Latest news with #Von
Sydney Morning Herald
24-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Sydney Morning Herald
Vivid Live: A triumphant orchestral excursion with Sigur Ros and the SSO
VIVID LIVE SIGUR ROS Opera House Concert Hall, May 23. Also May 24 and 25. Reviewed by ROD YATES ★★★★ Before starting this tour, Icelandic three-piece Sigur Ros were at pains to point out these shows would be more than just a traditional group performance with the backing of an orchestra. Indeed, bassist Georg Holm told this masthead that concertgoers would be seeing 'the orchestral version of the band'. And so it is that when the trio follow British conductor Robert Ames onstage, each member clad uniformly in black, they position themselves among the already seated Sydney Symphony Orchestra, rather than at the front of the stage. The message is clear: Sigur Ros are a part of the ensemble, no more or less important than the 41 musicians surrounding them. It's a point made time and again throughout this two-hour excursion through the band's cinematic, often ethereal catalogue, from the title track of their 1997 debut album Von to material from their latest, 2023's Atta. The rich cellos that usher in Untitled #1 – Vaka lend it a warmer, more sombre gravitas than its recorded counterpart; the rousing oompah climax of the exquisite Se Lest benefits from the added bombast, one of the rare occasions the orchestra takes full-blooded flight. The very presence of the SSO affords the band the opportunity to realise the string-laden Staralfur in all its glory, a feat they long stopped trying in their more traditional live shows. Loading They are masters of navigating dynamic musical ebbs and flows; as Ekki Mukk draws to a close and the orchestra slowly dissipates, Kjartan Sveinsson's haunting keyboard refrain is rendered even more fragile by virtue of the sound that came before it, a contrast that renders the audience completely silent as the notes fade to a whisper. On occasion the songs do tend to blend into one another, vocalist Jonsi Birgisson's majestic falsetto (an instrument in itself) gliding above the sweeping strings. It would, however, be a disservice to label it repetitive – instead the effect is more hypnotic and dreamlike, as though the entire Opera House is one giant, fully immersive sound bath.
The Age
24-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Age
Vivid Live: A triumphant orchestral excursion with Sigur Ros and the SSO
VIVID LIVE SIGUR ROS Opera House Concert Hall, May 23. Also May 24 and 25. Reviewed by ROD YATES ★★★★ Before starting this tour, Icelandic three-piece Sigur Ros were at pains to point out these shows would be more than just a traditional group performance with the backing of an orchestra. Indeed, bassist Georg Holm told this masthead that concertgoers would be seeing 'the orchestral version of the band'. And so it is that when the trio follow British conductor Robert Ames onstage, each member clad uniformly in black, they position themselves among the already seated Sydney Symphony Orchestra, rather than at the front of the stage. The message is clear: Sigur Ros are a part of the ensemble, no more or less important than the 41 musicians surrounding them. It's a point made time and again throughout this two-hour excursion through the band's cinematic, often ethereal catalogue, from the title track of their 1997 debut album Von to material from their latest, 2023's Atta. The rich cellos that usher in Untitled #1 – Vaka lend it a warmer, more sombre gravitas than its recorded counterpart; the rousing oompah climax of the exquisite Se Lest benefits from the added bombast, one of the rare occasions the orchestra takes full-blooded flight. The very presence of the SSO affords the band the opportunity to realise the string-laden Staralfur in all its glory, a feat they long stopped trying in their more traditional live shows. Loading They are masters of navigating dynamic musical ebbs and flows; as Ekki Mukk draws to a close and the orchestra slowly dissipates, Kjartan Sveinsson's haunting keyboard refrain is rendered even more fragile by virtue of the sound that came before it, a contrast that renders the audience completely silent as the notes fade to a whisper. On occasion the songs do tend to blend into one another, vocalist Jonsi Birgisson's majestic falsetto (an instrument in itself) gliding above the sweeping strings. It would, however, be a disservice to label it repetitive – instead the effect is more hypnotic and dreamlike, as though the entire Opera House is one giant, fully immersive sound bath.
Newsweek
22-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Newsweek
Video of Theo Von Saying US Complicit in Genocide Viewed 18m Times
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. A video of podcaster Theo Von in which he says there is a "genocide," in Gaza and that the U.S. is "complicit," has gone viral, viewed more than 18 million times at the time of reporting. Newsweek has reached out to a representative for Theo Von outside of regular working hours via email for comment. Why It Matters Von, 45, is the host of the popular podcast "This Past Weekend," which Trump appeared on during the 2024 presidential campaign, and Von was thanked by name by Trump's longtime friend Dana White as he claimed victory in the election. His podcast is a top-rated show among young men, and is a key platform in the so-called "manosphere." Von regarding the situation in Gaza as a genocide is significant, given his relationship with Trump. His remarks have even more relevance now that Trump has joined in condemnation of attacks on farmers in South Africa which have been branded "white genocide." Podcaster and comedian Theo Von arrives at the Starlight Inaugural Ball on January 20, 2025 in Washington, D.C. Donald Trump takes office for his second term as the 47th president of the United States. Podcaster and comedian Theo Von arrives at the Starlight Inaugural Ball on January 20, 2025 in Washington, D.C. Donald Trump takes office for his second term as the 47th president of the United To Know Von recently joined Trump during his trip to the Middle East. The president embarked upon a high-profile 4-day tour of key Middle Eastern nations, including Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates. During a visit to al-Udeid Air Base in Qatar, Trump delivered a speech to U.S. and Qatari troops. Von spoke to the troops before Trump took the stage, delivering a routine that included jokes about drugs, disabilities, homosexuality, terrorism and Qatari culture. The remarks were shared in an episode of Von's podcast which first aired on May 10. The clip where Von discusses Gaza was shared by Von on X on May 21 and was captioned, "What are we doing?" The video was first posted before Von joined Trump on the trip to the Middle East and then shared on X after the trip. What are we doing? 💔 — Theo Von (@TheoVon) May 20, 2025 "It feels to me like it's a genocide that's happening while we're alive," he says in the clip. "I just can't believe that we're watching that and that more isn't said about it," Von says in the video. "I don't even know what to do. And it's crazy because our country's also complicit in it and has been for a long time," he says. "I'm a member of this country, but what we want sometimes doesn't matter," he says. "You just have to be a member of a place and your government is making other choices." Von has said he is a centrist politically. He bet $125,000 on Trump winning the last election and was reported as finding common ground with a key message from Trump's inaugural address to "put America first." He was one of a number of podcasters who attended the ceremony. The war in Gaza began when Hamas-led militants attacked Israel, killing 1,200 people, most of whom were civilians, and abducting 251 others. It is believed that militants are holding 58 captives, around a third of whom are believed to be alive. Most of the hostages were returned in ceasefire agreements or other deals. Israel's retaliatory offense has killed more than 53,000 Palestinians, most of whom were women and children, according to the Gaza Health Ministry. This figure does not differentiate between civilians and combatants. There is an ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza, with humanitarian groups warning of a risk of famine following an 11-week blockade of Gaza by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu government. A number of prominent organizations have characterized Israel's actions in Gaza as genocide or genocidal acts, including the UN Special Committee, the UN Humanitarian Chief Tom Fletcher and Amnesty International. Israel rejects such allegations and maintains that its military operations target Hamas militants, not Gaza's civilian population. In late April, Trump said that he had encouraged Netanyahu to allow humanitarian aid to enter Gaza as his nation's war with Hamas remains ongoing. On Tuesday May 20, Fletcher warned that 14,000 babies in Gaza could die if more aid did not enter the territory. This remark has been shared widely online, and Von's post of the clip came shortly after this headline. Fletcher's remark has received criticism from pro-Israeli voices. On March 2, Israel stopped all aid and other supplies heading into Gaza, with Netanyahu warning Hamas at the time that "additional consequences" could come to fruition. Trump has previously proposed that the U.S. take control of Gaza, saying that he would make it a "freedom zone." The president has also expressed support for Israel while urging that they end the war in Gaza. What People Are Saying Theo Von, speaking in the clip: "You see all these photos of people, just children, women, people, body parts just, people putting their kids back together … I'm not saying anyone else needs to say anything … I just, I wanna be able to speak about that." President Donald Trump wrote on Truth Social on April 22: "I've just spoken to Prime Minister of Israel, Bibi @Netanyahu, relative to numerous subjects including Trade, Iran, etc. The call went very well—We are on the same side of every issue." What's Next Israeli authorities have given the United Nations permission for 93 more aid trucks to enter the Gaza Strip. The aid has not yet reached Palestinians in desperate need, according to the United Nations, cited by The Associated Press, which could add further pressure on Netanyahu's government.
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
With a bigoted routine in front of troops, Theo Von made himself a tool of the Trump administration
We now know how comedy factors into the Trump administration's apparent attempt to turn the American armed forces into a safe space for bigoted stupidity. MAGA-friendly influencer Theo Von is one of the many podcasters and social media influencers I've reported on in recent years for promoting Donald Trump to young audiences — men in particular. And on Thursday, Von solidified his status as a tool of the Trump administration with a bigotry-filled comedy routine in Qatar in front of American and Qatari troops. According to The Associated Press, the president told attendees 'we don't care if you're politically correct' shortly after Von apparently tried to spew as much bigotry as possible. (Trump wasn't present for the routine, the AP reported.) Per the AP: Wearing a black T-shirt and backward baseball cap, the podcast host regaled the uniformed troops with jokes about drugs, developmental disabilities, homosexuality and their Qatari hosts. He talked about snorting cocaine off a baby's back but said it was 'a mixed baby' so the white powder was visible on the baby's skin. Von acted out various disabilities, including Down syndrome, and he insulted the U.S. Navy as 'gay.' He also had a punchline about terrorism attacks, asking, 'Where do you think the next 9/11 should happen?' He joked about the lack of crime in Qatar, where he said it would be impossible to identify a perpetrator because everyone is named Mohammed and dresses in the same white robes. They were like a 'Ku Klux Sandsman,' Von said. In this case, I find Von's allusion to the Ku Klux Klan useful in making a broader point about how humor is used to spread hate — because the klan has historically known, just as the MAGA movement appears to know, that humor can be helpful in radicalizing others to accept one's hateful views. It's a point I made after comedian Tony Hinchcliffe's bigoted speech at Trump's Madison Square Garden rally last year. The veil of comedy is powerful and can be used to pass off bigotry as something more benign. And in this case, so-called jokes appear to have been used as a kind of Trojan horse to bury bigotry deep within the psyche of those in attendance. And when you pair that with the administration's overt attacks on diversity in the military — such as its attempted erasure of contributions from minority veterans and through its ban on diversity-related programming for current service members — it seems clear the type of person who fits Trump's ideal for a soldier. In fact, we don't need to guess — we know precisely what Trump is looking for in his military. His apparent infatuation with the racist and vulgar Marine Gunnery Sgt. Hartman, from the film 'Full Metal Jacket,' was on full display during last year's campaign when he used the character as an ideal of sorts for what the American military should be. That suggested what seems more obvious now: that Trump longs for a military filled with people who lack basic human decency. Theo Von's performance was, in this regard, useful propaganda. This article was originally published on
American Military News
16-05-2025
- Entertainment
- American Military News
Comedian Theo Von grabs man's throat in bar altercation
Comedian Theo Von was caught on camera recently grabbing the throat of a man at a Nashville bar. Footage obtained by TMZ on Wednesday shows the 45-year-old podcaster at The Twelve Thirty Club on May 2, arguing with a man holding a bouquet of birthday balloons. Von then thrusts the man away before the video cuts to Von shoving him back by the throat. It's unclear if the two shoves were one in the same from different vantage points or whether Von shoved the man twice. But the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department confirmed the incident to the Daily News, and identified the man as 28-year-old Jason Saitta. Two days after the altercation, officers were dispatched to the apartment of Saitta, whose 'allegation of misdemeanor assault by Mr. Von was investigated and staffed with the District Attorney's Office, which has determined there will be no action taken concerning the complaint,' police said. Authorities also confirmed that Saitta and the 'This Past Weekend' podcaster did not know each other prior to the bar fight. Police did say what led to the altercation, but sources told TMZ that Saitta and his group had been repeatedly harassing Von and using threatening language. A representative for Von did not immediately respond to a request for comment, nor has the comedian addressed the incident on social media. The altercation occurred one day before Von performed his 'Return of the Rat' tour in Nashville, where he's currently based. His tour will resume next month in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, before 10 more shows in cities including Philadelphia and Rochester. ___ © 2025 New York Daily News. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
