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! 

Why I Think I Should Take Up Drums...

This is why I think I should play drums.


I love Rodrigo y Gabriela, when I found this my life was made even better.

C

Six Songs/Bands/Artists That Made Me A Better Person

My mind has been far from creatively active of late, so I figured I'd stick to something I know and love. Metal. I decided to put together a bunch of videos of songs and artists that have either changed my life, or just made it more awesome in general.


My first video if by a band called Spies Like Us, I stumbled across this video through one of my internet missions, following link after link. When I first heard the song I loved it... 

After watching the video a few times over, I looked further into the song and into the lyrics. The song is about the world today and how the human race is totally messing it up. I think it's amazing that young bands like this take people and the world seriously. Not only is the message great but the song is power! Especially the part at around 2:50.
My favourite lyric: "Will we fight this? We the people can stop this but no one will survive."



A Day To Remember has been owning the world for the past couple of years spreading the love that they produce.
Their track All I Want is pretty much about doing what you want and doing it for yourself and for the love of it. It's also representative of my outlook on life – Make yourself happy, make other people happy and have fun doing it.

My favourite lyric: "I get what I want so everyone's always judging me. Not afraid of anything, I've got the whole world infront of me."


One of the greatest things I have discovered since my birth is Jack Johnson. And that is no lie. This man is one of the most amazing humans I have ever seen or heard. Not only is his music soulful, but his voice is soothing and full of love for everything. The single thing that sold Jack to me was a clip from his En Concert dvd, where he started a song and dedicated it to a flock of birds flying around at the back of the crowd. What a legend. And I'm sure those birds loved it. 

His song, No Other Way, is one of the most beautiful things I've ever heard. I managed to learn how to play it, still working on the singing, but maybe one day I'll cover it and upload it... I doubt it.
We'll never know everything and life will be scary at times, we're all in it together.
My favourite lyric: "And know that if I knew all the answers I would no hold them from you, you'd know all the things that I'd know."


This next song is very close to my heart. It came out the year I finished high school, and between myself and my friends it became our anthem. 

When ever we were at a party or a show and this song came on, everyone stopped what they were doing and started dancing. And when the pretty part started, we all huddled together and sang as loud as we could. Those are moments I'll never forget.
Enough with the emo. Who knew that only a few years after the song came out, we would play shows with Haste The Day on there SA tour? Not me! But we did, and when this song was played, it was back to the old days!
I love this whole song, so I can't single out any lyrics.


This is a track by pop-punk champions Set Your Goals called Gaia Bleeds.
These guys bring the punk hard and will get you bouncing whether you like it or not. I grew up listening to punk, so it's always cool to hear something new that's an awesomer version of what you used to listen to.

This song is also about us useless humans and how good we are at fucking shit up. Global warming or not, it's on. 
My favourite lyric: "Kill like we know how. Killing like we're allowed."


Finally, one of my favourite albums of all time is that of Tim Armstrong entitled, A Poet's Life. When I first heard it I had to tell everyone I knew about it. I told quite a few, I don't think I got them all…
His track Into Action is THE party anthem. In short, the song pretty much says: Get off your ass, make a plan and make life awesome! And that it exactly what I've been doing since then.

If this song doesn't make you feel good then you are probably better off dead.

My favourite lyric: "And I don't need any money to have any fun!"

I would be lying if I said music isn't as vital to life as air or water. It is, and if you listen to "what ever's on the radio", you need to get out there and discover something that grabs you and keeps you there. For me all of these songs have and always will.

C

Getting Older

You know you have quality friends when they take the time to actually sit down and make something for you, be it a sandwich or a go-kart.
My 25th birthday passed this weekend and at this age you become a lot more appreciative of friends like these.


Now my homie Chase and I go way back. We used to be in art class together in high school and would both avoid getting hair cuts at all costs. Now, some 7 years later, we play in a band together and he hasn't lost his artistic flair at all!
He rocked up with this thing wrapped up in newspaper marked "CADDI 25". To my amazement, I unwrapped it to discover this...

An awesome hand painted skateboard with my face on it! How cool is that? I'm even jealous of me.


So, Chase, thank you. You're awesome! And you better keep on arting, it'll get you places. <3


C

Africa. The Best Place Ever.

Africa is the birth place of everything brutal, awesome and alive. It is a place where the strongest survive and the weak die out in the piercing sun.

But underneath all the harshness there lies an infinite amount of beauty and life. 

I just spent a weekend there with the family and got to witness this beauty in its truest form. We saw things people would kill to see. Herds of buffalo, elephant, a lion feasting on a buffalo and even a leopard. When you see a leopard you know you've done good because they are rare finds.

We spotted this big dog as we arrived

Lions are by far my favourite animals around. They house so much power and are wise beyond my comprehension. We saw this dude snacking on some prime buffalo before he disappeared into the bush, only to pop out at a water hole about half a kilometre away.

As we were leaving the park we saw a little bit of a traffic jam ahead. When we arrived people were pointing frantically, searching with binoculars and trying to take pictures. We looked around and saw nothing. Finally something moved. It was a beast of a leopard. A cat built of pure muscle with a coat that made you want to hug it, even though he'd probably eat your face off.
He came out into an open patch and looked as if he was posing for all the cameras. He then ran up a tree to check out the area before quickly jumping out of the tree and disappearing into the thick bush. What an awesome sight!

Checking out the hood

Perfect coat

Here are some other pics of cool animals.

Fish Eagle

A big tusker and calf carrying an elephant bone

Apparently the Elephant Graveyard in The Lion King is based on a real thing. It is said that when an elephant dies, it's heard will often visit the place of death to mourn. They also collect the deceased's bones and leave them in a certain area, an elephant grave yard.  

Another big dog

This jackal was munching the insides of the buffalo that the afore mentioned lion devoured

The afore mentioned lion

The afore mentioned lion drinking

Kids in the Kruger

While everyone was losing brain cells and having a party at Oppikoppi, I spent some quality time in the Kruger Park with the family and cousins from Italy. I love it in the bush, Africa is ruthless and awesome at that.


On our last day in the park we trekked to a picnic area to have a picnic. As one does. We were there for about 20 minutes when three bus loads of school kids rocked up.
We sat back to see what would go down as some 200 kids from Maphuphe Jr Primary School sprant (sprinted) into the picnic area. The five or so teachers that were controlling the kids lined them up and started taking individual pictures of them.
My girlfriend, Indianna, decided to help the teachers out by taking pics of some of the kids for them. I picked up my camera and started shooting from a distance.
These kids were awesome. The moment they saw the camera they all started shouting, "Me! Me! Me!" and wanted to be in every pic.

When I tried to show them the pics I had taken I was swarmed, and within seconds I was at the bottom of a dog pile.

I've never seen a bunch of kids be so amped on life before. They came from a rural village in Northern SA, they came out pretty much to take photos of the kids.
No matter where I stood they knew I was taking photos and were ready with poses and funny gestures. After spending an afternoon with them I realised that life is actually really awesome, and no matter where you're from or what you do, there are so many small things in life that make it worth it.

We were made to love. So let us love each other hard!

Interview with Through This Defiance About Hardcore, Touring the World and Their Upcoming SA Tour

South Africa has been blessed with a good run of awesome touring bands who have been kind enough to stop by in SA on their way elsewhere. Some of these bands were kind enough to return to please our ears and faces once more.

Through This Defiance have been touring hard trying to get their music to every corner of the World. They stopped by in SA last year and fell in love with us. Let's be honest, who wouldn't? Now they're on their way back for a second tour this August.


Ant (vocals) answered some questions for me about where they're at, where they've been and where they're headed.


C: For a band that has only been around for such a short time, you've done more than most bands to in 5 years. How did things pick up so fast?


Ant (A): We've only been a band for a year and a half, but most of us have been in or around the hardcore scene for 15 years plus. We have all been in and out of bands throughout the years, so we already had the knowledge and view of what we wanted TTD to be. The passion and love for the road was already there, so it came quite easy to form the band and prepare to tour the world.


C: You've come to visit SA once before, how was that for you and what made you decide to come back?


A: The love we received from the South African hardcore kids was unreal. It made it 1 place we would never forget and want to continue touring SA at least once a year.

C: It's tough for any band to go through member changes. How have all your member changes influenced the band?


A: You need tough skin to be in a touring band. Some have it in them and some don't. Life happens, kids, jobs, girlfriends, family issues etc... But Hardcore is what we truly have a passion for and it's what has kept this band together. 


C: What makes you guys keep on trekking hard across the world with getting gear stolen, vans breaking down and long hours on the road?


A: Nothing has ever come easy for most of us in life. The struggle we've been through set us up to not give up on living life and doing what makes us happy.


C: Do you think hardcore where it needs to be today? Do you think bands do it for the right reasons compared to say, ten years ago?


A: I don't think hardcore will ever be where it was ten years ago. It was a totally different generation with a different message. There's a handful of us out there that still hold that message close to our hearts and keep it alive.


C; How does it differ all around the world?


A: I tend to think we got spoiled here in the states since it's where hardcore was rooted from. The appreciation level is just so much greater in other countries.


C: Of all the heavy music out there, what is it about hardcore that keeps
you there?


A: Hardcore has always represented things we all related to such as loyalty, unity, struggle, and its probably the main reason why some of us are still alive today. There's an old saying, "Hardcore saved my life" and that's exactly what keeps us here doing what we love.


C: A lot of people think we own lions and ride to work on rhinos out here. What were your impressions of SA before and after you arrived here?


A: We really didn't know what to expect before we got there. Haha! The only thing we knew was that there was a couple of hardcore bands down there such as Reason To Live and Bloodline LTD. Now that were going back next month, we're all super stoked and know what to expect from such and welcoming scene.


C: Where in the World do you guys still want to go?


A: Where ever theres are open hearts and open minds for the love of hardcore. We plan on hitting anywhere and everywhere this year.


C: How are things looking for your next release? What can we expect 
from TTD?


A: We have plans to finish up writing the new album at the end of the year. We are all very excited about how these new songs are coming together. We have a new line up and it's incorporating the many different styles from everyone. Expect a variety of styles we all grew up listening to. We really feel like this next album is the next step up for TTD. Be on the lookout!
Stay up, and we hope to see all of you soon! Peace

TTD-


Be sure to check out Through This Defiance on their South African Tour this August. There's a killer bunch of local bands on the tour too, so bring the love and show your support!


C

I Drew A Polar Bear

Way back when I used to be in high school I loved art classes. I couldn't give a shit about the theory, which was interesting in some lessons, and all I wanted to do was draw. Then, as one does, I finished high school. I did a spot of studying afterwards which involved more art, but once I finished that I just didn't draw anymore. Not because I didn't want to, I just didn't. Life, band, people, family and time got in the way. But now, things have changed.


Since my discovery of Godmachine I have been re-inspired to draw. I just love his art, the complexity and colours he uses are amazing and I can spend hours examining every line of his work.

So last night I started on a little drawing which I'm hoping will end up on a t-shirt for Facing the Gallows, or anyone for that matter. I am so excited about it that I have to share it with everyone. I know that it is nowhere near finished yet, I just need to figure out what else to do to finish it. I have some idea, but let's see what happens. Either way, I have a feeling it will be rad. Stay tuned!

The Polar Bear I drew

WordPoes

Okay, so I have finally decided that I am staying on blogger...
I'm not winternet wiz kid but I will somehow link it to my website because I've had it with WordPress.


I've had this blog going for a while now, and after almost all my blogger friends pretty much commanded me to move to WordPress, I did. According to everyone's reports it is the shit. But I have learnt my final lesson on comfort – If you're used to it, and don't have a problem with it don't change it.
Even though I love all of you for wanting the best for me, I'm going to have to say thanks for nothing this time. WordPress has given me nothing but lameness and spam. I've never received any spam on blogger, and that's enough for me to stay here.


I know want to blog again after WP put me off of it completely. I am now happy again!


C