The Chiz : fokofpolisiekar

Bellville Rock City: Reflections on a Scene

David — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 06:22:32 GMT

Rhythm records have just released an impressive CD/DVD box set entitled Bellville Rock City. The collection features a clutch of bands from this northern Cape Town suburb and is an amazingly packaged and impressive set.

But more than the physical presence of the artefact is the undisputable fact that this is a real scene that needs to be documented and not just some PR speak generated out of the4 need to sell records.

For some time now there has been talk about the band generator that Bellville seems to have become. The rise and fragmentation of Fokofpolisikar itself has spawned a scene of three or more bands, and a following of dedicated followers. It’s about the fact that there is cool music finally being sun g in Afrikaans, it’s about the fact that the songs address the lives of the kids that love it, and it’s about the fact that it has sustained itself over time and created a body of work that is influencing both itself and those around it.

There has always been talk of scenes and their power to create real change within music. The New York scene of the seventies is a case in point. Whether Bellville can approximate the pinnacle of creativity and cross-pollination that people like Andy Warhol achieved in New York is debatable. And thankfully, as the documentary, 12 Mile Stone reveals, most of the guys don’t really buy into the hype. They are all about being mates and playing music together. As one remarks, “I am in insider, how would I know?”

What is interesting about this package though, coming as it does with a CD and a DVD packed full with extra music, a documentary film and music videos, is that it indicates that finally South African is developing a recognisable music industry,. As Ray Phiri remarked at Moshito in 2008, we have never really had a proper industry. Apartheid, violence and a predilection for international music has always meant that what we have really had are pockets of musical scenes and no general, overall industry that is growing and self sustaining. Projects like this point towards the idea that this might be changing, slowly.

And yes, as you’d expect from Bellville, this IS a bunch of white kids from the suburbs. But what it isn’t is some kind of political statement, it is an observation, a record, a true documentary of something that is happening, I am sure in due course we can or should see a similar project focussing on Soweto or elsewhere. The beauty of a real industry is the necessity of diversity to make it survive. With no pop bands there can be no underground. There can not only be one genre, there must be many, to keep it fresh to keep it interbreeding, cross pollinating, stealing, borrowing and growing.

Visit www.bellvillerockcity.com

Time For The Rats to Boom

David — Mon, 21 Apr 2008 06:01:27 GMT

It’s Monday.. you’re hung over, tired and reluctantly back at work. What better way to lift your day than tell you what you can do in and around Gauteng this weekend in the way of live music? Hehehe!
Here it is, a selection of odd-ball gigs for the week.
Enjoy!

Civilised 8.4
Lucky Fonz iii (Holland) and Paul E. Flynn
Date: 24 April, 2008
Venue: The Bohemian, Corner Park and Menton Roads, Richmond, JHB
Telephone: 011 482 1725
Line Up: The One Night Stands and Doris
Time: Doors open at 8pm First band on at 9pm
Cover: R30 (R20 with Student Card)

Clash Of The Titans
Date: Friday 25 April
Venue: Carfax, Gwi Gwi Mrebi Street, Newtown
Line-up: Van Coke Kartel, A King, Reach, Slashdogs, My Epic, Suicide Kings, The
Shadow Club
Time: 20:00
Cover R60.00

Death Valley Blues Band – London Calling’s Birthday
Date: 25 April, 2008
Venue: London Calling, Opdebergen street, Troyeville
Telephone: 011 618 1018
Line Up: The Death Valley Blues Band and others
Time: 9pm
Cover: R30

Lucky Fonz @ Tanz Cafe
Date: 25 April, 2008
Venue: Tanz Café, the River Road Bryanston
Telephone: 011 463 5937
Line Up: Lucky Fonz III and Arno Carstens
Time: 9pm
Cover: R50

8Ball Madness 4th Edition
Date: 26 April, 2008
Venue: Stones Edenvale, Cnr of Modderfontein and van Riebeeck rds, Edenvale Telephone: 011-609 5432
Line Up: Lucky Fonz III, New Academics, Josie Field Duo, The Hellphones and more
Time: Doors open at 8pm
Cover: R40 for Guys and R20 for Girls

Lucky Fonz @ Bassline
Date: 26 April, 2008
Venue: The Bassline, 10 Henry Nxumalo Str. Newtown
Telephone: 011-838 9145
Line Up: Lucky Fonz III and Sarah Bettens and Stealing Love Jones
Time: Doors open at 8pm
Cover: R50

The Oppikoppi “Vmmijdkwmkah,oid’napmwemp?” Not Quite Easter Festival
Date: 25 April, 2008
Venue: Oppikoppi Farm, Northam
Telephone: 012 346 1679
Line Up: Lucky Fonz III, Sarah Bettens and others
Time: 17:00
Cover: R250 for the weekend

Levi’s Sunday Sessions
Date: 27 April, 2008
Venue: The Crazy 88, William Road Norwood
Telephone: 011 728 8417
Line Up: BLQ and Tasha Baxter Time: 7:30pm
Cover: Free

Fo... erm, please leave in a police car...

David — Mon, 23 Oct 2006 04:03:00 GMT

I was one of those Fokof cynics when the band first appeared. It took three live shows to convince me that they weren't just some over-hyped Afrikaans act riding on the fact that they were a very naughty bunch of boys. But convince me they did, that live act of theirs will do that to you.

Now they have released a full length album, "Swannesang." Whether this is a hint as to their demise, or a line drawn under their past, no-one is saying. None the less, as with them originally, I wasn't too sure I liked it very much. So after some heavy rotation and thinking, I fired off these questions to them... and then you can go and buy the Cd and judge for yourself!

1) The new album, to my ear, is a large departure from your recorded history and you live show. It seems way more introspective, and even soft. What is your take on the new recording?

WE LOVE IT! IT'S THE BEST SOUNDING RECORD WE'VE HAD SO FAR. WE SPEND A LOT OF TIME ON THE PRE PRODUCTION AND IT WAS RECORDED IN TWO SESSIONS. WE'VE ONLY HAD VERY POSITIVE RESPONSE FROM INDUSTRY PEOPLE, FRIENDS AND FANS. THE ALBUM HAS SOLD TWICE AS MUCH AS ANY OF OUR PREVIOUS RELEASES IN THE FISRT TWO WEEKS.

OUR CD'S AND LIVE PERFORMANCE HAVE ALWAYS BEEN TWO DIFFERENT EXPERIENCES. A LOT OF FANS ALWAYS COMPLIMENT ON HOW MUCH THE TWO DIFFER AND HOW MUCH THEY ENJOY IT. OUR CD'S WE MAKE FOR PEOPLE TO LISTEN TO AND ENJOY. THE LIVE SHOWS IS FOR PARTYING.

Luckily for you, you can buy this album by clicking here!

2) You recorded the album at B# studios in Benoni and produced it yourselves. Why did you take the risk of producing what is such an important second record on your own? Are you happy with the results?

WE'VE ALWAYS DONE THE PRODUCTION OURSELVES. JOHNNY IS CREDITED FOR PRODUCTION. HE HAD EVERYTHING ALREADY SETUP AND PLANNED DURING PRE PRODUCTION. JP DE STEFANI (B# STUDIOS) AND HIM TOGETHER EXECUTED THE IDEAS IN THE STUDIO. JOHNNY ARRANGED STRINGS AND PIANO ON SOME OF THE TRACKS AS WELL.

THIS IS HOW WE ALWAYS WORKED. IN THE BEGINNING JP WOULD JUST HELP AND GUIDE THE MUSICIANS IN GETTING THEIR BEST PERFORMANCES.

JP TAKES WHAT HE DOES VERY SERIOUS AND IMPRESS US EVERYTIME WE GO RECORD THERE. HE JUST KEEPS ON IMPROVING.
NOTHING CHANGED IN RECORDING THIS ALBUM. EVERYONE IS JUST MORE competent.

You can tell Liam Lynch took this picture because of two things... One is the style obviosuly. The other is the gratuitous Clash reference... go Liam!

3) Since this milder album has emerged post the “Vok God” incident, many are going to be tempted into seeing you guys as having backed down, changed your tune and conceded some ground. Can you explain the time line on this album and your attitude post “vok God?”

THE FOK GOD THINGS GOT NOTHING TO DO WITH THE SOUND OF THE ALBUM. 5 OF THE TRACKS INCLUDING 'BRAND SUID-AFRIKA' WAS WRITTEN BEFORE THE INCIDENT.

THE SOUND OF THE ALBUM WAS A NATURAL PROGRESSION. THERE'S NO WAY TO EXPLAIN HOW ANY OF THE CD'S CAME OUT THE WAY IT DID. IT ALWAYS JUST HAPPENS. MAYBE IT'S GOT SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE MUSIC WE LISTEN TO, THE WAY WE FEEL, WHO KNOWS? MAYBE MORE THAN THAT!

4) The press has persisted in describing the band as a punk outfit. Now to me, there is nothing punk about your sound, except for the attitude. The new album is also way too gentle on the whole to be classed there. If this be true, what ARE Fokofpolisikar trying to do? What is your sound?

WE'VE NEVER CONSIDERED OURSELVES A PUNK BAND. THAT STATUS HAS BEEN GIVEN TO US BY THE MEDIA AND PUBLIC. WE PLAY ROCK MUSIC AND TRY AND BE AS DIVERSE IN SOUND ON EVERY CD AS POSSIBLE. IT ALL JUST STAY ROCK TO US. YOU CAN CALL IT WHAT YOU WANT.

5) You’ve been described as the voice of the new young Afrikaner, establishing an identity free of the apartheid past, and dependent on the attitudes of the now. Do you actually see yourselves this way? And if not, what is your perception of he bands role?

We started this band for ourselves and has always tried to be honest with ourselves and where we come from. I think the people that listen to our music can relate to that. We are not trying to be a voice.

6) The temptation to just become more and more outrageous and piss off the Afrikaner old school guard all the time must be overwhelming, whether that was your original intention or not. Since you aren’t doing that, what I it that you really want? How do you cope with the knowledge that you could just so easily go there?

People will always look for someone and something to blame. Being in the spotlight all the time makes us an easy target. We've never been on a conscious mission to make kak. It always just seems to happen. Wrong place at the wrong time sort of thing. Part of what we do is to be true to ourselves and stay sound in our believes. It will obviously differ from other people. That’s something that they will have to deal with.

When we decided on the name Fokofpolisiekar we probably set ourselves up for a lot of kak. We've gotten use to it and is something that don't bother us anymore. At least not for now.

7)The band plays so much live, all over the show. Sometimes I think too much! How do you all cope? From where I stand I believe you are running the risk of burning yourselves out and blowing up n the wrong kind of way. I also believe you are stretching your crowd to breaking point and that such frequent gigging is going to end up being counterproductive. What is your take on this? Why are you guys playing so much?

The amount of gigs we play in a year don't compete with international acts. Touring and gigging is all part of being in a band. That’s how you make your money to live from. SA is very small and the venues for us to play is restricted.

Fokofpolisiekar is a full time job and we have to gig to pay salaries. Sometimes things can get negative, but that’s how any business work. We always seem to overcome any obstacles. This year has been very busy. Releasing a single, a album and spending two months in Jozie recording made traveling and touring inevitable.

8) One of the reasons that people cite as to why Kwaito will never become an international hit, is that it is not in English for the most part. I guess the same must apply to you. Do you think so? Do you care, or is the international market just not part of your focus?

We have played internationally twice. In November we will be doing our first club tour of Belgium and the Netherlands. Fokofpolisiekar is an Afrikaans band and that is the way it will stay. It obviously limits us for the most part internationally. As a band we appreciate bands that do not sing in English. Sigur Ros, Rammstein and Stuurbaard Bakkebaard is bands that we like even if we don’t understand what they say.

9) You’ve had your fair share of problems in 2006… injuries, scandals and that kind of thing. How do you as a band weather these set backs? Do you think it has appositive or negative impact on you as a unit?

Snake's injury was definitely a setback. Fortunately we had a good friend, Justin Kruger, to fill in for him. Snake is back at the moment and stronger than ever. It feels good to play with the original outfit again.

The scandal was a bit kak that we had multiple shows cancelled and we were in a kak financial state for a while. The only good thing to come from that story was that more people are aware of us. It never had a effect on our original fans. Everyone that complained were never into what we are doing. Everything is back to normal for now. It's even better………….

10) The one over-riding criticism that is still floating around about the band is that you are just a gimmick: an in your face attempt to corner the Afrikaans rock market. What do you say to that?

Fokofpolisiekar has been playing for three years. We also get labeled as Satanists and homosexuals.

11) Do you guys rehearse your live shows at all? It appears to be pure adrenalin fuelled frenzy, but surely you must have some at least vague idea of what is going to happen next?

We rehearse the songs that we are going to play live and we do have a set list that we work from. If anything else happens it comes natural.

12) You released your first album independently and now this second release as well. Are the majors not interested in you, or do you prefer to stay indie?

Rhythm Records signed us just after we released our first Ep on our own label, Punkskelm Records. We have a great relationship with Albert the label owner and a very good deal. Majors showed interest after our first release and we stayed with Rhythm. So, I guess we prefer to stay indie.

13) 2006 is nearly done and dusted. Obviously you are now working the album, but what lies ahead in 2007 for Fokof?

Our first project for 2007 is a DVD. The DVD will contain a full live show, all our music videos and some behind the scene stuff.

So there you have it! in their very own words... don't ask about the caps thing in the beginning, I was just too lay to re-type it! I have spoken to quite a few people about this record and they all reckon its the best thing the band has done, so why don't you seriously get it and judge for yourself?