The BedRock Diary 2008
Friday 27th July 2008
Download Samples from
SIMPLICITY
You Don't Know
My Girlfriend
The Alchemist
Saturday 10 May 2008
SIMPLICITY Is Launched With Much Ceremony!
Finally, after plenty of drama in the days
leading up to the event, SIMPLICITY was launched at the Little Theatre in
Oranjemund. Having staged our previous CD
 launches
in one or the other local watering hole we decided to go for the full theatre
roll-out this time around. It was certainly something different having an
audience seated in silence and actually listening to the songs, as opposed to
everyone milling around in a crowded and noisy pub environment. This
theatre lark is so much more demanding because people have no choice other than
to pay attention!
The set-up and sound check started fairly
early that morning because everything just had to be dead right before the
curtain was raised. We all (literally) stumbled around to begin with
because none of us knew, or could remember, where the various banks of theatre
lights were positioned. Fortunately Bedrock members are pretty good
at
groping around in the dark (as has been the case at many a gig!) and, after a
crash course in the lighting box, Heiko discovered that the DB board you want is
always the last one you find...and it's usually hidden by some old tatty rag.
Anyhow, with lights on and set, power arranged we were off to a very thorough
sound check. Shortly after lunch our final worries about the arrival of
the CDs dissolved when our special guest Dan Shout, who had driven them up all
the way from Cape Town, walked in. Boy, were we glad to see him!
Anyway, it was to be a real a photo-finish
as it was now after lunchtime but we were quickly galvanised into action.
With all hands on deck as the band sets new standards in productivity as they
madly folded cover inserts and packed CD jewel cases. With Pete's
spouse, Bren, making sure that the busy
musicians did not weaken from lack of feeding or watering. Tasty
sandwiches kept them all concentrating as the production line roared along with
Pete & Eddie making sure that Solange and Ardi stayed focussed!
It sure wasn't easy keeping two women quiet and productive for a couple of hours
but these two seasoned veterans of marriage (Pete & Ed) managed it.
And then it was fast approaching evening
time and the appointed launch hour was getting ever nearer. The theatre
foyer had been dressed up with various informational posters on the band and its
history. One of these was a series of posters on the "Eight Steps" to
making a CD and drew quite a bit of interest from attendees. With Leanne
and Hein, with help from Thys, doing a wonderful job behind the bar guests were
guaranteed not to suffer from parched throats. The kick-off was
delayed briefly as some rugby fanatics had asked for their late coming to be
indulged so that they could see the end of the Stormers game. Being
Stormers fans ourselves (apart from Sharkie Solange who doesn't understand rugby
properly!), how could we refuse such a reasonable request?
As the stragglers rolled in Dan Shout got
the show underway by introducing the band
to the stage. What an MC! Thanks, Dan...you were great and are
welcome back anytime! Without further ado we got straight into the album's
opening track, "Wheel O' Hearts". The effort we'd put into our
preparations was immediately rewarded with an outstanding front-of-house sound,
perfectly balanced in every way. Without too much of a pause, it was on
with "You Don't Know", the track from the album which we are punting as being
the CD's "winner". Halfway through this song, Dan made his first
appearance mesmerising the audience with his dexterity on sax. It's not
every day, after all, that Oranjemund gets to enjoy a live
performance of a musician of his stature.
The occasion was, of course, one of mixed
feelings. It was Heiko's final performance as a regular member of the band
as he recently left Oranjemund to take up a better employment offer in Windhoek.
The result has been that we'd lost our lead singer, who was making his recording
debut, before the recording has been released! That's Oranjemund for you.
So, it was sad to see his departure. On the other hand, Adri Henning was
making her debut after an intensive month-long crash course on bass! Go
Well, Heiko - thanks for all the fun over the past couple of years and we really
look forward to having you guest with us in Windhoek when we get up there.
In fact, you can even guest with us (for FREE!) when you pay return visits to
our little town.
And so the play list of seven songs was
followed as planned, giving the audience a taste of what is on the album.
Heiko's debut as a lyricist on "Fabulous" was well received, even though we are
all still waiting to hear the "story behind the story" with that one!
Pleasingly there cries for more so "You Don't Know" and "Moon 'n Dunes"
were encored. It still didn't satisfy everyone but you know what's it
like....you've got to leave them wanting more to ensure you get them back next
time!
Just to repeat our thanks from the evening,
we are indebted to the following folk and businesses for helping us make this
such a successful event:
- The Oranjemund Players for
allowing us to make use of the Little Theatre - it was great performing on
that stage again;
- Leanne & Hein for running the pub;
- Untamed Creations and CK Printing for
the display material;
- The Oranjemund Newsletter for the
publicity and support;
- Radio Kudu for readily giving the
band's music regular air play;
- Brenda for looking after the band so
well and taking care of the merchandise sales (not to mention the DVD
recording) on the night;
- Dan for agreeing to appear at the
launch - and for bringing his Dad's new glasses with him without which the
evening may have been more blurred than it was!;
- Last but not least, to the wonderful
people of Oranjemund who have supported us so loyally over the years.
As we've said many times before - you are the folk that make it all worth
while.
Eddie & Solange have now gone off on a bit
of long leave which they both thoroughly deserve - especially Eddie! Back
at the ranch the remaining band members will continue to slave away, sketching
out new material for the rest of the year. As usual, there's lots going
so, if you want to be sure of keeping up to date with the Band In The Sand, make
sure you subscribe to our regularly Newsletter at the foot of this site's home
page.
We're also busy writing up the full story
of the making of SIMPLICITY so do come back in a few weeks time to enjoy that!
Don't forget to order your copy of the new CD by simply dropping us a line at
sandmaster@ananzi.co.za Tell
us what you think of it and what you'd like to hear more, or less, of.
You can also follow our fortunes at
www.myspace.com/bandinthesand
Otherwise, we'll check you out in the
fullness of time...
Monday
04 February 2008
Dining Room Studios Keep Rockin’!
It’s hard to believe that it’s five years since Bedrock last had a
CD release with “So, Where’s The Party?”. And although there’s a
suite of very good reasons for this, we all know that it’s been way,
way, too long. As our Newsletters have informed you all, however,
things are presently being put to rights and great progress is being
made with the band’s fourth album. The new release will contain
fourteen original songs composed by the band with a bit of something
for everyone, from folk to blues. It’s become traditional for
Bedrock to include an instrumental on their albums and this, again,
is the case. Anyway, we don’t want to give too many secrets away
just yet but we’re hoping to debut the album in May or June (at the
latest). The band’s line-up has, of course, changed dramatically
from the 2nd and 3rd releases where Kenny Ramage, Mike Millad, Pete
Shout and Eddie Heusdens formed the core. Of that quartet only Pete
and Eddie survive, however, Solange Heusdens (keys) and Heiko
Doedens (lead vocals) will be appearing for the first time on a
Bedrock album. Heiko has a very promising future ahead of him as a
lead vocalist and is the best we’ve had since the heady (and feety)
days of Charlie Piggott. We’ve no doubt you are going to enjoy
Heiko’s melodic tones once they hit your turntables. Meanwhile,
we’ll keep you posted on how things are unfolding ~ just start
saving your pocket money for this long-awaited CD release.
Scenes from DR Studios…
|
 |
|
Nowadays in Bedrock, if you don’t
know your words you get booted outside to learn them!
With a bit of luck neighbours & passer-bys will hear the
unaccompanied tortured vocals and throw things (like
rocks and rare desert six-toed forest frogs and empty
Tafel bottles) at the miscreant. Here Eddie checks on
Heiko’s work ethic from behind lock doors!!
|
|
%20In%20The%20Sand.jpg) |
 |
|
The
Grand(dad) In The Sand |
Sunshine Superman |
|
 |
 |
|
I
Can't Hear The Drums |
Which
Lead's Mine |
|
