Blog — Page 217 of 277

Queens of the Stone Age and Royal Blood

Red Rocks Amphitheatre

Morrison, Colorado

10.10.2017

It wasn't looking good. In typical Colorado fashion, following a summer-like 76° Sunday, mother nature pulled the ol' switcheroo and unleashed the first snowfall of winter, 2017 on Monday. This is all well and good, but when you're A band about to play Red Rocks, it can be a pain in the ass. Ask The XX, who had to be relocated Monday night to the much less grandiose 1st Bank Center.

But it turns out even Mother Nature is no match for the likes of Josh Homme, Michael Shuman, Jon Theodore, Troy Van Leeuwen and Dean Fertita on Tuesday night. Because as soon as the Queens bus crossed over the state line, the temperature rose 30°, and there wasn't enough snow left at Red Rocks to make a snowball. Hyperbole aside, Queens of the Stone Age gave Colorado one of the best shows of the year.

Kicking off the festivities were English two-piece Royal Blood, hot on the heels of their latest release How Did We Get So Dark. Now, this grizzled writer has seen his fair share of rock duos in his seemingly endless time on this earth, but never has he seen a two-piece sound bigger than most five-pieces before. Bassist/vocalist Mike Kerr and drummer Ben Thatcher were clearly enjoying themslves and their sheer jubilance at playing an inaugural set at Red Rocks was in stark contrast to other rock duos "too cool" to show such emotion. I'm looking at you, Black Keys.

By the time QOTSA hit the stage at 8:50 on the dot, the audience was primed and ready. Starting out with Villains album opener Feel Don't Fail Me. When they followed it up with First it Giveth and Avon, it became pretty clear this was going to be an career-encompassing set - with a focus, naturally, on the group's latest, Villains. The strength of the new material is evident when it receives just as much fanfare from the crowd as an older deep cut like Leg of Lamb.

What also becomes evident from the start is just how strong of a rhythm section they have in Shuman and Theodore, laying a rock-solid foundation strong enough - and one could almost say flawless enough, that it affords Homme, Van Leeuwen and Fertita the freedom to really do whatever the fuck they want. The stage was sparse, save for some lighting stands arranged around the stage that served mostly as target practice for Shuman. 

Queens ran a tight-as-a-snare set lasting 100 minutes plus two encores of Head Like a Haunted House - a highlight amongst many highlights and Song for the Dead, a literal show-stopper. Homme came to play, not talk, but that didnt keep him from conversing and giving some sage advice to a young woman in the front row expecting her first child. Homme loves what he does and wears his gratitude on his western shirt sleeve. To him, every note is a blessing, which put both him and the Red Rocks crowd in total agreement.

Pinot Palooza - A Touring Pinot Noir Festival

Sydney

Carriageworks

October 8, 2017

Looking for a near perfectly orchestrated and curated, traveling and rocking Pinot Noir experience without pretentious bullshit and a focus on taste?

Look no further.

The minds behind Revel / Bottle Shop Concepts plotted to "get you hip deep in the finest Pinot Noirs produced in the Southern hemisphere, crowd surf the mosh pit of the most enticing, enthralling, sexy, silky, suave and sophisticated grape variety on the planet."

Revel is an organization whose organisation whose purpose is to change the way people around the globe engage and connect with wine and food.

The credo the informs Revel’s activities it that it should be fun first, facts second, engaging and inspiring and never the tired old take on wine education and tastings, with a focus on creating experiences that people learn from.

Event juggernaut Pinot Palooza already operates in nine cities and brings world class Pinot Noir to more than 25k people in 2017 and in November this year, Singapore will be added to the event roster.

Some Pinots that tickled our palate in just the right places were grown in Western Australia, which is remarkable, as it is known to be a grape that does not tend to do so well in the heat.

Below & Above Wines are a contract grape grower; they produce small batches of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir under their own label. These wines are produced from low yield vines. Together with their viticulture practices and winemaking, they aim to produce the best expression of their unique vineyard.

The cool climate, high rainfall, high elevation and Karri Loam soils informs the character of the Pinot of their region.

As a guide the event and the wineries present at the Sydney incarnation were colour coded according to the wine regions and the colour determined whether the Pinot was either light, medium or fuller flavoured - a reference for the style of Pinot the region tends to produce. 

The camouflage of the floor plan guided you from Light Red (generally more ethereal, lighter in colour, high-toned, perfumed. Sexy and seductive) via Dark Red (perhaps a little stand-offish at the start but once you get to know them, they’re full of character. Certainly some flesh on the bones) to Purple (more fully charged and fuller flavoured styles).

The Wine Selectors Pinot Sessions offered ample opportunity to get close with the Wine Selectors team as they shared tales of Pinot from across the vinous lands. Sessions included a Victoria versus Tasmania stand-off with two regions that showcase the rapidly climbing quality of Australian Pinot via

• Josef Chromy Pinot Noir 2015
• Devil’s Corner Resolution Pinot Noir 2016
• Giant Steps Pinot Noir 2016
• Yabby Lake Red Claw Pinot Noir 2016

A session on how Pinot travels across Australia and the influences it picks up from the people and personalities behind the respective leading wine regions.

• Howard Park Flint Rock Pinot Noir 2016
• Clyde Park Estate Pinot Noir 2016
• Yarra Yering Pinot Noir 2016

Offering a taste for the new and emerging regions rapidly climbing the charts with the

• Swinging Bridge M.A.W Pinot Noir 2016
• Patrick Estate Pinot Noir 2015
• Shadowfax Macedon Ranges Pinot Noir 2016

Giving Pinot’s sexy sister act of Rosé and Fizz a forum with the

• Hungerford Hill Blanc de Noir 2015
• Tarrawarra Pinot Noir Rose 2017
• Willow Creek Vineyard Rare Hare Rosé 2016

Summa summarum a wine fest that lives up to its alliterative name:

Not unlike a music festival, there were many different stages, styles and artists to check out and explore throughout the day with 250+ artists, i.e. wines, to sample.

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Photos by KAVV

Underbelly Arts Festival
National Art School
Darlinghurst
October 7-8, 2017

Proceedings of the Underbelly Arts Festivals were opened with a shindig serenaded with sad Goth party jams, visceral electronic beats and roaming performances by Bhenji Ra and Angela Goh to celebrate the opening night of Underbelly Arts Festival, featuring Melbourne’s HABITS, Gussy and Jikuroux.

A peek behind-the-scenes of experimental art making is offered as the curtain was lifted on the creative process via two-week program of behind-the-scenes Lab tours and evening events - from experimental poetry readings to talks that span apple genetics and decolonising the dance floor, group chats about envisioning the future and a presentation on the art of listening to the tides.

Artists from all 21 projects will be onsite at National Art School, developing, installing and rehearsing their ambitious projects.

After taking a Lab Tour, one is invited to delve into the Late at the Lab program of evening events: talks, workshops, lectures, film screenings, readings and performances run in collaboration with Runway Experimental Art, the NOW now, Subbed In, 2 Up among others. 

Roslyn Helper, former Underbelly Arts participant and new festival director, has hit the ground running, offering emerging artist a forum and proper space to develop and present their emissions.

A festival that is vitally important for the future of Australian arts and one that deserves that be marked in your calendar.

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Photos by KAVV -- See a full gallery below.

OZ Comic Con

ICC

Sydney

September 30 – October 1, 2017

The Sydney incarnation of the OZ Comic-Con is  a lot to take in.

It might be a cliché, but the plethora of costumes on display throughout Comic-Con easily make the entry to the convention worth it.

Fan-favorite characters from major franchises were well represented, ranging from Star Wars and Star Trek via Deadpool to Wonder Woman, with plenty of costumes paying homage to properties that are not quite as big as well: Cosplayers were seen dressed as characters from Avatar, Stargate SG-1, Fa rscape, The Fifth Element, and quite a few more — and that’s all before you even get to the variety of characters pulled directly from comic books. 

More impressive than just the variety of costumes was the variety of craft on display. Exquisitely detailed costumes that had clearly taken months to assemble were being worn right alongside costumes picked up from a local store or thrown together with garments from the cosplayer’s own wardrobe.

The convention was a showcase of talent, creativity, and passion, providing sights to behold. 

On the floor, OZ Comic-Con harboured a comic’s district, an anime station in English and Japanese with a full’s schedule of anime screenings and a manga library to chill out in, a gaming zone including virtual reality and old school devices, a family room full of activities, a life sized “cockpit of resistance”, i.e. X Wing Starfighter from Star Wars, which one was introduced to by BB-8 along with a dedicated booth next to the one of Marvel, which was manned by “life’s-sized” characters from Thor Ragnarok,  and a Cosplay area with the National Finals taking place.

TV & Film guests among others included cast from Dr. Who (Catrin Steward, Jenna Coleman), Grimm (Bitsie Tulloch, David Giuntoli), The Vampire Diaries (Matt Davis, Michael Malarkey) and the audience’s favourite Jason Momoa from Games of Throne.

A colourful, well organized, immersive and welcoming event in the plush new International Convention Centre.

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Photos by KAVV -- Check out the slideshow below!

Time Out Magazine Sydney Food Awards

Porteño Restaurant and Bar

Sydney, Australia

September 25, 2017

If you do not live under a rock, you are familiar with Time Out Magazine. In essence, Time Out employs a team of expert critics to deliver a credible guide to city life on the market. Each month their team of local editors and experts pour their passion into your respective city’s pre-eminent art and entertainment magazines.

Time Out magazines are highly-curated, best-of bundles of features, original photography and critics’ picks. Each month they curate and package the best of city life, for their audience of social butterflies and cultural explorers, e.g. independent reviews and previews across art, film, food and drink, music, theatre and more.

The Time Out Food Awards is the one night of the year when the go-to guide for everything that is relevant in the city you are visiting recognises Sydney's champions of the restaurant scene.

On September 25, 250 of the city's culinary experts, professional eaters and Time Out readers gathered at the original Porteño site for the 2017 Food Awards celebrating the best of Sydney’s restaurants, from the cheapest of snacks to the fanciest fine dining.

The night began with Champagne from Lanson, followed by a food and beer pairing care of Beer the Beautiful Truth and the Porteño kitchen:  Porteño chorizo, paired with White Rabbit Dark Ale; smoked chicken wings with adobo sauce and arepas with queso fresco paired with the Kirin Megumi; and pumpkin and feta empanadas, vitello tonnato finger sandwiches, corn and saffron arancini, and slow-cooked beef with chimichurri matched to the James Squire 150 Lashes Pale Ale. 

Southern Comfort brought cocktails to the mix, while Alpha Box and Dice supplied the wine times.

The room was packed with head chefs, hot talent, industry legends and a whole lot of people who truly love dining out in Sydney.

Argentine restaurant and host Porteño took home the coveted People’s Choice Award. Ester, was crowned Time Out’s Restaurant of the Year for 2017, reprising its victory from 2014. Danielle Alvarez from Fred’s took home Chef of the Year, and as for who to watch next, the Hot Talent winner was Alanna Sapwell from Saint Peter.

Cornersmith Annandale took out the Best Café award; 10 William Street is home to this year’s Drinks Service Award; and the Japanese-style burgers at Bar Ume nabbed them the Best Cheap Eat award.

Best New Restaurant went to mod-Korean diner Paper Bird in Potts Point; Best Casual Diner went to spicy-smoky Long Chim, who have reignited Sydney’s Thai-food love affair; and the Best Degustation was awarded to Momofuku Seiobo, who make sitting and eating for three hours an even more enjoyable experience than it already is.

Late-night Cantonese palace, Golden Century, took home this year’s Legend Award, mainly due to its past glory.

Following the formal part of the evening it was party time with party tunes spun by DJ Flex Mami.

Time Out Sydney knows how to throw a party to remember and the fact that the awards night has become an aspiration across the board of Sydney’s hospitality scene is testament to its relevance.

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Photos by KAVV