Rock the boat: Blk Jks to play wild card

Experimental rock band Blk Jks, pronounced Black Jacks, are characterised by difference.

They are a group of scruffy township-bred black boys who started a rock band. Their subsequent rise to prominence was more of a series of happy accidents than the traditional hunt for a record label. Now, instead of basking alone in the glory of opening for the Foo Fighters next month, they are holding a competition to get a male vocalist up on stage with them.

Lead guitarist Mphumi Mcata said: "With the Foo Fighters thing we thought, what could we do to throw a spanner in the works and do things differently? We decided that since the Foo Fighters are having us on their stage, we should get someone else up on stage, a random kid, to do a song with us."

But their desire for difference does not stop at the end of a stage at the FNB Stadium.

A lust for diversity permeates everything they do, from how they create material to their belief in the "vicious cycle of mediocrity" that happens when bands chase sales numbers.

Said Mcata: "The structures are f**ked. There is no support for people who are chasing good work. In this country there is not enough room for developing more progressive and niche ideas and ways of being."

Said bass player Molefi Makananise: "Other bands and music styles get copied here. Local musos go to the West and come back with a bit of bling. All of a sudden people think that thing is hip and new."

In an industry where becoming a success sometimes means carefully scrubbing away any traces of a personality, the Blk Jks possess a rare mix of cool indifference towards the powers that be.

Said Mcata: "Just because someone is on the radio all the time and a certain music is what is shoved down your throat it doesn't mean that it's the best out there.

"As people, we are afraid of taking our high heels off, coming into the city and seeing real things."

Makananise added: ''We have the power to teach people to be diverse and open-minded because there are so many different things around us.

"We just have to be willing to see it."

Whether these crusaders can actually take down the corporate conformity machine is up for debate. What is not up for debate is the fact that, for as long as they have the platform to do so, the Blk Jks will continue to strive to be different and give a voice to those interested in doing the same.

• The Blk Jks will be opening for the Foo Fighters on December 13 at FNB Stadium in Johannesburg. For tickets visit www.computicket.com. For information on performing with the Blk Jks when they open for Dave Grohl and company, visit www.blkjks.co.za