Chimpomatic

Deerhoof / Anabel's Poppy Day / Rumspringa

Scala, London

I dunno, I suppose if you're used to living in somewhere really hot like Australia or the Nevada desert, then maybe the thought of leaving your nice cool house to make a journey on public transport into a stifling metropolis would be no challenge, just normal really. Here in southern England, where the indiginous population carry a complexion that is like the ghost of skimmed-milk, 30-degree plus temperatures make us feel like we're hog-tied in a duffle-coat. There was supposed to be a motocycle protest in London today - I should think that went well - bet they couldn't wait to put on leather, crash helmets and sit astride a slow-moving combustion-engine. Anyway, it's hot, and I didn't much feel like going into London.

Glad I did tho', otherwise I'd have missed a gig that I could easily put in my all-time top 10. The Scala (perhaps London's perfect venue) played host to this triple bill, and first up were Rumspringa - which I'd been rather mistakenley informed were an Amish Ska band. They weren't, and I'm glad. A blues-based guitar and drums duo, the larger half of which is guitarist/singer Joey Stevens. He has a fantastic voice, and plays great blues guitar, writes good songs, so what's not to like? A good start to the evening, in the nicely air-conditioned Scala. Second on the bill was French band Anabel's Poppy Day who came over from Paris on the bus for this gig. Well done, and all that, but an extra rehearsal and the Eurostar might be better next time.  A bit too naive and sloppy to be really good, but there were a couple of catchy melodies and some charming audience chat from squeaky singer (you guessed it) Anabel.

Seeing Deerhoof was one of those rare and wondeful experiences for me - when a live band just takes you to that "other place", when their sound, the atmosphere and the performance all came together just right. They are undoubtably a band at the top of their form, the perfect blend of tight and energetic playing with sweet pop melodies and keep-you-guessing arrangements. The guitar interplay of John Dieterich and Ed Rodriguez is world-class but never in the form of noodle-based fretwank, while drummer Greg Saunier flails his kit with some kind of furious joy. Singer and bass-player Satomi Matsuzaki is so tiny she barely rises above the audiences heads - and she's on stage. She has the most wonderful clear flat-toned voice and an onstage presence which says so much more than "just cute". The band play a lot of material from their two most recent albums (Reviews: 1 / 2), plus cover versions of The Ramones Gabba Gabba Hey and Canned Heat's Going Up The Country. Not a note out of place, and the crowd really showed their appreciation. Everybody left happy AND I had a totally smooth ride home on the train.

#Harris Pilton
#Music
#Gig

3rd Jul 2009 - Tweet - Tumblr

L'Immortel

Clunky French revenge actioner, with Jean Reno hunting down les mobsters that put 22 bullets in him.

#JustWatched
#Film
#CSF

20th May 2012

Donnie Darko

Post modern, post @DougCoupland time travel flick that favours style over substance.

#JustWatched
#Film
#CSF

19th May 2012

Class

80s derivative of The Graduate - that hasn't held up too well, despite the early brat pack connection.

#JustWatched
#Film
#CSF

19th May 2012

Transformers Dark of the Moon

So OTT I had to watch in two sittings, with a final hour of unprecedented Bayhem.

#JustWatched
#Film
#CSF

19th May 2012

Super 8

Spielberg derivative that's more 'Goonies' than 'ET'. Not unsuccessful, but lacking the master's touch.

#JustWatched
#Film
#CSF

14th May 2012

Everything Must Go

Will Ferrell gets serious in this engaging drama/comedy - drawn from a Raymond Carver short.

#JustWatched
#Film
#CSF

13th May 2012

Gimme The Loot

Engaging low-key indie drama debut about graffiti bombers in NYC that won at @SXSW.

#JustWatched
#Film
#CSF

11th May 2012

Dark Shadows

Vampire meets 70s. Another Burton/Depp dressing up box: a few gags, but messy plot strands & nowhere to go.

#Screened
#Film
#chimp71

8th May 2012

Breathless

Superficial 80s remake of the New Wave classic. Obviously made an impression on Tarantino.

#JustWatched
#Film
#CSF

7th May 2012

A Little Bit of Heaven

Weepy chick flick that plays like an animated @Pinterest page. Alan Dale plays a doctor.

#JustWatched
#Film
#CSF

4th May 2012

Rampart

Mood music in the key of dark, dark blue: Woody Harrelson's v bad cop is a shoot first, kick later kind of guy.

#Screened
#Film
#chimp71

3rd May 2012

Behind Enemy Lines

Surprisingly enjoyable pilot-on-the-run action flick that could've been made in 1986.

#JustWatched
#Film
#CSF

2nd May 2012

Contraband

Efficient smuggling thriller. Mark Wahlberg's turn for one-last-job.

#Screened
#Film
#chimp71

1st May 2012

Tower Heist

Messy condo robbery w Ben Stiller in charge. Wasted opp to get Eddie Murphy on screen in non-Donkey role.

#Screened
#Film
#chimp71

1st May 2012

We Bought A Zoo

Matt Damon bonds w kids and Scarlett Johansson over tigers. Standard Cameron Crowe rock OST.

#Screened
#Film
#chimp71

1st May 2012

50 / 50

Joseph Gordon Levitt adds warmth, depth to 20something cancer story. Seth Rogen adds dude lols.

#Screened
#Film
#chimp71

1st May 2012

Chronicle

Well-executed found-footage teens w powers drama; tight, great characters, understated FX.

#Screened
#Film
#chimp71

1st May 2012

River's Edge

It may have moved from video shop shelf-filler to cult classic but the clumsy handling lets this down.

#JustWatched
#Film
#CSF

30th Apr 2012

Billy Bragg and Wilco

Mermaid Avenue Complete Sessions

Great round up of the project with 3rd disc and DVD doc.

#OnRotation
#Music
#CSF

30th Apr 2012

Bad Teacher

Shockingly unimaginative low brow comedy - which fares even worse second time round.

#JustWatched
#Film
#CSF

29th Apr 2012

The Avengers

Avengers smash GOOD

#Screened
#Film
#chimp71

27th Apr 2012

Collateral

A hokey ending, but the set-pieces and edgy technical direction still make for an often riveting thriller.

#JustWatched
#Film
#CSF

16th Apr 2012

The Messenger

Thoughtful, gut-wrenching, post-war drama with powerful performances from Ben Foster and Harrelson.

#JustWatched
#Film
#CSF

15th Apr 2012

Mr Mom

Dated, but amusing prototype John Hughes flick. Everybody learns something. You fill in the rest.

#JustWatched
#Film
#CSF

15th Apr 2012

Your Highness

Get your quest on, as Eastbound and Down goes retro in this swords and sorcery comedy. Stupid/funny.

#JustWatched
#Film
#CSF

14th Apr 2012

Captain America

The First Avenger

Enjoyable, old fashioned actioner, with plenty of nice comic book moments.

#JustWatched
#Film
#CSF

2nd Apr 2012

The Change Up

Gosling and Bateman swap lives. Everybody learns something.

#JustWatched
#Film
#CSF

2nd Apr 2012

Horrible Bosses

Low brow comedy update of 'Strangers on a Train'.

#JustWatched
#Film
#CSF

2nd Apr 2012

Warrior

Contrived, convoluted, testosterone filled fight flick, worthy of an 80s VHS rental.

#JustWatched
#Film
#CSF

2nd Apr 2012

Joan Baez

Poole Lighthouse

We were forewarned:- there were signs in the foyer that there would be no warm-up act and no interval, just a straight performance. And that was exactly what we got – just under two hours of Joan Baez. The years have been kind, and at 71 she walked on stage looking as slim and elegant as ever. The hair is now cropped and the colour is silver, but then that applied to most of the audience as well.

The stage was bare apart from a comfy sofa and a standard lamp, and she was accompanied for most of the evening by her son Gabriel Harris on percussion and the talented Dirk Powell on mandolin, accordion and just about everything else.

The atmosphere was relaxed and the songs were a mixture of old favourites and the not so old – Farewell Angelina, God On Our Side, House of the Rising Sun, and Diamonds and Rust, a reference to her relationship with Bob Dylan. We also got John Lennon’s Imagine and Donovan’s Catch the Wind, and the evening finished with The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down and Blowin’ in the Wind. Her voice is still haunting although she avoids many of the high notes now, and I did think that the tempo of some of the songs (particularly House of the Rising Sun) was a bit slower than it used to be. But she can certainly still sing. And she still believes in what she sings.

We went home happy, and although the singer is still a protester I wondered how many of the audience still are?!

#Music
#Gig
#DC

26th Mar 2012 - Add Comment - Tweet

The Descendants

Convoluted melodrama, with a decent central performance from George Clooney.

#JustWatched
#Film
#CSF

23rd Mar 2012

Take Me Home Tonight

Some laughs as Topher Grace tries period 80s post-college partycom. Rubik's Cube w new stickers.

#Screened
#Film
#chimp71

21st Mar 2012

Senna

Compelling doc about the Brasilian F1 driver edited from existing footage. Great ride even if you find F1 dull.

#Screened
#Film
#chimp71

21st Mar 2012

The Muppets

Fuzzy get-felt-gang-back-together feel-good antics. Man Or Muppet? song v Conchords, bonus Dave Grohl cameo.

#Screened
#Film
#chimp71

21st Mar 2012

12 Monkeys

Engaging but overblown sci-fi romp, as Terry Gilliam stretches a 5 min experimental film out to 2 hours.

#JustWatched
#Film
#CSF

20th Mar 2012

Fast Five

Furiously paced ensemble heist movie. A muscle car next to Danny Ocean's vintage Porsche.

#JustWatched
#Film
#CSF

17th Mar 2012

Love And Other Drugs

Pseudo-deep, nostalgia tinged comedy > drama, painted with big, cliched brush strokes.

#JustWatched
#Film
#CSF

12th Mar 2012

Faster

The Rock does his best Lee Marvin impression while Billy Bob slums it in this unsubtle thriller-by-numbers.

#JustWatched
#Film
#CSF

10th Mar 2012

Schindler's List

Brutal masterpiece. Outstanding direction, assured writing and performances, amazing photography.

#JustWatched
#Film
#CSF

5th Mar 2012

Galaxy Quest

Entertaining post-modern comedy, effectively riffing and paying homage to the geek-fest of #StarTrek.

#JustWatched
#Film
#CSF

4th Mar 2012

John Carter

An uneasy mix of sandals, sci-fi, Superman and cowboys that holds together, but never quite takes off.

#JustWatched
#Film
#CSF

3rd Mar 2012

Hanna

Abstract, ambitious, pretentious, graphical, European art house thriller. Like Wes Anderson doing Bourne.

#JustWatched
#Film
#CSF

2nd Mar 2012

Country Strong

Another lumbering plod through the troubled, lovelorn, cliche-ridden world of Country & Western.

#JustWatched
#Film
#CSF

2nd Mar 2012

Black Mountain

Year Zero OST

5 unreleased tracks make this unmissable. Mary Lou will blow your socks off

#OnRotation
#Music
#CSF

1st Mar 2012

State of Grace

Early 90s gangster pic - with juvenile Penn, Oldman and Reilly doing a dry run for 'The Departed'.

Halliwell says: Dull and plodding gangster movie.

#JustWatched
#Film
#CSF
#Halliwell

28th Feb 2012

The Eagle

Roman action/drama that covers the same ground as 'Centurion', with twice the style and half the pace.

#JustWatched
#Film
#CSF

25th Feb 2012

The Company Men

Thoughtful unemployment drama, filled with solid performances and classy cinematography.

#JustWatched
#Film
#CSF

25th Feb 2012

Walking Tall

Fun smalltown actioner with a plot The A-team would be proud of except The Rock didn't know who to call.

#JustWatched
#Film
#CSF

25th Feb 2012

Married To The Mob

Tight, multi-layered comedy in Jonathan Demme's best film - and the antidote to 'Goodfellas'.

Halliwell says: Effervescent comedy-thriller that bubbles merrily along.**

#JustWatched
#Film
#CSF
#Halliwell

23rd Feb 2012

Scarface

Shapeless pacing and shoddy production values make for one of the most over-rated film school favorites.

Halliwell says: Absurdly brutalized version of the above, with detailed violence and a superabundance of foul language. Scarface has now become an emigre Cuban, and the film seems to want to make a political statement.

#JustWatched
#Film
#CSF
#Halliwell

20th Feb 2012