Black Entertainment : The BlackJacks

cherryblossom

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Feb 28, 2009
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Once you've seen the BLK JKS (pronounced the Black Jacks) live, performing their electrifying blend of uniquely South African, afro alternative rock, you simply know they're destined for great things.

Without a doubt the most exciting new band to explode onto the local music scene in a while, they were the 'surprise package' runners up to Martin Rocka and the Sick Shop in the 2005 Global Battle of the Bands, serving as fair warning... that the BLK JKS have arrived!

The four piece outfit consists of their two self taught guitarists Linda (lead vocals) and Mpumi, who also represent the BLK JKS "old guard" remaining from the original band that formed just over two years ago. The new recruits brought with them the wisdom of their formal musical training, with Tshepang on drums, and the "musical veteran" amongst them, Molefi on bass.


While apartheid left S.A with a stigma that rock was strictly for white people... BLK JKS are smashing those social barriers with the very essence of their groundbreaking being. Not wanting to be characterized simply as a novelty 'black rock band', they really are a testament to the eclectic urban culture sweeping the nation, in which music definitely sees no colour. "Besides, rock was originally a black thing" says lead vocalist Linda.

BLK JKS sound simply can't be boxed into one genre, as Mpumi explains. "We never set out to make rock music. We wanted to make a band playing the type of music we love to hear, individually. Clearly our music is neither jazz, nor maskandi, rap nor kwaito. It's something else... straight from the heart, and although it might be closer to rock, we regard what we're playing, as black music."

"You end up getting all these adjectives and superlatives to describe the band, because if you just say we are rock, you're throwing people off" says Linda.

While not always immediately evident, their music contains its own unique element of consciousness, and a very real message within it. You may have to listen to a track several times over to catch it, and maybe that's the magical charm about their music. "We're a band that represents reality. We sing about things that are happening now, the good things, and the bad things," says Molefi. "If there are too many taxi accidents, someone needs to say something about it. If people are starving because leaders are fighting, we have to speak out about what's affecting us."

Three of the four members are in their early to mid 20's, all three also hail from the same middle class suburb in the far eastrand of Johannesburg, called Spruitview, which they're all still proud to call home. Molefi the eldest in the band is the only member with roots elsewhere, having grown up in Soweto during the turbulent times of yesteryear.

"BLK JKS play free music with no rules" says Tsepang. With such a wide array of influences, which vary from traditional jazz, to the likes of Mars Volta, Carlos Santana, Jimi Hendrix, Bob Marley, BB King, Stimela, Led Zeppelin, Harare, Pink Floyd and everything in between, it's no wonder the band seems to capture the hearts and minds of every crowd lucky enough to have seen them perform.

Their first ever public release was the single "SK 1", which stunned listeners in April this year. The track featured on the 'Denim Issue' compilation distributed with SL magazine. The buzz caused by the release just further fueled the already growing media excitement surrounding the band and the forthcoming release of their EP scheduled for early '07.

http://www.bluesroom.co.za/2002/pages/Bands/Black Jacks/default.htm
 

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