ALBUM OF THE MONTH: Key by Alison Moyet (October 2024)

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

WORTH A LOOK: ****

Tracklist: Where Hides Sleep; All Cried Out; Such Small Ale; All Signs Of Life; Can’t Say It Like I Mean It; Fire; Filigree; The Impervious Me; More; Is This Love?; Tongue Tied; My Right A.R.M; So Am I; My Best Day; World Without End; This House; Love Resurrection; You Don’t Have To Go

The bluesy voice, the unforgettable way with an uplifting pop melody, the idiosyncratic lyrics or occasional appearance by French and Saunders in a video – there were always a multitude of reasons to love Alison Moyet across her 40-year solo career.

  • Read on for reasons including how Key unlocks a remarkable songbook that balances nostalgia with modern pop sensibilities
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THEATRE REVIEW: The Real Ones starring Nathaniel Curtis & Mariam Haque at Bush Theatre

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By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK?: ***

WHEN?: Thursday 10 October, runs through 26 October 2024 RUNTIME: 115 minutes (no interval)

Waleed Akhtar won an Olivier for his last play The P Word and follows it with the story of the friendship of 2 British Pakistanis across 20 years who work as cinema ushers but dream of becoming playwrights.

  • Read on for reasons including why the real ones might not necessarily be the ones you want to know more about
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GIG REVIEW: Field Music for release of new album Limits Of Language

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By Carron Stacey, A Humdrum Mum

WHEN?: Saturday 12 October 2024 at Pie and Vinyl record store, Southsea

Mr H has been a fan of Field Music for sometime now. I’ve been a fan for a number of years since we saw them at Victorious seven years ago on a sunny Saturday afternoon.

  • Read on for reasons including an interview with Field Music’s Peter and David Brewis
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THEATRE REVIEW: Dr Strangelove starring Steve Coogan at Noel Coward Theatre

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By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK: *****

WHEN?: Saturday 12 October, running through 25 January 2025 RUNTIME: 135 minutes (including a 20-minute interval)

‘A-ha!’ Steve Coogan’s beloved creation Alan Partridge may not be in this hilarious tweaked version of the classic 1964 political satire but the spirit of his character’s comedy genius is quite literally everywhere.

  • Read on for reasons including how this is the West End’s funniest comedy
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AWARDS SHORTLIST: MONSTAS: Best Venue of 2024

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It’s been quite the year, it’s almost Christmas and what would the festive season be without some recognition of the best of 2024? Over the next 3 months we’ll shortlist five nominees in each of 17 categories for our Oscars, or monstas if you will, of 2024.

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FILM REVIEW: Joker: Folie à Deux starring Joaquin Phoenix & ALBUM OF THE WEEK Harlequin by Lady Gaga

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By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK?: *** (film)/ **** (album)

Harlequin tracklist: Good Morning; Get Happy; Oh, When The Saints; World On A String; If My Friends Could See Me Now; That’s Entertainment; Smile; The Joker; Folie à Deux; Gonna Build A Mountain; Close To You; Happy Mistake; That’s Life

Lady Gaga is definitely the best thing about this sequel to the 2019 original Joker film which won Oscars for Best Actor for Joaquin Phoenix and Best Score.

  • Read on for reasons including how this film proves what a musical talent Lady Gaga is
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THEATRE REVIEW: Oedipus starring Mark Strong & Lesley Manville

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By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK?: ***

WHEN?: Saturday 5 October, runs through 4 January 2025 RUNTIME: 120 minutes without interval

Robert Icke won the 2016 best director Olivier for Oresteia and perhaps in a nod to that there is a digital clock counting down above the stage until past secrets explode into the present.

  • Read on for reasons including how we were hoping for a more laser-like focus on the central story
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THEATRE REVIEW: Waiting For Godot starring Ben Whishaw & Lucian Msamati at Theatre Royal Haymarket

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By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK?: ****1/2

WHEN?: Saturday 28 September (matinee), runs through 21 December 2024 RUNTIME: 165 minutes (including a 20-minute interval)

Vladimir and Estragon are waiting for Godot and, apart from that, it’s possible to read any number of interpretations into what Samuel Beckett’s classic 1948/49 play is actually about.

  • Read on for reasons including how this production warmed our heart in a way we weren’t expecting
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AWARDS SHORTLIST: MONSTAS: Best Podcast of 2024

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

It’s been quite the year, it’s almost Christmas and what would the festive season be without some recognition of the best of 2024? Over the next 3 months we’ll shortlist five nominees in each of 17 categories for our Oscars, or monstas if you will, of 2024.

  • Read on for the nominees for the monsta for Best Podcast of 2024 2023 winner AussieVision 2021 and 2022 winner Second Cherry
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GIG REVIEW: The The at the Alexandra Palace

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By Carron Stacey, A Humdrum Mum

WHEN?: Friday 27 September, tour runs until 27 November 2024

Having never seen The The, nor been to the Ally Pally, this was a night of many a first, including attending a gig with a shoulder that had been broken the day before.

  • Read on for reasons including how Johnson knows exactly how to work an audience
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