I am a serious art critic :P
The Needle and the Damage Done - Vinyl Journey - Fiona Scott-Norman
"The Needle and The Damage Done is a joyous romp through a top ten of the worst music ever released in the history of the world, from someone who’s been collecting bad vinyl since she was old enough to shoplift a Rolf Harris record." - Castlemaine State Festival programme
Events held at Castlemaine's Theatre Royal have a feeling of big-city culture meets country charm. The venue has gone through many facelifts since my childhood, undergoing a transformation from a small, run-down cinema to a bustling, cosmopolitan yet bohemian mix of wine-bar, cafe, theatre and music venue.
The crowd waited eagerly in the foyer, spilling out onto the footpath, as waitresses struggled to carry gourmet pizzas through to the throng. When the doors opened we flooded in, both to the theatre balcony, and the downstairs area, which had been cleared of tables and filled with chairs.
When Fiona made her entrance I was happy to see that she was wearing the same dress from her promotional material. While my inner bitch only wishes I could look so good in such a waist-thickening, skin-tight dress, there's just something about the retro coloured stripes that screams "serious comedian" to me. :)
Who would have thought that an hour or two of listening to bad music could be so entertaining. Fiona took us through a number of categories, including Australiana, Racism, Sexism, white Christian music, and Men with Stuff, announcing a winner for each, culminating in the announcement of the worst record ever released in the history of the world (I won't spoil it by telling you what that is, but they do have a website... ~shudder~). I disagreed with her winners in some categories, and there were a few mentionables that just left a sickening taste in the mouth (white supremacist nazi olsen-twin-wannabes), but overall the show was just plain funny. She calls it "cultural archaeology" - highlighting the massive difference between what was socially acceptable in the '60s and '70s compared with today. Who knew John Laws had produced so much offal? My personal favourite: John Laws: "In Love is an Expensive Place to Die" - WTF?
While the event would not have had as much inherent charm had I seen it in a more traditional venue, it would definitely be worthwhile seeking out Fiona's work in future. The show was thought-provoking and laugh-out-loud funny. A thoroughly enjoyable evening.
"The Needle and The Damage Done is a joyous romp through a top ten of the worst music ever released in the history of the world, from someone who’s been collecting bad vinyl since she was old enough to shoplift a Rolf Harris record." - Castlemaine State Festival programme
Events held at Castlemaine's Theatre Royal have a feeling of big-city culture meets country charm. The venue has gone through many facelifts since my childhood, undergoing a transformation from a small, run-down cinema to a bustling, cosmopolitan yet bohemian mix of wine-bar, cafe, theatre and music venue.
The crowd waited eagerly in the foyer, spilling out onto the footpath, as waitresses struggled to carry gourmet pizzas through to the throng. When the doors opened we flooded in, both to the theatre balcony, and the downstairs area, which had been cleared of tables and filled with chairs.
When Fiona made her entrance I was happy to see that she was wearing the same dress from her promotional material. While my inner bitch only wishes I could look so good in such a waist-thickening, skin-tight dress, there's just something about the retro coloured stripes that screams "serious comedian" to me. :)
Who would have thought that an hour or two of listening to bad music could be so entertaining. Fiona took us through a number of categories, including Australiana, Racism, Sexism, white Christian music, and Men with Stuff, announcing a winner for each, culminating in the announcement of the worst record ever released in the history of the world (I won't spoil it by telling you what that is, but they do have a website... ~shudder~). I disagreed with her winners in some categories, and there were a few mentionables that just left a sickening taste in the mouth (white supremacist nazi olsen-twin-wannabes), but overall the show was just plain funny. She calls it "cultural archaeology" - highlighting the massive difference between what was socially acceptable in the '60s and '70s compared with today. Who knew John Laws had produced so much offal? My personal favourite: John Laws: "In Love is an Expensive Place to Die" - WTF?
While the event would not have had as much inherent charm had I seen it in a more traditional venue, it would definitely be worthwhile seeking out Fiona's work in future. The show was thought-provoking and laugh-out-loud funny. A thoroughly enjoyable evening.