9 reasons why we can’t wait for December 2022 starring Paul Mescal in A Streetcar Named Desire

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

  1. A Streetcar Named Desire directed by Rebecca Frecknall starring Paul Mescal

Frecknall directed Cabaret which still runs at the Kit Kat Club at the Playhouse Theatre and whose EmCees have included an Olivier-winning turn from Eddie Redmayne, Fra Fee and Callum Scott Howells. The star of the Tennessee Williams classic she has chosen to follow it up with won a Best TV/Film Actor from us in 2020 for Normal People (pictured above). Streetcar runs at the Almeida 12 December 2022 to 4 February 2023. Tickets Streetcar review Mescal currently stars in film Aftersun Review Note: now opens Saturday 17 December as leading lady Lydia Wilson withdraws for health reasons to be replaced by Olivier winner Patsy Ferran (Camp Siegfried, Old Vic)

  • Read on for reasons including Julian Clary, Sir Ian McKellen and Jack O’Connell
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AWARDS SHORTLIST: MONSTAS: Best Venue of 2022

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 2022? Over the next month we’ll shortlist five nominees in each of 16 categories for our 8th annual Oscars, or monstas if you will, of 2022.

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GIG REVIEW: Sam Ryder at Sala Apolo, Barcelona

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK?: ***

WHEN?: Tuesday 8 November, tour runs until 4 April 2023

SETLIST: Tiny Riot; Whirlwind; Somebody; Put A Light On Me; Deep Blue Doubt; You’re The Voice; All The Way Over; More; Everybody Wants To Rule The World/I Want To Break Free/September/The Way You Make Me Feel; SPACE MAN

Before this show we thank Ryder for turning around the UK’s Eurovision fortunes and ask him whether he will be playing a part in the 2023 event in Liverpool next May and he doesn’t yet know.

  • Read on for reasons including how we think Ryder deserves to take part in Liverpool 2023 for bringing Eurovision to the UK
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GIG REVIEW: Stereolab at Sala Apolo, Barcelona

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By Neil Durham

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

WHEN?: Monday 7 November 2022, tour runs to 3 December 2022

SETLIST: Supah Jaianto; Laissex Faire; Eye Of The Volcano; Refractions In The Plastic Pulse; U.H.F. – MF; Miss Modular; Mountain; Hamonium; I Feel The Air (Of Another Planet); Pack Yr Romantic Mind; Super-Electric; Gus The Mynah Bird; French Disko; Simple Headphone Mind

The 1st words lead singer Laetitia Sadier utters are: ‘F*ck the oligarchs’ and as we contemplate an imminent World Cup in a Quatar beset by human rights violations we can’t help but concur as FIFA counts its TV viewing rights receipts.

  • Read on for reasons including how it’s the bands politics that make us better appreciate them
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SONG OF THE MONTH: I’ll Be Waiting by Cian Ducrot (November 2022)

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WORTH A LOOK?: ****

RELEASED: Thursday 10 November 2022

We’ve seen Irish-born Ducrot perform twice in the last few months and this uptempo, 80’s-inspired, keyboard-led number is always a live highlight.

  • Read on for reasons including how to see Ducrot live at KOKO in Camden next year
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FILM REVIEW: My Policeman starring Harry Styles, Emma Corrin & David Dawson

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WORTH A LOOK?: ****

RELEASED: 4 November 2022, Prime Video

You join us in 1950s Brighton as Styles’ dashing policeman Tom Burgess meets Emma Corrin’s schoolmistress Marion, teaches her to swim and they fall in love.

  • Read on for reasons including how Styles’ acting is naturalistic if a little rabbit-in-the-headlights
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AWARDS SHORTLIST: MONSTAS: Best Podcast of 2022

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 2022? Over the next month we’ll shortlist five nominees in each of 16 categories for our Oscars, or monstas if you will, of 2022.

  • Read on for the nominees for the monsta for Best Podcast of 2022 2021 winner Second Cherry
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GIG REVIEW: The Feeling at 02 Shepherd’s Bush Empire with surprise guest appearance by Sophie Ellis Bextor

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By Aline Mahrud

WORTH A LOOK?: ***1/2

WHEN?: Friday 28 October, tour ended 31 October 2022

SETLIST: High Like You; There Is No Music; Fill My Little World; Never Be Lonely; Love People; Kettle’s On; Never Gave Up; Rosé; Helicopter; Video Killed The Radio Star; Everybody’s Talking About Jamie; This Was Me; Sewn; Join With Us; Love It When You Call; I Thought It Was Over; Leave Me Out Of It; Murder On The Dancefloor (both with Sophie Ellis Bextor); Fat Bottomed Girls

We’re here because we love lead singer Dan Gillespie Sells’ detour into musical theatre with Everybody’s Talking About Jamie and this show proves just how different we feel to most of this band’s fans.

  • Read on for reasons including details about the songs Ellis Bextor duetted on with The Feeling during this gig
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ALBUM OF THE MONTH: Hold The Girl by Rina Sawayama (October 2022)

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WORTH A LOOK?: ****

TRACKLIST: Minor Feelings; Hold The Girl; This Hell; Catch Me In The Air; Forgiveness; Holy (‘Til You Let Me Go); Your Age; Imagining; Frankenstein; Hurricanes; Send My Love To John; Phantom; To Be Alive

There’s no mistaking the ambition of Sawayama’s 2nd album and with an Elton John collaboration under her belt she will doubtless hope Hold The Girl builds on the success of her debut.

  • Read on for reasons including how to see Sawayama on tour this autumn
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GIG REVIEW: Ella Henderson and Cian Ducrot at 02 Shepherd’s Bush Empire

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By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK?: ****

WHEN?: Tuesday 25 October 2022, last night of tour

SETLIST: Emotions; Risk It All; We Got Love; Places; Ugly; What About Us; All For You; Let’s Go Home Together; Northern Lights; Everything I Didn’t Say; Heartstrings; Crazy What Love Can Do; This Is Real; 21 Reasons; Friends; Good Things Take Time/About Damn Time; Glitterball; Yours; Ghost

The most electric moment during this gig was when support act Ducrot took to the stage with Henderson (pictured above centre with her band at this veniue) to duet on their current top 20 hit, the beautiful ballad All For You, and followed it with the brilliant lockdown smash Let’s Go Home Together.

  • Read on for reasons including how to see Cian Ducrot on tour in London in March 2023
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