Music
Top 5 Tracks: Andre Leo
The Psych Night co-founder shares his favourites
Andre Leo is a musician from Cape Town. He is a member of Medicine Boy, Lucy Kruger & The Lost Boys and one of the founders of Psych Night. This November, Psych Night & Vans are hosting the second Endless Daze festival where Medicine Boy will play their last show for the year alongside Oh Sees, Moon Duo, BLK JKS, Dangerfields & more. Check out his Top 5 and find out more about the Endless Daze festival in the link below.
The Rolling Stones – Street Fighting Man
This is really where it all started for me. I was 13 when I first heard the Stones & the impact was indescribable. Right away I knew I had to get in on this. I had no idea what ‘this’ was but it was definitely made for me. I’d heard rock 'n roll music before but never like this.
Black Rebel Motorcycle Club – 666 Conducer (live)
When Synergy announced BRMC as their headliner in 2011 it was a kind ‘too good to be true’ situation. It was only when a friend of mine working as a photographer at the festival sent me a picture from their soundcheck that it really sunk in. In the front row with my homemade BRMC shirt, fake leather jacket & 1,5 grams of mushrooms in my system, they laid 2 hours of the most powerful, beautiful, chaotic & angelic rock n roll upon me & the crowd. I’m still chasing that feeling.
Night Beats – Little War in the Midwest
When myself & 4 friends started Psych Night in 2012 we always dreamt of hosting international bands & Night Beats were our pick for the first one from early on. When it finally materialized in 2013 we were all pretty terrified to be honest. We were kind of making it up as we went, hoping we don’t fuck up. We were a bunch of shy schoolboys picking the band up from OR Tambo but the nerves quickly settled & everyone felt right at home. I remember telling Simon that I hope they play ‘Little War’ & sure enough, it was the first song they soundchecked. It was quite a feeling & a tour I’ll never forget. For many reasons.
Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds – Love Letter
The first Medicine Boy European Tour started with Nick Cave. Lucy & I saw he was playing in Barcelona &, without really thinking about it, bought tickets. We’d decided when starting the band that we were going to tour overseas & this sealed the deal. We built the whole tour around that show. The concert was overwhelming, to say the least. I mean, the Bad Seeds are the best band in the world. Love Letter was a song we both new but, for some reason, not one that we really came back to. When he performed it that night, accompanied soley by Martin Casey on bass, it was the most serene & surreal moment in time. I spent many a long train ride on that tour listening to No More Shall We Part with Lu sleeping on my shoulder.
Dead Meadow – One More Toll Taker
Last year Medicine Boy were fortunate enough to open up for Dead Meadow for four shows in Germany & Holland. Playing with a band that you love & look up to is one thing but seeing them night after night & getting to hang out is real special. It was extremely inspiring & humbling. What made that stretch of the tour even more special was that our good friend Simon was with us. The three of us in this tiny car with gear packed to the roof, travelling through beautiful Europe, playing psychedelic music with amazing people… a total dream.
Find Andre Leo's projects online: Medicine Boy, Lucy Kruger & The Lost Boys, Psych Night, Endless Daze Festival
