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Loving SA madly
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November 17, 2009
 By Sally Scott
"We did this big show at House of Blues on Sunset in LA, with Counting Crows and the Strokes. Anyway, next night we watched Stevie Wonder.
"We're standing in this VIP section with Britney, Beyoncé, Leonardo - and there's this short little man called Prince at the bar. I thought, how the hell did we get into this super exclusive show? To this day Brett and I still talk about it. I sobbed from beginning to end."
Just Jinjer frontman, Ard Matthews is recalling one helluva LA night. (Yes, it is Ard not Art. Matthews' father named him Ard and, as a kid, he could not quite get his head around the name, but now he has grown into it.)
The band have returned from a lengthy sojourn living and working in Los Angeles.
For Just Jinjer, this is home and it rocks, particularly the fans.
The first time I watched Just Jinjer was in a creaky marquee, on Durban's Bluff. Matthews' family still lives there and he has property in the area.
It was high summer, from the crammed marquee condensed collective sweat was pouring from the ceiling. Nice.
Earlier this year I was in London, in a posh, skyscraper. Three sharply dressed Brit execs were discussing a gig.
"Just Jinjer are playing!"
"Then we have to go."
The SA music industry is renowned for making a fuss of overseas musos, while, often, ignoring what is right under their noses - extraordinary talent.
Historically our rock bands and solo guitarists, in particular, seem to get short shrift. Many look overseas for recognition and a decent return on their efforts. At least, enough to make sure the requirement for a day job never arrives.
Thankfully, of late, labels, record producers, radio stations and others who should be punting local talent may be getting their act into gear. Cynically, with the likes of the Parlotones and Prime Circle doing so well, one wonders whether it's more visions of dollars than local is lekker .
Still, via hard slog, kicking off with the 1997 debut album All Comes Round, and, of course, outstanding Ard Matthews-penned songs such as Like You Madly, Shallow Waters, Paradise in Summertime and, of late, the powerful ballad, What He Means (it went gold here), Just Jinjer have been one of SA's success stories.
Meanwhile, Matthews, drummer Brent Harris and bass Denholm Harding, have been, slowly but surely making their mark in the US, but, there are great things about SA which just can't be replicated.
Hence, along with supermodel girlfriend, Landi Swanepoel (yes, in true rock god fashion, two years ago frontman Ard nabbed the Hepburn-like Peroni girl, from that classy black and white advert) - Matthews has settled in Cape Town, "indefinitely".
"We'll still tour. We're back in the States early next year to promote What He Means, but South Africa is home.
Two weeks ago, in SA, they released the EP Milk and Honies.
Why an EP? Matthews explains, the band have "a bit of a backlog with previous tracks, recorded two years ago, but not released in the States as yet. These are new tracks and this will be our only SA release for now. We don't want to release a full album here yet and confuse other territories".
After various attempts with other labels including Capitol (in 2003), the band are now "very happy" to be on the well established Curb label, which is releasing Just Jinjer's music internationally.
Just Jinjer, December 3, Pietermaritzburg, Golden Horse Casino. Tickets R85-R100 Computicket, gate R120. Phone 033 395 8000 and December 4, Durban: Northwood Crusaders Sports Club. Tickets R120 Computicket, R150 gate. 031 563 0824. Both shows 7pm.
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