After Wonderland – Back To Basics
It’s Tuesday, but it feels like Monday. Long haul after a party weekend.
We started off the Long Easter weekend with a Parlotones gig at a venue called Sognage in Randburg. It reminds me of the late Roxys Rhythm Bar In Melville. Multiple levels and bars. The audience is a mixture of grey hair, kids and drunk people. We step backstage to say hello to the boys. Kahn Morbee and Glen Hodgson now live in the Netherlands. Good for them. There are fewer potholes there, but also less familiar faces. Guitarist Paul Hodgson stands backstage in yellow print baggies, barefoot, like he has just popped in from a day outing at the beach. Paul is funny and genuine, a real down-to-earth guy who lives for his guitar pedals and his strings. I love that about him. No bad bones.
Since The Parlotones quieter days after 2 members emigrated, Paul has joined a new female-fronted band called After Wonderland. They have 3 singles out, ‘Roses’, ‘StraitJacket’ and the latest one ‘Sleepless At Night’. It’s a genre that shows their age, steeped in 90’s guitar rock pop. Lead singer Rixie Campbell has a strong vocal, somewhat reminiscent of Dolores from The Cranberries when she hits the high notes. The lyrics have a dark undertone, coupled with a bouncy guitar, which is always the best recipe. Darkness covered in syrup. After having a chat with an old Rhodes friend on WhatsApp recently (morosely) about the state of the music industry and clutter in the social media and radio industry, a late night whats app voice message from Paul telling me how he loves it so much is light and inspiring.
Playing music, in whatever form, puts the skip in his step and fills up his coke and brandewyn cup. He tells me this new band reminds him of the early Parlotones days playing stages barely big enough for all 4 members. It’s the glimmer in the non glamour and the pure joy of playing to small audiences who remember what music is all about and who have grit under their fingertips. It’s about grungy beer-stained club floors, dragging your own heavy amp in to the club yourself and tuning your own guitar. No roadies, no fuss, just honest down to earth love for the craft.
Perhaps After Wonderland is where we all strive to go back to and remain. You should check them out. They’re becoming a fixture on the live underground scene and are writing new music all the time.
After Wonderland was formed in 2021. After a couple of band member changes on bass and drums the band finally formed into what it is now: Rixie Campbell, Paul Hodgson, Lee-Roy Handley, and Pochung Chen.
You can find more info https://afterwonderlandband.com/ and maybe if you’re feeling brave enough to venture the after dark JHB streets, catch a gig or two. They are also playing at the new Rock festival Misty Waters on 26 – 28 April.
Review: Captain Painter Jane (Joanne O)
