Merry Flippin Christmas

BLOG ALERT!!!

Happy Christmas and all that crap!

Word Up, Yo Yo Yo Yo!

Well let's talk Light the Night what an amazing night at the City Recital Hall, Angel Place, how awesome is the Rose Hancock! Lovin' her!

Great stuff to keep everyone laughing!

The Miss Saigon cast as always were flawless, so sad to see that beautiful show leave old Sydney town! Jade Macrae and Katie Noonan also showed it has been an amazing year in Australia for the female vocalists!

Overall Light the Night was a truly magically, heartfelt night with simply stunning performances all round!

Speaking of Miss Saigon I took in my eighth viewing of the most heartfelt and spectacular production, ears were flowing in my beautiful third row from the front seat.

December 1st saw me head to a packed Sydney Entertainment Centre to see a simply flawless and beautiful Missy Higgins, her frock caused quiet a stir around the lickers in the audience.

I think I was one of 2 boys in the place! Amazing set and so amazing to be up close to one of the countries most talented musicians!

All her hits were there "Scar", "Special Two", "Sound of White", "Peachy", "Steer" and the stunning "Where I Stood". Just beautiful performance, 5 stars and not a single thing I could even think of bringing down!

On Monday the 3rd of December I was lucky enough to have a night of Famils at a few restaurants in Sydney.

A Famil is an excuse for a piss up at a restaurant when they try an inform you about all the excellent points of their restaurant and give you free food and piss.

It's basically a great free night out, we all love a freebie at this time of the year, nothing better than free piss and good food at Christmas time.

We headed to the very butch "Pumphouse", great food, great cocktails and a very cool atmosphere in there, loved it.

Next stop was "The Summit", the view over Sydney and it's surrounding less attractive suburbs is spectacular.

The food was a little sparse and the wine was so so. The Pumphouse is the clear winner for this night out.

December the 6th I headed off to one of the last Billy Elliot previews. Well there is a lot of hype about this musical.

I will break it down simply, the dancing is great, Genevieve Lemon of Priscilla fame is FAB!, the sets are simply amazing and they should be they have knocked the Capitol about for the last three months but the songs WOEFUL!

Elton John at the best of times writes and records songs which make me feel extremely ill!

However these take the cake, they are dreadful, you just want the little buggar to keep dancing and not open his mouth, and the language that comes out of the little kids, what a fucking liberty, young boys calling people wankers, I'll be damned!

You don't hear that in the school playgrounds these days, you just hear illegally downloaded 50 Cent songs rapping about, Pussy, Pimps and Playing the field,that is much more informative for the next generation, not dancing fairies on stage dressing up in old birds dresses, what a load of horse shit!

Now I moved to the Domain on Saturday December 8th and enjoyed an amazing day of Australian music, varying from Dance to Rock to Folk. Amazing. I took in:

Operator Please - Bitch Please, how hot is this band right now! Loving "Leave me Alone", "Zero Zero", "Get What u Want" and of course "Song about Ping Pong", loved every second of those crazy kids!

Blue King Brown - Totally Dope! These guys know how to pump the crowd up! Loved every second of their awesome set! Especially "Come and Check Your Head".

Angus & Julie Stone - For how much drink I had drunk by then it was a little lame, but still love there guts!

Bumblebeez - I was definitely Flying down to Rio by this stage!

Midnight Juggernauts - What can I say, WOW! How awesome is this group, a really amazing set, I definitely got my groove on to these guys!

Cut Copy - So 80's I loved it!

Missy Higgins - I'm in love with U!

Architecture in Helsinki - I love your "Hold Music" U guys rock!

Pnau - Holy Flip! What a hot set, sexy bodies all grooving to the sounds of one of Australia's top dance duo's, welcome back boys, definitely one of the disc's of 2007!

That's pretty much it for now, I have also caught the following films:

Bee Movie - Half a Star
Rescue Dawn - Three and a half
Halloween REMAKE - Three Stars
eowulf - Three Stars

Hope this finds you all well, and don't forget to have a happy, safe Christmas and all the best for a hot and totally random 2008!

C u at Groove Armada Bondi Beach!

Australia All Over

Dear Diary,

Please excuse my lack of entries lately due to my Australia all over experience taking in Melbourne and Perth this month!

The following entry is proudly and loudly supported by the Kevin 07 movement.

My first review this entry dates back to:

Wednesday November 7th 2007: Respect the Musical:"What a fucking liberty" who on earth ever thought this was a good idea to have three women stroll around the stage like lost sheep and sing dated and lame pop songs from the years. Rhonda Butchmore really needs to hang her shoes up now I believe, this is definitely a Rooty Hill RSL show now a State Theatre show.

Saturday 10th November 2007 @ 2pm: Priscilla Matinee, Regent Theatre Melbourne:

Now I saw this show 3,004 times in Sydney however the Melbourne version of the show is a lot tighter and a much more enjoyable show. The Regent Theatre is an amazing venue, it is simply beautiful!
The cast were all amazing and Tony Sheldon just gets better with every show, if you live in Sydney and missed the show the cast recording is a must buy for Christmas.

As you can tell on the 10th and 11th of November I was down in the wonderful Melbourne for Erin and Mick's beautiful engagement party! What a lovely night! I am sorry to everyone I man handled on the dance floor.

aturday 17th November 2007 @ 8pm: Rent, Regal Theatre, Perth:

Well who would have thought Nikki Webster would make a great Licker, Anthony Callea could get any hotter and Tim Campbell seems to be one of the sweetest, down to earth men living in Australia.The show was great and the meet and greet after the show was definitely the highlight. Courtney Act was amazing as Angel and some of the young Perth cast were also brilliant and pretty hot!

Now the Perth weekend away was a real eye opener what an interesting city that one is! So quiet, yet very beautiful! I had a wonderful time in the amazing Perth weather!So there we have it Australia all over in two weekends and a few shows to boot, we also have a brand new government and things continue to move at an incredible pace!

The following events will all go under the microscope in the next edition:Light the NightMissy Higgins @ Sydney Entertainment CentreHomebake 2007and possibly another wonderful Miss Saigon review.

Don't forget Billy Idiot is in town and so are 15 known pedophiles have landed in Sydney.

A big farewell to Jay @ Triple J after a few years of Breakfast radio JJJ will hopefully add another Adam Spencer or Mickey Robbins, Paul McDermott, Sandman and Jen style team as besides Myf earlier this year there breakfast could definitely use a shake up.

Christmas is also only around the corner so please see a few CD reviews below (great gift idea and keep the music business in business):

Pnau - Pnau: Third releases from Sydney Duo. An amazing dance assault with some real great little ditties including "Baby", "Wild Strawberries" & "With You Forever (feat the awesome Luke Steele from Sleepy Jackson). Definitely one for relatives that love ecstasy and a good dance party.

Grafton Primary - Relativity EP: Great track Relatively + Mc Squared, FAB, rest of the EP is okay but it could grow on me, definitely one for anyone wearing Fluro and thinking they are the indie kids of tomorrow.

Midnight Juggernauts - Dystopia: After many great singles "Shadows", "Road to Recovery" & "Into the Galaxy" this CD should be a winner, however the rest of the album is a little bit of a disappointment.

Samim - Heater SINGLE - Definitely the dance single of November, BUY IT NOW or find it on every dance compilation for the next ten months.

That's it folks, have a super day and again sorry for the long entry and the lack of entries more news coming soon!

Storms, Children and another Miss Saigon sob fest!

Yo,

Another wonderful week of live and varied entertainment. In the coming weeks however there will be plenty more including trips to Melbourne and Perth! HOORAY!

On Thursday night I saw (just in the nick of time, I always get lost when heading out to NIDA) the amazing NIDA showcase, what a pack of hotties! And talented hotties, I am dying to see where all these sexy people will be in the next few years.

I love a Saturday matinee and I love the fact stupid parents think an under 5 year will be able to sit still during a 3 hour Miss Saigon cry fest. I was vile after this breeder discharge cried, screamed and made kiddy noises throughout most of act one.

If you are reading this and thinking of having kids, use a fucking condom or get on the pill.The theatre is no place for children, with exception of Tam in Miss Saigon.

Sydney has been in full on Justin Timberlake madness over the past few weeks and can I just say to NOVA & 2Gay FM that there is more than just Justin Timberlake about to tour.

We have Missy Higgins about to travel around this fair land, Ben Lee is still kicking it with the all ages gigs, Keith Suburban is coming back down under next year (he is playing a lot smaller venues this time around) & Good Vibrations is coming to outdoor legal injecting room near year in February.

Also on music news I discovered this great band on the wireless the other day:
GRAFTON PRIMARY
Now this is HOT electro, check them out on Myspace and here a great new AUSSIE act.

For another stormy week, CIAO!

ARIA winners and losers

Hall of Fame Inductee: Nick Cave

Album of the Year: Silverchair - Young Modern (Eleven/Virgin/EMI)

Single of the Year: Silverchair - Straight Lines (Eleven/Virgin/EMI)

Best Group: Silverchair - Young Modern (Eleven/Virgin/EMI)

Best Rock Album: Silverchair - Young Modern (Eleven/Virgin/EMI)

Motorola Highest Selling Single: Silverchair – Straight Lines (Eleven/Virgin/EMI)

Best Blues and Roots Album: The John Butler Trio - Grand National (Jarrah Records/MGM)

Best Independent Release: The John Butler Trio - Grand National (Jarrah Records/MGM)

Best Dance Release: Sneaky Sound System - Sneaky Sound System (Whack Records/MGM)

Breakthrough Artist - Album: Sneaky Sound System - Sneaky Sound System (Whack Records/MGM)

Best Male Artist: Gotye - Mixed Blood (Samples 'n' Seconds/Creative Vibes)

Best Female Artist: Missy Higgins - On A Clear Night (Eleven/Virgin/EMI)

Best Music DVD: You Am I - Who Are They, These Rock Stars? Live At The Mint (Virgin/EMI)

Best Adult Contemporary Album: Josh Pyke - Memories & Dust (Ivy League Records)

Best Pop Release: Sarah Blasko - What The Sea Wants, The Sea Will Have (Dew Process/UMA)

Best Urban Release: Hilltop Hoods - The Hard Road Restrung (Obese Records)

Breakthrough Artist - Single: Operator Please - Just A Song About Ping Pong (Virgin/EMI)

Two films and a heartbreaking tale

Word up my random folk!

Happy ARIA's!

Another week of film and theatre this week as I dealt with yet another chest infection, people who I work with and read this, if your sick STAY HOME I don't need to miss another week at the gym or other social arrangements, that's what sick leave is created for SO TAKE IT!

On Thursday night I saw the Womb Raider AKA Brad Pitt's latest wife in "A Mighty Heart", what a story and what a role for Mrs. Pitt. An amazing true story of an amazing women and her heartbreaking life.S

aturday nana session I finally saw "Holding the Man" well, what a tear jerker! An amazing and very funny first half with some truly amazing performances from a small but extremely talented cast. I strongly recommended you catch this amazing piece of theatre, a truly inspiring piece and it shows that there is true love out there for everyone (with the exception of Shit me Spears).

Saturday night I had a random evening ending with the film "Good luck Chuck". This film was filmed in the street I lived in when I was over in Vancouver, so that was nice. The main character had an extremely hot body but a god awful face (so common).

He was Chuck and he was cursed, the it ran through the motions of boy meets girl, girl loses interest, boy fucks a fat chick, boy gets girl back. If this sounds dull, while it kinda is, some funny bits but maybe wait till it hit's the DVD store. I would file it under the DVD you rent when you want to bone that special someone and you need them to lose interest in the film very fast. My record is the opening credits to another film very similar to this.

Musically it is the night of the ARIA's but I did pick up a fantastic international release from former Moloko front bitch Roisin Murphy. This is her sophomore solo record "Overpowered", the two singles title track "Overpowered" and "Let me Know" are simply sexy.

Her sexy voice roars over a pure electro sounds cape that a lot of these young wanna be electro acts should tune into.

This CD makes the Veronica's "Hook me Up" sound like a HI-5 track for 3 year old's.It has taken me a while but I have also got into Angus & Julia's beautiful debut record "A book like this", simply bliss. So Sunday morning wrapped up with some hot trade you want to spend more than a quickie with. Beautiful.

Coming soon a review of Rhonda Bitchmore in Respect the Musical, NIDA this Thursday, I am sure another Miss Saigon review with also appear soon also many more CD reviews as I went a bit mental this week at JB-HI-FI.

Andrew OUT!

SPAM: October BLOG ALERT!

Yo Yo Yo Yo,

Well what a couple weeks, my nerd box has had a very quiet time over the past few weeks so here is what I have been up to!

A BIG Happy 26th to you out there Beryl first off! Happy days ahead, dying to see you on a dance floor somewhere @ next years Good Vibrations festival. The announcement of the line up is next Wednesday 31/10 or you can check out their website: http:www.goodvibrationsfestival.com.au

My first BIG event was Don's Party. What a year Sydney Theatre has had and what a year they will have next year. They really know how to put an amazing show on. Don't Party was no exception, great set, great play to start with and great actors. A great venue also in Sydney Opera House's intimate Drama Theatre. A big thanks to Yvette for being my sexy Blonde date for the night.

Next on my Theatre list for the week was one for the parents, Dicken's Women @ Sydney Theatre, Walsh Bay. Miriam is a bit of a diva and has starred in one of those Harry Pothead films. She was great however the topic was a little dull for me, one of 6 that was under 100 in the whole venue, downstairs there was walking frame races, two up, more camel Toe than a day out in Egypt and a lot of piss on the male toilet floor. Why is it when you get old you lose your aim?

I then saw Miss Saigon for the fourth time in Sydney. I didn't cry however this time, I was an emotional wreck, the new Kim is simply amazing! If you really need a good cry this show is definitely for you!

I then moved onto the music scene on Tuesday night at Sydney's Metro theatre for Ben Lee and Lisa Mitchell. Lisa was one of the only Idol's to ever interest me. She is cute, she could even be a younger Sarah Blasko or Mistress Higgins and she is going to be one hell of a star one day in the near distant future. She also played the right card by covering a simply beautiful Kate Miller Heidke track 'Space they Cannot Touch", beautiful.

Ben Lee came on in a Countdown style gold suit, FAB! He sang nearly every song that the crowd loved, Into the Dark, Cigarettes will Kill You, American Television, Love me Like the World is Ending were all in his first set.

Now the encore was a given as he hadn't sang Catch my Disease, as previously discussed it does piss me off that an encore is a given these days. However the encore was great, starting out with the Bon Jovi like "Sex without Love", I hated this song the first time I heard it, now I love it! Catch my Disease was a lovely sing a long, whilst the totally unplugged finale of "Were all in this Together" was so 60's, it was free love and lot's of Kumbaya moments. FAB!

He really is a true performer and despite what some will say, he will be around for a long time to come. He shit's all over a lot of the other male talent in this country including the Noll Brothers!

I also dropped into the Phantom of the Opera launch in Sydney. Anthony Warlow what a star!

The other girl who plays the female lead was rather BLAH, but I guess you can't have everything looking at the Young Diva's, oh wait a second, they are all shit.

Another entry all jam packed full of election news and gossip will be coming soon at a large cost to all tax payers.

Don't forgot the Liberians starts next Wednesday on the ABC right after the Chaser, it looks awesome. Happy Spring!

Tears & Theatre

Hello Australia!

Again it has been a while between drinks but hey, it's better late than never. I hope you all enjoy the tasty attachment (from this week's BLOG alert) that has caused yet another Rugby League scandal and the 2007 season is well and truly over!

Now I have been off to a few events recently and will talk about them shortly.
The BIG news first however this week is the sad passing of Celine on Summer Heights High, I actually shed a tear when her tribute came up at the end of the episode!

Now my first event over the past few weeks was the finale of Menopause the Musical at Sydney's Theatre Royal. The four women put on an amazing show and a great time was had by all at the celebration after the show!

My second event was the interesting Dead Man Walking starring the lovely Teddy Tahu Rhodes, Alan Jones, Anthony Callea and a stack more. It was an amazing emotional roller coaster with some amazing performances particularly from the humble Teddy Tahu.

It's only been in town a few weeks but I have managed to catch Miss Saigon for the third time! This however was the first time I cried, the beautiful story and truly heartbreaking end caused me to get a little emotional. I must say the more I see this show the more I love it. I managed to see a few more understudies and am dying to see it for my fourth time!

On the music front Big Day Out Sydney and Gold Coast tickets sold out quicker than ecstasy pills at Sydney's number one drug haunt Slide Nightclub.

Kanye West's third CD continues to show he really is the new king of Hip Hop, Justin Timberlake manages his 6th US Billboard top 100 single from his latest disc, Shit me Spear's CD will be released on the 30th of this Month after several tracks have been leaked, Kylie's new single "2 Hearts" has also been leaked and it's only a few more sleeps till this years ARIA Awards @ ACER Arena.

In VERY sad news also this week MYF Warhurst has decided to sell out and move to Triple M next year. It doesn't upset me a little and the thought of only Jay & the Doctor next year on JJJ breakfast is not that appealing.

I will be back soon with reviews on the latest STC production Don's Party, Ben Lee's Metro Theatre all ages gig and hopefully another stellar performance of Miss Saigon, please please please if you live in Sydney or Adelaide (opening early 2008) see this truly moving and beautiful love story which with each time you see it you feel more and more for the wonderful lead characters.