Theatre was an experimental chaotic hardcore outfit formed in South Africa, in mid-2008, after the expiration of its member’s previous bands. They bring genre-smashing music to the foreground that is both unique in construction and chaotic in design. Theatre was characterised by notably destructive, yet emotive performances with live shows that truly defied the norm.
'Wild Youth started in March 1978 but the story began a year before. We grew up in the suburbs along the North Coast about ten miles away from Durban. Wild Youth was born out of boredom, my friend Mark Dyson and I bored out of our skulls sitting in his lounge listening to Rolling Stones records. Sometimes our friend Peter Kunst would join us but he had a girlfriend so he had less free time. Boredom is good for rock and roll. Mark and I decided to start a punk band with Peter. Peter would play bass and sing. I would play guitar and sing and Mark would play the drums. We decided to call it The Fourth Reich, a stupid name as we weren’t fascist or racist just young dumb and wanted to cause a reaction. My dad had grown up in Czechoslovakia under Nazi oppression and he has told me some horrific personal recollections from those days but that is a story in itself...'
Gentlemen Callers play a mixture of post-punk and hardcore punk. Their intention is anti-escapist, with their sound privileging anxiety over fun. The band formed in Grahamstown in early 2012 out of a sense of disappointment with what they considered to be a largely thoughtless national music scene.
Interested in the Shamanic potential of music, they combine paradoxically dense and primitive rhythms with lyrical concerns ranging from reincarnation and drug use to the rise of the sociopath in contemporary society. They like to describe themselves as neurotic astronauts stuck on an inhospitable world. They are in the process of releasing three EPs over a three month period. Their first EP, ‘An Introduction to Metaphysics’ is now available (with digital booklet) for free download.
The three EPs were recorded on reel-to-reel tape in Grahamstown by friend of the band and producer Matt Sabine. The band decided to record all instruments simultaneously ('live') with appropriate overdubs in post-production. The decision to record in this fashion, as well the use of vintage equipment, came from a desire to experiment with non-digital techniques in order to capture an aesthetic at odds with much in the contemporary landscape. Gentlemen Callers will stagger their EP trilogy over the next three months. The three EPs, four tracks on each, will each contain a selection of songs relating to their relevant title/concept.
Its interesting (at least to me), a few years ago I read the posting on another punk website that was the predeccessor to this one, It was a long piece on how punk had died and wasn't what it should be. I instantly dismissed it with the ignorance of youth and the belief that it could be great. Yet here I am today writing almost the same piece, things never change. Life is life.
I remember going to gigs, feeling at home, enjoying the laughter, the music, the drinking, the cracked ribs (spermbirds) and broken toes(hogs). I remember thinking "this is where I want to be forever.". Over the years as I got more into it I realised that the ideals of punk are really what we love. The idea of a community of like minded individuals backing each other up, loving music and generally having a good time without any care for who you are. It was never about rebelling against authority for me (I love the idea, but punk like all things ...changed), it was that warm happy place I could always go alone and be accepted without criticism. But it all changed, or maybe I changed, but the dream shattered the mirror was broken.
I remember watching DVBB, Swivelfoot and Fuzi at the Bohemian (one of my fav venues) and having the gig cut short because someone pulled the toilet off the floor and flooded the place. I remember a punk/hardcore split show at Black Dahlia stopped because people where spray painting penii on the outside of the venue. I've seen 'punks' jump fences to get in but spend more at the bar than what entrance cost more times than I can count-and seen them complain that bands never get paid. I've seen it change or just seen the image for what it is go from who cares lets have fun to a drug/booze filled fuckshow where if you dont listen to The Exploited or have a patch on a leather jacket that screams crust you werent accepted. I think Against Me! said it best on Reinventing Axl Rose:
"Just gimme a scene where the music is free And the beer is not the life of the party And there's no need to shit talk or impress 'Cause honesty and emotion are not looked down upon"
I realise people will look at this and think "fuck you, you're an arrogant prick who knows nothing" as I probably did so many years ago, and they could be right. Tonight someone told me "Sometimes you aren't as bad as everyone says you are" and I think its just that attitude that turned me off punk rock in south africa. I almost definitely propagated that by saying I didn't like bands for bullshit reasons or just being shit to people for fucked up shit - dragged into the depths- it's sad it got to that stage, and I apologise to anyone I offended by that, I only hope it changes or is different for you.
The death of the site or the lack of community was something that was always coming, people didn't care enough to put up gigs when they could just put them on facebook, we gave away community for usability, for the joy of the like. The world changed and we didn't change fast enough to keep up.
I'd love to go back to the days of Thrashers when stevie wonderfuls, leek, pet flyz, 3 chord theory, half price, slashdogs played and made life worth living, the joy of letting go and not giving a shit - it was a huge party filled with almost no BS. When I didn't know better. When punk rock was a party not a political system and I was blissfully unaware of the subculture undercurrents that probably killed it for me.
I wish it could simply be and I wish you all find it. A fist in the air, a circle pit of smiling faces and a community of people who care.
The Vodun Haunts
is a five piece psycho band from Cape Town, formed in April 2012. They
have been quick to rise to the occasion and have performed to
well-attended audiences alongside some of South Africa’s top artists
since October 2012. The combination of an upright bass, two guitars,
vocals and drums is what is needed to unleash the Vodun Haunts’ heavy,
progressive and intense sound.
Musically, the Vodun Haunts write
well plannedout chord progressions with catchy key changes, builds and
mind blowing solos. The lyrical content is often inspired by the true
horrors that headline our daily South African newspapers. Songs such as
Muti, Devil’s Valley, Moonrising and Modimolle Monster show the Vodun
Haunts’ ability to embrace South Africa’s more sinister side. The
intensity is rounded off by the band’s look and high energy performances
that have audiences spell-bound. Their professional event planning and
design has created relative success for the Vodun Haunts in leading a
rock ‘n fucking roll revolution.
- https://soundcloud.com/the-vodun-haunts
Here we have an anarchist punk rock band from Israel with ex-members of South African punk bands Outrage, Clandestine, Skelm Helm, Hasten the Storm... and more (Michal & Rob)
maramara Streisand is a five piece crust and roll band out of Israhell.
We
came together in the winter of 2010 out of a strong need to express our
aspirations in the form of lousy music. Our music is as much a product
of the occupation as any other horrible thing that was born here, but we
have chosen to use our frustration at society to tear down instead of
build even more walls. Band members come from three continents and have
played in lots of obscure and/ or crappy bands everywhere. We are united
by our love of music, vegan food, unicorns and giraffes
But
seriously now: being part of the local punk scene we see the lack of
political content within our community. We do not wish to escape or
ignore the place where we live. We don't want to pretend we live in
Berlin or that we are skating in Oregon. We wish to confront the place
where we live and the mentality of apartheid that surrounds us. This is
not like playing a show in Alabama, thank you very much Mr. Biafra. Our
music may reach a small minority that sometimes find it hard to accept
our direct and radical approach to local politics but our lyrics reflect
our need to confront society on a daily basis.
We don't want want shallow co-existence we want meaningful co-resistan
released 12 December 2012
Rob: Drums&Vocals
( South Africa )
Johanna: Violin&Vocals
Maya: Guitar&Vocals
Michal: Bass&Vocals
( South Africa )
Ben:Vocals
Marmara Streisand "Nailed to the wall"
Marmara Streisand "Robinson Crusoe"@Pussy Riot benefit gig
'Matt Vend and The Tender 10, is the solo project of South African born
singer/journalist/songwriter/traveller and nomad Matt “Beard” Wilson who
has been playing music in bands since 1999, from the “tender” age of
14. His projects include the long running Sibling Rivalry, which managed
to gain a loyal and cult like following throughout South Africa and
even parts of Thailand being one of the most influential
punk bands to come out of Durban in the last decade. The short lived
but extremely well received Tubby Wilsons which delved into both Matt
and fellow writer and musician Yusuf Laher’s affection for nostalgic pop
and punk music and Durban’s first folk inspired punk/rock ‘n roll band
Car Boot Vendors which is still very much alive yet just on hiatus
whilst Matt is doing some travelling and work on his solo record.
He is no stranger to the studio and has recorded collectively over 50
songs with the various projects he has been involved with, including
guest appearances with Fruits and Veggies (Durban afro/reggae misfits),
Misled (Joburg’s finest new school hardcore/punk band) and Blaq Hitler
(Durban MC and hip hop producer). He is now finally delving into
the production side of making music, recording and producing his first
solo offering which will be out early 2012. He has been doing a few
shows in and out of Bangkok over the last few months and will be
embarking on an adventure through Vietnam early 2012, busking and
playing shows from Hanoi to Saigon. Although recording is a big part of
this musician’s repertoire live is where he shines, with literally
hundreds of shows under his belt across South Africa and Thailand
appearing on every stage imaginable from street corners and dingy bars
to major festivals.'
Debut full length record : Matt Vend and the Tender Ten - Tavern Talk
(This is a kick ass Durban Folk Punk Record! )
'The brother moves on is music to the ears of those who take time to be
happy brown babys in this space and time. The collective was working on
a 12 track album named "A dozen reasons to live", 3 tracks already
recorded and two video's down they decided to ditch the album and kill
the persona of their lead singer Mr Gold WaseGoli. They staged a mock
funeral at the SABC studios in honour of the idea of mining the city for
your dreams. The Golden wake is available for free digital download on
www.thebrothermoveson.com.
The EP is a documentation of where the Brother Moves On was in October
2011. As you know theBrother has moved on. To find out when
theBrother will drop in your town stay linked to this page or better yet
check out www.thebrothermoveson.com'
Here is a live recording of 'tela umoya' a pretty punk rock song that keeps getting more heavy every time they play.
The ghost inside the magic, the stranglers of an innocent
idea of bringing performance art to its knees through costume, music and
storytelling. A playful site specific collaborative piece of performance art in
the form of a band based in Johannesburg. The name of this collective is
derived from David Simons "the Wire" character Brother Mouzone,
meaning "judicious" in Arabic, a transient assassin with that audacious
yet sincere difference. The Golden Wake live EP is the Brother Moves On’s debut
recorded at the SABC as a funeral for the first brother to move on
'Brafcharge started out at the end of 2011 as a one man UB40 cover band.
In 2012 Braf gathered a few more members, and decided to end the
terrible reign of shitty, limp dick pop punk that was doing its rounds
in joburg and pta. Give us your beer.'
Jon Shaban plays guitar and saxophone for Cape Town band, Captain Stu.
He also has a project named "Jon Shaban and the Suave Koalas"
These are two songs from that group and three cover songs that We Did
This Records (Shaun) recorded bootleg style after missing most of the
show, at The Brass Bell in kalk bay, due to arriving late.
released 22 September 2012
Art by Shaun - "I wanted to draw a koala bear but i ended up drawing a dinosaur...
Shit happens"
Jon Shaban & All These Wasted Nuts playing Open Mic At Armchair In OBS, Cape Town
(November 2012)
Jon Shaban playes folk music that i would place next to bands like Andrew Jackson Jihad. Warm and heartful with an edge.
All These Wasted Nuts is Shaun from previous bands such as ContraMundi
and Sloppy Folk. He playes sometimes fast, sometimes slow, sometimes
loud, sometimes soft, sometimes complete and sometimes incomplete solo
folk songs.
I guess you would call this a Folk-Punk or Anti-Folk record
Off the Owê Vibes demo tape recorded way back in 1993. Leviathan split up soon after the release of this in 1994 and singer, George Bacon and bassist, Sean Snout went on to form Hog Hoggidy Hog using the Leviathan sound for the foundation. Drummer, Robin "Porkchop" Stehlik joined later as the Hogs' second drummer.
Conqueror or 'CONQUEROR HC' is a Hardcore band from Hate City. (johannesburg, SA)
They have been around for a few years and play balls to the wall Hardcore Punk Rock.
Think 80s ten second punk rock songs exploding like a pissed off cat in a bag
