KONGOS

Come With Me Now on 5FM Top 40

admin — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 01:23:13 +0000

Our second single, Come With Me Now is rising up the 5FM TOP 40 – it’s currently No. 29. Please make sure you request it and let them know you like it, especially if you happen to hear it play! See below for all the 5FM contact info.

Studio Number: 089 11 00 505
SMS: 33345

5FM Official Twitter - @5FM
Nicole Da Silva - @ThatNicole
Poppy Ntshongwana - @PoppyIsMyName
Grant Nash - @GrantNash
Kabelo K.B. Ngakane - @KB5FM
Sureshnie Rider – @Sureshnie
Anele Mdoda - @Anele

Jon Savage - @CassetteBand
Gareth Cliff - @GarethCliff
Catherine Grenfell - @CathGrenfell
Sasha Martinengo - @F1Sasha
Rob Vember - @Rob_vember
Bongi Mbelu - @ThisIsBongi
Dineo Lusenga - @DineoLusenga

Cosmopolitan South Africa Interview

admin — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 01:22:56 +0000

Read the article on Cosmopolitan.co.za

KONGOS Fever

by Lindi Brownell

Recently, KONGOS has received significant radio airplay, so you’ve probably heard one or two of their tracks on quite a few occasions. Why? Because these South African-born brothers are doing something a little different… and it’s paying off.As the sons of South African music legend, John Kongos, the four brothers have certainly led an interesting life. They grew up in South Africa and London and currently live and work in Phoenix, Arizona. Now they’re on their way back home to tour the country. All we can say is, make sure you’re there.

What was it like having a world-famous South African musician for a father? Beneficial or a bit crazy?
Definitely beneficial – having someone who has done what you are trying to do supporting you is invaluable – his experience has helped us in every aspect of our career. If you’re going to follow in someone’s footsteps it’s nice for them to be cool footsteps – don’t get us wrong though… he still finds ways to embarrass us

Your single, ‘I’m Only Joking’ is topping the charts all around South Africa. What or who inspired the lyrics for the song?
We’ve decided that with this particular song, we like to leave that question up to the listeners – it’s been really interesting and sometimes funny hearing people’s theories. Musically, it’s heavily influenced by Burundi drums, African tribal music and Eastern melodies.

Your favourite venue in the US is The Lost Leaf where you’ll sometimes play three-to-four hour sets. What do you do in four hours that other bands do in 45 minutes?
The Lost Leaf is this little historic house that’s been converted into a bar/art gallery so it feels more like a house party than a show. It’s a really good vibe and draws a very open-minded crowd, so we stretch things a little – we play a wide variety of originals, improvised fusion, crazy mash-ups and some selective covers (mostly rare Miley Cyrus B-sides). We’ve played about thirty or so shows at The Lost Leaf (which is about 100+ sets) so it’s been really good for keeping our sheeeit together.

Being brothers, you’ve said you fight a lot. Are you more likely to fight over music or girls?
We’re more likely to fight like girls over the music.

What’s the weirdest/funniest/dirtiest thing a fan has ever said to you?
At a show recently this girl came up to me and said &**## _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ @#!$& @@#$$. I couldn’t understand a fucking word she said.

Which one of you is:
a.) The quirkiest? Jesse – he marches to the beat of a different drummer… which is really confusing given that he actually is the drummer – ba-dum tshh.
b.) The loudest? Outside of shows, Johnny – he even talks to himself loudly… but we’ll blame Jesse and his drums if we lose our hearing later in life.
c.) The most popular with the girls? Dylan – he’s a ladies’ man – you can tell by the way he uses his walk, no time to talk.
d.) The one who’s always up for a party? Danny: ‘Like with cake? Then me, for sure.’

Your songs are a mixture of a southern American twang mixed with African beats, which is a rare combination to say the least. How would you describe your sound?
Post-post-pre-post-pre-post-modern with a vintage feel. Really, it’s a culmination of our influences from all over the world, from every era, with the four of us added in.

If you could play alongside any band, who would you choose and why?
Tinariwen – we’ve been fans for years and just saw them in Los Angeles a few months ago . Without a doubt one of the best concerts we’ve ever seen.

Which South African bands are you into right now?
Jack Parow, BLK JKS, Shadowclub, Tumi and the Volume, Zebra and Giraffe, Taxi Violence, Beatenberg… the list goes on, discovering some really great South African bands lately!

Do you prefer recording or playing gigs?
Couldn’t really pick. Playing live is a lot easier than recording and more fun in some ways – you get immediate feedback from the audience, which is great… especially for the ego. Recording, for us at least, is quite difficult – we’re very meticulous (a.k.a unable to make decisions) and can be perfectionists (a.k.a procrastinators). It pays off in the end, though – when you’ve spent enough time away from a record, you can go back and listen more enjoyably, without such a critical ear.

You’re about to tour South Africa. What can fans expect?
Just four guys playing music that’ll get you moving – no big pyrotechnics or production (maybe next time around, the budget will allow for fireworks that spell out our name, synchronized swimmers, and a giant animatronic Candice Swanepoel). We’ll be playing material from the upcoming album and a few from our first album – if you have half as much fun as we do, you’ll have twice as much fun as people who don’t come to the show.* We’re really looking forward to seeing and meeting some COSMO readers at our shows!

*results may vary. T’s and C’s apply.

For a full list of South African tour dates, visit the Kongos website.

Below, watch the official music video for the hit song, ‘I’m Only Joking’.

“I’m Only Joking” enters UCT Radio Top 30 at No.8

admin — Fri, 28 Oct 2011 22:53:27 +0000

UCT Radio 104.5FM

Very happy to announce that I’m Only Joking has entered the UCT Radio Top 30 at No. 8 – a very influential station/chart in Cape Town! We’ll have several performances in Cape Town in Dec-Jan-Feb, click here for tour dates. We’ll also be doing an interview on UCT Radio in Dec – stay tuned!

Let’s see if we can get it higher!

Studio Number: (+27) 21 686 1870
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/UCTRadio
Twitter: @UCTRadio
Website: http://uctradio.wordpress.com

In case you haven’t seen it, here’s the music video:

Just Blog Off! Review

admin — Mon, 10 Oct 2011 20:59:57 +0000

In The Music

by Stuart Buchanan

Read the article on Just Blog Off!

I’m very interested in the local music scene in South Africa, and the various ups and downs it seems to experience. It’s the reason I ended my review of Rocking the Daisies, exactly a year ago, with some concern about how much new talent is making its way through the ranks. It’s the reason I had a go at commercial music stations in general not so long ago, and it’s the reason I get excited when I go to a gig and see a band that blows me away.This week, I have been given new hope, and it’s all thanks to a group called KONGOS.Like the Kings of Leon or..err..The Jackson Five, the band is made up of brothers, and they are the sons of 70s rocker John Kongos. The guys grew up here, but are now based in Phoenix, Arizona – and making quite a name for themselves there too.Back home, TUKS FM appear to have kept this one quiet – they have been big supporters of the guys for some years now. But in a surprising turn of events, 5FM recently joined the party and playlisted their new single, ‘I’m Only Joking’.

Good on them for punting a great SA rock single. But wait, there’s more…

The rest of the album is absolutely fantastic.

Thank goodness, too. There is substance to this record, a fresh take on old genres, and it presents a very exciting prospect for music in general. Forget the local link – KONGOS are a band of international awesome.

There are fifteen tracks on this record, and all of them completely different from each other. Visiting their Facebook page shows you their list of influences. It’s long. And listening to this record, you can tell. It moves from straight-up rock, to haunting ballads, takes a trip into the location for a township jive, then sets you swaying to the sounds of the Celtic highlands, before slap-bassing the funk straight back into you for a final tour of varied musical mastery.

This record is big, and it deserves to be heard. It’s hard to be original these days, but these guys manage it with ease. And when that happens, I get excited about music all over again.

Like the lyrics of one of their tracks:

Close your eyes / And choose a destination / And try to forget / Everything you thought you knew /
‘Coz don’t you know / There is no church or nation / But you can believe / In the music

I believe.

Stu’s Top Six:

Curious

A slow, beautiful ballad, inspired by the likes of Coldplay or even maybe The Verve. A playful, repeated riff on the piano eventually gives way to a haunting guitar sound, while Dylan’s voice speaks of love and sadness.

Come With Me Now

This song wouldn’t be out of place at one of those Balkan shindigs where there’s always at least one goat present. A pounding drumbeat, hard rock guitar riffs, but with a very clear eastern European twist. Oh wait, now it sounds like Mississippi blues. Wait, now it sounds like Kwaito. All I know is I want to dance my face off.

Hey I Don’t Know (Why Don’t You Tell Me)

The strongest hat-tip to the likes of Led Zeppelin (Trampled Underfoot, anyone?), the Stones, Deep Purple and Dire Straits, with a guitar solo that Muddy Waters himself would be proud of. And yet somehow chucked into a disco grinder, sprinkled with some of their own flavour, and served hot.

This Time I Won’t Forget

Did the guys sit down one day and say, ‘We know we’re South African, but we also have Irish heritage, so let’s embrace it’, and then write this song? Could be. While this will be sung drunkenly in any pub worth its Guinness, it’s also a beautiful and inspiring track about celebrating life. It’s moving stuff.

The Trouble Is

Another one of the slower tracks, laced with a wistful melancholy that wouldn’t be out of place on a David Bowie record. It talks to that feeling of being lost, and the music meanders in and out of Dylan’s vocals in a similar fashion. You may get hints of Stereophonics here, but this track is better crafted and carries more emotion than that.

It’s A Good Life

Are these really four whiteboys? They clearly attended the Johnny Clegg School of Music if so. This has South Africa written all over it, Juluka seeping out of every note. It’s a celebratory sing-along to inspire even the most sceptical to get up and move. Performing this live must ROCK. When KONGOS do happy, do they do it so well you will be left smiling long after the song is over. Great fun.

KONGOS will be touring South Africa in December. Make sure you’re there!

“I’m Only Joking” No.1 on Tuks FM Top 30 for 2 weeks in a row

admin — Sun, 25 Sep 2011 18:45:05 +0000

Tuks FM Charts

***UPDATE*** I’m Only Joking is No. 1 on the Tuks FM Tuks FM Top 30 for the 2nd week in a row!

“I’m Only Joking” has been rising for the last 7-8 weeks and just hit No.1 on the Tuks FM Tuks FM Top 30 - the biggest rock chart in South Africa. It’s also been No. 1 on the SA Top 10 and No. 1 on the Top 20 most wanted songs on Tuks FM. Huge thanks to everyone who has been supporting us on this – we can’t wait to play Pretoria and all over SA.

Request info:
Studio: 012 362 1072
SMS: 34996
Twitter: @TuksFM1072
Facebook: facebook.com/TuksFM

Check out shows page for upcoming tour dates.

The music video is also in rotation on MK – channel 324 on DSTV in South Africa.

In case you haven’t seen it, here’s the music video:

Afrikaans article on Nuus24

admin — Wed, 07 Sep 2011 21:24:57 +0000

KONGOS se wortels in SA

by Liezl Temmingh

Read the article on Nuus24.

Read the article in English via google translation.

Kaapstad – As ‘n mens na die tromritmes aan die begin van KONGOS se liedjie “I’m only joking” luister, is dit duidelik dat die musiekgroep se wortels steeds in Afrika vasgeanker is. En ek waarborg jou jy’t nog nooit ‘n trekklavier só gehoor nie.

Die koorgedeelte van die liedjie is aansteeklik en neem tans Suid-Afrikaanse radiostasies soos Tuks FM en 5FM se klankgolwe oor.

Tot die meeste mense se verbasing het die manne van KONGOS in Suid-Afrika grootgeword en ‘n paar jaar gelede na die VSA verhuis.

Nuus24 het met hulle gesels en uitgevind wie agter die KONGOS-bohaai sit.

KONGOS bestaan uit Johnny (30), Jesse (28), Dylan (25) en Daniel Kongos (22) – vier broers wat deur hul pa, John Kongos, bestuur word.

Hul pa, wat in Johannesburg gebore is en daar grootgeword het, is bekend vir sy liedjies “He’s Gonna Step on You” en “Tokoloshe Man”, wat in 1971 die lig gesien het.

Johnny, Jesse en Dylan is almal Londen-babas, terwyl Daniel in Johannesburg gebore is nadat die gesin in 1988 na Suid-Afrika verhuis het. Die familie het ‘n paar jaar later na Amerika getrek. Sedert 1996 noem die Kongos-broers Phoenix in die Amerikaanse deelstaat Arizona hul huis. Hul ma is oorspronklik van dié stad.

Die broers verwys na die Amerikaanse komediant George Carlin wanneer ek hulle uitvra oor hul hunkering na die sogenaamde American Dream.

Carlin het altyd gesê “dit word die Amerikaanse droom genoem want jy moet aan die slaap wees om dit te glo.”

“Maar, alle grappies op ‘n stokkie; Amerika is tot dusver ‘n wonderlike ervaring vir ons en dit voel steeds soos ‘n land van geleenthede,” vertel die groep.

Die broers sê hulle het nog nie weer ‘n draai in Suid-Afrika gemaak nie.

“Ons is eintlik nog nie terug vandat ons in ’96 verlaat het nie. Ons het skool klaargemaak, onsself probeer vestig en die musiekgroep aan die gang gekry. Voordat ons weer ons oë kon uitvee is vyftien jaar verby…”

Volgens die groep is hulle “baie opgewonde” om uiteindelik terug te keer, want dit was “gans te lank!”

Musiekliefhebbers kan uitsien na ‘n Suid-Afrikaanse toer in Desember/Januarie. Die manne is nog besig om uit te werk waar en wanneer hulle gaan optree.

KONGOS sê hulle verlang baie na die reënboognasie. Hulle verlang veral na die goeie vriende wat hulle hier gemaak het.

Een van hul gunsteling-herinneringe is toe hulle gesien het hoe die Springbokke die Wêreldbeker-rugbytoernooi in 1995 gewen het. The Rolling Stones se optrede by Ellispark sal hulle ook lank bybly.

Die broers het ook die geleentheid gehad om oudpres. Nelson Mandela te ontmoet toe hy destyds hul skool toegespreek het.

“En Jelly Tots! Ons verlang regtig baie na Jelly Tots,” voeg hulle vinnig by.

Die Kongos-broers erken dat hul lewe in die VSA hul Afrikaanse taalvaardighede ‘n knou toegedien het.

“Dis ‘n bietjie sleg nou,” skerts hulle in Afrikaans, alhoewel hulle nooit baie goed in die taal was nie.

“Dit kom veral handig te pas wanneer ons op die verhoog op mekaar skree en ons nie wil hê enigiemand moet ons verstaan nie. Blerrie bliksem bastard amplifier!”

I’m only joking

Volgens KONGOS het hulle die video vir “I’m only joking” heeltemal op hul eie maak werk.

“Ons het ‘n baie klein begroting gehad waarvan ‘n redelike gedeelte op pizza en bier vir die rolverdeling (meestal vriende) bestee is,” vertel hulle.

Dit het omtrent 12 ure geneem op die video te skiet. Die opname het die volgende oggend om 07:00 tot ‘n einde gekom toe ‘n klomp dronk mense in die swembad beland het. Die rede hiervoor is eenvoudig – hulle vertel die tonele waarin mense alkohol gedrink het, moes net te veel keer oorgeskiet word. Die video het wél baie voorbereiding geverg.

“Ons het dit by verskeie plekke in downtown Phoenix, Arizona, en by Tokoloshe Studios geskiet. Ons is baie bly dat die video se wêreldpremière op SABC 3 was,” vertel hulle.

KONGOS sê hulle is opgewonde om deel te vorm van die Suid-Afrikaanse musiekbedryf. “I’m only joking” verskyn saam met groepe soos Zebra and Giraffe, The Parlotones, The Graeme Watkins Project en aKing op die Just Music-album SA Hits.

“Toe ons vir die eerste keer Die Antwoord gehoor het, het ons nooit verwag dat hulle so gewild in die VSA sou wees nie…”

“Maar dis baie snaaks wanneer ons Amerikaanse vriende ons van die groep ‘Daai Aaantwerd’, soos hulle dit uitspreek, vertel.”

Maak seker jy vang KONGOS op Suid-Afrikaanse radiostasies. Die eerste vyf snitte van hul opkomende album is gratis op hul webtuiste beskikbaar.

Bly op hoogte van KONGOS se doen en late op Facebook of volg die groep op Twitter.

- Alle foto’s verskaf

Volg Nuus24 op Twitter.

- Nuus24

“I’m Only Joking” on SA Hits Compilation – OUT NOW

admin — Wed, 31 Aug 2011 20:11:19 +0000

From Just Music:

Just Music is proud to announce the release of an exciting new South African music compilation series called SA Hits.The album features the biggest names in South African music including The Parlotones, Prime Circle, Goldfish, Locnville, The Arrows, aKing, Flash Republic, Zebra & Giraffe, Goodluck, Jack Parow as well as an exclusive single from KONGOS.

The compilation is OUT NOW and available in all Musica and Look & Listen stores.

TRACKLISTING

1. THE PARLOTONES – WE CALL THIS DANCING
2. PRIME CIRCLE – NEVER GONNA BRING US DOWN
3. THE GRAEME WATKINS PROJECT – MUSIC AFFAIR
4. ZEBRA & GIRAFFE – THE END OF THE ROAD
5. AKING – THE RUNAROUND
6. THE DIRTY SKIRTS – STRIKE A MATCH
7. KONGOS – I’M ONLY JOKING
8. SHADOWCLUB – GUNS & MONEY
9. GOODLUCK – HOP ON HOP OFF
10. THE ARROWS – NO ROBOTS
11. GOLDFISH FT SAKHILE MOLESHE – WE COME TOGETHER
12. FLASH REPUBLIC – LONELY
13. LOCNVILLE – STARS ABOVE YOU
14. JAX PANIK FT NEON DON
15. CASSETTE FT JR – GO GO GO
16. JR FT JACK PARROW & DIE HEUWELS FANTASTIES – SHOW GOES ON
17. JACK PAROW – BYEVILLE
18. YOAV – GREED
19. CIVIL TWILIGHT – TEARDROP
20. TASHA BAXTER – EBB & FLOW

Live @ The Lost Leaf – It’s a Good Life

admin — Wed, 31 Aug 2011 04:02:55 +0000

It’s a Good Life – KONGOS

Live @ The Lost Leaf – Phoenix, AZ – August 19, 2011
Filmed by Derrick Ngo

Live @ The Lost Leaf – Come With Me Now

admin — Wed, 31 Aug 2011 04:00:15 +0000

Come With Me Now - KONGOS

Live @ The Lost Leaf – Phoenix, AZ – August 19, 2011
Filmed by Derrick Ngo

Live @ The Lost Leaf – I’m Only Joking

admin — Wed, 31 Aug 2011 03:57:51 +0000

I’m Only Joking - KONGOS

Live @ The Lost Leaf – Phoenix, AZ – August 19, 2011
Filmed by Derrick Ngo