by Monica Davies

Created on: July 18, 2009

The Arrows struck it lucky for a debut band on the local scene - I don't know where they'd been working or partying down in their native Durban, but when their first single broke to TV and radio, it was shown to be catchy as all hell. The good kind of catchy that makes you happy every time the opening notes play. Next Time. It's excellent. If you haven't heard it yet, you totally have to play the video below.

I knew they'd produced a crackingly excellent song when my boss at the radio station I used to work at wouldn't let us playlist the light-hearted format, because it was, understandably, not our format. But he then took the CD into his office and put the track on repeat for the next hour or so. Totally busted! Don't worry, boss, I did the same thing the first time I got my hands on their debut EP.

Bands who are overtly Christian often tend to put me off before I've even listened to them. I'm not anti-Jesus or anything, and I'm all for you having your own views, but they should be just that - your own views. So upon finding out how dedicated The Arrows were to their faith, I became a little apprehensive. Their online bio went on about how all three members had studied scripture and their songs went on about pilgrimages and faith. It did not sound terribly rock and roll. But upon meeting the band and getting immersed in their music a bit more, I had to take all of that back - they were so nice and smiley and happy and accommodating. They were, in fact, just coming to play us some delightful pop music and were not trying to save us and convert the heathens.

Christie, Pam and Bongani also give us an unusual band setup - instead of filling the empty spaces with unnecessary guitars and perhaps a triangle player, they keep the band down to just the three of them, making the music always light and pleasant, and never something you have to put effort into listening to.

The Arrows have broken away from the coast to come and explore more of the urban circuit recently, often touring with fellow indie kids like The Beams and Kidofdoom, and they even cracked an invite to Oppikoppi for this past Easter festival - all part of their road to the top.

Learn more about this author, Monica Davies.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.