vancouver's gay arts + culture rag
RuPaul Thunderheist The Buzzcocks Raye Sunshine
june 2010 issue 12
V-rag
12
04 editor's note Spring is in the air!
06 the buzzcocks
British punk rockers come to Vancouver
08 THunderheist
The duo talk about their final show
12
rupaul
16
the third kind
18
wasted thoughts
20
calendar of events
23
wayoutwest
The most famous drag queen on the planet
Sweet Little Lies
Rob examines gym personas
The most comprehensive calendar in Van
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june 2010 Issue 12
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28
film:notes 24
Deb & Sisi, Exit Through The Gift Shop
music:notes 25
Scissor Sisters, Kylie, LCD Soundsystem
cotton around town 26 Hello June? It's Cotton
joan-e's rag 27 Gay Spaces
candy queen 28
Raye Sunshine as imagined by Kate McLaren
event listings 34
Our picks for June's hottest events
v-map 36
Don't get lost! Find everything here q&a:
dj g-luve 38 We love G-Luve!
vanragazine #12 Editor & Art Director
Cole Johnston Sales Manager
Skipp Johnson
Editor's
Copy Editor
Matt Roy Editorial Contributors
John Britton Cotton Rob Easton Rob Farrow Joan-E Cole Johnston Jeff Lawrence Justin Meisner Matt Roy Michael Venus Art & Photography
Taylor Ross Alexander Mathu Andersen Phil Dunne Nicholas Jang Cole Johnston Kate McLaren Ian Rook May Truong Cover Photo by
Kate McLaren Publisher
Cole Johnston Design Printed by
East Van Graphics Copy deadline for the July issue is June 21. Ad space is available until June 23 and can be booked by calling 604-3066541 or emailing ads@v-rag. com. Our rates are available upon request. V-Rag welcomes submissions but accepts no responsibility for the return of unsolicited materials. V-Rag Magazine 1535 West Broadway, PO Box 29141 Vancouver B.C. V6J 1W6 V-Rag is printed monthly by Cole Johnston Design. No part of this may be reproduced in any form by any means without prior written consent from the publisher. All content Š 2010 Cole Johnston Design. www.v-rag.blogspot.com
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Note by Cole Johnston
The season is changing, and that means big changes for V-Rag as well. We're finally on the web! By July, the brand-new fully interactive V-Rag website makes its official launch. And as a special treat to all of our loyal readers, you can get the July issue before it hits the stands! Just e-mail us at fans@v-rag.com to have our very special double-sized Pride Edition sent straight to your PC. While you're at it, get entered into a draw for a $200 Little Sisters gift card! All for being our friend. July will also mark our One Year Anniversary. 12 issues later and we're stronger than ever before, next month's edition will be one to keep. As a thank-you to everyone who's supported us over this last year, I'd like to personally invite you out to Century House on Saturday July 3rd at 7pm for complimentary tapas, prizes and great music, followed by the official afterparty at Five Sixty starting at 11pm till late into the night. Performances, swag bags and special surprises are in store throughout the evening! Getting down to business, we're pretty excited and more than a little star-struck to feature the supermodel of the world herself, RuPaul this month! We got to catch up with the busy drag diva to talk about her new book, her new look, and the third season of RuPaul's Drag Race! Thanks Ru! We also had the pleasure of chatting with Montreal duo Thunderheist about their upcoming show in Vancouver, which also happens to be their last ever together! British punk legends the Buzzcocks just flew through our fair city and frontman Pete Shelley gives some words of wisdom. And you have got to check out the amazing photo shoot of our Empress, Raye Sunshine, in this month's Candy Queen as shot by Kate McLaren! It's tasty tasty... V
V r a g one year V a n R a g a z i n e
anniversary party
saturday
july 3
Century House 7pm–10pm Five Sixty 11pm–3am
V-rag V a n R a g a z i n e
Come down to Century House and help us celebrate with DJs, complimentary tapas, prizes and swag bags. Then, off to Five Sixty at for performances and the official Afterparty!
vanragazine #12
photo by ian rook
the
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hen thinking back on defining punk bands of the 1970s, three names are always at the top of the list. The Sex Pistols. The Clash. And, of course, the Buzzcocks. These three bands shaped the British punk movement in the way the Beatles shaped rock & roll. Nowadays, punk is supposedly bands like Sum41 and Alexisonfire, bland monotonous guitar strummings licensed for video games and skateboard DVDs. So does punk still exist? Well, as long as the Buzzcocks are still around, punk is still alive and kicking. Having originally split up in 1981 for frontman Pete Shelley to pursue a successful solo career, the Buzzcocks formed again in 1989 and have been rocking out ever since. Sure, the band has had countless replacements and most of their shows have been rare one-offs, but these guys don't quit. Their latest tour, Another Bites, came to Vancouver on May 31 at Venue Nightclub. Playing their first two albums, Another Music in a Different Kitchen and Love Bites, front to back, the show was a throwback to the true definition of punk rock. And part of that definition was Shelley's controversial sexuality. In a time when bisexuality wasn't exactly the most accepted idea, he flaunted it wherever he could. The very first single "Orgasm Addict"
by Cole Johnston was a bold examination of uncontrollable sexuality. But, as Shelley explains, the early punk movement was accepting and very different from the "bro" audience landscape of today. "The idea of a punk was as different as every punk you met. People would have their own take on what being a punk was, which was as valid as everybody else's. "People think it was all 'argghh' and angry and violent, but it was really about people enjoying themselves and making things happen." Not that the mainstream media was nearly as easy-going. "Orgasm Addict" was banned by the BBC, as was Shelley's 1981 electro-infused club record "Homosapien". Lyrics like "homosuperior in my interior, but from the skin out I'm homosapien too" caused an uproar and remain powerful to this day. The "explicit reference to gay sex" didn't stop the single from being a massive hit in Europe and North America. It's refreshing to hear that the roots of punk lie in the same territory as the roots of gay pride, a social uprising against the intolerance that plagued the time. And in that sense, punk will always exist. Just don't expect to hear it on the latest Blink 182 album. V The Buzzcocks rocked out Venue in May, and will play Portland on June 1st and Seattle on the 2nd. www.buzzcocks.com
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1238 Davie Street_ 604.669.1753_ www.littlesisters.ca
vanragazine #12
farewell to
THUNDERHEIST by Jeff Lawrence
I
t’s nice to know when your imminent demise will be. At least according to Isis Salam, the cool-MC half of electro booty-shake champions Thunderheist. With only three tour dates left on the calendar until the group is unceremoniously put down like a horse past its prime, Salam and producer Grahm Zilla are looking forward to sending Thunderheist off with a bang. “The only thing we’re going to do different is take it back to the original layout,” Salam says. “Me and Grahm, a DJ and an MC. We’ll possibly get people drunk, and we’ll possibly get people pregnant.” The young Toronto-born rapper giggles into the phone fiendishly, possibly recalling her past guarantees that if you’re at a Thunderheist show, you will get laid. Or maybe Salam is
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june 2010 Issue 12
"We'll possibly get people drunk and we'll possibly get people pregnant..."
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photos by may truong
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giggling because of the success rate she’s had following through on those promises. It wouldn’t be a surprise; the first human instinct one feels when listening through Thunderheist’s self-titled 2009 debut is to move, not quickly, but smoothly, a slow roll that anyone can bump and grind to. Added to that, Salam’s sly vocals tease like foreplay that is satisfied by Zilla’s deep chomping basslines. Yes, the Thunderheist experience is a sexual one. That’s why on March 1 this year, when the group announced its break-up via Facebook, fans, blogs and media immediately started dissecting the move. Was one outgrowing the other? Were they tired of each other? After 300 shows in 2009 alone (that averages to five days off a month) the two maintain that Thunderheist’s success, which started as a mistaken email sent from Zilla to Salam, got away from them. “I think what it is, is we both kind of got into Thunderheist accidentally,” says Salam. “Then Thunderheist became this animal beast that took on its own life, and I think we both just wanted to take this time to reconnect with ourselves. “I know that’s what I’m doing personally, just developing more as an individual artist.” While Grahm Zillla is returning to work on
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his DJ and producer efforts, Salam is stepping into a new role, that of solo female artist, one that could elevate her to household name status. All it took for Thunderheist to explode was a musical cameo in the Oscar-nominated flick The Wrestler and a follow-up blog post praising the duo by Perez Hilton, so it seems the future is limitless for Salam. With creative control over her own music, she can prove she isn’t just a one-track smooth-spitting rookie, but an artist who’ll stick around for another few albums. A few more than that, even. “I wouldn’t say I’m deliberately trying to do something different [with the album],” she says of her solo effort, the aptly titled Isis Salam and the Surprise Sex Band. “But being somebody who’s been in a dance band for three years, you want something a bit different after a while.” The inspiration she’s drawing from is just that. “I’ve been listening to a lot of karaokelike rock songs… My playlists now consists of stuff like The Troggs, Del Shannon, The Dead Kennedys,” she says. “I’m really into a lot of surf rock. All those influences are along the lines of the stuff I’m making.” She’s so determined not to fall into the top-40 trap that she is working with a producer, Alixander III, who will not so much as joke about digital vocal manipulation. “He’s a genius,” she says of the Torontobased recording mastermind. “He works me to the bone. I’m not allowed to underachieve at all… One day we were recording, I didn’t like a take and I said ‘Let’s just throw some fucking auto-tune on that,’ and he said ‘Absolutely not.’ I’m not allowed to be cutting corners, because everyone wants to cut corners.” And if that’s any indication, Salam’s debut album, currently without a release date, could find a spot in the annals of group-turned-solo artists who’ve made it big. For now her focus is still on Thunderheist, she says. Salam’s parents came to the duo’s last Toronto show, their final performance in her hometown. “My mom shows up before the show and she’s like, you know you shouldn’t drink so much,” Salam says, laughing. “I’m like, ‘Mom, I’m trying to get into the fricking mood here.’ But they came out and they had a really great time.” This is where the tone in Salam’s voice changes from casual to contemplative. “It was a really cool show,” she goes quiet for a moment. “It was nice to see that much love. It’s something you can never really explain.”
V-rag
Thunderheist’s final Vancouver show is Thursday, June 10th at Venue Nighclub.
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Instead of explaining the tempestuous voyage of Thunderheist and the fans that were swept up in it, she moves on. Asked if she’ll keep performing any of the songs she wrote, Salam explains that Thunderheist songs are “still very close to my heart, some more than others. Those are the ones that I’ll probably still keep in the repertoire.” “Something I’ve learned about myself in the last year or so, I’m always gonna write things that are deep and I guess you could say cryptic. I’m trying to find a middle between cryptic and things that are more…” she hesitates, searching for the right word. “Digestible,” she settles upon. “It’s danceable, but it’s not like dance music. It’s really just about things that I’ve experienced in the last six months, from the band changing to my relationships changing. It’s a synopsis of that.” But don’t expect her to be strumming minor chords and singing the blues. “At hear I’m always going to be a fun-loving, youthful person, so that’s going to be reflected in my music.” V
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photos by mathu andersen
vanragazine #12
Ru Paul
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V-rag
13 june 2010 Issue 12
by John Britton
W
ith a successful second run of the hit TV show RuPaul’s Drag Race having just aired, season 3 already in the works, a new album being readied for a fall release and latest book Workin’ It! RuPaul’s Guide to Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Style on the stands, the original Supermodel of the World is currently enjoying the most high-profile era of his long career. And yes, we do use the masculine pronoun here. And at some point we might switch to the feminine, if the mood takes us. Hell, we’ll probably swing wildly between the two. That’s because Ru (as she likes to be called, whether she’s on six-inch heals with three-foot hair or freshly-shaved bald in a natty blazer and jeans) is refreshingly free of labelling. And isn’t that how it should be? Drag is, after all, a complex culture with a long history – both within our own community and of course, in its purest form stretching back thousands of years. “This comes up a lot in my new book” says Ru. “Throughout the ages, drag queens and shamen and she-males and lady boys and witch doctors and two-spirit people… they have always served the purpose of reminding their culture that [people] are the microcosm of the entire universe, the ying and yang, the male and the female, and most drag queens know that on a conscious or unconscious level. It’s so important for everyone to explore that duality, those different aspects of themselves”. So is Ru’s Theory for World Harmony that everyone be a drag queen at some point in their life? He lets out that deliciously raucous laugh. “Of course not! Although, wouldn’t the world be a much prettier place?” V-Rag isn’t convinced, and we politely remind Ru that when we frock up we don’t all look like a Supermodels of the World… “We’re all beautiful on the inside, baby”.
vanragazine #12
The book is a great read; part autobiography, part life-philosophy and part styleguide, dressed up with gorgeous photography by Ru’s long-time friend and collaborator Mathu Anderson and styling by Zaldi – another lifelong pal (“it’s a huge bonus to work with good friends. Even the producers of the show are friends of mine for over 25 years”). Picking up the book, it’s easy to think that this will be an obvious, fluffy ‘hey-look-atme-in-lots-of-different-wigs-offering-fun-andfruity-style-tips’ kind of venture. But like its author, it runs way deeper than the surface illusion. “I love this book, I’m so proud of it. There’s a lot of poignant life philosophy in there… stuff I really believe and believe in. It’s not mine, I’ve adopted it. These philosophies have been around forever, it’s nothing new. We live in an ego-dominated culture and it’s so easy for us to forget who we are. I’ve collected these philosophies over the years to help me maintain an authenticity to myself.” So what’s Ru’s approach to life? “Come to this planet, get a gorgeous human body, love it, nurture it, have fun with it and then, you know, move on. Not take every-
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thing so seriously. But that takes work, and it takes a lot of spiritual practice on a daily basis, and that’s what the book is about; it’s about learning ways to work it, how to navigate the human existence.” The book was timed to accompany Ru’s massively successful reality show RuPaul’s Drag Race, which has silenced the nay-sayers who dismissed it as a one-joke fad by being green-lit for a third season. Despite its conventional format, the show is a trailblazer for new standards in not just popular reality television but popular TV programming in general. It's affectionately mocking tone (frequently parodying reality TV stalwarts such as America's Next Top Model, complete with RuPaul's subtle-as-a-hernia take on Tyra Banks) combined with subject matter that even as recently as ten years ago would have been too taboo for primetime (Drag Queens on Parade!) has ushered in a new era of gay content on mainstream TV. We ask Ru why the show has such a big following outside the LGBT community. “Everyone loves drag; I think it’s because on a deep level, we recognise the duality of ourselves in drag queens - whether [people] can articulate that or not. I think we are all male and female, and to have a person who is the embodiment of that is intriguing to us, because our spirit knows who we really are, and it knows that these bodies that house our spirit are only temporary – like a drag outfit”. So do you think drag is more accepted in the mainstream than transexuality or transvestism? He sighs deeply. “I don’t know what’s acceptable any more. There’s no rhyme or reason as to why people in the ‘mainstream’ think the way they do. If something isn’t accepted, it’s because of fear. Fear drives most negative emotions. As a kid, I spent so much time trying to figure out what the mainstream wanted, how I could fit in and I ultimately gave up and decided it’s not worth it”. Speaking of self-identity (and we do, a lot, throughout the course of our conversation) how does Ru self-identify? “I have a strong belief in not taking anything in life too seriously. That’s really all you need to know. I’m just Ru. Call me ‘he’, call me ‘she’, call me ‘Regis and Kathy Lee’… as long as you call me!” V RuPaul's Drag Race Season 2 is airing now on OutTV. Workin' It: RuPaul's Guide to Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Style is on stands now. www.rupaul.com
Custom Cake Design Wedding consultations by appointment in Yaletown and Langley We welcome all LGBT and the community 604-882- 0433 ematheson@moz ar tbaker y.com w w w.moz ar tbaker y.com
vanragazine #12
the
photo by taylor ross alexander
THIRD KIND by Justin Meisner
T
he art of the first date takes almost about as much finesse as the art of the job interview. And let's be honest, a first date is an interview; the only real difference is you're interviewing one another. You ask the other candidate his qualifications (in the form of his interests, hobbies etc.) and past experience (i.e. how many of the same dudes you've slept with). As with most job interviews, it has become acceptable, even commonplace, for one to fudge the details. And while it may be commonplace, has it become acceptable to fudge on a first date? The question struck me when I met one of my girlfriends post-date. "Ugh, I'm so sick of wearing these," she bemoaned, whilst detaching chunks of bleach blond hair that probably belonged to some broke Swedish student before landing into my friend's head. "Then stop wearing them." "I can't," she began to explain, "I wore them on our first date and now I have to keep wearing them. He thinks my hair is this long." "What men don't realize those are extensions?" "Straight men," she continued, "And the other night we were lying in bed, he was running his fingers through my hair and said how great it was I had beautiful, long hair." I was shocked, shocked that heterosexual men honestly thought any woman's hair naturally looked like a Pussycat Doll's and shocked that my friend was willing to go through the awkward agony of wearing them every time she saw him simply not to shatter the illusion she created on that first date. Then I got to thinking, how many of us create false little illusions on our first dates (or fudging if you will), only to go out of our way to maintain, and when is it acceptable to shatter the illusion? For some of us, the same nerves that make you
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involuntarily exaggerate the truth during an interview can be innocent enough on a date. Going out with an East Vancouver hipster who spouts off the names of twenty bands you've never heard can be nerve-racking and at times leave you with feelings of inadequacy, especially when they shoot you that look of shock and awe when your eyes stare blankly back at them because you have no idea who Androgynous Skinny White Boys With A Sassy Female Vocalist are. And it does you no benefit to lie and say you've heard of them because two hours later you'll be in their car, you'll ask who the band screaming out of his stereo is and he'll look at you in confusion because it's the same band you said moments ago you too had just seen at Sasquatch. Sadly for others their exaggerations are not so much innocent indiscretions as they are blatant lies. For example implying that your job deserves a fancy title when really you answer the phones at a call center for Telus or the over-muscled, slutty beefcake who thinks he's a personal trainer just because he made business cards on his computer and cruises guys five days a week at the gym. I think, despite our nerves, we're only going to find decent, honest guys if we ourselves are decent and honest guys. And no matter how hard it is, or how naked I feel looking in the mirror before I leave the house for a first date, from now on I'm going to leave my Swedish hair extensions in the bathroom. V Follow Justin in our new regular feature, The Third Kind as he "power-dates" his way through the city. www.houseofeugene.blogspot.com
V-rag
TANNING @ THE PACIFIC
SUN CO.
Tanning at the Speed of Light
www.pacificsunco.com With 3 Locations to Serve You... WESTEND/DOWNTOWN 1060 DAVIE STREET VANCOUVER, BC, V6E 1M3 331-8267
BROADWAY/KITS 8-1128 W.BROADWAY VANCOUVER, BC V6H 1G5 732-0244
BURNABY/METROTWN 4-4287 KINGSWAY BURNABY,BC H0H 0H0 685-1927
vanragazine #12
WASTED thoughts by Rob Easton
Skid Mark... Your music is too loud which means you cannot hear yourself fart on each sit up you do. Sadly I forgot my own headphones today so I can smell and hear you. Butter Chicken... You stink too! Brad... You’re the strong silent type. Straight. Your name is Brad because I think it’s a hot name. I often name porn stars Brad in my own head. And you’re just as deliciously unattainable too.
T
he gym is the one place I can concentrate on the task at hand. It’s a rare moment of focus in my daily life. I revel in the time I spend in this artificial bubble. But bubbles are by their very nature ephemeral - they all pop eventually. The first thing I notice when my serenity disappears is people - those gym personas. The ones with the strange habits or smells. The grunters, the moaners. I never learn their names. But do often make up my own names for them:
The Greeters... I’ve met so many versions of you over the years it’s hard to keep track. Your salutations range from snarky comments to hyper perky smiles. Still, you are a fixture in my life and I covet our relationship. You’ve been a slight and surly lesbian who likes to smoke outside the front door. You’ve been a talk-a-mile-a-minute female bodybuilder. You’ve been a very friendly gay dude who used to think I was straight. If only you still did!
Stupid Grin #1... Like Kissy Face above, your wide-eyed expression makes you look ‘special’.
Johnny Baseball & Johnny Change-myshirt... a.k.a. Team Rollup... Your rolled up sleeves espouse the type of team solidarity you two have for the gym. It’s cute. And I can tell one of you really likes baseball. And the other one, maybe you should consider shopping for more variety. I eventually found out both of your names. JB became Mike. And JCMS became Jamie. It was never the same after that.
Stupid Grin #2... Different guy, same expression. I wonder, “Is this an added effect of elevated hormone levels produced by lifting? How dumb do I look between sets?”
Self Portraits... Who are you people? Now you don’t distract me at the gym, but it is some sort of apparent clandestine activity. I’ve seen you online. Thank you for being discrete. V
Kissy Face... Pursed lips on those particularly difficult steps, your air of concentration parallels my own. Your strength is impressive. But the weird face and all the weights you’re hogging make me wonder how smart you really are.
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Staring problem... It’s called “working out” at the gym. You should try it sometime.
This month's artwork: Phil Dunne is a world-renowned visual artist and illustrator. His fantastical creations have been used by industry giants Playstation, The Financial Times, 3 Mobile, and publications like Candy Magazine, Computer Arts and L'etoile. Based in Dublin, Ireland, we're very excited to feature this talented and creative maestro. Check out his impressive portfolio at www.lovetherobot.com.
june2010
Tops & Bottoms @ J Lounge
Tortoise @ Venue
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Industry Night @ The Odyssey
Jamie Lidell @ Venue
21
Live Jazz Mondays @ Capone's
Industry Night @ Score on Davie
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Evolution @ Oasis
Monday Madness @ 1181
Heritage House Tour Various Locations
Drop The Lime @ Venue
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Sunday Kegger @ The PumpJack
Kitty Nights Burlesque @ The Biltmore
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The Boa Shows @ The Odyssey
Easy Like Sundays @ Five Sixty
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Drag Brunch @ J Lounge
Antipop Consortium @ The Commodore
Red Hot Wednesdays @ Celebrities
Glee Tuesdays @ J Lounge
Tuesdays at Celebrities @ Celebrities
Frequeency @ The Odyssey
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Afrojack @ Caprice Nightclub
Karaoke Tuesdays @ Oasis
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Imogen Heap @ The Caprice
Chill @ 1181
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Tom Petty @ GM Place
Tootsie Tuesdays @ Cranberries Spa
Sherry Vine @ Celebrities
The Zolas @ The Biltmore
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Kat Gillis @ J Lounge
Waxing Wednesdays @ Cranberries Spa
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Bingo For Life @ Celebrities
Night at the Indies @ Cafe Deux Soleils
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Faux Girls & Lips Inc. @ The Odyssey
Average Joe's @ Numbers
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Funky Fresh Hair Show 2 @ Tunnel Nightclub
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2
The Office @ Five Sixty
Wednesday
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Tuesday
Please send event and calendar listings to events@v-rag.com.
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Monday
6
Sunday
DJ Marky @ Fortune Sound Club
Haunted @ The Narrow
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Pete Rock @ Bar None
Indulge Thursdays @ Cranberries Spa
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Thunderheist @ Venue
White House @ Five Sixty
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Hot Gay DJ Tour Davie Village
Warm Up @ Lick
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Thursday
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Kaskade @ The Commodore
Grind @ Lick
5
Saturday
Queer Bash 8 @ The Cobalt
Laidback Luke @ Celebrities
25
Thickset @ The Cobalt
Circuit 'O' @ The Odyssey
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Metric @ Malkin Bowl
Krafty Kuts @ Red Room
MKW & Mumbles @ Five Sixty
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Sarah Wheeler @ Little Mountain
Nawtybox @ Lick
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Rocky Horror Fetish Night @ Club 23 West
Tyler Johnson CD Release Hed Kandi @ Celebrities @ ginger62
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SPIT @ The ANZA Club
Aeroplane @ Celebrities
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Friday
vanragazine #12
V-rag V A N R A G A Z I N E
Enjoy the best in QUEER CINEMA this summer! AUGUST 12-22
queerfilmfestival.ca
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V-rag
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WATCH: Release Trailer www.tinyurl.com/vrag15
From the creators of Shank, a love story with twists and turns. Thematically exploring the hypocrisy that society thrives on and that fuels prejudice and hatred. Emotionally rich and varied the story seeks to touch on the honesty of true love. Watch for it on the film festival circuit 2010. www.release-movie.co.uk WATCH: Ke$ha "Take it Off" DIY Kansas City Drag www.tinyurl.com/vrag16
Ryan James Yezak presents the music video for Ke$ha "Take It Off" starring Scott Nelson and the kids from the gay bars in Kansas City, Missouri. Their last video for Lady Gaga’s "Telephone" went viral with millions of views before the real Gaga video was released. Smart, this one will do the same. WATCH: Qasimi Higher State by Mariano Vivanco www.tinyurl.com/vrag17
Featuring model Marlon Teixeira for Qasimi Spring Summer 2010 and styled by Robbie Spencer. Mariano and his team made this video on a shoot in Ibiza. The sparkle in the Ibiza sea, the soft blue sky, the light sand and Marlon are all hot. Team Vivanco! www.marianovivanco.blogspot.com WATCH: Stonewall Uprising Theatrical Trailer www.tinyurl.com/vrag18
"It was the Rosa Parks moment," says one man. June 28, 1969: NYC police raid a Greenwich Village Mafia-run gay bar, The Stonewall Inn. For the first time, patrons refuse to be led into paddy wagons, setting off a 3-day riot that launches the Gay Rights Movement. WATCH: Holi Di Burbon "Possess Me" Music Video www.tinyurl.com/vrag19
Barcelona's Holi Di Burbon - Spanish DIY Fabulousness. I can't get over the production value in this video! Amazing. If you thought that web video looked cheap than check out Holi’s expensive look in this video. One of the best Do-It-Yourself music videos ever. Directed by Cristóbal Garrido WATCH: Boys on Film 4 DVD Trailer www.tinyurl.com/vrag20
9 award-winning and anticipated short films about objects of desire, and if the attaining of them is worth the struggle. Elliot Tittensor (Shameless) stars as Daz in headlining film Protect Me From What I Want, a gripping British film debut that sees him woo a young lad in an underpass, only to be threatened with a break-up the following morning.
june 2010 Issue 12
Use the QR Code to watch the videos on your iPhone. Download the free Mobiletag app. Scan the QR code for the video. The video will autoplay. Or type the tinyurl/vrag address into your browser/iPhone to watch the videos. Tip: Connect to WIFI on your iPhone to watch in HD. Visit www.wayoutwest.tv for more gay videos!
vanragazine #12
FILM:notes Deb & Sisi D: mark kenneth woods
Exit Through the Gift Shop D: banksy
Is it fair for me to review this film? Actor Michael Venus is a big contributor to this magazine. But I'm the first to mock my friends' hard work and creative outputs, and I'm an unbiased hardhitting journalist, right? So I guess the answer is yes, I'm perfectly qualified to review the new Mark Kenneth Woods film Deb & Sisi. Based on the characters from the House of Venus sketch comedy television show, the movie is a prequel of sorts that chronicles the friendship of two gorgeous and fashion-forward ladies... Ahem. Deb (Woods) is a lonely and desperate simpleton who is about to turn forty, while Sisi (Venus) is an incompetent waitress fired from yet another job and evicted from her walk-up apartment. The two run into each other (literally) after a hilarious botched suicide attempt in which Deb can't seem to successfully off herself. And so the friendship is formed, showing viewers how the famed duo came to be. There are plenty of in-jokes and references to the various sketches, so be sure to do some YouTube research if you haven't seen them. The film also features a who's who of the Vancouver entertainment scene, some of which are priceless, while others are painfully cringe-inducing. All in all, however, Deb & Sisi works on most levels. It's head and shoulders better than any based-on-a-skit SNL movie (I'm looking at you, MacGruber). The characters are wildly lovable and the buddy film parody sets a hilarious tone. Given a bigger budget, I think Mark Kenneth Woods could emerge as one of Canada's next comedic giants.
While everyone was watching Iron Man 2, I decided to check out a film that’s been buzzing since the Sundance Film Festival; a little documentary called Exit Through the Gift Shop. A film by Banksy, coined “The world’s first Street Art disaster movie”, it’s as intriguing and elusive as its creator. Banksy, of course, is the world-renowned British street artist, whose stencil masterpieces have appeared on walls all over the globe. From San Francisco to the West Bank, Banksy’s work is coy, candid, and politically charged. It’s hard to pinpoint exactly what the focus of this documentary is. Initially, it seems to be about validating street art, as the most notorious of artists reveal their work in-the-making on camera for the first time. But then it takes a sharp turn and becomes more about the eccentric Frenchman behind the camera, Thierry Guetta, whose obsession with filming everything is almost more interesting than the artists he documents. By the end, as Guetta (with zero artistic experience, by the way) puts down the camera to create one of the largest art shows in history, Banksy flips it on its head, and the film seems to be a social commentary about what constitutes fine art, the hype surrounding it, and what value, if any, art has anymore. A disaster in name only, this film was a complete delight to watch, and will be one that defines whatever the new generation is it at this moment. Go see it.
by Cole Johnston
24
by Matt Roy
V-rag
25
Scissor Sisters night work preview
Kylie Minogue ALL THE LOVERS
LCD Soundsystem this is happening
Anticipation is understandably high for the Scissor Sisters’ third studio album Night Work, which has already created a splash with an internet release of album track "Invisible Light". It’s an amazing, sweaty, dirty underground-disco opus which is a great teaser but is certainly not mainstream-friendly enough to be a single-launch for such an eagerly-awaited album event. Instead we get the far more accessible "Fire with Fire", a pianoladen dance-rock anthem for the summer that has the same kind of fist-punching, arms–in-the-air atmosphere as "I Don’t Feel Like Dancing" and a dramatic upswing that builds throughout the track and has a great feel-good vibe. It’s a smart move for the band; this will be a huge summer hit, get tons of radio airplay and – thanks to a dancefloor-friendly remix from Digital Dog and a hard, chunky techno edit from Peter Rauhofer – have a decent lifespan in the clubs. If this track and the grinding, tribal sleaze of "Invisible Light" are anything to go by, the album should be something to drool over.
For every gay, there is team Kylie and team Madonna. And while Madonna is a legend and a trendsetter, Kylie is the ultimate pop goddess. Which is the theme of her forthcoming studio album, Aphrodite. She's getting back to her dancefloor roots with production courtesy of heavyweights Stuart Price, the Scissor Sisters, Kish Mauve and Calvin Harris. The hype has been unbelievable so far, with a 30 second instrumental clip leaked in mid-May to fuel the fire. That clip turned out to be from the first single on the album, "All The Lovers". And to be honest, it's a little bland. Maybe it's a case of overhype creating huge expectations, but one gets the sense they're not hearing the new "Can't Get You Out of My Head" or "Better The Devil You Know" with this inoffensive club tune. I hope I eat my words, and the album is what propells Miss Minogue to North American superstardom. Afterall, I thought "Slow" was boring on first listen too. So what do I know? I'm just even more excited to hear the rest of the album on July 5th...
Talk that This Is Happening would be LCD Soundsystem’s final release seems less rumour and more truth after listening to the album. It has very little commercial appeal with most of the songs running about eight minutes long. Frankly, it sounds like James Murphy is just doing what he wants. And with some literal audience bashing in songs like "Dance Yrself Clean", "Drunk Girls", and "You Wanted a Hit", I want to be offended. But I can’t, because LCD Soundsystem rocks! Everything I said about the album is true, and it doesn’t matter. Murphy and everyone he collaborates with are so musically gifted that their eight minute jams are in actuality the perfect length. This album is definitely more laid back than some of their past releases, but it’s also beautifully constructed. So don’t listen to it on shuffle; each song is exactly in the right place. I’m sad that this is likely the end of anything new by LCD Soundsystem, but what they’ve left us with will keep us happy for a long, long time.
by John Britton
by Cole Johnston
by Matt Roy
june 2010 Issue 12
MUSIC:notes
vanragazine #12
photo by nicholas jang www.double-take2.ca
around town!
H
ello June! Let’s get this summer started! First thing's first; I want to thank all who participated and attended this year’s 16th incarnation of Wiggle! It was truly a magical night to remember and we raised nearly $3,000 for A Loving Spoonful. Things continue to heat up at Five Sixty with the launch of the new club nights in the Art Lounge. DJ G-Luve gets things started on a funky beat every Tuesday with The Office, Adam Dreaddy, MKW and Quest keep in hopping in The Main Lounge on Saturdays. Mumbles and friends keep it Nasty in The Bathroom Bar of course. Come down on Saturday, July 3rd for a very special night, the afterparty for the V-Rag One Year Anniversary! Lots of fun stuff planned after the official reception at Century House at 7pm. Pride starts early June for the House of Venus as we take our show to Winnipeg to start the season off right. Gio’s will never be the same after Symone, Pussy Willow and myself serve up some Fabulous drag. I am also happy to announce that The House of Venus Season 3 and Deb and Sisi (the Movie) are now out on DVD and available for rental and download – check www.markkennethwoods.com for more details. Speaking of happy days, I'm thrilled to report superstar Honey Dijon will be doing her magical thang on July 17th and Miss Candis Cayne will be joining us for Pride with a bunch of other superstars, including Tyra Sanchez, of RuPaul's Drag Race Season 2 fame! Let's rock this town people! With all the negative forces and disasters in our world, it is so important to focus on and create positive energy… So love one another and celebrate life! xo V Check ou the all new House of Venus website www.houseofvenus.com
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get it first!
V-rag V a n R a g a z i n e
goes online in july • read the issue
before it hits newsstands • get on the list: fans@v-rag.com
27
JOAN-E'S RAG: GAY SPACES
I
have noticed that the local GLBTQ press is once again debating "Gay spaces". It is not a new argument, but for those of you who don't know what I'm referring to, I will try to catch you up. There are many who feel that the "mixing" of traditionally "gay" and "straight" clubs and pubs may somehow result in the loss of identity, community and safety for the GLBTQ community. I am respectful of both sides of the argument. Obviously the day when the Odyssey and the Roxy can exist in one room or even on one street may not yet be at hand. I, and many others do not feel safe being our true selves in many "straight" bars and pubs. Also, there is a culture and history to traditional gay clubs that we do not wish to risk losing. Our shows, our style, our fundraisers and our freedom of sexuality could be in peril if there were a full "merge" of the two party cultures. On the other hand, most people I know don't want to be out with just gay friends. People want to party with all of their friends, regardless of who they are. Gay and lesbian friends of mine go to straight bars all the time and some of them never darken the doors of the bars on Davie Street. Straight friends come to "gay" bars and lots of our community members bring their straight friends, family and even parents to our establishments. The most interesting part of the debate may be that the debate itself is now a moot point. With the exception of the occasional "all men" or "all women" parties, all our clubs and pubs in the Village are now mixed. Celebrities, the Odyssey, Numbers, 1181, The Fountainhead, Five Sixty, Score, Oasis, J Lounge and Junction all cater to mixed crowds in varying degrees. Almost all of these businesses have some management, staff and clientele who are straight. Even the
Pumpjack, while arguably the gayest of the gay bars, operates more like a community pub during the day that caters to everyone who plays by the rules and wishes to be there. I guess that my wish is for common sense to prevail. Spaces should cater more to "like minded" people and not worry so much about who someone is sleeping with. I value my straight friends who work and play in "gay spaces". We share something that goes far beyond sexuality. We share common values, community, family and love. It is also great to know that there are "straight" bars who have gay staff and enjoy gay clientele where we can all feel welcome and safe. We now acknowledge ourselves as the GLBTQ community. If we are truly going to be that community, we better be very aware that strictly gay and strictly lesbian spaces go a long way to excluding not only straight people but also our bi-sexual, transgender and questioning brothers and sisters who could end up left out in the cold. That, my friends, is something that few, if any of us, want. V For more essential gay intelligence, check out www.pinq.ca
photo by nicholas jang www.double-take2.ca
V-rag
Candy
Queen
Photography: kate mclaren www.kate-mclaren.com Makeup & Hair: raye sunshine concept & styling: kate mclaren, cole johnston & Mandy-Lyn Antoniou Model: raye sunshine
vanragazine #12
LISTINGS thursday june 3
friday june 11
Hot Gay DJ Tour See the contestants of the Hot Gay DJ competition at 1181, Celebrities, J Lounge, Oasis and Score on Davie. Presented by yours truly!
Metric Canadian indie darlings Metric bring their multi-Juno award winning sound to Malkin Bowl. monday june 14
friday june 4
14
friday june 25 Queer Bash 8 Bollywood vs. Dollywood. The Cobalt, 917 Main.
SPIT An eastside queer sex-positive hot mess of a dance party. The ANZA, 3 W. 8th.
Jamie Lidell Wild and whimsical Warp recording artist supports his upcoming release "Compass". Venue, 881 Granville.
thursday june 10
friday june 18
The Zolas Part Timberlake, part Coldplay, all awesome. The Biltmore, 395 Kingsway.
Thunderheist The final show ever from Montreal's electro superstars. Venue, 881 Granville.
Thickset The fuzzy bear party returns at a brand new venue! The Cobalt, 917 Main.
Sherry Vine Back so soon? Ms. Vine returns to Vancity, this time at Celebrities, 1022 Davie.
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wednesday june 30
LOCAL BEER SPECIALS
G80Z SUNDAYS
FREE POOL
SUNDAY KEGGER
FREQUEENCY
FAUX GIRLS & LIPS INC.
MIDWEEK CRISIS
PUMPJACK
GRANVILLE ISLAND, HONEY LAGER, PALE ALE
INDUSTRY NIGHT
THE BOA SHOWS
KARAOKE TUESDAYS
NUMBERS IDOL
CAESARS & REDSTRIPE INDUSTRY NIGHT: GUINNESS/KILKENNY & SCORE ON SPECIALS ANY SPECIAL MARTINI SPECIALS DAVIE Please send event and calendar listings to events@v-rag.com.
EVOLUTION
DJ SAM McCOOEY
DJ TIM
PILSNER SPECIALS
TOOLBOX WEDNESDAYS: EVERY LAST WEDNESDAY
3SUM IN THE LOFT
NUMBERS IDOL
HIGHBALL SPECIALS
Live Bands
RED TRUCK LAGER & BEEFEATER HIGHBALLS
WELL LIQUOR SPECIALS
ODYSSEY
OASIS
NUMBERS
LICK
JUNCTION
ROCK YO HIPS
Comedy Night: Tops & Bottoms
Brunch & T-Dance theme nights
J LOUNGE
GLEE TUESDAYS
RUSSELL & TWISTED COOLERS SPECIALS
HOUSE WINE & BLUE
FIVE SIXTY
CAESARS & OKANAGAN SPRINGS SPECIALS
BINGO FOR LIFE & RED HOT WEDNESDAYS
TUESDAYS AT CELEBRITIES deep v
WILD WEDNESDAYS
Wednesdays
CHILL
FOUNTAINHEAD
MONDAY MADNESS
Tuesdays
THE OFFICE
ROTATING DJ'S
Mondays
easy like sundays
CELEBRITIES
1181
Sundays
HIGHBALLS & BUCKETS OF DOS EQUIS SPECIALS
ALL BEER, CIDERS & COOLERS ON SPECIAL
SHOWER POWER
LATIN NIGHT
SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE?
GRANVILLE ISLAND SPECIALS
live bands
GROWERS CIDERS & KEITHS SPECIALS
white house
RELOADED
Thursdays
CANADIAN JUGS & JAGERBOMBS SPECIAL
RUSSELL CREAM SPECIALS
CIRCUIT O
BANGIN'!
DJ DREW
BASELINES: EVERY 3RD FRIDAY
THE SOCIAL
Fixx Fridays le duom
KOKANEE & POLAR ICE VODKA HIGHBALLS
dj leanne's deep house trevor risk main room
STEREOTYPE FRIDAYS
MEAT NIGHT
Fridays
NIGHTLIFE IN VANCOUVER
CORONA NIGHT
BLACK SATURDAY / SHOW YOUR STUFF
FALLEN ANGEL
LIVE PIANO SATURDAYS LOLLIPOP EVERY 2ND SAT
SATURDAY DANCE PARTY
GRIND, NAWTYBOX, & MAN-UP ROTATING
CONNECTION SATURDAYS
karma saturdays DJ Alkatraz
GRANVILLE ISLAND & SMIRNOFF ICE SPECIALS
magic sessions mkw main room
RELEASE SATURDAYS
TIGHT
Saturdays
V-rag
35
vanragazine #12
DOWNTOWN VANCOUVER
V-MAP
NIC
Robson Market
J Lounge (1216 Bute)
18
Lick Nightclub (455 Abbott)
19
Little Sisters Bookstore (1238 Davie)
20
Maxine’s Hideaway (1215 Bidwell)
21
Mine Salon (177 E. Broadway)
22
Neptoon Records (3561 Main)
23
Numbers Cabaret (1042 Davie)
24
Oasis Lounge (1240 Thurlow)
25
Odyssey Nightclub (1251 Howe)
26
Pacific Cinematheque (200-1131 Howe)
27
Pacific Sun Co. (1060 Davie)
28
Penthouse Nightclub (1019 Seymour)
29
Priape (1148 Davie)
30
Public House JUNCTION (1138 Davie)
31
PumpJack Pub (1167 Davie)
32
Republic (958 Granville)
33
Roundhouse Centre (181 Roundhouse Mews)
E. 1ST AVE
34
Score On Davie (1262 Davie)
E. 2ND AVE
35
Scratch Records (726 Richards)
36
Steamworks (123 W. Pender)
37
Top Drawers (115-1030 Denman)
38
VanCity Theatre (1181 Seymour)
39
Vancouver Art Gallery (750 Hornby)
E. 8TH AVE
40
Venue (881 Granville)
E. BROADWAY
41
Videomatica (1855 W. 4th Ave)
42
West End Community Centre (870 Denman)
43
WISE Hall (1882 Adanac)
E. 12TH AVE
44
Zulu Records (1972 W.4th Ave)
E. 13TH AVE
1600
1700 BIDWELL
le
COMOX
NELSON PARK
DAVIE NICOLA
20
34 19
1 31
29 30
15 10
23 27 3
BURNABY
24
17
HARWOOD
HARWOOD
St .
ENGLISH BAY BEACH
PENDRELL
DAVIE VILLAGE
CARDERO
BIDWELL
PENDRELL CARDERO
PACIFIC BLVD BEAC H
PACIF
n
SEA WA LL PROME NADE
GE
1800
1900
GILFORD
Gr an vil
Burrard
CHILCO
nt PENDRELL
NELSON
M
BRID
ai
SUNSET BEACH
Stadium
BURRARD
17
37
THURLOW
Independent Flixx (976 Denman)
1000
H.I.M. Main Office (310-1033 Davie)
16
CARDERO 1500
15
16 West End
D
BARCLAY
BUTE
42
1200
GO LA
West End Community Centre
ROBSON
HARO
BUTE
Grace Gallery/The Narrow (1898 Main)
HARO
fro
Fals Yac
RAR D
ENGLISH TELUS BAY World of Science
BUR
VANIER PARK H.R. MacMillan Space Centre Maritime Museum Vancouver Museum
44
41
KS EE CR
E. 3RD AVE
43
14
E. 4TH AVE E. 5TH AVE
E. 5TH AVE
E. 7TH AVE
E. 14TH AVE E. 15TH AVE E. 16TH AVE
MAIN
E. 10TH AVE
22
E. 11TH AVE
GUELPH
2 QUEBEC
ONTARIO
MANITOBA
COLUMBIA
ALBERTA
YUKON
21
FRASER
SCOTIA
E. 6TH AVE
ST. GEORGE
MAIN
MAIN
ID E
CAMBIE
South Granville
LOST LAGOON
JERVIS
Gorg-O-Mish (695 Smithe)
ALBERNI
BUTE
Goldie’s (605 W. Pender)
13
Royal Centre
W. GEORGIA
WARD
12
Bentall Centre
MELVILLE
DER
EN W. P
PRINCE ED
ginger62 (1219 Granville)
CHILCO
11
DE ENA SEAWALL PROM BAYSHORE
RK CAUSEWAY Y PA NLE STA
CHILCO
Fountainhead Pub (1025 Davie)
ON DR IVE
Flaming Angels (644 Seymour)
er at W
9 10
VA DO S COR STING HA W.
Coal Harbour Community Centre
Harbour Cruises
TO LIONS GATE BRIDGE, NORTH & WEST VANCOUVER, NANAIMO FERRIES AND WHISTLER
BROUGHTON
Five Sixty (560 Seymour)
RD
1300
8
W C
BRUNSWICK
Cranberries Spa (330 Robson)
H.M.C.S Discovery
COAL HARBOUR
1400
7
P
Im Ca Vancouv Conv C
BURRARD INLET
BROUGHTON
IPE LIN Commodore Ballroom (868 Granville) E
Royal Vancouver Yacht Club
SOPHIA
Club 23 West (23 West Cordova)
6
DEADMAN'S ISLAND
DRIVE SCE
5
14
36
STANLEY PARK
WATSON
Century House (432 Richards)
CARDERO
4
Vancouver Aquarium
NICOLA
Celebrities Nightclub (1022 Davie)
BIDWELL
Banana Tans (148 E. Broadway)
3
S Pa ss eaB en u ge s rF er ry
2
DENMAN
1181(1181 Davie)
GILFORD
1
EN DE R EF KE
UN IO N IO R PR
UC
T
KE EF ER
AD VI R UI M NS DU
TH
LVD
IDE CRES
2
ND
c r a n
c r a n b
E AV
330 Robson Street • 604-696-9191 www.cranberriesspa.com
33
c r a n b e r r i e s spa c r a n b e r r i e s spa
1300
AWARD-WINNING DOWNTOWN VANCOUVER CONDO SPECIALIST
FIC BLVD 1400 LOWER GRANVILLE
BEACH
GRANVILLE BRIDGE
K
EE
BEACH
L
SE
FA
CR
CHARLESON PARK
JOHNSTON
7
c r a n b e r r i e s spa
DRAKE
se Creek cht Club
ER
.P E
TIN G S
W .H AS
W .P EN DE R
BEATTY EXPO BLVD 100
CAMBIE
HAMILTON 300
MAINLAND HOMER
RICHARDS
SEYMOUR
GRANVILLE
HOWE
HORNBY
E
1200
W
G
11
AY
ID
25
FOX W
BR
1100 DAVIE
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Spray Tans Waxing Massage Much more…
TELUS World of Science OMNIMAX
E
HELMCKEN
T
BI
26
C DU
M
1000
400
28
500
600
NELSON
700
800
SMITHE
32
Get ready for summer with:
C
CA
900
900
7
Orpheum Theatre
Ya l e t o w n
6
A VI
B.C. Place Stadium TERRY
BE
MARINAS
ROBSON
Downtown 40 13
RGIA GEO
GRIFFITHS WA
UE
ROUTE
G.M. Place
35
c r a
Q
SKYTRAIN
Y
39
N
SO U
Vancouver Playhouse
Queen The Elizabeth 9 Theatre Pacific Bay Centre The Centre 700 Vancouver in Vancouver for the Centre Vancouver Vancouver Performing Arts Library Art Gallery
We’ll wax your bush and your berries
c r a n b e r r i e s spa
RE
AI
EC
PAC IFIC B
DUNSMUIR
800
LVD
OB
EXP
c r a n b e r r i e s spa
O
EB
8
Pacific Centre
600
E.
ALE XAN DER PO W EL L CO RD O VA L
12 W. PENDER
500
N
G
M
QU
c r a n b e r r i e s spa
SO
Chinese Cultural Centre Museum and Archives
Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden
36
IE MB CA
l e
4
A
18
W. HASTINGS
BI
Harbour Centre
400
AL
Steamclock
CORDOVA
Waterfront Sinclair Centre Centre
5
RR
stER GaWAT
TT BO AB
Waterfront The Station Landing
CA
Seabus Terminal
n
ow
M
NT
RO
F TER WA
Gassy Jack Statue
CK
37
GRANVILLE ISLAND
N
SO
LE
AR
CH
H
6T
E AV
Come as you are.
www.blairsmith.ca 604.313.8732
455 Abbott Street Vancouver
604.339.7874
18
june 2010 Issue 12
LU
TO NORTH VANCOUVER
JA
a in n Ch ow T
CO
max Theatre anada Place ver Trade & vention Centre
HA ST IN G S
V-rag
HELPING YOU MAKE ALL THE RIGHT MOVES.
vanragazine #12
DJ
TOP TEN
1. C hemical Brothers - "Block Rockin Beats" 2. U sher feat. wiLL.i.AM - "OMG" 3. Gorillaz – "Stylo" 4. Fedde Le Grand – "Take No Shhh (Fatboy Slim Remix)" 5. Ruffneck feat. Yavahn – "Everybody Be Somebody" 6. D ragonette – "Pick Up The Phone (Larry Muller Remix)" 7. H ot Chip – "I Feel Better" 8. Goldfrapp – "Rocket" 9. The Hours – "See The Light (Calvin Harris Vocal Mix)" 10. P enguin Prison - "A Funny Thing (Jeffrey Jerusalem Mix)" Rock Star moments?
Q&A dj g-luve
DJ G-Luve is certainly a fixture in the Vancouver club scene, with an always funky demeanor. His big sunglasses match his big smile. He has been DJing around town for some time now, blending retro with electro, funk and just about anything that'll get your ass moving. He's just started a new residency in the Art Lounge every Tuesday at Five Sixty called The Office. G-Luve is not limited to just music as he is fast becoming a well-known painter as well.
I have my own trading card (Clubcard/House of Venus), Koodo's Dance Party (Pride); it was pretty emotional hearing the crowd sing Michael Jackson's "Billie Jean" two months after his death; getting my record signed by Paul Hyde of the Payolas, after watching him sing from the top of his lungs when I played "Black Dog" by Led Zepplin. DJ Nightmare? Not having the song that someone has requested. "What do you mean you don't have it, I thought you were a DJ!" Being called a douchebag for not playing somebody's request.
First DJ gig?
Musical Inspirations?
Jupiter Cafe (J Lounge). The Office at Five Sixty (Tuesdays) and Social at The Junction with Michael Venus (Fridays).
Prince, Michael Jackson, Green Velvet, Chic, Giorgio Moroder, Cerrone (just got hooked on this), Daft Punk, Depeche Mode, New Order, Miss Kittin, Missy E, Little Louis Vega, Armand Van Halden. Too many more to mention in this...
What kind of music do you play?
Hobbies?
House, Electro, Disco, Rock, Pop, Funk, 80's & 90's R'n'B and Dance!
My other professional career is as a painter.
Favorite Gig(s)?
Career Highlights? DJing for Mayor Gregor Robinson (Vision Vancouver's Victory Party), Koodo's Dance Party (Pride), 48 Hour Fashion Shoot with designers Heatherette, MTV Canada's show MTV Select.
38
Future Plans? World Domination! Produce music (that's what DJs normally say), working more with the music and arts community, putting on my own art shows... and looking forward to more gigs in/outside the city/country! V