Following successful comeback gigs at this years Oxegen and last years Electric Picnic, That Petrol Emotion have officially reformed. Spawned from the ashes of The Undertones in 1984 (and a precursor to the Madchester sound), the London-based band whose indie chart-topping albums include Manic Pop Thrill, Chemicrazy and Fireproof make a welcome return. So dust off Babble or the 2001 remastered reissue in advance of this December gig Dec 6, The Academy, 57 Middle Abbey Street D1, 7.30pm, 25. Tel: 0818 719 300. www.thatpetrolemotion.com The Big Interview Jane Campion Less Tarzan, more ON MY iPOD Jordin Sparkss Six-Track ellington-born director Jane Campion, like her stone the Kiwis accent, may be unapologetically un- English, but her latest film, Bright Star, quintessentially is. Its a swoonsome, star-crossed love story between Romantic poet John Keats (Ben Wishaw) and feisty 19-year-old Fanny Brawne (Abbie Cornish). That the 25-year-old Keats is not only impoverished (thus ineligible) but busy dying of tuberculosis in between penning Fanny some of the most exquisite odes in English literature makes it terribly poignant. Its certainly a kit-on world away from Campions last film, In The Cut, the grimy 2003 erotic thriller with steamy scenes starring Meg Ryan. Yeah, that made me wonder too, laughs Campion, but I dont think, OK I did some sexy stuff, now Im going to do some innocent stuff. All I can say is I had a very intense reaction to reading Keatss love letters. The storys so tender and sensitive and they were so brave. I thought F**k, this is what were all here on this planet for, you know? As you may suspect, Bright Star, despite being set around Jane Austens time, isnt your typical prissy bonnet drama a boring and strait-jacketed creation Campion finds inexplicable. If you read first-hand accounts from that period, its obviously just the same old slouches and grumps as we have today. People lolled around on sofas in fact in Hogarths sketches theyre all having sex all over the living room! This proper thing, I dont know where it comes from. Its about as real as what we think is really going on between Becks and Victoria. Campion has her own celeb mates she was at Nicole Kidmans wedding (they became pals while shooting The Portrait W Of A Lady in 1996). But the 55-year-old keeps her feet, clad in kick-ass biker boots, firmly on the ground. Today, in her mini-skirt, biker jacket, long, grey Patti Smith hair and with a prominent CND symbol round her neck (it reminds me to be peaceful) shes still clearly a product of the feminist 1970s. We wanted things to feel more real, more daring. Though she admits Bright Star isnt daring except that it deals with a poet, what was a challenge was to create that real pure being from the actors without having them performing. Ironically, that commitment for natural authenticity led to her casting Aussie- born Abbie Cornish. I was really expecting to have an English actress. But theres something about the way that Australian girls are brought up that makes them less submissive. Its quite visible when you think of all the Australian actresses around. And it made Abbie stand out. Because I think Fanny Brawne really couldnt be conventional. She had to be radical enough to make the choice that would make her happy. When I ask Campion what she might picture herself doing during the Regency period, I receive a typically blunt response: Id probably be dead, because I had asthma as a kid. Y et I cant help picturing her as a radical reformer. One of only three female directors ever to be nominated for an Oscar and the only woman to have ever won a Palme dOr (for The Piano in 1993), shes strident in her opinions on why there are still so few women directors. I just think its a reflection of men and womens opportunities in I think women should be given 50 per cent of the films to make. Im not kidding! Itll change the world overnight The Oscar and Palme dOr winner talks to Larushka Ivan-Zadeh about being a female director, and her biopic of Keats The Girls Of Summer In Town Tonight Susannah De Wrixon, the formidable stage actress and singer, returns in this one-woman cabaret exploring the different facets of womanhood told through the songs of Stephen Sondheim, Suzanne Vega, Noel Coward and Randy Newman Today until Sat, Bewleys Caf Theatre, 78/79 Grafton Street D2, 12.50pm, 15 incl light lunch. Tel: 086 878 4001. www.bewleyscafetheatre.com Stones In His Pockets Marie Joness multi-award- winning comedy about a quiet Irish community turned upside- down by the arrival of a Hollywood movie shoot. Simon Delaney and Conor Delaney (no relation) star in this two-man caper, playing as many as 15 characters between them Tonight until Sat, Olympia Theatre, 72 Dame Street D2, 8pm, 22.50 to 35. Tel: 0818 719 300. www.mcd.ie Brown Sugar On Jimi Hendrix The inspiration for the Stones song Brown Sugar and the mother of Mick Jaggers son, Karis Marsha Hunt recounts her own Jimi Hendrix experience starting from when she became his Track Records label mate in 1969 Tonight until Sat, The New Theatre, 43 East Essex Street D2, 8pm, 15. Tel: (01) 670 3361. www.thenewtheatre.com metro Arts & Entertainment life Book Now That Petrol Emotion 12 metrolife Monday, November 2, 2009 Future Love by Kristinia DeBarge Kristinia was touring with me when I was supporting Britney Spears and I used to sit by the stage every night and listen to her sing this song. Its a really cute ballad. Always Be My Baby by Mariah Carey Me and my dad used to sing this in the car when I was a kid. Listening to it reminds me of my dad and trying to sing like Mariah trying, being the key word there. Up, Up And Away by Steph Jones This is a really cool track with an electro edge and a really sweet message. Its basically about this guy whose heart has been captured by a girl and hes soaring high. Chasing Pavements by Adele Adele is so funny and this is one of my favourite songs. After I saw the video I was in love its so creative and makes your heart wrench. Her voice is phenomenal as well, she sings with so much emotion. Diary by Alicia Keys This is one of those tracks you just need to hear sometimes. Its a night song, one to calm you before sleep. Whatcha Say by Jason Derulo Im obsessed with this track at the moment: I listen to it driving, cleaning, travelling. Whenever. Its got an Imogen Heap sample on it but its really up beat. Jordin Sparkss album Battlefield (Sony) is out now. The hoTTesT TickeTs in Town We have three pairs of tickets to see THAT PETROL EMOTION Dec 6 at The Academy, 7.30pm For a chance to win, e-mail your answer to the question below to life@metroireland.ie by noon today with Hot Tickets in the subject line. With your answer please include your name, address and a number where you can be contacted between 1pm and 3pm. Strictly one entry per person; entrants must be age 18+. Q. What is the name of That Petrol Emotions fifth and final album? A Fireproof B Firecrotch index.html2.html3.html4.html5.html6.html7.html8.html9.html10.html11.html12.html13.html14.html15.html16.html17.html18.html19.html20.html21.html22.html23.html