Category Archives: Reviews & Interviews

Retro Reviews: Rodriguez: Coming From Reality | Music From The Big Chair

Rodriguez’s second album leaves me pondering fates. While Santana enjoys success as a mixed-race group with accessible music, Rodriguez takes greater risks with penetrating social commentary. With new producer Steve Rowland, ‘Coming From Reality’ feels more focused and fuller-sounding, though occasionally more conventional—a worthwhile trade-off for this honest truth-teller

Retro Reviews: Rodriguez: Cold Fact | Music From The Big Chair

Why isn’t anyone paying attention to Rodriguez? This Mexican troubadour’s candid, incisive lyrics rival Dylan’s, with a stronger, more accessible voice. He feels authentically street-smart, not merely feigning it. His observations suggest he’s witnessed real squalor. ‘Cold Fact’ is an outstanding debut from someone who insists on breaking down society’s facades.

Ampersand Mixtape: The Sixto Special | Mixcloud

Rodriguez was bigger than The Beatles in 1970s apartheid South Africa. In this special tribute to the Mexican-American singer-songwriter who died recently, Charles Leonard explores the politics, mores and sounds that made him massive then, and also what makes him still relevant today.

Zig At The Gig Podcast

I hope all is well with you and yours.My Name is Dave Deitke. I am a full-time musician/ special needs music educator/ music therapist MT-BC, NMT from Cleveland, OH, and I run a podcast called Zig At The Gig.I started this podcast to promote a non-profit art gallery called Negative Space. Since the shutdown, IContinueContinue reading “Zig At The Gig Podcast”

Finding The Way With Sixto Rodriguez | A Billion Worlds

I wrote this piece in honor of Rodriguez. My interpretation of “Crucify Your Mind” is a little different, but I thought y’all might enjoy it.  https://billionworlds.substack.com/p/finding-the-way-with-sixto-rodriguez Thanks to all! Keep the faith, Glenn SmithAustin, Texas

Stephen “Sugar” Segerman: My hunt for Rodriguez, a missing music legend | BBC

Sugar & Rodriguez In London One South African superfan’s quest to unravel the truth about his favourite artist Listen: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/w3ct34wg Released On: 01 Sep 2022, available for over a year Stephen ‘Sugar’ Segerman’s nickname came from the song Sugar Man by the American singer Rodriguez. In 1970s South Africa, Rodriguez was a household name as hisContinueContinue reading “Stephen “Sugar” Segerman: My hunt for Rodriguez, a missing music legend | BBC”

It Was 24 Years Ago Today… That I Saw Rodriguez Play! | Brian Currin

Rodriguez and Brian Currin on the 7th March 1998… with just autographed, rolled-up set list clutched in his hand! The Set List I WonderOnly Good For ConversationCan’t Get AwayCrucify Your MindJane S. PiddyTo Whom It May ConcernLike JanisInner City BluesStreet BoyA Most Disgusting SongI’ll Slip AwayHalfway Up The StairsI Think Of YouRich Folks HoaxClimb UpContinueContinue reading “It Was 24 Years Ago Today… That I Saw Rodriguez Play! | Brian Currin”

Illuminating Headlight Dreams

by Brian Currin, June 2021 Back in early April 2021, I read a press release announcing a new album coming from Steve Louw and it included the video of a song called “Crazy River”. I loved the big open spaces this song evoked (and enhanced by the video) and the subtle African guitar sounds remindedContinueContinue reading “Illuminating Headlight Dreams”

Review: SATELLIET – ‘The Buckfever Underground’ | Underground Press

From https://www.undergroundpress.co.za/reviews/eps/review-satelliet-the-buckfever-underground ‘The Buckfever Underground’ have created a work of art that may leave you feeling strong and somewhat mellow, wallowing in the calm after entertaining the demands of chaos. Jodie Reid, 16th April 2021 ‘Asem in, asem uit’ and enter the smooth, poetic ambience created by The Buckfever Underground with their latest, spoken word and experimental EP – Satelliet.ContinueContinue reading “Review: SATELLIET – ‘The Buckfever Underground’ | Underground Press”

The Songs of Rodriguez

“…Climb up on my music and my songs will set you free…” Originally appeared on SugarMan.org Sugar Man https://www.youtube.com/embed/esG4gK-pieA Probably Rodriguez’s most well-known song. Rodriguez himself is also often referred to as The Sugar Man. A great song with superb instrumentation. This slow bluesy rock song is a paean to his drug dealer, however RodriguezContinueContinue reading “The Songs of Rodriguez”

Searching For Sugar Man: Producer Simon Chinn on the incredible journey making the hit movie, and Tecla Ciolfi on Rodriguez’s ongoing cultural influence in South Africa – Travelling Symphony Movie Club | Podcast on Spotify

The 50-Year Legacy of Sixto Rodriguez’s “Cold Fact” Is Rooted In Detroit | WDET

It’s the 50-year anniversary of Sixto Rodriguez’s “Cold Fact,” co-produced with Motown Funk Brother Dennis Coffey. Although the album took off internationally, it’s still a Detroit story. One of music’s most fascinating stories originated in Detroit, but unfolded in South Africa and Australia when audiences in those countries embraced an album largely ignored in the states. SixtoContinueContinue reading “The 50-Year Legacy of Sixto Rodriguez’s “Cold Fact” Is Rooted In Detroit | WDET”

Rodriguez’s Forgotten ‘70s Albums Make Their Vinyl Return | Forbes

David Chiu Contributor  Hollywood & Entertainment OTTAWA, ON – SEPTEMBER 17: Rodriguez performs on day 5 of the CityFolk Festival at The Great Lawn at Lansdowne Park on September 17, 2017 in Ottawa, Canada. (Photo by Mark Horton/WireImage)WIREIMAGE It’s one of pop music’s unlikeliest and greatest comeback stories ever: a Mexican-American singer-songwriter from Detroit named Sixto Rodriguez recordedContinueContinue reading “Rodriguez’s Forgotten ‘70s Albums Make Their Vinyl Return | Forbes”

Rodriguez Live at The Luckman Fine Arts Complex, Los Angeles | mxdwn.com

https://music.mxdwn.com/2018/08/28/reviews/rodriguez-live-at-the-luckman-fine-arts-complex-los-angeles/ On a Saturday night, many gathered for a performance of the legendary singer-songwriter and Oscar winner, Rodriguez, at the Luckman Fine Arts Complex on the Cal State L.A. campus in East Los Angeles. Searching for Sugar Man documented Rodriguez’s story of being a Mexican-American songwriter whose two early ’70s albums bombed in America, but who woundContinueContinue reading “Rodriguez Live at The Luckman Fine Arts Complex, Los Angeles | mxdwn.com”

Worldwide FM presents ‘Cape Town Sounds’ with Gilles Peterson

Worldwide FM presents ‘Cape Town Sounds’, an audio documentary which explores the rich musical heritage of Cape Town, as part of Lufthansa’s #LHcityofthemonth campaign. The documentary follows Gilles over the course of the day as he sets out to learn about the history of the city’s music, and infiltrate the dynamic contemporary scene. He beginsContinueContinue reading “Worldwide FM presents ‘Cape Town Sounds’ with Gilles Peterson”

Vinyl sales hit a 25-year high: John Maytham talks to Stephen “Sugar” Segerman

http://www.capetalk.co.za/articles/239026/vinyl-sales-hits-a-25-year-high Deloitte expects double-digit growth in the sales of vinyl records for the seventh consecutive year, passing the $1 billion mark for the first time since the 1980s. The professional services company expects 12-inch records to generate between 15% and 18% of all physical music sales. According to the Entertainment Retailers Association, vinyl outsold digitalContinueContinue reading “Vinyl sales hit a 25-year high: John Maytham talks to Stephen “Sugar” Segerman”

Stephen “Sugar” Segerman in the Road Through The Grove book

In the late 1950s, the 1960s and into the 1970s, Louis Botha Avenue – the road through the Grove – throbbed with life. Lined with shops and eateries, and alive with music and romance, it was the backdrop to a melting-pot of working-class people, many of them with roots in Europe, who had made theirContinueContinue reading “Stephen “Sugar” Segerman in the Road Through The Grove book”

Craig Bartholow Strydom and Stephen “Sugar” Segerman talk to Danie Marais at US Woordfees 2016

    Craig Bartholow Strydom and Stephen “Sugar” Segerman talk to Danie Marais, 7 March 2016 at 10: 30.