ELIXA is set to gently rock the Tanz Cafe

Click on the flyer for more details of the upcoming gig.

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Its gonna be a great gig as usual. Expect some chilled vibes, maybe a bit of Maroon 5, some Jack Johnson and one or two new originals.
Two solo acoustic muso's will also be playing on the nite.

Give Tanz Cafe a call if you want to book a table to eat 011 463 5937! The food is good.

Ian

Gimme some of that fat bass guitar!

Here is a pic of Carl our bass guitarist. This was taken at a practice a little while ago. The man is seriously talented and a real expert on the finer details of sound.

Taxi receipt is a rocking song!

Recording the song for the Esquire/John Mayer competition went really well. I was in the studio on Friday morning and Byron I worked non stop till 4:30pm. The man has a great gift for production and arrangement.

We got a really strong groove going. The song is called Taxi Receipt. We played around and added a bit of old school R’n B flavour to keep it going. Also added some “low-fi dirt” sounds. I really loved how it turned out. I hope John likes it. I think there’s a pretty good chance he will. Posted it to the US on Monday. Will keep you posted!


My pre-birthday warm up session
I have such awesome friends!!! Christine gave me a Jack Johnson Limited edition CD and DVD from Switzerland!

Then Caroline gave me a CD by a guy called Marc Broussard. The CD is called Carencro. I had never heard of this guy before. This is some incredible music. Very different from the usual rock/pop diet on radio. Think of powerful vocals, soulful singing, pumping acoustic guitar and superb production. This is definitely my favourite music right now!!
My highlights include the song called “The beauty of who you are” with a line that soars as he sings “baby, I’m so into yoooooo”. So memorable, true magic. And “Saturday” an uber cool catchy groove song of huge proportions. The most sublime thing about this song is the flute that filters in and tickles your consciousness. Cool man.
Check out http://www.marcbroussard.com
I am not sure if the CD is available in SA yet.

Oh and it isn’t even my birthday yet! More presents to come next month.



NB ! Please take careful note that ELIXA is playing at the Tanz café in Bryanston on Tuesday the 11th of October 2005. R 30 at the door or R 20 on the guest list. Sign up for the ELIXA newsletter and gig updates and automatically get on the guest list.

Ian

John Mayer and Ian are writing a song

Tuesday 6 September

Yesterday, John Mayer and I started work on a new song. Yes, I said John Mayer. You know the grammy award winning guitarist… “your body is a wonderland”… “daughters”… “comfortable” etc.

John has posted some lyrics on his website that he says he is not using at the moment and instead of them going to waste, he would like someone to offer his/her interpretation of the music and melody. It for a competition that is being run by Esquire Magazine USA. The winner gets a John Mayer Signature Strat!! Competition details are at www.johnmayer.com

So far the song is coming along nicely. I am usually very fussy when it comes to writing my own lyrics. That's what takes up the bulk of my writing process. So it was really kind of John to put some of his up for me to use. I am really inspired by the lyrics and have come up with something with chilled and interesting chords that still have a strong hook and groove. I plan to record it this Friday at Electrogroove Studios. Will let you know how that goes.

Love/hate thing

"Bono's in love with the world. He wants to embrace it. I want to punch its lights out. We're a psychotic Tweedledum and Tweedledee." - Bob Geldof (Organiser of the Live8 Concerts).

Yes, I totally identify with that. Sometimes you try to help people but they don’t see that you are trying to help. Or you see people doing such stupid things that you want to bash them on the head. Inside my head lives a hugger, a Bono type character who sees good in everyone and next door to him lives a puncher, a Geldof-type. Interestingly these two neighbours of my mind get on with each other pretty well and make a surprisingly good team. The Geldof makes certain that I don't give up too much love. That all the love is genuine and a true sacrifice. The Bono (hugger type) doesn't allow the Geldof mean streak to last, otherwise I'd be no use on earth at all.

If you are totally confused then don't worry, cos the main point of today's post is totally unrelated to the inner workings of love/hate relationships - I am really looking forward to two upcoming gigs. Next week Wednesday the 17th of August at the Tanz Café Bryanston. I am doing a “solo” thing. Well I am actually sneaking in my drummer and bassist cos I don’t really like the emptiness of the solo thing. Maybe I will grow to like it, but right now solo is not good for my mojo. You can get on the guest list and only pay R 20 at the door (normal R 30). Just email me you name and surname to the address on the flyer.

Then on the Friday nite (the 19th) ELIXA is playing at a Youth event at the Bryanston Methodist Church. The event is called Ignite! And should be a blast: Scratch DJ, guest speaker, two bands. Also entrance is free. Hope to see you there.

ian

See it in Black and White

Me jamming (upside down) in the loft - pic by DigitalDynamite.

Being a left-handed guitarist means that you can't just pick up a guitar at a (right-handed) friend's house and easily impress party people with the Darkness, Hendrix or Clapton's Tears in Heaven. Lefties have to turn the guitar upside down. Potentially impressive - but tricky...so it doesn't always sound great. Luckily there are one or two simple songs that work. Keep an eye out for this upside-down "party trick" at future gigs. Next week we will look at how to play a burning guitar with only your nose and toes :-0

"the ELIXA has landed"

Hello and welcome to the ELIXA blog.

Why the name ELIXA you ask? Well an elixir is a potion that was used in days gone by to make people feel better. It was a mixture of sweet sugar water and alcohol if I'm not mistaken.

I think that the salesmen might have mentioned that it had magical powers too.

ELIXA is also the name given to my band. A four piece jazz-rock band. Andrew "Smasha" Sowter on drums, Carl Sandrock on bass guitar, Lindsay Thoresson on vocals and keyboard and me on electric guitar and vocals.

But the ELIXA blog is not just about the band. Its about your heart, the music that stirs it, the good life, relationships, questions, struggles, signs, love and.....*takes a sip*....feeling good!

ian