Flamboyant pianist Liberace was the epitome of Las Vegas: camp, flamboyant and always the most fabulous in the room. He was never subtle, or understated. But this clip is completely next level. Sometimes, mainstream culture, in a completely misguided way, attempts to capture the youth oriented zeitgeist, and in the mid -sixties, that’s exactly whatContinue reading “Liberace Was “Feelin’ Groovy””
Tag Archives: Pop culture
Vintage Film Review: Quadrophenia (1979)
“We are the mods, we are the mods, we are, we are, we are the mods”. Few chants are as iconic in British cinema as Franc Roddam’s peerless Quadrophenia. With a star- making turn from Phil “Park life!” Daniels as frustrated “face” Jimmy, plus brilliant support from the likes of Jamie Winstone, Sting, Leslie Ash,Continue reading “Vintage Film Review: Quadrophenia (1979)”
Nick Cave Virtual Exhibition: Stranger Than Kindness
Available through Nick Cave’s website is the chance to virtually take a trip through his exhibition, Stranger Than Kindness. It’s a fascinating wander through his passions, inspiration, musings and the creative process itself. Featuring artwork by Cave and a painting by old flame Anita Lane, to mocked-up studios, an old bedroom and library, ephemera, toContinue reading “Nick Cave Virtual Exhibition: Stranger Than Kindness”
Lost In Music: Clarence ‘Frogman’ Henry
It may be a one hit wonder, but what a wonderful song. Used in many iconic films, this cat, Clarence ‘Frogman’ Henry, had quite the vocal range. One of my favourites ever. Who could forget Corey Haim in The Lost Boys singing along with this. Frogman joined the great lily pad in the sky, thisContinue reading “Lost In Music: Clarence ‘Frogman’ Henry”
Lost In Music: Angine de Poitrine
Seems like everyone has an opinion on oh-so enigmatic Quebec duo Angine de Poitrine at the moment, from Justin Hawkins to outspoken Glasgow comic Limmy. They’re becoming ubiquitous at the moment, possibly with good cause. Styled like a fusion of Tristan Tzara and Strawberry Switchblade with a soupcon of Noseybonk (those phallic noses, ugghhhhh) inContinue reading “Lost In Music: Angine de Poitrine”
Just Step Sideways: Dean Friedman – “Well,Well”, Said the Rocking Chair
Billy Joel , Billy Schmoel. New Jersey legend Dean Friedman is where it’s at, kids. Too funky to be a crooner, too silly to be MOR, he occupied a strange position in the rock music galaxy in the seventies. Some of his music was confessional singer -songwriter, a la Elton John; some was like aContinue reading “Just Step Sideways: Dean Friedman – “Well,Well”, Said the Rocking Chair”
Theatre In Pop Is Back
Back in the seventies, decent pop leaned into the avant-garde, with artists transcending mere gigs. This was pop as theatre. Bowie, Kate Bush and even prog rock charlatans like Emerson, Lake and Palmer and Genesis could be found using stage craft, props and exquisite scenography to boost their strange and otherworldly music. This elevated itContinue reading “Theatre In Pop Is Back”
A Kathy Acker Playlist
I’ve been reading the great Kathy Acker again, someone whose blunt, unvarnished prose is like steel and concrete. She’s timeless because Americans are, as we are in the UK too, struggling to make ends meet. Her books represent the desperation, the lost love, family stress, romantic disappointments and the defiance of those who slipped throughContinue reading “A Kathy Acker Playlist”
Talk Talk Talk
Is the British TV chat show dying? I ask as The Claudia Winkleman Show has just finished- to varying reviews – on BBC 1, while, like buses, another one pops up on Channel 4. However, unlike Claudia, this isn’t another virgin voyage, it’s TFI Friday Unplugged . Yes, Chris Evans is back to try toContinue reading “Talk Talk Talk”
Overlooked Classic: To Die For
Ordinarily, there’s something about Nicole Kidman that gets under my skin. Perhaps it’s the vocal fry, the somewhat tired vampish persona, or the fact that she’s really rather limited as an actor. She lacks a little presence, she seems vapid and a little dead behind the eyes onscreen. So perhaps this is why the onlyContinue reading “Overlooked Classic: To Die For”
Hit The North 