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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,
André Paine's rating
Reader rating
A skateboard would have been a less public way of attempting to defy middle age, but 40-in a fortnight Rhys Ifans has decided to front a noisy, psychedelic rock band with some Welsh friends.
He was supported at this London debut by Kate Moss, Samantha Morton, Sadie Frost, Gem Archer from Oasis and Carl Barat of Dirty Pretty Things.
The Peth - Welsh for The Thing - launched with a mini-tour of Wales, where actor Ifans is presumably regarded as a superstar. Unfortunately, this was a fairly horrific performance, despite Ifans's wild persona and his loyal gang of capable musicians.
The tour and debut album, due in the autumn, is a healthy distraction from Ifans's recent breakup-with Sienna Miller. But without wishing to kick a man when he's down, this always felt like a bunch of mates messing around.
When he swaggered on stage in sunglasses and a leather jacket demanding booze, he was uncannily like Liam Gallagher. But Ifans failed to impose himself on the songs. Instead, he swaggered and shouted some more to no great effect. His rough, unfocused voice wasn't convincing, although Ifans sang in a very early incarnation of Super Furry Animals and has been reunited with their drummer Dafydd Ieuan. This band was, tellingly, conceived in the pub and their stomping rock and fuzzy psychedelia might make more sense if you were drunk.
With its lyric "every other day I think about you", Stonefinger has got people suggesting it's about Miller, but was written two years ago. Still, Ifans sounded heartbroken and the audience went quiet.
He seemed to lift himself for the last few songs. and the single Let's Go ****ing Mental was enjoyably dumb fun. Otherwise, this was a high-spirited mess and another ill-judged attempt by an actor at becoming a rock star.
Details are correct at the time of publication - please check with venue before booking.
