Verb Issue R55 (Nov. 23-29, 2012)

ISSUE #55 – NOVEMBER 23 TO NOVEMBER 29

THE RENEGADE

WITH

CORB LUND

THE RIGHT STUFF Flying with the Snowbirds TRAVEL ON Q+A with Indio Saravanja LIFE OF PI + INESCAPABLE Films reviewed­

PHOTO: COURTESY OF ALEXANDRA VALENTI

CONTENTS

NEWS + OPINION

CULTURE

ENTERTAINMENT

Q + A WITH INDIO SARAVANJA SECULAR IN SASKATCHEWAN Atheism in the prairies. 3 / LOCAL

LIVE MUSIC LISTINGS

Indio moves beyond his roots. 8 / Q + A

Local music listings for November 23 through December 1. 14 / LISTINGS

THE SEAHAGS

NIGHTLIFE PHOTOS

Fun facts about these wicked rockers. 9 / ARTS

We visit The Artful Dodger.

NOTHING BUT GOOD SONGS

INESCAPABLE + LIFE OF PI

Meet Ryan McMahon. 9 / ARTS

We review the latest movies. 16 / FILM

VERBNEWS.COM @VERBREGINA FACEBOOK.COM/VERBREGINA

15 / NIGHTLIFE

EDITORIAL

THE RIGHT STUFF

ART & PRODUCTION DESIGN LEAD / ROBERTA BARRINGTON DESIGN & PRODUCTION / BRITTNEY GRAHAM CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS / TAMARA KLEIN, DANIELLE TOCKER, ADAM HAWBOLDT + ALEX J MACPHERSON

What it takes to fly with the Snowbirds. 4 / LOCAL

ON THE COVER:

CORB LUND

On being a renegade in the business.

PUBLISHER / PARITY PUBLISHING EDITOR IN CHIEF / RYAN ALLAN MANAGING EDITOR / JESSICA PATRUCCO STAFF WRITERS / ADAM HAWBOLDT + ALEX J MACPHERSON CONTRIBUTING WRITER / JESSICA BICKFORD

BUSINESS & OPERATIONS

STRAIGHT TALK

ALPHA AND OMEGA

ON THE BUS

Our thoughts on protecting free speech in universities. 6 / EDITORIAL

The Delta Regina boasts a great little lounge. 12 / FOOD + DRINK

Weekly original comic illustrations

by Elaine M. Will. 18 / COMICS

COMMENTS

MUSIC

GAME + HOROSCOPES

Your say on the U of R students facing deportation. 7 / COMMENTS

Port Noise, Wil + Blue Rodeo.

Canadian criss-cross puzzle, weekly horoscopes and Sudoku. 19 / TIMEOUT

13 / MUSIC

10 / COVER

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

PLEASE RECYCLE AFTER READING & SHARING

PHOTO: COURTESY OF ALEXANDRA VALENTI

2 NOV 23 – NOV 29 VERB MAGAZINE

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LOCAL

SECULAR IN SASKATCHEWAN

PHOTO: COURTESY OF ADAM HAWBOLDT / VERB MAGAZINE

Café Apostate, and the rise of atheism BY ADAM HAWBOLDT

C

oming out wasn’t easy for Rebekah Bennetch.

She grew up in Savannah, Georgia, where she was raised in a devoutly evangelical family. For most of Bennetch’s life, the shadow of the church loomed large and imposing.

But somewhere along the line, something happened. The pillars that once supported her faith began to crumble.

“It wasn’t any one specific thing,” says Bennetch, who now calls Saskatchewan home. “It was more like a series of disappointments and disil-

“When she came along,” admits Bennetch, “that’s when I decided it was time. I want to be a good example for my daughter.” So Bennetch came out to her family, and told them she no longer believed in religion or God. Needless to say, they were less than impressed.

“I remember how things were with my family in the days before coming out, and I remember how things were in the days after,” says Bennetch, “Things are very different now. I myself hadn’t changed. Their knowledge of me changed. They really wanted me to be who they thought I was.”

For a long time it was a cultural thing, you didn’t talk ill about religion.

REBEKAH BENNETCH

lusionment. I saw a lot of hypocrisy and social conservatism attached to our evangelical movement. And it didn’t make a lot of sense.”

Confronted with conflicting feelings, Bennetch began losing her religion. “It just got to be too difficult to hold onto,” she explains. “The analogy I like to use is that I was holding religion in my hand, and — slowly — my fingers started to slip away, one at a time. And pretty soon I wasn’t holding on to anything anymore.”

But that didn’t mean it was time to come out as an atheist to her family.

That time didn’t come until five years ago, when her daughter was born.

Bennetch doesn’t blame her family for their reaction. After all, in the evangelical world she came from, people weren’t friends with atheists.

“It’s been really hard for them,” says Bennetch. “Because, for the most part, they believe I’m going to hell … they really don’t like that too much.”

And it wasn’t just her family who had issues with Bennetch’s newfound atheism. “I lost a lot of friends,” she says. “There are just some people who couldn’t handle it.”

On the first Sunday of every second month, a group of people meet at

the Mackenzie Cole coffee shop in Saskatoon. This is the group Rebekah Bennetch helped form.

It’s called the Café Apostate.

For the last little bit they’ve been discussing Guy Harrison’s book, 50 Reasons People Give For Believing in a God. But when they meet in December, the talk will switch to how you can celebrate the holidays in a non-religious way.

Talk: that’s what people do at the Café Apostate. And they’re not alone.

Since the early 2000s, there’s been a wide and vocal wave called New Atheism gaining momentum.

Propelled by writers like Richard Dawkins, Sam Harris, Daniel Dennett and Christopher Hitchens (who died last year), New Atheism is a more inyour-face version than people have historically been used to. They’re more visible, more vocal. More willing to counter, criticize and question religion at every turn.

“The benefit I see in what these guys do is they’re very vocal. They’re not afraid. For a long time it was a cultural thing, you didn’t talk ill about religion,” says Bennetch. “They’re saying, ‘we’re out here, we’re a part of society and we’re going to ask questions — uncomfortable questions you might have to answer.’”

And it seems as though this new strain of atheism is catching on.

In 2001, Statistics Canada counted around 4.9 million people that had no religious affiliation whatsoever in this country. That number

climbed to nearly 5.7 million in 2006, and is projected to break the 8-million mark by 2031.

And while it is unclear if this trend is a direct result of New Atheism, it’s clear that province by province — from Nova Scotia to Saskatchewan and beyond —our country is becoming increasingly secular.

Does this mean atheism is, in a sense, becoming a religion in and of itself? “There are certain strains out there [where] if you ask them ‘is atheism your religion,’ they’d say ‘yes,’” explains Bennetch. “But that’s not me. Yes, I’m an atheist, but that doesn’t dictate my philosophy or ideology.”

And Bennetch will continue being an atheist. She’ll continue

to meet with the Café Apostate on the first Sunday of every second month. She’ll continue to talk and discuss ideas. But she won’t treat it like a religion. Instead, her group will remain what it’s always been — a safe place where people who have lost religion can go without fear of being rejected. A place to find the support they’ve lost through coming out.

Or maybe just a safe place for like-minded people to sit around and shoot the breeze.

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3 NOV 23 – NOV 29 /VERBREGINA

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THE RIGHT STUFF

PHOTO: COURTESY OF SECOND-LIEUTENANT OLIVIER GALLANT

One man’s journey to the pinnacle of military aviation

BY ALEX J MACPHERSON

C

aptain Regan Wickett knows it’s been a good day at the office when he is drenched in sweat before noon. This is because Wickett has one of the most intellectually, physically, and emotionally taxing jobs around: he is a pilot with the Snowbirds. “It’s incredibly demanding,” he says of the training regimen new Snowbird pilots undergo. “We always joke that when we come back…we’re covered in sweat and swap out one jacket for another.” An officer in the Canadian Forces since 2004, Wickett was chosen to be part of the famous aerobatic team earlier this year. He will fly Snowbird 7, the outer left wing, for the 2013 and 2014 air show seasons. It is a difficult job, but Wickett has been flying for almost two decades and wouldn’t have it any other way.

Wickett, who is 35, joined the air cadet program while still in elementary school. In 1993, he earned his glider pilot’s license on the Schweizer 2-33A sailplane; a year later, he was a fully-qualified private pilot.

His first solo flight as a cadet laid the groundwork for a career in the cockpit. “I remember that I landed short after the flight,” he says. “My instructor was quick to remind me that it doesn’t matter how good it was: you still landed short and there’s still lots of room to improve on it. I think I’ve always strived to try and improve. There’s always

Memories of the Snowbirds are common currency in this country.

Millions of people have seen the nine CT-114 Tutors streak overhead, waggling their wings before vanishing in the distance. Strangely, Wickett can’t recall the first time he saw them fly. “I was always very interested in aviation, but I didn’t come at it from an air show perspective,” he says. “I came at it from my dad and from building aircraft models. His interest got me into the Air Cadet program and it just took off from there.”

more to learn, and no matter how much you learn about flying, there’s always so much more to know.”

It was a small correction, one every pilot experiences, but for Wickett it changed the way he thought about aviation — and set his course for the Snowbirds.

and Golden Centennaires. Composed of nine pilots and dozens of support staff, the team performs dozens of shows each year, culminating in a homecoming show at their Moose Jaw base. Wickett joined the Forces in 2004 and remembers watching the team perform their home closer two years later, while he was completing basic flight training. “I’m sure I did see them quite a few times, especially when I was an air cadet,” he says.

“But the time that really stands out in my memory is…when I saw them do the home closer show in the fall of 2006. That really inspired me.”

[No] matter how much you learn about flying, there’s always so much more to know.

REGAN WICKETT

The Royal Canadian Air Force has a long history of fielding formation aerobatic teams. The Snowbirds were formed in 1971 to preserve traditions established by the Golden Hawks

Wickett joined the Air Force intending to fly multi-engine transports, which he saw as the best way to see the world as part of his job.

He changed his mind after flying the CT-155 Hawk, Canada’s basic fighter trainer. “It blew me away how fast it got me up to 400 knots,” he laughs. After completing his training on the CT-156 Harvard II and the Hawk, Wickett chose to remain in Moose Jaw as an instructor, a decision he says was influenced by his background in teaching. It was an enjoyable experience, but he never CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE »

4 NOV 23 – NOV 29 NEWS + OPINION

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forgot what it was like to watch the Snowbirds perform in 2006. Late last year he applied and was asked to try out for the team, which is composed of pilots from across the country.

The tryouts are grueling: six flights during which every facet of a candidate’s flying ability is scrutinized by current team members.

“It was certainly challenging, because you’re pushing yourself to do your very, very best,” he says of the experience. “I wouldn’t say it was terrifying or nerve-wracking. I think we all felt it was a big moment.

I think as much as it was challenging and there was a lot of pressure on us, I think it also brought out the best in us. If during the challenge and the stress of the tryouts, if you can look around and take it in…and still enjoy it — I think that’s what lets you know you’re in the right spot.”

A few hours after his last tryout flight, Wickett was told he was on the team. “I was a little dumfounded, a little blown away,” he laughs. “It took a little while for it to really sink in.”

Winning a seat with the Snowbirds is just the beginning; learning how to fly like one is the real challenge. “When you start with the Snowbirds, you start right back at the beginning,” he says. “All summer we’ve been working on our basic formation skills. One thing I’ve really enjoyed…is the focus on the fundamentals.” Pilots in the Canadian Forces are extremely welltrained, but learning the Snowbirds’

ambitious routine is still daunting, with each step rigorously supervised and evaluated. New pilots are paired with a returning veteran. They practice together and then separately, breaking down each movement into its constituent parts, building skills and confidence. It is a slow process, but it ensures precision and, more importantly, safety.

At the same time, his job with the Snowbirds has opened Wickett up to yet another side of military aviation.

Team members are talented pilots, but they must also be ambassadors for the Canadian Forces. “That’s one of the things that got me attracted to being a Snowbird, is just how personal it is,” he explains. “I was blown away by how personal the team is, that no matter where they are or how long they’ve been working, they’ve always got time after a show … to go out, sign autographs, and talk to everybody that wants to talk to them.”

Ultimately, the Snowbirds offer an opportunity like no other: a chance to travel and experience some of the best flying the world has to offer while changing the way people think about not only the Canadian Forces but aviation in general. Wickett knows just how powerful the thrill of flying can be, and even though he has two years with the Snowbirds ahead of him, he knows whatever comes next will be just as good. “I don’t think there’s ever an end to a flying career, especially not in the Canadian Forces,” he says. “Every step of the way it

seems like I’ve had an experience where I’ve said, ‘Wow, this is amazing.’ Sometimes it’s small details, sometimes it’s something really profound. In the gliding program I really loved flying at sunset; I loved the light, I love everything about being out there. On the Harvard II

it was everything from the amazing aerobatics we could do with it to going through mountain canyons on transits out to the west coast. On the Hawk it was the breathtaking performance. I can’t believe how fortunate, how lucky, how blessed I am to be doing what I’m doing.”

Even if it means changing jackets two or three times a day.

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@MacPhersonA amacpherson@verbnews.com

5 NOV 23 – NOV 29 @VERBREGINA

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EDITORIAL

PHOTOS: COURTESY OF JEFF DRAKE

STRAIGHT TALK

Canadian universities must encourage free speech

H

ave Canadian universities become intolerant of free speech?

That’s a question a lot of people have been asking for the past few years. And do you know what? There are no shortage of groups out there that feel post secondary institutions have become close-minded. The Canadian Civil Liberties Association (CCLA) certainly believes university rules and regulations are girded so tight they’re strangling free speech.

And we imagine the various university student groups who have been decertified or refused certification based on their beliefs feel the same.

And the latest group to chime in — the Calgary-based Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms, whose mission is to “defend the constitutional freedoms of Canadians through litigation and education” — recently released a report called the 2012 Campus Freedom Index. This report shows, beyond a shadow of a doubt, the state of free speech on our university campuses is in serious trouble.

In fact, of the 35 universities and students’ unions on the index (which, oddly enough, did not include the University of Regina), 12 university administrations failed while nearly a dozen students’ unions received a total of 16 Fs — the lowest possible grade. According to the report, many of these unions received such a poor ranking in part because at some point they had censored unpopular opinion, from banning campus pro-life groups to prohibiting the expression “Israeli apartheid.” The University of Saskatchewan’s Students’ Union received an F for both its policies and its actions. And we feel that, in no way, shape or form should speech or opinions be curtailed.

Novelist and essayist Salman Rushdie once said: “Free speech is the whole thing, the whole ball game.

Free speech is life itself.”

And he was right — especially when it comes to our institutions of higher learning. Here in the Western world, universities have traditionally been bastions of free thought and free

speech. Places where you’re encouraged to ask serious-minded questions, express wild opinions and defend offhanded, even offensive, beliefs.

In fact, cultivating that reputation is how many of these institutions lobby for funding: as Justice Centre president John Carpay told the National Post, “It’s fundamentally dishonest for the university to go to the government … and ask for hundreds of millions of dollars on the pretext that they are a centre for free inquiry and then receive the money and turn around and censor unpopular opinions.”

And here’s the thing: when you restrict free speech, the pursuit of truth becomes impossible. And the life, the very essence of academia, is sucked up and spit out. So we believe it’s time for our universities to smarten up. It’s time for campuses to once again become places where controversial ideas are to be debated and argued over with vigour.

Places where ideas and beliefs and ideologies can be presented with words, images or action — in any

way permitted by the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms — without fear of persecution.

This is not to suggest that we are condoning student groups who harass others. Acting aggressively towards those who have clearly demonstrated that they would like to be left alone should not be permitted, whether you’re espousing your reproductive views or advertising your club’s latest pub crawl. We support your right to have your contentious beliefs; we do not support hostile behaviour to passersby.

And to that end, simply walking onto a public university campus implies that you are willing to engage in higher-minded, disputed, perhaps even uncomfortable conversations. And so we think that university students should be allowed to form their contentious student groups, to hold their contestable conferences, to freely post their controversial posters on university bulletin boards. It’s their right. Just because certain universities have become skewed institu-

tions where one ideology has taken a stranglehold, it doesn’t mean that ideology is correct. Especially when diversity of opinion isn’t tolerated, and free speech is taken away.

“You can’t have a university without having free speech, even though at times it makes us terribly uncomfortable,” former Secretary of Health and Human Services, and current president of the University of Miami, Donna Shalala once said. “If students are not going to hear controversial ideas on college campuses, they’re not going to hear them in America. I believe it’s part of their education.”

And we believe the same holds true for our country.

These editorials are left unsigned because they represent the opinions of Verb magazine, not those of the individual writers.

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6 NOV 23 – NOV 29 NEWS + OPINION

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COMMENTS

ON TOPIC: Last week we asked what you thought about the U of R students facing deportation. Here’s what you had to say: – We can’t make exceptions for these students just because we feel sorry for them. The law is the law.

Sad as it is to say.

Text yo thoughtsur to 881 VE 83

– LOVE THE WOODEN SKY! They are gettin so huge right now and they’re so talented can’t wait to see them In response to “The Wooden Sky,” Cover story, #54 (November 16, 2012)

– Been reading comments about this on other websites and the amount of ignorant, uninformed and blatantly rascist comments going around about these two students is disgusting. Ordu and Amadi made a mistake they are paying for but they shouldn’t be paying for it by wiping out previous years of education and sending them packing. If the university is willing to stand with them, then shouldn’t that be all that really matters?

– These students need to go if we make a exception for them then what’ll happen next time something like this happens. We need to be firm in our stance.

– Regarding editorial FEEDBACK I didn’t realized that people could still be free from laws by hiding out in a church and pleading sanctuary? How can they be safe from the law in there?

– Deportation is way too harsh of a punishment for what these two student’s did. This needs to be revisited and I think a fine would work good

– Lincoln was terrible, but Daniel day lewis was awesome. Movie was just to cheeeeezy In response to “Love for Lincoln,” Film, #54 (November 16, 2012)

SOUND OFF – Yes, you are right when you say Christmas is a massive commercial holiday. I don’t agree with how commercial it has become however. Jesus is the reason for the season.

– About keep the Christ in Christmas. While I’m not personally religious, I believe everyone has the right to celebrate the season privately in whatever way they find meaningful but to try to force your perspective (religious or otherwise) as the “right way” the season is to be celebrated is just dogmatic.

– GSP vs Condit? GSP is gonna kick Condit’s azz! I’m giving the match to GSP in the 3rd round by submisson either arm bar or choke hold.

– Some texts in the verb don’t even make sense. At least submit something that’s worth reading.

– A farm pal said things can also get OUT of town where he lives.

Drinking home brew until you end up naked singing on the roof or windmill is OUT of town!

– I was a kid the first time I heard the phrase “a person of colour”.

I thought it meant some kind of painter or artist.

OFF TOPIC – Amy Matysio does so much for the arts in Saskatchewan. Love her!

In response to “A Life Under the Lights,” Local page, #54 (November 16, 2012)

– I’m all for people expressing their opinions in their texts but can people not express themselves without swearing? It’s simply not respectful. We need to get respect back into society.

– Housewives in the 1950s and 1960s likely needed Valium to keep from screaming. Or murdering the family.

– If more people would carpool in this city it would help ease traffic congestion. Think about it 4 people in a car or 4 people in 4 separate cars.

– Ya can’t help wondering how big a role naturally occurring psychoactive compounds played in our evolution? A monkey ate mushrooms and “invented” “God”?

– Breaking out the studded tires on my bike

– Now is the time to come together as a community, be it the food baskets or anything. And not religious: just because we’re all human.

– I want to see you guys! Why dont u have FB pics of the staff? More pics LOLz txted be4 but no answer

– Oh no poor Teri hope that txt was not an actual breakup.!

– At least half my neighbourhood has xmas lights up already and i love it. Bring on Christmas!

NEXT WEEK: What do you think about the state of free speech on university campuses. Pick up a copy of Verb to get in on the conversation: We print your texts verbatim each week. Text in your thoughts and reactions to our stories and content, or anything else on your mind.

– Happy Thanksgiving USA!

7 NOV 23 – NOV 29 /VERBREGINA

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TRAVEL ON

PHOTO: COURTESY OF DAVID GUENTHER

Indio Saravanja moves beyond his roots BY ALEX J MACPHERSON

I

ndio Saravanja’s new record feels like a big departure. Featuring liberal doses of electric guitar and moments of pure country raucousness, Travel On is unlike anything Saravanja, who was born in Argentina and raised in the Canadian north, has done before. Known for blending South American sounds and instruments into conventional roots music, Saravanja has been slowly working his way into homes and bars across the country. Travel On, which sounds like a collaboration between Danny Michel and Bob Dylan, is a conscious turn toward rock and roll, an album that ought to generate a wider audience and more radio play. But Saravanja isn’t convinced that Travel On marks a watershed. A firm believer in the power of a good song, he sees the record as just another chance to share his songs with the world. I caught up with him to find out more.

Alex J MacPherson: What compelled you to make a rock record with electric instruments?

IS: Sonically it seems like a departure, because I’ve been in this roots category for the

last four albums. But it’s really not a departure, song-wise. I’ve always tried to write songs that would work in any combination, but I just felt like rocking. I didn’t even really own an electric guitar.

I found some good players here in Lethbridge, put together a side project with these guys, one thing led to another and I bought some electric gear. I said, ‘Hey guys, let’s make a record.’ So we did.

IS: I just feel like when someone like Dylan or Neil Young say it’s an acoustic record or it’s an electric record, but no one says it’s a roots record or it’s a rock and roll record.

No, it’s a Neil Young record. For me, at the end of the day, even though I’m not Neil Young or anywhere near having a career like that, it’s just another Indio Saravanja record — and I’m really excited to show that side of things.

AJM: You seem to dislike labels of any kind. Why?

AJM: So it all comes back to the idea of writing great songs, right? Is that what you’re aiming for?

When I first started out, I was playing in all these weird bands in my early twenties.

you can turn a great piece into a rock and roll song, you can do it solo, you can do it as a ballad.

INDIO SARAVANJA

IS: How long has the roots label been around? Ten years? No one even said that word 10 years ago. Same with Americana. What does that mean?

Those are just tags. The Canadian music system — business? industry?

— is so tiny and very much subsidized by the government, people feel trapped by these labels. They think, ‘Well, if I move out of that I might not be able to get that grant.’

IS: I think that deep down there’s this heavy, heavy influence by balladry, for lack of a better word.

That’s what I’ve been drawn to over the years, the absolute mathematical perfection of the art form. You respect that form, and when you do it is timeless — you’re telling a story and it’s unfolding before you, even as you write stuff. For me, that’s been the primary goal. I figured out a long time ago if you write songs from that approach

AJM: What is your preference then?

AJM: Didn’t Keith Richards once say all great songs should be able to be played just on an acoustic guitar?

IS: I remember that quote. All of my heroes have said similar things.

When I first started out, I was playing in all these weird bands in my early twenties. I was in bands where I knew the songs weren’t that good, and they weren’t going to last. I’m not trying to tell other people what to do, because obviously people have a lot of success doing the opposite, but that’s what

really rocks my world and keeps me going — that internal deal I have with the art form. That keeps me excited.

Indio Saravanja December 2 @ The Exchange $15 (advance); $20 door. Advance tix @ Bach & Beyond, Buy the Book, Vintage Vinyl

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ARTS

THE SEAHAGS

Blistering garage rock from Saskatoon

W

ould you like to know some facts about the Seahags?” April Nechvatel asks.

“Our average age is 27 and a half, and you can write that two of the Seahags have kissed.”

These facts, though not related to music, capture the lighthearted spirit of the Seahags, a six-piece rock band from Saskatoon. Nechvatel first assembled the band as a folk group, a collection of women interested in playing folk music on traditional instruments. A boozy night out led to the addition of a drummer, which forced Nechvatel to buy herself an electric banjo. She is glad she did.

“We were having too many issues playing places where we wanted to play,” she says. “Venues for acoustic bands are very limited. We wanted to play in bars at the beginning, but we were way too quiet.” Rather than play acoustic music to a loud bar crowd, Nechvatel and her bandmates plugged in, turned up, and transformed the Seahags into a blistering,

BY ALEX J MACPHERSON

riotous grrrl-influenced alt-country outfit. Although they do the odd country weeper, most of their songs — originals and covers — are played at breakneck speed in the tradition of many fine garage rockers.

“Good energy,” Nechvatel says of the average Seahags show. “We have a good time and we just do whatever we want. I know sometimes people are a little thrown back by it, but it’s tons of fun.” And while the Seahags are best seen in a crowded rock club long after the clock has passed midnight, Nechvatel has discovered that being in an all-girl group has its downsides.

“We do run into issues at venues where they like us to play first,” she says. “[They] always put guy rock bands at the end of the night.” Which is ridiculous, because the Seahags do everything a good rock band should: play fast, play loud, and play hard.

Their latest record, Good’n’Greasy, is a perfect example. Each song is emblazoned with the band’s stamp, a large part of which consists of

PHOTO: COURTESY OF THE ARTIST

Lauren Tastad’s manic fiddling, and even the slower songs have an edge to them. Which is exactly what Nechvatel wants.

“I have no problem with being a rock band composed of women,” she says. “I like that. I like to break down those barriers. That’s what I like in music.”

The Seahags November 30 @ O’Hanlon’s Free

NOTHING BUT GOOD SONGS

Ryan McMahon can’t stop writing BY ALEX J MACPHERSON

PHOTO: COURTESY OF MARK MARYANOVICH

R

yan McMahon doesn’t play music because it’s fun or because he enjoys traveling or even because it’s a cool job.

No, Ryan McMahon plays music because he needs to play music.

“If I haven’t played in a week, it’s like the sex addict that hasn’t gotten laid — he gets pretty grumpy,”

McMahon laughs. “There’s this need for me to get in front of human beings. I love entertaining.”

McMahon, who is based on Vancouver Island, is a tireless worker. In 2011, he released a pair of albums, polar opposites that highlight the scope of his talent. All Good Stories is a stripped-down acoustic record, a collection of songs written after he released Weeks, Months, Years in 2008. Put the Past in the Flask and Drink It, on the other hand, is a snarling rock record, a home for barroom stomps and cranked amps and McMahon’s smoky howl.

Our nature is to compartmentalize and classify, sort things that are fundamentally indescribable into neat little packages. Apply labels, in other words. But McMahon’s body of

work defies classification. “I’ve been through so many different phases,” he laughs. “I’ve tried so many different styles of music since picking it up at 15, 16 years old. Genre was always the last thing on my mind.” McMahon even shies away from alt-country, which is slowly becoming a catchall for artists and bands embracing a new kind of rock music. “That’s Corb Lund,” he says. “That’s Robert Plant and Alison Krauss. Then they call Ryan Adams alt-country, too.”

McMahon is far from the biggest name in Canadian music, but his love of good songs — and ability to write them — has endeared him to fans across the country. But he doesn’t take all of the credit. “They’re accidents,” he says, laughing. “I’m not always really in control. I have a voice and I have

the instrument in my hands, but that’s where it ends.” Simply put, McMahon understands that a great song is a skeleton, a framework on which musical decorations and fancy production can be hung. Lately, he’s been stripping them down to the bare bones, playing alone every night.

“I’ve got more room to take the songs in a different direction every night,” he says. “I can change them every night.”

And while “Big Highs, Big Lows” kicks off Put the Past in the Flask and Drink It with a bang, McMahon has been playing it live with nothing but a ukelele for

accompaniment. “Nothing needs to be rehearsed, and there’s no preconceived direction,” he says. And he’s right. Nothing but good songs.

Ryan McMahon December 4 @ The Artful Dodger $10 advance / $15 door @ The Artful Dodger & Ticketedge Feedback? Text it! (306) 881 8372

@MacPhersonA amacpherson@verbnews.com

9 NOV 23 – NOV 29 @VERBREGINA

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THE OUTSIDER Corb Lund’s career as an outlaw, a renegade, and a rascal BY ALEX J MACPHERSON

H

e may not be a hussar, a Hun, or a wretched Englishman, but there is no question that Corb Lund is an outlaw, a renegade, and a rascal. And he wouldn’t have it any other way.

“I’ve been able to build a career where I can pretty much do whatever I want as long as I don’t turn into a paedophile or something,” he laughs.

“Musically, I seem to be able to stretch any way I want to go — and so far people have followed.”

Lund is one of the most vital voices in Canadian music, a singular force in country music and a bastion of dry humour, encyclopedic musical knowledge, and unparalleled authenticity. He has spent the best part of two decades establishing himself without regard for trend or style; he exists on the fringes of popular music, channeling dozens of traditions yet cleaving to none. “I don’t think that country people know quite what to do with me, because I’m kind of on the outside of that scene,” he says. “But at the same time, my sh*t’s got way more country

[and] rural lyrical content than theirs does. My stuff is ironically chock full of rural content, and they know that, but they can’t fully embrace me because I’m a weirdo.”

“It’s funny,” he adds with a laugh.

“I got kind of fortunate years ago, because they played the crap out of two or three of my songs on country radio,” he says, referring to the title track. Lund’s credit with mainstream radio ebbs and flows, but support from the CBC and a strong fanbase in western Canada has allowed him to keep releasing albums, each generating more excitement than the last. All are eclectic, a trend shaped by the sharp divide in Lund’s life: the division between country and city, rural and urban. “It’s just my personality, I guess,” he says. “All that stuff, the traditional stuff and all the traditions of country and roots music, and all the standards, I approach them with some irreverence and abandon. I like all that stuff, but I’ve never felt I need to do it this way. I kind of f*ck with it a little bit.”

Conformity is anathema to Lund, who rejects orthodox approaches to songwriting and recording. Although his knowledge of early country is vast, Lund seems to consider music art in motion. He dislikes blind adherence and thoughtless devotion, preferring

Corb Lund wasn’t always an outlaw. Years ago, he was just a kid growing up in Taber, living the ranch life he has never been able to excise from his songs. Everything changed when he moved to the city and formed the Smalls, a seminal speed metal band. In a career spanning 12 years, the Smalls sold thousands of records and played hundreds of shows. They cultivated a rabid fan base with little support from the industry, relying instead on quality songwriting and inexhaustible enthusiasm. Their farewell show is still fresh in some people’s minds.

Lund recorded a brace of country albums before the Smalls quit in 2001, but his break came with Five Dollar Bill, which he released a year later.

to jettison dogma and stamp each song with his own mark. Which, he laughs, is sometimes easier to do: “I’m surprised more people don’t do that because there’s so much history to dig into and basically steal. It’s like, even within country there’s like 20 different styles you can grab and basically commandeer for your own.”

Dig” is a sinewy blues stomp steeped in rye whiskey and best served long after midnight. “One Left in the Chamber” is a straightforward weeper, a simple yet effective ballad about losing love and the coward’s way out, while “The Gothest Girl I Can” is an arch look at the virtues of women wearing leather and black lipstick. “Cows Around” is

I’ve had a crush on [Christiane Amanpour] for a long time. I’ve been meaning to write her a love song.

CORB LUND

Cabin Fever, his latest record, is a perfect example of Lund’s willingness to mine the depths of country for inspiration. The album opens with the post-apocalyptic “Gettin’ Down on the Mountain,” Lund’s menacing survivalist-inspired musing on the end of the oil industry. “Dig Gravedigger

pure western swing, a lively look at the many virtues of bovine livestock — and, it should be said, reminiscent of “Long Gone to Saskatchewan” from Losin’ Lately Gambler. The best song on the record, and probably the best Lund has ever penned, is “September,” a devastating reverb-drenched love

10 NOV 23 – NOV 29 CULTURE

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PHOTOS: COURTESY OF ALEXANDRA VALENTI

song and quiet reminder of how Lund is pulled in different directions. It also features the best line on the record: “I can picture how you’re living in a tiny fourth floor flat / There’s times that a thousand acres and the rocky mountains can’t compete with that.”

Ultimately, Lund’s songwriting can be summed up in a single sentence:

“I write about sh*t I’m interested in.”

Lund is more of an antenna than a generator; he waits for inspiration to strike rather than attempt to write about a specific subject. The result is a collection of songs charting his minor obsessions, from Civil War history and gambling to equine matters and the

future of his beloved Alberta. “I don’t really do it on purpose,” he says. “If my brain real estate is taken up by a particular topic, I just automatically pull songs out of it.” His latest project is a series of songs about war correspondents and combat journalism. And, of course, a love song for Christiane Amanpour. “I’ve had a crush on her for a long time,” he says. “I’ve been meaning to write her a love song. I started one, started a couple actually.”

What makes Cabin Fever sound so good is a combination of quality songwriting and first-rate musicianship. Lund wrote the album in a cabin after his 13-year relationship imploded. When his band, the Hurtin’ Albertans, convened to cut it, the whiskey flowed and organic was the adjective of choice. “It’s all live, even the vocals, and there’s no click track,” he says. “We got really drunk and recorded the whole thing real loose.” Kurt Ciesla, Grant Siemens, and Brady Valgardson long ago ceased to be a backup band. Today, they are an

integral part of Lund’s sound. “I’m a band guy,” Lund says, referring to his years with the Smalls. “I’ve seen some singer-songwriter acts and I get the feeling the bandleader maybe doesn’t know very much about arranging band stuff, and I think that’s really crucial.”

Perhaps more importantly, the Hurtin’ Albertans are flexible, a handy trait when the next venue could be a rowdy country bar or a massive theatre.

“We play the craziest variety of shows,” Lund says. “We’ll play folk fests, we’ll play full-on country fests, and we’ll play the odd rock fest night.

We’ll play a theatre one place and then a full-on honky-tonk in the next place, and then the hip indie bar in the next town, then a biker bar, then somebody’s f*cking living room.” And unlike most audiences, Lund’s are as diverse as his records. He draws riggers and bikers, rockers and hipsters, and pretty much anyone who is fond of strong drink. When the Hurtin’ Albertans play small theatres in small towns, their fans descend “like locusts and drink the bar completely dry in the first 20 minutes,” Lund explains with

a laugh. “That’s one of the things I’m most proud of. It’s good to get all those people in one room together and force them to deal with each other.”

Many musicians spend years on the road in search of the spotlight. Lund has spent years on the road not giving a damn about the spotlight. And now it’s paying off. He is successful in Canada and a growing phenomenon in the United States. “I look at those poor Canadian country people [and] I just feel bad for them,” he says. “They’re in such a f*cking box … There are very tight boundaries with what they can get away with. I’m lucky.”

Lucky because he can do whatever he wants. Lucky because it keeps working out. And lucky because outlaw or not, most people can’t imagine him anywhere else.

Lucky indeed.

Corb Lund Dec 4 @ The Odeon Events Centre (Saskatoon, SK) / $36.25 @ Ticketmaster Dec 5 @ Cadillac Hall (Cadillac, SK) SOLD OUT Only two shows in Saskatchewan Feedback? Text it! (306) 881 8372

@MacPhersonA amacpherson@verbnews.com

11 NOV 23 – NOV 29 /VERBREGINA

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Photography courtesy of Danielle Tocker

ALPHA AND OMEGA Choice abounds at the Omega Lounge and Indigo Restaurant BY JESSICA BICKFORD

T

he Omega Lounge is tucked away inside the Delta Regina hotel, but it and its partner restaurant, Indigo, are completely open to the public. With a revamped menu and a great wine and cocktail list, this upscale yet casual lounge is a great after-work spot.

citrusy components. With everything piled on a crunchy crostini, this appetizer had great contrast and really bold flavours.

A lamb duet was next, and it came with both slow-braised lamb and a thick-cut lamb chop. The braised lamb was fall-apart tender, rich and juicy in a velvety demi-

garlic buttermilk mashed potatoes.

These potatoes had a lot of garlic, along with being wonderfully creamy — a perfect starchy side.

Last for the mains was filet mignon au poivre, which Omega Lounge manager Libin Cherian wasn’t afraid to admit is his personal favourite item on their menu. The eight ounce tenderloin was served in a cognac peppercorn sauce and with the same veg as the lamb. The sauce had a nice, sweet, oaky quality from the cognac, and a great peppery kick with the inclusion of some whole green peppercorns. The steak itself was exactly medium rare, and so juicy and tender it practically melted in my mouth.

Dessert was up next, and on the menu was a very pretty (and jiggly) crème caramel. The light and sweet set custard was incredibly smooth and creamy, and the caramel sauce was lovely, with just the right subtle burnt sugar flavour. This was a great dessert that just slid in around the edges.

The steak… was… so juicy and tender it practically melted in my mouth.

JESSICA BICKFORD

I started with two items off their feature menu, which changes each week, and a Snow Goat Cheese appetizer with a house-made pineapple and jalapeño salsa was up first.

The smooth, creamy, and tangy goat cheese was served warm and topped with a zesty salsa, that also had a hint of sweetness amongst its

glace. The chop was incredibly flavourful and glazed in an intense caramelized shallot reduction that was rich, slightly sweet, and wonderfully succulent.

The lamb was served with sides of tender grilled vegetables including asparagus, zucchini, and red and green peppers, not to mention the

The Omega Lounge is a surprising gem in downtown Regina, and with their friendly service, great drinks and extensive menu, you are sure to find something that pleases.

The Indigo restaurant has the same menu if lounging isn’t your style, and they also offer a lunch buffet for even more choice.

Omega Lounge at Delta Regina 1919 Saskatchewan Dr | 525 5255

Feedback? Text it! (306) 881 8372

@TheGeekCooks jbickford@verbnews.com

LET’S GO DRINKIN’ VERB’S MIXOLOGY GUIDE OMEGA LOUNGE’S

INGREDIENTS

TROPICAL MANGO TANGO

1 oz. Absolut Vanilla vodka 1 oz. mango Sour Puss 2 oz. pineapple juice ¼ oz. lime juice ice club soda pineapple wedge, maraschino cherry, plastic swords, or paper umbrellas to garnish

This fun and fruity cocktail was created by Regina bartender Sean Renton and Omega Lounge manager Libin Cherian.

Sweet, tart, bubbly and delicious, this is a great cocktail that will sneak up on you quickly.

DIRECTIONS

In a cocktail shaker filled with ice, add the vodka, sour puss, pineapple juice and lime juice. Give it a shake, then pour in a tall glass and top up with club soda. Garnish with as much flare as you can.

12 NOV 23 – NOV 29 CULTURE

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MUSIC

NEXT WEEK

COMING UP

PORT NOISE

WIL

BLUE RODEO

@ THE EXCHANGE FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 30 – $TBD

@ THE ARTFUL DODGER TUESDAY, DECEMBER 4 – $10

@ CONEXUS ARTS CENTRE MONDAY, JANUARY 14 – $ 27+

If you like hard, distinctive music, you should check out this band from right here. Made up of Angus Livingstone, Andrew Strilchuk, Matthew Garthson and Chris Johnston, this local four-piece plays a brand of hard rock/alternative this is as catchy as it is in-your-face. Port Noise was formed in late 2008, underwent some transformation and membership shifts, and arrived at its current form in 2009. Since then, these four musicians have been refining their craft, working on their live shows and looking onwards and upwards.

With a sound that’s loud and infectious, Port Noise puts on one heck of an energetic performance. Head on down to the Exchange and check them out for yourself; tickets available at the door.

This engaging singer/songwriter comes by his musical talents honestly. Raised by “musically proficient” parents, Wil grew up listening to the likes of Johnny Cash, Chet Atkins and Hank Williams. And you know what, the influence of those legends can still be heard in small traces in Wil’s down-to-earth folk/roots-rock music. With well crafted lyrics, an edgy raw voice and more than enough stage presence to go around, this is a guy who puts on a terrific concert. And he’s taking his talents on the road this winter, playing gigs everywhere from Vancouver to Moose Jaw and back again. He’ll be making a pit stop here in Regina at the Exchange, playing a show with Ryan McMahon. Tickets are available at ticketedge.ca.

In 1987, a relatively unknown band from Ontario released a single off their album, Outskirts. That single was called “Try,” and pretty soon it became a staple on Canadian air waves. From that point on, Blue Rodeo has been a fixture on our national music scene. And with songs like “Lost Together,” “Hasn’t Hit Me Yet,” and “Bad Timing,” there’s good reason why they’ve become one of the most beloved Canadian acts working today. Consisting of such musical heavyweights as Jim Cuddy, Greg Keelor and Bazil Donovan, among others, Blue Rodeo’s alt-country/rock sound is unmistakable. And come January, you’ll have a chance to experience that sound when they head out on tour; tickets available via www.conexusticket.com – By Adam Hawboldt

PHOTOS COURTESY OF: THE ARTIST / THE ARTIST / THE ARTIST

SASK MUSIC PREVIEW MusiCounts has extended their deadline grant for the 20122013 school year until November 30th. These grants, in $5,000 and $1,000 allotments, provide elementary and high schools with the means of purchasing the instruments and equipment necessary to sustain an effective music program. For more information, please visit www.musicounts.ca.

Keep up with Saskatchewan music. saskmusic.org

13 NOV 23 – NOV 29 @VERBREGINA

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LISTINGS

NOVEMBER 23 » DECEMBER 1 The most complete live music listings for Regina.

S

M

T

W

T

23 24

25 26 27 28 29 30

1

SATURDAY 23 RHINESTONE COWGIRL / Casino Regina — A tribute to the great Dolly Parton.

8pm / $20-25 (www.casinoregina.com) CELTIC THUNDER / Conexus Arts Centre — From Newfoundland to Los Angeles, this Irish band has been entertaining North American crowds. 8pm / $37-67 (www.admission.com) DJ JUAN LOPEZ / Envy Nightclub — This DJ loves requests, nothing is off limits.

10pm / Cover $5 BIG BAD STORM / Gaslight Saloon — A night of kick-ass music you don’t want to miss! 9pm / $5 DJ PAT & DJ KIM / Habano’s Martini & Cocktail Club — Local DJs spin top 40 hits every Friday night. 9pm / $5 cover THE MONTAGUES / McNally’s Tavern — Playing classic rock and roll covers from the 70s and 80s. 10pm / $5 ALBERT / Pure Ultra Lounge — Appearing every Friday night. 10pm / $5 cover ROUSER / The Sip Nightclub — A night of good tunes. 10pm / No cover if in attendance by 6pm

WEDNESDAY 28

KAL HOURD / Whiskey Saloon — A country musician from Saskatoon. 8pm / $10 DJ LONGHORN / Whiskey Saloon — Come check out one of Regina’s most interactive DJs. 8pm / Cover $10

TIM VAUGHN / The Artful Dodger — A Saskatoon guitar-slinger with loads of talent. 8pm / $10 (www.ticketedge.ca)

SATURDAY 24

OPEN MIC NIGHT / Artful Dodger — Come down and show your stuff. 7:30 / Pass the hat MONDAY NIGHT JAZZ AND BLUES / Bushwakker — Featuring Uptown Jazz, Regina’s jazz veterans. 8pm / No cover KEN RUNGE AND THE POLKA PALS / Casino Regina — More accordions and polka tunes than you can shake a stick at. 8pm / $10 (www.casinoregina.com)

MONDAY 26

JOEL HENDERSON, MEGAN NASH / The Artful Dodger — Two talented artists to enjoy! 8pm / Cover TBD RHINESTONE COWGIRL / Casino Regina — A tribute to the great Dolly Parton.

8pm / $20-25 (www.casinoregina.com) RSO MASTERWORKS: THE VOYAGERS’ SOUNDTRACK / Conexus — The music of composers from around the globe. 8pm / $33-63 (www.reginasymphony.com) DJ JUAN LOPEZ / Envy Nightclub — This DJ loves requests, nothing is off limits.

10pm / Cover $5 ANDINO SUNS / The Exchange — Highenergy Latin folk rock. 8pm / $5 THE MONTAGUES / McNally’s Tavern — Playing classic rock and roll covers from the ‘70s and ‘80s. 10pm / $5 DREWSKI / Pure Ultra Lounge — Doing what he does best, every Saturday night.

10pm / $5 cover ROUSER / The Sip Nightclub — A night of good tunes. 10pm / No cover if in attendance by 6pm OPEN JAM SESSIONS / Smokin’ Okies BBQ — If you play an instrument, drop by for a jam. If not, stop by and just listen. 3pm / No cover

TUESDAY 27

TIM CHAISSON / The Artful Dodger — A golden-voiced singer/songwriter. Also appearing: Poor Young Things. 7:30pm / $5 in advance (www.ticketedge.ca), $10 at the door.

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 WYNONNA / Casino Regina — A Christmas show, featuring Victoria Banks.

8:30pm / $70+ HALF MOON RUN / The Exchange — A blend of indie, pop and folk music. 7pm / Cover TBD KARAOKE TUESDAY / McNally’s Tavern — Famous live music venue offers its patrons a chance to share the stage. 8pm / No cover THE BULL NORTH, KOREY ISTACE, TIME PIRATES / O’Hanlon’s — A night loaded with talent. 9pm / No cover

SUNDAY 25

THE WOODEN SKY / Artesian on 13th — A country-folk indie rock group from T-dot.

8pm / $15

WEDNESDAY NIGHT FOLK / Bushwakker Brewpub — Featuring The Noble Liars, a Saskatoon country act. 9pm / No cover JAM NIGHT / McNally’s — Come enjoy some local talent. 9pm / No cover

THURSDAY 29

SASKATCHEWAN’S GOT TALENT / Casino Regina — Featuring Colby Nargang and Brandy Young. 7pm / $35+ JEFF STUART AND THE HEARTS / The Exchange — An excellent live roots/rock act. 8pm / $10 (available at Vintage VInyl and Madame Yes) DECIBEL FREQUENCY / Gabbo’s — It’s an electronic dance party. 10pm / $5 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 OPEN MIC NIGHT / King’s Head Tavern — Come out, play some tunes, sing some songs, and show Regina what you got.

8pm / No cover BILLY GRIND / McNally’s Tavern — A new alt-country band. 10pm / $5 FOXX WORTHEE / Pump Roadhouse — Hot country from this female duo. 9pm / Cover TBD ALEX RUNIONS / Whiskey Saloon — Kickass country from this musician from Kipling. 8pm / $5 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 $5

FRIDAY 30

CHINA GROVE / Casino Regina — The ultimate Doobie Brothers tribute band.

8pm / $20+ CHRONO-BENEFIT SHOW / The Club — Featuring Shadow in the Mirror, Cloudfight, The Jump Off and Chronobot.

7:30 / $10 RSO SPECIAL: THE GALILEO PROJECT / Conexus Arts Centre — The Tafelmusik Orchestra performs to a backdrop of high-definition images from the Hubble telescope. 7:30pm / $38-68 (www.reginasymphony.com) DJ JUAN LOPEZ / Envy Nightclub — This DJ loves requests, nothing is off limits.

As long as you’re dancing, he’s happy.

10pm / $5 PORT NOISE / The Exchange — Some hard rock from a distinct act. 8pm / Cover TBD

VERB OPINION

THE ACCOMPLICE, SCREAMIN DAISIES, BLACK DRAPES / Gaslight Saloon — Some sweet, hard tunes. 9pm / Cover TBD DJ PAT & DJ KIM / Habano’s Martini & Cocktail Club — Local DJs spin top 40 hits every Friday night. 9pm / $5 cover THE TIFF HALL BAND / McNally’s — A pop/jazz band from Edmonton 10pm / $5 WILDMEN / O’Hanlon’s — A local altcountry act. Also appearing will be The Seahags. 9pm / No cover ALBERT / Pure Ultra Lounge — Come listen to Albert as he does his spinning thing. 10pm / $5 cover CONRAD BIGKNIFE / The Sip Nightclub — Country/rock played with pep. 10pm / No cover if in attendance by 6pm ALEX RUNIONS / Whiskey Saloon — Kickass country from this musician from Kipling. 8pm / $10 DJ LONGHORN / Whiskey Saloon — Come check out one of Regina’s most interactive DJs. 8pm / Cover $10

SATURDAY 1

ROBERTO LOPEZ LOPEZ, ABSTRACT REGGAE / The Artful Dodger — Come out for a night of funky music. 8pm / Cover TBD CHINA GROVE / Casino Regina — The ultimate Doobie Brothers tribute band.

8pm / $20+ DJ JUAN LOPEZ / Envy Nightclub — This DJ loves requests, nothing is off limits.

As long as you’re dancing he’s happy.

10pm / $5 CODY GAMRACY / Lancaster Taphouse — A local indie-folk rock musician worth checking out. 9pm / Cover TBD DAN SILLJER BAND / McNally’s Tavern — Some funk, soul and rock guitar.

10pm / $5 DREWSKI / Pure Ultra Lounge — Doing what he does best, every Saturday night.

Come on down and dance the night away with this local DJ. 10pm / $5 cover CONRAD BIGKNIFE / The Sip Nightclub — Country/rock played with pep. 10pm / No cover if in attendance by 6pm OPEN JAM SESSIONS / Smokin’ Okies BBQ — If you play an instrument, drop by for a jam. If not, stop by and just listen. 3pm / No cover ALEX RUNIONS / Whiskey Saloon — Kickass country from this musician from Kipling. 8pm / $10

GET LISTED Have a live show you'd like to promote? Let us know! layout@verbnews.com

14 NOV 23 – NOV 29 ENTERTAINMENT

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THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 15 @

ARTFUL DODGER

The Artful Dodger 1631 11th Ave (306) 757 9956 MUSIC VIBE / A wide variety,

including indie, pop, roots, jazz, blues and more DRINK OF CHOICE / Anything from the bar menu, coffee, or Fentimans botanically brewed colas TOP EATS / Crepes, wood-fired pizzas, fresh bread and baking COMING UP / Christmas exhibition and sale in the art gallery for the month of December, and a full dinner menu is coming soon

Photography by Klein Photography – feedback@verbnews.com

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INESCAPABLY FAMILIAR

PHOTO: COURTESY OF ALLIANCE FILMS

New film Inescapable a lot like Taken — mostly

BY ADAM HAWBOLDT

O

kay. Let’s play a little game called “Name That Movie!”

Ready? Good.

The plot of the film in question runs as follows: a retired secret agent (a man with a very specific set of skills) is no longer working, and content to be living a quiet life. But one day, out of the blue, his daughter is

story of Abid (Alexander Siddig), a Syrian businessman living in Canada. He’s an immigrant success story, this guy: good job, beautiful wife, two adult daughters. The oldest daughter, Muna, is a photographer. And while traveling on her holidays, Muna decides to visit her father’s homeland.

Bad idea.

INESCAPABLE Ruba Nadda STARRING Alexander Siddig, Marisa Tomei + Joshua Jackson DIRECTED BY

93 MINUTES | PG

Taken, what ensues is 90 minutes of high-octane, ass-kicking, ballzapping action that decimates half of Europe.

When the daughter vanishes in Inescapable? Not so much.

What Abid does is fly to Jordan, bribe a checkpoint guard with booze, bribe someone else, and then slip into Syria under a cloak of darkness with the help of a Syrian woman named Fatima, played by Marisa Tomei. (Yes, the same Marisa Tomei who starred in The Wrestler and My Cousin Vinny!)

Anyways, it turns out Abid and Fatima were romantically involved before certain events forced him to flee Syria. Too bad the romance never re-emerges in the film.

Instead, Abid gets tangled up in a web of bureaucracy while trying to locate his daughter. From there,

[T]he story flowed well enough to warrant a watch. I guess.

ADAM HAWBOLDT

kidnapped and he is forced to travel to a foreign country to rescue her.

What’s the first movie that came to your mind?

Was it Taken? Of course it was.

But guess what? You’re wrong. The movie in question here is called Inescapable.

Directed by Ruba Nadda (Cairo Time, Sabah), Inescapable tells the

See, Abid has a bit of a dark history, and as a result (or is it?), his daughter vanishes.

Like Bryan Mills in Taken, Abid is also not the kind of guy to take this sitting down, and he hops on a plane to find her.

And this is where Inescapable and Taken differ greatly. See, when the daughter gets kidnapped in

well, let’s just say he doesn’t go on a rampage anywhere near as awesome or bloody as Bryan Mills did in Taken.

That’s just not what kind of a movie this is. No, it’s more of a torturedfather-searching-for-his-lost-girl film than a fast-paced thriller.

Which, to be honest, was kind of disappointing. But the acting was solid and the story flowed well enough to warrant a watch. I guess.

Inescapable will open at the Regina Public Library on Nov 29.

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PHOTO: COURTESY OF 20TH CENTURY FOX

PI-PARE TO BE AMAZED

Yann Martel’s best-selling novel made into Oscar-calibre movie BY ADAM HAWBOLDT

W

ow! That’s all I can say about the movie, Life of Pi. Holy. Frickin’. Wow. Hands down, it is the most beautiful, visually ravishing, spellbinding film I’ve seen all year.

Now, I’m not saying Life of Pi is the best movie I’ve ever seen (though it was pretty darn good).

What I am saying is that the gorgeous cinematography and the new, subtle-yet-inventive use of 3D technology will drop your jaw and blow your hair back.

Seriously. It’s that amazing.

Directed by Ang Lee, the movie is a faithful adaptation of Yann Martel’s 2001 award-winning, bestselling novel of the same name.

In fact, the film was so faithful to the book that there’s only one

glaring difference between the two (which will be discussed in my interview with Martel in next week’s magazine). Other than that, what Ang Lee does is take Martel’s book and streamlines it, while keeping

For those of you who haven’t read Life of Pi before, here’s quick, spoiler-free rundown of what the story entails: It all begins with a man named Piscine “Pi” Patel (played by Irrfan

[B]e prepared to be captivated by images and movie-making…

ADAM HAWBOLDT

most of the major themes intact, and breathes a 3D life into it that, honestly, I can’t stop raving about.

Those of you who read the book will be awed by Lee’s vision and interpretation of Martel’s novel.

Khan) sitting in his house, talking to a writer (Rafe Spall) about his life story.

It is the kind of story, the writer has heard, that will make a person believe in God.

From there, the narrative flashes back to Pi’s childhood as the son of a zoo owner in India. For reasons too extensive to get into here, Pi’s family decides to relocate to Winnipeg, so they book tickets on a Japanese ship, stow the animals (which they’re going to sell in North America) in the hull, and set sail for Canada.

The thing is, though, the ship sinks. Everyone and everything dies except for Pi (played as a teenager by Suraj Sharma), a zebra, an orangutang, a hyena and a Bengal tiger named Richard Parker. All of whom end up on a life raft together.

Top-of-the-food-chain type mayhem ensues, and soon only Pi and Richard Parker are left. For the next 200 days or so, the boy and the tiger are adrift together.

LIFE OF PI Ang Lee Suraj Sharma, Irrfan Khan + Gerard Depardieu DIRECTED BY STARRING

127 MINUTES | PG

And again, if you have read the book you know how it ends. If not, be prepared to do some serious thinking. And also be prepared to be captivated by images and movie-making that you may never have believed was possible.

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© Elaine M. Will | blog.E2W-Illustration.com | Check onthebus.webcomic.ws/ for previous editions!

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CROSSWORD CANADIAN CRISS-CROSS 26. There are four of them in a year 28. Of the stomach 30. It may be ballistic 33. Like gravy, sometimes 37. “___ we there yet?”

38. Move quickly & suddenly 40. Risk doing 41. One kind of oil 43. Carefully arranged 45. Kind of horse 46. Like a lottery winner, perhaps 48. Talk idly 50. Know by intuition 51. Kermit’s colour 52. Animal with hooves 53. Constellation part

DOWN 1. Streak of light in the sky 2. Didn’t go hungry 3. Satellite TV receiver 4. Opposite of exit 5. More sallow 6. Museum display 7. Table extension 8. Get along 9. Coffee additive 11. Urge to attack 12. Place for batting practice 14. Beavers make them 17. Without luxuries or decoration 20. What some old cabins

are made of A 22. It gets hit on the head 25. Surprise visit by the police 27. Run before a gale 29. Calumny 30. Spice made from nutmeg 31. Some golf clubs 32. Spent time in prison 34. Young boy’s title B 35. Clean with one’s bill 36. January to December 39. Sharp flavours 42. Store opening time 44. Like some apples 47. Compass heading 49. Light afternoon meal

3 8 1 7 6 2 9 5 4 7 9 2 5 4 1 3 8 6 5 4 6 8 3 9 2 7 1 9 7 8 6 1 5 4 2 3 1 5 4 2 7 3 8 6 9 2 6 3 4 9 8 7 1 5 6 3 5 9 2 7 1 4 8 4 2 9 1 8 6 5 3 7 8 1 7 3 5 4 6 9 2

ACROSS 1. Like beds that haven’t been slept in 5. Inside part of the hand 9. Become established 10. Two-dimensional extents 12. Category in a baby contest 13. Ran the risk of 15. “___ before beauty” 16. Winter requirement, in Canada 18. Greek cheese 19. British lock-up 21. Damage beyond repair 23. ___ Pérignon 24. Program problem

SUDOKU ANSWER KEY

2 3 6 9 4 1 5 8 7 8 5 1 6 7 2 3 4 9 9 7 4 5 3 8 1 2 6 4 1 2 7 8 5 6 9 3 6 8 7 4 9 3 2 5 1 5 9 3 1 2 6 8 7 4 7 2 5 3 1 9 4 6 8 1 4 8 2 6 7 9 3 5 3 6 9 8 5 4 7 1 2

TIMEOUT

© WALTER D. FEENER 2012

HOROSCOPES NOVEMBER 23 – NOVEMBER 29 ARIES March 21–April 19

LEO July 23–August 22

SAGITTARIUS November 23–December 21

You know that inner strength you get when you feel completely confident, Aries? Well, get used to it being around this week.

We all know you’re a powerful creature, Leo, but early this week you may not feel like it. Don’t let it get you down; you’ll be yourself again in no time.

People often say there’s power in positive thinking. And you know what, Sagittarius? They’re right. So turn your mind to the good things in life.

TAURUS April 20–May 20

VIRGO August 23–September 22

CAPRICORN December 22–January 19

Some fascinating, eye-opening conversations are in store for you this week, Taurus, so don’t be shy. Get your chat on with whomever will listen.

This will be a good week to set some goals, Virgo. They can be short-term, long-term, or anything in between. Just get cracking.

You’re going to be busier than a one-legged man in an arse-kicking contest this week, Capricorn. Don’t stress: all will sort itself out in the end.

GEMINI May 21–June 20

LIBRA September 23–October 23

AQUARIUS January 20–February 19

If you’ve been working to improve your health, you might see some results this week. If you haven’t been, what’s the hold up?

Something new may come along and pique your interest, Libra.

The best thing you can do is follow your interests, wherever they may lead.

Events will occur this week that will be completely out of your control, Aquarius. Don’t try to be a control freak. It will only make matters worse.

CANCER June 21–July 22

SCORPIO October 24–November 22

PISCES February 20–March 20

If you get a strange feeling about something important this week, Cancer, trust your gut. Your intuition has never been better.

You will encounter a couple of obstacles this week, Scorpio. Don’t let them get the better of you. Just put your head down and keep on going.

If you’re good this week, a surprise gift will come your way.

Maybe it’s a new kitten or just a hug when you need one. You’ll have to wait and see.

SUDOKU 9 8 1 7 3 9 7 4 5 8 1 6 4 2 8 5 3 5 1 9 3 2 6 4 7 5 6 1 2 6 9 3 8 4 7 2

CROSSWORD ANSWER KEY

A

3 2 9 4 7 3 5 4 8 3 9 7 1 5 1 5 4 8 6 9 6 9 8 5 3 2 8 2 1 6 7 1 7 4 6 2

B

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