Verb Issue R70 (Mar. 22-28, 2013)

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ISSUE #70 – MARCH 22 TO MARCH 27

HEADING NORTH STARS

WITH

A NEW ERA Cam Broten, and the future of the NDP STEAMY ROCK AESTHETICS Q+A with July Talk ADMISSION + 5 BROKEN CAMERAS Films reviewed­

PHOTO: COURTESY OF SIMON WONG

CONTENTS

CULTURE

NEWS + OPINION

ENTERTAINMENT

Q + A WITH JULY TALK

LIVE MUSIC LISTINGS

Leah Fay talks steamy rock aesthetics. 8 / Q + A

Local music listings for March 22 through March 30. 14 / LISTINGS

IN DEFENSE OF WOMEN

SAID THE WHALE

NIGHTLIFE PHOTOS

Exploring a women’s self-defense course. 3 / LOCAL

Vancouver indie rockers punch above their weight. 9 / ARTS

This week we visit O’Hanlon’s Pub.

EXPRESS AND COMPANY

ADMISSION + 5 BROKEN CAMERAS

Dylan Ireland eyes the future. 9 / ARTS

We review the latest movies. 16 / FILM

VERBNEWS.COM @VERBREGINA FACEBOOK.COM/VERBREGINA

15 / NIGHTLIFE

EDITORIAL

A NEW ERA

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

Cam Broten talks the NDP’s future.

4 / LOCAL

ON THE COVER:

STARS

On doing what they do best. 10 / COVER

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

PRISON BREAK

HOT DOG!

ON THE BUS

Our thoughts on lowering our province’s incarceration rates. 6 / EDITORIAL

This week we visit Island Lunch.

Weekly original comic illustrations

by Elaine M. Will. 18 / COMICS

12 / FOOD + DRINK

COMMENTS

MUSIC

GAME + HOROSCOPES

Here’s what you had to say about changing airport security. 7 / COMMENTS

Jeff Loomis, Kerri Senkow + Mötley CrÜe. 13 / MUSIC

Canadian criss-cross puzzle, weekly horoscopes and Sudoku. 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

PLEASE RECYCLE AFTER READING & SHARING PHOTO: COURTESY OF THE ARTIST

2 MAR 22 – MAR 27 VERB MAGAZINE

CONTENTS

LOCAL

EDITORIAL

COMMENTS

Q+A

ARTS

COVER

FOOD + DRINK

MUSIC

LISTINGS

NIGHTLIFE

FILM

COMICS

TIMEOUT

VERBNEWS.COM

LOCAL

IN DEFENSE OF WOMEN PHOTO: COURTESY OF ADAM HAWBOLDT / VERB MAGAZINE

With Saskatchewan’s rate of violent crimes against women the highest in the country, some people are taking matters into their own hands BY ADAM HAWBOLDT

T

he arm wraps slowly around my neck, the crook of the elbow pressed against my Adam’s apple.

With a jolt the arm constricts and cuts off my air. I gasp for breath. It’s not there. I gasp again. And again.

My eyes snap shut. Stars burst in the blackness. I reach up and tap for the arm to let go. When it does, I fall forward, taking deep breath after deep breath. My lips are tingling, and from behind me self-defense instructor Clay McNally is saying something about how the way to make sure your arm is in the right position is to “snake it around the neck.”

He says something about bones and carotid arteries and making sure your elbow is perfectly centred. I swallow hard and rub my neck. It’s a Monday night, just after 7pm. Where I am is at the In Charge Self Defence class.

As for what I’m doing here, well, I’m getting the ever-loving s**t kicked out of me, that’s what. Chokes, take downs, knees, you name it. They’re all thrown my way.

“Make sure your hip is next to his and put your leg behind,” says McNally, showing the women in class how to properly take down an assailant. “The next thing you want to do is go for the throat. What I like to do is take my elbow and place it in their throat, like this.”

Here, McNally bends his arm and thrusts the inside of his elbow into his volunteer’s throat. “Then I reach out and grab their hair at the top of their head.”

McNally’s partner at In Charge, Jessica Hamel, pipes up and tells the class, “Oh, and don’t forget, you want to guide them by the head. Make sure their head hits first.”

“Yeah,” adds McNally, “you really want to drive their head into the ground.”

program, and fuses them together to form a unique and practical selfdefence course.

As for why I was attending a program like this, well, it’s because of some unsettling news that I read about Saskatchewan. In case you haven’t heard, recent reports from Statistics

Be aware of what’s going on around you, so you won’t put yourself in … harm.

CLAY MCNALLY

And at this point I’m asking myself one simple question: why in the name of all things holy did I sign up to be a tackling dummy?

Clay McNally first started offering his services in teaching self-defence courses back in 2009. “When I got back out of depot in Regina [the RCMP training program] I was showing some girls a few self-defense techniques,” explains McNally, who, it bears mentioning, also happens to have a 3rd Dan black belt in Taekwondo. “They told me there were no self-defense courses for women.”

So a light went on, and he created In Charge Self Defence, a program that is designed specifically for women.

In Charge takes the best from Taekwondo, karate, kick boxing, Krav Maga and the RCMP training

Canada say our province has the highest rate of violent crimes against women in the country.

How high? Well, according to police reports, there were 11,294 female victims of crime in 2011, giving Saskatchewan a rate of 2,681 per 100,000 residents.

The national average was 1,207 per 100,000 residents.

In case your math skills aren’t up to par, that’s over double what the rest of the country sees. So I went to In Charge to see what women were doing to defend themselves against this heinous and unnecessary problem.

And as it turns out, some are doing quite a lot.

Not only are these women learning how to kick butt and take names, at In Charge — and other self-defence courses around the province — they’re also learning how to spot danger and avoid it if possible.

“We teach them to keep their heads up while walking,” explains McNally. “Be aware of what’s going on around you, so you won’t put yourself in a situation that may bring harm.”

And speaking of harm, back at the selfdefense class the participants are inflicting serious harm on my poor body.

A small, but feisty woman with brown hair and a pink shirt puts her right foot behind mine and rams her arm into my throat. Grabbing me by the hair, she lunges forward, driving me hard into a thin, blue crash mat.

Oomph! My head smashes against the ground as the air in my lungs

makes an unscheduled exit. I groan, roll to my stomach, get to my feet.

The next time she tackles me, my back cracks hard against the ground. An electric shock jolts from my lower spine, down my leg, and into my feet. And in that moment, lying there on the floor, teeth clenched in pain, I pity any person who would attempt to attack a woman who’d been through McNally’s self-defence course.

He’d be in for a world of hurt.

Feedback? Text it! (306) 881 8372

@AdamHawboldt ahawboldt@verbnews.com

3 MAR 22 – MAR 27 /VERBREGINA

CONTENTS

LOCAL

EDITORIAL

COMMENTS

Q+A

ARTS

COVER

FOOD + DRINK

MUSIC

LISTINGS

NIGHTLIFE

FILM

COMICS

TIMEOUT

NEWS + OPINION

LOCAL

A NEW ERA

Cam Broten looks to the future in his first weeks as Saskatchewan NDP leader BY ALEX J MACPHERSON

I

n the 2011 Saskatchewan general election, Brad Wall’s Saskatchewan Party dealt the New Democrats a devastating defeat. The venerable party was left with just nine seats in the legislature and — when Dwain Lingenfelter failed to retain his Regina constituency — no leader. After a lengthy interregnum under acting leader John Nilson, the party recently elected Saskatoon MLA Cam Broten to take the party into the next election.

Broten, who is 34 and a veteran of two terms as the MLA for Saskatoon Massey Place, defeated Saskatoon medical doctor Ryan Meili by just 44 votes. Now, he must repair rifts within the party and rebuild its support base, which was eroded in the last election. I caught up with Broten to chat about building bridges in a party divided.

Alex J MacPherson: Looking back, what’s your assessment of the race and convention?

Cam Broten: Obviously I’m very happy to have won, but I’m happy more importantly about how the leadership race went, and the feeling that is in the party right now. The race was competitive, but in a healthy way; it wasn’t destructive, and that’s a positive thing. What we need to do now is to continue to welcome in all the people that got involved in a variety of ways, especially a lot of young people. It was a very young convention and membership in the party for youth has gone up 350 percent, which is really positive.

AJM: At the same time, the number of ballots cast was down by more than 1,000 from the last convention.

CB: We know we have work to do.

I’m not kidding myself about that.

And I want to carry on that work.

I think we made some really good strides in the race. Numbers did go up from where they were, and we had good, vibrant, dynamic teams working. And now we have a good,

vibrant, dynamic party, and I mean to carry that on right now.

AJM: There appears to be a split in the party between yourself and Ryan Meili. How are you going to repair that divide?

CB: My take is that I want people involved, whatever role it may be.

If they wore a button, if they made some phone calls, gave some money, put their “X” down on the ballot — whatever role they had I want them to be involved in the party and have a significant and meaningful way of contributing to what we’re doing. Through the campaign I was talking about how we can modernize our policy process, and I think that’s a key way how we can have people involved in the team on an ongoing basis, and not just on a one-off basis at conventions.

AJM: Will you encourage Dr. Meili to seek a seat of his own?

CB: I absolutely want Ryan involved in a way that suits him best, and suits his family best. I don’t CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE »

4 MAR 22 – MAR 27 NEWS + OPINION

CONTENTS

LOCAL

EDITORIAL

COMMENTS

Q+A

ARTS

COVER

FOOD + DRINK

MUSIC

LISTINGS

NIGHTLIFE

FILM

COMICS

TIMEOUT

VERBNEWS.COM

an elected politician having served, I understand what the concerns are of Saskatchewan families. I think they want us to be coming forward with common sense ideas and common sense solutions to their problems.

AJM: Can you give me an example of that common sense approach?

CB: When families know that the class sizes are very large and their kids maybe don’t have as much attention as they once did in the classrooms because the EA isn’t there, to me we can tie that to a philosophical idea of what we think about politics, but it’s also just a practical, common sense approach: if it’s too crowded, maybe we need to have some limits on class sizes or talk about that. Maybe we need to reinstate the educational assistant to free the teacher up to do more teaching and better teaching. It’s a combination of the two.

AJM: In terms of policy, what other areas do you want to focus on in the months to come?

PHOTOS: COURTESY OF THE SASKATCHEWAN NDP

want to comment about what he personally wants to do, but absolutely we need the people involved in all the campaigns involved in the party now.

AJM: The NDP was badly hurt in the last election. What can you do to improve the party and the party’s performance next time?

CB: My approach will be to listen to good ideas, wherever they come from

but I’m up for the job and thrilled to be in this role. And I want to work really hard and do a good job of it.

AJM: When you talk about letting people get to know you, what do you mean? How would you characterize your own politics?

CB: My politics are guided by my core beliefs as a social democrat: the idea that we want a society that is more fair, the idea that we achieve more by

…this is a new era and I’m a new leader and we’re a new team.

CAM BROTEN

and whomever they come from. That is the long-term thinking we want, as a province and as a party, and I’m optimistic. Yeah, it’s a big job, and I’m not kidding myself about the job I have to do in getting to know people better and let people get to know me better,

working together, the idea that there’s a constructive and positive role to play in society, through crown corporations for example. My personal motivation, of course, are my two girls, and that’s what gets me to be involved in politics and give it my all. And as

CB: Our three main areas of focus are: increased accountability and transparency by the Sask. Party, admitting when mistakes have been made like the film employment tax credit; stronger and better K-12 education for our children; and better long-term care options and choices for families as we care for our loved ones. Those are three key areas we’ll be putting a lot of energy into, and we’ll see what the budget holds.

AJM: At the same time, how do you propose to position the party for more electoral success next time?

CB: Obviously we need to do things better. We’re in opposition and we have nine MLAs, and if we’d been doing everything perfectly that wouldn’t be the situation. We still have to ask ourselves the tough questions and ask ourselves how we’re bringing issues forward, and how are we connecting with Saskatchewan people. We need to be doing a better job than what we’ve been doing.

AJM: You’re 34. Is this a time of renewal for the party, a changing-ofthe-guard?

CB: My goal, from a party perspective, is to connect the generations within the party. I think right now this is a new generation of leadership within the party, and that’s very good. I’m representative of that by my age. And there are many other young people, students or young families, who are involved, and that needs to continue.

But we also need to respect the things that have been done.

AJM: At the same time, there are hundreds of people out there who don’t know or care about Tommy Douglas and Allan Blakeney and Roy Romanow. Can the party move ahead while still embracing its history?

CB: I think it’s about writing the next great chapter, and when you think of it that way you can still have a huge fondness for the chapters that came before, and be appreciative, but this is a new era and I’m a new leader and we’re a new team. It is about now how can we best be a modern, dynamic political party here in the province.

Feedback? Text it! (306) 881 8372

@MacPhersonA amacpherson@verbnews.com

5 MAR 22 – MAR 27 @VERBREGINA

CONTENTS

LOCAL

EDITORIAL

COMMENTS

Q+A

ARTS

COVER

FOOD + DRINK

MUSIC

LISTINGS

NIGHTLIFE

FILM

COMICS

TIMEOUT

NEWS + OPINION

EDITORIAL

PRISON BREAK Lowering Saskatchewan’s incarceration rate will require a massive change to our penal system

I

f you’ve been paying attention to the news lately, you’ll know one thing is certain: it’s about time we did something about the incarceration rates in this province That’s because, according to Statistics Canada, Saskatchewan has the second highest incarceration rate in the entire country (195.2 per 100,000 people). Clearly, the current system is failing.

So change needs to happen. And you know what? The province’s 2011 Building Partnership to Reduce Crime strategy is a proactive measure, and a good place to start. Dealing with high-risk factors in the community as a means of preventing crimes before they are committed is admirable, and may very well end up doing some good. But it’s not enough.

To us, simply trying to prevent crimes only takes us halfway — the fact of the matter is, some people are going to end up in jail. And let’s face it — our current prison system is not designed to aid inmates in transitioning back to society. In fact, in The Effects of Prison Sentences on Recidivism, a study out of the University of New Brunswick and the University of Cincinnati, researchers found that a stint in prison should not be expected to reduce criminal behaviour. All of this leads back to our belief that in order to lower our province’s bloated incarceration rates, we need to fundamentally adjust our prisons.

So what we’re proposing is a twopronged approach, the first of which would involve putting non-violent, non-dangerous prisoners to good use.

We’ve already advocated for doing away with mandatory minimum sentences, which overwhelms our jails with people who don’t belong there, so why put those schmucks that get busted with one-too-many grams of marijuana, or those white-collar criminals who embezzle handfuls of cash, behind bars when you can put them to work bettering themselves and their communities?

So for those non-violent offenders who are healthy but clearly lack discipline: offer a stint in the army. If you’re a person with a penchant for stealing cash, give them an option to enrol in a work-release program (shovelling snow, anyone?). You get the idea. We need to make a better distinction between the people that actually deserve to be in jail, and those that do not.

Now of course there are certain individuals that must face jail time, but it’s already been proven jail doesn’t equal less crime. Oh, and also that excessive use of incarceration has enormous cost implications. So: cramming people into prison not only doesn’t stop crime, it costs us a ton of money.

And we should keep on keeping on why? So it’s here where we would like to unpack the rest of our approach: building better prisons. And we’re not talking hi-tech; no, we’re talking about are prisons that are more humane.

The way we see it, at the moment our prisons are too focused on punishment when what they should really be concerned with is rehabilitation.

Our current system seems adept at one thing — creating more criminals.

In fact, The Effects of Prison Sentences on Recidivism determined that there

PHOTOS: COURTESY OF PH

was a “tendency for lower-risk offenders to be more negatively affected by the prison experience.” So if we really want our incarceration rates to drop, we should empower people who do end up in jail to not become repeat offenders. And while determining the number of inmates that will reoffend is notoriously difficult, Public Safety Canada estimates Canada’s federal offenders’ recidivism rates hover around 44%. The Council of Europe Annual Penal Statistics pins Norway’s rate at 20%.

So what is Norway doing right?

Well — Halden. Based on a model that believes repressive prisons fundamentally do not work, Halden Prison is nestled in 75 acres of forest complete with jogging trails. The cells feature flatscreen televisions, and every convict gets his or her own toilet, shower, desk, minifridge and cupboards.

And while this may sound more like a Holiday Inn than a jail, the reasoning behind it is actually quite logical. See, the Norwegian government feels that life behind bars should be as much like outside life as possible. To help facilitate this, prisoners at Halden are encouraged to go to participate in educational and self-betterment activities every day, from music programs to cooking classes. Officers who work at Halden frequently eat and play sports with the inmates, fostering a sense of community. And prisoners are asked for feedback — sounds a little touchy-feely, but it’s a finding that Public Safety Canada notes can determine who is being adversely impacted by prison.

The goal at Halden is to build these inmates up, preparing them to re-enter the workforce when they’re released.

That way, the chance of them returning are slimmer. And while unconventional, this approach has been wildly successful — in fact, the country boasts an incarceration rate of just 69 per 100,000 people (roughly a third of Saskatchewan’s), so obviously they’re doing something right.

Saskatchewan’s prisons are stuffed to the brim, that much is clear. And plowing on with our crime-and-punishment approach, the way we have been, is clearly not the answer, since the problem is only getting worse.

Reducing incarceration rates is better for the community, and revising our province’s approach to crime and punishment is a necessary step towards achieving that goal.

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

Feedback? Text it! (306) 881 8372

@VerbRegina feedback@verbnews.com

6 MAR 22 – MAR 27 NEWS + OPINION

CONTENTS

LOCAL

EDITORIAL

COMMENTS

Q+A

ARTS

COVER

FOOD + DRINK

MUSIC

LISTINGS

NIGHTLIFE

FILM

COMICS

TIMEOUT

VERBNEWS.COM

COMMENTS

ON TOPIC: Last week we asked what you thought about changing airport security. Here's what you had to say:

– Yes, profilers would be an asset to add to the boarding process. But, they should not be counted as the only way to catch suspected criminals. I do not mind going through 4 hours of trying to board a flying bomb. Safety first people! If a person thinks that full body scans and searches are too excessive, f**k you. My life and the peoples lives on the ground are worth it. If you don’t like it, walk or take a bus.

(Hope you don’t lose your head.)

– Flight of fancy Well where to start tearing apart your dream world airport fantasy!! Now you really left out a whole lot of facts and a whole lot of information. I’m appalled that this article was actually even printed with such lucid undigested knowledge. I’m really curious to know that in Tel Aviv how on earth do they even have a secure area? can anyone just walk on the plane? obviously they have more screening involved then You’re letting on. I believe that people feel more comfortable and less paranoid being able to truly prove their innocence. And that they do not have anything to hide.

And if that includes a few random pat downs, body scans and x-ray’d bags And a walk-through metal detector, So be it. It might not be everyone’s cup of tea. But it has kept us safe this far. And I’m confident to say that it will continue in doing so.

– Been to Ben Gurion airport, and it’s a wildly efficient enterprise.

For the number of people they deal with I have to say the bigger Canadian airports (Pearson comes to mind) just can’t compare.

Assessing people, and not items makes sense.

Text yo thoughtsur to 881 VE R B 8372

– Flight of fancy Sorry you’re so inconvenienced by losing your water bottle and taking your shoes off.. I really like how you used the example : No airplanes have ever been hijacked from the Ben Gurion airport in Tel Aviv. That one airport, wait to go for them!

Now how many airports in Canada have airplanes been hijacked from? I don’t see your congratulations for them in your article. I think what your census is missing is that in Canada we do, do things differently And thus far air travel has been safe. And Why are you so sure that behavior profiles are not in place already? You could Blame the Saskatoon airport for missing a paring knife because perhaps we are a little more laid-back here, or you can respect the fact that you still have privilege of trust. I must also note that you wrote that this incident was years ago. Just wanted to express my opinions on something you clearly know nothing about. (Maybe do some more research, And provide a little more facts, actually a lot more facts)

them feel better and safer though whether they actually are or not is debatable.

OFF TOPIC – Interesting about behaviour profiles. Remember reading about this, but more from the States after 9/11. There’s a lot we could learn from how other, less paranoid countries do things. Pretty sure noone wants a picture of my naked bod from one of those scanners LOL

– Behaviour profilers sounds like a smart addition to our current security measures. You’ll have a hard time convincing people about that though part of the security process, no matter how invasive/impractical/ incomplete it may be. It can’t catch everything as you noted to. Is that is gives reassurance to fliers. It makes

– Vote for West! Great to support local filmmakers and an interesting bit of history to boot :) In response to “A Little Slice of History,” Local page, #69 (March 15, 2013)

– Motorcycle trip around world would love to but have to live through others LOL is he blogging it would love to read that?

Just cause you think your music tastes are amazing, doesn’t mean I do. And when your playin it loud enough I can hear it over my music, you might wanna invest in hearing aids too

– Too many religious people sing this tune..”My god is bigger than your god; my god can kick your god’s ass.”

– Crackerheads texting you pictures of their poo at 3 AM is DOWNtown!

In response to “The Long Haul,” Local page, #69 (March 15, 2013)

SOUND OFF – To the 2 women on the bus sitting beside me. BUY HEADPHONES!!!

– 1st Day of Spring! I have a new game Verb textures can play.

Things you’re not supposed to do!

Tell us something you did in this area. I’ll start. I made Massey Ferguson tractor and discer fly once.

My dad made a grader fly. I saw

a guy make a buggy fly. They’re really not supposed to fly!

– Parvovirus is fairly lethal for dogs. Its spread in feces by minimal contact a lick. Not cleaning up dog turds when you walk your dog is spreading it. Doglover?

NEXT WEEK: What do you think about revamping our prison system to lower incarceration rates? 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.

7 MAR 22 – MAR 27 /VERBREGINA

CONTENTS

LOCAL

EDITORIAL

COMMENTS

Q+A

ARTS

COVER

FOOD + DRINK

MUSIC

LISTINGS

NIGHTLIFE

FILM

COMICS

TIMEOUT

NEWS + OPINION

Q+A

A DIFFERENT SORT OF ROCK BAND PHOTOS: COURTESY OF BROOKE WEDLOCK

July Talk’s steamy rock aesthetics BY ALEX J MACPHERSON

I

t takes about a minute to figure out that July Talk is a different sort of rock band.

Forty seconds into “Paper Girl,” the snarling, rampaging single from the Toronto band’s eponymous debut, Leah Fay’s delicate soprano snatches the lead from Peter Dreimanis’s whiskey-soaked growl.

The tension between Fay’s apparent innocence and Dreimanis’s road-weary experience unfolds into a series of assumptions — but it never resolves. The whole album is like this: a confluence of expertlyplayed rock and roll, steamy duets, and the titillating hint that something crazy could happen at any second. Although the band has only been around for a year or so, their taste in low guitars and high drama makes a big impression. I called Fay in Toronto to learn more about the sound and the fury that is July Talk.

Alex J MacPherson: There’s an old adage that you have your entire life to write your first record, but just a year to write your second. Is pressure building already?

Leah Fay: I don’t know. This is the first time we’ve ever done it. For me the songwriting has been

really exciting, because for the first record it was mostly songs that had already been written. I was trying to navigate my way through these songs that already had a life of their own. The focus is now more on actual conversations between me and Peter. There’s more space for my ideas and my voice, which has been really great so far.

who sings in one very specific way, and then the way I sing, another very specific way.

AJM: It’s impossible to ignore the dynamic between you and Peter. The tension, the hidden meaning. Why do you think it’s so effective?

LF: Well, it’s just such a loaded situation, and a loaded image.

I’ve been to school for dance, and one of the first things they teach you is about how all images are

AJM: Do you see the band building on the first record, or maybe taking a different tack?

…we’re trying to write these bangers that are loud and fun and kind of raunchy.

LEAH FAY

LF: I think the first album is kind of a mishmash of genres. The songs right now, they’re a bit more concise — they’re still poppy and fun. So far we’re trying to write these bangers that are loud and fun and kind of raunchy. The thing about the first album, and the thing about our songs so far, is that there’s this skeletal structure of the song — these basic pop songs — and what makes them spicy is the fact that you have Peter,

readable onstage. The second you put a man and a woman onstage, people are interested and curious about this relationship. It could be brother and sister, or father and daughter. It’s just, like, the opposing yin-yang energy.

AJM: Which raises the question: does the audience experience reflect the actual relationship between you and Peter, or is that relationship a function of songwriting?

LF: The things that happen onstage are a pretty good translation of the relationship Peter and I have in life, I think. We really could not be more different. We have a lot of the same values, which means we’re not constantly at each others’ throats, but from the places we were raised to the drinks we like to drink to the way we have our coffee, we’re different.

AJM: On the other hand, a lot of people don’t realize July Talk is a five-piece rock and roll band. And there’s a lot of talent onstage. How important is it to you that the other guys get recognized?

LF: Ian, Josh, and Danny are the absolute backbone. Peter and I would

not be able to do what we do onstage if it were not for them. It totally is that thing of having a male and a female: it’s a specific idea, and it often overshadows the fact that we are a rock and roll band. We’re not a duo, not singing just a bunch of duets.

This is a five-piece band.

July Talk April 3 @ The Club (The Exchange) $10 @ Ticketedge Feedback? Text it! (306) 881 8372

@MacPhersonA amacpherson@verbnews.com

8 MAR 22 – MAR 27 CULTURE

CONTENTS

LOCAL

EDITORIAL

COMMENTS

Q+A

ARTS

COVER

FOOD + DRINK

MUSIC

LISTINGS

NIGHTLIFE

FILM

COMICS

TIMEOUT

VERBNEWS.COM

ARTS

SAID THE WHALE

Vancouver indie rockers punch above their weight

BY ALEX J MACPHERSON

T

yler Bancroft tried not to think about it. He knew Little Mountain might win a nomination. He knew what it felt like to win a Juno Award — Said The Whale, the band he fronts with Ben Worcester, won Best New Group in 2011 — and he knew the band’s latest collection of snappy rock songs had been praised by fans and critics alike. But he was still shocked when the news arrived.

“Every band’s management submits their record to be nominated for a Juno, so you know that you’ve submitted,” Bancroft says, speaking from a tour stop in Los Angeles. “But it’s also not the kind of thing that as an indie band you go and do with any sort of expectations. Winning that first time, even being nominated for the first time, was a huge honour for us, and so another nomination, especially alongside those calibre of bands, is pretty f**king ridiculous.”

But it’s not all that ridiculous. Since 2007, Said The Whale have carved out a reputation for writing songs that straddle the line between conventional pop structures and indie aesthetics.

PHOTO: COURTESY OF JONATHAN TAGGART

Little Mountain, their most polished release to date, is a sampling of breezy west coast pop. Unfolding across a musical landscape shaped by their home in Vancouver, and pushed to the horizon by their restless ambition, Little Mountain captures the band at a pivotal moment — shedding the exuberance that propelled its predecessor, Islands Disappear, and embracing a more expansive musical vision.

From the opening crescendo of “We Are 1980” and the infectious “Loveless” to the sombre strains of “Seasons,” Little Mountain feels like a major accomplishment for one of Canada’s hardest-working bands. It feels like the sort of album that can only be born from hundreds of long days and longer nights — a fact of which Bancroft, who

spent the past couple of days retching in the back of a van and feeling like “grim death,” is acutely aware.

“It’s not like this just happened overnight,” he says. “It’s more like an opportunity to take a step back and look at how our hard work has paid off, and led us to have our band name alongside such quality names and such big talent.”

And while it is difficult to imagine a scenario in which Metric’s Synthetica doesn’t take home the trophy, it’s equally difficult to conceive of an album that deserves it more than Little Mountain.

Said the Whale March 28 @ Globe Theatre $23.81 @ Globe Theatre Box Office

EXPRESS AND COMPANY

Dylan Ireland looks to the horizon BY ALEX J MACPHERSON

D

ylan Ireland gave his songwriting project a name other than his own for a reason.

He wanted a voice without limits, a persona that could transcend his history of playing in “bar party hillbilly stomp” bands, and an identity whose emotional horizon stretched far beyond his own, to the very edges of the country he loves.

“It kind of leaves the field open a little bit in that sense,” Ireland says from a tour stop in the Yukon, where he and Melissa Payne are playing a series of house concerts, “especially for people who already know you really well, and always end up being your first fans and listeners. When I came out with the name, I don’t

think anybody was sure what would come out.”

What emerged was Ontario, which Ireland released under the moniker Express and Company. A follow-up to his debut EP, Ontario is an impressive collection of songs blending traditional country instrumentation with contemporary pop aesthetics. The record straddles the line between singer-songwriter introspection and rock band energy, and shows off Ireland’s ability to craft expansive soundscapes with few instruments and fewer resources.

From the raucous “Carry Me Along” to the tender strains of “Where Will You Bury Me,” Ontario charts a course across the emotional landscape, from unalloyed joy to tear-in-your-beer

despair. The songs are linked together

by Ireland’s ability to thread personal stories into a broader narrative — the story of a country. Each song feels like a spoke radiating outward from his home in Peterborough; taken together, they become a portrait of a country that can be devastatingly beautiful and beautifully devastating.

“I’m really just, over the last couple of years, starting to see it for the first time, to see the country,” Ireland says. “Coming from Ontario, I knew the country was beautiful, but it’s nice to see how beautiful it actually gets. It’s really impressive.”

The most important song on the record, and the one that best reflects Ireland’s desire to expand on

the definition of the rootsy singersongwriter, is “Out By The Trees.”

Conceived as a simple elegy to long summer days spent playing music with his family, the song unfolds into a simple expression of Ireland’s musical identity — a personal story that feels so much bigger than any one person.

Express and Company March 31 @ Creative City Centre $10 Feedback? Text it! (306) 881 8372

@MacPhersonA amacpherson@verbnews.com

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THE NORTH Stars do what they do best BY ALEX J MACPHERSON

A

my Millan has two families. One shares her blood, the other her spirit. One is a group of people threaded together by the great arc of history, the other a group of people tied together by an impossible dream. The former consists of people she is related to. The latter consists of a rock band.

“When I go into the room with the guys to make music, the people I’m trying to impress are them,” Millan says of her colleagues in Stars, Canada’s preeminent indie pop orchestra. “If they like the song, then I can trust that the people who have been with us for so long are also going to fall in love with the music. We all kind of keep each other in check, and that’s what’s pretty amazing about having that kind of collaboration.”

Millan believes the band’s collaborative approach is its own reward, but it is impossible to overlook the fact that Stars have become one of the most important pop groups in the country. In a career spanning six albums and dozens of national tours, the band has remained at or near the front of the independent music movement. Today, almost fifteen years after

cutting their first record, their identity is indivisible from the sparkling, kaleidoscopic pop sound they helped create; their 2004 masterpiece, Set Yourself On Fire, has since its release been the yardstick against which aspiring bands are measured.

And the Montreal-based band is as relevant today as they were ten years ago. The North, which was released late

me is that Evan and Chris and Paddy and Torq like the songs.”

When I ask how the nomination affects the band’s perception of themselves with regard to the ever-expanding landscape of Canadian music, Millan dodges the question. “I think we’re fools,” she laughs. “And that’s why we’re still here. It’s a foolish thing to do, to get together with your best

It’s a foolish thing to do, to … try to have a life where you’re going to play music for people.

AMY MILLAN

last year, feels like a new beginning: a musical evolution rather than an attempt to recapture the magic of Set Yourself On Fire. Unlike 2007’s In Our Bedroom After The War and 2010’s The Five Ghosts, The North was nominated for a Juno Award. It deserves to win.

“It’s a great day for us,” Millan says before emphasizing that winning awards was never the goal: “What matters to

friends and try to have a life where you’re going to play music for people.

It’s not by any means steady. You put one foot in front of the other and hope the floor comes up to meet you.”

Stars emerged in 1999 from the same music scene that spawned Metric and Broken Social Scene. Torquil Campbell CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE »

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PHOTOS: COURTESY OF NORMAN WONG

and Chris Seligman released Nightsongs in 2001, and later recruited Millan and Evan Cranley to shore up their live performances. Drummer Pat McGee joined the band shortly thereafter, cementing the lineup that has survived massive highs and crushing lows. From the beginning Millan knew she was part of something special. “I knew right away,” she says. “The first time the four of us were in a room together — Torquil, Chris, Evan, and I — I had a very good feeling about how it was going to turn out.”

She was right. Stars were embraced as a potent antidote to a decade of boilerplate alt-rock. By replacing thundering amplifiers and thoughtless clichés with unusual arrangements and dense, poetic lyrics, they stripped

PHOTO: COURTESY OF NORMAN WONG

down and rebuilt the framework around which pop music is constructed. By blending efficiency and playful experimentation, and by valuing depth over volume, Stars developed a sound that balanced pop conventions against sonic expansion. Although they have experimented with broad narratives and sweeping orchestral sounds, Millan and her colleagues are at their

best when writing simple songs about simple things: love and loss, hope and despair. “The idea that time will pass and we will all die, and in that you’d better enjoy having sex,” she laughs.

“Those are, I think, the broad themes we’ve always wanted to launch our pop songs on.”

Unlike The Five Ghosts, a record fractured by the death of Campbell’s father, The North finds the band in comfortable territory. They never get around to saying as much, but it feels like a recalibration, or perhaps a rejuvenation. Everybody, Millan notes, was in a good place. “After playing The Five Ghosts for two years I think we were feeling better,” Millan explains. “I had a kid and Torquil had a kid and we were feeling more joyful. I think that’s what comes through the most in the new album.”

And by leaving themselves room to experiment, Stars created The North as a celebration of sound, a sea of music where the crests and troughs run together into oblivion.

Although The North lacks a broad theme or concept, its songs are joined by a violent refusal to let sorrow overpower joy. Mortality, once a fixation, has become a foil. The preposterously titled “Hold On When You Get Love And Let Go When You Give It” dashes hope on the rocks (“There’s been a lot of talk of love / But that don’t amount to nothing”) before finding salvation in the things that make us human (“Take the weakest thing in you / And then beat the bastards with it”). Millan thinks it is one of the best songs the band has ever written.

“A lot of our songs are very heady, and with this song, every night, we’re onstage, we’re all jumping up and down and dancing,” she says of the infectious chorus and punchy arrangement of synthesizer pads and furious guitar riffs that carry the song to its towering climax. “It really was a completely collaborative effort between the five of us being in the room together. And generally it’s always the best song when five people are present to make it what it is.” Millan wasn’t in the studio when the band cut the song; she showed up a few hours later, in time to write the chorus.

“These are the people I’m trying to impress the most,” she recalls, “and they’re all looking at me going, ‘What do you think?’ I was like, ‘You know what? I love it. And I can’t wait to play it for the next ten years.’”

Campbell and Millan have described The North as a politi-

cal record, a frustratingly vague term that can mean anything from self-important sanctimony to an expression of popular frustration.

But the record feels political insofar as it feels hopeful. “We did have the sense that we wanted to convey this idea of how it was when we were kids, and how we would like it to return to that utopian ideal of when things were being built for the World’s Fair, and when people were coming together from across the world to meet in one place,” Millan says. “I think it’s an idealistic point of view, but hopefully it’s something we can achieve again.”

That idealism is contagious. It is tangible at all of their concerts, which feel more like celebrations than expositions. Millan, who is “pretty much an agnostic,” is not oblivious to the parallels between the cathedral and the concert hall. “There’s something I feel that

definitely shifts the world a little bit when there’s a couple thousand people and everybody’s singing the same song in joy and in love. It’s like going to church. It’s kind of creating an energy that I believe can shift the vibe of the world.”

Pop music will never change the world; the world is too big and too messy for that. But the energy created by thousands of people singing together just might, because being part of something bigger than any one person, bigger than any five musicians, is special. It feels like an open secret, an open door. It feels like being part of a family.

Stars March 28 @ The Orr Centre $23.81 @ Globe Theatre Box Office Feedback? Text it! (306) 881 8372

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HOT DOG!

Photos courtesy of Danielle Tocker

Island Lunch is serving things up fresh, fast, and delicious

BY JESSICA BICKFORD

I

am all about finding the hidden gems in Regina, and Island Lunch is certainly one of them. Tucked away in the Value Mall, this lunch stand is serving up a variety of hot dogs, smokies, wraps, sandwiches, salads and goodies, all freshly made or cooked and served up quickly.

Island Lunch has a few tubemeat options for your lunching pleasure, including a standard, hot dog, Nathan’s Famous, and smokies. You can get any of these

reuben style, with pizza toppings, with bacon and cheese, or

super meaty, dense and doublesmoked for extra flavour.

I wouldn’t serve anything to anyone that I wouldn’t eat myself.

SHAWN GROHS

as a chili dog. The Nathan’s hot dogs were really something different, with great flavour and spices. The smokie was skinless,

I tried a chili dog with Island Lunch’s basic hot dog, which was pretty tasty. The dog itself was smothered in a tomatoey chili that featured kidney beans, red and green peppers, a nice bit of chili heat, and some gooey cheese.

Now, you can attack this thing in one of two ways — delicately with a fork and knife, or the more visceral approach of picking the whole thing up and trying not to make a huge mess. Either way the great chili taste, snap of the hot dog, and fluffy white bun are sure to please, and overall this was a meaty, rich, filling and perfectly executed chili dog.

I also tried two of their healthier options, in the form of a wrap and a salad. The wrap had green pepper, tomato, carrot, red onion, lettuce, red pepper, cucumber, ham and

LET’S GO DRINKIN’ VERB’S MIXOLOGY GUIDE HARD LEMONADE

INGREDIENTS

A bit of pucker and a bit of punch make this hard lemonade a real treat for your tastebuds, not to mention your guests. So what if it isn’t summer yet? Close the blinds, crank the heat, and pretend it’s sunny in your room.

2 cups water 1 cup sugar lots of ice 4 ounces vodka 1 cup lemon juice (freshly squeezed is best) 1 lemon, sliced

DIRECTIONS

In a saucepan bring the water and sugar to a boil until all the sugar dissolves, then let this cool. Fill a pitcher with ice and pour the cooled syrup, vodka, lemon juice, and lemon slices on top. Give everything a quick stir and serve immediately.

ranch dressing, all in a spinach tortilla. The plethora of veggies gave everything a nice crunch and made this a fresh and very tasty option for a quick lunch.

Last up was a chef’s salad, with crisp iceberg lettuce, ham, cheddar cheese, hard boiled egg, and veggies, all presented nicely in a take-away container. The salty ham, and rich egg and cheese made this a hearty option, and the choice of dressing lets you customize the flavour for yourself. I like it with Italian for a bit of zip!

Shawn Grohs, who owns the stand, says that he wants to cater to the customers and try new things, which is why they have a different

special every Friday. “I wouldn’t serve anything to anyone that I wouldn’t eat myself,” Shawn adds, which is why their coffee is always fresh, and their buns are brought in each day. Until my barbecue is freed from the snow, Island Lunch will certainly be my stop for hot dogs and more.

Island Lunch 1230 Broad Street | In the Value Mall Cash Only Feedback? Text it! (306) 881 8372

@TheGeekCooks jbickford@verbnews.com

12 MAR 22 – MAR 27 CULTURE

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NEXT WEEK

COMING UP

JEFF LOOMIS

KERRI SENKOW MÖTLEY CRÜE

@ THE EXCHANGE FRIDAY, MARCH 29 – $25

@ ARTFUL DODGER SATURDAY, MARCH 30 – $8

@ MOSIAC PLACE FRIDAY, MAY 3 – $76.67+

You ever heard of the band Nevermore? You know, the prog metal band from Seattle who created such heavy-hitting songs as “Bittersweet Feast” and “Sentient 6?” Well, Jeff Loomis was the lead guitarist of that band until he left in 2011; since then he’s focused his considerable energy on his solo career, and last year produced his second studio solo album, Plains of Oblivion. And if you’re into prog metal, you might want to check it out. Loomis is an incendiary guitar player who shreds hard on his new project. With blistering riffs and a wide variety of songs, Loomis has most certainly stepped out of the Nevermore shadow and established himself as one heckuva solo artist.

Tickets for the show are available at www.enterthevault.com

The year 2009 was a big one in music. Michael Jackson died, Garth Brooks came out of retirement for a solo show in Vegas, and Britain’s Got Talent introduced the world to the vocal stylings of Susan Boyle. On the home front, 2009 was also the year local pop/country artist Kerri Senkow began performing shows in front of live audiences. Since then she has played hundreds of shows across Saskatchewan and Alberta, honing her craft and her live act.

Then, just last year, the young singer-songwriter made an album at the B-rad Studios here in town.

Come check her out as she puts her songwriting hat aside and conducts a singalong featuring covers of Taylor Swift, Carly Rae Jepsen, Justin Bieber and more.

What is there to say that hasn’t been said about Mötley CrÜe already? Not only did VH1 and MTV name them one of the top metal bands of all time, not only have they sold millions of records and won over millions of fans around the world, but Mötley CrÜe is, hands-down, one of the wildest, living-like-true-rockstars bands to ever grace a stage.

Don’t believe me? Pick up a copy of The Dirt, the band’s autobiography, and give it a read — the stories of drug abuse and partying and sex are so crazy they’ll make your jaw drop.

Kind of like the way Mötley CrÜe has made concert-goers’ jaws drop since forming way back in 1980, with classics like “Dr. Feelgood,” “Girls, Girls, Girls,” and “Shout At The Devil.”

Tickets at tickets.mosaicplace.ca – By Adam Hawboldt

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

SASK MUSIC PREVIEW The Stickman Drum Experience is an amazing multi-day drum camp that offers a creative atmosphere for drummers to learn, jam and hang out with world-class musicians. This year’s line-up of talent features Matt Halpern, Scott Pellegrom, Billy Ward, Tim Smith and Ronn Dunnett. Stickman 2013 takes place June 27-July 1 at Cedar Lodge on Blackstrap Lake; see http:// www.stickmandrumexperience.com/ for more info.

Keep up with Saskatchewan music. saskmusic.org

13 MAR 22 – MAR 27 @VERBREGINA

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LISTINGS

MARCH 22 » MARCH 30 The most complete live music listings for Regina.

S

M

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22 23

24 25 26 27 28 29 30

FRIDAY 22

THE FUGITIVES / Artful Dodger — A Vancouver folk duo. 8pm / Cover TBD DJ JUAN LOPEZ / Envy Nightclub — This DJ loves requests. 10pm / $5 EVAN CHAMBERS AND THE THIRD ALARM, FIRE ENGINE 5A / The Exchange — Come listen to rock and blues. 8pm / $10 DJ PAT & DJ KIM / Habano’s Martini & Cocktail Club — Local DJs spin top 40 hits every Friday night. 9pm / $5 cover BIG CHILL FRIDAYS / Lancaster Taphouse — Come out and get your weekend started with DJ Fatbot, who’ll be doing his spinning thing every Friday night. 10pm / Cover TBD ABSOFUNKINLUTELY / McNally’s Tavern — This Saskatoon band brings the funk.

10pm / $5 FOXX WORTHEE / The Pump Roadhouse — A badass female country duo. 9pm / Cover TBD

ALBERT / Pure Ultra Lounge — Listen to Albert as he does his spinning thing. 10pm / $5 cover SMOKY JOE’S CAFE / Regina Performing Arts Centre — A revue of rock standards from the Drifters, The Monkees, and more.

7pm / $20 (Regina Performing Arts Centre box office) SONIC ORCHID / The Sip — A local hard rock/power pop act. 10pm / Cover TBD KAL HOURD / Whiskey Saloon — A talented country artist from Saskatoon. 8pm / $10 DJ LONGHORN / Whiskey Saloon — Come check out one of Regina’s most interactive DJs. 8pm / Cover TBD

FOXX WORTHEE / The Pump — A badass female country duo. 9pm / Cover TBD DREWSKI / Pure Ultra Lounge — Doing what he does best, every Saturday night.

10pm / $5 cover SMOKY JOE’S CAFE / Regina Performing Arts Centre — A revue of rock standards from the Drifters, The Monkees, and more.

7pm / $20 (Regina Performing Arts Centre box office) SONIC ORCHID / The Sip — A local hard rock/power pop act. 10pm / Cover TBD JAM SESSIONS / Smokin’ Okies BBQ — Promoting blues and country blues. 2pm / No cover KAL HOURD / Whiskey Saloon — A talented country artist from Saskatoon. 8pm / $10

SATURDAY 23

THE SASK SAMPLER / Bushwakker Brewpub — A full evening of top-notch Saskatchewan music, featuring Close Talker, Nick Faye & the Deputies, Gunner & Smith and more. 7pm DJ JUAN LOPEZ / Envy Nightclub — This DJ loves requests. 10pm / $5 REGINA JAZZ ORCHESTRA / The Exchange — An evening of smooth jazz. 7pm KERRI SENKOW / Lancaster Taphouse — A local pop-county singer/songwriter. 9:30pm JUAN SEBASTIEN LAROBINA, MALIKA SELLAMI / Le Bistro — A laid-back evening with excellent musicians. 8pm / Ticket info @ 566-6020 ABSOFUNKINLUTELY / McNally’s Tavern — This Saskatoon band brings the funk.

10pm / $5

SUNDAY 24

MADISON VIOLET, JOHN ANTONIUK / Artful Dodger — Folk music for your soul. 8pm / $15 advance, $20 at the door REHASHED, COCAINE MOUSTACHE, SEVERED LEGION, BERMUDA LOVE / The Club — A night of hard-rockin’ metal. 7pm / $10 SMOKY JOE’S CAFE / Regina Performing Arts Centre — A revue of rock standards.

7pm / $20 (Regina Performing Arts Centre box office)

MONDAY 25

OPEN MIC NIGHT / The Artful Dodger — Come down and jam! 8pm / No cover MONDAY NIGHT JAZZ / Bushwakker — Featuring Uptown Jazz. 8pm / No cover

TUESDAY 26 TROUBADOUR TUESDAYS / Bocados — Come check out some live tunes from local talents every week. 8pm / No cover BORN RUFFIANS, THE ELWINS / The Exchange — A night of indie rock you don’t want to miss. 8pm / Cover TBD

WEDNESDAY 27

WEDNESDAY NIGHT FOLK / Bushwakker Brewpub — Featuring The Bystanders, playing popular indie-folk. 9pm / No cover JAM NIGHT AND OPEN STAGE / McNally’s Tavern — Come on down and enjoy some local talent. 9pm / No cover

THURSDAY 28

PORTAGE AND MAIN, WHITE ASH FALLS / Artesian on 13th — A night of folk rock.

8pm / $10 (advance), $15 (door) BRIGHTER FUTURES FOR CHILDREN CONCERT / Casino Regina — Featuring Binder Twine and the Balers, The Ben Winoski Project and Amy Nelson. 8pm / $35 (casinoregina.com) LITTLE BIG TOWN / Conexus Arts Centre — This platinum-selling country band is on its Tornado Tour. 7:30pm / $39.50-56.50 (www. conexusartscentre.ca) QUEEN CITY ROCKS / The Exchange — Come check out this battle of the bands.

7pm / Cover TBD DECIBEL FREQUENCY / Gabbo’s Nightclub — A night of electronic fun. 10pm / Cover $5 PS FRESH / The Hookah Lounge — Featuring DJ Ageless and DJ Drewski. 7pm / No cover OPEN MIC NIGHT / King’s Head Tavern — Come out, play some tunes, sing some songs, and show Regina what you got. 8pm / No cover DAN SILLJER BAND / McNally’s Tavern — A left-handed guitar whiz. 8:30pm / $5 STEPHANIE THOMSON / The Pump Roadhouse — A local contemporary/pop singer with a message. 9pm / Cover TBD CHRIS HENDERSON / Whiskey Saloon — A talented country artist from right here in Queen City. 8pm / $5 DJ LONGHORN / Whiskey Saloon — Come check out one of Regina’s most interactive DJs. 8pm / Cover TBD

FRIDAY 29

DJ JUAN LOPEZ / Envy Nightclub — This DJ loves requests, nothing is off limits.

10pm / $5 SOILWORK, JEFF LOOMIS, BLACKGUARD, THE BROWNING, WRETCHED / The Exchange — Heavy metal at its finest. 6:30pm / $25 (enterthevault.com)

DJ PAT & DJ KIM / Habano’s Martini & Cocktail Club — Local DJs spin top 40 hits every Friday night. 9pm / $5 cover BIG CHILL FRIDAYS / Lancaster Taphouse — Come out and get your weekend started with DJ Fatbot. 10pm / Cover TBD METHOD 2 MADNESS / McNally’s Tavern — Great rock n’ roll classics. 10pm / $5 STEPHANIE THOMSON / The Pump Roadhouse — A local contemporary/pop singer with a message. 9pm / Cover TBD ALBERT / Pure Ultra Lounge — Appearing every Friday night. 10pm / $5 cover DANGEROUS CHEESE / The Sip Nightclub — Playing 80’s party music. 10pm / Cover TBD CHRIS HENDERSON / Whiskey Saloon — A talented country artist from right here in Queen City. 8pm / $10 DJ LONGHORN / Whiskey Saloon — Come check out one of Regina’s most interactive DJs. 8pm / Cover TBD

SATURDAY 30

KERRI SENKOW / Artful Dodger — Come sing along with this local songstress.

2pm / $8 DR. BIRD AND BLUE BEAT / Artful Dodger — A rockin’ CD release party. 8pm / Cover TBD MARCHEGEDDON / Brandt Centre — Featuring Voltbeat and Danko Jones. 7:30pm / $38.50-71.50 (ticketmaster.ca) APRIL WINE / Casino Regina — Hall of Fame rockers from Nova Scotia. 8pm / SOLD OUT DJ JUAN LOPEZ / Envy Nightclub — This DJ loves requests, nothing is off limits.

10pm / $5 METHOD 2 MADNESS / McNally’s Tavern — Great rock n’ roll classics. 10pm / $5 STEPHANIE THOMSON / The Pump Roadhouse — A local contemporary/pop singer with a message. 9pm / Cover TBD 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 DANGEROUS CHEESE / The Sip Nightclub — Playing 80’s party music. 10pm / Cover TBD JAM SESSIONS / Smokin’ Okies BBQ — Promoting blues and country blues, come in and play or listen and be entertained. 2pm / No cover CHRIS HENDERSON / Whiskey Saloon — A talented country artist from right here in Queen City. 8pm / $10

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14 MAR 22 – MAR 27 ENTERTAINMENT

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NIGHTLIFE

SATURDAY, MARCH 16 @

O’HANLON’S PUB

O’Hanlon’s Pub 1947 Scarth Street (306) 566 4094 MUSIC VIBE / Celtic, indie and rock FEATURED DEALS / Blue and grape vodka Saturdays, $4.50-$5.50 DRINK OF CHOICE / Guinness TOP EATS / Bangers and mash COMING UP / Home of CBC Juno night, with many big names playing

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FORCED ADMISSION PHOTO: COURTESY OF FOCUS FEATURES

New dramedy Admission needs work, but Tina Fey shines BY ADAM HAWBOLDT

W

arning: this movie recap is going to be biased.

You see, for the past seven years I tuned into NBC every Thursday night for a date with my TV-girlfriend, Tina Fey. What the what?

It’s true. I have a serious crush on Tina Fey. There’s just

Heck, since we’re being completely honest, I’ve watched and enjoyed nearly everything she’s ever appeared in, whether on television or the silver screen. And that’s why, good reader, this review of Admission — which she stars in alongside Paul Rudd — is going to be biased.

Even heading into it I knew that even if Admission was as bad as, oh, I don’t

feminist mom, are wildly captivating, as much as you’d expect.

The bad: Tina Fey didn’t write the script. That was the first mistake. The second was, instead of being tightly focused, Admission seemed to stray a bit, and as a result, ended up with some serious identity issues. Oh, and even though Fey and Rudd (two very accomplished and likable comedic actors) star in it, the movie is rarely, if ever, funny.

Directed by Paul Weitz (American Pie, About a Boy), Admission tells the story of Portia (Fey), an admissions officer at Princeton. She is a smart, ambitious, slightly neurotic professional woman with serious doubts about motherhood. (If that sounds vaguely similar to Liz Lemon on 30 Rock, well, that’s because both characters share more than a few mannerisms).

Anyway, when we meet Portia she has a lot going on. The head of admissions is retiring, so she’s gunning for his job. She’s also in a serious relationship with her Chaucer-reading professor boyfriend (Michael Sheen), she’s dealing with her mother’s problems, etc., etc.

One day a former classmate of hers, John Pressman (Paul Rudd)

…even though Fey and Rudd … star in it, the movie is rarely, if ever, funny.

ADAM HAWBOLDT

something about a woman who is kooky, whip-smart, funnier than anyone has the right to be, pretty and talented enough to win a closet full of Emmys and Golden Globes that appeals to me. So, needless to say, whenever 30 Rock (which she created, wrote and starred in) was on, I was watching.

know, Battlefield Earth or Glitter, I’d still have a soft spot for it just because Tina Fey had so much screen time.

Pathetic, I know. But it’s true.

Right. Now with that lengthy disclaimer out of the way, let’s turn to the movie.

Was it any good? Well, yes and no.

The good: Tina Fey and Lily Tomlin’s, who plays Fey’s hilarious, uber-

comes along. John is a teacher at an alternative school where the students are taught to build robots, milk cows and think for themselves. He comes to see Portia in order to convince her to admit his star pupil, Jeremiah (Nat Wolff), into Princeton.

Sounds pretty straightforward, right? Well, not really. See, along with trying to convince Portia to admit Jeremiah to the Ivy League institution, John admits that he believes Jeremiah is Portia’s son.

This is one of the many twists and turns you’ll encounter in the movie. And personally, I liked the not-knowing aspect of Admission.

I just wish the film was more of a

ADMISSION Paul Weitz STARRING Tina Fey, Paul Rudd, Michael Sheen + Lily Tomlin DIRECTED BY

117 MINUTES | PG

comedy and less of a drama. More easy-flowing, less forced. I also wish the script had been better.

But Tina Fey was great.

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5 BROKEN CAMERAS, 1 RAW STORY Interesting documentary about the West Bank is uneven, but eye-opening BY ADAM HAWBOLDT

I

film,” says Emad Burnat, “to hold onto my life.”

Please remember that quote. It comes in handy in a minute.

See, Burnat is a Palestinian farmer (and amateur filmmaker) who, for five years, videotaped day-to-day life in his West Bank town of Bil’in. Oh, and in case your geo-political knowledge is a tad on the rusty side, Bil’in is the village where all those protests against the wall the Israelis are building take place. The protests — which have drawn international supporters like Richard Branson, former President Jimmy Carter and Nobel Peace Prize winner Mairead Maguire to the cause — begin with a march from the village to the wall and aim to halt the construction of the barrier.

This weekly activity is met with stern opposition from the Israeli army.

Anyway, back in 2005, when the weekly protests started, Burnat began filming what would eventually become his Oscar-nominated documentary 5 Broken Cameras.

The film, which he and Israeli citizen Guy Davidi directed, is an intimate, sad, eye-opening and often

PHOTO: COURTESY OF KINO LORBER

wall and how it, along with the Israeli army, have affected his life in a negative way. Because of this, 5 Broken Cameras is a onesided, subjective look at a very complex situation.

The sooner you realize this, the sooner you can sit back and relax (without judgement), and watch a documentary that is raw, lyrical

5 Broken Cameras is also an unflinching look at a conflict which many fear will never end.

ADAM HAWBOLDT

horrifying look into conflict in the West Bank.

But here’s the thing: remember when I told you to remember Burnat’s quote about his life? Well, when watching this doc, you have to keep in mind that 5 Broken Cameras is ultimately about Burnat and his feelings towards the

and, at times, more powerful than a sledgehammer to the gut.

The film opens with footage of Burnat’s youngest son, Gibreel, who was born at a time when the protests were just beginning. For the rest of the film, Gibreel’s story (and the story of the rest of the Burnat family) runs parallel to the story of the

5 BROKEN CAMERAS DIRECTED BY Emad Burnat + Guy Davidi CINEMATOGRAPHY Emad Burnat 90 MINUTES | N/A

protests. We watch as Gibreel utters his first words, which are things like “army,” “wall” and “cartridge.” We watch as he watches the escalating violence of the protests.

Pretty powerful stuff, I tell ya.

But make no mistake, this isn’t a film that solely focuses on a wide-eyed kid and how he’s affected by the issue. Hells no.

5 Broken Cameras is also an unflinching look at a conflict which many fear will never end. It’s so raw that many of the images you see will haunt you for days. Images of protesters weathering punches from large men in Orthodox garb.

Images of the sun being hidden by tear gas, of olive trees burning, of protesters being shot at with rubber bullets, and of at least one person being killed.

Yesiree, 5 Broken Cameras is not a film for the faint of heart. Nor is it a

film for anyone who wants an evenhanded examination of the IsrealiPalestinian conflict. But if you like excellent documentaries, you should definitely give it a watch.

You won’t be disappointed.

5 Broken Cameras will open at Regina Public Library on April 28.

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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 28. Consume 30. Self-importance 31. St. Andrew’s cross 35. Impertinent 39. Malt beverage 40. Arranged well 42. Spanish snack 43. Protective covering 45. Be acceptable 47. In favour of 48. Part of USSR 50. Roof of the mouth 52. Gone wild 53. Team game 54. Dry and withered 55. Bigfoot

DOWN 1. Gun dog 2. Make a choice 3. Smell strongly and unpleasantly 4. Gull relatives 5. Mineral used in making fertilizers 6. Measure of radiation 7. Rocky part of a mountain 8. Substance applied to paper to make it resis- tant to moisture damage 9. Sycophant 11. Bank built to keep a river from overflowing 12. The one here 14. Animal with antlers 17. Part of TGIF

20. Mincemeat ingredient 22. Janitor’s supply 25. Unpleasant sensation 27. Sure-footed animal 29. Bridge support 31. Plant pouches 32. Unsympathetic 33. They drop off in autumn 34. Water in French 36. Hunting expedition 37. Niedermayer who played for the Devils 38. Long ago 41. A little drunk 44. Grow weary 46. Sticky stuff 49. Serving of corn 51. Parking place

SUDOKU ANSWER KEY

A

B

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

ACROSS 1. Arrange in order 5. Parts of curved lines 9. Conical tent 10. Imminent danger 12. Sway as if about to fall 13. Greatly surprised 15. Head covering 16. Interlock wool loops 18. Let somebody have 19. Day in the ancient Roman calendar 21. Move slightly 23. Word before maiden names 24. Pancake topping 26. Put things into a zigzag pattern

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

TIMEOUT

© WALTER D. FEENER 2012

HOROSCOPES MARCH 22 – MARCH 27 ARIES March 21–April 19

LEO July 23–August 22

SAGITTARIUS November 23–December 21

Things are going to happen this week, Aries. Will they be good things or bad things, though? Well, a little from column A, a little from column B.

Been looking to change things up, dear Leo? If so, an opportunity may come to a screeching halt in front of you, so be sure to grab it.

Whoa, buddy! Your creative juices are going to be flowing like the mighty Mississippi this week, Sagittarius.

Be sure to make the most of it.

TAURUS April 20–May 20

VIRGO August 23–September 22

CAPRICORN December 22–January 19

Energy and happiness shall be yours this week, Taurus. Why? Well, because the universe has decided to smile on you for awhile. Bask in it.

You’re going to be confronted with some unnecessary and unwanted tension this week, Virgo. Be sure not to overreact. It could prove costly.

Pay close attention to your dreams (the ones you have while asleep) this week, Capricorn. They may hold secrets to your future success.

GEMINI May 21–June 20

LIBRA September 23–October 23

AQUARIUS January 20–February 19

Have you been feeling out of tune with things lately, Gemini? Getting smacked in the face by déjà vu and such? If so, don’t worry. That’s coming to an end.

Strange and wonderful: that’s what this week is going to be, Libra. Enjoy it. Times like this don’t come along very often.

Sometimes we fall into ruts that are hard to get out of. Don’t be surprised if you get stuck this week, though the tool to free yourself is already in your possession.

CANCER June 21–July 22

SCORPIO October 24–November 22

PISCES February 20–March 20

Strive for some intellectual conversation this week, Cancer.

Where you’ll find it, who knows. But look high and low until it appears.

Have you been feeling as though you’ve been living under a dark cloud for the past few weeks, Scorpio? If so, it’s about to pass.

If you find yourself in a stressful situation this week, Pisces, don’t hyperventilate and start saying things like “huh, huh, huh.” People will laugh at you.

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

CROSSWORD ANSWER KEY

A

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

B

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