The Scope April 2011

THE SCOPE | st. john’s arts and entertainment magazine | April 2011 | Volume 7, Number 3 | Issue 117 | www.thescope.ca

thescope APRIL 2011

issue 117, volume 7, number 3 Online www.thescope.ca E-mail inbox@thescope.ca Listings listings@thescope.ca Mail PO Box 1044, St. John’s, NL, A1C 5M3 Phone 709-726-8466

Publisher Bryhanna Greenough publisher@thescope.ca Editor Elling Lien editor@thescope.ca Listings Editor Nathan Downey Editorial Assistant Sarah Smellie Production Assistant Morgan Murray Advertising Sales Elaine Pond (709) 699-7299 elaine@thescope.ca Advertising Sales Lisa Cook (709) 693-5028 lisa@thescope.ca

Contributors Ryan Davis, Andrew Harvey, Adam Clarke, Nathan Downey, Mark Callanan, Taryn Sheppard, Ricky King, Andrew Wickens, and Rob Brezsny.

And more!

The Scope is St. John’s arts and entertainment newspaper, published by Scope Media Inc. 20,000+ copies of The Scope are printed monthly and distributed throughout the metro area. The Scope seeks to publish a newspaper that will entertain, inform, and foster cultural development in the St. John’s metropolitan area. The Scope claims absolutely no responsibility for the lameness of this no responsibility blurb. It's been a long day, okay? Writing funny things isn't easy, okay??

Hey, come to think of it, the word "blurb" is pretty funny on its own. Blurb, blurb, blurb.

Blurb. Blurb blurb. All rights reserved. © 2011 Proudly independent and locally owned. Founded way back in 2006.

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COVER ART

Cover design by Duncan Major and John Devereaux of Perfect Day Canada. www.pday.ca

Back feed

torn from the electronic pages of thescope.ca

DO YOU THINK ST. JOHN'S CITY HALL IS DISCONNECTED FROM THE PUBLIC? In early March, Ward 4 Councillor Debbie Hanlon proposed an independent review of city council. In an interview with Andrew Harvey, quoted in his article Democratic Disconnect, she said she felt there was a disconnect between city hall and the public, particularly the youth. Here's what people had to say about that on our website: Comment by jerry: There is a disconnect, particularily between council and youth/20somethings. Wanting to change George Street is a prime example...

Comment by Dick Walsh: There most certainly is a disconnect, and very much so with the youth. Go to MUN and ask people about council, I doubt very many people could tell you how many councilors we even have, let alone who they are, or what they're actually are responsible for. If the council meetings were not posted on Twitter I wouldn’t even know when they met.

Comment by B****Slap: The council is completely out of touch, not just with the youth demographic but with the entire population, really. They have time after time ignored complaints about the lack of snowclearing and recycling (which we now have after several failed attempts) and the worst of all is council's complete ignorance of the housing shortage. They disregard their citizens time and time again, how are things going to change if you don’t listen?!

Comment by C.H. Monster: Things are only going to change if people get off their butts and vote, and stop voting for arseholes.

Comment by Sean: I think there is a disconnect, which is quite longstanding, but it has nothing to do with Debbie Hanlon’s issue.

It has to do with the fact that the majority of councillors have not bought in true public engagement. Dialogue with citizens does happen with some councillors, but not the majority, and even when it does, there seems to be no mechanism for moving beyond talk to action.

In terms of Ms. Hanlon’s issue, an elected representative is not like a regular paid employment position. You can show up to every meeting and put in a million hours, but people may still vote against you because you’re arrogant and your voting decisions on council are contrary to people’s wishes. You

could have another councillor who maintains a full time job outside of Council, yet they have a very good feel for their constituents’ views and people will continue to elect them.

You can’t regulate the hours of work of an elected official—the electorate either likes them or not.

Resolving the disconnect between council and citizens is a much bigger (and different) undertaking than this particular tempest in a teapot.

Comment by Andrew Harvey: It seems to me that if, as a city, we are serious about increasing public input in municipal government, we need to make huge changes in the process. We need more meaningful public input earlier, and more often, throughout the process.

A great example of a small way to do this would be participatory budgeting. The city could set aside a small amount of certain budgets (say Parks & Rec), to be used for discretionary programs, determined by the public.

The community could come together, and decide what recreation programs they would like to see offered. When the result of your input is direct and tangible, such as helping decide what type of program will be offered, people will be more likely to participate in the process.

I also think that Sean makes an excellent point that the number of hours someone works does not make them more connected to the public. This is a different issue, and more one of attitude then scheduling. I do think that it can be a part of the same discussion about how we are represented though, as the two issues are closely related.

Comment by Overcast Skies: Government (including municipal government) never has and never will represent the people/the masses properly. There will always be a substantial disconnect between those who rule, and those being ruled. Anyone with power becomes corrupted in some shape or form, it’s the nature of power. That being said, I think if we can reduce the disconnection, we’ll be on safer ground.

What do you think? Join in online at www.goo.gl/079oh

APRIL 2011

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Photo: Vancouver's 605 Collective

hot tickets APRIL 2011

Some of our picks for the month.

music/ART

free stuff

Lawnya Vawnya

Dump and Run

Not just a gaggle of bar shows with a “festival” tag slapped on it, Lawnya Vawnya is showing festivals everywhere how it’s done. Yeah, they’ve got a sweet line-up of shows, but they’re also planning a daytime music crawl featuring 20 minute acoustic sets at downtown spots like Model Citizens, Fred’s Records and Family Barber Shop, a craft and zine fair at Gower Street Church, an open-to-the-public festival headquarters hangout with sound installations, and renegade street performance art outside of shows. Did I mention the literary reading by Dave Bidini and Craig Francis Power, or the Words in Edgewise talk on the relationship between alcohol and music? One might even say they’re over-achieving. Check out lawnyavawnya.com or the listings section of The Scope for details. BRYHANNA GREENOUGH

Anyone familiar with the end-of-semester residence exodus knows what a frenzied free-for-all it can be as students pack a year’s worth of scholarly detritus into a procession of station wagons. With the pack-it-or-chuckit mentality in mind, Project Green is hosting its ninth-annual Dump & Run at Hatcher House during finals. This massive yard sale is a great opportunity to score some gently used furniture, clothes, books, beer bongs, and whatever else the students can’t squeeze into their luggage. You don’t need to be a MUN student to donate and Project Green keeps whatever is left after the sale so that the next cohort of res students can outfit their rooms on the cheap. Donations are accepted from April 19 to April 22 and the sale runs from April 23 to April 26 at Hatcher House in Paton College. NATHAN DOWNEY

April 20-24

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April 19-26

circus

Wonderbolt 30th Anniversary Gala April 21

Wonderbolt Circus has been a provincial institution since 1981. Based on a tradition of touring to remote areas of the province and outreach to school boards and the Innu Nation, Wonderbolt’s captivating, family-friendly show is entering its 30th year. To celebrate this milestone, the Circus is throwing an anniversary gala for itself.

Featuring caberet-style entertainment performed by Wonderbolt alums Mark Critch, Greg Malone, Pete Soucy and many others, the gala will kick off the Easter weekend with an evening of light-hearted fun.

Proceeds from the evening will go toward the educational and outreach programs Wonderbolt runs province-wide during the year. The Wonderbolt Circus 30th-Anniversary Gala goes down at The Majestic Theatre on Thursday, April 21 at 8pm. Tickets are $50 and are available at The Travel Bug’s Water Street and Avalon Mall locations. NATHAN DOWNEY

dance

605 Collective’s Audible April 29-30

Vancouver’s 605 Collective is a vibrant young dance crew specializing in contemporary and hip hop styles. Neighbourhood Dance Works presents 605’s show Audible, a 65-minute dance experience that explores changes in the way people connect with each other. It’s a high-energy, rambunctious affair that presents human interaction in the digital age in an eyecatching, captivating manner. 605 Collective will get a little move-busting assistance from local hip hop outfits MAXcrew, Kick A Spin, and Soul Steps Crew. Audible breaks down on Friday, April 29 and Saturday, April 30 at 8pm at the LSPU Hall. Tickets are $20 for general admission, and $15 for students and seniors.

NATHAN DOWNEY running

Flat Out 5k April 10

Winter isn’t the greatest time of year for fleet-footed townies, as the ever-diminishing sidewalks and road space relegates them to tracks and treadmills. The Flat Out 5k is the perfect remedy for cooped-up runners of all ages. This early spring race takes place at Clovelly Golf Club and it features age group medals, chip timing, and a post-race reception at the club house. Proceeds from the race will go to MUN’s cross-country running scholarship fund. The Flat Out 5k rolls out on Sunday, April 10 at 8 am. Online registration is open until April 7 at tinyurl.com/66t7m9d and the fee is $25. NATHAN DOWNEY

RESTAURANTS & CAFES Best Cafe Best New Restaurant Best Overall Restaurant Best Restaurant (Downtown St John's) Best Restaurant (Beyond Downtown) Best Restaurant (Mount Pearl) Best Restaurant (Paradise) Best Restaurant (Portugal Cove-St. Philips/ Torbay/Bell Island) Best Restaurant (CBS) Best Restaurant Chain FOOD Best All Day Breakfast Best Brunch Best Fish & Chips Best Fishcakes Best Mussels Best Seafood Best Place to Buy Fresh Fish Best Bakery (Breads) Best Bakery (Sweets) Best Butcher Best Restaurant for Carnivores Best Burger Best Sandwich Best Turkey Sandwich Best Chicken Wings Best Chinese Best Pizza Pie Best Pizza Slice Best Salad Best Place To Feed A Sweet Tooth Best Dessert Best Indian Best Sushi Best Pasta Best International Food Best Veggie Burger Best Vegetarian Option at a Non Vegetarian Restaurant Best Buffet

Best Quick Lunch Best Lunch Specials Best Campus Eats Best Pub Grub Best Delivery or Take Out Best Late Night DRINKS Best Coffee (Espresso-based) Best Coffee (Regular) Best Hot Chocolate Best Milkshake Best Restaurant Wine List Best Beer Selection Best Local Beer Best After Work Drinking Best Cheap Drinks Best Cocktails Best Martini

SERVICES & SPECIAL FEATURES Best Chef Best Service Best Place for a Large Group Best Patio Best Restaurant Washroom Best Kid-Friendly Restaurant Best Place to Take Out-of-Towners Best Value Best Restaurant When Someone Else Is Paying Best Community Fundraising Dinner Best Restaurant for Cheap Eats Best Restaurant For A First Date Best Intimate Dining Best Special-Occasion Dinner Best Atmosphere Best Farmers' Market Vendor (Produce) Best Farmers' Market Vendor (Prepared) Best Place You Have Yet to Try

HELP CELEBRATE the best FOOD & DRINK THE St. John's metro area has to offer Take part in our first annual Best of Food & Drink Readers' Survey! Results will be published in a special Food & Drink issue in June By taking part, you’ll automatically be entered in a prize draw to win one of five gift certificates for Paderno KitchenWear valued at $100 each. A minimum of 10 questions must be completed to qualify. Fasten your taste buds.

www.thescope.ca/food APRIL 2011

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people thescope.ca/people

Mathias Kom Festival organizer Lawnya Vawnya, an exposition of independent arts and culture in St. John’s, running April 20-24, boasts an impressive line-up of music, readings, lectures, art, and a music crawl. We spoke with Mathias Kom, musician, festival organizer, and newcomer to St. John’s about planning the first ever Lawnya Vawnya, and convincing big acts from away to come play at St. John's newest festival.

How did you come to live in St. John's?

I got called out at a show at the Ship in March last year when we were here on tour when I said, “I love this place. You guys are amazing. And I'm going to move here one day.” And for the record, every time I've said that to an audience in St. John's, I've meant it. But someone called me out. I heard from the back of the crowd, “Yeah right, you've said that a thousand times, it's never going to happen, you're just saying that.” And it's like when Marty McFly in Back to the Future can't handle being called “chicken.” I can't handle a challenge like that. So I thought, “Dammit, no. I'm gonna show that guy.” And that's when it all happened. So I convinced Ariel Sharratt (festival organizer) to come. She was on tour with us too. Dave Lander (festival organizer) found us a house and we all moved in together.

How did this festival begin?

It started mainly because, the few of us that are working on the festival all live in the same house. We got to talking in the fall about how there are so many bands that we'd really like to see play in St. John's. We started listing off a wish list. There were people we thought would never come here, but we thought, wouldn't it be fun to try and organize a festival and reach out to as many of these people as possible? The first time we ever got together to talk about it was outstanding. We planned to have a preliminary meeting to decide some things, and it was eight hours long. None of us cared or payed attention to the clock. And then it was dark.

How did you convince musicians to come?

A lot of people are really interested in coming to Newfoundland. They'll jump at the chance. And that's what we were so amazed by, how easy it was to convince people to come to a festival that's never happened before. The people who have been here before, just like me once upon a time, look for any chance to get back.

With such a big line-up, how can you afford to do this festival?

I'd say 75 per cent of the work we've done has focused on raising money. It would be amazing in the future to not panic over every dollar which is where we are right now.

But right now we are literally selling cookies late night on George Street to pay for plane tickets.

What makes playing in Newfoundland a unique experience?

This isn't the sort of place where you walk into a venue, play your show, get back in your van, and leave. Just because of where this place is, you end up staying at least a few days. And people are so welcoming and warm that you end up inevitably partying with the audience after the show. The first time I ever came here I was blown away by the feeling after three days in St. John's playing a few shows, and the day I left I felt like I had made so many friends. That doesn't happen, in my experience, anywhere else. And the way people interact with music. Also, there's something about the excitement felt by bands who finally make it here. They're a little more excited, a little more willing, a little more tired. A little more out of their minds after driving across the island and not knowing what they're getting into and whatever. They're really ready to experience something and audiences are really ready too.

Mathias kom: came here on a dare

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APRIL 2011

Interview and photo by Ryan Davis

APRIL 2011

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store front

Local small business news. Read more at www.thescope.ca/storefront retail

minus cd plus

CD Plus has left the province. The Winnipegbased music and movie retailer company has been closing stores across the country, and they’ve pulled the plug on their Avalon Mall and Corner Brook locations. According to a February article in the Winnipeg Free Press, CD Plus got its start in 1962 (1962!), and business peaked in 2000 with 133 CD Plus outlets across the country. Now only a handful remain. Vice-President of Operations Dale Bailly told the Western Star that filesharing on the interwebz is to blame.

BRYHANNA GREENOUGH

flea market

the flea market lives!

Still missing that KoKo B. Ware action figure from your WWF wrestling figurine collection?

Well, the best place to find them just reopened. Formerly at the Avalon Mall, the Sunday Market is now bustling away in the CLB Armoury on Sundays from 11am to 3pm.

Admission is just fifty cents.

But don’t just go for the awesome collectibles, says Bernard Davis, Executive Director of the CLB. “There are vendors selling pictures, art, books, personalized jewellery, second-hand items, handmade crafts, pet supplies... everything under the sun.”

The first Sunday Market at the CLB happened on the 6th of March, and Davis says he was thrilled with the turn-out. “We had 50 tables and about 600 people came through,” he says. “And those aren’t people who just wanted to go to a movie or go to Lawton’s, they wanted the market.”

Davis says the Armoury is a permanent home for the market, and he’s hoping to see it grow to 80 or so tables. “We’re a community organization and building, and we want to make sure that the community is a full participant in the Sunday Market atmosphere,” he says. “We’re hoping to encourage everyone to come out and see what we’ve got and, if there’s a need that’s not being met, and people would like to see other products, let us know and we’ll see what we can do.” SARAH SMELLIE

Munro wants to see mandatory inspections be required for anyone operating a tattoo shop, comparing it to the heavily regulated food and beverage industry.

In 2006, a 17-year-old Newfoundland girl died from toxic shock syndrome, suspected to have been the result of a poorly sterilized nipple piercing. Then-provincial health minister Tom Osborne said he was considering placing regulations on the industry, but, four years later, there are none.

Munro says the revolving-door staffing situation at the Ministry of Health and the tattoo and piercing industry’s relatively low profile are largely to blame for this. “The only time this issue comes to the forefront is when there’s some sabre rattling,” he said.

While the public health concerns are the key point, Munro says from a tax perspective the lack of regulation is equally frustrating.

“I’m paying for a business license, which isn’t a massive amount of money for this province, about $1600 a year; now, you figure there’s four or five operating studios in the city, but there’s probably about [...] a hundred people tattooing out of their houses,” Munro said. “If you take that number, $1600 per person, you start seeing where the money is missing.”

He hopes that, if regulations are put in place, the tattoo industry will offer greater protection for consumers and increase perceptions of legitimacy about business owners. “[The government] is more than willing to take my tax money and will hunt me if I don’t pay them, but at the same time they refuse to acknowledge me on the basic level of a donut shop,” Munro said. NATHAN DOWNEY

shops the law

tattoo regulations wanted

From humble origins as a trapping of the cultural fringe, tattoos have become increasingly mainstream in the past decade. Though unsafe tattoo and body piercing practises pose possible risks of infection and blood-borne pathogens like HIV and hepatitis, in Newfoundland the booming industry is still regulation-free.

One local tattoo studio hopes to change that.

Dave Munro, owner of Trouble Bound Tattoos in St. John’s, is frustrated with the lack of checks and balances in the province-wide tattoo industry.

“The average person does not know enough about what they should be encountering in a tattoo studio to just be able to walk in and be safe,” Munro said. “[The provincial government] is putting people at risk by not intervening on behalf of the general public.”

downtown shuffle

The Candy Bouquet, which specializes in, you guessed it, bouquet candy arrangements, is moving a few doors westward, to the old Hava Java space at 216 Water Street.

Women’s clothing retailer Annika’s, at 172 Water Street, has closed its doors, but will reopen for a final blow out sale on Saturday, April 2.

The legendary Brass Rack billiard hall, at Duckworth and Cochrane, has been sold.

The Brass Rack has been a cornerstone in the province’s pool scene for thirty years, and it’s a shock and a shame to see it sinking the eight-ball.

And the Family Barber Shop at 204 Duckworth Street, fondly remembered for ‘Gone Fishing’ signs on the sweetest days of summer, now displays a 'Barber Shop closing on April 23' sign. Even the old bottles decorating the front window are for sale. B.GREENOUGH

The RPM Challenge is an annual creative challenge to record a full album of original music in the month of February.

It all started in a city in New Hampshire in 2006 when the small alternative publication The Wire dared its readers to stop what they were doing, hit the record button, and make some music. "We can give you a deadline!" they cried. And it worked. One month later, hundreds of CDs were rolling through their door. The following year they invited people from around the world to take part.

When we started encouraging readers of The Scope to take part in Come hear! The RPM Challenge listening party gets on the go on Saturday, April 2 at CBTGs. See a schedule on the next page.

Boil Order

A "New" Wallpaper Music

In talking to Alex Bridger about his RPM entry this year he revealed that the whole project was conceived as a tribute of sorts to the late Captain Beefheart and Syd Barrett. Of course having him tell me this was totally redundant, as from the opening notes onward nothing could be more obvious. Although the influence of other famous outsider musicians like Skip Spence and heroin-era John Frusciante is clearly evident as well, I can’t think of another contemporary artist who captures the aesthetic and spirit of Beefheart and Barrett as perfectly Bridger does here. The way he gets songs like “Doin’ this” to groove so solidly while simultaneously placing beats where you can never predict totally baffles me. Montreal seems to have pushed Bridger into a much more low-key and bluesy direction than he was here in Sin Jawns, but the richness and inventiveness of his ideas remains fully intact.

PC

“You know why I’m whittling? Because that’s what you do in a town where a yellow light still means slow down, not speed up.” Anyone who grew up in outport Newfoundland (such as myself – 1,2,3 La Scie that’s we!) can appreciate this Twin Peaks sound-byte that you hear before an onslaught of screaming mayhem assaults your ears on Boil Order’s Last Supper. This hardcore punk band is a potluck of musicians from various local bands that have united to produce a rural NL themed RPM album. As is usually the case with hardcore punk, the lyrics are virtually indecipherable, but the song titles say it all, such as “Woodrow” (every outport’s got at least one), “Relocate,” “Depletion” (about the raping of the cod-stocks, I’m guessing), and “Boil Order” (I still remember when Beaver Fever ravaged me and my classmates in Grade 7—one day I will have my revenge, castor canadensis.) In true hardcore fashion most of the songs clock in at about a minute, with the title track zipping by at a whopping 6 seconds – about the same amount of time it takes Beaver Fever to render you powerless. DL

The Drows

Pick an Apple and Go to the Mountains

One of this year’s pleasant surprises came from RPM newcomers The Drows, a folk trio that weave an enchanting fabric of ballads and toetappers about “cats, ghosts, dragon-flies,” and the like. Pick an Apple and Go to the Mountains is filled with the warm tones of ukulele, harp, violin (courtesy of Alison Corbett), and beautiful three-part harmonies, delivering a blend of folk and trad somewhere between Vashti Bunyan and The Be Good Tanyas. The introductory Celtic harp on the album opener “Chrysalis” promises a rewarding listen, while the charming sing-a-long “Little Kitty Cat” is an homage to the endearing quirks of a feline friend. The haunting fairytale “The Ballad of Trinity Loop” features the ghostly singing saw of Noah Bender, and “The Old Man” is a bluesy a capella lament of passing time and decay that would make Nathaniel Hawthorne proud. Hopefully we’ll be hearing more from these newcomers in the near future. DL

If you’re like me and spent countless hours of your childhood punishing your thumbs with Nintendo classics like Mario Brothers, Tetris, and Mega Man, you will enjoy the humorous trip down memory lane that is Bad Breens’ (sisters Kerri and Krissy Breen) RPM debut. The opening track, “Excite-bike,” is an extended metaphor comparing building your own track with grasstraps and ramps in the game Excite Bike to the obstacles we sometimes build for ourselves in life.

The song also references aspirations of becoming “the Billy Mitchell of Excite Bike,” an allusion to the renowned gamer and antagonist of the 2007 documentary King of Kong: Fistful of Quarters.

The track “Boys Do Cry (When You Beat Them at Nintendo)” is a nod to the Cure and a jab at the collective ego of the predominantly male gamer community. Bad Breens are self-described as “sloppy/outsider/punk/folk comedy” with sparse electric guitar and vocal arrangements reminiscent of another famous sister duo The Breeders. One of the many charms of this album is it’s clever lyrics, with lines like “Mario Paint, Photoshop it ain’t,” “A Tetris mind is all I’ve ever had,” and “Power Glove is broken, can’t find my copy of Mega Man 3, there’s dust in my cartridge and my code won’t work for Game Genie.” Bad Breens have created an RPM album that is as classic as the vintage games that inspired it. DL

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out of thin air. It meant friends were encouraging friends to get together and jam. People who were not associated with any kind of music scene had gotten their guitars out of their closets and sang their hearts out into a computer microphone. People already in the music scene were trying their hands at new material or new projects.

"But are any of them any good?" you ask.

Heck yeah. Lots of them. We couldn't even give reviewers Damian Lethbridge (am/fm dreams) and Patrick Canning (SUPERGOD!!!) enough room to write about all of their favourites. Here are 20.

Calling You Tonight

Mario RPM: Legend of the Seven Stars

HOW TO MAKE YOUR VERY OWN CAT HEAD COMIC

new albums written and recorded by Newfoundland artists appeared

The Blossoms

Bad Breens

Cat’

albums.

Flash forward to this year, the beginning of March, when 103 brand

Last Supper

AE Bridger

2008, we were perfectly happy with the response of 22 complete

GO TO www.thescope.ca/cat

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click "make your own damn cat' comic"

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The Blossoms (AKA Andrew Wickens) really stepped up his game from last year’s well received RPM album. There is an undeniable Beach Boys influence on this album (not surprising since Andrew is part of The Beach B’ys tribute band) every song is practically drenched in rich vocal harmonies and vintage 60’s pop touches like glockenspiels and doo-bee-doo choruses. The production is a step up from last year but not too much, there is a pleasant lo-fi haze that filters the sound into a dreamy mush that feels appropriate to the material. Andrew has a good mind for classic pop song structure and sly bit of dark humor present in songs like “Dead Sexy” (which is about sexy zombies) and this album is evidence that these skills are only improving with time.

PC

Casual Male Bonding

The cover of Casual Male’s second album, and maiden voyage into RPM waters, speaks volumes about the music within. It features a zookeeper tickling the toes of a sprawling lion while the rest of the pride looks on in confusion. Like this precarious scene, Bonding straddles the line between light-hearted playfulness and ferocious intensity. The album was inspired by what Vic Lewis calls the “shambolic”, low-fi, garage rock that him and Brad Power have been listening to lately.

Although hints of Black Lips, The Kinks, Roky Erickson, and 13th Floor Elevators are evident, the lads bring it to a new level with Brad’s bluesy leads and the vocal chameleon Vic Lewis turning on a dime from slacker croon to throat shredding howl that would rival Pixies screamer Black Francis. Bonding also has a great sense of humour running throughout, with Vic cracking up laughing in the middle of “Shy Bird,” and priceless lines such as “Going out to Badgers Quay, gonna get some good Chinese, egg-rolls, fried beef broccoli, yeah take it to go.” DL

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The Finkle, Warner, Graham, Sing, Wells, Emke, and Cuff Project Into the Elephant

Dear Finkle, Warner, Graham, Sing, Wells, Emke and Cuff, you need a better band name and fast. Into the Elephant is phenomenal and I anticipate a lot of people are going to be talking about it in the months to come, but not with a mouthful of a name like that.

Seriously though, TFWGSWECP have made an RPM album of complex, acoustic guitar/ piano-driven alternative pop, complete with odd timing, tempo shifts, and other-worldly vocals. The lead singer’s voice has a brassy vibrato quality which sounds like a cross between Steve Haley (Human Soundtrack) and Tim D’Eon (Wintersleep). With a penchant for anthemic group vocals and stripped down arrangements that sound like a lost Arcade Fire demo cassette, these guys have all the elements they need to blow up the local scene (except a decent name.) DL

Georgie & JoMo

Nikki Sooley

Half-Life

The husband and wife duo Georgie & JoMo have been playing together for years on the local circuit in bands such as Wolves, Reluctant Showmen, and Japan Batteries. Their 2011 debut Half-Life is their initiation into RPM madness, and also marks the first time the couple has written and recorded together. George created all the sonic backdrops for the songs in the first two weeks of the challenge after which Joanne stepped out of her usual role as drummer to take over lead vocal duties. Half-Life is an electro-pop gem with haunting, jagged soundscapes reminiscent of Massive Attack and Nine Inch Nails, and JoMo’s strong, soulful vocals add elements of Portishead and Yeah Yeah Yeahs. Keep an eye out for Georgie & JoMo in the months to come as they are currently revisiting the songs on Half-Life to work out a live set. DL

Justin Guzzwell Gamut Street

Got an opinion? Need to vent? We want to hear from you. Submit your anonymous accusation or confession at thescope.ca/rant.

Submissions may be edited for length, grammar, spelling, legal, or obscenity reasons. One submission will be printed each month, but more submissions to Rant Farm can be found at thescope.ca/rant.

Yes, I'm Still Pregnant

Gander native Nikki Sooley has been writing and playing original music since she was 15. While still in high school she formed the indie-rock band Starbox and appeared on the CBC series Rock Camp, where young aspiring musicians developed their rock chops under the mentorship of gurus like Joel Plaskett.

Nikki Sooley…Is Really Playing Music, her first RPM contribution, is a solid collection of upbeat, acoustic rockers. Songs like “Sing Mama,” “Still Know You,” and “Let’s Go to the Party” echo influences from Tom Petty, Sloan, and her hero and mentor Joel Plaskett.

Nikki also has an incredible and unique voice that blends the clarity of Sarah Harmer, the power of Joni Mitchell, and the edginess of Lucinda Williams. Nikki is currently a student at MUN so hopefully we’ll be seeing more of this amazing talent on the local scene. DL

Justin Guzzwell is fast becoming one of my favourite local songwriters and over the past year has become a total powerhouse performer who needs to be experienced. This is his third year participating in the RPM Challenge and this year’s entry is by far his best. The gritty fuzzed out production really compliments the bounce and wallop of his ivory punishing and incandescent howl. The 60’s Brit-pop influence has never been more pronounced in his works; the recorder breakdown and marching beat of “The Alter Boy” and souring verses of “Bereavement and Grief” bear more then a little resemblance to a certain fab four. There is a real richness and sophistication to be found in his compositions and he’s not afraid to get experimental while he brings the ferocity and forcefulness to the performance on tracks like “She’s a doll, I’m a Chicken.” A very rewarding listen. PC

Mammoth

Nicolas Trnka

Another artist coming out of nowhere and grabbing me by the neck this year is Mammoth (AKA Steve Maloney, who ended up being a lot younger then I was expecting when I Googled him). With the exception of a couple tunes with fuller arrangements the album is mostly just guitar and voice, but what a voice! It’s not hard to make comparisons to either Tim or Jeff Buckley, but Steve is not quite so flamboyant or wanky in his delivery. His songs are a bit more simple and direct but have that similar lonesome and dramatic quality that you could associate with the Buckleys. The album is a relaxed and fairly understated affair, but there is a theatrical quality to the songs that brings it above a mere lazy Sunday album. Altogether it’s a refreshing and graceful listening experience. PC

One of the most talked-about RPM albums of 2010 came from 10 year-old Nicolas Trnka who submitted a short collection ofsongs about aliens, comic books, brushing your teeth, tigers, and other concerns of the typical unigenarian. To the delight of many, Nicolas has completed another RPM album this year. Waffle Chocolate Mayo retains the same playful spirit of his debut album, but shows great advancement in his musical skills after just one year. The album begins with a rolling piano, minor-chord slice of existentialism (“Alone in the Universe”) which would sound right at home on a Justin Guzzwell album. Backed by what sounds like a fancy new keyboard, Nicolas presents his 11-year perspective on such topics as superheroes, teenage werewolves, cheese tacos, his dog Ponyboy, and Narwhals, of which he sings, “They’ve got big pointy horns, they’re fishy unicorns.” Classic!

Congratulations on another great album Nicolas. DL

s/T

RANT FARM

...is really Singing

Waffle chocolate mayo

Other People

Dear Colleagues, Yes, I am still at work. Yes, I am still pregnant.

No, the baby has not arrived yet. The answers to your questions are quite obvious, but you still insist on asking them every single morning. It is not very kind to make fun of me, and it’s downright rude to rub my belly without asking, or ask how dilated I am! How about a little sympathy or a simple “Good morning” instead of treating me like a sideshow?

secret Joggers

— Past Due

Monotone Jones with Matt Fudge

This is probably the most high-fidelity entry in this years challenge, the production positively sparkles pixie dust all over your headphones.

In their third year participating it feels like Other People have finally found their voice. In the past it felt like they were tripping over their own profundity of ideas and lacking a focus to the lyrics, but on Secret Joggers everything gels in a really satisfying way. The lyrics are still a bit cluttered and tangled, but they make it work to their advantage this time around by channelling some Stereolab into their intricate arrangements and by crafting melodies that make the words work more like tone poetry without distracting from their quite astonishing pop compositions. This is an ambitious and expertly executed pop excursion.

PC

Cracker Rocks

Reviews continue on page 12

illustration by RICKY KING

This album is a bit of a throwback to a style of music that doesn’t get much love nowadays: early nineties hip-hop/rock fusion in the style of Fun Lovin’ Criminals or The Roots. I can’t say that it’s a style I’ve ever had much of an appreciation for, but this is one of the best examples of the genre I’ve ever heard. The band is tight as a tea bagger’s grip on her purse in Harlem and the grooves hit hard and thick with top dollar hooks. Monotone Jones occasionally lays a bit of turd lyrically, but his flow is smoove and his agreeable laid back personality wins you over.

The guest stars are used really well: Andrew Waterman’s caterwauling on “Cracker Blues” really takes the song in an interesting direction, and Virginia Fudge’s vocal hook on “No way out” is sexiness personified. The production is crisp and clear as diamonds and everything is well balanced and well thought out, making this a much more enjoyable album then I was prepared for. PC

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9:00

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2:00

CAN'T MAKE IT?

ARTIST JUKEBOX

2:30

2011 LISTENING PARTY

1:00

Saturday April 2 CBTG's (9pm–3am)

12:30

If you don't forget me The One Question Socially Awkward Penguin Down to the Wine Like to Know Pretty Cowgirl in the Sun I've Got A Lot Learn Sheep Raining Track 6 The Haunting Excitebike No Grave Recycled Telephone Say Uncle Ruuunnn Stories Casual Male The Mall Shameless & Nameless Winter Spree Washing Machine Going Down the Duty Road I’m Confused Track 8 Don't Go Away Mercury!!

Breaking Through Track 1 The Plow Drives By Ode to Rock Original Little Kitty Cat Lotta Pressure Never Too Young The Dance They're Closing In best laid plan Crumble Piano (Anywhere) Tired Game What is Real?

120 In Between the Lines Alt-Ctrl-Del physics Cowan Ave oxygen The Big Splendas And then it got dark for the second time that day Arsenic Winter Part 4 Inside My Soul Rover (Silly Wizard Ramblin Rover Sample) A Pale Blue Jay Crazy breavement and grief O Light transit saints Shot at Captain Shoulders of the Road Light-Emitting Diodes, There Made by Man Lukey No Way Out Transition 1: Bells Song for Trinity Swamp II C'est La Vie Sing Mama Sunday Morning Sunrise Infra-Red Spotlight Story Of The Sub Two Brass Monkey Someday Kid Old School Japan Program 1. Bounceback Dreams in Black and White Shootin' the Breeze Age Nineteen Morning Breaks Love in the Checkout Lane Waiting, Wasting Love Yawns Sorry For Yourself Active Anthem Ukulele Vagabond Cold Roses Runnin' Doesn't Look Good From Here A cage match with benefits Everything Changes Christmas Sucks (I Hate My Mom) For Those Who've Come & Gone Away Tea & Sympathy Frozen Shore Last Deathmachines Brad Pitt Sexy Grind (Runway Pt. II)

FREE, 19+

Adam Baxter AE Bridger Aeneas & The Intravenous Al Drysdale Alex Dinn Alive Underground Allan Locke am/fm dreams Andrew Crawford Andrew Smith Apollo Walk Bad Breens Ben Gerrior & No Grave Billy Jack The Blossoms Boil Order Bossy Girlfriend Brett Vey Casual Male The Cause Christian Corbett & Nick Noel Clash Contrast The Coffee Dates Colin Browne The Composers Counter Destroyer Crystal City Printing Press Dan Ficken Däs F***ing Tops Dave Walsh Dos Papas Down the Well The Drows Dry Socket EGo Elling Lien Empire epo Erin Eaton Everything's Automatic The Finkle, Warner, Graham, Sing, Wells, Emke, Cuff Project Georgie & JoMo Goldwithy Gracie & Morgan Greg Hewlett Hal 9000 I See Paris, I See France The Ice Cream Headaches The Idlers: Rotten Gun Club The IndiGhost [Insert Pretentious Band Name Here] J. Alfred Jack E. Tar Jason March Jimme Slings Joe Harvey Josh Hunt Presents Drunky The F*** Clown Justin Guzzwell Katie Baggs Kevin Woolridge Make Mean Everything Mammoth MD Midnight Supper Modern Archetypes Monotone Jones w/ Matt Fudge Mythical Man-Month Naomi Russell The New Cult of Toad Nicolas Trnka Nikki Sooley The Osprey Signal Other People Personal Space Invaders Philip Goodridge Prophyrios Proud Isabella The Real Michael Boone Robot Scout Rozalind MacPhail (Music) Roger Maunder (Director) Rusty Klok Ryan Kennedy Ryan Taylor Searcher Sigma Sleepymouth Slut Junkie Sluts On Sluts ¡Soybomb!

St. John's Ukulele Orchestra Stairwell to Heaven Stray Ghost SuperFishLca SUPERGOD! Tao of Toast This Is Terrible Thom Coombes Three Trees Tim Barnes Trixie Ultramammoth Wish & Flo Worker

RPMCHALLENGE.com

WATCH/LISTEN

thescope.ca/rpmradio

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Shuffle

APRIL 2011

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Sleepymouth Love Yawns

Personal Space Invaders The New Name for Muff is Bieber

If there was an award for best RPM band and album names, Personal Space Invaders, and their album The New Name for Muff is Bieber would clean up (take note Finkle, Warner, Graham, Sing, Wells, Emke and Cuff). This is essentially an improv-album by Brian Downton with a little help from his friends Jack E.Tar and Justin Hall. Each track was recorded on the a first take, straight of the top of his head. The album contains a diverse mix of material ranging from sludge-core (“Clear as Slush”), off-kilter piano ballads (“Beached Whale”), and beat boxing (“Money”). The comical “Daddy’s Motorcycle” is for Brian’s son, played on his toy keyboard.

My personal favourite track is the screamo parody “Story of the Sub,” in which Brian laments “Don’t like the pineapples, it’s too foreign on my sub.” Nothing is more cathartic than sandwich angst. DL

Ryan Kennedy

First class weirdness all the way. I don’t know anything about Sleepymouth, but they have built themselves a fine album of catchy and ingenious, but very demented, pop ditties.

A wide variety of auditory detritus flutters in and out of existence in a binaural flurry throughout the album, while the singer’s keening and slightly snarky voice sings about love and mouth-related issues. This year’s challenge has brought a fine collection of acts with a pronounced proclivity for weirdness and wicked hooks, and Sleepymouth are one of the finer examples of this phenomenon.

You could make pretty apt comparisons to Animal Collective, Snakefinger, Teeth Mountain, or whoever else you want to name drop, but Sleepymouth are their own special animal and Love Yawns is one of the most satisfying headphone tripping albums of the year so far. A very diggable and rewarding set of bizzaro gems. PC

RPM 2011

One of the new participants who blew my mind this year was Ryan Kennedy. His album is like a bag of cane sugar poured into a bottle of Purity syrup and injected straight into your femoral artery. Sugary blissed-out pop songs with soaring vocal harmonies and hooks that aim straight for your auditory cortex like guided missile earworms. Cluttered, compressed artifacts of ramshackle arrangements, which may seem slightly random but are in fact quite expertly Love Bites organized, flutter around your head space like A voice, a guitar, and a microphone in a locusts. There is a fantastic manic energy and room is enough to make this album totally a great wealth of demented styles and sounds enchanting. Love Bites is a textbook of various vintage to be found all over example of how to write perfectly this album, particularly in songs like simple, and totally sincere love the “Group Home” and (my favourite) Listen to all of s songs. There is a real timeless m bu “I’m a Bee”. I’m going to go out al local RPM quality to these songs and Jim at e lin on a limb and say this is the best streaming on Dobbin's rich baritone croon, / a .c pe co straight up pop album from this es th io d somewhere between Nick Drake a r m p r year’s RPM Challenge, or maybe and John Martyn, really soothes my even “this year” in general. Highly poisoned, bitter heart and takes the recommended. PC edge off living in this cold heartless world.

The production is just a hissy microphone in a room while he plays and sings, but there is real warmth there and his voice and the words are always present and well balanced. The album is a wonderfully mature and sincere take on the most universal of topics from a world weary but immediately personable singer. PC

Searcher

St. John's Ukulele Orchestra Vonderlust

The ukulele is the new electric guitar, and St. John’s Ukulele Orchestra is its Rolling Stones. The group released an RPM album last year as the St. John’s Ukulele Club, but have upgraded this year to an Orchestra.

The name change seems fitting as their sophomore RPM album sounds fuller and more coherent than its predecessor. Vonderlust still features the ukulele, but adds texture with banjos, guitars, keyboards, and drums. Kelsey Butt’s smooth, lilting vocals seem to float dreamily along on tracks like “Alone,” “Ukulele Vagabond,” and “All I Ever Needed,” while the boys add grit on porch-stompers like “Alligator Man” and “How Did We Get Here?” My favourite track on the album is “Rap Track (Round 2),” a hilarious diss-track that takes good-natured jabs at the stars of the “townie scene,” with lines like “Buzz off Hey Rosetta! Our rhymes are bettah,” and “After the show with your mind all blurrin’, I’m in the champagne room with Amelia Curran”. DL

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APRIL 2011

Wish and Flo Bed Trax

Whenever I hear Wish and Flo I’m reminded of the acts that I would see at the Padarnic Lounge back in the day with names like Lester Fudister and the Dory Boys, which would be two guys with a canned backing track pretending to play guitars (they weren’t plugged in, which was a dead give away) and “sing” all the classics. Wish and Flo are the alter-egos of Colleen Power and Roger Maunder and they are a pitch perfect and loving send up of those kind of shaky outport barroom trad bands and the album is also a tribute to the recently departed legend Frank Willis. The album is a lot of fun with careful attention to the authenticity of the (crappy) sounds and well observed domestic humor. Although it gets a little weird in places, songs like “Poisoned With You” and “Stunned” are classics that should be played in Legions and Columbus clubs for years to come. PC

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full tilt

St. John's famous Jelly Bean Row. Photo by Flickr user hanloveyoon.

A TIMEYour MACHINE STUCK ON 1892 corner trim is too wide. Please play again.

F

rough, unpainted spruce sheds. It would be or many homeowners, spring time pretty silly if, in the name of historical contiis renovation time. But if you live in nuity, we weren’t allowed to paint our houses. the downtown area—in a ‘heritage’ It seems equally silly to me that a city inspecdesignated area—working on your tor is paid to make sure your corner trim is property isn’t always enjoyable. exactly six inches wide and not a fraction Building regulations for the heritage area, more. which determine what you can and can’t do The fact is, heritage regulations can’t possito your house, can be difficult, convoluted, bly outline a perfect historical house. The idea and creatively stifling. of reproducing a Victorian past is there, but

Recently, a friend recounted to me her experience of this architecture we enforce is affected by the construction industry, the National Building building in a ‘Heritage 3’ area.

Code and, of course, availability of supplies.

Her vision for her property was It’s as much a product of our time as it is a for a modern saltbox. She found TARYN revival. It’s a compromise, made up of 1890s that the contemporary SHEPPARD window and trim styles, bright 20th century detailing she wanted taryn@thescope.ca paint colors, synthetic building materials and wasn’t allowed, and incontemporary building proportions. New stead the city requires certain window types, heritage style buildings would probably look trim widths, and eave placement, all specified pretty alien if placed back in the time they are with particular dimensions and colours. No supposed to be from. casement windows, no If the city chose the 1700’s as

With the start of cove style siding, no this new construction architectural panelling, their hallmark heritage era, season, I expect to see no face-nailed members, we’d all be maintaining rough, more of the gaps in the no awning windows, unpainted spruce sheds. downtown streetscapes and on and on. The seamlessly filled in with guidelines for house clapboard and trim. This can be a good thing, constructions are incredibly specific in dimenas it further establishes the present look of sions also. Listening to her, I couldn’t help but our city, but these heritage regulations can be wonder: Why does it have to look like this? really limiting for creative home owners, and And where do all these details come from, it’s hard to understand the rationale behind anyways? some of the very strict and seemingly ar Enforcing certain architectural features to bitrary rules. Is it a hidden truth that the Herikeep things looking historic is a questionable tage Advisory Board is more like an arbiter practice. How do you choose what era of the of taste than a guardian of heritage? It might past defines future architecture? How do you be more honest to refer to it as the ‘present pinpoint a window of time and decide that we architectural zeitgeist' of St. John’s, rather will collectively remake our city in this fashthan its ‘architectural heritage.’ After all, it’s ion? There’s no doubt that our historians have not entirely historically accurate. It’s hard for identified many important historical buildings people not to ask why things are the way they and houses and, for residential buildings in are, especially when they own their property heritage areas, the St. John’s Victorian townand they are paying their bills. house seems to be the city's vision. But what if we looked at other times in the city's history to use as an homage to the past?

Comment online at thescope.ca/fulltilt If the city chose the 1700’s as their hallmark heritage era, we’d all be maintaining

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APRIL 2011

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weekend music listings

Music events on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays. For more, go to thescope.ca/events

Thursday MAR 31

(10:30pm), Greensleeves

JayCee, Turkey Joe's

DJ Illz, Loft 709

Karaoke, Karaoke Kops Party Bar

Scientists of Sound (Halifax electro) Rock House

DJ JayCee, Turkey Joe's

Carl Peters & Bob Taylor (7pm), Middle Tickle (11pm), Shamrock City Pub

Matthew Hornell & The Diamond Minds (folk rock), Pilot To Bombardier (folk), Katie Baggs (folk), Ben Rigby (clawhammer banjo), $12, LSPU Hall

Shameless (Halifax cover band), Club One

Craig Young (solo acoustic) no cover, Fat Cat Blues Bar Dave Panting, Erin’s Pub DJ Big Frank, Konfusion DJ Fox, 12am-5am, Liquid Night Club DJ Illz, Loft 709 DJ Mark Power, 11pm, Martini Bar Downstairs Mix Up, Hosted

by Steve Abbott, CBTGs Fergus O’Byrne (7pm), Acoustic Punters (10:30pm), O’Reilly’s Irish Pub Jerry Stamp, midnight, no cover, Bull & Barrel Karaoke, 10pm, Karaoke Kops Party Bar Maggie Meyer & Neil Conway (songwriters’ showcase), 10pm, $7, Ship Pub Noise Terror, 10pm, $5, Headquarters Open House: Open mic with Jason LaCour, 9pm, Brimstone Public House Open Mic, 9pm, The Levee Tino Borges & The Incident, 10:30pm, no cover, Martini Bar Totally Toxic: DJ Fox, 12am, $5, Liquid Night Club

Todd Scott & Jeremy Dicks, Greensleeves

The Honey Bees, Fat Cat Blues Bar The Jimmy Swift Band (CD release), Rock House The Monday Nights, Cold River Choir, Mick Davis, The Ship Traditional Music Session (8:30pm); Hugh Scott & John Barella, Erin's Pub

Saturday APR 2 All Request: DJ RocketBoy, Lottie's Place Corey Pike, Fat Cat Blues Bar Dave Langmead, 10:30pm, Trinity Pub DJ Big Frank, Konfusion DJ Fox, 11pm-3am, Evolve DJ Yellow, Martini Bardownstairs

Alex Dinn, Nautical Nellies

Dr Drake, no cover before midnight/$5, Club V

Yung Dumb 17 with Everything’s Automatic, Poolside, Lance Wicks, Hot Biscuit, $5, The Breezeway

Friday APR 1 Aaron McBreairty, 10:30pm, Trinity Pub All Request: DJ RocketBoy, Lottie's Place Chris Hennessey (5pm); Bill Kelly (8pm), O'Reilly's Irish Pub Chuck Boyd, no cover, Nautical Nellie’s D'arcy Broderick & Ron Kelly (5pm); Barry Kenny, Glen Harvey & Sonny Hogan (8pm); Dungarvan (11pm), Shamrock City Pub Dance like a Fool (Lawnya Vawnya fundraiser) DJ duos present hits of the 80s, 90s & today, 9pm, $5, CBTGs DJ Fox, 11pm-2am, Evolve DJ Fox, 2am-6am, Liquid Night Club DJ Nu Rock, Martini Bardownstairs DJ Scrappy, Turkey Joe's DJ Sina, Konfusion Dr Drake, no cover before midnight/$5, Club V

APRIL 2011

Shameless (Halifax rock covers), Club One

Patrick Dunn, no cover, The Grapevine

Xpress Musica, Farewell, Kate Pike & The Off-White Might, RN Wagner, $5, CBTGs

thescope

Polina (punk), Swords (metal), Surrogate, Clocked In (hardcore), $5, Headquarters

Sinfonia 3 - Newfoundland Symphony Orchestra with Marc David, conductor; Guest Soloists; Philharmonic Choir, $26/$22, The Basilica

Unlisted, Green Sleeves Pub

Ben Rigby & Joanna Barker, $7, Rose & Thistle

14

MUN Jazz Ensemble: Swing and Latin music, 8pm, $15/$10, DF Cook Recital Hall

Shawn Beresford & The Solution (Call My Name CD release) with special guests, 8pm, $10, The Bella Vista

From Great Heights (alt/ jam band), Greenlight (folk), 11pm, $8, The Ship Gwyneth Thomson (solo violin) & Leslee Heys (piano), 8pm, free, DF Cook Recital Hall Hugh Scott (5pm); Bob Taylor, Carl Peters & Pat Moran (8pm); Dungarvan (11pm), Shamrock City Pub Hugh Scott & John Barella, Erin's Pub Karaoke, Hosted by Murf, Darnell's Pub Karaoke, Karaoke Kops Party Bar Matthew Hornell & The Diamond Minds (folk rock), Allan Ricketts (banjo), Joanna Barker (folk/minimalism), $12, LSPU Hall Meghan MacMillan Vocal Recital: Featuring Mozart, Wolf, Ricky Ian Gordon and R. Murray Schafer, 6:30pm, DF Cook Recital Hall Newfoundland Electronic Music Festival: Physical Patrick, Slim Macho, Dr Drake, Poolside, That Mexican DJ, 10pm, $20/$15/$10, Headquarters, Open Mic: With Alex Dinn, 10pm to 3am, no cover, Nautical Nellie's RPM Challenge Listening Party: The Scope presents tracks from 103 NL albums of new, local music written and recorded this past February, 9pm-3am, no cover, CBTGs

I’llKidz (Toronto), Dusk Ultralounge

Rob Cook (4:30pm); Fergus O'Byrne (8pm), O'Reilly's Irish Pub

Justin Fancy (6:30pm), Todd Scott & Jeremy Dicks

Sexual Saturdays: DJ

DJ Mark Power, 11pm, Martini Bar Fake Prom (Lawnya Vawnya fundraiser) Featuring The Wobbly Pops: Mark Bragg, Jud Haynes, Darren Browne, Mathias Kom, Jake Nicoll plus Katie Baggs, Krista Power & Derm Kean, 9pm, $7/$10, Rock House Fergus O'Byrne (7pm); Acoustic Punters (10:30pm), O'Reilly's Irish Pub Jerry Stamp, midnight, no cover, Bull & Barrel Karaoke, 10pm, Karaoke Kops Party Bar

Thursday APR 7 Carl Peters & Bob Taylor (7pm), Middle Tickle (11pm), Shamrock City Pub Cinéma L'amour (Montreal live elctronic), Kate Pike & The Off White Might, Brother Malhonnête, Kayla Hendry, 10pm, $5, CBTGs Craig Young (solo acoustic) no cover, Fat Cat Blues Bar Dave Panting, Erin's Pub Des Gambin, 7pm, West Side Charlie's-Kenmount Rd DJ Big Frank, Konfusion DJ Fox, 12am-5am, Liquid NightClub

Karaoke, West Side Charlie's-Torbay Rd Lindsey Wareham Piano Recital: Featuring the works of Beethoven and Liszt, 6:30pm, MUN-D.F Cook Recital Hall Noise Terror, 10pm, $5, Headquarters Open House: Open mic with Jason LaCour, 9pm, The Brimstone Open Mic, 9pm, The Levee Rob Cook, Trapper John's Pub Rozalind MacPhail, The Ship Third Year Recital: Michael Lee performs Debussy, Schumann & Beethoven, 8pm, DF Cook Recital Hall

tratchke ofday bridge ian Leth

by Dam

feb 15-Mar 15

TOP 5 based on web VIEWS thescope.ca/hear

NUMBER ONE BARCODE BIRTHMARK KURODA It was the early 00’s and I was living in Corner Brook attending Sir Wilfred Grenfell College. One day a friend told me that his next door neighbour was in a band and they were selling CD’s. I forked over $5 and the next day I was handed a four-song EP by a band called Kuroda. Being the early 2000's, I was half expecting some post-grunge garbage (i.e. Creed/ Nickelback), but I was pleasantly surprised to hear the jangly tremolo and erratic shuffle of “Barcode Birthmark” pouring out on the speakers. Odd time signatures, strange synth noises, and no vocals. What?!

This was music for the thinker. www.myspace.com/kurodamusic

NUMBER TWO Pilot to Bombardier SECONDHAND www.myspace.com/pilot2bombardier

NUMBER THREE The Soft Intelligence SAY IT'S BROKE www.myspace.com/thesoftintelligence

NUMBER FOUR RocketRocketShip ROCKETSHIP www.myspace.com/rocketrocketship

NUMBER FIVE Rich Haigh Nothing Ever Grows Down Here www.myspace.com/richhaigh

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Shamrock City Pub

Thom Coombs, no cover, Nautical Nellie’s

Karaoke, Hosted by Murf, Darnell's Pub

Tino Borges & The Incident, 10:30pm, no cover, Martini Bar upstairs

Karaoke, Karaoke Kops Party Bar

Totally Toxic: DJ Fox, 12am, $5, Liquid Night Club

Open Mic: With Alex Dinn, 10pm to 3am, no cover, Nautical Nellie's

Unlisted, Green Sleeves Pub

Repartee (indie), The Pathological Lovers (alt-rock), Rock House

Friday APR 8

Rob Cook (4:30pm); Fergus O'Byrne (8pm), O'Reilly's Irish Pub

All Request: DJ RocketBoy, Lottie's Place Andrew O’Brien & The Searchers (CD Release), The Monday Nights, The Pathological Lovers, 11pm, Rock House Barcode, Darnell’s Pub Born Ruffians (indie rock), Pre-Raphealites (indie), The Ship Chris Hennessey (5pm); Bill Kelly (8pm), O'Reilly's Irish Pub D'arcy Broderick & Ron Kelly (5pm); Barry Kenny, Glen Harvey & Sonny Hogan (8pm); Kilkenny Krew (11pm), Shamrock City Pub

Sexual Saturdays: DJ JayCee, Turkey Joe's Steve Green, 10:30pm, Trinity Pub The Superstars, Club One

Thursday APR 14 Carl Peters & Bob Taylor (7pm), Middle Tickle (11pm), Shamrock City Pub Craig Young (solo acoustic) no cover, Fat Cat Blues Bar Danielle Bailey, no cover, Nautical Nellie’s Dave Panting, Erin's Pub

Damian Follett (6:30pm), Best Kind (10:30pm), Greensleeves

Des Gambin, 7pm, West Side Charlie's-Kenmount Rd

DJ Fox, 11pm-2am, Evolve

DJ Fox, 12am-5am, Liquid NightClub

DJ Fox, 2am-6am, Liquid Night Club DJ Nu Rock, Martini Bardownstairs DJ Scrappy, Turkey Joe's DJ Sina, Konfusion DJ Wiwa, Dusk Ultralounge Dr Drake, no cover before midnight/$5, Club V Human Interface: MUN Wind Ensemble explore technology & music, 8pm, $10/$15, DF Cook Recital Hall Icebreaker (hardcore), Double Feature, Tied Down (hardcore/punk), Veneers (math rock), by donation, 10:30pm, Distortion Janeil Lynch, 10:30pm, Trinity Pub Karaoke, Karaoke Kops Party Bar

DJ Big Frank, Konfusion

DJ Illz, Loft 709 DJ JayCee, Turkey Joe's DJ Mark Power, 11pm, Martini Bar Downstairs Mix Up, Hosted

by Steve Abbott, CBTGs Fergus O'Byrne (7pm); Acoustic Punters (10:30pm), O'Reilly's Irish Pub Jackson Browne (US folk rock), 6:30pm, $65/$49.50, Mile One Jerry Stamp, midnight, no cover, Bull & Barrel Karaoke, 10pm, Karaoke Kops Party Bar Karaoke, West Side Charlie's-Torbay Rd Noise Terror, 10pm, $5, Headquarters

Lisa Gillam, no cover, Nautical Nellie’s

Open House: Open mic with Jason LaCour, 9pm, The Brimstone

The Superstars, Club One

Open Mic, 9pm, The Levee

Traditional Music Session, 8:30pm, Erin's Pub

Rob Cook, Trapper John's Pub

Saturday APR 9 All Request: DJ RocketBoy, Lottie's Place Best Kind, Greensleeves Born Ruffians (indie rock), Pre-Raphealites (indie), The Ship

Tino Borges & The Incident, 10:30pm, no cover, Martini Bar upstairs Totally Toxic: DJ Fox, 12am, $5, Liquid Night Club Unlisted, Green Sleeves Pub

Friday APR 15

Come and I Will Sing You: Featuring Lady Cove Women’s Choir, 8pm, $24/$18, CLB Armoury

Alex Dinn, no cover, Nautical Nellie’s

Dancing under the Stars: featuring Jazz East Big Band and special guest vocalist Peter Halley, 7pm, $45, Royal Canadian Legion-Pleasantville

Barcode (classic rock/country), Trapper John’s

DJ Big Frank, Konfusion DJ Fox, 11pm-3am, Evolve DJ Yellow, Martini Bardownstairs Dr Drake, no cover before midnight/$5, Club V Electronic Saturdays: DJ Fox, DJ Trip, no cover, Evolve Night Club Hugh Scott (5pm); Bob Taylor, Carl Peters & Pat Moran (8pm); Kilkenny Krew (11pm),

All Request: DJ RocketBoy, Lottie's Place

Chris Hennessey (5pm); Bill Kelly (8pm), O'Reilly's Irish Pub Damian Follett (6:30pm), Gregg Bolger & Chris Marshall (10:30pm), Greensleeves D'arcy Broderick & Ron Kelly (5pm); Barry Kenny, Glen Harvey & Sonny Hogan (8pm); Wabana (11pm), Shamrock City Pub DJ Fox, 11pm-2am, Evolve DJ Fox, 2am-6am, Liquid Night Club DJ J Ohh, Dusk Ultralounge

APRIL 2011

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DJ Nu Rock, Martini Bardownstairs DJ Scrappy, Turkey Joe's DJ Sina, Konfusion Dr Drake, no cover before midnight/$5, Club V Idlers (ska/reggae), Rock House Iron Giant (metal), Kill Domain (metal), 10pm, Distortion

Open Mic, 9pm, The Levee

Trinity Pub

Rayfield (acoustic), Fat Cat Blues Bar

Rob Cook, Trapper John's Pub

The Novaks (rock), Rock House

Rob Cook (4:30pm); Fergus O'Byrne (8pm), O'Reilly's Irish Pub

Simply the Best: Tina Turner Tribute featuring Janet Cull, Sharona Clarke, Elliot Dicks, Mark Day, Brad Power, Wayne Hayes, $33, 8pm, Arts & Culture Centre

Traditional Music Session, 8:30pm, Erin's Pub

Sexual Saturdays: DJ JayCee, Turkey Joe's Shallaway (choral), 8pm, $20/$25, Arts & Culture Centre Steve Davis, 10:30pm, Trinity Pub

Karaoke, Karaoke Kops Party Bar Les Ms Noir: Cabaret Night with Les Ms, 7:30pm, $15, The Hall at St Teresa’s-120 Mundy Pond Rd Mick Davis & The Skinny Jims (50s rock & roll), Fat Cat Blues Bar Quidi Vidi Dirt Band, Club One Traditional Music Session, 8:30pm, Erin's Pub

Saturday APR 16

The Long Distance Runners (indie), 11pm, The Ship

Thursday APR 21 Carl Peters & Bob Taylor (7pm), Middle Tickle (11pm), Shamrock City Pub

Dr Drake, no cover before midnight/$5, Club V Electronic Saturdays: DJ Fox, DJ Trip, no cover, Evolve Night Club Fourth-Year Recital: Katie Noseworthy performs Carl Maria von Weber, Aaron Copland, Witold Lutoslawski & Bohuslav Martinu, 4:30pm, DF Cook Recital Hall Gregg Bolger & Chris Marshall, Greensleeves Hugh Scott (5pm); Bob Taylor, Carl Peters & Pat Moran (8pm); Wabana (11pm), Shamrock City Pub Karaoke, Hosted by Murf, Darnell's Pub Karaoke, Karaoke Kops Party Bar Emily Cairns Recital: Vocal performance featuring Mozart, Fauré, Debussy, Massenet, Bellini and Menotti, 3:30pm, MUN-D.F Cook Recital Hall Open Mic: With Alex Dinn, 10pm to 3am, no cover, Nautical Nellie's Quidi Vidi Dirt Band, Club One

Unlisted, Green Sleeves Pub

BAR, George St 739-9180 MASONIC TEMPLE, 6 Cathedral St, 579-3023 MICKEY QUINN'S, 120 New Gower St, 739-6404 MILE ONE CENTRE, 50

Dr Drake, no cover before midnight/$5, Club V

Arterial Divides (alternative), Uplift Hardcore, Headquarters

DJ JayCee, Turkey Joe's DJ Mark Power, 11pm, Martini Bar

Karaoke, Hosted by Murf, Darnell's Pub

Beacon Point (country/folk), Fat Cat Blues Bar

Downstairs Mix Up, Hosted

by Steve Abbott, CBTGs

Karaoke, Karaoke Kops Party Bar

Chris Hennessey (5pm); Bill Kelly (8pm), O'Reilly's Irish Pub

Lawnya Vawnya Festival: Dan Mangan (Vancouver), Say Fire, Pilot to Bombardier, 10:30pm, $20, The Ship

Karaoke, West Side Charlie's-Torbay Rd Lawnya Vawnya Festival: Baby Eagle (Sackville), Rae Spoon (Montreal), Pre-Raphaelites, 11pm, $10, The Ship Lawnya Vawnya Festival: Tony Dekker (Great Lake Swimmers), Jesse Stewart (Ottawa), Jake & Billy Nicoll, 8pm, $18/$20, LSPU Hall Lawnya Vawnya Festival: Phoebe Kreutz (Brooklyn), Kindness Killers (Peterborough), The Newish Klezmer Band, 11pm, $5, Rose & Thistle Pub Night Music (Sound Symposium) With anchor band Robot Scout, 9:30pm, $5, (Thu Apr 21) The Ship Noise Terror, 10pm, $5, Headquarters Open House: Open mic with Jason LaCour, 9pm, The Brimstone

DJ Fox, 11pm-2am, Evolve DJ Fox, 2am-6am, Liquid Night Club

Rd, 753-2337 HEADQUARTERS, 208 Water St, 579-2557 HOLY HEART THEATRE, 55 Bonaventure Ave, 579-4424 KARAOKE KOPS PARTY BAR,

PATH BAR, 312 Water St 579-1717 LSPU HALL, 3 Victoria St, 753-4531 MAJESTIC THEATRE, 390 Duckworth St MARG'S PLACE, Kelligrews MARTINI New Gower St, 576-7657 MUN MUSIC, 737-4455 MRS LIDDY'S, Torbay 437-6005 THE OLD MILL, 271 Brookfield Rd, 368-1334 O’REILLY'S IRISH PUB, 15 George St, 722-3735 PEDDLER'S PUB, George St, 739-9180 ON THE ROCKS, 371 Duckworth 351-2183 PETER EASTON PUB, Cookstown Road PETRO-CANADA HALL, Memorial University PLAYERS CUE, 50 Commonwealth Ave-Mt Pearl 368-2500 THE PUMPHOUSE, 371 Duckworth St 351-2183 REPUBLIC, Duckworth St, 753-1012 ROCK HOUSE, George St, 579-6832 ROSE & THISTLE, 208 Water St, 579-6662 SCANLAN'S, 164 Water st 738-0677 SHAMROCK CITY PUB, 340 Water St, 758-5483 SHIP PUB, 265 Duckworth St, 753-3870 SPIN, 2 George St SHARKEY'S PUB, Manuels 834-5636 THE SPROUT, 364 Duckworth St, 579-5485 SS MEIGLE LOUNGE, Seal Cove 744-1212 ST JOHN'S CONVENTION CENTRE, New Gower St 576-7657 STANLEY'S PUB, 26 Torbay Rd, 754-0930 STATION LOUNGE, 7 Hutchings St 722-8576 STAR OF THE SEA, Henry St, 753-8222 STETSON LOUNGE, 260 Water St, 753-8138 SUNDANCE, George St, 753-7822 TOL'S TIME-OUT LOUNGE, 74 Old Placentia Rd 745-8657 TOPSAIL BREEZE TAVERN, Topsail 781-0010 TRAPPER JOHN'S PUB, 2 George St, 579-9630 TRINITY PUB, George St, 579-5558 TRIP IN LOUNGE, Kelligrews 834-4002 THE WELL, 14 George St YELLOWBELLY BREWERY, 288 Water St 757-3784 ZONE 216, 216 Water St, 754-2492 Do you host live music or DJs? Joining our directory is free. E-mail listings@thescope.ca

Jolly Roger (rock), Fat Cat Blues Bar

Ashley Fayth (pop-folk), 8:30pm, $10/$8, Masonic Temple-6 Cathedral St

Karaoke, 10pm, Karaoke Kops Party Bar

BLUES BAR, George St 739-5554 FERRY LAST STOP CAFE, 2 Loop Dr-Portugal CV 895-3082 GEORGE STREET BEER MARKET, George St, 753-7822

Holdsworth Court LIQUID NIGHT CLUB, 186B Water St, 754-5455 LOFT 709, George St 351-2183 LOTTIE'S PLACE, 3 George St, 754-3020 LOWER

DJ Big Frank, Konfusion

Damian Follett (6:30), Freshly Squeezed (10:30pm), Greensleeves

4700 DISTORTION, Holdsworth Court, 738-8833/685-1503 DUSK ULTRA LOUNGE, George St ERIN'S PUB, 186 Water St, 722-1916 FAT CAT

DJ Yellow, Martini Bardownstairs

Hugh Scott (5pm); Bob Taylor, Carl Peters & Pat Moran (8pm); Devil's Racket (11pm), Shamrock City Pub

Kalem Mahoney, no cover, Nautical Nellie’s

STONE SPORTS BAR, 16 Queen St, 754-4263 DARNELL'S PUB, 1570 Topsail Rd 782-2440 DF COOK RECITAL HALL, Memorial University 737-

10 George St, 726-8202 KELLY'S PUB, 25 George St, 753-5300 KRUGER'S BAR, Kelligrews THE LAST DROP, 193 Water St, 726-3767 THE LEVEE,

All Request: DJ RocketBoy, Lottie's Place

Jerry Stamp, midnight, no cover, Bull & Barrel

82 Harvey Rd, 722-1737 CLUB ONE, George St, 753-7822 CLUB V, George St CROW'S NEST, 88 Water St (by War Memorial), 753-6927 CORNER

DJ Fox, 11pm-3am, Evolve

Des Gambin, 7pm, West Side Charlie's-Kenmount Rd

D'arcy Broderick & Ron Kelly (5pm); Barry Kenny, Glen Harvey & Sonny Hogan (8pm); Devil's Racket(11pm), Shamrock City Pub

BRIDIE MOLLOY'S, 5 George St, 576-5990 BRIMSTONE PUBLIC HOUSE, 17 George, 726-0353 St BULL & BARREL, Holdsworth Court, 579-7077

DJ Big Frank, Konfusion

Dave Panting, Erin's Pub

Fergus O'Byrne (7pm); Acoustic Punters (10:30pm), O'Reilly's Irish Pub

Torbay Rd, 753-2352 BIANCA'S LOUNGE, 171 Water St 726-9016 BIG BEN'S, 55 Rowan St, 753-8212 THE BREEZEWAY, MUN Campus, 737-4743

GEORGETOWN PUB, 754-6151 GREEN SLEEVES PUB, 14 George St, 579-1070 THE GRAPEVINE, Water St, 754-8463 GRUMPY STUMP, Torbay

Freshly Squeezed (rock) , Greensleeves

DJ Illz, Loft 709

DJ Yellow, Martini Bardownstairs

Tribute to Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, Rock House

ARTS & CULTURE CENTRE, Prince Philip Dr, 729-3900 THE ATTIC, 2 George St, 579-9632 BAR NONE, 164 Water St, 579-2110 BELLA VISTA, 26

All Request: DJ RocketBoy, Lottie's Place

Alex Dinn, no cover, Nautical Nellie’s

Craig Young (solo acoustic) no cover, Fat Cat Blues Bar

Barcode (classic rock/country), Trapper John’s

DJ Fox, 11pm-3am, Evolve

Totally Toxic: DJ Fox, 12am, $5, Liquid Night Club

Saturday APR 23

Friday APR 22

DJ Fox, 12am-5am, Liquid NightClub

DJ Big Frank, Konfusion

The Game (hip hop), Club One

directory BULL & FINCH, Torbay Rd, 738-7007 CBTG'S, Holdsworth Court, 722-2284 CHRISTINE'S PLACE, 210 Lemarchant Rd, 722-6400 CLB ARMOURY,

Electronic Saturdays: DJ Fox, DJ Trip, no cover, Evolve Night Club

All Request: DJ RocketBoy, Lottie's Place

Dead Peasants Revolt, Bridges, Of the Innocents, Not Quite Home, The Scuzziecats, $6, CBTGs

Tino Borges & The Incident, 10:30pm, no cover, Martini Bar upstairs

Yung Dumb: feat. Bit Funk (NYC) 10pm, $15/$10, Headquarters

music venue

Lawnya Vawnya Festival: Downtown Music Crawl: Featuring Jesse Stewart (Ottawa), Rae Spoon (Montreal), Kindness Killers (Peterborough), Construction & Destruction (NS), Katie Baggs, By donation, Meet at 183A Duckworth St at 2pm Lawnya Vawnya Festival: METZ (Toronto), Huron (Hamilton), Baby Eagle (NS), Juicer, 10:30pm, $10, Headquarters

Thursday APR 28 Carl Peters & Bob Taylor (7pm), Middle Tickle (11pm), Shamrock City Pub Craig Young (solo acoustic) no cover, Fat Cat Blues Bar Dave Panting, Erin's Pub Dan Trouble & Andreu Wrice (acoustic), no cover, Nautical Nellie’s Des Gambin, 7pm, West Side Charlie's-Kenmount Rd

Rob Cook, Trapper John's Pub

DJ Scrappy, Turkey Joe's

Say Fire (pop rock), Andrew O'Brien & The Searchers (acoustic rock), Pre-Raphaelites (indie pop), The Ship

DJ Wiwa, Dusk Ultralounge

Tino Borges & The Incident, 10:30pm, no cover, Martini Bar upstairs Totally Toxic: DJ Fox, 12am, $5, Liquid Night Club UFC Champion Jon “Bones” Jones, Club One

All Request: DJ RocketBoy, Lottie's Place

Dr Drake, no cover before midnight/$5, Club V

Open Mic: With Alex Dinn, 10pm to 3am, no cover, Nautical Nellie's

Downstairs Mix Up, Hosted

by Steve Abbott, CBTGs

Blue-Eyed Blonde (cover rock), Club One

Karaoke, Karaoke Kops Party Bar

Paul Lamb and Wreckhouse (Halifax), Club One

Fergus O'Byrne (7pm); Acoustic Punters (10:30pm), O'Reilly's Irish Pub

Chris Hennessey (5pm); Bill Kelly (8pm), O'Reilly's Irish Pub

Lawnya Vawnya Festival: Huron (Hamilton), Repartee, The Subtitles, 11pm, $10, The Ship

Rob Cook (4:30pm); Fergus O'Byrne (8pm), O'Reilly's Irish Pub

Jerry Stamp (acoustic), midnight, no cover, Bull & Barrel

D'arcy Broderick & Ron Kelly (5pm); Barry Kenny, Glen Harvey & Sonny Hogan (8pm); Middle Tickle (11pm), Shamrock City Pub

Lawnya Vawnya Festival: METZ (Toronto), Construction & Destruction (NS), Monsterbator, Kill Popoff, 10:30pm, $10, Distortion Paul Lamb & Wreckhouse (Halifax), Club One Steve Green, 10:30pm,

Slowcoaster (Cape Breton), Rock House Sexual Saturdays: DJ JayCee, Turkey Joe's Steve Edwards, 10:30pm, Trinity Pub

John K Samson (Weakerthans) & Jim Bryson, 8pm, Rocket Room

Mick Davis, no cover, Nautical Nellie’s

DJ Mark Power, 11pm, Martini Bar

DJ Sina, Konfusion

Karaoke, Karaoke Kops Party Bar

DJ Fox, 12am-5am, Liquid NightClub DJ JayCee, Turkey Joe's

DJ Scrappy, Turkey Joe's

Greg King, 10:30pm, Trinity Pub

DJ Big Frank, Konfusion

Lawnya Vawnya Festival: Secret Show, 10pm, $10, CBTGs

DJ Nu Rock, Martini Bardownstairs

Dr Drake, no cover before midnight/$5, Club V

Mark Bragg & The Butchers (rock), The Burning Hell (folk rock), The Ship

Unlisted, Green Sleeves Pub

Friday APR 29

DJ Keith Dean, Dusk Ultralounge

DJ Sina, Konfusion

DJ Illz, Loft 709

Karaoke, 10pm, Karaoke Kops Party Bar Karaoke, West Side Charlie's-Torbay Rd Noise Terror, 10pm, $5, Headquarters Open House: Open mic with Jason LaCour, 9pm, The Brimstone Open Mic, 9pm, The Levee

Dana Parsons Band (rock), Fat Cat Blues Bar DJ Fox, 11pm-2am, Evolve DJ Fox, 2am-6am, Liquid Night Club DJ Nu Rock, Martini Bardownstairs

Traditional Music Session, 8:30pm, Erin's Pub

Saturday APR 30 All Request: DJ RocketBoy, Lottie's Place At Ships End (folk rock), The Transatlantic Zodiac Ensemble (jazz/alt), Adam Baxter, Rock House Blue-Eyed Blonde (cover rock), Club One DJ Big Frank, Konfusion

Electronic Saturdays: DJ Fox, DJ Trip, no cover, Evolve Night Club Hugh Scott (5pm); Bob Taylor, Carl Peters & Pat Moran (8pm); Middle Tickle (11pm), Shamrock City Pub Irish Session with Graham Wells, 3pm, no cover, Nautical Nellie’s Julia Whitten, 10:30pm, Trinity Pub Karaoke, Hosted by Murf, Darnell's Pub Karaoke, Karaoke Kops Party Bar NSO Pops: Over the Rainbow with Marc David (conductor); Tina Maddigan with Jonathan Monro (vocals), $42/$24, Arts & Culture Centre Open Mic: With Alex Dinn, 10pm to 3am, no cover, Nautical Nellie's Rick Lambe Band, Fat Cat Blues Bar Rob Cook (4:30pm); Fergus O'Byrne (8pm), O'Reilly's Irish Pub Sexual Saturdays: DJ JayCee, Turkey Joe's The Subtitles (leotard orchestral), Jigger (alt-rock), $7, The Ship

DJ Fox, 11pm-3am, Evolve DJ Yellow, Martini Bardownstairs Dr Drake, no cover before midnight/$5, Club V

FIND MANY more listings online at thescope.CA

Feeling a little blue?

Try a little green!

Local Organic Wheatgrass www.Organic Newfoundland.ca

16

thescope

APRIL 2011

movies LIMITED RUN Wednesday Mar 2 at 11am Hall Pass (Reel Babies): Owen Wilson brings you the chuckle-filled world of adultery after he's given permission to cheat on his wife for a week. Empire TheatresAvalon Mall ThurSDAY Mar 3 at 7pm Somewhere (MUN Cinema): Bad boy actor reconnects with his 11 year old daughter who may be the key to solving his inner turmoil. Directed by Sofia Coppola (USA 2010), Empire Theatres-Avalon Mall Monday Mar 7 at 8pm Spirit of the Marathon ScreeninG: Athletics NorthEAST Running Club, cash-only fundraiser in support of MUN X-Country program, $10, Inco Innovation Centre-MUN 746-3470 Tuesday Mar 8 at 7pm Scene and Heard: St John's International Women's Film Festival presents a two-day festival celebration of International Women’s Day featuring short films including Swallowed (Stephen Dunn), Rhonda’s Party (Ashley McKenzie), Four Sisters (Dana Warren), Touch (Jen McGowan), Unearthing the Pen (Carol Salter), Flawed (Andrea Dorfman), Knock Off (Rosanne Flynn), About Bieito’s Death (Xudit Casas), Not Over Easy

(Jordan Canning), MUN Inco Theatre 754-3141

Thursday Mar 10 at 7pm Incendies (MUN Cinema): Based on the award-winning play “Scorched” by Wajdi Mouawad, Incendies follows two women searching for the truth about their mother in war-torn Lebanon. Directed

by Denis Villeneuve (CAN 2010), Empire TheatresAvalon Mall Thursday Mar 17 at 7pm Made in Dagenham (MUN Cinema): In the words of philosopher and Jingle All The Way star, Sinbad, women be different than men.

Dagenham shows how female Ford workers conquered this prejudice and earned equal pay. Directed by Nigel Cole (UK 2010), Empire TheatresAvalon Mall

Thursday March 31 at 7pm Waste Land (MUN Cinema): Documentary about garbagepickers in Brazil and their encounters with Vik Muniz, an artist who creates sculptures out of recyclable material.

Woodsy Owl would be proud of this level of not-polluting.

Directed by Lucy Walker, Karen Harley and João Jardim (Brazil/UK 2010), Empire Theatres-Avalon Mall

DAILY SHOWINGS Call or check online for times and prices.

Avalon mall empire studios 12: 722-5775 Mount pearl empire cinemas: 722-5775 www.empiretheatres.com

Sunday Mar 20 at 2pm Second Space Sundays (NIFCO): Short films by local independent up and coming filmmakers, $5, LSPU Hall-3 Victoria St 753-4531 Thursday Mar 24 at 7pm Nowhere Boy: (MUN Cinema) Biopic of John Lennon as he takes his first steps to stardom. Have you heard the original Quarrymen tapes?

They're like The Beatles before they sold out, man.

Directed by Sam Taylor-Wood (UK/CAN 2009), Empire Theatres-Avalon Mall

reader restaurant reviews

Beastly: After dissing a witch, a handsome teen is transformed into a tattooed Billy Corgan—and he will remain that way until he finds true love. A sequel, entitled Shrieky, is currently in preproduction. (Mar 4) Rango: Johnny Depp returns to the screen in the role he was born to play: A bug-eyed lizard in a Hawaiian shirt who becomes the sheriff of a small Western town. (Mar 4) Mars Needs Moms: Using the Uncanny Valley effect to

its fullest, this cartoon has aliens kidnapping women of a certain age to do laundry. Not much Steinem read on that planet I guess. (Mar 11)

Red Riding Hood: Amanda Seyfried is just a small-town girl living in a lonely world.

When a werewolf strikes, she becomes a major suspect despite her red riding hood and red herring boyfriend.

(Mar 11) Limitless: Brad Cooper takes a pill that Flowers his Algernon, giving him supreme mental capabilities. Sadly, Cooper didn't realize that the effects were for a limited time, (like McDonald's collector's cups.) (Mar 18) Diary of a Wimpy Kid 2 – Rodrick Rules: Wimpy Greg returns and is forced to bond with his older brother, Rodrick. Good thing Rodrick rules, you know, like how the music of Rush rules.

(Mar 25) Sucker Punch: When a young girl is placed in an insane asylum, her fellow inmates convince her that she's sane by whisking her away to a magical land to fight dragons. (Mar 25) Hobo with a Shotgun: Got any change? Rutger Hauer plays a crusty, avenging hobo determined to fight organized crime. His first targets?

Ricky from Trailer Park Boys and Brian “Total Education” Downey! (Mar 25) Capsule descriptions by Adam Clarke.



golden days of pie.

The jumbo special is their bread-and-butter and is an awesome deal. The pizza at this place is consistently good. Not spectacular, but good.

You aren’t paying for the fancy real estate or “friendly” service here. You get an honest pizza pie in 15 minutes for 11 or 12-bucks from a person who takes your $20 and gives you change and directions to the cooler for your two litre.

You won’t find anything better in the city as far as pizza is concerned.

Reviewed by Foodie

Avg rating

Reviews submitted online at thescope.ca/scoff

Aqua

310 Water Street, 576-2782

I’ve been here twice and both times were superb. Unpretentious but fine dining.

First time we were the only two in the place and the food and service was perfect.

Duck and risotto were excellent, steak was delectable, as was the calamari. Salmon Sashimi was awesome.

Second time, the place was packed! And the food and service was just as good. Cod was cooked just right, steak was again great.

The salmon sashimi is absolutely delish. The service is very attentive whether busy or slow.

Consistency. That’s it. That’s the most important quality to keep people coming back. Aqua is consistently great.

Avg rating

 (based on 16 reviews)

Hobo's Pizza

227 Empire Avenue , 753-9486

 Reviewed by Tony

 (based on 5 reviews)

hungry heart cafe 142 Military Road, 738-6164

 Reviewed by tee

This place is amazing! I recomend it to everyone. They don’t have a large menu but everything on it is delicious, and you can read the menu before hand online. It’s in support of the Stella Burry community agency, a great cause. I absolutely love to take people here, it’s the perfect place for business breakfasts in particular—has no risks! Always great vegetarian options.

Avg rating

½ (based on 12 reviews)

Disagree? Write your own reviews at

thescope.ca/scoff

I love this place. A good, old school, wellpriced pizza joint that takes me back to the

make your own comics at thescope.ca/cat

APRIL 2011

thescope

17

SEX SURVEY the scope's first annual

results

WE HAVE LEARNED THAT PEOPLE IN ST. JOHN'S LIKE TO TAKE SEX surveys 1,399 local souls responded to our anonymous, online, 39-question survey between February and March of 2011. For comparison, one of the latest Angus Reid polls on the Canadian federal party leaders consulted a measly 1,021 people. For a federal election! Which means our survey is, like, totally, way, way more accurate than theirs. Plus, ours is about sex.

Here’s a tiny snapshot of what’s going on in the bedrooms in our City of Legends. For much more information, visit us online at thescope.ca/sex.

HOW SATISFIED WERE SURVEY ARE PEOPLE SATISFIED RESPONDENTS WITH THEIR SEX LIVES? WITH THEIR SEX LIVES?

SINGLE SINGLE

NOT AT ALL SATISFIED

VERY SATISFIED

GOING STEADY GOING STEADY

NOT AT ALL SATISFIED

3%

31-35 10%

Percentage of respondents who prefer sex at night (vs. 25% for morning)

25-30 32% 7%

3%

NOT VERY SATISFIED

AGE

39%

16

Percentage of STRAIGHT 78% who respondents

said they cheated in the past year.

SEXUAL ORIENTATION

Favourite restaurantS to take someone to before taking their clothes off

9%

SOMEWHAT SATISFIED

STATED ORIENTATION QUEER 1%

NOT SURE 2%

OTHER 1% NO ANSWER 2%

LESBIAN 3%

NOT AT ALL SATISFIED

PARTNERED/MARRIED PARTNERED/MARRIED

BISEXUAL 9%

18-24 44%

30%

VERY SATISFIED

18

42 GAY 5%

36-45 8%

33%

SOMEWHAT SATISFIED

Average age Average respondents stated number of times OTHER they lost QUEER theirNOT2%SURE respondents have 1% NO ANSWER 1% 2% per week. virginity. sex LESBIAN

46-55 5% 56+ 2%

30%

NOT VERY SATISFIED

17 2.6

AGE OF RESPONDENTS

49%

BISEXUAL 9%

5%

NOT VERY SATISFIED

STRAIGHT 78%

10%

SOMEWHAT SATISFIED

45%

VERY SATISFIED

thescope

GAY 5%

40%

APRIL 2011

SEXUAL ORIENTATION read much more at www.thescope.ca/sex

community

community events lectures & forums kids & teens meetings & classes

COMMUNITY EVENTS Breakfast with the Easter Bunny: Topsail United Men’s Club’s annual breakfast, $7/$3, Topsail United Church (Sat Apr 16 from 8am-11am) Celebrate Your Senses (Planned Parenthood benefit) 29th-annual silent and live auction; bid for all-inclusive trips, original art, prints, getaway packages and more, $40, Capital Hotel-208 Kenmount Rd (Sat Apr 2 at 6:30pm) Earth Day Fair: Take that step to make a change where you live, work or play, and reduce your impact on the Earth. Featuring booths showcasing tips and solutions for all aspects of life, free, Suncor Fluvarium-Pippy Park 754-3474 (Thu Apr 21) Dump & Run: MUN Project Green community yard sale.

Students give away their used and perfectly good furniture, books, clothes, and more, MUN-Hatcher House (Mon Apr 19 to Mon Apr 26) Feast of Fools: Shakespeare by the Sea presents an evening of Renaissancethemed frivolity and fun for a great cause, $60, CLB Armoury-Harvey Rd 743-7287 (Sat Apr 16) Flat Out 5k (Athletics NorthEast) Shake the winter cobwebs from your legs with a new five-kilometre road race. Runners of all ages and abilities welcome, $25, Clovelly Golf Club 864-8676 (Sun Apr 10 at 8am) Hot Soup Cool Jazz: 4thannual fundraiser in support of youth at risk, $95, St. John’s Convention Centre-50 New Gower St 739-7734 (Tue Apr 5 at 5pm) Good Friday Fish Cake Luncheon: Featuring baked beans, fish cakes, molasses raisin bread, and assorted desserts, $10/$5, Topsail United Church-2426 Topsail Rd 781-1562 (Fri Apr 22 at 11:30am) Songwriter’s Circle: Patrick Molloy, Sherry Ryan, Natalie Noseworthy, Janet Cull & Andrew James O’Brien; Art Exhibit: Curated by Mel Smith; Dance: Lynn Panting; Short Films: Facilitated by Roger Maunder; Comedy: Brad Hodder, $10, Brimstone Public

House-George St (Sat Apr 2)

The General Store: Craft, Art, Zine, Design & Food Fair as part of the Lawnya Vawnya festival. Suggested donation $2, Gower Street United Church-99 Queens Rd (Sat Apr 23 from 12:30pm-5:30pm) Wonderbolt Circus 30th Anniversay Gala: Featuring members and friends who will entertain you cabaret style. All monies raised will benefit the Outreach and ongoing programs undertaken

by Wonderbolt throughout the year and across the province, $50, The Majestic Theatre-390 Duckworth St (Thu Apr 21 at 8pm)

LECTURES & FORUMS Public Lecture Series (GEO Centre) Keith Storey (MUN Geography) speaks on Home and Away: Alberta-Bound on the Big Commute, Johnson GEO Centre-175 Signal Hill Rd (Tue Apr 19 at 7:30pm) Spring FEASt Fest: Free lunch, Q&A with community garden gurus, and gardening skills displays, free, St Thomas Anglican Church-8 Military Rd (Sat Apr 16 from 11am-3pm) Student Colloquium on Mind (MUN Philosophy) Victoria Smith speaks on Deleuze and the Feminine, free, MUN-A1049 (Fri Apr 1 from 1pm to 2pm) Winter Colloquium (MUN Philosophy) Peter Trnka speaks on How does my body do what it does and how can it do what I know not?

Investigating materiality with Deleuze, Irigary and Serres, free, MUN-C4036 (Tue Apr 5 at 2pm)

KIDS & TEENS Cinéma Jeunesse: Pollux, Le manège enchanté (France 2005), Centre des GrandsVents-65 Ridge Rd (Sat Apr 16 at 2pm) Play group: 0 to 3 years old, Daycare Centre des GrandsVents-65 Ridge Rd 726-4900 (Saturdays from 10am-11am) Young Musicians: Open mic at Shamrock City Pub (Sundays at 2pm) Weekly Tots Program: Big Fun for Little People, The Rooms-9 Bonaventure Ave 757-8000 (Tuesdays from 10:30am-11:30am)

MEETINGS & CLASSES

Clubs, Groups, Free Classes & Workshops Alzheimer Family Support : Group meeting for family members of people with Alzheimer’s disease, 685 Water St (Third Thursday of month at 7pm) Avalon Wesleyan Church: Weekly meet up in a casual atmosphere with coffee & contemporary music, free, Rabbittown Theatre-106 Freshwater Rd 576-6937 (Sundays 10am) Break Down Comic Book Jam: Learn more about cartooning, develop drawing

skills, show your work and get feedback, free, Anna Templeton Centre-278 Duckworth St (Fri Apr 1 from 7pm-9pm)

Capital Toastmasters: Improve self-confidence and overall leadership abilities for career and life, free, MUN Inco Centre-2014 687-1031 Caregiver Conversations: Support group for unpaid caregivers 726-2370 (Every third Monday) Channal: A peer support group for people with mental illness. We focus on recovery, 284 LeMarchant Rd 753-7710 (Tuesdays 7pm & Wednesdays 2pm) Families Supporting Families: Info session bringing families together to discuss their experiences with a loved one who has an eating disorder, Eating Disorder Foundation-33 Peet St (Wed Apr 13, 7pm) FEASt Annual General Meeting: Find out what FEASt has been up to, help to sway the course for the coming year, and get involved as a member, Sobeys Community Room-8 Merrymeeting Rd (Sat Apr 30 from 11:30am-2pm) Free Arts Studio (For the Love of Learning) Offering space, materials and advice.

Free workshops, exhibits, a newspaper and writing anthologies, plays and short films, Gower St United Church-basement 722-8848 (Weekdays from 12pm5:30pm)

Green Drinks: Informal gathering for those who work, volunteer or are interested in environment & conservation issues, no cover, The Ship, 7pm (Last Wednesday of month)

St John’s City Council Meeting: Refer to Council Agenda at www.stjohns.ca (posted Friday afternoon), Public welcome, City HallCouncil Chambers, 4th fl (Mondays at 4:30pm)

Knit Wits: Drop in knitting social with help to get you started, free, Anna Templeton Centre-278 Duckworth St (Last Sunday of month from 7pm-9pm)

Teacher Workshop: Breaking Ground Teacher Workshop - This information session will focus on creating wildlifefriendly school gardens, MUN Botanical Garden-306 Mt Scio Rd (Wed Apr 6)

Mindfulness Meditation Workshops: Andrew Safer gives instruction on meditation for young adults, 15-35, free but must register, Gower St United Church-99 Queen’s Rd 722-8848 (Thursdays 2pm-3pm) Nar-Anon Family Group: Weekly meetings for those who know or have known a feeling of desperation due to the addiction problem of someone close to them, 726-6191 Newfoundland Horticultural Society: Monthly meet up, St David's Church Hall-Elizabeth Ave (First Tuesday of month at 8pm) Overeaters Anonymous: Help is available and it’s free, no strings attached. Weekly meetings in the metro area, 738-1742 Shambhala Meditation Group: Free introduction to meditation, Billy Rahl Fieldhouse-rear Elizabeth Towers 576-4727 (Wednesdays 7:30pm & Sundays 10am) Sing Barbershop: The Anchormen Chorus is seeking new members, Arts & Culture Centre-Rm B rick_e_young@ hotmail.com (Mondays at 7pm)

Tenacious String Orchestra: Amateur community orchestra welcomes new members motivated by the pure enjoyment of playing together alison@ nf.sympatico.ca The Pottle Centre: A social & recreation centre for consumers of mental health services, 323 Hamilton Ave 753-2143 The Rooms: Free admission, 9 Bonaventure Ave 757-8000 (Wednesdays 6pm-9pm) Trivia Night: Rose & Thistle on Tuesdays; Bitters on Thursdays at 8pm Walk on Water: A brisk walk with enthusiasts who never tire of finding the nooks and crannies of our downtown.

Everyone welcome. The group walks in all weather, Meet at Fat Nanny's-245 Duckworth St (Saturdays at 10am) Women's Accordion Circle: Women of all ages can perform, experiment & share stories about making music, Arts & Culture Centre2nd Fl, Old Gallery 746-2399 (Mondays at 7:30pm) Send press releases to listings@thescope.ca

Words in Edgewise: Talks by visiting musician, visual artist & professor Jesse Stewart (Carleton); PhD candidate Marion MacLoed and sound experimenter Michael Waterman, pay-what-you-can, Eastern Edge Gallery-72 Harbour Dr (Fri Apr 22 at 8pm) Your City Your Future (Happy City) Join this unique format to discuss how to prepare St. John’s for the future, free, Masonic Temple-6 Cathedral St (Sat Apr 2 from 10am to 2pm)

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wha? thescope.ca/answers

A place where people ask questions, share experience and gather information about life in St. John's

Keeping active this "spring" This March thescope.ca readers asked adventurer, author, and professional go-getter ­ TA Loeffler questions about keeping active and staying sane this March and April.

Below are some of the questions and answers.

noodleboom ASKED: How do you motivate yourself to get active when it’s cold out?

bryh ASKED: are any particular classes/ teachers/studios you’d recommend to keep exercise interesting?

TA: I put “get outdoor” dates in my calendar TA: For sure it’s great to mix up your and honour them by heading out no matter exercise routine and it’s good to sample/ what the conditions. I dress in synthetic and experience different instructor’s styles and merino wool layers that keep me comfy and expertise. Recently, I attended Courtney happy when I do get out. I invite friends Rowsell’s BodyRock Boot Camp (www.­­ along to share the experience, that always bodyrockbootcamp.ca) when I had a lull in makes it easier to get out. Sometimes when motivation. Her program was fun, engaging, motivation is really flagging, I make a bargain and had a huge amount of variety and I got with myself that I only have to go to the strong again very fast. In the past I’ve worked corner and then I can come back in. So far, a bunch with Phil Alcock at Core Health I’ve never turned back at the corner—instead (www.corehealthspa.ca). He’s got a TRX I’ve broken the inertia and usually have a Group Exercise space and there is nothing grand time out there. I also love like TRX (where you use your endorphins and feel being active own body weight to provide the UPCOMING TOPICS outdoors is the best place to resistance). I’ve also enjoyed this MONTH generate a set of brain yummies! working out at The Works, Good GARDENING Life, and outdoors.

t. ASKED: What are some pieces of clothing or gear you can’t do without in our Newfoundland “spring”?

SEX & RELATIONSHIPs JOB HUNTING poster design

PATRICIA ASKED: What are some of your favourite running or cycling routes in the city?

TA: Rubber boots are a key thescope.ca/answers TA: I’m a huge fan of the North piece of gear for Newfoundland Head trail on Signal Hill (starts “spring.” I have two pairs: one in the Battery). I used to to go with insulation that covers the “up the front side and then down the back cold and snowy days and one without for side.” I connect the three ways up and down when the weather eventually warms up. The the hill to do multiple ascents in a day. I also rubber boots keep all the cold, wet nasties at recommend the East Coast Trail from Fort bay and are “slip-ons” to boot.

Amherst to Black Head (or Cape Spear) via I also have a Gore-Tex breathable shell that Freshwater Bay. You can even start this one in does a pretty good job of being breathable Shea Heights at the gravel road near the top yet waterproof. I slap on the shell over a corner. It’s a great view and if you hike to the few layers and then I can adjust my clothing edge of the hill/flag pole, you can get a very system for the weather and my activity levels. unique view on the city. The Grand Concourse The more active I am, the fewer the layers. I provides multiple pathways for running and think of layers as base, insulating, and shell. you can connect trails together for whatever Make sure to have a few options handy when length run is in your program for the day. heading out in spring since the weather can I love starting around Quidi Vidi and then change dramatically. heading up the Virginia River and over the I’m always a big fan of a wool hat. It can Long Pond. make the coldest, wettest spring day a much more pleasant experience!

Got a question? Got an answer?

thescope.ca/wha 20

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APRIL 2011

on display visual art museums

GALLERIES Openings A Breath of Fresh Air: Featuring Kaarsemaker, Hollander, Hughes, Popova, Bendzsa, Botsford, Lapointe, Rice, Pickard, Tomova, Morgan, Saunders, Meissner, Tian, Charapova, McClellan, Red Ochre Gallery-96 Duckworth St 726-6422 (Opens Fri Apr 8) Art Show & Sale: Hosted

by Sasha Okshevsky, Nautical Nellie's-Water St (Mon Apr 18 at 7pm) Wavelength/Linear Gesture: Through large installation works, Jonathan Villeneuve evokes the movement of a slow wave. Kip Jones delineates new spaces through the use of sweeping linear modules in a play on the subjective construction of imperceptible boundaries, Eastern Edge Gallery-72 Harbour Dr 739-1882 (Opening reception Sat Apr 30 from 3pm-5pm) New Releases: “Limbo”; “Wild Roses Over Quidi Vidi”; “Summer Afternoon At Bowring Park Pool”; “Peace Above All Else”; “Evening Magic”; & “Cigar Maker's Court”, Richard Steele Gallery-63 Harvey Rd 754-6741 Patrick: A Celebration: Artwork from the Group of 77, Second Floor Gallery-Arts & Culture Centre (Opening reception Sat Apr 16 at 7pm; Ends Apr 30)

Continuing Exhibitions Coastal Women in Pre-Confederation Newfoundland & Labrador: Documents women’s experiences in outport communities prior to 1949 by interweaving archival photographs & documents, The Rooms-9 Bonaventure Ave 757-8000 Crafting Paradox: Cal Lane, John Goodyear and Jason Holley explore a common paradox resulting from the tension between material and technique, form and content, The Rooms-9 Bonaventure Ave 757-8000 Fantastic Sea Monsters: Stories of ocean and lake ‘monsters’ have fascinated us since the dawn of time; seafarers were convinced that the oceans were the

devil’s kingdom – a place of terrifying monsters eager for shipwrecks, the home of sirens, krakens, whales, sea serpents, and giant sharks, The Rooms-9 Bonaventure Ave 757-8000

Goya: The Disasters of War and Los Caprichos: Goya’s remarkable series of prints, The Disasters of War, details the brutality and horror of the 19th century Peninsula War in Spain, The Rooms-9 Bonaventure Ave 757-8000 Inner Works: Selections from the People’s Collection: Featuring artists such as Anne Meredith Barry, Peter Bell, David Blackwood, Christopher Pratt, Mary Pratt, Helen Parsons Shepherd, Reginald Shepherd, Gerald Squires & Don Wright, The Rooms-9 Bonaventure Ave 757-8000 Masquerade: Heidi Wagner art exhibition, The Sprout-364 Duckworth St Metis Carver: Ancient Stories in Stone and Bone – ongoing exhibit by Albert Biles, Wild Things-124 Water St New Works: By Gerald Squires, Esther Squires, George Horan, Julia Pickard, Sharon Puddester, Gerald Squires Gallery-52 Prescott St 722-2207 Recent Releases, Richard Steele Gallery-63 Harvey Rd 754-6741 Robert Sinclair-Fluidity: Robert Sinclair was a participant in The Rooms and Parks Canada Artist in Residence Program. Removed from his usual environment of the Rockies, Sinclair found Gros Morne demanded a new approach. In Fluidity, Sinclair illustrates how he explored this challenge, The Rooms-9 Bonaventure Ave 757-8000 (Ends May 15)

Last Chance International Women’s Day Exhibition: Artists Goody-B Wiseman and JoAnne Balcaen explore popular music, fandom, and the commercialization of desire in two multi-media installations, “Superlovestarpower 2: The Album Project” and “The Longer I Wait, the Better it Feels”, Eastern Edge Gallery-72 Harbour Dr (Ends Apr 16) James Rosen Restrospective Exhibit: “An Homage to the Capable Observer” includes new and old works,

Gravel Pit Picket Fence, selenium toned silver gelatin contact print, by Melanie Hamilton. On display at Christina Parker Gallery until April 2.

and some that have never been seen, The Leyton Gallery of Fine Art-Clift’s Baird’s Cove (Closes Sat Apr 2)

James Rosen Solo Exhibit: An Homage to the Capable Observer, Leyton Gallery of Fine Art-Clift Baird’s Cove 722-7177 (Ends Apr 2) Melanie Hamilton Exhibition: "Roadside Camping - On Common Ground" is a photographic exploration of the people who camp along the roadsides and in the gravel pits throughout Newfoundland, Christina Parker Galler-7 Plank Rd (Closing reception Sat Apr 2 from 3pm-5pm) Rare Reflections: The Art of Wesley Harris: Hand wrought hollowware and pendants in precious metals and rare gems capture the fragile beauty of nature, Craft Council Gallery-59 Duckworth St (Ends Apr 24) Rare Reflections: The Art of Hilary Rice: Through the manipulation of heat-treated synthetics and an experimental use of natural fibres these textile works seek to evoke an awareness of the sacred, Craft Council Gallery-59 Duckworth St (Ends Apr 24)

MUSEUMS A Tour de Fort: Interpretive panels tell the story of Fort Townsend, the 18th century symbol of England’s domination over the fishery, The Rooms-9 Bonaventure Ave 757-8000 Admiralty House Museum: 1915 navy wireless station now communications museum, 23 Old Placentia Rd-Mt Pearl 748-1124 Connections: This Place and

Its Early Peoples: Polar bears on tundra, carnivorous plants in a bog, seabirds, sea mammals, sea life plus the people who made their lives here, The Rooms-9 Bonaventure Ave 757-8000

East Rider Motorcycle Museum: Two floors of bikes, memorabilia and biker culture, 205 New Gower St 738-3278 [here]say: A story map of Water Street: Stories and memories shared by people who live here. At each location there is a sign with a telephone number and a 3-digit code.

Johnson Geo Centre & Park: See Signal Hill’s 550 million year old geology & specimens of NF rocks, minerals & botanical park, 175 Signal Hill Rd 737-7880 MUN Botanical Garden: Trails, gift shop & tearoom, 306 Mt Scio Rd 737-8590 Railway Coastal Museum: St. John’s Dockyard exhibit of model ship hulls, shipbuilding, dockyard history plus the story of Newfoundland's railway boat service & 1940's train diorama, 495 Water St W 724-5929 Signal Hill National Historic Site: Military & communications history, meet Signalman, watch film, interactive exhibits, Visitor Centre 772-5367 The Fluvarium: A panoramic water view under the surface of Nagle's Hill Brook. Spot fish, insects & plants in natural habitat plus interactive exhibits, 5 Nagle's Place 754-3474

Send press releases to listings@thescope.ca

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on STAGE

Find more shows and showtimes at thescope.ca

A Comedy Of Manors Headlining stages across the country for his This Tour Has 22 Cities… The Road To Majumder Manor tour, local comedian and actor Shaun Majumder, of This Hour Has 22 Minutes fame, kicks off his return to comedy in St. John's on April 28th .

Majumder spoke to Adam Clarke about why he's building a manor, his development as a stand-up comic and why you don't want to buy his new fragrance.

S

says. “I think that this kind of structure will haun Majumder is eager to set foot attract a certain kind of higher-end clientele.” back in Newfoundland. “What drives All staff will consist entirely of Burlington people here is fear and greed,” residents. “We're not going to bring in chefs Majumder says about L.A, where he now lives. “They just think about another way to cook a meal here,” he says. “All the money will go back into the community.” they can be famous and richer. Like, 'I need In addition to Burlington's economy, to have a paint, a scent and a strip of leather Majumder also hopes to take some of the named after me.'”

On the cusp of his upcoming Canadian tour, attention away from St. John's and back to the outport communities, largely out of his Majumder is quick to recall his painful early love of storytelling. “I believe the outports of attempts at stand-up comedy. The first such Newfoundland are the birth of story, food, attempt occurred in his hometown of Burlingsong, poetry and culture,” the 22 Minutes ton after receiving a vote of confidence from veteran says. “It's almost like St. John's is his high school English teacher. the Hollywood of Newfoundland because “Mrs Hymen—I'm not joking, that was her everything fits a mold when it comes to St. name—said there was a talent competition John's. There's some hoity-toity stuff going coming up and I should do it,” Majumder on in town that I don't like. Because town has recalls. “I got up and I was supposed to do ten some people who are a little more elitist than minutes. By the time I did two, I look at the others. They're smarter back and see Mrs. Hymen and better all because doing the finger-across“I got up and I was supposed to they're in town. You go the-neck sign. As in, 'You around the outports and suck.'” do ten minutes. By the time I did After that rocky start, two, I look at the back and see Mrs. you hear people talking and they deserve an Majumder's first true Hymen doing the finger-acrossAcademy Award! Rural stand-up gig arrived the-neck sign. As in, 'You suck.'”

Newfoundland is where when he was tapped to the real heartbeat of perform for an MS charity event. “I was horrible,” the actor-comedian Newfoundland is.”

For the Manor to succeed, Majumder is confesses without a tinge of regret. “After my hoping to garner support from the board first time doing it in Toronto, I thought I'd of tourism and the government. Should his never do it again. Yet I keep coming back.” financial plans go awry, will he resort to By his own estimation, Shaun Majumder's hawking his own celebrity fragrance? evolution as a comic took time. “I think it

“I've got a scent and it's not one you takes about 10 years to shed it all and find want. It's called Sh** and your own voice,” he says. “I'm still Sweat. I'm gonna put it trying to find it. I'm really excited in a bottle and sell about this tour, but I'm also reit and people are ally nervous.” going to say 'aww, The comedy tour is but one this is horrible! aspect of a larger project that Why did I buy includes a documentary TV this?'” series commissioned by the W network. Both the tour and the series will Shaun Majumder generate money needed to will be performrealize Majumder Manor, ing at Holy Heart a ritzy five-room inn to be Theatre, with special created in Burlington. guest Nigel Lawrence, “We don't have a lot of on April 28. Ticket high-end accommoinfo at www.goo. dations in the gl/gEAQg province,” Majumder

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on stage

theatre dance & Performance spoken & written comedy

ON STAGE CALENDAR Send press releases to listings@thescope.ca

Theatre Adrift: In the hungriest part of the winter, four men walked out onto the ice off of Joe Batt's Arm in search of seals. The fog rose, the wind changed, and the men vanished, leaving only a gaff pole to wash up on shore. Written and performed by Greg White, $15/$18, LSPU Hall-3 Victoria St 753-4531 (Wed Apr 6 - Fri Apr 8 at 8pm) Bedtime Stories: Don’t let the name fool you – it’s not a kids show! Six stories, all centred around a bed, $18/$15, Basement Theatre-Arts & Culture Centre 729-3900 (Fri Apr 1 at 8pm; Sat Apr 2 at 2pm & 8pm) The Battery: Two best friends, bartending in St. John’s, are forced to question the strength and importance of their friendship when one of them ends up in an abusive relationship, $15, The Republic-380 Duckworth St (Wed Apr 13 - Sat Apr 16 at 8pm; Pay-what-you-can matinee Sat Apr 16 at 2pm) Coronation St Stars: An Audience with 'Roy & Hayley Cropper' played by David Neilson & Julie Hesmondhalgh with host Karl Wells, $40, Holy Heart Theatre-55 Bonaventure Ave 579-4424 (Sun Apr 17 at 7:30pm)

Dance & Performance Dance Flash Mob Rehearsals: Come join DanceNL as we plan to celebrate International Dance Day with a flash mob. Dancers of all ages and all backgrounds welcome, free, MMaP GalleryArts & Culture Centre www. dancenl.ca (Wednesdays from 6pm-7pm & Sundays from 3pm-4pm) Latin Tuesdays: Dance to a mixture of Latin rhythms, 8pm-11pm, no cover, Bella Vista Salsa Roca Latin Dance Fiesta: The six piece band performs three sets of Latin music that will ignite a flame within, $10, Martini Bar-George St (Sat Apr 2 from

8pm to 12am)

Reflections: An evening of dance inspired by folk culture.

Featuring Louise Moyes, Cara Lewis, Martin Vallee, Erika Wilensky, $20.50/$22.50, Arts & Culture Centre 7293900 (Sat Apr 2 at 7:30) Tango On The Edge: A social gathering to dance Argentine Tango, $5, RCA Club-10 Bennett Ave 579-5752 (Thursdays at 8:30pm) The 605 Collective (Vancouver urban & contemporary dance) Plus local hip hop, b-girl grooves and moves by Kick a Spin, Soul Steps and MAXcrew, LSPU Hall-3 Victoria St 753-4531 (Fri Apr 29 & Sat Apr 30 at 8pm) The Traveller & Other Dances: Lynn Panting Dance presents a mixed program of lyrical, modern, and theatrical pieces performed by students of all ages and levels, $17/$20, LSPU Hall-3 Victoria St 753-4531 (Sat Apr 9 at 7:30pm)

Spoken & Written Fast Talk About Body Image: The Blue Castle presents Pam Hall for an unrehearsed, interactive, multi-vocal community reading. Over 150 women from across North America have offered their insights into the phrase: "I feel beautiful when...", free, Ship Pub (Tue Apr 12 at 8pm) Come From Away Reading Series (WANL) Reading by Quebec's Robert Lalonde, introduced by Lisa Moore, Centre des Grands-Vents-65 Ridge Rd 726-4900 (Sun Apr 3 at 7pm) Lawnya Vawnya Reading: Featuring Craig Francis Power & Dave Bidini (Toronto).

Suggested donation of $5-$7, Afterwords Bookstore-Duckworth St (Thu Apr 21 at 3pm) Lawnya Vawnya Reading: Riddle Fence poets Leslie Vryenhoek, George Murray & Randy Drover. Performance by Phoebe Kreutz (Brooklyn musician), $5/$7, Headquarters183A Duckworth St (Fri Apr 22 at 5pm) Patrick Warner Book Launch: Celebrate the release of new novel Double Talk, free, The Ship-265 Duckworth St (Mon Apr 19 from 7pm-9pm) Poetry Open Mic: Compete

Dave Bidini, author of Home & Away, a non-fiction book about travelling with Team Canada as they competed for the Homeless World Cup.

with two 3 min poems to win a spot on the team representing NL at the Canadian Festival of Spoken Word, $7/free for performers, The Station Lounge-7 Hutchings St (Thu Apr 7 at 7pm)

Poetry Reading: Second-annual seminar and readings of the work of Seamus Heaney, free, TBA www.boyletours. com (Wed Apr 13 at 8pm) Words in Edgewise: Talks by visiting musician, visual artist & professor Jesse Stewart (Carleton); PhD candidate Marion MacLoed and sound experimenter Michael Waterman, pay-what-you-can, Eastern Edge Gallery-72 Harbour Dr (Fri Apr 22 at 8pm)

Comedy Gord Paynter: Stand up comedy, $20+, Yuk Yuk's-193 Kenmount Rd 726-9857 (Fri Apr 29 & Sat Apr 30 at 9:30pm) Jeff McEnery: Stand up comedy, $20+, Yuk Yuk's-193 Kenmount Rd 726-9857 (Fri Apr 1 at 9:30pm & Sat Apr 2 at 10:30pm) LOL-apolooza: Comedy Sundays featuring Paul Warford, Chris Pearce, Shaun Burton, Adam Clarke, and more, $2, The Levee-Holdsworth Court (Sun Apr 3)

Pro/Am Comedy Slam: Amateurs at 8pm & Trevor Boris at 9:30pm, two shows $20, Yuk Yuk's-193 Kenmount Rd 726-9857 (Thu Apr 7) Pro/Am Comedy Slam: Amateurs at 8pm & Paul Haywood at 9:30pm, two shows $20, Yuk Yuk's-193 Kenmount Rd 726-9857 (Thu Apr 14) Pro/Am Comedy Slam: Amateurs at 8pm & Tony Krolo at 9:30pm, two shows $20, Yuk Yuk's-193 Kenmount Rd 7269857 (Thu Apr 21) Pro/Am Comedy Slam: Amateurs at 8pm & Gord Paynter at 9:30pm, two shows $20, Yuk Yuk's-193 Kenmount Rd 726-9857 (Thu Apr 28) This Tour Has 22 Cities: The Road To Majumder Manor: Presenting Shaun Majumder’s first headlining tour of Canada, Holy Heart Theatre-55 Bonaventure Ave 579-4424 (Thu Apr 28) Tony Krolo: Stand up comedy, $20+, Yuk Yuk's-193 Kenmount Rd 726-9857 (Fri Apr 22 & Sat Apr 23 at 9:30pm) Trevor Boris: Stand up comedy, $20+, Yuk Yuk's-193 Kenmount Rd 726-9857 (Fri Apr 8 & Sat Apr 9 at 9:30pm) Send press releases to listings@thescope.ca

Paul Haywood: Stand up comedy, $20+, Yuk Yuk's-193 Kenmount Rd 726-9857 (Fri Apr 15 & Sat Apr 16 at 9:30pm)

APRIL 2011

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23

books

I

Dividing Island Review by Mark Callanan

again or try something / else.” Humanity’s f you consider that John Steffler’s dominance over the natural world (as symNewfoundland and Labrador Book bolized by the fence) is illusory, liable to be Award-winning poetry collection, dispelled at any moment.

Helix: New and Selected Poems, One of the most interesting sections of published in 2002, devoted a mere Lookout, “Colonial Building Archives,” is twenty-six pages of its one hundred and based on archival photographs of early thirty page total to new work (which, while industrial development in the Corner Brook a nice sized serving of pie chart lemon area. The first of these poems, “VA 13 meringue, is still comparatively small), then Humber Mouth,” ends on the crucial image it’s been twelve years since Steffler has proof the photographer himself coming “out duced a full-length collection of new poems. of the solid / bush with his sextant and Given such a protracted length of time, one camera and dynamite.” might expect Lookout A sextant is a tool for to be honed to a pretty navigation, for locatfine edge. The Atlantic ing oneself within the Poetry Prize jury seems geographical context; a to think so: Steffler’s camera is an apparatus latest collection has for recording the visbeen shortlisted for ible world; dynamite this year’s prize. is a destructive agent, One of Lookout’s onbut one used toward a going concerns is the constructive purpose self’s relationship to its within the poem (i.e. surroundings—one’s clearing ground for sense of belonging, the laying of railroad or not, to a place. In track). It’s a nice sum“Dividing Island,” the mary of the settlement newcomers on an unarchetype: Having named island (presumfound a place and reably Steffler and his corded it, we set about wife, presumably Newbending it to our will. foundland—though

This conquering it’s a mistake to read impulse is aptlydepoetry as biography) scribed in “A30-161 are described as being Mill Manager’s House, “proud of their isolaCorner Brook,” in tion, the hard / fisherLookout which someone’s man’s history they’d John Steffler brother is returning borrowed, / but hating McClelland & Stewart, 2010 from Burma “where their dislocated selves, 112 pages; $18.99 he built a railroad / / their forced selves through a swamp the size of Holland” and [...]” The end of the poem describes how someone’s cousin “spent a year heading up identity can become subsumed by place, / the Ministry of Language in Ceylon— / how “people split and / split,” eventually completely redesigned their verbs / and “unable to be / anything but the place, prepositions.” The two kinds of imposition speaking / the place, if not joyously / at (on landscape; on language and culture) are least beyond care”—a cultivated stoicism. related. When Steffler writes, of the Corner In Steffler’s poetry, the relationship between people and the land they settle is usu- Brook pulp and paper mill’s giant machines, that “You must worship them and be / ally a frustrated one. Humanity is not much ashamed of all your heart’s old treasures,” more than a speck on a wide panorama of he is suggesting a tension between technoland and sea. The Blomidons in the prose logical innovation and traditional life. poem “Lean-To,” for instance, “bend down There is much to admire in this new book, through mist to study your face,” like some and a few poems worth forgetting. A series curious folktale giant. In the prose poem of Greek vacation poems just can’t escape “Removals,” the act of observing a clear the realm of personal anecdote. Reading the sky from the “bald Lewis Hills” becomes a opening of the poem “Without Maps” (“We reminder of one’s own tenuous place in the went up Nikis, across Kidathineon, / down world: “it’s easy to lose faith in gravity and Adrianou to Ermou, up along Voulis / across see the sky as a depth into which any unseApollonia into the park and out again, / cured body might fall,” Steffler writes, “[...] and this morning by taxi down Ermou to The whole island a brink.”

Monastiraki [...]) holds as much appeal as In another poem, the man who has “run hearing an office colleague recite his sum// a stick fence straight up the hill’s / side, mer travel itinerary. balanced it there like a twig / on the back of a moose who will // twitch its hide in a minute or take / a step” will have to “try Comment on this review online at thescope.ca

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100% local

COMICS meantoons by John Meaney

Perfect Sunday by Michael Butler

sourpuss65.blogspot.com

localfavorite.blogspot.com

FROM EARTH by Ricky King

Rhymes With Understand by Emily Deming

Bleak by Alexander Evan Bridger

behold!! by P.N. Grata

Mr. Pickles by Quinn Whalen Nothing Special About Words by Michael Young

APRIL 2011

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25

free will astrology by rob brezsny

for april 2011

†

ARIES (Mar 21 – Apr 19)

Were you under the impression that the sky is completely mapped? It's not.

Advances in technology are unveiling a nonstop flow of new mysteries. In a recent lecture, astronomer Joshua Bloom of the University of California described the explosion of wonder. One particular telescope, for example, detects 1.5 million transient phenomena every night, and an average of 10 of those turn out to be previously undiscovered. Reporting on Bloom's work, Space.com compared astronomers' task to "finding a few needles in a giant haystack night after night." I see this challenge as resembling your imminent future, Aries. Mixed in with all the chatter and hubbub, there are some scattered gems out there -- rich revelations and zesty potentials. Will you have the patience to pinpoint them?

‡

TAURUS (Apr 20 – May 20)

If you're thinking of calling on a ghost to provide you with information, make sure you know how to banish it when you're finished milking it. If you're considering a trek into the past to seek some consolation or inspiration, drop breadcrumbs as you go so you can find your way back to the present when it's time to return. Catch my drift, Taurus? It's fine to draw on the old days and the old ways, but don't get lost or stuck there.

Ω

GEMINI (May 21 – Jun 20)

From an astrological point of view, it's a favorable time for people to give you gifts and perks and blessings. You have

my permission to convey that message to your friends and associates. Let them know it's in their interest to be generous toward you. The truth, as I see it, is that they will attract rewards for themselves,

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APRIL 2011

some unexpected, if they help you. So what's your role in this dynamic? Be modest. Be grateful. Be gracious. At the same time, rake it all in with supreme confidence that you deserve such an outpouring.

≤

CANCER (Jun 21 – Jul 22)

Nobel Prizes are awarded to geniuses in a variety of fields for work they've done to elevate science and culture.

But have you heard of Ig Nobel Prizes?

The Annals of Improbable Research hands them out to eccentrics whose work it deems useless but amusing. For instance, one recipient was honored for investigating how impotency drugs help hamsters recover quickly from jet lag. Another award went to engineers who developed a remote-control helicopter to collect whale snot. In 2000, physicist Andre Geim won an Ig Nobel Prize for using magnetism to levitate a frog. Unlike all of his fellow honorees, however, Geim later won a Nobel Prize for his research on a remarkable substance called graphene (tinyurl.com/ NobelGraphene). I think you'll soon have a resemblance to him, Cancerian. Some of your efforts will be odd and others spectacular; some will be dismissed or derided and others will be loved and lauded.

™

LEO (Jul 23 – Aug 22)

If you have ever fantasized about setting up a booth at the foot of an active volcano and creating balloon animals for tourists' kids, now is an excellent time to get started on making that happen. Same

is true if you've ever thought you'd like to be a rodeo clown in Brazil or a standup comedian at a gambling casino or a mentor who teaches card tricks and

stage magic to juvenile delinquents.

The astrological omens suggest that playfulness and risk-taking would synergize well right now. There's even a chance that if you found a way to blend them, it would lead to financial gain.

‘

VIRGO (Aug 23 – Sep 22)

You've arrived at a phase in your cycle when you'll have the opportunity to scope out new competitors, inspirational rivals, and allies who challenge you to grow. Choose wisely! Keep in mind that you will be giving them a lot of power to shape you; they will be conditioning your thoughts about yourself and about the goals you regard as worthy of your passions. If you pick people of low character or weak values, they'll bring you down. If you opt for hard workers with high ideals, they'll raise you up.

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LIBRA (Sep 23 – Oct 22)

"There's no key to the universe," writes Swami Beyondananda. But that shouldn't lead us to existential despair or hopeless apathy, adds the Swami. "Fortunately, the universe has been left unlocked," he concludes. In other words, Libra, there's no need for a key to the universe! I offer you this good news because there's a similar principle at work in your life. You've been banging on a certain door, imagining that you're shut out from what's inside. But the fact is that the door is unlocked and nothing is stopping you from letting yourself in.

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SCORPIO (Oct 23 - Nov 21)

When you travel to Mozambique, the Ministry of Fish and Wildlife gives you a warning about the frequency of human encounters with lions out in nature. "Wear little noisy bells so as to give advanced warning to any lions that might be close by so you don't take them by surprise,"

reads the notice you're handed. I'm certain, Scorpio, that no matter where you are in the coming weeks -- whether it's Mozambique or elsewhere -- you won't have to tangle with beasts as long as you observe similar precautions. So please take measures to avoid startling goblins, rascals, and rogues. If you visit a dragon's domain, keep your spirit light and jingly. If you use a shortcut that requires you to pass through the wasteland, sing your favorite nonsense songs as you hippety-hop along.

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SAGITTARIUS (Nov 22 – Dec 21)

Few things make me more excited than being able to predict good tidings headed your way. That's why, as I meditated on your upcoming astrological aspects, I found myself teetering on the edge of ecstasy. Here's what I foresee: a renaissance of pleasure . . . an outbreak of feeling really fine, both physically and emotionally . . . and an awakening of your deeper capacity to experience joy.

Here's your mantra, generated by my friend Rana Satori Stewart: yum yum yum yum yum / yum yum yum yum yummy yum / yum yum yum yum yummy yummy yum yum.

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CAPRICORN (Dec 22 – Jan 19)

CNN reported on two neo-Nazi skinheads from Poland, a married couple, who discovered they were actually Jews.

It turned out that during World War II, the truth about their origins had been hidden by their parents for fear of persecution. Years later, when the Jewish Historical Institute in Warsaw informed them that they were members of the group they had hated for so long, they were shocked. Since then, they have become observant Jews who worship at an orthodox synagogue.

The new perspective you'll be getting about your own roots may not be as

dramatic as theirs, Capricorn. But I bet it will lead to a shift in your self-image.

Are you ready to revise your history?

(More info: tinyurl.com/Ex-skinheads.)

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AQUARIUS (Jan 20 – Feb 18)

My astrological colleague Antero Alli says that a lot of good ideas occur to him while he's taking a shower. He also

finds frequent inspiration while riding his bike. Why, then, does he not enjoy biking in the rain? He doesn't know. I bring this up, Aquarius, because you're entering a phase of your cycle when flashes of insight and intuition are likely to erupt at a higher rate than usual. I suggest you aggressively put yourself in every kind of situation that tends to provoke such eruptions -- including ones, like maybe riding your bike in the rain, that you haven't tried before.

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PISCES (Feb 19 – Mar 20)

A Canadian man named William Treble once found over a thousand fourleaf clovers in a single day. Niamh Bond,

a British baby, was born on the tenth day of the tenth month of 2010 -- at exactly 10:10 a.m. and 10 seconds. My friend Allan told me he was driving in suburbia the other day when two white cats bolted across the road right in front of him. And yet as lucky as all that might sound, it pales in comparison to the good fortune that's headed your way, Pisces.

Unlike their luck, which was flashy but ultimately meaningless, yours will be down-to-earth and have practical value.

Birthdays this month Mark Bennett, Andrew Robinson, Mandy Cook, Elsa Morena, Greg Bruce, Chelsey MacNeil, Cathy Jones, Alicia Elizabeth, Ruth Lawrence, Adam Wight, John Devereaux, Aimee Wall, Ritche Perez, Elling Lien Send birthday info to birthday@thescope.ca

Homework What is the first thing you want? What's the last thing?

Are they related in any way?

Testify at: Truthrooster@gmail.com.