Tagged: Australia

22May

[FILM REVIEW] HOW TO PLEASE A WOMAN Review (2022)

Posted in Comedy, Drama, Film, Film Genre, Home Page | Leave a comment

Summary:  When her all-male house-cleaning business gets out of control, a mature woman must embrace her own sexuality, if she is to make a new life for herself.

Year: 2022

Cinema Release Dates:  19th May 2022 (Australia), 22nd July 2022 (USA)

VOD Release Dates: TBA.

Country: Australia

Director: Renee Webster

Screenwriter: Renee Webster

Cast: Nicola Bartlett (Prue), Caroline Brazier (Sandra), Emily Rose Brennan (Alice), Ying Chu (Officer Lim), Troy Coward (Harry), Cameron Daddo (Adrian), Hannah Day (Officer Tremby), Sam Dudley (Detective Noakes), Alexander England (Tom), Andrea Gibbs (Detective Elliott), Liam Graham (Officer Mason), Milu Green (Officer Cooper), Julia Hales (Kylie), Roz Hammond (Claudia), Megan Hollier (Molly), Emma Jackson (Bree), Lee Jankowski (Officer Levi), Ryan Johnson (Anthony), Priscilla Le (Alia), Monica Main (Adrianna), Katherine Marmion (Nerida), Hayley McElhinney (Hayley), Maggie Meyers (Maggie), Catherine Moore (Fiona), Takia Morrison (Mandy), Ben Mortley (Gary), Claire Munday (Jules), Fraser Murray (Officer Trent), Alexandra Nell (Biatta), Dan Paris (Mike), Sally Phillips (Gina), Myles Pollard (Richard), Suesha Rana (Wendy), Alexandria Steffensen (Pamela), Erik Thomson (Steve), Josh Thomson (Ben), Sherrilee Walsh (Amanda), Tasma Walton (Monique), Oliver Wenn (Brett), Asher Yasbincek (Chloe), Nina Young (Jane)

Running Time: 107 mins

Classification: TBC (Australia)

OUR HOW TO PLEASE A WOMAN REVIEWS

David Griffiths’ How To Please A Woman Review:

Often when people talk about the Australian cinema industry they will pull out the old line “oh we make great cult films.” Well as an industry I have to say we do more than just that. We also make some pretty intense dramas and we’ve made some classic comedies over the years as well. Actually when I really think about it we have made some brilliant comedies over the years – films like The Castle, Crocodile Dundee and Crackerjack that have all become classics and could only have been created with that unique Australian sense of humour.

That tradition of good Australia comedy continues with brand new film How To Please A Woman – a film that sees director/screenwriter Renee Webster (The Heights) deliver a film I found to mix just the right amount of comedy and drama.

The film centres around Gina (Sally Phillips – Bridget Jones’s Diary) a middle-aged woman who finds herself stuck in a sexless marriage with her husband, Adrian (Cameron Daddo – Hope Island), and fired from her job which she excels at.

Her friends from the local swimming club decide to spice things up for her on her birthday and hire her a male giggalo, Tom (Alexander England – Gods Of Egypt). However, when the awkward Gina decides that she doesn’t want to have sex with him but would love for to clean her house an idea forms in her mind. Then when she discovers that Tom works for a removalist company that is about to close down she suddenly comes up with an idea for a new business where she would hire Tom and his colleagues Steve (Erik Thomson – Somersault), Anthony (Ryan Johnson – Son Of The Mask) and Ben (Josh Thomson – The New Legends Of Monkey).

What I found I enjoyed most about this film was that Webster found the perfect tone for the film. Yes at the heart of this film is a comedy but also the more dramatic elements of the film explore a lot of topics that are often taboos to be talked about in society. The film explores middle-aged women wanting to have sex in a tasteful way, it also looks at women being fired from their jobs because of their age and also what happens when a long-lasting marriage starts to fizzle out.

Male audience members also shouldn’t feel like they are going to be left out while watching the film. Through the character of Steve it explores the depression that can sink in when a middle-aged man loses both his marriage and his business and it respectfully looks at how many men have no idea how to pleasure a woman when it comes to sex (through no fault of their own) and the looming cloud of unemployment in modern society.

One part I especially loved is the fact that the film also doesn’t make Gina out to be a flawless character, in fact there is one touching storyline that sees Gina judge one of her colleagues and why she isn’t one of the ones losing her job only too later find out not only has she body-shamed the women but also judged her intelligence and worth because of her looks.

I hope though what I have said here makes you feel that How To Please A Woman is a film that will bog you down with serious tones because that simply isn’t the case. There are a lot of comedic moments to be found throughout the film but Webster is a gifted enough filmmaker to fit them in amongst the film’s message in a well-written and subtle manner.

When it comes to the acting side of things Sally Phillips and Erik Thomson steal the show. Phillips matches the tone of the film well knowing the right time to deliver comedy and really delivering when she is called to act out the more dramatic moments of the film. Erik Thomson also delivers a solid performance alongside Phillips while Alexander England is almost guaranteed to land some Hollywood work off the back of this film.

How To Please A Woman is a pleasurable drama-comedy that reveals a new talent in Australia’s filmmaking alumni with the arrival of Renee Webster in a big way. Thoroughly delightful from start to finish with a really important message at its core.

Dave’s rating Out Of 5

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Other Subculture How To Pleasure A Woman Reviews:

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20May

[MUSIC NEWS] NTH RD Release New Single

Posted in Alternative, Home Page, Metal, Music, Music Genre, Music News, News | Leave a comment

If the face-melting breakdown at the end of NTH RD’s debut single, Wearing Thin suggested anything, its that the Melbourne quartet are no strangers to embracing heavier sounds; their second single, Worm, reinforces this claim in spades. Today they return with their latest offering, a straight, hard-out RIPPER of a song that comes out of the gate FLYING and never lets up until the final chord is struck.

Doing away with the soft, climactic passages of the previous song, Worm is a chaotic anthem, serving as ample evidence of NTH RD’s dynamic staying power. The track is released Friday May 20th and can be pre-saved/purchased/streamed at https://ditto.fm/worm-nth-rd.

The band spares no time introducing themselves to the track; from the first second, the full brunt of Worm is javelined into your ears. Jordan Kellaway’s high pitched scream can be heard sustained over John Mihaloudakis’ fast paced, smashing drums, coupled with Billy Balassis and Lucas Banim’s frantic aggression on the guitar and bass, which assists in guiding the track amidst the chaos.

It’s immediately evident: this isn’t another helping of the bands rock/core fusion, rather a celebration of brutal, crushing metalcore, demonstrating the band’s penchant for exploring the two extremes, only granting listeners the briefest of reprieve in the melodic and anthemic chorus. As the second single from the band’s upcoming debut EP Panic, Worm throws listeners for a loop as to what to expect from the upcoming EP; vocalist Jordan Kellaway states that with Worm, the band “…aimed to explore the heavier side of the EP’, where previous single, Wearing Thin addressed the ‘poppier and more melodic elements of the release.”

While the intensity and chaos of Worm serves as a pleasantly surprising contrast from their last single, fans can be sure of a listening experience that proves that NTH RD is not only dynamic, but also consistent, and undoubtedly a band to watch in the coming years.

The band are launching the belter of a single on Sunday June 5 at Collingwood’s Bendigo Hotel, along with Priorities and This Space is Ours. Tickets are available now.

NTH RD’s new single ‘Worm’ is out Friday May 20th. Pre-save/purchase/stream now at https://ditto.fm/worm-nth-rd.

20May

[MUSIC NEWS] LIVECONFORMDIE Join DROPOUT KINGS On Tour

Posted in Alternative, Home Page, Music, Music Genre, Music News, News, Tours | Leave a comment

Liveconformdie are heading out on their first tour ever across Australia – it’s about damn time – but they waited for an absolutely RIPPING tour package to come along.

Phoenix Trap Metal outfit Dropout Kings have announced the dates for their upcoming tour of Australia with Earth Caller, and Liveconformdie. The tour begins on October 27th and marks the first time that Dropout Kings have performed down under. Tickets are on sale now for all dates online at https://linktr.ee/milestonebookings.

“We’re all very excited to be hitting the road with Liveconformdie and Earth Caller in Australia. It’s a dream come true to be able to go there because of music. Can’t wait to rip the doors off every venue,” said Dropout Kings vocalist Adam Ramey.

“We were so hyped when we got the call to support Dropout Kings on their Australian run. This tour is completely stacked and we can’t wait to show these lads and our audiences a wild time,” commented the members of Earth Caller.

Liveconformdie added, “We’re stoked to have our first tour finally lined up. So keen to play some nü-shit around the country with our brothers in Dropout Kings & Earth Caller.”

Dropout Kings will be touring in support of their upcoming new album Riot Music coming later this year via Suburban Noize Records. The first single from the group’s upcoming new album is the recently released trap-metal rager “Hey Uh”.

As for “liveconformdie” (AKA Conform)? If you came in late – they formed in late 2015: a righteous blend of genres, drawing inspiration from the roots of modern metal and 90’s/00’s nü-metal – and from inception, have always been in tune with a very niche aesthetic, musically and visually. Visual artistry is just as important to liveconformdie as the music.

That DIY ethic extends to the music – everything is written and produced in house at Jez’s studio. They have an authentic, no BS attitude. They don’t give a fuck about gate-keeping. They believe in putting out music that’s true to them and their values. Now with over 6 million total streams on Spotify alone, liveconformdie are looking forward to levelling up again with their new single “Help Yourself” and a second yet-to-be-announced EP which they have been writing and polishing up since the start of the COVID-ridden lockdowns of 2020.

liveconformdie ‘Help Yourself’ is out now and can be found here. Tickets for the Dropout Kings tour can be found at https://linktr.ee/milestonebookings.

18May

[MUSIC NEWS] PSYCROPTIC Release New Single

Posted in Home Page, Metal, Music, Music Genre, Music News, News | Leave a comment

More than two decades deep into their existence, Psycroptic have today announced their eighth studio album, Divine Council, set to be released via Prosthetic Records on August 5. Alongside the album announcement, the Australian extreme metal group have shared the lead single, “Rend Asunder”, and an accompanying music video for the track – directed by Michael Rankine and filmed at Oi Studios in Tasmania, AU – which can be seen here:

Speaking on the album announcement and “Rend Asunder”, the band comments: “‘Rend Asunder’ is a little bit of a different style of track for us – stripped back and streamlined, but it still has the Psycroptic sound. It’s straight to the point – fast, catchy and hard hitting from the outset. We think people will dig it from the first listen. We can’t wait to play it live, it will definitely be in the set for our upcoming tours.”

Brothers Dave Haley (drums) and Joe Haley (guitar) have steered Psycroptic through different shades of death metal, from the technical to the experimental, with longtime vocalist and lyricist Jason Peppiatt and bassist Todd Stern further embellishing the sound of the band to create something that is distinctively Psycroptic.

Origin vocalist Jason Keyser has long been considered a part of Psycroptic‘s extended family, and on Divine Council, he contributes vocals to the album tracks. As Peppiatt wrote the lyrics and vocal patterns, the group were able to utilize an extended palette of styles to further enhance his sound, courtesy of Keyser and additional vocals from Amy Wiles, hitting upon a collective approach to complement the Haleys.

With writing and recording punctuated by a pandemic and subsequent strict lockdowns, Divine Council was recorded in various locations across Australia and North America. Drums were tracked at Anubis Studios by Chris Thelemco, bass was captured by Justin Spaeth at Cave Bound Studio, and guitars, vocals and synths were recorded by the band’s own Joe Haley at his Crawlspace Studios before he mixed and mastered the album’s nine tracks.

The suffocating atmosphere carries through to the lyrics that detail the myriad of ways that human beings waste, destroy or devalue what’s in front of them – captured in the evocative album artwork, courtesy of the prolific Eliran Kantor. With narrative threads that throw back to tracks on both their self-titled album and As The Kingdom Drowns, Psycroptic have found yet more new ways to explore human’s inherent inability to see the bigger picture – or change track before a miserable demise becomes a crushing inevitability.

Divine Council is an album that oozes confidence, maturity and a relaxed self-assurance befitting of a band with a rich legacy behind them and an unconstrained future ahead of them.

Divine Council track-listing:

1. Rend Asunder

2. A Fool’s Errand

3. This Shadowed World

4. Enslavement

5. Ashes of Our Empire

6. The Prophet’s Council

7. Awakening

8. A Fragile Existence

9. Exitus

13May

[MUSIC NEWS] SHANGRILA Release New Single

Posted in Alternative, Home Page, Music, Music Genre | Leave a comment

Perth alternative rock band Shangrila welcome two new members to their collective and celebrate the good times with brand new single “Sunlight“, streaming via MILKY today.

Shangrila have been busy behind the scenes piecing together their return after their sophomore EP, ‘Analog Youth‘, which was released in August of last year. Since the release the band has grown from a three-piece to a fully fledged five-piece welcoming two new members, Gabrielle Morri on bass and Chad Lambert on guitar.

“We decided after the long and generally depressing COVID period that we needed to set our minds on something positive, and after welcoming two new members we thought this track would be a perfect breath of fresh air. We wanted to make sure we enjoyed every part of the process for this release and keep things moving in a positive direction after the constant show cancellations and uncertainty of the last couple years,” says the band

New single “Sunlight” stays true to the bands alt rock roots whilst also welcoming feel-good intervals that accentuate the theme of the track. “Sunlight is a song about blocking out the noise of the outside world and being in the moment with the person you love. It’s an ode to the big nights out and the special moments where everything else happening in your life just falls away for a while.” 

Shangrila will launch their colourful new single live at their headline show at Perth’s Amplifier Bar on Saturday July 2nd alongside Idle Eyes, Spici Water and Thank You Frank. The five-piece were also added to the unstoppable RedHook’s ‘Bring Ya Mates‘ tour, playing the Perth leg on Saturday May 14 at Jack Rabbit Slim’s with RinRin, tickets on sale now via Oztix.

Shangrila is an ever changing artistic outlet for each of the five members. Forming in 2018 by Jackson Macleod (guitar) and Devyn Jupp (vocals), the alt rock outfit has progressed and transformed into the quintet we see today with the added inclusion of Dan Harper (drums), Gabrielle Morri (bass) and Chad Lambert (guitar). Shangrila twist and turn between the boundaries of their particular genre, releasing music that feels genuine and unique to those involved. With close to 2 million overall Spotify streams to boast in just a short few years, Shangrila strive to continue to break the mould with each release.

The band released their highly praised debut EP ‘Love and Leaving’ in 2018 and quickly found themselves playing headline dates and shows supporting national and international acts such as Trophy Eyes, Dance Gavin Dance, Movements, Dashboard Confessional, Slowly, Slowly and more.

The emotional follow up single “Fade Away” and fan favourite “Happy” were released across 2019 and 2020, where the band continued to grow their fan base and sold out various headline shows. Their anticipated follow up EP ‘Analog Youth’ produced and mixed by Shane Edwards (Trophy Eyes, Hellions etc.) proved the perfect introduction to the band’s new sonic path, one that was well-received by industry and their fans alike.

“Sunlight” is the next chapter, and is streaming now via MILKY. “Sunlight” will be streaming on all platforms tomorrow, Friday May 13.

13May

[MUSIC NEWS] RESIDE Release New Single

Posted in Alternative, Home Page, Music, Music Genre, Music News, News | Leave a comment

Melbourne alternative rock band Reside have enlisted the vocal power of Bloom‘s Jono Hawkey on eclectic new single “Palace“. The new single has been teased at live shows over the last 12 months and will finally see its own launch show on June 10 in Melbourne.

The ‘Palace’ described in Reside’s latest single is not only a physical space serving as a layer of protection from the violence and evils of the outside world, but is also a metaphysical escape our consciousness creates in times of stress or anxiety. Reside explore the detriments of overstaying in the idyllic safe space.

“It’s a series of moments and a journey of emotions taking the listener from section to section,” explains vocalist Liam Guinane. “What starts as a feel-good, club disco inspired number turns abruptly into a cathartic slap in the face, questioning whether this place is really good for us in the long term. Heavily mirroring the initial feelings of what used to be satisfying downtime, the track lyrically moves through waves of paranoia and mental autopilot, to then being resuscitated to a cold, harsh reality, shaking and begging you to ‘wake up’.“

A smattering of effects alter Guinane’s vocal performance throughout to juxtapose differing characters until the climax of the song leads into one last attempt to pull the cord from the listener’s head. Here enters the grizzly tones of Bloom vocalist Jono Hawkey, attempting to resuscitate the protagonist from their pacified state.

Reside formed in 2017 with the longstanding original lineup of vocalist Liam Guinane, guitarists Ariel Johnson and Will Eggleton, bassist Salé Brown and drummer and keyboardist Dylan Houston. Since then Reside have solidified themselves a place in the alternative music community and have managed to capture and engage a very dedicated and loyal fan base.

The band’s last standalone single “Fallen” released in 2020 and premiered at Pilerats, who highlighted that the single “[continues] to emphasise this grand and somewhat cinematic take on emo-rock that’s become really unique to Reside“. Hysteria Mag coined it a “rocking anthemic track”, Music Feeds weighed in with: “This is arena-sized emo rock… think Angels And Airwaves meets Bring Me The Horizon”, triple j’s Richard Kingsmill reviewed with a four star “Houston, we have lift off” and Tone Deaf affirmed that Reside have “proven to be a real force to be reckoned with”. 

Reside ticked off the main stage at UNIFY Gathering in 2020 after winning the triple j Unearthed opener competition. In amongst this the band have played multiple sold out headline shows and have toured across the country with bands to the likes of Eat Your Heart Out, Windwaker and very recently, Columbus. Reside have also supported artists including Palaye Royale (US), Casey (UK), The Beautiful Monument, Young Lions, Stuck Out and they’ll join Canada’s Marianas Trench this September.

“Palace” feat. Jono Hawkey is available now and streaming on all platforms.

10May

[MUSIC NEWS] BABIRUSA Announce Tour

Posted in Home Page, Metal, Music, Music Genre, Music News, Tours | Leave a comment

The single isn’t even released yet, and the hype is R E A L. Brisbane’s Babirusa, touted as one of the world’s rising stars in Deathcore by Revolver Mag, is today announcing their Mandatory Malevolence Single release tour dates in September 2022. They are bringing along with them Portueguese Deatl Metal outfit Analepsy!

Babirusa and Analepsy are traversing the East Coast of Australia in September, hitting The Zoo in Brisbane on Thursday the 1st, Friday 2nd September at Cambridge Hotel, Newcastle, Saturday 3rd September at Burdekin Hotel, Sydney, Sunday 4th September at La La Las in Wollongong, Monday 5th September at The Basement in Canberra, Wednesday 7th September at Enigma Bar, Adelaide and finish in Melbourne on Thursday 8th September at Stay Gold in Melbourne! All tickets are at http://www.babirusaband.com.au!

The band announced that the single is now up for pre-save/pre-order last week – dropping the news that the world will get to experience the latest lineup and brutality in ‘Mandatory Malevolence’ on Friday June 3. The single can be pre-saved now at https://ffm.to/mandatorymalevolence.

The band have been hard at work in the background, putting this single together earlier in the year and DIY-booking and planning this tour and more. The current/new line-up is: Rheese Peters – Vocals, Brodie Servin – Vocals, Dean White – Guitar, Jack Rynswoud – Guitar, Josh Blade – Bass and Rangi Barnes – Drums.

For a band so intensely heavy, triple j and media have rallied around the band and they have rallied a rabid fanbase, racking them up over 800k streams on Spotify alone. Tommy Faith from triple j unearthed said that Babirusa are “Deathcore done so well, replete with the pig squeals to really take it over the edge. Manic, mad and so so heavy. Babirusa coming through with something truly merciless in the form of Abomination.“

The band kicked off in a LARGE way in 2019 – their Debut show was supporting international act Vulvodynia and they dropped their Debut album “Humanoid” in 2020. They recently recruited Brodie Servin (ex-Forsaker/Dead Nerve) on second vocals + Josh Blade (Tomb of Doom) on Bass and are supporting Within Destruction (Slovenia) & Signs of The Swarm (USA) at The Brightside in Brisbane on June 9th.

Revolver Mag said of Babirusa in their Beyond Breakdowns and Pig squeals: 10 rising bands pushing deathcore forward article: “Named after an Indonesian “deer pig” with crooked horns protruding from its snout, Babirusa certainly aren’t going for cute and cuddly. The Australian unit — sporting two vocalists, one shrieker and one bellower — play songs with tech-deathy drumming and moments of guitar heroics, but also tons of mosh-worthy flavor, never falling victim to masturbatory craftsmanship. “Abomination” has a strange, hip-hoppy breakdown in the middle with a watery sound effect, while a song like “Catatonia” injects flecks of djenty groove and even a proggy clean bridge in between the chunky breakdowns. “

Babirusa are out on tour with Analepsy in September and tickets are on sale now at http://www.babirusaband.com.au – and their single Mandatory Malevolence is up for pre-save/pre-order now for release on Friday June 3 at https://ffm.to/mandatorymalevolence.

10May

[MUSIC NEWS] THE DARKNESS Announce Australian Tour

Posted in Alternative, Home Page, Music, Music Genre, Music News, News, Rock | Leave a comment

Multi-platinum UK rock icons The Darkness will be returning to Australia & New Zealand this October, playing shows in 
Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Canberra, Adelaide, Perth, Auckland & Wellington. 

Fans can access early bird tickets by signing up prior to pre-sale commencing here. 
Pre-sale starts Friday, May 13 at 11am local time.
General public tickets on sale Tuesday, May 17 at 11am local time.

Brimming with their trademark blazing guitar riffs and solos, soaring falsetto and immeasurable rock ‘n’ roll extravagance, The Darkness will be operating at their loosest and most extroverted frequency. 

Fans will be treated to new songs from the band’s new album Motorheart, along with slaying their award-winning, platinum-selling hit singles including ‘I Believe in a Thing Called Love’ and ‘Love Is Only A Feeling’– a true spectacle to behold. 

With over three million concert tickets sold worldwide, four Top Ten albums, two hundred million streams on Spotify, five Top Ten singles and numerous industry awards and having toured with giants including Queen, Guns N’ Roses, Black Sabbath, Def Leppard & KISS, The Darkness are one of the most successful rock bands of the modern era 

Many of The Darkness’ biggest songs are now staples of rock radio, sharing airtime with songs by their genetic forerunners, Queen, T-Rex and Cheap Trick. 

Justin Hawkins says of their imminent return, “Our last ill fated Antipodean excursion in 2020 was cruelly truncated. We’ve spent 2.5 years deflated. Our appetite for Rock has largely gone unsated. Well, for too long you have waited, to witness the atmosphere created, in the Uk, Ireland, Canada and the Unite Stated, by us, Rock’s most underrated. and I am truly elated to announce that we shall return in October to deliver our solid gold plated ROCK – see you there!”

Watch the Tour trailer video here
https://youtu.be/ju_CVyK8Zc0

‘MOTORHEART’
AUSTRALIA & NEW ZEALAND TOUR OCTOBER 2022 
 Wednesday, Oct 12: Forum, Melbourne
Friday, Oct 14: Astor, Perth
Saturday, Oct 15: Thebarton Theatre, Adelaide
Sunday, Oct 16:  Enmore Theatre, Sydney
Tuesday, Oct 18: Kambri, Canberra
Wednesday Oct 19: Tivoli, Brisbane
Friday, Oct 21: Hunter Lounge, Wellington
Saturday, Oct 22: Powerstation, Auckland 
Early Bird Ticket Pre-Sale Starts Friday, May 13 @ 11am Local Time
Sign Up Here

General Tickets On Sale From Tuesday, May 17 @ 11am Local Time
sbmpresents.com