Verb Issue R73 (Apr. 12-18, 2013)

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Issue #73 – April 12 to April 18

The Barr Brothers making mythologies

slam on Bringing poetry slams to Saskatchewan eyes on the prize Q+A with The Strumbellas 42 + the gatekeepers Films reviewed­

Photo: courtesy of andre Guerette

contents

culture

NEWs + Opinion

entertainment

Q + A with the strumbellas

Live Music listings

Talking Juno nods. 8 / Q + A

Local music listings for April 12 through April 20. 14 / listings

winter’s delight

O.C. Dean

Nightlife Photos

The life and times of a sled dog racer.

Daniel Maslany debuts his first major production. 9 / Arts

We visit Rocks Bar & Grill.

Rosie & The Riveters

42 + The Gatekeepers

Saskatoon singers rejuvenate gospel music. 9 / Arts

We review the latest movies. 16 / Film

3 / Local

verbnews.com @verbregina facebook.com/verbregina

15 / Nightlife

Editorial

slam on, you crazy diamond

ART & Production Design Lead / Roberta Barrington Design & Production / Brittney Graham Contributing Photographers / Baily eberle, danielle tocker, Adam Hawboldt + Alex J MacPherson

Poetry slams in Saskatchewan. 4 / Local

On the cover:

the barr brothers

Making mythologies. 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

public-private partnerships

community cafe

on the bus

We visit Stone’s Throw Coffee House.

Our thoughts on P3s. 6 / Editorial

12 / Food + Drink

Weekly original comic illustrations

by Elaine M. Will. 18 / comics

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

contact Comments / feedback@verbnews.com / 306 881 8372

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Music

Game + Horoscopes

advertise / advertise@verbnews.com / 306 979 2253

Here’s what you had to say about tool libraries. 7 / comments

The Empire Associates, Rococode + Don Amero. 13 / music

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

General / info@verbnews.com / 306 979 2253

design / layout@verbnews.com / 306 979 8474

Please recycle after reading & sharing Photo: courtesy of Joeseph Yarmush

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Winter’s Delight

Sled dog racing and the great outdoors by ADAM HAWBOLDT

Photos: courtesy of Troy B. Johnson

B

eing a sled dog racer is no easy gig.

Out there, zipping along the snowy tundra, alone with your thoughts and your dogs, you will face any number of hardships. One of your dogs can pull up lame, or something can go wrong with your sled. The snow on the trail might be too deep in places, and slow everything down.

Oh, and don’t forget the challenge weather presents. And then there’s the temperature. If it’s too cold, it will affect the performance of the dog team and the musher. On the other hand, if things get too warm, the dogs can overheat and slow down.

“The perfect temperature is in the minus-15 to minus-20 range,” says Gerry Walker. “That’s when the dogs perform the best.”

And Walker should know. With more than 10 years of sled dog racing under his fur-lined belt, the musher from Pierceland, Saskatchewan has faced and endured nearly everything a sled dog race can throw at you.

Not only endured, actually, but succeeded. Of the ten Canadian Challenge Sled Dog Races — the longest race in the country — Walker has entered, he’s won three times, most recently in 2012. He has also won the Neckbone Sled Dog Race in La Ronge more than a handful of times.

So that begs the question: what makes for a successful sled dog racer?

“Well it’s not just luck,” chuckles Walker. “But, you know, it never hurts.

I guess bad luck can hurt, for sure. But good luck is always welcome.”

Walker pauses for a moment, and further considers the question. “I think the biggest thing, if you’re going to be successful, is dog care … the better you take care of your dogs …the better you’re going to do.”

To that end, Walker feeds his dogs high-protein, high-fat kibble to get the most out of his team. If it’s really cold he supplements the kibble with some

“Right now the trails are melting out and the season is over,” says Walker, “so what we’re doing is training our yearlings.”

Because of the length of our winter this year, training of Walker’s oneyear-old pups, up to the point, has consisted of a lot of sled work. Soon, though, when the snow is gone and the trails are dry, Walker will hook his yearlings up to his four wheeler and work with them until the weather gets too warm.

“What we do is put a couple of old dogs up front,” says Walker. “The yearlings see them up there and want to get up next to them. They’re pulling like crazy, just having a riot.”

But because the pups are so full of energy, having so much fun, Walker holds them back, controlling their speed so they don’t top out at much more than seven or eight miles an hour.

“We also stop real often,” he says.

“Every quarter mile or so. We have snacks with us, little frozen pieces of meat. We give them those as a reward and we water them.”

…the better you take care of your dogs … the better you’re going to do. gerry walker

fatty beef. He also makes sure to get his dogs into a routine.

“If you run them four or five hours, then rest them for the same, they fall into a cycle that’s really good for them,” explains Walker.

But taking care of your dogs and establishing a routine isn’t the only factor that leads to success. You must be passionate about the outdoors, the dogs, the whole experience.

And then there’s the dedication.

What people don’t realize is sled dog racing doesn’t begin and end with winter. Save for a few weeks in the spring, it’s a year-round affair.

When the pups start yelping and barking it’s time to get going again.

This dry-land training lasts until the warm weather of June, July and August hits. When those months arrive, Walker lets his dogs out loose on his 10-acre piece of property that’s fenced in with page wire.

“You should see them” says Walker.

“When we turn them loose they go crazy. They’ll really make you laugh.

They’re jumping everywhere, running around. When you get 40 dogs running in a pen like that, in every direction, it’s really something to see. When there’s a T-bone collision coming up, these dogs, instead of ramming into one another, will leap and glide over the top

of each other. There’s a lot of pent-up energy in the pen.”

That’s because the dogs miss the winter, and running across the crisp, white earth.

Kind of like their owner, who whiles away the summer months longing to be back out on the silent, snowy trails. Listening to the swish of the sled and the panting of his team.

That’s where he’s the happiest. That’s where they’re all the happiest.

Feedback? Text it! (306) 881 8372

@AdamHawboldt ahawboldt@verbnews.com

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Slam on, you crazy diamond

A look at poetry slams to help celebrate National Poetry Week by ADAM HAWBOLDT

Photo: Courtesy of william marrow

A

ll around him the audience sits in anticipation.

Sipping their beers and vodka sodas in dark corners, on wooden seats, at wooden tables, they talk amongst themselves and wait. Music plays soft and low in the background.

Charles Hamilton steps onto the low, almost floor-level stage, but he doesn’t look out at the audience. Not yet, anyway. With easy, comfortable movements he grabs the microphone with his right hand. With his other hand, he begins twisting knobs, adjusting the stand, going through his esoteric routine. There was a time, not so long ago, when this would have involved him taking off his shoes and performing in socked feet, a quirk he employed to help him feel grounded.

When the microphone is set to the right height and angle, Hamilton (who has taken to wearing shoes on stage again) turns his back to the audience. Facing the wall, he rests his face gently in his hands.

And under his breath, Hamilton is mumbling the first line of the poem he is about to recite. A poem that, if it’s new, he has recited and edited

over and over and over again in the days and weeks leading up to a slam.

“Most of my poems tend to start with one line,” explains Hamilton, who helped bring poetry slams to Saskatchewan. “A lot of people sit down to write and say, ‘I’m going to make this point and I’m going to go at

“The stuff I’m doing now takes me months to produce,” says Hamilton.

“There’s a lot of editing involved.

Once I get the poem on paper I come back to it, add lines here, take out lines there. Add some words, get rid of others.”

But the editing doesn’t just happen on the page. Whether he’s at home

When traditionalists slag on slam, saying we’re bastardizing the art form because of competition, they’re missing the point. charles hamilton

it like this,’ but for me, I’m a one-lineat-a-time kind of guy.”

Eventually, line after line, a poem is born. And for Hamilton, this first-draft writing process doesn’t take long.

“I can usually spit out a poem onto a page in one go,” he explains.

But it’s after the initial draft is finished, though, when the real work begins.

in the shower or out walking his dog, Hamilton is always reciting his poem out loud — memorizing it, honing it.

Polishing it until it glistens. Until it’s ready for competition.

Poetry slams began in Chicago, back in the mid-1980s, when a construction worker and poet named Continued on next page »

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Photos: Courtesy of thom heard

Marc Smith wanted to breathe new life into the open-mic poetry scene. What he did was come up with a new kind of format, one that involved competition, judges and prizes for the winners. At the time, the idea existed way outside the traditional poetry box, but it was electric and fresh and fun, and soon poetry slam series started springing up in cities like Ann Arbor and San Francisco.

Flash forward a few decades, and poetry slams have spread around the world. From its beginnings in Chicago, the movement now has roots in cities all around North America, in Europe, in the form of Word Up Wednesdays held at the Creative City Centre. And as the slams spread far and wide, so too did the diversity and range of the poetry. These days, there are poets whose delivery isn’t too far away from the realm of hip hop.

There are modern bards who recite free verse or narrative poems.

There are ironic hipsters, hip drifters, pseudo-comedians, mystical punks, high school teachers, journalists, wizened street prophets and more, all vying for top spot on the poetry slam food chain.

And while that might sound hip and gritty and cool to some, the very idea of poetry slams is anathema to others. Some traditionalists claim it’s a base form of poetry that’s mean to appeal to the

commonest denominator, while other detractors argue that the idea of putting competition and art together cheapens the work.

And, in an infamous interview with the Paris Review, American literary critic Harold Bloom once went so far as to say that poetry slams were the “death of art.”

Hamilton couldn’t disagree more.

“When traditionalists slag on slam, saying we’re bastardizing the art form because of competition, they’re missing the point,” says Hamilton. “It’s not about the points.

The poetry is the point. And for the show I run, we average around 100 people a week. You can say what you want about slam, but people are coming out to see it. And the thing is: the quality of poetry isn’t diminished at slams. If anything, the competition aspect has led to better poetry than a lot of the spoken word stuff and readings that was being performed around here before.”

What Hamilton doesn’t talk about — at least in no greater depth than in passing — is the fact that for many traditional poets out there, there always exists a modicum of competition.

Awards, critical acclaim, you name it.

Back on stage at Lydia’s, in that dark room filled with poetry fans, Charles Hamilton is ready.

He takes a deep breath, turns to face the crowd, and slowly walks to

the microphone. Then he begins his poem. The words trip off his tongue in a gentle, rhythmic cadence.

Some are extended for effect, others jammed close together to give that section a sense of energy.

Every now and then a phrase or two is enunciated in clear, crisp, deliberate syllables. Most of the words don’t rhyme.

“There’s a natural rhythm to my poems,” says Hamilton. “I’m always trying to capture a certain type of sound, sounds from different poems I like and perform, then break that sound and do different things with it.”

Whatever Hamilton is doing is working, because on most nights, when his poem draws to a close, the audience — which snaps its fingers instead of clapping during performances — explodes into a round of energetic applause.

And in that moment, after the tension and thrill of a performance has ebbed, Hamilton feels at home.

“After it’s over,” he admits, “it feels so damn good. It’s kind of addictive.”

Addictive for performer and audience alike.

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Public-private partnerships

P3 projects a good move for the province

L

earn from the mistakes of others. You can’t live long enough to make them all yourself.”

Though that quote was originally said by former first lady Eleanor Roosevelt over 50 years ago, it could just as easily apply today to the new Regina Southeast Bypass. The structure, according to people in the know, could very well become one of the largest infrastructure projects our province has ever seen. It’s so large, in fact, that in the recent provincial budget, six million dollars were allocated to do preparatory work to determine whether the construction of the bypass (along with schools and a hospital in North Battleford) should move ahead as P3 projects.

What’s a P3 project, you ask? Well, according to PPP Canada, publicprivate partnerships, or P3s, offer a performance-based approach for building “public infrastructure where the private sector assumes a major share of the responsibility in terms of risk and financing for the delivery and the performance of the infrastructure.”

So why, exactly, are we talking about this? Well, this is where the whole “learn from the mistakes of others” maxim comes into play.

See, back in 2010, major construction began on the Circle Drive South

reduce traffic and traffic jams while allowing people to travel more fluidly about the city. Oh, and if you live near a big project like this, your ears and sleeping patterns will be thankful the project wraps as quickly as possible.

But that’s not the only advantage.

P3 projects have also been known to save millions of dollars — in fact, our neighbours directly to the east are extending the Chief Peguis Trail using a P3 model, which P3 Canada estimates will save roughly $31 million over a traditional procurement. And along with money-saving comes a host of other benefits: a greater return of investment, better infrastructure solutions, a reduction in government budget deficits, a higher quality standards for projects, a reduction of tax payments for users, and more.

Now, look: we fully realize P3s aren’t suitable for every project. And we think it’s great that the city of Regina is looking into making the bypass a P3 project — it sure seems like a prime candidate to us. And if it turns out to be cost-effective and feasible, they should ensure the P3 project they undertake dictates a fixed price and a fixed completion date.

That way, by learning from the mistakes of others and embracing a cost-effective alternative to traditional construction approaches, the city of Regina may very well save its denizens from the inconvenience and headaches the people of Saskatoon continue to experience over the Circle Drive South Project

Bridge in Saskatoon. The estimated $300 million cost of the project was shared by the public sector — the city of Saskatoon, the province of Saskatchewan, and the federal government.

The problem is, though, that here we are, more than three years later, and the bridge still isn’t complete (though officials claim the project is still on budget). Three years!

To put that into perspective, it only took a little more than four years to build the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, one of the longest suspension bridges in the world.

Sure, the weather is a little easier to work in down there, but three years to build a small bridge, like the one on Circle Drive, seems a little ridiculous.

That’s why we feel that the city of Regina could learn from Saskatoon’s mistakes, ditch the public funding route, and move the Southeast Bypass forward as a P3 project — provided the risk is less than the reward.

You see, going the P3 route has a lot of benefits, the foremost of which is the time-saving nature of the approach.

As a rule, P3 projects tend to have less delays and, thus, get completed in a shorter time span. Which is a good thing, because when you’re talking about bypasses and bridges and the like (where getting them finished ASAP is advantageous), P3s will greatly

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

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On Topic: Last week we asked what you thought about tool libraries.

Here's what you had to say:

text yo thoughtsur to 881 vE R B 8372

higher police presence on the highways would be more helpful to deter speeders.

In response to “One for the road,” Editorial

– The idea of tool library for the city is great BUT will Canadian Tire still have sales???

– Tool library sounds like a great idea!!! I would love it if I could rent some space for a couple hours (live in apartment no garage or nothing) and then have access to know how of staff and other people there and to tools and stuff. When does it open?

– Tool libraries will take business away from small business owners who already rent tools how are we supposed to make a living? You should research what these did to tool lenders in other towns before you say we should do it.

– Threatened by God??v more likely threatened by zealots who think they have a direct line to Him.

– Selling uranium to India very very very bad idea. India Pakistan the Baltic states the Arab world North Africa that whole region is on the verge of WW III. Sask uranium is going to kill a whole bunch of people in that region dirty bombs U ammo. Those brown people don’t matter when white people here want money!

– Just because you drive a 4X4 doesn’t mean that you’re indestructible.

page, #71 (March 28, 2013

sound off – A tool library would be awesome. There is a definite need for this idea. Low income and high income citizens would probably use this tool library often. Yes, been there needing a certain tool for only 5 minutes but can’t afford a half day rental fee. Plus deposit. Plus credit card imprint. I hope this idea takes off in Regina.

Would like to volunteer for this too. Where do I sign up? Congratulations Verb for bringing an excellent idea forward.

– I would rather have texts that make a person think or debate than to cause no mental stimulation whatsoever.

– Tool libraries would be totally brilliant I support bringin one to the city. Especially good for people who can’t afford the high cost of renting for a certain length of time or buying. Workshops and everything would be amazing!

– Tool library an amazing idea that provides service to the community as well as encouraging a sense of community. Can’t believe these haven’t taken off more in Canada only 4??

– I would love to volunteer at somethin like this! You could get high school kids out to learn things or make it like a program for people who are transitioning or have to do community service. This will be great for the city. Good job

– Tool library is a wonderful idea.

For virtually no cost, it brings so much into our community, not to mention provides a creative means of solving an issue faced by many people. I’m sure this would be met with great success

You’re all the same! Political parties hate hearing that but they can’t help themselves. They all do the same things, think the same way. Tight budget environment and social spending get axed first.

Need a bit more raise the liquor and tobacco taxes. They all do it. Without a second thought or moment’s pause. They are all the same! Remarkably vanilla bland in thought and action.

– It’s funny when people are at Costco they say there are so many people here and the lineups are ridiculous. Be quiet already! It would be less ridiculous if you hadn’t shown up!

– time to spend alittle bit of money to fix the roads mr mayor!!! WH

– I found his nickel on the bus.

Ha ha

– Too much advertising in The Verb??? Isn’t that what makes the price of the paper 0???

OFF TOPIC – Adding highway cameras for photo radar? This might help. A

– Verb has to pay the bills somehow. How do you expect a newspaper without ads?

– Aliens may have had a virtual reality shoot ‘em up video game on our streets while we are asleep.

It could explain our streets poor state of disrepair.

– The police need to focus more on bus and cab drivers who use cell phones while driving

– My generation of men became the cooks for a lot of families in this city. Now shop talk includes things like “I tried to make pure corn flour dumplings. They didn’t bind. I think too starchy and not enough protein. Might try adding eggs or milk.” Buddy will reply “Yeah I find starchy flours like corn and rice fry or deep fry crisper. If they do bind its brittle. They also absorb less water than high protein flours like wheat. Wheat flour gives you a more elastic product.”

Guy talk tech talk is in the kitchen now too.

– Good comments on the justice system this past winter.

– People really don’t want computers. Look how they’re used.

They want telephone chatline newspaper classified TV VCR stereo. Every1 hates the computer layer!

– Radio personalities should just play music. All they ever do is talk about nothing. Blah blah blah blah blah blah.

– Taxi drivers need to be more courteous to other drivers.

Next week: What do you think about publicprivate partnerships? 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.

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our second record. The first four are done and mastered. They’re just sitting in our inboxes, driving us crazy. We just need to go back to that same studio — we’re going to try and go in July — to finish the record. There’s a producer we really, really like — we asked him if he was available and he had time. His name is Ryan Hadlock, and he runs a studio called Bear Creek.

AJM: How did Ryan work with the band and the new material?

The Strumbellas

SW: I’m a huge believer in producers.

Of course there’s always freaks like Bon Iver who can produce his own record and make the most beautiful record of all time. But Ryan was pretty laissez-faire. It’s like we painted the room, and then he did all the edging around the ceilings. He went in and make sure my vocals were okay and gave some great little ideas. The band I find takes it to a certain level, but I’ll always, always get a producer on a Strumbellas record.

Photos: courtesy of heather pollock

Toronto alt-country band finds recognition at the Junos by Alex J MacPherson

L

ast year, Simon Ward was an emotional wreck.

The Strumbellas had just released their debut album, My Father and the Hunter. It sent him into paroxysms of doubt and despair. “If people aren’t liking the record,” he told me, “I take it out on myself.”

But people have been liking the record: My Father and the Hunter was recently nominated for a Juno Award. I caught up with Ward to talk about old music, new music, and video game vanity.

Alex J MacPherson: Congratulations on your Juno nomination. How did you find out that you were on the list?

Simon Ward: We got an e-mail a couple weeks before. The production crew that puts on the Junos was like, ‘Can you send us a video?’ Well, this is suspicious: I wonder why they want video footage of us? Then we got another e-mail: ‘can you guys come to the nomination ceremony?’ But then it said in bold letters, ‘this is not a nomination.’ Even more suspicious. We went to the Juno nomination ceremony in Toronto, at this hotel, and we literally didn’t know anything. Then boom, our name pops up. It was like, we don’t know why

we’re here, we’re not getting nominated, this is crazy — and then it was like Great Lake Swimmers, Wooden Sky, Elliot Brood, and then us!

AJM: And then there’s the video game.

The Strumbellas are the only band I know of that has a video game.

SW: We’ve been waiting for this world recognition for being the first indie band with a video game! Dave’s [Ritter] girlfriend started this company

AJM: You strike me as a guy who experiences pressure pretty acutely. Has that changed with success?

He was like, ‘Hey, want to make a video game?’ We were like, ‘Obviously.’

Simon ward

SW: I am an absolute freak if I have it come down to a situation where I have to write music, I’m panicky and really worried about everything. But I’m so confident with the second record that I’m literally begging the band to go back into the studio and finish it, because I’m so excited for the work we’re about to put out … But that being said, when it comes out, I’ll probably be an absolute nutjob and panic at reviews.

called Dames Making Games; it’s an all-woman company that makes video games. He was like, ‘Hey, want to make a video game?’ We were like, ‘Obviously.’ We’re the most vain band ever.

All we want to do is see ourselves.

The Strumbellas April 20 @ The Artful Dodger (Junofest) $15

AJM: How deep into the second record are you?

Feedback? Text it! (306) 881 8372

SW: We went into a studio in Seattle and recorded the first four songs for

@MacPhersonA amacpherson@verbnews.com

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O.C. Dean

Regina playwright debuts his first major production by alex J MacPherson

D

aniel Maslany has never been diagnosed with obsessive-compulsive disorder.

But he has obsessive tendencies, and he began writing O.C.Dean as a loose chronicle of these tics.

What emerged was a portrait of a character trapped by his disorder and grappling with the breakdown of pattern and ritual — his lifeline in a world filled with static.

“This character, Dean, was a little bit more interesting than me, and he had a more serious story to tell,” Maslany says of the play, his first major project after several years spent working as an actor and sound designer. “What started out as a very quirky and sort of amusing story has gone to a much darker place.”

O.C.Dean is framed as a series of monologues told before and after an “unfortunate incident” forces Dean to abandon the comfort of his

bedroom and venture out into the world. Maslany wrote the play after researching obsessive-compulsive disorder and thinking about his own tendencies, but he wanted to keep Dean, and Dean’s disorder, separate. “This is not an issuebased play,” he says, pointing out that Dean is not a case of O.C.D. that happens to have a body and a name. “I’m really not trying to preach anything about it, or send a strong message about this disorder.

It’s more about this character.”

Dean is locked in the orbit of mental illness, but it does not define him. He is shaped by the same things that shape everybody else: stories and experiences. And Maslany chose to enhance his character’s stories with music and lighting, elements most often found on larger stages.

Most single-actor plays confront problems directly. By dispensing

with light and sound, actors and directors make the theme unavoidable. Maslany did not do this: he chose to use music and lighting because they supported — and echoed — his character.

“I think we realized in the end that the music and the sets and the light are going to help tell our story,” he says, “and actually bring the audience closer to the experience of the character, rather than distance them.”

Maslany’s music, which was created by recording individual notes played on a series of acoustic instruments and then filtering them through a sequencing program, echoes his character’s behaviour and his experiences — not just his disorder.

O.C.Dean Through April 20 @ Globe Theatre $20 @ Globe Theatre Box Office, tickets. globetheatrelive.ca

Rosie & The Riveters

Saskatoon singers rejuvenate gospel music

by alex J MacPherson

R

osie and the Riveters needed to make a record, but not for the usual reasons. “For other bands, their product is their CD,” says Farideh, one of the women behind Saskatchewan’s preeminent 1940sera gospel revivalist group. “For us, our performance is our product.

That’s what people come for. The CD is basically take-home memorabilia of that night.”

Rosie and the Riveters emerged from a collective desire to breathe new life into classic gospel music. Farideh and her bandmates, Alexis Normand, Melissa Nygren, and Kiera Dall’Osto, who is not part of the current tour, have separate careers in music but came together to celebrate the sound of four voices singing as one.

“I think that at this time in the history of civilization, the human heart longs to see people coming together in unity and diversity,” Farideh says of the band’s trademark harmonies.

Photo: courtesy oF Jocelyn Anne Chillog

“We’re not all the same, but we can come together and make something harmonious. It’s the primal yearning of all human hearts. And hearing four voices coming together fulfills that longing.”

Rosie and the Riveters work hard to be inclusive. By removing gospel music from its religious context, they are able to rejuvenate forgotten songs without alienating anyone. “We sing gospel, but we don’t have a stated religious belief that we’re trying to project,” Farideh explains. “What we want to do is explore this music, and the power and the history and the tradition of this music.”

And that history is a live one. Gospel music has its roots in church services, celebratory gatherings focused on the uplifting power of music. A power that is all but impossible to capture on tape. Instead of spending hours working in the studio, Rosie and the Riveters decided to cut a live record. It was simple and effective. “We took the best cuts, had it mixed, and that’s it,” Farideh laughs.

Like their performances, Rosie and the Riveters — Live feels energetic and spontaneous. It captures the group’s extraordinarily tight vocals without sounding forced. Although it lacks the

visuals that have become an integral part of the group’s shows — the floral dresses, the crimson lipstick — Live hints at what audiences can expect.

And, from the bluesy snarl of “Poor Men” to the uplifting swells of “I’m a Pilgrim,” shows off just how much power can be generated by four voices and a guitar.

Rosie & The Riveters April 20 @ Slow Pub (Junofest) $15 Feedback? Text it! (306) 881 8372

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Photo: courtesy of joseph yarmush

Making Mythologies

The Barr Brothers find meaning in musicality by Alex J MacPherson

T

he story of the Barr Brothers began with a nightclub fire and a new apartment. The band released its eponymous debut in 2011, but the chain of events that spawned it was set in motion almost a decade earlier.

It was 2004. Andrew and Brad Barr were on tour with the Slip, their experimental rock trio. The band was playing an exuberant set in a small Montreal club when flames erupted backstage.

Fans and musicians flooded into the street. As the venue was consumed by fire, Andrew handed his jacket to a waitress shivering in the rain. She gave him her phone number.

Within a year, the brothers were living in Montreal. Andrew tracked down the waitress, who later became his wife and one of the band’s managers. Brad moved into a new apartment. He soon met Sarah Page, the classically trained harp player who lived next door.

“I didn’t really have any ambitions to start any music,” Brad recalls.

“I was working on a lot of classical stuff. Solo guitar pieces on a nylonstring guitar … At the time I met her, I had this repertoire of songs that were written in this instrumental vein, from a quieter place.” Brad and Page started playing together. “We found that we had a sort of common appreciation for instrumental music, and slowly started bringing in the songs that I was singing on.”

Brad soon discovered that the harp was more than just a classical instrument. “I remember when it dawned

on me that the harp can be used as this cool melodic, percussive instrument,” he says. “It doesn’t have to be this beautiful angelic sound all the time; you can really get down and make a heavy trance rhythm.”

That’s when the Barr Brothers was born.

Earlier this year, The Barr Brothers was nominated for a Juno Award. Brad was surprised because it was already more

The Barr Brothers were written as an exercise in creativity. “Pretty much all the tracks were recorded in the process of setting up the studio, and learning about some of the mics and gear we bought,” he says.

“There was no real conception. They were being tracked how any album should be: for the creator’s own amusement and learning process.”

It was a fortuitous blueprint. The musicians plugged Page’s harp into an enormous Ampeg and turned the gain

I think it’s always our intention to be as forward-thinking — musically, instrumentally, sonically — as we can be.

Brad Barr

than a year old. It had been nominated for the 2012 Polaris Music Prize and carried the band to New York, where they performed on the Late Show with David Letterman. “I thought our album had gotten all of the attention that it was going to,” he muses. “We’ve been so focused lately on recording the next record that I was sort of pleasantly surprised to hear that this one still had a little bit of mojo left in it.”

He was even more surprised because the band, which also includes Andrew and multi-instrumentalist Andres Vial, never intended to put out a record. The songs that became

up, just to see what would happen.

“There were no parameters,” Brad explains. “Having the freedom and the time, and not worrying about how much we were spending because we really weren’t spending anything, gave us a lot of freedom to try whatever we wanted to.”

The Barr Brothers emerged as a twisting, turning, and deeply unpredictable examination of folk music.

Although the song structures are familiar, the sonics are not. Drawing on influences as diverse as west African rhythms and Mississippi Delta Blues, the album sounds like it was designed Continued on next page »

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Photo: courtesy of andre guerette

to eradicate the lines between genre and style. “Beggar In the Morning” trains the spotlight on a simple acoustic guitar lick, while “Give The Devil Back His Heart” ventures into rock and roll.

“Let There Be Horses,” which closes the record, recalls the heroin ballads that defined rock music in the 1970s.

Photo: courtesy of Thien V

The album feels cohesive, yet unrestrained. The sonics are expansive, and frequently threaten to devolve into chaos, yet the record is held together by the thread of an idea: to push the boundaries of folk music as far as possible. “I think it’s always our intention to be as forward-thinking — musically, instrumentally, sonically — as we can be,” Brad says, adding that this impulse drives most modern music, regardless of when or where it was composed.

Michael Jackson’s Thriller, he says, after insisting that he is not comparing his band to the King of Pop, blended compelling songs and new sounds. “I guess

that’s always the underlying intention: to get the songwriting to where we all feel really confident in it, and do what we can to make it interesting, to not try and not repeat history if possible, but rather to take these elements that are great and combine it with something completely original.”

Listening to The Barr Brothers is a dizzying experience. From the aching strains of “Beggars in the Morning” and the manic slide guitar work that animates “Lord, I Just Can’t Keep From Crying” (a Blind Willie Johnson cover) to the rolling thunder of “Old Mythologies,” the album rises and falls in perfect time. The pacing, Brad explains, is the result of the band’s desire to create balanced, if not predictable, songs. “Even though we were making the songs on this record without the intention of having it get nominated for a Juno,” he laughs, “there’s still that commitment to making sure that these songs are still setting a graceful place. That they’re all economical and expressive. That when they need to be fiery, they’re fiery; and when they need to cool out, they’re cool.”

It is tempting to think of the Barr Brothers as a group whose raison d’être consists of finding new ways to subvert folk music. But to think of them as a sonics band is to overlook

their songwriting. In an era dominated by saccharine cliché, it is perhaps their strongest asset.

Brad likes to write about big ideas.

His songs draw on themes from nature and morality, and extract meaning from the poles that shape our view of the world. “I never like to say these songs are about this or about that,” he admits, “because it’s nice to know someone can listen to them and find their own meaning, their own way of interpreting what this lyric means.”

But, he adds after a short pause, “there’s some dichotomies that exist in the world, whether it’s these things

in nature — sun and moon, night and day — or these archetypes, like heaven and hell or ideas of wrong and right.

And these things are necessary to keep the world going, and they are also necessary to dwell in each person.” The Barr Brothers is about reconciling these expansive ideas. And, he adds, “never underestimate a small notion, whether it’s something that you’re playing on an instrument or a thought or a lyric.

Never underestimate or discredit or write off a moment of inspiration, because they’re rare enough in this world. All of the songs on that record started as very casual lyrical or har-

monic, rhythmic or melodic notions.

Little offhand notions.”

Notions that swell over time to become mythologies. Like the fire and the apartment, our mythologies are woven into the fabric of life.

The Barr Brothers April 20 @ Artesian on 13th (Junofest) $20

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Community Cafe

Stone’s Throw Coffee House serves up variety in a relaxed environment by jessica bickford

Photos courtesy of Danielle Tocker

I

f you have spent any time around the University of Regina, chances are you have gone across the street to have a coffee, quick lunch, or a marathon caffeinated study session with friends at Stone’s Throw. It’s the perfect coffee shop, with local art on display, bring and take bookcases, and a menu with a little bit of something for everyone.

I started with the soup of the day: a coconut cream curry chicken, which arrived with a great curry aroma. The creamy broth had just a touch of spice, red peppers, big pieces of moist chicken, and was hearty and delicious. This was served with thick, whole wheat garlic toast with great fresh garlic flavour.

One of their new Italian soda flavours came with the soup, and it was springtime green. The refreshing mix of kiwi, lime and peppermint flavour was sweet, rounded out with a subtle lime bite and hints of vanilla all in the cool and bubbly soda.

A turkey and swiss panini was my next lunch option, and it came out crisp and hot from the press on a herbed focaccia bread supplied by the Northgate Bakery. The

dessert. This one also had nuts for a bit of crunch, and whipped cream to make it extra tasty.

Stone’s Throw is really part of the community — they even use local foods and suppliers as much as possible, and always welcome local artists.

They have healthy options, decadent

melty, gooey swiss cheese and lean turkey combined with the rosemary on the bread make this a simple and great sandwich.

Stone’s Throw’s signature cafe rolo came topped with whipped cream, as well as chocolate and caramel sauce, and looked as indulgent as it tasted.

Stone’s Throw’s signature cafe rolo … looked as indulgent as it tasted. let’s go drinkin’ Verb’s mixology guide

jessica Bickford

ones, vegetarian, gluten-free, breakfasts, lunches, snacks, and desserts.

Sunyoung says that she “wants people to meet face to face,” to slow down and enjoy life together, and Stone’s Throw is the perfect place to do that.

It was sweet and very creamy, thanks to being made with chocolate milk, and maintained a great coffee flavour throughout.

A strawberry smoothie made with real fruit and soy milk came next and it was thick, smooth, and had a fresh, summery taste.

An affogato arrived last, a dish that owner Sunyoung Kim described as a dessert like love: “bitter, sweet, hot, and cold, and you’re supposed to enjoy it together.” If you haven’t had affogato before, hot espresso is poured over sweet and creamy vanilla ice cream to create a rich and complex

Stone’s Throw 1101 Kramer Blvd. | 306 949 1404

Affogato Martini

Ingredients

This cocktail offers not only an alcoholic buzz, but a sugar and caffeine one too. A fun take on the traditional affogato dessert of ice cream and espresso, this cocktail is sure to please those who love their coffee.

1 oz vodka 1 oz espresso, room temperature 1/2 oz Kahlua 1 teaspoon honey or simple syrup 1 small scoop of vanilla ice cream or gelato chocolate shavings for garnish ice

Directions

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@TheGeekCooks jbickford@verbnews.com

Scoop the ice cream into either a martini glass or a champagne saucer (those wide, old-fashioned champagne glasses). Put all of the other ingredients in a cocktail shaker filled with ice, and give it a good shake before straining over the ice cream. Garnish with chocolate shavings and enjoy.

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Next Week

coming up

The Empire Associates

Rococode

Don Amero

@ cathedral freehouse saturday, April 20 – $TBD

@ artful dodger wednesday, April 24 – $10+

@ Artful Dodger saturday, June 8 – $TBD

The road that led The Empire Associates to where they are today was anything but smooth. In 2011 they released their debut album, In Times of Trouble, and things were looking up for the husband-and-wife duo from Regina. Gigs were being offered all around the city and beyond, their craft was being honed, etc. But it all came to a sudden halt when their infant son was diagnosed with cancer.

Luckily, in January of last year, their son’s cancer went into remission and they were able to make a comeback.

Lucky for Regina, too! Terrance Williamson, who writes the duo’s songs, singing and playing rhythm guitar, and Kelsi Kerestesh and her powerful voice will be performing next week.

The Empire Associates are definitely a folk-rock band worth watching.

The year 2012 was an eventful one for Rococode, to say the least.

They made a terrific debut album, Guns, Sex & Glory, put out three impressive music videos (do yourself a favour and check out “Empire” on YouTube), and hit the road on coastto-coast trips— playing festivals like Canadian Music Week, Sled Island, Supercrawl and Live at Squamish along the way. Yes indeed, 2012 was a good year for this up-and-coming indie rock band from Vancouver.

And with the recent release of two new singles — “Follow You ‘Round” and “Rocky, Too (I’m Falling For You)” — 2013 threatens to keep their momentum rolling. With big hooks, gut-punch rhythms and vocals that mesmerize, Rococode is a band to keep your eye on.

There comes a day in many of our lives when we have to make a lifechanging decision. For Winnipeg’s Don Amero, that day was September 15th, 2007. That’s the day he quit his job installing hardwood floors, and started pursuing his music career full time. It was a bold move, but it turned out to be the right one. With a powerful voice and meaningful lyrics, he’s won acclaim across the country. Not only that, but in the five short years he’s been a full-time musician, Amero has made four albums, won five national and international awards, and toured Canada from sea to shining sea. The latest album by this hard-working musician, Heart On My Sleeve, is a deeply personal record with loads of intensity and more than a couple of good songs.

– By Adam Hawboldt

Photos courtesy of: the artist / the artist / the artist

Sask music Preview Early bird tickets for Moso Conference and MoSoFest (June 1215) are now available @ www.mosoconf.com. MoSo Conference is a multi-subject tech conference that will feature speakers such as Hootsuite’s Ambrosia Humphrey and Dropbox’s Sean Lynch, while MoSoFest will boast the talents of Rah Rah, Close Talker, The Deep Dark Woods, and more.

Keep up with Saskatchewan music. saskmusic.org

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April 12 » April 20 The most complete live music listings for Regina.

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12 13

14 15 16 17 18 19 20

Friday 12

Monday 15

Alex Runions / Whiskey Saloon — A talented rock/Americana artist. 8pm / $10 DJ Longhorn / Whiskey Saloon — One of Regina’s most interactive DJs. 8pm

Brandy Moore / Artful Dodger — A local singer/songwriter. 10pm / Cover TBD DJ Juan Lopez / Envy Nightclub — This DJ loves requests. 10pm / $5 Elevenn + more / The Exchange — Break out your dancing shoes. 9pm / Cover TBD DJ Pat & DJ Kim / Habano’s — Local DJs spin top 40 hits. 9pm / $5 cover Big Chill Fridays / Lancaster Taphouse — Featuring DJ Fatbot. 10pm / Cover TBD The Vats, Black Drink Crier / Lancaster Taphouse — Come celebrate Redbeard’s birthday. 9pm Bluessmyth / McNally’s Tavern — Blues music with metallic overtones. 10pm / $5 Trick Ryder / The Pump Roadhouse — Good ol’ country music. 9pm / Cover TBD Albert / Pure Ultra Lounge — Appearing every Friday night. 10pm / $5 cover

Open Mic Night / The Artful Dodger — Come down and jam! 7:30pm / No cover Monday Night Jazz / Bushwakker — Featuring ‘round Midnight. 8pm / No cover Whatever / King’s Head Tavern — Local rockers take to the stage. 9pm

Saturday 13

Jim Stafford / Casino Regina — A multiintstrumentalist. 8pm / $42+ RSO Masterworks: A German Requiem / Conexus — Featuring the music of Brahms. 8pm / $33+ DJ Juan Lopez / Envy Nightclub — This DJ loves requests. 10pm / $5 Darren J. Okemaysim Benefit Concert / Exchange — Live music at this annual event. 6pm / $25 Jack Semple / McNally’s Tavern — A local guitar whiz. 10pm / $5 Trick Ryder / The Pump Roadhouse — Good ol’ country music. 9pm / Cover TBD Drewski / Pure Ultra Lounge — Doing what he does best. 10pm / $5 cover Jam Sessions / Smokin’ Okies — Promoting blues and country blues. 2pm / No cover Alex Runions / Whiskey Saloon — A talented rock/Americana artist. 8pm / $10

Tuesday 16

Connie Kaldor / Artesian on 13th — A Juno-winning folk singer. 8pm / $30 Troubadour Tuesdays / Bocados — Live tunes from local talents. 8pm / No cover

Wednesday 17

Serena Ryder / Casino Regina — A seriously talented singer. 8pm / SOLD OUT Wednesday Night Folk / Bushwakker — Featuring the Down Home Boys. 8pm Halfway to Hollywood / The Exchange — A powerpop act from Vancouver. 7:30pm Jam Night / McNally’s — Come on down and enjoy some local talent. 9pm / No cover

Thursday 18

Singer-songwriter workshop / Artful Dodger — Kicking off the Junos right. 8pm Bison BC, Black Thunder, Chronobot / The Exchange — Three solid bands, one low price. 7:30pm / $15 Decibel Frequency / Gabbo’s Nightclub — A night of electronic fun. 10pm / Cover $5

Sunday 14

Grounders / Artful Dodger — Lush and melodic tunes. 8pm Goatwhore + more / The Exchange — Things are going to get loud and hard in here. 7pm / $20

PS Fresh / The Hookah Lounge — Featuring DJs Ageless + Drewski. 7pm / No cover Open Mic Night / King’s Head Tavern — Show Regina what you got. 8pm / No cover Brothers Arntzen / Lancaster Taphouse — Hot and sweet music. 9pm Juno’s Kickoff Party / McNally’s — Featuring Dan Silljer and The Johnny McCuaig Band. 9pm / $5 DJ Longhorn / Whiskey Saloon — One of Regina’s most interactive DJs. 8pm

Friday 19

Junofest / Artesian — Featuring Emillie Mover, Jordan Klassen, Belle Plaine and The Wooden Sky. 9pm / $20 Junofest / Artful Dodger — Featuring Alex Goodman, Allison Au, Shirantha Beddage Duo, Carol Welsman, Joel Miller Quartet. 9pm / $15 Junofest / Casino Regina — Featuring Steve Strongman, Jack Semple, Shakura S’Aida. 9pm / $15 Junofest / City Square Plaza — Featuring Slow Down, Molasses, Foam Lake, Two Hours Traffic and Rah Rah. 9pm / $20 Junofest / The Club — Featuring Jeffery Straker, Dominique Fricot, JP Hoe and The Bystander. 9pm / $15 Junofest / Exchange — Featuring Amelia Curran, Corb Lund, Danny Michel, Jason Plumb, Jim Cuddy, Mike Plume, Royal Wood, and more. 9pm / $20 DJ Pat & DJ Kim / Habano’s — Local DJs spin top 40 hits. 9pm / $5 cover Junofest / Lancaster — Featuring Smokekiller, The Lazy MKs, The Rebellion, MakeLiars. 9pm / $15 Junofest / McNally’s — Featuring Melanie Durant, Ammoye, Elaine lil’Bit Shepherd, and more. 9pm / $15 Junofest / The Owl — Featuring Indigo Joseph, Rococode, Hannah Georgas and Yukon Blonde. 10pm / $20 Jess Moskaluke / The Pump — A talented country musician. 9pm / Cover TBD Albert / Pure — Appearing every Friday night. 10pm / $5 cover Junofest / Rocks — Featuring Jeans Boots, Devin Townsend Project, Castle River and Prop Planes. 10pm / $20 Whatever / The Sip — A rockin’ good time.

10pm Junofest / Slow Pub — Featuring Danny Goertz, Julia McDougall, Rose Cousins and Danielle Duval. 9pm / $15 Junofest / UofR Mulitpurpose Room — Featuring Pimpton, JD Era, Ace Massive, Def 3, Tricky Moreira. 10pm / $15 Junofest / Whiskey Saloon — Featuring Belle Starr, JJ Voss, Don Amero and Blake Berglund. 10pm / $15

saturday 20

Junofest / Artesian — Featuring Reuben and the Dark, Andy Shauf, Great Lake Swimmers + The Barr Brothers. 9pm / $20 Junofest / Artful Dodger — Featuring All Mighty Voice, Lauren Mann and the Fairly Odd Folk, Lonesome Weekends and The Strumbellas. 9pm / $15 Junofest / Casino Regina — Featuring The Minnow, The Waltons and Odds. 9pm / $15 Empire Associates / Freehouse — Regina folk rock group will wow you. 10pm Junofest / City Square Plaza — Featuring Quake, Kayo, SonReal & Rich Kidd, Classified. 9pm / $20 Junofest / The Club — Featuring Jeff McLeod, Scott Benson Band, Andino Sons, Pugs and Crows. 9pm / $15 Kirby Criddle / Creative City Centre — Folk indie rock. 7:30pm / $10 Junofest / The Exchange — Featuring Shooting Guns, The Pack AD, One Bad Son and Monster Truck. 9pm / $20 Junofest / First Baptist Church — Featuring Refined/Undignified, To The Bottom Of The Well and Flood the Stone. 7pm / $12 Junofest / Lancaster Taphouse — Featuring Val Halla, Tim Vaughn, Jack De Keyzer and Steve Hill. 9pm / $15 Junofest / McNally’s Tavern — Featuring Whiskey Songs, Fur Eel, Souljazz Orchestra and The Pistolwhips. 9pm / $15 Junofest / The Owl — Featuring Young Benjamins, Library Voices, The Matinee and Hey Ocean! 10pm / $20 Jess Moskaluke / The Pump — A country/pop/rock artist. 9pm / Cover TBD Albert / Pure — Appearing every Friday night. 10pm / $5 cover Junofest / Rocks Bar and Grill — Featuring Barlow, Dustin Bentall and the Smokes, Fly Points and George Leach.10pm / $15 Whatever / The Sip Nightclub — A rockin’ good time. 10pm / Cover TBD Junofest / Slow Pub — Featuring Keiffer McLean, Shawn Hook, Nick Faye and Rosie and the Riveters. 9pm / $15 Junofest / UofR Mulitpurpose Room — Featuring High Hopes, The Treble, Ten Second Epic and Down With Webster. 10pm / $20 Junofest / Whiskey Saloon — Featuring Amy Nelson, Alex Runions, Kira Isabella and Donny Parenteau.10pm / $15

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

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Saturday, April 6 @

Rocks Bar & Grill Rocks Bar & Grill 1235 Broad Street (306) 352 2255 Music vibe / Rock and roll, top

40, DJs and live bands Drink of Choice / Skyy Vodka,

Gibson’s, and Sailor Jerry rum top eats / The Smokehouse Burger, boneless dry ribs, and jalapeño chicken tostada flatbread coming up / Jeans Boots, Devin Townsend Project, Castle River and Prop Planes on April 19, Barlow, Dustin Bentall and the Smokes, Fly Points, George Leach on April 20, and Nightrain on May 3

Check out our Facebook page!

These photos will be uploaded to Facebook on Friday, April 19. facebook.com/verbsaskatoon

Photography by Bebzphoto / Verb Magazine

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Remembering Robinson

Photo: Courtesy of warner bros. pictures

42, a biopic about legendary baseball player Jackie Robinson, is well worth a watch by adam hawboldt

M

y all-time, top-five favourite baseball films in order are: 1.

Bull Durham; 2. Major League; 3.

Moneyball; 4. Bang the Drum Slowly; and 5. The Natural.

If you pushed the issue and forced me to rate the new baseball biopic, 42, I’d hem and haw and probably put it just outside my top-10. Somewhere just below the original Bad News Bears, but miles above films like Fever Pitch and The Rookie.

Which means 42 is a really good film, and a worthy addition to the

colour barrier and forever changed the game of baseball. His name was Jackie Robinson.

And 42 is his story.

Directed by Brian Helgeland (who wrote L.A. Confidential and Mystic River), 42 begins in the wake of the Second World War, when Brooklyn Dodgers general manager Branch Rickey (Harrison Ford) decided it was time for baseball to be integrated. His reasoning was simple. If thousands of AfricanAmericans were good enough to go overseas and fight for their country,

42 Brian Helgeland Harrison Ford, Chadwick Boseman, Alan Tudyk + Lucas Black Directed by Starring

129 minutes | PG

potholes. The film does an excellent job in showing these trials and tribulations. It also does an excellent job in recreating an era in American history plagued by racism and segregation.

Oh, and the on-field action is pretty darn good, too.

In fact, my only qualm with the film is that, at times, it’s a little too earnest, a little too righteous, a little too hero-worshipping.

Other than that, 42 is a fine film.

It will make you jeer at Philadelphia Phillies manager Ben Chapman (Alan Tudyk), a guy who gives Nazi salutes to Jewish players and hurls horrible insults at Robinson. It will make you cheer when you see Jackie’s teammate, shortstop Pee Wee Reese (Lucas Black), as he puts his arm around Robinson’s shoulder when Robinson is being verbally abused by fans.

Heck, it may even make you shed a tear when Robinson’s teammates finally accept him. It’s that kind of movie.

Heck, it may even make you shed a tear…

Adam Hawboldt

baseball movie canon. But it’s not quite on the “classic” level.

For those of you who are wondering why the film is called 42, well, that’s easy. That was the number Jackie Robinson wore when he played for the Brooklyn Dodgers. Oh, and in case you’re not a baseball fan, that’s important because Mr. Robinson was kind of a big deal.

See, from the late 19th century until 1946, Major League Baseball was all-white.

Then, in 1947, along came a courageous young African-American from Georgia who broke through the

they sure as hell were good enough to play baseball for his team.

Rickey searched high and low for the right player. Notice I didn’t say best.

Because Jackie Robinson (Chadwick Boseman), while one heckuva ball player, was by no means the best player in the Negro Leagues. But he was a man of character. A man of quiet courage, restraint and firm resolve.

That’s what Rickey was looking for.

And while Robinson was the perfect person to shatter MLB’s colour barrier, his path from the Negro Leagues to the Majors was littered with prejudiced bumps and bigoted

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Inside Israel’s Shin Bet

New documentary, The Gatekeepers, sheds an interesting light on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict by adam hawboldt

I

magine having access to inside information from the CIA or FBI. Imagine former directors of those agencies sitting down, on camera, and talking candidly about the assassinations they’ve ordered. About the covert operations they’ve helmed and all the borderline illegal things they’ve done.

Imagine all you want: that would never happen. People in such positions of power, those near the control centre, rarely give the inside scoop to outsiders.

And that’s what makes Dror Moreh’s new documentary, The Gatekeepers, so damn impressive.

See, what Moreh has somehow managed to do is get six former heads of Shin Bet, Israel’s uber-secret counterterrorism/spy agency, to sit down and talk frankly about state-sanctioned assassinations, about bombing terror suspects, torture, and killing innocent Palestinians — or as they call it, “collateral damage.”

The result is something that is honest, eye-opening, and extraordinary.

The six former Shin Bet bosses (Ami Ayalon, Avi Dichter, Yuval Diskin, Carmi Gillon, Yaakov Peri and Avraham

Photo: Courtesy of Sony Pictures Classics

ning with the Six-Day War in 1967 and continuing into the present.

Sometimes intellectual and philosophical, at other times savage and visceral, The Gatekeepers gives a new and, some might say, startling perspective on the situation.

Why startling? Well, because these six men, who know more about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict than nearly anyone, all come to the same conclusion: Israel is not in the right. Nor is Palestine. As Yuval Diskin, director of Shin Bet from 2005-2011, puts it, “As a commander I found myself in situations that are different shades of gray.”

The rest of the former heads of Shin Bet agree.

[The Gatekeepers] is honest, eye-opening, and extraordinary.

Adam Hawboldt

Shalom) pull no punches. And, in doing so, offer incredible insight into the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

The documentary — which mixes talking-head interviews with 3D models, still photographs and handheld camera shots — chronicles the bloody and brutal history of animosity between Israel and Palestine, begin-

Not only do they agree, they also shed light on a situation that many people around the world view primarily from a black-or-white perspective. Nearly all these men feel that Palestine’s anger towards the Israelis is not only understandable, but at times downright justified. What’s more, all six of them don’t see the state of

The Gatekeepers Dror Moreh Starring Ami Ayalon, Avi Dichter, Yuval Diskin, Carmi Gillon, Yaakov Peri + Avraham Shalom Directed by

95 minutes | PG

Palestine as the problem. According to them, the real problem are the Israeli politicians and ultra-right orthodox militants. It’s not as though they’re condoning Palestinian terrorism or anything. No, they know the far right in Palestine are equally to blame, but what really bothers them, the reason they feel the situation in that region is so damn bleak, is because very few of the power brokers involved are willing to seriously consider the common sense approach and create ongoing, constructive dialogue between the two warring states.

All of that, of course, is paraphrased. If you want to get the real inside scoop, watch The Gatekeepers.

It’s well worth it.

The Gatekeepers will open at Regina Public Library on April 18.

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

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crossword canadian criss-cross 26. Winery containers 28. Check-up 30. Explosion 33. Be made up of 37. Ignited 38. Tight closure 40. About to make a discovery 41. Social insects 43. Whipped cream serving 45. Calendar abbreviation 46. Good looks 48. Person born in that country 50. Get rid of 51. Clear the blackboard 52. Held in reserve 53. It begins on Ash Wednesday

DOWN 1. Lollipop 2. Illustrative material 3. Interweave yarn into a fabric 4. Made a getaway 5. Basic article of bedding 6. You may have one in your purse 7. Wears away 8. Prepares for painting 9. Attack from all sides 11. Inebriated 12. Nickname of the Canadiens 14. They’re hunted for on Easter 17. Play with songs 20. Eyeglass frames

22. Brief perusal sudoku answer key 25. Four-legged friends A 27. Furthermore 29. Military rank 30. Tell secrets 31. What actors memorize 32. Use weapons on 34. Not take no for an answer 35. Barrel part B 36. Carry 39. Place with pyramids 42. Unquestionable 44. Unadorned 47. Spigot 49. Go brown

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

ACROSS 1. Japanese rice wine 5. Ladder rung 9. Sets on fire 10. Detected sound with the ears 12. Constantly busy and hurried 13. In one piece 15. Make a request 16. Not frightened of people 18. Self-satisfied 19. Beverage brewed from malt 21. Places in position 23. Former Canadian television drama 24. Bands of colour

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

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© walter D. Feener 2012

Horoscopes April 12 – April 18 Aries March 21–April 19

Leo July 23–August 22

Sagittarius November 23–December 21

Don’t overreact this week, Aries. I repeat: Do. Not. Overreact. If you do, the repercussions will be swift and unfavourable, so take a deep breath and chill.

This is a week to get things done, Leo. Tune the rest of the world out and focus on the task at hand. The end is near.

Have you been dwelling on something lately, Sagittarius? If so, it’s time to leave it in the past and move on with your life.

Taurus April 20–May 20

Virgo August 23–September 22

Capricorn December 22–January 19

You may have a conversation that will change your world this week, Taurus. The problem is, you may not realize at the time which conversation it is.

The answers are out there, Virgo.

All you have to do is put in the effort this week and try to find them.

Happy hunting!

Ever get the feeling you’re chasing after something you’ll never catch, Capricorn? Don’t let it get to you. You may not catch it, but don’t quit chasing.

Gemini May 21–June 20

Libra September 23–October 23

Aquarius January 20–February 19

If you have strong feelings this week, Gemini, don’t squirrel them away. Emote. And don’t care what others may say or think.

Things and people are going to get on your very last nerve this week, Libra. Try not to explode or make a scene.

It’s spring, Aquarius. Time to start things fresh. So take this week and get rid of all the excess garbage in your life. You’ll be glad you did.

Cancer June 21–July 22

Scorpio October 24–November 22

Pisces February 20–March 20

Try to strike a balance between being wild and being polite this week, Cancer. Between fun and professional. If you can, good things await.

Oh dear, your energy levels threaten to be sky high this week, Scorpio. Which is great, if you have things to do. If not, expect to be antsy.

Don’t be a Nagatha Christie this week, Pisces. You’ll drive the people around you bonkers. And that’s not good for anybody.

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

crossword answer key

A

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

B

19 Apr 12 – Apr 18 /verbregina

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