m u s i c  . . . 

Hagen's artistry lies not only in the written word, he is also very into music.  His latest journey into this area has been with a great group who have emerged under the name of the Jedi Rollers...

A lyrical sample

The invincible Jedi Rollers are set to release their third EP, Cloud Control with two wicked skops.

So far the people are impressed with their second album; The Serious Peaceful Crime Unit. The crit below featured in a local newspaper:

"Rollers launch second album
By BARRY AVERY

PORT Elizabeth rock band Jedi Rollers launched their second CD before a packed audience at The Barn on Saturday night.
Serious Peaceful Crime Unit is the five-piece band’s follow-up to last year’s Hi Rollin’.
Although together for just over a year, the new album reflects a variety of style and level of professionalism not often associated with such youthful rockers. They played several numbers from it, including the powerful first single, Dig It.
One of the founding Roller members, Caleb Eastwood, made a guest
appearance for two of the band’s most popular numbers, Curly Locks and Submit. Although Eastwood is no longer with the Rollers, it was a great pleasure to see him on stage with his former band-mates – and watch how he makes his guitar speak to us.
As always, the energetic frontman Hagen Engler stole the show, exuding passion and intensity for his thoughtful lyrics.
And from the straightforward rock number Talk to Me to the
hair-raising punk rock horror R100, to the soft, melodic reggae sound of Special Request, Engler’s band handles it superbly.
Darren Udemans (bass),Jason King (drums), Kendal Beadon and Nelis van Tonder (guitars) do the jobs they are supposed to unobtrusively, but expertly. A truly impressive send-off for an equally remarkable album."

Don't miss these "Red-eye jollers, pavement strollers, air-traffic controllers, satirical, lyrical, hip-hop, rock ’n roll soldiers with weird rhymes at the best of times."

Unlike the stylistic versatility which characterised the first CD, Hi Rollin', this one falls squarely in the rock/hip hop realm. It features nine tracks of jamming guitar riffs, programmed beats, samples, loose licks and loops with lyrical leeway.

The diverse tracks delivered by the Jedi Rollers give a good idea of the eclectic versatility of this unique group, whose influences range from reggae to spoken word to hip-hop to funk to jazz to classical to hard rock to house music. Hagen Engler's lyrics underpin the Rollers' Jedi groove with insightful, catchy social comment - they put the South African back into South African rock music.

The group came together following a free jam evening at the Speakeasy bar in Central. Those who showed up for the jam included members of the bands Strange Little Man and Natural Born Swingers as well as various poets, voice artists and other sympathisers.

The loose arrangement crystallized into a musical collective which today comprises six official members. But gigs are characterised by numerous guest appearances and collaborations with visual and sonic artists, rappers and DJs on a joint pluck to further the fusion of creative urges and to boost the PE art and music scene.

Bands and collectives who have rolled with the Jedis include hip-hop crew 6-Man, MC Zakatak of Kombat Fudge, folk rocker Marisa Mayhem, trance programmer Mad Tone and VJ crew Maiden Taiwan. Besides formal members, Jedi Rollers have several country members who show up from time to time to drop a vocal, bang a bongo or mix in a few melodies.

The current line-up is:
Hagen Engler aka Inspector Ras - voice
Kendal Beadon aka the rhythm detective - guitar, voice
Nelis van Tonder aka Mellow C the Muffdriver - guitar
Darren Udemans aka Daz - bass
Jason King - drums, programming