You are invited to see Kidofdoom return to Pretoria!

Following on a pair of amazing reunion show in Cape Town and Joburg a few weeks back, on Friday night Kidofdoom are getting back together for one night of carnage in their hometown of Pretoria. I'll again be joining the band on visual duties and couldn't be more excited for this one. The line up this time round is all kinds of awesome, with highlights coming in the form of The Watermark High and Breakfast, which is the brand new DJ persona of Vampire 9000!

As well as performing with the main attraction myself, my own band Eyes Like Mirrors will be playing in support of Kidofdoom as well. While we're all super excited to be supporting the instrumental titans, Friday's show is going to be bittersweet for us. Friday night will mark ELM's final show before we go on a hiatus. Our guitarist Jason will soon be relocating to Europe for a bit and while this doesn't mean it's the end of Eyes Like Mirrors, you surely won't be able to catch us live again until next year at the soonest. But, setting aside any sadness about the end of this chapter, we couldn't ask for a more awesome night to go out on. Friday night is gonna be amazing!

RSVP here!

Honesty EP is out!

We are very very happy to announce our latest SMACM release is out!

Honesty is the brand new EP by Vampire 9000. A long time in the making, we feel this may just be the finest slice of musical magic that we've released to date. So excited to finally be sharing this with the world!

You can grab the EP via the below links:

vampire9000.com

SMACM bandcamp

Hooray for Humans: The 20th vs V9K!

Back when we shot the soon-to-be-released Vampire9000 music video, SMAC-super-pal Patrick Dinneen did a few portraits with The Vamp himself. Prepare your life for floppies and style bikes!

You are invited! Rebel Alliance takes off!

Okay, this is a really exciting one:

I'm very happy to announce I'm starting up a new monthly night at my favorite independent cinema - The Bioscope! I'm planning something complete different to the dance parties I've thrown in the past. Instead I'm planning a night where 68 people can get together, take a seat and enjoy a selection of short films, animations, live music, VJing, visual hacks and hopefully projects that blur the lines between two or more of these. As with my thinking with Dynamo, I really hope to try create some kind of beautiful, big thing by combining the powers of the lovely creative community we've got going down between Johannesburg and Pretoria. How exactly things will play out, only time will tell, but i can say I am pretty damn excited about what we have planned for the debut Rebel Alliance!

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BOOK TICKETS HERE!

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RSVP HERE!

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EYES LIKE MIRRORS

Full live show!

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VAMPIRE9000

Celebrating the premier screening of the music video for "Colours", animated by Cool Your Jets, produced by James Carrol.

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FUZZY JOHN

A short film by Russel Grant, soundtracked by Joao Orechhia.

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TURN YOUR LIGHTS UP HIGH vs PIXEL PIRATES

Joburg's most blindingly fun visual hackers, unveiling their latest creations.

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JAYSYNTH vs THE IMPOSSIBLE VOYAGE

To celebrate the launch of his debut EP, Jaysynth presents a whole new score to the 1904 French Sci Fi classic.

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These are dark days. A great evil has fallen across the systems. The citizens of The Empire, enslaved by shadowy figures, are turned into an army of identical clones. Banging their heads against walls to the soundtrack of soul-less machines marching further and further into the darkness.

While the dark-side has corrupted or stamped out almost all those who stood to oppose it, there are still a handful of warriors of the light that survived. In a time like this, these final knights of light-side are left with only 1 option; they must band to together, jump into far cooler looking star-fighters, launch themselves out into space and collectively fire a proton torpedo of pure awesomeness right up the exhaust shaft the monolithic dark forces that stand against them. The time has come for the Rebel Alliance to rise, so sign up and start fighting the good fight!

vampire9000 - Colours EP is out!

Of any free music I've posted up on this blog, nothing has made me quite as happy as what I'm about to share with you now;

For your listening pleasure, I'm proud to link you to the 2nd release by my little record label SMACM, "Colours EP" by vampire9000!

As SMACM's next release after my own band's "Crusades EP", I'm obviously pretty damn enthusiastic about the three songs that make up V9K's "Colours", but I'd like to take a moment to explain why "pretty damn enthusiastic" doesn't even explain how excited I am to be releasing this EP.

Vampire9000 is the solo project of man caled Christian Henn. I first met Christian in the streets of Pretoria back in 2002. Christian and I immediately became super-friends and with our other new-best-friend Maaike Bakker a little gang was born that, almost a decade later, I still hold close to my heart as some of my dearest friends. Right from when I first met him, Christian was hands down the most dedicated and passionate musician I had ever met. And while Chrisitian's talent and commitment to music should have seen him blowing people's minds ever since then, he was always his harshest critic and his ridiculously high standards meant none of his musical creations ever left the front door of his home.

All that changed back in 2009 when Maaike threw a little illustration exhibition called City Slickers. She invited Christian to play some music on the night and, opting to try make simplified pop music, vampire9000 was born. Recruiting Hanre Malherbe on drums and myself on visuals, vampire9000 made it's debut on the 13th of August 2009. The band made it's return at our Dynamo Halloween party. And while Hanre departed for asian adventure Christian kept The Vampire alive, heading into Benjamin Studio to record with Pretorian electronic legend Jacob Israel. It's been a long ride, over the past year and a bit full of adventures, from banjo-related injuries, to vamp putting finishing touches on the EP to Maaike blowing us all away with the artwork she created for it to now, the 9th day of the 9th month where you can click here download this three song labour of love.

But with all the personal back-stories aside, when it comes down to it Colours is just a fantastic creature. Three songs that go so far beyond what we've come to expect from South African music. Songs that are overflowing with creativity, enthusiasm and joy. And what's most exciting of all, this is just the start; we've got great plans for where this project will be going and I couldn't be happier to have all of you along for the ride!

So if you haven't done it yet:

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD

VAMPIRE9000'S

COLOURS EP

Vampire 9000 Colours EP: Artwork revealed!

Christian Henn has spent more than a year bringing it to life, but we're very excited to announce that the debut Vampire 9000 three track EP "Colours" is a mere 3 days away from being released! Produced by Jacob Israel and featuring art by Maaike Bakker, V9K's first recordings are a hurricane of fresh air, and in my eyes some of the most exciting new sounds to emerge out of South Africa in ages. I'm so enthusastic about these three songs that Colours will be released on none other than So Many Animal Calls Music. And, because we love you guys, we're putting this out as a "free-P"! A highly limited edition run in a physical format will be made available on the 9th of October, but till then you'll be able to download a full quality version of the entire EP (plus artwork) as of the 9th day of the 9th month of this year!

Hooray for Humans! V9K completes final recording session for EP!

As some of you may know, the next release from "So Many Animal Calls Music" will be Vampire 9000's "Loose Fur EP". This past Saturday V9K invaded Jacob Israel's Benjamin Studio to lay down some finishing touches with for the EP. Helping him out were guests, vocalist Eve Rakow and drummer Louwrens Fereira. I think it goes without saying that I'm damn excited for what's going to be coming out of this!

Hooray for humans! Win free tickets to Jingle Jizz!

Tomorrow night SMAC and DIY BFFs Turn Your Lights are teaming up to launch Us Kids Know's new EP "Jingle Jizz". I, for one, can't wait for this!

Some nice news is that Mahala are running a constetion where you can win a pair of tickets to the event, plus a free sixpack of Savana!

CLICK HERE TO ENTER THE COMPETITION ON MAHALA!

In some far less awesome news, due to previously-blogged-about banjo-related catastrophe, guitar-terror Vampire 9000 will sadly no longer able to play this event.

Yesterday Christian Vampire was discharged from hospital after undergoing surgery. This surgery was performed to fix trauma sustained while playing the banjo at band practice with Fulka last week. The fact that V9K inflicted such a serious injury while playing the banjo is testament to the unparalleled level of explosive rock roll power that flows through his vamperic veins. He will be very sorely missed on the night, we wish him a speedy recovery and hope to be able to play other shows with him soon.

In his honour, at 9PM we will be having the very first public playing of his fantastic, forthcoming release "Fur Echoes 3P" and the bands will be firing an honorary 24 guitar salute.

You are invited! Us Kids Know "Jingle Jizz" launch!

Super excited to be able to invite you to this one:

You may remember I did a post about the loveable trio know as Us Kids Know, touring to Cape Town and whipping up an EP for the tour. After wowing virgin audiences on that end of the country and almost selling out of the EP, the band have decided to do a Johannesburg launch for Jingle Jizz as well! To mark this momentous occasion the band have asked your humble Animal Caller to get on board with helping to put together a night of maximum awesomeness. Bassist/ percussionist/ xylophonist Cam will also be breaking out his "Turn Your light Up High" banner and providing some unique live lighting effects on the night, in conjunction with the crazy decor cards the Kid's have got up their sleeves. Supporting UKK, Eyes Like Mirrors will be bringing the noise, banjo-killer Vampire 9000 will be playing his first proper show since Halloween 09. I'm pleased to announce the line-up will be completed by young instrumental upstarts Balcony, making their first appearance as a live band!

If all this weren't enough cause for excitement this special show will be held in THE Bridge Dinner, the awesome venue that our gang hasn't invaded since last year's very awesome Generation Next.

So yeah, basically, this is gonna be awesome!

RSVP here!

VAMPIRE INJURY ALERT!

During band practice with Fulka, everyone's favourite Christian Vampire dislocated a kneecap and killed one unlucky banjo. RIP Banjo.

Days like Television: Fulka - Dancing in our darkest days

Hooray for Humans! So many good recordings on the way!

For me, 2010 has been rather slow so far as good new recordings by local artists go. But it's looking like that's just gonna be the case for the first half of the year. Or considering it is already into August, maybe I should say the first 7 twelfths. From projects that have just been unveiled, to full albums just waiting to break out into the real world, here's my shortlist of reasons to be excited about South African music for the rest of 2010

Us Kids Know:

I've written a bunch about UKK's ambitious and unique 2nd release "Problems". While the important part (the music) has been finished for months, Problems still isn't available because of delays in getting the t-shirts made. But the tapes are all recorded and ready to ship out, it's just a matter of time till you have problems and solutions in your ears. And knowing The Kids' high-energy, DIY work ethic I wouldn't be surprised if they release even more new music before the year's over.

The Plastics:

Maybe this is no longer an upcoming release by this point - it may already be out there, but either way I'm damn excited because I know there's a shark that's gonna get me. "Shark" is the first full length release by Cape Town rock upstarts The Plastics, and judging by the first single Caves, it's gonna be a good one.

Sticky Antlers:

Of everything on this little list, this could be the record I'm most excited to get my hands on. "Tupperware Tombstone" (the band's 4th album in under 3 years!) drops next Friday. While it'll be a happy day for fans of the Pretoria noise terrorist, it'll also be a sad one. The album launch on the 26th will also mark the bands 2nd last live performance. The PTA launch the next night will mark the final show. But while The Antlers will sadly be bringing the project to a close, don't despair because just around the corner there's...

Make-Overs:

From "If you are what you eat I could be you by tomorrow" to "Poodle Piss" to "Sticky Antlers", since 2004, Andreas and Martinique have created 3 fully fledged bands. That's excluding numerous side ventures and solo projects. Now before the Antlers have even played their last show, the dynamic duo are already hard at work cultivating their next band, the aptly titled "Make-Overs". I'm not sure if they'll have an album out so soon after Tupperware Tombstone. But, with a 16 track reel to reel tape machine, their own record label and mountains of enthusiasm I'd be surprised if we don't at least get a 4 track EP out of Make-Overs before the year is up.

The Lottery Tickets:

I raved about The Lottery Tickets after I first saw them this February. A couple weeks back I heard the good news that their debut album is in the bag - it's just a matter of time till it's out there and making all of our lives better.

Ampersand:

Joburg's wildest acoustic anarchist Ampersand has been working all year on the follow up to his debut album, "This is not a Drill". Initially recording and producing the album himself, Warren's since started over from scratch, now collaborating with former Shadow Club bassist, lof-fi enthusiast and general nice guy Alex. Hopefully this album will be out there by the end of the year - it's gonna be pretty damn cool.

Isochronous:

Isochronous recently headed down to Cape Town to record their second electric album. Based on the new songs the band have been performing since their self titled debut came out two years back, I think it's safe to say this sophomore effort is gonna be fantastic.

Vampire 9000:

Of our whole extended family of bands and musicians, if only one person could have been born to create rock and roll it's Chrisitan Henn. How come the 26 year old multi-instrumentalist hasn't officially released anything yet? Because he's been working his fingers to the bone, honing his formidable arsenal of skills. Over the past few months he's been recording demos for the debut album of his math-pop-danceant-garde, Vampire 9000. Now he's headed into the studio with the esteemed Jacob Israel to begin recording the album proper. Expect to be wonderfully horrified.

Popskarr:

At the very least we're sure to see at least another single and a remix or two, but personally I'm holding thumbs that these kids are gonna pull an album out the hat before the year's up.

A Skyline on Fire:

The album is recorded, mixed and mastered. It's a ticking time-bomb waiting to explode out into the world.

Yo! Grapes:

Desmond and The Tutus drummer Craig has recently unveiled a totally dreamy new project called "Yo! Grapes". He's already released this must-download track and word on the street is more awesomeness is on the way! Yay!

Green Is For Turbo:

Hey, a dude's gotta dream right?

Good Weekend: Math rock and the hotdog eating octopus

YYYYYYAAAAAAYYYYY!!! This was an extra good weekend! With Friday and Monday being public holidays this one was twice as long as weekend's usually are.

As I mentioned last week there were way too many cool things going down on Thursday night. Personally I really enjoyed the party that we landed up at, The Tutus show at Tings.

I really, really love playing Tings. And it's not just because I get an awesome free meal when I do. The crowd is just always so receptive and up for a good time, something that was fantastically clear by the contorted dancefloor that the Tutus worked up over the course of their set. Needless to say taking over from where they left off was more than a pleasure. I played a power half hour set, Joe took over from me to do the same and then we rocked the rest of the evening head to head. Awesome times.

Friday and Saturday were both pretty chilled, highlighted by more Asian food, more moleing and loads more chocobos. Honestly I can't really ask for more. On Sunday Anja and I went through to Pretoria to visit my family. On the way back we stopped off at Christian's place. He played us the 2 new Vampire 9000 recordings which are sounding seriously stellar. Since the original drummer Henre's left for China the band have followed a far less technical, more visceral direction, with the new songs sounding like a kind of wilder, dancier Errors. Too cool. Anja, Christian and I met up with Maaike to grab something to dinner at Kung Fu Kitchen. Zuba rad times followed. After dinner we dropped by Chritian's to quickly get a great new show called "Better off Ted" and then drove back to Joburg. I woke up pretty early yesterday morning, grabbed my keytar and macbook and drove through to Bryanston for a very special event. Yesterday marked the first ever practice for the, as yet untitled, collaboration between yours truly and the much loved champions of SA post rock - Eyes Like Mirrors. From when I first saw the band at We Own the Sky, I've been totally in love with a noise the boys rip out of their instruments. After seeing me playing visuals with Johnny Foreigner, Jason ELM asked me if I'd like to work with them on a visual set and ever since I've been dying to jam with the band. Yesterday it finally happened. While the collaboration is still in it's infancy it was awesome rocking out with the dudes yesterday. There's still a very long way to go in terms of getting all the imagery together, but at the moment I'm thinking the collaboration will take the form of a kind of re-envisioning of Metropolis (probably my favourite film from the silent era). So far I'm mostly creating visuals out of a bunch of way cool pastel drawings by Franci, the sister of ELM bassist Shannon. I haven't done much with these awesome pictures yet, but they're already looking great over ELM's music. Even with a very limited pallet of imagery to work with I had the best time playing with the band yesterday. It wasn't just the highlight of my weekend, but probably the past month or so. After righteous rocking out, loads of new music, 3D skateboarding, red tea and pizza I crawled through the rain back to Melville. Anja and I ate fantastic soup, invited Colin over to hang out and watched more than a 3rd of the entire season of Better off Ted. It's really really great. So great it knocked Anja unconscious, leaving Col and I free to fire up my X-Box and shoot the crap out of Skag till well past our bedtime. Pow!

Link Highlight: Delight!

I've mentioned my friend Christian's loop-core band “Vampire 9000”. What I haven't written about yet is one of his other artistic endeavors; Delight. Delight is the brainchild of Christian and his girlfriend Lizelle. Here's how they describe what they're about:

"We are delighted by: Dear Friends, Giant Trees under Open Skies, Handmade T-Shirts made with lots of Love and Care, Love Stories and Love Songs, David Bowie, Dancing in Video Stores, Fortune Cookies after every meal, 8 Bit Video Games and Old Movies. Thank You!"

While it's all very true, the part you should pay most attention to is the "Handmade T-Shirts made with lots of Love and Care" bit. This is what delight is really all about, but what they've neglected to brag about is how the Love and Care they put into their shirts make them turn out. The passion that goes into crafting these pieces translates into some of the most awesome rock and roll attire to have been thrown over torsos this side of the equator. Just check out these examples of their latest creation, The Frankenstein: I was lucky enough to have been included in the label's first collaborative effort a few months back. To commemorate the first ever Vampire 9000 show (at the ultra cool City Slickers illustration exhibition) delight did a limited run of Vampire 9000 shirts. I was asked to create the artwork for the shirts as part of what will hopefully be an ongoing project – "Delight.by.for".

The idea behind "Delight.by.for" is to create a series of collaborations between Delight, illustrators and bands. Every entry will be "Delight by some artists for some band". So in the case of my one it was "Delight by Ben Rausch for Vampire 9000" - here's what I drew for them: And here's how it turned out: They packaged the shirts in awesome, purple boxes. I drew them this little coffin, which was printed onto cards and inserted into the package:

For their next collaboration Delight will be working with awesomeness-making superkids Doktrine, a combination of talents that's sure to result in something really special. Now go forth, check out what delight have been making, drool and then make a plan to own a little piece of their love.