V-Rag Magazine #15 - September 2010

www.v-rag.com

Music the

edition

V a n R a g a z i n e

V-rag

vancouver's gay arts + culture rag

Juan MacLean Michael Musto DVAS DJ Sammy Jo DJ Jeffery Michael

september 2010 issue 15

V-rag V a n R a g a z i n e

vancouver's gay arts + culture rag

With over 15,000 monthly readers, V-Rag Magazine is Vancouver's largest monthly gay & lesbian publication. Music, film, arts and culture, all with a homoclectic flare! Become a fan to be entered into exclusive monthly contests and draws; just email us fans@v-rag.com

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V a n R a g a z i n e

september 2010

04 editor's note

joan-e's rag 26

Our second annual music issue!

06 the juan maclean

DFA Recording artist duo chats with us

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october preview

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michael musto

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dvas

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dj sammy jo

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a loving spoonful

What does Rocktober hold in store?

Celebrity gossip king makes his predictions

The people to watch out for

cotton around town 27 Get SCHOOLED on what's hot by Miss Cotton

wayoutwest 29

Download MobileTag and let's get started!

live on stage 30

Rob Salerno's Fucking Stephen Harper

film:notes 32

The next big thing in Canada's club scene

Scissor Sisters' tour DJ rips it up

Still caring after 20 years

20 wasted thoughts You'll never be amazed again

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the third kind

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calendar of events

The Head or the Heart?

The city's most comprehensive calendar

Eat Pray Love, Piranha 3D

music:notes 33

Chickens in Love, Margaret Cho, Eliza Doolittle

b•boys boys boys 36

Our picks for August's hottest events

events & nightlife 43

Weekly barhopping guide & event picks

v-map 44

Don't get lost! Find everything here q&a:

dj jeffery michael 46 This is one hot gay DJ!

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september 2010 Issue 15

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Editor's Note

vanragazine #15

Leave your judgement at home!

Nelson is proud to present the 14th annual Kootenay Pride weekend, a celebration of community diversity in the Kootenay region. This year an exciting lineup of festivities is planned for the September 3-5, 2010 weekend in beautiful Nelson, BC.

www.kootenaypride.ca www.ankors.bc.ca www.queerkootenays.com www.kootenaytransgender.com Join the Kootenay Pride Facebook Group!

September marks V-Rag's second annual music issue, and we've got a fantastic lineup this time. One of our favourite bands, electronic duo The Juan MacLean, answered a few of our questions and Canadian club sensation DVAS explains why they're divas.

Hot Gay DJ winner Jeffery Michael and Scissor Sisters tour DJ Sammy Jo reveal all this month. We also got a chance to pick the brain of NYC celebrity gossip king Michael Musto, and our new girl on the block Jen Hill interviews Easter Armas about A Loving Spoonful's twenty years on the scene. As if that's not enough, we have a slew of regulars from Joan-E, Miss Cotton, Rob Easton and Terry Costa, plus an exclusive photo shoot from So You Think You Can Dance photographer Alexander Yakovlev. Summer may be winding down but V-Rag sure isnt'! V Editor & Art Director Cole Johnston • cole@v-rag.com Director of Business Development Darren Royea • darren@v-rag.com Sales Manager Skipp Johnson • skipp@v-rag.com Editorial Contributors John Britton Terry Costa Rob Easton Rob Farrow Jen Hill Joan-E Cole Johnston Jeff Lawrence Justin Meisner Matt Roy Michael Venus Printed by East Van Graphics

Art & Photography Taylor Ross Alexander Nicholas Jang Angus Rowe MacPherson Shane Osterhoff David Shankbone Upper Class Recordings Jenna Wakani Ruvan Wijesooriya Alexander Yakovlev Cover Photo courtesy of Girlie Action Publisher Cole Johnston Design

Copy deadline for the October issue is Sept. 22. Ad space is available until Sept. 24 and can be booked by calling 604306-6541 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 © 2010 Cole Johnston Design.

www.v-rag.com

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TANNING @ THE PACIFIC

SUN CO.

Tanning at the Speed of Light

www.pacificsunco.com With 2 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

vanragazine #15

Juan The

photo by ruvan wijescooriya

MacLean

A

sk any diabolical mastermind—Dr. Evil, Sideshow Bob, the Monarch—and they’ll tell you, bringing the world to its knees is a lot like hosting a successful dinner party: It requires careful preparation and forethought. A plan. It may take years before all the pieces fall into place.

But once they do? Global domination should be easy as pie.

Since the turn of the 21st century, DFA club music maestro Juan MacLean has been laying groundwork. First, there were killer singles, from “By The Time I Get to Venus” in 2002, to last year’s international mega hit & critical year-end favorite “Happy House” as well as the “The Simple Life”. There was a debut fulllength (Less Than Human, 2005); remixes for

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colleagues like Air, Chicken Lips, Daft Punk, David Gahan, Matthew Dear; international tours with Cut Copy and Shocking Pinks; and DJ gigs from Telluride to Tel Aviv.

Now comes the next stage of the operation, The Future Will Come. While the second full-length from The Juan MacLean may sound effortless in its execution, don’t be deceived.

This record was made in accordance with a very careful plan. “Before going into production of the album, before I wrote anything, I had aesthetic and conceptual guidelines in mind,” admits MacLean. “I stuck to those, and they panned out.”

Phase One: “I was very much influenced by going on tour with my live band for a couple years.” Rather than retreat to a

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recording studio in Woodstock, NY, and toil in solitude, he brought along Nick Millhiser and Alex Frankel (also known to DFA fans as Holy Ghost!) and drummer extraordinaire Jerry Fuchs to lay down parts. “I had already done enough on my own,” concedes the seasoned studio whiz. “With very rare exceptions, music is always made better by having the influence of other people.”

Which brings us to Phase Two: “The next guideline was revisiting The Human League,” reveals MacLean. And not the early, stodgy, “Being Boiled” incarnation either. The bones of that model were long ago picked clean. No, the sounds and songs of The Future Will Come emulate the best of The Human League v2, the lineup responsible for the 1981 interna-

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tional bestseller Dare.

MacLean makes no apologies for this creative choice. “In my career as The Juan MacLean, my guiding principle was to start out more dance-y and instrumental, and someday bow out making flat-out, three-and-a-half minute pop songs.” Right now, he estimates this creative arc is at its midpoint. The perfect time to craft a set of tracks to rival “Don’t You Want Me,” then. Watch the effect the opening bars of “Happy House” have on a packed night club; the exuberance it triggers in listeners easily matches the giddy heights of that timetested synth-pop classic.

“I wanted to do an album with malefemale interplay in the vocals,” MacLean continues. Rather than go down to the local

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disco and recruit a couple hipster girls who looked good dancing, he tapped creative foil and DFA mainstay Nancy Whang (also an agent of LCD Soundsystem) instead. She was a willing co-conspirator. “The very first song we worked on, he already had his vocal part, and wanted mine to serve as a counterpoint,” she remembers. “From there, I could hear the male-female call-and-answer.”

Phase Three was, for better or worse, simply a natural progression. “One consequence of touring and DJing so much, and always being away—and this was true for Nancy as well—is the trail of destruction in personal and romantic relationships,” says MacLean. “Contrary to the general lyrical tone in our world of music, I wanted to be as direct, honest and sincere as possible.” Humour remains integral to the band’s aesthetic, but it is not nearly so arch or pointy. No air quotes hover around the sentiments expressed herein.

With these points set, Juan and Nancy wrote and recorded the album quickly. Rather than elongate ideas into epic 12-inch singles, they strived to keep sounds and structures crisp and succinct. Focus was maintained via

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ruthless edits and repeated spins of “SexyBack.” The results range from the bittersweet parry-and-thrust of “One Day” to the android R&B of “The Station.” At the furthest extreme, the spare, desolate “Human Disaster” serves as a chilling contrast to the climatic reprise of “Happy House.”

Whang acknowledges that the polish and precision of The Future Will Come may catch some devotees off guard. “I know diehard Juan MacLean fans are going to be surprised, because the material is so vocal, and much more pop.” But she does not fear resistance from the masses. Nor should she. Fullyrealized and flawlessly executed from start to finish, The Future Will Come stands poised to disarm millions of listeners.

World domination? It’s as easy as 1-2-3. Just ask The Juan MacLean. V The Juan MacLean's newest album The Future Will Come is available now on iTunes. If you're in San Francisco, check them out Sept. 26 at Deviants. www.thejuanmaclean.com Read our full exclusive interview with Juan MacLean at www.v-rag.com.

NOT RAKING IN THE DATES?

MAYBE IT’S TIME FOR A NEW MANHUNT PROFILE PIC NOT AS PRETTY AS RAYE? NO PROBLEM. RETOUCHING SERVICES AVAILABLE

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October also marks the 2nd Annual Film Edition of V-Rag! Check out all the interviews, features and previews of the most influential actors and directors on the scene!

STREETS OCT. 1

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Michael

Michael

Musto

photo by david shankbone

Venus interviews

Michael Musto is the original infamous New York City Gossip Queen who's done and seen it all. This Village Voice has the inside scoop on all things new and hip. Without his pioneering style, Perez Hilton would still be flipping burgers. Musto continues to shed light on what the next big thing is to rattle our world of entertainment. I got a chance to pick his busy brain on what makes him tick.

How has your summer been and what have you been up to?

It's been great! I'm writing my Village Voice column and blog and going on MSNBC and doing all sorts of projects that allow my commentary to spew into every poossible medium.

What in New York is exciting right now?

My blog! My TV appearances! And my favourite clubs, which range from Beige on Tuesdays to Amanda Lepore's Big Top on Wednesdays and beyond, with somewhere to go every night of the week. And NYC is also the home of fine theater (Broadway and off-Broadway), performance art (Dixon Place, Here Arts Center), and so much more. With the recession, some of the old edge is leaking back!

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You have experienced some of NYC's finest night life moments and seen lots of craziness.

What are your fondest memories or highlights when it comes to being you?

I started at the top, at the ultimate disco, Studio 54. It was filled with glitz and celebrities and high spirits every night it was open.

What a way to begin my nightcrawling! The '80s were amazing too, with the big, arty dance clubs (Area, Palladium) and the birth of the club kid movement. About four years ago, we started seeing the return of club kids, but with less weird recklessness, so it's all come full circle, with new dimensions. The highlights for me have been being dazzled by nightclub creations, having offbeat celebrities host my birthday parties (John Wayne Bobbit, Jerry Springer, etc.), and having sex in the occasional bathroom.

Who do you idolize?

My mother, Keith Olbermann, Joan Rivers, Susanne Bartsch, Kenny Kenny, Meryl Streep, Joy Behar.

Have you been in touch with Michael Alig (notorious incarcerated club kid and subject of the movie Party Monster) at all recently?

No, we lost touch when I stopped continuing to be his pen pal, but we're in each other's thoughts, I'm sure. I read the recent interview with him in Interview where he seemed still mad that I wrote "The Death of Downtown" in 1986. When he comes out of jail, half the town will get ready for the biggest party in years and the other half will double bolt their doors.

How does it feel to be considered a legend and a gay icon?

I love being called anything, and it's quite an honor when people say 'legend' or 'icon.' The only bad thing is that they sometimes think that means all your great work was in the past and now you're sot of some darling little legend who should be patted on the hump-back.

Like Joan Rivers, I won't stand for that because I'm doing my best work now!

What are your big fall predictions?

I am terrible at predictions! Ages ago, I said Madonna was going nowhere! But I'll go out on a limb and say that LaToya Jackson and Bubbles will become best friends again and Lady Gaga will turn into a theme park.

What's next for Michael Musto?

My latest book was supposed to come out months ago, but the publisher is in deep financial shit. So who knows? Right now, I'm happy continuing to do all the projects I'm involved in right now. Just maintaining is a feat in itself.

I also have a cameo in a major film and would love to do more of that type of guest-star stuff. I'm a great guest.

Words of wisdom?

Don't waste your time watching reality shows! V

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DVAS

by Cole Johnston

C

anadians have been making some serious waves in the electronic music scene for the last couple of years.

Acts like Chromeo, Deadmau5, Junior Boys and Thunderheist have recently become international stars thanks in part to music blogs and social media. Well, the next big thing is about to blow up. DVAS (named after the two founding members Dietzche V. and the Abominable Snowman) have already garnered huge critical praise among internet giants like Discodust, NOW Magazine and iTunes. After a couple of years producing singles, remixes and mixtapes, DVAS released their first studio album, Society, in late July. And it's a classic in the making.

On first listen, the album harkens back Daft Punk's Discovery, but upon each subsequent listen,

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a different musical layer reveals itself. Frontman and vocalist Jered Stuffco explains the the vast inspirations for Society: "There is a lot of George Duke, Toto, Fred Falke, Lifelike, Daft Punk, David Foster, Giorgio Moroder, Gino Soccio, Loverboy, Foreigner, Genesis (Phil Collins era) and a few others that aren't coming to mind right now." But then they do... "Oh yeah, Prince, the Pet Shop Boys, New Order, Depeche, Patrick Cowley and Tiga."

In fact, DVAS and fellow Canadian Tiga have a very similar sound, both soft crooning vocals over chunky electro-disco beats. "Tiga would be fun [to collaborate with] because he's such a great singer and lyricist." What a dream pairing that would be!

And with the press the music blogs have been giving the band, it's only a matter of time before countless artists are banging on DVAS' door.

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photo courtesy of upper class recordings

I asked Stuffco about the blogosphere phenomenon and how it's changed the music industry.

"Blogs have kinda democratized the music scene a bit. But the same rule still stands. That is, there are two types of music: good music and jazz."

One problem with only reading about the band, however, is not knowing how to properly pronouce their name! So do we call them D.V.A.S. or D-VAS? "Lately, people are calling us D-VAS, which is also fine. It's like a choose your own adventure-type thing! The D-VAS moniker fits, since we all get pretty bitchy on the road."

Touring is something Stuffco plans on doing more of, which means more diva behaviour.

"We really need to get out on the road and connect with the fans. I am really itching to play out West, too, since it's been so long. I

lived in Vancouver for a summer and I've been dying to get back there." For now, the band is mostly sticking around their home turf of Toronto, with a few September shows out east.

What does the not-so-distant future hold for DVAS? "With any luck, we'll be on our fourth LP. Despite significant weight gain due to an increase in drugs and alcohol, the music from DVAS will be stronger than ever. We'll have fans in all corners of the globe, and I'll be working on a t-shirt design with Roger Federer for Banana Republic."

Keep your eyes peeled for these guys, we have a feeling this prediction might come true. V DVAS' Society is available now on iTunes. Check out the video for "Society" at www.dvasmusique. com. For the full interview, go to www.v-rag.com

Dj vanragazine #14

DJ

Sammy Jo

by Michael Venus

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n 1997, DJ Sammy Jo took his first steps into a DJ booth at the legendary New York City nightclub MOTHER (home to the infamous Jackie 60 party) for his first ever nightlife venture called Messy. Expanding his play-list to include current dance music, Sammy Jo was eventually recruited to play at the original cyberfetish party Click + Drag where he met and collaborated with Jake Shears of the soonto-be-formed Scissor Sisters. As neighbours and like-minded artists, the two discovered a common passion for all types of music. In the spring of 2004 Shears asked Sammy Jo to DJ on the Scissor Sisters Crevice Canyon Tour, a union that worked so well the band recruited him as their official tour DJ. Since then Sammy Jo has been playing clubs throughout Europe on his own - creating a name for himself while also supporting the Scissor Sisters whenever they call on him. Sammy Jo’s unique style of blending electro, house, and dark disco has gained him a strong worldwide client base.

He spends half his year travelling the globe - from the O2 Arena stadium in London to club Razzmatazz in Barcelona, from LaMESSA afterhours events in Milan to warehouse parties in Antwerp, playing for 60,000 people at V Festival

photo by kate mclaren

Scissor Sisters Tour Dj

TOP TEN

1. B arbara Streisand - "Duck Sauce" 2. U ffie feat. Pharell - "ADDSUV (Armand Van Helden Mix)" 3. Nari & Milani, Cristian Marchi – "I Got My Eye On You (Chuckie Remix)" 4. John Acquaviva, Swen Weber – "First Stroke (Lazy Rich Remix)" 5. The Chemical Brothers – "Swoon (Boys Noize 'Summer' Remix)" 6. M achine – "There But For The Grace Of God Go I (Le Principle Remake)" 7. R obyn – "Hang With Me (Kaiserdisco Remix)" 8. Sick Boy – "Per QX Block Rock" 9. Sovnger – "Breathless" 10. M ark Knight - "Devil Walking"

- while the other half he maintains residencies in New York City. Sammy brings his spinster magic to Malkin Bowl for the Scissor Sisters concert and then to Five Sixty for the official afterparty!

When did you realize DJing was your career?

I started DJing just for fun around 1998/9, but got serious about it in 2001.

What kind of gigs do you love to do?

Right now my favorite gig is my residency at Razzmatazz in Barcelona. I just love the room and get the most fun people there every time.

What can people expect to hear in your sets?

Mostly electro-house, but I always like to toss in some disco or retro moment just to shake it up a bit. It's boring to just play one style of music for a whole set.

You've been pretty busy lately...

Yeah, I just finished a tour of Australia with Scissor SIsters and now I'm finishing up my own club gigs in Europe. At the end of August I head back to the states to start the 3 week Scissor tour which ends in Vancouver.

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Some career highlights so far?

Getting to DJ on the same bill as some of my idols has been really amazing, like Erol Alkan, Ewan Pearson, Felix da Housecat. But mostrecently Stuart Price said he liked my mix of "Invisible Light" which completely floored me. The man is a genius and totally adorable as well.

Fave thing about Vancouver?

The sexy mens!

What influences you the most?

Musically I would say my biggest influence is stuff that I grew up listening to which is disco and new wave. Of course I was just a baby then ;) Hobbies?

Well my biggest hobby is actually my job. Does that count? If not then I guess snorkelling.

What would you like to do next?

I really want to learn Logic but I'm such a damn luddite that it's taking forever. V DJ Sammy Jo plays the official Scissor Sisters after party at Five Sixty on Sept. 16.

Q: I would like to look and feel great this summer; is there anything I can do naturally turally to help with that? t A: Hot temperatures, on-the-go kids and stress at work can make it tough to stay stylish in summer. But there a few things you can do to help you look and feel great this season!

t loss and to rid the body of harmful chemicals and toxins which causes skin to look less vibrant and the body to feel sluggish and fatigued. t Dietary choices such as choosing vegetables and fruit with a high antioxidant and water content can help you stay cool. Leafy lettuce, cucumbers, watermelon, tofu and summer squash are delicious ways to stay cool. A Naturopathic Physician supplement and exercise routine that will get you looking and feeling great this summer!

604-568-6899

Dr. Sanjay Mohan Ram B.Sc.(Hon.), N.D.

t Holistic Family Medicine t Acupuncture t Women’s Health t IV Therapeutics

still from earthling

WWW.CRNATUROPATHIC.COM

vanragazine #15 charity A Loving Spoonful. Spearheaded by Armas in 1989 “the Spoon” has been feeding those who are primarily homebound with HIV/AIDS. For over 20 years the Spoon has created community dining opportunities, delivered over 1.75 million meals (yes…million) to men, women, and children all over the Lower Mainland, and been a cornerstone in the GLBT community. I wanted to chat with Easter about the early days of the Spoon and what the organization looks forward to in the future.

How did the idea originate, to have meals delivered to peoples’ homes? It isn’t really done that often, and for such a specific demographic.

by Jen Hill

I

'm not a huge fan of Skype, it is an unattractive means to communicate. The camera quality is tragic and the lighting is always very kitchen-esque. But when Easter Armas says she wants you to be the destination on her maiden Skype voyage… you don’t say no.

So, at 10:30a.m. on a Saturday, in my vajamas, sans make-up, and enormous coffee in hand, I answered Easter’s video call. Suddenly, my screen was bombarded with red-lipped sunglasses, an olive coloured pashmina, a wine glass of V-8 juice, and a tiara.

“I thought my candelabra might be a bit too much, sorry sweetie!” apologized Easter, warm in all seriousness.

There is only one Easter Armas. Lord love her.

2010 marks the 20th anniversary of local AIDS

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It never seemed that much different to me than helping out a friend or neighbour, and that really is where the idea came from. I was volunteering for AIDS Vancouver back in ’85, answering phones and stuff like that. It was really only 2 years after they had identified that there was a specific virus. I had just moved here from San Francisco, where I had lost so many friends to this thing that still really didn’t have a name.

They would say that it was the pneumonia or meningitis. In hindsight it was AIDS. We would go and visit them in the hospital and bring food.

Which is a part of my background, when I was growing up that was what you did. We always had meals together or cooked together, especially at holidays or in celebration.

I was helping AIDS Vancouver get MacLaren House off the ground. It was a tiny little place up around Oak and 16th. And by ’89 people were dying. Everyone was dying. I’d call my friends and ask them to take food over to so-and-so all the time. It was everywhere. I had lost one of my dearest friends, and I started to think that when he died he hadn’t been alone. He had had people around him, feeding him and caring for him. So we started having congregate meals every other Sunday at McLaren House. And always in the back of my mind was to make it a delivery service. Free meals to those who need it. You would do that for a friend or neighbour, if they were sick you’d take them something. It’s the same thing. It was just such an easy idea.

Because so many people we dying from this unknown disease, and there was such a huge stigma around it, was it difficult to get support?

You know I would get people asking me if they could get it from a doorknob, and things like that, but really so many people were dying every month… every week. You couldn’t turn a blind

V-rag

How has the Spoon changed over the last 20 years?

Well, by 1995 there was a change in the face of AIDS, and we started to see an increase in our service to the Downtown Eastside (DTES) and a decrease in our donations. We had moved to a new location in ’94 and all of a sudden there was a drop in funding. There was this perception change. Before AIDS had been, and I hate to say but it’s true, a predominantly male disease, and now there were people saying, “Well, why should we now protect them (DTES clients) or feed them?” And I found that really sad.

With the demographic change, do you think it’s important for the young queer community to know or care about what A Loving Spoonful is doing?

Definitely! First, there is a misconception that the only people who live in the DTES are addicts. The people who live there are also those on disability and welfare, who can’t afford to live anywhere else.

They need to be close to their doctors and caseworkers and there is no other affordable place to go.

And the other thing is, that over the years there has been this increasing attitude that it won’t happen to me. But, you know, they need to know the history of the community and of AIDS. It’s devastating! Yes, it can happen to you… but sure go ahead if you want your dick to fall off! This idea that you can just take a pill… no, if you want to take 50 pills a day for the rest of your life! Who wants that?

It still happens, and it’s not just the young guys. I had a friend, an old friend who knows better. He made one mistake one night and now… It brings up so many emotions for me. On one hand I am so angry! And also so deeply disappointed, and so very sad. I want to scream sometimes!

It’s so great having you back on the Board of Directors for A Loving Spoonful. What do you want for the Spoon in the next 10 or 20 years?

Well, you know I really and truly didn’t think there would be a need for us after 5 years.

There would be a cure for AIDS and there would no longer be a need for our service… but I was wrong. However, I have always seen it bigger. I have kitchen envy! I have admired the Kitchen Soup Brigade down in Seattle, and they have this kitchen! Oh, I know we could do so much more if we had a bigger space… our own space. I love the idea of congregate meals, where we could cook our own food. Fresh food served in a dining area.

I’d love to have a place where the staff and volunteers can just chill, an office where you can close your office door and have some privacy because as you know it’s hard there… really HARD, and there isn’t that space now. I tell every new Executive Director at A Loving Spoonful “it never stops, ever. It doesn’t stop at fundraising, it’s cleaning up, doing dishes, delivering food, being a shoulder to lean on, packing meals… you need to be the Jill or Jack of All Trades…it never stops.”

I remember one day, back when I was the Executive Director, Penny the Office Manager I were in the office… we had 20 clients die one day.

Are you kidding me? 20 people in one day?

No, really. We lost 20 clients in one day. That was one of the hardest days. I remember Penny was in her office and I was in mine and we could hear each other crying. And we just cried and cried. We came out of our offices and cried together, and then I said, “Okay, okay, there are so many other people that need us today, let’s get back to it.”

With A Loving Spoonful it’s the quality of the care. We visit with the clients and check that they are eating and have resources and community. It’s so much more than just delivering food.

I mentioned to a friend that I was going to be interviewing A Loving Spoonful founder and community icon Easter Armas for V-Rag, and their reply was, “Oh, I think I met Easter once.”

To which I replied, “No my friend, if you had met Easter you would know it. She is a once in a life time kind of lady.” V Come support A Loving Spoonful's 20 Year Anniversary Party at Five Sixty on Sept. 25 from 7pm-10pm. Great music for a great cause, tickets available at www.alovingspoonful.org

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eye. I was going to so many funerals, that I had to stop going… it was too much. Even now, I can’t do it. From my early 30s to 45 I spent my life planning funerals and going to them.

But A Loving Spoonful, or the Vancouver Meals Society back then, what we did was say to the donors, “You give us X amount of money, and that buys soup, or a dinner, or milk.” And so it has meaning for them. Everyone needs to eat. And we didn’t (and don’t) discriminate against anyone. Even if you have the financial means to buy food, you might be too sick to prepare and cook it. People were so generous, they would donate microwaves and coolers…even a terrible old printer that was sooo slow! But it was great and we needed it!

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WASTED thoughts

by Rob Easton

I

t’s just a word, but you’re using it too much. It’s the “I know, right!” the “just sayin’!” of 2010. You’re just as guilty as the rest of us. There’s no avoiding it. So stop it, now! Please! It’s time for some new material.

Use your words. Think before you speak. Use a thesaurus. Find out what you really mean, instead of just blurting it out. Amazing!

I’ve stopped (over)using it and so should you.

Why? Your friends will thank you for it. You’ll seem more thoughtful, intelligent, literate.

I will admit, I am guilty. Even now, I will catch myself saying it, “Can you grab that for me? That would be amazing.” It’s a habit and I’m trying to break free for the above mentioned reasons.

Let’s take a moment to pull out our dictionaries, class. I’ll wait.

Amazing [a māzi ng] adj. 1 causing great surprise; overwhelming. 2 informal exceptional (an amazing book).

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You’ll note, a concert, an event or a book, as the dictionary points out, is often quite exceptional, amazing. That surprise birthday party your friends threw for you last year was probably amazing. And every time I look up into the

sky at night to see the stars, that is amazing.

But still, save it. It’s a special word. Keep it for when you really mean it. Or perhaps take a stand and use something different, extraordinary. Now that’s a word. Say it with me, extraordinary!

And for those really nice ordinary moments, 'good' should suffice. Or, “Could you be a dear and grab that for me, please? It would be so helpful. Thank you.”

My distaste for this word began one morning while watching The View. Sherri Shepherd, your wisdom is beyond most of us. We are not spending enough time to consider our words, thinking before we speak. Verbal diarrhea is a common affliction these days, words ejected from our throats so fast we barely have time to realize what we’ve just said. There is no intent, no decisiveness, just the chatter of a million mindless Facebook posts and much less meaning in the world.

Once we widely employ a word, when it comes out ever second sentence, the word itself becomes meaningless. In it’s truly amazing potential, amazing becomes ordinary, and thus much less than it really should be.

Thanks so much for understanding. You truly are amazing. V the interactive exhibit at the planetarium was truly amazing: astonishing, astounding, surprising, stunning, staggering, shocking, startling, stupefying, breathtaking; awesome, awe-inspiring, sensational, remarkable, spectacular, stupendous, phenomenal, extraordinary, incredible, unbelievable; informal mind-blowing, jawdropping; literary wondrous.

vanragazine #15

the

photo by taylor ross alexander

THIRD KIND

by Justin Meisner

L

et's be frank for a minute (something I'm new at). As gay men we have a lot of things going for us; we've got and give quite a bit of heart – almost as much as we get and give head. But with an abundance of heart and head comes the eternal struggle to determine when it is appropriate to use either or both as they pertain to dating. In the ever-confusing and complex world of mating, which of these two should we pay the most attention to?

Is it better to date with your heart or with your head?

As single men (or single anyone) of any paticular age, many unique dating opportunities will ineviatbely fall onto our laps – most by reasons of conicidence and/or circumstance.

The world is pretty small, and the gay world is even smaller. We are bound to meet people we are attracted to, that our hearts begin to beat a little faster for, but that our heads say to stay away from.

And therein lies the difficult question, whether you should always go with your heart or listen to your head.

In an unrealistic fantasy world, that perfect someone could be anywhere. By us cutting those possibilities off at the knees because of personal responsibilities or complicated situations can only be doing ourselves a disservice, right?

However, each potential new relationship we come across, no matter how love drunk our hearts may feel at first, is more likely than not going to go South and not work out in the long run. Knowing this, do we still risk getting involved in risky relationships that could have a negative backlash on our personal worlds just because of what our heart says?

For example, should you get involved with co-workers when the possibility of damaging your work enviroment is so great? The same could be said for classmates for those of us in school, or the

22

holy grail of rough waters... the ex of your friend.

These are all potential situations that one will ineviatbly find themselves in, being attracted to someone that for whatever reason your head may say you really shouldn`t even bother with.

If, for whatever reason, you have to question whether or not this is something you should be doing... should you be doing it?

Think about yourself in relation to your friends, when they're hearts are clearly making the decisions in their lives. How many times have you listened to a friend disucss a potential relationship while inside your mind is screaming "Abort! Abort! Denied! Denied!".

It's this sense of "clarity" we feel we always have over our friends, the ability to see things for what they really are because we're thinking with our heads; we have no heart invested. But when we do have heart invested, think about how frustrating it feels when your friends seem to be incapable of empathizing with the fact that this time it feels different, that this paticular situation feels right.

But for every time we've stood up to our friends how many times have we gone back on our hands and knees only to tell them they were right?

Come to think of it, in matters of love, perhaps neither your heart nor head are to be trusted. From here on out when it comes to love I'm going with a force that has time and time again proven more powerful and more loud than either my intelligence or my love, and that's my gut. V Follow Justin in our new regular feature, The Third Kind as he "power-dates" his way through the city. www.houseofeugene.blogspot.com

23 V-rag

august 2010 Issue 14

september 2010 This month's artwork: Bryan Cocco is an illustrator and designer who excels in portrait and fantasy work.

This is his stylized vision of NYC duo Ratatat, check them out in the October issue of V-Rag or at The Commodore Ballroom on Sept. 15! http://cocco91.deviantart.com

Brown Girl in the Ring @ Havana Theatre

21

Karaoke Tuesdays @ Oasis

Glee Season Premiere @ Your House

3Sum in the Loft @ Numbers

13

Live Jazz Mondays @ Capone's

Fucking Stephen Harper @ Performance Works

20

Industry Night @ Score on Davie

Monday Madness @ 1181

27

Evolution @ Oasis

Intimate & Interactive @ J Lounge

The Last Feather Boa Show @ The Odyssey

12

Yo Gabba Gabba Live @ Queen E. Theatre

Kissy Sell Out @ Venue

19 - Closing Night

Vancouver Fringe Festival @ Various Locations

Apocalypstic @ The Cobalt

26

Sunday Kegger @ The PumpJack

Numbers Idol @ Numbers

Tuesdays at Celebrities @ Celebrities

DJ Tim @ Numbers

28

Chill @ 1181

14

Karaoke @ J Lounge

Tuesdays at Celebrities @ Celebrities

Tops & Bottoms @ J Lounge

CruiseyT's Grand Finale @ Harbour Cruises

7

Tuesday

6

Monday

5

Sunday

Shower Power @ Odyssey

Ready Steady Go @ J Lounge

Toolbox Wednesday @ Pumpjack

Bingo For Life @ Celebrities

29

Kieran Strange @ J Lounge

Average Joe's @ Numbers

22

Ratatat @ The Commodore

Jonas Brothers @ Rogers Arena

15

Red Hot Wednesdays @ Celebrities

Wild Wednesdays @ 1181

Cocky @ 1181

Latin Night @ Oasis

30

Hard Candy @ Celebrities

Haunted @ The Narrow

23

Scissor Sisters @ Malkin Bowl

Aerosmith @ Rogers Arena

16

Racoonery! @ Performance Works

Vancouver Fringe Festival @ Various Locations

9 - Opening Night

Blender @ J Lounge

8

2

Faux Girls & Lips Inc. @ Odyssey

Thursday

1

Wednesday

Olio Festival Showcase @ Venue

Loving Spoonful Anniversary @ Five Sixty

25

Trinity w/ Tony Moran @ Celebrities

Fucking Stephen Harper @ J Lounge

18

Chew Fu @ Gossip

Womyn's Over 30 Dance @ Lick

11

Labour Day Banger @ Five Sixty

Grind @ Lick

4

Saturday

Please send event and calendar listings to events@v-rag.com.

Hot Hot Heat @ The Commodore

Tom Green @ The Vogue

24

Morgan Page @ Celebrities

DJ Sammy Jo @ Five Sixty

17

The Zeroes @ Venue

Kim Fai @ Celebrities

10

Chris Lake @ Celebrities

Kootenay Pride 2010 Nelson, B.C.

3

Friday

vanragazine #15

Joan-E's

PEOPLE TO WATCH OUT FOR

I

am always interested in watching creative people getting ahead and finding a place for themselves, especially in Vancouver's party, arts and entertainment scene. Here are a few folks who have captured the attention of not only myself, but of so many of you!

Peter Breeze Mr. Breeze describes himself as a "pop artist". But he is much, much more. He writes and performs all his own music and is a fierce self-promoter. He is very much a part of the club scene and is always surrounded by an adoring possy of young gay lads wearing size 28 (or smaller) jeans. Peter might look like he just wants you to "buy him a drink, buy him a drink", but don't kid yourself. He's always planning a show, writing a song or securing a gig. If Lady Gaga had a conjugal visit with Michael Alig? Peter Breeze!

Lisa De Lux The popular DJ and promoter is reshaping some silly old stereotypes of what a "girl" DJ is. Lisa De Lux is hot. She is part of a new generation of ladies who rock hard, ooze style and pack power. A contestant in Hot Gay DJ, Lisa is contributing heavily to Vancouver's party scene with events like Nawtybox: Gurls That Bang, Madame Hussy's House Warming, and many other parties at Lick Nightclub and around the city. She has appeared at Pride events in Kelowna and Calgary and at the Telus Pride Party here in Vancouver.

Watch out boys, the bangin' in the booth is no longer just a sausage party.

Tommy D Tommy D has become a giant of Vancouver nightlife in just a few short years. Tommy, with his glamorous and very charismatic "wife" Anna Thorsen is Flame and the Dame Productions.

26

photos by nicholas jang www.double-take2.ca

Rag

His parties, including Rapture, Trinity and his New Years and Halloween parties always sell out.

His little black book of DJs is legendary and his commitment to high production and solid talent is appreciated but the thousands of partiers who flock to his events. His alter ego, Syren, is one of the most sought-after drag queens in the city, and he Facebook promotes sooner, more often and better than anyone in the business. Yes, he has his haters, and no, he doesn't care. When people see "TFD Presents", they attend.

Amber Dawn Amber Dawn is a bold performance artist, a former Hero of the Year winner and is the Director of Programming for the Vancouver Queer Film Festival. The gorgeous and fabulously dressed red headed beauty is a a physical throwback to the pin-up girls of yesteryear. Her performances are forward, sexy and reveal more than just Amber. Emotional and sexual, they are vivid and exquisitely bare. Most recently, Amber's strong artistic hand can be felt in her role with the Out on Screen. In an event that always threatens to be overshadowed by its own great parties, Amber Dawn keeps us cheering, booing, and ultimately talking about the films so dear to her.

V-rag

Adam Dreaddy Dreaddy is the busiest DJ in town. If he hasn't been playing at 1181, Big Roger Events, TFD Presents, The World, Celebrities, Five Sixty or even at Steamworks, he's out promoting his work.

Adam and his partner (1181's sexy bartender Riley Cox) are a striking couple to say the least.

Dreaddy is part of a new generation of "boys with manners". He attends everyone else's parties (not just his own), is known for walking around, shaking hands and thanking people for attending his events, and often sends thank-you messages the following day to people who came out the night before. He promotes other DJs including his great buddy Bertossi and has been the subject of more than a few young men's fantasies.

Brandon Gaukel Photographer, publisher, producer and event promoter, Brandon Gaukel is here to stay. Not only does he want a piece of the pie, he has made the pie get just a little bigger.

Brandon and his gang have taught us all quickly that Vancouver's East Side is up and ready to party and that he was just the boy to bring that party. Queer Bash, and all his other bashes, are quickly developing a reputation for solid late night fun at a price everyone can afford. And yes, the West End kids are finally crossing the Bridge to go check them out too.

Sean Horlor The newly-crowned Queer of the Year, Sean Horlor may be just that. The co-host of Don't Quit Your Gay Job (with V-Rag's Rob Easton), a local blogger and man about town, Sean has been a busy, busy boy. While hugely popular, Sean hasn't been afraid of a little controversy along the way. Jokes about the Downtown East Side, criticisms of Vancouver events and an enormously entertaining bru hah hah with event planner Terry Costa kept us all looking, reading and enjoying. Much more than just "that guy who takes his clothes off", he's showing us that he's a smart man with a plan and a product, and that product is Sean Horlor. V Check out more of Joan-E's Rag on www.v-rag.com or www.pinq.ca

27

around town!

W

e look forward to this “Back to School” Season with anticipation and hopes for gorgeous weather.

August was pretty genius and September looks very promising for rad nightlife culture and happening happenings. As I go into Labour… Well, what I mean to say is the Labour Day weekend is full of gay fun especially at Lotus, 1181 and Five Sixty, all boasting great long weekend line-ups.

The party gets funky as The Scissor Sisters roll into town for the last show of the North American leg of the tour. Malkin Bowl will host the outdoor celebration on Thursday the 16th. The party goes all night with the Official Scissor Sisters After Party at Five Sixty with DJ Sammy Jo, Dickey Doo (returning for the occasion from Berlin) and many other very special guests, including the after party hostess, yours truly! Speaking of Dickey Doo being in town after 6 months in Germany, he'll be making the most of his time back, also spinning at Five Sixty on Saturday the 18th. The Spit boys will also be hosting the after hours segment of the night with another Dark Knight gathering.

'Tis definitely the season for change and growth... So try something new, open your mind and embrace change. Have you been to Gudrun in Steveston? Corduroy or Piato in Kits?

Or how about Miss Trucos right in the heart of the Davie Village? If you haven’t, you should!

Feed your mind and your mouth.

Until Rocktober! Miss Cotton xo V Check out the all new House of Venus website www.houseofvenus.com

Is stress accumulating as peace declines?

Is there more drama in your life than peace?

Looking to experience More Happy and Less Crappy every day?

Learn the secret to getting rid of cheap drama.

Practice the art of unconditional forgiveness.

Discover true happiness and start living your dreams.

Fall in love with yourself again, or for the first time...

SAY GOODBYE to DRAMASTICS!!!

Learn more @...

Dramastics.com

V-rag

29

WATCH: Do Começo ao Fim (From Beginning to End) www.tinyurl.com/vrag33

A fan video from the controversial Brazilian film by Aluisio Abranches. Thomas and Francisco are half brothers who grow up very close... watch it to the end for the bedroom scene.

WATCH: Meet The New Gay on 90210 Trevor Donovan www.tinyurl.com/vrag34

Trevor Donovan's character Teddy will come out on 90210. Check out Trevor in this Extra segment from 2007, but every time they say "ladies" insert "boys" and when he sings imagine it's a Kylie cover.

WATCH: Bruce LaBruce: The Advocate for Fagdom www.tinyurl.com/vrag35

The trailer for upcoming documentary on Bruce LaBruce directed by Angelique Bosio.

Featuring interviews with the likes of John Waters, Gus Van Sant, Vaginal Davis, and many others.

Ice Cream Truck by Cazwell www.tinyurl.com/vrag36

Cazwell turns the hip-hop booty shaking music videos upside down with the hot guys shaking their butts!! Directed by Marco Ovando. I finally get all those STR8 hip-hop music videos!

WATCH: Steam Room Stories #27 www.tinyurl.com/vrag37

If you're hot, sticky and wet, you're in the steam room. Hunter, David, Josh, Brad and Ross' weekly web series. In this episode the guys use their best one liners to pick up the gym stud.

WATCH: VQFF's Ferris Bueller Inspired Pride Float www.tinyurl.com/vrag38

The Vancouver Queer Film Festival volunteers recreate the famous parade scene from Ferris Buller's Day Off at the Vancouver Pride Parade.

september 2010 Issue 15

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.

Visit www.wayoutwest.tv for more gay videos!

vanragazine #15

LIVE ON

STAGE

30

photo by jenna wakani

B

orn and raised in Toronto, educated in Montreal, and a short residency in Vancouver only gave actor/writer Rob Salerno a taste of the country before he began to experience it by traveling across the land from city to city performing at Fringe Theatre Festivals.

His first memories of being on stage are from childhood Christmas pageants and school choir; his first steps into the writing world were sketches at summer camps. “I just always liked being the centre of attention when I was a child. Being on stage was great for that,” admits Salerno. Even though he told his parents at age five that he wanted to be a game show host, Salerno’s first acting job, in a full-length play, was not until university years and his writing only took shape in his early twenties. When he began performing at Fringe Theatre Festivals, four years ago, he realized that this could be his living.

Salerno's first play, Balls, toured the Fringe circuit winning rave reviews and awards, and his latest, Big in Germany, debuted at the Toronto Fringe Festival. His biggest hit though is Fucking Stephen Harper... the play that is. Fucking Stephen Harper was developed with the support of Canada’s largest queer company, Buddies in Bad Times Theatre in Toronto. It was work-shopped at the 2009 Rhubarb Festival and the Big Comedy Go-To in London, Ontario. The first presentations of the complete play were in Montreal and Toronto in 2009. It was inspired by Salerno's work as a journalist, his actual attempts to secure an interview with Stephen Harper during the 2008 federal election, and the Harper Conservatives' ongoing refusal to grant him an interview since being elected to office. After touring the country this summer, the show reaches Vancouver in September.

“I'm constantly discovering new things about being on stage and new reasons to love what I do,” says Salerno. “I love when I can get an audience that draws from all parts of society.” Besides performing to various audiences in each city, a favourite about traveling is the fact that many performers on the theatre circuit become “sort of a circus family” which helps Salerno, a solo performer, from feeling lonely and home sick.

By the time he reaches Vancouver, many of the fellow performers he's met along the way will have been touring together for three to four months. Salerno is looking forward to his return to Vancouver to catch up with old friends, gorge in sushi and enjoy the beaches.

Visit his company's website www.tenfootpole.ca to find out what adventure he’s tackling next. V Fucking Stephen Harper is at J Lounge, Friday, Sept.

17th at 8pm (fundraiser for AIDS Vancouver) and at the Fringe Festival www.vancouverfringe.com

We cordially invite you to the

Nutcracker Party for Kids An exclusive family event at the +Õii Ê â>LiÌ Ê/ i>ÌÀiÊÌ ÃÊ `>ÞÊÃi>à tÊ / ÕÀÃ`>Þ]Ê iVi LiÀÊÎä]ÊÓä£äÊ

at 1:00 to 5:00 PM (2 PM showtime) À `>Þ]Ê iVi LiÀÊΣ]ÊÓä£äÊ

at 1:00 - 5:00 PM (2 PM showtime)

SCHEDULE:

1:00 – 2:00 PM

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2:00 – 2:45 PM

Treat your family members or employees and their children to a magical performance of Alberta Ballet’s The Nutcracker with the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra. After the show, enjoy a back stage tour of the areas only accessed by dancers and stage crew. See where the dancers put on their make-up & costumes, and see how the technicians place the props & stage lights. Return to the VIP Lounge for complimentary refreshments and let your children take photos with a ballet dancer. Leave the theatre with a gift and family memories which will last a lifetime!

YOUR CORPORATE PACKAGE INCLUDES: UÊ xäÊÌ V iÌÃÊv ÀÊÌ iÊ ÕÌVÀ>V iÀÊ«iÀv À > ViÊ UÊ Ê «« ÀÌÕ ÌÞÊv ÀÊÞ ÕÀÊ `ÃÊÌ Ê« ÃiÊÜ Ì Ê>Êv> ÀÞÊ ÀÊ toy soldier for photos UÊ Ê «« ÀÌÕ ÌÞÊv ÀÊÞ ÕÀÊ `ÃÊÌ Ê LÌ> Ê>ÕÌ }À>« ÃÊ from the dancers UÊ ÊiÝV Õà ÛiÊL>V ÃÌ>}iÊÌ ÕÀÊ>vÌiÀÊÌ iÊ«iÀv À > Vi UÊ « i Ì>ÀÞÊV vvii]ÊÌi>]Ê Õ ViÊ> `ÊV iÃÊ ÊÌ iÊ VIP Lounge UÊ > Ã

ÕÌVÀ>V iÀÊ£ÃÌÊ > v / , -- " Ê

3:00 – 3:45 PM ÕÌVÀ>V iÀÊÓ `Ê > v

4:00 – 4:20 PM Backstage Tour

4:20 – 5:30 PM Dancers, Autographs, Photos, Balloons

For more information and to book your Nutcracker Holiday Party please contact Marc Smith of Amuse Consulting by phone 604-687-6335 or email: marc@amuseconsulting.ca

vanragazine #15

FILM:notes Eat Pray Love D: ryan murphy

Piranha 3D D: alexandre aja

How you feel about this glossy adaption of Elizabeth Gilbert’s massively successful memoir will depend largely on how you feel about the source material itself. If, like millions of others, you found Gilbert’s three-country odyssey to be a lifechanging meditation on what it means to be truly happy and you’re looking for the same vibe from the movie, then you may well feel cheated by this fluffy, fancy-dressed and paper-thin fairytale. But if, like me, you found the book to be a well-meaning but ultimately transparent record of self-discovery for the rich-and-privileged, then the very aspects of the movie that are garnering some serious criticism (‘it’s too shallow!’) end up providing some well-made escapism. Without wanting to disrespect Gilbert’s experience (her documentation of her depression was very honest and harrowing and as a result doesn’t make it into the movie), reading the book was a little like suffering one of those rich teenagers who spends three weeks in European hostels then tells everyone they have ‘extensive backpacking experience’. So, if anything, the movie works because it is far lighter in its approach. Julia Roberts is magnificent in her first major lead role in years and there’s something almost old-fashioned about watching a movie get by purely on star power. Javier Bardem and James Franco provide solid (and droolsome) support and the whole package is draped in gorgeous (if a little clichéd) cinematography. Treated as whimsy, this is an enjoyable-but-forgettable couple of hours for fans of food porn, Julia and travel photography.

Believe it or not, Piranha 3D is a movie-lover's type of film. From the cast of Hollywood royalty that includes Elizabeth Shue, Christopher Lloyd, Jerry O'Connell, Ving Rhames and Richard Dreyfuss, it's obvious from the get-go that this is no ordinary monster movie. In fact, this is the greatest prehistoric-piranhas-attacking-drunken-Spring-Breakers movie ever made!

French Director Alexandre Aja is best known for his bleak, disturbing art-horror films such as the lesbian psycho thriller High Tension or the brutal remake of The Hills Have Eyes. Here, however, he throws all that out the window to create a hilariously gruesome homage to 1970s and 80s exploitation flicks. This is when splatter movies were fun and silly, unlike the new wave of Saw rip-offs. The theatre of sick viewers (myself included) was laughing all the way through at the gratuitously over-the-top gore and female nudity. Amazing how piranhas always go for the bikini bra strap before anything else...

Yes, it's dumb hetero boys chasing nubile naked girls. So why are we reviewing this in a gay publication? Because Piranha 3D is the definition of camp. If Showgirls contained flesh-eating fish, it would have been this film. Except this movie is expertly crafted, well written, and contains unnecessarily fine performances by the whole cast.

Cabin Fever director Eli Roth's cameo is worth the price of admission, as is hot newcomer Steven R. McQueen (grandson of actor Steve McQueen). A grindhouse classic in the making.

by John Britton

32

by Cole Johnston

V-rag

33

Various chickens in love

Margaret Cho cho dependent

Eliza Doolittle eliza doolittle

Generally, I don’t purchase charity albums, and it’s not because I’m uncharitable. It's because the lineups are usually pretty awful. But in this case, both the album and the cause are completely deserving of my $9.99.

Chickens in Love is an album that benefits a little organization called 826LA (no I’d never heard of it either) that teaches kids how to write songs. And not just impoverished kids, or kids facing challenges, but any kids with a little bit of creativity running through their veins.

All the songs on the album were written by students at 826LA and then performed by a variety of LA-based artists. So what you get is twelve perfectly adorable songs performed by the cream of the indie crop.

My ultimate favourite is "So Sleepy" (performed by Fiona Apple) followed by "Earth" (performed by She & Him) and headliner "Chickens in Love" (performed by Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros), but all the songs rock. Seriously, the album is worth buying and the website (826la.org/chickensinlove) worth checking out.

Leave it to Margaret Cho to continue to redefine the rules of what is means to be a woman in comedy, let alone a woman of a minority, who also identifies herself as queer (despite being married to a man).

From tattoos to concert videos that are passed around by teenaged queers like their holy prophets to burlesque and now back to her roots, good ol` fashioned comedy.

But this time her charming annecdotes and insightful jokes are being presented in the form of music, with Cho`s first attempt at a legit record, albeit still a "comedy album".

And with titles like "Eat Shit and Die" you can't help but laugh, from either getting the joke or being afraid Cho is taking herself too seriously.

While you never really figure out if Cho, who overall sounds surprisingly seasoned, is in on the joke or the joke is on her... the end result is pleasently amusing, if at times gimmicky.

We're looking forward to a follow-up album.

On first listen to this debut from the latest Brit to sing about being young and pretty and rebellious, it’s impossible not to draw comparisons with the UK’s other snarky pop-kids Lily Allen and Kate Nash. But as you settle into this rather delightful album, it becomes increasingly clear that Ms. Doolittle shouldn’t be written off as just another angry Brit-pop wannabe. This girl’s got class, and a killer voice to boot.

Album high-point "Pack Up" nicks a sample from a World War I marching song, throws in some neat 50s dancehall vibes and still manages to stay current with lyrics about Googling and depression. It’s something of a minor miracle – one of those rare songs that transcends time and place. Elsewhere, the tunes touch on the irresistible pull of sex with someone you physically fancy but personally can’t stand ("Skinny Genes") and even blend sinister lyrics about kidnapping with a cha-cha-cha lightness ("Go Home"). This is credible, stylish pop with wit and bite and makes perfect late-summer listening.

by Matt Roy

by Justin Meisner

by John Britton

september 2010 Issue 15

MUSIC:notes

AVAILABLE AT: 1238 Davie Street_ 604.669.1753

www.littlesisters.ca

1238 Davie Street_ 604.669.1753

www.littlesisters.ca

with any clothing purchase receive 25% off any product during the month of september

by Alexander Yakovlev

Photography: alexander yakovlev www.ayakovlev.com

vanragazine #15

LISTINGS sunday sept. 5

wednesday sept. 15

The Last Feather Boa Show Join Joan-E and friends in bidding a fond farewell to the Odyssey Nightclub on 1251 Howe Street. It's the end of an era boys and girls.

Ratatat Indie rockers and club heads unite with this New York-based duo bringing their sound to the Commodore, 868 Granville.

ths. sept. 9-sun. sept. 19

thursday sept. 16

Vancouver Fringe Festival This time with more queer!

Morgan Brayton's Racoonery, Rob Salerno's Fucking Stephen Harper and Katherine Glover's A Cynic Tells Love Stories are just a few of the GLBTQ-themed plays at this year's Fringe!

Scissor Sisters As if every gay in the village isn't going to this one. Join the Sisters at Malkin Bowl in Stanley Park.

42

sunday sept. 19 Apocalypstic Can't stand life without

16

drag queens after the Odyssey closes? This brand new drag night should unite the east and the west from the creators of Queer Bash. The Cobalt, 917 Main saturday sept. 25 A Loving Spoonful 20th Anniversary Party Help celebrate 20 years of one of the most influential organizations in Vancouver history. 560 Seymour

FAUX GIRLS & LIPS INC.

PUMPJACK

GRANVILLE ISLAND, HONEY LAGER, PALE ALE

FREE POOL

SUNDAY KEGGER

FREQUEENCY

MIDWEEK CRISIS

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.

INDUSTRY NIGHT

THE BOA SHOWS

KARAOKE TUESDAYS

NUMBERS IDOL

PILSNER SPECIALS

Live Bands

TOOLBOX WEDNESDAYS: EVERY LAST WEDNESDAY

EVOLUTION

DJ SAM McCOOEY

DJ TIM

HIGHBALL SPECIALS

GLEE TUESDAYS

RED TRUCK LAGER & BEEFEATER HIGHBALLS

BINGO FOR LIFE & RED HOT WEDNESDAYS

TUESDAYS AT CELEBRITIES

RUSSELL & TWISTED COOLERS SPECIALS

WILD WEDNESDAYS

Wednesdays

CHILL

Tuesdays

WELL LIQUOR SPECIALS

ODYSSEY

OASIS

NUMBERS

LICK

3SUM IN THE LOFT

LOCAL BEER SPECIALS

G80Z SUNDAYS

NUMBERS IDOL

Comedy Night: Tops & Bottoms

Brunch & T-Dance theme nights

J LOUNGE

JUNCTION

HOUSE WINE & BLUE

CAESARS & OKANAGAN SPRINGS SPECIALS

CHEAP SUNDAYS

Mondays

FOUNTAINHEAD

FIVE SIXTY

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

COCKY

Thursdays

CANADIAN JUGS & JAGERBOMBS SPECIAL

RUSSELL CREAM SPECIALS

CIRCUIT O

BANGIN'!

CORONA NIGHT

BLACK SATURDAY / SHOW YOUR STUFF

FALLEN ANGEL

LIVE PIANO SATURDAYS LOLLIPOP EVERY 2ND SAT

SATURDAY DANCE PARTY

GRIND, NAWTYBOX, & MAN-UP ROTATING

BASELINES: EVERY 3RD FRIDAY DJ DREW

CONNECTION SATURDAYS

karma saturdays DJ Alkatraz

THE SOCIAL

Fixx Fridays le duom

GRANVILLE ISLAND & SMIRNOFF ICE SPECIALS

magic sessions mkw main room

dj leanne's deep house trevor risk main room KOKANEE & POLAR ICE VODKA HIGHBALLS

RELEASE SATURDAYS

TIGHT

Saturdays

STEREOTYPE FRIDAYS

MUMBLES' MADHOUSE

Fridays

NIGHTLIFE IN VANCOUVER

V-rag

43

vanragazine #15

DOWNTOWN VANCOUVER

V-MAP

NIC

Robson Market

17

J Lounge (1216 Bute)

18

Lick Nightclub (455 Abbott)

19

Little Sisters Bookstore (1238 Davie)

20

Masc Skincare (433 Davie)

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

Pompadours on Denman (1071 Denman)

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

1800

1900

GILFORD

NELSON

COMOX

NELSON PARK

CARDERO

NICOLA

DAVIE

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

PACIFIC BLVD BEAC H

PACIF

GE

n

SEA WA LL PROME NADE

M

BRID

ai

SUNSET BEACH

Stadium

BURRARD

le

28

Gr an vil

Burrard

CHILCO

nt PENDRELL

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

9

E. 11TH AVE

22

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 (4307 Main)

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

44

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

MAINLAND

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

400

HOMER

RICHARDS

SEYMOUR

GRANVILLE

HOWE

HORNBY

E

20

W

G

11

AY

ID

25 1200

FOX W

BR

1100 DAVIE

38

Spray Tans Waxing Massage Much more…

TELUS World of Science OMNIMAX

E

HELMCKEN

T

BI

26

C DU

M

1000

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 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

45

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

september 2010 Issue 15

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 #15

photo by shane osterhoff

dj jeffery michael

Q&A

DJ Jeffery Michael is one of Vancouver's fastest growing and finest electro DJs. In his short time on the DJ circuit, he's landed headlining gigs at Celebrities, Lotus Sound Lounge, Vancouver Pride, Pulse, Red X Red and Five Sixty. In addition to that, he was a fixture at several Olympic events and played the 2010 Celebrities New Years Eve Party. It's no wonder Jeffery won the Hot Gay DJ competition after an impressive interactive live set at Celebs.

You can see him next at 1181 for their Labour Day Weekend party on Sept. 5.

First DJ gig?

I started back in 2001 in San Francisco, California, playing underground warehouse parties. I re-entered the music scene with a club approach June 2009 with my debut gig at Celebrities Nightclub.

Favorite Gig(s)?

New Years Eve 2010 - Celebrities Nightclub; Winter Olympics 2010 Street Party - Club Zone Tent; Hollywood Fridays - Lotus Sound Lounge

46

DJ

What kind of music do you play?

TOP TEN

1. A lan Pride - "In Heaven" 2. Y olanda Be Cool & DCUP "We No Speak Americano" 3. Deepside Deejays – "Hold You" 4. Federico Scavo – "Let's All Chant" 5. Niels Van Gogh, Armin Prayd – "On" 6. S pencer & Hill – "Shy Boy" 7. M ark Knight – "Party Animal" 8. Aria, Mark M., DJ Ortzy – "Party In Miami" 9. Andy Caldwell ft. Gram'ma Funk – "Funk Nasty" 10. B ob Sinclar - "Beat Goes On"

Electro House, House / progressive / tech house What have you been up to lately?

Working on my music programming and marketing push.

Rock Star moments?

Celebs - New Years 2010. Nearly 1,000 people throughout the night kept a high energy vibe!

Musical Inspirations?

Spencer & Hill, Wolfgang Gartner, Mark Knight, Michael Mind, Dave Aude, Darius & Finlay, Thomas Gold... and so forth... too many to list!

Hobbies?

Traveling, going to the gym, cars...

Future Plans?

Professional music production, and continuing expansion of my DJ career. There are some great bookings getting lined-up for the next few months. V www.djjefferymichael.com