Practice

I've received this guitar as a gift from my father years ago, but I lost interest rather quickly. I regret that decision in my youth as I would probably be really good by now, maybe even have a few songs written. Two years ago I picked it up again and started learning, but there is still a lot to learn and I am just a beginner. Today was dedicated to practicing some basics, and slowly building that muscle memory.

Here Comes the Summer Rain

Ahh thanks to Lynda, I can finally see Sharleen Spiteri and her band Texas live in the rain, typical Glasgow weather so far south in Johannesburg. Wow she just turned 50 last month, my age, and there she is rocking the stage in the rain like she owns it. Come rain or hail this Scottish lass is still rocking.

Maybe she should change the words from "here comes the summer sun" to "here comes the summer rain", as the heavens opened up and soaked us all and I was forced to stop recording as my cellphone was getting wet. Watch the video here. Nou gaan ons braai!

Jukebox Hero

In the early eighties, Foreigner released a song called Jukebox Hero, standing in the rain with his head hung low.

I sat in at small agency this morning, one that I did work for many moons ago, David and I, caught up on where we are now and a very laying out a potential exciting future for both of us. Looking at the Wurlitzer Jukebox behind David, my mind went racing to that one jukebox song, and all I wanted was to pick up that one guitar, hang it way down low, and rock on.

It is the weekend,gotta keep on rocking, and be a jukebox hero.

Legend Rockers Chess

Chubby Checker not quite but in our reception there is a chess board with legend rockers as the chess pieces.

This Battle of the Rockers chess set is very beautiful even if I can’t tell which pieces is which, the knight, bishop, king or queen although on the one side Freddie Mercury would defiantly be the queen and Elvis Presley the king.

Can you identify all the rock heroes on this chess board?

PS

More information about The Ultimate Legends of Rock and Metal Music Chess Set which was designed and sculptured by Darren Aiken. 

Okay on the black team starts off with the greatest instrumentalist in the world Jimi Hendrix as the Castle, the legendary Jim Morrison from the Doors as the Knight, Jimmy Page from Led Zeppelin with their Stairway to Heaven as the Bishop, Janis Joplin the ultimate flower child as the Queen, Elvis Presley the undisputed King of Rock 'n Roll as King, Ritchie Blackmore from Deep Purple as the Smoke on the Water Bishop, not my favourite the Beatles represented by John Lennon as the Knight, and riftest James Hetfield from Metallica as the Castle. 

And now for the white team, my favourite of my youth David Gilmour from Pink Floyd as the Castle, the reclusive Eddie Vedder from Pearl Jam as the Knight, Eric Clapton and his Layla as the Bishop, big mouth Mick Jagger from the Rolling Stones rocking around the world as King, Freddie Mercury the undisputed Queen of the World, the fuel for life Angus Young from ACDC as the Bishop, the californication Anthony Kiedis from the Red Hot Chili Peppers as the Knight, and finally Kurt Cobain who is in Nirvana now as the Castle.

Colours of Scotland

South Africa, the place where many different people have come together and now call her home. And this struck home once again today as I went to The Jeppe Gathering at the Jeppe High School in Kensington.

The Scottish heritage was brought to South Africa firstly by those fleeing the persecution of England and its Highland Clearances, many more came with the 1920 settlers, then came the diamond and gold rushes, and later the Boer Wars. But bonnie Scotland was here to stay and become part of a now vibrant South Africa.

As Lucky Dube once sang “We’re different colours, one people”. Yes today it showed in this Highland Gathering as Black, White, Asian, Indian, gathered together as South Africans to celebrate the Scottish culture, we are one people.

This gathering at Jeppe was also the Pipe Bands’ Association of Southern Africa regional gathering with the results counting towards the Champion Award which meant all the regions pipe bands turned up in full force to show us they have what it takes to be this year’s champion pipe band.

There were many pipe bands that turned up that I never knew existed, I saw the Transvaal Scottish, Sandton Scottish, African Skye, Benoni MacTalla, St Benedicts, Jeppe Boys, St Johns, King Edward, Christian Brothers Boksburg, Cornwall Hill, Pretoria Highlands, and many more.

One other interesting thing I saw was that the Benoni MacTalla Pipe Band brought their own wench to make sure that the shoes were kept clean. No wonder they are winning competitions.

Dancing with Mama Dorothy Masuku

Would you believe it if told you that I was pulled up onto the stage in front of a live audience and danced with Mama Africa? Yes the legendary Mama Dorothy Masuku as she sang her song Khauleza. Hurry Mama hurry, the police are coming, hurry hide the umqombothi. At first I was afraid, I was petrified! Couldn’t think at all, like a rabbit in the headlights, at 79 years of age Mama Dorothy took me by the hand and showed me that white men can dance. Must have been only minutes but it felt like hours, Khauleza mama, I danced like I never danced before. In that moment I was too star struck to think that there now may be photographs of me in the wild, dancing, oh what a skandaal! Oh never mind just bring me some more umqombothi as I don’t think I am in Kansas any more.

We celebrated with Victor Masondo as his concert 21 Songs for 21 Years of Democracy opened at Joburg Theatre tonight. Icons of the South African music brought us the rich culture of music that we have here in South Africa. I think the umqombothi and dancing is getting to me as I can’t remember all the names of the stars who performed tonight but some big stars walked onto the stage tonight, names that are hard not to forget, my favourite Johnny Clegg, our own Stevie Wonder the legendary Steve Kekana, and even Kurt Darren.

Now bring me some more umqombothi as the SA Idols winner Tumi Lesejane sings some Brenda Fassie songs.

What’s the Crack?

These last few days, it has been very cold here in Johannesburg, well compared to my friends in the northern climes, not that cold but our homes are not built for the cold so we really feel it here. So here I am, this evening at home trying to feel cozy, listening to some of my favourite Celtic punk music and my dogs tucked under the blankets in their bed. I am feeling morose on this chilly evening, no maybe a little bored. Let's crank is music up a notch or three. Today's photograph is of the photograph that is on the wall above my computer. It is of my friend David which I took while he played the fiddle at the Market on Main. David is from Waterford in the Emerald Isles, well at least he's not a Kerryman. Erin go Bragh.

Shotgun Tori

And she played bare feet, yes Shotgun Tori played bare feet, she always plays this way so if you haven't heard her sing yet, you better get out of your cardboard box and come listen to our own home grown indie folk singer. Or better still Shotgun Tori has just tonight launched her new EP called "are we fine yet?" so go, yes go demand it from your local music store.

It was awesome just sitting there amongst close friends and family of Victoria at the launch of "are we fine yet?" I first met Tori at a tattoo parlor, no you don't get to ask if I have a tattoo 'cause I don't want to disappoint you. She was like this sensual being who floated into my peripheral and never went away. Anyway tonight I just closed my eyes and let the indie folk music wash over me as thoughts of Zooey Deschanel, Lisa Mitchell, Janis Joplin, Stevie Nicks and would you believe it Kimya Dawson came streaming into my mind. No they not all indie folk singers but Tori came across as a combination of all five. Well done Tori on a successful launch of you album and may your career be as awesome as the artists whose names flowed through my mind as I heard you sing.

Say what?

Craig and I decided to try a new way of playing with light and sound so off we went to Cool Runnings in Fourways to catch 2nd Guess’D and aKing live. It was so difficult to get in focus with the musicians and lighting moving so much but it was fun and deafening. I have posted more images on the FaceBook album for you to see what you've missed. Now I need to stop this ringing in my ears.

12 Decades

On Main Street is Jozi’s only art hotel, the 12 Decades. Each of the 12 rooms is designed by a different designer depicting each of the 12 decades of Johannesburg’s existence. The Joburg Photowalkers are going to do a project at the boutique hotel. Later a few of us headed down to the market at Arts on Main just down the road from 12 Decades. To my surprise I found David playing the violin and a girl with a stunning voice signing. I met David at the oDD Café some time ago so to keep with the theme of music...

Scooter Rally and a Congolese Wedding

A busy Saturday and a need to keep to the music theme which I started last night made me choose this photo over many over good ones. It was one taken while waiting for a French speaking Congolese pastor. Half asleep, I crawled out of bed this morning to join 5 other Vespas to ride out to the SA Scooter's Rally being held over the weekend at Hartesbeespoort Dam. It was a good start to the day, on Sophia and in the countryside. I left the rally early because I was the second shooter at a Congolese wedding which supposed to start at 2pm but the pastor only turned up at 3pm. Now I've never heard of a pastor holding up a wedding for over an hour. The bride was waiting in the car downstairs for the pastor to arrive while the groom was with me in the chapel. I think the bride was crying. If I was the best man I would have dropped the big headed pastor and used the one all ready at the venue. Tardiness does not rank very well in my books.

It was late and by the time we needed to do the formal photos, the rain was falling. The formal photos were planned to be held at the Botanical Gardens at Emmarentia but because of the rain this was scrubbed and Craig suggested under the bridge in Newtown with all the graffiti. So there we where in Newtown, it is raining, and we are under a highway bridge with a strong smell of urine taking wedding photos. The bride with her white wedding dress was starkly contrasted against the bright colours of the urban graffiti art. Anyway the wedding photos turned out great.

Sweet Music to my ears

Wow today I was really impressed with these young musicians at Orlando. Let me start at the beginning. We went by a Business Express train to the newly revamped Orlando Station to officially handover and open it to the public. The construction work was done by this women run company and the work(wo)manship was head over heels better than the work done at Nasrec Station although Nasrec was a more technical station. Upon arriving at the station the contactors were waiting and this ragtag group of brass band musicians who joyously welcomed us. The instruments looked battered and well worn but they played so well that I was filled with joy. Jazzy and funky matching numbers were the order of the day that even I was jiving to the lively rhythms of Orlando, Soweto.