DAN PATLANSKY – A LEGEND AT 30

Picture the scene, a smoky room, you’re sat in a couch that envelopes you in and you’re sipping on your favourite whiskey.  There is a smoky blue haze and on stage a man is drawing out emotions from you, that you never knew existed.   The guitar is doing things that should not be possible and the voice is so sultry that it is all you can do not to weep with joy.  He is singing to you, for you and nothing else in the world is important at that moment.  This is how I felt watching Dan Patalansky play, except, I was outdoors, at Africa Bike Week 2012 and there were hundreds of other people who, by the look on their faces, felt the same.

Africa Bike Week took place in Margate, KwaZulu Natal over the weekend of 26 to 30^th of April and I had the amazing opportunity to interview Dan Patlansky before he took to the stage to blow the minds of the hundreds of people in the crowd.

Dan Patlasnky is a 30 year old musical genius.  His passion for music is evident on stage and his eyes shine when he speaks about music and what he has achieved to date and when he talks about his passion it is as if he has discovered the secret to living forever.  The money and fame mean little to him, this is what he does and he could not imagine doing anything else.

I spent some time with Dan before he took to the stage.  Charming, salt of the earth, he is the man every girl wants to take home to her parents... and even more so because he is oblivious to this fact. 

Astoundingly Dan has only been playing guitar since he was 14.  Unbelievable if you see what he can do with these strings.

The saying ‘he makes the guitar sing’ was coined for Dan.  His fingers move over those strings as if there is no thought or effort.  It is hard to put into words what I saw him do on stage but judging by the gaping mouths of the audience I wasn’t alone.

And then he starts to sing..... It is as if I have discovered euphoria.  Who needs drugs with music like this?

You know the feeling you get when you are falling in love, butterflies in your stomach, your heart feeling as if it may explode, goose bumps prickling your skin.... Well this is how it feels when you listen to Dan Patlansky play guitar and croons words of wonder into the microphone.

Dan has played at many venues in his short career but his best memory so far was The Maple Leaf in New Orleans.   He was 24.  Taken over to the States by Selwyn Miller, the manager of David Gates, Bread and Randy Crawford, Dan had the amazing opportunity to play some of the biggest blues venues in the home of blues, New Orleans.

24 was a big age for Dan.  He was awarded blue note status an achievement not often reached by musicians, let alone at that age.

Dan credits a lot of his success on the drummer and bass guitarist who play alongside him, and says it makes all the difference playing with talented guys, and it clearly works for them.  They hardly ever rehearse unless they have a big show coming up but watching them you would think they were jamming together 24/7.

Although his music is not commercial and has little radio play (blues numbers tend to be too long for radio), Dan is enjoying a rapidly growing fan base and his latest album 20 Stones is enjoying great success.  He has plans to make more radio friendly songs but, I believe, Dan has plans for world music domination too.

This, readers, is real music. Dan is pure raw dedication, passion and natural talent.  There is no studio ‘fixing’ or just great PR; he is to put it simply, incredible.  I believe there are bigger things, if that is possible, to come for Dan Patlasnky.

Dan is currently touring SA and the official launch of 20 Stones for KZN is on the 28^th of May at The Barnyard Theatre at Gateway.  Go get tickets my friends because you need to prepare yourselves to have your mind blown.  20 Stones is available at selected Look and Listen stores, or online at www.danpatlansky.com.

Dan it was an honour to interview you but more so an honour to watch you play.  I do believe many musicians could take a note out of your blues books.  In fact one friend at the show commented that you could give Santana a run for his money.  Now if that is not a legend, then I don’t know what is......

Footnote: A lot of my interview with Dan is not covered in this article because after speaking with him I watched him play, and that is what I feel Dan would have wanted me to talk about. 

And then there were three....

We are down to the top three, tomorrow there will be two. Who are your votes going to?

Last night our top three performed three songs each and I have to say, although I am very biased toward Mark, this competition is, in the history of SA Idols, the tightest yet. Mark blew me away, but there has not been a week where he hasn’t done that. Journey is my all time favourite band, and in fact, if I had a soundtrack to my life, it would be Journey. When I saw that Mark was performing Open Arms I was concerned. To pull off Steve Perry takes enormous talent. But, just like he did with Freddie Mercury, he nailed it. Just writing this gives me goose bumps, and as far as I am concerned, Mark should be the winner by a mile.

Crushanda is very talented, there is no doubt, but we have had so many of her type of singer in this competition and after the finale these performers fall of planet earth into an abyss of has-beens.

Dave is for me, the wild card. I can never make a clear decision on how I feel about him. He is odd, intense and his vocals are not anywhere near phenomenal and after his first two songs last night I was convinced he would go home. And then…. He sang Vincent and I was speechless, along with the judges who gave him a standing ovation. He brought tears to my eyes and evoked emotion in me that he has only done in a few of his performances.

And that is why I think Mark should win this competition. In every performance of his I am moved. Whether he is standing still and singing Eleanor Rigby by the Beatles or he is belting out the top notes of Sting in Roxanne, that man makes every nerve ending tingle and breathes new life into a competition I was not even going to watch this year.

Vote wisely people.www.markhaze.com

Idols 2011 Update

Dear Music Lovers,

This is just a brief note to say; MARK HAZE!!

If you did not watch Sunday's performance of Queen Somebody to Love, here's the link:- http://www.dstv.com/mnet/idolsSA/Video/Play.aspx?vid=8565

Be prepared for the goosebumps because this Idol has the voice of an angel.

Results are tonight and I have a feeling we will be saying goodbye to Erin and Kelly but we shall see.....

Have a great day
Yours in Music x

Idols vs Pop Tartlets

I know a vast number of people who will not watch reality shows such as Idols or X Factor, and this article is my reasoning as to why I think those people should give these shows a fair chance.

In a day and age where the technical capabilities of a recording studio are far beyond what anyone in the 60’s, 70’s or even the 80’s could imagine, there are an abundant amount of so-called artists selling thousands of albums; have thousands of fans who, excuse the pun, sing their praises and believe that they are truly phenomenal.

Then you hear your favourite artist is touring; you buy tickets for the show and you cannot contain your excitement. Time drags, your pocket is stretched from the price of that ticket but finally, the moment arrives, you’re screaming and jumping and then the singing starts and you wonder where the “cat being murdered” noise is coming from? Yes, that is how they sound before the technology wizards have altered their vocal chords.

This is where a show like Idols deserves credit; these are what I consider true artists. These talented singers, not the warbling monsters who get voted in for the Wooden Mic, stand in front of some of the most judgemental people, and I am not talking about the Judges either, I am talking about the viewers. The harshest critics who think they are musical gods and goddesses and in a way they are; they are the important factor, they are the ones relied upon to spend their money keeping the real talent in the competition.

Many people refuse to watch Idols for many reasons - they don’t like reality TV, they believe the show is fixed, and they don’t like pop music.

While I can’t assist you in the first two, but the last excuse has long since been banished. Voices of rock angels include Chris Daughtry, Adam Lambert, Jason Hartman and in this season of SA Idols, Mark Haze. All rock singers, all belting out massive notes and giving the usual pop drivellers a run for their money. Rock is glamorous, it’s rebellious and it ROCKS!

I have also heard the lame excuse that the singers who enter Idols are washed out performers who couldn’t cut it in the real music world. To be honest, I sort of agree, but the reason they couldn’t cut it is because we live in the digital age where download supersedes buying an album, where illegally downloading supersedes purchasing the song, and where self proclaimed lovers of music choose to support these annoying pop tartlets who wouldn’t know a real song if it hit them in their disfunctioning vocal chords.

Idols is an opportunity for artists to make a name for themselves; yes a lot of them disappear after their 5 minutes of fame are up, but the genuine artists who are there for the love and passion of music are given the chance to do great things after the show ends and the hype around the new season starts.

In many cases it is never the winner who claims the fame; it is the runner up or one of the contestants that made the top ten that goes on to achieve super stardom. I believe, although I have no proof, that this is a clever tactic by the producers or the record label; they do everything in their power to make the audience dislike the extremely talented one, bad backup music / singers, bad lighting, bad wardrobe, then they offer that contestant a record deal on the side once he / she has been voted off, one of the more mediocre contestants goes on to win and viola – you have two money making machines on your label.

In any event, for whatever reason you choose not watch Idols, give it a chance, just once, but watch the whole thing (even the parts where you cringing in your socks because it is so cheesy) and then if you still hate it, I will always feel like I played a small part in getting you to do something you didn’t want to for an hour.

Yours in Music x

Ard Matthews

Unless you have been hiding under a rock you would have seen or heard about the National Anthem mishap last night.

Ard Matthews, founder and lead singer of Just Jinjer has been preparing for weeks for what he calls, “one of the greatest honours of my life”. Ard was requested to sing the National Anthem at the Springbok World Cup squad announcement.

He botched it up. He froze and he forgot the words and let’s be honest here, how many of us, including some of the rugby squad, mumble the parts where we can’t pronounce certain words or they are beyond our grasp of the language.

If you have watched it, you will know that it is not anywhere near the disaster that was Ras Dumisani. If you haven’t seen it and want to watch it you can view it here:- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fu6IG0Wx19w and you will realise that it was not anywhere near as tragic as the media and the nasty people, who jump at the chance to knock someone down, made it out to be.

I have been watching Just Jinjer perform since 1997 when they played their first concert in my hometown in KZN and I have been a devote fan since. Ard is a true performer who loves his music and his country.

John Smit, SA Springbok Captain and friend of Ard was interviewed by SuperSport and what he says is so true;

“People who know Ard know how passionate he is about South Africa; he even has a tattoo of Africa on his arm – he’s one of the most patriotic people I know. This was like a test debut for him. He was so excited to be doing this. Mistakes happen. Nothing I said could make him feel better.”

Ard; you made a mistake; I do not know one person who, in whatever work they do, has not made an error at some point or another.

So let the critics crit you and let the media trash you but never forget that those people make up a minority and all you have to do is check Twitter or your Facebook page to see just how much support you have.

Durban: Music-Less?

I am a Durban girl; I have been since 1995 when I moved here at the age of 12 and for the most part I am proud to be a Durban girl, but for one rather LARGE disappointment.

Music! A few years ago began the Coke Fest; huge name bands with some relatively new SA bands rocking out on stage. What more could you ask for? Old time favourites, in a brilliant mix of yet to be discovered talents of South Africa.

So we rallied a group of 15 of us and bought our tickets, organised accommodation and set off for what was to be one of the greatest days of my life. I got to see, live and in action, bands such as Simple Plan, Seether, The Rasmus, Prime Circle, Parlotones, and Metallica - the rock legends. I was as excited as a kid on Christmas and I knew that it was going to take some huge earth stopping moment to top that day.

Sadly, many Durbanites never felt the same way we did and the ticket sales were low, the stadium sadly unpacked, so quiet, in fact, that we managed to move seats and had the prime viewing position of the Golden Circle at the cheaper priced tickets. Great for us, tragic for the Durban music scene.

That was the only year the Coke Fest came to Durban. We just didn’t have the numbers and it seems as if this has affected all the international concerts scheduled in SA.

Durban now has missed out on Roxette, U2, Coldplay, Kylie Minogue, Kings of Leon, Rammstein, and the list goes on. Every time I see an advert for the latest International sensation to hit South Africa’s shores my heart sinks because I know they will not be setting foot my home town and my finances do not permit me to travel to Johannesburg or Cape Town at every musical whim.

Recently I won tickets to the Big 5 concert at the Wave House in Gateway. The line up included Prime Circle, Just Jinger, AKing, Jax Panik, Flash Republic and the newly discovered December Streets. What an awesome night of mind blowing South African talent and yet, with tickets only costing R150.00, there was hardly what I would call a good crowd when you are watching talent of that calibre.

I just wish I could understand why? Not only are these some of the greatest artists of our time, the opportunity to discover and see live the new South African talent alone should make it worthwhile.

I wish someone would do a survey to see how we can fix the problem so I can stop getting depressed about all the phenomenal shows I am missing. Well, it’s that or I need to move to Johannesburg or Cape Town.

Mark Haze and 12th Avenue

It is that time of the year when Idols SA is drawing to an end and excitement is mounting. We are down to the top 8 and soon we will crown our new South African Muso.

South Africa is so diverse in its talent and regrettably most of that talent never gets noticed or never makes the “big time” and that is why I love Idols. These are real singers, not studio perfected so-called artists who have the look or the x-factor to sell ridiculous amounts of albums. Put those people on a stage and you will, most of the time, be sadly disappointed.

From the audition phase of 2011 SA Idols I fell in love with Mark Haze. His voice put goose bumps on my skin and I always judge a good artist by the goose bump factor. I didn’t really pay close attention to anyone else after that - I had picked my winner.

Every week I wait for Mark to perform, and then I lose interest. Biased, I know, but he is sensational and a true performer. I now love him even more because through Mark Haze I have discovered 12th Avenue.

12th Avenue is a Cape Town born rock band and is made up of Mark Haze, lead singer and guitar player, Bjorn Faree on guitar and backing vocals, Gareth Haze on drums and backing vocals and Brian Lee on Bass guitar and backing vocals. Four exceptionally talented musicians who sure know how make a “blow you away” rock song!

They do a cover of Midnight Oil’s Beds are Burning, one of my all time favourite tracks, so I was not too sure how this was going to go down but with a voice like Mark’s, there can be no wrong done.

If you have not yet listened to their rocking tunes, go do it NOW! Get yourself onto YouTube and give 12th Avenue a listen.

I am just sorry I have only discovered them now. But it is never too late to appreciate fine rock music and that is exactly what you will get from this four piece rock band.

On Idols last night Mark performed Bruno Mars, Just the Way you are. Sceptical were many; how can a rocker do an R&B cover but he, once again, pulled out all the stops. Mark is a polished talent with confidence that oozes from every note and as far as I am concerned, he is my Idol.

Just go have a look at the Twitter news feed after a Mark Haze performance and you will see that, although the Judges seem dubious, Mark is truly loved in this competition and if he doesn’t win I will be gobsmacked but I know that he will not disappear from the earth, like many of the contestants do. Mark Haze is set for the stars and I will be following that bright star as far as his career may take him! The fact that he is also as humble as pie makes his character even more lovable. He is not vain, he is not arrogant; he is just confident and passionate about his love of music.

If you’re an Idols fan then I don’t have to tell you to vote. If you are not an Idols fan, become one, or give 12th Avenue a listen and prepared to be forever musically altered.