Hunter Post - That's Entertainment 14 May 2014

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9.30pm Thursday • GO Easily Mark Wahlberg's finest hour and a brilliant return to form for Burt Reynolds - this sprawling epic that dissects the 1970'S porn industry is highlywatchable. Wahlberg stars as Eddie Adams - a high school drop out until a chance meeting with adult film director Jack Horner (Reynolds) transforms him into Dirk Diggler one of the best male stars on the circuit. Also starring Julianne Moore, John C Riley, Phillip Seymour Hoffman and Don Cheadle.

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WE ARE SCIENTISTS

Friday, May 30 • Factory Theatre When New York indie-rock outfit We Are Scientists return to Australia, they are promising to bring the noise that brought them international fame by playing the lion's share of tracks from their classic album, With Love and Squalor, through to the thumping new single Make It Easy.

Their second album, With Love and Squalor catapulted them into the hearts of many an indie-kid in 2005. Their unabashed energy barraged its way over to Australia. With Love and Squalor earned the title of #33 in the NME Albums of the Year in 2005. Tracks like Nobody Moves, Nobody Gets Hurt, It's A Hit and Great Escape, laid the foundations for what would be an iconic album of that year. We Are Scientists will perform classics from With Love and Squalor, as well as hits from their entire catalogue, plus the Australian debut of tracks from their soon to be announced new album.

THE SECRET LIFE OFWALTERMmv

Out Now

RATEDPG

Based on the classic short story by James Thurber which has been adapted to the big screen previously in the 1947 version starring Danny Kaye, this re-imagining, directed by and starring Ben Stiller retains a lot of the charm of the source material, even if a lot of the humour is lacking.

Stiller stars as a daydreamer who escapes his life by disappearing into a world of fantasies filled with heroism, romance and action. When his job along with that of co-worker (Kristen Wiig) are threatened, Walter takes action by embarking on a global journey that turns into an adventure more extraordinary than anything he could have ever imagined.

Stiller is fantastic.

RAY LAMONTAGNE SUPERNOVA

Out Now

While Ray LaMontagne is best known for producing acutely observed and lilting folk-rock (in fact his last album, God Willin & The Creek Don't Rise won the singer a Grammy for best contemporary folk album) this time around, it's a much beefier affair.

LaMontagne employed the services of The Black Keys' Dan Auerbach to produce the album and the result is a swirling pastiche of 70's-tinged rock that takes as cues from the likes of Neil Young and even at times a rockier Pink Floyd.

There is a palpable sense of abandon that runs through this entire album but is most prevalent on the album's standout DriveIn Movies -on which LaMontagne warbles the line "I want to be like James Dean in the Wild One:' From the feedback-y She's The One to the swirling synths of Pick Up A Gun, this is one highly-listenable album.

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CHAIN OF FIRE

COMEDY

Back on the Punchllne fter shocking Australia last year with the announcements that he was leaving the desk of his number-one rating Melbourne radio breakfast shift on Nova 100 after a decade as well as his regular gig on Channel Ten's The Project after nearly four years, Dave Hughes said that 2014 would be all about his first love - stand-up.

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STEPHEN BISSET

And with triumphant stints at the Melbourne, Adelaide and Sydney Comedy festivals (and all points in between) it seems that he is absolutely killing it.

"Look, I just love doing stand-up - the instant rapport you build up with an audience is pretty hard to beat," he told TE. "I mean, I also love radio and television, but there is just something about the feeling I get when I'm onstage that is absolutely exhilarating. I've been nervous and maybe a little frightened at times doing stand-up but I can't say that I've ever been bored."

Hughes will be bringing his new show, Pointless to Newcastle this month, and he said he had no trouble coming up with enough material to fill an hour.

"Well, I'm 43 now and I have a beautiful wife who is in no way afraid to express her emotions so that is always a constant

source of material as well as my lovely children - Rafferty, Sadie and Tess who are also great providers of material.

Also when you have stuff going on in the news like Australia's richest man punching on in his uggies out the front of his house - it's like comedy gold for us comedians." Hughes said, while the decision to give up his radio and

TV gigs was not one he took lightly, it's one he in no way regrets. "Yeah after something like 12 years doing breakfast radio I have to say that I'm definitely not missing those early starts," he laughed. "I had such a brilliant time on doing both radio and The Project but when you're working with a team there is a fair bit of compromise

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that goes on, which is absolutely fine, but just doing stand-Up it's just you and in a way, not having that team behind you is also really exhilarating."

After watching VHS tapes of the likes of Rodney Dangerfield and Sam Kinison in his youth, Hughes said he thought he'd give stand-up a crack and it was after just his third gig that he knew that a life in front of the mic was exactly what he wanted.

"My first stand-up gig was absolutely terrible - the lights were too bright and I felt like I was being interrogated," he said.

"I went back the next week - I didn't kill it but I left the stage with my dignity intact and by the third gig, it kind of occurred to me that I had already won just by doing it and that made me just relax and I ended up having a great show and it was the biggest high I had ever felt and it was right then that I knew I had something."

Hughes said, these days it's more about converting non-fans or those on the fence that he is actually a very funny man.

"Look, I know I'm funny and what I love is when people come who have been dragged along by friends who may not be into what I did on TV or whatever and having them come up and say "I wasn't a fan before but after seeing that, you really are a funny bloke" I guess I just want to convince the non-believers that I can actually crack a joke."

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DUNGOG RSL: Friday, Michael Muchow.

EAST CESSNOCK BOWLING CLUB: Saturday, Bounce.

EAST MAITLAND BOWLING CLUB: Friday, Solid Gold Party; Saturday, Loko; Sunday, Troy.

EDGEWORTH BOWLING CLUB: Sunday, Darrel.

ENTRANCE BOWLING CLUB: Friday, The Pattersons; Saturday, Tourmaline.

ENTRANCE LEAGUES CLUB: Saturday, The Pink Show; Sunday, Boy and Bear.

EXCHANGE HOTEL: Friday, Twinsanity Duo; Saturday, Flying Mare • FAMILY HOTEL: Friday, The Ratbags.

GATESHEAD TAVERN: Thursday, Pappy; Sunday, Mardmax.

GEORGE TAVERN: Thursday, Tim Rossington; Friday, Jerome; Saturday, Deuce.

GRAND HOTEL: Saturday, Horenco.

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5 SAWYERS: Friday, Ned Kelly; Saturday, OJ Sean Michael; Sunday, OJ Jonathan • ABSOLUTE THAI: Saturday, Matt Purcell Duo. ADAMSTOWN CLUB: Saturday, Deviation; Sunday, Wobbly Boot & Shane Peters with the Southern Cross Trio.

ANNA BAY TAVERN: Saturday, The Gunswing· ers.

AVOCA BEACH BOWLING CLUB: Friday, Granite Revolution.

BAR 121: Friday, Lauren Arms; Saturday, Santana Magic.

BAR PETITE: Friday, Jess Pollard; Saturday, Gian; Sunday, Oli & Sophie.

BAY HOTEL: Saturday, Kadence Duo. BEACHCOMBER HOTEL: Saturday, Tiali.

BEAUFORD HOTEL: Saturday, Mike Vee. BELMONT 165: Wednesday, Amber Jade & Milton Ward; Friday, Jake Rattle and Roll; Saturday, The Snape Brothers; Sunday, Backbeat Duo. BELMORE HOTEL: Friday, The Bad and the Ugly; Saturday, Dan Runchel and Friends.

BERESFIELD BOWLING CLUB: Friday, Incognito; Saturday, The Cruisers; Sunday, Red Dirt Country Band feat Makaylie Foodey.

BLACKBUn HOTEL: Saturday, The Zillers.

BRADFORD HOTEL: Friday, Defaced; Saturday, The Purple Hearts; Sunday, Graeme Mills.

BREAKERS COUNTRY CLUB: Saturday, Dexter Moore.

BUDGEWOI SOCCER CLUB: Saturday, Dear Monday.

CAMBRIDGE HOTEL: Wednesday, Foundation, Warbrain; Friday, Paul Woseen; CANTON BEACH SPORTS CLUB: Friday, Back to Rock; Sunday, What's the Next Line.

CARDIFF RSL: Friday, Cover 2 Cover; Saturday, British Rock Invasion.

CATHO PUB: Sunday, The V Dubs.

CENTRAL HOTEL, Stroud: Saturday, Graeme Mills; Sunday, Open Mic. CESSNOCK LEAGUES CLUB: Friday, D'Lish; Saturday, Karaoke; Sunday, Kids' Disco & Karaoke, Ruby the Clown.

CHARLESTOWN BOWLING CLUB: Friday, Dr Zoom Duo. CLARENDON HOTEL: Friday, Howard Shearman; Saturday, Dean Kyrwood.

CLUB AZZURRI: Sunday, Latinova.

CLUB LEMON TREE: Friday, Affinity; Saturday, Bob Allan.

COLLIERY INN: Friday, Karaoke; Saturday, Pete Sneddon.

CRICKETERS ARMS: Saturday, Arley Black.

CUSTOMS HOUSE: Wednesday, AdzDrumz; Friday, Brooke Harvey; Saturday, Jon T; Sunday, Howard Shearman.

D'ALBORA MARINA: Sunday, Michael Mills.

DAVISTOWN RSL: Thursday, Shaun Lidster; Saturday, Peter Kinch.

DENMAN HOTEL: Friday, James Naldo.

DOYALSON RSL: Friday/Saturday, Live Entertainment.

DUKE OF WELLINGTON: Friday, Wellsy; Saturday, Iguana.

Featuring the talents of Shelley Mdnally and Mark Webster, Good Grief are one duo that are almost guaranteed to set any dance floor alight, well, not literally.

McInally has a diverse history in the music scene which has helped transform her into one formidable performer.

She has gone from being classically trained at the Conservatorium to performing in many musical theatre productions with the Newcastle Light Opera and Metropolitan Players, through to a wedding singer and even a magician's assistant.

Her forays into the band scene have been with Zebra Connection and local trio One Fish, Two Fish.

Sometimes referred to a bit of a clown prince in the music business, Webster has poured more than 30 years in to the scene through bands such as Small Toys, Fabba, Stark Raving Mad and more recently Incognito.

Good Grief's musical diversity will take you on a journey with songs from the 70'S right through to today.

Enjoy the ride!

GREAT NORTHERN HOTEL: Wednesday, DJs; Tuesday, Open Mic Night.

GRETA WORKERS CLUB: Friday, Slam Tango.

GUNYAH HOTEL: Friday, Jon-T; Saturday, Zane Penn Duo; Sunday, Josh Drinkwater.

GWANDALAN BOWLING CLUB: Friday, Upbeat HALEKULANI BOWLING CLUB: Friday, Malihini's Nightclub; Saturday, Almost Joe- Joe Cocker Tribute.

HAMILTON STATION HOTEL: Wednesday, Justice for the Damned, To Engineer an Exorcist, Caraway Seed; Thursday, Nunchukka Superfly, Whitney Huston's Crypt, Ixodes, The Grounds; Friday, Karaoke; Zombonimo, Hyper Giant, Horse Bolted, Freddo and Matt; Saturday, Kara-

oke; Sunday, Mark Goetz.

HARRIGANS IRISH PUB: Saturday, Howard Shearmna.

HEXHAM BOWLING CLUB: Saturday, Dave Live.

HONEYSUCKLE HOTEL: Saturday/Sunday, Kylie jane.

HOTEL DELANY: Wednesday, Dj Surian; Friday, AdzDrumz, Matt Meler, End of Days; Saturday, Defaced.

HOTELjESMOND: Friday, Deuce; Saturday, Black Bird Blue.

HOTEL PREMIER: Saturday, Troy; Sunday, Love That Hat. IMPERIAL HOTEL, Singleton: IRON HORSE INN: Saturday, Hey Poncho. jEWELLS TAVERN: Friday, Rock Oz; Sunday, Bobby C. KENT HOTEL: Friday, The Urge.

KING STREET HOTEL: Friday, Uno House Party; Saturday, Bounce Sessions; Sunday, Any Given Sunday.

KURRI BOWLING CLUB: Friday, Mick Freeman.

LAKE MACQUARIE YACHT CLUB: Sunday, Bob Allan.

LAKESIDE VILLAGE TAVERN: Saturday, The V Dubs.

LAKES HOTEL: Saturday, Rip It Up. LASS O'GOWRIE HOTEL: Wednesday, The Floating Bridges; Thursday, Creative Creatures Open Mic Night; Friday, The Stiffys; Saturday, Bigger Cages.

LIZOTTE'S NEWCASTLE: Thursday, Renee Geyer and her Swing Band; Friday, Shaun Kirk and Daniel Champagne; Sunday, Wendy Matthews.

LONG JETTY HOTEL: Saturday, Casho; Sunday, Open Mic with Kate Keighran.

MARK HOTEL: Friday, Moonlight Drive Duo; Saturday, Tom Buckley.

MARY ELLEN: Thursday, Kylie jane; Friday, janey's Alibi Duo; Saturday, Incognito.

MATTARA HOTEL: Friday, Mark Lee; Saturday, Djs. MAYFIELD HOTEL: Thursday, Karaoke; Friday, Kristy j.

MAVERICKS ON THE BAY: Friday, Troy: Saturday, Phil McKnight: Sunday, Troy Kemp.

MEREWETHER SURFHOUSE: Friday, Kylie jane.

METROPOLITAN HOTEL, Maitland: Friday, Mick jones.

Mj FINNEGANS: Friday, Djs; Saturday, Djs. MOONSHADOW CRUISES, Nelson Bay: Saturday, Edie Love.

NAG'S HEAD HOTEL: Saturday, Mardmax.

NELSON BAY DIGGERS THE LOUNGE: Friday, Soul Station; Saturday, Outerphase; Sunday, Pete Gelzinnis.

NEWCASTLE DISTRICT TENNIS CLUB: Friday, Karaoke.

NEWCASTLE UNITED SPORTS CLUB: Friday, Karaoke.

NORTHERN STAR HOTEL: Friday, Kenny jewel; Saturday, john Larder.

NORTHUMBERLAND HOTEL: Friday, Aaron Hood.

OCEAN BEACH HOTEL: Friday, Tom Buckley.

ORANA HOTEL: Saturday, The Pink Show & Red

Hot Chili Peppers Show.

PEDENS, Cessnock: Friday, Graeme Mills; Saturday, Loose Bazooka.

PIPPI'S AT THE POINT: Friday, jesse Vee, Troy Kemp; Saturday, Gen R 8; Sunday, Brooke Harvey.

PLOUGH INN: Friday, Luke Collins.

POTTERS BREWERY: Friday, Zane Penn.

PRINCE OF WALES: Friday, james Osborn; Saturday, jesse Vee; Sunday, jerome.

QUEENS WHARF BREWERY: Wednesday, Show and Tell; Friday, Oh Webber; Saturday, The Remedy, Bobby C, Dj Ules; Sunday, Sugar, Dj Patsan, jon T. RACECOURSE HOTEL: Saturday, Kim. REGAL HOTEL, Kurri: Saturday, Hard Cover.

REGAL HUNTER HOTEL: Saturday, Karen O'Shea.

RIVER ROYAL, Morpeth: Friday, Michael Mills.

Relive the

_agle

When siblings Karen and Richard Carpenter teamed up in 1969 to form The Carpenters, they set in motion a chain of events that would see them become one of the biggest selling acts of all time.

With tracks like (They Long To Be) Close To You, We've Only Just Begun, Rainy Days and Mondays and Top of the World in their formidable canon, The Carpenters remain, 31 years after Karen's untimely passing, one of the most loved musical duos of all time.

Now, Newcastle is set to experience some of that magic with a special tribute show coming to Wests this week.

The Yesterday Once More - A Tribute to the Carpenters show includes 25 of the Carpenters' greatest hits and features Sharon Calabro as Karen and Danny Elliott as Richard, as well as a four piece band and two backing singers.

Whether you were a fan in the 1970s or one of the new generation of Carpenters devotees, this is a show that has everything, including identical replicas of the original clothes worn by The Carpenters and their backing band - in fact, no quarter is given in making sure that this show is as realistic as possible.

ROYAL CROWN, Dudley: Saturday, Karaoke.

ROYAL FEDERAL HOTEL: Saturday, Dr Zoom Duo. ROYAL HOTEL, Denamn: Saturday, Secret Society.

ROYAL HOTEL, Singleton: Sunday, Top Shelf.

ROYAL INN, Waratah: Saturday, Good Grief.

RUTHERFORD HOTEL: Saturday, Zac and Ben. SALAMANDER SHORES: Friday, Mardmax.

SALAMANDER TAVERN: Sunday, Kazzi Waters.

SEABREEZE HOTEL: Friday, Pete Gilchrist; Saturday, 2 Funky.

SEVEN SEAS: Saturday, Yellow Feather Dog; Sunday, Thomas Blake.

SHAFT TAVERN: Friday, Annie O'Dee and the Hotshots.

SHOAL BAY RESORT: Friday, Allon, Viagro,

Russell Snape; Saturday, Lee Rolfe, Kelly Hope, Failed Rockstars; Sunday, jaybee Duo, Brett O'Malley, Sundays Record.

SHORTLAND HOTEL: Friday, Karen O'Shea.

SOLDIERS POINT BOWLING CLUB: Friday, Paul Watters.

STOCKTON RSL: Saturday, Loose Change.

SWANSEA HOTEL: Saturday, Mick jones.

SWANSEA RSL: Saturday, Let Loose.

SWANSEA WORKERS CLUB: Saturday, Copyrite.

TEA GARDENS HOTEL: Friday, Kim. THE POURHOUSE, Maitland: Saturday, Luke Collins.

THE SMALL BALLROOM: Wednesday, PHfat; Friday, Gideon, Vices, Perspectives, Pasha Bulka, Staunch; TILLIGERRY RSL CLUB: Friday, Lennie and Carter; Saturday, james Naldo.

TORONTO DIGGERS: Friday, john Noble; Saturday, Franky and johnny.

TORONTO ROYAL MOTOR YACHT CLUB: Friday, Tiali.

TORONTO WORKERS CLUB: Friday, Karaoke; Saturday, Solid Gold Party Night.

TOWN HALL HOTEL: Saturday, Karaoke.

VUES ON THE BAY: Friday, Dj Fuel; Saturday, HP Duo. WALLARAH BAY REC CLUB: Friday, Soul Agent; Saturday, Gemma.

WALLSEND DIGGERS CLUB: Friday, The Fake Four; Saturday, Moonlight Drive.

WANGI WORKERS CLUB: Friday, Deborah Sinclair; Saturday, jon Matthews.

WARNERS AT THE BAY: Friday, Loose Bazooka; Saturday, Love That Hat. WARNERS BAY HOTEL: Thursday, Karaoke; Friday, Hornet, Djs; Saturday, 4 Letter Word; Sunday, Revolver.

WESTS CARDIFF: Saturday, Get Soaked.

WESTS NEW LAMBTON PIANO LOUNGE: Wednesday, Frank Wakewood; Thursday, Angamus; Friday, Warren Hunter; Saturday, Stuart Hamilton; Monday, Ben Hanley; Tuesday, Terence Koo. WESTS NEW LAMBTON MARBLE BAR: Friday, Sean Andrews, Gen R 8; Saturday, Perry Carter; Saturday, Wicked.

WICKHAM PARK HOTEL: Wednesday, Wicko jam Night; Friday, Santana Magic: Saturday, Hot Yogis, Marshall O'Kell and the Pride; Sunday, Mark Wood, Steve Edmonds.

WINDSOR CASTLE HOTEL: Friday, Bobby C; Saturday, The Nick Raschke Duo. WYONG BOWLING CLUB: Friday, Brassick.

WYONG LEAGUES CLUB: Friday, Piper and the Cro; Saturday, Matchbox 20 Show.

MAY 23 - SWANEE MAY 30 TO JUNE 1 PSYCHIC EXPO PRE BOOK ON 0429644129

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o say that it has been a whirlwind for Melbourne-based indie-folksters The Paper Kites since the release of their debut long player States would be an understatement.

T

STEPHEN BISSET

After a huge Australian release tour, the band headed to the US, for support shows with Canadian singer-songwriter City and Colour as well as their own headlining shows in both the US and Canada - many of which sold out. ''Yes it has been a bit of a whirlwind of late," bass player Sam Rasmusen told TE. "America and Canada were just fantastic - the City and Colour shows were a real eye opener as it was the biggest support tour we'Ve ever done and we gained invaluable experience. Also, to be able to sell out a bunch of our own shows was just awesome and totally unexpected it's really nice when people appreciate the work you've been doing."

There's no denying that the band's sonic scope has deepened exponentially since the release of their first self-titled EP, and Rasmusen said that there was a lot of hard work involved in translating this

more expansive sound to the stage.

"The album certainly was a lot of hard work, but anything worthwhile is rarely easy," he said.

"I'd say our sound now is a lot more textured and layered with a lot more instrumentation which also required work to translate on stage.

"I feel that in the past we probably weren't the best live band - 1 mean we all came from rock and roll backgrounds which is all about getting on stage and belting stuff out, but these songs have much more delicate arrangements and dynamics which also forced us to look at how we were presenting them onstage."

Aside form a fast-growing reputation as a formidable live concern, the band are also making serious inroads with their videos - with more than 10 million You Tube views to their credit.

Rasmusen said that the band treat their videos as a true extension of the songs rather than a mere promotional tool.

"We think that videos are a vital part of that creative process - one that definitely adds another dimension to the song," he said.

"A lot of bands treat videos as a necessity but for us it's part and parcel of what we're doing sonically."

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MUSIC

Cha_pagne supernova STEPHEN BISSET

f you haven't caught one of prodigious singer-songwriter Daniel Champagne's mesmerising shows, well you better get in quick.

Because, owing to his rising stock overseas, he is picking up stumps and heading Stateside.

But not before he visits his favourite Australian haunts including a stint at Lizotte's with fellow folk-tinged songwriter Shaun Kirk.

"The plan is, after this tour wraps up, I'm heading back over for my usual six-week Canadian tour and after that I'll be moving to Nashville;' Champagne explained.

"I've now got representation and an agency looking after me over there so the idea is to get on the road as much as possible with some bigger bands, play some festivals as well as my own shows "I mean, the US is just such a massive area and there are so many places to play, it's just a really exciting time" Speaking of exciting times, Champagne, who is currently smack bang in the middle of a mammoth national tour, in support of his brilliant new album The Gypsy Moon Volume 2, pulled out one of the performances of his career at the recent Byron Bay Bluesfest causing pundits and

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wags across the country to wax hyperbole about Champagne's deft fretwork and ability to hold the crowd in the palm of his hand.

"Bluesfest, this year was just amazing;' Champagne enthused.

"This is the third year I've played and it really has been a gradual build up.

"The first year nobody really knew who I was.

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"The second year things picked up a little bit and this year, thanks largely to five years of pretty much non-stop touring, the crowd was quite huge "There was a really cool buzz about the show?'

Speaking of buzz, there's an equal amount surrounding his new album The Gypsy Moon Volume 2 the second instalment in his "sonic tour diary" concept.

It's an album that bristles with some of the most poignant lyrics heard in recent memory and some equally beautiful and well crafted melodies.

He was particularly proud of Volume 2 especially considering the circumstances in which it was recorded.

"The interesting thing was that, while the intention was always to release it in two volumes, by the time it came to start working on the second one, I had kind of fallen out oflove with some of the songs I had written for it.

"So I had to write a new batch of songs and this was all done, as well as recording while on tour so it was a very hectic period;' he said.

"Certainly there were times where I thought "I'm never going to finish this" but I think I'm even more proud of this record because it was born out of such an intense period.

"I'm really proud of it:'

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