Johannesburg’s Shadowclub are the type of band whose music takes up all the space in the room, the moment they start strumming. They’re the type of band that make you think ‘Geezuz, that song sounded like it came out of a Tennessee garage, I can’t believe they’re local.’ They are, in short, pretty damn great.
Anyone who’s basically above my age on the local scene will tell you that this trio (Jacques Moolman, Isaac Klawansky and Louis Roux) has actually been around for quite a few years – they formed in 2007 – but it seems that 2011 was the turning point in the eyes of SA’s radio stations when they started making magic. And now you’ll find nary a rock radio show that doesn’t play their current hit at the drop of a hat.
As is the unfortunate case with a lot of local bands, it took a few years for us to get a full album from them, and last month saw the release of Shadowclub’s debut full-length album, Guns & Money. A lot of favourite (or at least my favourite) artists are cited as influences on the record:
“We were big White Stripes fans,” says drummer Isaac Klawansky. “We liked The Kings Of Leon who, back then, were still quite tough and bluesy and a bit underground. Wolfmother had just come out and we adored The Black Keys. Throw in the old blues that Jacques grew up with – Muddy Waters, Howlin’ Wolf, Leadbelly, Blind Lemon Jefferson – and that combination became the basis of our sound.” *
The album sets fire to your speakers from start to finish and is available now!
“It’s time South African music gave us a band to believe in again. That time is now, that band is the Shadowclub.” – Jon Monsoon
Shadowclub, “Guns & Money”
A mop of hair flicks sweat onto a leather jacket. Fingers slide along steel strings. That jagermeister goes to your head. Your hips move involuntarily. Your ears pound with pleasure. There’s a drunk girl in a flaming red dress doing go-go dancing on top of a speaker.
“Show knows guns and money make the world go round.”
Welcome to the Shadowclub world.
Join Shadowclub on Facebook or buy Guns And Money online.
* Yeah, see, they also think Kings Of Leon have lost their gutzpah – it’s not only me.