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Muso of the Moment

AFTER WONDERLAND - THE SOUND OF MAGIC

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  WHAT COMES AFTER WONDERLAND?  WHY, MAGIC OFCOURSE!  By RubySage 6 November 2026   Meeting and working with After Wonderland and in particular, Rixie Campbell came as a breath of fresh air.  Her song writing style appeals and resonates and leaves me wanting more, with songs like 'Petty Song', 'Girl of your dreams' ( to mention only a couple)  and their very latest  release, dropping on Friday, 13 November, 'Beautiful Heights'.  Truely mind bending, alluring and mezmerising singles, to say the least!  A more humble, honest and pure soul I am yet to come accross in the music industry, yet oozing sassy spunky vibes with a flair for sarcasm and magic all at once, Rixie soon became a special lady in my eyes and someone who inspires me!    I was fortunate to have them on the line up at one of the music festivals I hosted a while back, and not only was I blown away by their mindaltering (in all the best kind of ways) music, but also ...

BLUES ROCK PHENOMONON - THE WELLS AND BARR TRAVISTY

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  READY TO BE ROCKED BY THE BEST IN BLUES ROCK ON THE BLOCK ?  THE WELL AND BARR TRAVESTY By RubySage 23 October 2026 Picture this… three best friends… one common denominator  - the love of music.   If you haven’t heard these guys play and if you haven't experienced the pure wonder of watching them perform. Then I suggest you do! Their performance, a carefully put together combination of select covers and noteworthy and incredibly memorable originals, is one that will leave you wanting more! This three piece band is one that stands out among many and demonstrates the wholsome quality of tight knit friendship, evident on and off stage.      With an ever developing and evolving blues rock sound, growing into something unique that they can proudly call their own, is the up and coming sound sensation, namely, The wells and Barr Travesty.   I consider myself very fortunate to have come across this band of incredible musos.  This was,  a year ...

BEHIND EVERY GREAT GIG IS A STEVE!

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NO SOUND. NO GLORY. THE STEVE STORY By RubySage 16 October 2026 A. J’s Pub could just as well be labeled as a landmark in Weltevredenpark where locals , along with many musos and music lovers travelling from near and far are sure to be found.  And one of their many charms is the wizard behind the wall of sound.  Here you’ll find the guy who hears things that you don’t and makes your ears happy.  Steve Greenwood.    S teve Greenwood needs no introduction.  So I’ll spare you a history lesson in which you are more than likely well versed when it comes to this legend.  I will however share one of my own fond experiences in working with Steve.  I have had the pleasure of working with Steve on many occasions  and have always, as we all have, complimented and thanked him for awesome sound after a gig. - that’s a bit of an understatement - rant and rave about the awesome sound would be a more accurate account.  One Saturday night, not so long ag...

MCBRIDE ON MIDGETS, MUSIC AND REMARKABLE MOMENTS

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 MCBRIDE ON MIDGETS, MUSIC AND REMARKABLE MOMENTS  By RubySage 2 October 2026 I will never forget meeting Sean McBride, the voice of #jollingwithseanmcbride on BurgStudo.Online.  It was just over three and a bit years ago at ,what was then , Studio 69.  It was lateish into the evening and I was filled to the brim with Tequilla induced confidence.   I had, (obviously) previously listened to his show and when we were introduced, I commented on his awesome show, followed by , " There is just one thing missing on your show....ME!" ...and so...Ruby's Review was born.  Now, a good three years later and still going strong, I discovered that I, infact did not know as much as I imagined I did about Sean Mc Bride. ...and, apprently, Im not the only one...  This was discovered a few weeks ago at a gig I hosted.  The Hot and Happening band, Midget Submarine was on the line up and when it came time for them to play...who jumps onto the drums and kills it...

BORN FREE WITH LATER ALLIGATOR

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 BORN FREE WITH LATER ALLIGATOR   By RubySage 18 September 2026 After a good six month to a year of nagging, hinting and gentle reminders, the good news finally found its way to me... Later Alligator released their first single , "Born Free ".     Crowd fav's and all round fun guys, the Later Alligator boys have certainly made name for themselves.  I met theses cool dudes a good year and a half to two years ago and immediately decided, then and there, that the gators are amongst some of my top ranking favourites! And this decicision was made for two reasons.  1)  Nate had the coolest pair of pants on ..so cool that I went out and bought myself a pair and 2) They demonstrate the greatest of stage persona,  epic syncronisity and ooze all round funness! and now...I can add Born Free to that  list.  I was lucky enough to conduct a Q&A with the Later Alligator guys on their first single, Born free, who and what the gators are...

NAKED ENDS AND PASSION COMES ALIVE

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  NAKED ENDS WHERE PASSION AND TALENT COLLIDE By RubySage 7 August 2026 I was happily engulfed in the comfort of m usic mixed with jovial enthusiasm, riffs and laughter at the regular open mic night  I used to host.   F ull of excitement and anticipation as to what the evening would hold, with familiar faces and a few new musos taking to the stage, when I my attention was drawn to the direction of bar counter.  Sitting alone at the bar, nursing a glass of red wine was a lady whom I had not had the pleasure of meeting yet.  So I got myself my usual shot of tequilla, sat down next to her and that was the start of a beautiful friendship.  She told me her name is Felicia and is a singer/songwriter and front lady to her band, Naked Ends.  We started talking…..and now, today… 2 years later we still have not stopped talking, while she still nurses her glass of red wine and I my tequilla.  It wasn’t long before I came to call this beautiful earth angel my...

KYLE MALYON - BY ANY MEANS!

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BY ANY MEANS ADVENTURE By RubySage 7 August 2026   Recently , Sean McBride reached out to me in a rushed and somewhat cripic voice note on his way to band rehearsal.  The content being something like this (roughly transcribed) : “ Hey Ruby.   S o I’m talking to Kyle Malyon this week (meaning on the show) about him raising funds on a bike for elephants again.   M aybe for the blog?   I m sending you his number”.  My response: “ Hi Sean,  uummm ok…why do I want elephants on my blog though? What bike? Is Kyle a musician? Will he be singing to elephants ? I don’t uderstand”.   SMB, “yea mate…idk (I don’t know) think he plays something…chatting to him on Friday.   O k gotta go. B ye” Honestly?  I thought Sean had lost his marbles. However, before jumping to crazy conclusions, I did my due diligence, contacted Kyle and delved a bit deeper to see what SMB’s criptic of ‘Kyle- go-ellies’,  vn was really all about.  And I was sold… Kyl...