Rock at Umzumbe music venue
POPULAR rock band and Rock Bottom Music Bistro regular Braxton Hix will be back on stage at the funky Umzumbe music venue this Saturday, July 26, at 2pm.
Founding member and lead guitarist Ivan The Terrible has a long and colourful musical history that includes spells with the 80’s European band ‘Dr Doolittle’ and Durban bands ‘Mild Abuse’, ‘The Mothers From Hell’, ‘Slipstream’ and ‘No More Mr Nice Guy’. He has seen quite a few incarnations of Braxton Hix, which he started in New Zealand in 2003, moved to Australia in 2006 and moved again to South Africa’s South Coast, now its permanent home since 2009.
The band members have a wealth of experience behind them. Ivan The Terrible describes Ritchie Blackmore of Deep Purple as his mentor, tutor and greatest influence, although David Gilmour of Pink Floyd and Eastern European and Middle Eastern folk scales have also influenced his development as a musician. Ivan’s guideline is perfection, borne out during performances of songs by 70’s bands like Pink Floyd, Deep Purple, Black Sabbath, Led Zeppelin and Uriah Heep.
The band recently welcomed a new vocalist, Carri-Ann Parker, also known as Caz and previously of ‘Due South’, who brings a new dimension to its performances. The core backing of this formidable set-up is ‘BJ’ Pretorius on bass guitar (occasionally Gavin Muller of Durban band Slipstream takes his place) and Brian de Kock on drums. ‘BJ’ has immense talent coupled with an unquenchable thirst for new rhythms and styles. Brian has many years of experience in various genres of music from pop, rock and disco to Latin American. He last played in the 70s local band, ‘Buttercup’, which produced the successful album, ‘Baby Love Affair’.
The band invites all and sundry to spend an afternoon of quality rock music at Rock Bottom. Like last week’s musical offering at Rock Bottom, the Braxton Hix performance will follow a barnyard theatre format, with patrons bringing their own alcoholic beverages. Light meals and soft drinks will be on sale. Entrance fee is R60 and a portion of this will go to the music venue to help keep its doors open, as its liquor licence has lapsed.
