The laughing still rings wonderfully in my ears. BRENT KOZAK, the singer/songwriter, is a funny guy. I was at Chaplin’s in Woodmill Lane for the Knysna launch of his folk rock, Rice Paddy Tour CD. No, i don’t know why the CD is entitled that. Not even he knows. But if i were hazard a substantiation it would be for the diverse topics and collective fun.

It was an altogether different Chaplin’s. Candle lit tables and couches outside encouraged drinks and conversation before ushering us inside to theatre seating. The stage occupied the courtyard, bedecked with a beautiful rug from Papagoya. We were pleasantly surprised with a support act. MALI (one half of Mali & Me and ex band member of the now defunct Ageing Superheroes) performed 15 minutes of music from her forthcoming CD, Atlases & Astronauts. Her voice is as ladylike as it gets and the words she drips are poetic and thoughtful.

Enter the man of the hour, BRENT KOZAK. It’s important to note that although he’s a regular performer in places such as Sirocco, Tapas and Woodmill Lane itself, he normally focuses on instrumental guitar and is reclusive and protective of the music on his CD. The reasoning is that he wants people to hear what he has to say. Justifiably, this material should never be background as it has much to say. Consequently, it was impressive to find some people singing or foot-tapping along, right from the first track, ‘Yellow Fishy’. Obviously, a lot of local people have already bought the CD. Jolly good for them and the artist but i smugly wondered if they had the first and second edition like i did, a fact that gave me two extra tracks and happiness:)

As said before, BRENT KOZAK has a message. It tells us to be more considerate and make a better world. ‘Enviro Mental’ wants more solar power and for you to walk when you can (instead of driving). ‘Meatless Mondays’ requests you skip meat for one day, supporting Paul McCartney’s request that such a simplicity will reduce Co2. Even without the violin that accompanied it on the CD, ‘Poor Puppy’, his ode to reluctantly selling a dog when he was broke, is a masterpiece. ‘Unknown Language Song’ is a thumper, made-up-words somehow gaining the ability to suck you in until your head nods. Throughout the performance, the pleasure was in consummate guitaring and being able to hear every word sung. With Lorette Pagel joining BRENT on stage as back-up singer, her sweet voice contrasting with his baritone, melody was extra ensured.

12.12.2002
Winston Pub, Durban, South Africa
“What can we do to give you a fun time? There’s nothing we can do!”

A helluva storm raged and cleaned Durban in time for SUTHERLAND to dirty it again. When i got to the Winston on an uncustomary Thursday night, the band and their sex slaves were sitting on the pavement outside. It wasn’t long before they were on the stage where they belong and, ironically, screaming a chorus of  “Why can’t you leave me alone.”

SUTHERLAND are a bunch of degenerates who could be watched for that fact alone … or you could check them out because they are whipped with an energy that chases them around the stage and dancefloor, and leaves me wondering how they manage not to trip over one another’s leads (maybe they’re the dextrous sort). They play straight rock that reminds me of the old school and leaves me somewhere between ACDC and Manowar… and they’ve been doing that for seven years which is way longer than current heroes Audioslave.

Despite the sound system needing a new amp and me more money for beer, the band hooked me - well … there was one occasion where i was distracted by the pretty opposite species and was wondering if i’d have to lick my lips so that they wouldn’t stick to her skin – with new and old tunes. Standouts were ‘Grey Day’, ‘Denial’, ‘Friars’ and ’1000 Years of Yesterday’.

This was the first leg of their tour and they began it in true rock tradition by getting fined by the cops on their way to the gig. I asked Allen what would sum up that first gig and the anticipation of hitting Cape Town. “Anybody got a bus … anybody seen our Opel Kadett?”

15.10.2003
Winston Hotel, Durban, South Africa

This is a review that UTOC deserve but at the same time shouldn’t be written ’cause alcohol conquered me nearer to a toilet bowl before the band got to strut their rock. The reason why i write (besides punishment for my hangover) is ’cause UTOC made a solid effort to do something different.

They appropriated a floor of a building, decorated it well, threw in a bar, built a stage, made a gel room and set themselves and FAULTY up to gig. It was an invite only affair and i reckon that the vast majority of invitees pitched up ’cause the venue was crammed (an unlikely occurence on a Durban Friday night) with witches, nurses, “school girls” etc. (a dress-up party where you could come as anything you wanted to be – a fact that i wasn’t told so i was decked out in my new Two thousand and Two Ears Ago t-shirt).

But as i said, alcohol thrust it’s sword into my belly and a taxi kidnapped me home way too early. But it’s a smart salute to UTOC for displaying initiative and giving their fans a different option (if only more bands would interact with their fans, their bases would grow).