12 metrolife Wednesday, January 13, 2010 D About Town THE HOTTEST TICKETS IN TOWN We have two pairs of tickets to see Michael Jackson tribute MAN IN THE MIRROR Feb 18 at The Olympia, 7.30pm Following three sold out nights in Dublin last year, this Wacko tribute returns to the Olympia from Feb 18 to 20, starring Anthony Walker as the King of Pop alongside backing singers, dancers and visuals. 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 include your name and a number where you can be contacted between 1pm and 3pm. Strictly one entry per person; entrants must be age 18+. Q. Who directed the Michael Jackson film Captain EO? A George Lucas B Francis Ford Coppola The winner of yesterdays tickets to see Star Wars Live is: Martina Buckley Neosupervital Part one-man electro band, part Duracell Bunny, this dapper Dubliners new album Battery Power will be released this spring check out previews at his MySpace and Facebook pages Tonight, Shebeen Chic, 4 South Great Georges Street D2, 9pm, free. Tel: (01) 679 9667. www.myspace.com/neosupervital The Comedy Cellar Expect audience interaction tonight with PJ Gallagher, whose ambushes on the general public are enough to make the toes curl, while John Lynn exerts so- laidback-hes-vertical cool Tonight, International Bar, Wicklow Street D2, 8.30pm, 8 to 10. Tel: (01) 677 9250. www.dublincomedycellar.com Sunday Night Last chance to see Aleana Egans multimedia exhibition of photographs, collage, sculpture and video exploring the notion of ephemera, language and spatial awareness Until Sat, Temple Bar Gallery & Studios, 5-9 Temple Bar D2, Tue to Sat 11am to 6pm, Thu 11am to 7pm, free. Tel: (01) 671 0073. www.templebargallery.com The play that launched Brian Friel on to the international stage returns, and at the very same theatre in which it premiered in 1964. This breakthrough tragicomedy about a young mans imminent move to America and his awkward relationship with his uncommunicative shopkeeper father, became a hit on Broadway, and was adapted for the screen in 1975. This latest revival is directed by Dominic Dromgoole, artistic director of Shakespeares Globe Theatre, London, and stars Gerard McSorley, Alan Devlin, Barry McGovern (with Dromgoole, above), Tom Vaughan Lawlor and Brid Brennan Mar 10, Gaiety Theatre, King Street South D2, 7.30pm, 32.50 to 55. Tel: (01) 677 1717. www.gaietytheatre.ie Book Now Philadelphia, Here I Come! metrometro lifeStaying In & Going Out The Big Interview Vampire Weekend Fangtastic contraAvoiding convention was just something that came about from following our hearts, says Koenigs multi-instrumentalist bandmate Rostam Batmanglij. An example was the song Walcott from our first album; halfway through, the drums disappear and the cello and vocals take over. Contra features numerous nods to the bands Latin experience, including its dreamily funky opening number Horchata (named after a Mexican beverage, which Koenig jauntily rhymes with balaclava). The singer claims that their latest material originated with a hip-hop beat, but that mutates into far-reaching rhythms here, with instruments including thumb piano, a voice-sampling synth procured on eBay, rollicking percussion (on current single Cousins, their heaviest song to date) and acoustic guitar (which they use for the first time, on closing track I Think Ur A Contra). The album also exudes a brooding quality that wasnt so discernible on their 2008 debut. The first record was more thought out. This one is perhaps more instinctive, muses Batmanglij. There are elements on Contra that exist more for atmosphere than melodies. Memory is definitely a theme of this album, although that doesnt mean its songs are sombre, adds Koenig. Were never gonna be defined by a specific set of instruments or sounds. We grew up in an era where catchy, fresh pop was this huge phenomenon, and thats the value we still hold ourselves to. Modern pop music is one of the last places where words can be poetic and meanings dont need to be cut and dried. V ampire Weekend have toured throughout their native US, Europe, Australia and Japan, but have yet to play live to audiences in Africa, where much of their musical inspiration stems from. Surely theyre curious about how music fans farther afield rate their sound? I guess the nearest weve got so far is international messages on MySpace, replies Koenig. Artists such as [Benin- born diva] Anglique Kidjo have been really supportive about the way that we reference African sounds, and when I worked with Esau Mwamwaya in The Avoiding convention was just something that came about from following our hearts wo years ago, when New York rock quartet Vampire Weekend bounced into recognition they seemed conspicuous by their dandy looks and modern Afrobeat stylings. Their self- titled debut album was immediately hailed as a music benchmark, and second LP Contra ventures further into fusion, recorded between New York and Mexico City. This just might be the worldly antidote to tight indie rock stereotypes. Its not that we hate guitars, but we did want to challenge some of that stuff, admits frontman Ezra Koenig, whose chipper vocals also graced club outfit The Very Bests 2009 anthem Warm Heart Of Africa. T With second LP Contra released today, the New York foursome tell Arwa Haider where theyve been getting their influences from this time DOWN THE DUMPER This weeks fickle finger of fame pokes David Hasselhoff July 1952: David Michael Hasselhoff is born. 1982: Lands role of Michael Knight in hit talking-car action show Knight Rider, a role that made him the living legend he is today. 1989: Sings Looking For Freedom on the Berlin wall, making him a pop sensation in Germany. Stars in first series of Baywatch. 1991: Resurrects Baywatch with himself as executive producer. Sells it to hundreds of countries, making it the most watched show on Earth. Earns a fortune. 1994: Tries to launch his singing career with a televised concert in the US. Alas, its on the same night OJ Simpson is arrested so no one watches. 2001: Baywatch ends. Disaster! 2004: Makes cameo appearance in SpongeBob Squarepants movie. 2006: Has bitter divorce and is turned away from a flight for being drunk. Makes a bizarre appearance on GMTV in which he nods off and makes advances to presenter Jenni Falconer. He later claims: I was really tired. He gets to No.3 in the UK charts with Jump In My Car thanks to an internet campaign. Publishes autobiography, Making Waves, in which he claims Princess Diana fancied him. Lands judging role on Americas Got Talent. May 2007: Video appears of him lying drunk on a bathroom floor trying to eat a hamburger as his daughter begs him to stop boozing. 2009: Does reality show with BBC Radio 1 DJ Scott Mills. He is also reportedly hospitalised with alcohol poisoning. Jan 2010: Hoffs Americas Got Talent contract isnt renewed. He claims he wanted to leave. Get out of the dumper soon, Dave! Scott Tenorman index.html2.html3.html4.html5.html6.html7.html8.html9.html10.html11.html12.html13.html14.html15.html16.html17.html18.html19.html20.html21.html22.html23.html