Film, food, fashion, music - it's all culture... Popular Instagram account No Filler cuts through the internet noise, with weekly lists from curator Anthony Remedy and guest creatives based at home and abroad.
Anthony brings you his latest list below...
Ashes to Fashion exhibition at the Ulster Museum
On Nov 11th 1976, over 10,000 objects dating from the 1770’s to the 1970’s from the Ulster Museum costume and textile collection were tragically destroyed by a fire bomb at Malone House. No lives were lost, so the media at the time moved on fast. Sure, it's only clothes, right? There were certainly more pressing issues at the time. But from then on, the rebuild started. The public and institutions around the world contributed pieces, which, of course, helped greatly. But importantly, the collection was insured, and the curator, Elizabeth McCrum, then had a large budget and began purchasing pieces that would tell the story of fashion from the earliest period possible to the present day. At a time when other museums weren’t paying top dollar for those pieces, she got bang for her buck. This wouldn’t be the case today. Dresses by unknown 1700s designers to fashion game-changers like Yves Saint Laurent, Gianni Versace, Alexander McQueen and Karl Lagerfeld. Modern-day masters at work, like Marc Jacobs and John Galliano, are also represented. Plus, the cream of local designers are on display – Sara O’Neill to the local boy who has done extraordinarily well, Jonathan Anderson. This is just a snippet of this exhilarating exhibition at the Ulster Museum. There is also one piece, the Lennox quilt from the original collection (made in 1712), the only piece to survive as it wasn’t at Malone House on the fateful night, on display. It's an extraordinary feat that has been achieved here. I encourage you all to visit.
Madonna’s Confessions on a Dance Floor 2
It's feeling like Madonna summer is en route. Just like Oasis ruled the roost last year, old timers are showing the kids up. Authentic, check. Great tunes, check. Stage presence, check. Killer new design, erm, maybe not Oasis, but Madonna always gravitated to the new cool kids in all her eras and nearly always excels in her choice of creative partners. This is no exception. Special Offer inc, who have previously worked with the likes of Rosalia, Martine Rose and Charlie xcx, are providing the creative direction for Madonna’s Confessions on a Dance Floor 2. From the single artwork, which reminds me of MBV's Loveless, to the silver posters scattered around Manhattan, the design is instantly iconic. The first track to be heard, "I feel so free", is the best thing Madonna has done in years. Meet her on the dance floor this summer. Confessions 2 is released on July 3rd.
The It Happened In Hollywood podcast
Senior reporter at The Hollywood Reporter, Seth Abramovitch, is also the presenter of the excellent podcast It Happened In Hollywood. Interviewing stars, directors and writers of well-known (but often left-of-centre) films, Seth brings a wealth of experience and good humour to his interviews. Guests include Adrian Lyne, Charlie Kaufman, Kathryn Kusama, Pam Grier and more. The latest episode is with Eric Roberts, sharing his experience of working with Bob Fosse on Star 80.
Streaming overload
Often, when flicking through streaming apps, my other half and I complain that there is nothing to watch. Like nothing! We can’t watch Everybody’s Live again. Let’s just watch the AD channel on YouTube! That isn’t the case this April, with more shows than one has free time. For easy watching before hitting the hay, you have Rooster with Steve Carell. You also have the vastly underrated The Comeback with Lisa Kudrow, both on HBO Max. Netflix’s Beef also returns for the second season of the anthology show – this time with Carey Mulligan, Oscar Isaac, Charles Melton and Cailee Spaeny. Dearbhla Walsh is at the helm, directing Margo’s Got Money Trouble on Apple TV with Elle Fanning, Michelle Pfeiffer and Nick Offerman. Nicole Kidman is in it too, but I haven’t got that. It’s very watchable and 100% Emmy material. The last season of Hacks is on Sky Atlantic (or Now TV). The Miniature Wife with Matthew McFadyen and Elizabeth Banks is playing there too. Like, seriously, how are you supposed to watch all? Lest we forget, season 3 of Euphoria is also on HBO Max. Say what you like about the show, and everyone has an opinion, it never fails to step over the line. Provocateur director Sam Levinson, A‑list superstar Zendaya, Sydney Sweeney, Jacob Elordi, Hunter Schafer and many more return. Hyper stylised, hyper sexualized, moving on from the nightmare vision of LA high school life to a nightmare vision of LA adult life, skipping college. Probably was a nightmare too. Some are loving season 3, most are hating. All are watching. Including me. It's fairly f**ked up, but like, did I expect anything less? I’ve seen seasons 1 and 2.
Counterprogramming
Anne Hathaway is just weeks away from the zenith of stardom when she, alongside Meryl Streep, Emily Blunt and Stanley Tucci, returns for The Devil Wears Prada 2, the long-awaited sequel to the beloved film. I love the original – I actually put it in my top 10 movies of this century for the New York Times reader list – so I am very much seated for the sequel. I just don't think the cast would have returned just for the cheque; it must be great. But DWP2 isn't the only film you can catch my girl Anne in this month. She also stars in David Lowery’s Mother Mary, playing the eponymous pop star in search of the one dress to rule them all, to perform the greatest song ever written (that’s what the script says). It's called Spooky Action. Lolz. Right up there with Avatar’s Unobtainium. Saying that, Mother Mary is actually a unique ghost story that isn't exactly scary, but the peculiar atmosphere, enclosed set design and surrealist influences certainly make it memorable. True Anne fans will go see both.
John Mulaney: Mister Whatever – Monday, April 27th at The 3Olympia
I’m probably the only person in the country who doesn’t go to stand-up shows every night of the week if Instagram is to be believed, but I will break out of the shackles of going to the cinema every night of the week for one of my favourite comedians and now chat show presenter, John Mullaney. He is very sharp, isn’t he? Yes, everyone knows this. Did you know he went to Trinity? Oh, hardly a secret. Did you watch his Netflix show Everybody’s Live with John Mulaney? Or the first season, Everybody’s in LA? Oh, you did, right – hardly a show that passed many people by. I understand it's not exactly breaking news that John Mulaney has a great presence, quick-witted, self-deprecating humour, but you really should see him live at the glorious venue that is The Olympia Theatre.
Collaborations season!
Did you think fashion collabs were on the way out? Think again. Zendaya and image architect Law Roach are teaming up with my fav trainer brand On, which also designs apparel, which I rarely buy tbh. Saying that, I just may pick up the windbreaker, which is practical and the piece en trend. Twenty years after their first collab, it's round two for Stella McCartney and H&M, with sustainable materials used for all items, akin to round one. The much-anticipated collab drops on May 7th; it's a guaranteed sellout. Also newly released, Victoria Beckham is collaborating with Gap, who are having a bit of a moment right now; this is out April 24th. It’s also Vicky B’s first collab. Like, I get it, collabs are going nowhere. The market gets what the market wants.
That food influencers article in the New York Times
Some have it in for food influencers, the ones that demand free this or free that from restaurants. Demands will be refused, thank you. I can tell you from experience that these are very much in the minority. As a viewer, I do like a look inside a hard-to-get-into eatery, including its interior and dishes. It can't replace visiting the restaurant, but it does save me the flight money. However, it can get a bit tired when you see yet another selfie with X view or Y bar. I’m pleased to see a change in direction for some influencers, something I called a while ago for the record. This NYT article explores the new aspect of, get this, helping a restaurant that maybe is great but hasn’t got either the budget or the interior to woo the in crowd. Influencers like @NewYorkTurk and @dinewithkent are part of this wave of food influencers who are there to help, not hinder. They pay for their meals and don’t charge for featuring. More of this, please. Restaurants of all kinds need this. Even the ones with the view. Read it here.
Flea’s Honora
The bassist of LA’s Red Hot Chilli Peppers has dropped a fucking fantastic modern jazz album. That’s what I'm talking about; that's the outside‑the‑box thinking I'm here for. Flea is a very fine trumpet player and has dreamt up a completely fresh, forward-thinking album. Special guests include Nick Cave and Thom Yorke, which will get people talking, but the band playing alongside Flea are really something. This is an album you need to listen to, not just have in the background. "I’m not being corny, this s**t is real".
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The Prodigy and Carl Cox – Tuesday, April 28th
Two titans of electronic music, The Prodigy and Carl Cox, team up for what will be a proper old rave up at the 3Arena. It's highly likely this will be the gig of the year, sending all to outer space. Not all will remember it, for reasons that include the lack of phone use, as is the way with over‑40 dance gigs. I doubt anyone will be live-streaming Voodoo People. And also, mam and dad will likely be going for it like they are 16 or 17, minus kissing strangers and the after-parties in Rathmines. If you are staying out all night, that's ok, that's cool. I respect the energy. Kids, mam and dad will be just a little tired on Wednesday morning.
Kruder and Dorfmeister: K+D Kicks 30 – May 6th at The Button Factory
After the energy of The Prodigy and Carl Cox, you may want to relive the glory years of the chilled-out mix album for the comedown. If you were ever at a party at 4am, you can nearly guarantee you listened to Vienna’s finest DJ duo at some stage. It’s the 30-year anniversary of their sublime DJ Kicks album; time flies when you're growing up. I’ve had the pleasure of hearing Richard playing at Remedy shows a few years ago at the Spiegeltent (with Moodymann – that was a line-up), Spy and the old Temple Bar Music Centre, but never the duo together, and never live. I’ve listened to this album more times than I can remember, and I'm hyped to see and hear the audiovisual show. The show is sold out, but beg and borrow to get tickets.
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