It’s a big weekend and there’s a lot going on! From heavy metallers at the Powerstation to an all-new animated Star Wars series and - don’t forget this - it’s Mother’s Day on Sunday! I’ve got suggestions to help you cope with all of this. Let’s go…
The new album from Kiwi crooner Lontalius has been soundtracking my days ever since its release earlier this month. Someone Will Be There For You is delightfully morose and shows a different side to the singer-songwriter who also produces hip-hop under the name Race Banyon. I like that project, but I think I’m falling for Lontalius a little more. (Stream it via Apple Music)
If you’re suffering from Clone Wars withdrawals, The Bad Batch is here to remedy that. Released on Star Wars Day, the animated series is a spinoff that follows a band of adventurers called Clone Force 99 and features the voice talents of Kiwi Michelle Ang. “An engaging, thoughtful, expertly animated story” wrote IndieWire. It’s months until we hear more from Baby Yoda and The Mandalorian so, until then, this will do nicely. (Stream it via Disney+)
If there’s one way to cure the concert blues caused by the last 12 months of on-off Covid-19 lockdowns, it has to be seeing Beastwars thunder through the Powerstation on Saturday night. The hard-riffing metallers are sure to cause plenty of headbanging and air guitaring at a gig that’s very close to selling out. (Find out if any tickets are left here)
If you want to treat your mum to a movie on Sunday then look no further than James & Isey. I wrote about Florian Habicht’s new film yesterday, and it’s in theatres now, but all you need to know is that’s an absolute delight. If that’s a little slow for you, Netflix’s Stowaway is on my must-watch list, a scary space film starring Toni Collette and Anna Kendrick. (Screening now)
If you need some new tunes, I’m enjoying the Norwegian throwback rock of Girl in Red’s new album If I Could Make It Go Quiet, and Mara TK’s warped and wonderful solo debut Bad Meditation. Oh, for all you Weezer fans pissed off about their recent acoustic efforts, Van Weezer sees them fire the guitars back up - hopefully for good.
For all you lucky Playstation 5 owners, Returnal is the game you’re going to want to play this weekend, an addictive and repetitive roguelike shooter that will make you tear your hair out in frustration. The new Playstation Plus games are also out, and my son is eyeing up Wreckfest like the car-demented kid that he is.
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