Get the new single "Time" by Mark Haze, featuring Theo Crous, on iTunes today!

Mark Haze's new single "Time", featuring Theo Crous, is available on iTunes! You can buy it here:

https://itunes.apple.com/za/album/time-feat.-theo-crous-single/id657822743

The song, recorded at Bellville Studios and produced by Theo Crous, who also did the guitar work on the song, has been featured in a national TV commercial campaign by South African insurance company, Outsurance. Here's the ad if you want to see it:

www.outsurance.co.za/ads/revolution/

And here's the single artwork:

Image source: http://instagram.com/p/eSAlVcNif6/

Mark Haze - Where Angels Fear to Fly - Official Music Video

Some East Coast memories

The band just finished our East Coast Tour and it was loads of fun. Thank you to everyone who came out to the shows in spite of the stormy weather. You people are amazing!

Here are a few behind the scenes photos* from the tour. I'll be adding photos from our recent trip to Malawi soon as well as other randoms. Keep checking in for more updates.

Me, ready to hit the road!

Bjorn getting his geek on.

One of the many great landscapes along the way.

Setting up my kit for the first show of the tour in Port Elizabeth.

Mark hanging out before sound check in Port Elizabeth.

We played a lot of hacky sack to pass the time.

Brian feeling the long drive.

Philip, our sound engineer, did most of the driving.

Bjorn playing some guitar while Mark did a radio interview in Port Elizabeth.

Me, playing around with my in-ears backstage in East London.

Mark and I playing some Mario Kart in Jeffreys Bay.

Philip and Bjorn tuning up guitars backstage in Queenstown.

Mark getting ready to go on stage in East London.

Catching a nap on the bus.

Mark checking out t-shirts at the Tamboekie Festival, Queenstown.

The band goofing off backstage in East London.

*All photos by Nicci Hayden

A few photos from tour

As you know, my band's on tour. Tomorrow, we fly to Malawi to play the Moon Rock Festival and then on Tuesday, we drive up the East Coast of SA to play a bunch of shows. I'm hoping to do a tour diary of the East Coast trip that I'll post either during or after that leg, depending on connectivity. For now, here are a few photos from the current tour that I snatched up from our manager's Instagram account. (Thanks Nicci!)*

Live on stage at Die Boer Theatre - We played 2 nights there to kick off the tour.

Bjorn on the way to a show.

Me laying on the cheese during sound check.

Finalising stage setup before sound check.

Brian "slappin da BASS". He says that's his setlist on his iPad, but he's actually just reading comics.

We had a great crowd at this show.

So happy to have my Yamaha kit on the road with me.

I'm surprised no one tried to swing from the chandelier above the crowd.

Bjorn rocking out.

Mark can sing with his eyes closed. Legend!

Quite a trippy photo of us on stage.

Band and crew (minus Philip, our sound engineer) hanging out at the merch table after a show.

*All photos taken by Nicci Hayden

Tour starts tomorrow!

My band's hitting the road again. Check out our upcoming shows below:

This weekend's shows

27 & 28 Sept: Double Trouble at Die Boer, Durbanville

Entrance: R90.00 per night.
Bookings are essential, as limited tables are available:
021 979 1911/ 083 406 0111/ navrae@dieboer.com
http://www.facebook.com/events/446565955375052/
------------------------
29 Sept: XS Music Festival, Nasrec Expo Centre, Johannesburg
Tickets: http://online.computicket.com/web/event/xs_music_festival/630138369

http://www.xsmusicfest.co.za/
------------------------
5 Oct: Ou Meul Teater, Paarl
Book: 083 564 0056.
------------------------
 6 Oct: Buckley's Bellville
------------------------
12 Oct: Moon-Rock Festival 2012, Chintheche Inn, Northern Lakeshore, Malawi

East Coast Tour

Mark Haze East Coast Tour:

17 Oct: The Music Kitchen, Port Elizabeth
Tickets: R100.00
Book: 041 364 1964
------------------------
18 Oct: The Jam Shack Theatre & Function Venue, East London
Tickets: R100.00
Book: 072 225 7120

------------------------
19 Oct: Tamboekie Festival, Queenstown
Tickets: TBC
Book: TBC
------------------------
20 Oct: The Mexican JBay, Jeffrey's Bay
Tickets: Ladies R30.00 / Gents R50.00
Book: 042 293 2966
------------------------
21 Oct: Barnyard Theatre Mossel Bay, Mossel Bay
Tickets: R100.00
Book: 044 698 1022

Brought to you by:
- Universal Music SA
- Nicci Hayden - Travel Counsellor
- Yamaha Music South Africa
- Paul Bothner Music www.bothners.co.za
- Holiday Autos South Africa

See you at the next show!

27 Oct: Fairmont Community Festival, Fairmont High School, Durbanville
https://www.facebook.com/events/303733219724060/

31 Oct: Jamrock Theatre, Brackenfell
https://www.facebook.com/events/504364659591701/

More dates to follow for November/December

Mark Haze - "Where Angels Fear To Fly" - also available from iTunes and Amazon online stores

Mark Haze Music Videos, Tour Dates & More!

My band released a music video for our single "Alone" recently, which is now showing on several TV stations across the country. It was directed by Marnus Tredoux from Magic Hour Productions. If you haven't yet seen it, click the link below to watch it on Youtube.

"Alone" by Mark Haze

A shot from the music video for "Alone" by Mark Haze

If you liked the video, please show us some love by voting for it on the MK Top 10 chart. You can do it here: http://mk.dstv.com/category/top10. You can vote as many times as you like!

Don't forget to catch us on tour this Spring/Summer. We're playing shows in Durbanville, Bellville,  Paarl, Cape Town, Brackenfell, Johannesburg, Durban, Port Elizabeth, East London, Jeffrey's Bay, Queenstown, Mossel Bay, Namibia, Malawi and more!

All our tour dates can be found at http://www.markhaze.com

If you haven't been to one of our shows, check out what it is all about in the video below.  This video for "Shake What Your Mama Gave You" was created by Dylan Haskin using live footage from one of our Cape Town shows. Click the link below to view it on Youtube.

"Shake What Your Mama Gave You" by Mark Haze

A shot from the music video for  "Shake What Your Mama Gave You" by Mark Haze

The latest Mark Haze album "Where Angels Fear To Fly" is available through Universal Music at all major South African music retailers, as well as on iTunes and Amazon online stores. Don't forget to request our latest single "Wake Up (Dreaming of You)" on your local radio station.

Lastly, you can "like" us on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/markhaze12 and follow us on Twitter - Mark Haze: @MarkHaze12, Gareth Haze: @GarethHaze12, Bjorn Faree: @BjornFaree12 & Brian Lee: @brianlee12A

Backstage passes

Continuing in showing off my collection of partially focused cellphone photography, I snapped a few pics of some backstage passes I've collected from various shows I've played or been involved in somehow. Check it out!

 

 

Hard Rock Cafe - Cape Town - 1999

I was only 11 when this show happened, but I got this backstage pass when I went to the soundcheck with my uncle, whose band headlined the event. It was the New Year's Eve/Millennium Party and it was also my first visit to the Hard Rock Cafe. 

 

 

 

Lanners Landing - Klapmuts - 2002 or 2003

One of the most intense shows I've been to. This took place before I joined 12th Avenue. I was working as a roadie/lighting technician (underage labour) for the band at the time. The crowd was so crazy that someone picked up a monitor from the front of the stage and passed it around the crowd!

 

 

 

 

 

Southern Exposure Festival - Observatory - 2003

 My first (unofficial) show with 12th Avenue. Their drummer at the time had hurt his hand and I filled in for him.

"Crazy" EP Launch - Mercury Live - Cape Town - 2005

Our first EP launch was a major DIY effort. We had these passes made for the band and crew and spent the entire night before the show inserting the CD sleeves into the cases, as we printed the first set of discs ourselves.

"Crazy" Tour - 2006

My second tour with 12th Avenue, which included my first trip up the Garden Route.

RAMFest - Rawsonville - 2007

We played the opening night of the inaugural RAMFest outdoor festival. It rained really hard for most of the night, but stopped when we hit the stage, and we got the funniest stares ever from the late night staff at the local KFC. I suppose we asked for it showing up in our stage clothes...

"Rock N Roll Circus" Tour - 2007

Much of this tour is a blur to me. I do, however, remember falling asleep for a few seconds on stage in Durban, due to pure exhaustion,  as well as Mark and I having to ice our feet after walking on hot tarmac to the beach.

Seether SA Tour - 2008

Nights 1 & 2 of Seether's "Homecoming" tour. Good times!

Seether SA Tour - 2008

The venue for the Durban show didn't have enough space for dressing rooms for the support acts, so Shaun from Seether was cool enough to share their room (and their food) with everyone. 

Seether SA Tour - 2008

Final night of the Seether tour. What a party!

FIFA World Cup FanFest - 2010

 We were selected to play four shows at the various Cape Town FIFA FanFests. We met some fun football fanatics (alliteration...nice) at those shows.

Random Festival - 2010 or 2011

I don't actually remember what show this is from, but I thought it was cool that the promoter made custom passes for each band.

Mark Haze makes Idols SA TOP 10!

A huge congratulations to my brother, Mark Haze, on making it into the TOP 10 on Idols South Africa! Well done, dude! If you're not already aware, Mark is the lead singer in our band, 12th Avenue. The band is super proud of Mark's achievements so far and hope you'll vote for him in the next stages of the competition.

To vote for Mark on Idols, SMS 08 to 37400 when the voting lines are open on Sundays. You can also vote 100 times each week on Mxit by adding the M-Net application through Tradepost.

Here's a clip of the Top 15 performing together. Mark opens the song and shows off some of his guitar skills:

http://www.dstv.com/mnet/idolsSA/Video/Play.aspx?vid=7502

Well done, bro! Keep it up. :)

Mark Haze - Idols SA - Top 15 Performance

Check out this video of my brother, and band's lead singer, Mark Haze! It is his Idols South Africa Top 15 performance of "Sweet Child O' Mine" by Guns 'N Roses.

http://www.dstv.com/mnet/idolsSA/Video/Play.aspx?vid=7133&AdCategoryId=0

Mark totally rocked the song! But, as is the nature of this type of competition, he needs YOUR votes to get to the next round and continue performing on the show.

The public has until 10pm C.A.T tonight (25/07/2011) to get their votes in for Mark Haze.

Mark Haze - Vote for him on Idols SA!

You can get all the details on 12th Avenue's website - http://www.12thavenueband.com


Thanks to everyone who has been voting already and for all the support that you've been showing to Mark on Facebook and Twitter.

You all rock! Now, let's get my bro into the Top 10!!!

This took me all day...sort of.

I've had this window open all day on my pc and have only decided to start typing now. It's been a busy day, and I am very hungry. My awesome lunch was just not enough to sustain me and now I require something more. At least I don't have to fend for myself tonight. My parents are feeding me tonight (Good behaviour rewards... hehe!), so the kitchen and surrounding areas will be clean for another day until I release my next wave of messy cooking terror.

After what is sure to be an epic dinner, I have rehearsal with 3/4 of 12th Avenue. Mark Haze is up in Johannesburg, as he has made it to the Idols SA TOP 15! Well done, brother. We're behind you all the way. :) I'll post links to all of Mark's Idols videos whenever a new one is uploaded. Check my blog's archives for his first three performances in the competition so far.

While Mark's away, we're busy working on a few new songs. There's nothing super solid down just yet, but we've got some cool ideas. Bjorn, in particular, has been doing quite a bit of writing and has some really nice musical cards up his sleeve. :)

In other news, Nicole and I are embracing the nomadic existence again, and are housesitting for her brother, who is living it up in London for a few weeks. Craig, if you're reading this...t-shirts from Camden Town. That's all I have to say. :p Also, we're helping out as leaders at Youth Alpha at our church, which I think is going to be a very awesome experience. That starts this weekend. Hold thumbs that I don't influence any kids badly. I'm a good person. I just shout at people when I drive, that's all. :)

And...I think that's about it. No more news. Tune into CNN if you want anything more. :) Oh, but if you do want to make me very happy, then please please pleeeeeeeeease be the fantastic people that you are and "Like" my band, 12th Avenue, as well as my brother/singer/dude who's helping to make me famous by dominating in Idols SA, Mark Haze, on Facebook. It'll really mean a lot to me if you do this. I might just share my chocolate with you...Okay, I won't, but that's beside the point. Just do it!! :)

Mark Haze performs with The Parlotones on Idols South Africa

We've declared Sundays as Mark Haze Day! - My band, 12th Avenue, is so proud of our singer and brother, Mark Haze, who has been giving some amazing performances on Idols South Africa so far.

Check out the link below to see him performing with The Parlotones on the show.

http://www.dstv.com/mnet/idolsSA/Video/Play.aspx?vid=6036&AdCategoryId=0

To keep up with Mark's progress, keep checking out my blog and also be sure to check out the following sites:

www.markhaze.com
www.12thavenueband.com

And don't forget that when your share all your Mark Haze related news and comments on Twitter, make sure you use the Official #TeamMarkHaze hashtag!

More updates coming again soon. For now, 12th Avenue are writing new material, while Mark tears it up on the Idols stage. :)

Mark Haze's Idols Top 100 group performance

Check out this link! It's my brother, and 12th Avenue's lead singer, Mark Haze, doing his Top 100 group performance on Idols South Africa. They performed "Fat Bottomed Girls" by Queen.

http://www.dstv.com/mnet/idolsSA/Video/Play.aspx?vid=5836&AdCategoryId=61

Enjoy it, and keep following his progress on DSTV Channels 101 and 170 (HD) every Sunday at 17:30 and Channel 199 for all the highlights every day.

Listen up!

Firstly, 12th Avenue have released a new single - "Taking My Heart With You", featuring the vocal talents of our guitarist, Bjorn Faree! Listen to it on the SoundCloud player below:

Taking My Heart With You by 12thAvenue

In other news,  I hosted a drum workshop last night, with the help of Mark Haze and Brian Lee, where we discussed playing in studio, preparing for recording, different styles used on our albums, and drumming in general. It was very well received. A big thank you to Paul Bothner Music, our sponsors, who arranged the event. I'm looking forward to doing something like this again.

Mark heads up to Johannesburg soon to continue his journey on Idols South Africa. The Top 100 round will be aired this Sunday at 17:30 CAT on M-Net - DSTV Channel 101 & 170 (HD). Check it out, as you might just see Mark perform a few more songs. Keep following his progress on Idols and check out his website - www.markhaze.com

Do not fear, as 12th Avenue, will still be alive and kicking when he's away. Even though we won't be touring during this time, the rest of us are still going to be meeting up regularly to rehearse and write new material. So once Mark's back from dominating on Idols, we'll be able to play a few shows for all of you. Hooray! :)

That's all for now. I'm going to check out Transformers 3 next week. Will let you know what I thought and maybe talk a bit of nonsense about movies, since I haven't done that in a while.

Keep no secrets, tell no lies

"There are some people who say you shouldn't mix politics and music, sports and politics. Well... I think that's kinda bull****!"

- Adam Clayton, U2.  [Just prior to Star Spangled Banner/Bullet the Blue Sky - U2 - "Rattle and Hum" - The Movie]

I'm not really into politics, but I'm very much into freedom of speech and freedom of media. I'm also very much against greed, corruption and dishonest or unethical practice.

I feel that as a musician, who intends on having my music, and therefore my views, heard by the public; it's my responsibility to get involved where I can in speaking out against injustice. I'm not trying to be a political musician, but as the opening quote states, I'd just be BSing myself and everyone else, if I didn't get involved.

That's why I've signed the petition against South Africa's secrecy bill on Avaaz.org and I think you should too. If you value freedom of speech and transparency within government, then I urge you to sign up too. 

As Rage Against the Machine said, "Take the power back!"

Stand up for your rights and sign the petition here: http://www.avaaz.org/en/south_africa_stop_the_secrecy_bill/

Mark Haze on Idols South Africa

Check out this clip of my brother, and 12th Avenue's lead singer's audition on Idols South Africa. He's through to the next round at Sun City!

http://www.dstv.com/mnet/idolsSA/Video/Play.aspx?vid=3365&AdCategoryId=53

Follow his progress on M-Net (DSTV Channel 101), M-Net HD (170) and Idols Extra (199).