Tuesday, September 30, 2008

Top 5 @ 5 - Tuesday 30th September 2008

This week's top 5 below:

1. Kings of Leon - Use Somebody
2. Eagles of Death Metal - Wanna Be in LA (ain't that the truth)
3. Tame Impala - Desire Be Desire Go
4. The Grates - aww Yeah
5. Grinspoon - St Louis

Who said rock is dead, 5 quality new rock songs!

LOL the Prodigy playing this years Big Day Out, oh dear and Neil Young, I think they are definitely running out of exciting new acts to play one of this countries biggest music festivals.

NIDA Production - The Kitchen

Well the second year actors this year at NIDA are..... HOT!

The Kitchen was one of my favourite type of shows - one act and NO interval!

The show was a quality play with a simply amazing set! These guys really make some terrific sets!

Now with such a large cast and so much happening the play was a little hard to follow, but all came good at the end and with a big finale it was all worth it.

The Kitchen rates a hot headed 3 stars.

Risky Lunar Love

Well it was a reunion for last years fantastic NIDA graduates in this bizarre homage to sc-fi.

Science Fiction and musicals don't really go hand in and (especially when songs about strap on's are thrown into the mix) but this show was enjoyable and nice to see last years NIDA grad's doing more than serving up your double soy extra chocolate jumbo Mocha.

Not much really else really to report on the show except that Carriageworks in Redfern (or whatever suburb they call it there now) is sensational! This is definitely a venue should be proud of! As I reviewed Star Theatre (in a poor manner) you will now be happy to know the venue is being destroyed, so yes maybe my venue reviews are read by someone very important.

Risky Lunar Love rates a risky 2 and half stars.

Wednesday, September 24, 2008

Steven Berkoff - One Man

Well this was one night out at the Theatre!

The first play in this one man two play set was a little slow but very clever, he did however leave the best piece to last.

The second play was called "Dog" and was a scream! Very funny with Lot's of colourful language tossed in!

He is an extremely clever man and really impressed me come the end of the second act.

Steven Berkoff - One Man is now playing at the Seymour Centre.

Berkoff is definitely no jerk off, he rates 3 stars.

Top 5 @ 5 - Wednesday 24th September 2008

1. Ladyhawke - Dusk Til Dawn
2. The Ashton Shuffle - Stomp Yo Shoes
3. Augie March - Pennywhistle
4. Cut Copy - Out There on the Ice
5. The E.L.F - Bounce Bounce Bounce

AFI FILM FREAK - Ten Empty

Another Brendan Cowell project and a very good Brendan Cowell project.

I wanted to see this film at the pictures but missed it, however that's what the FAB AFI screenings are for.

This film was emotional and painted the real picture of depression and it's affect on everyone around the person who is suffering this awful illness.

Ten Empty shows a real picture of the difficulty people with a mental illness face in our current society.

Not to be watched if you are in a mood or coming down like a freight train, Ten Empty rates 3 and half stars.

AFI FILM FREAK - Cactus

Well it would be an Aussie film weekend without a Bryan Brown film.

This is a typical Aussie road movie, however it lacks a bit, well a lot, including a lot more dialogue to help you the viewer let you know where this film is headed.

It turns out okay but it could be summarised in a short film (e.g. Jerrycan style 13 minutes).

Cactus, I had high hopes for you, however it rates a unroad worthy 1 star.

AFI FILM FREAK - Children of the Silk Road

Well this has definitely been one of my favourite films during the AFI film screenings and boy Jesus have I seen a few!

This film stars the sexy Jonathon Rhys Meyers and the lovely Rhada Mitchell. The film is a truly inspiring and true story,so inspiring I nearly shed a tear (nearly!).

Set in the war torn China in the 1930's and is quite disturbing in parts however this helps with the amazing story of courage.

Definitely a must see film, for the scenery, the acting and the amazing story, Children of the Silk Road rates a big 4 stars.

AFI FILM FREAK - The Black Ballon

Another second time around feature for me, but who could resist the scenes with the guys in their speedos.

Toni Collette, Gemma Ward, Rhys Wakefield and Luke Ford are all fantastic in this tale of a family in Aussie Suburbia in the 90's (I think due to the soundtrack including the much loved Ratcat).

See first review for further reading please!

AFI FILM FREAK - The Square

Well this was the second time I saw this film written and directed by the Nash brothers (Joel of course of Star Wars and Secert Life of Us fame and his lovely brother Nash) and enjoyed it as much as the first time I saw it with my parents and we were the only ones in the cinema.

See review below for further details but this was a great little Aussie film and I enjoyed it as much as the first time I saw it.

AFI FILM FREAK SHORT FILM - Jerrycan

I don't usually like short films but this film was pretty intense. Definitely one to look out for if you have a spare 13 minutes.

Friday, September 19, 2008

Friday Yum Time

Check Check Check it out:

Top 5 @ 5 - Friday 19 September 2008

Hey Hey Hey!

This week's hot 5 tracks, get em NOW bitches!

1. Ladyhawke - Dusk Til Dawn (view this on You Tube... NOW...get going)
2. The E.L.F - Bounce Bounce Bounce
3. Cut Copy - Out there on the Ice
4. Basement Jaxx - Wheel N Stop
5. Drapht - Falling

El Circo @ Slide

Well I have only been to Slide on a late night visit a few times but this Sunday treasure was very exciting, here is a brief idea of what goes on:

Every Sunday 7pm to 11pm9 Course Surprise Degustation, 9 Amazing Circus Acts, An Unprecedented Theatrical Experience. Marrying top-notch cuisine, fine wines and cutting edge entertainment, El'Circo is a night like no other in Sydney. Will your host serve food, or will they start eating fire, or jugging? Is the lady on the trapeze real? Will the stage come alive with acrobats and showgirls, or is it all a projection... an imagination?

So there you have it, sound interesting, well it is and the food is bloody tasty. A great night out (and I hate going on Sunday nights, I prefer to watch re-runs of the Antiques Roadshow) where there is entertainment, eye candy and fine food.

Check it out now, El Circo at Slide rates a big glossy 4 and half stars.

Thursday, September 11, 2008


Birthday Bashes - September Edition


Happy Birthday Brooke the Chook

Happy birthday Fanny B

Happy Birthday Kimberley

Happy Birthday to anyone else that I have forgotten.

Top 5 @ 5 - Thursday September 11th 2008

1. Basement Jaxx - Wheel N Stop
2. Ladyhawke - Dusk til Dawn
3. Ben Folds - You Don't Know Me
4. Blue King Brown - Moment of Truth
5. Gnarls Barkley - Who's Gonna Save Your Soul

The ARIA Nominees are out to and here they are in their full glory:


Album of the Year:
Geoffrey Gurrumul YunnipinguGurrumul
Kasey Chambers & Shane Nicholson – Rattlin’ Bones
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds – Dig Lazarus, Dig
The Living End – White Noise
The Presets – Apocalypso

Best Adult Contemporary Album:
Clare Bowditch – The Moon Looked On
Jimmy Barnes – Out In The Blue
Katie Noonan – Skin
Robert Forster – The Evangelist
The Panics – Cruel Guards

Best Blues and Roots Album:
Angus and Julia Stone – A Book Like This
Jeff Lang – Half Seas Over
Mia Dyson – Struck Down
The Audreys – When The Flood Comes
The Waifs – Sun, Dirt, Water

Best Children’s Album:
Hi-5 – Planet Earth
Jay Laga`aia – Come Dance and Sing
Justine Clarke – Songs To Make You Smile
The Fairies – Fairy Fun Fun Fun
The Wiggles – You Make Me Feel Like Dancing

Best Comedy Release:
Akmal - Akmal Live and Uncensored
Matt Tilley - Gotcha Calls Three's a Crowd
Merrick & Rosso - Live and Totally Wrong!
Shaun Micallef -The Expurgated Micallef Tonight: The Very Best of Shaun Micallef's Short-Lived but Brilliant Tonight
The Umbilical Brothers - Don't Explain

Best Country Album:
Catherine Britt - Little WildFlower
Kasey Chambers & Shane Nicholson - Rattlin' Bones
Melinda Schneider - Be Yourself
Sara Storer - Silver Skies
The McClymonts - Chaos and Bright Lights

Best Dance Album:
Cut Copy – In Ghost Colours
Mobin Master – Show Me Love
PNAUPnau
he Potbelleez – Don’t Hold Back
The Presets – Apocalypso

Best Female Artist:
Clare Bowditch
Gabriella Cilmi
Holly Throsby
Kylie Minogue
Missy Higgins

Best Group:
Angus and Julia Stone
Silverchair
Faker
The Presets
The Living End

Best Independent Release:
Ben Lee – Ripe
British India – Thieves
Geoffrey Gurrumul YunnipinguGurrumul
Lior – Corner of an Endless Road
Midnight Juggernauts – Dystopia

Best Male Artist:
Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunnipingu
Nick Cave
Paul Kelly
Pete Murray
Sam Sparro

Best Music DVD:
Hilltop Hoods – City of Light
Paul Kelly – Stolen Apples
Powderfinger/Silverchair – Across The Great Divide
John Butler Trio – Live at Federation Square
Wolfmother – Please Experience Wolfmother

Best Pop Release:
Gabriella Cilmi – Lessons To Be Learned
Kylie Minogue – X
Operator Please – Yes Yes Vindictive
Sam Sparro – Black and Gold
The Veronicas – Hook Me Up

Best Rock Album:
Eddy Current Suppression Ring – Primary Colours
Faker – Be The Twighlight
Gyroscope – Breed Obsession
Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds – Dig Lazarus, Dig
The Living End – White Noise

Best Urban Release:
A-Love – Ace of Hearts
Bliss ‘n’ Eso – Flying Colours
Kayalyst – What’s Happening?
Muph & Plutonic - ...and Then Tomorrow Came
Spit Syndicate – Towards The Light
The Herd – Summerland

Breakthrough Artist – Album
Angus and Julia Stone – A Book Like This
Gabriella Cilmi – Lessons To Be Learned
Midnight Juggernauts – Dystopia
Operator Please – Yes Yes VindictiveS
am Sparro – Sam Sparro

Breakthrough Artist – Single
Angus and Julia Stone – The Beast
Gabriella Cilmi – Sweet About Me
Sam Sparro – Black and Gold
The Panics – Don’t Fight It
The Potbelleez – Don’t Hold Back

Single Of The Year
Faker – This Heart Attack
Gabriella Cilmi – Sweet About Me
Sam Sparro – Black and Gold
The Living End – White Noise
The Presets – My People

Highest Selling Single
Delta Goodrem – In This Life
Gabriella Cilmi – Sweet About Me
The Potbelleez – Don’t Hold Back
The Veronicas – Untouched
The Veronicas – Hook Me Up

Highest Selling Album
David Campbell – The Swing Sessions 2
Delta Goodrem – Delta
Guy Sebastian – The Memphis Album
The Veronicas – Hook Me Up
Tina Arena – Songs of Love and Loss

AFI FILM FREAK - Punishment

Well I had no expectations with this film and was very pleasantly surprised.

There hasn't been many good thrillers at the movies lately and this definitely delivered a good thriller genre film.

I want spoil it as I believe it's actually not getting much of a cinema release so make sure you watch the DVD store shelves for this little number featuring the very smashing looking Nicholas Bishop.

Punishment rates a thrilling three and half stars.

Saturday, September 6, 2008

AFI FILM FREAK - Black Water

Black Water is a film was inspired by the true story of a crocodile attack in Australia's Northern Territory in December 2003 and is truly terrifying!

This film has had limited release and is a real shame as this is some much better than the other Australian crocodile film "Rogue". Rogue had a bigger budget but definitely didn't scare you as much as this tense and amazing ride.

The acting was very convincing and the crocodiles being real crocs, were well extremely convincing.

This film is definitely not good advertising for NT tourism but a bloody good low budget film, Black Water rates a terrifying 4 stars.


AFI FILM FREAK - Hey, Hey, It's Esther Blueburger

Well to be honest I have been wanting to see this film for many months.

It stars Danielle Catanzariti as the young girl finding high school quiet difficult. This coming of age film stars the delightful Toni Collette and features a fresh and youthful soundtrack including Missy Higgins, Paul Mac, Operator Please and Bob Evans.

The film doesn't really break any new ground on the coming of age film genre, however some parts of the story are well just plain weird.

Overall this was an enjoyable experience and the soundtrack was definitely a big bonus.

Hey, Hey, It's Esther Blueburger rates a blue three stars.

AFI FILM FREAK - The Tender Hook

Opens September 18th 2008

This screening of the new Aussie film, The Tender Hook was complete with a speech from the writer and director which is why these screenings are so cool! Also Matthew Le Nevez who played "Art" in the film attended.

The movie was slow in parts however Rose Byrne is very watchable as is Hugo Weaving who plays a very bad man. He actually does the bad character so well!

This film is set in Sydney in the 1920's and has a little bit of trouble convincing the audience it is actually the 1920's with some very lame heritage footage. Despite this minor slip up it is an enjoyable film.

The Tender Hook rates 3 stars.

The truth about new Aussie Drama

Well it's been a BIG week on Australian television with three new shows being aired (one telemovie and two new series).

The first was Sunday night, Scorched. It had a promising cast Vince Colosimo, Libby Tanner and Cameron Daddo, however it really never quiet worked. Georgie Parker and Les Hill were less than inspiring.

The movie was basically a collaboration of news footage from Sydney's previous bushfire seasons, this sounds pretty lame, well that's right.

Scorched was pretty uninspiring and at times almost impossible to watch. Scorched rates a less than hot one star.

Next up was Rush, like Scorched Rush has a great cast including Callan Mulvey, Catherine McClements, Samuel Jackson (yes the guy who was the man when Secert Life of Us was on) and Rodger Corser (the Underbelly actors sure are getting a lot of work!). However the show like Scorched lacked real soul. The characters weren't like able and the story was quiet lame. In a world full of cop dramas these new shows really need to standout and this one definitely doesn't.

Rush looks like it might be in the TV recycle bin before it's second episode, Rush rates one star.

Finally The Strip, now this was the pick of the week. Aaron Jeffery leads the cast and features a cute little thing that used to be in Home & Away - Bob Morley.

The show was slicker than Scorched and Rush and used a nice soundtrack to keep the mood.

The Strip could be quiet successful if it plays it's cards right and the gust star line up for the series sounds quiet good, Martin Sacks, Jay Laga'aia and Matthew Newtown.

Keep an eye out for this one, The Strip rates 3 stars.

Thursday, September 4, 2008

Ting Ting it's a Wednesday nite Ting Ting's Show

JJJ Rooftop, Ultimo - Wednesday September 3rd 2008

Well it was a cold Wednesday night as the third day of Spring turns nasty!

The night kicked off with the sexy Nina LasVagas providing a hot mash up set featuring the likes of The Black Ghosts, Girl Talk, Hot Chip & many more indie dance favourites.

Then on stage were the amazing Ting Ting's, this years biggest English export. They have had some amazing hit's from their debut record "We Started Nothing". "Shut Up & Let Me Go" has been featured on a recent itunes advertisement and "That's Not My Name" has become a huge radio hit. Their debut track "Great DJ" was a real crowd pleaser as was the radio fav "Fruit Machine".

The set was short but very pop sweet, the Ting Tings rate a cute 3 and half stars.

BLOG of the year...

http://maddecent.com/blog/

Wednesday, September 3, 2008

Top 5 @ 5 - Wednesday September 3rd 2008

1. Basement Jaxx - Wheel N Stop
2. Stephanie McKay - Jackson Ave
3. Gnarls Barkley - Who's Gonna Save Your Soul
4. Ben Folds - You Don't Know Me
5. Empire of the Sun - Walking on a Dream

TONIGHT THE TING TING's Yay! Review coming really soon!

Keating - The Musical - The Final Performance

Sunday August 31st 2008, Seymour Centre

It's an end of an era, Keating the Musical finished up last Sunday after running for around 2 years! This final performance was very polished and the band, the actors and the crew were all pumped up! It was a terrific performance and a great party followed afterwards (shame about it being a Sunday night, as Monday wasn't much fun) with the likes of the dreaming Dan Wyllie in the house mmm dreamy Dan.

Keating's final performance and party rates 4.5 pumped up points.

AFI FILM FREAK - Not Quite Hollywood

Well last Wednesday the AFI screenings commenced in Sydney with a bit of a bang at the Entertainment Quarter (aka Fox Studios). It commenced with a screening of Not Quite Hollywood, a look into Aussie film throughout the 70's and 80's and boy have we come a long way!

This was an outstanding documentary featuring various film makers, actors and big wigs having a closer look at the Aussie film industry.

Now this film does contain a shit load of full frontal nudity (YAY!) however this is pre waxing so beware!

You have been warned, Not Quite Hollywood rates 4 hairy stars.