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An awesome and ridiculous film that leaves you thrilled beyond the point of your natural endurance
2012
Theatre
The show has suddenly become quite wonderful, and the galvanising factor is the terrific stage debut of Melanie C
Blood Brothers
Music
The British pop music industry may be eating itself but if Muse are the pick of what it can offer the world in 2010 then British music is in rude health indeed
Muse
I was smitten by both Gilberts enormous luxuriant moustache and the intelligence and nuance of this highly entertaining play
I totally recommend Babbo to anyone who is looking for really good and traditional Italian food
Always been a fan but never seen them live. I was ecstatic to be part of this epic event. WOW!
London,
John Aizlewood's rating
Reader rating
Description: South Coast-based indie outfit with a post-punk edge.
Phone: 0207482 2054
Website: www.monarchbar.com
Email: info@monarchbar.com
Trains: Tube: Chalk Farm 
Extra info: Pub
More betting shop than Betjeman: British Sea Power
Newly shorn to a quartet, Kendalbred, Brighton-based British Sea Power spent Sunday evening alongside Barry Humphries at the John Betjeman Gala. Last night, it was back to indie basics: a tiny venue, a fistful of new songs and a rip-roaring show.
It climaxed with a new freeform ramble, Train, during which chief singer Yan and his brother, bassist Hamilton, hurled themselves into a crowd whose beery blokiness was more betting shop than Betjeman.
For all the English whimsy suggested by the recordings of gulls which began another new song, Mary, and the owls which heralded The Spirit Of St Louis, British Sea Power's undeniable Englishness is based around the cascading guitars, hugely appealing choruses and (for the most part) brevity of secondgeneration punk.
Hence the hints of Buzzcocks on the mighty Remember Me and The Wedding Present on the new Trip Out.
Like The Wedding Present, British Sea Power don't trouble themselves with between-song chitchat and when Hamilton did try to introduce one of the few songs he sang, his mumble was lost (as was Yan's lyrical wordsmithery) amid the eardrum-rattling mayhem. Yet they weren't overly aloof. Instead, all four eyeballed the crowd throughout, as if daring them to do anything other than throw themselves around.
By the time Phil Sumner staggered onto stage to add trumpet to the spry Carrion and chased guitarist Noble around stage, seemingly the evening degenerated into chaos. Even then, though, Noble and his colleagues never missed a note. Their time may yet come.
Details are correct at the time of publication - please check with venue before booking.
