Karma and Just Sara at Zula Bar, Long Street

Also at Zula Bar we saw Just Sara (who now has a band) and Karma. It's so funny. In my first year of university I was having lunch in our student mall, The Neelsie (we call my grandpa, Pa Neelsie), and sometimes there are musicians that play during lunch time, 13.00. That day there was this woman, very young, with an amazing and unique voice. I had heard it before, but I didn't know then that I was hearing Karma! My friend told me later that it was her. It's so funny, we still talk about it today. So, I got to see her again last night, performing with Love Jones, and honestly, I have to say that she was the best. I didn't want her to stop singing, she's beautiful and her voice is amazing. But all good things come to an end. And I will remember this forever. We'll only be seeing Karma next year, as she'll be in the States recording. She plays at clubs in New York, Miami, Atlanta etc... so it's great that she's doing well over there. She isn't sorry for leaving though, I mean it is her dream, and she never forgets about her fans in South Africa.

I Love Jones

Last night my best friend and I finally got to see Love Jones perform live, and we were not dissapointed! Seeing South African bands is a lot different than seeing international bands- it's a lot more intimate. Esjay (vocalist) touched my back as she was trying to get past me to the V.I.P room (ja, this time it was the bands that had the V.I.P room instead of us) and Mike Goddard (drummer) and Steve (guitarist) stood in front of me talking, laughing, and Mike did some funny things like, point his fingers down the side of his legs and hopped like a poggo stick. I know I sound a bit star-struck, but I was really excited to see them after only hearing them on the radio and watching them on tv. And when they performed I stood right in front, with my camera. And it was amazing. It was an acoustic performance, because that is the kind of club Zula Bar is, which is why I love it so much- it's different. While the band performed, and I know this is going to sound weird, Mike and Esjay looked into my eyes while they sang; and that is what I mean by intimate. I like the picture of Mike (the first one) because he's actually looking into the camera, with a sort of pose. There are way more pictures, but I couldn't put them all up. It was Love Jone's last day of tour (at Zula's!!! They are from Durban) so they decided to stay and "party" with us. I unfortunately didn't get to chat with any of them, but it would've been cool. Another guy from another of my favourite South African bands, "Bed on Bricks" (who I've been priviledged to see twice) was there. He actually spoke to me while I was waiting in line for the toilet, actually he just asked me if I was waiting in line. But he still spoke to me. And later when I was in the toilet, a guy asked me if there are lesbians in the 'spot' (he used that word to refer to the club), and I told him there were a few, it was Ladies' Night. I didn't care, as long as I got to see Love Jones, Karma (who was amazing as well, and is actually going to record an album in the States- that's where she's based now) and Just Sara, I couldn't care less. There were other guys there, we just had to pay a little more.

I love live music and it's always great to see my favourite bands. South African music is great, and I support it 100%. I just wish more South Africans (and the world) would appreciate our country's music. It's always sad to lose our bands and singers to the States, or Europe, but they have to follow their dreams and one cannot become big in a country like South Africa. I just think it's bad marketing and little exposure. They always come back though, even if it's not for long. You can check out Love Jone's MySpace profile: http://www.myspace.com/lovejonesband or their site: http://www.lovejonesband.com

Milo visit to the Vet

This is my dog, Milo. An aweful thing happened today, but I'm just happy that he's alive. My mother left the garage door open and as my brother came into the garage (it's an electric door) two of our dogs ran out! And Milo got hit by a car, he actually ran straight into the car and it hit him on the side. He was ok, just in shock, laying on the ground. He spat out one of his teeth later and his eye was red on the side where he was hit. I felt terrible when I heard that he was knocked over, but I'm glad he's alive. He always comes close to death. He's had a couple of fits and he almost chocked to death once. But he's a strong dog. Really naughty though. When my brother and I took Milo to the vet (my other brother was supposed to take him, but he was probably at Starlite's Happy Hour) he was barking all the time and when the doctor tried to give him an injection (he asked me to hold Milo), Milo peed all over the table. I felt so sorry for him, but embarrassed at the same time. But all went well. It was nice to see that the receptionist was worried about him. As we left the vet, I saw my old Biology teacher pull into the vet's driveway. Glad we left then.

Visiting Victoria & Albert

Last night a few of my high school friends (it's always nice to hang out with them because even though they live in the same area, when university is on I hardly see them) and I went to the V&A Waterfront in Cape Town and it was so amazing, I felt like a tourist in my own town. I don't go there often, I never really get to appreciate Cape Town. I guess we take whatever we have for granted. It's great to see Table Mountain up close (and at night there are huge lights that light up Table Mountain) even though I can see it from my house, it's just not the same. It is sort of a harbour, so there are ships that come from all around the world. I saw a ship with Chinese writing on the side and my heart sank 'cause I'd love to go there one day. I should have stowed away on the ship and waited till it's next trip back to China lol. I feel like a tourist while I'm there; but, of course, I'm not. It's also great to see tourist, you can tell by just looking who the tourists are. I hear a lot of different languages each time I'm there- I think I heard French yesterday (it's very noisy at the waterfront). Then there was also a seal that hopped onto the jetty and frightened some children, but they loved it and it was amazing to see.

My friend and I had to get our tickets from someone at the waterfront for the Love Jones/Karma/Just Sarah gig at Zula Bar in Long Street, Cape Town (Friday 22 December) . It's gonna be exciting because I've been waiting almost a year to see Love Jones (we kept missing their gigs) and I've seen Karma perform at my university's student mall and Just Sarah (who's my friend's friend) perform at Zula Bar in the year. And Zula Bar is my favourite place in town, I was there two weeks ago for my friends birthday party- in the V.I.P room :). There's also the Battle of the Bands final happening at Mercury Lounge, but I would like to know who's playing. Taxi Violence played two weeks ago, but I don't know if they won. I got to see them perform in Stellenbosch a couple of months ago- they are definitely one of my favourite bands. If they play I'd certainly go and see them again. I don't have a lot of money and I want to keep what's left of it for the gig on Friday. My friend is working Friday night, but she's going to try and get someone else to work for her. I just hope that everything works out and we finally get to see Love Jones!