Category: News

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

A Fond Farewell to “Spicks and Specks”

Last night after seven years and countless laughs we said goodbye to Spicks and Specks. Who would have thought that a music quiz show with no prizes at all could become such a national treasure? While on paper it didn’t appear like much, its easy blend of comedy and musical trivia made it something truly special.

I can’t remember exactly when I started to watch Spicks and Specks, as is invariably the case when a program enjoys such a long run. But somewhere along the way it became part of my routine, something to look forward to at the end of hump day, something to miss during the non-ratings period at year’s end. Thank god for those Christmas specials!

I suppose we’ve got Rockwiz to take the mantle, but I think we all know it won’t be quite the same. Their rotating celebrity team captains aren’t around long enough to become as endearing as Alan or Myf. Julia Zemiro is lovely, but she doesn’t set my heart a-fluttering quite like Adam Hills. And while some of those ordinary Joes are interesting, they can’t hold a candle to the mix of musicians and comedians Spicks and Specks attracted over its 266 episodes. Can you believe there were that many? Yet every one still felt fresh.

I’m going to miss debating over the answers to “Musician or Serial Killer” and “Know Your Product” with my husband. I’ll miss annoying him with the Europe riff every time we settled in for “The Final Countdown.” I’m going to miss the laughs, and I’m going to miss feeling just a little bit superior when I knew the answers to the more obscure questions. I’m just going to miss it.

Last night we were treated to an extended hour episode, but it still didn’t feel like long enough. As Adam announced “The Final Countdown” for the final time, I looked around at him, at Myf, and at Adam, and began to cry. I didn’t expect those tears. I knew the end was coming after all. But I wasn’t prepared for the floodgates when it happened.

Thank you Adam, Myf, and Alan for seven wonderful years. Those two words can’t possibly express the joy you’ve given me and the rest of Australia over that time, but they’re what I have. I’m going to miss Spicks and Specks immensely, but I look forward to seeing where your careers take you next.

Image source: Mushroom and Rooster @ Flickr

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Reece Mastin Wins X Factor Australia

Reece Mastin has taken out this year’s X Factor competition, narrowly beating Andrew Wishart by just 1% of the votes.

Yes, I’m a bit late with the news, but can we all agree that more than two hours of television is far too long for this kind of thing? After all, we only want to hear “The winner is Reece,” right? All those retrospectives and random celebrity performances padding out the time seem completely unnecessary. My vote next year is for five minutes in between other programs, something like the Lotto draw.

So I didn’t watch it all the way through, but it seems that Johnny Ruffo fell out of the race early. While he’d improved immensely in recent weeks that seems fair; Reece and Andrew were our consistent standouts. I would have loved to see Andrew win it, as he moved me more than any of the other contestants, but I can’t deny Reece has the goods. Killer vocals, incredible stage presence, and he’s adorable to boot. I can’t say I’m looking forward to that “Good Night” single saturating the airwaves, but I look forward to what he produces once he gains some creative control.

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

X Factor Contestants Sing One Last Time

We’re at the pointy end of  The X Factor competition, with just three acts remaining. Andrew Wishart, Reece Mastin, and Johnny Ruffo had another chance to win us over tonight with some solo numbers and a duet with one of the visiting stars.

Andrew kicked things off with his audition song, Adele’s “Someone Like You.” It was fitting to see him perform it live again after all this time. It didn’t so much showcase growth but just how solid he’s always been. He is what he is, and I love that.

In contrast Johnny showed us just how far he’s come with Jay Sean’s “Do You Remember.” He was singing well and dancing well; I couldn’t fault him technically. However I also feel like I’ve seen it all before. He’s improved immensely, but I still don’t see X factor. And let’s remember that, rather than growth, is really what it’s all about.

Reece also showed us he’s developed that extra special something since first treating us to Rooster’s “Come Get Some.” There seems to be a bit more swagger to him, some extra confidence and self belief. He was good in the auditions, but tonight he was great.

Pairing The Fray with Andrew seemed like a natural fit, but I don’t think their version of “You Found Me” did him any favours. It felt too low throughout, and consequently he never got to show us his sweet spot. The arrangement was a real injustice here. Hopefully his fans don’t care; I’d hate to see him go on the back of this.

I’m not even going to bother re-reviewing Johnny’s performance of “Sir Duke.” It was good the first time and it was good again. Certainly this was his best, but did we really need to see it again with all the same staging and choreography?

Ditto Reece’s performance of Aerosmith’s “Dream On” and Andrew’s retake on “Dakota.”

Johnny Ruffo was outclassed in performing a medley of some Salt N Pepa hits. He held his own with the dancing but his rapping skills were very under par. This was fun though just for the trip down memory lane. Those ladies have lost nothing over the years.

Then Reece treated us to his potential single “Good Night.” Perhaps treated is a bit generous, because I found it to be pretty middle of the road pop. The verses felt like virtual carbon copies of Pink’s “Raise Your Glass.” All in it didn’t feel like Reece, which is really disappointing when the singles are supposed to be tailored to the artists.

I don’t remember the name of Andrew’s potential single if it was mentioned, but I wasn’t thrilled by it. He sang it beautifully but the song itself seemed a bit mediocre and aimless. I didn’t actively dislike it, but I’d probably switch over the radio after hearing it a few times. Seriously, where are they getting these songs?

I don’t know what Johnny’s single is called either, but the Eurovision nut in me lapped it up. It’s super cheesy, but also lots of fun. For the first time this year I seriously considered the merits of Johnny winning this thing. I expect to see Belarus covering this in Azerbaijan next year.

The duets hadn’t impressed me until Reece and Kylie Minogue took to the stage for “Kids.” His vocals were a bit rough in places but they really seemed to gel and that mattered more than the notes. What a way to end the show.

Really what happened tonight didn’t change my views one way or another. I’m firmly on Team Andrew. Who’s your pick?

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Three Wishez Leave X Factor

Tonight’s X Factor elimination was always going to be tough. We learned early on that Andrew Wishart and Johnny Ruffo were safe, leaving us to sweat on the fate of Reece Mastin and Three Wishez for the rest of the show.

Given the options I hoped Three Wishez would be safe. We already had one cute young thing in the final after all. Three Wishez bring a different energy to the competition, and I can see them doing well on an international stage.
However it wasn’t to be, and we said farewell to the trio, at least for now. Something tells me they’ve got a big future ahead of them, with or without this competition’s help. I can’t wait to see where they pop up next.

And now I’m left cheering on Andrew Wishart. Last night he compelled me to pick up my phone and vote, the first time I’ve done so all year. That counts for a lot.

Who do you want to see taking this thing out?

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

X Factor Tackles Pleasure and Pain

After last week’s lacklustre evening, I was psyched to see what the X Factor would serve up tonight. I was really impressed by the theme, which asked the contestants to uplift us and break our hearts.

Andrew Wishart is the perfect artist for a theme that plays on emotion. However if you don’t get the right song, it’s all going to fall apart. Neon Trees’ “Animal” was the wrong song on so many levels. The song itself is pleasurable, but hearing Andrew deliver it was more than a bit awkward. It also didn’t sit in his vocal sweet spot. Everything was against him, and it showed. Thank god he gets another song to play with.

Again Johnny Ruffo gave us a solid vocal with Ne-Yo’s “So Sick.” As far as sticking to the brief of delivering heartbreak though, he failed. There just wasn’t enough edge or emotion to it, which is probably down to a combination of the wrong song and the wrong performer. I just don’t think he’s got that in him. However he did what he did well.

Reece Mastin delivered the first truly heartbreaking song of the night with “Breakeven.” And considering he’s a young kid who’s probably never had his heart truly broken, I think he did a pretty good job. I certainly felt more watching him than I did on any other performance to that point, and that certainly counts for something. It didn’t quite match the original, but I still really enjoyed it.

When I heard Three Wishez were taking on The Black Eyed Peas “The Time/Dirty Bit” my heart sank. Then I held my ears. I hated when The Black Eyed Peas raped the Dirty Dancing classic, and Three Wishez didn’t make me change my mind. Was this the pleasure or the pain song? They may have received rave reviews, but I loathed every second.
Continue reading “X Factor Tackles Pleasure and Pain” →

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Hawksley Workman Tours Oz

Canadian Hawksley Workman is fleeing the harsh Ontario winter and heading for our much sunnier shores this January.

The Juno award winning singer songwriter has long enthralled fans with his unique blend of sing-along pop, jangling alt-country, and rock. And he’s doing it all again with his brand new album Full Moon Eleven, which hit stores this week. It’s a polished version of the Christmas album he wrote for his grandmother while living in Paris a decade ago. And don’t we love a man who loves his grandma!

If you’re feeling the love you can catch this intriguing Canuck at the following shows.


4 January 2012 – The Clarendon Guesthouse, Katoomba
5 January 2012 – Brass Monkey, Cronulla
6 January 2012 – Notes, Newtown
7 January 2012 – X & Y Bar, Brisbane
8 January 2012 – Joe’s Waterhole, Eumundi
12 January 2012 – Caravan Club, Oakleigh
13 January 2012 – Northcote Social Club, Northcote
14 January 2012 – Jive, Adelaide

Image source: Revolutions Per Minute

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Declan Sykes Leaves X Factor

They keep talking up shock eliminations on X Factor, but I don’t think there are any shocks at this end of the competition. And so while the judges seemed surprised to see Declan Sykes and Three Wishez battling it out for a place in the top four, I figured it was about right after last night’s performances.

I really like the way that Tuesday night’s show gives acts a chance to redeem themselves. Declan didn’t really with a fairly lackluster performance of Panic at the Disco’s “Ballad of Mona Lisa,” but Three Wishez stepped up with Jessie J’s “Nobody’s Perfect.” That’s what it means to sing for your life.

It seems the judges agreed because three to one they sent Declan packing. I’m sad to see him go, but hopefully he can capitalise on this exposure and we’ll see him cropping up somewhere soon.

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

The X Factor Pays Tribute to Legends

After enduring more dance songs than I cared to last week, I was happy to watch The X Factor contestants singing songs from music legends tonight.

Johnny Ruffo kicked things off with Stevie Wonder’s “Sir Duke.” I’ve been pretty hard on Johnny in recent weeks, but I’ve never heard him sounding better. Finally the vocals matched his pretty boy looks and dance moves. I’ve had him doomed to the bottom two for weeks now, but this time I’m not so sure.

I wasn’t too enthusiastic about the idea of Andrew Wishart singing “I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For.” But this guy can really do no wrong. It doesn’t matter what he’s given; he nails it vocally and I believe every word he sings. That’s all he needs to do, and he does it consistently.

Declan Sykes shook up The Beatles “Help,” and when it came out the other end I just didn’t like it. I still like him and what he stands for, but when you take risks some of them just won’t pay off. I don’t think the treatment worked, and in some places his vocals suffered from all that jumping around. The judges might have liked it, but it just wasn’t my cup of chai.

Three Wishez has blown me away in recent weeks, so I was a bit disappointed by their take on Phil Collins’ “In the Air Tonight.” I certainly didn’t hate it, but it didn’t reach the dizzy heights of their past couple of performances. Perhaps they set the bar too high too early?

I was nervous when I heard Reece Mastin was taking on Celine Dion. I was much happier to hear that really he was covering Eric Carmen. Either way, his version of “All By Myself” allowed us to see a vulnerability he doesn’t often show. He didn’t always nail the vocals, but I think he hit the notes that counted. He didn’t get glowing reviews, but I still liked this.

There was a lot of like tonight and not a lot of love. I wasn’t blown away, and actually think Johnny Ruffo’s performance was the strongest. What a topsy-turvy night! Given all that, I’m not even going to guess who’ll be in the bottom two tomorrow night. What do you think?

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

The Jezabels Cover Art on Show

In this digital age, bands who care about their cover art are becoming increasingly rare. The Jezabels are one of those special acts who create albums that look as good as they sound. This is in large part due to the work of Australian artist Christopher Doyle. Some of his works, including his Jezabels covers, will grace the walls of Sydney’s Mart Gallery next month.

Christopher’s photography and design has helped defined The Jezabels’ aesthetic from their inception. This exhibition is a significant one for fans, as it’s the first time they can see the images in their original large formats, along with unreleased artwork and rare test shots. Limited edition prints will also be on sale, allowing devotees to take home a little piece of the band’s history.

“Chris is so important to us,” explained The Jezabels’ guitarist Sam Lockwood. “With our releases, he has repeatedly been able to understand the underlying message of our music, as well as our somewhat strange musical aesthetic. He has time and time again come up with beautiful, surreal, sublime and uncanny visual translations of the music we make. We talk about this between ourselves in the band – the way that Chris has helped us define what we do.”

Christopher Doyle’s work will be on show at the Mart Gallery in Surry Hills from December 8 to 14.

Image used with permission from Two Fish Out of Water

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Christina Bows Out of X Factor

I’m a bit late with my X Factor elimination recap this week. I always figure it’s best to steer clear of technology after a few drinks. I’d hate to think how a post-Melbourne Cup luncheon entry might turn out. Better late than never and typo-free though, right?

I’m not sure whether you can ever call results towards the pointy end of the competition shocks, but I was surprised to see both Christina Parie and Reece Mastin standing in the bottom two. I guess Johnny’s fans know he’s vulnerable and have been voting in droves. Christina’s performance was probably one of the weaker ones on Monday, but I didn’t expect we’d see Reece in the firing line yet.

Both acts did OK when singing for their life, but didn’t sing anywhere close to their best. I suspect nerves might have been to blame here. I thought Christina outsang Reece with her Avril Lavigne cover, but it was a close race. However Mel B was the only judge in her corner, with the rest of the panel opting to send her home. I think the right decision was made as Reece really has been Mr Consistency. Hopefully his fans will rally behind him to ensure he’s not in the bottom two next week.