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Written by Errol Bong
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Uprising... Through the Eyes of BongErrol Bong - 7 Aug 2008, 00:00
http://www.levi.co.za/MusicMag/Category/Detail/Detail.aspx?ID=700
The Uprising Festival:Wavehouse@Gateway Shopping Centre, Umhlanga, KZN
Here's a synopsis, as promised, of the bands and musicians I saw and heard, those who stuck in my memory, at Uprising 2008. I was really looking forward to playing this event and being at the wonderful venue, so I did not pay attention to every band or artist.
Avatar - This was the first band I heard that made an immediate impact to my senses. This band is mostly made up by the famous Fataar family. I can't quite place the music they play into a particular category, but I must tell you what I heard and saw. No bass player, (apparently they do have one - shame on him for not making this gig!) did not show - and no drummer, but two guys doing beatbox, instead, which added an unusual and interesting twist. Things that stuck in my mind: a brilliant guitarist, Steve Fataar, who was probably the most relaxed experienced and soulful player I have seen in many years. I have seen many years, incidentally. He totally looked so at one with his instrument and never once did the big shredding thing that most guitarists of his caliber would want to pride themselves in accomplishing during a gig. He didn't have to, he just sat on this constant wave of rhythm, harmony, melody that is hard to describe in the real world of music - he was truly the epitome of what each song required - he never tried to showcase himself, but instead melded everything that the band was producing into beautiful music. His daughter, Tara, was on lead vocals and really shows all the talent of being a world-class soul-diva.
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There
are few musicians in this country as talented as Tara Fataar. You could
tie her hands behind her back, gag her with a Hessian rope and spin her
around a million times whilst blasting her eardrums with Celine Dion
played backwards and she would still blow you away with her perfect
pitch, complicated meter and dexterous lyrical content. She is by all
accounts a star no matter which way you look at it.