Introducing Mister Infinity

I’ve posted about my collaboration with Infinity before, a new platform for venues, artists, bands, crews, events, etc. It’s been the single funnest thing I’ve ever gotten myself mixed up with, and it’s only just begun…

Infinity has undergone an epic transformation. This poster is my design announcing the arrival of the new superhero Mister Infinity. I helped to come up with the concept for the brand identity and the final design is by Brent Black (an incredible local talent). See the design on the website, or get to know the green man better by visiting his Facebook page, and stay up to date with his adventures on Twitter.

I’m also working on documenting his chronicles, and soon he’ll be joined by a whole team of characters, check in for the comicstrips.

Too pretty not to post

I REALLY like this local chap. I’ve seen him live a few times, and I’ve never been dissapointed. However, he friggin blew me away with “Too Tired To Disco”. I was so used to his darker side, songs with lyrics like “I will eat your family”, that the sweet “let’s not skip the romance” made my knees go weak. Well done Peach.
I was not surprised to see the ever popular Louis Minnaar did the video, he’s everywhere. For good reason though.

To Infinity and beyond!

I am very excited about my recent collaboration with Infinity, a local platform for musicians/venues/festivals/fans/technical crew/etc. The official website launched today, and it looks off the hook! Go look! www.infinity.co.za Read what it’s all about and browse a bit. This guy’s on to something!

I wrote a review for the site on Lark’s gig at Arcade Empire Friday past entitled Your girl’s thinking about Inge. Check it out and tell us what you think.

I look forward to many more crazy adventures with Infinity! Watch that space and DON’T GET LEFT BEHIND.

This is my song.

It maybe difficult to watch on my blog, but it acts as a big, pretty link to the youtube video.

If that’s all there is.

I remember when I was a very little girl, our house caught on fire.
I’ll never forget the look on my father’s face as he gathered me up
in his arms and raced through the burning building out to the pavement.
I stood there shivering in my pajamas and watched the whole world go up in flames.
And when it was all over I said to myself, “Is that all there is to a fire?”

Is that all there is, is that all there is
If that’s all there is my friends, then let’s keep dancing
Let’s break out the booze and have a ball
If that’s all there is

And when I was 12 years old, my father took me to the circus, the greatest show on earth.
There were clowns and elephants and dancing bears
And a beautiful lady in pink tights flew high above our heads.
And as I sat there watching the marvelous spectacle
I had the feeling that something was missing.
I don’t know what, but when it was over,
I said to myself, “Is that all there is to a circus?”

Is that all there is, is that all there is
If that’s all there is my friends, then let’s keep dancing
Let’s break out the booze and have a ball
If that’s all there is

Then I fell in love, with the most wonderful boy in the world.
We would take long walks by the river or just sit for hours gazing into each other’s eyes.
We were so very much in love.
Then one day, he went away. And I thought I’d die — but I didn’t.
And when I didn’t I said to myself, “Is that all there is to love?”

Is that all there is, is that all there is
If that’s all there is my friends, then let’s keep dancing

I know what you must be saying to yourselves.
If that’s the way she feels about it why doesn’t she just end it all?
Oh, no. Not me. I’m in no hurry for that final disappointment.
For I know just as well as I’m standing here talking to you,
when that final moment comes and I’m breathing my lst breath, I’ll be saying to myself,

Is that all there is, is that all there is
If that’s all there is my friends, then let’s keep dancing
Let’s break out the booze and have a ball
If that’s all there is

Peggy Lee

Retro stereo print.

By Jesse Morrow, Found on Print Shop.

I was there!

Photographer: Stefan Jordan-Rozwadowski

I was lucky enough to watch Lark perform at Arcade Empire last week. I had an incredible time, and enjoyed partying with some of the guys from The B(l)and. I think Inge Beckman is one of the prettiest most talented women who ever lived, and I absolutely worship Lark!

The B(l)and.

We went to watch The B(l)and rehearse last week Friday, I expected a few guys drinking on amps. But when we pulled up to the very suburban house I could hear the music playing from the street. It could not have been more rock ‘n roll, they practiced in an empty double garage that faced the open road. The door seemed to open to a world of glowy warmth, I thought of Scott Pilgrim vs. The world. I knew they were good so I ain’t gonna lie and say I was surprised, but, I got very excited when they started playing a cover of Florence and The Machine’s Cosmic Love. Can’t wait for them to finish and start performing! The band consists of two brothers, a cousin and a good friend. They are possibly the funniest guys you will ever meet. I was also fortunate enough to party with them when we went to see the incredible LARK, at Arcade Empire on Thursday. I had to walk away from the conversation on many an occasion just to keep from wetting myself.

Soundtrack to Schopenhauer.

I heard this song and it immediately made me think of The World as Will and Representation. If you’re familiar with Schopenhauer’s concept of The Will, I would like to know if you agree with me?

Unknown Brother, Oppikoppi 2011.

I attended my first Oppikoppi this August, well; it was my very first music festival ever. I’m not comfortable in crowds and usually my friends struggle to get me out to a bar, the thought of 16 000 enthusiasts scared me witless. So much so that on Friday when everyone really started arriving, I didn’t want to leave our campsite at all. I ventured into the stage grounds on Saturday out of necessity; it’s where they kept the food. We didn’t have a good night’s sleep, I was moody and emotional. I clung to Willem’s arm and stared at the ground as we negotiated our way through hundreds of bodies. I was starting to regret the entire trip. We had to find a place to eat and I was feeling neurotic, maybe it was this tingle of panic that drove me up the koppie (large hill, or small mountain in English) in search of an isolated spot.

From here the entire festival looked different. I had risen above the dust cloud and saw the beauty of it all. Suddenly it didn’t feel so intimidating or threatening, it felt…like an unknown brother. The designer who came up with the concept for this year’s festival is a genius. It captured the entire spirit of the event.

So I started to explore with more confidence. And right behind me at the Red Bull stage on the other side of the koppie I found something that changed my life. I have never been a fan of electronic music, and ignored the entire genre. However, we decided to hang out at the electro stage, since it wasn’t as busy as the other stages and I was still finding my feet. Then Sibot took the stage and this happened:

I was hypnotized. The bodies in the audience became slaves to the music and moved in ways I’ve never seen before, they were fascinating! I walked away 4 hours later an evangelical electro convert; I couldn’t shut up about what I had experienced. I woke friends up to tell them all about it, I used every adjective imaginable. I started to look around at the people around me. They were freaks, absolutely, colourful insane hippies and extroverts who were not only endlessly amusing but incredibly sincere.

So I started taking photos, joining in and making conversation and before I knew it I was in the middle of a sea of people enjoying and loving the bands along with the beautiful lunatics. The best show I watched was Lark, an alternative South African band. I fell in love with the vocalist, Inge Beckman, a gorgeous woman with an epic voice. The worst show was Die Antwoord, creepy…and I’m sure they were very very high, too high to perform. The acts I regret missing most are Mr Cat and The Jackal (who apparently performed with huge puppets) and Double Adapter (another electro stage act that no one could stop talking about). I missed the main international act (Sum41) as well, but I don’t regret that at all; I was at Yesterday’s Pupil, an excellent local DJ.

Next to the main stage the clever designers put up some quotes on a huge banner, one of which was this extract by Yeats:

“The Seventeenth Coming”
Things fall apart; the centre cannot hold;
Mere anarchy is loosed upon the world,
The dust-dimmed cloud is loosed, and everywhere
The ceremony of innocence is drowned,
The best lack all conviction, while the worst
Are full of passionate intensity
But they try, Oh yes sir they do.
– Unknown, B. Yeats, 1920

So I ended up literally having the time of my life. It was something like Woodstock in Mad Max land. It’s dirty and dry, too hot during the day and too cold at night, filled with drunks and drugs, fuelled on laughter and love, and I can’t wait until next year.