KITSILANO BURNABY WHISTLER
2 THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT NOVEMBER 26 – DECEMBER 3 / 2015
Y L D R I *WE L U F R U O L O C
J O H N F LU E VO G S H O E S G R A N V I L L E S T · · | WAT E R S T · · F L U E V O G C O M
NOVEMBER 26 – DECEMBER 3 / 2015 THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT 3
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All advertised prices include taxes & fees. C Conditions apply. Ex: Vancouver. A All advertised prices include taxes & fees. Air only prices are per person for return travel unless otherwise stated. Package, cruise, tour, rail & hotel prices are per person, based on double occupancy for total length of stay unless otherwise stated. All-inclusive vacations include air. pp=per person. Prices are for select departure dates and are accurate and subject to availability at advertising deadline, errors and omissions excepted, and subject to change. Taxes & fees due in destination are additional and include, but not limited to, local car rental charges & taxes, one-way rental drop fees which are to be paid upon arrival, resort fees & charges, tour ‘kitty’, airline baggage fees and cruise gratuities. *Conditions apply. For full terms and conditions please speak with a Flight Centre Travel Expert or visit flightcentre.ca/sale. ^Limit one (1) onboard credit per stateroom for all cabin categories on exact itinerary advertised, offer can be withdrawn or changed at anytime. †We will beat any written quoted airfare by $1. Additional important conditions apply. For full terms and conditions visit flightcentre.ca/lowestairfareguarantee. BC REG: #HO2790 Canadian Publications Mail Agreement #40009178, return undeliverable Canadian addresses to The Georgia Straight, 1701 West Broadway, Vancouver, B.C. V6J 1Y3
NOVEMBER 26 – DECEMBER 3 / 2015 THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT 5
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6 THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT NOVEMBER 26 – DECEMBER 3 / 2015
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NOVEMBER 26 – DECEMBER 3 / 2015 THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT 7
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West Vancouver Park Royal South *Visa prepaid card offer available until November 30, 2015, while quantities last to TELUS customers who have not subscribed to TELUS TV or Internet service in the past 90 days. Offer includes a $500 Visa prepaid card. Prepaid card is issued by Peoples Trust Company pursuant to a license by Visa Int. The card is given to you as a reward, refund, rebate or gift and no money has been paid by you for the card. No cash access or recurring payments. Card valid for up to 12 months; unused funds will be forfeited at midnight EST the last day of the month of the valid thru date. Card terms and conditions apply; see MyPrepaidCenter.com/site/visa-univ-can. Cannot be combined with other promotional offers. Minimum system requirements apply. Final eligibility for the services will be determined by a TELUS representative. TELUS reserves the right to modify channel lineups and packaging, and regular pricing without notice. The Essentials is required for all Optik TV subscriptions. Offer not available with TELUS Internet 6. Cancellation fee for early termination of a service agreement will be $10/mo. for the HD PVR and digital boxes multiplied by the number of months remaining in the term. Current rental rates apply at the end of the term. Rental equipment must be returned in good condition upon cancellation of service, otherwise the replacement cost will be charged to the account. TELUS, the TELUS logo, Optik, Optik TV, telus.com and the future is friendly are trademarks of TELUS Corporation, used under licence. All copyrights for images, artwork and trademarks are the property of their respective owners. © 2015 TELUS.
8 THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT NOVEMBER 26 – DECEMBER 3 / 2015
NOVEMBER 26 – DECEMBER 3 / 2015 THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT 9
it’s time to
MIX & MINGLE & JINGLE Urban Fare Signature Glazed Ham
Red Cerignola Olives
Hand glazed and roasted in-store by our Chef, this delicious but extra lean ean e. ham is also lactose and gluten free.
A mild flavoured olive originating from the town of Cerignola in Southern Italy. Pairs beautifully with ParmigianoReggiano, salami, crusty breads and red wines.
2.29 /100g
$
regular $2.99 /100g
1.99 /100g
$
regular $2.99 /100g
Kaltbach b h Swiss Gruyère St. Agur Blue Cheese T double cream blue from the This A Auvergne region of France won the Silver 2014 World Cheese Award. S Rich and creamy with a subtle spicy taste, St. Agur pairs exceptionally well with many wines as well as pears, figs and our Signature Wagyu Roast Beef.
$
Aged in sandstone caves in Switzerland, this complex nutty and slightly grainy hard cheese pairs perfectly with white wines, nuts and our Signature Glazed Ham.
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5.69 /100g
regular $5.99 /100g
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Le Pleine Lune Triple Crème Brie This ash-cured triple cream from Quebec has a delightful creamy texture and a subtle peppery finish. Pairs beautifully with our Ruliano Dry Aged Prosciutto.
Ruliano 18 Month Dry Aged Prosciutto
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Urban Fare Signature Wagyu Roast Beef
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Spend $35* on Deli Cheese & receive one
Join us for our annual Holiday Entertaining Event, November 26 to December 3
Coal Harbour
next to
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Urban Fare 10 gift card
$
Limit 1 spend /receive coupon per single grocery purchase.
*Excl. Lotto, tobacco, gift cards, prescriptions, clinics, diabetes care, tickets, charities, restaurant, bus passes, postage stamps, deposit & recycle fees, rewards and taxes, where applicable. Present this coupon with your More Rewards card to the cashier at time of purchase. Gift card must be redeemed on a subsequent visit. No substitutions. Coupon valid November 26 to December 3, 2015 while supplies last. To the cashier: Ensure $35 of Deli Cheese is purchased. Scan gift card. Scan coupon. Enter $10.Place coupon in drawer. REWARDS
Yaletown
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305 Bute Street 1133 Alberni Street 177 Davie Street 1688 Salt Street 3155 Lakeshore Road
Photos are for illustrative purposes only. Pricing in effect Thursday, November 26 to Thursday December 3, 2015. Overwaitea Food Group LP, a Jim Pattison business. Proudly BC Owned and Operated.
10 THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT NOVEMBER 26 – DECEMBER 3 / 2015
CONTENTS
Trillium Park. Wally Barber photo.
13
NEWS
The Evergreen Line has been beset by problems ranging from sinkholes to delays to safety issues, which is why the region’s newest rapid-transit route might not open until 2017. > BY BOB MACKIN
17
NEWS
Retired City of Vancouver planners are raising serious objections to a proposed office tower beside Waterfront Station. > BY DANIEL WOOD
30
FOOD
As John Bishop’s restaurant approaches its 30th anniversary, it’s a good time to sum up its effects on the Vancouver dining scene. > BY GAIL JOHNSON
33
COVER
The East Van Panto finesses its lunacy for Hansel and Gretel; plus, the city’s newest theatre, and a curated guide to holiday shows. > BY JANE T SMITH
45
START HERE 31 70 56 53 54 65 60 67 29 71 15 27 41 43
The Bottle I Saw You Local Discs Local Motion Pop Eye Real Estate Red Meat Savage Love Straight to the Pint Straight Stars Straight Talk Style Theatre Visual Arts
BOOKS
Celebrated novelist John Irving talks to us about religion, politics, and his globe-roving new work, Avenue of Mysteries. > BY DOUG SARTI
49
MUSIC
The sophomore album of Seattle EDM duo ODESZA has spent 40 weeks in Billboard’s Top 10, but they still like to talk to the media. > BY MICHAEL MANN
59
MOVIES
TIME OUT 47 22 63 57
Arts Events Movies Music
SERVICES 66 Careers 27 Mind, Body & Soul 64 Real Estate
Creed delivers a total, if unlikely, knockout; New Yorkers still fascinate in James White; By the Sea should have been left there; Victor Frankenstein humps Harry Potter.
66
CLASSIFIEDS
Automotive | Education | Services | Travel Marketplace | Employment | Real Estate Property Rentals | Music | Announcements Callboard | And more...
COVER PHOTO TIM MATHESON
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NOVEMBER 26 – DECEMBER 3 / 2015 THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT 11
12 THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT NOVEMBER 26 – DECEMBER 3 / 2015
NEWS
Transit trouble in Tri-Cities > B Y BOB M A C KIN
W
hen Premier Christy Clark christened the Evergreen Line tunnel-boring machine “Alice” on March 7, 2014, she honoured Canada’s first female geologist. Alice Wilson’s legacy includes the 1947 children’s textbook The Earth Beneath Our Feet, but what’s going on with the rapid-transit project above and below Port Moody and Coquitlam recalls another Alice—one who fell down another hole in the ground into a bizarre “wonderland”. Like the White Rabbit, who was late for a very important date, the government revealed late one Friday afternoon last February that Alice was tunnelling slower than the advertised eight metres per day. The summer 2016 opening was delayed to fall 2016. At this year’s September 25 board meeting, TransLink’s vice president of engineering and infrastructure management, Fred Cummings, revealed that Alice had been stalled for five months and finally restarted the previous week. When he was asked if he knew when the $1.43-billion Burnaby-toCoquitlam Millennium Line extension would open, Cummings’s reply might have flattered Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland author Lewis Carroll himself: “Depending on how the boring goes, that will determine when the service date is. We don’t have a date for that yet.” In the 1980s, Tri-Cities residents were promised future rapid transit, and it’s looking like they could actually be waiting until 2017 for their first ride. The 11-kilometre line has encountered a cascade of problems, and the outcome could have ripple effects on Vancouver’s proposed Broadway subway. Just a week after Clark’s 2014 christening photo op, a double whammy: a concrete span over Como Lake Road shifted at 1 a.m. and just before sundown the same day, an ambulance had to take a heavily concussed worker to hospital after a hose knocked him down. By April, WorkSafeBC had investigated poor exhaust ventilation from the tunnel as well as bullying and harassment at the staging area in a former Andres winery. Englishspeaking workers there complained of a language barrier with managers
The Evergreen Line is being built with a tunnel-boring machine named Alice, but she’s experiencing a great deal of difficulty in reaching her destination.
from Italian tunnelling subcontractor SELI. WorkSafeBC granted SNCLavalin at least eight variances to allow temporary foreign workers on the job without underground-excavation supervisor certificates. Then a launching truss fell June 17, 2014, on the North Road guideway. A month later, a tractor-trailer carrying a concrete section flipped on a highway off-ramp in Richmond. On December 2 last year, a worker refused to operate a rail gantry crane. WorkSafeBC found that workers had complained for months about the crane’s brakes not working, and it could find no records of inspection since late May 2014. SELI WAS ALSO SNC-Lavalin’s part-
ner on the Canada Line, which used a machine named Sweet Leilani to bore side-by-side 5.3-metre-diameter tunnels for 2.5 kilometres under downtown, on schedule, between June 2006 and March 2008. For the Evergreen Line, 10-metre-diameter Alice is drilling one big tunnel. Partnerships B.C., the government’s privatization middleman, explained in a March 2013 project report that a single tunnel would be quicker. The same document,
however, acknowledged “the risk of unknown geological conditions being encountered during tunnelling”. A 2011 geotechnical report by consultants Golder Associates warned of variable soils, sticking and clogging clays, abrasive minerals, boulders, and groundwater on the tunnel route. SNC-Lavalin agreed to shoulder extra costs under the fixedprice contract, but is a fixed-price contract really so? Victoria taxpayers expected a new Johnson Street Bridge by September 2015 for $63 million on a fixed-price contract with PCL Constructors Westcoast. By mid-November, the cost had risen to $99.1 million, due in part to faulty Chinese steel, and the bridge isn’t expected to open until early 2018. Victoria and PCL have already lawyered up. But sinkholes above the 2.2-kilometre tunnel route have attracted the most attention. Alice had progressed 400 metres by the start of October 2014. Later that month, the first of four sinkholes opened up on Port Moody’s Chateau Place. Another came at nearby Cecile Drive last January, at around the
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CHRISTMAS AT THE MARKET
see next page
The Georgia Straight | Vancouver’s News and Entertainment Weekly | Volume 49 Number 2501
EDITOR + PUBLISHER Dan McLeod
2010
PRODUCTION SUPERVISOR Mike Correia PRODUCTION
K.T. Dean, Kristen Dillon, Sandra Oswald
AD SERVICES ASSOCIATE
Celebrate with us this Holiday Season... November 19 to December 22 Aunt Leah’s Christmas Tree Lot
Lyndsey Krezanoski
AD SERVICES ASSISTANT Jon Cranny DIRECTOR OF ARTS, ADVERTISING & MARKETING
Laura Moore SALES MANAGER Sharon Smith ADVERTISING REPRESENTATIVES
Glenn Cohen, Paul Graham, Robyn Marsh, David Pearlman, Andrea Polz, Patrick Ruel, Dawn Searle, Kathy Skelton
November 28 - 12pm to 4pm Christmas Kick-off, Live Music, Dance, Face Painting, Kid’s Magician, Free Coffee, Wine Tasting, Food Samples & Prizes.
PROMOTIONS + SPECIAL PROJECTS
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ADVERTISING + PROMOTION ASSISTANT
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December 5 & 12 - 12pm to 5pm Holiday Story Time, Santa Photos & Kids Crafts, Perform Art Studios Dance Show
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RECEPTION/ PROMOTIONS ASSISTANT
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SUBMISSIONS The Straight accepts no responsibility for, and will not necessarily respond to, any submitted materials. All submissions should be addressed to contact@straight.com.
December 11 to 23 Extended Holiday Shopping Hours Visit our website for event details, parking info & holiday hours.
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NOVEMBER 26 – DECEMBER 3 / 2015 THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT 13
Transit trouble
from previous page
Book Now!
From
$
309
675-metre mark. By April, the tunnel had reached the halfway point. Another sinkhole appeared on June 5 this year at Port Moody’s intersection of Clarke Road and Seaview Drive, where Alice remained until September. In early October, during an informal visit by the Georgia Straight, the tunnel-portal sites appeared deserted, without any major signage. The south portal in Coquitlam was open, with no security guards in sight, and a blue perimeter fence was wide-open. Over at the Barnet Highway north portal’s location, again with no security around, an industrial exhaust fan whirred. By November 23, heavy machinery and material were parked by the south portal, and a map of the project website showed Alice within 100 metres of its breakthrough destination. Repeated calls to Evergreen Line project director Amanda Farrell, who is also Partnerships B.C.’s CEO, were not returned. By email, she referred comment to the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure, which would not grant requests for a tour and interview with Minister Todd Stone. SNCLavalin spokesman Louis-Antoine Paquin refused comment.
CDN per package
BRITISH COLUMBIA, CANADA
ONCE UPON A TIME, the project was going to be a light-rail system costing less than a billion dollars. At a June 2007 meeting, officials from Douglas College worried that their hopes for a light-rail station near their Coquitlam campus were slipping away. Meeting notes obtained under B.C.’s Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act show that attendees included Christy Clark (then out of politics) and Forrest Parlee of Burrard Communications (owned by Clark’s then-husband, Mark Marissen), TransLink’s government-relations contractor, and they discussed “what is happening politically, the lack of cohesive TriCity support for rapid transit, splinter groups pushing SkyTrain, etc.” They decided to draft an open letter, and Clark planned to meet with then local B.C. Liberal MLA Iain Black. TransLink chair Malcolm Brodie declared in mid-July 2007, “The light rail transit [LRT] system for the northeast sector is the number one rapid transit priority for TransLink,” while awaiting funds from Victoria and Ottawa. Then, in early 2008, TransLink and the government switched gears. The new business case recommended “ALRT or SkyTrain-like technology” by assuming that lower operating costs,
faster travel time, and more riders by 2021 would offset higher construction costs. Burnaby city council, which expected an LRT station north of Lougheed Town Centre, was perplexed. A staff report said the 2007 business case “found LRT was not only more affordable but also fit better within the communities it served and possessed superior customer features” and claimed the new business case was “based on possibly questionable ridership estimates”. Burnaby’s concerns fell on deaf ears. What happened between reports? Mike Harcourt, who grew fond of SkyTrain and SNC-Lavalin while B.C. premier from 1991 to 1996, helped TransLink pick a new 15-member board in December 2007. Two-year appointee Robert Tribe was a 2002-retired SNC-Lavalin executive vice president who remained a transport-division adviser. His 2008 and 2009 disclosure forms show no conflicts of interest, but his name is in the Elections B.C. database next to $13,647 in SNC-Lavalin donations to the B.C. Liberals from 2005 to 2008. When Clark became B.C. Liberal leader in February 2011, then SNCLavalin chair Gwyn Morgan was on her transition team. In October 2012, cabinet chose SNC-Lavalin over the Vinci-led, Bombardierinvolved EL Partners and the Kiewit/Flatiron partnership to design, build, and finance the Evergreen Line. Fairness monitor Jane Shackell found nothing wrong with the procurement, but in a 2013 interview she said evaluation of SNCLavalin and other bidders was beyond her scope. Almost three years after the company won the bid, SNC-Lavalin’s August 2015–published secondquarter results showed a $27-million engineering-and-constructiondivision loss compared to the same period in 2014. It blamed “challenging soil conditions relating to the tunnel portion of a mass transit project”. In September, CEO Robert Card quit the post he took in 2012 to rescue the company from several corruption and bribery scandals. Meanwhile, experts hired by TransLink are analyzing the ground beneath Broadway. A March 2013 study by transport consultants Steer Davies Gleave with SNC-Lavalin said a subway would be a better transportation choice than the oncepondered LRT. The price tag could be $1.98 billion, but Cummings warned that experts aren’t yet within the 15-percent cost certainty required for federal funding. As the Mad Hatter told Alice at the tea party, it’s very easy to take more than nothing. -
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14 THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT NOVEMBER 26 – DECEMBER 3 / 2015
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In the early 2000s, Health Canada began requiring graphic warning labels on cigarette packages. In explicit detail, they depict children harmed by secondhand smoke and conditions such as lung cancer to remind consumers of tobacco products’ full effects on human health. Now a plan is in the works to see the same sort of campaign raise awareness of climate change via messages posted on fuel pumps at gas stations. In a telephone interview, city councillor Tim Stevenson said the idea caught his attention last spring and he’s been pushing hard for the City of Vancouver to make it happen. “There were initial concerns that this would be problematic, legally, but both the head of the law department and internal staff have told me there is no impediment,” he told the Straight. “I am anticipating that staff will come back within two to three months, and then we can move forward.” Stevenson said the idea has worked its way into the “Greenest City Action Plan”, a strategy document that sets goals the city says will make Vancouver the cleanest metropolis in the world by 2020. If Vancouver does require information about fossil-fuel emissions to be displayed on gas pumps, it will become the second in the region to enact such a measure. On November 17, councillors for the City of North Vancouver voted unanimously in favour of a bylaw that requires gas stations to post such information. “We’re told we’re the first in the world,” Coun. Linda Buchanan told the Straight by phone. Buchanan said the reaction has been overwhelmingly positive. She acknowledged there have been some concerns raised about whether overtly negative messages could
Buchanan continued, city staff are exploring how attention can be called to the connection between fossil fuels and climate change in ways that are positive. “This is about establishing that link for people but also engaging them in the dialogue,” she said. The idea came from Our Horizon, a Canadian environmental group that focuses on helping cities reduce carbon emissions. On the phone from Victoria, B.C. campaign director Matt Hulse called attention to recent news that the New York state attorney general is investigating oil giant Exxon Mobil to establish whether or not it has lied to the public about fossil fuels, climate change, and impacts on human health. Hulse listed additional parallels between tobacco and oil. “Both have addictive qualities,” he told the Straight. “There are similarities in their problems, and that encourages similarities in their solutions as well.” Hulse noted that studies have shown cigarette packages’ graphic warnings have proven effective in reducing the number of people smoking, and he said he is optimistic a similar campaign could do the same for oil. > TRAVIS LUPICK
ALBERTA NOW B.C.’S RIVAL IN EMISSIONS CONTROLS On November 30, B.C. premier Christy Clark will accompany Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to France for the United Nations conference on climate change. The meeting—convened with the ambitious goal of drafting a legally binding agreement on greenhousegas emissions—will see Clark take something of a leadership role on the environment. She inherited the province’s carbon tax from former
Liberal premier Gordon Campbell, and that policy has earned B.C. international recognition for reining in fossil-fuel pollution without damaging the economy. But a number of organizations— such as the City of Vancouver, UBC, and Concert Properties—are calling on Clark to do more to prove B.C. deserves that position of leadership. Karen Tam Wu, program director of building and urban solutions with the Pembina Institute, told the Straight there is a disconnect between the province’s green image and the premier’s enthusiasm for liquefied natural gas (LNG). “To be blunt, the way that B.C. is planning to develop LNG—to their ideal of three LNG terminals—we are going to have a really hard time meeting our climate targets,” she said. Tam Wu said there is time for B.C. to change its policies on natural gas, noting the province is still drafting a “climate leadership plan”. That document, which enters a second round of public consultation this December, will outline how B.C. intends to reduce carbon emissions to 33 percent below 2007 levels by 2020 and 80 percent below 2007 levels by 2050. She suggested that B.C. has a new and unlikely competitor on the climate-change front: Alberta. On November 22, Premier Rachel Notley unveiled plans to see her province introduce its own carbon tax (technically a levy, starting at $20 per tonne and climbing to $30 by 2018) and place a cap on total oilsands emissions of 100 megatonnes per year. Tam Wu described those measures as “unimaginable” before the NDP took power in Alberta last June. “What B.C. should be doing is looking at how we can also come up with something that is equally unimaginable,” she said. Tam Wu maintained that means forgetting about LNG.
The City of Vancouver could follow the City of North Van and become the second municipality to require gas-pump warnings on the effect of fossil fuels on climate. “What we really need to do is look at how we, as a province, are moving off of fossil fuels, not developing new fossil fuels,” she said. > TRAVIS LUPICK
ACTIVIST APPEALS VPD DISMISSAL OF COMPLAINT
A prominent First Nations activist is appealing a decision by the Vancouver Police Department’s professional standards section (PSS) to dismiss a complaint she filed claiming abuse of authority and oppressive conduct toward a member of the public. Audrey Siegl is a member of the Musqueam First Nation and a 2014 COPE candidate for city council who received more than 19,000 votes in last November’s civic election. On February 13, 2015, she attended a protest where she alleges a VPD officer intentionally bumped into her, cutting her lip and leaving a bruise. Photographs confirm those injuries did occur, and a video posted on Facebook shows Siegl in close contact with a VPD officer. Siegl lodged a formal complaint,
and on September 17 that process ended with the PSS finding no misconduct occurred. She has since filed an appeal that remains under review by the Office of the Police Complaint Commissioner (OPCC). In the meantime, Siegl said, she wants to call attention to a process she described as stacked in favour of police. “They based a lot of their decision on a VPD bodycam video which I have never been given access to,” she explained in a telephone interview. “I didn’t even know that it existed until reading it in the decision. They never told me they had it.” A copy of the 55-page report reviewed by the Straight is heavily redacted. In several sections, full pages are blacked out in their entirety. VPD spokesperson Const. Brian Montague told the Straight that privacy legislation means certain information must be withheld from the public. “There is a process in place to provide the individuals who have made a complaint with as much information as we can,” Montague said. > TRAVIS LUPICK
NOVEMBER 26 – DECEMBER 3 / 2015 THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT 15
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Why First Nations Languages Matter Cadillac Fairview’s proposal for a crystal-shaped tower prompted an unprecedented reaction from former city staff.
Retired planners push back > BY DA NIEL WOO D
T
his is a place everyone knows of but few consider. It’s where—in the years ahead— urban politics will contend. Controversy will be high. And decisions momentous. If one were to stand against the fence that backs Impark’s 76-vehicle parking lot—the one between Waterfront Station and Gastown’s Steamworks Brewing—it would be possible to imagine how two opposing and enormously important ideas will collide here. Or, put simply: what is the future of Vancouver’s vast, train-track– covered downtown waterfront? The story begins with a bizarre, 26-storey office building proposed for that parking lot and a feeling among many that, propelled by Vision Vancouver’s “greenest city” initiatives, the city’s traditionally sensitive planning process is being bulldozed by the juggernaut of unwanted high-rise towers. Becoming green has started looking more like Kermit the Frog than any prince. For example, the city’s planning department proposed in 2013 to put 20 12- to 36-storey towers near the Broadway–Commercial Drive transit intersection. Local residents detested the idea. There are, currently, a dozen more controversial high-rises, some up to 40 storeys high, on the drawing board for the Oakridge Mall area. And still more in Marpole and Mount Pleasant. The public began muttering about Vision succumbing to the embrace of developers. And former city planners began worrying that long-held development principles were being abandoned to the expediency of socalled green growth. Then news of Cadillac Fairview’s notorious 555 Cordova Street “twisty tower” plan broke this past January. The thing would spiral upward from the waterfront parking lot like an unbalanced crystal, leaning directly over the classic 1914 train station. Reaction was swift. Through a freedom-of-information application for 250 emails sent to Brian Jackson—at that time the city’s general manager of planning and development and a proponent of the project—shortly thereafter, I learned this: 129 writers and organizations opposed the structure; 18 supported it. One person called it “a contender for the ‘Ugliest Architecture in the World’ award”. Another: “an alien parasite eating the Waterfront Station”. Even worse, Ray Spaxman, the city’s esteemed former city planner, called the building “a Martian landing” site. This despite Jackson’s endorsing the
asymmetrical tower, calling it “an extraordinary design”. There is, in politics as in love, a Law of Unintended Consequences, and the widespread rejection of the 555 Cordova structure produced a series of spectacularly unexpected repercussions. Critics complained that it was 15 storeys higher and contained six times more floor space than suggested by development guidelines for the site. Worse, it gave a glass-and-steel finger to Gastown’s adjacent 19th-century architecture. In an interview at his home, Spaxman said: “ ‘Good neighbourliness’ used to be one of our planning mantras at city hall—from proportions to heritage to land use. If you read the 555 architect’s design rationale— that the building ‘maintains a sense of human scale for the pedestrian experience’—and then look at the illustrations, you may wonder who is smoking what.” Note the three words used to be. A not-so-covert fight was on: former city planners versus the pro-tower city planner, Jackson. The 555 proposal became, in this way, a sort of stalking horse for Spaxman and his allies, who understood that were it to go ahead, the towerification of Vancouver—with Vision’s backing and Jackson’s persistent acquiescence—might proceed unchallenged. And this meant the Central Waterfront Hub Framework development, a massive 2009 plan envisioning a dozen more office towers on the Burrard Inlet waterfront adjacent to the Impark lot, could, in time, also proceed. Despite its not having had any public input. What happened next arrived like a bomb at city hall. In a five-page open letter to Gregor Robertson and city council last July, the newly formed Downtown Waterfront Working Group (DWWG), a coalition of concerned planners, former city councillors, urbanists, and academics, lambasted the 555 plan. And, obliquely, Jackson. The building wasn’t just ugly, they said, it broke every rule of compatibility that Vancouver’s celebrated urban design was established on. Far more importantly, this powerful group took advantage of the 555 controversy to argue that the six-year-old Hub Framework plan for the city’s adjacent waterfront also be shelved and, instead, council investigate an imaginative redesign of the nine-hectare site, located directly east of Canada Place and directly north of the proposed 555 tower. Use this pause, they suggested, to Think Big. Yes, the critics agreed, the Hub site should still feature a huge roofed transit concourse, as was proposed in 2009. It would extend northward
over the tracks, directly behind Waterfront Station, and would shelter the movement of tens of thousands of transit passengers using the site daily. But in the future, a lot of the site might become—with dramatic views toward the North Shore mountains—a huge public amenity, with an emphasis on outdoor restaurants, parks, retail stores, and entertainment facilities right on the waterfront, right behind Gastown. Rather than it becoming, as the Hub Framework proposes, a concrete extension of downtown, with office towers built over the train tracks there. The letter was signed by Spaxman, Larry Beasley, and Brent Toderian (Vancouver’s three former directors of planning), plus 36 other authorities on Vancouver’s urban-planning politics. Four days later, at age 60, Jackson quit. By coincidence, I’d arranged to interview Jackson for this article on the day after he announced this. He explained to me that he’d considered retiring months earlier and his departure had nothing to do with the critical letter. I found this assertion hard to believe. He admitted that the DWWG letter was “unhelpful”. He felt that halting construction of the 555 tower—as the letter urged— would jeopardize the multibilliondollar Hub waterfront development, to which it was linked as step one for the entire waterfront project. “I’d love to dial things back to the time Spaxman was here, when the federal government was spending money on infrastructure. But we’re much more dependent on the private sector now. There’s a lot of potential for office towers in this area,” he said, pointing to the 44-page Hub Framework design on his desk. “It’s a key location for adding development and jobs, for acting as a catalyst for the waterfront transportation hub.” It was, however, when I challenged him about his apparent rubberstamping of developers’ oversized towers—Cadillac Fairview’s 555 Cordova plan, the clusters of towers around the Broadway-Commercial intersection and around Oakridge Mall—that the conversation quickly changed. “People say you’re under pressure to approve new towers as part of Vision’s greenest-city strategy,” I said. “No. No pressure from any member of city council.” “Not from Penny Ballem?” I asked, speaking of Vancouver’s powerful city manager. “No. No pressure from her. No. Pressure. From. Anyone. None. Period.” And goodbye.
British Columbia’s indigenous languages represent one of the “hotbeds” of linguistic diversity on the continent. However, the survival of these languages is hanging by a thread. Dr. Ignace will discuss the causes and implications of Dr. Marianne Ignace indigenous language loss and reveal how Wednesday Dec. 2, 2015 First Nations’ language is connected to intricate ways of perceiving and reflecting 7PM on the natural and social world. SFU’S HARBOUR CENTRE CAMPUS 515 West Hastings Street Room 1400
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This event is FREE but registration is required
i.sfu.ca/RCcHtN
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NOVEMBER 26 – DECEMBER 3 / 2015 THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT 17
Retired planners
from previous page
From his tone, I knew he knew what I was talking about. Scot Hein, the senior planner formerly overseeing the Broadway-Commercial design, had earlier quit—along with two other city planners—in protest against directives from what Hein called “senior management” to put maximum tower densities into the Grandview-Woodland neighbourhood. And to do this without following long-established community-planning protocols. (It was clear that, among the many planning experts interviewed for this story, the phrase “senior management” was code for Ballem and that she was, in fact, dictating that towers be built at major transit hubs to propel high-rise densification.)
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TO HELP ME UNDERSTAND the development issues and political complexities of the Hub waterfront site, I asked Frank Ducote to be my guide. Now retired from 11 years as a Vancouver city planner, and one of the authors of the contentious DWWG critique, Ducote first led me through Waterfront Station, then to that fence that backs the Impark lot. To the north, there’s a stunning aperture onto a possible future there. “This is the most magnificent view in Vancouver,” Ducote said of the panorama before us. “Maybe the best urban view in the world!” I looked. It’s easy to agree. From this elevated position, Ducote considered the transit traffic that surges past the parking lot: 100,000 people a day flow through the nearby Waterfront transit station; 30,000 more daily ride SeaBus, floatplanes, and helijet flights from Coal Harbour; 15,000 more daily use the Westcoast Express train; and 2,000,000 more annually depart from the Canada Place cruiseship terminal to our left. Subways, buses, ferries, cruise ships, taxis, floatplanes, helicopters, trains, and pedestrians: it is, Ducote said, the most densely compact—and confusing—transit hub on Earth. Ask anyone who uses the place; it is in desperate need of redesign. But the Hub site is also a chessboard of corporate land ownership and government interests. Cadillac Fairview is one of Canada’s largest commercial-real-estate developers, with holdings of $25 billion, including properties on both sides of Waterfront Station. Carrera Management Corp. acquired development rights—and still holds them—for most of the land behind Gastown. As well, there’s a dozen or so sets of tracks there controlled by Canadian Pacific Railway. Plus, there are TransLink’s rail and SeaBus interests and Port Metro Vancouver’s marine interests. “Under Jackson, developers were getting everything they wanted,” Ducote said, “as if policy and neighbourhoods didn’t matter. In recent years, it’s been ‘form follows finance’. That’s the world we’re in right now. Density equals money. But form should follow policy, follow public consultation. “So we’ve taken it upon ourselves,” he said of the former city planners, architects, and academics who signed the damning open letter, “to question the city’s rush toward densification and towers. The gloves are off. ‘Why are you so upset?’ Jackson asked us. Why? Towers here and here and here!” And with a gesture, Ducote wiped his hand across the North Shore mountains as if erasing the spectacular view before us. At 80, Ray Spaxman is—although he’d be embarrassed by the idea—a legend. Vancouver’s livability owes its origins to his 16-year tenure as city planner (1973 to 1989), and to the design guidelines he applied from The Death and Life of Great American Cities, the famous 1961 urbanist book by Jane Jacobs. Sitting in his book-lined West Vancouver studio, he scrounged a pen and stray envelope and drew for me an equilateral triangle connected at its corners by three little circles that he labelled
“politicians”, “public”, and “bureaucrats”. Then he connected these words with double-ended arrows. “Livability,” Spaxman said of his urban-planning principles, “was our central concern. Designing a livable city is an equal partnership: politicians, the public, bureaucrats. It requires a balance between these, a synergy between forces.” And he gestured back and forth over the arrows, indicating that power f lows both ways. “When you love a city, you love all of it. And you reach out to get people’s love and opinion and involvement. It’s what gives people a sense of place. It’s what has made Vancouver the most attractive city in the world. “But…I’m worried by what’s happening in Vancouver; the balance is gone,” he told me in this early-September interview. And he pointed to his triangle. “I think Penny Ballem lacks an understanding of urban design and public engagement. Brian Jackson was brought in to produce densification and raise capital input for the city. Penny pushed that. Vision has done a lot of things I support. But there’s also a whole lot of stuff wrong at city hall. City council doesn’t listen anymore.” And what about the 555 tower and the Hub plan? I asked, wondering if his critique applied there. “I looked at the design of 555 and I was shocked! You can’t do that, I thought. It’s against design guidelines. It doesn’t fit the neighbourhood. This opened the door to thinking about the entire 2009 Hub plan for the central waterfront. It’s a crucial part of the city. But that plan’s been abandoned for six years. It would be a lovely opportunity for the city to show leadership, to reconsider the plan, to have a discussion with the landowners there, get public input,” Spaxman said, reiterating the contents of the open letter. “So we wrote the mayor and council to express our concern. We did what city hall should have done.” Within weeks of Spaxman saying this, Ballem was fired. Like Ducote and Spaxman, Patrick Condon, UBC’s chair of urban design, was sufficiently outraged by Jackson’s support for the 555 tower design—and the implications of that for the linked Hub design—to join the others in signing the open letter. “The city has lost its way,” he told me, speaking of council’s pro-tower advocacy. “It puts short-term benefits over long-term development. It puts profits over people. The value of urban design has been diminished at city hall. Vancouver’s known for its modesty. We’re admired all over the world for livability, not for weird buildings that shout like Donald Trump: ‘Look at me!’ “Vancouver’s got this dramatic space,” Condon said of the Hub site. “The question is: how can we capitalize on it? In the letter, we said to council: ‘Don’t encumber the future by making decisions there fast. Good planning takes time. It’s laborious. Consensus will emerge. Maybe you’ll discover you don’t want a bunch of office towers on the waterfront after all. Maybe instead a big public gathering place. The site’s about as important to Vancouver as Piazza San Marco is to Venice. Do something fantastic there.’ ” THE PROBLEMS OF DOING “some-
thing fantastic there” are, I know, immense. Vancouver owns none of the land. So the city’s primary power is saying “No” to developers—something city hall has, demonstrably, not been inclined to do recently. In fact, Jackson argued against delaying construction of 555 and the Hub’s office towers when we talked. So did Vision councillor Geoff Meggs, who felt that, despite the open letter, the waterfront towers should go ahead. Meggs believes implementation of the plan is necessary to trigger federal infrastructure money for the adjacent proposed transit concourse linking buses, trains, ferries, taxis, and passenger movements under one gigantic roof. Steve Brown, the city’s manager of traffic and data, spent two years
researching and writing the actual Hub Framework report, and he explained to me—pointing at diagrams—the complexities of whatever happens there. “We’ve proposed building over an active rail yard—a huge platform over a dozen sets of train tracks. There’s $100 million of roads needed on the platform to be paid for by developers who’d put a series of commercial towers there. “But,” he cautioned, “approval of Cadillac Fairview’s 555 tower is catalyst for all the rest.” Unlike Jackson and Meggs, it’s Brown believes that the critical openletter campaign isn’t entirely bad. He compares it to the angry 1970s protests against a freeway being pushed through Vancouver that ultimately saved Chinatown, Gastown, and the very Burrard Inlet waterfront now under development consideration from becoming an eight-lane superhighway. “Of course, Cadillac Fairview isn’t interested in delay,” Brown said. “They’re a pension fund. They think short-term. But delay might benefit them. Priorities can change.” (Cadillac Fairview did not respond to an interview request.) And things have changed since 2009. Commercial vacancy rates in downtown Vancouver are currently at a 12-year high: 10 percent and increasing. That’s almost two million square feet of empty office space. The last thing Vancouver needs right now is 12 more office towers. And if precedent means something, consider this: more than 40 years ago, the entire south shore of False Creek was lined with railroad tracks, remnants of the city’s industrial past. The land behind Jericho Beach was a military base, with gigantic hangars for seaplanes there. And that proposed highway was aiming at the heart of Chinatown and Gastown. Should False Creek be surrounded with high-rise towers? Should Jericho be converted to housing? Should the highway go ahead? Developers, of course, said yes. Build! But a newly arrived city planner said, “Let’s not rush into things. Maybe low-rise is best for south False Creek. Maybe a park is best for Jericho. Maybe the highway is a bad idea.” That planner’s name was, of course, Ray Spaxman. Lance Berelowitz is a noted Vancouver-based planner and author of the 2005 book Dream City: Vancouver and the Global Imagination. Seated in his Mount Pleasant condo, he scrolled through images of cities elsewhere that have transformed their industrial waterfronts: Boston, Barcelona, Rotterdam, Tel Aviv, and, best of all, Sydney, Australia, with its harbourside parks and shops, treelined promenades, and a new transportation hub at Circular Quay. Turning to Vancouver’s waterfront and a possible revisioning of the Hub design, he told me he’s not opposed to towers there. “We have to make sure the corporations are respected. They’re stakeholders. Their concerns count,” he said. “It doesn’t matter if the city doesn’t own land there. It’s got power: discretionary zoning, permit approvals, public opinion. Imagine if Vision jumped on this. The train tracks get covered. Think of the value of that! A magnificent transit concourse is designed. And an expanded ferry system proposed—to serve places like West Van and Bowen Island. Plus, a lot of public access. All this done under Vancouver’s ‘greenest city’ guidelines: green high-rises, green transportation, green spaces, with walkways and restaurants. Directly on the waterfront. It could be transformational!” Berelowitz has, I can tell, thought a lot about this. “Vancouver’s the world’s poster child for urban planning. We’ve got no shortage of great planners here. But it’ll take political will to do this. It’ll take leadership. It will take imagination. Push ‘pause’ on the current Hub plan,” he said. “The city then lays the table, invites the stakeholders and public, hosts a party, provides the wine, and asks everyone: ‘What should we do there?’ ” -
NOVEMBER 26 – DECEMBER 3 / 2015 THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT 19
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Lights, camera, and selfie VanDusen Botanical Garden’s Festival of Lights is geared for the modern era > BY C HA RL IE SM I TH
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anDusen Botanical Garden superintendent James Warkentin hasn’t lost his enthusiasm for Christmas. As he prepares for his 19th Festival of Lights as a park-board employee, he’s brimming with excitement over how the annual holiday celebration has evolved. “We continue the tradition of the magical stroll,” Warkentin tells the Georgia Straight by phone. “This is very much an opportunity to walk through a lovely musical landscape where the sounds more or less envelop you and the lights are all around you.” He points out that there has been a Christmas show at VanDusen Botanical Garden every year since it opened in 1975. It began as a modest indoor light show but grew much larger in the 1980s, when it moved into the garden at the behest of former park-board employee Terri Clark. Nowadays, there are more than a million lights at the winter wonderland, according to the City of Vancouver website. Warkentin, however, won’t confirm the actual number. “That’s a closely guarded secret,” he says in an amused tone. “I have it somewhere written in a vault, but I seldom go to that vault.” One thing he will talk about is the work of park-board staff, who often choose the music, lights, and colours. This year, he says, there will be interactive displays, including one that enables people to wave their hands to control some of the lighting. In one tent, visitors will be able to make music with homespun instruments created from bells, bamboo, and metal piping. There will also be carol singing in another tent. “There will be sheet music available for people who want to sing, as if they’re doing a selfie performance,” he says. That’s not the only opportunity for selfies. VanDusen Botanical Garden will also include a smaller version of the Eiffel Tower in a new Jardins de Paris exhibit in the rose garden. The park board’s marketing and special-events coordinator, Emily Schultz, tells the Straight by phone that there’s a strong incentive to visit this area. “Guests can take a selfie under the lights and share it using the hashtag #JardinsdeParis for a chance to win two tickets to Paris, courtesy of Air France and YVR,” she says. Last year, the Festival of Lights attracted a record 106,000 visitors, but Schultz says that even more people might visit this year’s event. That’s because the show has grown by two hectares and there are new entertainment options: the Bach Choir on December 2 and 9, the Vancouver LEGO Club’s Room of Joy in the Visitor Centre, and winter stories courtesy of the Vancouver Public Library in the glasshouse. Of course, many of the old favourites will return, including the Scandinavian Gnomes, Santa Claus, and the Dancing Lights on Livingstone Lake. “We definitely have the biggest crowds the week before Christmas and also on weekends,” Schultz says. “If people want to avoid the crowds, I definitely recommend the first couple of weeks.” Anyone who buys tickets to the Festival of Lights will receive free entry into a new holiday event, Enchanted Nights, at the Bloedel Conservatory in Queen Elizabeth Park. Amid the tropical plants and birds will be a miniature fairy world created by artists Benjamin Kikkert, Melissa Hume, Christopher Moreno, and Corey Cote, as well as the Enchanted Forest Collective. In addition, there will be pony rides and lit fountains in the Queen
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Last year, VanDusen Botanical Garden attracted a record 106,000 visitors to the Festival of Lights, but organizers are expecting even more to show up in 2015.
Elizabeth Park plaza. Parking will be free in the upper lot. “The fountains will be lit as well,” Schultz notes. “It’s a great selfie point at the highest viewpoint in the city.” -
The VanDusen Botanical Garden Festival of Lights takes place from December 1 to 31 except on Christmas Day. Enchanted Nights is at the Bloedel Conservatory from December 4 to January 3.
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Receive $500 towards the purchase or lease of a new 2015 Ford Fusion, Mustang (excluding 50th Anniversary Edition), Taurus, Flex, Explorer, Expedition, Transit Connect, E-Series Cutaway, Transit Van/Wagon, Transit Cutaway/Chassis Cab, F-150 Regular Cab, F-150 Super Crew, or $750 towards the purchase or lease of a new 2015 Ford Escape, F-150 Super Cab, F-250 to F-550 (all F-150 Raptor models excluded) (each an “Eligible Vehicle”). Only one (1) bonus offer may be applied towards the purchase or lease of one (1) Eligible Vehicle. Taxes payable before offer amount is deducted. Offer is not raincheckable. **Until November 30, 2015, receive $1,000/ $1,500/ $2,000/ $2,250/ $2,500/ $2,750/ $3,000 / $3,250/ $3,500 /$3,750 / $4,000 / $4,750 / $6,000 / $9,000/ $10,500 in “Manufacturer Rebates” (Delivery Allowances) with the purchase or lease of a new 2015: Flex; 2016: Expedition/ 2016: E-Series Cutaway, Transit, F-250 Gas, F-350 to F-450 Gas (excluding Chassis Cabs) /2015: Taurus (excluding SE); 2016: Transit Connect, F-350 to F-550 Chassis Cabs/ 2016: F-150 Regular Cab (excluding XL 4x2)/ 2015: E-Series Cutaway, Transit/ 2015: F-150 Regular Cab (excluding XL 4x2)/ 2015: Fusion HEV/PHEV / 2015: Explorer, Escape; 2016: F-150 SuperCab and SuperCrew / 2015: Fusion (excluding HEV/PHEV), Mustang (excluding 50th Anniversary GT), F-350 to F-550 Chassis Cabs; 2016: F-250 Diesel, F-350 to F-450 Diesel (excluding Chassis Cabs) / 2015: F-150 SuperCrew / 2015: Transit Connect / 2015: F-150 SuperCab/ 2015: Expedition / 2015: F-250 Gas, F-350 to F-450 Gas (excluding Chassis Cabs) / 2015: F-250 Diesel, F-350 to F-450 Diesel (excluding Chassis Cabs) -- all stripped chassis, F-150 Raptor, Medium Truck, Mustang Boss 302 and Shelby GT500 excluded. 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NOVEMBER 26 – DECEMBER 3 / 2015 THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT 21
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HABITAT FORUM AND THE UNITED NATIONS CONFERENCE OF 1976 Discussion on the 1976 United Nations Conference on Human Settlements, the largest UN conference at that time. Nov 26, 7:30 pm, Museum of Vancouver (1100 Chestnut). Info www.vancouver-historicalsociety.ca/events.htm.
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events/ timeout CHRISTMAS FORUMS TAKE ACTION BENEFITS FASHION FOOD AND DRINK ET CETERA KIDS’ STUFF SPORTS ATTRACTIONS OUT OF TOWN
WORLD DIABETES CONGRESS Experts in diabetes care from around the world will share diabetes research and best practices. Nov 30–Dec 4, Vancouver Convention Centre (1055 Canada Place). Info www.idf.org/worlddiabetescongress/.
< TAKE ACTION < < 2THIS WEEK < STOLEN LAND: FIRST NATIONS & < PALESTINIANS AT THE FRONTLINE OF < RESISTANCE Explore the commonalities of indigenous struggles for land and free< dom in Canada and Palestine as well as < connections to the global fight for a decol< onized world. Nov 27, 7 pm, SFU Harbour Centre (515 W. Hastings). Free admission, < info www.seriouslyfreespeech.ca/. <
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22 THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT NOVEMBER 26 – DECEMBER 3 / 2015
VANCOUVER CHRISTMAS MARKET Sample old European favourites or new flavours while you search for the perfect handmade gift at booths run by over 50 vendors. To Dec 24, 11 am–9 pm, Queen Elizabeth Plaza (W. Georgia & Hamilton). Tix $8/4, info www.vancouverchristmas market.com/. BRIGHT NIGHTS IN STANLEY PARK Experience lights, displays, and live performers at this annual family-friendly holiday event. Nov 26–Jan 2, 2016, Stanley Park Miniature Train (Stanley Park). Tix $11/8/6/free for kids under two, info www. vancouver.ca/parks-recreation-culture/ bright-nights-train.aspx.
FORUMS 2THIS WEEK MOTHERS AS A CATALYST OF CHANGE: INSPIRATION FROM AROUND THE WORLD CONFERENCE HIPPY Canada and the B.C. Association of Family Resource Programs present keynote speeches by journalist Sally Armstrong, sustainability consultant Adrián Cerezo, thought leader Al Etmanski, and First Nations judge Marion Buller. Nov 25-27, SFU Harbour Centre (515
GLOBAL CLIMATE MARCH VANCOUVER March to demand that governments commit to an agenda of renewable energy. Nov 29, 1-3:30 pm, Vancouver Art Gallery (750 Hornby). Info www.facebook.com/ events/855315771250745/.
CLIMATE CHANGE: WHAT WE KNOW, AND HOW WE KNOW IT Douw Steyn will summarize various studies and observations that point towards global atmospheric warming and the associated changes in climates of the Earth. Dec 1, 7:309:30 pm, Roundhouse Community Arts & Recreation Centre (183 Roundhouse Mews). Free, info www.arpico.ca/.
BENEFITS 2THIS WEEK HEART2HEART SOCIAL BENEFIT Evening includes a singles power hour and a fundraising social. Proceeds go to the Canadian Cancer Society. Nov 26, 6:30-10 pm, The Refinery (1115 Granville). Tix $30/25, info www.facebook.com/ events/1633659366873064/. IN FOCUS VANCOUVER Evening will feature live music, canapés, beer, and wine. Fifty percent of all sales will be donated to the event’s featured charities. Nov 26, 7 pm, The Imperial (319 Main). Tix $50, info www.infocusvancouver.com/.
see page 24
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Events time out
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from page 22
DOXA POP FUNDRAISER Event features a silent auction and a shape-shifting collision of film, music, and performance. Hosted by CBC Radio’s Lisa Christiansen. Nov 27, 7:30-10:30 pm, CBC Studio 700 (700 Hamilton). Tix $25, info www.doxa festival.ca/events/fundraiser/.
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PORTOBELLO WEST Local fashion and art market features food trucks, live music, and a kids’ play zone. Nov 28-29, 11 am–5 pm, Creekside Community Recreation Centre (1 Athletes Way). Tix $2 at the door, info www.portobellowest.com/.
FOOD AND DRINK 2THIS WEEK THEATRE RUM CLUB Brand manager Darryl Lamb takes guests through rum histories and tastings. Proceeds support 20 Something Theatre. Nov 25, 7-9 pm, Legacy Liquor Store (1633 Manitoba). Tix $40, info 604-331-7900, www.legacyliquorstore.com/.
ET CETERA
N. Renfrew). Tix $25-95, info www. disneyonice.com/frozen/.
2THIS WEEK
ALVIN & THE CHIPMUNKS: LIVE ON STAGE In a kid-friendly interactive experience, Alvin and the Chipmunks battle an evil record-company executive. Nov 28, 7:30 pm, The Centre in Vancouver for Performing Arts (777 Homer). Tix at www. ticketmaster.ca/.
DARCY OAKE Canadian master illusionist and sleight-of-hand artist performs on his Edge of Reality world tour. Nov 27, doors 6:30 pm, show 7:30 pm, Queen Elizabeth Theatre (650 Hamilton). Tix at www.livenation.com/. WHAT’S NEW PUSSYCAT Bimonthly showcase of new burlesque performers, hosted by Burgundy Brixx and the Purrrrfessor. Nov 29, 8 pm, Biltmore Cabaret (2755 Prince Edward). Tix $9-17, info www.kittynights.com/vancouver.html.
KIDS’ STUFF 2THIS WEEK SPOT THE DOG Axis Theatre presents a kid-friendly musical adventure based on the best-selling books by Eric Hill. Nov 25-27, Norman Rothstein Theatre (950 W. 41st). Tix $12.50, info 604-669-0631, www. axistheatre.com/wee_ones.php. DISNEY ON ICE PRESENTS FROZEN Live ice-skating show takes audience members on a journey to the wintry world of Arendelle. Nov 25-29, Pacific Coliseum (Hastings Park, 100
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KIDS’ KONCERTS: WINTER SOLSTICE Gordon Gerrard conducts the VSO in a kid-friendly concert that takes the audience on a musical journey through the Canadian Rockies. Nov 29, 2 pm, Orpheum Theatre (601 Smithe). Info www. vancouversymphony.ca/.
SPORTS 2UPCOMING HIGHLIGHTS CANUCKS VS. BRUINS The Vancouver Canucks take on the Boston Bruins in National Hockey League action. Dec 5,
7 pm, Rogers Arena (800 Griffiths Way). Tix $90.25-334.25 (plus service charges and fees) at www.ticketmaster.ca/.
ATTRACTIONS SCIENCE WORLD Highlights include hundreds of interactive exhibits in five permanent galleries, the Centre Stage for live science demonstrations and workshops, and giant movies in the Omnimax Theatre. 1455 Quebec. Info 604-443-7443, www.scienceworld.ca/.
OUT OF TOWN 2THIS WEEK SEAHAWKS VS. STEELERS The Seattle Seahawks take on the Pittsburgh Steelers in National Football League action. Nov 29, 1 pm, CenturyLink Field (formerly Qwest Field, 800 S. Occidental Ave., Seattle, Wash.). Tix US$325-645 (plus service charges and fees) at www.ticketmaster.ca/.
TIME OUT EVENTS LISTINGS are a public service provided free of charge, based on available space and editorial discretion. Submit listings online using the event-submission form at straight.com/AddEvent. Events that don’t make it into the paper due to space constraints will appear on the website.
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Cartel’s boots are made for walking—forever > BY A M A NDA SIEBE R T
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artel footwear designer Davis Guay has one mandate: defy the “fast fashion” movement by carefully crafting classic leather boots that stand the test of time. Guay, cofounder and creative director of the Montreal-based company, has a personal philosophy based on the idea that less is more. Cartel’s time-honoured styles are handmade using the finest leather, right down to the soles. For Guay, it’s about creating the white T-shirt of footwear—a closet staple and a superior product that won’t cause buyer’s remorse. “We’re trying to give something to the educated consumer, to people who have a bit more understanding of what quality means and the importance of the ingredients being used,” says Guay by phone from Cartel’s headquarters in Montreal’s historic Saint-Henri neighbourhood. “Fast fashion has its role in the marketplace, and I don’t want to diminish that, but these are those classic pieces that you can always feel comfortable wearing. You’re never going to look back at your black Chelsea boots and think they’ve gone out of style.”
Davis Guay of Cartel eschews trends for longevity, as shown in his current line faves, like the Virreyes (see above), a Chelsea boot with elastic at the ankle.
Fast fashion is the style equivalent of McDonald’s: low-cost, low-quality items that are sooner met with regret than compliments. They’re everything from those impulse-buy $10 pants that rip at the seams after
a night out to the discounted flats that wear away at the sole faster than you can say “clearance rack”. Another important goal of Guay’s? To provide consumers with an alternative while still keeping his footwear
relatively reasonably priced: Cartel’s line of 12 styles ranges in price from $210 to $240. Cartel boots can be found in Vancouver at Twist Fashions (2952 West 4th Avenue) and Vincent Park (4278 Main Street). Guay is responsible for all creative aspects of the company—everything from casting models for ads to sketching styles and visiting the production houses in Mexico where Cartel’s shoes are made. His interest in designing footwear has always been based on identifying with a certain demographic. “I’ve been into footwear since I was a young punk-rock kid. You really become focused on the power of being able to communicate a message through what you’re wearing,” Guay says. “It’s very organic with me. When I look back and hyperanalyze where my ideas come from, it’s themes in music, cinema, and literature. I’m very visual—if I read a book, I very quickly find myself putting shoes on the characters.” The idea of designing footwear came to Guay 10 years ago, when he was just 20 years old. After attending design school in Italy, he worked in development at a large footwear company based in the same coun-
try, where he had the opportunity to travel to places like Portugal, China, India, and Mexico. It was through these experiences that Guay gained the tools to create Cartel. “Developing shoes in different countries, I learned the strengths and weaknesses of all these different places,” Guay says. “It’s kind of like going to a tattoo artist: different artists specialize in different kinds of work, just like different countries specialize in different kinds of leather.” Guay’s favourite styles in the current line include the Virreyes, a simple Chelsea boot with elastic at the ankle ($220), and the Sarandi, which is available in either a patent or lizard finish ($220). Cartel currently specializes in women’s boots, but Guay says a line of men’s shoes is in the works. The first-time business owner looks forward to expanding into heels and flats as well, but for now, he says maintaining a small line makes for a more rewarding payoff. “When I see someone wearing a pair of Cartel boots, I’m sharing something with this person whether they know it or not,” Guay says. “It’s all about attention to detail, that the shoes we make have an undertone of rebellion, and that they feel like Cartel.” -
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SUPPORT GROUPS Healthy & loving relationships alluding you? CODA: Co-dependency Anonymous 12 step Recovery: 604- 515-5585 Anxiety? Depression? Free Mental Wellness Support Group held on Saturdays (10:30 am – 12:30) Promotes a holistic approach to healing (body, mind & spirit). Networking and interactive learning experience in a safe, non-judgmental environment. For more information call 604-630-6865 or visit www.mentalwellnessbc.ca
Distress Line & Suicide Prevention Services NEED SOME ONE TO TALK TO? Call us for immediate, free, confidential and non-judgemental support, 24 hours a day, everyday. The Crisis Centre in Vancouver can help you cope more effectively with stressful situations. 604-872-3311 Equal Parenting Group - North Vancouver Support group for fathers going through the divorce process needing help. Call 604-692-5613 Email:nspg@mybox.com Join a FREE YWCA Single Mothers support group in your local community. Share information, experiences and resources. Child care is provided for a nominal fee. For information call 604-895-5789 or Email: smacdonald@ywcavan.org Join a FREE YWCA Single Mothers support group in your local community. Share information, experiences and resources. Child care is provided for a nominal fee. For information call 604-895-5789 or Email: smacdonald@ywcavan.org LIVING THROUGH LOSS COUNSELLING facilitated support group for people who are grieving the death of a significant person. Monthly drop-in- last Wed of every month YLTLC #201 – 1847 W. Broadway Van. 604-873-5013 www.ltlc.bc.ca
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FRANCHISE OPPORTUNITIES
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Sound Different? Men & Women supporting each other in a friendly, non-judgemental environment based on abstinence, secularity & self-help Van: @ Vancouver Daytox 377 E. 2nd Sat @ 4pm Maple Ridge: @ The CEED Centre 11739 - 223 St Sundays 1:30pm www.liferingcanada.org or www.lifering.org Sex and Love Addicts Anonymous (SLAA) Do you have a problem with sex and love relationships. You are not alone. SLAA is a 12 Step 12 Tradition oriented fellowship for those who suffer from sex and love addiction. Leave a message on our phone line and somebody will call you back for meeting time and locations. 604 515-5423 Is your life affected by someone else's drug use? Nar-Anon Family Group Meeting Every Friday 7:30-9:00 pm at Barclay Manor, 1447 Barclay
Nar-Anon 604 878-8844
The Compassionate Friends (TCF) Burnaby TCF is a grief support group for parents who have experienced the loss of a child, at any age. Meet the last Wednesday of the month at 7:00 p.m. For location call Grace: 778-222-0446 "We Need Not Walk Alone" compassionatecircle@hotmail.com Burnaby@TCFCanada.net www.tcfcanada.net Support, Education & Action Group for Women that have experienced male violence. Call Vancouver Rape Relief 604-872-8212
839 W. Broadway VA N C O U V E R
PSORIATIC ARTHRITIS & ANKYLOSING SPONDYLITIS Please come and join our FREE patient information session! We encourage you to bring FAMILY or FRIENDS! A Rheumatologist and a Nurse will be presenting and will be available to answer all your questions. Monday, November 30th | 5:30-6:30pm Free snacks, tea, and coffee!
Space is limited, please RSVP to: registration@bc.arthritis.ca or (604) 714-5550 In your message please specify how many people if any will be attending with you.
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Free Educational Forum to make sense of chronic hives Come spend an evening exploring the latest in living with chronic hives or chronic idiopathic urticaria (CIU) Living with CIU can be a challenge on many levels – sometimes just getting diagnosed can be a struggle. If you’re currently being treated for CIU or have chronic hives and are looking for some answers, please join our expert for an evening forum that’s sure to be interactive and informative.
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28 THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT NOVEMBER 26 – DECEMBER 3 / 2015
When:
December 9, 2015 – talk to begin at 5:30 pm
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Speaker:
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STYLE
FOOD
Brothers share best brews > B Y B R IA N LY NC H
S
traight to the Pint taps those on the frontlines of our booming local craft-beer industry for stories about their biggest brewing successes, dream vacation spots, and which brand was always in the family fridge. In this edition, Mike Doan responds on behalf of himself and his brother Evan, who together run the Doan’s Craft Brewing Company.
Vancouver Candle Co.’s creations include the Kitsilano and Gastown candles, and it’s one of several local candle makers whose work will be at Make It! Vancouver.
Candle makers capture local ‘hoods in scents
I
> BY L UC Y LA U
t isn’t hard to see the allure of a soft, flickering candle. Few other décor objects can transform a room’s ambiance—from dark and dingy to warm, delightfully fresh, and romance-ready—with a single strike of a match. And with such an imaginative array of jars and scents available, they’ve become a must-have for anyone looking to add some sparkle and character to their space. Talk to any candle connoisseur, however, and you’ll realize that, like most luxury products, not all candles are created equal. Farouk Babul and Nick Rabuchin, the creative minds behind Vancouver Candle Co., experienced this firsthand when they splurged on a particularly pricey light from an interior-design store early last year. “We burned it on our coffee table as we normally do, and the candle burned really poorly,” Babul recounts to the Straight by phone. “I went online to figure out how I could fix it and found that a lot of candle companies are using some really nasty things within their products.” Babul and Rabuchin felt uneasy about the petroleum-based materials, lead-laden wicks, and generally poor-quality fragrance oils that make up the majority of candles on the market, so they decided to make their own—ones that would harness all-natural and ethically sourced ingredients such as soy wax and cotton wicks. But it wasn’t until a blind scent test that the duo realized the evocative potential of some of Vancouver’s most beloved neighbourhoods. “We were playing around with some scent formulations and one of our friends was like, ‘This smells like Kitsilano,’ ” Babul notes. “That’s kind of how it sprung.” Their appreciation of traditional candle-making soon gave way to an affection for our vibrant city through a small-batch collection of scented candles, which has grown to include the Fairview, a citrus-based blend of
grapefruit, peach, and red currant; the Gastown, a musky leather, tobacco, and amber mix that takes after the rugged grit of the area; and, most recently, the North Shore, a woodsy aroma with notes of mandarin, white sage, and coriander. “Our inspiration was walking through Deep Cove and eating mandarin oranges,” Babul says of Vancouver Candle Co.’s newest addition, which joins the aforementioned candles, plus Kitsilano, Mount Pleasant, Point Grey, and Strathcona. “We put the two together, and we got this really cool scent.” Each candle is hand-poured in Vancouver Candle Co.’s Mount Pleasant studio using premium soy-wax blends—which burn significantly cleaner and longer than their petroleum-based counterparts—100-percent-cotton wicks, and a combination of raw essential oils and perfumegrade fragrance oils. Packaged in bright, colour-coordinated boxes and individually signed and numbered by Rabuchin, the candles have clearly struck a chord with Vancouverites, who have flocked to the company’s booths at various craft fairs and popup shops over the past year. “We’re just a couple of guys who make candles,” Babul says with a laugh. “We don’t have a business plan or anything. We just love what we do and people love what we produce.” The pair have plans to add more neighbourhoods to their collection in the new year, but in the meantime, you can shop Vancouver Candle Co.’s full lineup of signature boxed candles ($35) and travel-sized tins ($20) at Make It! Vancouver, which takes place next Thursday to Sunday (December 3 to 6) at the PNE Forum. Other local candle makers such as Arbutus Candle Company, Bees Wax Works, Lily Bug Soy Candles, and Salt Spring Island Candle Co. will also be on deck during the fourday affair with a selection of natural, hand-poured lights in votive, taper, and even milk-bottle forms. -
WHO ARE YOU Doan’s is a small brewery in the heart of the East Van brewery district [1830 Powell Street]. We opened May 2015 and took over the old home of Powell Street Craft Brewery. We maxed out the space with a small, 25-seat, 450-squarefoot lounge, complete with arcade! We are a family business with a serious passion for great beer! YOUR DAD’S FAVOURITE BEER
Our dad was never really a beer drinker, but I do remember that he loved Belgian styles. He never bought them at home, reserving gin martinis as his go-to bev, but I remember one particular time when we were in L.A. and he ordered a beer [Orval] to share, say 15 years ago, and it came in this funny, stubby bottle. He said, “This is what real beer tastes like,” and handed the bottle to us. I hadn’t tasted anything like it.
Doan’s Craft Brewing Company’s Mike Doan says some of North America’s best beer is in Asheville, North Carolina, which he maintains is weirder than Portland. DREAM DESTINATION The best
place to get a beer is Asheville, North Carolina. People say, “Keep Portland weird”—well, keep Asheville weirder. There are so many great breweries per capita, and even the big guns like New Belgium are opening up down there, recognizing the importance of the scene. Get your vegan, hemp-smoked, celFIRST GO-TO BRAND For Evan, lulose chocolate with a side of the early on this was definitely Lucky best beer in North America! Lager. For Mike, tall boys of Stella! FIRST BEER BREWED I think Evan LIFE-CHANGING BEER Evan and and I first went to Dan’s Homebrewing I were driven quickly from Lucky [835 East Hastings Street] and brewed Lager to craft beer like Wild Rose, a batch of malt-syrup-based Strathwhen Ev was at uni in Calgary, and cona Pale Ale. Let me tell you, it was Creemore Springs (before their sale delicious enough for us to get hooked to Molson), when I was at uni in to brewing for life, but bad enough Kingston, Ontario. that our friends wouldn’t drink it.
CROWNING ACHIEVEMENT About two years ago, Evan and I first started experimenting with treating our brewing water. After a couple of goes at it, we finally hit the nail on the head and brewed the best beer we had brewed in our three years of home brewing, our Pacific Northwest Rye Stout. And lo and behold, in our first year open, we won first in the stout-porter category with that beer. Must have been good, eh? I WOULD LOVE TO HAVE A BEER WITH The crews from Moon Under
Water, Main Street Brewing, and Powell Street Craft Brewery. -
This is a condensed version of Straight to the Pint. Go to Straight. com for the full article and a bonus video feature.
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NOVEMBER 26 – DECEMBER 3 / 2015 THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT 29
FOOD
Not many local restaurateurs can say they’ve BY G AIL JOH N SON
cooked for several world leaders, never mind dozens of celebrities who have become regular guests and good friends. John Bishop can. With Bishop’s Restaurant celebrating its 30th anniversary this year, the Welsh native could write a book on all the behind-the-scenes stuff that’s transpired during his estimable career. “Within six months of opening, we did dinner for Pierre Trudeau, a dinner for 20 people,” Bishop recalls during an interview over mint tea at his West 4th Avenue spot. “He travelled without security. Not long ago, we did dinner for [then] Prime Minister Stephen Harper. The security was unbelievable. There were people with sniffing dogs; I had people in the kitchen standing over my shoulder.” Then there was the “Clinton-Yeltsin farce” during the pair’s 1993 summit in Vancouver. Bishop was responsible for a dinner taking place at Queen Elizabeth Park’s Seasons in the Park. “I spent months planning this menu for those two boys,” he says. “It started out as a table of 14 that expanded to 75. For months leading up to it, there was security: phones tapped, food tested. Then when
How the West was served
Everyone loves John Bishop, who treats all of his guests like stars and who has even been described as “the world’s most gracious host”. Amanda Siebert photo.
Eons ahead of the localvore trend, restaurateur John Bishop has served everyone from Pierre Trudeau to Robert De Niro
He always strives to exceed expectations.” Perhaps the greatest the time came, it was like a rock ’n’ roll show: they contribution Bishop has made to the Vancouver brought in two jumbo jets. They brought all their food scene is its commitment to local, seasonal own plates and all their own flowers. We were locked food: he pioneered the farm-to-table concept in in all day because of security.…They needed a special the Lower Mainland. table, so we built a table for them out of plywood.” Bishop, who moved to Vancouver in 1973 and Justin Trudeau visited when he lived in Vancou- worked at Umberto’s for a decade before opening ver; so have Robert De Niro, Sean Penn, Goldie his own restaurant in 1985, says that “fine dining” Hawn, and countless other stars. A keen art sup- back then meant showcasing foods from anywhere porter who decorates the walls of his intimate res- but Vancouver on a menu of tried-and-true items taurant with pieces from his own collection, Bishop by chefs who had mostly been trained in Europe. has forged friendships with artists he’s met there, “Prior to ’85, you didn’t change your menu; Robert Davidson, Jack Shadbolt, Toni Onley, and people came to you for a particular dish you had a Gordon Smith among them. (“I gave Bill Reid his reputation for,” he says. “The concept of changing last meal on earth. Martine [Reid, his wife] came to your menu was reckless. Fine dining was made me and asked, ‘Could you make Bill your fish cakes?’ up of stuff we wouldn’t have here: New Zealand He loved them. That was his last meal on earth.”) lamb. Icelandic scampi. Dover sole. There were no And yet despite all the high-profi le people he local oysters on those menus; it had to be Belon knows by name, Bishop—71 and a father of two oysters from France. Even mushrooms—this who has acted as mentor to several local chefs— is mushrooms central, but we used to bring in treats every guest like a star. He’s earned a reputa- mushrooms from Germany. We would go to Richtion as much for his hospitality as for his culinary mond to pick berries with our kids, but you would expertise. “John taught me every single person never see them on local menus; berries all came who comes to your restaurant is important,” says from one truck from California. Local food was Vikram Vij, who worked at Bishop’s from 1991 to alien. Fresh halibut or cod or cracked crab—you 1994, starting out as a server, before opening the wouldn’t see it on menus very often.” original Vij’s Restaurant on Broadway. “He has Inspired by Alice Waters of Berkeley’s Chez a subtle way of making every customer feel like Panisse, Bishop was perplexed by all the attention they’re the most important person in the room. being directed elsewhere, and from the beginning I’ve really tried to do that in my restaurants. I love he was intent on using fresh, local, seasonal into walk around and talk with the people who’ve gredients. The idea made sense, but putting it into paid me the honour of coming to eat at my restau- practice proved challenging: there were no weekly rants, and that’s something I learned from John.” farmers markets, and local producers and artiBurdock & Co.’s Andrea Carlson worked at Bish- sans who would supply food to restaurants were op’s for six years before opening her own restaurant. rare. He sourced much of his locally grown food “The most influential lesson that I learned from John from Chinatown; over time, he fostered relationwas his complete personal dedication to his guests’ ships with local farmers, and more products from experience,” Carlson says. “John has an incredibly around here became available. nimble memory, which greatly assists him and his “We had one local wine on our menu when we team to provide the legendary guest experience. As started,” he says. “Now 70 percent of our wine sales a chef who tends to be fairly introverted, it was in- are local.…When you look at our menu and menus valuable for me to gain an insight and understand- generally in the city now, we have so many wondering into the importance of holistic guest service. ful, locally grown, seasonal ingredients.…Chefs are
THINGS TO DO
looking at issues like sustainability, where this stuff comes from, and trying not to be wasteful. I don’t think the food on plates in this city has ever been better. It’s hard to find a bad restaurant in Vancouver, and the choices are endless.” Over the years, Bishop has written several cookbooks—he’s now working on another—and travelled the globe leading culinary tours. At the restaurant, he spends half of his time expediting food and the other half interacting with guests. “If I’m very good, they [the chefs] let me open the oysters, which I love to do,” he says. “An oyster is probably the definition of the freshest thing and the least-prepared thing we do. My obligation as chef is to go buy a fresh oyster that’s in season, fresh, one that the broader audience will really enjoy, then open it perfectly so there aren’t any shells in there and it doesn’t look like it’s been stabbed to death. It’s a perfect picture of freshness. When you put them on a plate of ice, people’s jaws drop. It’s a crowdpleaser. We serve a lot of oysters for a little place.” Ian Tostenson, president and CEO of the B.C. Restaurant and Food Services Association, describes Bishop as “the world’s most gracious host”. “He will be at the front door waiting to make sure you have change for your parking meter or personally escort you around the back to park if necessary,” he says. “My first meal at Bishop’s was with David Foster in 2003. It doesn’t matter if you are a celebrity, the prime minister, or an enthusiastic supporter of the best local food this city has to offer, every guest is treated with discretion and dignity.” Being the consummate professional and thoughtful host seems to come naturally to Bishop. “I love my relationships with my customers,” he says. “This is an extension of my home, so just like when I’m cooking for friends or family, it’s a giving thing. I really like the idea of shopping for someone, putting a lot of love and care into it, keeping it very simple but beautiful; it’s always something that I’ve loved. I love taking care of people.” To celebrate its anniversary, Bishop’s (2183 West 4th Avenue; 604-738-2025) is offering a three-course 30th Anniversary Classics menu for $55.
FOOD High five
Meal ticket BREWMASTERS DINNER It’s a five-course dinner with serious West Coast roots. This Thursday (November 26), Vancouvertrained chef Alessandro Vianello is cooking up dishes at the Fairmont Waterfront’s ARC (900 Canada Place Way) which will be paired with handcrafted beers from Parallel 49 Brewing Company. On the menu? Honey-roasted-parsnip soup; seared scallop; and tender, braised pork belly, with seasonal P49 favourites like Toques of Hazzard White IPA. Tickets for the event are $99 and can be purchased by phone (604-691-1818) or email (arcdining@fairmont.com). -
Best food and drink stalls at the Vancouver Christmas Market
1
TRADITIONAL GLÜHWEIN Have a real German-market experience by warming your cockles with this hot, cinnamon-spiked red-wine brew.
2
BREZELHAUS Gnaw away at a warm, authentic German pretzel. Köstlich!
3
DAS SCHNITZELHAUS The Teutonic specialty, served up in a handy paper cone. Top it with mushroom gravy.
4
DAS KARTOFFELHAUS Whoever invented hurricane potatoes deserves a gigantic “danke.”
5
FREYBE BRAT HAUS Pile the sauerkraut high on one of these brats-on-a-bun and you’ll look like an old pro.
30 THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT NOVEMBER 26 – DECEMBER 3 / 2015
Cocktail of the week
VANCOUVER SPECIAL IPA R&B Brewing Co.’s latest brew draws inspiration from one of Vancouver’s most recognizable structures in a hop-forward IPA. Big on flavour (think Pacific Northwest hops with floral and citrus notes) and robust on the malt, bitterness (75 IBU), and alcohol fronts (six percent), this one’s for a tough East Side crowd. Available at R&B Brewing Co. (54 East 4th Avenue) and select liquor stores ($6 for a 650-mL bottle). -
FOOD
Raise a glass to downtown
T
his is the third week of Buy the Glass, a four-part neighbourhood-focused series I’ve been doing as a way to introduce readers to by-the-glass gems at some of Vancouver’s most acclaimed restaurants. Rather than choose a glass myself, I ask the person behind the wine program to share what they’re excited about pouring right now, along with a favourite dish to go with it. This week, we get all dolled up and head downtown. HAWKSWORTH
sauces: red-hot lava, creamy wasabi, and sesame sauce. There is some heat to the dish, but the fruit and toasty oak of the wine take care of it well.” CINCIN RISTORANTE + BAR (1154
Robson Street) When I sidled up to the bar to get a recommendation from Shane Taylor, CinCin’s wine director, the first thing he said to me was, “Can it be expensive?” I told him he could go for it because while he had quite a pricey by-the-glass option to share, it offered a good opportunity for guests to try one of his favourite wines without having to spring for a whole bottle. G. D. Vajra Albe 2010 Barolo from Piedmont, Italy ($31.25 per glass, $93.75 per bottle), was the wine in question and he went on to share why he’s such a fan. “It’s a boutique producer, and it ticks all of the boxes for quality Barolo,” Taylor said. “The 2010 vintage is one of the best in many years, and it actually pains me to say that pretty soon this vintage is going to run out. In fact, I love the wine so much that I bought the entire city’s supply. It’s elegant yet powerful, with distinct notes of rose petal and asphalt. Actually, I liken it to walking up to the Daytona 500 while carrying a bouquet of roses. It’s delicious and earthy, and while fantastic with any dish that incorporates wild mushrooms or truffles, if I found myself in a situation where it was my last meal, I’d have to go with chef Andrew Richardson’s osso buco. The dish is braised Montreal veal shin with tomato, saffron risotto, and gremolata, and that gremolata is what makes it unique—giving everything a really nice lift. Also, it doesn’t get more ideal for a regional pairing than Barolo and osso buco.”
RESTAURANT
(801 West Georgia Street) I reached Hawksworth wine director Bryant Mao while he was playing tourist ShuRaku pairs Japanese food with the in his own city, wandering GranB.C. wine Kanazawa 2013 Nomu. ville Island with family friends who were visiting from Taiwan. The guy for Sunday-night service at Zest, he always has time to talk about wine, shared his wine philosophy with me. “It’s important for wines to not though, even on his day off. “A wine I’ve really been enjoying overpower Japanese food, and since lately is Stadt Krems 2013 Grüner the crowd at ShuRaku is made up of Veltliner [$14 per glass, $68 per bot- both tourists and locals, I like to go tle],” Mao told me by phone. “It has with easily approachable wines made from familiar grape lovely minerality, varieties,” Kataalong with clear giri said. “I work and crisp pear with a lot of local and stone fruit, Kurtis Kolt B.C. wines that are with some citrus curd in there, too. It’s very vibrant personal favourites, and they also hapand has a good energy to it, plus it’s pen to be made by some of my favourvery versatile with our food, from ite people. One of my very favourites lighter seafood dishes to those with is from my friend Richard Kanazawa, richer textures.” When asked for a and it’s his Kanazawa 2013 Nomu [$8 Hawksworth menu item that’s an per glass, $38 per bottle], an Okanagideal match for it, he opted for the an blend of Viognier, Sémillon, and apple beet salad with caramelized Muscat Blanc.” Katagiri describes it as honey, burrata, walnut, and dill, “A “floral from the Viognier portion, with dish that’s just as bright as the wine”. the Sémillon adding citrus and herbaceous notes. It actually has flavours SHURAKU SAKE BAR + BISTRO similar to sake, which makes it an easy (833 Granville Street) Tatsuya Kata- wine to pair with Japanese food, since giri is the executive chef and wine sake is always a good pairing.” director of Kitsilano’s Zest Japanese So what’s a good food match with Cuisine and also oversees the wine the Nomu? “Everything!” he said with That’s definitely enough fodder for program for its sister restaurant down- a laugh. “But a good place to start quite a night on the town! Next week, town, ShuRaku Sake Bar + Bistro. is our three ways of tuna, which is we’ll wrap up the series by visiting a When reached by phone as he prepped local albacore sashimi served in three few spots over in East Van. Cheers! -
The Bottle
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32 THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT NOVEMBER 26 – DECEMBER 3 / 2015
HOLIDAY ARTS
As the East Van Panto crew puts the BY JANET SM IT H
finishing touches on Hansel and Gretel in a heritage-schoolhouse hall, Allan Zinyk is surrounded by dancing girls and making eyes at a lovelorn gingerbread man. A sure sign this is not the fairy tale you’re familiar with is the fact he’s singing about how he’s “gonna cook this kid” to the tune of Lady Gaga’s “Poker Face”. (“Set it on convection oven…”) The warped little moment at Theatre Replacement’s rehearsal space illustrates how the Panto has hit the right, albeit twisted, mix: take popsong parodies and bizarro humour and then mesh them with a favourite fairy tale. Add copious local references (back-yard chickens, elections, Nick’s Spaghetti House), child actors, and different guest cameos every show, and you have theatre that’s guaranteed to appeal to everyone— including folks who claim they don’t like theatre. It’s a recipe that’s worked—in a big way. The event’s 2013 debut, Jack and the Beanstalk, drew 5,000 people to the newly opened York Theatre; by last year’s Cinderella, 8,500 caught it, and 11,000 are expected to head to the Drive for the anarchic holiday show this year. “We didn’t know what was going to happen opening night,” recalls Theatre Replacement’s co–artistic director Maiko Yamamoto, talking about the fi rst Panto, which the Cultch presented to open the York. Taking a break from rehearsal, she describes Jack and the Beanstalk as a matter of just getting artist friends in a room and having fun, with a script by local comedy master Charles Demers (who’s also penned this year’s edition). “Our expectation was to have a good time— [co–artistic director] Jamie [Long] and I just longed to get our friends together. Generally, the shows we do are not for families and we started having kids. We knew we wanted it to be irreverent, super local, and take the piss out of it,” she adds. The East Van Panto, she offers, is a perfect antidote to the more treacly holiday fare out there.
‘Tis the season for silliness
Maiko Yamamoto and Dawn Petten happily subvert Hansel and Gretel in the East Van Panto’s hyperlocal take on the classic fairy tale. Tim Matheson photo.
the goofiest thing I work on. I mean, I made my reputation on serious With a mix of pop parodies and nods to its neighbourhood, songs. What’s great is I the East Van Panto has built its own warped holiday tradition have to reach middle age to be a wiener.” “And now the show has built up a lovely followDrover adds that part of the unique Panto ing. And I get recognized on the street for doing recipe is that it can’t be too polished. Sure, it Jack and the Beanstalk more than anything else.” will have pop-up-book-like three-dimensional “I call it elementary-school famous,” Veda Hille sets, but they’ll still have the hand-painted feel adds with a laugh, referring to the young fans who of Panto sets from the 19th century. And there’s wave to her in the Drive neighbourhood. got to be a bit of room for improvising, espeThe singer, songwriter, and ace keyboardist cially with a guest cameo each night. explains that now that the Theatre Replacement “Maiko said, ‘If we don’t know how to do a team has built this form, they can play with it. transition, get two kids to do a knock-knock She’s added a drummer this year, and expanded joke in front of the closed curtain. And if it’s the pop tunes that make the show what it is, bad it’s even better!’ ” he says. “The best kind of adeptly mixing tunes from the Human League gift is a homemade gift.” and Kraftwerk with German cabaret numbers “But then we snap into great singing and and TV-show themes. It’s the kind of show that choreography,” Hille adds. “We’re pretending makes you want to get up and dance, as every- we don’t know what we’re doing, and then it one does at the end—adding to the rock-concert snaps into place.” feel that new director Stephen Drover wants to Drover adds that if there’s a challenge this emphasize in this year’s show. year, it’s that Hansel and Gretel, not one of the “I assemble songs for it all year now. I watch a fairy tales usually pulled for the Panto reperlot of One Dimension videos,” Hille reveals with a toire, is so dark; he and his team are trying to laugh. “I have to ask, ‘What are the songs that people lighten it up wherever possible. Which brings us are going to associate with this year?’ This is by far to the comedic balance of the East Van Panto,
THINGS TO DO
an irreverent mix of the bawdy, the locally political, and the slapstick—but never the nasty. “We were working on a scene where we were trying to insult Gretel after she fails a cooking competition, and we decided not to say ‘You suck!’ ” says Hille. Still, there’s more than a little off-colour humour that only adults in the audience will get, like the recurring joke about a real-estate villain’s “one big ball” in last year’s Cinderella. “This is something which Charlie [Demers] gets: the show goes up over the heads of the kids but hits them, too,” says Yamamoto, who’s playing Gretel in this production. Call it anarchy, or call it the season’s most adorably subversive theatre show: the East Van Panto appears to be here to stay. And the crew behind it has no fears, yet, of it outgrowing its low-tech charm. “The trajectory feels good. We’re keeping it about our community and not about production values,” says Yamamoto. She then adds with a laugh: “There probably is not going to be a West Van Panto.” Hansel and Gretel: An East Van Panto is at the York Theatre from next Friday (December 4) to January 3, 2016.
ARTS High five
Editor’s choice SHAKEN, NOT STIRRED If Spectre (shown here) has you craving all things 007, head to the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra’s Fifty Years of Bond...James Bond this weekend. Conducted by John Morris Russell, the concert mixes retro themes like “Live and Let Die” and “Nobody Does It Better” with newer hits like the “Skyfall” theme. Capathia Jenkins and Jeremy Kushnier bring the vocals to the movie franchise’s truly impressive array of pop hits. Feel free to wear your tux, but maybe leave the mini-rocket cigarette at home. The VSO performs Fifty Years of Bond...James Bond on Friday and Saturday nights (November 27 and 28) at the Orpheum.
Five events you just can’t miss this week
1
THE NORTH PLAN (To November 29 at 211 East Georgia Street) Sinister political farce in a mysterious site-specific Chinatown location.
2
DARK SISTERS (November 26 to December 12 at the Vancouver Playhouse) Vancouver Opera explores polygamy in Nico Muhly’s intense chamber work.
3
APOLLON MUSAGETE QUARTET (November 29 at the Vancouver Playhouse) Young Polish string kings make their VRS debut.
4
TIM HECKER (November 28 at the Annex) Early choral work reimagined via electronic abstraction makes for atmospheric soundscapes.
5
THE DAISY THEATRE (December 1 to 20 at the Cultch) Puppet master Ronnie Burkett returns with a dazzling show that’s its own mix of silly, vaudevillian, crude, and poignant.
Guest pick
SOCIAL STUDIES Marisa Smith, actor and artistic producer at Alley Theatre, stars in Hannah Moscovitch’s Little One at the Anvil Centre and the Firehall Arts Centre early next year. Here’s why she made this arts pick of the week: “The major draw for me is Erin Moon. I saw her in an all-female Julius Caesar last May and she blew me away. Beyond that, it’s amazing how timely the piece is, given the Syrian refugee crisis. This city can use all the help we can get toward cross-cultural understanding. I’m excited by art that provokes that.” Social Studies is at the Firehall Arts Centre until December 5.
NOVEMBER 26 – DECEMBER 3 / 2015 THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT 33
HOLIDAY ARTS ROUNDUP
> BY JANET SMITH
Alberta Ballet’s snowflakes look as pretty as princesses in the imperial-Russia-themed Nutcracker. Paul McGrath photo.
WHERE TO GO CLASSICAL VSO’S TRADITIONAL CHRISTMAS CONCERTS (At St. Andrew’s–Wesley
United Church from December 10 to 13; South Delta Baptist Church on December 16; the Bell Performing Arts Centre in Surrey on December 17; the Centennial Theatre in North Vancouver on December 18; the Kay Meek Theatre in West Vancouver on December 19; and the Michael J. Fox Theatre in Burnaby on December 20) An old-fashioned mix of sing-along carols, classical favourites, baroque gems, and holiday tunes, as warm as hot chocolate by a fire. The show is conducted by Rosemary Thomson and hosted by Bard on the Beach’s Christopher Gaze, with EnChor and the UBC Opera Ensemble adding their voices to the mix.
artistic chops: Leslie Dala conducts members of the Vancouver Opera Orchestra, and principal dancers from 16 and 17; St. Andrew’s–Wesley United the San Francisco Ballet and Pacific Church on December 19; and the ACT Northwest Ballet take the leads. in Maple Ridge on December 20) Decked out in medieval costumes FESTIVE CANTATAS—PRAETORand set against a wintry cathedral IUS CHRISTMAS VESPERS (At the backdrop, musicians play Celtic and Chan Centre for the Performing Arts classical harps, tambourines, temple on December 20) The folks at Early bells, an organistrum, and more rare, Music Vancouver celebrate like it’s ancient instruments. That atmos- Christmas in 17th-century Germany, phere and the repertoire—a mix of complete with vocal soloists, strings, Gregorian chant, Basque carols, and theorbo players, a cornetto, and even flamenco—have made this show many more authentic touches. a mainstay for more than 20 years. GOH BALLET’S THE NUTCRACKER
(At the Centre in Vancouver for Performing Arts from December 17 to 22) Anna-Marie Holmes’s playful choreography—which includes a mouseled cheese battle and a real magician WINTER HARP (At the BlueShore performing tricks—makes this NutFinancial Centre for the Performing cracker a family favourite. There are Arts in North Vancouver on December kids galore in this show, but it also has
A TRADITIONAL
CHRISTMAS WITH THE VSO
ST. ANDREW’S-WESLEY CHURCH, VANCOUVER Thursday, December 10 at 7:30 pm Friday, December 11 at 4 pm & 7:30 pm Saturday, December 12 at 4 pm & 7:30 pm Sunday, December 13 at 7:30 pm
SOUTH DELTA BAPTIST CHURCH, DELTA BELL PERFORMING ARTS CENTRE, SURREY
Christopher Gaze
Thursday, December 17 at 4:30 pm & 8 pm
CENTENNIAL THEATRE, NORTH VANCOUVER Friday, December 18 at 4 pm & 7:30 pm
KAY MEEK THEATRE, WEST VANCOUVER Saturday, December 19 at 4 pm & 7:30 pm
MICHAEL J. FOX THEATRE, BURNABY Sunday, December 20 at 4 pm & 7:30 pm
Members of the VSO
Rosemary Thomson conductor Christopher Gaze host UBC Opera Ensemble EnChor Metro Vancouver’s most beloved Holiday music tradition plays to sold out houses in Burnaby, the North Shore, Surrey, Delta, and downtown Vancouver. Tickets sell out fast — get yours today! MEDIA SPONSOR
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TICKETS
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34 THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT NOVEMBER 26 – DECEMBER 3 / 2015
WHERE TO GET NOSTALGIC A CHRISTMAS STORY: THE MUSICAL (At the Stanley Industrial Alliance
Stage to December 27) Relive Ralphie’s classic 1940s Christmas on-stage, reimagined with song-and-dance numbers. Valin Shinyei plays the lead nineyear-old who dreams of finding that official Red Ryder BB gun under the Christmas tree.
IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE (At the Granville Island Stage to December 26) Bob Frazer plays bad-luck George Bailey, and Jennifer Lines his longsuffering wife, in a nostalgic tale that transports you back to Bedford Falls. from December 29 to 31) Set in frosty And don’t worry: this is a show that pays deep homage to its near-sacrosanct imperial Russia and gilded like a Fab- source material. ergé egg, this returning version of The Nutcracker is as opulent as they come. A CHRISTMAS CAROL: ON THE AIR (At Pacific Theatre from December 4 Think Cossack-mouse soldiers and to January 2, 2016) Just as it did with last year’s It’s a Wonderful Life Radio Russian-princess snowflakes, all set Show, Pacific Theatre stages a classic as if it’s a live 1940s radio show. Peter to a score played live by the Vancou- Church adapts Charles Dickens’s story of Scrooge for the same group of radio actors performing their annual holiday special. ver Symphony Orchestra. ALBERTA BALLET’S NUTCRACKER (At the Queen Elizabeth Theatre
PRESENTS
Wednesday, December 16 at 7:30 pm
The cast of A Christmas Story: The Musical takes you back to the 1940s, when families sang carols and BB guns were in demand. David Cooper photo.
ß
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Vancouver TheatreSports League’s blue-haired title character makes Santa’s life difficult in Christmas Queen 2 .
WHERE TO GET A LAUGH CHRISTMAS QUEEN 2—YOU BETTER WATCH OUT
(At the Improv Centre until December 20) Vancouver TheatreSports League’s new spin on the hit holiday improv show brings back the cross-dressing, indigohaired, outsize Queen. She creates enough mayhem here to put Santa and his toy delivery in peril, and the audience has to help out with suggestions.
HANSEL AND GRETEL: AN EAST VAN PANTO (At the York Theatre from December 4 to January 3, 2016) Theatre Replacement’s madcap production is a neighbourhood fave. This year, it puts its own warped twist on the tale of two siblings who fall into the hands of a witch who runs a restaurant. Veda Hille takes the keyboards and local celebs guest-cameo each night. (See story on page 33.) -
WHERE TO FIND A MODERN TWIST BAH! HUMBUG! (At SFU Woodward’s in the Goldcorp Centre for the Arts from December 10 to 19) It doesn’t get more current than this: a show that transports Dickens’s A Christmas Carol to the Downtown Eastside. Yes, Scrooge even owns a Hastings Street pawn shop and Bob Cratchit is a recovering addict. Jim Byrnes stars as the miser while Margo Kane reprises her role as Narrator in a show that incorporates First Nations themes, projections of artist Richard Tetrault’s local scenes, and music that ranges from blues and folk to industrial rock.
*
A HEART-WARMING JOURNEY INTO A MAGICAL WORLD
DECEMBER 17–22 PRINCIPAL DANCERS from SAN FRANCISCO BALLET & PACIFIC NORTHWEST BALLET
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NIGHTMARE BEFORE THE NUTCRACKER: A VERY BURTON XMAS SHOW (At the Rio Theatre on December
4, 5, 11, and 12) Circus, burlesque, theatre, and live music converge in a gothically reimagined Nutcracker story. Imagine the music of Peter Ilich Tchaikovsky meeting the themes of Danny Elfman, or the comedic possibilities of sugarplum fairies encountering Betelgeuse. EBENEZER (At the Jericho Arts Centre from Decem-
Jim Byrnes plays Scrooge in a Downtown Eastside–set Bah! Humbug! at SFU Woodward’s. David Cooper photo.
ber 8 to January 2, 2016) Seven Tyrants Theatre moves A Christmas Carol to the 21st century and underscores the novella’s darker edge. Check out the original jazz score by Daniel Deorksen. -
WHERE TO MAKE THE CHORAL CONNECTION CHEZ NOUS: CHRISTMAS WITH ELEKTRA (At New Westminster Christian Reformed Church and Ryerson United Church on November 28) Our local women’s choir mixes up old favourites and fresh pieces, joined this year by jazz vocalist Dee Daniels, while Jodi Proznick plays bass. The Burnaby Central Women’s Choir adds to the all-female oomph.
A Dylan Thomas Christmas
CHRISTMAS IN THE ORPHEUM (At the Orpheum on December 4) The Vancouver Chamber Choir melds its serene voices with brass and harp music, performing a range that includes pieces by Renaissance composer Giovanni Gabrieli and sing-along carols. The ensemble ups its vocal power with the Pacifica Singers, the Vancouver Youth Choir, and more. Jon Washburn conducts.
Russell Roberts, Narrator | Vancouver Chamber Choir | Vancouver Youth Choir | Carrie Tennant & Jon Washburn, Conductors
A Child‘s Christmas in Wales 8pm | Friday, December 18, 2015 Shaughnessy Heights United Church
The Vancouver Chamber Choir’s signature performance of A Child’s Christmas in Wales (Dylan Thomas) with our favourite Welshman - Russell Roberts - narrating.
A Charlie Brown Christmas Finding the True Meaning 8pm | Saturday, December 19, 2015
CELEBRATE! A GOOD NOISE CHRISTMAS (At Christ
Church Cathedral on December 11 and 12 and Fraserview MB Church on December 13) The 90-member Good Noise Choir performs rousing renditions of spirituals and Yuletide favourites, interwoven this year with solos by guitarist David Sinclair. HANDEL’S MESSIAH (At the Orpheum on December 12) George Frederick Handel’s resounding masterpiece gets the full-on Vancouver Bach Choir treatment, with a guest appearance by beloved locally bred opera star Simone Osborne in one of the solo roles. Leslie Dala conducts and the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra provides formidable backup. CHRISTMAS WITH CHOR LEONI (At St. Andrew’s– Wesley United Church on December 18 and West Vancouver United Church on December 19) The acclaimed men’s choir tackles everything from chant, bebop,
Star soprano Simone Osborne lends her voice to the Vancouver Bach Choir for a stirring Handel’s Messiah.
and barbershop to a premiere of Terre Roche’s new work “Breath of Winter”. A CHRISTMAS REPRISE (At Holy Rosary Cathedral on
December 19) The Vancouver Cantata Singers reprise their Yuletide-season tradition in the heart of the shopping hustle-bustle. The program spans Francis Poulenc’s “Salve Regina”, Thomas Tallis’s “O Nata Lux”, and Felix Mendelssohn’s “Weihnachten”, plus carol chestnuts. The show always ends with a transcendent performance of Franz Biebl’s version of “Ave Maria”—just what you need to head back out into the busy downtown streets. -
Shaughnessy Heights United Church Pippa Johnstone, Joel Garner and Amitai Marmorstein, Actors Daniel Reynolds, Piano | Jodi Proznick, Bass Vancouver Chamber Choir | Vancouver Youth Choir Carrie Tennant & Jon Washburn, Conductors A lively concert performance of A Charlie Brown Christmas with actors, jazz duo and choirs.
1.855.985.ARTS (2787) vancouverchamberchoir.com NOVEMBER 26 – DECEMBER 3 / 2015 THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT 35
The Hit Holiday Musical Returns!
Starring Lucia Frangione & Susan Anderson Original direction and choreography by Jeff Hyslop Additional direction and dramaturgy by Max Reimer Music by Matt Grinke and the 10 Piece North Pole Orchestra Book by Bill Allman, Alan Marriott & Kevin O’Brien
December 2 - 20 Presentation House Theatre 333 Chesterfield, North Vancouver Tickets: 604-990-3474 www.phtheatre.org Produced by GTI with the generous support of Famous Artists Limited
As Dorothy, Bridget Esler brings a live Toto on-stage in Gateway Theatre’s The Wizard of Oz. David Cooper photo.
WHERE TO TAKE THE WHOLE FAMILY PETER AND THE STARCATCHER (At the new Goldcorp Stage at the BMO Theatre from December 2 to 27) The Tony Award–winning hit Peter Pan prequel, praised for appealing as much to adults as to their kids, makes its local debut in the Arts Club’s brandnew theatre. The creatively staged show traces the story of the boy who never grew up, complete with pirates, mermaids, and epic sea battles. (See story on page 39.) MRS. CLAUS’S KITCHEN (At Presentation House Theatre from December 2 to 20) The North Shore’s holiday musical, directed and choreographed by Jeff Hyslop, features Christmas baking, a small army of elves, and live music played by the North Pole Orchestra. Local
The Nutcracker
Dec 29 30 Dec 30 31
from December 10 to January 3, 2016) Projections, puppetry, dance, and live tunes make it clear you’re not in Kansas anymore. Kids bring the Munchkins to life, and Toto will be played by a real dog. -
8pm | Friday, December 4, 2015 Orpheum Theatre Vancouver Chamber Choir | Pacifica Singers Vancouver Youth Choir | Vivian Chen, Harp Brass Ensemble | Jon Washburn, Conductor Nothing says Christmas more than choirs, and this concert brings you the city’s finest, singing the glorious voice-and-brass music of Gabrieli and Pinkham, intimate moods of Derek Healey’s new set of carols with harp, and a grand sing-along of traditional favourites, as the audience joins in with the choirs and brass ensemble. Venite! Venite!
7:30pm 2:00pm
Queen Elizabeth Theatre balletbc.com | ticketmaster.ca MEDIA PARTNER
THE WIZARD OF OZ (At Richmond’s Gateway Theatre
Choirs with Brass and Harp
Choreography Edmund Stripe Music Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky Music Performed by The Vancouver Symphony Orchestra Set & Costume Design Zack Brown Lighting Design Pierre Lavoie
HOTEL SPONSOR
JAMES AND THE GIANT PEACH (At the Waterfront Theatre from December 5 to January 3, 2016) The musical rendition of the Roald Dahl classic builds a fantastical world around James and the adventures he goes on with a magical peach’s inhabitants—Grasshopper, Ladybug, Centipede, Spider, and Earthworm.
Christmas in the Orpheum
Ballet BC presents Alberta Ballet
GOLD SEASON SPONSOR
favourite Lucia Frangione is the big draw this year, as the unappreciated old dame herself.
MEDIA SPONSORS
SUPPORT FOR BALLET BC HAS BEEN GENEROUSLY PROVIDED BY
ARTISTS OF ALBERTA BALLET. PHOTO BY DARREN MAKOIVICHUK.
36 THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT NOVEMBER 26 – DECEMBER 3 / 2015
1.855.985.ARTS (2787) vancouverchamberchoir.com
L All FO include s t e k tic tr y to n e E E FR ights N d e t Enchan edel at Blo
Oak Street at West 37th Avenue Vancouver, BC
NOVEMBER 26 – DECEMBER 3 / 2015 THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT 37
38 THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT NOVEMBER 26 – DECEMBER 3 / 2015
HOLIDAY ARTS
The Arts Club’s Bill Millerd and Bard on the Beach’s Christopher Gaze unveil their new space (Amanda Siebert photo); Benjamin Wardle and Rachel Cairns in Peter and the Starcatcher (David Cooper photo).
Starcatcher an apt opener for new theatre > B Y A NDR EA WA R NE R
O
utside, young professionals are walking at a clip, heading home to their piece of sky among the towers of Olympic Village. They have no idea that inside the new BMO Theatre Centre, there’s a flurry of near-constant activity: the air is still choked with that fresh-paint smell, people in hardhats traipse past yellow tape across unfinished floors, and, in one of the four rehearsal halls, Colleen Wheeler is leading a group of actors in a hilarious song-and-dance number, two large, blue, sparkly fans strategically covering her body. “Are we mermaiding?” somebody asks. “Okay, we’re mermaiding!” This is Peter and the Starcatcher, the Tony Award–winning Broadway musical that imagines the early life of the boy who would become Peter Pan. The musical is carefully designed to maximize the perception of improvised, creative chaos. “It really is a perfect piece of theatre, and I think the craft is in the execution as opposed to in the dazzle,” says Starcatcher director David Mackay. “It’s an homage to all things theatre: it is not a passive art form and it’s an active engagement, similar to how kids play and how adults want to play as well.”
That engagement is one of the primary goals of the BMO Theatre Centre, which gets its official unveiling when Peter and the Starcatcher debuts on its Goldcorp Stage. Once upon a time, the centre was supposed to be the new home of the muchmourned Vancouver Playhouse, which ceased operating in 2012. Now it’s a collaboration between the Arts Club and Bard on the Beach, exactly where the Playhouse’s production centre used to sit, well before the Wall Financial Corporation bought the land for condo development. When the city began searching for a replacement, Bard and the Arts Club applied. The city accepted the application, provided the companies could raise the money. “It was a $20-million project,” Arts Club artistic managing director Bill Millerd says, standing with Bard on the Beach artistic director and founder Christopher Gaze just off the shared boardroom still under construction, overlooking the large bar and two-storey atrium below. “Seven to eight million was the Wall Centre giving this [space] as a shell. That’s what they were going to provide for the Playhouse and for that they got bonus density, probably in these two towers [Wall Centre False Creek].”
And, Millerd continues, “we’re debtfree here. We raised all the money that needed to be raised. Of the 12 to 13 million left, seven million came from the City because it’s their facility, twoand-a-half million came from [Canadian] Heritage, and we raised more than we initially needed, which is going to allow us to have a capital-reserve fund, because in 10 years there will be things that need to be done.” The 48,000-square-foot space was designed by Proscenium Architecture & Interiors. The top floor is occupied by the Arts Club and Bard offices and the Bard costume shop. The main floor is home to the 240seat Goldcorp Stage. Beyond the bar and down a tangle of concrete hallways are four rehearsal spaces and dressing rooms. Both companies have separate costume-storage facilities onsite, with floor-to-ceiling, rolling racks that look like they require a fireman’s ladder to reach the top. The shared lounge is already fostering community, just as Millerd and Gaze hoped. “To see right out here in the artists’ lounge, where the actors in [Gateway Theatre’s] The Wizard of Oz can meet with the actors from The Starcatcher right here and have their lunch and get to know each other—it’s really important, it really mixes things up,
and it will be a good thing for the arts,” Gaze says, beaming. When the Starcatcher cast wraps rehearsal for the day, Wheeler can’t stop raving about the new digs. “The fact that there’s now a hub of four rehearsal spaces, a beautiful theatre, and at times there have been three shows rehearsing here and we all meet and it’s this cacophony of artists in one hub in the middle of this beautiful area—” Wheeler breaks off and grins. “It’s pretty fantastic. It’s a big deal.” There have also been equal levels of panic and excitement, Mackay says with a laugh. “We’re working frantically to get things together and get this up to speed, and we know that the same thing’s happening with the theatre as well, so that’s unique,” he says. “With the buzz saws and people walking in and out, it feels exactly like it should be, the first show opening here, a creative process,” says Benjamin Wardle, who plays Peter. “The illusion of this play is that everything is being created in the moment,” Wheeler adds. “Even though that sounds easy, it’s really not.” Turning the impossible into the possible is something of a Mackay specialty. Wheeler never thought she’d be in Starcatcher, since the cast is typically 11 men and one woman. Mackay not
only cast Wheeler as the key villain, Black Stache, but his Starcatcher features six men and six women, and the group is a diverse assembly of people of colour and varying body types. “It was my plan to be ahead of Trudeau,” Mackay jokes when Wheeler salutes him. “I knew it was 2015 at the beginning of 2015.” But in all seriousness, he says, changing up Starcatcher’s traditional casting is “absolutely important to me because it’s a play about the child’s imagination, and I think at that age you should believe everything is possible, and I think you should see everything is possible. That’s why I did it.” With this approach, the Arts Club’s Starcatcher might be the boldest, most creative, and truest interpretation of the musical’s themes yet—and a fitting show to kick open the doors of a new theatre venue. “The show is a mirror of a child’s imagination,” Mackay says. “How we played as kids, it’s a direct mirror, and it uses theatre as the medium. It’s a perfect parallel of how we played and how we all play. It’s quite brilliant that way.” The Arts Club presents Peter and the Starcatcher on the Goldcorp Stage at the BMO Theatre Centre from Thursday (November 26) to December 27.
NOVEMBER 26 – DECEMBER 3 / 2015 THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT 39
ARTS
Kafka’s stories fuel Flee > B Y A ND R EA WA R NER
J
A Comedy of Love and Manners
by R Brinsley Sheridann Richard Directed by
JOHNNA WRIGHT
Dec 28 to Jan 23 at the Cultch 2015
2016
Tickets: 604.251.1363 or thecultch.com blackbirdtheatre.ca
media sponsors:
CHELSEA HOTEL Anvil Centre Theatre presents a Firehall Arts Centre production
The Songs of
Leonard Cohen
Conceived and Directed by
Tracey Power
Charles
Anvil Centre Photo: Grant Mattice
Ben Elliott, Marlene Ginader & Lauren Bowler
David Cooper Photography
Musical Direction by Steve
“a knockout!” Colin Thomas The Georgia Straight
Dec 8 - 13
Anvil Centre Theatre 777 Columbia St, New Westminster
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40 THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT NOVEMBER 26 – DECEMBER 3 / 2015
onathon Young has come home. He’s sitting in the theatre at his alma mater, Studio 58, having just wrapped rehearsal for the day on Flee, the wonderfully weird new collaboration between his former school and the company he cofounded shortly after graduation, the award-winning Electric Company Theatre. Though he’s one of the city’s most exciting actors, this time around Young is staying behind the scenes, having written Flee with David Hudgins and Peter Anderson, with original music by Peggy Lee. Young is also directing the unusual live-theatre/ live-music hybrid himself. “Flying solo is a new experience,” Young admits with a grin. “With so many bodies and a band and a new show. And my old acting teacher. Yeah, we’re all out of our comfort zone. It’s a big little experiment.” At its most basic, Flee is about Archibald Twill, a down-on-his-luck watchmaker whose fortunes change when he discovers talented fleas on a stray dog’s back. He sets up a flea circus in a flophouse and Caprice, the singing flea, becomes his muse and breadwinner. But when the circus becomes a literal cult hit, attracting followers called Fleaks, an infestation breaks out and havoc ensues. “A man turns into a bug for no good reason other than just to alienate himself from the world,” Young explains, starting with the Franz Kafka story The Metamorphosis. “In our case, it’s a metaphor for the transformation that occurs in the world of the theatre.” “A Hunger Artist”, Young says of another Kafka work, is about a guy whose only trick is to sit there and not eat, and the strange fascination that casts over audiences until people get bored and move on. He points to some of our fruitless preoccupations, how
Peter Anderson stars as Archibald Twill in Flee, the Kafka-inspired story of a flophouse flea circus that becomes a literal cult hit. Emily Cooper photo.
we attach a “great deal of significance and interest to something that is ultimately totally insignificant and just a waste of time”. Not unlike the relationship, sometimes, between performers and audience, Young says. “We can devote ourselves to a practice which ultimately causes us to waste away and disappear or just become less than we were before we started this thing,” he says. “Josephine the Singer, or the Mouse Folk” is about a mouse who sings for her people. It’s all from the point of view of the mice. Her singing is nothing special, Young recalls, and yet all the mice are rapt with attention listening to it. “There was something that was really moving and haunting and small about this story,” he says. “That informed the world of this play.”
Those themes resonate with Young personally, too, which perhaps makes Flee all the more a work that has pushed him outside his comfort zone. “Nowadays, I find with making new work, even though I’ve been doing it ever since I got out of fucking theatre school, more and more I have to sort of manage a lot of anxiety about it,” Young says. “And I also have to continually keep reminding myself why it’s worth doing. But then again, when we’re in here in the room and we’re making this thing and we’re talking amongst each other and figuring it out, I find it a very natural place to be. It’s the push-pull of that.” Studio 58 and Electric Company Theatre present Flee at the Fox Cabaret from Thursday (November 26) to December 6.
Kokoro riffs on masks and more
S
> B Y A LE X A ND ER VA R TY
omething wicker—and wonderful—this way comes. Balanced atop dancers Barbara Bourget, Jay Hirabayashi, Molly McDermott, and Billy Marchenski, designer Jonathan Baldock’s woven, basketlike headpieces are among the strangest and most striking creations ever to grace a Vancouver stage. They’re so odd, in fact, that everyone who’s seen them during rehearsals for Kokoro Dance’s Book of Love has seen something different. “[Lighting designer] Gerald King saw African masks, and another person remarked that they reminded her of those shakuhachi players in Japan who wear baskets on their heads,” says Hirabayashi, who choreographed Kokoro’s new evening-length outing with his life and art partner Bourget. “They really transform our characters, I think.” Other viewers have compared Baldock’s work to tribal costumes from Papua New Guinea and the blank stare of an inflatable sex doll, but when Book of Love’s cast first set eyes on them, Bourget simply saw a challenge. “I was totally shocked,” she says, interviewed in a conference call with Hirabayashi from Kokoro’s Downtown Eastside office. “I expected something wild and wacky, and he didn’t disappoint. But then, of course, we had to figure out how to wear them.” So just how are they a problem? “Well, we can’t see!” Bourget reveals, laughing at the notion that, in this production, love really is blind. “They have eyeholes, but they don’t exactly align with our eyes, so it is a bit like dancing in your own space and feeling everybody else, rather than being able to turn your head and see them. Masks also require a little more subtlety when you wear them, because just a slight movement really changes the emotional context. So there’s been a lot of adjustment in terms of how we incorporate them into the choreography that we did.” Hirabayashi reveals that the new work is named after a tune from the Magnetic Fields’ 1999 concept album 69 Love Songs. “It starts off with the line ‘The book of love is long and boring,’ ” he says, before Bourget completes the couplet: “ ‘No one can lift the damn thing.’ ” That sent the two choreographer-performers off in search of other rock songs about love, before setting the movement on a mix of tunes by blues extrovert Stevie Ray Vaughan, Hornby Island guitarist Tony Wilson, and the Magnetic Fields, among others. Only then did they erase the soundtrack and turn things over to composer Jeffrey Ryan, who has created an original score that new-music sextet Standing Wave will perform live when Book of Love debuts. “I think the process has been kind of magical, in the way
Barbara Bourget and Jay Hirabayashi get romantic—but not too romantic—in Book of Love. Chris Randle photo.
that each of the contributors have given their own input,” Hirabayashi says. “They’re not trying to enhance our vision, but to add their own—and, ultimately, what we’ve wound up with is a sense of commitment, and of joy.” That’s appropriate, for although Bourget cautions that Book of Love is no Harlequin romance, it does pay tribute to her enduring creative and personal partnership with Hirabayashi. (McDermott and Marchenski sometimes portray a younger version of the Kokoro founders.) The company turns 30 next year, and continues to build on its singularly provocative fusion of butoh and modern dance. “We’ve created over 190 works, and it’s really been wonderful—although at times very stressful—to really stretch our creative muscles on this one,” says Bourget. “In making it, I thought about my grandchildren, and my children, and how much I love the art of dance. And I think the piece has a little bit of all the facets of love, including maybe a little bit of romance. But not too much: it’s Kokoro, after all!” Kokoro Dance presents Book of Love at the Roundhouse Community Arts and Recreation Centre from Wednesday to next Saturday (November 25 to December 5).
ARTS
Able actors mine dementia and memories TH E AT RE
ber’s detailed lighting and Corwin Ferguson’s impressionistic projections heightens the dream. The play’s interpersonal dynamics get repetitive, but its core is compelling.
YOU WILL REMEMBER ME By François Archambault. Translated by Bobby Theodore. Directed by Diane Brown. A Ruby Slippers Theatre production, presented by the Cultch. At the Cultch’s Historic Theatre on Wednesday, November 18. Continues until November 28
There’s a kind of genius in Archambault’s You Will Remember Me: the theatre is all about mutable reality and the theatre is where Archambault tells his story about a man whose dementia requires him to constantly reinvent his existence. Edouard, the central character, is no easily likable victim. He’s a prominent Québécois intellectual who’s famous for seducing his female students. He’s charming, but also a self-centred braggart who refers to himself as a living encyclopedia and declares, “A lot of people would pay to spend time with me.” In his illness, Edouard clings to his wife, Madeleine, but long before Edouard got sick, she’d had enough of his emotional abuse and she dumps him with their daughter, Isabelle. An expert at repression, Isabelle busies herself with work, so she leaves her dad with her unemployed boyfriend, Patrick, who, in turn, hands him over to his young adult daughter, the cellphone-obsessed Berenice. Berenice trips in Edouard memories of a long-suppressed family tragedy—and the play turns around those memories. Edouard’s confidence in the middle of all of this makes witnessing his story bearable. He’s curious about his condition, and even though he gaps out, he’s articulate in his exploration of it. Yes, he gets scared and lost, but nowhere near as
> COLIN THOMAS
THE NORTH PLAN By Jason Wells. Directed by Chelsea Haberlin. An Upintheair Theatre production. At a location near 211 East Georgia Street on Saturday, November 21. Continues until November 29
2 François
The North Plan is a strange
2 mix of paranoia and farce—
In the excellent You Will Remember Me, Sereana Malani’s Berenice trips memories of a family tragedy in Kevin McNulty’s Edouard. Lisa Wu photo.
scared and lost as the real-life folks with dementia I’ve known. That’s lucky for him because, at different points, everybody treats him like shit. Isabelle tears a strip off her father, for instance, because he can no longer play cards. As an Anglo, I found myself wondering if there was a cultural gap: do Québécois families really lash out so cruelly and yet remain relatively unscathed? Much of Archambault’s cultural contextualization is deliberate and intriguing. Edouard rails against social media, insisting that they are trapping us in an eternal, nonreflective present, much like the one to which he is increasingly confined. And Archambault draws a parallel between the decline of Edouard’s intellect and the fading of the dreams of Quebec separatism. What really makes the play work, though, is its narrative flexibility.
When Edouard repeatedly asks Patrick what he does for a living, Patrick starts inventing new responses: “I’m an astronaut.” And when Edouard wants Berenice to be someone she’s not, she obliges. Director Diane Brown and her team do an excellent job with this script. There’s no doubt that Kevin McNulty’s Edouard is a prick. He’s also innocent and so vulnerable he made me weep. In some of the finest work we’ve seen from her, Patti Allan captures both Madeleine’s fury and her tenderness. Marci T. House makes a forceful Isabelle and Craig Erickson a comically hapless Patrick. Sereana Malani brings fresh and understated discovery to every one of Berenice’s lines. The elements in Heidi Wilkinson’s abstract grey set feel overly disparate, but Joelysa Pankanea’s restrained original music sets the perfect tone, and the combination of John Web-
A Firehall Arts Centre production
and a strange blend of the sinister real world and its shallow television counterpart. It’s the near future, and the U.S. is under martial law. Carlton Berg, a Washington bureaucrat, finds himself in a holding cell in tiny Lotus, Missouri; he’s on the run, trying to protect millions of innocent civilians who have somehow made it onto a government database of enemies of the state. His only companion— and his only hope for justice—is the prisoner in the neighbouring cell, a dimwitted, self-involved chatterbox named Tanya, who seems far from up to the task of saving the free world. American playwright Jason Wells raises very serious issues in his script: the scenario is based on an actual military contingency plan drafted in the 1980s by Oliver North (of Iran-Contra fame) and the reallife database is said to contain personal information—collected by digital surveillance—on over eight million Americans, whose “threat to national security” may amount to no more than having attended a protest or written a poem. Sound familiar, Canadians? But Wells wraps this genuinely frightening content in the familiar trappings of the TV sitcom, which escalates after
intermission to all-out farce. The result is entertaining, but not entirely satisfying. Under Chelsea Haberlin’s direction, the performances are uniformly strong. Genevieve Fleming is deliciously committed to the volume and repetition that Tanya deploys to compensate for her lack of perceptiveness. Daniel Martin’s Berg is tortured equally by his dangerous knowledge and by the increasingly slim chance he’ll be able to do anything with it. Both Paul Herbert, the suspicious small-town sheriff, and Catherine Lough Haggquist, as a desk officer who can’t make up her mind whose side she’s on, are grounded counterpoints to the desperation of their prisoners. Allen Morrison and David Mott round out the cast in the second act as a pair of federal agents with some issues to work out. The seating in this site-specific venue keeps audiences close to the action, especially in the second act, which veers into slapstick as police procedural meets bedroom farce. (There are lots of slamming doors.) But I left the show wondering what Wells wants us to take away. Is this a call for radical action, or are we meant to simply amuse ourselves to death? > KATHLEEN OLIVER
ONCE Book by Enda Walsh. Music and lyrics by Glen Hansard and Markéta Irglová. Directed by John Tiffany. At the Queen Elizabeth Theatre on Tuesday, November 17. No remaining performances
The main thing that Once has go-
2 ing for it is that it’s not Wicked.
Being minimalist as opposed to overinflated only goes so far, however. In the musical Once, which is based see next page
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Once
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on the movie of the same name, Guy’s lover has left Dublin for New York, so he’s got a broken heart, and because his career as a singer-songwriter is going nowhere, he’s working with his dad, repairing vacuums. Enter Girl, also a musician, who hears Guy singing in a bar and insists that he simply must pursue his musical career. Always on the verge of tears, pouring out his heart in ballad after ballad, Guy is more than a bit wet. And I can’t decide if the dynamic in which a morbidly sensitive man is saved by the relentless optimism and faith of a perky, pushy woman is more indulgent of or insulting to both parties. Despite this questionable narrative core, the style of the storytelling in Once is charming. This piece is set in a Dublin bar, and, before the show starts and at intermission, audience members can mingle with the cast on the set, and even order drinks. Everybody in the small company plays an instrument, which allows them to become an on-stage orchestra. And to create locations for new scenes, the actors rearrange the furniture with dancelike flourish. All round, director John Tiffany’s staging is exquisite. And the movement by Steven Hoggett height-
Even though Once sometimes wears its heart too showily on its sleeve, it still charms with a Dublin-bar setting and award-winning songs. Joan Marcus photo.
ens everyday gestures and physical impulses just enough so that we can see their force and beauty. In a lovely moment in the second act, a group of characters, who all have their backs to us, slip their arms around one another’s waists in unison. Still, far too much of Once is dull—and that includes most of Act 1. Virtually nothing happens in Enda Walsh’s Tony Award–winning book. Guy simply quivers with longing for Girl, who is too driven to allow that longing—or the plot—to go anywhere. And with the exception of the Academy Award–winning “Falling Slowly”, which is touching—“I don’t know you/but I want you/all the more for
that”—the songs are an undistinguished mélange of folky pop. Act 2 is much better. The stakes ramp up when Girl finally admits her love—to us, if not to Guy. And the second act is far more musically dynamic than the first. It includes the passionate escalation of Girl’s “When Your Mind’s Made Up” and the haunting simplicity of an a cappella version of the love song “Gold”. This touring production is handsome and the multitalented cast, including Stuart Ward as Guy and Dani de Waal as Girl, is strong. Even if this show weren’t coming at us trailing eight Tonys, however, it would be fair to expect more of it. > COLIN THOMAS
STUDENT ART SALE NOV 26-29, 2015 Representing more than 150 of Emily Carr’s up-and-coming artists and designers. Choose from a wide selection of paintings, photographs, prints, ceramics, sculpture, wearable works, housewares, greeting cards and more.
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“smart, hilarious and disturbing. Mostly hilarious.”
The Canadian Premiere Directed by Chelsea Haberlin In an underground location at 211 East Georgia 604.257.0350 - $20/$14 Low income - http://tickets.theatrewire.com WARNING! Offensive Language, Violence, Firearms, & Gun Shots. 42 THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT NOVEMBER 26 – DECEMBER 3 / 2015
ARTS
〵 抓 殹
In visible
➿ 谁 遯 涸 䚍 ⚆ 歲
on vieew unt unttiil ap un a ri r l 3, 3 201 06 Media Spon S sor
ub c mu ubc muse see um u o f an a th thro ropo po o lo o gy | m oa oa.u .ubc bc.c .caa | # vi visi sitm tmoa oa 6393 63 93 n. n.w. w. m ar arin inee dr driv ivv e, van anco c ouv co uvv er
Chiu Yu-Wen’s Water Fairies Reproduction Project conjures both folk-art tradition and a fairy-tale world at the Museum of Anthropology’s (In)visible.
Let the spirits surround you at Taiwanese show VISUAL AR TS (IN)VISIBLE: THE SPIRITUAL WORLD OF TAIWAN THROUGH CONTEMPORARY ART At the UBC Museum of Anthropology until April 3
To enter the show of contempor-
2 ary Taiwanese art at the UBC
Museum of Anthropology is to be immersed in the otherworldly. A long passageway, winding from the gallery doors well into the exhibition space, is draped in tall, undulating sheets of delicate white fabric covered in tens of thousands of delicate white cut-paper forms. With their rounded, scalloped, and dangling shapes, they conjure both folk-art tradition and a fairy-tale world of water sprites. This work, which poses ethereality against monumentality, suggests water cascading down an unseen cliff face into the deep pool of our unconscious minds. Or perhaps, as we make our way through this work, we are sharing a primal journey through a birth canal with little fluttering spirits who lend their memories and their magic to our existence. The installation Water Fairies Reproduction Project is by Chiu YuWen, one of seven artists represented in (In)visible: The Spiritual World of Taiwan Through Contemporary Art. Organized by MOA curator Fuyubi Nakamura, the show explores the complex weave of religious traditions that informs everyday life in that island nation. In the slender exhibition catalogue, Nakamura writes about the blending of indigenous beliefs and those introduced, over millennia, by waves of trade, immigration, and colonialism. The various faiths, philosophies, and spiritual practices embraced by the Taiwanese people, she observes, range across Buddhism, Taoism, Confucianism, Christianity, Chinese folk religions, and aboriginal animism. Works on view include Anli Genu’s painted panels combining references to his Christian beliefs (he is a Presbyterian pastor) and his aboriginal heritage; Tu Wei-Cheng’s Confucius Dancing Mambo, a relief sculpture in artificial stone that seems to mock the influence of religion on education; and Charwei Tsai’s video Sky Mantra, in which the artist meditates on the Buddhist concept of emptiness. Walis Labai’s Invisible Project: Whispering With Spirits, a video work in which found images of aboriginal
people from around the world have been projected onto natural settings such as a rock face, a bamboo forest, and a rushing river, is weirdly reductive. It appears to explore the idea of natural places sacred to indigenous people, but ultimately conflates widely diverse peoples and cultures into a single unnamed and undifferentiated aboriginal entity. A far more specific and convincing use of Taiwanese aboriginal reference occurs in Yuma Taru’s Convolution of Life, an installation consisting of three large, beautiful woven sculptures. Seeming to float in the air like clouds, their curling forms register the weaving traditions of the artist’s Atayal ancestors, while also invoking a wondrous metaphor. In her statement, Yuma says that for the Atayal people, every human life is a fabric “that is continually woven in the heavens”. The photos of this work reproduced in the MOA catalogue were taken in an earlier installation and depict a more open and dynamic configuration. Here, the weavings are more tightly furled, suggesting lives still in utero, not yet fully realized, although still symbolically receptive to connections and possibilities. The most visually engaging work here is Li Jiun-Yang’s big, complex, multicomponent installation, Miao. Li often affixes “Ingenious craftsman” to his name to indicate his background in popular and folk traditions, from billboard painting to temple art to puppet theatre. This broad experience is evident in Miao’s hundreds and hundreds of carved and decorated puppet heads and hundreds more charcoal and graphite drawings, created over a period of 20 years. The work is installed to resemble a Buddhist temple, with “scrolls” of surreal and sometimes monstrous drawings of human heads hanging at one end of the gallery and vast crowds of puppets and puppet heads mounted on rough wooden scaffolding at the other. (It is unfortunate that MOA’s awkward exhibition layout prevents entrance to the installation from the end that would make the most sense, visually and conceptually.) Larger drawings of hybrid deities, from sea turtles to sorceresses, are mounted on walls around the room. It’s a truly captivating installation, immersive and, in many ways, overwhelming—and impossible to see or comprehend in one visit. Given the theme of this exhibition, this is as it should be. > ROBIN LAURENCE
NOVEMBER 26 – DECEMBER 3 / 2015 THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT 43
UPCOMING CONCERTS KIDS’ KONCERTS:
Celebrating our 30th Anniversary Season
WINTER SOLSTICE SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 2PM Orpheum Theatre Gordon Gerrard conductor Samantha Whelan Kotkas author/narrator Keon Birney composer
Book of Love November 25 - 28 December 2 - 5
Roundhouse Performance Centre Tickets/Info ŚƩƉ͗ͬͬŬŽŬŽƌŽ͘ĐĂ 604-662-4966 Choreography: Barbara Bourget & Jay Hirabayashi Music: Jeffrey Ryan Costumes/Set: Jonathan Baldock Lighting: Gerald King
Performed by: Kokoro Dance Barbara Bourget, Jay Hirabayashi, Molly McDermott & Billy Marchenski and Standing Wave Olivia Blander, cello AK Coope, clarinet Vern Griffiths, percussion Christie Reside, flute Allen Stiles, piano Rebecca Whitling, violin
Travel to the majestic, magnificent and mysterious Mount Assiniboine on a musical journey through the amazing Canadian Rockies. Encounter the magical faeries who call these mountains home, each hypnotically voiced by their own musical instrument. VSO Instrument Fair in the lobby at 1pm. Instruments provided by Tom Lee Music PREMIER EDUCATION PARTNER
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FRIDAY & SATURDAY, DECEMBER 18 & 19 Chan Centre, UBC MOZART Divertimento in D Major Salzburg Symphony No.1 KANCHELI Eine kleine Daneliade MOZART Eine kleine Nachtmusik VIVALDI Four Seasons* Vadim Gluzman leader/violin* The Vancouver Symphony presents a can’t-miss annual tradition: Vivaldi’s )RXU 6HDVRQV. This year, the VSO is thrilled to welcome one of the world’s greatest violinists, the extraordinary Vadim Gluzman, to perform this timeless classic — on his amazing 1690 ŐH[ /HRSROG $XHUő 6WUDGLYDULXV YLROLQ (incredibly, an instrument that was created some thirty years before Vivaldi wrote the famous set of concertos that Gluzman will perform!). SPONSORED BY
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Book of Love photo by Jay Hirabayashi
44 THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT NOVEMBER 26 – DECEMBER 3 / 2015
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BOOKS
Irving searches out miracles
Going Home Star
> BY DOUG SA R T I
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Truth h+ Reco onciliation o ncilia ation Reconciliation
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DANCER: SOPHIA LEE | PHOTO: RÉJEAN BRANDT PHOTOGRAPHY
hen John Irving calls the Straight to talk up his 14th and latest novel, Avenue of Mysteries, the conversation, understandably, turns to the temporal. “The passage of time is almost a character in the story,” the 73-yearold Irving says, on the line from his home in Toronto. “It’s a big part of what the novel is about.” Indeed, the book’s hero, Juan Diego Guerrero, is a man out of time, in more ways than one. With his story threaded between two time lines, Juan Diego becomes, effectively, a Schrödinger’s cat of a character, simultaneously 14 and 54 years old. And as the narrative toggles back and forth between the two ages, it’s evident that both time lines are set on a collision course. A sprawling, complex, and compelling work, Avenue of Mysteries abounds with symbolism and foreshadowing, along with some wildly comic set pieces. Based in Mexico and the Philippines, it follows the fortunes of Juan Diego and his clairvoyant sister Lupe, and boasts a cast of characters as vibrant, likable, frustrating, and mysterious as any in the Irving canon. A former “dump kid”—a garbage scavenger in Oaxaca—Juan Diego is a self-taught reader who attracts the attention of the local Jesuits during his early teenage years. As Irving makes clear, it’s no coincidence that’s where the story begins. “It’s an age that’s always interested me in fiction, the puberty years or thereabouts,” he says. After a long pause (Irving’s speech abounds with pauses; he seems to always be searching for the perfect phrasing), he continues. “If something so indelible, so formative of who you will become as an adult happens to you at that threshold age—something that you will never get over, can’t recover from, could never explain—as you get older, it gets brighter and clearer and more vivid than anything in your present life.” For Juan Diego, it certainly does. And suffice it to say that what his transformative event amounts to is nothing less than an honest-to-God miracle. “That’s the part of religion I’ve always liked,” Irving whispers with a conspiratorial playfulness, “the miracles.” When pressed on the subject of spirituality, the author recounts his childhood experiences first as a Congregationalist (“as mild and tepid a way to step into the waters of faith as can be imagined”) and then with his stepfather’s Episcopal Church (“much more interesting, much more ritual”).
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Tickets Ti k ffrom $29! Author John Irving explores the flawed human nature of our religious institutions in his globe-roving new novel, Avenue of Mysteries. Everett Irving photo.
But he’s also quick to add that “My own religious—such as it was—upbringing doesn’t matter, no more than my life isn’t very interesting or matterful in terms of what I write fiction about.” Still, Irving does admit a kinship with the novel’s character of Rivera, a man who has no problem speaking truth to power. “I suppose I identify most with the old dump boss, religiously speaking, when he says, pointing to the statue of the Virgin Mary and speaking to the two old priests, ‘I come here for her, not for you.’ ” Irving takes another long pause. “He says it for many of us, I think.” While the novel’s narrative may be bathed— saturated, even—in Catholicism, it’s evident that for Irving, organized faith is tempered by the vagaries of human nature. “The man-made institution of the church is flawed,” he says, “as all manmade things are, and I don’t mean to single out the Catholic Church as the only church that deserves to be questioned, but each and every church. The policies that represent religions are never the same thing as those miraculous events that are what make people believe.”
As Juan Diego’s path is long and circuitous, so Irving’s has been. After living in New Hampshire, Vienna, Iowa, New York, and Vermont (and many part-time years in Ontario), the author now makes his full-time home in Toronto. And as a newly minted permanent Canadian resident, Irving is more than a little pleased with the recent political tidal wave. “I found it very exciting to be here on election night and see such a widespread denouncement of Mr. Harper,” he says, branding the former prime minister a “punitive obstructionist”. “I’ve only met Justin Trudeau once, but we found a lot of things to agree about. He’s a good reader”— Irving pauses for dramatic effect, then laughs heartily—“which is to say he’s knowledgeable of my novels.” As for what brought Irving to Canada for good, the easy answer is his Canadian wife, Janet, and an empty nest. But while Juan Diego, who Irving notes is marked with “an aura of fate”, would probably argue predestination, the author himself is clearly on the side of self-determination. “It’s my choice,” Irving says with an obvious comfort, “and I’m happy to be here.” -
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Ticketmaster.ca 1.855.985.ARTS (2787) choreography Mark Godden | based on a story by Joseph Boyden music Christos Hatzis | featuring the music of Tanya Tagaq (winner of the 2014 Polaris Music Prize) and Steve Wood & The Northern Cree Singers
April 7 - 9 / 2016 at 8pm Queen Elizabeth Theatre, Vancouver
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CHINA ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT GROUP PRESENTS HUAJIN DANCE DRAMA ENSEMBLE OF SHANXI ACADEMY OF ARTS
AN EPIC TALE OF POWER, PASSION AND THE PEKING OPERA TOLD THROUGH DANCE “[Opera Warriors’] performances are best measured in megawatts.” — THE SYDNEY MORNING HERALD
The Vancouver Writers Fest and Penguin Random House present An Evening With John Irving on Tuesday (December 1) at the Vancouver Playhouse. For more information, go to www.writersfest.bc.ca/.
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Request for Expressions of Interest & Qualifications 725 Marine Drive, City of North Vancouver BC.
Anthem Properties Ltd. in partnership with the City of North Vancouver Public Art Program is seeking an artist or team of artists to create a permanent artwork associated with a new development. For more info go to N.Vancouver Public Art program call for Artists:
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HANDEL’S MESSIAH DEC. 5 @ 8 PM & DEC. 6 @ 3 PM
Orchestra and soloists will join Capilano U’s 150-voice choir in the complete version of Handel’s Messiah
CHARLIE HUNTER TRIO • DEC. 12 @ 8 PM Grammy nominated guitarist/composer Charlie Hunter with long-time collaborators trombone master, Curtis Fowlkes and drum maestro Bobby Previte
WINTER HARP • DEC. 16 & 17 @ 7:30 PM Celebrate the season with our ever-popular medieval journey into the heart of winter
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NOVEMBER 26 – DECEMBER 3 / 2015 THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT 45
holiday ar ts/ timeout CHRISTMAS 2JUST ANNOUNCED PAUL ANTHONY’S TALENT TIME: 8TH ANNUAL CHRISTMAS SPECIAL Paul Anthony hosts performances by storyteller Emelia Symington-Fedy, Abbla
Banji, MJ Ancheta, John Lennon tribute artist Kevin Davey, and the Notre Dame Regional Secondary School choir. Dec 3, 8 pm, Rio Theatre (1660 E. Broadway). Tix $12/10, info www.facebook.com/ events/903531483095529/.
THE NIGHTMARE BEFORE THE NUTCRACKER An adults-only tribute to the spooky holiday magic of Tim Burton features circus, burlesque, and live music. Dec 4-5, 11-12, Rio Theatre (1660 E. Broadway). Info www.riotheatre.ca/. HANDEL’S MESSIAH Dunbar Heights United Voices presents choruses from Handel’s Messiah. Dec 4, 5, 7 pm, Dunbar Heights United Church (3525 24th Ave. West). Admission by donation ($20 suggested), info www.dunbarheightsuc.ca/. CHRISTMAS IN THE ORPHEUM The Vancouver Chamber Choir presents a holiday concert of material by Giovanni Gabrieli, Daniel Pinkham, Derek Healey, and Sir David Willcocks. Includes an audience sing-along. Dec 4, 8 pm, Orpheum Theatre (601 Smithe). Tix $20.50-55, info www.vancouverchamberchoir.com/.
ALL IS CALM: THE CHRISTMAS TRUCE OF 1914 Chor Leoni and professional actors tell the true story of the Christmas Truce in the words and songs of the men who lived it. Dec 5, 3 pm, 8 pm, Queen Elizabeth Theatre (650 Hamilton). Tix $20-45, info www.chorleoni.org/concerts-events/ events/calm-christmas-truce-1914-2/. HANDEL’S MESSIAH The 120-voice choir of Capilano University is joined by a professional Baroque orchestra (Carolyn Cole concertmaster), and soloists soprano Heather Pawsey, countertenor Mark Donnelly, tenor Mark De Silva, and bass George Roberts. Lars Kaario conducts. Dec 5, 8 pm; Dec 6, 3 pm, BlueShore Financial Centre for the Performing Arts (2055 Purcell Way). Tix $30/25/10 , info www.capilanou.ca/blueshorefinancial centre/15-Handel-s-Messiah/. CHRISTMAS WITH THE BACH CHOIR The Vancouver Bach Choir presents a concert of seasonal favourites performed by more than 400 singers. Dec 6, 2 pm, Orpheum Theatre (601 Smithe). Tix $29-65, info www.vancouverbachchoir.com/.
ENCORE PRESENTATION
Written and Directed by PETER ROTHSTEIN Musical arrangements by ERICK LICHTE and TIMOTHY C. TAKACH
For one night, ‘No Man’s Land’ was every man’s land.
December 5
| 3 PM & 8 PM
QUEEN ELIZABETH THEATRE ADULT TICKETS FROM $35 | STUDENTS $20 TicketsTonight.ca | 1.877.840.0457 | All Seats Reserved
ALL THE JOY AND BEAUTY OF THE FESTIVE SEASON
CHRISTMAS AT THE CHAN CENTRE Conductor Joel Tranquilla leads five choirs and a full orchestra in an eclectic program that ranges from Renaissance classics to Irish pop-workshop songs. Dec 6, 2:30 pm, Chan Centre for the Performing Arts (6265 Crescent Rd., UBC). Tix $25/22.50, info www. twu.ca/academics/samc/events/2015-2016events/christmas-at-the-chan.html.
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A TRADITIONAL CHRISTMAS Conductor Rosemary Thomson leads the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, the UBC Opera Ensemble, and EnChor in a holiday-music tradition. Hosted by Christopher Gaze. Dec 10-13, St. Andrew’s-Wesley United Church (1022 Nelson). The concert will also run Dec 16 at South Delta Baptist Church, Dec 17 at Bell Performing Arts Centre, Dec 18 at Centennial Theatre, Dec 19 at Kay Meek Theatre, and Dec 20 at Michael J. Fox Theatre. Tix $43/37/35, info 604-8763434, www.vancouversymphony.ca/. BAH! HUMBUG! A new take on Charles Dickens’s A Christmas Carol sees local songster Jim Byrnes star as a modernday, sushi-loving Scrooge. Presented by SFU Woodward’s Cultural Programs and Vancouver Moving Theatre, in partnership with Full Circle Productions. Dec 10-19, 7:30-9 pm, SFU Goldcorp Centre for the Arts (149 W. Hastings). Tix $29/15, info www.sfu.ca/sfuwoodwards/events/ events1/2015-2016Fall/BahHumbug.html. OLD FASHIONED CHRISTMAS Evening includes Warde A. Troyer’s play Grandma ‘n Me and music by Cayla Brooke and Bill Sample. Dec 10-12, 8-10 pm, Kay Meek Centre (1700 Mathers Ave., West Van). Tix $25, info www.caylabrooke.com/. CELEBRATE! A GOOD NOISE CHRISTMAS Good Noise Vancouver Gospel Choir presents gospel Christmas favourites and popular seasonal works. Dec 11-13, Christ Church Cathedral (690 Burrard). Tix $25, info www.brownpaper tickets.com/. AN EVENING OF LESSONS & CAROLS Shaughnessy Heights United Church Choir, conducted by Ramona Luengen, will be joined by guest violinist Andrea Siradze and organist Roy Campbell. Dec 11, 7:30 pm, Shaughnessy Heights United Church (1550 W. 33rd). Tix $20, info www.shuc.ca/. HANDEL’S MESSIAH The Vancouver Bach Choir presents the epic holiday masterwork. Soloists include soprano Simone Osborne, mezzo-soprano Susan Platts, tenor Andrew Haji, and baritone Daniel Okulitch. Dec 12, 8 pm, Orpheum Theatre (601 Smithe). Tix $29-65, info www.vancouverbachchoir.com/. WAR FOR THE HOLIDAYS Forbidden Vancouver presents writer-director Tiffany Anderson’s play about Christmas in 1915. Dec 12-19, 8-10 pm, Roedde House Museum (1415 Barclay). Tix $35/25, info www.forbid denvancouver.ca/war-for-the-holidays/. CHANTEZ NOËL The Ryerson United Church Choir presents a holiday concert of music by Bach, Handel, Chilcott, Britten, Palestrina, and Scheidt. Dec 13, 2:30 pm, Ryerson United Church (2195 W. 45th). Tix $20/students and kids free, info www. facebook.com/events/148678498819877/. WINTER HARP Vancouver classical ensemble uses harps, flutes, medieval instruments, percussion, poetry, and song to evoke memories of Yuletides past. Dec 16-17, 7:30 pm, BlueShore Financial Centre for the Performing Arts (2055 Purcell Way). Tix $37/34, info www.capilanou.ca/ blueshorefinancialcentre/.
December 18 ST. ANDREW’S-WESLEY UNITED CHURCH | 4:30PM & 8PM 1022 Nelson St at Burrard, Vancouver
December 19 WEST VANCOUVER UNITED CHURCH | 2PM 2062 Esquimalt Ave, West Vancouver ADULT TICKETS FROM $30 | STUDENTS $10 TicketsTonight.ca | 1.877.840.0457 | All Seats Reserved
CHOR LEONI Erick Lichte
ARTISTIC DIRECTOR
46 THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT NOVEMBER 26 – DECEMBER 3 / 2015
GOH BALLET’S THE NUTCRACKER Goh Ballet presents the classic Christmas ballet about a young girl and a gift that comes to life. Dec 17-22, 7:30-9:30 pm, The Centre in Vancouver for Performing Arts (777 Homer). Tix $35-100, info www.gohnutcracker.com/. CHRISTMAS WITH CHOR LEONI Chor Leoni performs favourite carols, Renaissance motets, sing-alongs, Biebl’s Ave Maria, and a new carol by Terre Roche. Dec 18, 4:30 pm, 8 pm, St. Andrew’sWesley United Church (1022 Nelson). The concert also runs Dec 19, 2 pm, at the West Vancouver United Church. Tix $10-40, info www.chorleoni.org/concerts-events/ events/christmas-chor-leoni/. A DYLAN THOMAS CHRISTMAS The Vancouver Chamber Choir presents a concert of English, German, and international holiday songs as well as a performance of Dylan Thomas’s A Child’s Christmas in Wales. Dec 18, 8 pm, Shaughnessy Heights United Church (1550 W. 33rd). Tix $27.50-32, info www.vancouverchamberchoir.com/. A CHRISTMAS REPRISE XIII The Vancouver Cantata Singers present a concert of traditional carols and a few newer holiday compositions. Dec 19, 2 pm, Holy Rosary Cathedral (646 Richards (at Dunsmuir)). Tix $30/20/10, info www. vancouvercantatasingers.com/. WINTER HARP Vancouver classical ensemble uses harps, flutes, medieval instruments, percussion, poetry, and song to evoke
memories of Yuletides past. Dec 19, 7:30 pm, St. Andrew’s-Wesley United Church (1022 Nelson). Tix $38, info www.winterharp.com/.
A CHARLIE BROWN CHRISTMAS The Vancouver Chamber Choir presents a concert performance of A Charlie Brown Christmas. Includes English, German, and international holiday songs. Dec 19, 8 pm, Shaughnessy Heights United Church (1550 W. 33rd). Tix $10-32, info www.vancouver chamberchoir.com/. FESTIVE CANTATAS: PRAETORIUS CHRISTMAS VESPERS Early Music Vancouver, in partnership with the Portland Baroque Orchestra, Early Music Guild of Seattle and Victoria’s Early Music Society of the Islands, presents a concert of Michael Praetorius’s work. Dec 20, 3 pm, Chan Centre for the Performing Arts (6265 Crescent Rd., UBC). Tix $17.50-66, info www.earlymusic.bc.ca/. THE SINGING HEART The Phoenix Chamber Choir presents a Christmas concert featuring new music and old favourites. Dec 20, 7:30 pm, Ryerson United Church (2195 W. 45th). Tix free to $25, info www.phoenixchoir.ca/. THE NUTCRACKER Ballet BC presents Alberta Ballet in the classic holiday ballet about a young girl and her magical Christmas gift. Includes live music by the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra. Dec 29-31, Queen Elizabeth Theatre (650 Hamilton). Tix $35-110, info www.balletbc. com/performance/the-nutcracker/.
2OPENINGS INSPECTING CAROL Vagabond Players presents the story of a wannabe actor who is mistaken for an informer for the National Endowment for the Arts. Dec 2-19, Bernie Legge Theatre (Queen’s Park, 1st St. and 3rd Ave., New West). Tix $15, info www.vagabondplayers.ca/. HANSEL AND GRETEL: AN EAST VAN PANTO The Cultch Presents Theatre Replacement’s local spin on the classic fairy tale. Script by Charles Demers, with music by Veda Hille. Directed by Stephen Drover. Dec 2–Jan 3, 2016, York Theatre (639 Commercial). Tix from $20, info www. thecultch.com/events/hansel-and-gretelan-east-van-panto/.
2ONGOING A CHRISTMAS STORY, THE MUSICAL The Arts Club Theatre Company presents a festive musical about a young boy’s quest for an official Red Ryder carbineaction BB gun. Based on the 1983 film. To Dec 27, Stanley Industrial Alliance Stage (2750 Granville). Tix from $29, info www. artsclub.com/. IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE The Arts Club Theatre Company presents the holiday classic about an angel who helps a compassionate but despairingly frustrated businessman by showing what life would have been like if he never existed. To Dec 26, Granville Island Stage (1585 Johnston, Granville Island). Tix from $29, info www. artsclub.com/.
2THIS WEEK CHRISTMAS QUEEN 2 The Vancouver TheatreSports League presents a holidaythemed improv-comedy show that sees a larger-than-life fairy-tale character create chaos in Santa’s workshop on Christmas Eve. Nov 26 to Dec. 20, The Improv Centre (1502 Duranleau, Granville Island). Tix $1022, info www.vtsl.com/show/christmasqueen-2/. A CAELESTRA CHRISTMAS—CELTIC YULETIDE CONCERT Five musicians in full medieval costume perform jigs and reels, ballads, Renaissance tunes, and traditional Celtic and Christmas music. Nov 27, 7:30 pm, St. Andrews United Church (2318 St. Johns St., Port Moody). Tix $15/10, info www.caelestra.com/. CHEZ NOUS: CHRISTMAS WITH ELEKTRA Elektra Women’s Choir, the Burnaby Central Women’s Choir, jazz vocalist Dee Daniels, and bassist Jodi Proznick present a family-friendly holiday concert. Nov 28, 2 pm, New Westminster Christian Reformed Church (8255 13th Ave., Burnaby). Tix $15-30, info www.elektra.ca/. A SOUVENIR FOR CHRISTMAS CONCERT Place des Arts faculty member and pianist Dina Kholina and her guests Irina Faletski (piano) and Olga Kholina (soprano) present an all-ages evening of sparkling classical melodies. Nov 28, 7:30 pm, Place des Arts (1120 Brunette Ave., Coquitlam). Tix $15/13, info www.place desarts.ca/events-and-performances/ faculty-performance-series.aspx. CHEZ NOUS: CHRISTMAS WITH ELEKTRA Elektra Women’s Choir, the Burnaby Central Women’s Choir, jazz vocalist Dee Daniels, and bassist Jodi Proznick present a family-friendly holiday concert. Nov 28, 7:30 pm, Ryerson United Church (2195 W. 45th). Tix $15-30, info www.elektra.ca/. A GERMAN CHRISTMAS IN VANCOUVER The Oratorio Singers present a holiday concert of Advent, Christmas, and Epiphany music from Germany. Dec 2, 8-10 pm, St. Andrew’s-Wesley United Church (1022 Nelson). Tix $25 at the door, info www. brownpapertickets.com/event/2438705/.
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ar ts/ timeout
Winter Harp
FAWLTY TOWERS: 3 MORE EPISODES Metro Theatre presents adaptations of Fawlty Towers episodes â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Hotel Inspectorsâ&#x20AC;?, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Waldorf Saladâ&#x20AC;?, and â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Germansâ&#x20AC;?. To Nov 28, 8-10 pm, Metro Theatre (1370 SW Marine). Tix $24/21, info www.metrotheatre.com/fawlty-towers3-more-episodes/.
Harps, flutes, medieval instruments & percussion Carols & stories to wrap you in the Christmas spirit
PEOPLE The United Players present director Adam Hendersonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s version of Alan Bennettâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s play about a down-on-his-luck aristocrat who is forced to make some unusual decisions. To Nov 29, Jericho Arts Centre (1675 Discovery). Tix $12-22, info www.unitedplayers.com/. RAPTURE, BLISTER, BURN Mitch and Murray Productions presents Gian Gionfriddoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s comedy about two women who choose opposite paths after grad school. To Nov 28, 8-10:15 pm, Studio 16 (1545 W. 7th). Tix $12-29, info www.mitch andmurrayproductions.com/.
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NEXT-GEN CLASSIC Most people see anniversaries as an opportunity to reflect on the past, but Vetta Chamber Music is marking its 30th season with a sanguine look at whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s to come. The grassroots organization is spotlighting the next generation of classical musicians with two concerts at West Point Grey United Church. Among the performers will be Talisa Blackman, a young pianist who has played with the likes of the Canadian Opera Company, the National Repertory, and Mariinsky Theatre Orchestra. Blackman will perform alongside violinist Joan Blackman and cellist Marlena Tureski in a curated program that includes Frank Bridgeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s melodic Phantasie and AntonĂn DvorĂĄkâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s folk-inspired Dumky trio. The shows take place on Thursday and Friday (November 26 and 27).
THEATRE 2OPENINGS JOHN AND BEATRICE Vortex Theatre presents QuĂŠbĂŠcois playwright Carole FrĂŠchetteâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s play about a woman who awaits the man who will deliver her from solitude. Nov 25â&#x20AC;&#x201C;Dec 5, Dusty Flower Shop (2050 Scotia). Tix $18-20, info www. brownpapertickets.com/event/2402408/. JACK AND THE BEANSTALK The Fraser Valley Gilbert and Sullivan Society presents a family-friendly panto featuring a good fairy, a huge giant and his horrible henchman, a sweet princess, and the biggest beanstalk ever. Nov 25â&#x20AC;&#x201C;Dec 6, 7:309:30 pm, Surrey Arts Centre (13750 88th Ave., Surrey). Tix $10-20, info www.fvgss.org/. FLEE Electric Company Theatre, Studio 58, Barking Sphinx Performance, the Elbow Theatre, and the Arrival Agency present director Jonathon Youngâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s play about a watchmaker whoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s down on his luck. Nov 26â&#x20AC;&#x201C;Dec 6, Fox Cabaret (2321 Main). Tix $10-35, info www.ticketstonight.ca/ includes/events/index.cfm. MADAME BOVARY Studio 58 and AnimalParts present an experimental adaptation of Gustave Flaubertâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 19thcentury French masterpiece. Nov 30â&#x20AC;&#x201C;Dec 6, Studio 58 (Langara College, 100 W. 49th). Admission by donation, info www.face book.com/events/374656632721299/.
THE DAISY THEATRE Renowned puppeteer provacateur Ronnie Burkett and his resident company of over 40 marionettes perform unique shows. Dec 1-20, The Cultch (1895 Venables). Tix from $20, info www.thecultch.com/. UNSEXâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;D The frank theatre company presents the story of two boy actors who fight it out for the role of Lady Macbeth in Shakespeareâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s newest play. Dec 2-5, PAL Theatre (8th floor, 581 Cardero). Tix $20, info www.thefranktheatre.com/.
52 PICK UP TJ Dawe and Rita Boziâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s play tells a heartbreaking love story through a random selection of 52 cards. To Nov 29, 8 pm, Havana Theatre (1212 Commercial). Tix $18-28, info www.twentysomething theatre.com/.
December 19, 7:30 p.m.
DRESSING FOR A WEDDING Aaron Bushkowskyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s dark comedy explores a motherâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s desperate attempts to run her daughterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s wedding rehearsal while keeping dark family secrets from being exposed. To Nov 29, 8-9:30 pm, Performance Works (1218 Cartwright, Granville Island). Tix $25/20, info www.solocollective.ca/.
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LISTEN TO ME Presentation House Theatre presents a story about a father and daughter who disagree on the definition of music. To Nov 28, Presentation House Theatre (333 Chesterfield Ave., North Van). Info 604-990-3474, www.phtheatre.org/.
www.winterharp.com
YOU WILL REMEMBER ME Ruby Slippers Theatre presents a deeply personal and moving new play about family and memory from François Archambault. To Nov 28, 8 pm, The Cultch (1895 Venables). Info www.thecultch.com/ events/you-will-remember-me/. AGNES OF GOD Alchemy Theatre presents John Pielmeierâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s play about a psychiatrist who is tasked with assessing the sanity of a novice nun accused of murdering her newborn. To Nov 29, PAL Theatre (8th floor, 581 Cardero). Tix $20, info www.alchemytheatre.ca/. SOCIAL STUDIES Donna Spencer directs playwright Trish Cooperâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s story about a South Sudanese boy who is adopted by a well-intentioned Winnipeg family. To Dec 5, Firehall Arts Centre (280 E. Cordova). Tix from $23, info www.firehallartscentre.ca/.
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Arts time out
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TRACKS & MY FRIEND ANDREA TJ Dawe’s Tracks is an adaptation of Jack London’s The Road. Writer-performer Raïna Von Waldenburg’s My Friend Andrea examines what it means to forgive. To Nov 29, 7:30 pm, The Cultch (1895 Venables). Tix $25/15, info www.michaelbean.ca/.
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THE NORTH PLAN Play about a U.S. bureaucrat who goes on the run from the government. To Nov 29, Secret location (near 211 E. Georgia). Tix $20/14, info www.upintheairtheatre.com/. 12 ANGRY JURORS Theatre in the Raw presents Sherman L. Sergel’s adaptation of Reginald Rose’s classic drama about a young man who faces the death penalty for murder. Nov 25-28, 8-10 pm; Nov 29, 2-4 pm, Interurban: Gallery & Community Art Space (1 E. Hastings). Tix $20/17, info www.theatreintheraw.ca/4-upcomingproductions/upcoming-productions.html. A TASTE OF EMPIRE Boca del Lupo presents writer-performer Jovanni Sy as he cooks a traditional Filipino dish and takes the audience on a thought-provoking trip through history. Nov 26-28, Fishbowl on Granville Island (1398 Cartwright). Tix $25/20, info www.bocadellupo.com/.
48 THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT NOVEMBER 26 – DECEMBER 3 / 2015
DANCE
MUSIC
2THIS WEEK
2THIS WEEK
BOOK OF LOVE Kokoro Dance celebrates its 30th season with a new, viscerally engaging work for four dancers. Nov 25–Dec 5, 8 pm, Roundhouse Community Arts & Recreation Centre (183 Roundhouse Mews). Tix $25-30, info www.kokoro.ca/.
DARK SISTERS The Vancouver Opera presents the Canadian premiere of Nico Muhly’s provocative opera. Libretto by Stephen Karam. Nov 26–Dec 12, Vancouver Playhouse (600 Hamilton). Tix from $35, info 604-683-0222, www.vancouveropera.ca/.
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EARTH SONG Raven Spirit Dance presents contemporary First Nations dance works which move from spirit to form through currents of spatial tension. Nov 26-28, 8 pm, Scotiabank Dance Centre (677 Davie). Tix $25-30, info www.ravenspirit dance.com/earth-song/. THREE SIDES OF A COIN TL Entertainment Production and Mozaico Flamenco Dance Theatre present a dance performance starring Andrea Williams, Joel Hanna, and Ashley Kirkham. Directed by Kasandra “La China”. Nov 28, 1:30 pm, Stadium Club (Edgewater Casino, 760 Pacific Blvd. S.). Tix $20, info www.mozaicoflamenco.com/.
PIANO PINNACLE Muzewest presents pianist Iman Habibi and Deborah Grimmett performing works by Bach, Mozart, Ketelbey, Fujiwara, Chopin, Habibi, and Lutoslawski. Nov 26, 7:30-10 pm, Vancouver Symphony Orchestra School of Music (843 Seymour). Tix 9-20, info muzewest.wordpress.com/. MUSIC FOR HUMANITY The SFU Concert Orchestra and Amnesty International SFU present an evening of musical highlights from How to Train Your Dragon, The Nutcracker Suite, and Up. Nov 27, 7-9 pm, SFU Theatre (8888 University Dr., Burnaby). Admission by donation ($5 suggested), info www.facebook.com/sfuorchestra/. MUSIC ON THE POINT: WINTERREISE Jonathan Girard conducts an ensemble of UBC music students and tenor J. Patrick Raftery in a performance of Schubert’s Winterreise, transcribed by Zender. Nov 27, 7:30 pm, Roy Barnett Recital Hall (6361
Memorial Rd., UBC). Tix $20/10, info www.music.ubc.ca/ubc-events/musicon-the-point/.
PIANOFEST Muzewest presents Michael Noble and David Witten performing works by Debussy, Ravel, Prokofiev, Chopin, Jared Miller, Rzewski, and Tcherepnin. Nov 27, 28, 7:30-10 pm, Vancouver Symphony Orchestra School of Music (843 Seymour). Tix 9-20, info muzewest.wordpress.com/. LA! MUSIC FOR VOICES ERATO presents music by Monteverdi, Milhaud, Absil, Richard Pearson Thomas, and David MacIntyre. Nov 27, 8 pm, Orpheum Annex (823 Seymour). Tix $15-25, info www.erato ensemble.com/. FIFTY YEARS OF BOND…JAMES BOND John Morris Russell leads vocalists Capathia Jenkins and Jeremy Kushnier and the VSO in a performance of songs from Bond films like Dr. No, Goldfinger, Live and Let Die, From Russia With Love, and For Your Eyes Only. Nov 27-28, 8 pm, Orpheum Theatre (601 Smithe). Info 604876-3434, www.vancouversymphony.ca/. VANCOUVER PHILHARMONIC CHILDREN’S CONCERT Jin Zhang conducts the Vancouver Philharmonic Orchestra in a performance of Quilter’s Children’s Overture, Britten’s Young Person’s Guide
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MUSIC
Harrison “CatacombKid” Mills and Clayton “BeachesBeaches” Knight of Seattle electronic act ODESZA recently bought a fog machine, which they still haven’t figured out how to switch off.
ODESZA keeps things honest
But would ODESZA actually step into the studio with a commercial act to make Top 40? “I’m open to anything. If it feels right and doesn’t feel forced, I would be more than happy to see what happens,” he says. “You don’t want to force any sort of collaboraThe Seattle duo rose to the top of the EDM heap through hard tion. It’s all about being work, musicianship, and making a real connection with fans comfortable in a creative Seattle electronic act ODESZA’s story space. That’s the best product. Trying to force some isn’t one of artistic woe. Its members met in sort of collab never ends well.” university, jelled quickly in the studio, and reWhile ODESZA’s growing legion of fans doesn’t BY M ICHAEL MAN N leased their 2012 debut album for free. Then have a nickname yet—a sure sign you’ve made it— the band became very popular—it’s just that they appear to be approaching the rabidity of the simple, for all you angsty bedroom producers 12s cheering at CenturyLink on Sundays or the taking notes at home. Beliebers scurrying to buy tickets for his world Today, the duo composed of Clayton Knight tour. Its sophomore long-player, In Return, which and Harrison Mills can sell out two consecutive is full of dreamy and shimmering tracks start to nights at the Commodore Ballroom plus a DJ set finish, debuted at No. 1 on Billboard’s Top Dance/ at MIA with ease, along with a hundred other Electronic Albums chart when it came out in Sepshows on their current world tour. Given how tember 2014. And then last week it reclaimed the busy they are, the Straight is somewhat surprised top spot ahead of EDM heavyweights Avicii, Disthat Knight picks up the phone before a gig in closure, and Major Lazer. Detroit. Forget dodging interview requests, he’s “People are still discovering it, and it gives a actually happy to discuss his career. new life to it,” Knight says of the album, which “It’s nice to talk to people in the press,” the 27-year- has spent over 40 weeks in the Top 10. “I feel it’s old producer says, likely the first time a successful a genuine piece of work that we did. We tried to artist has ever uttered that phrase. “You guys shed be honest with ourselves as well as our listenlight on things that we don’t always do. I see where ers through it, and I think that kind of paid off. you’re coming from—a lot of producers are pretty People can really connect with that.” introverted people, but we try to be open and comSomething else people are connecting with is municate with our fan base as much as possible.” ODESZA’s live show, which is significantly more Knight later continues the charm assault by de- exciting than what many electronic-music artists claring strong affinities for the Seattle Seahawks on the circuit are doing. You won’t catch them and the new Justin Bieber album—two things that hiding in the DJ booth and geeking out on their aren’t especially hip for indie electronic producers laptops. Instead, their set features Knight and to ’fess up to. Mills playing drums, samplers, and synths along“It’s pretty awesome to see how someone in the side backup musicians on horns and guitar. pop world has opened themselves up to these new “As far as the show’s concerned, we’re trying and unique producers. Very cool,” he says of the to do something different. We could go up there Biebs’s latest, Purpose. and do a DJ set and play some of our tracks in beKnight counts himself a fan of former Van- tween other popular stuff, but we really wanted to couverite Blood Pop, who worked on a lot of try to make a unique experience and give people the tracks on Purpose. And it’s easy to hear the what they want and try something new. It gets borsimilarities between his music and ODESZA’s, ing doing the same thing. So we’re always trying which a lot of people have labelled chillwave. to expand and add on and try new pieces and
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Stevens to remove Superman from the cover of Illinois. For the 10th-anniversary reissue, Supes is replaced, with Marvel Comics’ blessing, by the Blue Marvel. Suck on that, DC!
AIN’T SHILLING FOR Remember Neil Young singing about
be—think a Commercial Drive–rasta version of Janelle Monáe— there’s no questioning the Weeknd is on his game. The man born Abel Tesfaye just won the best soul/R&B album trophy at the American Music Awards for his crazy-smooth latest, Beauty Behind the Madness. Recognizing a good thing when she sees it, Rihanna just tapped the Weeknd to open shows for her 2016 Anti World Tour. In the meantime, Vancouver gets to spend a full night with Tesfaye as he winds down his Beauty Behind the Madness tour. Feel free to profess your love, but try not to stare at the hair. -
The Weeknd plays Rogers Arena on Wednesday (December 2).
in + out
Clayton Knight sounds off on the things that enquiring minds want to know.
On if he’d ever raise the 12th Man flag at a Seattle Seahawks game: “Oh, it’d be an honour. This season is frustrating to watch. It’s just one of those years, but as a fan you gotta stick with it. I was a fan from the beginning.” On giving away their debut album, Summer’s Gone: “I think that was a smart move. We’re all about the free release. We love free music. I think the evolution of the business is gonna be the streaming stuff, more free music, and revenue will come from shows and other avenues.” On who is the weird one in the group, given that they’re both drummers: “We’re both pretty weird. I don’t know if anyone takes the cake on the weirdest. The horns are actually the weirdest.”
Fresh and local
CLARK WHO? A decade ago, DC Comics forced Sufjan
THE WEEKND As questionable as his current hairstyle might
ODESZA plays the Commodore Ballroom on Tuesday and Wednesday (December 1 and 2).
MUSIC Let’s talk about
You gotta see
just really evolve as a show in general,” Knight explains. “There’s been a couple tours early on that shed a lot of doubt on what we’re doing. But as much as you hate some of the shows, when you step back and look at it, you’re performing your music for people. It’s a pretty awesome privilege and a humbling experience.” Despite the, gasp, musicianship on display, there are still the accoutrements everyone loves at a good EDM show, specifically: mind-bending visuals complemented by ample confetti. Just how many tiny pieces of paper have they gone through so far on this tour? “Not nearly enough. I think we need to do more of it, honestly,” he says with a laugh. “Any chance we get, we’re gonna blast people.” So it turns out ODESZA has experienced artistic woe after all: there’s simply not enough confetti in the world to cover all their fans. Quite sad, indeed. -
not shilling for Pepsi and Coke? Apparently, if you buy his $499 PonoPlayer—which he was pimping in Vancouver on November 23— “This Note’s for You” will sound a million times better than on an iPod, Walkman, or 8-track tape. This Toblerone’s for you.
SORRY (NOT) After Justin Bieber wore a Nirvana T-shirt on the AMAs, Twitter went apeshit. Who cares what Bieber wears? Channel that outrage into something constructive, like lobbying Tim Hortons to bring back Nanaimo bars.
NEW GNASHERS A new documentary titled Shane
MacGowan: A Wreck Reborn chronicles the famously drunken Pogues singer getting a new set of teeth after spending years as the Crest Hall of Shame poster boy. Unfortunately, the rest of the wreck remains a complete and horribly unsightly mess.
DID YOU DIE WEIRD LOVE (INDEPENDENT) One listen to Weird Love and you’ll probably be able to piece together a pretty good picture of what’s in Did You Die frontman and chief sonic architect Richie Alexander’s record collection. “Pretty Faces” coasts along on a wall of shoegazing noise like a Ride B-side, “Hey What’s Wrong” is a noisy enough rocker to get Jesus and Mary Chain fans hot and bothered, and the verse melody of “So Empty” is shamelessly lifted from Sonic Youth’s “Titanium Exposé”. All of which is to say that if your happy place, musically speaking, is the indie-rock underground of the ’80s and early ’90s, Did You Die is your new favourite band. -
NOVEMBER 26 – DECEMBER 3 / 2015 THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT 49
Arts time out
from page 48
to the Orchestra, and Prokofiev’s Peter and the Wolf. Nov 28, 7-8:15 pm, Shaughnessy Heights United Church (1550 W. 33rd). Tix $10-15, info www.vanphil.ca/vpo-concerts/ nov-28-2015-program/.
10TH ANNIVERSARY
10 TH YEAR ANNIVERSARY
GIVE THE GIFT OF MUSIC 12240 2ND AVE. @ BAYVIEW, STEVESTON VILLAGE, RICHMOND WWW.BEATMERCHANT.COM
ENTERTAINMENT CALENDAR ORPHEUM
QUEEN ELIZABETH THEATRE | VANCOUVER PLAYHOUSE | ORPHEUM | ANNEX
VANCOUVER CIVIC THEATRES
TIM HECKER Montreal musician reimagines the early choral works of FrancoFlemish Renaissance-era composer Josquin for synthesizer, computer, and guitar amplifiers. Nov 28, 8 pm, Orpheum Annex (823 Seymour). Tix $15-35, info www.newmusic. org/events/tim-hecker-nov-28-2015/. BURNABY LYRIC OPERA Musical highlights from Humperdinck’s opera Hansel and Gretel. Nov 29, 3 pm, Shadbolt Centre for the Arts (6450 Deer Lake Ave., Burnaby). Tix $15, info 604-205-3000.
Lots of Goodies
VSO Pops: 50 Years of James Bond Nov 27 & 28 | 8pm | 604.876.3434 vancouversymphony.ca
APOLLON MUSAGETE QUARTET The Vancouver Recital Society presents the Polish classical quartet in a performance of works by Beethoven, Webern, and Schubert. Nov 29, 3 pm, Vancouver Playhouse (600 Hamilton). Tix from $25, info 604-602-0363, www.vanrecital.com/.
COMEDY 2ONGOING THE COMEDY MIX 1015 Burrard, Century Plaza Hotel & Spa, 604-684-5050, www. thecomedymix.com/. Comedy club with pro-am night Tue at 8:30 pm, showcase Wed at 8:30 pm, and featured headliners Thu at 8:30 pm and Fri-Sat at 8 & 10:30 pm. Cover $8 Tue, $10 Wed, $15 Thu, $18 Fri, $20 Sat. 2PAT THORNTON Nov 26-28 2ILIZA SCHLESINGER Jan 14-16 2BRYAN CALLEN Jan 21-23 2DEBRA DIGIOVANNI Jan 28-30 YUK YUK’S COMEDY CLUB 2837 Cambie, 604-696-9857, www.yukyuks.com/. Comedy club with amateur night Wed at 8 pm, talent showcase Thu at 8 pm, headliners Fri-Sat at 7 pm and 9:30 pm. Cover $7 Wed, $10 Thu, $20 Fri-Sat. 2J.J. WHITEHEAD Nov 26-28 2GODFREY Dec 4-5.
VSO Kids’ Koncerts: Winter Solstice Nov 29 | 2pm | 604.876.3434 vancouversymphony.ca Vancouver Chamber Choir: Christmas in the Orpheum Dec 4 | 8pm | 1.855.985.5000 ticketmaster.ca
VANCOUVER THEATRESPORTS LEAGUE Some of the world’s most daring and innovative improv. Christmas Queen 2 (every Wed, Thu, Fri, and Sat, 7:30 pm); Improv After Dark (every Fri and Sat, 11:15 pm); Off Leash (every Wed and Thu, 9:15 pm); Rookie Night (every Sun, 7:30 pm); TheatreSports (every Fri and Sat, 9:30 pm). Nov 25–Dec 2, The Improv Centre (1502 Duranleau, Granville Island). Tix $8-22, info www.vtsl.com/.
ANNEX Erato Ensemble: LA! Nov 27 | 8pm | 1.800.838.3006 brownpapertickets.com Vancouver New Music:Tim Hecker Nov 28 | 8pm | 1.800.838.3006 brownpapertickets.com
2THIS WEEK
QUEEN ELIZABETH THEATRE Darcy Oake - Master Illusionist Nov 27 | 7:30pm | 1.855.985.5000 ticketmaster.ca
J.J. WHITEHEAD Canadian standup comedian performs a solo show. Nov 26, 8 pm; Nov 27, 8 pm; Nov 28, 7 pm; Nov 28, 9:30 pm, Yuk Yuk’s Comedy Club (2837 Cambie Street). Tix $20, info www.yukyuks.com/. COMEDY SHOCKER: SEVEN DEADLY SINS Local comedy showcase with John Guy, Devin Alexander, Lisa Pearson, Sam Lee, and Mark Hughes. Hosted by Jason Kryska. Nov 28, 7 pm, Rickshaw Theatre (254 E. Hastings). Tix $10, info www.rickshawtheatre.com/.
Puscifer Dec 2 | 8pm | 1.855.985.5000 ticketmaster.ca
QUEEN ELIZABETH PLAZA Vancouver Christmas Market Nov 21 to Dec 24 | 11am - 9pm vancouverchristmasmarket.ca
PHANTOM SIGNAL Jayson McDonald, Andrew Bailey, and Tara Travis present a comedy-horror radio show. Nov 30, 7-10 pm, Fox Cabaret (2321 Main). Tix $10 , info www.facebook.com/TalesTooTerrifying/.
LITERARY EVENTS
VANCOUVER PLAYHOUSE Vancouver Opera: Dark Sisters Nov 26 to Dec 12 | 7:30pm & 2pm | 604.683.0222 vancouveropera.ca Vancouver Writers Fest: John Irving Dec 1 | 7:30pm | 604.629.8849 writersfest.bc.ca
@vancivictheatre #myVCT
straight choices
media sponsor
2THIS WEEK CHERIE SMITH JCC JEWISH BOOK FESTIVAL Annual celebration of Jewish literature includes feature authors Sean Michaels, Ayelet Tsabari, Dan Ephron, Stuart Rojstaczer, Sigal Samuel, Alejandro Frid, Leah Goldstein, and Dan Bar-El. To Nov 26, Jewish Community Centre (950 W. 41st). Tix free to $24, info 604-257-5111, www.jewishbookfestival.ca/. JOHN IRVING The Vancouver Writers Fest and Penguin Random House presents an evening with John Irving, who will talk to Hal Wake about his new novel Avenue of Mysteries. Dec 1, 7:30 pm, Vancouver
NOW THAT’S CHUTZPAH The Chutzpah Festival (February 18 to March 13, 2016) has just announced its lineup, and it includes some of the hottest dance troupes and choreographers on the planet. Among the offerings are Italy’s in-demand Spellbound Contemporary Ballet; the return of cutting-edge, multimedia Israeli dance company Maria Kong; red-hot New York–based Gallim Dance with Wonderland; the Big Apple’s celebrated all-male company MADBOOTS (pictured); and more. Elsewhere on the interdisciplinary fest’s roster are Israel’s musical sister act A-Wa and Mexico City’s Klezmerson, as well as a theatre collab between playwright, performer, and lighting designer Itai Erdal with Maiko Yamamoto and Anita Rochon called A Very Narrow Bridge. Tickets are on sale now; check out chutzpahfestival.com/ website for the full schedule. Playhouse (600 Hamilton). Tix $25/23/21 (plus service charges and fees) at www. vancouvertix.com/, info 604-681-6330, www.writersfest.bc.ca/.
ET CETERA 2THIS WEEK KOOZA Cirque du Soleil presents writerdirector David Shiner’s production that uses acrobatics and clowning to tell the story of a loner in search of his place in the world. To Dec 27, Concord Pacific Place (88 Pacific). Tix from $45 at www.cirquedusoleil. com/, info www.cirquedusoleil.com/. PORNO DEATH CULT Mix of interactive comedy, dance, and art explores faith and faithlessness, life, and death. Nov 25-28, 8 pm, Shadbolt Centre for the Arts (6450 Deer Lake Ave., Burnaby). Tix $15-35, info www.shadboltcentre.com/.
GALLERIES VANCOUVER ART GALLERY 750 Hornby, 604-662-4719, www.vanartgallery.bc.ca/. 2THE GUND COLLECTION: CONTEMPORARY AND HISTORICAL ART FROM THE NORTHWEST COAST (exhibition features a group of historical and contemporary First Nations artwork from the Northwest Coast, drawn from the
straight choices
LIFE ON A STRING Marionette maestro Ronnie Burkett returns to the Cultch with The Daisy Theatre, a show that rotates 40 different characters and is never the same from night to night—so much so that there’s even a “see-it-twice price”. If you’re lucky, you’ll meet Edna Rural of Turnip Corners, a dotty old lady dressed in her Sears housedress; Little Woody Linden, a vaudeville dummy; Esme Massengill, a gloriously faded diva; or Schnitzel, a little guy who wants to be a fairy and who gets bullied. Expect laughs and a mountain of eccentricity, plot strictures be damned. But get tickets soon, because this show, which runs from Tuesday (December 1) to December 20, always sells out.
Collection of George Gund III) to Jan 31 2NEXT: A SERIES OF ARTIST PROJECTS FROM THE PACIFIC RIM (Vancouver-based artist Christos Dikeakos considers the economic and cultural values involved in transactions of Northwest Coast art) to Jan 31 2EMBRACING CANADA: LANDSCAPES FROM KRIEGHOFF TO THE GROUP OF SEVEN (exhibition surveys the history of artistic engagement with the Canadian landscape from c. 1840 to 1940, a period that produced many Canadian artists) to Jan 24
MUSEUMS MUSEUM OF ANTHROPOLOGY 6393 NW Marine Dr., UBC, 604-822-5087, www. moa.ubc.ca/. 2CESNA EM, THE CITY BEFORE THE CITY (one of three unified exhibitions that connect Vancouverites with the ancient village and burial site upon which Vancouver was built) to Dec 30 2(IN)VISIBLE: THE SPIRITUAL WORLD OF TAIWAN THROUGH CONTEMPORARY ART (collection of artistic mediums from seven Taiwanese artists, whose works explore the coexistence of modernity and tradition, while examining the significance of the spiritual world in present-day Taiwan) to Apr 3 MUSEUM OF VANCOUVER 1100 Chestnut, 604-736-4431, www.museumofvancouver. ca/. 2CESNA EM, THE CITY BEFORE THE CITY (one of three unified exhibitions that connect Vancouverites with the ancient village and burial site upon which Vancouver was built. Highlights include soundscapes, original videography, and family-friendly interactivity) to Dec 30
OUT OF TOWN 2UPCOMING HIGHLIGHTS AMY SCHUMER American superstar comic and actor, star of TV’s Inside Amy Schumer, performs a New Year’s Eve comedy show. Dec 31, 8 pm, Key Arena (305 Harrison St., Seattle, WA). Tix US$146/75.50/55.50/40.50 (plus service charges and fees) at www.ticketmaster.ca/.
TIME OUT ARTS LISTINGS are a public service provided free of charge, based on available space and editorial discretion. We can’t guarantee inclusion, and we give priority to events taking place within one week of publication. Submit listings online using the event-submission form at straight.com/AddEvent. Events that don’t make it into the paper due to space constraints will appear on the website.
NOV 27-30
BLACK
FRIDAY
Smoke Shop Smok Light it up
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50 THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT NOVEMBER 26 – DECEMBER 3 / 2015
MUSIC
Puscifer balances its darkness with levity Around the end of last dec-
Still, as unnerving as Money Shot often is, it has hints of levity. “Life of Brian (Apparently You Haven’t Seen)” is a critique of fanaticism that, despite the track’s eerie sound, takes its name from a Monty Python comedy film from 1979. “The Arsonist”, on the other hand, offers fiery apocalypse imagery, but also references the ’90s TV series Beavis and Butt-Head. This blend of humour and earnestness reflects Puscifer’s multifaceted artistic vision, showing that the project has matured into a fine vintage. “I see as much light as I see darkness in the new songs,” Keenan says. “I mean, we did mention Beavis. There’s a bunch of other little breadcrumbs throughout the songs. I think it’s joined at the hip. Shakespeare couldn’t be Shakespeare without blending the comedy with the tragedy.”
2 ade, Maynard James Keenan
was juggling three projects: famed art-metal band Tool, alt-rock supergroup A Perfect Circle, and a nascent multimedia collective called Puscifer. Since that time, neither Tool nor A Perfect Circle has released a new album, while Puscifer has flourished into a productive outlet for goofy sketch comedy and darkly dramatic electro-rock. With the newly released third full-length, Money Shot, Keenan says that Puscifer has officially matured. “Most everything that’s going to be recognized culturally, it’s going to take a minimum of seven years for you to wrap your head around,” the frontman observes, speaking on the line from a hotel room in Ohio. “So here we are, doing much better with this thing seven years in.” If anybody knows about the importance of age and long-term maturation, it’s Keenan. In addition to having been a rock star since the early ’90s, the 51-year-old Arizona resident owns and operates Merkin Vineyards and the winery Caduceus Cellars. And while songwriting and winemaking rely on entirely separate skill sets, Keenan considers these pursuits to be parts of the same creative drive. “Everything we’re doing is a form of art, a kind of expression,” he contends. “Winemaking is an art form.” The same can be said for Puscifer’s various visual pursuits, which include theatrical live performances, inventive videos, and wacky artwork. Much of the imagery surrounding Money Shot features lucha libre wrestlers, while the cover art puts a whole new spin on the idea of a “money shot” by depicting someone getting punched squarely in the nuts. Keenan describes these visuals as part of an elaborate story line, explaining, “There will
> ALEX HUDSON
Puscifer plays the Queen Elizabeth Theatre on Wednesday (December 2).
Maynard James Keenan (in the hat) can never figure out whether or not his Puscifer bandmates are laughing at him.
be films and maybe a short documentary to maybe connect some of those dots.” Puscifer’s comedic elements serve to contrast the tone of the moody music, which combines atmospheric alt-rock with rhythmically complex trip-hop. Keenan credits close collaborator Mat Mitchell with helping him to craft the sound of the LP. “He writes everything,” Keenan says of Mitchell. “Almost every instrument, besides the drums, you hear on this new record and most of the previous records, he played it all. He’s the engineer, he’s the mixer, he’s the producer. I hand him ideas
for songs. I might have something on acoustic guitar that I’ve dicked around with, and here’s a rhythm or here’s a melody—but for the most part I’m describing him things and he’s coming up with pieces.” Comparing Puscifer to Depeche Mode, Keenan adds, “He’s like the Martin Gore of the project; I’m just Dave Gahan, dancing around.” This musical partnership shines on Money Shot opener “Galileo”, which simmers with syncopated drum-machine undulations, heavy fuzz-bass licks, and hymnlike vocal incantations, while “Grand Canyon” captures the majesty of the natural world with its smouldering
drones and choral-style harmonies from backup singer Carina Round. “Money Shot” captures Puscifer’s alt-metal inclinations at their most aggressive, while “The Remedy” rides a knotty 5/4 groove and features the sinisterly snarled refrain, “You speak like someone who has never been smacked in the fucking mouth/That’s okay, we have the remedy.” Regarding the inspiration for such lyrics, Keenan reflects, “There’s a lot of people out there that have forgotten how to be courteous and respect their elders. Respect other people’s space. Be accountable for their actions. Lack of self-discipline. The list goes on.”
Long Shadow Trail finds McRae fully engaged In the title track of her first solo
2 record, Flying Jenny, Linda Mc-
Rae wrote about two brothers, Ira and Charlie Louvin, who mined the mournfulness of the Alabama backwoods in a way that would change country music forever. And now, on her new Long Shadow Trail, McRae is singing about another rustic troubadour, Charlie Parr. But while the Louvin Brothers were active during the 1940s and ’50s, Parr is alive today. And while the siblings were entertainers at heart, Parr splits his time between playing on-stage and helping the homeless. The difference is telling. While see next page
BLUEPRINTLIVE
FRI JAN 22 |
SATURDAY DECEMBER 05 CELEBRITIES
WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 09 FRIDAY DECEMBER 11 FORTUNE CELEBRITIES
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WED DEC 02 |
SATURDAY DECEMBER 12 CELEBRITIES
SATURDAY DECEMBER 19 FORTUNE
VOGUE
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TUE DEC 29 |
FORTUNE
TUE DEC 15
SAT FEB 06
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VENUE
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MONDAY DECEMBER 28 CELEBRITIES
SAT JAN 16 | 11/26 11/27 12/01+02 12/02 12/04
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VENUE
BONOBO (DJ SET) CELEBRITIES THE ENGLISH BEAT / INTERRUPTERS VENUE KILLING JOKE / THE SOFT MOON VENUE MIKE STUD / FUTURISTIC FORTUNE
tickets instore: BEATSTREET | ZULU SCRAPE | red cat | dipt
NOVEMBER 26 – DECEMBER 3 / 2015 THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT 51
Linda McRae
WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 09
FRIDAY DECEMBER 11
Slow Magic + Giraffage w/ Lindsay Lowend
Ekali Christmas Show, Kreayshawn, Brittney Scott
THURSDAY DECEMBER 17
SATURDAY DECEMBER 19
Fortune 6 Year Anniversary w/ Baauer and guests
Hyphy 7 Year Anniversary w/ DJ Mustard
THU DEC 03 Pancakes & Booze Art Show FRI DEC 04 Goth Money Records Showcase SAT DEC 05 Jazz Cartier w/ guests (early show)
SUNDAY DECEMBER 13 Chinatown Mall: Holiday Edition
FRIDAY DECEMBER 25
Happy Holidays from Fortune (closed)
MONDAY DECEMBER 14
Hip-Hop Karaoke 6 Year Anni w/ Heatwave + guests
THURSDAY DECEMBER 31
Fortune NYE w/ Physik, Adlib, Sailor Gerry + Seko
FRI DEC 18 Winter Break Party! Winner Cooper & Friends SUN DEC 20 Brooked presents Revival SAT DEC 26 Drew Howard live w/ Seko, Gerry, and Tona
from previous page
vintage roots music is McRae’s chief inspiration, Long Shadow Trail finds the singer, guitarist, banjo player, and accordionist choosing to be more fully engaged with today’s world. It’s a wiry, charged record, with producer Steve Dawson’s guitars at the forefront, and it finds McRae telling stories that have risen from the streets, from prison cells, and from her own generous heart. Like Parr, she wants to create fine folk art while making a difference in how we humans treat each other—and ourselves. McRae first stumbled on the hero of her song “Charlie Parr” at the Porcupine Mountains Music Festival in northern Michigan, but seeing him perform was less revelation than reinforcement. Having endured tough times of her own, McRae has always empathized with society’s less fortunate. Her band Spirit of the West was long the goto group for environmental and social-justice benefit concerts here in her former hometown, and her own quiet activism is so inseparable from her art that it even resulted in another of Long Shadow Trail’s dozen songs, “Flowers of Appalachia”. The singer’s relaxed banjo and lilting voice support a lyric penned by Ken Blackburn, a convict she met while she and her husband, poet James Whitmire, were giving concerts and workshops in California’s New Folsom State Prison. “We were invited there in 2011 to be part of the Arts in Corrections program,” McRae explains, on the line from her home near Nashville, Tennessee. “I played a bunch of different shows in different parts of the prison, and all the inmates were so engaged! They were asking really intelligent questions—questioning things in a way that made me look at what we were doing in a completely new light.” Spurred on by those encounters, McRae and Whitmire have since formalized their communityengagement activities, offering Express Yourself writing workshops to at-risk youth in prisons, detox centres, and community facilities across Canada and the United States. “Most of these kids, they don’t have a voice. They don’t have anyone who gives any credence to their ideas or what they have to say,” the songwriter explains, adding that both she and Whitmire know what it’s like to be in that place. He’s a former alcoholic who’s been sober for 27 years; she was a teenage mother and the daughter of an alcoholic father. “Kids really relate to us because we’re not threatening,” she adds. “We’re just trying to help them find an alternative, a way to put all that angst and anger into making good choices, instead of the wrong choices.” Judgment plays no part in her tunes, however. “You really have no idea where life’s going to take you,” McRae says. “There’s really no road map of your life, and depending on which way you go, you’re going to have a completely different experience.” What the road ahead holds for this Canadian-born, Tennesseebased songwriter, no one can tell. But by choosing music, justice, and redemption, she’s on the right track.
> ALEXANDER VARTY
Linda McRae plays a Rogue Folk Club show at St. James Community Hall on Friday (November 27).
RAC takes a live-band approach to its remixes Given that its name officially
2 stands for Remix Artist Col-
Canadian expat Linda McRae always keeps her hair maple-leaf red.
notion. On a tour bus heading up the West Coast between San Diego and Seattle—he’s not sure exactly where he is when the Straight reaches him by phone—Anjos notes that he did indeed spend his share of time behind the decks, touring the world as a globetrotting DJ. “It was a blast, but it gets old pretty quickly,” he confesses. “With DJing it’s a certain kind of performance. It can be very fun, but you’re also a bit limited, in a way, in terms of performance. The songs are recorded. There’s only so much effects and little things that you can do to the songs. It starts to get stale after a while.” If you go to an RAC gig these days, you’ll see Anjos on-stage wielding an electric guitar, backed by a full live band that includes drummer Jeff Brodsky along with Liz Anjos, Troupe Gammage, and Karl Kling, all of whom alternate singing with playing bass and keyboards. And, yes, true to the group’s name, RAC does indeed play remixes, of a sort. Anjos is a talented remixer who, instead of aiming squarely at the dance f loor, prefers to bring interesting new arrangements to the material he tackles. Recent RAC set lists have included live versions of songs by Foster the People, Two Door Cinema Club, Joywave, and ODESZA. They have also included plenty of RAC’s own tunes. Last year, Anjos released Strangers, his first album of sparkling pop originals, which included collaborations with Tegan and Sara, MNDR, Bloc Party’s Kele Okereke, YACHT, and Tokyo Police Club. More recently, though, Anjos has focused exclusively on singles, releasing one per month since this past June. The producer indicates that he might never again make a full-length record, since he figures no one actually listened to Strangers the way he intended it to be heard. “It was meant to be like a singular piece of music, listened to from front to back. I spent so much time sequencing it. For example, I would listen to the whole album, and I would make a note whenever I caught myself thinking about other things, or when I was distracted. I made a note of where in the album that happened so I could go back to that area and work on it or cut it—basically, trim the fat.” We are, however, living in an age of self-curation, where listeners are happy to trim the fat themselves. Anjos seems to have made peace with the idea that all the painstaking sequencing in the world won’t change the habits of modern music fans, who are just going to make their own selective playlists anyway. “I just spent so much time working on that, and most people just listened to the singles,” he says with a resigned tone. “So I was like, ‘You know what? If that’s how it is, then I’m just going to embrace that. I’m not going to fight it.’ ”
lective, you might expect a show by the Portland, Oregon–based RAC to play out like a typical EDM set, with one or more headphone> JOHN LUCAS sporting producer types manning laptops or turntables. RAC founder André Allen Anjos RAC plays the Commodore on Thurswould like to disabuse you of that day (November 26).
52 THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT NOVEMBER 26 – DECEMBER 3 / 2015
MUSIC
Unleash the Archers keeps the metal faith
I
t was pretty obvious that Unleash the Archers’ 2011 full-length, Demons of the AstroWaste, was a concept album. There were clues everywhere, from the fantasyart cover of a warrior brandishing a sword to the rousing metal anthems about battle and confrontations with evil. Even if you didn’t bother with the lyric sheet, with song titles like “General of the Dark Army” and “Battle in the Shadow (of the Mountain)”, you could safely assume an epic narrative was at play. It’s not so easy to discern a through line for Time Stands Still, however, the band’s 2015 release. There are still flourishes of the medieval and the mythic—like “Frozen Steel”, about “warriors, ungodly worshippers of cold” who ride down from “the frozen north” to “fight for what they believe”. But there are also songs like “Going Down Fighting”, which seems to be about the all-too-real-world experience of being fucked over on the road by an unscrupulous promoter. Truth is, the Straight is at a bit of a loss to spot the unifying concept until Brittney Hayes—aka Brittney Unleash the Archers loves to flip rocks over and watch the tiny crabs scurry for shelter. Shimon Karmel photo. Slayes, the vocalist and lyricist for the It’s a good bet, now that we’ve been No one can accuse Unleash the Unleash the Archers joins a very band—joins us at a Granville Street given the magic decoder ring, that Archers of that. The quintet has just short list of Vancouver bands—also coffee shop to explain it to us. “It’s about, basically, the struggles “Tonight We Ride”—which spawned returned from touring Japan, China, including War Baby and D.O.A.—to of being an independent band in Can- a Mad Max–themed video, filmed in and the United States in support have played China. ada,” she says. Hayes is pleasantly nerdy the Nevada desert using props from of the new album. Would the band “It was all very last-minute, but it and bespectacled off-stage, seeming the Death Guild Thunderdome camp have toured so far afield without the went very well,” says Hayes. “A lot of more like a history at Burning Man— help of Napalm? times, in the smaller cities, we’d be geek—which she is about facing up Hayes shakes her head, taking a playing alone—it would be just us, is—than a charisto the challenges nibble of her scone. “Through Na- and we’d be this little dinner-theatre matic metal frontof touring. palm is how we got hooked up with novelty act. It was really funny, but Allan MacInnis woman. “It was all And the anthem- Spiritual Beast—they’re a Japanese in the bigger cities it was metalheads, written before we were signed [by Aus- ic high point, “Test Your Metal”? label,” Hayes explains. “They said, and they were ready to go.” trian label Napalm Records]. Each song “It’s about hometown heroes, real- ‘We’re releasing your album in two Japan, meanwhile, had fans “who is about a different obstacle you have to ly—about these bands that are so weeks, in July or whatever, and we’d knew all the words, and they were overcome as an independent band. good but they just won’t tour or do like you over here in a month.’ ” With wild, they were so excited to be “ ‘Frozen Steel’ is about metal- anything. It’s like, ‘Get out there! only two shows to offer in Japan, there, they just wanted to particiheads in Canada, and how passionate Show them what you can do! You’re Spiritual Beast then connected Un- pate so bad. I’ve never seen audithey are, and how they would brave a frickin’ talented, you’re incredible, leash the Archers with Chinese metal ences so ready to get their fists up winter storm to go to a show because why are you sitting at home playing magazine Painkiller, which booked into the air, or to do the ‘heys’ along they love metal so much.” to the same people every night?’ ” the band for several more shows. with you. It was really awesome.”
Local Motion
But there are still challenges and obstacles. Brayden Dyczkowski, who wrote most of the music on the band’s first two full-lengths, left the band shortly before the signing to Napalm because “it’s not exactly a profitable hobby,” Hayes says, smiling wryly. “In fact, it just empties your pockets at every chance, and all of our spare money was always going into the band. He finally just said, ‘I can’t do it anymore, I can’t live off ramen anymore, I need a Plan B for my future.’ He went and got his real-estate licence”— though he remains on good terms with the band, and is in the video for “Tonight We Ride”. There’s also a learning curve in dealing with Napalm. “Everything is more expensive to buy from them, and you have to buy the album from them,” Hayes says. But “we got more exposure, a lot more reviews. North America has done really well, and there were good turnouts at shows. We have no idea how sales went in Europe right now.” The band is waiting to hear back about that, but it’s a market Unleash the Archers is eager to crack—a challenge, since, as Hayes says, UtA is a “small fish in a big pond” over there, where melodic power metal proliferates. Do the band members—also including cofounder Scott Buchanan on drums, bassist Kyle Sheppard, and guitarists Grant Truesdell and Andrew Kingsley—worry that they might burn out on pressure from the label to tour? Hayes shakes her head. “We want to tour!” she says emphatically. “We’re working really hard to prove ourselves—we’re working our butts off to try and prove that we’re worth investing in. We’re just, ‘Yes, put us out on the road as much as you can!’ We’re hungry for as much attention as they’ll give us.” -
NOVEMBER 26 – DECEMBER 3 / 2015 THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT 53
MUSIC
Music survives a direct hit
T
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Give the Genuine Gift of Music
narguably, it’s the most horrific thing to ever happen in the long history of rock ’n’ roll. But proving there’s still good in a world that often seems overrun by evil, some positives are starting to emerge from the November 13 attack on Paris’s Bataclan concert hall. If we’ve learned anything since 89 people were gunned down by four terrorists in the middle of a show by the Eagles of Death Metal, it’s You can break Jesse Hughes’s heart, that nothing galvanizes people like but you will never break his spirit. a tragedy. U2’s Bono was among the first to say what many were thinking attack on a subway platform or public when he described the Bataclan mas- square, they took aim at a crowd that sacre as “the first direct hit on music”. Slate described as being a “young, That came out sounding somewhat multi-ethnic, bohemian vision of Paris clunky, leading many on Twitter to that they cannot comprehend”. suggest one of the most famous rock The scariest thing about what hapstars on the planet was trying to pened at the Bataclan? That’s easy: it make everything about him. Again. could’ve been any one of us who loves Except that this time Bono actually live rock ’n’ roll. And that might explain why the Bataclan tragedy has galmade some sense. As anyone who has travelled will tell vanized musicians around the world. you, few things are cooler than hitting Terrorists hit the music world, and the music world has hit a club in a foreign back as one. city. The second Britpop icon you step onto the Jarvis Cocker has dance floor, you’re Mike Usinger responded with at one with everyone around you, even when you have “Friday 13th 2015”. A powerful and calmly measured spoken-word piece no idea how to speak the language. It’s your band that’s on-stage, and set to an ambient soundscape, the that instantly gives you something in track has Cocker recounting what it common with everyone in the room. was like to be in Paris, where he lives, That’s what made Bataclan so trau- the most touching line coming when matic for EODM singer Jesse Hughes. he intones, “The strongest statement of The frontman—who’s normally one resistance is to just keep going.” Dave Grohl’s Foo Fighters recorded of rock’s most here-for-a-good-time characters—gave his first post-tragedy a five-song EP, Saint Cecilia. The digitinterview this week with Vice. He al release is free, but has a link where started crying while recounting the you can donate to Bataclan victims. Some reactions to the tragedy have following: “The reason that so many were killed was because so many been every bit as out-there as the rockers who’ve made them. Take, for expeople wouldn’t leave their friends.” The terrorists—or flaming assholes, ample, Motörhead’s Lemmy Kilmister, as comedian John Oliver more accur- who this week said he would gladly ately described them—picked a target have played the Bataclan the day afthat caught the attention of everyone ter the shooting. His reasoning, while who loves music. Instead of a random largely tone-deaf to the situation, at
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least showed his alcohol-scarred heart was in the right place. To unplug the amps, he argues, is to let the “assholes and cowards” responsible know that they’ve won. If there’s any silver lining to be found in what’s been one of rock ’n’ roll’s blackest of black clouds, it’s that the terrorists haven’t won. From tragic violence at Altamont to trampling deaths in Cincinnati to club fires in Rhode Island to on-stage shooting in Columbus, there have always been horrific moments in rock ’n’ roll. Bataclan, however, was nothing less than a largescale assault that’s mobilized an army. In response to the shooting, you’ve got Céline Dion standing shoulder to shoulder with such unlikely allies as Cocker, Grohl, Kilmister, and Bono. You’ve got Madonna taking to the stage in Stockholm to tell her fans, through tears, “They want to shut us up, and we won’t let them. We will never let them.” Coldplay has rolled out John Lennon’s “Imagine” in concert, and U2 fans are mobilizing to wear all-white for the band’s first post-Paris-attack show, in Belfast on Wednesday. Meanwhile, the band closest to the horror is also soldiering on, despite obvious PTSD. Cofounding member Joshua Homme—who wasn’t on-stage with EODM the night of the shooting—is encouraging fans to donate to victims of Bataclan through his charity Sweet Stuff Foundation. This past Sunday night at the American Music Awards, 30 Seconds to Mars frontman Jared Leto read a letter penned on Facebook by Antoine Leiris, whose wife died at the Bataclan. It read, in part: “Friday night you took an exceptional life, the love of my life, the mother of my son, but you will not have my hatred.” November 13 at the Bataclan was the biggest tragedy the rock world has ever seen. Thank God, Elvis, Janis Joplin, and Kurt Cobain that the response has been as defiant as it is uplifting: to rock on. -
December 04, 05, 11 & 12 54 THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT NOVEMBER 26 – DECEMBER 3 / 2015
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NOVEMBER 26 – DECEMBER 3 / 2015 THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT 55
MUSIC
Mesa Luna has a melancholy undercurrent LOCAL D I S C S MESA LUNA CRUX EP (nbd)
Mesa Luna’s CRUX EP is the
2 kind of collection that will sound
great at a dinner party or in a cocktail lounge, since its five electro-pop tunes are filled with low-key dance grooves and enveloping synth swirls that invite casual background enjoyment. Dig deeper within these songs, however, and you’ll find an undercurrent of affecting lyrical melancholia that rewards attentive listening from this Vancouver two-piece consisting of Justice McLellan and Alex Cooper. This is particularly true of “Church Garden”. This standout cut features thwacking drum-machine beats and dreamily purring synths, but the lyrics shine a bravely unflattering light on drunkenness and heartbreak, and describe spewing chunks in a bush while imagining a lover in another’s arms. “Ruins” is a bummedout lament about a failed relationship, downcast ruminating about “constant combat” giving way to a violent guitar freakout with jagged-glass distortion. Elsewhere on this cassette EP, “Lost on Me” is a lullaby-like ballad about losing touch with family, and closer “Don’t Let Go” is an uneasy dance track about living in an “ordinary hell”. The duo even manages to find pathos in inanimate objects: “Sputnik” invokes its titular satellite with an interstellar whoosh of spacy tones, rhythmic clanks, and descriptions of alienation. CRUX EP is just Mesa Luna’s second-ever commercial release, following a 7-inch single in early 2014. If these guys can keep pouring this much emotion into their sweetsounding pop songs, they’ll be well worth keeping an eye on. > ALEX HUDSON
GIRLFRIENDS AND BOYFRIENDS Our Garden (Pop Era)
You can’t judge a record by its cover, of course, but you can get some clues from it. The artwork for Girlfriends and Boyfriends’ Our Garden features a Shannon Hemmett photo of a chopped-up red rose lying on what looks like a jet-black satin bedsheet. In colour scheme and subject matter it bears a resemblance to the covers of Ministry’s With Sympathy and Depeche Mode’s Violator. Our Garden doesn’t really sound like either of those LPs, but it does come across like a document from the decade that spawned them. To be specific, it sounds a lot like a vintage new-wave/postpunk record. Proceedings kick off with “A Flower”, driven by Grant Francis Minor’s Peter Hook–indebted bass-playing. Pete Panovic’s effects-drenched guitar shards, as heard on “Forgiven Lust”, could have been lifted from a Killing Joke or Chameleons record, and drummer Adam Fink’s rolling toms on “Hearts Undone” and elsewhere suggest he has a Cure record or two in his collection. Notice that I said Our Garden sounds a lot like an old new-waveera record. It doesn’t sound exactly like one. No one back then used reverb to quite this extent, which is one of the sonic signatures of producer Felix Fung, who recorded Our Garden at his Little Red Sounds studio. (Fung, it should be noted, was a founding member of the like-minded Mode Moderne.) That alone gives the album an “indie rock circa now” sound, and the band’s impressive chops and solid songwriting ought to be enough to earn your attention, even if you weren’t around when The Head on the Door came out.
2
Membership in Mesa Luna involves a strict dress code, which Alex Cooper and Justice McLellan proudly uphold.
over to an actual stereo with real speakers, but I have barely a clue about singer-guitarist Skye Brooks’s concerns on Sunstroke, Copilots’ second release for Jesse Zubot’s Drip Audio imprint. A few key phrases—“feel free again/and again”; “find yourself when you can/you do it for fun”—loom out of the murk, which is generated not so much by the band’s caterwauling guitars or Zubot’s atmospherically smeared production as by Brooks’s habit of swallowing his consonants. The overall effect is one of hard-won optimism struggling against entropy, underpinned by Copilots’ penchant for slow-rising chord sequences and undercut by passages in which the whole band appears to tumble into the void. To further complicate matters, African-inspired rhythms—in his other life Brooks is a sublimely gifted drummer, although his similarly accomplished half brother Dylan Smith is at the kit here—often butt up against grainy postrock guitar squalls. It’s often difficult to pin down just where, exactly, this music is coming from. These are observations, not criticisms, however. What’s most important about Copilots is that Brooks and company know how to set a mood— and how to escape from one, too. Tracks like the 11-minute-long “Come to Life” and the almost equally lengthy “Defences” are entrancing, episodic journeys, while shorter attention spans will gravitate to the brief and catchy “Mountain of Time”. Something for everyone? Maybe not, but Sunstroke is certainly something for those who haven’t given up on the creative potential of two guitars, keyboards, bass, and drums. > ALEXANDER VARTY
DEAD GHOSTS Love and Death and All the Rest (Burger)
Dead Ghosts has been one of most prominent torchbearers for PBR–spiked, lo-fi garage rock for years. The four-piece makes no bones about its affinity for guitar licks that chime as much as twang, and distortion buzz as warm and wild as a honeybee’s. That lives on with Dead Ghosts’ latest, Love and Death and All the Rest. While the album bears a decidedly more mature title than, say, the band’s first release, 1000 Joints, it contains no evidence that Dead Ghosts has subjected itself to all that pesky growing-up business. And in this case, that might be for the best. Love and Death and All > JOHN LUCAS the Rest’s raw, psychotropic vibe is the perfect soundtrack for juvenile COPILOTS delinquency, beach-bum boredom, and casual mind-alteration. After Sunstroke (Drip Audio) all, as frontman Bryan Nicol rasps Maybe it’s just that I need to take in the breeze-blown “Drink It Dry”, the disc out of the computer and “You’re born to lose your mind.”
2 Vancouver’s
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56 THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT NOVEMBER 26 – DECEMBER 3 / 2015
That being said, Dead Ghosts’ third full-length is a step forward for the band’s stubborn sound, built upon a foundation laid by the Seeds and the Keggs and furthered by the scrappy, melodic punk of the Replacements and Black Lips. Tracks like “Living in My Mind” and “I Will Be Gone” show Dead Ghosts’ growing willingness to experiment with its formula, achieving more potent results. > VIVIAN PENCZ
RUBY & SMITH A Ukulele Album (Independent)
solo from Black Halos cofounder Rich Jones. Ferocious, less than two minutes long, and impossible not to love, this song knows how to keep the faith. U.K. band the Hip Priests’ anthemic flip side is nowhere near as tough but still plenty catchy, in a kind of Turbonegro-meets-poppunk kind of way. This is very, very easy music to like. > ALLAN M AC INNIS
WILLIE THRASHER Spirit Child (Light in the Attic)
With dozens of powerful in-
2 digenous acts uncovered on last
Coming exactly as advertised, year’s insightful Native North America (Vol. 1): Aboriginal Folk, Rock, tred around the instrument favoured and Country 1966-1985 collection, by four out of five descendants of you’d be hard-pressed to play favourHawaii’s King Kalākaua. But don’t ites. That said, you couldn’t go wrong expect the duo of Daphne Roubini by picking Willie Thrasher. The de and Andrew Smith to sound like facto face of the compilation—quite the house band at the fabulous literally, thanks to his appearing on Royal Hawaiian on this low-key but the box set’s cover—the folk-rocker charming full-length. had his story of growing up in CanInstead, the two uke aces have ada’s horrific residential-school syscrafted a jazz-dusted record made for tem covered by major media, while hanging out on a ramshackle porch his Inuit roots were re-explored in Louisiana at sundown, a mint ju- with the re-emergence of his “Spirit lep in one hand as the fireflies hover Child”, “Old Man Carver”, and “We in the forest. This is gorgeous and Got to Take You Higher”. effortlessly melancholy stuff, with All three originally appeared on a Roubini’s deliciously slurred vocals long-lost LP from 1981 called Spirit front and centre in the mix. Child, which archive-scouring imA Ukulele Album isn’t without print Light in the Attic has now dustits small stylistic diversions, with ed off for Thrasher’s new fans. “Motherless Child” a skeletal exerSpirit Child flirts with choruscise in unvarnished Americana and pedal-warped country-rock while “Ballad for Andrea” suggesting Ruby delivering its hooks in both Inuk& Smith aren’t completely averse to titut and English. “Beautiful” is the 2 a.m. blues. exactly what its title implies, with And, perhaps in the name of ap- sanguine pedal steel soaring above pealing to ukulele purists, the duo a light, crackling snare. Thrasher’s even make a wonderful case they drive on the cut is simple but beamknow exactly where their instrument ing, with him summing up the of choice comes from, with the en- majesty of the mountains before chanting instrumental “Lovelight in him: “It’s so beautiful.” Your Eyes” sounding like a lost track Not every song is as joyous. “Esfrom the Descendants soundtrack. kimo Named Johnny”, for instance, Let Ruby & Smith transport you to is a sweet but sad account of feelthe palm-swept shores of Kauai. And ing displaced. Despite the allusions don’t forget to trade that mint julep to shining rivers and the tyingin for a mai tai. together of generations on “Old Man > MIKE USINGER Carver”, the song is delivered with a troubled, hard-swung groove. For an album that didn’t get a fair BILLY HOPELESS VS. THE shake when it was originally issued HIP PRIESTS by the CBC in the early ’80s, it’s fit“Gutter Ball”/“Wired, Amped, Skulled” ting that Thrasher’s Spirit Child peaks with “Wolves Don’t Play by the (Little T and A) Rules”. Over 30 years later, the song’s “Gutterball”, Billy Hopeless’s trampling rhythms have finally been side of his new split with the set free to find a new home with folkHip Priests, suggests that the Black rock appreciaters worldwide. > GREGORY ADAMS Halos’ frontman—aka Billy Bonito of the Bonitos—never needed punk to develop much beyond the Dead LOSCIL Boys. He makes a convincing argu- Adrift (Independent) ment, in fact: snarling, drawling, Scott Morgan, the audio exmostly incomprehensible vocals perimenter better known as about being “down in the gutter” rip along over Cheetah Chrome–style Loscil, has long been fascinated guitars, climaxing in a near-perfect by conjuring landscape-inspired
2 A Ukulele Album is indeed cen-
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sounds. Sketches From New Brighton (2012) reinterpreted the sight of carrier ships by the Second Narrows as ethereal stretches of sonic ambiance, while the mournful electro-organic soundscapes of his 2014 full-length, Sea Island, were partly inspired by walks around Richmond’s Iona Beach. Now his new Adrift EP takes on especially topological properties, coming packaged as an interactive smartphone app loaded with moody music and a series of detailed maps. The long-in-the-works project uniquely comprises four pieces made up of various unending audio components, which play at random when you cue up a track. In essence, this means every listen is a new audio experience. It’s hard to say how these songs will run each time you open the app, but “Baychimo” may well be its darkest tapestry. Every once in a while you’ll be treated to a lonely tinkle of piano, but it generally traffics in upsetting, echoing drones and a foreboding flicker of collaborator Mark Bridges’s cello. Elsewhere, a sickening ripple of synth bass surges through “Orlova”, but depending on how the app’s AI is feeling, that ominous tone may come juxtaposed against heavenly plucked harp or a halo’s glow of calming newage electronics. As this goes on, your smartphone screen displays ever-shifting, icewhite topographical maps that each reference a vessel lost at sea. “Orlova” shouts out a Yugoslavian cruise ship that is suspected to have sunk in the North Atlantic in 2013; “Ryou Un Maru” is dedicated to a Japanese boat rocked out into the Pacific during a 2011 typhoon and ultimately sunk in U.S. waters. Cold, desolate, and unpredictable as the waters that claimed the vessels in question, Adrift makes for a fresh but unsettling adventure from a master soundsmith. > GREGORY ADAMS
ROCOCODE Panic Attack (Marquis Label Services)
Rococode recorded the ma-
2 terial that makes up Panic At-
tack while off the grid in a remote cabin in the forest. Considering this rustic setting, the resulting EP sounds like the exact opposite of what listeners might expect, as it’s a slick collection of radio-friendly electro-pop that sounds distinctly metropolitan. Panic Attack was made with producers Caleb Shreve (Phantogram) and Ted Gowans (Tegan and Sara), both of whom have experience in making synth-filled pop anthems. This pays off on the title track, which opens the EP with a surge of rock rhythms, postpunk guitars, and clubby bass buzz, while principal band members Laura Smith and Andrew Braun duet on a barrage of instantly hummable hooks about impending anxiety. A couple of tracks later, “The Escape” is similarly punchy, with overdriven guitar tones that make it the collection’s most organic-sounding arrangement. As enjoyable as these upbeat tunes are, the downtempo material is even better. “Banks” is a particularly lovely synth ballad, its mellow hip-hop beat providing the backdrop for a series of honey-sweet chord changes and out-of-nowhere crescendos of rat-a-tat percussion. A cover of INXS’s “Never Tear Us Apart” is another beautiful slow burner, and it provides an atmospheric update on the 1988 original’s synth-y soulfulness. Panic Attack finishes with a remix of the title cut from local duo Humans, who reimagine the song as a minimal dance jam with hypnotic bass and sampled vocal loops. It’s a pleasant way to end the EP, which acts as a very promising preview of Rococode’s upcoming fulllength, due out next year.
> ALEX HUDSON
with guests the Twilight Sad. May 31, doors 5 pm, show 6 pm, Deer Lake Park (6344 Deer Lake Ave., Burnaby). Tix on sale Nov 27, 10 am, $57 (plus service charges and fees) at www.livenation.com/.
music/ timeout CONCERTS < CLUBS & VENUES < OUT OF TOWN <
CONCERTS 2JUST ANNOUNCED JOJO MASON Vancouver countrysoul artist performs with guests Lanie McAuley and Dani Elle. Dec 4, 7-10:30 pm, Venue (881 Granville). Tix $16/13, info www.venuelive.ca/. SHE STOLE MY BEER Legendary Vancouver roots-rock band from the ‘90s, with guest Piper. Dec 5, doors 8 pm, Biltmore Cabaret (2755 Prince Edward). Tix $20, info biltmorecabaret.com/events/ she-stole-my-beer/. CO-OP RADIO 3 YEAR ANNIVERSARY PARTY Music by Sick Nation’s JBlaq and Lane, Spit & Giggles, Attikus, David Morin, KIDS, Torio Jones, Indelible, and Blue Team Blue. Dec 10, 9 pm, Red Room Ultrabar (398 Richards). Tix $10, info www. eventbrite.ca/e/urban-renewal-projectvancouver-co-op-radio-3-year-anniversaryparty-tickets-19504318943/. CHARLIE HUNTER TRIO American jazz guitarist-composer performs with trombonist Curtis Fowlkes and drummer Bobby Previte. Dec 12, 8 pm, BlueShore Financial Centre for the Performing Arts (2055 Purcell Way). Tix $28/25, info www. capilanou.ca/blueshorefinancialcentre/. KEITHMAS VI: A FOOD BANK FUNDRAGER Music by Rich Hope & His Evil Doers, the Jolts, the Vicious Cycles MC, Elliot C Way & the Wild North, the Rentalmen, the Ballantynes, La Chinga, Dahle Brothers, and the Tranzmitors. Proceeds go to the Greater Vancouver Food Bank. Dec 18, doors 7 pm, show 8 pm, Rickshaw Theatre (254 E. Hastings). Tix $15 (plus service charges and fees) at Red Cat, Highlife Records, and www.ticketweb.ca/. 30TH ANNUAL BLUES FOR CHRISTMAS Blues music by Jim Byrnes, David Gogo, Gary Comeau and the Voodoo Allstars, Dalannah & Owen, Billy Dixon Soul Train Express, Johnny Ferreira and the Swing Machine, Incognito, Steve Kozak West Coast Allstars, Murray Porter Band, the BobCats, and Brainchild. Dec 20, 7:30 pm, Commodore Ballroom (868 Granville). Tix $25 (plus service charges and fees), info www.bluesforchristmas.com/. ERIC PRYDZ Swedish techno/house DJ and producer. Jan. 2, 9 pm, Commodore Ballroom (868 Granville). Tix $38.50 (plus service charges and fees) at www.ticket master.ca/. SONNY LANDRETH Blues-roots slideguitar virtuoso from Louisiana, with local guest Wailin’ Al Walker. Jan 17, doors 6 pm, show 7 pm, The Imperial (319 Main). Tix $30 (plus service charge) at Neptoon, Zulu, Highlife, Red Cat, Beat Merchant Records, and www.ticketweb.ca/. TROYE SIVAN South African-born Australian actor and dream-pop singer-songwriter tours in support of upcoming full-length debut album Blue Neighbourhood. Feb 3, doors 7 pm, show 8 pm, Vogue Theatre (918 Granville). Tix on sale Nov 27, 10 am, $24.50 (plus service charges and fees) at www.livenation.com/. MONSTER TRUCK As part of the Straight Series, Canadian rock band tours in support of upcoming album Sittin’ Heavy, with guests the Temperance Movement. Feb 25, doors 8 pm, show 9:30 pm, Commodore Ballroom (868 Granville). Tix on sale Nov 28, 10 am, $29.50 (plus service charges and fees) at www.livenation.com/. ANJUNABEATS Featuring EDM performances by Andrew Bayer, iLan Bluestone, and Jason Ross. Mar 10, 9 pm, Commodore Ballroom (868 Granville). Tix $38.50 (plus service charges and fees) at www.livenation.com/. RACHEL PLATTEN American pop singersongwriter performs on her Wildfire Tour, with guest Eric Hutchinson. Mar 28, doors 6:30 pm, show 7:30 pm, Vogue Theatre (918 Granville). Tix on sale Dec 3, $25 (plus service charges and fees) at www. livenation.com/. WOLFMOTHER Australian hard-rock band tours in support of upcoming album VICTORIOUS. Apr 1, doors 8 pm, show 9:30 pm, Commodore Ballroom (868 Granville). Tix on sale Dec 4, 10 am, $33.50 (plus service charges and fees) at www.livenation.com/. RIHANNA Barbados-born R&B singersongwriter performs on her Anti World Tour, with guest Travis Scott. Apr 23, Rogers Arena (800 Griffiths Way). Tix on sale Dec 3 at www.livenation.com/. THE CURE Long-running English rock band performs on the Cure Tour 2016,
CITY AND COLOUR Canadian alt-rock singer-songwriter tours in support of new LP If I Should Go Before You, with guests Shakey Graves. Jun 3, doors 6:30 pm, show 7:30 pm, Rogers Arena (800 Griffiths Way). Tix on sale Nov 27, 10 am, $65/49.50/35 (plus service charges and fees) at www.livenation.com/.
2THIS WEEK RAC The Georgia Straight presents solo indie-electronic project of American musician André Allen Anjos. Nov 26, doors 8 pm, show 9:30 pm, Commodore Ballroom (868 Granville). Tix $27.50 (plus service charges and fees) at www.commodore ballroom.com/. DEATH IN JUNE Neo-folk group led by English musician Douglas Pearce. Nov 26, 8 pm, Rickshaw Theatre (254 E. Hastings). Tix $30, info www.rickshawtheatre.com/. KING CRIMSON Legendary prog-rock band from Britain, featuring guitarist Robert Fripp. Nov 26-27, 8 pm, Vogue Theatre (918 Granville). Tix at www.axs.com/. HEADSTONES Canadian guitar-rock band tours in support of latest release One in the Chamber Music, with guests City of Fire. Nov 27, doors 8 pm, show 9:30 pm, Commodore Ballroom (868 Granville). Tix $39.50/four-packs $130 (plus service charges and fees) at www.commodoreballroom.com/.
E. Hastings). Tix $15, info www.rickshaw theatre.com/.
ZAPPA PLAYS ZAPPA The Georgia Straight presents guitarist Dweezil Zappa’s tribute to the music of his father Frank. Nov 29, doors 7 pm, show 8 pm, Commodore Ballroom (868 Granville). Tix $49.50 (plus service charges and fees) at www.commodoreballroom.com/. TALES OF A CHARLIE BROWN CHRISTMAS The Jerry Granelli Trio and the Coastal Sound Children’s Choir perform in an evening that blends stories and music to capture the spirit of the Christmas season. Presented by Coastal Jazz. Nov 29, 2 pm, 7 pm, Vogue Theatre (918 Granville). Tix $51.50/43/35.50/29/22.50 (plus service charge) at www.coastaljazz.ticketfly.com/, info www.coastaljazz.ca/. DOCS ROCK BENEFIT CONCERT FOR THE CHILDREN’S WISH FOUNDATION Lisa Fennell, the Blues Piggies, and Soul Purpose perform a benefit concert for the Children’s Wish Foundation. Nov 29, 5-9 pm, Fairview Pub (898 W. Broadway). Tix $10, info www.fairviewpub.ca/. REID JAMIESON VANCOUVER PRESLEY SESSIONS Reid Jamieson presents a musical love letter to 1950s musicians like Elvis, Roy Orbison, the Platters, and the Flamingos. Nov 29, 7 pm, WISE Hall (1882 Adanac). Tix $20, info www.facebook.com/ events/1195484360468858/1227384423945518/.
WEDNESDAY,
DECEMBER 2ND
ODESZA Seattle-based electronica duo tours in support of latest release In Return. Dec 1-2, 9 pm, Commodore Ballroom (868 Granville). Tix $28 (plus service charges and fees) at www.commodoreballroom.com/.
Tickets: Online at EntertheVault.com TicketFly.com. In person at Scrape, Zulu and Red Cat Records VIP package available. Includes Meet and Greet signing w/bandd
BEN ROGERS Vancouver artist performs in support of latest album The Bloodred Yonder, with special guest Brad Loomis. Nov 27, Bozzini’s (45739 Hocking Ave., Chilliwack). Tix $20, info www.bozzinis restaurant.com/.
PUSCIFER L.A. alt-rock band featuring Maynard James Keenan from Tool. Dec 2, doors 7 pm, show 8 pm, Queen Elizabeth Theatre (650 Hamilton). Tix $65/49.50/29.50 (plus service charges and fees) at www. ticketmaster.ca/.
PRESENTED BY POTLUCK CAFE SOCIETY
JON BRYANT Canadian singer-songwriter performs songs from upcoming album Twenty Something. Nov 27, 7 pm, Biltmore Cabaret (2755 Prince Edward). Tix $12 (plus service charges and fees), info www.mrg concerts.com/.
THE WEEKND Canadian R&B singersongwriter performs on his Madness Fall Tour, with guests Banks Halsey and Travis Scott. Dec 2, doors 6:30 pm, show 7:30 pm, Rogers Arena (800 Griffiths Way). Tix $39.50-99.50 (plus service charges and fees) at www.livenation.com/.
LINDA MCRAE The Rogue Folk Club presents roots musician and former Spirit of the West member. Nov 27, 8 pm, St. James Hall (3214 W. 10th). Tix $24/20, info www. roguefolk.bc.ca/concerts/ev15112720/. THE MAHONES Canadian-Irish punk band tours in support of upcoming album, with guests Los Furios. Nov 27, doors 8 pm, Rickshaw Theatre (254 E. Hastings). Tix $15, info www.rickshawtheatre.com/. THE FORD PIER VENGEANCE TRIO Local indie group performs with guests Himalayan Bear and Ida Nilsen. Nov 27, 8 pm, WISE Hall (1882 Adanac). Tix $10 at the door, info www.facebook.com/ events/970979122945353/. CASUAL ENCOUNTERS OFFICIAL LAUNCH PARTY Celebrate with music by SHEPS, SRK, Phil David, Harvey Harvey, and John X. Nov 27, 10 pm, At the Waldorf (1489 E. Hastings). Free admission before 11pm/$5 after, info www.atthewaldorf.com/.
on the web!
For up-to-the-minute, searchable Music Time Out listings, visit
www.straight.com
DEAD GHOSTS Vancouver psychedelicrock band tours in support of new album Love and Death and all the Rest, with guests the Shivas and Strange Things. Nov 28, doors 7 pm, show 8 pm, Cobalt (917 Main). Tix $10 (plus service charges and fees) at Red Cat, Zulu Records, and www.ticketweb.ca/. KASTLE Los Angeles dance DJ-producer tours in support of latest EP release Polytopia, with guests Ryan Wells and Dubconscious. Nov 28, doors 10 pm, show 10:30 pm, Open Studios (200-252 E. 1st). Tix $15-20 (plus service charges and fees) at Red Cat, Zulu Records, and www. ticketweb.ca/. ROGER HODGSON Former singerguitarist and cosongwriter of Supertramp (“Dreamer”, “Give a Little Bit”) performs on his Breakfast in America Tour. Nov 28, doors 7 pm, show 8 pm, River Rock Show Theatre (River Rock Casino Resort, 8811 River Rd., Richmond). Tix $84.50/74.50 (plus service charges and fees) at www.ticketmaster.ca/. REEF SHARK Vancouver post garage-pop band performs songs from upcoming EP Mind Race, with guests In Odyssey and Little Wild. Nov 28, Biltmore Cabaret (2755 Prince Edward). Tix $10 (plus service charges and fees), info www.mrgconcerts.com/. BARNEY BENTALL & THE CARIBOO EXPRESS Fundraising concert featuring Barney Bentall and the Cariboo Express, with guests Dustin Bentall, Ridley Bent, Matt Masters, and Wendy Bird. Proceeds go to the Potluck Café Society, which creates jobs and provides healthy food for people living in the Downtown Eastside. Nov 28, 6:3011 pm, Vogue Theatre (918 Granville). Tix 41.95-52.45, info www.barneybentall.com/. HARD RUBBER ORCHESTRA Vancouver big band led by John Korsrud tours in support of CD Crush. Nov 28, 8:30 pm, Rio Theatre (1660 E. Broadway). Tix $20/15, info www.hardrubber.com/. POINTED STICKS Canadian punk band tours in support of latest self-titled LP, with guests Vampire Bats, Polly, and Nervous Talk. Nov 28, 10 pm, Rickshaw Theatre (254
KAMELOT Power-metal band from Florida, with guests Dragonforce. Dec 2, 7-11:30 pm, Vogue Theatre (918 Granville). Tix $35-120, info www.facebook.com/ events/1571131866479783/.
2UPCOMING HIGHLIGHTS CONTACT WINTER MUSIC FESTIVAL Electronica festival features music by Above & Beyond, Hardwell, Steve Angello, DJ Snake, Andrew Rayel, Oliver Heldens, Klingande, Tchami, 3LAU, Bakermat, Jauz, Mercer, Jai Wolf, Vanic, Wiwek, Snails, Slander, and Nghtmre. Dec 26-27, 5 pm, B.C. Place Stadium (777 Pacific). Tix $250/175/150 (plus service charges and fees) at www.contact-festival.com/.
CLUBS & VENUES ALEXANDER GASTOWN 91 Powell, 778379-0407. Gastown club, lounge, and live music venue featuring weekly club nights and various concerts. 2LOUIS THE CHILD Nov 28 2MAJID JORDAN Dec 10 BACKSTAGE LOUNGE Arts Club Theatre, 1585 Johnston, Granville Island, 604-6871354. Vancouver’s only live-music venue on the water, with music nightly. Live band karaoke hosted by Sami Ghawi and Reuben Avery Tue at 9:30 pm.
BIMINI PUBLIC HOUSE 2010 W. 4th, 604733-7116. Twenty-four taps of rotating and interesting craft beers. Pub trivia Mon; beer club Tue; Wing Wed; dance party Fri-Sat; happy hour 3-6 pm. BLACKBIRD PUBLIC HOUSE & OYSTER BAR 905 Dunsmuir, 604-899-4456. Bistro and public house with oyster bar, barbershop, Scotch bar, and live music Wed-Fri. Open daily at 11 am. Happy hour 3-6 pm. CHARLES BAR 136 W. Cordova, 604-5688040. Gastown sports bar features nine-foot HD screen and DJs on weekend nights. Wavy Fridays with DJs Seko&Marvel; Back & Forth Saturdays with rap, R&B, and club classics. Open Sun-Thu from 11:30 am to 1 am, Fri-Sat from 11:30 am to 3 am. CINEMA PUBLIC HOUSE 901 Granville, 604-694-0202. Pub featuring craft beer and cocktails, pub food, late-night menu, and weekend brunch. DJs all night Wed-Sun. Happy hour 3-6 pm. COBALT 917 Main, 778-918-3671. 2DEAD GHOSTS Nov 28 2BELL WITCH Dec 3 2L.A. WITCH Dec 10 2TACOCAT AND SALLIE FORD Dec 12 2THE GARDEN Dec 13 2DAN DEACON Dec 15 2PITY SEX Dec 22 COMMODORE BALLROOM 868 Granville, 604-739-4550. Tix at www.commodoreball room.ca/. 2HALESTORM Nov 25 2RAC
BOTH SHO SHOWS HOWSS ALL AGES AT
10TH YEAR ANNIVERSARY
SATURDAY NOVEMBER 28TH
BARNEY BENTALL L
DOORS 6:30PM SHOW 7:30PM
& THE CARIBOO EXPRESS
win tickets att
NOV N
27 2
t The Georgia Straight & The Rickshaw presen
S HONE THE MALOS FURIOS &
T H IS FRI!
WITH SPECIAL GUESTS
THE BONE DADDIESNES NEW
COME CELEBRATE THE MAHO AT: ALBUM RELEASE. TICKETS AVAIL ABLE AND RED CAT, HIGHLIFE, ZULU, NEPTOON RICKSHAWTHEATRE.COM
NOV N
28
BELMONT BAR 1006 Granville, 604-6054340. Fresh and local fare, craft beer and wine on tap, and live entertainment nightly. Open daily at 5 pm. 2BYZANTIUM: AN ANNIVERSARY AFFAIR Dec 3 BILTMORE CABARET 2755 Prince Edward, 604-676-0541. 2WE ARE THE WORLD, WE ARE THE BILTMORE Nov 25 2JON BRYANT Nov 27 2REEF SHARK Nov 28 2WHAT’S NEW PUSSYCAT Nov 29 2EWB PRESENTS: JAM FOR A CAUSE Dec 3 2MYSTERY SKULLS Dec 4 2SHE STOLE MY BEER Dec 5 2HEALTH Dec 7 2KIASMOS Dec 12
SHOW 8PM VIP 6PM DOORS 7PM
present Northern Electric Sound and the Pointed Sticks
THE POINTED STICKS NEW ALBUM RELEASE WITH
TH
VAMPIRE BATS, POLLY & SATIS DOOR ! NERVOUS TALK ZULU, & 10P S TICKETS AVAILABLE AT: RED CAT, RICKSHAWTHEATRE.COM
C DEC DE D
4
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present Calgary Beer Co. The Rickshaw & Scrape Records
ZERO ITY ORTHE THSUS AUVER WORLD WITH
(MEMBERS OF LAGWAGON & THE ATARIS), SHOCKLOAD & EKEN IS DEAD TICKETS AVAILABLE AT: SCRAPE, RED CAT, NEPTOON, HIGHLIFE, ZULU & RICKSHAWTHEATRE.COM
DEC D
8
w Present C.I.A Concerts, The Georgia Straight & The Ricksha
LE PUSSY NASHVIL WHALE WITH IN
THE
ON, TICKE TS AVAIL ABLE AT: RED CAT, NEPTO E.COM ZULU, HIGHLIFE, AND RICKSHAWT HEATR
DEC D
1 12 DIECEMBERFEST 7! 111 G METAL LONGEST RUNNIN FESTIVAL/CHARITY EVENT
WHACKER, 14 BANDS - 2 NIGHTS: MENDOZZA , BUSH BOG SKULL VULTURES, BURNING GHATS, & MORE: Proceeds to Vancouver food Bank Ticket INformation: Rickshawtheatre.com
254 East Hastings liveatrickshaw.com UPCOMING SHOWS NOV 28 (7 PM) COME DY SHOCK ER FE AT: K Y LE BOTTOM, M A RK HUGH E S, JASON K RYSK A & MORE NOV 29 (3 PM) CHRISTM AS POP UP M A RK ET DEC 3 LEGS W ITH SAV VIE , YOUNGBLOOD & DJ CHRISTA BELLE DEC 5 DA DA PLA N W ITH FRE A K H E AT WAV E S & GA L GR ACE N
see next page
NOVEMBER 26 – DECEMBER 3 / 2015 THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT 57
Music time out
NOV 27 ARDENT TRIBE
from previous page
SAT NOV 28
Nov 26 2HEADSTONES Nov 27 2ZAPPA PLAYS ZAPPA Nov 29 2ODESZA Dec 1 2K-OS Dec 9 230TH ANNUAL BLUES FOR CHRISTMAS Dec 20 2FUNK THE HALLS Dec 22 2NERO Dec 29 2ERIC PRYDZ Jan 2 2ECCW WRESTLING: BALLROOM BRAWL V Jan 16 2THE DEVIL MAKES THREE Jan 19 2NATHANIEL RATELIFF AND THE NIGHT SWEATS Jan 21 2CHASE RICE Jan 24 2 CORB LUND Jan 29
FRI DEC 4
DOOLIN’S IRISH PUB 654 Nelson, 604605-4343. Live music Sun-Thu, with acoustic soloist or duo Sun-Wed and live band Thu DJ Fri-Sat.
LIBRARY SQUARE PUBLIC HOUSE 300 W. Georgia, 604-633-9644. Free pinball Wed, Show Me Love ‘90s party Fri; Saturday Night Special dance party Sat. Canucks and Whitecaps pregame.
FORTUNE SOUND CLUB 147 E. Pender, 604-569-1758. 2THE PANCAKES & BOOZE ART SHOW Dec 3 2JAZZ CARTIER Dec 5 2DJ MUSTARD Dec 19 2BEAT CONNECTION Dec 19 2HOT CHIP (DJ SET) Dec 29 2FORTUNE SOUND NYE 2016 Dec 31 2CHROME SPARKS Jan 20
M.I.A. 350 Water St., 604-408-4321. 2INFLUENCE - TECHNO SELECTOR SERIES Nov 26 2THE MARTINEZ BROTHERS Nov 28 2ODESZA Dec 1 2XXYYXX Dec 3 2GREEN VELVET Dec 12 2ILLUMINATE NYE Dec 31
FRI NOV 27
* WHATS WRONG TOHEI? * JERKAGRAM [LA] * MOTHER UPDUFF * BOTFLY & HOLZKOPH * KEY TO ABYSS * * BISHOPS GREEN * OLD MAN STRENGTH * OBSCENE BEING * ELIMINATOR *… $15 * DENY YOUR MAKER * INVAINE * W.D.C. * UTILITY PROVIDER * SAT DEC 5
26 THE PHONIX 27 ARDENT TRIBE 28 BREHDREN 29 2 1 THURSDAY $2.75 DRAFT, $5.50 PALM BAYS
FRIDAY $5.50 LONG ISLAND ICED TEA
R&B/SOUL COVERS
SATURDAY
SUNDAY
ATOMIC SWING FEATURING THE ROSSI GANG
WITH SWEETLEAF SKA/FUNK
TUESDAY $2.75 DRAFT, $5.50 PALM BAYS, $4.25 SHOTS
THE COOL KIDS COVERS
* THIRD ANNUAL MORGAN MUSICFEST * DOORS 6PM TIX $10 * POTLUCK 6:30PM MUSIC 7:30PM * SIX TO MIDNIGHT * FRIENDS JAM * FOLLOWED BY SAT DEC 5
* ANNUAL DIMEBAG DARRELL TRIBUTE SHOW WITH PANTERA PLAYED BY * VANTERA * WITH GUESTS * APPRENTICE * MERIDIUS * DOORS AT 9PM *
FOX CABARET 2321 Main. 2FLEE Nov 26 2PHANTOM SIGNAL Nov 30 2LET’S NOT BEAT EACH OTHER TO DEATH Jan 21 2EL TOPO Jan 22 2 HAROLD BUDD Jan 23 2ROOMFUL OF TEETH Jan 25 2FOND OF TIGERS Jan 28 FRANKIE’S 765 Beatty, 778-727-0337. Coastal Jazz presents live jazz and blues throughout the weekend (Thu-Sun). 2HUGH FRASER TRIO Nov 29 2BERNIE ARAI’S TO BE ORNETTE TO BE Dec 3 2ANAGRAM Dec 4 2PAUL PIGAT DAILY SPECIAL Dec 5
WEDNESDAY $4.50 HIGHBALLS
THE FIRST ANNUAL BIPOLAR INITIATIVE FUNDRAISER FEATURING RECORDING ARTISTS JIM
FOSTER, VICKY SJOHALL, BLAKE HAVARD, THE TWITCHAND SPECIAL GUEST HUMBERTO FUENTES AND BRIAN HOLDEN
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FUNKY WINKER BEANS 37 W. Hastings, 604-764-7865. 2WHAT’S WRONG TOHEI?, JERKAGRAM, MOTHER UPDUFF, BOTFLY & HOLZKOPH, KEY TO ABYSS Nov 27 2BISHOPS GREEN, OLD MAN STRENGTH, OBSCENE BEING, ELIMINATOR Nov 28 2DENY YOUR MAKER, INVAINE, W.D.C., UTILITY PROVIDER Dec 4 2THIRD ANNUAL MORGAN MUSICFEST Dec 5 2DIMEBAG DARRELL TRIBUTE: VANTERA, APPRENTICE, MERIDIUS Dec 5 HARD ROCK CASINO VANCOUVER 2080 United Blvd., Coquitlam, 604523-6888. 2ROGER HODGSON Nov 27 2ABBAMANIA & NIGHT FEVER Dec 4 2TROOPER Dec 31 2GEORGE THOROGOOD & THE DESTROYERS Apr 21 THE IMPERIAL 319 Main, 604-8680494. 2IN FOCUS VANCOUVER Nov 26 2FAMILY OF THE YEAR Dec 6 2HALF MOON RUN Dec 8 2VANESSA CARLTON Jan 14 2SONNY LANDRETH Jan 17 2SHIGETO Jan 22 2THE KNOCKS Feb 3 2SUPER FURRY ANIMALS Feb 4 2YOUNG GALAXY Feb 10 2LAKE STREET DIVE Mar 1 2JUNIOR BOYS Mar 10 2POLICA Mar 30
ORPHEUM THEATRE 601 Smithe, 604-6653050. 2VANCE JOY Jan 12 2BLUE RODEO Jan 26 2HEART Mar 8 2LEON BRIDGES Mar 15 QUEEN ELIZABETH THEATRE 650 Hamilton, 604-665-3050. 2DARCY OAKE Nov 27 2PUSCIFER Dec 2 2MILEY CYRUS & HER DEAD PETZ Dec 14 2JOHNNY REID Feb 1 2TWENTY ONE PILOTS Apr 10 RED ROOM ULTRABAR 398 Richards, 604687-5007. Trance night Thu; Latin and Top 40 Fri; international and local DJs Sat; alternative and industrial with DJ Pandemonium and friends Sun. 2CO-OP RADIO 3 YEAR ANNIVERSARY PARTY Dec 10 REPUBLIC 958 Granville, 604-669-3214. House, hip-hop, EDM, chart, and reggae. Open seven days a week from 10 pm to 3 am. 214TH ANNUAL DONNELLY FUND TOY DRIVE Dec 8 RICKSHAW THEATRE 254 E. Hastings, 604-681-8915. 2DEATH IN JUNE Nov 26 2THE MAHONES Nov 27 2COMEDY SHOCKER PRESENTS: SEVEN DEADLY SINS Nov 28 2POINTED STICKS Nov 28 2LEGS Dec 3 2AUTHORITY ZERO Dec 4 2DADA PLAN Dec 5 2NASHVILLE PUSSY Dec 8 2DIECEMBERFEST 7 Dec 11 2KEITHMAS VI: A FOOD BANK FUNDRAGER Dec 18 2YOB Dec 31 RIVER ROCK SHOW THEATRE River Rock Casino Resort, 8811 River Rd.,
see page 60
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58 THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT NOVEMBER 26 – DECEMBER 3 / 2015
MEDIA CLUB 695 Cambie, 604-6082871. Live music most nights. 2STARLA Nov 28 2MIKE KROL Dec 5 2REPTAR Dec 11 2HUNNY Dec 11 2THE EAGLE ROCK GOSPEL SINGERS Jan 30 2HEY MARSEILLES Mar 4
JAMES WHITE
NOW - DECEMBER 29
WIN A 2016
LAMPLIGHTER PUBLIC HOUSE 92 Water, 604-687-4424. Pub trivia with Nice Guys Inc. Tue; bourbon and bingo Wed; Rocksteady with DJs Arems, Hoppa & Rexx Thu; FKYA DJs Fri; DJ Antonia & Friends Sat.
“EXCEPTIONAL. CHRISTOPHER ABBOTT IS THE REAL DEAL. HE CONTROLS YOUR ATTENTION LIKE A YOUNG HARVEY KEITEL. CYNTHIA NIXON SWINGS FOR THE FENCES.” - VANITY FAIR
GIVEAWAY
760 Pacific Blvd. South Vancouver, BC V6B 5E7
IVANHOE PUB 1038 Main, 604-608-1444. Pub with live bands on weekends and open jam night Sun from 4 to 8 pm. Thu. No cover. 2FULL MOON Nov 27 2RICOCHET RABBIT Nov 28 2WOODY JAMES Dec 4 2SONS OF THE HOE Dec 6
NOV 27 - 29, DEC 2
VANCITY THEATRE 1181 SEYMOUR ST - VANCOUVER
ADVANCE TICKETS VIFF.ORG/THEATRE
¿OPVweOLNH
See the trailer at filmswelike.com
MOVIES REVIEWS CREED Starring Michael B. Jordan. Rated PG. For showtimes, please see page 63
The original Rocky was an amazing movie.
2 As a kid, I loved the palooka-versus-champ
heroics. As an adult, I see how Sylvester Stallone foreshadowed Rocky’s ability to survive punishment in the ring (the character was modelled on Chuck Wepner, known as the “Bayonne Bleeder”) with his determined, charming optimism out of it. But you can only take so many sequels before the story is completely worn-out, and pointless to film again. Unless you are Ryan Coogler, that is, who I think might be a genius. His Fruitvale Station (2013) drew a lot of admiration and made a star out of Michael B. Jordan, but I think Creed is even more of a feat. This is a young director stepping into big budgets, big pressure, and the Nth sequel to a movie released in 1976. And he has delivered in every possible way, walking the formula path but with new characters and a visual excitement that is completely its own.
The eye of the tiger returns
In Creed, Michael B. Jordan plays Adonis Johnson, the fierce son of Apollo Creed, while Sylvester Stallone returns as Rocky Balboa, the best friend of Adonis’s father.
sympathetic, if tough, support from a publisher (Ron Livingston). Things change, for better and worse, when his mom’s Director Ryan Coogler delivers a knockout with Creed; dormant cancer returns. The Stanford Prison Experiment recreates jail dynamics Veteran producer Josh Mond Along with Sicario, this has to be one of the makes his feature-directing debut here. It elides most impressively shot movies of the year. Coo- as much as it shows, but his sketches are mostly gler takes us through the Rocky world but from deft and always deeply physical. Almost half of the different angles, whether in its underused urban 90-minute movie goes by before you begin forgivlocations or backstage at a major fight. It all feels ing James’s spoiled-brat ways. And it takes some convincing and right, with a wealth of technical work to suss out the relationships, in particudetail that teaches the audience what we eventu- lar our antihero’s apparently lifelong friendship with a more-together pal, played by rapper Scott ally see at the inevitable grand showdown. He can also handle actors. Jordan is fierce and Mescudi, aka Kid Cudi, whose original music wounded as the unacknowledged son of Apollo alternates with dance tunes and darkly liminal Creed, the Muhammad Ali of the Rocky-verse, themes provided by Ray Charles and Billie Holiand Tessa Thompson glows (and glowers) as a day. Sometimes it all overlaps, as when James lisyoung musician who can understand his drive. tens to his iPod at that noisy nightclub—a sound And Stallone? I didn’t know he could disappear metaphor for someone who refuses to fit in. > KEN EISNER into a part. His Balboa is now an old man, but a shrewd one, with a few treasures left to give the VICTOR FRANKENSTEIN son of his best friend. And if Ryan Coogler decides that we need to see Starring Daniel Radcliffe. Rated PG. For showtimes, more, then Rocky has a ton of life left. please see page 63 > RON YAMAUCHI
Horror fans who suffered through last year’s I, Frankenstein—not to mention Dracula Untold, Godzilla, and WolfCop—could be Starring Christopher Abbott and Cynthia Nixon. Rating forgiven for giving up on old-school movie monunavailable. For showtimes, please see page 63 sters. But Victor Frankenstein makes up for all of Best known as the often-hapless, sometimes those, breathing new life into Mary Shelley’s classic happening Charlie on HBO’s Girls, Christo- tale of mortal man overreaching his bounds. Daniel Radcliffe stars as a tormented and abused pher Abbott is quietly riveting as the title character, an aimless New Yorker still tied to the apron strings clown with a humpback who’s been raised in a cirof his bohemian mother, played by a powerful Cyn- cus from hell. When beautiful acrobat Lorelei (Jesthia Nixon (one of the original HBO girls). And he sica Brown Findlay) tumbles from her trapeze, the has deeply unresolved feelings about his long- smitten hunchback helps save her life, wowing the absent father, who has just died, setting the tale’s assisting Dr. Frankenstein (James McAvoy) with his medical know-how. In need of a skilled assistant, small events in scattershot motion. James’s responses include some furious club- Frankenstein helps the clown—soon to be christened bing and effing off to a Mexican beach. There, he Igor—make a daring escape from his cruel keepers. After enthusiastically ridding Igor of his hump— meets an equally adrift young woman (Gotham’s Makenzie Leigh) and heads back to NYC, where which turned out to be one helluva nasty abscess— he has little idea what to do with her. Like so the mad genius declares him his partner and gives many other catchers in the rye, James has some him the run of his elaborate laboratory. After a thrillvague hopes of being a writer, and he gets some ing sequence where they reanimate a gruesome mon-
2 abysmal
JAMES WHITE
2
WEEK IN WIDESCREEN
2 DOXholiA DOXA POP Our favourite documentary-film festival ignites its own Exploding Plastic Inevitable with a Factory-themed fundraiser at CBC’s Studio 700 on Friday (November 27). Along with the silent auction, video, and art installations, local superstars Supermoon will sit in for the Velvet Underground (and further demonstrate why the band was elected one of the Straight’s best of 2015). Whether host Lisa Christiansen will taste the whip remains to be seen. -
3
> STEVE NEWTON
THE STANFORD PRISON EXPERIMENT Starring Billy Crudup. Rated 14A. For showtimes, please see page 63
In 1971, Stanford psychology professor
2 Philip Zimbardo set out to map the effects
of role-play on students in a simulated prison experience. The study paid male students $15 a day to pretend to be prisoners or guards. Most chose the former, because everybody hates guards— with some reason, apparently. Despite verbal anachronisms like “trying to get everyone on the same page”, the film viscerally captures what it was like to be a young American male (muttonchops! reel-to-reel tape recorders!) at the height of the Vietnam War, updated with intimations of Abu Ghraib. This makes the film unpleasant to watch at times, but is creating discomfort itself a sign of moral seriousness? “We’re trying to do sumpin’ good,” claims Zimbardo, played here, rather monotonously, by Almost Famous “golden god” Billy Crudup. He’s not. Unlike David Milgram’s study of passive aggression, Zimbardo’s simulation of prison dynamics operated under no real scientific guidelines and yielded little that couldn’t be observed in an actual prison—or, for that matter, in prison movies. In fact, one of the lead guards (Michael Angarano) see page 61
MOVIES
The projector
1
key-thing that runs amok during a demonstration, the financially strapped pair get unlimited funding from super-wealthy weasel Finnegan (Freddie Fox). Hot on their trail is Scotland Yard’s Insp. Turpin (Spectre’s Andrew Scott), a self-righteous dick obsessed with curtailing their “ungodly” experiments. The witty, infectious interplay between Frankenstein and Igor—scripted by Max Landis, of Chronicle fame—propels the film along at a sharp pace, the stellar visual effects, cinematography, and production design handsomely framing the human drama. By the time Frankenstein’s monster shows up to raise holy hell in the last act, you’re not even that interested, because its lumbering violence is just no match for the intriguing story of its makers.
What to see and where to see it
Music mondays
LIFE OFF GRID C’mon, we’ve all thought about it. This doc about Canadians ditching “civilization” gets a return and probably sold-out date at the Rio Theatre on Sunday (November 29).
VANCOUVER: A DISTANT MIRROR
This periodic dip into the City of Vancouver Archives resurrects the city’s last streetcar ride, the first Grey Cup parade, and a lot more besides. Live jazz from Wayne Stewart accompanies the matinee screening at the Vancity Theatre on Sunday (November 29).
FILM BY SAMUEL BECKETT Stan
I AM WHAT I PLAY Legendary DJ David Marsden doesn’t get into his time running Vancouver’s Coast 1040 in the ’90s, but that’s okay. He’s a font of great stories and he really knows how to talk, as do the other subjects—Boston’s coke-fuelled, heroically subversive Charles Laquidara among them—in this exceedingly enjoyable doc, subtitled The Heyday of Rock Radio, about the great years of FM. Screening at the Vancity Theatre on Monday (November 30). NOVEMBER 26 – DECEMBER 3 / 2015 THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT 59
Douglas pairs his own “Vidéo” with the littleseen Film, in which an ailing Buster Keaton brings Samuel Beckett’s only screenplay to life in ’60s Manhattan. A true oddity, presented at the Cinematheque on Thursday (November 26).
Music time out
PILOTS Dec 9 2FRAZEY FORD Dec 10 2DRAGONETTE AND YOUNG EMPIRES Dec 11 2NICK LOWE’S QUALITY HOLIDAY REVUE Dec 19
from page 58
Richmond, 604-247-8900. Tix for all shows at www.ticketmaster.ca/. 2ROGER HODGSON Nov 28 2CHRISTMAS WITH THE RAT PACK Dec 19 2BURTON CUMMINGS Dec 30 2ANDRE-PHILIPPE GAGNON Dec 31
WISE HALL 1882 Adanac, 604-254-5858. Live music by local artists and international touring acts. 2OPEN UP YOUR HEART - TO SARAH WHEELER WITH LOVE Nov 26 2THE FORD PIER VENGEANCE TRIO Nov 27 2REID JAMIESON VANCOUVER PRESLEY SESSIONS Nov 29 2CLANCYS ANGELS Dec 11 2SSRIS Dec 18
ROGERS ARENA 800 Griffiths Way, 604-8997400. 2THE WEEKND Dec 2 2MUSE Dec 10 2BLACK SABBATH Feb 3 2JUSTIN BIEBER Mar 11 2ELLIE GOULDING Apr 1 2IRON MAIDEN Apr 10 2RIHANNA Apr 23 2THE WHO May 13 2SELENA GOMEZ May 14 2HEDLEY May 20 2CITY AND COLOUR Jun 3 2DIXIE CHICKS Jul 7 2DEMI LOVATO AND NICK JONAS Aug 24
OUT OF TOWN 2UPCOMING HIGHLIGHTS
THE ROXY 932 Granville, 604-331-7999. House band Tattoo Alibi Sat & Mon; country band Locked & Loaded Sun; the Bulge and DJ Joe Pound Tue; Troys ‘R Us Wed-Thu. 2ANGIE FAITH Nov 25 2AMANDA DEAN GUITAR PROJECT Dec 3 2ANDREW Nov 26 2DANHA, MODERN DAY POETS ALLEN - ALL HEARTS COME HOME Dec 4 Nov 27 2JASON BLAINE, TEBY, JAMES 2SARAH JANE SCOUTEN & THE HONKY OTTO Nov 29 2THREE’S A PARTY TOUR TONK WINGMEN Dec 8 2DANA SIPOS, Nov 29 2ILLUMINOSITY, THE FLU Dec 2 FAMILIAR WILD, AND T. NILE Dec 11 2VAN DJANGO BELLS Dec 18 ST. JAMES HALL 3214 W. 10th, 604TAVERN AT THE NEW OXFORD 1141 736-3022. 250-seat venue at St. James Hamilton, 604-669-4848. Yaletown comedy Community Square features concerts Tue; Skee-ball and rock, paper, scissors presented by the Rogue Folk Club. 2LINDA MCRAE Nov 27 2THE ACOUSTIC tournament Wed, the SHOW Thu with live
18th Annual
European Union F i l m Fe s t i v a l Europe without the Jetlag!
November 27 - December 9 1131 Howe Street
hip-hop, rap, and R&B; ‘90s weekends with DJ Tower Fri and DJ Kenya Sat.
VENUE 881 Granville, 604-646-0064. Tix for all events at www.venuelive.ca/ and www.bplive.ca/ 2JOJO MASON Dec 4 2GHOST SHIP OCTAVIUS Dec 5 2STAR WARS TRIVIA NIGHT Dec 6 2MUSHROOMHEAD Dec 9 2THE ENGLISH BEAT Dec 11 2GRAVEYARD Dec 12 2ONE BAD SON Dec 15
2VENOM INC. Jan 16 2KILLING JOKE Feb 2 2DR. DOG Feb 6 2ST. LUCIA Mar 1 2PRONG May 29
VOGUE THEATRE 918 Granville, 604569-1144. Tix at www.voguetheatre.com/. 2KING CRIMSON Nov 26-27 2BARNEY BENTALL & THE CARIBOO EXPRESS Nov 28 2TALES OF A CHARLIE BROWN CHRISTMAS Nov 29 2KAMELOT Dec 2 2IF I WERE YOU Dec 6 2TWENTY ONE
THE NETHERLANDS
AUSTRIA
Vancouver Premiere!
Vancouver Premiere!
(Michiel de Ruyter)
(Fieber)
TIME OUT MUSIC LISTINGS are a public service provided free of charge, based on available space and editorial discretion. Submit listings online using the event-submission form at straight.com/AddEvent. Events that don’t make it into the paper due to space constraints will appear on the website.
Fever
Admiral
Netherlands 2015. Dir: Roel Reiné. 151 min.
Austria/Luxembourg 2014. Dir: Elfi Mikesch. 80 min.
This historical epic, set in the mid-17th century, is a drama of political intrigue, conspiracies, and spectacular naval battles. The second-most expensive Dutch film ever made!
Eva Mattes plays a photographer confronting her troubled past in Austro-German filmmaker Elfi Mikesch’s fever-dream drama.
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 30 – 8:50 PM
All Ages Screening
LUXEMBOURG
DECK THE HALL BALL 2015 Featuring performances by Death Cab for Cutie, Cage the Elephant, Twenty One Pilots, Walk the Moon, Alabama Shakes, Nathaniel Rateliff, and X Ambassadors. Dec 8, 3 pm, Key Arena (305 Harrison St., Seattle, WA). Tix at www.ticketmaster.ca/.
ROMANIA
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 28 – 8:30 PM
GERMANY
Vancouver Premiere!
Vancouver Premiere!
Baby(a)lone
Luxembourg/Belgium 2015. Dir: Donato Rotunno. 98 min.
OPENING NIGHT SPONSORED BY:
Director Donato Rotunno’s second feature is an intense coming-of-age drama set in an affluent modern Europe about two 13-year-olds who become a couple in a dangerous headlong rush to find the love missing in their lives.
Love Building
Vancouver Premiere!
Romania 2013. Dir: Iulia Rugina. 85 min.
Head Full of Honey
In this charming low-budget independent comedy, 14 couples enroll in a camp designed to mend broken relationships, but things get quickly out of hand.
(Honig im Kopf)
Germany 2014. Dir: Til Schweiger. 139 min.
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 1 – 6:30 PM
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 27 – 6:30 PM
10-year-old Tilda takes her elderly granddad (beloved German comedian Dieter Hallervorden), suffering from Alzheimer’s and in rapid decline, on one last big adventure in Til Schweiger’s crowd-pleasing family dramedy.
BULGARIA
DENMARK
All Ages Screening - Rating TBA
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 29 – 4:00 PM
SLOVAKIA Vancouver Premiere!
Bulgaria 2014. Dir: Kostadin Bonev. 100 min.
Denmark/Sweden/Germany 2013. Dir: Mikkel Nørgaard. 97 min.
Vancouver Premiere!
After a police raid goes badly awry, a high-strung detective is assigned quickly closing cold cases in this slick, suspenseful dose of Nordic Noir, adapted from a best-selling novel by Danish writer Jussi Adler-Olsen.
(Rukojemník)
Hostage
Slovakia/Czech Republic 2014. Dir: Juraj Nvota. 102 min.
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 27 – 8:30 PM
ITALY
The Sinking Of Sozopol (Potavaneto na Sozopol)
The Keeper of Lost Causes (Kvinden i buret)
Vancouver Premiere!
A troubled man arrives in Sozopol with ten bottles of vodka in veteran Bulgarian director Kostadin Bonev’s thoughtful drama.
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 1 – 8:15 PM
SPAIN
A young boy enjoys the adventures of childhood while contending with the absurdities of adults in Juraj Nvota’s comedy-drama, set in Communist Czechoslovakia in the 1960s. All Ages Screening
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 29 – 6:30 PM
Vancouver Premiere!
MALTA
Vancouver Premiere!
Ismael
Spain 2013. Dir: Marcelo Piñeyro. 111 min.
Banana
A star-studded Spanish cast headlines Marcelo Piñeyro’s family drama, the tale of a runaway boy seeking his biological father.
Andrea Jublin’s feature-length debut is a coming-of-age charmer about a young misfit with a fruit-shaped foot who messes up every chance he has to score, on and off the field.
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 2 – 6:30 PM
Italy 2015. Dir: Andrea Jublin. 90 min.
Vancouver Premiere!
Simshar
All Ages Screening
CROATIA
Malta 2014. Dir: Rebecca Cremona. 101 min.
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 28 – 4:30 PM
HUNGARY
Rebecca Cremona’s intense drama set against the illegal migrant crisis has been heralded as Malta’s first bona-fide feature.
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 29 – 8:30 PM
PORTUGAL
Vancouver Premiere!
Cowboys (Kauboji)
Croatia 2013. Dir: Tomislav Mršić. 108 min.
A theatre director struggles to turn deadbeats into actors in this Full Monty-style outing set in small-town Croatia.
Vancouver Premiere!
Liza, the Fox-Fairy
Hungary 2015. Dir: Károly Ujj Mészáros. 98 min.
Set in a fictionalized 1970s Hungary, Károly Ujj Mészáros’s whimsical fantasy concerns a lonely Budapest nurse worries that she might be a fox-fairy, a soul-sucking Japanese demon.
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 28 – 6:30 PM
Vancouver Premiere!
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 2 – 8:45 PM
Cats Don’t Have Vertigo (Os Gatos não Têm Vertigens)
Portugal 2014. Dir: António-Pedro Vasconcelos. 124 min.
Veteran director António-Pedro Vasconcelos’s serio-comic tale of the unlikely bond between a lonely widow and a complicated youth with literary ambitions has been likened to a Portuguese Harold and Maude.
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 30 – 6:30 PM
eufilmfestival.com 60 THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT NOVEMBER 26 – DECEMBER 3 / 2015
Presented by:
Sponsored by:
Stanford Prison
from page 59
here starts imitating Strother Martin’s drawl in Cool Hand Luke. Race and sexuality are subtextually raised, but The Stanford Prison Experiment offers few unfamiliar insights. The well-acted effort tries to sell the notion that Zimbardo’s experiment had a lasting value, but by then we’ve spent more than two hours watching a man gravely compromised by his own cruelty. To quote one of the mock inmates here, “I have to say that this has been a very unsatisfying experience.” > KEN EISNER
BY THE SEA Starring Angelina Jolie Pitt and Brad Pitt. Rated 14A. For showtimes, please see page 63
A person can only take so
2 many shots of Angelina Jolie
Pitt, dressed in a wide-brim hat and staring sadly off her luxurious hotel balcony, before the question starts to become bothersome: why? What led one of the most successful actors in Hollywood to craft this deeply odd vanity project? And conscript her equally in-demand hubby for a work so inert? Have the years the couple and their brood have spent in their Provence château fed Jolie Pitt’s desire to make a Euro-style art film? Did they want to show off their French? Whatever the reason, By the Sea is a 1970s-set portrait of a troubled couple who arrive at a secluded seaside hotel—a historic gem set in a Maltese cove. Brad Pitt’s Roland, a once-famous writer, has come to try to pen a new novel but ends up spending day and night in the local bar getting pissed; his spouse whiles away her time lounging in chiffon robes, popping pills by the handful, and generally looking miserable. They don’t speak, let alone get it on. Things perk up a bit when a couple of horny newlyweds move in next door. Jolie Pitt’s Vanessa starts watching them through a handy hole in the wall—a welcome bit of perversion, but one that Jolie Pitt, as writer and director, never takes anywhere interesting. She seems to want to make one of those French films where nothing happens but the sexual tensions smoulder. But the main problem is her lead actor—herself. It’s not just that she’s taken her fashion cues from what looks like Karen Black wearing Sophia Loren’s oversized glasses after a Bellini bender. She spends the entire movie posing, pouting, and moping. Her husband is more believably human and tormented, but it’s impossible to believe Roland has hooked up with someone this catatonic. Still, what’s really offensive is what it takes more than two hours to build up to, the kind of women’shysteria stuff that went out-of-date with Peyton Place. And then the pair of them sulk off into the sunset.
JURASSIC WORLD
FURIOUS 7
PITCH PERFECT 2
14 99 16
9 99 14
99
FIFTY SHADES OF GREY
9 99 14
99
JURASSIC PARK COLLECTION
THE BOURNE TRILOGY
9 99 14 99
99
19 99 24 99
49
99
© 2015 Universal Studios. All Rights Reserved. *Offer in effect November 27 – December 5 on select titles only, while quantities last. HMV reserves the right to limit quantities or cease offer at any time. SEE IN-STORE FOR COMPLETE DETAILS.
> JANET SMITH
5 Days • 89 Films • 15 Special Events Tickets, Packages & Passes On Sale Now TRIBUTE TO: KIEFER SUTHERLAND
whistlerfilmfestival.com
SPOTLIGHT ON: ROBERT CARLYLE
NOVEMBER 26 – DECEMBER 3 / 2015 THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT 61
MOVIES
PM
ec
D S|
E AT
W NO
PIR
S
IVY |
A meticulous psychological thriller chronicling the idle time of a disgruntled crew trapped on a ship for months. The captain struggles as relationships become too tense to bare. Sarıbacak’s performance will blow you away in Karaçelik’s homage to life at sea.
IVY
|D
ec
7·
6:4
@VTFF2015
5P
M
SNOW PIRATES |
3 dreamers who stick together scouring the bleak countryside for coal. It is more the political climate however, that is responsible for the impending sense of gloom. In a time forbidden to dream, the trio continue their tireless search in the pursuit of happiness.
UNTIL I LOSE MY BREATH |
A harried textile runner struggles to get the attention of her estranged father. Balcı draws immense realism, providing the ultimate platform for Esme Madra to shine, in a profound performance as the reticent anti-hero.
Buy tickets @ VTFF.ORG
A lonely woman (Mónika Balsai) is accompanied by the ghost of a J-pop star (David Sakuari) in Hungary’s Liza, the Fox-Fairy.
UNTIL I LOSE MY BREATH Dec 6 · 4:45PM
:15
9 6·
#followthekaftan
1181 SEYMOUR ST. 604.683.FILM \ VIFF.ORG
I
Fest offers full Euro slate
t’s only taken 18 years, but with Malta onboard for the first time, the European Union Film Festival finally features submissions from all 28 member states—just in time for World War III, no less! As ever, this year’s selections are heavily tooled toward international markets (meaning the States, usually), but there are some real gems among the more commercial-minded prospects. Here are a few of our picks. Check Straight.com for more reviews. The 18th European Union Film Festival takes place at the Cinematheque from Friday (November 27) to December 9. SIMSHAR (Malta) Surrounded by remnants of the ancient world, the characters in this, the first indigenous feature film to come from Malta, find themselves in a painful drama as old as history, and as contemporary as the newest manufactured outrage blaring from CNN. Simon is a fisherman beset by financial woes and government interference. Meanwhile, a merchant vessel provides temporary and uncertain shelter for dozens of ailing African refugees. These tales barely overlap, at least until a mishap leaves Simon and his illegal fishing party, including 10-year-old son Theo, adrift in the Mediterranean Sea. Rebecca Cremona’s debut is ravishing on the surface, merciless beneath, and handy for shoving down the neck of anyone currently ranting about migrants
and refugees on Facebook. Sunday doesn’t make his job any easier. Direc(November 29) > ADRIAN MACK tor Mikkel Nørgaard is a TV vet, and if The Keeper of Lost Causes plays out like LIZA, THE FOX-FAIRY (Hungary) The a police procedural, at least it’s a good backdrop for this phantasmagoric tale one. The climax is ultimately predictof a lonely maid—fetchingly played by able, but Nørgaard and writer Nikolaj Mónika Balsai—and the dead suitors Arcel (The Girl With the Dragon Tatshe leaves in her wake is a capitalist too) do manage to ratchet up some tenversion of Budapest in the ’70s. Sad sion in the final third. Friday (NovemLiza figures she must be the killer ber 27) > JOHN LUCAS Japanese demon of the title, an impression encouraged by her only compan- WILD LIFE (France) If there’s one ion, the ghost of pop star Tomy Tani. certainty in this life, it’s that—deYes, we’re in magic-realism territory spite their best efforts—your parhere, although converted to the euro. ents are going to fuck you right The artifice-heavy Liza has been com- up. That’s definitely the case in pared to Amélie, but its flip darkness Wild Life, where a nonconformist, comes from the same macabre (and ponytailed neo-hippie goes on the much more eastern) vein as Czech fan- lam with his two young kids after tasy Valerie and Her Week of Wonders. being told his visitation rights will be limited to birthdays and major Saturday (November 28) > AM holidays. Based on a true story, the THE KEEPER OF LOST CAUSES poetically shot film has the family (Denmark) After a raid gone side- eluding police all over the French ways leaves his partner paralyzed and countryside, living sometimes in another cop dead, perpetually glum rundown-but-postcard-perfect farmdetective Carl Mørck finds himself rel- houses, sometimes under tarps in egated to a desk job combing through the woods. What starts out as an cold cases with an unwanted assistant. idyllic back-to-the-land adven(The latter’s played with infinite pa- ture eventually becomes horribly tience and subtle humour by Zero Dark complicated as the kids become Thirty’s Fares Fares.) Carl becomes teenagers, and their increasingly consumed by the case of a prominent angry father learns that living off woman who disappeared five years the grid can be grindingly lonely. If before. It was ruled a suicide, but Carl your family made a complete mess isn’t so sure. The fact that the only wit- of you, it’s nice to know that you’re ness is the woman’s brain-damaged anything but alone. Saturday (Deand barely communicative brother cember 5) > MIKE USINGER
Flick picks at Whistler fest > B Y A D R IA N M A C K
B
ear in mind as you drive to Whistler next week that its annual film festival, turning 15 this year, is a four-day bacchanal as much as anything else. In other words, you’ll need to factor in some hang time between screenings of auspicious big-budget features (Todd Haynes’s glorious Carol opens the WFF on December 2; Tom Hardy blazes in the dual role of the Kray twins in Legend the following night) and smaller, harder-to-find treasures like the Camille Sullivan/Gabrielle Rose two-hander The Birdwatcher, or Québécois chiller The Demons. Equally, you won’t find a more intimate place to rub shoulders with the stars. This year, actors Kiefer Sutherland and Robert Carlyle are on hand to discuss their careers, with the latter presenting the Canadian premiere of his acclaimed directorial debut, The Legend of Barney Thomson. In Chasing Banksy, a Williamsburg trio hatches a plan to We’ve chosen a few highlights to get the party started, steal a Banksy original from post-Katrina New Orleans. so to speak. Go to Straight.com for more Whistler Film Names” with novelist Joseph Boyden bridges the coasts, Festival news, reviews, and cocktail recipes. reminding us that the very unacademic Purdy knew CHASING BANKSY (USA) This is the kind of movie that every inch of this country. Don Stewart of MacLeod’s gives the WFF its flavour, a wild, erratic, properly indecent Books also provides a great anecdote about his first eneffort from director Frank Henenlotter about a trio of Wil- counter with the poet in Vancouver. December 4 and 5 liamsburg millennials bent on stealing a Banksy original from a Katrina-damaged shithole in New Orleans. Written FSM (Canada) Even as it focuses on the downside of with actor Anthony Sneed, Banksy benefits from Henenlot- hook-up culture, FSM exudes a winning ease and brightter’s signature balance of wit and excess—hatched when he ness. For one thing, Vancouver hasn’t been this lovingly was an exploitation-film lover in the ’70s, honed in his own called upon to play itself since Ben Ratner’s Down River Basket Case, Brain Damage, and Frankenhooker—but the in 2013—the film’s affirmative vibe is literally graffitied filmmaker outdoes himself with some key moments of pol- on a wall or two—while Vanessa Crouch provides a itical insight, revealing a genuinely dissident imagination. warm centre to its tale of an up-and-coming DJ whose Absolute dynamite from a true original, Chasing Banksy love life could use a bit more flow. FSM has its flaws, but suggests that Henenlotter, now in his mid-60s, is way hip- self-possession isn’t one of them. December 3 and 5 per than any of us. December 3 and 4 NUMB (Canada) Jason R. Goode’s feature debut closes AL PURDY WAS HERE (Canada) Canada’s greatest the festival on an appropriately chilly—no, freezing— poet receives a warm and eminently watchable tribute note. Numb sends its four protagonists, including Arctic from critic turned filmmaker Brian D. Johnson, mak- Air’s always-welcome Aleks Paunovic, on a hunt for buring his debut. Abundant archival footage brings us close ied gold in the endless, wintry no man’s land between to the rangy, difficult, bearlike man (Sterling Hayden Vancouver and everything else. It’s an improvised miscould have played him), often with a stubby in his hand. sion that no one was expecting to make, with everyone If matters are a little suffocated by Canada’s cottage- potentially yielding to their worst impulses. This theme country cultural elite—Margaret Atwood, Michael On- has captivated filmmaking giants from John Huston to daatje, Gord Downie, they’re all here—footage of Tanya Nic Roeg, and Goode has very admirably gone there on a Tagaq and Jesse Zubot recording an electrifying “Say the paltry B.C. budget. The balls on the guy! December 6 62 THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT NOVEMBER 26 – DECEMBER 3 / 2015
“ONE OF THE BEST MOVIES OF THE YEAR
AND SOMETHING OF A MIRACLE. SEE IT ON THE BIG SCREEN.”
movies/ timeout NEW THIS WEEK REPERTORY CINEMAS SPECIAL EVENTS FIRST-RUN SHOW TIMES
SCOTT MENDELSON,
< < < <
NEW THIS WEEK CREED Michael B. Jordan, Sylvester Stallone, and Tessa Thompson star in Fruitvale Station writer-director Ryan Coogler’s sports drama about a former boxing champion who serves as a trainer and mentor to the son of his late friend and former rival. Rated PG. 133 mins. Cineplex Cinemas Langley, Cineplex Odeon Meadowtown Cinemas, Cineplex Odeon Strawberry Hill, Galaxy Cinemas Chilliwack, Hollywood Cinemas Caprice, Landmark Cinemas 10 New Westminster, Landmark Cinemas 12 Guildford Surrey, Landmark Cinemas 6 Esplanade North Vancouver, Scotiabank Theatre Vancouver, SilverCity Coquitlam & VIP Cinemas, SilverCity Metropolis Cinemas, SilverCity Mission and SilverCity Riverport Cinemas
“A GODSEND FOR AUDIENCES WHO HUNGER FOR RICH EMOTION.” KENNETH TURAN,
“SAOIRSE RONAN PUTS A LOCK ON A SECOND OSCAR NOMINATION!” ®
JAMES ADAMS,
++++
+++++
++++
JAMES WHITE Christopher Abbott stars in writer-director Josh Mond’s drama about a young man who struggles to take control of his self-destructive behavior in the face of momentous family challenges. 86 mins. Vancity Theatre THE STANFORD PRISON EXPERIMENT Ezra Miller, Tye Sheridan, and Billy Crudup are featured in C.O.G. director Kyle Patrick Alvarez’s drama about an experiment that simulated prison life within the confines of Stanford’s psychology department. Rated 14A. 122 mins. Vancity Theatre
on the web!
For up-to-the-minute, searchable Movies Time Out listings, visit
BASED ON THE BEST SELLING NOVEL BY
www.straight.com
COLM TÓIBÍN
VICTOR FRANKENSTEIN Daniel Radcliffe, James McAvoy, and Jessica Brown Findlay star in Push director Paul McGuigan’s horror flick about a scientist who becomes obsessed with immortality. Rated PG. 110 mins. Cineplex Cinemas Langley, Cineplex Odeon International Village Cinemas, Cineplex Odeon Meadowtown Cinemas, Cineplex Odeon Strawberry Hill, Galaxy Cinemas Chilliwack, Landmark Cinemas 10 New Westminster, Landmark Cinemas 12 Guildford Surrey, Landmark Cinemas 6 Esplanade North Vancouver, SilverCity Coquitlam & VIP Cinemas, SilverCity Metropolis Cinemas, SilverCity Mission and SilverCity Riverport Cinemas
REPERTORY CINEMAS Times are current as of Friday, November 27
THE CINEMATHEQUE 1131 Howe St., 604-688-3456, www.thecinematheque.ca 2ADMIRAL Sat 8:30 2BABY(A)LONE Fri 6:30 2BANANA Sat 4:30 2CATS DON’T HAVE VERTIGO Mon 6:30 2COWBOYS Wed 8:15 2FEVER Mon 8:50 2HEAD FULL OF HONEY Sun 4:00 2HOSTAGE Sun 6:30 2ISMAEL Wed 6:30 2LIZA, THE FOXFAIRY Sat 6:30 2LOVE BUILDING Tue 6:30 2SIMSHAR Sun 8:30 2STRAIGHT TIME Thu 6:30 2THE KEEPER OF LOST CAUSES Fri 8:30 2THE SINKING OF SOZOPOL Tue 8:15 2THE YAKUZA Thu 8:30 VANCITY THEATRE 1181 Seymour St., Vancouver, 604-683-3456, www.viff.org/ theatre 2FRACTURED LAND Sat-Sun 12:30; Thu 8:15 2HADWIN’S JUDGEMENT Tue 1:00; Thu 4:15 2HAIDA GWAII: ON THE EDGE OF THE WORLD Thu 2:45, 6:30 2I AM WHAT I PLAY Mon 8:45 2JAMES WHITE Fri, Wed 6:30; Sat 8:40; Sun 6:00 2RESISTANCE Sat 3:00 2THE STANFORD PRISON EXPERIMENT Fri 8:20; Sat 6:20; Sun 7:50; Mon 6:30; Wed 8:15 2THIS CHANGES EVERYTHING Thu 1:00 2VANCOUVER: A DISTANT MIRROR Sun 3:00
SPECIAL EVENTS THE WINTER’S TALE The Kenneth Branagh Theatre Company presents a live broadcast of its production of Shakespeare’s The Winter’s Tale, starring Branagh and Dame Judi Dench. Nov 26, various Metro Vancouver Cineplex theatres. Info www.cineplex.com/events/. EUROPEAN UNION FILM FESTIVAL The 18th annual showcase of acclaimed new films from across greater Europe features 28 films from 28 countries. Nov 27–Dec 9, The Cinematheque (200 - 1131 Howe Street). Info www.eufilmfestival.com/. RADICAL REWIND Programming to engage the Vancouver community and raise awareness with artist-run centre archives. Nov 27, 7 pm, VIVO Media Arts (2625 Kaslo). Free admission, info www. archivesweek.ca/.
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NOVEMBER 26 – DECEMBER 3 / 2015 THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT 63
Movies time out
1980s. Nov 30, 8:45 pm, Vancity Theatre (1181 Seymour). Tix $7 (plus service charges and fees), info www.viff.org/theatre/.
VANCOUVER INTERNATIONAL SOUTH ASIAN FILM FESTIVAL Annual festival celebrates the best in contemporary South Asian cinema from around the world. Includes over seven feature films, almost 20 shorts and documentaries, an opening gala, a festival workshop with Bollywood director Anurag Kashyap, a panel discussion, and a creative morning with industry heavyweights. Nov 27-29, SFU Goldcorp Centre for the Arts (149 W. Hastings). Tix $8-15, info www.visaff.ca/.
SOMM 2: INTO THE BOTTLE | WINE TASTING + CANADIAN PREMIERE Georgia Straight wine columnist Kurtis Kolt hosts a wine tasting, a sommelier panel with local experts, and a screening of SOMM: Inside the Bottle. Includes a post-show Q&A session with director Jason Wise. Nov 30, 6:30 pm, Rio Theatre (1660 E. Broadway). Tix $13-40, info www. riotheatre.ca/.
from previous page
HADWIN’S JUDGEMENT Film details Grant Hadwin’s journey from logging scout to eco-terrorist. Dec 1, 1 pm; Dec 3, 4:15 pm, Vancity Theatre (1181 Seymour). Tix $11/9 (plus membership fee), info www.viff.org/theatre/.
RESISTANCE Director Michael Graziano’s documentary clarifies the problem of antibiotic resistance, how we got to this point, and what we can do to turn the tide. Nov 28, 3 pm, Vancity Theatre (1181 Seymour). Tix $11/9 (plus membership fee), info www. viff.org/theatre/.
Spider’s Web, Uzaklarda Arama, Tuesday, Motherland, and A Dream School in the Steppes. Dec 4-7, Vancity Theatre (1181 Seymour). Tix $11/9 (plus membership fee), info www.vtff.org/.
FIRST-RUN SHOWTIMES Times are current as of Friday, November 27
CINEPLEX FIFTH AVENUE CINEMAS 2110 Burrard St., Vancouver, 604-734-7469, www.cineplex.com 2BY THE SEA Fri-Tue, Thu 9:10; Wed 9:25 2THE MARTIAN Fri-Thu 3:20 2ROOM Fri-Tue, Thu 12:20, 3:15, 6:15; Wed 12:20, 3:15 2SPECTRE Fri-Sun, Tue 12:25, 3:40, 7:00, 10:15; Mon, Wed-Thu 12:25, 3:40, 7:00, 10:10 2SPOTLIGHT Fri-Tue, Thu 1:30, 4:30, 7:30, 10:30; Wed 12:55, 4:30, 7:30, 10:30 2TRUMBO Fri-Tue, Thu 12:45, 3:45, 6:40, 9:35; Wed 12:45, 3:45, 6:40, 10:15
WHISTLER FILM FESTIVAL The 15th CINEPLEX ODEON INTERNATIONAL annual event features 89 films, 15 special VILLAGE CINEMAS 88 W. Pender, events, a tribute to Kiefer Sutherland, and Vancouver, 604-806-0799, www.cineplex. a spotlight on Robert Carlyle. Films include com 2ARTHUR CHRISTMAS Sat 11:00 Carol, The Legend of Barney Thomson, 2BRIDGE OF SPIES Fri-Sun 1:00, 6:45; MonTrumbo, Legend, The Lady in the Van, Born Thu 1:05, 6:45 2BROOKLYN Fri-Thu 1:30, 4:15, to Be Blue, A Royal Night Out, and I Smile 7:00, 9:45 2BY THE SEA Fri-Thu 1:15, 4:20, 7:20, Back. Dec 2-6, various Whistler venues. Tix from $13, info www.whistlerfilmfestival.com/. 10:20 2THE GOOD DINOSAUR Fri, Sun 12:00, 2:30, 5:00, 7:30, 10:00; Sat 11:10, 12:00, 2:30, 5:00, 7:30, 10:00; Mon-Thu 1:35, 4:10, 7:15, VANCOUVER TURKISH FILM FESTIVAL 9:50 2HITTING THE APEX Mon 7:00 2LOVE Celebrate Turkish cinema with screenings of feature films Ivy, Snow Pirates, Redbull THE COOPERS Fri-Thu 4:35 2OUR TIMES Anadolu Break, Limonata, 8 Seconds, The Fri-Sun 12:50, 3:55, 7:05, 10:15; Mon-Thu 1:00,
LIFE OFF GRID Screening of a film about people who have chosen to build their lives around renewable energy. Nov 29, 6:30 pm, Rio Theatre (1660 E. Broadway). Tix $12/10, info www.riotheatre.ca/. I AM WHAT I PLAY (THEY HEYDAY OF ROCK RADIO) Director Roger King’s documentary profiles four disc jockeys in major markets (Seattle, Toronto, Boston and New York) during the 1960s to the
4:00, 7:05, 10:10 2THE PEANUTS MOVIE Fri-Sun 5:20; Mon-Thu 3:55 2ROOM FriSun 1:05, 4:00, 6:55, 9:50; Mon-Thu 1:40, 4:25, 7:35, 10:20 2SECRET IN THEIR EYES Fri-Sun 12:10, 2:45, 5:25, 8:00, 10:35; Mon-Thu 1:45, 4:40, 7:30, 10:10 2SICARIO Fri-Sat, Tue, Thu 1:40, 7:10, 10:05; Sun 7:10, 10:05; Mon, Wed 1:40, 10:05 2SPOTLIGHT Fri-Sun 1:20, 4:25, 7:35, 10:30; Mon-Thu 1:10, 4:05, 6:55, 10:00 2SUFFRAGETTE Fri-Thu 4:10, 9:55 2VICTOR FRANKENSTEIN Fri-Sun 2:10, 4:50, 7:40, 10:25; Mon-Thu 2:10, 4:50, 7:25, 10:00
CINEPLEX PARK THEATRE 3440 Cambie St., 3440 Cambie St., 604-709-3456, www. cineplex.com 2ARTHUR CHRISTMAS Sat 11:00 2BROOKLYN Fri 4:00, 6:45, 9:30; Sat 1:20, 4:00, 6:45, 9:30; Sun 1:10, 3:50, 6:30, 9:15; Mon, Wed-Thu 6:30, 9:15; Tue 3:50, 6:30, 9:15 DUNBAR THEATRE 4555 Dunbar St. at 30 Ave., Vancouver, 604-222-2991, https:// www.facebook.com/DunbarTheatre 2SPECTRE Fri, Mon-Thu 3:15, 7:00, 10:10; Sat-Sun 11:50, 3:15, 7:00, 10:10 RIO THEATRE 1660 E. Broadway, Vancouver, 604-878-3456, www.riotheatre.ca 2THE IRON GIANT Sat 1:30 2LIFE OFF GRID Sun 6:30 2MARINONI: THE FIRE IN THE FRAME Sun, Tue 4:00 2THE ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW Fri 12:00 2SOMM: INTO THE BOTTLE Mon 9:00 2THE TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE Tue 9:30 2THE TWO OF US Tue 9:00 2VICTORIA Sun 8:45
SCOTIABANK THEATRE VANCOUVER 900 Burrard St., Vancouver, 604-630-1407, www.cineplex.com 2CREED Fri-Sun, Tue 12:10, 12:50, 3:20, 4:00, 6:30, 7:10, 9:40, 10:20; Mon 12:00, 12:55, 3:25, 4:00, 6:30, 7:05, 9:35, 10:10; Wed 12:35, 1:15, 3:40, 4:20, 6:45, 7:25, 9:50, 10:25; Thu 12:20, 1:15, 3:25, 4:20, 6:30, 7:25, 9:35, 10:25 2THE HUNGER GAMES: MOCKINGJAY, PART 2 Fri, Sun, Tue 12:05, 12:40, 1:20, 3:10, 3:50, 4:30, 6:20, 7:00, 7:40, 9:30, 10:10, 10:50; Sat 12:40, 1:20, 3:50, 4:30, 6:20, 7:00, 7:40, 9:30, 10:10, 10:50; Mon 12:10, 12:50, 1:30, 3:10, 3:50, 4:30, 6:10, 6:50, 7:30, 9:10, 9:50, 10:30; Wed 12:15, 12:50, 1:30, 3:10, 3:50, 4:30, 6:10, 7:30, 9:10, 10:05, 10:30; Thu 12:15, 12:50, 3:15, 3:50, 4:30, 7:00, 7:30, 10:05, 10:30 2KRAMPUS Thu 7:10, 9:45 2THE MARTIAN Fri-Thu 3:45 2THE NIGHT BEFORE Fri-Sun 12:25, 3:00, 5:30, 8:05, 10:40; Mon 12:40, 3:00, 5:25, 7:55, 10:25; Tue 12:50, 3:00, 5:30, 8:05, 10:40; Wed 12:25, 2:55, 5:25, 7:55, 10:25; Thu 1:20, 5:25, 7:55, 10:15 2SPECTRE Fri-Sun, Tue 12:00, 12:30, 3:25, 3:55, 6:50, 7:20, 10:15, 10:45; Mon, Wed 12:15, 12:45, 3:30, 4:00, 6:45, 7:15, 10:00, 10:30; Thu 12:15, 12:45, 3:30, 4:00, 7:15, 10:00, 10:30
TIME OUT MOVIE LISTINGS are a public service provided free of charge, based on available space. Every effort is made to acquire accurate weekly movie listings by press time, but info is subject to change without notice. To avoid disappointment, please confirm films and times by checking the cinema’s website.
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Amazing home in a great upper Brackendale location. More than 4300 sq ft of luxurious living & high end finishing with ample room to create a revenue suite(s). Features of the property include a private backyard, central vaccuum, tile roof, additional storage, quality craftsmanship, crown molding, radiant floors, beautiful chandelier, & a natural gas fireplace. With today’s low interest rates now is the time to invest in the majestic Squamish valley. Please call to make an appointment. MLS # V1128648
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2 bedroom, 1.5 bathroom, 2,007 Sq. Ft. Updated kitchen and bathroom on main floor, new roof and inlaid hardwood floors Full height walk-out basement. 50 x 122 ft. lot across from a park and featuring both water and mountain views Detached garage and large, private, backyard
OPEN HOUSE: Saturday, Nov 28th, 2 - 4pm OPEN HOUSE: Sunday, Nov 29th, 2 - 4pm GEORGIA STRAIGHT STRAIGHT NOVEMBER NOVEMBER26 26––DECEMBER DECEMBER33/ /2015 2015 64 THE GEORGIA
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Sutton West Coast Realty I 301-1508 W Broadway
HOUSING
Subway stops prepared
T
he strip mall on the southeast corner of and the city to extend rapid-transit service Broadway and Oak Street is deserted. along Broadway to Arbutus. There used to be a 7-Eleven, a Money Until the subway is built, Bosa’s BlueSky Mart, a sushi restaurant, and other shops Properties will use the future subway-connecin this location on Vancouver’s West Side. What’s tion space for retail. left of these businesses will soon be gone. “We’ll be starting demo[lition] here pretty VANCOUVER WILL LIKELY meet its goal of quick,” Wayne Vickers, development manager encouraging the development of 5,000 new of Bosa Properties, told the Georgia Straight in a market rental units by 2021. So far, 4,331 units that have been completphone interview. “I’d say December, with excaved, are under construction, ation in January, February.” or have been approved BlueSky Properties, a Bosa under the city’s Rental family company, is con100: Secured Market Rentstructing a 10-storey office Carlito Pablo al Policy and its predecesand retail building on this spot, which the City of Vancouver has chosen to sor, the Short Term Incentives for Rental, or be the location of one of the stations for a pro- STIR, program. The number was in a staff report about a reposed subway line along Broadway. According to Vickers, his company and the zoning application for a rental development on city have agreed to designate an area in the new Fraser Street and East 64th Avenue that was up building to serve as a connection to an under- for public hearing on November 24. Under Rental 100, developers receive incenground transit station. “We got the plan. We tives, including an exemption from paying dehave the design for it,” Vickers said. According to a city staff report, similar ar- velopment-cost levies. In return, the developrangements have been made for two other ment is secured for rental for the longer of 60 sites. One is near Arbutus Street at 2080 West years or the life of the building. But according to councillor George Affleck Broadway, where the Pinnacle Living on Broadway condo building is located. The other of the Non-Partisan Association, it’s not exactly is at 525 West Broadway, the site of Crossroads, true that these units are secured for their lifea mixed-use residential, commercial, and of- time as rental. Affleck recalled that, based on an fice building kitty-corner to the Canada Line’s explanation by staff, a developer can ask a future council to have the building taken out of the Broadway–City Hall Station. A rapid-transit line along Broadway is one of rental stock and have its units sold as condos. “They are no way secure in the way that Vithe projects in a 10-year plan for Metro Vancouver released in June 2014 by the Mayors’ sion spins it,” Affleck told the Straight by phone about the ruling party’s rental-development Council on Regional Transportation. The $1.9-billion project involves extending program. Affleck said that a future council is the Millennium SkyTrain Line from VCC- not bound by any decision made by the current Clark Station to Arbutus Street, connecting council and can reverse any agreement entered along the way with the Canada Line at Broad- into under Rental 100. Vision Vancouver councillor Geoff Meggs way–City Hall. Two-thirds of its cost would consist of funding from the provincial and acknowledged that this is a “theoretical possibility” but insisted that it’s unthinkable. federal governments. “The only way that someone could change In a referendum this year, Metro Vancouver voters rejected a proposed 0.5-percent increase that is to come back to council and say, ‘I want in the sales tax to help fund major infrastruc- now to convert this building to a condominture projects in the $7.5-billion transportation ium and I therefore need a further rezoning,’ ” Meggs said by phone. “And so it’s just inconplan prepared by regional mayors. During the federal election campaign, Lib- ceivable to me that that would ever happen.” Besides, Meggs added, the city has the eral Leader and now Prime Minister Justin Trudeau promised to work with the province “tightest protection” for rental homes. -
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Adorable Home in Renfrew Heights 3441 Mons Drive Van. | 1,290,000
OPEN HOUSE:
Sat & Sun, 28/29 NOVEMBER 2 - 4 PM
Real Estate
MICHAEL JOGIA W NE
! G N I T LIS
Adorable home in Renfrew Heights location. Panoramic view of the North Shore with 41’x110’ large lot. Landscaped with grapevine, berries, apple and cherry trees. Renovations include studwall, plumbing, electrical, kitchen, bathroom, doubleglazed windows. Conveniently located within walking distance to SkyTrain, bus, shopping, community centre, swimming pool and library. Private Vancouver Christian School and Renfrew Elementary within a block. Move and live in this charmed house now.
Michelle Ao Team3000 Realty Ltd
778.709.7180
U R B A N H O M ES....U R B A N L I F EST Y L ES
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- 2/3 bedroom with den/loft space. - Approx. 1579 sqft on 4 levels. - A central quiet location close to Trout Lake in the Cedar Cottage area. - Private attached garage with plenty of storage. - Pet friendly with some restrictions & rentals allowed.
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savage love A couple of
months ago, I got candida (a fungal infection) under my foreskin. I went to the doctor, picked up some cream, and used the cream as directed. The infection went away for about a week and then returned. I got this idea that maybe the cream didn’t work the fi rst time because it’s so naturally moist under the foreskin. So I used the cream a second time—but this time, after each application I would “air out” my penis, i.e., pull back the foreskin and leave the head exposed to the open air for a little while. The candida cleared up, apparently for good. What surprised me, though, was that I really enjoyed this twice-a-day airing-out. I’ve continued doing it. I have no idea why I find this enjoyable. I’m not masturbating while I’m doing it. I just use that flap on the front of my underwear to help keep the foreskin back and leave my glans exposed for about 15 to 20 minutes. (This is likely the first time in history that anyone has actually used that flap on the front of men’s underwear.) I’m wondering if, by airing out my cock in this way, there’s any risk of causing damage. From reading the all-knowing Internet, it seems that this amount shouldn’t cause any problems, but I’d like to get an expert opinion. I have noticed a slight decrease in sensitivity, but that has been a positive thing, as I’ve always been quite sensitive. This airing-out of my penis seems to accomplish a slight desensitizing that I find beneficial. Can I continue to do it?
“This shouldn’t be a problem,” said Dr. Stephen King, a urologist and one of my go-to guys on all things dick. “It sounds like he found a unique solution to a couple of issues: infections and sensitivity.” So you can continue airing out your cock with Dr. King’s blessing— and congratulations on coming up with a successful foreskin hack, AIR. But Dr. King wouldn’t recommend your foreskin hack to uncircumcised/intact dudes with a very particular medical condition. (I’m using “hack” here in the “life hack” sense, obviously—perhaps a poor choice of slang, considering that humanity has been needlessly hacking away at foreskins for millennia.) “The only time keeping a foreskin pulled back for a prolonged period of time becomes a problem is when someone has phimosis,” said Dr. King. An adult with phimosis either can’t retract their foreskin over the head of their penis or has a very difficult time doing so—a condition an adult may develop as the result of an infection or some other trauma that scarred the foreskin. “In patients who are elderly or demented, the foreskin can get stuck in the retracted position,” said Dr. King, “trapping blood in the head of the penis like a tourniquet, causing severe pain—we call this ‘paraphimosis’.” Paraphimosis is some serious shit— gangrene can set in, and the head of the penis might have to come off. “I don’t think this is an issue for AIR,” said Dr. King, “so he can continue as desired. Just tell him to be > APPARENTLY INTO RETRACTION careful with that zipper!”
> BY DAN SAVAGE
Gay 20-year-old
boy here. I want some ideas on what kind of anal toys are best for beginners like myself. I’ve already used my fi ngers, but I want to move up to an actual toy before moving on to an actual boy. A recommendation from you would be great! > BOY UNDERTAKING TUSHY TOYS
I love that
you use the term cocksucker only in a nonpejorative way. I don’t know if you’ve said so explicitly, but I imagine your aim is to remove its negative connotation. As the owner of a cock, I think cocksucking is wonderful! Therefore, cocksuckers are wonderful as well. There needs to be more cocksucking in this world! Following your example, I am trying to use the term only in its literal sense and only in a positive light. Do you have a good substitute word for a person one is not pleased with?
They’re not glamorous or groundbreaking, BUTT, but the old reliable butt plug is still the best bet for analplay newbies—gay, straight, or bi. They look like tiny lava lamps, they > CHANGING LANGUAGE IS fit neatly in butts, and anal sphincTERRIFIC ters hold them firmly in place—freeing up your hands for other things, from jacking yourself off to swiping How about kochbrother, CLIT? Same left or right to writing advice col- number of syllables, same explosive/ percussive K sound at the start, same umns. “er” ending—and our democracy (and My girlfriend of six months our environment) would be a lot better hooked up with one of my buds. They off if there were more cocksuckers out were both drunk at a party, and I was there and fewer Koch brothers. out of town for a sports thing. I wasn’t angry when she “confessed”. I thought I would like some clarification. it was hot and said we should maybe Does my situation fall into the “when have a threesome with the dude. I’m it’s okay to have an affair” category or not interested in being with a guy, but am I just looking for you to absolve I’d be down with an M/M/F three- me of guilt? I got divorced a year ago, some. So now my girlfriend is furi- and I’m 100 percent focused on beous with me for not being angry. She ing a mom during the time my son literally just texted to say she’s not is with me and helping him through sure she can stay with me because the divorce transition. I met a man she doesn’t want to be with a guy who who has been married for 20-plus wouldn’t care if she slept around on years and I’m having an affair with him. What the fuck am I supposed to him. He and his wife spend all of their time taking care of their adult say to that? > THE WRONGED PARTY disabled son. He said they have nothing in common but caretaking. He’s “Bye.” never said anything bad about the
wife except they’ve grown apart and he can’t (or won’t) leave because of their son. It works for me because he’s the most incredible lover I’ve ever had and he doesn’t bother me or demand attention when I’m busy being a mom. I do have strong feelings for him but no expectation of him leaving his wife to be with me. Does this meet your “okay to cheat” criteria? > LOVING ISN’T ALWAYS REALLY SIMPLE
Indeed it does, LIARS. Your situation, in fact, is a good example of the kind of affair people rarely hear about and advice professionals pretend doesn’t exist, i.e., the affair that saves a marriage and improves the lives and lots of everyone involved, whether directly or indirectly. Your marriage is over, of course, but you’re getting your sexual needs met by someone who doesn’t distract you from your son’s needs. And the time your lover spends with you—the intimacy, affirmation, and release you provide him—has doubtless helped to make him a kinder and less resentful companion/partner and a better father/caretaker. Here’s hoping your lover’s wife is getting the kind of sanity-preserving intimacy, affirmation, and release she needs, too—whether sexual or in some other form. On the Lovecast , it’s the families show, with 74-time Jeopardy! winner Ken Jennings. Email: mail@savage love.net . Follow Dan on Twitter at www.twitter.com/fakedansavage/.
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NOVEMBER 26 – DECEMBER 3 / 2015 THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT 69
> Go on-line to read hundreds of I Saw You posts or to respond to a message < YOU WERE WALKING YOUR DOG THIS MORNING IN GRAYS PARK.
s
r
I SAW A: I AM A: WHEN: NOVEMBER 23, 2015 WHERE: Grays Park Hello! You have an adorable black dog and I stopped you to say hello to it. You have a fantastic smile and it was a really great way to start my morning. I would’ve chatted you up but I was in a rush to catch my bus. I saw you look back! I would totally go out for coffee with you. Are you single?
THE GIRL WITH THE CUTE HAT AT GOGOL, ON THE WAY OUT
s
s
I SAW A: I AM A: WHEN: NOVEMBER 22, 2015 WHERE: Commodore Ballroom By the coat check I commented on your nice hat. I know you wanted to talk to me, but after my friends showed up, it was hard to leave them. I am wanting to meet you still.
WE LOCKED EYES A FEW TIMES AT CINEMA ON FRIDAY
r
s
I SAW A: I AM A: WHEN: NOVEMBER 22, 2015 WHERE: Cinema on Granville I was there briefly. Didn’t get a chance to chat with you. Was there with three buddies. I was in suit, tall blonde. If you remember shoot me a message.
MAX’S DELI - OAK & 15TH
r
s
I SAW A: I AM A: WHEN: NOVEMBER 21, 2015 WHERE: Max’s Deli I was walking home, you were in the window seat. Our casual eye contact was broken by some mutual smiles and then I stumbled a bit to absorb your smile and get away from my focused thoughts. As I finally gathered myself to wave you had dropped back into your book. When I got to my apartment I turned around to go back and say hello, as I normally would have done, but you were gone. Now I’m that guy writing this message. Dang your distracting smile!
CLIMBING IN SQUAMISH
s
r
I SAW A: I AM A: WHEN: OCTOBER 24, 2015 WHERE: Octopus Garden Squamish I think your name is Steven? Saw you climbing at Octopus Garden with a girl I was acquainted with. We talked briefly... I have long dark hair and we were wearing the same sportivas. You gave me beta on a mossy route. Anyway, I wasn’t sure if you were on a date with that person, or if you’re dating anybody at all. But you seem pretty mellow and I like that. Maybe I’ll hear from you?
CONSISTENTLY RUSHING PAST YOU
s
r
I SAW A: I AM A: WHEN: NOVEMBER 19, 2015 WHERE: Templeton Street I see you, consistently, at the oddest hour walking north down Templeton street. Who are you? Why are you awake at this early hour? And where could you be going when you’re walking away from all the bus stops? What kind of cigarettes do you smoke? Is your beard soft? Can I find out? What does your voice sound like? Have you noticed a creepy stranger cultivating a mystery around you for over a year now? How does it feel to be so effortlessly alluring? By now I would have said hello, and asked all the above questions your curious presence inspires in me, but I’m always in rush to work mode when I pass you, maybe this digital nudge will coax you out at a more chatty time of day.
BUT YOU DON’T HAVE AN ACCENT?
s
r
I SAW A: I AM A: WHEN: NOVEMBER 6, 2015 WHERE: Downtown I see you almost every day. Sometimes I avoid you because I become so flustered, you melt me like butter. Your smile is perfect and I just want to Get to know you better... amongst other things. Sometimes I wish we didn’t work together. But you do make Monday’s better. I’ll continue my sordid love affair with you in my mind. Maybe one day you’ll ask me out.
ASIAN LADY JOGGING ON POINT GREY ROAD AND ALMA
r
s
I SAW A: I AM A: WHEN: NOVEMBER 20, 2015 WHERE: Point Grey Road & Alma You were jogging along Point Grey Road on Friday November 20th at about 11AM and gave me a the nicest smile I’ve seen for a very long time. I think you were quite tall, maybe wearing some pink but didn’t really notice much other than your sparkling eyes and that you were fairly tall. By coincidence, a couple minutes later I saw you crossing 4th Ave going south on Alma, about a block ahead of me. Thanks for taking the time to brighten my day!
DIRTY CHAI LATTE
r
r
I SAW A: I AM A: WHEN: NOVEMBER 22, 2015 WHERE: Milano Coffee Roasters Stopped by to grab a coffee and you were in front of me in the line up. You talked to me about the drink you were getting, and it sounded good, so I got one too, and let me tell ya, it's a new favourite. Wanted to tell you that you’re really good looking and funny, and I hope to see you here again!!
CAFE MEDINA QUEUE
r
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I SAW A: I AM A: WHEN: NOVEMBER 14, 2015 WHERE: 788 Richards St. I saw you at the Cafe Medina queue Saturday morning Nov. 14th with your gf. I was working next door wearing my black uniform, tall light hair blue eyes doorman/security. You are gorgeous, elegant young & tall (5.7/5.8) tanned blonde Caucasian girl. You were wearing black pants and red long sleeve and red scarf. I saw you there and our eyes met twice, it was just morning but I knew you are the highlight of my day. I was waiting for you when you finish your breakfast so I could introduce myself but I got busy and I must missed you leaving. If for some reason you see this I’d be more than happy to take you out for dinner and get to know you. I still have your picture in my mind. Please don’t be shy and say hello or come again and made my day one more time! M
CUTE GUY WHO HELPED ME MOUNT MY BIKE ON THE FRONT OF A #22 BUS.
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I SAW A: I AM A: WHEN: NOVEMBER 20, 2015 WHERE: Downtown Vancouver - Harbour Centre Friday night around 6:30pm I was struggling to get my bike up on the bike rack of a bus. This was on Hastings street in front of the Harbour Centre building. You stepped out of the line you were waiting in to come to my rescue. I mentioned that I had never done this before and you said something about how the bike clamps often get sticky. Then you smoothly hoisted my bike up on the rack. You smiled at me as I got on the bus. I was humbled by your kindness. I’d love to meet up with you on purpose and thank you for saving me from the bus driver’s glare.
CHICKEN SOUP AND AN APPLE FRITTER
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I SAW A: I AM A: WHEN: NOVEMBER 19, 2015 WHERE: Tim Hortons at Main and Broadway You: blue toque, big glasses, necklace with keys on it, a face so dazzling I was afraid to look directly at it. Me: blue toque, big glasses, a freshly purchased book, a serious case of nerves. You were smiling at me, willing me to talk to you, but I couldn’t work up the courage. Even when you picked up my chilli and handed it to me, the biggest in I’ve ever received, I chickened out. I’ve choked before, but this one is going to haunt me for the rest of my life. If I had a time machine I’d let Hitler live, and instead, ask you to join me for dinner.
JESSICA AT VOGUE
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I SAW A: I AM A: WHEN: NOVEMBER 18, 2015 WHERE: Vogue Theatre We met during X Ambassadors, had good times, hey?
DANGEROUS BICYCLE LANE
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I SAW A: I AM A: WHEN: NOVEMBER 18, 2015 WHERE: Corner Dunsmuir and Hornby You... long dark hair, naturally elegant with a beautiful smile. Me... red scarf and overcoat. Waiting for the light to change I commented on how dangerous the bicycle lane was. Our i-Phones both needed help. Your's a new battery. Mine a charge. Let’s have a coffee.
YOUR NOSE WAS RED FROM THE COLD BUT YOU HAD SOMEWHERE TO BE.
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I SAW A: I AM A: WHEN: NOVEMBER 17, 2015 WHERE: Production Way/University SkyTrain Station Tall, dark, and brilliantly handsome. I saw you standing on the platform of Production Way/University, waiting for the Millennium Line. I couldn’t take my eyes off of you. You were holding a box of Daniels chocolate, wearing a charcoal pea coat and jeans with black laced brogues. I was standing a few feet away: Asian, short, brown curly hair in a leather jacket and headphones, trying not to be too obvious. I suspect the chocolates were for that someone special in your life. The train was late so I hope you made it to them on time.
SMELLING CANDLES IN WELKS ANNA. MET AT STATESIDE CRAFT SUNDAY NIGHT.
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I SAW A: I AM A: WHEN: NOVEMBER 15, 2015 WHERE: Stateside Craft Oh crazy tipsy French lady. We were at the pub, we left at the same time and for whatever reason we walked arm in arm down the drive. But I’m a dolt and never grabbed your number... I don’t know if you’ll ever see this but it’s worth a shot.
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I SAW A: I AM A: WHEN: NOVEMBER 12, 2015 WHERE: Main St. The guy trying to pick out a candle (last Thursday I believe). You were caught off guard by one of the scents; we exchanged a few words and I was caught off guard by your charm. It wasn’t until after I left the store that I realized what had happened. Now every time I look at/ burn the candle I fondly remember your gasp/ chipped nail polish.
YOU’RE ALWAYS SMOKING BEHIND THE RESTAURANT YOU WORK AT
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I SAW A: I AM A: WHEN: NOVEMBER 17, 2015 WHERE: 5th and Commercial I’ve been seeing you smoking on your breaks, I guess behind your restaurant on 5th and Commercial, you have really long black hair. the last time I saw you, you were wearing a white sweater top I think. I don’t know I guess because I’ll never talk to you, I just wanted to tell you that you are really gorgeous.
NAVY ON A NOON MAIN
NEW YORK YANKEE HAT RAINY MONDAY AFTER@ 49TH PARALLEL ON STREET
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I SAW A: I AM A: WHEN: NOVEMBER 16, 2015 WHERE: 49th Parallel Coffee Roasters on Main Street It was the middle of the day on a Monday and it was extremely rainy outside. I am the brunette that was at the end of the long table in Forty Ninth Parallel on Main street sitting on my own after a friend had left. Working on my computer. You came in and sat on your own at then end of long table facing out the window. I’m pretty sure you were wearing all black, a navy New York Yankees hat and large black headphones while you worked on your computer. I noticed you as soon as you walked in and thought you were really handsome, but, for some reason I was too shy to make eye contact... I think you noticed me as well. I kicked myself that I did not try harder to get your attention. I know this is kinda creepy but I normally work on Mondays so the chances of us being in the same place same time are slim. So here goes! Want to grab a coffee sometime?
BEAUTIFUL GINGER GIRL
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I SAW A: I AM A: WHEN: NOVEMBER 13, 2015 WHERE: On Cordova at Main I was on my way to work on Cordova when we passed each other under the construction cover near Main. You smiled and went on your way. My heart stopped, but not my feet. Coffee? Lunch?
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Teligence/18+
straight stars November 26 to December 2, 2015
use today’s gifts is a matter of choice. Monday, and Tuesday deliver best. When it comes to the laws of cause and hursday (American Thanks- effect, reward or consequence, Saturn CANCER June 21–July 22 giving) coincides with the is impartial. May wisdom prevail! A hope, ambition, or first of three dynamic alignARIES prospect—whether you have a good ments between Saturn in March 20–April 20 handle on it or not, there’s more in Sagittarius and Neptune in Pisces. It’s The future now writes with the works and more opportunity a shaping transit that extends over the next year, but it’s already been mixing its own pen. Time will decipher some than you may realize. Stay focused of it; the rest is up to you to figure out on today and your immediate priorthe cement on a new reality base. Saturn correlates to the standards, on your own. The immediate moment ities; the rest will be sorted out in due methods, means, and rationalizations and long-range are intertwined. A course. Thursday/Friday and Monby which we structure our everyday small step or gesture made can make day/Tuesday should prove smoothexistence. In this way, we establish a significant impact. Thursday, Mon- running. Sunday is good for a stop, consensus—in other words, a judg- day, and Tuesday are optimal for fol- pause, rest, or finish-up. ment and projection of how things are lowing the flow and/or making gains. LEO supposed to work. Whenever “should” TAURUS July 22–August 23 or “have to” filters into thinking or April 20–May 21 Is your faith and/or investaction-taking, Saturn is evoked. It will take a significant ment—in yourself, another, a situaTravelling in its own sign and sharing rulership over the karmic axis for amount of time to get more settled tion, or a choice—well placed? Your the next 18 months, Neptune in Pisces and/or bridged, but even so, at any heart has the answer. Go by feel; do is now running at peak potency. Sat- moment you could find yourself on a and express what comes most natururn rules borders, boundaries, limits, great move-along. See time as oppor- ally, and let the rest unfold. Saturn and limitations; Neptune’s job is to tunity and put it to its best use every in Sagittarius suggests your instincts dissolve them in order to open us up step of the way. Planned or heaped and inner wisdom have ample exto that which is latent yet teeming with on you, a new life trajectory is the perience to fall back on. Monday and potential, that which has been lurking, right horse to bet on. Monday offers Tuesday, the Leo moon keeps you and it running at peak. was previously hidden, or is unseen yet a fresh-page upswing. felt. Transiting Neptune stirs the tide GEMINI VIRGO of mass consciousness. Ideals, hope, May 21–June 21 August 23–September 23 purpose, path of service; resources; Previous rationalizations Overly high expectations, loss, sacrifice; an ultimate other, be it God/goddess or one we love—every- or goals may not hold water like they overprojection, or exaggeration can thing that is iconic, precious, or of used to. You’ll speed up your own get in the way of seeing clearly. Conprocess if you allow a new truth, versely, fear or worry can lead you ultimate value belongs to Neptune. Saturn in Sagittarius makes more awareness, or yearning enough room astray too. Two feet on the ground is obvious the truth of our receding re- to unfold and grow. Put trust to much better than one. Stay honest with ality and emerging future, while Nep- better use and watch for the yourself; keep it real. Feel challenged tune in Pisces brings to the surface that uncertainty or guesswork to be yet justified? Stand your ground. which is ready to have its day. Time replaced by greater confirmation When in doubt or feeling uncertain, is on a critical countdown. How we and a natural move-along. Thursday, take no action and reserve judgment.
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ﺎ ﺏ ﺐ
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> BY ROSE MARCUS Monday/Tuesday, it’s easily gained or accomplished.
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LIBRA
September 23–October 23
Something you haven’t fully noticed or appreciated now vies for more of your attention. It could be an issue or opportunity; it may be a person, place, or thing. Thursday/ Friday and the new week’s start are good for socializing, travel, enjoyment, and connecting the dots. On Saturday, emotions run the gamut/ the show. Sunday evening into Monday, you’ll have it nailed down.
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SCORPIO
October 23–November 22
By the time you get to the end of the weekend, you should feel pretty good about how it’s all gone down and what you’ve gained along the way. Thursday/Friday should prove easy to take. Saturday can be somewhat of a push/pull, but Sunday evening through Tuesday, you’ll hit the mark. Monday/Tuesday, bet on an attention getter; play it up.
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SAGITTARIUS
November 22–December 21
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CAPRICORN
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AQUARIUS
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PISCES
December 21–January 20
Saturn/Neptune loans you an added knack for reading people and into situations. The transit provides greater access to your right brain and increases your intuitive/creative capacities. Beyond the added holiday pressure, the future and life’s bigger questions also gain more of your attention. Don’t worry, it’s a thumbs up. Sunday evening through Tuesday, aim to optimize. January 20–February 18
Finishing up a full-moon week, Thursday/Friday should be easy to take. Know that it’s easy to be swayed by another or to talk yourself into spending, doing, or getting more involved. On Saturday, don’t jump to conclusions but do jump into action when required. Monday/Tuesday, they feel good, and you feel good too. The stars set the dial at win/win. February 18–March 20
An eventuality can become a reality sooner than you anticipated. Whether obvious or subtle, Saturn/ Neptune now restructures life’s priorities and your consciousness in both major and small ways. This transit calls for you to allow, receive, and accept. On Friday, it’s all in good flow. Saturday, emotions are easily triggered. Sunday evening onward, you’re on to a good upswing. -
Thursday’s review of the past can contain a touch of the bittersweet, but overall, all’s well that ends well. Friday is good for putting it on chill. Saturday can be somewhat of a stop/start day. By Sunday night, sun/ Saturn puts you in the driver’s seat. Through Tuesday, you should feel like you’re calling the shots very well Book a reading with Rose Marcus at www.rosemarcus.com/astrolink/. and that you reap good reward.
NOVEMBER 26 – DECEMBER 3 / 2015 THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT 71
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