 |
| Image used with permission of The Vast Oddity |
Dates:
31 August Sognage (Randburg)
04 September Rusty Hook (Honeydew)
05 September JARR Bar & Restaurant (Pretoria)
07 September Railways Cafe (Centurion)
Showing posts with label Upcoming Tour. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Upcoming Tour. Show all posts
Wednesday, 7 August 2019
The Vast Oddity Heading Out on End of August Tour
Following the online release of their 7 track album Liquid Sun in March this year, The Vast Oddity are returning to Gauteng for a week-long tour of venues in and around Johannesburg and Pretoria. Describing their sound as "hazy, dazy, and a little lo-fi", their music offers a welcome break from the Gauteng rat race by making you feel "like you're drifting over the beach on a far-out summer's day... but on another planet... in another galaxy... You're also a sasquatch!"
The two-piece band is constantly in motion with a goal of spreading their audible art and creating an awesome experience through their sound, and they have brought their music to over 70 venues across the country, as well as hitting the airwaves on over 20 radio stations country- and worldwide. This time around, TVO will be performing in Randburg, Honeydew, Pretoria, and Centurion between 31 August and 7 September. Check out the listing below and be sure to check out their Facebook page to stay posted on the particulars. This one can't be missed!
Dates:
31 August Sognage (Randburg)
04 September Rusty Hook (Honeydew)
05 September JARR Bar & Restaurant (Pretoria)
07 September Railways Cafe (Centurion)
Dates:
31 August Sognage (Randburg)
04 September Rusty Hook (Honeydew)
05 September JARR Bar & Restaurant (Pretoria)
07 September Railways Cafe (Centurion)
Saturday, 27 July 2019
Facing the Gallows: Germany, They're Coming For You!
Wacken Open Air Festival kicks off on Thursday next week (01 August) and a selection of the greatest metal bands from around the world will be gathering at the hallowed ground to melt some faces over the weekend. Joining the ranks are South Africa's 2019 Metal Battle Champions, Facing the Gallows. Currently in their 12th year, the band consists of Reegan du Buisson (vocals), Chase Beynon (guitar), James Irving (guitar), Rayner Abraham (bass), and Victor Monginho (drums). While preparing for the trip, we spoke to Chase about the upcoming flight north and the band's feelings about representing their country.
Hey Chase! How excited are you to be heading to Germany for the almighty Wacken Open Air Festival, after being crowned South Africa's Metal Battle champions earlier this year?
Chase Beynon: It's been a good couple weeks of organising and sorting our lives out, but today we jump on the plane for Germany, and we are beyond stoked to be heading over to Wacken to fly our SA flag. Things are really starting to sink in, with just a few hours to go, so our nerves are a little unsettled but we are extremely excited and ready for our show.
You guys will be performing at a sold-out festival alongside the likes of Parkway Drive, Meshuggah, Opeth, and a whole host of fellow Wacken Metal Battle winners from around the globe. Who are you looking forward to seeing?
CB: We have been scouring the line up countless times, constantly checking who we are going to see. But some of our top acts we cannot miss will have to be Parkway Drive, Slayer, Thy Art is Murder, Ice T, Anthrax, Athica, Morpholith, and a whole bunch more!
As we've mentioned, there are some massive names also performing from a variety of different subgenres. How would you label your music, and who are your biggest influences?
CB: We have actually had this discussion between ourselves over and over, and came to the decision that we are a metal band. We have many different influences, from all band members, but I think one prominent band at the moment that we are all enjoying is Wage War.
How would you describe your live show to those who will be seeing you at Wacken?
CB: Our live shows are packed with energy, it's really hard to stop moving! And that energy is pure passion!
As a South African band, you will know well how difficult it can be to branch out into the overseas scene. Not only will you be representing South Africa at Wacken, but you also announced last week that you will be joining Jinjer for two of their German shows. How does it feel to be bringing your music and your show to international fans?
CB: It is so surreal! We cannot believe we got this opportunity, massive thank you to Duncan from Turning Tricks Entertainment! We have already been receiving messages of support from people in Germany that will be coming to the shows, our minds are blown already! We can't wait to hang out with everyone!
What are your dreams for the South African metal scene in the future, and the South African music scene as a whole?
CB: Our dream has always been to try to help open up the doors for the SA music scene, and to try help get our local talent noticed here. We have noticed some really amazing artists in this country that truly deserve a spot on the international stage. Another goal that Gallows has always pushed is to try to open up people's minds in many ways, but rooting back to opening up minds in regard to metal music. It is a thriving diverse culture that definitely isn't all about goat heads and blood.
Visas and travel documents are always a hassle when it comes to travelling. Who in the band has the worst passport photo?
CB: That is easily Reegan! Because he is younger than the rest of us and has the most emo haircut you have ever seen!
What is the one typically South African snack you will miss the most while you're away? You can't say biltong though!
CB: Sev! All the way!
And now for the Wax & Needle question! If you could only listen to one album for the rest of your life, what would you pick?
CB: Queen - A Night at the Opera - on repeat!
Hey Chase! How excited are you to be heading to Germany for the almighty Wacken Open Air Festival, after being crowned South Africa's Metal Battle champions earlier this year?
Chase Beynon: It's been a good couple weeks of organising and sorting our lives out, but today we jump on the plane for Germany, and we are beyond stoked to be heading over to Wacken to fly our SA flag. Things are really starting to sink in, with just a few hours to go, so our nerves are a little unsettled but we are extremely excited and ready for our show.
 |
| Used with permission from Facing the Gallows. Photo credit: Wayde Flowerday |
You guys will be performing at a sold-out festival alongside the likes of Parkway Drive, Meshuggah, Opeth, and a whole host of fellow Wacken Metal Battle winners from around the globe. Who are you looking forward to seeing?
CB: We have been scouring the line up countless times, constantly checking who we are going to see. But some of our top acts we cannot miss will have to be Parkway Drive, Slayer, Thy Art is Murder, Ice T, Anthrax, Athica, Morpholith, and a whole bunch more!
 |
| Used with permission from Facing the Gallows. Photo credit: Wayde Flowerday |
As we've mentioned, there are some massive names also performing from a variety of different subgenres. How would you label your music, and who are your biggest influences?
CB: We have actually had this discussion between ourselves over and over, and came to the decision that we are a metal band. We have many different influences, from all band members, but I think one prominent band at the moment that we are all enjoying is Wage War.
 |
| Used with permission from Facing the Gallows. Photo credit: Wayde Flowerday |
How would you describe your live show to those who will be seeing you at Wacken?
CB: Our live shows are packed with energy, it's really hard to stop moving! And that energy is pure passion!
As a South African band, you will know well how difficult it can be to branch out into the overseas scene. Not only will you be representing South Africa at Wacken, but you also announced last week that you will be joining Jinjer for two of their German shows. How does it feel to be bringing your music and your show to international fans?
CB: It is so surreal! We cannot believe we got this opportunity, massive thank you to Duncan from Turning Tricks Entertainment! We have already been receiving messages of support from people in Germany that will be coming to the shows, our minds are blown already! We can't wait to hang out with everyone!
 |
| Used with permission from Facing the Gallows. Photo credit: Wayde Flowerday |
What are your dreams for the South African metal scene in the future, and the South African music scene as a whole?
CB: Our dream has always been to try to help open up the doors for the SA music scene, and to try help get our local talent noticed here. We have noticed some really amazing artists in this country that truly deserve a spot on the international stage. Another goal that Gallows has always pushed is to try to open up people's minds in many ways, but rooting back to opening up minds in regard to metal music. It is a thriving diverse culture that definitely isn't all about goat heads and blood.
Visas and travel documents are always a hassle when it comes to travelling. Who in the band has the worst passport photo?
CB: That is easily Reegan! Because he is younger than the rest of us and has the most emo haircut you have ever seen!
 |
| Used with permission from Facing the Gallows. Photo credit: Wayde Flowerday |
What is the one typically South African snack you will miss the most while you're away? You can't say biltong though!
CB: Sev! All the way!
And now for the Wax & Needle question! If you could only listen to one album for the rest of your life, what would you pick?
CB: Queen - A Night at the Opera - on repeat!
 |
| Used with permission from Facing the Gallows. Photo credit: Wayde Flowerday |
Wax & Needle wishes Facing the Gallows the best of luck in their bid to take home the trophy!
Responses slightly edited for clarity
Monday, 1 July 2019
Werner Bekker to Open for Jeremy Loops at Rivonia Barnyard
Kicking off this week, Kommetjie looping artist Jeremy Loops is setting off on his nationwide Golden Waves tour, in honour of receiving gold certification of his singles 'Gold' and 'Waves' in South Africa. Joining him for his show on 12 July at The Barnyard Theatre Rivonia [Sandton] is none other than Johannesburg's own Werner Bekker.
Bekker is no newcomer to the folk singer-songwriter game and has spent the past eight years building and refining his sound, performing at major festivals such as Oppikoppi, White Mountain, and Splashy Fen, and sharing stages with some of South Africa's biggest names, including Desmond and the Tutus, Shortstraw, and The Parolotones. His single 'Run' was featured on BalconyTV's 2017 Compilation CD, and last month his latest single 'Open Spoken' hit the #2 spot on Jacaranda FM's SA Top 20.
With influences including Damien Rice and Jason Mraz, one can see why Bekker was chosen as support for Jeremy Loops. Much like Jeremy Loops himself, Bekker has taken the mantle of folk artist and made it very much his own, and following the release of his first professionally recorded EP 'Parts of a Broken Man' back in March, he hopes to follow in Loops' footsteps and take his music around the world next year.
When asked about performing with Jeremy Loops, Bekker said: "Thanks to this spectacular turn of events and Jeremy Loops, I will finally get to share the stage with a true legend. This guy is such an inspiration to every young artist in South Africa and abroad. I remember seeing his BlaconyTV video a couple of years back and feeling inspired. To me, this was proof that a singer-songwriter could succeed in South Africa. A few years on and he has proven to me that South African artists can not only make it here but also worldwide. I am honoured and excited to be joining this show and cannot express my gratitude enough. Thank you, thank you, thank you!"
Bekker is no newcomer to the folk singer-songwriter game and has spent the past eight years building and refining his sound, performing at major festivals such as Oppikoppi, White Mountain, and Splashy Fen, and sharing stages with some of South Africa's biggest names, including Desmond and the Tutus, Shortstraw, and The Parolotones. His single 'Run' was featured on BalconyTV's 2017 Compilation CD, and last month his latest single 'Open Spoken' hit the #2 spot on Jacaranda FM's SA Top 20.
 |
| Photo provided by Indie Does It / Genevieve Vieira / @indiedoesitPR |
With influences including Damien Rice and Jason Mraz, one can see why Bekker was chosen as support for Jeremy Loops. Much like Jeremy Loops himself, Bekker has taken the mantle of folk artist and made it very much his own, and following the release of his first professionally recorded EP 'Parts of a Broken Man' back in March, he hopes to follow in Loops' footsteps and take his music around the world next year.
When asked about performing with Jeremy Loops, Bekker said: "Thanks to this spectacular turn of events and Jeremy Loops, I will finally get to share the stage with a true legend. This guy is such an inspiration to every young artist in South Africa and abroad. I remember seeing his BlaconyTV video a couple of years back and feeling inspired. To me, this was proof that a singer-songwriter could succeed in South Africa. A few years on and he has proven to me that South African artists can not only make it here but also worldwide. I am honoured and excited to be joining this show and cannot express my gratitude enough. Thank you, thank you, thank you!"
For more information on Jeremy Loops' upcoming tour, click here to visit his Facebook page or his website
Monday, 26 November 2018
De Wallen
Taking their name from the notorious Red Light District in Amsterdam, De Wallen are an old-school rock 'n' roll band hailing from Stellenbosch. The band is made up of Jeandré Swanepoel (vocals, guitar), Pieter Bekker (guitar), Adriaan Louw (bass) and Adriaan Jordaan (drums). After winning Aandklas Stellenbosch's Battle of the Bands back in 2012, De Wallen released their debut album Dirty Deals in 2013. This was followed by the EP 2.0, recorded at Bellville's Coffee Stained Vinyl and released in 2015. Much like their namesake, they boast a sound which they describe as dirty, sexy, fast-paced and loud as hell. Their latest offering, Street Fight Sonata, will see them embark on a tour around Belgium, Germany and The Netherlands, starting this week. Wax & Needle had a chat with De Wallen prior to their live album launch at Aandklas Pretoria on 24 November.
What's up guys? Looking forward to getting the new album out there tonight?
Adriaan Louw: Definitely!
Pieter Bekker: Perhaps.
*laughter*
Jeandré Swanepoel: Definitely maybe...
PB: There's a lot of money to go into it, that's not a positive factor ever.
JS: Alright so, if I can give you a breakdown of where we're at, at the moment, I think it's been two and a half years since our last release and basically we got together and decided like, fuck man, when's the last time that we actually did something? And we were like, cool, well we're gonna do a new album, but not just that, we're gonna do a tour, but we're gonna do it abroad. Hence we're here now, two and a half years later, still kicking, still recording, still trying to find funds, but we're touring and we've got the whole entire album recorded -
PB: Twice!
JS: Twice, ja. We weren't happy with the first cut so, ja. Pretty much, that brings us to where we are today. Pieter?
PB: Ja, pretty much it's our third baby so we wanted to make it something special. With the previous albums we were always pretty strapped for cash, as we are still now, but it was more a thing of we needed to get something out, but at the moment we don't feel that need to put out something new, we feel the want to put out something new. If we want it and we don't need it, we feel like, cool, let's rather make it something special, let's be one hundred percent satisfied with what we put on the record, instead of being like, it sounds great, it gets released and feeling like uh I'd really like to change this if there was another grand to go into the studio for another day.
AL: In other words, we have a big, fat, raging boner that needs to be shared with everyone and not kept to ourselves.
PB: Ja, but we wanna make it a great boner, not an average boner, a big one, like a Nigerian one.
*everyone laughs*
JS: 'Cause nothing says good times like a big, old, fat, twelve inch, Nigerian boner.
PB: In our own opinion... We're not stating that as a fact.
Adriaan Jordaan: Ja, keeping that to yourself is a sin, so ja, you need to put it out there.
What was the writing and recording process for the album?
PB: Well... to state that there was a process would be very forgiving. We decided to do something different to what we usually do, as opposed to writing an album and going into studio and recording said written album, we had about three of the tracks written, one of them was slightly produced, the rest we just had small ideas for.
AJ: Most of them were finished a few minutes before we started recording.
PB: Ja like the one song was actually just like, hey, well we have some more time in the studio, do you guys wanna add an extra track? Ja, like, give us a few minutes and a Black Label, and we'll whip something up. It actually turned out to be one of our favourite tracks on the album.
JS: We've never done this process before. Usually, 'cause I'm quite anal when it comes to the writing process, like I do most of the writing myself, then I'll bring it to the rest of the band and we'll workshop around that, so it's been quite -
PB: Liberal.
JS: Ja, it's been quite a process for me, handing that over to the rest of the guys, handing that responsibility over, but I'm very glad to report they have exceeded expectations, and then some.
Tell me about the title of the album. How did you come up with it?
PB: I think the best way to explain the album name is to say the original album name. We played STRAB [Festival, Ponta Malongane, Mozambique] last year and we were backstage probably half an hour before our set. We were chatting with the guys from The Black Cat Bones, who we've known through touring Joburg, we've stayed with them off and on, and they told us "yeah your next album should just be called 'Drink, Fuck, Fight', 'cause that's all you guys ever do", and we were like yeah that's a pretty good album title. We took that idea to heart when writing the new album, and it's actually a backup vocal piece in one of the new songs. We were like, this is great but we've already got some explicit vocal tracks on the album that you'd be like "hey, Gran, I think you'd love this", so we decided to play around with the name and just take that idea and state it some other way.
AJ: Same idea, just more refined.
JS: Also, myself and Pieter come from a classical background, and I remember me and him having a chat one day about how our music teacher in high school would turn in their grave if they ever heard what we were churning out thus far. I was like, what if we just change the schematic completely so we fuck with them, and we bring something to the fold that they're not used to. A sonata is a three piece movement and this is our third album, so I thought how much more applicable this would be if we made this a sonata. 'Cause our first one was an absolute fucking cacophony, if you can call it that, a grand fuck up of sounds together. Our second one was totally refined, we knew what we were doing, and our third movement is the one where we show off, where we take into consideration the last seven years that we've been through, and bring it all together, meaning that it's the third movement, making it a sonata, and what more applicable than a street fight sonata?
AJ: It all comes back to balance. I think the name Street Fight Sonata instead of Drink, Fuck, Fight, it all comes into the balance. It's just as rugged as it is beautiful.
You say your sound is inspired by a large number of genres. Who would you state as your biggest musical influence?
PB: Yoh, that would completely be different for everyone. We have small general influences that we all listen to, but I know like, myself, I'm very into my old-school hip hop and rap, and then going from that into like battle metal, so that's my jump. It's a very diverse mix, like none of us have a favourite band or influence that is similar.
AL: It works for the recipe.
PB: Ja like, on the new album, you hear it in the tracks. One will be straight up rock 'n' roll, another one's got a bit of a psych feel, another one's like metal and then another's like "hey, I love you". You can kind of feel that clash of personalities coming together to make like a big hug of rock 'n' roll.
JS: I think I've got too much to state now.
AL: I would say your influence is mostly Rolling Stones.
JS: Ja, something between Stones and The Darkness, but then there's also modern day, like a lot of post-punk movement in the sense of like, Eagles of Death Metal, especially the way they approach the limitations toward the band, and that is something that I'm very wary of and write towards. So it's got a bit of that influence but then of course, it's basically, how can I make whoever is listening to this change their current mood? I draw influence from any of the previous artists I've listened to who've made me feel that way.
AJ: For me, I enjoy patterns, so any genre or any band where I find something interesting, I like to explore it. For a long time I took for granted how complex 4/4 can be, so I listened to more straight rock 'n' roll music, and I actually listen to dynamics, like feel and groove. A big thing for me was Royal Blood, for me writing my piece on the album that was a big influence. And then something that I want to try embody on drums is like, if you think about Rise Against, that whole punching vibe, like it stands for something and I want to try and communicate that, not even with vocals, just through how I play it, the dynamics, through power and through slow downs and weird patterns, through straight... Ja, I want to try and fuse like, 'cause I love lyrics and I want to try and fuse that with drums, just playing, so ja, that's where I'm at, at the moment.
AL: I think, I was always the guy joking about the bassist, but then I told Jeandré the one day, on New Year's, just check me with a bass, let me just do the songs and we try to play them. So that aspect, I think, like Sex Pistols' Sid Vicious, that fake it 'til you make it... I don't consider myself an excellent bassist but I play the songs, and I think that way it's a very punk aspect. And you'll see that if you see my bass as well, it's a very punk bass.
What is the main thing you're looking forward to about the European tour?
JS: Not fucking burning out in the African sun.
AJ: Pieter wants to see snow!
PB: I'm stoked to see snow, I'm stoked to go back to The Netherlands. I've been there once before and I was only there for twenty-five hours, but I completely fell in love with the country and the people there, so I'm really stoked to go back. None of them have been there before so I'm stoked to go back and show them the cool spots I found within that day. The biggest thing for me was after getting off the plane, it's like cool, another airport. As soon as you walk outside it's just this jumble of different people, like half the time you can't understand seventy percent of the languages being spoken, but no one makes you feel weird, it's such a loving country, such a loving group of people, and I think it's a big thing coming from Cape Town. In Cape Town, there's a big clique-y vibe, you're either part of these kids or you're part of those kids and I came into The Netherlands as no one, didn't know anyone, and I was walking down the street and a guy was like "hey, how you doing dude? What's your plans today?" and I was like.... that's kinda weird, brother, asking me that, then a second guy did it, the third guy asking me I'm gonna ask to just go for a beer. It's such an inviting country and I've heard good things about the music scene, so also exploring that vibe in a musical sense, I can't wait to see how people react, see if they're that friendly as people.
For anyone who's yet to see a De Wallen show, how would you describe what happens when you hit the stage?
AJ: Organised chaos.
*laughter*
JS: Ja, organised chaos, I think, is the most diplomatic way that we can state it.
AL: Like our Facebook profile says dirty and sexy in the same breath. You'll be thinking "what the fuck?" and "wow" at the same time.
JS: And if you don't then we didn't do a good job.
PB: But it's a very specific understanding for dirty sexy, it's not as simple as people make it out to be but when you see it you'll know what it is. It's not really something you can explain.
AJ: You have to be there.
What's the strangest thing you've experienced on tour?
*everyone laughs*
PB: Yoh, other than my own actions?
AJ: Well, last time we played at Aandklas, Pieter called the cops on himself...
JS: Ja, that's pretty much the weirdest thing that I've ever experienced.
PB: All I want to say is that I was framed, and I know why, but I won't discuss it.
Wax & Needle: You were framed by yourself?
PB: Ja. I was definitely framed but for my own protection I'm not gonna say about what.
JS: And real talk right now, if I have to ever state the weirdest thing that happened to me on tour, if you would have told me about what we are going through and what we have been going through the last seven years the first time I entered the music scene, I would have told you to fuck right off. That's actually the weirdest thing that's happened on tour, is that we actually now get to be house friends and share stages with people that have inspired me, inspired us and will continue to do so for many years. From legends in the scene to the next biggest thing in this country, I've had the privilege of sharing a stage with them and I think if there's one lasting legacy that I am alive in, I can say proudly that I lived in a time when that happened.
PB: Ja, we've slept in many of their living rooms.
*laughter*
Lastly, if you could only listen to one artist for the rest of your life, who would you pick?
JS: *screams* MOTORHEAD!
AJ: Tool, definitely Tool, ja.
AL: Jis, I would have said Fokofpolisiekar but these last two albums, fuck it, Francois, I hope you hear this, you disappointed me. Um... Nirvana.
PB: I have so many options in my head...
AL: Hopsin, dude.
PB: Ja, I'd probably say Hopsin. Ah, my brother from a different mother.
What's up guys? Looking forward to getting the new album out there tonight?
Adriaan Louw: Definitely!
Pieter Bekker: Perhaps.
*laughter*
Jeandré Swanepoel: Definitely maybe...
PB: There's a lot of money to go into it, that's not a positive factor ever.
JS: Alright so, if I can give you a breakdown of where we're at, at the moment, I think it's been two and a half years since our last release and basically we got together and decided like, fuck man, when's the last time that we actually did something? And we were like, cool, well we're gonna do a new album, but not just that, we're gonna do a tour, but we're gonna do it abroad. Hence we're here now, two and a half years later, still kicking, still recording, still trying to find funds, but we're touring and we've got the whole entire album recorded -
PB: Twice!
JS: Twice, ja. We weren't happy with the first cut so, ja. Pretty much, that brings us to where we are today. Pieter?
PB: Ja, pretty much it's our third baby so we wanted to make it something special. With the previous albums we were always pretty strapped for cash, as we are still now, but it was more a thing of we needed to get something out, but at the moment we don't feel that need to put out something new, we feel the want to put out something new. If we want it and we don't need it, we feel like, cool, let's rather make it something special, let's be one hundred percent satisfied with what we put on the record, instead of being like, it sounds great, it gets released and feeling like uh I'd really like to change this if there was another grand to go into the studio for another day.
AL: In other words, we have a big, fat, raging boner that needs to be shared with everyone and not kept to ourselves.
PB: Ja, but we wanna make it a great boner, not an average boner, a big one, like a Nigerian one.
*everyone laughs*
JS: 'Cause nothing says good times like a big, old, fat, twelve inch, Nigerian boner.
PB: In our own opinion... We're not stating that as a fact.
Adriaan Jordaan: Ja, keeping that to yourself is a sin, so ja, you need to put it out there.
 |
| Used with permission from De Wallen. Copyright Dirk Odendaal - @dirkodie |
What was the writing and recording process for the album?
PB: Well... to state that there was a process would be very forgiving. We decided to do something different to what we usually do, as opposed to writing an album and going into studio and recording said written album, we had about three of the tracks written, one of them was slightly produced, the rest we just had small ideas for.
AJ: Most of them were finished a few minutes before we started recording.
PB: Ja like the one song was actually just like, hey, well we have some more time in the studio, do you guys wanna add an extra track? Ja, like, give us a few minutes and a Black Label, and we'll whip something up. It actually turned out to be one of our favourite tracks on the album.
JS: We've never done this process before. Usually, 'cause I'm quite anal when it comes to the writing process, like I do most of the writing myself, then I'll bring it to the rest of the band and we'll workshop around that, so it's been quite -
PB: Liberal.
JS: Ja, it's been quite a process for me, handing that over to the rest of the guys, handing that responsibility over, but I'm very glad to report they have exceeded expectations, and then some.
Tell me about the title of the album. How did you come up with it?
PB: I think the best way to explain the album name is to say the original album name. We played STRAB [Festival, Ponta Malongane, Mozambique] last year and we were backstage probably half an hour before our set. We were chatting with the guys from The Black Cat Bones, who we've known through touring Joburg, we've stayed with them off and on, and they told us "yeah your next album should just be called 'Drink, Fuck, Fight', 'cause that's all you guys ever do", and we were like yeah that's a pretty good album title. We took that idea to heart when writing the new album, and it's actually a backup vocal piece in one of the new songs. We were like, this is great but we've already got some explicit vocal tracks on the album that you'd be like "hey, Gran, I think you'd love this", so we decided to play around with the name and just take that idea and state it some other way.
AJ: Same idea, just more refined.
JS: Also, myself and Pieter come from a classical background, and I remember me and him having a chat one day about how our music teacher in high school would turn in their grave if they ever heard what we were churning out thus far. I was like, what if we just change the schematic completely so we fuck with them, and we bring something to the fold that they're not used to. A sonata is a three piece movement and this is our third album, so I thought how much more applicable this would be if we made this a sonata. 'Cause our first one was an absolute fucking cacophony, if you can call it that, a grand fuck up of sounds together. Our second one was totally refined, we knew what we were doing, and our third movement is the one where we show off, where we take into consideration the last seven years that we've been through, and bring it all together, meaning that it's the third movement, making it a sonata, and what more applicable than a street fight sonata?
AJ: It all comes back to balance. I think the name Street Fight Sonata instead of Drink, Fuck, Fight, it all comes into the balance. It's just as rugged as it is beautiful.
You say your sound is inspired by a large number of genres. Who would you state as your biggest musical influence?
PB: Yoh, that would completely be different for everyone. We have small general influences that we all listen to, but I know like, myself, I'm very into my old-school hip hop and rap, and then going from that into like battle metal, so that's my jump. It's a very diverse mix, like none of us have a favourite band or influence that is similar.
AL: It works for the recipe.
PB: Ja like, on the new album, you hear it in the tracks. One will be straight up rock 'n' roll, another one's got a bit of a psych feel, another one's like metal and then another's like "hey, I love you". You can kind of feel that clash of personalities coming together to make like a big hug of rock 'n' roll.
JS: I think I've got too much to state now.
AL: I would say your influence is mostly Rolling Stones.
JS: Ja, something between Stones and The Darkness, but then there's also modern day, like a lot of post-punk movement in the sense of like, Eagles of Death Metal, especially the way they approach the limitations toward the band, and that is something that I'm very wary of and write towards. So it's got a bit of that influence but then of course, it's basically, how can I make whoever is listening to this change their current mood? I draw influence from any of the previous artists I've listened to who've made me feel that way.
AJ: For me, I enjoy patterns, so any genre or any band where I find something interesting, I like to explore it. For a long time I took for granted how complex 4/4 can be, so I listened to more straight rock 'n' roll music, and I actually listen to dynamics, like feel and groove. A big thing for me was Royal Blood, for me writing my piece on the album that was a big influence. And then something that I want to try embody on drums is like, if you think about Rise Against, that whole punching vibe, like it stands for something and I want to try and communicate that, not even with vocals, just through how I play it, the dynamics, through power and through slow downs and weird patterns, through straight... Ja, I want to try and fuse like, 'cause I love lyrics and I want to try and fuse that with drums, just playing, so ja, that's where I'm at, at the moment.
AL: I think, I was always the guy joking about the bassist, but then I told Jeandré the one day, on New Year's, just check me with a bass, let me just do the songs and we try to play them. So that aspect, I think, like Sex Pistols' Sid Vicious, that fake it 'til you make it... I don't consider myself an excellent bassist but I play the songs, and I think that way it's a very punk aspect. And you'll see that if you see my bass as well, it's a very punk bass.
What is the main thing you're looking forward to about the European tour?
JS: Not fucking burning out in the African sun.
AJ: Pieter wants to see snow!
PB: I'm stoked to see snow, I'm stoked to go back to The Netherlands. I've been there once before and I was only there for twenty-five hours, but I completely fell in love with the country and the people there, so I'm really stoked to go back. None of them have been there before so I'm stoked to go back and show them the cool spots I found within that day. The biggest thing for me was after getting off the plane, it's like cool, another airport. As soon as you walk outside it's just this jumble of different people, like half the time you can't understand seventy percent of the languages being spoken, but no one makes you feel weird, it's such a loving country, such a loving group of people, and I think it's a big thing coming from Cape Town. In Cape Town, there's a big clique-y vibe, you're either part of these kids or you're part of those kids and I came into The Netherlands as no one, didn't know anyone, and I was walking down the street and a guy was like "hey, how you doing dude? What's your plans today?" and I was like.... that's kinda weird, brother, asking me that, then a second guy did it, the third guy asking me I'm gonna ask to just go for a beer. It's such an inviting country and I've heard good things about the music scene, so also exploring that vibe in a musical sense, I can't wait to see how people react, see if they're that friendly as people.
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| Used with permission from De Wallen. Copyright Dirk Odendaal - @dirkodie |
For anyone who's yet to see a De Wallen show, how would you describe what happens when you hit the stage?
AJ: Organised chaos.
*laughter*
JS: Ja, organised chaos, I think, is the most diplomatic way that we can state it.
AL: Like our Facebook profile says dirty and sexy in the same breath. You'll be thinking "what the fuck?" and "wow" at the same time.
JS: And if you don't then we didn't do a good job.
PB: But it's a very specific understanding for dirty sexy, it's not as simple as people make it out to be but when you see it you'll know what it is. It's not really something you can explain.
AJ: You have to be there.
What's the strangest thing you've experienced on tour?
*everyone laughs*
PB: Yoh, other than my own actions?
AJ: Well, last time we played at Aandklas, Pieter called the cops on himself...
JS: Ja, that's pretty much the weirdest thing that I've ever experienced.
PB: All I want to say is that I was framed, and I know why, but I won't discuss it.
Wax & Needle: You were framed by yourself?
PB: Ja. I was definitely framed but for my own protection I'm not gonna say about what.
JS: And real talk right now, if I have to ever state the weirdest thing that happened to me on tour, if you would have told me about what we are going through and what we have been going through the last seven years the first time I entered the music scene, I would have told you to fuck right off. That's actually the weirdest thing that's happened on tour, is that we actually now get to be house friends and share stages with people that have inspired me, inspired us and will continue to do so for many years. From legends in the scene to the next biggest thing in this country, I've had the privilege of sharing a stage with them and I think if there's one lasting legacy that I am alive in, I can say proudly that I lived in a time when that happened.
PB: Ja, we've slept in many of their living rooms.
*laughter*
Lastly, if you could only listen to one artist for the rest of your life, who would you pick?
JS: *screams* MOTORHEAD!
AJ: Tool, definitely Tool, ja.
AL: Jis, I would have said Fokofpolisiekar but these last two albums, fuck it, Francois, I hope you hear this, you disappointed me. Um... Nirvana.
PB: I have so many options in my head...
AL: Hopsin, dude.
PB: Ja, I'd probably say Hopsin. Ah, my brother from a different mother.
Check out De Wallen on Spotify
Click here to visit photographer Dirk Odendaal's Facebook page
Responses slightly edited for clarity.
Click here to visit photographer Dirk Odendaal's Facebook page
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| De Wallen L-R: Adriaan Jordaan, Adriaan Louw, Jeandré Swanepoel and Pieter Bekker |
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| De Wallen official tour dates |
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| Used with permission from De Wallen. Copyright Dirk Odendaal - @dirkodie |
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