Kaapstad, Kaalvoete en Captain Stu…
2010-12-06 10:14
In-diepte Verslae
Moses Metro Man, die nuutste Afrikaanse groep van Potch, vertel hoeveel geduld en McDonald’s burgers dit vat om ‘n album op te neem.
By die Matt Black-sessions en DPK se Bob en sop-aand het veral een Bob dinge oorheers, soos BobbeJan Gerber uitgevind het.
Kaapstad is ‘n aweh plek met lank chilled vibes en die meerderheid van die inwoners is gereeld amped. O ja, hul musiek is ook verniet. Rad.
As jy nog nie van Captain Stu gehoor het nie, ly jou ore aan armoede. Hierdie vyfstuk ska/reggae/ funk/jazz/partytjie band is propvol energie en al te gierig om saam jou die aand weg te dans met kaalvoete. Captain Stu se musiek is seker die definisie van Kaapstad se klank en beweeg weg van die Belville Rock scene. As jy pret wil hê, is hierdie die manne vir jou, met live optredes wat tot die eensame ou man in die hoek se bene laat skud.
‘n Ander aspek wat Captain Stu net nog meer uniek maak is hul benadering tot die verkoopstelsel in Suid-Afrika. Ná amper ‘n jaar se harde werk het hul pas hul nuwe album, in samewerking met die gerespekteerde Neal Snyman, vrygestel. En hier’s die goeie nuus - hul gee dit absoluut gratis weg. Albumverkope vaar maar sleg in ons land en Captain Stu is so lief vir optree dat hul die musiek aan die publiek gee in ‘n poging om mense by hul shows te kry. Intelligente spul.
Ek het met Jon en Ryan geklets oor die albumtoer, hul musiekvideo en ander onbenullighede… Soos regte southern suburb kinders kan nie een van die lede Afrikaans praat nie so verskoon hul maar.
Julle is besig met die vrystellingtoer van jul nuwe album, ekonomies genoemd “Free Music”. Maar sê vir ons wat is die idee agter die naam en is die musiek werklik gratis?
Jon: Yes the music is free. We’re trying to adapt to what the music industry is like now. No one really sells CD’s anymore. Our new approach is that a recording is more like an advertisement to get people to our live shows. If we give our music away for free it spreads further, especially in a digital environment. More people can get their hands on our stuff so when we come to their towns and play gigs they know us and want to check out our live show.
Ryan: The idea is that as well as giving away the EP for free, the music itself is free from being bound to one specific genre or type of people. It's fun, original music for everyone.
Julle het ook ‘n nuwe musiekvideo bekendgestel. Wat was die konsep van die video?
Ryan: The video was shot in 17 locations in just one weekend, so it was really intense work but, as you can see when you watch it, shitloads of fun. Basically the video pays tribute to Cape Town, where we all grew up, in a fun, lighthearted, not-taking-ourselves-too-seriously way.
Wat kan aanhangers verwag van jul vrystellingstoer?
Jon: We’re including all the stuff in our set now which is rad. Also it’s been a little while since we’ve been to some of these places so fans can expect a really good party.
Ryan: High energy, fun-filled performances from 5 guys who they'll party with till the sun rises.
Jul kenmerk is blykbaar om kaalvoet optree, hoekom sal julle jul voete in so gevaar stel?
Jon: We’re comfortable with who we are and what we do. When we get on stage we want to be comfortable as well. Feet can get sweaty when you play. Shoes make it worse.
Ryan: On a practical level - because our shows are very high energy it's a great way to keep cool with hot lights pointed at us, but it also represents our laid-back party attitude – We're not here to prove to you how cool we are, just to play awesome, original music and party our nuts off.
Wat is die mees frustrerende aspek van ‘n band wees in Suid-Afrika en het jul enige internasionale planne?
Jon: There is no financial backing or infrastructure whatsoever. Also crowds seem to be really fickle. The trick is to realize what the difficulties are and then work around them or use them to your advantage.
Ryan: It's not like we do this for the money, but we need money to run the band well (videos, recording and touring). We're leaving on a 3 week Australian tour on Christmas day, then we're doing a European tour next June/July.
Wat sal die coolste ding wees wat iemand op stage kan gooi by een van jul optredes?
Ryan: It would be awesome if someone actually threw a person on stage.
Jon: Full beers. But gently. Just kind of toss them so we can open them and drink them. Either that or money.
Kan ons enige Afrikaanse treffers in die toekoms van jul verwag?
Ryan: It's a possibility; we're always throwing new ideas around.
Wat sou Captain Stu wil hê Suid-Afrikaners moet weet van hulle?
Ryan: You haven't partied till you've partied with us.
Jon: We’re very proudly South African. And we drink black label and tequila. That’s useful to know for when you want to buy us a drink.
Nou toe nou. As jy jouself vind by die huis sit en saam jou Ouma gesels oor haar katte, gaan kyk liewer ‘n optrede van hierdie oukies en partytjie jou skoene ook af. Hul verkoop tot hempde wat sê “I partied with Captain Stu”. True story.
As jy meer wil weet oor Captain Stu en jy wil ‘n vars briesie ervaar gaan download hul album by hul website: www.captainstu.co.za en maak ook seker van die datums wat hul in jou area optree. Doen dit. Sommer nou.