Crave! episode 78: The Eagles, Happy Mondays, John Prine, and a review of the Oscars

The Eagles have managed to divide opinion just a little bit. Simon is just a bit more full of praise for what Steve found to be a very slightly dull, in places at least, show. The Happy Mondays at the…

Happy Mondays: plenty of thrills, no bellyaches.

Don’t be fooled by the Happy Mondays.  Behind a very carefully contrived image of slack and dissolute, behind album titles like Squirrel and G-Man Twenty Four Hour Party People Plastic Face Carnt Smile (White Out), behind the edifice of a…

The Dance of John Prine, Auckland, February 27

Review by Simon, photographs by Megan Moss Towards the end of last night’s John Prine show at the Bruce Mason Theatre, Prine removed his acoustic guitar, lay it on the floor, and danced around it. He shimmied and swayed, his…

The Eagles, Auckland – smooth sweet California soul, rock, and Joe Walsh

Photos by Steve. Review by Simon. First things first: the core of The Eagles have seen a few summers, but they can still sing, and still play. Don Henley told the audience they were about to hear two and a…

Crave! episode 77: Roma, If Beale Street Could Talk, Can You Ever Forgive Me?, Simon and Steve’s Oscar picks, and Simon’s interview with Avalanche City’s Dave Baxter

Oscar season is approaching, and so it’s time for Steve and Simon’s Academy Award predictions. Roma features highly, although Simon rates it just a little more than Steve does. Both of our reviewers have plenty of good things to say…

AVALANCHE CITY – all about a love song that’s not a love song

Dave Baxter — Avalanche City

New Zealand music act Avalanche City is about to release its third studio album, My Babylon, on February 22. Simon spoke to its creator and sometimes sole performer, Dave Baxter, about songwriting, some surprising musical influences, and about the album’s…

Can You Ever Forgive Me?: Melissa McCarthy in “actually good acting” shock

A good film with Melissa McCarthy in it is a rare thing. Even rarer is a good film with a good Melissa McCarthy performance. Can You Ever Forgive Me? is a very, very good film, and McCarthy’s performance as writer…