Monday April 6, 2015
There’s a new crew member in Indiantown to s/v Marianne and  the Magic Bus Paula (I think that’s what they named her?).  Wednesday night before we made our first attempt at the Bahamas and now that we’ve been back at the marina a few more days, we’ve had a chance to get to know and enjoy the offbeat-ness that is Jack Mantis.  A South African graffiti artist and musician.
Ben and Hannes met Jack awhile back when they sailed into Trinidad and recorded him playing an original song of his, Radiate. Â Since then Jack has had a lot of recognition with that song and it’s a top hit with his group, the Jack Mantis Band. Â At the moment he’s taking a break from his band to tour with the Sailing Conductors as they hit the US and Canada in the next few weeks and will help them as they record new artist and also catches some shots of his own, including playing in Times Square, to make an official video for Radiate including Ben and Hannes. Â From there he’ll be sailing with the guys all the way back to Germany where he’ll meet back up with his band this fall for a European tour.
On Wednesday, his first night in after traveling for over 48 hours from Cape Town, we only gave him about two hours rest before having him unwrap his guitar from all the transportation packaging and play a few songs for us. Â This guy is beyond talented, with some of the best guitar playing I have ever seen.
Saturday however, we watched him tap into his artistic graffiti side and help the guys to a little decorating to their modes of transportation. Â After having driven down to West Palm Beach on Friday to pick up a very specific brand of spray paint, he was all set to give Marianne a new facelift when we found out the yard’s regulations against it. Â Slightly defeated, they turned to decorating the bus instead. Â Marianne may not be able to easily move to an out of the way area where spraying is not an issue, but Paula can!
Tucking her into the deep woods of the marina, Jack went about giving the hood a set of racing flames that eventually moved all the way up the front of the boat and even the mirrors. Â When I asked what he was going to do with the sides he told me that instead of painting it all now it would get completed along the journey where inspiration from their different spots hit. Â They’re also toying with the idea of making one side a large mural where other artists can claim a small spot to make their own art work. Â I’m not sure what it will look like when it’s 100% finished, but already I can tell that it’s going to get a lot of attention on the roads. Â Awesome job Jack!
Tonight there was an event hosted at the marina to showcase all the guys’ talent. Â Since I think the patrons here were ready for something a little different than their weekly blind taste test on boxed wine, a music night was put together instead. Â In the patio area was a sign up sheet to have pizza delivered, and if the guys played their instruments for the group for a little bit they would earn themselves a couple of free pies.
This party couldn’t have come at a better time for us because Matt and I will be leaving tomorrow for our Bahamas/Sailing Instructors trip, and just a day or two after that the guys will be on the road in their magic bus for their US and Canada tour. Â It would be the last chance for all of us to hang out for the next six weeks so it was only fitting that a big celebration be in order.
It was really fun to get a chance to chat with a few new people in the marina, and even though I had to keep my laughter to a minimum because it was extremely painful due to my fractured rib I still sneaked a few good ones in while enjoying the company of our good friends for the last time in a long time. Â The music was fantastic as usual and I was even able to capture a bit of it to put on video for you.
I’m going to miss all three of these guys (even Jack although we just met him) like crazy while they’re gone, but at least I know that soon enough they’ll be back and we can resume our normal shenanigans. Besides, how else am I going to get free pizza unless they earn it for me?
The Paula (bus) paint is AWESOME! Cudos to Jack for that! I hope it holds together under that hood as well as it looks from the outside. From what you are saying it may look something like the Partridge Family bus when it is done. It will be interesting to see.
Not to be a stinker, but after hearing him sing, I think Jacks talent is not so much in the music direction. (I can’t sing happy birthday, so don’t take my opinion on this)
I am glad you are recovering from the dock-dive, 8,000 miles(?) of open ocean travel, and you get beat up by hard land structures next to a boat. That should tell you something about land.
I love what you are doing, keep doing it!
The mural and bus painting is awesome .It really grab the attraction of any traveler .