MTV Alert Concert in Retrospect
You know Represent is all about the people – one of our readers, Donna, sent in her take on the MTV Alert concert – Thanks D – enjoy readers. We hope all our winners had a wonderful time, Editorista and her chomees certainly did! Big ups MTV for the give-away and a fab night.
Black men can mosh…
… and white men can jump, the audience proved two Saturdays ago at the MTV Mot…
orola concert in New Town. The party was flavoured with an incredibly mixed crowd, a variety of different bands and crossover of music genres from the hard rock of the Springbok Nude Girls through to the hip sounds of Jozi and kwaito legend Zola.
The tent venue on Mary Fitzgerald Square was split into a swanky MTV style VIP area with plush white couches and viewing balcony that I was enviously admiring from the ‘ordinary’ people’s area just in front of the stage. The VIP area was crammed with beautiful, important people but front of stage was where the action and atmosphere took shape and the crowd certainly made the party.
And while so many elements of the concert were great – the fun-loving crowd; the well designed and decorated venue; the ever cool MTV brand; the fast, friendly and reasonably priced bar service; the staging, screens, lighting and firework effects were impressive and the line-up looked like a great overall representation of South Africa’s music scene – I couldn’t believe that the organisers did not understand the mixed nature of the audience and could get the running order so wrong and as a result lose the crowd.
Knowing the MTV brand, I was expecting a slick, professional show with spicy variety oscillating between rock, kwaito and hip hop to keep the crowed hyped. The concert started quite late at around 23h30 with opening bands Jozi and 985 getting the crowd jumping with their short, high energy sets. The length of time then given to the rock bands Springbok Nude Girls, Prime Circle and Barney Simon ensured that by 2am over half the crowd had lost interest, energy, were tired and decided to go home.
As for the performances, Jozi was very tight and slick and 985 put on a good show but unfortunately the same can not be said of the band that I was really excited to see perform, The Springbok Nude Girls. Their opening with 3 ‘unknown’ songs ensured that even the most hardcore Nudies fans were looking around and raising their eyebrows in confusion! It felt like an arrogant performance but the fans forgivingly started to jump around when the hits were played and Arno gyrated his hips around. Prime Circle was nothing special and the rest of the bands – Zola, Cassette, the Dirty Skirts, Pro Kid and the Parlatones I am sad to say I didn’t see as I was one of the many people who by that stage were tired and leaving.
The venue was 5 star, the concept was great and the crowd was so ready to adopt and jol to different music. So please MTV for the next one start earlier; get great bands to do only 3 HIT songs each and switch quickly between the genres of music to keep the variety, expose the audience to different music and keep a fresh flavour, because after all wasn’t that the point?
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Get ready for a super rocking late night of great South African music at the MTV concert in Newtown on Saturday 16 September starting at 10pm. Represent has a whole bunch of tickets for our fabulous Represent people to attend – to win a pair of tickets, simply email Editorista and tell us the name of three bands that will be performing at the concert. Make sure you’re a Represent subscriber! If not, best you sign up. We always keep you in the know of what’s hot and rocking. The concert starts late so how about chilling out at any one of the awesome venues in Newtown for the evening, Shivava cafe, Moyo’s, Capellos, Horror Cafe, Fuel Cafe, Nickis Oasis etc etc. We’ll be at Shivava before the concert watching some other awesome young bands. See you in Newtown!
THE DIRTY SKIRTS WIN PUBLIC VOTE TO HEADLINE AT MTV ALERT WITH MOTOROLA
PARLOTONES, SPRINGBOK NUDE GIRLS, ZOLA, JOZI AND PRIME CIRCLE TO JOIN LINEUP AS GUEST ARTISTS
MTV base today revealed the South African musicians who have won a place at MTV Alert with Motorola, Inc.(NYSE:MOT), the out-of-this-world live music event taking place at Mary Fitzgerald Square in Newtown, Johannesburg on 16 September as part of the City of Johannesburg’s 2006 Arts Alive initiative. Selected by public vote via SMS and online, alternative rockers, The Dirty Skirts will take top billing at the MTV Alert with Motorola event, alongside the three runners up: hip-hop stars PROKid and 985, and retro-modern rockers Cassette.
The channel also unveiled its sizzling lineup of guest performers who will be rounding out the lineup at MTV Alert with Motorola: South African contemporary rock icons Springbok Nude Girls, making their first local appearance since reforming their original lineup; Kwaito superstar Zola; jazz-funk-hip-hop collective Jozi and rock authorities Prime Circle.
Scoring the most votes in the SMS voting campaign The Dirty Skirts are an energetic band hailing from Cape Town who mix neo new wave sounds with indie rock. Their performances have been dubbed “explosive,” and their sound, an eclectic montage of guitars and beats, has been likened to The Cure, Bloc Party and The Killers. The Dirty Skirts and the three multi-talented runners up will all get to showcase the style that attracted the voting public by performing at the MTV Alert with Motorola event alongside a guest lineup of some of South Africa’s most popular music artists.
Springbok Nude Girls last performed live in the original lineup five years ago with many of the band members since pursuing solo projects, including the smash hit solo success of lead singer, Arno Carstens. Having recently released news of their plans to reunite, the group, is currently in the studio recording new material for eager SA rock fans.
Poet, actor, musician and humanitarian, Zola, has emerged as the megastar of Kwaito. Zola’s home grown sound is easily distinguished from the chants of other Kwaito artists through his challenging lyrics which reflect an intelligence and maturity not often found in Kwaito music. With four smash albums under his belt, his exceptional talent is widely appreciated and he has a massive following.
Platinum-selling Witbank rockers Prime Circle have been making waves with their smash hit 2nd album release, Live This Life, and have a reputation as one of SA’s most exciting live performers with their homegrown version of light-to-heavy melodic rock, gritty neo-grunge and stadium anthems.
Jozi’s three main collaborators have fused their styles into one high-octane package that combines hip-hop, R&B funk and jazz. Prolific singer-songwriter producer Bongani Fassie (aka Bongz) provides the MC flava, R&B innovator Ishmael adds the powerful vocals which won him Best R&B Album award at 2006 South African Music Awards, while Crazy Lu adds the hip-hop bounce.
The four winners of the MTV Alert with Motorola SMS voting competition as well as the four guest artists, will all star in TV broadcast of the event, MTV Alert with Motorola, airing on MTV base (DStv Channel 88) on Monday 16 August at 19:00 CAT and on the MTV base programming blocks on: STV/Nigeria (19 October/18:30), Metro TV/Ghana (19 October/17:30) and NTV/Kenya at (20 October/18:00).
Commented Alex Okosi, Vice President & General Manager, MTV Networks Africa, ‘All of the nominated acts clearly possess the talent, star quality and style to rank among South Africa’s brightest contemporary stars, but on this occasion SA music fans demonstrated the enduring appeal of rock by making The Dirty Skirts the clear winner. We’re delighted that this new generation of South African artists will get the opportunity to showcase their talents to a wider audience at MTV Alert with Motorola, while sharing a stage with some of South Africa’s most esteemed and established artists.’
Tickets for the MTV Alert with Motorola party cost R60.00 and are available from Computicket. To book, please call 083 915 8000 or 011 340 8000, log on to the Computicket website www.computicket.co.za, or visit your local Computicket retail outlet.
To find out more about the upcoming MTV Alert with Motorola event in Johannesburg on 16 September, or to view images from previous events, visit www.mtvbase.com/alert or www.hellomoto.com.
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It’s out people! MTV base and Motorola have revealed the nominees for MTV Alert with Motorola, the out-of-this-world live music event taking place at Mary Fitzgerald Square in Newtown, Johannesburg on 16 September 2006.
This concert is part of the City of Johannesburg’s 2006 Arts Alive initiative. Promising to field one of Jo’burg’s most intriguing and compelling lineups in years, MTV Alert with Motorola will focus on SA artists with a fresh and personal sound who are making waves at home and further afield, chosen from across the contemporary music spectrum. Members of the public will decide which South African bands, from a shortlist selected by MTV base, will be battling it out to get themselves a performance slot at MTV Alert with Motorola, as the channel pits rock against kwaito and hip-hop in the ultimate music face-off.
The six nominated artists for MTV Alert with Motorola are:
PRO-kid: Known for his defiant freestyles, musical flow and boyish charm, hip-hop star PRO-Kid came of age with his recent, mature album debut, Heads and Tails with the slickest beats and poetic style that evokes comparisons with some of rap’s ill-est stars.
985: Combining hip-hop with generous dashes of crunk and grime, 985 evolved out of two of the best duos from Diepkloof, Soweto who decided to form a movement called 985, which consists Drew and Kage (D&K) and Junya Skillz & Info of the rapping two-twosome “Witness” along with a touch of a unique, female voice: DI & I.
Blk Jks: The shades of rock’s greatest heroes smile sweetly on Afro-rock mavericks and sonic pioneers Blk Jks, guaranteed to disturb the peace with their heavy guitar riffs, eerie vocals and syncopated drums. Featuring the varied talents of Linda Buthelezi (guitar and vocals), Molefi Makananise (bass), Tshepang Ramoba (drums) and Mpumi Mcata (guitar), the group’s collective influences encompass rock, jazz, Afro-pop, funk, kwaito and more to create a unique sound all their own.
Tuks: This talented rapper with mad attitude recently walked away with the award for best Rap Album at the 2006 SAMA Awards. He has a sound that is heartfelt and true to its own art form, out of the box and an alternative to the regular hip-hop we have heard throughout the years.
Cassette: Johannesburg’s slick and versatile retro-modern rockers have been winning plaudits for their major label debut album, Welcome Back to Earth, which shows the band’s upbeat and playful side at work alongside a more tender and introspective vibe.
The Dirty Skirts: Hailing from Cape Town, alternative rockers The Dirty Skirts effortlessly meld punkish guitars with electronic beats, synths and samples in their 21st century take on the late 20th century alternative scene.
Alex Okosi, Vice President & General Manager, MTV Networks Africa, said ‘I think music fans are going to be intrigued to see what happens when the public is given the power to choose the lineup at an event like MTV Alert With Motorola. Homegrown rock plays an important part in SA popular culture and this is the first time that MTV base has included this genre in one of our events and it would be great to see how rock fares vs urban genres like rap and hip-hop. The decision is in the hands of the fans, but which ever way it goes, with this calibre of nominees: it will be a night to remember!’
Tickets for the MTV Alert with Motorola party are on sale priced at R 60.00 via Computicket.
To book, please call 083 915 8000 or 011 340 8000, log on to the Computicket website www.computicket.co.za, or visit your local Computicket retail outlet.
Music fans wishing to vote for their choice of lineup for the MTV Alert with Motorola event in Johannesburg on 16 September, should log on to: www.mtvbase.com/alert, or send a SMS/text message with the word: ‘Alert’ followed by the relevant artist’s name to 34700.
For example, to vote for Blk Jks, you need to send a text reading: Alert Blk Jks to 34700.
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You will remember a similar process on the Snoop concert – where you had to vote for your favourite artist… we also saw this method being applied for a recent Levi’s event where you were invited to vote for your fave performers online. MTV is going the democracy route too…this is the first press release to tell us all about Alert – a fabulous MTV concert on the 15 September where you get to choose who you would like to see on stage…. now we await the names of the bands! Let’s hope this concert rocks like the last one did.
Click here to go to MTVBase.
MTV base and Motorola, Inc are joining forces to seek out the South African superstars of the future in a exciting new music concept coming to South Africa for the first time.
Hot from its success in Lagos, Nigeria, the music channel and the mobile communications innovator are set to thrill the young music-loving crowd with MTV Alert with Motorola, the outrageous music event and TV show taking place in Johannesburg on 16 September 2006.
MTV Alert with Motorola is a thrills-packed live music event which democratizes the traditional promoter-punter relationship by allowing the audience to select their own choice of artist lineup. Focusing on artists making waves on the SA music scene with a unique sound and distinctive personal style, four of the headline acts at the event will be chosen by SMS and online voting by members of the public.
A shortlist of six South African artists, spanning the hottest contemporary South African music genres will be revealed on 15 August 2006. Voting lines open on this day and the four artists to receive the most votes by 4 September will feature in the concert lineup, and star in the subsequent TV broadcast of the event – guaranteed to be one of Joburg’s most intriguing and compelling live music events in years!
The first ever MTV Alert with Motorola event took place in Lagos, Nigeria on 22 July 2006 and featured a thrilling lineup consisting of: winning R&B duo P Square, alternative act Sgt Plus, rootsy hip-hop artist Mode 9, ‘Nubian Queen’ Muma Gee plus special guest Afro Beat artist D’Banj. Top international DJs Jarren C and DJ Kofi flew in to Nigeria to rock the event with their incredibly mix of diverse music genres that kept the crowd jumping.
Ibe Ugochukwu, Motorola Marketing Manager in Nigeria commented, “It was a night to remember. The audience was held captive by the electrifying performances of P Square and the other rocking bands.”
Ugochukwu continued, “Motorola is a youth and music focused brand. The youth of many cultures are the individuals who constantly challenge the ‘cool’ status quo and demand new and exciting platforms for self expression. This partnership perfectly symbolizes the many synergies which exist between the MTV and Motorola brands.”
Footage from the MTV Alert with Motorola party in South Africa will feature as part of MTV base’s new MTV Alert with Motorola TV series, which includes a monthly half-hour ‘rockumentary’, focusing on a key African artist, as well as daily 30-second vignettes on MTV base (DStv Channel 88) and terrestrial broadcasters STV (Nigeria), NTV (Kenya) and Metro TV (Ghana). The show aims to get under the skin of the best contemporary music talent emerging around Africa, illuminating the music and style that defines them and their fans.
The first episode of MTV Alert with Motorola featured South African crossover sensations Freshlyground, while latter episodes have focused on Kenyan Ragga artist Wyre and Nigerian Afro Beat star D’Banj.
Tickets for MTV Alert with Motorola, will go on sale on 14 August via all Computicket outlets. To book, please call 083 915 8000 or 011 340 8000, log on to the Computicket website (www.computicket.co.za), or visit your local Computicket retail outlet.
To find out more about the upcoming MTV Alert with Motorola event in Johannesburg on 16 September, or to view images from the Nigeria event, visit: www.mtvbase.com/alert or www.hellomoto.com.
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2005
Will Smith must have wondered if he was in the same country as the 46664 concert in George as he stared at the new generation of Joburgers getting wicky together… It’s a pity Madiba’s speech was pre-recorded – he would have been truly touched to see his vision of the rainbow nation in all the right ratios coming to life – and a funky warm happy life at that.
Congratulations to MTV Base for choosing one of the most magnificent venues EVER – why don’t we use TOP STAR more often for outdoor evetns?? Note to all concert organisers – forget the bland Dome – go for TopStar.
The organisation was fairly impressive with all of us taking a brisk walk through the colourful and quiet warehouse streets of Selby (Property Developers take note – perfect setting for warehouse-style conversions – awesome place!) up to the ‘Bustop’ where busses continuously pulled up and bundled you up to the TOP STAR drive-in. You were then greeted with the mind-blowing stainless steel type set that stood proudly on it’s perch with Joburg city skyline bringing up the back… WOW. What a site to behold!
One of my best moments of the night had to be the walk downhill afterwards – It was incredible to see thousands of different colour heads and hairstyles, sporties dreds and caps bopping rythmically together all the way down the curving road in time to the beats of the city lights that lay before us… (not sure how many peeps REPRESENTED but rumours spoke of 10 000)
The entertainment itself could have done with some help. Apparently Sean Kuti played a little early when it was still filling up and fans were few, but word has it that MANDOZA kicked touche joined by Danny K- together they rocked the house… (Disclaimer: I was not there for either of the above performances) Lebo – our very own drama queen – then showed her stuff with a very ROCKY sound blending with her Kwaito and Dance hits – like Tumisho said at the SAMA’s – why does that not suprise us South African’s? It may have been the white boy representing on guitar.
Biggest criticism of the night which is our opinion could have changed a lot? Long boring music-less breaks between musicians where your right hip began to ache as you tried to keep your spirits up and your legs warm… Fresh and Bad Boy T tried their best to keep the crowds entertained but half an hour between each set is unacceptable – what happened?
Noone complained – no sounds of shosholoza although Bad Boy T pulled a cheesy move by getting us to try sing the national anthem – The crowds just got quieter as the breaks dragged on and the energy sapped away, creating a strange silence in places despite the packed out audience. By the time the Fresh Prince sang the theme tune to the Prince of Bellair (we were secretly hoping for that) everyone was ready for some shut-eye.
Anyone that went to the concert can tell you exactly who 2face is and that Lebo was born in Benoni as MTV plugged the brand Audio Visuals repeatedly throughout the too-long breaks… Everyone knew that it was MTV Base – surely a little other entertainment – even a funky cd could have been played to keep the crowds interested? Everytime we saw a big black guy get behind the desk during the break we thought it was DJ Fresh coming to save us – all in vain. On that tip – shite JAzzy Jeff is SO HOT on the 1’s and 2’s – He takes our vote for the BEST HIP HOP DJ ever. MTV Base please – next time do something about those breaks.
The biggest baddest response from the crowd went out to the aboMrapper hiphop kings SKWATTA KAMP when they did the CLAP song with Ludacris in the red light district… wow – we so do love our own talent – good for us!!! Skwatta – YOU ROCK!!!
Will’s show was very slick – almost too slick – nice to see him using SA dancers, choreographers, djembe drummers and models… At one point there were about 30 local peeps dancing and performing on stage with him – and then… what was that??? Somizi suddenly took the front of the stage and did his own little dance for the crowds most of whom were wondering who the hell he was…(good on ya boy – nice guerilla marketing – Don’t watch them – watch meeeee!) Nice. (love the ‘doo by the way Somizi).
Being an 80s early 90s teen I have to admit that SUMMERTIME is one of those songs that will remain on my top 10 forever – ending the concert with it picked me up and sent me singing down the hill towards the lights… All in all I was a proud Joburger yet again. Even long breaks wont keep us down.
