The Drums to rock Mzansi

Khaya Ngwenya City Press

MANDATORY BYLINE, Picture: Khaya Ngwenya City Press 121112 Drama as principal appears in court on rape charges.

There is a saying that’s become popular over the past few years: Indie Is the New Major.

If the Adidas Originals Live Performance Series brought to South Africa by social blog, We-Are-Awesome, is any indication, the saying is somewhat true.

The third event in the adidas Originals Live Performance Series will see indie band, The Drums, headline gigs in Cape Town and Jozi. Sorry, Durbs.

Like Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, who were the inter-national act in the first series or Little Dragon, who headlined the sold-out second event, The Drums have quite a following in this country. The Brooklyn, New York, band has endured many a shuffling of group members. Right now, the band is made up of singer Jonny Pierce, drummer Connor Hanwick who now also plays guitar while guitarist Jacob Graham is in charge of the synthesisers. Their self-titled debut album was released the same year that South Africa hosted the soccer World Cup. Their follow-up, Portamento, came out last year. Pierce said their first offering incorporated an “air of innocence. We were obsessed with vintage Americana sort of things. There were personal moments on the first album and EP, but it was very idea driven and conceptual. We wanted it to be cinematic. A scene from a movie, if you will”.

“Now that’s gone,” he said. “The new album, it’s like every song is a scene from real life. I think from beginning to end it’s sort of autobiographical for me. I was able to be alone for a lot of this, and really write about myself. “This new album touches on everything from

my extreme religious roots to transgenderism to violence, and of course there’s plenty of heartbreak stuff.”

The Drums have since toured all over Asia, Europe and America and this weekend, it’s Mzansi’s turn. The indie-pop band will headline the concerts while indie-kwela-pop group, Desmond And The Tutus, will be one of the supporting acts. Others include Cape Town band, The Future Primitives as well as Black Handed Kites.

• Catch The Drums at Carlton Sky Rink inside Carlton Centre, 150 Commissioner Street, Joburg, on November 16. They will also perform at the Cape Town Market on 110 Gunners Circle in Epping on November 17. Tickets R350 at www.webtickets.co.za