Hi there everyone. I'm Chilli.

I am part of the ROR team. It's an honour to be a part of something so amazing. I am a true Rock n Roller.

So to me Rock Out Radio is a breath of fresh air, in a time when the smogg of commercial crap music was getting too thick to even breathe. I think all the Rockers out there will agree. This is the time for S.A. Rock music to spread it's wings and soar.

On the 8th May, we kicked off our Launch month at Mercury Live and Lounge. It was seriously awesome.

With The Undefind kicking off the show with their mind melting sound. Really an awesome band with brilliant musicians. Then it was Reburn who in my opinion were really funky and cool. I liked their cocky attitude and their "bounce off the wall; in your face" approach.                                                        

Next was Autopilot, who were also really awesome. With a new concept in merchandising, with the branded G-Strings and Boxers, to ensure that we're all thinking of them even when we are in bed.

Bringing the night to a climax, were the all talented, Hog Hoggity Hog. Man this band blew me away. Their energy on stage was like a beast, and the musicianship... well what can you say about a band who's been playing for over a decade. Brilliant!

BIG UP to all the bands. You were all awesome.

I was helping out with selling the bands merchandise, so throughout the night i met the band members. They were all really cool, down to earth peeps and that is refreshing to see. I know we'll be seeing a lot more of all these bands in the future.

Friday 15th May saw our second Launch at Zula Sound Bar in Long Street, Cape Town.

I really enjoyed the bands that played and i know the crowd enjoyed them too.

First up was, Skyeclad who rocked our socks off. I thought the guitarist was super talented and he ripped that guitar to pieces. They definately got the crowd in the mood for some Rock N Roll.

Cat String Theory were so fresh, and original that i found it to be my favourite for the night. With a mix of what i thought was "The Doors" melted with "Springbok Nude Girls". Throw in a little Jazzy, blues, punky funk and VOILA you got Cat String Theory. Nice one guys. You rocked.

Then, Red Light In June, graced the stage, to rip our minds from this place and sweep us off into their world, which was dark, angelic and like the edge of a razor blade. Natalie Jordaan, "The Queen of Rock"...  and now i know why. Awesome!

To end the night was The Kings of Vegas, who were pumped up, ampted and gave us all a reason to BOUNCE.

Everyone there was so in the mood for a party after The Kings of Vegas were finished that it was like no one wanted to leave. Not even i wanted to leave, and my wife River and i eventually had to drag ourselves home to our 8week old son, Stone.

I had started to believe that my rock n roll soul was slowly dying, until Rock Out Radio came along and gave me new life.

Guys and Girls... I will continue to write about my experiences.

Just remember, Rock Hard and never let the good times end.

ROCK OUT RADIO.......... THE REVOLUTION IS NOW

Allow me to introduce myself.

I am Muhammad Ebrahim. I currently work for the SABC as a technitian for Good Hope FM. I am also the technical and website manager for Rock Out Radio. I have worked for several different radio stations in my life including, but not limited to: Rock Out Radio, Goodhope FM, UCT Radio, Radio 786, Voice of the Cape, CCFM, ZANet Radio, 567 (Cape Talk) and more. These positions where either as an independent contractor or as a perminant member. Quite often I held various management positions simultaniously.

I have built or assisted with building various radio and recording studios around cape town. These include, Rock Out Radio, MyMusicMatrix, The CuBE, UCT Radio (Broadcast and production) and renovated many more.

This blog will help people looking to either learn how the pro's do it and / or do it themselves on a budget.

I do certainly hope you enjoy this article and feel free to contact me for any further information.

 

I recently attended the launch of Rock out Radio.

Being a rock station, they quite fittingly, launched with a big gig at one of Cape Town's well-known live music venues, which sets the rails for my train of thought.

Excited at the prospect of listening to a band I hadn't seen in a while and spending some time with like-minded young induviduals like myself (those are the music fans, not the drunkards), I made sure my hair was loose and ready for some head banging.

While there, I noticed that besides the usual crowd of dark shrouded, black nailed hard arses, we had also been graced by the presence of some slightly more conventional looking people.

It was then that the thought occured to me (did you think the train had left it's tracks?) that perhaps we darker souls are not as contraversial as we once were.

Before, this moshing mass, with their black hoodies and tattoos might have been looked down apon by the preppy kids in their branded gear and flashy make-up.

Bubblegum bands like 30 Seconds to Mars and Parlotones and even Greenday, have shortned the gap between our side of the playground and theirs. (Cos', OMG- in high pitched clueless tone- Avril just made that punk girl look so cool!)

It made the sub-culture that come with rock seem trendy (puke), but sadly, people still insit on assaulting their ears with all kinds of shit.

Many a true rock fan will tell you that being a rock fan is above anything else, the music. I look like a lamb compared to a lot of the music lovers I know, yet my music taste is far heavier.

So?

I don't listen to rock because it means I get to paint my nails and look like the living dead, I listen to rock because I prefer being able to hear instruments than listening to synthisised crap!

My moshing friends were met by a couple of interesting glares from the preps, and thats ok, cos everyone digs the tunes differently, but if you here and you're not ready to let loose, then just "if you seek amy"!

 *draft copy of a hopefull opinion piece

 

Hi everyone

Here is some information on the band and what we have been up to for the past 2 years

Wake to wonder hail from the Vaal triangle and have been stirring up a storm since they first begun in August 2007. Their innovative tunes mixing melodic vocals with powerhouse drums, in your face guitar melodies and dynamic bass riffs have put them on the map locally, in Johannesburg and in the Pretoria music scene. Wake to wonder are currently in studio recording their debut album which is due to release early next year. The album has a diverse flavour of tunes and does not just stick to one genre in anyway. Some accomplishments of the band include numerous TV appearances, featured articles, Radio interviews, playing big local festivals like WOODSTOCK, playing alongside some of SA's top local bands as well as international acts such as platinum selling American band 'The Ataris' as well as hardcore legends from Netherlands 'No Turning Back'. Wake to wonder could be hitting your town soon...

Songs- Can be heard on our Facebook fan page and Myspace site

    Click me to Join the Myspace Group

Click me To join the facebook Group

Music video preview as well as videos from our live shows can be viewed on our youtube page

Wake to wonder aims to entertain as well as deliver a positive message with every song. Wake to wonder really enjoyed performing at encounter fest 1 and would love to play the 2nd one

 

Bands we have had the honour of sharing the stage with:

 Rock/Commercial bands

• Parlotones
• Cutting Jade
• Mrs B
• DJ Euphonic
• Japan and I
• Saving Silence
• Flip a coin
• Glaskas
• Southworld
• Krimineel
• Myepic
• The Arrows
• Finding Noah
• Crash car burn
• Straw
• The cokestrokes
• Alarm house
• Bok van blerk
• Dozi
• Changing face
• Munkinpure
• Black cat bone
• Unseen hero
• Requiem city
• Judith
• D-day forever
• Twenty one guns
• Winterstasie
• Colour blind
• Ef el
• Straatligkinders
• The Ataris (USA)
• The Exploits
• Metal/rock type bands
• Facing the gallows
• Knave
• Inersha
• Deity's muse
• Chromium
• Hey! Lets burn Paris
• Unlisted
• Subrosa
• Haggis and bong
• Fear of falling
• Your name in neon
• Hikatori
• As flames purify
• Pestroy
• All will fall
• Choking!Hazard
• We killed elvis
• Kudegra
• Unforsaken truth
• The Hammer of redemption
• Die the betrayer
• 11th hour
• Smothered beauty
• Dance your on fire
• We shall embrace
• Voir Dire
• Bloodline ltd
• The cavalier
• New found disorder
• The hollow
• Crossing Point
• Lost in change
• Show and tell
• New altum
• No turning back (Netherlands)

And way too much to be mentioned!

Festivals/accomplishments

• Woodstock 10
• August runs red festival 1 and 2
• Alter fest
• Debs fest
• Reaperfest
• Seasons wither 3
• Transvaalia open air show W/ Straatligkinders
• Fracture fest 3- Bloemfontein
• Candles to midnight charity rock show
• Nuptial rites charity rock show
• TGL interview and live performance(one gospel, Channel 331)
• MKlive interview and acoustic song
• Emperors palace/RBF semi finalists
• Vip battle of the band winners
• KTV interview and live performance
• Fadedblak sponsorship
• Musicland sponsorship
• Endorsements from Dean guitars, Warwick bass guitars, Sonor drums and Evans drumheads
• Launch of website- www.waketowonder.co.za
• Sharing the stage with platinum selling band ''The Ataris'' from USA
• Sharing the stage with hardcore legends 'No Turning Back' (Netherlands)
• Encounter fest- Welkom
• Barefoot metal/punk fest
• 3 shows at Aardklop

Wake to wonder's upcoming notables for 2009 Nov - 2010

• Spirit Word channel interview and performance
• Release of debut album
• Release of debut music video
• Dome fest
• Midvaal Makiti(The Vaals biggest street festival)

 

Hey heres a big up to ROR. i'm glad that someone got there act to gether and started broad casting local and not like 5FM who borad cast local stuff mostly in the middle of teh night. thanks to every one who made this possible from the artist to the web admins... now please step out from behind the cutains so we can applaud you.

itried to find out a bit more but came up with blanks :( so this is nott he spot to not that but i couldn't find another
whats the story though? whos incharge? Who the DJ's? weres this road going?

is this local band width... much cheaper ... much much cheaper?

and whats the email address...

i know - i know should not bitch ;) but thats that

Rock all

 

 

In my pre-alcoholic haze, sitting here after making a conscious decision to stay home tonight, probably for the sake of my liver and general well-being, I think I might be ready to write that post I've been thinking of for quite some time. The 'in process of being depleted' six packs in the fridge probably have nothing to do with it, so here goes...

 

SA bands rock. They rock badly.

 

Look at what we have today, aKing, Taxi Violence, Fokofpolisiekar, Captain Stu, The Dirty Skirts, the Parlotones, van Coke Cartel, Holly and the Woods, Autopilot, Reburn, Chasing Friday, Hog Hoggity Hog, Brasse van die Kaap, Prophets of the City, Rambling Bones, Tait, State far Better, Battery 9, Souther Gypsey Queens, Cutting Jade, Seether, Kings of Vegas, Chris Chameleon, Tweak, Fuzigish, Zebra and Giraffe, the Rudimentals, Just Jinjer, Waddy Trudor Jones, The Awakening, Famous Curtain Trick, Arno Karstens, Frosted Orange, Springbok Nude Girls, not forgetting older bands that I'm not sure are around anymore, Soulja, Boo (disbanded), Dorp, Black Noise, Afrotones, the Diesel Whores, 340ml, and so many more, including electronica -> Biogenesis (Algoryhtm - Animal Chin and 500 Mills)

 

 

So many bands, so many unmentioned. I'm English and over 27 - it's my fault and I'm sure everyone could add 20 more to that list.

 

All of them cover such a huge range of genres. It's disappointing and sad that so few South Africans know about them and know the sound they make as I'm convinced that more people would be buying local.

 

Big ups Multichoice/M-Net for starting MK and helping to provide bands with better coverage!

When I first started going to gigs (about 12 years ago), you saw then band then and there. Once they stopped playing, the show was over. If you, as a fan, were really fortunate then you could buy their latest single on CD. If you were even luckier then you could find a nice mix of local artists on the occasional SL magazine cover cassette (yes, they started with cassettes!).

 

If the band couldn't afford to produce their own CD's then that was the last you heard of them until their next gig.

 

These days we're by requests to vote for our favorite bands on different media, all the way from MK thought to MixIt.

 

It brings a smile to my face to see how far the bands and fans have pushed to be getting this kind of exposure. Although it might be too late for some, it is just in time for others. Being a bit of an 'old boy', I'm naturally biased toward the Nudies, Boo and all the rest of their 'generation' and I can only wonder how well they would do if they were hitting their peak now.

 

But memories belong in the past, the future is with the new harvest of bands that are popping up Everywhere!

 

It's amazing to open up a copy of LMG , turn to the gig guide and see how many shows are being presented per month in Cape Town alone!

It is also good to see the number of recording studios that are available to musicians. I'm not sure if there were as many a couple of years ago or if I'm only starting to notice them recently, but it looks like there are at least 3 or 4 in the Cape Town area alone.

 

Venues that did not really support music before are also starting to pull in bands to play certain nights and events. Recently, Joburg, Mojitos and the Waiting Room, all in Long Street, have opened their doors and started hosting bands on certain nights and occasions.

Kirstenbosch have extended the 'Summer Concerts' with their winter 'Collaboration' events.

The Assembly has opened their doors as a mainly 'bands' club.

Mercury Live and Zula Soundbar continue to provide class acts to the public.

 

There are more that I haven't mentioned (and forgotten), but the point is that the bands are getting more exposure than ever!

 

So, what is my point, what is this all about?

Do not sit down 5 years from now and think 'If only my favourite band had made it big'. Help them now, get out there. Support SA bands. Buy their CD's. Join their Facebook groups. Provide them with feedback. Help them grow. Help them become the band you want to listen to in 5 years time!

 

 

Last but not least, Rock Out Radio.

 

I believe they are the final piece of the puzzle and once we have a radio station that is accessible to all and broadcasting SA bands 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, then this step of the mission will be complete!

 

To me, Rock out Radio is the next stage in the evolution of South African Music.

It is the stage that will blast our bands into mainstream SA music instead of having them skulking around the edges.

 

The sooner we get there, the better!

 

 

 

 

Now click the 'comment' button, I look forward to what you have to say.

 

Bellville, Keep Banging!!

 

Keep pushing out bands.

 

Reading Murray Walkers review of VANFOKKINGTASTIES, it's great to see a community produce so many bands, each with their own style and direction.

 

Usually you find a community will be influenced by iteself and produce lots of the same over and over. Thankfully, Belliville has not done this, it's produced a number of very excellent bands, each with their own sound, maybe not members, but each 'different'.

 

Keep up the great work guys!

It's official. The original soundtrack creation to the classic 1922 silent vampire film NOSFERATU by TERMINATRYX (and special guests) will be performed live to its screening on 8 August at the biggest rock festival in Africa, OPPI KOPPI (in Northam). This is only the second time this soundtrack will be performed, having made its debut at the 2006 South African HORRORFEST Film Festival. The line-up features Sonja & Paul from TERMINATRYX, the producers and creators of this concept - they are also the creators of the annual HORRORFEST (over Halloween season), and take a different silent horror flick each year, creating a new soundtrack (with collaborators), performing it live to the screen. Previous live soundtracks have included vivid historical movies like The Phantom Of The Opera, The Cabinet Of Dr. Caligari, Haxan, and of course Nosferatu. "Fuzzy" & Sean from LARK, and Matthijs from DAWNTREADER are the guests musicians, and together with TERMINATRYX blend their vast musical influences and abilities into the creation of a unique, passionate and awe-inspiring soundtrack breathing new life into this cinematic milestone. Instruments include everything from electric guitar, bass, and violin, to voice, programming, samples, flutes, keyboards, soundFX and live drums, for an unforgettable audio-visual experience. The "TERMINATRYX / NOSFERATU" DVD will also be officially launched at this OPPI KOPPI performance, its original low-key release not including another live performance. The DVD contains the full feature film with its new soundtrack as recorded live at the HORRORFEST performance, as well as loads of additional material like TERMINATRYX music videos, a looks the SA HORRORFEST, photo galleries, the dark short film imperfection and more. More info will follow. Or see the website for updates: http://www.TERMINATRYX.com http://www.HORRORFEST.info

Before the words Rock Out Radio were first said in that exact sequence in February, the concept of a rock dedicated radiostation must have been on the mind of hundreds of people in South Africa. Today still I get people telling me that they always wanted to do somehing like this and that they are really glad that the team I belong to have actually managed not to just start an online radiostation but also what I believe now to be a MOVEMENT. The movement for South African Rock to thrive and to be in the limelight. For this phoenix to rise and make us believe that our love for rock can be turned into something great.

Untill now the work that has been put into Rock Out Radio consists of long hours of meeting the right people, meeting bands, building a studio, building a fanbase, marketing off our brand and events and in between all of that...ALOT of brainstorming and dealing with little things that make the big things work. I must say that this ride has been epic. I have had to deal with stubborn as well as supporting characters who understand the vision. The stubborn ones...well they are stubborn untill they finally see the light. The light that is not only an online radio station aspiring to have an fm frequency but also a radio station aspiring to distribute South African rock to all corners of the world. Not just via one website but hopefully some day there will be a Rock Out Radio studio in every major city in the USA, the UK, Europe, Asia and Australia.

 

See, the problem with current mainstream radio stations is that most of them (one in particular) claim to support South Africa music and especially rock, and end up play only 8% of that in their shows. Most of that "rock" is actually pop rock but  more pop than rock. These radio stations are the cause of a "bottleneck" in the prodction line of South Africa's awesome rock bands. There are just so many rock bands out there that have been ignored or locked off from the whole nation simply because " their formula does not work". All the bands end up gigging and scrathing around for funds just so they can go on tour whilst if our currently "powerful" radio stations play just enough to get by and still claim they are proudly South African. Local talent is being bottled up whilst we have to listen to the "UK Charts" or the "US Charts". Honestly....what the f*** do the UK charts have to do with us? Are we somehow a state of the UK? It feels like we have to follow the trends in the UK! Why cant the UK follow our trend? Why cant the US follow our trend? Oh wait I know why...COZ THEY ARE BUSY SUPPORTING THEIR HOMEGROWN TALENT FIRST! Thats exactly what we are meant to be doing in South Africa.

 

And thats where Rock Out Radio comes in. We will do whatever we can in our power to "export" South African talents to the world and NOT block it. It's time to show the world there's ALOT more Shaun Morgans in South Africa. It's time to show the South African music industry that ROCK IS NOT DEAD. There is a new dawn and this time Rock Out Radio is here to give every band all the support it can.

 

Speaking of bands, lest we forget that bands these days are no longer just bands. They are BRANDS and ultimately an organisation. Bands lately have resortd more and more to marketing their product(their music and performance) and as we now see more and more bands realise the importance of being professional and respecting ALL their fans who are ultimately their clients. During the times we've been dealing with bands being on Rock Out Radio Launch gigs I have come across bands that work like businessmen. Not because they know how to make money but simply because they respect everyone they deal with and know a good opportunity when they see one without abusing it. I have also seen bands brushing Rock Out Radio aside or actually charge them over R10 000 claiming they need to make up for the freebies they did the last 2 months. OK...first of all genius...why do you do freebies for random events? Why do you even do random performances where only 5 people show up when you claim you're worth R10 000? This one band that asked that amount will probably NEVER feature on any Rock Out Radio gig or festival in the future until the manager mends the bridge he burned. And that is the reality! You cannot afford to screw anybody in this rock industry. The pie is too damn small for you to be fighting over it. The pie needs to become  a buffet of food before you can  even think about thinking about asking for "big bucks". What i have learned in this industry so far is that relationships are far more important than money or pride. Trust me relationships with venues, fellow band members other bands, band managers...all od the relationship COUNT. Doors open to other avenues your network of connections grow. All of this because you understood the first rule of being a successful band or manager. Your business is not live rock music. That my friend is your product. Your business is marketing. The very second you answer your phone to speak to a venue owner or promoter...that is marketing. Your letters you write to people about you band is marketing. What you say n Facebook is marketing. MARKETING is what you have to be awesome at. Once you realise this as a band, you'll play at much bigger gigs than Coke Fest. Seeing as though Coke Fest is supposedly the ultimate stage. ( I disagree with this notion though) I'd like to think that there are bigger stages than Coke Fest. Anyways, marketing will take you places. Making sure your product works well will ofcourse work in your favour. I believe at lleast one band memer in every band should be dedicated to leading the band in ensuring a marketing strategy is followed. This is all i have to say for now...there will be more...but for now I have a Launch party to attend.... ciao.