Underbelly Razor DVD Party At East Village Surry Hills - 9th November 2011

                                                                  Anna McGaham

Tonight saw some of Sydney's most interesting people, including media types, returning to the scene of many a crime from the original Underbelly 1920's and 30's - The Tradesman's (these days known as The East Village Hotel.)

We celebrated the DVD launch of 'Underbelly Razor'. It was not about "Glorifying crime", but rather remembering some of Sydney's history, rich with bad girls, good boys, and plenty of bad boys. 

A bit of 'Underbelly' blurb that we got hold of (thanks Larry Writer - author of Razor) reads...Back in the day the East Village was called 'The Tradesman's Arms', a bloodhouse with sawdust on the floor to soak up the spit and vomit, hard stools at the bar and a dozen cheap wooden tables with chairs scattered around".

The Tradesman's was a staple meeting place for members of Sydney's underworld throughout the years. Tonight there was an extra jump, thump and cheers mate in the air around the old pub (now The East Village Hotel).

The cast of Underbelly Razor and special guests partied into the night celebrating the Underbelly Razor Uncut DVD release at the very same place that crime queens Tilly Devine, Nellie Cameron, along with Guido Caletti frequented back in their heyday.

Strutting the blood red carpet was all of the Razor cast, including Danielle Cormack, better known now as our vice queen Kate Leigh, Anna McGahan who played Nellie Cameron, Jeremy Lindsay Taylor (Norman Bruhn), John Batchelor, better recognised as the Wally Tomlinson, Felix Williamson, aka the suave Phil 'the Jew' Jeffs and Jack Campbell, who we know as Big Jim Devine.

Larry Writer tells us of the former glory days of 'The Arms', recounted from the many interviews he conducted, compiling the book, Razor. "The air was thick with coarse language, raucous laughter and the cigarette smoke pumped out by the Arms's clientele — the factory workers and bakers from the nearby Sergeants pie factory, prostitutes, pimps, pickpockets, muggers, con men, SP (starting price) bookies and drug dealers." says Writer.

The red carpet event brought out the inner gangster in a few of us with Anna McGahan stating she would consider more 'Underbelly Razor' type roles under the right circumstances, Lincoln Lewis telling us to watch out for his uncut and fight scenes, and Matt Boesenberg saying he was a "fashionable gangster".

'Razor' is for the most part, entertaining (yet often violent), and documents true crime stories from Sydney's 20s and 30s. There's something for history buffs and well as those who don't mind a bit of blood and guts on the box in the privacy of their own home.

It was a top night and no, nobody got killed, with both media and VIP's on good behaviour, all well aware of some of the bad luck that occurred in the hotel's colourful history.

Des Monaghan (Executive Producer) and Anna McGaham

Danielle Cormack

Peter Gawler

Websites

Underbelly (Channel Nine)

www.channelnine.ninemsn.com.au/underbelly

Channel Nine

http://www.channelnine.ninemsn.com.au/

The East Village Hotel

http://www.theeastvillage.com.au/

Eva Rinaldi Photography Flickr

www.flickr.com/evarinaldiphotography

Eva Rinaldi Photography

www.evarinaldi.com

Cold Chisel to play All Phones Arena Sydney on 9th - 10th November

I'm pleased to report that Cold Chisel is currently touring Australia and will be doing Sydney's All Phones Arena on the 9th and 10th of this month.

It’s been eight years since Cold Chisel last did a national tour, and even then it was only a short visit before they disbanded. Since their last studio album, 1998’s The Last Wave Of Summer, Cold Chisel have leaped onto the national stage intermittently and usually not for long.

So, there's a new studio album, due out in 2012 and the you have the 'Light The Nitro' tour, their first national beat since the death of drummer Steve Prestwich last January.

You Am I are doing the tour with the boys and they've been doing an awesome job.

Cold Chisel have being opening many shows with 'Standing On The Outside.'

Jimmy Barnes is sounding fantastic as is guitarist/vocalist Ian Moss.

Fans will be wrapt to hear that Choir Girl and Cheap Wine are both done justice.

Cold Chisel have a lot of history, but they band is looking forward, not back.

The word is that these boys still have it and are one of Australia's better bands to see live. It's a very safe bet that old fans and new will have a blast at the upcoming Cold Chisel concerts to hit Australia.

Websites

Cold Chisel

www.coldchisel.com

Warner Music Australia

http://www.warnermusic.com.au/

Allphones Arena

http://www.allphonesarena.com.au/

Eva Rinaldi Photography Flickr

www.flickr.com/evarinaldiphotography

Eva Rinaldi Photography

www.evarinaldi.com

Underbelly Razor DVD Party Sin City Sydney Tomorrow Night - 8th November 2011

Tomorrow night some of Sydney's most interesting people, including media types, will return to the scene of many a crime from the original Underbelly 1920's and 30's.

They will be celebrating the DVD launch of 'Underbelly Razor'. "Glorifying crime"...we can hear the knockers already. 

Some 'Underbelly' blurb that we got hold of (thanks Larry Writer - author of Razor) reads...Back in the day the East Village was called 'The Tradesman's Arms', a bloodhouse with sawdust on the floor to soak up the spit and vomit, hard stools at the bar and a dozen cheap wooden tables with chairs scattered around".

The Tradesman's has been a staple meeting place for members of Sydney's underworld throughout the years but tomorrow, November 9, there will be an extra jump and thump in the air around the old pub (now The East Village Hotel) in Sydney's Darlinghurst. The cast of Underbelly Razor and special guests will party celebrating the Underbelly Razor Uncut DVD release at the very same place that crime queens Tilly Devine, Nellie Cameron, along with Guido Caletti frequented back in their heyday.

Strutting the red (blood red?) carpet with the guests will be all of the Razor cast, including the stars such as Danielle Cormack, better known now as our vice queen Kate Leigh, Anna McGahan who played Nellie Cameron, Jeremy Lindsay Taylor (Norman Bruhn), John Batchelor, better recognised as the loyal Wally Tomlinson, Felix Williamson, aka the suave Phil 'the Jew' Jeffs and Jack Campbell, who we know as Big Jim Devine.

Larry Writer tells us of the former glory days of 'The Arms', recounted from the many interviews he conducted, compiling the book, Razor. "The air was thick with coarse language, raucous laughter and the cigarette smoke pumped out by the Arms's clientele — the factory workers and bakers from the nearby Sergeants pie factory, prostitutes, pimps, pickpockets, muggers, con men, SP (starting price) bookies and drug dealers." says Writer.

Game to show up tomorrow? We've got the guts, so expect our next report guys and dolls.

Websites

Underbelly (Channel Nine)

www.channelnine.ninemsn.com.au/underbelly

Channel Nine

http://www.channelnine.ninemsn.com.au/

The East Village Hotel

http://www.theeastvillage.com.au/

Casino News Media

www.casinonewsmedia.com

Eva Rinaldi Photography Flickr

www.flickr.com/evarinaldiphotography

Eva Rinaldi Photography

www.evarinaldi.com

The Great Gatsby: Leonardo DiCaprio, Tobey Maguire, Edgerton And Baz Do White Bay Power Station

What fun and excitement us locals have been having on our modest sightseeing tours of Baz Lurmann's set of 'The Great Gatsby'.

We've been playing our own little game of 'Catch Me If You Can', and if your a Leo Dicaprio fan, you will have a bit of an idea of what we've been talking about. There was no escaping our camera lens and local information network.

Even Leo has been putting his hand over his mouth and chin from time to time, in order to try to protect his identity and keep the mystique.

The local film site was the former abandoned White Bay Power Station at Rozelle. Main attractions are Leonardo DiCaprio and Tobey Maguire, but we're also been happy to spy on Joel and director, Baz Luhrmann too.

'Spot the celeb' is our little game we play, and the other, 'snap the celeb', while the others we can't get into detail on, but it's a bit of 'Catch Me If You Can'.

It's all set in the 1920s, and the costumes and cars are magnificent.

We call it 'AussieWood', rather than Hollywood, and we're hoping Leo and friends spend a bit more time down under before they head back to the U.S. A little birdie told us something about 'Blue Mountains', but that's just a rumour ok.

It's been a big week in Australia for celeb hunters with Gatsby in Sydney, Kim Kardashian doing a quickly in Australia, Val Kilmer doing Brisbane and Melbourne for a comic fest, Warnie and Liz doing the Cup in Melbourne, and Tiger Woods doing Perth.

Gatsby director Luhrmann has been doing lots of evening film scenes at the freaky place known as the Valley of the Ashes.

Wilson's garage is a hive of activity, where Tom Buchanan (Joel Edgerton) frequents his mistress, Myrtle Wilson (Isla Fisher). Jay Gatsby (DiCaprio) is up for Daisy Buchanan (Carey Mulligan), and we think a few of the extras might be going at it also.

Be looking out of swags of classics cars, at least one of which is understood to get involved in massive accident towards the end of the movie.

Some other film scenes have been shot at Fox Studios, Moore Park, where buildings from 1920s New York have been recreated.

Budget is in the region of $120 million, but we heard its almost certain to go over budget.

F. Scott Fitzgerald's, writer of the famous novel would be proud.

We hear Luhrmann will return to Fox Studios, Moore Park. There's also a rumour of a Gatsby's Castle scene to be shot at St Patrick's College in Manly, and then there's the Blue Mountains shooting tip off.

Gatsby is expected to open by Christmas next year, but in the meantime we're enjoying seeing Leo and friends do their thing close up, likely closer than Baz would have preferred, but that's show business.

 

Websites

Bazmark

http://www.bazmark.com

Fox Studios Australia

http://www.foxstudiosaustralia.com

Eva Rinaldi Photography

http://www.evarinaldi.com/

Eva Rinaldi Flickr

http://www.flickr.com/evarinaldiphotography

Casino News Media

http://www.casinonewsmedia.com

Leonardo DiCaprio official website

http://www.leonardodicaprio.com

Darren Hayes Loves Enmore Theatre Sydney, by Eva Rinaldi - 4th November 2011

I'm pleased to report that Darren Hayes is still fantastic, and hasn't lost a touch since he was doing his thing with Savage Garden.

Hayes put on a wonderful Enmore Theatre performance last night.

I loved both his theatrical and very real charisma and performance during high energy show.

Hayes sounded great, hitting all sorts of notes that may make some people wonder if it was for real, or somehow mixed in.

He took the opportunity to let us hear some of the new Secret Codes and Battleships, as well as giving long time fans what they wanted with To the Moon and Back, Popular and Insatiable.

Hayes also showed us like loves his make-up, by showing us a range of visual themes.

Make no mistake, Hayes has still got it, and its going to be fun to keep following his amazing career.

Websites

Darren Hayes

http://www.darrenhayes.com/

Savage Garden

http://www.savagegarden.com/

Enmore Theatre

http://www.enmoretheatre.com.au/

Eva Rinaldi Photography Flickr

www.flickr.com/evarinaldiphotography

Eva Rinaldi Photography

www.evarinaldi.com

Kim Kardashian And Khloe Get David Jones Tills Ringing, Chaos

American reality television celebrity Kim Kardashian was once again the cause of a mass of humanity (and massive traffic jams in the Sydney CBD), described by many as complete "chaos".

Coincidence or not, emergency vehicle sirens could be heard roaring through Sydney's CBD district, with car accidents and fan barricades at bursting point, all while mother nature delivered a torrential downpour of rain.

Inside David Jones sirens of a different kind - media and fan heat seekers Kim Kardashian and sister Khloe promoted their wares - new handbags dubbed the Kardashian Kollection. The bags kept cash tills ringing, although a purchase of a handbag did not 100% guarantee an autograph or photo.

The massive queue to see the celebs went from inside the department store on Castlereagh Street and around many city blocks, with teeny poppers forming the most part of of the crowd.

"I love the Kardashians" said Tori Rudolph, 13, who skipped school. The influenced teen had been been waiting in the city since 10pm on Wednesday night - well past bed time. Five other school friends had joined her.

Kim, 31, was fresh off a divorce filing from NBA player Kris Humphries on Monday, citing "irreconcilable differences."

Police officers in yellow vests and numerous security guards patrolled the outside of the popular store as the dynamic duo promoted their wares to a captive audience.

Kardashian - continuing to put the business in show business, be it Hollywood or Australia.

Websites

Keeping Up With The Kardashian's

au.eonline.com/on/shows/kardashians/index.html

Kim Kardashian official web blog

http://www.kimkardashian.celebuzz.com/

David Jones

http://www.davidjones.com.au/

Eva Rinaldi Photography Flickr

www.flickr.com/evarinaldiphotography

Eva Rinaldi Photography

www.evarinaldi.com

Kim Kardashian Sydney Airport Fans Welcome Crowd And Media Frenzy - 2nd November 2011

American reality television celebrity Kim Kardashian was the cause of a mass of humanity, described by many as complete "chaos", after touching down at Sydney International Airport this morning.

Police wrestled and struggled, throwing and palming off fans and rabid media off Ms Kadrashian as she did a determined power walk to her awaiting Range Rover.

Arriving with some of her besties and travelling business companions including sis Khloe and her L.A. Lakers basketball star huby Lamar Odom...newly-single Kim power walked through the rear entrance of the airport with her head tilted down, masking her face with sunnies.

Over a hundred fans and dozens of news media were wrestling for the best position to catch a look at the television star.

Fans may have been star struck, while news media was chasing the story and potential dollars that goes along with it we suspect.

Police got frustrated as media ambushed, swarming and just acted like the media pack you often read about. Some fans behaviour wasn't much better.

The AFP (Australian Federal Police) had to use force against some out of control photographers in the scrum, who thought they were above the law. It's understood some photography and other technical equipment was damaged in the airport wrestling match.

The Kardashian family remained silent in the madcap happening at the airport, tilting heads down and staying silent on "scam" marriage cat calls and reporter probing.

Khloé hit Twitter announcing her arrival on Australian soil.

"Wow what a welcoming!!!!", the younger Kardashian tweeted.

"This is my hubby's first time to Australia! I'm so excited for him to be here with us and see how amazing it is!"

The 31-year-old famous for being famous star was ambushed by the press over her controversial 72-day marriage to basketballer Kris Humphries, which was largely labelled a money-making scam by many, both fans, media and the public at large.

The stars are in Australia to flog their wares, as you might expect. It's their new handbag range during a VIP party at Hugo's bar in Sydney's Kings Cross tomorrow night, and no, neither Kardy made the bags, but may have had a bit of influence on the design we hear ala Shane Warne and his 'Hot Wheels Spin King' design consultation.

They will also be signing purchased bags bearing their famous surname for lucky fans with quite a few dollars to spend at David Jones Sydney city store tomorrow.

She is then tipped to fly down south to Melbourne on Friday to catch some horse racing, maybe slipping in some horsing around at the Swisse marquee on Saturday, if the weather holds good.

Victoria Racing Club has received a sudden influx of media accreditation requests.

It is understood reps for Team Kardashian telephoned Birdcage organisers at 3am yesterday to confirm the star would attend, despite the global blowtorch on her breakup.

"As far as they were concerned, coming to Australia was the best thing for her because she gets to escape the chaos of the Hollywood pap pack," a Flemington source said. An Australian media agency said "She's escaped the Hollywood paps, but say G'day to the Aussiewood paps" (many of which are currently in Melbourne).

Some of the U.S paparazzi have stalked her here to Australia, with media outlets such as TMZ thinking its worth the price of a flight to see what she's up to, without her 20-carat wedding ring, which wasn't seen on her person in Los Angeles.

The divorce has reportedly been hard on her ex husband, who says he was "devastated" by her court filing.

"I'm committed to this marriage and everything this covenant represents," Humphries said.

"Companies will continue to throw money at Kim"

Should Kardashian use the best strategy on her newly single status, she may be able make millions by selling her divorce story, photos of her as a newly single woman, and driving up her appearance fees for the first parties she attends solo.

"Kim made so much money off her wedding and 72-day marriage to Kris that it will be hard to make more than that off the divorce, but Kim is smart and she will definitely try," In Touch Weekly senior editor Dorothy Cascerceri told FOX News. "She could easily sell her first post-divorce interview for a half a million dollars or more."

Kardashian made $US100,000 for selling photos of herself and Humphries vacationing in Mexico, $US15 million from E! for her two-part wedding special and another $3 million from her wedding photos, Cascerceri said - though Kardashian's mother has denied that figure.

"The misconception that's so annoying in the media and the press is that the wedding was a sham, and she did it for the money," Kris Jenner said in a radio interview.

"Kim didn't make any money off of this wedding," she said. "It's like, 'oh you made $18 million'...she didn't make five cents off of the wedding."

Cascerceri claims Kardashian "can make a profit from anything, whether she's single, engaged, married, dating a girl or a guy. The more publicity she gets, the higher in demand she is for appearances and those sort of things."

The divorce, she said, "is making her the most talked-about and name dropped name in Hollywood, so companies will continue to throw money at her."

Kardashian will attempt to make more financial gains at David Jones (Sydney) tomorrow, so if you're in the market for yet another handbag, you now know where you can get one. You will have to turn up to see how much they are asking for your hard earned cash.

Kardashian - putting the business in show business, be it Hollywood or Australia.

Websites

Keeping Up With The Kardashian's

au.eonline.com/on/shows/kardashians/index.html

David Jones

http://www.davidjones.com.au/

Eva Rinaldi Photography Flickr

www.flickr.com/evarinaldiphotography

Eva Rinaldi Photography

www.evarinaldi.com

Music News Australia

www.musicnewsaustralia.com