Posted by Liz Niland on January 11, 2010
I received the Holy Water from the mouth of the King… At Sydney’s Oxford Art Factory. In the space of one very sweaty hour of dance-fuelled excitement, I went from being an inquisitive music fan keen to see the buzz from Berlin, to a sequin-loving, jazz-hand waving, disciple of the one and only King Khan. Taking to the stage in a leopard-print blazer, feathered headdress and a sultry swagger not seen since the early days of James Brown, King Khan provided a show that had pizzazz above and beyond that displayed by many, if any, of his contemporaries.
And while I’ve spent the majority of the last decade building a career that’s mostly far removed from psychedelic rock music, one of King Khan’s “Shrines” took just one round of ‘Welfare Bread’ to have me re-evaluating my chosen path. The Shrine in question was Bamboorella - the Gogo Queen of the Underworld. Dressed in a sequined dress and matching headband, her sole task was to shake her pompoms to the infectiously funky beats created by the balance of the Shrines. When I grow up, I want to be Bamboorella.
Jumping from the stage to join the appreciative crowd for an all-in jumping-jazz rendition of ‘Took My Lady To Dinner’, King Khan didn’t wait long before stripping down to a pair of fetching black lycra shorts worked back with a golden cape. Needless to say, I was beyond besotted by the time I received a shower of Mount Franklin from the mouth of the man himself.
Image by Lou Helliwell
oxford arts factory, king khan and the shrines
Posted by Liz Niland on September 27, 2009
The night might not be still young but Sydney band Dappled Cities are keeping the party going strong with their newest musical offering. Taken from their third album Zounds, 'The Night is Young at Heart' shows the ever-evolving talents of these talented lads. Kluster spoke to Dappled Cities last month about the making of the album, and this single continues the epic sound the band have brought to the table this year. If you liked their first release 'The Price', tune your ears into some more Zounds for summer.
'The Night is Young at Heart' - Dappled Cities
zounds, dappled cities
Posted by Liz Niland on August 26, 2009
If you appreciate cheap booze and local Aussie creative talent, get thee to Sydney’s Darlo Bar tonight, Thursday August 27th, for a big hit of both. Kicking off at 7pm, the Thirsty Artist competition will be exhibiting the work of six very different artists, all looking to get their winning piece printed on the label of a case of Thirsty Artist wine. Terezka Beck took the crown last year with her painting, Baby Elephant.
This year’s finalists - Stephanie Geddes, Hedi Hereth, Lucy Loneragan, Kelly Geddes, Alan Harris and Jae Reno - will each take over a room of the hotel, personalising the space to reflect their artistic capabilities. Guests can enjoy a $1 Hahn Superdry or a drop of the Thirsty Artist wine while they experience the works. The winner will be selected by Darlo Bar staff.
thirsty artist, darlo bar, sydney
Posted by Liz Niland on July 1, 2009
Unleashing the talents of closet musos on Sydney earlier this year, the Play Me I’m Yours street piano spectacular is taking London by storm for the next fortnight.
Sing London and the City of London Festival have offered up 30 pianos for the joyous tinkling of the people, in parks, train stations and an array of other public areas. Anyone can approach the keys, but if you’d prefer to enjoy the talents of others, rather than marvel the crowds with a rendition of Chopsticks, check out the pile of free events on offer here. There’s everything from collaborations with a kazoo orchestra, to performances by the London Symphony Orchestra.
Be quick though, the pianos are only in town until July 13; after that they’ll be donated to local schools and community groups.
play me i'm yours, london
Posted by Liz Niland on June 29, 2009
Nothing beats a sale. Especially a sale that has way cool stuff on offer for way cheap prices.
Little Hero’s Super Sonic Sale guarantees to blow your mind with up to 75% off massive labels including AM Eyewear, Cheap Monday, Earnest Sewn, Romance Was Born, Therese Rawsthorne and Marsu Homme.
Take your best bargain-hunting game face to 458 Crown Street, Surry Hills and battle it out for five days only, beginning this Wednesday, July 1, at 4pm.
And it’s not just random crap either. There’ll be stuff for chicks and dudes including swimwear, shoes, denim and accessories. Expect everything from end of season samples to current pieces all priced from a recession-beating $40!
Be sure to hit the ATM before you get there though, it’s cash only.
little hero
Posted by Liz Niland on June 25, 2009
Opening the Director’s Fortnight sidebar at the Cannes festival in May, Francis Ford Coppola’s newest emotion-charged baby, Tetro, has been the catalyst for plenty of critical debate across the globe. Tetro is an intense family drama centred on the tensions between two brothers; young Bennie (Alden Ehrenreich) and his older sibling Tetro (Vincent Gallo). There are skeletons aplenty hidden in the characters’ closets, with all secrets tumbling forward into the light by curtain close.
Some critics think Coppola is simply reliving The Godfather, (he’s replaced the gun-toting gangsters with pencil-wielding creative types for this one though) while others think that Tetro is his greatest piece of cinema since his glory days of the 1970s. And given it’s not only Coppola’s first original screenplay since 1974’s The Conversation but was also self-financed by the proceeds from his foray into the wine industry, Tetro seems to bear a heavy load of high expectations.
There’s no Australian release date set in stone as yet, but if you’re currently residing in the Northern Hemisphere, get thee to the theatre and support some independent cinema. Otherwise, sit tight.
tetro, francis ford coppola