Devilskin, Powerstation, Saturday
To be honest, TimeOut was caught out by the quickfire success of these Hamilton-bred Kiwi rockers. But sold-out shows and a debut album that spent three weeks at No. 1 speaks for itself. So today we right those wrongs with an interview with Jennie Skulander, the seriously entertaining Devilskin singer. Ahead of their sold out Powerstation show, she tells us about life on the road with the boys in her band (lots of farting in the tour bus, apparently), how she taught herself to sing by listening to her dad's record collection, and why the "Evil Twins" in her band aren't actually twins. Or that evil.
Hanson, Powerstation, Sunday
Here are some fun facts about Hanson's world conquering 1997 hit single MMMbop: it knocked The Notorious BIG's Hypnotize off the top of the Billboard charts; it was produced by the Dust Brothers, who also worked on the Beastie Boys' iconic 1989 album Paul's Boutique; and it reached No. 1 in 27 countries -- including New Zealand. That catchy single will undoubtedly be the highlight of the Oklahoma brothers' first-ever New Zealand show in Auckland this weekend, where they'll also be playing tracks from their most recent album, Anthems. And, possibly, promoting their own range of beer. What's it called? "MMMHops". Of course it is.
Kid Ink, The Studio, Wednesday
He might have snuck under the radar of local hip-hop fans, but Kid Ink's upcoming Auckland show is well worth a peek. The former producer-turned-rap-star knows his way around a decent beat, has worked with some of the biggest names in hip-hop, and many of his biggest singles include a club-friendly swagger. Best of all, on recent single Murder he even holds his own against Pusha T, surely the best rapper around right now. Kid Ink describes his lives shows as "exciting, sweaty, energetic, loud and fun". See how rowdy you can get when he hits The Studio next Wednesday.
The Expendables 3, in cinemas from Thursday
Watch the trailer for The Expendables 3 here:
Ridiculous stunts performed by a collection of ageing action men reliving their glory days. If you grew up with the movies of Stallone and Schwarzenegger, there's a lot to love about The Expendables' brand over over-the-top violence, clunky dialogue and patchy plots. But the best thing about Stallone's ensemble is surely the ability of the film's massive cast -- this time including Mel Gibson and Harrison Ford -- to laugh at themselves by cramming in as many in-jokes and classic catchphrases as possible. Yippee kai yay ...
- TimeOut