Livemusic

@joydemillar has organised another cracking #subwaysessions at our undisclosed location. Here’s Ilse holding everyone spellbound or in stitches between songs that you instantly feel like you’ve known for years.

Last night was perhaps the best non metal rock show I’ve seen in South Africa. Just killer bands, great sound, enthusiastic crowd. Pictured is Beast with two great bass guitar players, a rock solid drummer and an operatic, dramatic singer. The Tasers from Jozi were probably my highlight with a great tension between absolute wildness and tight control. Headlined by Spiral Drive from Germany. The show is coming to Jozi in a few days and people up there should run not walk to get tickets.

I meant to post this before our show. But my phone’s been missing wifi at home leading to unexpectedly depleted data. Fine times out of the winter funk in the warm interior of the Striped Horse on Surfers’ Corner. With @macawbandsa, @jason66c , and @joydemillar, Melissa, and a wonderful host of characters.

Now with the correct month - I’m a dozy fool. It’s been two and a half years! We’re a six piece band now and get to knock out some baller surf-guitar classics like the Hawaii Five-O theme tune. The Striped Horse is a great place for it - just by Surfer’s Corner with an open fire and a thick list of craft beers.

This joint has never been more important. One of the few live music venues left in Observatory. Closed during COVID but then reopened under new management. Ever since the first juke box and then the first disco back in the 50s, the eons old practice of live music recitals has effectively been rendered obsolete. But by making a big show out of it, that death has been postponed. But it’s often quite a hard sell against the very flamboyant and immersive forms of entertainment it now has to compete with. But for those of us who love it and do it, there’s no real substitute. ...

@cara.stacey and @sophdex coping with icy temperatures to truly deliver the goods. Pop to experimental to psychedelic in one short performance.

@matthijs_van_dijk, composer and violinist. From fun arrangements of things like the Game Of Thrones theme to challenging and complex originals. @cara.stacey at the back on keys and vocals.

@sophdex amazes again not just with touch and tone but also impeccable time-keeping.