Project Llama – rocking it out on your doorstep
It has been nearly four years since we last interviewed one of eMalahleni’s raddest rock bands, now known as Project Llama.
A shift in their members lead to a change in name, a change in play style and a change for the better.
Tokkie ‘Big Llama’ Combrink now leads the vocals and contributes to the band with his acoustic guitar. Another new member to the band is Kyle ‘Llama Junior’ Stevenson.
Originally a metal drummer, he now pecks at the chords as a rhythm guitarist for Project Llama. The last new addition to the band is Richard ‘Ginger Llama’ van Staden, the band’s drummer.
Both Riaan ‘Sensei Llama’ Pistorius, the band’s lead guitarist, and Ruan ‘Fluffy Llama’ de Beer, the bassist, have stuck it out and kept their passion for rock going on, recruiting in Tokkie, Kyle and Richard.
So where does the name Project Llama originate from?
“One practice we were jamming and the word Llama popped up, we had a laugh and though of naming the band Blame the Llama, but decided on Project Llama after thinking how the band is our project,” said the guys.
Their first gig was at Knight and Dragon in Boksburg, and it was there they received a warm welcome and cheering crowd of rockers. “It was awesome,” repeated the band.
On August 23 the guys played again at Knight and Dragon, and the following night they played at Rumours Lounge in Johannesburg. “It was an epic experience,” they said.
Putting in at least three practices a week, the guys get together and give it their best, hoping to one day play at Doors, Firkin Pub, Arcade Empire, Café Barcelona and Drafters. They seemed most excited to about playing at Doors, one of SA’s rock club capitals.
The guys’ songs, some new and some new, new, are inspired and drawn from their experiences.
Butterfly Kisses is one of them, it’s a dark song but deep in meaning and relates to the guys’ pasts.
“We are like family, we meld, we click, we’re not just a band and the fans are our family, our everything,” ended the guys.
The guys from Project Llama are organising a Spring Break Rockfest, welcoming in spring.
This will see local bands rocking it out on September 6. Be sure not to miss this awesome clash of bands such as Honeybee, Leven, Die Zefferbrand, Phoenix Turbine, The Oohs and Aahs, the Sunday Punchers and Black Suitcase.
For more info on the Spring Break Rockfest visit Project Llama’s page on Facebook, and come show your support for the local talent.
