Holy Schnikies.
This trailer is like a WMD for brain cells. Where CGI once was used for good, it now seems to have fallen into the hands of evil forces hellbent on the destruction of intelligent entertainment.
And I don’t think I am in the minority with this opinion either…
Last Friday night La and I made our way down to the big smoke for a show by one of our favourite Sydney bands, Dead Letter Chorus at probably our favourite venue, the Hopetoun Hotel in Surry Hills. It was a pretty typical night at the Hoey; busy, but not too crowded, loud but not enough to blow out your eardrums for the next day. We arrived halfway through Ned Collette, the under-under-card act and after grabbing a few beers we plonked ourselves mid-crowd to get our first taste. If I wasn’t underwhelmed, I was right on whelmed. They were musically and vocally solid, but something about their jam-band attitude to their songs grated on me after a while. And I really dig the tunes I’ve heard on their myspace page! There were moments of genius in their show, but they were diamonds in the rough.
Next up, the undercard, another Melbourne-based band, Wagons. With a lyrical, folk-country bent and a frontman whose voice echoes Johnny Cash, they were more my speed. I caught a few of the songs from their act, then enjoyed a couple of beers in the pool room where I met Alex from John Columbus, an up-and-coming Sydney band. Alex mentioned they are touring soon with new material. Love their simple yet not simplistic sound, and Alex’s intimate and gentle vocals. Looking forward to seeing a JC gig soon.
Then it was time for Dead Letter Chorus. They’ve recently been hard at work on their first full-length album, and this tour was an opportunity for them to test drive the new material. My verdict in two words: simply amazing. Like a sapling spreading their branches, DLC have crafted material that is true to their folk-pop influences but shaded with a new depth and confidence.
The night’s show saw many members of the band move effortlessly between instruments, and it was a wonderful surprise to see Gabby step front of stage with a guitar for a few of the tracks she has written for the new album. The band as a whole were tight and their seemingly effortless chemistry is still perfectly balanced - every member has their moment to shine, and each member responded with exuberant energy.
The night crescendoed with the aching, powerful Cameron Potts’-written ballad ‘Fathers and Daughters’, sure to be featured on the new album. The way the band feed off each other’s energies to build to the powerful climax is something to be seen. A great live show, and based on the Friday night’s show, their upcoming album is sure to be one of the best of the year.
Here’s some more photos by the beautiful and brilliant Lara Wiseman aka One Wise Girl
Set list:
P.S. Death
Fight The Morning
Magnolia Farm
Chasing Hearts
Down In Your Valley
Oscar Moland
11th Dream About Planes
Dancing In The Dark
Wait All Night
Unguarded Moment
Sally In Red
Song On A Hill
Fathers and Daughters
I rarely get political with this blog, but this clip from MSNBC’s ‘Morning Joe’ easily warranted today’s WTFWTT entry. Whilst discussing Jesse Jackson’s recent slip-up whilst being unknowningly recorded, veteran newscaster Dan Rather substitutes Osama Bin Laden’s name for Barack Obama’s. Not mixes it up in an unfortunate but strangely endearing way (as a couple of other newscasters have already done). Wholly substitutes it. I think it’s time Mr. Rather hung up the lapel mic and settled down in a comfy recliner with a blanket and some episodes of ‘Matlock’.
But the best part, the most WTFWTT moment, is that NO ONE ON THE PANEL CALLS HIM ON IT. Well done folks. Bravo. Top notch journalism.
Who’s watching the ‘Watchmen’ trailer? Well, just about every comic book geek who has been nervously awaiting the adaptation of Alan Moore’s ground-breaking, immensely popular graphic novel.
Directed by Zack Snyder, whose ‘300′ and ‘Dawn of the Dead’ were both enjoyable popcorn flicks, this will be one of the most ambitious comic book films ever made if it stick to the source material as closely as it appears to. Love the relatively star-free cast (except for the great Russell Hammond of course), and the dark yet obviously hyper-real look of the photography.
If you want a relatively spoiler-free newbie guide to the images of the trailer, check out this great Beginner’s Guide To the ‘Watchmen’ Trailer over at Cinematical.
And no, that’s not Robert Downey Jnr playing the Comedian, but it does look a little like him in the trailer.
It’s extremely rare for the same song to get two appearances in my SotD posts, but how can I say no to Zooey Deschanel dressed as a cowgirl?
Love the cartoon-y feel of the video clip. Now, any chance of an Australian tour Z and M.W.? Pretty please?
Now a more positive response to a commercial - here’s ‘1922′, the song from that ridiculously overplayed Vodafone ad with the guy folding things up, that somehow has failed to grow old on me. It’s by Charlie Parr, a country / blues musician from Minnesota. I love how timeless it is (it was actually released on his 2002 album of the same title).
You can download a free copy of ‘1922′ here.
This tv commercial is driving me crazy - the new Nutella ad, scored by what I have now learnt is a song called ‘Glorious’ by Andreas Johnson. How ridiculously pretensious can an ad about a hazelnut spread be??? The first time I saw it and heard that overblown cock rock soundtrack I thought it was going to at least be something worthwhile like a charity pursuing a cure for Muscular Dystrophy. Instead, the ad climaxes with retarded children finding their lives’ meaning in brown goo on a piece of bread. Wow. “She” (the nutella) really is “bringing me in, and checking me out and making me glorious”. I will now jab two pencils into each of my eardrums.
Unfortunately I could only find the original French version of the commercial (which explains soooo much about the pretension). I do love the kid who laughs maniacally at the end of the French ad, like he just dropped the foulest butt spray on the girl standing next to him.
The U.S. #1 film of last weekend - Guillermo Del Toro’s sequel to the underrated comic book adapation ‘Hellboy’ - ‘Hellboy 2: The Golden Army’.
In my opinion, Del Toro is the premiere fantasy filmmaker working today and this looks to be another example of his talents.
For a great mp3 interview with Del Toro, stop by Jeffrey Well’s Hollywood Elsewhere - it’s a fascinating conversation, touching on Del Toro’s creative process, his plans for ‘The Hobbit’ and his his hopes for the ‘Hellboy’ franchise.
Today’s song of the day is a fantastic cover of Radiohead’s ‘Morning Bell’ by Nickel Creek’s Chris Thile and his new band. He’s an amazing mandolin player, and his new bandmates perfectly compliment his musicianship and improvisational skills. Enjoy.
Rucker Park is my Mecca.
As a die-hard basketball fan, I love this trailer for Beastie Boy Adam Yauch’s documentary of up-and-coming high school and college ballers, many of whom were drafted in this years NBA draft. The photography looks great and I’m sure the hip-hop soundtrack will be impeccable.
I did get an opportunity to play at the Venice Beach courts on my last trip to the US, but I still dream of one day playing some pick-up ball at Ruckers (and getting my butt royally kicked of course).
I suspect I will have to check this one out on DVD - sadly no love for basketball docos in Australian cinemas.
