IT ENDS HERE
The Old World that is…south of here there be monsters…I believe Melbourne and Buenos Aires are further south, but…I’m not one to let the record holder diminish my appreciation of an achievement, place, or object. So, I have been exploring and observing Cape Town with REM, with the added bonus of a visting Dom, and letting the many images and contradictions roll on into my senses…I have to admit, it’s some of the most dramatic geography I’ve seen…Cape Town, at least where I’m staying, seems like a land of many malls…it all looks built yesterday, but yesterday was the Expo in Vancouver 86. Like many Australian cities, the gleaming white, too clean to be believed Cape Town, with all its shifting dynamics, varied (but individually isolated, largely) cultures, seems to be gripping with a fragile toehold on a lonely landscape that just wants to be left alone. But…that’s not to write off the country in any way, it’s just hard to ignore the size and freshness of the band aids applied here. And I fully acknowledge that in the US, the cultural dynamics are temporarily gridlocked, with little interest to stimulate real power sharing among communities and businesses and religious groups…at least here, they are obligated by law to represent the various populations in business, politics, and culture (and thus often motivated to do the minimum to dodge the statutes)… it’s really just another view of true human nature, which is ultimately tribal, whether your tribe is the Romanian community in Newark NJ or your golf buddies. You go with what you know, and leave the others alone. It’s just that…except many times, others aren’t left alone at all and you get all the conflicts we have in this world now…mostly tribal/xenophobic in nature. Your preemptive strikes.
Whew. Listen, generally, I am just another asshole with a blog. My opinion is just another sliver in the white noise cavalcade.
I gotta move on…I’ve met great people here, seen the most famous sights (the Cap de Bonne Esperance, the beach where penguins do their thing while you do yours), had brilliant food and wine…and the REM shows were sweaty, fun, and obviously long-awaited…
According to some, my solo show this Saturday (March 12) at the Blues Room in Johannesburg is already sold out…BUT if you read this and want to go, I have a feeling there’s always room for one more…go to www.bluesroom.co.za/ for info…
My New Zealand solo dates are on, April 16 at the King’s Arms in Auckland (Phone: (09)373-3240. Fax: (09)309 8108. Email: kingsarms@hotmail.com), and April 17 at the Matterhorn in Wellington (00 644 384 3359). Australia KS solo dates coming soon…
So…I suggest a bit of rest on this day…for those of you with the opportunity, enjoy it…
Love
KS
Cape Town, SOUTH AFRICA
