Because I Can.

And I will.

Later.

Monday Morning You Look So Fine: Lilac Wine.

Oh, the mystery of it all... stuck without internet, unless it's attached to dishwater (or oven-cleaner) coffee. Otherwise inside this week, my only salvation my AWESOME new Bolognese recipe, and my daughter's Beckett(ian) observations.

Planning a weekend of much the same, but with more blankets, more DVDs, more of a vegetarian menu.

"I lost myself on a cool damp night,
I gave myself in that misty light,
Was hypnotized by a strange delight
Under a lilac tree..." - Lilac Wine, Jeff Buckley('s version)

Oh, the mystery.

Later.

Oh, and about the Canon Roadshow...

(And again, apologies for my arse in the shot...)

Thanks to everyone involved in the Canon Roadshow, Roger and Andrew in particular...

Thanks to those "fans" who came to speak to me, those who I had yet to meet who came by for a chat afterwards, and all those who added me after the show on Bookface.

See y'all for the next instalment in Jozi.

Later.

Monday Morning You Look So Fine: Phony Rappers.

A great weekend... week... whatever. Had a grand time speaking with others at the Canon Roadshow in the Baxter in Cape Town. It was an odd return to the "Southern Suburbs", with the Plum and I braving furious rain, as I got to reminiscing over school days. Had another taste of that in the evening, as Ashtray Electric (awesome, along with Thieve) launched their CD at Assembly and I was reminded after the show of how short sighted Southern 'Burb laaities can be when they have their heads up their arses (rest assured, this is not in reference to the bands, or you... or you... well, maybe you... and definitely you in the hat). All talk, no walk, and dancing like bell-ends. Joy.

(In connection to that, I am really missing 8-bit City... where'd it vanish to?)

Took me back to better days (and shittier headphones)...

"Yes, dread, I had a similar situation
When this kid tried to tell me I didn't deserve my occupation
He said I wasn't shit, that I was soon to fall
I looked him up and down, grab my crotch and said "Balls."

Of course he tried to bring it on the battling tip
Ay, you know me, you know I had to come out my shit
Trying to lounge at the mall, meet Skef and Mr Walton
Finally I banged his ass wit the verbal assault.

He said a rhyme about his .45 and his nickelbags of weed
That's when I proceeded to give him what he needed
Talking 'bout "I need a Phillie right before I get loose"
Poor excuse, money please, I get loose off of orange juice...

Preferably Minute Maid cuz that's exactly what it takes
To write a rhyme, huh, to school your nickels and your dimes
Because an MC like me be on TV
Don't mean I can't hold my shit down in NYC.

Phony rappers who do not write
Phony rappers who do not excite
Phony rappers, you know they type
Phony rappers, check it..." - A Tribe Called Quest, Phony Rappers

Thanks to the Plum and Nash for getting me back to the 'Ville, and thanks to Phil, Jaco, Rudi and Drew (and the Plum) reminding why I love the Northern. Here's to battling, with braai tongs or otherwise.




Later.

I can see mountains from my table.

Working here in Stellenbosch. Back again after being in the general area (in Northern terms, where distances are greater, everywhere down here is "general area") for Easter Weekend. Mmmm.

Later.

Monday Morning You Look So Fine: Leja.

Slow realisations as a result of a head cold... I hate sinus medication, but sometimes it allows you to focus in on the details. Like lyrics heard years ago, or rather, misheard by me, taken note of and re-written. Pierre confirmed it yesterday, three words, repeated. My tiny little contribution to the STUNNING Heuwels Fantasties album.

"Leja, sit dit vas,
Soos dit was, soos dit was..." - Die Heuwels Fantasties, Leja

Sometimes mishearing something is all the better, not just all the worse... for a laugh, anyway, like when playing Chinese Whispers, or when something is passed on indirectly, or yelled underwater.

Had my first experience shooting underwater yesterday, as well as my first experience shooting video (for my own ends). New project in the offing... keep them peeled.

Later.

Monday Morning You Look So Fine: Great White Bear.

So the Plum and I had a odd one this weekend. Mellow mellow with a pretty (new?) blue guitar at the New Holland gig at Tings the Thursday.

Then a VERY full Friday, all meetings for the Canon Roadshow (see www.canon.co.za for more on that) and long distance phonecalls and early morning 5FM vibes. Followed a disastrous (almost) attempt at making Ashtray's Oppikoppi debut, which resulted in a unanimous decision to seek shelter rather, made all the more correct by the lyrics below... but not before I was ROBBED by McD's... the bastards! I NEED 4 burgers!

Then sunrise in Newtown, as Craig and I did what we do for Red Bull. I think GQ can fill you in more on that one...

This followed by cigarettes, coffee and airport goodbyes. Freedom Day... realised.

"He climbed into the belly of the great white bear.
It's very sticky and it smells a little fishy,
but no one will look for him there.
He took a moment to pick his thoughts and make them clear." - Dear Reader, Great White Bear

Later.

Monday Morning You Look So Fine: Jah Work.

Insert random Badly Drawn Boy lyrics here... okay, maybe not. iTunes is on the fritz, Time of Times is only playing three seconds at a time, my cigarettes do indeed smoke quicker (Definitely? Maybe...) and I have work to do. Ben Harper it is then...

"You must do the heaviest,
so many shall do none.
You have got to stand firm,
so many shall run.
Some they rest their head at night
so get no sleep at all...
If you listen close to what you see
you will hear the call" - Ben Harper, Jah Work

Them lads above are Ashtray Electric. More more more, launching their album at Tings on Wednesday. I already have it, but I am not allowed to blog about it... oops.

Anyway, in the spirit of fitting as many things in as possible, doing as much as I can, know you that updates are coming... sans internet as my life has been of late, there are many loose bits of paper and thumbed Moleskine pages that are in the process of being digitised. Watch this space.

Later.