Brett Newski and Jon Shaban Just Friends at Hell’s Kitchen
An overcast, rainy and moody Johannesburg was the backdrop for the final show, held at Hell’s Kitchen in Melville, of Jon Shaban and Brett Newski’s tour. The ambience was aptly in keeping, true to the time and area, with that of the original venue from which it takes its name.
Brett, an American musician, first toured South Africa, after having met Matt Vend in Vietnam approximately 10 years ago, and has since returned to South Africa about 7 times. On that first tour he met Jon and from there, their friendship was cemented. It’s quite interesting to see how his touring has changed over these years, receiving a far warmer reception and having built up a solid fan base coming out to his shows.
Jon, better known as the frontman of The Shabs, has been on the live music scene for the better part of two decades. He is based in Cape Town, as both individual performer and band artist, and as producer. He embarked on a tour with Brett, starting in Cape Town and ending in Melville. That being said, this was certainly a calmer approach to touring than the bordering on manic pace which they are more accustomed to; even finding the time to try their hands at some surfing and fishing.
Few independent artists can claim to have toured as extensively and as widely as Brett. However, like most independent artists, he has had to dabble in other realms to make his tours possible: From being a booking agent; promoter; album labeller; podcast host; merchandise manufacturer; to now, a first-time author of his debut publication: “It’s Hard to Be a Person: Defeating Anxiety, Surviving the World, and Having More Fun.” Perhaps, in reflecting on this, he has highlighted that being an American there is perceived to be a greater focus on output and pace – aspects which have led to him having overworked and over-produced at the expense of relationships and his overall mental health. This is possibly more prominent in the tough industry of live music. The book is a reflection of some of these challenges while engaging in difficult and complicated subject matter in an honest but humorous manner, in congruence with him as a person. In saying that, this is also one of the great appeals that South Africa holds for him, with its slower pace. He jokes about looking to invest in a Tree Fort here.
The South African Hell’s Kitchen has been in existence since 2014, basing its aesthetic on the New York district of the same name back in the 1920’s in its ‘speakeasy’ fashion. It is located almost at the top of the vibrant 7th Street in Melville, and is very much a part of the area’s trendy resurgence. The venue itself is no stranger to live music over the weekends, with Julian often hosting the Discovrtv performances. The show was filmed for one of these sessions, hopefully to be aired soon.
The show, much like the tour as a whole, has been a tribute to friendship, and specifically the friendship which exists been Jon and Brett. Throughout the show both would meander in and out of the other’s set, joining in for a song or two and ultimately having a great time. They played songs from across their catalogues, from treating the crowd to old alternative folk favourites of theirs to some of their newer and less familiar material. Perhaps what stood out for me the most was the manner in which they were able to make a fairly full venue seem more intimate and hospitable; as though it was a group of friends, all known to each other, listening to some friends jamming out. This all happened before Brett was set to head out on tour again across the United States of America; followed by a European tour; with a new music video soon to be released. Maybe a short recharge is just what the doctor ordered: To have a little more fun before getting back to the grind.
