 | I’m going to write more about aKING’s performance and less about the adventure leading up to, around, and after the show. This is due to my previous article upsetting a fine example of human life whose parents thought it best to name him “Anonymous”. I can only assume it’s Greek. Nah, screw it. ...read more |
The King’s New Do
Friday, September 3rd, 2010 by Brett Allen-White, images by Duran Levinson
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Play Nation
Thursday, September 2nd, 2010 by Greg Lomas, ilustration by Greg Lomas
 | “Charming spot. Inspiring prospects,” Sir Ian McKellen whispers. He’s perched on the edge of a makeshift stage, glaring into the darkness. Into the gloomy half-light of Oliver Tambo Sports Hall in Khayelitsha. Things are going on. Real things. Not in the play. A plastic chair squawks. An infant squirms. A young girl folds her homework. But the show has begun. ...read more |
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In a Strange Room
Tuesday, August 31st, 2010 by Kavish Chetty
 | The lives of the young and disaffected are now spent in a war against boredom. In this fresh century, modern sensations are so easy to find and experience as to have become almost assaultive: they throb on screens, and wail from radios and brush up against your thigh when you’d rather be alone. Experiences that would’ve excited and fascinated entire heritages past are reduced now to plastic playthings. There’s no excuse for anything to be boring. And this was ...read more |
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Rum, by the glass
Monday, August 30th, 2010 by Max Barashenkov, images by Deborah Rossouw
 | Rum and coke #1: Speedway, what a great venue – huge hall, two bars, one sweaty punk-as-hell stage area and an owner deeply rooted in the old school South African music scene. Good vibes all around… ...read more |
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Planet of the Fakes?
Thursday, August 26th, 2010 by Max Barashenkov, images by Mark Reitz
 | Talk about failed expectations and let-down hopes. There is a girl, she has a sailor hat on and a fake moustache and she is, perhaps, the hottest thing I’ve seen at the Assembly, ever. I want to fight her boyfriend and hold her hand and tell her beautiful things and dance with her in a magical world. Then the Great Apes take the stage, she takes off her moustache and all dreams crumble. She’s just another non-descript indie girl ...read more |
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Goth Fans and Foos Girls
Wednesday, August 25th, 2010 by Roger Young, images by Danielle Clough
 | Goth fans of country pop bands fascinate me. Not that there are any country pop bands other than Wrestlerish, that I know of, that have cute goth girls down front chanting the lyrics; verse and chorus. Wrestlerish have been touring hard and at the Saturday Mercury gig with the Jack Mantis Band and Tidal Waves that much is obvious from the tightness of their set. If anything, it’s a little too rehearsed ...read more |
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Tale of a Rugby Heathen
Monday, August 23rd, 2010 by Luke Mason
 | Behind the boerewors curtain disciples sit steadfast, silent in support of the green and gold. The service is about to start, the air heavy and devout. The barmaid, double chinned and bulldog jowled, pours and skulks, skulks and pours. A T-shirt bearing the slogan “Come have a few beers with us” is tented tight between her sagging boobs and a belly even Buddha wouldn’t rub. ...read more |
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Shark
Friday, August 20th, 2010 by Max Barashenkov
 | At the album launch, the Plastics are introduced with something along the lines of: “And here are the Plastics, their new album was produced by Gordon Raphael, you know, the guy who produced the Strokes!” Alarm bells go off – oh shit, guys, if this is the horse you are riding then this is going to be a sad experience… but then the band takes the stage and turns my long-standing perception of them being dry live inside out. ...read more |
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Fabrics of the Heart
Thursday, August 19th, 2010 by Dave Durbach
 | Like German reggae or Afrikaans country, music that struggles to keep it real is always easy to bash, usually for good reason. American accents, for example, are nothing new to South African music. And they’re always kak. ...read more |
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The Horn Man Who Died In His Sleep
Wednesday, August 18th, 2010 by Greg Davids
 | A Tribute to Ezra Ngcukana. My first exposure to live jazz was at about 12 years old with the Henry February band who at the time boasted a frontline of Ezra Ngcukana on alto,tenor & soprano, brother Duke Ngcukana on trumpet, Winston Mankunku on tenor and later Willy Haubrich on trombone. In the rhythm section was the man, Mr Feb on piano, Kenny Jephta on guitar, my Dad, Robert Davids was on percussion, Max Diamond on drums and Basil ...read more |
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