Timidity Ends

(70 reads) It's a loss, either way you count it. The Shy Guevaras have split. And in a grand, un shy flourish have announced that it is not just the band they are quitting, but the music industry entire. Getting out while they are "ahead", "Morals Intact". Well, you've got to admire them for leaving us here to wallow in the moral quagmire of making music.

There are various opinions on the Guevaras. Most of them complimentary, the least of which I could find was that although brilliant live, very few people could remember any of their songs. I'm not writing this from their home town, so maybe there, more would. But yes they were brilliant live. I remember thinking of them as being a perfect under-pop act, a sneaky bunch of real musicians edging toward, flirting with popularity, but really just wanting to love playing their music.

It's a shame that they're gone. It's a loss when any trying dynamic, original, boundary pushing ensemble goes. When they choose, though, to arrogantly exit an industry that has coddled them for so long, one has to wonder, what did we do to hurt them so?

The Guevara's 2007 album "This One's For You", reportedly sold well, was well received and even loved. Their live performances were anticipated, spoken about in hushed awe. The last of these will be on the 13th March, "in tribute to their fans" at Zula Sound Bar. If you're in Cape Town, it'll be your last chance to see them before they pass into memory, pass out of an industry, "Morals intact".

Should I pick apart the press release? Should I? "Even when appearing alongside some of South Africa’s biggest name-bands they bared their mettle and owned the stage," and then "’...do we sell out or remain true to ourselves and what we believe in?’ explains guitarist". Do I need to?

If the Shys were so good, and they were that good (already we are speaking in past tense), then why could this music industry not keep them afloat. Their press release is not enough. I emailed them some questions and got some form of an answer. By deadline they had not responded. The thrust of my questioning was that of if the band had merely split up why did they feel the need to make implications about the moral status of the industry, this being the kind of morally questionable thing we imagine to give them such horror, and if the bigger reasons were of compromise, selling out, surely the SGs, as the press release states, had a big enough fan base and success that they would not have to have compromise. But there is no response. The SGs have split and we will never know just how much we have transgressed, the industry, the technicians, the press, the roadies and yes, the fans.

It's pointless dragging it into the light but it should be noted, that if The SGs are quitting because they can't handle the press, then I have walked into a deception to prove their point. The fact remaining, however, that if you are going to make public actions, then you must expect commentary and debate in the public sphere. This is the price of bringing the music you love to an audience.

The Shy Guevaras were, well, why name them if they have exited this industry. We will never say, oh, so-and-so, he was in that brilliant band the Shy Guevaras. They have slipped into the past. The Shy Guevaras musical style was "accomplished South African guitar rock". The Shy Guevaras have passed out of my immediate area of interest.