Summer is on the way and so Jack Hammer take to the road again for a two week tour of the western Cape. This year marks the band’s 25th Anniversary!
To coincide with this achievement the band has released a compilation album titled “Road Works: 1984-2009”, featuring material from all the albums including the first “Jack of all Trades”(1986) to the last “Highway 13” (2008).
Much has been written about the band and the frontman Piet Botha, but one thing remains certain: this is real music. Their set at this year’s Oppikoppi festival was marked as one of the highlights of the festival.
This is an excerpt from an article published by Carina Laubscher: “It’s therefore an excellent chance to reboot at Jack Hammer & Friends – where rock-legend Piet Botha picks up the Fender and, on the spot, conquers your heart. With Johnathan Martin and Tertius du Plessis he brings the latest album Highway 13 to the crowd, and also does some tracks from The Pilgrim. Then he respectfully invites Vusi Mahlasela on stage and they both start singing – softly, with intent.
The wind in my heart
The wind in my heart
The dust in my head
The dust in my head
The wind in my heart
The wind in my heart
come to drive them away -
drive them away…
It’s The Listening Wind by Talking Heads.
The crowd is transfixed. For a few minutes the atmosphere is one of reverence. Some of the photographers lower their cameras and just stand in the pit, watching, listening. Goosebumps creep in everywhere.
The set ends way too soon, but the fans leave in a sublimely satisfied state. Jack Hammer is part of Oppikoppi like the thorn trees and dust.”
The year 2009 has been a hectic year for Jack Hammer. Normally the gigs would clock around 100 per year but this year it seems the tally would be close to 150.
In the course of the year the band has already performed at the “Up the Creek” festival in February, did a week at the Warehouse Theatre in Namibia, played in Mozambique in March and in September, toured the Cape in May, produced the “Jack Hammer Jamboree” show in July as well as performing at their regular gigs in and around Gauteng.
“ This is what we do. We go out and play.”
Over the years Jack Hammer have built up a huge circle of friends in the Cape and usually one would find them returning to the same venues time and time again. This tour is no exception. The midweek dates will feature Piet Botha and longtime associate Johnathan Martin performing the repertoire “Unplugged” and the weekend gigs will feature the full band. The line-up of the band has remained intact over the last 12 years or so, featuring “The Duke” on drums and “Bean” on bass, Piet aka “Hammer” on guitar, vocals and harp and Johno on guitar and vocals.
The repertoire keeps evolving as the band produces new albums but also includes many old favourites from a vast selection of original and cover songs. As of late there has been a strong Johnny Cash influence that has crept in, but the band’s original blues/country/ rock sound has remained intact over the years.
The tour kicks off with a show at “Die Ou Meulteater”( The Old Mill Theatre) in Paarl on Wednesday October 7th, followed by Dorpstreet Theatre on Thursday 8th. Then off to Gordons Bay where they are at one of their all time favourite venues “Berties Moorings” on the Friday.
The rest of the tour:
Saturday October 10th: Die Plaasteater, Kuilsrivier
Sunday October 11th: Die Boer, Durbanville
Wednesday October 14th: The Viper Lounge, Table View
Thursday October 15th: Seaside Blues, Melkbos
Friday October 16th: Gecko Bar, Hermanus
Saturday October 17th: To be announced
Sunday October 18th: Bart’s in Somerset West with special guests Akkedis
Website: www.jackhammer.co.za
Piet Botha from Jack Hammer
Posted by Brian Currin 
Posted by Brian Currin 
Posted by Brian Currin 
