't be disappointed and what's more, it'll be the last time New Loud Rockets will be performing for about two months!

[Photo by WAA]
See you there Cape Town...