Some Christmas songs are not just for XMAS

Two Christmas albums you’re not likely to hear at the malls. Ever In typical Low style, this is a haunting album with a surprisingly upbeat opener. A.V. Club’s Josh Modell described it as… Continue reading

Johannesburg Then and Now

My first book has been launched and is finding its way into the stores. Penguin approached me in late 2016 to research and write this edition of the book for them (A Cape… Continue reading

Music of 2017

My annual favourite music list is ready to go, albeit a little late by my standards. It was a great year for new music, and I found myself checking out other year end… Continue reading

Reform Soundsystem returns

The gang is back for another smashing soul/disco/townshipswingjazz/hiphip and oddities spin on Saturday 4 November at Kitcheners in Braamfontein. R50 gets you in. From 7pm. Facebook event HERE This is some of what… Continue reading

The Junction

The Junction, originally on the corner of Bree and Claim Street, was owned by Shayne Leith who previously owned Decodance in Market Street (which eventually became Le Club). It opened in 1988 and… Continue reading

Running from the sun

A tristful winter playlist for those bleak days when the lingering cold bites. It’s almost over. Grit. Clench. Friction. Features Sharon Van Etten, Grace Jones, Velvet Underground, Keaton Henson, Bat for Lashes, Yazoo,… Continue reading

Reform Soundsystem is back

It’s been a year since our last Reform party and how things have turned upside down in that time. No matter. On 22 April at Kitcheners in Braamfontein, we get down to the… Continue reading

Scants Laserdrome

Scants opened on the 19th August 1983 at 180 Fox Street. The owners, Stan Herson and Bruce Kennedy would later go on to open Heaven, but this was the pair’s first foray into… Continue reading

Johannesburg in 1961 on JHBLive

JHBLive has featured a piece I did on Johannesburg from a movie shot in 1961. The film, all about a bumbling ‘ducktail’ gang, was really hard to watch. Trying to identify the locations… Continue reading

Music of 2016

These were the albums that lived with me this year in no particular order: PJ Harvey – Community of hope Trentmoller – Fixion Make-Overs – Try me Savages – Adore life Minor Victories… Continue reading