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Even if you're not one of the lucky few, you can
Click here to buy tickets for The Parlotones and Blue October
$25 in advance or $28 day of show (All Ages).
$25 in advance or $28 day of show (All Ages).
MCB's Andrew Bender had the chance to interview Parlotones front man Kahn Morbee - read on for the interview:
MCB: Have you ever been to Detroit before? In either case, what's your impression of Detroit?
KM: I’ve never been to Detroit but I know it was the home of KISS (I think) or certainly a place that is synonymous with them. I also know it was a massive car manufacturing area which has been impacted by globalization and declining sales. Anyplace with an aka name ‘Rock city’ feels like home away from home.
MCB: Detroit seems to share some interesting parallels with Johannesburg, but they're obviously worlds apart in so many ways. Over the last 40 years, the city of Detroit has frequently been characterized in the media by the poverty, illiteracy, and crime, as well as the racial segregation in the area. However, there is also a tremendous artistic movement that's fueled by these social problems. Do you similarly see great art being created in Johannesburg?
KM: I was unaware of those parallels, may seem more like home than I jokingly suggested in the previous question. I think adversity will always drive creativity, for artists, writing and performing is their version of consulting a shrink, they get to express those emotions and talk about them and the result is a cathartic release. Creativity exists in every city, in the context of Joburg being very isolated, politically unstable for decades meant that when the bullshit finally fell away there was almost a new found freedom, the dawning of a new era a feeling of brand new and an excitement to move forward and the freedom to do so.
MCB: How did growing up in apartheid-era South Africa influence you as a musician?
KM: I was very young when it was finally abolished and the new democracy was pretty much my reality. I’m not sure it had much influence on me as a musician but I’m sure it’s had an influence on my outlook on life which ultimately influences my lyrics. I think the sheer fact that our country has persevered through so much adversity actually drives me, no obstacle seems that large in perspective.
MCB: Obviously, anybody who listens to the Parlotones knows immediately that you don't play what most Americans think of when they hear the phrase 'world music.' Yet, in the United States, that's exactly what most people think of when they hear about a South African band. What is the most important thing you'd want Americans to know about you and your music?
KM: I think that we play a brand of music which contains universal elements in both the style and lyrics. We’re a rock band with pop sensibilities.
MCB: The world cup brought a lot of international attention to South Africa - how did you benefit from this?
KM: We got to play the opening kick-off concert alongside Black eyed Peas, Alicia Keys and Shakira. The benefits are never immediate but we’ve certainly been getting a lot of attention from the soccer loving nations. I think the benefits will be felt down the road and its ultimately up to us to pursue those territories that have showed a lot of interest as a result.
MCB: I came across the website for the Parlotones wine, how would you characterize your involvement in the development of the wines? And more importantly, how can we get it in the States? (And even more importantly, any chance you might have a bottle for us to sample when you're in the US?)
KM: It started with an interview with a property magazine, where I stated that my dream property would be to own a small vineyard and produce a boutique wine. A fan of the band read this and asked if we would like to produce wine now, the answer was a resounding yes.we were very hands on in tasting and selecting the blend, mixing and matching various varietals (guided by experts) until we reached the product we all liked. Its been a huge success and our third wine (a rose’) is due for release mid-September. There are a lot of parallels between wine and music. The disciplines can be broken down into a science, for example certain grapes blend together and certain chords work together musically. However, it is not the science that makes the magic but the creative edge. It’s the creativity that makes a song or a bottle of wine alluring to the consumer. In order to have that appeal you rely on senses, wine is smell and taste and imagination; music is hearing and feeling. In summary they both marry science, creativity and the senses to create magic.
MCB: I had the chance to meet BLK JKS last year when they were touring North America. Although your two bands have rather different sounds, do you think this is the beginning a new era of music coming out of South Africa?
KM: I hope so, I’ve seen many SA bands come and go and because we’re so far from the rest of the ‘buying’ world they inevitably break up. Let’s hope some are persistent enough.
About the Parlotones:
The Parlotones have shared the stage with musical greats, including: Kings of Leon, The Gossip, Violent Femmes, Jimmy Eat World, New Model Army, Evanescence, Staind, The Rasmus, UB40 and Collective Soul. They have achieved multi-platinum-selling status in their home country of South Africa, selling more records there than Coldplay, The Killers, and Oasis combined. Their big-budget music videos have won them a string of MK and SAMA Awards, including a 2010 SAMA Award for “Best Music Video of the Year” for the song “Push Me to the Floor.”South African sensation mixes atmospheric pop-rock with educated lyrical themes, join Blue October on tour September 17.
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