I Don't Feel Sorry For Humans

People often complain about how shit life can be, myself included. We all hate having jobs, hate traffic, hate spending money. But we do it because we have to. No one told us to, we just have to or we'll basically die. There are a few people who have figured out "the old life". We all can, I guess, but why is it so difficult? Well, because we made it so.

You may or may not be familiar with a film called The Gods Must Be Crazy. If not, I'll explain:
It's basically about a group of bushmen who live a happy life in the Kalahari desert. They have no rules, no laws, don't need to time, and as a result live a life of mutual respect and freedom. No one fights or argues, no one owns anything better than anyone else. Until one day, when a "noisy bird that flew without flapping its wings" (a plane) flew over and the pilot threw an empty bottle out of the window. One of the bushmen found this new thing and it all went downhill form there.
Everyone wanted to use the new thing that the gods had sent them. There was only one, so it had to be shared. Some people thought their tasks were more important that others', others got jealous and eventually the tribe started fighting with each other. You get the vibe...

The beginning of the film compares the life of the bushmen to the lives of modern man, and the narrator sums it up pretty damn well:

"Civilised man refused to adapt himself to his environment. Instead, he adapted his environment to suit him. So he built cities, roads, vehicles, machinery, and he put up power lines to run his labour slaving devices. But somehow he didn't know when to stop. The more he improved his surroundings to make his life easier, the more complicated he made it.
So now his children are sentenced to 10-15 years of school just to learn how to survive in this complex and hazardous habitat they were born into. And civilised man, who refused to adapt himself to his natural surroundings, now finally has to adapt and readapt himself every day, and every hour of the day, to his self-created environment.
For instance; if the day is called "Monday" and and the number seven-three-zero comes up, you have to disadapt yourself from your domestic surroundings and readapt yourself to an entirely different environment...
... But in the Kalahari it's always Tuesday, or Thursday if you like, or Sunday. No clocks or calendars tell you to do this or that." 

What I want to know is, at what point did we lose touch? 

People get upset at the millions of animals that die to feed us, at the millions of tons of garbage that we create. In some way I feel like we have no right to be angry about it. As humans, we are responsible. We may not be directly responsible, but we are human, we have the ability to change that.

So how do we?

The Day I Met Affiance

I've been pretty damn lucky in that I have had the opportunity to meet some amazing bands, most of which I look up to as influences in my life and music. 

Yesterday I had the opportunity to spend an hour in studio with Affiance who had been in SA for a day ahead of their South African Tour. 
Seldom do bands have the time to sit and chat to people, but the organisers of this tour did well in giving the band some hang time.
They were at Audio Militia's studios recording a special something. Let's just say it sounds fat, and you'll love it. At the risk of sounding massively cliche, the guys were really grounded. They were more excited that they were in Africa and that people were amped to see them than anything else. This made me happy. They also seemed surprised that we have avo on our pizza here... You'd think that being from America they would have seen it all.

Tracking Bass

What also made me happy was how much they loved the biltong I brought around. Although people think Sloane Meat Market makes the best biltong on Joburg (which was the biltong I had), I have to disagree. Impala Butchery makes the best biltong, and I will fight you on that.

Lekker Ous
Pic: Chris Preyser

Needless to say I'm fucking excited t be paying a show with them. I'm also excited that we'l be playing just before Van Coke Kartel. I just am. 
I hope to see some familiar faces there!

Obligatory "Proof It Happened" Selfie.
Dennis Tvrdik (vox) - Left
Patrick Galante (drums) - Right
Me (winning) - Middle

New Blog, Same Old Shit... But Not Really

Once again I find myself here. This thing we do on the internet where we hope people will come and read and maybe learn something about us.

I've been thinking about doing this whole blog thing again for quite some time. Since then I've moved into a new apartment, started another band, broke up with a member of my old band, got a new job, got a new voice and done some other things.
This week was the tipping point for me. As much as I love talking sometimes you just need a good ol' vent, be it good or bad. So sitting in front of my laptop frantically ticking away seemed like a good idea... also, it's helping me forget about the dishes I need to wash.


Why am I doing this? Well, I guess I'm feeling a bit confused with the world. It started last week when Bryan (the now ex-vocalist of my band Facing The Gallows) decided to quit. Fair enough. He was a big part of the band, the voice, the face and he has a personality to match. He also contributed a lot musically. Replacing a guitarist or any other instrumentalist is different because it's not as obvious as a vocalist. The voice is the first thing people hear.
I thought I was fine with his decision, but as the days go by I get a little more bummed, but at the same time I get fucking excited for new things. That is where my focus will lie. On the new. I'm over the bummedness now.

It may sound lame, but my band is a big thing in my life. It doesn't pay the bills, it doesn't entirely pay for my travels for tours, but the people I've met and the friends I've made have paid for that in my heart. I've worked with amazing people, I've seen my favourite bands, fuck, I even get to tour with one of them in May! I should be SO happy. But I have to work a 9-5. And as much as I'd like to be my own boss, I'm just not in that space. So I'll keep on the good fight. It's totally worth it. If there's one thing I could urge anyone to do it would be to learn to play an instrument, no matter how simple.

So let's be awesome, let's enjoy the shit out of everything we do.
I will write more. I don't know what about, but I shall do it. 

Get your butt out.

Life is too short to...

Life is too short to wake up early and sit in traffic before work.
It's too short to go to sleep late and have to wake u early.
Life is too short to not be hung over.
It's too short to not do what you want.
Life is too short to not work from 10-3.
Life's too short to not be able to make pizza for people every day.
and it's definitely too short to sit in an office all day while the sun beats down outside.

Ten Questions With A Cool Person - Balz (Motionless in White)

Yes. I'm back with more useless questions to cool people!

Every so often I'll find a band that I fucken love, and I'll listen to that band until I know every word, drum fill or riff on the album until I kill it or until I find another cool band. But that's not to say that once killed I never listen to the band again. I do. A lot. My most recent band kill is Motionless In White. When I first heard the band I imagined a 5 piece, all dressed kinda jocky, but still metal band-like. I was pleasantly surprised when I Googled images of the band and found them all painted up. I thought it was the raddest thing ever. And I still do. I love any band that does things a little different. I wish more bands would!

I thought it would only be fitting to contact the band and see if I could get a few questions in. I sent an interview mid their recently completed European tour, so it was a lucky draw to see who I would get answers from. The bands keyboardist Josh Balz got back to me with his answers about not giving a fuck and food. And a champ he is!

Cadillac (C): So I've caught you mid tour. How is/was Europe this time around?

Balz (B): Europe was great! We got to experience and see things people don't even do in an entire lifetime. Only thing I hated was that they didn't put meatballs on my spaghetti in Italy!

C: What is your favourite place in the world?

B: Home (Pennsylvania), because it's where all my family is, and most of my friends.

C: What is the tastiest thing you've ever eaten?

B: Human Flesh! No I wish. A food chain called Chipotle.

C: What is the best venue to play? Ever.

B: Ever? Impossible question to answer. I have a lot of favourite venues, but as long as they trick us good it's immediately one of my favorite places to play.

C: For anyone who has only heard Motionless In White, they'd expect you to look like any other metal band. What made you guys decide to go for the dark, gothic look?

B: It really was a sit down at a table decision. Believe it or not most of us have looked like this forever and have always been the outcasts in school or around town. I was the only kid in my school who wore tight black jeans and shirt.

C: Do you think people take image too seriously rather than just listening to and loving the music?

B: ...Yes.

C: Did you guys ever try get where you are or did it just happen by series of cool events?

B: Everyone tries to get somewhere, but to get this far is unbelievable! We didn't expect to get anywhere near where we are now, but I guess the good part is we're all still the same people from the beginning. We're very humble and appreciate everything we have.

C: South Africa is slowly building a name for its self on the international scene. 

Slowly... Do you think it is a place that could be visited more often?

B: We've had some sick tours! I'd love to tour there, our friends toured there and said it was one of the best trips of their lives!

C: Tequila or bong?

B: Chicken wings.

C: What's next for Motionless In White

B: Lots to come but where it goes nobody knows!

And there you have it. My newest favourite band. Check out the video for the track Abigail and get their latest album, Creatures. Stay cool!

I want to be here. Now.

You know how there's always something better you'd rather be doing? Well, this is it for me today...

Another Drumming Post

I love drums! I wish I could play them as amazingly as these guys. I could watch drummers play their songs all day long without getting bored.
Here are Morgan Wright and Robert Platz of I, The Breather and formerly Elitist respectively. These are two bands I found this year and I think they are the shit! Their all round musicality is phenomenal and the years of studying between the guys shows.


There isn't much I can say about these drummers other than, watch! 


Morgan Wright playing along to I, The Breather's High Rise

Robert Platz smashing Principles by Elitist.

Check out this link for my first Ten Questions With A Cool Person featuring Mike Danese of Elitist.


Follow the dudes on Twitter: @morganITB @ITheBreather @ElitistBand 

Some Shwet Local Choonage

The SA music industry is like a huge bag of marbles. Most of them are junkies, you get some pretty marbles, some goons and the odd irony here and there. Think of the junkies as your every day music, that's not to say all junkies are shit, but most of them you can give away without trading. 


I realise my marble metaphor is a pretty good one, but I'm not going to go through all the types of marbles in comparison to music. You get the gist of it. Some marbles you like, others are just marbles.


Here's a few of my local marbles. I find these ones to be a little ore collectable compared to some of my others. I'd love to see your bag of marbles too! So feel free to drop me a video/comment that I can add to my bag of marbles.


Here's a video by the two-piece Cape Town based Veladraco. The video is one you want to be on holiday in. And the song is just as spritely. South Africans have a way of coming up with strange forms of music, not that this is too strange, but it's out of the ordinary. Singer, Alain Marthese, is a man of massive talent, not only is his skin really stretchy, he plays drums like a beast, guitar like a younger beast and sings/screams like a front man any band would want to have. So sit back and take it in!

So you've heard Alain serenade, now hear him kill. The front man of the band Enmity, Alain is one of the most entertaining front men around.
I've had the pleasure of being on many a tour/show/festival with Enmity and I love the guys and girl. Not only do I love all their sexiness combined, I like their music too!
Here's a bit of an iron marble for you.

This next band is the shit. ShortStraw are the kind of band you want to wake up to every morning. They music is that of happiness and groove, and it makes you feel like you're living in a Special K ad. Just without the regular bowel movements and, in some cases, lean, toned bodies.
I fell in love with this music the first time I heard it, and I'm so happy I did!

There's so much love going on in this post, so I think it's about time to whip out Lark. If you have not seen Lark live then you best make a plan. Few artists/musicians are able to capture an audience quite like Inge Beckmann does. Her voice is like a light, turning us all into moths who are helpless and can do nothing other than stare at the light. Her voice is one of epic range and she will put you in a trance. She also looks amazingly beautiful on stage and knows how to work it. You need to experience her for yourself.
This video was taken at RAMfest 2009, the first time I ever watched Lark. I was blown away.

This next band hails from the way-out-there town of Secunda. Although not much happens from there, these dudes made sure something did. The Frail have been killing the local underground scene and are great guys too. I think they are one of the few bands that are super underrated and deserve a lot more credit. But they keep on keepin' on and work damn hard, and it shows!

I'm trying hard to concentrate my energy and inspiration on the music I love. So by the looks of things I'll be taking quite a musical turn in terms of my blog. I love it too much to ignore it.

Kenney Killed It!

It bums me out a little when I see a musician that owns at his instrument own at a number of instruments. Even more when they top it off with an amazing voice. But as much as it bums me out, it also gets me excited. 

Ben Kenney is best known these days for being the bassist of Incubus, a band that pretty much everyone loves. But before that had a little run playing guitar for hip-hop legends The Roots, as well as doing studio work for people such as Justin Timberlake, Faith Evans and Blackalicous. 

His solo project aptly named, "Ben Kenney" is what really caught my attention. The greatest thing about these albums is that they are properly solo. Kenney plays guitar, bass, drums and even sings. If you had to close your eyes and listen to his voice you might feel as if you're listening to Brandon Boyd singing at times.  

I have found my new favourite thing. Even though he has two first names. I hope it can be yours too.

Check out some clips from his DVD which includes Ben playing his track Wrong in studio. 

My Friend, Mikey B

Being in a band you get to work with a lot of photographers. Some are awesome, others are shit. This photographer is the awesomest though...


Since Facing the Gallows formed in 2007, Mike Bell has grown massively as a photographer. He started out at around the same time as far as I recall, maybe earlier, but since then he has grown as a brand and as an artist. Simply put – He's got skill. He is by far one of my top SA photographers and will support him as much as I damn well can!


Here are some of the snaps he did for us last week. And more.

More: Check out more of his work on his blog. And hire him!