ALL THIS FOR NOTHING

Pretoria based rock band ALL THIS FOR NOTHING are celebrating 25 years as an ever-evolving riff machine and to celebrate, are hitting all the major cities in South Africa this November and December.

Having largely drawn on progressive, metal and punk rock influences throughout their career, ATFN have crafted a sound proudly their own and will be flying the banner for local label Mongrel Records, who represent the very best in South African metal, alternative, punk and rock bands.

This nationwide tour which kicks off on the 17^th November promises an unforgettable experience for fans of the punk rock genre, as ATFN takes the stage at some of South Africa’s coolest music venues including Sognage (JHB), JARR Bar (PTA), Daisy Jones Bar (CPT), Armchair Theatre (CPT). Striped Horse (CPT) and Robson’s Real Beer (KZN).

Joining ATFN on this exhilarating journey are some of the best bands that the local scene has to offer, including FUZIGISH, Nomadic Orchestra, West Coast Wolves and Hawema. Each of these powerhouse acts brings their unique flair to the stage, promising a diverse and thrilling lineup that will leave fans begging for more.

ATFN’s guitarist, Paul Gioia, expressed the band’s excitement about the upcoming tour, stating, “It’s been ages since we’ve played outside of Gauteng and it’s the first time since the pandemic that we’ve been able to get to The Western Cape and KZN. We are so stoked and I think it will be a little surreal. We’re especially excited to get to Durban because we’ve noticed such an awesome DIY scene thriving there again and for us, KZN has always been super close to our hearts. Our first real “tour” show was back in ’99 with Crossing Point and Still Thinking at the Bat Centre and for years after that, places like Burn, The Winnie and the Willowvale were like second homes to us. We learned so much from the Durban bands and have made some genuine life-long friends along the way. DSW for life.”

Tickets for the tour are now available for purchase online at www.quicket.co.za

ALL THIS FOR NOTHING, the dynamic and genre-defying progressive punk outfit, is set to shake the foundations of the music scene with the release of their latest single, Idle Man on Mongrel Records. The track, a raw and introspective exploration of existential boredom and the pursuit of meaning, promises to captivate listeners with its unapologetic sound and thought-provoking narrative.

The song tells a story of a man trying to find stimulation in the stories of other people in a bar. He realizes that people’s lives are pretty mundane and because he finds no entertainment in them, he reverts back to ‘idle’ behavior to fill the gap. The song’s message resonates with the universal struggle to break free from monotony and find purpose in a world that often feels disenchanted.

When asked about the inspiration for the track, Chani, the band’s enigmatic vocalist says, “Idle Man was inspired by the feeling of hopelessness and existential boredom. It is a feeling that I think everyone has dealt with in some form or another.” Guitarist Paul adds, “At the beginning, I thought we were writing about someone else, but more and more I realized so much of myself was in the character being sung about. The idle man waiting for society to change. Less a judgment on society as an understanding that true change starts with the self, and that’s all we actually share as a society – a mutual ability to change.”

Buy / Stream Idle Man

Reflecting on the songwriting process, Chani shares, “Paul and Jacques had these crazy guitar ideas, but it took me some time to come up with a concept for the song. I had a few lines that I loved but I had no idea what to say. The writing was frustrating, and it made me hate the song, until I showed my best friend the few lines that I had, and she said it sounded like a person in a bar, drinking alone, speaking to random people. After that, the words came so effortlessly. If it was not for her, Idle Man would not be the beast of the song it is today.”

The pre-production and recording of the track was done at Paul’s Asylum Studios in Pretoria, with the mix and master done by Scott Hallquist, who the band been working with for a few years now. Once again, the band brought in a long-time pal and all-around audio wizard – Justin Bernardo. He takes care of the delicate machine that is drum recording. He’s the nicest person and will pull out all the stops to get good tones.

About All This For Nothing
ATFN is a progressive punk rock band from Pretoria, South Africa. Formed in 1998, the collective has performed extensively across South Africa and has recorded a string of albums and EP’s. Currently signed to Mongrel Records the band is known for their energetic and eclectic releases and live performances. Idle Man is the first single featuring new bassist Waldo Van Der Linde. Waldo also features in fellow label mates Crash and the Void and The Cavalier.

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