The Burning Ear

In a quest for new music, thousands of people sift through rubbish music blogs on a daily basis. The Burning Ear could not some up what it is about any better: "A music blog for people who don't have time for music blogs". Regardless of what music genre you're into, you will rarely find a track which you don't fall in love with or at least appreciate, musically. There's not much more to say, just check it out here.

FNB Whisky Live Festival

It's almost that time of year again, the FNB Whisky Live Festival is returning to Cape Town at the CTICC from the 3rd to the 5th of November and Johannesburg at the Sandton Convention Center from the 10th to the 12th. Now in its 8th year running the festival has grown wildly in popularity and attracts a diverse range of people from connoisseurs to those new to the world of whisky. According to worldwide sales South Africa is the 5th largest drinker of whisky by volume and the market is rapidly spreading into the younger generation of adults. Having been fortunate enough to have attended last years festival for all three nights I can say that the R180 entrance fee is well worth your money. The selection of whiskies available to try is superb and the innovators behind Whisky Live have added heaps of new features to the festival for 2010. Book your tickets online for Cape Town here or Johannesburg here as it is sure to be an event not worth missing.

Two Door Cinema Club's "Tourist History" adds a punch to the 2010 music scene

The UK music industry is alive. Indie bands are popping out at a rate not seen since babies in the 1950's. Two Door Cinema Club, formed in 2007 & hailing from Ireland, have shown they have far more to offer than the next pub's pint-swinging 3-piece. They released their debut album "Tourist History" in February this year and after listening to it solidly for over a month, my ears are still reaping the joy. These guys have upped the standard and set an all new benchmark not seen since The Kooks or Arctic Monkeys. Solid percussion with upbeat drumming and enough cow-bell rhythm to keep you feeling like a farmer in his field, coupled with the energetic bass lines create the underflow of this foot tapping magic. Glossed over with guitar lines smoother than your face after shaving, their sound is beautifully fresh. Get onto iTunes or to your nearest music store after clearing your face for a big smile, because Two Door Cinema Club will make you shuffle your feet and appreciate the Irish for something more than St. Patricks Day. Listen to "I Can Talk", "What You Know" and "This is the Life". Head over to their official website here

Red Bull Illume

Cartier Bresson spoke with particular reference to this photo I think, about the what he called the "decisive moment" in photography. Capturing the spirit of something at it's right time to be ingrained on a negative (or micro-chip these days). Sports photographers really have to live up to this, not only using their creativity but also needing velvet hands and hawk eyes to grab an action shot. The Red Bull Illume competition showcases some of the best talent. 22 764 photos have been sifted through to bring you these finalists. Check it out at here.

Hangover Minus the Drunk

Last night I went out. Similar to most post break-up nights out, after a long period of little to moderate drinking, I seemed to think it would be a good idea to get drunk. This new trend that's developed is not an attempt to drown sorrows, get emotional, muster dutch courage for a rebound or anything along normal post break-up drinking. It's purely to swim in my own thoughts. It's messy, but last night it wasn't. Last night, I spent R100 on drinks after having a stiff whisky, two tequila's and a large glass of wine over supper. You would think that this, along with the 6 shots and frozen margarita I had out would have got me well on my way. Unfortunately not. Yet I woke up this morning and as though feeling like a fool for drinking my money away wasn't punishment enough, I had a hangover. The explanation for that is due to excessive alcohol consumption, but why did I not get drunk? I wanted to, it would have been fun. Perhaps it just won't happen if you plan it to. Or it will if you plan it to and have more than R100 to spend out on a night. Still, it was fun.

Hello...This is PS

So this is my first blog post...I'm not good at first impressions so hopefully I'll have so much to post in the next few days that this will get covered up and only later be retrieved as my first historic blog post when this page has more hits than Google and my next words are craved like a line of blow. In the unlikely event that this blog doesn't become famous, it won't matter either, because no one will care about my first post or anything subsequent to it. I don't know who reads blogs, I don't. But I like to write and so I thought I'd start something up. At first I wanted a style blog, something to remove South African men from the worst dressed in the world. Following this I considered a whisky blog and a music blog. Unfortunately, in the world of Web 2.0 I overslept the billionaires train and made it into the sea of people who purge themselves of their thoughts over an unread blog. I don't mind if you don't like this, read it or if anyone ever takes in these words, it's purely cathartic for me. So I guess that's what can be expected from me on this blog, lots of talking about society, observations, music, photography, poetry, whisky and style. That could draw a readership and it could also just tell the story of someone who can't be bothered to sheep along in the world.