Verb Issue R43 (Aug. 31-Sept. 6, 2012)

New v&ed!

Impro

chasing down a dream Hunting storms in Saskatchewan me and my songs John Lilly, and the rise of American music beasts of the southern wild Reviewed ­

+

Gettin’ our hands dirty with

dean brody

Issue #43 – August 31 to September 6 Photo: courtesy of mark maryanovich

contents

NEWs + Opinion

culture

entertainment

Q + A: Geoffrey Whynot

Live Music listings

Globe director talks about the effervescent Patsy Cline. 8 / Q + A

Local music listings for August 31 through September 8. 14 / listings

pedal power

Just me and my songs

Nightlife Photos

How bike cops are changing policing in Saskatchewan. 3 / Local

John Lilly and the rise of traditional American music. 9 / Arts

Tamara visited the Pump Roadhouse on Thursday, August 23. 15 / Nightlife

miranda Lambert

The possession & beasts of the southern wild

How one rebel revolutionized modern country music. 9 / Arts

Adam reviews the latest films. 16 / Film

verbnews.com @verbregina facebook.com/verbnewsregina

Editorial Publisher / Parity Publishing Editor in Chief / Ryan Allan Managing Editor / Jessica Patrucco staff Writers / Adam Hawboldt + Alex J MacPherson Contributing writer / jessica Bickford

ART & Production

storm chasing

Design Lead / Roberta Barrington Design & Production / Brittney Graham Contributing Photographers / tamara klein + danielle tocker

Greg Johnson gets up close and personal with tornados. 4 / Local

Business & Operations

On the cover: dean Brody Dean talks to Alex about perfectionism and feeling pressure. 10 / cover

welcome to the redesign of verb Here’s what it’s all about. 6 / Editorial

Thai Garden review

on the bus

Jessica & Danielle check out Thai Garden. 12 / Food + Drink

Weekly original comic illustrations by Elaine M. Will. 18 / comics

comments

Music

Game & Horoscopes

Here’s what you thought about changing electoral districts. 7 / comments

Wildfire, Snareophobe and Rural Alberta Advantage. 13 / music

Canadian criss-cross puzzle & weekly horoscope readings. 19 / timeout

Office Manager / Stephanie Lipsit Marketing Manager / Vogeson Paley Financial Manager / Cody Lang

contact Comments / feedback@verbnews.com / 881 8372 advertise / advertise@verbnews.com / 979 2253 design / layout@verbnews.com / 979 8474 General / info@verbnews.com / 979 2253

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Sergeant Patrick Barbar and Constable Eric Flogan on patrol. Photo: Alex J. MacPherson/ Verb Magazine

Pedal Powered

Old tools and new ideas in policing. by Alex J MacPherson

P

atrick Barbar and Eric Flogan are pedaling hard, their bicycles eating up the miles under the warm summer sun.

They have been riding for several hours but neither is breathing hard.

This is what they do for a living.

Barbar and Flogan are members of the Saskatoon Police Service’s Community Response Unit. Beat and bike cops, in other words. Saskatoon police officers have been riding bikes for 20 years, but the section has profited greatly from the support of Clive Weighill, Saskatoon’s chief of police. Barbar, who runs the unit, thinks police officers on bicycles are a vital part of the service. Flogan is new to the unit but seems to share Barbar’s views.

But what is that vision, exactly?

And how does it make policing better?

“That goes back to Robert Peel,” Barbar says. Peel was twice prime minister of Great Britain, but his accomplishments at 10 Downing Street are overshadowed by the sweeping police reforms he spearheaded in 1829. He died in 1850, but his ideas live on in people like Patrick Barbar.

“One of his principles was that the police are the people and the people are the police,” Barbar says.

“The police are the only ones paid to ensure the full-time protection of the city, but it’s incumbent on everyone to do that. We need the pubic. That doesn’t happen when there’s no relationship.”

Barbar is talking about community policing, a philosophy based on the value of interaction. Bicycles,

he says, are one of the best ways to build relationships with the people who live and work in the city — the people he and his colleagues rely on.

“In cars, we’re able to get anywhere in the city at incredibly fast speeds.

That’s important, but we’re forgetting that while we’re in the car we’re not interacting with anyone.”

Riding north along the river, Barbar and Flogan meet an endless stream of people. Some are cycling, others walking, and some simply enjoying the placid July evening.

Almost all of them say hello, wave, or merely nod their approval. Especially the kids.

…the police are the people and the people are the police. patrick barbar

“We don’t realize it,” Barbar says, “but if you hand a kid a sticker or a tattoo, some of those kids grow up and remember those moments, because at the time it was a huge deal for them.”

People become police officers for a variety of reasons. Some are adrenaline junkies. Others, like Flogan, experience firsthand the restorative power of a police officer.

And some are pulled into policing by

more abstract ideas.

“There’s a sense of justice that exists,” Barbar says, “of getting upset when someone gets away with something or when someone is treated unfairly. It’s just a way for me to be able to influence the world we live in and to try and prevent a little of that from happening. From the age of 11 or 12, this is what I wanted to do.”

These feelings, along with a healthy thirst for travel, impelled him to, in 2009, sign up for a joint mission with the RCMP. The project was meant to train police forces in developing countries. Barbar wanted to go to Haiti; they sent him to Afghanistan.

“I didn’t feel warm and fuzzy about that,” he admits, “[but] I felt it was an opportunity being thrown at me, and I’m going to take it and run with it.”

Barbar left for Kandahar in the spring of 2010. “At one point,” he says, “the only thing that kept me going, kept me from turning around, was that I didn’t want to face people here.”

In Afghanistan, Barbar worked with a group of Canadian police officers to train members of the Afghan National Police. In addition to working at a police academy, Barbar spent time in Kandahar teaching community policing to rookies, most of whom didn’t speak English.

“We would put the Afghan policemen front and centre, and it was as basic as saying we want you to interact with members of the community, because that’s just not something they did,” he explains. “These guys

would … wait for people to come to them. We wanted them to go out to the people and meet them, just like we do.”

“You had a public that didn’t trust their police, and a police that didn’t trust their public,” Barbar continues. “We wanted to bring them to a point where, if you get to know a person because you’ve spoken to them, you’re going to have a greater tendency to trust that person and call upon them in a time of need.”

The most important thing Barbar learned in Afghanistan was the value of community policing. He came back energized and inspired. Even now, almost two years later, it shows.

“We talk about contacts in policing,” Barbar says. “A patrol officer,

unfortunately, has mainly negative contacts. In my day, I have so much positive contact with members of the community, because my job is slightly different. I’m still going to get some calls, but if you bike along the trail here, people will say hi to you.”

That interaction, as short as it may be, is significant. It’s evidence that old ideas and new tools are building relationships and tearing down walls.

Evidence that what Barbar is doing is working, and that the face of modern policing may have come full circle.

Feedback? Text it! (306) 881 8372

@MacPhersonA amacpherson@verbnews.com

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CHASING DOWN A DREAM

Regina’s Greg Johnson sold a lucrative marketing and communications business to chase storms all across North America. Does he regret it? Not a chance. by adam hawboldt Photo: courtesy of greg Johnson

J

uly 24th, 2012 was what storm chasers call a “high risk” tornado day in Saskatchewan — a day that holds real expectations of seeing a twister.

In Regina, Greg Johnson and his team of storm chasers were watching their equipment intently, waiting for a monstrous tornado to brew west of the city. They’d been at work since 6am, and as the morning progressed everything seemed to be falling into place. The air was moist and humid. A warm jet stream had arrived from the U.S, ready to collide with a cold, dry stream blasting down from the north.

“Everything was coming together nicely,” says Johnson. “By early afternoon the storm really started to develop.”

So Johnson and his fellow storm chasers jumped in the Tornado Truck and began to drive to where they needed to go — or at least where they thought they needed to go.

“On our way out there we noticed the target storm we were following was starting to die,” says Johnson.

“It was disorganized. Storms that produce tornadoes are organized, this one wasn’t. It was losing its shape and intensity.”

The team was frustrated. This was supposed to be a guaranteed tornado situation, but there they were, no tornado in sight. So they turned around and began driving back to Regina.

Little did they know what would happen next.

The windswept prairies of Canada are no stranger to severe weather. In winter, severe weather is a way of life. From -50 degree temperatures to blizzards and ice storms, prairie

the prairies, it’s fairly dried out.”

Not so this year.

“What happened was the last few years we’ve had a lot of snow, a lot of run off, a lot of spring and summer rain,” says Johnson. “So we have all this standing water sitting in southwest Manitoba and southeast Saskatchewan. So we have a moist

[We] were filming this tornado when all of a sudden it rips through a farmyard.

Greg Johnson

dwellers have seen it all, and endured it with a frozen smile. In the summer, there’s never any shortage of thunder and lightning storms. But tornadoes?

That’s a different story.

Sure there are a few every year, but it takes a few very specific, rare ingredients to create a tornado. And in most years, these ingredients come in sparse supply around here.

Not this year, though. This year, things were different.

“The first thing you need is humidity – a moist surface layer,” explains Johnson. “Typically that moist air comes from the Gulf of Mexico. That’s why places like Texas and Oklahoma and Arkansas get so many tornadoes.

But by the time that air surges north to

layer of surface air that isn’t usually there.”

The other thing we have is constant exposure to the jet stream. A big high-pressure ridge — the same ridge responsible for all the drought in America this year — has pushed this jet stream farther north than normal.

“For most of this summer, that jet stream has been positioned over the prairies,” says Johnson. “With those two key ingredients, it’s made for a perfect combination for tornadoes all summer.” “[L]ast year we had three tornadoes the whole season,” he adds. “This season we’ve had well over 30.”

And on July 24th, as Johnson and his disappointed team drove back

towards Regina, they were about to go face-first into one of the finest tornadoes to hit Saskatchewan this summer.

“On the way back, a new storm appeared on the radar,” says Johnson.

“The thing about radar is, it’s about 10 minutes behind what’s actually happening. So there we were, watching this new storm develop. It looks okay, not fantastic, but we decide to check it out anyway.”

So there they were, motoring along through driving rain with low expectations. Over grid roads they traversed the hilly, up-and-down landscape of western Saskatchewan.

Then all of a sudden the rain stopped.

They’d punched through to the updraft portion of the storm. The portion where there’s no precipitation because everything is being sucked up into the belly of the storm like a vacuum.

The ominous clouds were hanging low. To Johnson’s right, about 300 yards out, this giant tornado was on the ground. The second he and his team see it, the radar picture hits the screen. It’s the perfect storm.

“We stopped and were filming this tornado when all of a sudden it rips through a farmyard,” says Johnson.

“We were streaming it live to the world — I think something like 15,000 people were watching it — and from behind this shelterbelt of trees you can see this house flying into the air, roofs being ripped off.”

Johnson begins to panic. Are people dying up there?

When you ask Johnson how he became a storm chaser, his answer is simple.

“My background is in photography,” he tells you. “And when I moved to Saskatchewan [from Ontario] I fell in love with all these prairie lightning storms. I was always out with my camera taking pictures whenever a storm rolled in because it was an interesting photographic subject.”

Then, what started out as a hobby for Johnson soon turned into an obsession.

“I won’t lie to you. It’s a little like Richard Dreyfuss in Close Encounters of the Third Kind,” he muses. “You know how he’s out there building the

Devil’s Tower out of mashed potatoes?

Well, this [storm chasing thing] has kind of become my Devil’s Tower.”

So much so that two years ago Johnson sold a lucrative marketing and communications company he’d built from the ground up in order to become a full-time storm chaser.

But he doesn’t have any regrets.

Sure, in the beginning there was a real and latent fear his new business venture wasn’t going to pan out. But it has. And because of that Johnson is doing what he loves to do — tracking and photographing storms.

“I threw caution to the wind, took a leap of faith, all that stuff,” he says.

“But it’s something I really believe in, something I try to instill in my kids: go after what you want, don’t be afraid to chase your dreams.”

Even if those dreams, at times, may seem like a nightmare. Which is exactly what it felt like as Johnson and his team drove towards the farmyard from which they’d just seen houses fly, towards where, conceivably, people could be breathing their last breath.

Fortunately, the nightmare wasn’t a nightmare after all. Their eyes had deceived them: it wasn’t a house or a roof they’d seen swept up in that giant tornado. It was a patio deck, outbuildings, barns. And the people on the farm? They were alright, too.

“There was a feeling of relief,” admits Johnson. “It was an intense, very dramatic, very violent storm.

Thankfully nobody was hurt.”

Thankfully, too, that the team, close enough to the tornado to have debris fall on their truck, had captured the entire storm on video.

“It’s definitely the best tornado we’ve ever caught on video,” says Johnson. “Maybe one of the best that’s been shot in a long time.”

And in the end, it’s that shot, that moment, that chaotic brush with beauty and danger that makes everything all worthwhile for Greg Johnson.

Days like that justify his obsession and the selling of his business.

Days like that are what storm chasers live for.

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Out with the old...

We worked for a year to redesign Verb. Let us walk you through it. by The verb Team

W

elcome, dear reader, to Verb’s all new design!

It is, without question, the best version of the magazine we’ve ever produced.

As soon as you open Verb you’re now greeted by a table of contents, divided into three subjects: news + opinion, culture, and entertainment.

Inside each subject are the sections you know and love, covering topics like local news, arts, food, music and nightlife. These sections are repeated in a navigation bar at the bottom of each page, with the current one highlighted so you always know where you’re at. And even though they include much more information than our previous headers, they take up far less space (over eighty percent less, to be exact).

That streamlining - paired with a new set of typefaces that make text easier to read and remember, along with a more efficient spacing of elements - means we now have more room for fantastic content for

you to enjoy.

In fact, with extra space we’re able to write longer stories, include larger, more dramatic photos, and add compelling new elements like infographics to our layouts.

And without space constraints, we can stop chasing the ‘big story of the week’ - like the province’s latest immigration numbers, or the mayor’s most recent comment on municipal budget proceedings - and spend our time tracking down much more exciting narratives.

We can delve deeper into exploring interesting local personalities, issues and events than we ever could before, and we’ve already got a long list of amazing stories we can’t wait to share with you.

As you flip through the magazine, you’ll notice that we’ve also expanded our coverage of the local arts scene by devoting more pages to visual arts, music, and performing arts. These are things we’re incredibly passionate about, and we’re thrilled that we can do even more to

promote the local arts community with our new design.

You’ll also see, at the bottom of some of our pages, previews about articles in upcoming issues of Verb or other sections in the current issue. This allows us to give you a heads up about what’s in store for the following week, or draw your attention to parts of the current issue you may have missed.

Finally, as you near the end of the publication, you’ll find a couple of surprises. First, Verb has a comic strip! We’ve partnered with talented Saskatchewan artist Elaine M. Will to bring you a unique, original comic strip every week, exclusive to Verb. Elaine is a fantastic illustrator and cartoonist, and we’re excited to see where her imaginative mind takes us.

Our other surprise has been a long time coming, and is something you’ve been asking for since we launched: Verb has a crossword puzzle! It’s not easy, but it’s not too tough either, and the answers are on

the same page in case you need a little help. Since it’s got a Canadian flavour, the subject matter should be familiar to you, so if you’re a word fan be sure to give it a go.

This redesign began more than a year ago, and it’s been a long, difficult and often frustrating endeavour - even with incredible and patient support from our partners, relatives and friends.

But the outcome - the magazine you’re currently holding - reminds us of what we love about what we do, and we wouldn’t have it any other way.

So thanks for reading Verb. We worked our tails off to bring you an all new design, and we hope you love it as much as we do.

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On Topic: Last week we wrote that reworking Saskatchewan’s electoral districts is a good idea. Here's what you had to say:

– Yes finally this needs to happen.

Embarrassed it got shot down once before but this time will work. Get with it Saskatchewan.

text yo thoughtsur to 881 ve r b 8372

canada then everyone needs to carry guns... Which then leads to common sense catastrophe!

Comment in response to “Guns: way better than words, reason,” Editorial page, #203 (August 17, 2012)

– I don’t live in the city, and if this goes through I’ll have to go that much further just to get in touch with my new “rural” MP. This seems to work great if you’re in Regina or Saskatoon, but not so much if you live anywhere else.

– This will never happen it’ll hurt Walls party so he won’t let it go through.

Off Topic – I am from the Philippines, though our country belongs to the third world we never had a problem regarding surgical waiting time, especially when you belong to the upper family class that’s why I wonder why Canada had a long surgical wait times…. Isn’t it scary to those patients that needs immediate attention especially when the case is life threatening. Canada government should accept many surgical specialist or surgeon from other countries, like ours to eliminate surgical backlog. Thanks Comment in response to “Surgical Wait Times Drop Across Province,” Local page,

Sound-Off – There’s a very strong desire among many people employers landlords spouses gov’t types etc. to control the people around them have them do their will. This is morally wrong but more importantly such power over others doesn’t really exist. Its nothing but a frustrating waste of your life to seek it.

– Today I learned of some of my cell phone provider’s capacity to track my activities interfere with the phone’s function and use it for their purposes. This will be in mind when the contract expires! I don’t need a credit rating. I’ll likely pull the battery and score another cheap cell phone sooner than that.

– I’m too texty for my car, too texty for my car too texty by far.

I’m a driver and you know what I mean and I do my little turn on the sidewalk, ya on the sidewalk. I’m too texty for my car.

#204 (August 24, 2012)

– No guns.....no liberty.......all you left wing loons should know guns don’t kill people crazy people do.

Comment in response to “Guns: way better than words, reason,” Editorial page, #203 (August 17, 2012)

– Careful what you wish for!

If people start to carry guns in

– Does anyone proofread these texts? The lack of spelling and grammar in the text section is so frustrating . I am furious that illiteracy is still a factor with spell check available. Before spell check I used a dictionary to save me from embarrassment. I could never go through life looking like a moron that can’t get a hold of the english language which has surrounded

me for over 25 years. If your text doesn’t fit the proper criteria it has no place in this paper.

– When your girlfriend says “I’ll do anything you want!” and you ask her to do the dishes thats DOWNtown!

– Somebody asked me about UPtown. UPtown is in the good alternate universe. DOWNtown is in the crappy alternate universe. They share overlapping M theory branes.

We print your texts verbatim each week. Text in your thoughts and reactions to our stories & content or just your thoughts. Emails are welcome too! Send with ‘Comments’ in the subject line.

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Photos: courtesy of the Globe Theatre

a closer walk

Patsy Cline returns to the Globe Theatre. by Alex J MacPherson

M

ythology is what happens when promise is left unfulfilled, and music is full of meteoric ascents cut short by misadventure, accidents, and bad luck. Patsy Cline avoided becoming a member of the infamous 27-club, but all the same her life was cut short right at the zenith of her career. One of the first true crossover acts, Cline was a vocalist of astonishing strength and vitality. Richly expressive and deeply committed, Cline helped transform country music into popular entertainment — and then she died, killed suddenly in a horrific plane crash in 1963. She was just 30 years old. Mythology begins when life ends, and both themes are the subject of the musical, A Closer Walk with Patsy Cline, one of the most popular productions in Globe Theatre history, now embarking on its second run. I caught up with director Geoffrey Whynot in Regina to chat about hit shows, the impact of tragedy, and the joy of music.

Alex J MacPherson: First of all, this is a show people have been clamouring for. Why do you think it’s so popular?

Geoffrey Whynot: It’s nice to be back by popular demand!

Musicals almost always do well, because people like music — they do. Patsy Cline was a trailblazer, and when you hear these voices, even now, it’s a voice like nobody else’s. The music she sang at this time was this incredible crossover.

came this incredible match of singer — her personality, her voice — and her music, and it touched so many people.

AJM: When I wrote about Buddy Holly, I was struck by the idea that no

AJM: Can you tell me a little bit about what this production is like from the director’s perspective?

[Patsy Cline] blazed a trail through her determination, her talent, and her singlemindedness.

Geoffrey Whynot

AJM: Can you elaborate on that a little bit?

GW: Patsy Cline actually didn’t like any of her hits. They were songs they had to browbeat her into recording, because she wanted to do what she thought was pure country. But what they were getting her to do was stuff that suited her voice so perfectly, so it’s a crossover. There’s a real blues feel to it, but it’s pop country, and I think what happened was it just be-

end is strong because both of these people died in pretty spectacular ways, tragic ways.

one would care if he was still alive. Is this true for Cline as well?

GW: You kind of wonder. He made such a huge splash and then he was gone. Patsy stuck around a bit longer, but certainly she was nowhere near able to realize her potential, because of another plane crash.

Maybe that’s part of it too: the leg-

GW: Dean Regan, who put together this show, was really clever. We get Patsy in performance, that’s what they give us. But there’s a really nice framing device — a disc jockey onstage, a guy who first came across Patsy when he was sweeping the floor in this radio station as a kid.

He sees her from the beginning. He’s doing a show about Patsy Cline and it

turns out he’s doing the show on the night that she dies in the plane crash.

We get, through a fan, an idea of what her life was like and what she meant to people.

AJM: What do you hope the audience learns about her, or maybe what insights do you hope to convey?

GW: What I really want is for people to come away and think, ‘I loved that music.’ And I want them to come away realizing that she blazed a trail through her determination, her talent, and her single-mindedness.

She was determined to make this happen. She had this great gift, and she was determined to share.

A Closer Walk with Patsy Cline 11 Sept–23 Sept @ The Globe Theatre $29+ @ Globe Theatre Box Office Feedback? Text it! (306) 881 8372

@MacPhersonA amacpherson@verbnews.com

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Just me and my songs John Lilly and the rise of traditional American music.

by alex J MacPherson

J

ohn Lilly wears jeans and button-down shirts. He is an ordinary guy with an ordinary job editing magazines, which he does during the day. At night, however, Lilly writes and performs music.

Drawing on the rich history of traditional American music, Lilly’s songs evoke timeless images — snapshots from the growth of a nation and authentic personal experience. But Lilly, who is a practical man, laughs at this.

“First of all, there’s no master plan,” he says from his home in Charleston, West Virginia. “Writing music and playing music is what feels good and sounds good to me to do.”

Lilly is also prolific. Working at a pace many full-time musicians struggle to match, he has released six albums since 1999. Lilly calls his latest, the rollicking Cold Comfort, “some shuffles, some fiddles, and some steel guitar.”

Inspired by an offshoot of honky tonk that is all but impossible to find outside the Lone Star State, Cold Comfort is a terrific collection of lush and evocative story songs. “Nowadays, I’m using the term roots country or country roots,” he says. “But that may

Photo: courtesy of Carl E. Feather

or may not even mean something to people. Country music you hear on the radio doesn’t bear much resemblance to what I do.”

Ultimately, Lilly is a songwriter.

Although his songs are sometimes overshadowed by their rich musical backdrops, Lilly derives the most pleasure from writing. A born storyteller, his songs consist of equal measures fiction and experience, but all of them are fine examples of how one voice and one guitar can evoke the deepest emotions.

This is particularly important now, because Lilly is touring by himself, without a band to lean on. “It’s just me and my songs,” he says. “I’m looking forward to that — it’ll be nice to get

alone with the songs for a little while.”

Lilly, who sees himself as part of a growing movement in traditional music, is pleased that his sound appeals to people of every age. The surging popularity of old-time music, Lilly thinks, was sparked by the soundtrack to O Brother, Where Art Thou, a Coen brothers film. When asked how young bands like Trampled by Turtles and Fleet Foxes are contributing to the surge, Lilly laughs.

“I’m pleased to see it catch up with me. I’ve been into this stuff for many years.”

John Lilly September 7 @ The Club $12 at the door

Miranda Lambert

How one rebel revolutionized modern country music. by alex J MacPherson

M

iranda Lambert refuses to be classified. A rebel and a maverick, Lambert does not fit the mould of a conventional country singer. And that is precisely why she is so popular.

“I am different, and I am a little edgy,” Lambert, who declined to be interviewed for this profile, said in a recent news release. “But I’ve played so many tours and been on the road so much, I feel like people get me now. Or else they think, ‘She’s not going away, so we might as well just start liking it.’”

In 2003, Lambert placed third on Nashville Star, an American

Idol-like television program geared towards country fans. While the show was being filmed, it was plain that Lambert was different from her competitors — spunky, confident, and unwilling to conform. She could have slipped into obscurity alongside Buddy Jewell and John Arthur Martinez — the two competitors who beat her — but she chose a different path.

Now, Lambert is one of the brightest lights in contemporary country.

This is because Lambert, who frequently appears in ripped jeans and t-shirts, is a peak in our collective desire to hear something that isn’t fabricated or computerized or

profoundly ridiculous.

Crossover acts are nothing new, of course. Lambert is merely the latest in a long line of country crossovers, terrific singers who are able to reel in the masses with powerful songs and heaps of raw talent.

Lambert’s voice, as distinct as it is powerful, commands attention, even if you don’t care what she’s singing about.

And unlike plenty of her contemporaries, Lambert writes most of her own material. And she has good taste: Lambert has covered songs

by Allison Moorer, Fred Eaglesmith, Gillian Welch — the stars of contem-

porary alt-country.

Lambert’s latest album, Four the Record, came out last year on the heels of “Baggage Claim,” a solid hit.

“I’ve never had an album release coincide with a hit, ever,” Lambert said. “So I’m excited and so thankful.

Because I don’t blame the program directors and DJs who used to have to put my songs on and have the listeners go, ‘What the hell is this?’”

I don’t think anyone says that anymore.

Miranda Lambert September 7 @ the Brandt Centre $ 39.25+ @ Ticketmaster

Photo: courtesy of the artist

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Dirt

Dean Brody dishes on perfectionism, pressure, and writing the best songs he can. by Alex J MacPherson

W

hat sort of person writes a country song about Bob Marley? Or a country song with Great Big Sea? These were among the first questions I asked Dean Brody, a Nova Scotia-based country singer whose songs are making waves across the country. As it turned out, Brody’s answers were unremarkable — not because he’s crazy, but because he’s honest. And in the music business, honesty may be the craziest thing of all.

“It’s funny,” Brody laughed, his rich baritone sounding nothing like

it does onstage. “I had someone the other day go, ‘Bob Marley and country music?’ I never really thought about it. I’ve just always liked the song ‘Three Little Birds.’”

I didn’t expect Brody to say this; I expected a long anecdote or perhaps an even longer justification for the song. But Brody genuinely likes Bob Marley and, in retrospect, it would be absurd for anyone to say he shouldn’t write about “Three Little Birds.” After all, Brody’s popularity is a function of how many people identify with his songs, and he must be doing something right because that number is booming. But that doesn’t

mean he can’t worry about it.

“That was one of my fears,” Brody said, choosing his words carefully, “that because I write a lot of different stuff, are people just going to look at me and go, ‘who is this guy? What is he really trying to say?’ But I think because I write the songs, I’m given a little more freedom by the listeners.

They can accept two different kinds of song because it’s the same writer, the same person writing the lyric.”

This is more important than ever before. Brody’s new record, Dirt, is as diverse and eclectic as it gets. Featuring the aforementioned song about Bob Marley and rollicking collaboration with Great Big Sea, as well as a hard-rocking anthem praising Canadian girls, the album was a gamble for Brody, who could easily have adopted a more traditional approach without anyone saying a word.

“This record was tough,” he said.

“Trail in Life was such a big album for me. There was a lot of pressure to make this next record, the third one,

as good. And I had to just forget about Trail in Life and look forward and move on and try and write and not compare everything to the last record.

After awhile, I was able to do that, break away and write this new stuff.”

The gamble appears to have paid

is humble: “It means the world to me, to be nominated by other musicians, other people in the business,” he said. “It’s very special.”

At this point, Brody launched into a story that went a long way to explaining his success. “I’m hard

That was one of my fears, that because I write a lot of different stuff … people [are] going to … go, ‘who is this guy?’ dean brody

off. Dirt, which was released in April, was recently nominated for seven Canadian Country Music Association (CCMA) Awards. Last year, Trail in Life won four awards, and because he is scheduled to perform at the ceremony, Brody will be well-placed to collect some more hardware. But, like most country musicians, Brody

on myself,” he explained, almost sheepishly. “It’s one of the things I’ve battled with since I was a kid. I’ve always been a perfectionist, and one of my first dreams was to be a punter. In ninth grade I’d go and try and punt as far as the guys in the CFL. And then I’d get depressed if I couldn’t I carry that with me — I’m always trying to Continued on next page »

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Photos: courtesy of mark maryonovich

push myself.”

Perfectionism is a virtue, not a vice, and it carried him when times were tough. Brody once spent six years lugging a guitar around Nashville, playing for anyone who would listen and resting his hopes

and dreams on an endless series of performances. Then, his career was derailed by a horrific waterskiing accident and an acrimonious split with his label. Even today, he admits that songwriting is a struggle — and that his perfectionism keeps him going.

“It’s a weird beast,” Brody said, laughing. “At any point in the day

Photo: courtesy of the artist

I can pick up my guitar and sing to somebody, but writing a song? I can sit down some days and write terrible stuff. And the next day, I write good stuff. It’s always been a battle for me — I love it and I hate it.”

Ultimately, Brody recognizes that honesty draws crowds and hard work retains them. “It’s a weird beast,” Brody said, laughing. “At any point in the day I can pick up my guitar and sing to somebody, but writing a song? I can sit down some days and write terrible stuff. And the next day, I write good stuff. It’s always been a battle for me — I love it and I hate it.”

“It’s so important to try and be authentic,” he added, “even if it’s tough to do.”

Even if some people think you’re crazy.

The Canadian Country Music Association Awards will be broadcast from the Credit Union Centre in Saskatoon on September 9th; check out CBC for the live broadcast of the event, which begins at 8pm.

CCMAs by the numbers 1976 - Canadian Country Music Association was first founded, as the Academy of Country Music Entertainment 1982 - The Country Music Awards ceremony was held for the first time 1987 - The association changed its name to the Canadian Country Music Association 2009 - Dean Brody won his first CCMA award, for “Brothers” (Single of the Year) 2011 - Brody followed his ‘09 win with three awards: Songwriter of the Year, Album of the Year and Single of the Year

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Asian Spice

Photography courtesy of Danielle Tocker.

Thai Garden has classic flavour. by jessica Bickford

t

hai Garden, which opened its doors more than eight years ago, is in a lot of ways a classic Asian restaurant, with a ton of menu options and plenty of tasty dishes that are great for sharing. And in another way, it is just like the Brass Lantern.

worth the visit every time.

We started out with shrimp and pork fresh rolls, which featured crisp lettuce, meaty pork and lots of shrimp, all wrapped up with fresh noodles.

They were served with a dark, rich dipping sauce that was full of umami.

Along with these we had Vietnamese spring rolls, which had a wonder-

Boasting chicken, peppers, broccoli and bean sprouts … this dish had a good amount of heat to it… jessica Bickford

If you have ever been to Thai Garden, you know that the decor hasn’t changed much since the location WAS the Brass Lantern back in the day. But once you sit down to grab a bite, it’ll be perfectly clear where you are, and Thai Garden’s tasty food is

ful crunch from the super crisp and slightly bubbly exterior, and a tasty filling of pork and carrot mixture that was dense, delicious, and piping hot.

Thai coconut soup with shrimp and chicken was out next, and it announced its arrival at the table

with a sweet and spicy aroma that wafted up from the bowl. The flavour of the broth was fantastic, with the rich coconut milk and hot chili oil surrounding a mix of chicken, shrimp, cauliflower, zucchini, and peppers.

Next was some noodley goodness in the form of pad thai. Boasting chicken, peppers, broccoli and bean sprouts, all topped off with crunchy peanuts, this dish had a good amount of heat to it, along with a nice mix of textures from the noodles, the crisp veggies, and the very tender chicken.

We finished off with some yellow curry chicken served with white rice.

The sizable pieces of tender chicken was accompanied by onion, green beans, peppers, mushrooms, tofu and baby corn, all in a thick, smooth curry sauce. The spicy curry had some coconut milk in it to temper a bit of the heat, and when served with rice, it was creamy, with a bit of a kick, and perfect to share.

At Thai Garden the service is great, and above all, the restaurant

has really good food. Their spicy choices were just right for me, but they also have lots of options for those who don’t like any heat at all.

Give some of their Thai dishes a try, or just have an order of Vietnamese spring rolls all to yourself - either way, you will have a most delicious meal.

Thai Garden Family Restaurant 2317 Albert Street | (306) 584 0345 Feedback? Text it! (306) 881 8372

@TheGeekCooks jbickford@verbnews.com

let’s go drinkin’ Verb’s mixology guide Coconut Lime Martini

Ingredients (serves two)

Fresh, Asian flavours are always in when it comes to mixed drinks, and the sweet yet tangy combination of lime and coconut make this the perfect sip to have with Thai food..

8 oz. chilled vodka 1 oz. coconut milk 1 oz. freshly squeezed lime juice ½ tsp. Rose’s lime cordial OR simple syrup lime wedges

Directions

Fill a cocktail shaker halfway with ice, followed by the vodka, coconut milk, lime juice and cordial (or simple syrup). Replace the lid and give it about ten gentle shakes. If you are using whole coconut milk it should foam up a little bit. Strain into two chilled martini glasses, and garnish with the lime wedges.

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music

Next Week

coming up

WILDFIRE

SNAREoPHOBE RURAL ALBERTA ADVANTAGE

@ The Pump Roadhouse september 6–8 – $TBD

@ THE EXCHANGE friday, september 7 – $20

@ KNOX metropolitan CHURCH Friday, November 2 – $28.50

This local group is fronted by Melissa Mannett, a passionate singer/ songwriter from right here in Regina.

With an alluring stage presence and one heckuva voice, Mannett is an up-and-coming songstress to watch.

When she’s not busy doing her solo thing, you can find her playing music with Wildfire. With a set list that is nothing if not diverse, this countryrock cover band plays everything from Lady Gaga to Lady Antebellum (and a whole lot of other stuff in between). Wildfire is the kind of band that honestly has a little something for anyone, so you’ll certainly find yourself singing and dancing along.

Another certainty is that the show will be full of energy and pep. Wildfire plays the Pump Roadhouse from September 6-8.

The year 2011 was a big one for this UK duo: they performed shows and at festivals across Europe, Asia, and India, and dropped releases on Functional Records, Ape Music and Dub FX’s Convoy UnLtd label. The British duo then entrenched themselves deep in the Bristol underground, prepping for their new live show that they’ll be bringing to the Queen City. “This year we’re completely re-working our live setup, focusing on heavy squeeze bass lines and cider drenched funkapellas … on a kind of Junglist John Connor comes back in time to rescue hip-hop, kind of vibe,” says the duo’s website. Advance tickets available at http://www.sellyourevents.com/ eventpage.aspx?name=ScribbleNoiz epresentsDUBFXAustralia

With indie-rock songs about hometowns and heartbreaks, about summers in the Rockies and winters on the farm, The Rural Alberta Advantage is a trio that knows how to capture their listeners’ attention.

Consisting of Paul Banwatt, Amy Cole and Nils Edenloff, this Torontobased band has a sound that’s infectious. Their talents and energetic stage performances have been on display at SXSW, as well as at soldout venues across the country, and they’ll be heading out on tour again this fall, this time with their friend Dan Mangan. Along the way they’re making a stop in Regina to rock The Knox Met on Friday, November 2. Advance tickets are available at http://www.galleryac.com/ tickets/11-2-12-the-knox-met.html – By Adam Hawboldt

Photos courtesy of: Lucas Arundel / the artist / the artist

Sask music Preview Jack Semple will be hosting his CD release for In The Blue Light at the Royal Saskatchewan Museum on September 15. Semple is an astounding guitar player who began his music career in Regina before leaving for Toronto in the ‘80s. The show kicks off at 8pm, so be sure to check this one out.

Keep up with Saskatchewan music. saskmusic.org

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August 31 » September 8 The most complete live music listings for Regina.

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Rory Allen / Casino Regina — This Elvis impersonator from Regina is back paying tribute to the king. 8pm / Tickets $35-40 (www.casinoregina.com) DJ Pat & DJ Kim / Habano’s Martini & Cocktail Club — Local DJs spin top 40 hits every Friday night. 9pm / $5 cover Alain Lalonde / The Hookah Lounge — Come check out this dope local DJ/ producer as he spins the kind of sound that’ll make you wanna dance. 7pm / The Hookah Lounge Casey Stone Band / McNally’s Tavern — With a commanding stage presence and the pipes to match, this local band can go rock or country or whatever you want. 10pm / Cover $5 The Tinsel Trees / O’Hanlon’s Pub — This local band plays a catchy brand of down-tempo indie music. Also appearing will be Robot Hive. 10pm / No cover Daytrip / The Pump Roadhouse — This local four-piece knows how to energize a crowd. Also playing with be Third Degree Birnz. 10pm / Cover TBD Hedspin / Pure Ultra Lounge — Hedley “Hedspin” Tuscano is a Vancouver based DJ who, true to his moniker, will make your head spin. 10pm / $20 for weekend VIP pass (ticketedge.ca) Faster Gun / Whiskey Saloon — This local country foursome is still going strong.

8pm / $10 DJ Longhorn / Whiskey Saloon — Come check out one of Regina’s most interactive DJs as he drops some of the best country beats around. 8pm / $10

Saturday 1

Rory Allen / Casino Regina — This Elvis impersonator from Regina is back paying tribute to the king. 8pm / Tickets $35-40 (www.casinoregina.com) DJ Noor / The Hookah Lounge — Born in Kuwait and exposed to the international club scene at a young age, this talented DJ knows how to rock a crowd. 7pm / $5 cover

Third Degree Birnz / The Pump Roadhouse — Together for more than 14 years, this band is versatile, road-tested and all kinds of good. They can take a classic and put their own twist on it to produce something excellent. 9pm / Cover TBD Mitchy the Kid / Pure Ultra Lounge — Feel like busting a serious move? Then you have to come out and hear this DJ do his thing. 10pm / $20 for weekend VIP pass (ticketedge.ca) Faster Gun / Whiskey Saloon — This local country foursome is still going strong and sounding better than ever. Come check ‘em out. 8 pm / Cover $10

Sunday 2

The Sheepdogs / Casino Regina — If it’s boogie rock you like, it doesn’t get much better than this kickass foursome from Saskatoon. Their new, self-titled album is coming out very, very soon, so head down and hear what all the fuss is about.

8pm / $40 (www.casinoregina.com) Third Degree Birnz / The Pump Roadhouse — Together for more than 14 years, this band is versatile, road-tested and all kinds of good. 9pm / Cover TBD DJ Miss Hightower / Pure Ultra Lounge — Known for her bumping basslines that never fail to send audiences into a frenzy, this Winnipeg-based DJ brings a dirty electro house style you won’t want to miss. 9pm / $20 for weekend VIP pass (ticketedge.ca) Faster Gun / Whiskey Saloon — This local country foursome is still going strong.

8 pm / Cover $10

Monday 3

Monday Night Jazz & Blues / Bushwakker Brewpub — Featuring Whiteboy Slim and some great rocking blues. 8pm / No cover Joe Nichols / Casino Regina — Some of this country musician’s hits include “Tequila Makes Her Clothes Fall Off,” “Brokenheartsville” and “The Impossible.” Nichols is currently on tour and will be stopping in Queen City. 8pm / Tickets $50-55 (www.casinoregina.com)

tuesday 4

Troubadour Tuesdays / Bocados — Come check out some live tunes from local talents every week, then bring an instrument and partake in the open mic/ jam night. 8pm / No cover Karaoke Tuesday / McNally’s Tavern — Famous live music venue offers its patrons a chance to share the stage. 8pm / No cover

wednesday 5

Wednesday Night Folk / Bushwakker Brewpub — Featuring Rebecca Lascue, Emilie Lebel and Carly Falkenstein, for the pub’s Regina Women in Song. 9pm / No cover

thursday 6

2 Beats & A Hat / Artful Dodger — Presented by DJ Verbal & E-Major, come enjoy two DJs with guest performances on the first Thursday of every month.

7pm / $5 in advance or at the door PS Fresh / The Hookah Lounge — DJ Ageless started spinning in Montreal, DJ Drewski started in Saskatoon. They both landed in Regina and have come together to sling some bomb beats. 7pm / No cover Open Mic Night / King’s Head Tavern — Come out and show Regina what you got.

8pm / No cover Carli’s Angels / McNally’s Tavern — It’s locals’ night, so come out and support this awesome rock/pop/dance group.

10pm / Cover $5 Wildfire / The Pump Roadhouse — This Queen City band plays everything from Lady Gaga to Lady Antebellum. 10 pm / Cover TBD DJ Longhorn / Whiskey Saloon — Come check out one of Regina’s most interactive DJs as he drops some of the best country beats around. 8pm / Cover TBD

friday 7

Miranda Lambert / Brandt Centre — WIth songs like “Crazy Ex-Girlfriend,” “The House That Built Me” and “White Liar,” it’s no surprise this big Texan talent has risen to the upper echelons of country music. 7:30pm / $59-79 (www. ticketmaster.ca) The Stampeders / Casino Regina — This Juno-winning rock band is all about looking for a “Sweet City Woman” while “Running Wild.” 8pm / Tickets $30-35 (www.casinoregina.com) John Lilly / The Club — An internationally acclaimed solo artist, West Virginia’s John Lilly plays a unique blend of Americana, roots, folk and old-time country.

8:30pm / $12 at the door Dub FX w/ Flower Fairy / The Exchange — This street musician from Australia makes incredible music from just his vocal beats and raps. 9pm / Tickets $20 (http://www.sellyourevents.com/eventpage.aspx?name=ScribbleNoizepresents DUBFXAustralia) DJ Pat & DJ Kim / Habano’s Martini &

Cocktail Club — Local DJs spin top 40 hits every Friday night that are sure to get you on the dance floor. 9pm / $5 cover Alain Lalonde / The Hookah Lounge — Come check out this dope local DJ/ producer as he spins the kind of sound that’ll make you wanna dance. 7pm / The Hookah Lounge Method2Madness / McNally’s Tavern — If it’s a rockin’ good time you’re after, look no further. 10pm / Cover $5 Wildfire / The Pump Roadhouse — This Queen City band plays everything from Lady Gaga to Lady Antebellum. 10 pm / Cover TBD Albert / Pure Ultra Lounge — Appearing every Friday night, come listen to Albert as he does his spinning thing. 10pm / $5 cover DJ Longhorn / Whiskey Saloon — Come check out one of Regina’s most interactive DJs as he drops some of the best country beats around. 8pm / Cover TBD

saturday 8

T.G. Sheppard / Casino Regina — With a catalogue of songs full of chart topping hits like “Last Cheaters Waltz,” “I Loved ‘Em Everyone” and “Do You Wanna Go To Heaven,” this Tennessee singer/songrwriter has certainly made his mark on

the country music scene over the years.

Also appearing on the bill will be Jeannie Seely. 8pm / Tickets $35-40 (www. casinoregina.com) 7th Reign, High Hopes / The Club — If you were in the mood for some hardhitting metal, you should swing buy and see what these two acts have to offer.

8pm / Cover TBD SkullFist / The Exchange — Straight from Toronto, this heavy metal foursome knows how to rock. 9pm / Cover TBD DJ Noor / The Hookah Lounge — Born in Kuwait and exposed to the international club scene at a young age, this talented DJ knows how to rock a crowd. 7pm / $5 cover Method2Madness / McNally’s Tavern — If it’s a rockin’ good time you’re after, look no further. 10pm / $5 cover Wildfire / The Pump Roadhouse — This Queen City band plays everything from Lady Gaga to Lady Antebellum. 10 pm / Cover TBD

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thursday, August 23 @

The Pump The Pump Roadhouse 641 Victoria Avenue East (306) 359 7440

Music vibe / Top 40, country Featured deals / $9 pitchers

or $1 draft Drink of Choice / Jäg bombs,

or anything with rye top eats / Taco in a bag Coming up / Sloan concert on Tuesday, September 18

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Photo: Courtesy of Lionsgate

Same old scares

The Possession offers up predictable thrills. by verb staff

T

he Oxford Dictionary of English defines dybbuk thus: “(in Jewish folklore) a malevolent wandering spirit that enters and possess the body of a living person until exorcised.”

One particular dybbuk is at the heart of The Possession, a new film

by Ole Bornedal. Actually, “new” might be a bit of a stretch: The Possession is as predictable as it is boring. Horror movies are all the same in that directors have a limited number of tools with which to in-

tasha Calis) persuades her father Clyde (Jeffrey Dean Morgan) to buy her a mysterious box at a yard sale.

Engraved with indecipherable Hebrew script and apparently sealed shut, the box is ominous from the start.

If that wasn’t obvious enough, Bornedal shows us that the box rendered its previous owner, an elderly woman, virtually catatonic.

Eventually, Em starts to behave erratically, and there is no question that her bizarre actions result from her obsession with the box. Plainly,

[The Possession] feels like it was cobbled together from hackneyed ideas… verb staff

duce the thrill film-goers seek, but this movie feels like it was cobbled together from hackneyed ideas and heard phrases.

Nevertheless, the action begins when 10-year-old Em Brenek (Na-

she is possessed.

And if you’re not convinced, the appearance of giant moths in her bedroom — a step up from normal troubled teen behaviour — sort of drives the point home.

The possession Directed by Ole Bornedal Starring Natasha Calis, Jeffrey Dean Morgan + Kyra Sedgwick 91 minutes | 14A

This gives Clyde and his ex-wife Stephanie (Kyra Sedgwick) cause for concern. Eventually, they start searching for a solution — including, rather bizarrely, a rabbi’s son, played by reggae artist Matisyahu.

More bizarrely, it later turns out that dybbuks are visible to the all-seeing MRI machine, a revelation that leads to a hospital ward exorcism.

And the predictable plot is just the beginning. Rather than use the natural rises and falls of what may have been a decent script to build and hold and release tension, Bornedal seems to prefer cheap thrills to memorable storytelling.

And because scenes so often fade to black, there is little cohesion and less interest when something memorable does appear. Even the cheap thrills, ammunition in Hollywood’s magazine of blockbuster selling points, are boring.

But the really staggering thing about The Possession is that it was produced by Sam Raimi, who is sort of like a god to horror fans. It is difficult to imagine a scenario in which Raimi, who was plainly brought aboard for his knowledge of the genre, isn’t allowed to answer a single question or contribute his talent to the project.

Now, not everything about The Possession is awful. The acting is pretty good, actually. Sedgwick is great, and once again demonstrates her capacity to be angry and frightened with the best of them. And Calis will probably go far. Although she does a lot of staring in this film, she’s compelling onscreen and that’s what counts. Matisyahu, who

is not known for being an actor, is workmanlike. And his facial hair is first-rate.

But unless you’re the sort of person who makes a habit of watching every horror film the California sausage factory churns out, you may want to give The Possession a pass. Watching it feels like rewatching a movie you saw while very, very drunk — vaguely predictable and forgettable.

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Visit A place like no other Beasts of the Southern Wild is a magical, compelling journey. by adam Hawboldt

E

very now and then a movie comes along that truly lives up to the hype surrounding it.

It doesn’t happen often, mind you.

For the most part, if a movie receives a lot of praise and lip service, people are quick to condemn it for “not being as good as I thought it would be.”

However, there are a few exceptions. A few movies that arrive with accolades and awards and actually live up to the hype. Movies like Inception, The Dark Knight and Fight Club come to mind.

So too does the new (and brilliant) Beasts of the Southern Wild.

Co-written and directed by the impeccable Benh Zeitlin (his short film, Glory at Sea, is well worth the

Beasts of the southern wild Directed by Benh Zeitlin Starring Quvenzhané Wallis + Dwight Henry 92 minutes | PG

who is trying to teach his young daughter the hard lessons of life before his time expires.

Hushpuppy, for her part, learns well. She can cook her own food and tend to the dogs, fowl and hog with ease.

Hushpuppy also has a penchant for having conversations with her departed mother, and her vivid imagination sparks some of the most breathtaking scenes in the film.

Beasts of the Southern Wild unfolds in a series of beautiful, folksy, apocalyptic and unforgettable scenes.

Adam hawboldt

watch), Beasts of the Southern Wild won the Grand Jury Prize: Dramatic at this year’s Sundance Film Festival, as well as the Caméra d’Or at Cannes, and has been praised to the high heavens by critics and audiences alike.

Which is pretty darn impressive for a movie directed by a young guy feeling his way through his first feature-length film, starring an unknown six-year-old actress and a novice leading man who was hired from behind a counter at a New Orleans bakery.

At the centre of the story is a skinny, young, wild girl named Hushpuppy (Quvenzhané Wallis) and her tough-loving daddy, Wink (Dwight Henry). They live together in a couple of tied-together trailers on a hardscrabble, hard-drinking impoverished island called Bathtub.

Wink is a terminally ill alcoholic

Life goes on like this in Bathtub, yet all the while a storm that could be catastrophic is brewing. The big one is coming and, seeing as Bathtub is on the other side of the levees, bad things are in store.

Without telling you too much more, let me just say Beasts of the Southern Wild unfolds in a series of beautiful, folksy, apocalyptic and unforgettable scenes. Like the one where Wink teaches Hushpuppy how to catch catfish barehanded and punch their lights out.

Or the scene in which, after some tough love, Hushpuppy tells her old man she’ll eat cake on his grave after he dies.

Part Southern gothic, part disaster movie, part drama, part comedy, part magic realism, part coming-of-age story, Beasts of the Southern Wild is unlike any movie you’ve ever seen before.

Photo: courtesy of Fox Searchlight Pictures

It is visual poetry on screen.

It’s the best, most assured directorial debut in recent memory. It’s a strange, daring, lyrical movie that is completely original, not to mention well acted. Wallis is mesmerizing and heartbreaking as Hushpuppy, while Henry’s performance — swinging from pride to anger to melancholy to elation — is perfectly nuanced and

compelling.

Simply put: if you like movies, you absolutely have to watch Beasts of the Southern Wild. This is a film for film-lovers, and it will reward anyone who takes the time to sit back and enjoy.

Beasts of the Southern Wild will open at the Regina Public Library starting on September 6th; see www.

reginalibrary.ca for more information and show times.

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Š Elaine M. Will | blog.E2W-Illustration.com

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ACROSS 1. What has happened 5. Tool with an arched blade 9. Lake in Manitoba 10. Around the bend 12. Hold lovingly in your arms 13. Person who sells food 15. Distinctive period of time 16. Student’s exercise 18. Atomic number of hydrogen 19. Have a repast 21. Definite article 22. Part of BA 23. Fit to consume 25. What ice does in a warm room 26. One thousand dollars 27. Place for fish and ships 28. Turn the corners of your mouth up 31. Early 35. Having no companions 36. Make an engine go vroom 37. Makeshift swing 38. Volcanic dust 39. Student at a military school

41. A Bobbsey twin 42. Gun, for one 44. Strong and healthy 46. Street language 47. Playing marble 48. Otherwise 49. Behind schedule DOWN 1. Teacher who overemphasizes rules 2. Recipe direction 3. Mall attraction 4. Bridge support 5. Aquarium problem 6. Fisherman’s boat 7. Collection of wild animals 8. Concert finale 9. Senate house in ancient Rome 11. Woman gossip 12. Surrender formally 14. Be tranquil 17. That girl 20. Two under par 22. Be ready for

© walter D. Feener 2012

24. Flower visitor 25. Adjust the alarm clock 27. More than two but not many 28. Cabbage dish 29. Ten Commandments recipient 30. Fill your lungs 31. Hospital unit 32. 60 seconds 33. Backspace over text 34. Already in the mail 36. Chain of mountains 39. Persuades by deception 40. Draped attire 43. Close friend 45. Black Halloween creature

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Horoscopes August 31 – September 6 Aries March 21–April 19 There are good weeks and there are bad weeks, Aries. And sorry, this one looks like a doozy. Don’t worry, though, it’ll pass. Until it does, though, stay out of tall trees.

Leo July 23–August 22 Muhammad Ali once said, “It’s hard to be humble when you’re as great as I am.” That doesn’t apply to everybody, though, Leo. Don’t let your head get too big this week.

Sagittarius November 23–December 21 Been boozing a bit lately?

Not eating right? Meh. Keep at it. But make a promise to start a new fitness regime or diet next week. Right now, though, is a time for fun.

Taurus April 20–May 20 Everybody is different, Taurus. So don’t get bent out of shape this week if people disagree with your opinions. After all, you know what they say about opinions and belly buttons…

Virgo August 23–September 22 It’s all about people power this week, Virgo. Spend time with family and friends and you’ll find stores of energy that you forgot even existed. Now you have to figure out how to use it.

Capricorn December 22–January 19 French is the language of love, right? Wrong. The language of love is whatever you’re speaking this week ,you smooth operator you. Be sure to put your charm to good use.

Gemini May 21–June 20 Remember that R.E.M. song “Shiny Happy People?” That’s what you should aim to be this week, Gemini.

Even if it takes every single last ounce of your strength.

Libra September 23–October 23 For the love of Pete! Make up your mind already! Chances are you’ve been waffling on a decision lately. Stop it! Just make your choice and deal with the consequences — good or bad.

Aquarius January 20–February 19 This is the dawning of the week of Aquarius. Enjoy it.

Everything you try should work out for you. Everything you touch will turn to gold. Not literally, but wouldn’t that be sweet?

Cancer June 21–July 22 “Take time with a wounded hand, ‘cause it likes to heal.” So too do wounded shoulders, hearts and egos. If you need time to heal this week, Cancer, take it. You deserve it.

Scorpio October 24–November 22 You may be feeling a bit like Dirty Harry this week — all tough and badass. If that’s the case, use your newfound confidence wisely, lest someone gets fed up and makes your day miserable.

Pisces February 20–March 20 Beware of kittens over the next few days, Pisces! Cuddling kittens, kitten videos, kitten posters, whatever. Nothing good can come of them this week. Sure they’re cute and all, but…

19 aug 31 - Sept 6 @verbregina

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