Month: July 2023

THEATRE REVIEW: La Cage Aux Folles at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK?: *****

WHEN?: Saturday 29 July, opens 5 August runs through 16 September 2023 RUNTIME: 150 minutes (including a 20-minute interval) UPDATE: now running until 23 September 2023

Close your eyes and this 40th anniversary revival of the classic musical comedy could almost be set not on the French Riveria but in a rundown British seaside town that’s seen better days.

  • Read on for reasons including why this is the best production of this iconic show we’ve ever seen
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GIG REVIEW: Pulp at Eventim Apollo, Hammersmith

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

By Neil Durham

WHEN? Friday 28 July, tour runs until Saturday 29 July 2023

WORTH A LOOK?: ****

SETLIST: I Spy; Disco 2000; Mis-Shapes; Something Changed; Pink Glove; Weeds; Weeds II; F.E.E.L.I.N.G.C.A.L.L.E.D.L.O.V.E; Sorted For Es And Whizz; This Is Hardcore; Do You Remember The First Time?; Babies; Sunrise; Like A Friend; Underwear; Common People; After You; Razzamatzz; Glory Days; Hymn Of The North

The most moving moment during this 535th gig by Pulp was when lead singer Jarvis Cocker dedicated Something Changed to bassist Steve Mackey who died on 2 March 2023 aged 56 and revealed that his wife Katie and son Marley are with us in the audience.

  • Read on for reasons including why we’re wishing for the band to release their 1st new album since 2001
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FILM REVIEW: Barbie starring Margot Robbie & Ryan Gosling

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

By Aline Mahrud

WORTH A LOOK?: ****

Mattel’s Barbie doll has proved so iconic and such a divisive figure that it fully justifies the homage to the film 2001 that it is blessed with here including Helen Mirren voiceover.

  • Read on for reasons including how this is the funniest film of the year so far but also 1 to make you think
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FILM REVIEW: Oppenheimer starring Cillian Murphy, Matt Damon, Robert Downey Jr & Emily Blunt

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK?: ***** WHEN?: Monday 24 July 2023

Welcome to the best film of 2023 so far and certainly the 1 most worthy of receiving Oscar consideration early in 2024.

  • Read on for reasons including how Nolan gives us 3 intertwining narrative strands which ultimately pay off
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ALBUM OF THE MONTH: The Ballad Of Darren by Blur (July 2023)

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK?: ****

TRACKLIST: The Ballad; St Charles Square; Barbaric; Russian Strings; The Everglades (For Leonard); The Narcissist; Goodbye Albert; Far Away Island; Avalon; The Heights

Blur played 2 rapturously received Wembley Stadium shows this month (where they are pictured above) but we haven’t seen them live since their Parklife heyday at the end of the last century.

  • Read on for reasons including how we spotted Damon Albarn as we were writing this review in London City Airport
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SONG OF THE WEEK: Same Again (For Love) by Dagny (week beginning Thursday 20 July 2023)

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

WORTH A LOOK?: ****

It’s Norwegian pop star Dagny Norvoll Sandvik’s 33rd birthday on Sunday (23 July 2023) and she has much to celebrate as this uptempo electro track with a live band feel is already top 25 in Norway while shaping up to enjoy similar success to its predecessor.

  • Read on for reasons including how to see Dagny in London in 2024
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GIG REVIEW: The Human League, Altered Images & Nik Kershaw at Kew The Music

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

By Carron Stacey, A Humdrum Mum

WHEN?: Friday 14 July 2023

SETLIST: The Sound Of The Crowd; Mirror Man; Heart Like A Wheel; The Things That Dreams Are Made Of; Open Your Heart; Seconds; The Lebanon; One Man In My Heart; Human; Behind The Mask; Love Action; Tell Me When; Fascination; Don’t You Want Me; Being Boiled; Together In Electric Dreams

Let’s just say that I went to church on Friday. The church of The Human League.

  • Read on for reasons including A Humdrum Mum’s thoughts on Altered Images and Nik Kershaw
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FILM REVIEW: WHAM! on Netflix

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK?: ****

We’ve not written a lot about George Michael because we regarded his imperial phase as WHAM! but never saw him live until he was solo at Wembley Stadium when his hunger for writing number 1s appeared to have been lost.

  • Read on for reasons including how WHAM! were a gateway for us to music we would go on to love
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9 reasons why we can’t wait for August 2023 starring Victorious Festival

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

  1. Victorious Festival starring Cian Ducrot, Mae Muller and Welly

This year’s glorious Victorious Festival in Southsea runs across 3 days from Friday 25 August through Sunday 27 August with A Humdrum Mum’s names to look out for including Kasabian, Friendly Fires and The Charlatans as well as Jamiroquai, The Divine Comedy and Sigrid. Although we’re excited for newcomers Welly, this year’s UK Eurovision entry Mae Muller and Cian Ducrot whose debut album is appropriately titled Victory and out 4 August 2023. Tickets Day 1 review starring album chart-topper Cian Ducrot. A Humdrum Mum’s day 1 review Day 2 review Day 3 review

  • Read on for reasons including Heartstopper, new musical Next To Normal and The Effect at the National
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THEATRE REVIEW: Song From Far Away starring Will Young at Hampstead Theatre

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK?: **** RUNTIME: 80 minutes (no interval)

WHEN?: Saturday 1 July (matinee), runs through 22 July 2023

There are 2 moments during this monologue when Will Young as grieving hedge manager Willem interacts remarkably and seamlessly with his enrapt audience

  • Read on for reasons including whether Will Young kept his clothes on and if we think this could transfer to the West End
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