Issue #107 – December 6 to December 12
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the game Inside the world of pick-up artists sleeping Beauty Q+A with Aaron Hursh Out of the furnace + vic and flo saw a bear Films reviewed Photo: courtesy of Chris Graham
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library voices
On what’s next. 12 / feature Photo: courtesy of Chris Graham
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NEWs + Opinion
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Q + A with aaron hursh Globe’s Sleeping Beauty offers a new adaptation. 10 / Q + A
alone, but not lonely Rare red panda comes to SK. 4 / Local
Live Music listings Local music listings for December 6 through December 14. 16 / listings
dreams of teeth
Nightlife Photos
Noxious Sector invites you to leap into the unknown. 11 / Arts
We visit The Owl + Cloud 9
split the bill
out of the furnace + Vic and Flo Saw a Bear
Regina film troupe blurs lines between stage and screen. 11 / Arts
18 / Nightlife
We review the latest movies. 20 / Film
welcome to the game Inside the world of a PUA. 6 / Local
winter woes
famiglia matters
on the bus
Our thoughts on a mandatory winter driving course. 8 / Editorial
We visit the Italian Star Deli.
Weekly original comic illustrations by Elaine M. Will. 22 / comics
14 / Food + Drink
comments
Music
Game + Horoscopes
Here’s your say on an opt-out organ donation system. 9 / comments
Deejay Elmo, Rosie and the Riveters + Bryan Adams
Canadian criss-cross puzzle, weekly horoscopes and Sudoku. 23 / timeout
15 / music
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Alone, but not lonely Photo: courtesy of Red Panda Facebook Page Continued on next page Âť
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Rare red panda arrives in Saskatchewan by ADAM HAWBOLDT
T
The journey begins at 2595 Roblin Boulevard in Winnipeg. That’s where you’ll find the Assiniboine Park Zoo, where Phoenix the red panda was born. It’s November 18th, early in the morning on a sub-zero winter day. Zoo workers place Phoenix in a crate, then load the crate into the back of a truck. He’s two years old, Phoenix is. Right around the age when, if he were born in the wild, he’d be leaving his family to carve his own path in the world. To head out on a solitary journey all his own. But today, being born in captivity, Phoenix’s departure from his family is markedly different. In the back of the truck, Phoenix is alone. Just him, his crate, and the sound of wheels rumbling along the Trans-Canada highway. Engine humming, wind whistling past the enclose space where Phoenix rests. Where he’s headed, Phoenix has no clue. Past Brandon and Yorkton, the truck drives. What Phoenix is doing, it’s hard to say. By nature, most red pandas are nocturnal and crepuscular, meaning they sleep most of the day and become active during dawn and dusk. So if Phoenix is adhering to his nature, chances are he’s asleep at times during the nearly 800 kilometre journey he’s embarking on.
Chances are, shortly after he wakes up, Phoenix, like most other red pandas, will clean his fur like a cat. He will lick his front paws, then rub his back, stomach and sides. Sometime late in the evening on November 18th, after more than eight hours on the road, the truck transporting Phoenix reaches its final destination in Saskatchewan — the Forestry Farm Park and Zoo in Saskatoon. Phoenix is whisked immediately from the back of the truck into quarantine. There he will be alone again, away from the other animals at the zoo. But don’t feel too bad for Phoenix. Red pandas are solitary animals who only seek company during mating season. This is not mating season.
The red panda is known by many names. In Nepal, it’s commonly called bhalu biralo (bear cat). The Sherpa people of Nepal and Sikkim call it ye nigiva ponva, a Sunuwari word meaning bear. The Lepcha people call it sak nam, the Limbus know the red panda as kaala. In English they are known as red pandas or lesser pandas, but not many people use the latter term. The word lesser seems a tad too pejorative. For narrative purposes, we’ll continue to call ours Phoenix. Native to the temperate forests of the Himalayas, red pandas like Phoenix grow to be about 50-64
centimetres long, from head to backside. That’s slightly larger than a domesticated cat. Their bushy tails usually measure somewhere between 28-59 centimetres. They have long, reddish-brown fur on their bodies, black fur on their legs and underbelly, and light fur on their faces. With its white badges and upright ears, the red panda’s face looks similar to that of a raccoon. Adding to the cute factor is the red panda’s wadding, ambling gait — caused by their rather short and stubby legs. As for their diets, well, red pandas like Phoenix mostly eat bamboo. Which invites the question: where is the Forestry Farm Park and Zoo going to get this staple food for Phoenix? After all, Saskatchewan isn’t exactly a hotbed of bamboo production. “Feeding him won’t be a problem,” says John Moran, zoo manager. “We’re bringing in bamboo from Ohio right now. We’ve also sourced another place out of Vancouver Island that can supply us with bamboo.” Moran pauses for a second to cough, then says, “We also feed it leaf-eater diet biscuits, which are readily available through Missouri and other feed suppliers. Then also give it fruit and vegetables that are human quality. That’s all we use.” The diet for Phoenix came from the Species Survival Plan program. It was also through the SSP that the Forestry Farm Park and Zoo acquired the animal.
“Getting [Phoenix] started when we made an application to the SSP,” says Moran. “The next step, they sent us a huge questionnaire that you have to respond to. It has to include pictures and diagrams of your holding facilities, how you plan to display the animal, staff expertise, veterinary care, a commitment to importing the food or putting a plan in place to grow it locally — and that’s just the start of the process.” A process that, on that cool day in mid-November, brought Phoenix to his new home.
The quarantine space is an enclosed building on the Forestry Farm Park and Zoo grounds. Separate from the other buildings, it consists of interior and exterior holding pens that keep new animals away from other species. This is what Phoenix will call home — at least for now. “Whenever a new animal comes in, it goes straight into quarantine,” says Moran. “That’s the procedure. In transport, a lot of times, animals can pick up various diseases or bugs. So we quarantine them, segregate them from the whole population. That way, if it did pick up something in transit it won’t transmit it to other animals.” These days, when Phoenix isn’t being tested for parasites or other things, he’s hanging out in quarantine either eating (once in the morning and once again in the evening), resting, or being
trained by the Forestry Farm Park and Zoo staff. “He’s not afraid of people,” says Moran. “He has already done some behavior training. He’ll actually come and point and touch for food and things. So we’ll continue to work on that over the course of the year. We also need to weigh him occasionally, so some of his training has to do with that, getting him to go into the box that’s on a scale.” And, by all accounts, so far Phoenix is doing well. Red pandas, which have been classified as vulnerable by the International Union for Conservation of Nature because there are less than 10,000 of them left on Earth, are highly adaptable to living in captivity. Given the solitary nature of the creatures, that isn’t surprising. But Phoenix won’t be alone for long. Soon enough he’ll join the other animals in the zoo. And one day, if all goes right, they may even find a mate for him to spend some time with — when he wants. “That’s the goal,” says Moran. “The SSP knows our long-term goal is to participate as a breeding facility. That may be a couple of years down the road or they could call in nine months.” Feedback? Text it! (306) 881 8372
@VerbRegina ahawboldt@verbnews.com
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Welcome to the game
local
Local pickup artist reveals secrets, explains the evolving nature of the seduction community by ADAM HAWBOLDT
I
t all starts with a positive mindset. Before Dave ever gets to the bar, before he ever opens his mouth or tries to talk to a girl, he has to get his head right. That’s why, in the hours leading up to going out, he’ll get together with a friend and talk about the previous night of sarging. Sarging, in case you don’t know, is a term in the seduction community that means going out into the field (usually a pub or club) with the explicit intention of picking up girls. And Dave? Well, he’s a pick-up artist. That’s PUA for short.
“Every PUA wants to chat about game,” says Dave. “I usually go out sarging with this one guy, so before we go to the bar what I like to do is talk. Put myself into a positive headspace, which involves talking about game. Maybe the last time he was out, a guy encountered a problem. Maybe last week he got a number and it was a flake. Any number that’s a flake we call wood. You don’t want wood. So we’ll talk about that. I’ll help him out. Ask him when he texted her. What did he say to her? Did he meet her friends? Was there another guy there? Stuff like that. You break it down and get to the point where maybe you figure Continued on next page »
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out the issue. Maybe you don’t. At the end of the day you never know, but talking about it gets you in the right headspace.” Once all the talk about game is over, Dave and his fellow PUA will head to the bar. In the car on the way there, if they’re not really in the mood to sarge, they play games. Silly games, Dave admits. “Did you watch WWE when you were a kid?” he asks, taking a sip of coffee from
a PUA opener is often an innocent, field-tested question that elicits advice or an opinion from a girl. It gets them talking, makes them feel comfortable. “Most guys start out with a systems-based approach,” explains Dave. “When you do this, and you’re going out lots, it’s almost like being in the Matrix. If you have a system you can almost see how a conversation is going to play out.” Dave takes another sip of coffee
Soon as you walk in, you want to make sure you’re targeting interactions… dave
the white mug he’s holding. I nod and Dave says, “You remember Ric Flair? The ridiculous stuff he used to say? Me and my buddy will mimic that in the car. It’s stupid, it’s childish. But that’s the point. It gets your head out of ‘oh work was tough today, oh my car is broken.’ It takes you out of your everyday life and puts you in a good mood.” Mood established, mindset right, it’s time to hit the bar. The game is on. “Soon as you walk in, you want to make sure you’re targeting interactions right away,” says Dave. “Soon as you walk through the door, you open. It could be a girl that works there, a girl you know, a total stranger. Doesn’t matter, you’re just opening.” An opener in the seduction community isn’t what you think. It’s not some cheesy line like, say, “Did it hurt when you fell from heaven” or anything like that. No,
and says, “You know how they say a really good chess player is always playing a bunch of moves ahead? It’s sort of how it feels. If you say something, you know how she’s going to respond. She’s going to give one of maybe three answers. When she gives you her answer you’re going to give her this response or that response. You know how it shakes down.” But only if you’re a seasoned PUA. If that’s the case, after the opener, you know how to read body language, spot IOIs (indicators of interest), deal with AMOGs (alpha males of the group), and avoid MPB (male pattern blindness). You intimately understand the ideas of DHV (displaying high value), qualifying (the act of proving to someone how worthy you are), and stacking (moving from one story to another). You also know that, once upon a time ago, you were an AFC (average
frustrated chump), and running game was far from easy.
The modern seduction movement got its start back in the 1970s, when a guy named Eric Weber wrote a book called How to Pick Up Girls! There was no community back then, just a bunch of guys trying to figure out a way to bridge the vast disconnect between men and women. Then came the late ‘80s, and with them the publication of How to Get the Women You Desire into Bed. The book was written by Ross Jeffries, who also taught workshops on neuro-linguistic programming and speed seduction. It was around these techniques that the first seduction community emerged. But the modern seduction community didn’t come around until the early ‘90s, with the advent of the Internet. As the web gained popularity, PUAs from around the world had, for the first time, a way to compare methods they used to approach women. The community grew slowly. Then, in 2005, the seduction community gained the attention of mainstream culture when Neil Strauss — a writer for magazines like Esquire and Rolling Stone — infiltrated the pseudo-secret community and wrote a book called The Game: Penetrating the Secret Society of Pickup Artists. After that, more people began paying attention to the previously underground movement. Websites sprung up, VH1 produced a show called The Pickup Artist, men who previously had problems talking to women now had a way to overcome their fears and shortcomings. But, as mentioned before, at first it wasn’t easy for the newbies. Still isn’t. “Most people who get into this stuff, it’s sort of understood that it’s
because of a bad breakup,” explains Dave. “Any guy I’ve brought into it, that’s how it happened. But a lot of guys brush up against this stuff and figure it’s not for them. It’s a lot to take in, a lot to handle. Most guys give up right away. When you’re learning, it’s very stilted. Very contrived and robotic. And in the beginning you get shelled, totally blown out of the water.” But for all the rejection, there’s an upside to running game. “Some guys are so nervous they can’t even talk to girls,” says Dave. “They are totally incapable of having a conversation. But if they stick with it they go from being that guy to a guy capable of having a real conversation with a girl — which is worlds apart.” And yet for all the positives the game can have for certain guys, for some people on the outside there exists an ew-factor associated with game. They see it as being unethical or manipulative. But Dave sees the whole thing in a different light. “I’ve been heavily
involved in this for about two years, been poking around for about six. And I tell you, it’s gotten considerably less creepy in that time,” says Dave. “You have to understand. When this all started, these guys who developed these systems were kind of losers. They were code breakers. They didn’t have any of the keys. They didn’t have the government clearance to be a cool guy so they’re trying to change the game. They saw these females as adversaries, puzzles. It was an us-versus-them mindset. Win-lose. But that’s changed. The way I see it, it’s win-win. If I’m really interesting and she’s into it, we both win. I get to hang out with a cool girl who’s cute. She gets to hang out with an interesting guy.” Whatever happens after that, Dave isn’t saying.
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Winter woes
editorial
A mandatory winter driving course would help save lives
L
ook at any news source during the winter months in Saskatchewan and chances are you’ll see a few old familiar headlines cropping up. “Crash on Highway 11 closes northbound lanes,” “Man injured in crash near (insert pretty much any town here),” or “Icy conditions blamed for crashes around Saskatchewan,” for example. Hop in you car on a random, snowy day and it’s easy to see where these headlines come from. Cars are in ditches or snowbanks after losing control in slippery conditions. Semitrucks are jackknifed on highways. Rolled over vehicles dot the roadside. And yet, even though winter driving requires a vastly different set of skills than driving during dry conditions, there is nothing that mandates drivers must demonstrate their prowess at navigating our winter roads before getting behind the wheel of a car. And we’re not just talking about keeping yourself from injury — knowing how to maneuver a car properly in cold weather will also allow you to protect yourself against other, less able drivers. Which is why Saskatchewan car owners should be required to take a winter defensive driving course. Now, less you think we’re exaggerating about the necessity of educating Saskatchewan drivers how to proceed when Old Man Winter is in town, just look at the stats from last year and the first few months of 2013. According to SGI, between November 2012 and January 2013 there were 10,000 more collision claims than there had been in the same three-month time span the previous year. Specifically, that works out to 41, 367 claims over just those three months Why? Well, because if you recall, during those months we got hammered by winter. Snow storms and icy roads played a big factor in the increased number of accidents. And it wasn’t just the first three months, either. In March, after a particularly large snow storm, the RCMP
reported they had responded to over 155 motor-vehicle crashes in less than two days. And this winter isn’t looking any better. It’s only early December and we’ve already had a blast of the cold and icy. Who knows what’s coming down the pipeline this year. What we do know, however, is there have already been a slew of accidents and there will be more as weather conditions worsen. Which is why we think we should implement province-wide winter driving courses. Currently, SGI offers a five hour classroom-based course on defensive driving, which, according to their website, will teach you “how to prevent collisions no matter the road conditions.” But what needs to run in tandem with that is actual, practical, hands-on experience. So here’s what we propose: every new driver wishing to obtain a license must enroll in a winter driving course that is a combination of both classroom theory and on-road practice before ever being issued a license. A course like this teaches you how to control your car in snowy and icy weather. It teaches you how to gain confidence while driving in winter, how to effectively control skids, and how to employ proper stopping techniques in less-than-desirable conditions. Courses like this also teach you about traction, cornering techniques, how to create buffer zones and use your eyes (both your focal and peripheral vision) to spot danger and avoid it. And while programs like this should be mandatory for all new drivers, we think those who have been behind the wheel for years could always use a refresher or might find some new tips worthwhile. And that’s why we propose making the program optional for existing motorists, but including a tantalizing incentive — say, a reduction on insurance premiums during the winter — should they choose to participate. We’ve written in the past about the importance of educating people to be safe, defensive drivers, and we stand by that now. But hand in
hand with promoting a responsible attitude behind the wheel is cracking down on those motorists who simply don’t care — after all, they are not just putting themselves at risk when they get behind the wheel. So along with a winter driving course, we would like to propose more aggressive penalties for those who tailgate, cut other drivers off, or engage in a number of other unsafe practices in their cars. You only need to look to Germany, which houses one of the more famous highways in the world, to see how seriously they take road infractions. For example, if you’re caught tailgating, a ticket will run you nearly $500 for a first-time offense — which is, of course, a huge deterrent. So let’s throw the book at those who will not adjust their driving for winter conditions. In Saskatchewan, SGI notes, the punishment changes depending on the infraction, but perhaps an across the board percentage hike on tickets issued for dangerous driving between October and February will help eliminate maniac motorists from our roads. But harsher penalties, though a part of the solution, only occur after the problem has already happened. Reactive is never as good as proactive, which is why our efforts should be focussed on preventing accidents in the first place, not just punishing them after the fact. So let’s make Saskatchewan a safer province for us motorists to drive in, starting with teaching a defensive course tailored for our cold and icy streets. Because, let’s be honest: we’re staring down a few more months of this at least, and we can’t just stay indoors. 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
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on the way the Harper government uses another triple D -- deny, dissemble, denigrate
On Topic: Last week we asked what you thought about an opt-out organ donation system. Here's what you had to say:
– I don’t want the default to be that the government can harvest my organs should I die unexpectedly and haven’t made those wishes known yet. The default should always be protecting the sanctity of the body.
– It’s tremendously sad that so many Canadians are dying waiting for an organ. I can’t imaging being so sick knowing you were going to die, and knowing that there is actually this one thing that could save you and you just can’t have it. I’m a proud organ donor and encourage everyone to put that sticker on their health card! You could make such an amazing difference in so many people’s lives:)
– Absolutely not, try mandatory organ donation. Too many good people die (not just in Canada) waiting for organ transplants; if your religion forbids it don’t come here or don’t die here. The first people to forfeit organs should be prisoners, let the punishment fit the crime you have taken a live so now you will save lives
text yo thoughtsur to 881 ve r B
In response to “He’s right and you know it,” Local #106 (November 29, 2013)
8372
sound off
– Opt-out sounds great. I know people are lazy so auto signing up makes sense. I say do it!
– I read your opinion article with interest. Is your writer an organ donor or signed up to be one? Because if not, then they should shut up.
–Along with donating organs, everyone should also donate blood. People die every day needing those things, and donors can give it and still live. It’s not a situation where you have to die to help someone. We should be trying to take care of each other better.
– Make organ donation mandatory. Why are we letting so many people die needlessly?
– Ahh, the most wonderful time of year, where consumerism masks itself as religion. Celebrate the season, sure. Just don’t equate celebrating with buying crap.
– The planet is dieing! All the needless industrial consumer crap is the poison. People just don’t F’in get it! We’re F’in dim dumb animals!
are being depleted, never to be there for future generations. How is humankind thinking of the future and leaving something for our children and our children’s children. Stop the industrial robbing of our environment. It’s not infinite resources that we have on Earth.
– We all work for something.we all work somewhere for someone. We all need to work together for the better. We need to work for Better ...Vote APP Aboriginal peoples party of Saskatchewan APP0S
– It’s the season to remember the sacrifices of our Lord. Remember to be thankful for everything He has done for you. God Bless everyone, and Merry Christmas to all!
– Champions refuse to be offended.
– Meow mix cats ask for it by name Mine starved it coudnt say Tuna!!
Next week: What do you think about a mandatory winter driving course? 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.
– Supposedly the City Fathers have ponied up 375,000 dollars for cycling initiatives such as creating designated bike lanes. I enjoy using a bike BUT how about designating some cash for painting vehicle traffic lanes first. I reall think the current use of tracks in new snow does not seem the strategy a booming metro area should use..
– Why do people always talk about the weather? We all know it’s cold out but do we really need to tell each other about it too?
OFF TOPIC – The H. H. Humphrey quote used in the feature article on John Gormley was great. “Freedom is hammered out on the anvil of discussion, dissent ,debate. Perhaps Gormley could do a show or two
– I agree! We need to stop the consumerism that is overtaking our world. Rain forests are declining at an alarming rate, natural resources
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Photo: courtesy of Darrol Hofmeister of Sharpshooter Photography
The Sleeping Beauty
A new adaptation of an old classic ushers in the holiday season at Globe Theatre by Alex J MacPherson
E
ach year the Globe Theatre puts on a holiday show, a play that transforms a familiar story into a fun and exciting production with a near-universal appeal. Past holiday productions include Peter Pan, Robin Hood, and The Wizard of Oz. This year, a cast of talented actors — half of whom are from Saskatchewan — will stage a new adaptation of the classic fairy tale Sleeping Beauty. Written and directed by artistic director Ruth Smillie, this adaptation adds some weight and depth to the classic story of love conquering evil. Fairy tales are malleable, and Smillie worked hard to find the ideal fulcrum of familiarity and innovation. Her adaptation features a host of new characters, a number of exquisitely-choreographed action sequences, and a massive firebreathing dragon. Aaron Hursh, a Saskatoon-based actor who is making his debut at the Globe Theatre, thinks this version of a time-tested classic offers audiences the comfort of a familiar story, and a few unexpected surprises. Alex J MacPherson: First of all, Sleeping Beauty opens in just a few hours. What are your last-minute preparations like?
Aaron Hursh: Well, the last day you sort of have to find some downtime for yourself, lay down or have a nice meal or something like that. But you’re always incorporating things into the show up until the last minute. We had a couple hour note session with the artistic director today, she’s pointing out a few things — you’re out of your light here, or try this move here — and you’re always working and always trying to keep it as fresh and as real as you can. The whole trick of acting, I guess, is pretending that it’s the first time you’ve ever said it.
important and relevant and exciting for everyone. And then give them little treats along the way with surprises and neat characters and things like that, just to enhance the main plot line.
AJM: The story of Sleeping Beauty has been around for a long time, but this is a brand-new adaptation. What are the strengths of Ruth Smillie’s script?
AH: It’s the whimsy and magic and the fairy kingdom and true love conquering all and being true to yourself. Those are themes that translate generations and go on forever, as far as I know. So any retelling of that is always going to be familiar, but it’s always going to be a little different, too.
AJM: Why do you think it is about the story of Sleeping Beauty that lends itself to new adaptations?
land of the fairies, which is where the princess is taken to be protected from the evil witch. There’s exciting action sequences. And everyone’s sitting in their chair going, ‘How are they going to do the dragon? How’s that going to happen?’ And just seeing that come alive — once people are invested in the story they go along with it. It’s sort
The whole trick of acting, I guess, is pretending that it’s the first time… aaron hursch
AH: Well I think there’s a lot more substance to Ruth’s adaptation. I mean, I’m used to the Disney version, right? It’s a girl singing and dancing with squirrels for forty minutes and then the plot happens in the last twenty minutes. So what you have to do to make it a play — because, you know, we don’t have animated cartoons running around chirping at us — is to add some more plot, add some more characters: things to infuse the story and make it
AJM: Aside from the massive dragon, what are some of the things about this adaptation that appeal to you? AH: Well, there’s lots of interesting things for anyone who’s an English geek or a theatre geek. There’s sort of a Titania-Oberon subplot going on in the
of like watching magic happen right in front of you. AJM: You’re playing several different characters in this play. What’s that like as an actor? AH: I’m playing King Freddie, who is Sleeping Beauty’s father, and he’s having a tough time resigning himself to the fact that he’s got to send his daughter away to be protected from the evil witch. I’m also playing King Lyrondel, who is the fairy king and wants to uphold life in the fairy kingdom and make sure the fairies don’t disappear, because that’s always a fear, that the
humans are going to overrun them. I’m also part of the dragon, and there’s a big fight where there’s a couple of hell hounds that come onstage and chase around Prince Charming — I’m running around like crazy backstage with about seven different costume changes. It’s kind of awesome. AJM: Finally, Sleeping Beauty is sure to draw both experienced theatregoers and people who’ve never been to the theatre in their life. What do you hope audiences take away from this production? AH: I hope they take a way a sense of wonderment. It’s a really lovely holiday show, there’s a lot in it for everybody. And I hope they come back to the theatre because they’ve found something that they like, a way to tell stories that they’re maybe not used to. The Sleeping Beauty Through December 29 @ Globe Theatre $29 + @ Globe Theatre Box Office (306 525 6400) & online Feedback? Text it! (306) 881 8372
@VerbRegina amacpherson@verbnews.com
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Dreams of Teeth
Arts collective Noxious Sector set the stage for a leap into the unknown by alex J MacPherson
W
e share dreams. These intensely personal experiences belong to us, yet they belong to everybody else, too. In 1958, an American academic journal published an article about the universality of dreams, which contained a perplexing statistic: despite the subjective nature of dreams, more than one fifth of all Americans had dreamed of losing their teeth. Whether the image of crumbling molars and fragmented incisors is a metaphor remains an open question, but it is clear that dreams of teeth are paradoxical — personal and universal. This unresolved idea lies at the heart of Dreams of Teeth, an interactive exhibition by the Canadian arts collective Noxious Sector. “What we’re trying to do is create spaces for curiosity, create spaces for
uncertainty, and try to reinforce the idea that we don’t always have to know answers in order to be willing participants in the world around us,” says Ted Hiebert, who created Dreams of Teeth with his Noxious Sector collaborators Jackson 2Bears and Doug Jarvis. “A lot of our projects really target things that exist in a state of undecidability. The projects that we seem to be drawn to are really ones that situate themselves in a space between skepticism and romance. But for us it’s not about resolving the question; it’s about trying to find strategies to engage, even if we don’t understand.” Dreams of Teeth addresses the paradox of shared dreams by recreating the nightmare of collapsing teeth. The exhibition operates in two distinct phases. The first introduces the idea of disintegrating teeth using photographs, sculpture, and artifacts from experi-
ments conducted by the members of Noxious Sector. The second phase uses trance induction, a technique involving meditation and sonic and visual stimulation, to recreate the dream itself. Dreams of Teeth is intended to create a visceral experience, but the point is not the experience itself — it’s the curiosity that impels gallery viewers to become participants. “We live in this weird culture where increasingly information and knowledge and skills are becoming privileged over curiosity and exploration and engagement,” Hiebert says before suggesting that skepticism does not have to serve as an intellectual shield against curiosity. “I think Doug and Jackson and I share a certain irreverence towards truths and information, preferring really to activate that space of personal engagement with the projects and questions that we have.”
The members of Noxious Sector come from dramatically different backgrounds. Hiebert has long nurtured a fascination with inexplicable paranormal phenomena. Jarvis is interested in virtual environments, particularly those nebulous communities that do not share a physical space. 2Bears, an accomplished DJ and sound artist, has a deep interest in indigenous philosophy, particularly Iroquois dream culture. What links them together in Noxious Sector, and what underpins Dreams of Teeth, is their curiosity. “You try and find an entry point that isn’t about whether it’s real or not real, not about whether it’s true or false,” Hiebert says of the collective, and by extension the cognitive leap required to engage with Dreams of Teeth. “It’s about whether or not you can find a way into a personal exploration of the question.”
In the end, Dreams of Teeth is only peripherally about dreams. It is an exhibition that uses an abstract yet eminently relatable idea to open an intellectual door, one that many people are afraid to unbolt. But Hiebert, Jarvis, and 2Bears leave the conclusion, or lack thereof, entirely up to the viewer. “We don’t want to lose the informal edge, but we want to formalize the works so they feel resolved to people and so they don’t feel like they are having a random or arbitrary experience,” Hiebert says. “It’s a delicate balance between setting the stage without scripting too much what’s going to happen on it.” The rest is up to the viewer. Dreams of Teeth Through December 14 @ Neutral Ground Gallery
Split The Bill
Regina film troupe blurs the lines between stage and screen at their latest live event
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ric Kanius has dedicated the last year of his life to writing and producing short films. As a founding member of Split the Bill, a Regina film troupe specializing in touching and vaguely absurd shorts, Kanius believes film can delight, amuse, and engage with audiences. But his vision for what Split The Bill can become transcends the screen. When he and the other members of the group — Gabrielle Dufresne, Steph Knibbs, and Chelsea Smith — screen eleven new films this month, they will do much more than simply dim the lights and switch on a projector. “I believe there’s still a part of all people that wants to interact with other people,” Kanius says of the group’s commitment to screenings that do more than simply expose an audience to several reels of film. “I believe there are still groups of people that want to go out and watch things, experience things together. It’s a communal thing where the classes are broken and
everyone’s on the same level watching these things and experiencing the same things at the same time, which is something I don’t think will ever go away completely.” To emphasize this aspect of a film screening — and heighten the contrast between the blank eyed and headphoned look most people adopt when they’re plugged into the internet — Kanius and the other members of Split The Bill dreamt up an idea for a multidisciplinary show. By interspersing their shorts with live music and appearances by characters from the films themselves, they hope to enhance their films and heighten the feeling of community created by getting a large group of people together in a small room. “I find it so much more fulfilling, both for me and the audience” Kanius says of Split The Bill’s screenings, the first of which took place just one month after the group began shooting, “the idea of a real life screening, you bring people together in the same room and you can do more than
by alex J MacPherson
just show films. That’s what we like exploring.” For their latest screening, Kanius and his colleagues chose to include Gunner, a Regina band whose edgy rock sound complements the troupe’s anxious and often frantically humorous films. But while Kanius is determined to broaden horizons by mashing together otherwise incompatible ideas, the films are the heart of the evening. Split The Bill is only one year old, but the quality of the movies emerging from its Regina laboratory has increased dramatically. Two of the best are titled Snitches and Swingset. The former is a wonky examination of two girls who spend the night sitting in their car and swilling booze from a hip flask, the latter a charming look at a young man’s futile attempt to recapture the uninhibited joy of being young and free. Kanius attributes this growth to experience. “We evolved from learning to use the equipment, and now we’re getting better and better,” he says. “Everyone’s just improving because we’re doing so much. Rather than working
Photo: courtesy oF Split the Bill
on one short for a whole year, we’re doing as many as we can in order to learn more and to grow more and to do better.” And part of that involves expanding the ways in which he and the other members of Split the Bill can interact with the people who watch their films. “Eventually what I’d really like to do is take it on tour,” he says, “take it to other places and either get local bands to come play and shoot shorts in these other places. Treat it like a band, rather
than something that’s just going to get thrown on the internet.” Split The Bill 2013 Spectacular December 12 @ Creative City Centre $10 @ C.C.C. Feedback? Text it! (306) 881 8372
@VerbRegina amacpherson@verbnews.com
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and released and some of which will never see the light of day. To answer the second part of your question, we are currently working on some music — but whether or not that turns into an album or not only time will tell. AJM: I’m fascinated by the ways in which songs grow and evolve over time. How have the songs on Summer of Lust changed over two years of shows and touring?
SUMMER OF LUST Photo: courtesy of Chris Graham
Library Voices still riding high on their acclaimed 2011 album
MD: You know, to be one hundred percent honest our songs really don’t evolve all that much. I think part of the reason is that we do a lot of self-editing when we are writing, what starts as just a skeleton ends up with so many instruments, melodies, etc., and then we do what we can to streamline and finesse the most important ones into where they belong — everything in its right place. But having such streamlined songs doesn’t leave a ton of room for evolution. A few of our songs we’ve been playing for years we’ve tried multiple variations of, but for whatever reason we almost always end up settling back into the original version. We’ve never fancied ourselves a jam band although Amanda [Scandrett] did once have dreadlocks. AJM: How might the lessons of the last couple of years play into new material?
by Alex J MacPherson
I
t has been more than two years since Library Voices released Summer Of Lust, yet the album has lost none of its manic, youthful energy. Its heroic highs and devastating lows are as poignant today as they were when the record started assaulting airwaves across the country. Released as the bright lights of an invincible summer faded into fall, Summer of Lust captured the agony and the joy of being young and free and desperately unsure about the future. The Regina seven-piece rock band held nothing back on the album, which matched soaring guitar and synthesizer melodies in unapologetic major keys with recklessly propulsive grooves and the unassailable belief in the power of music to actually mean something. Its combination of emotional turbulence and sparkling pop per-
fection built on 2010’s Denim On Denim — and pushed the band into the upper echelon of Canadian music. The lyrics, penned by Michael Dawson, circle around the twin ideas of change and maturity without ever resolving into a coherent statement of facts. But that’s okay. Summer of Lust is a record about uncertainty, and Dawson’s penchant for refined metaphors and hyper-literate wordplay clash magnificently with the album’s central theme: the changing seasons of our lives. And while the band has been slow to produce a new album, they are by no means retreating from the Saskatchewan music scene. Which is why I tracked down Dawson to ask about when fans of the band — there are many — can expect a new album, the logistics of working in a sprawling sevenpiece rock band, and how they
so effortlessly infuse pop hooks with profundities. Alex J MacPherson: It’s been a couple of years since you released Summer of Lust. What have Library Voices been up to lately, and are you working on another record? Michael Dawson: Well, immediately after the release of the album we spent the better part of a year and a half on tour in support of it. It was an amazing experience that took us around the world, but it also left us with a few new wrinkles, grey hairs, and in desperate need of a salad. Since then we’ve mostly just been trying to get caught up on life, although collectively we’ve all created a lot of music outside of the band as well. Some of which has been recorded
MD: It’s hard to say. I know lyrically I feel like I’ve exhausted a lot of the themes I’ve been revisiting over our last three records so I’m excited to draw from new sources. I think musically we’re in similar shape — on each of our records we’ve immersed ourselves in different genres and songwriting aspects. While those results may not be apparent to the listener, they definitely have shaped certain elements of our sound. We’re currently treading some strange uncharted waters and we didn’t wait thirty minutes after eating. AJM: One of the most appealing aspects of Summer of Lust was how you could combine the immediacy and the hooks of a great pop song with lyrics and musical ideas that kept the listener engaged each time the record came on. Can you tell me a Continued on next page »
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little bit about those contrasting ideas and how you pull it off? MD: We have a pretty unorthodox workflow but it seems to work for us. We put a lot of work in crafting some pop songs last time around, with either Carl or Brennan contributing the main melodies and progressions. Then in most cases I walked around with headphones on writing lyrics to those melodies. It’s probably not the most efficient way to write a song, but the collaboration adds something unique to our band. AJM: The other thing that stands out about Summer of Lust is how the songs are actually quite diverse, even though they all sound like Library Voices songs. What is it about the band that allows that to happen? MD: We literally recorded the only ten songs we had written. I think that diversity is important and that con-
although I completely see how it comes off that way. I wrote the first verse in bed one day, literally just describing my morning. From there the backstory is long and convoluted. I was more on some of that “road less travelled” bulls**t… AJM: The subject of uncertainty seems to cut through Summer of Lust, contrasting with the sort of uninhibited freedom you can only find when you’re young and in a rock band. Can you tell me about why that was an important idea to concentrate on, and maybe how you feel about it now? MD: It’s a two-part answer. I’ve always been drawn to the coming of age aspect of story telling. All of my favourite movies, books, and songs address it in one capacity or another. With that said, a lot of the ideas and notes that went on to form the Summer Of Lust lyrics I had written while we were on tour in support of Denim
while living here, instead of moving to Toronto or Vancouver or Montreal?
many people playing so many different instruments?
always wanted to work into a song, but been unable to?
MD: Regina was just home for us. It plays a huge role in how and why we create music. In certain capacities it would be much easier to be based out of Toronto and working more hands on with most of the industry in Canada, but we love the prairies. It feels sort of nice to be strange, exotic creatures to those big city folk.
MD: It’s a nightmare. I’m joking, but only slightly. You know on The Simpsons when they show the band class and everyone is playing unlistenable noise and then Lisa plays a part that cuts through with a distinguishable melody? It’s a lot like that.
MD: Oh geez. Jonathan Ames? Tommy James? Forgotten Rebels? For a while I’d kicked around the idea of writing one last song about authors and having it be about authors who had committed suicide. But I think it’s better if I just let them die of natural causes.
AJM: Other than ridiculously long road trips, what sort of challenges do Saskatchewan bands face these days? And how have Library Voices overcome them? MD: The thing is, if you’re in a band a huge part of it is always going to be ridiculously long road trips anyway. We’re actually pretty centrally located between Vancouver and Toronto, which has proven to be a huge plus for our band. The prov-
AJM: Are those problems heightened or exaggerated by the sheer size of the band? I suppose logistics is a big factor. MD: The length of every imaginable task is infinitely multiplied with each member. AJM: One last question. Which literary or musical figures or ideas have you
Library Voices December 20 @ The Exchange $12 @ Ticketdge Feedback? Text it! (306) 881 8372
@VerbRegina amacpherson@verbnews.com
We’re currently treading some strange uncharted waters and we didn’t wait thirty minutes after eating. michael dawson Photo: courtesy of Chris Graham
tinuing to challenge yourself is what keeps music exciting — but I also think our “diverse” songs are continually our weakest material. AJM: On Summer of Lust, the lyrics seem to embody the contradiction that is being a musician and being on the road all the time. It comes to light in “If Raymond Carver Was Born In The 90s.” The idea is completely understandable, but I’m curious: has it changed at all in the two years since the record came out? Is that uncertainty still present?
On Denim, or travelling around when I was killing time between tours. We didn’t really give ourselves enough home time before touring and recording to cleanse our palettes so a lot of the songs come from a travelling perspective.
ince may have limited resources and continue with some growing pains on the industry end of things, but it simultaneously fosters creativity. It has always been Saskatchewan bands that inspired me to want to create music and tour.
AJM: Library Voices has always been a Regina band. What does it mean to you to be able to have a career in music
AJM: I’m also curious about the process of writing and arranging songs. How does it work when you have so
MD: A lot has changed since the record came out. Lots of amazing things have gone down. Brennan and his wife had a baby. Then Mike Thievin got married. Then Paul [Gutheil] got married. Then Eoin [Hickey-Cameron] got married. Etc,etc. In that song I didn’t really intend to juxtapose being a musician with another lifestyle —
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FAMIGLIA MATTERS
Italian Star Deli is a labour of love for the Giambattista family — and it shows by mj deschamps
W
ading into my sophomore year of Christmases away from home, I’m discovering that spending the holiday season halfway across the country feels even tougher the second time around. Knowing that I’ll be away from family again this year has been kicking my feelings of nostalgia (and sulkiness) up a notch — so don’t take it personally if you see a stranger scowling at your Christmas lights or rolling her eyes as you hum along to a holiday song as you shop (sorry … that would be me). Against all odds, however, my tiny Grinch heart did manage to
Carlo is one of those people you meet for two minutes, and you feel like you’ve known him for years. His son Gino and daughter Marina both spend their days working alongside him at the family-owned business, and they joke around with their dad as he talks about them like a proud papa. Although she’s now in her 80s (and has more than earned the right to show up late, in my opinion), Carlo’s mother Gina is up bright and early with the rest of the clan, cooking something delicious-smelling over a stove top nearby. The close-knit staff are a dedicated bunch, but Gina has been here since the very beginning: back in 1966, her and Frank Giambattista bought a small confectionary at 1611 Victoria Avenue, which has stood in the same spot for nearly 50 years — and is now known and loved as the Italian Star Deli. It may look modest from the outside, but the aisles are jam-packed with ingredients and specialty products imported from Italy and beyond: olive oils, spices, pasta, canned goods, fresh meats and cheeses, artisan breads and more. All lanes lead the way to the back of the store, where the deli has been putting together the Italian
grow a bit last week during my visit to the Italian Star Deli. Sitting in the crowded back room of the Victoria Avenue institution early one morning, sipping on espresso amongst the fresh loaves of bread and piled-high boxes, I felt how I imagine I would if I had been welcomed into the home of the Giambattista family. We’ve just spent an hour and a half talking and laughing with Carlo Giambattista, as the rest of the deli’s small staff jump in and out of our conversation as they frequent the stock room, grabbing items from shelves and helping to prep the store (and the deli’s famous sandwiches) for the day.
let’s go drinkin’ Verb’s mixology guide BICICLETTA
Ingredients
Apparently this classic Italian cocktail gets its name from the elderly men who would swerve all over the road riding their ‘biciclettas’ home after one too many drinks at the bar.
2 oz Campari liqueur 2 oz. white wine club soda lemon slice
directions
Pour spirits together into a tall glass with ice, and top with club soda. Gently stir to mix and garnish with lemon slice.
paninos that dreams are made of for the past 20 years. You can pick up a pre-made sandwich on fresh focaccia, pumpernickel or rye marble bread or get one made to order, choosing your own combination of meats (mortadella, smoked salami, capicola, prosciutto, and so on), cheeses (provolone, grated feta) and toppings (black olives, banana peppers, eggplant). To cap it all off is the magic ingredient — a squirt or two of homemade Italian oil and vinegar dressing. The paninos on fresh focaccia (from Northgate Bakery) are my absolute favourite — the giant, soft buns are brushed with oil and herbs, and while the 100g of meat can sometimes look lost in between the thick slices, the flavours from the smoky meats and salty cheeses hold their own. The beauty of a traditional Italian sandwich is that the simple ingredients are so rich on their own, they don’t require any frills. Fifty years in the community has cultivated a loyal customer base that can certainly attest to the deli’s popularity — and while the store spans three generations now, it is fully engaged with social media and has even developed its own app. All
that said, however, not much has changed for the business, which has remained true to its roots. “Identity is very important to us — it’s all about family. We don’t think [in terms of success] — we just keep working every day,” said Carlo. “We’re lucky — we have a great clientele and great staff … our staff don’t work for us though, we’re a team. We work together.” Being a regular customer myself, I have to agree that the welcoming, genuine experience that the Giambattistas have created — just by being themselves — is something that’s hard to find elsewhere these days. “Can I add something?” Gina chimes in from across the room, where she’s been listening quietly the whole time. “You can’t find me anywhere else,” the 83-year-old says with a sly smile, as we all crack up. Italian Star Deli 1611 Victoria Ave | (306) 757 6733
Feedback? Text it! (306) 881 8372
@VerbRegina mdeschamps@verbnews.com
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Next Week
coming up
Deejay Elmo
Rosie and the Riveters
Bryan Adams
@ The Exchange Thursday, December 12 – $10
@ Artful Dodger Sunday, December 15 – Cover TBD
@ Conexus Arts Centre Wednesday, February 19 – $57+
Back when he was getting his start, around 2008 or so, Deejay Elmo was big into making jumpstyle music. For those of you who don’t know, jumpstyle is an EDM dance and music genre that originated in Belgium and began to gain popularity in the Netherlands in the mid-to-late 2000s. Think hard progressive house and you’ll get the idea. Since then, though, Deejay Elmo (aka LouisPhilippe Moore) has returned to a more traditional electronic sound — a sound that embraces his aboriginal roots and sets dance floors on fire. In the past few years, the hard-working musician from Manawan, Quebec, has collaborated with the likes of Joey Stylez and Wyclef Jean) as well as becoming a founding member of the electric group Red Rockerz. He’ll be in Regina next week with Joey Stylez to show you what he’s all about.
Watching Saskatoon’s Rosie and the Riveters live in concert is kind of like taking a trip back in time. Their music — a fusion of gospel music, African American spirituals, folk, bluegrass, jazz and so much more — harkens back to a more innocent time. But there’s nothing old fashioned about the songs these charismatic, talented women play. Consisting of Alexis Normand, Melissa Nygren and Farideh, Rosie and the Riveters draw upon the background and interests of each member of the band to create an infectious, often hilarious, show that mixes seductive vocal arrangements with acoustic music and sensational choreography. If you’re fond of having a good time (or just fond of hearing good music), drop by the Artful Dodger next week and check these ladies out.
What can you say about Bryan Adams that hasn’t been said already? With his distinct vocal stylings and bluecollar rock sensibilities, this Ontario-born musician has become nothing short of a Canadian music icon. Thanks to legendary albums like Cuts Like a Knife, Reckless and Waking Up the Neighbours, along with his ability to write terrific music scores, Adams has received 56 Juno nominations, 15 Grammy nominations, three Oscar nominations and a handful of Golden Globe nods. Oh, and did I mention that he has also received the Order of Canada? That he has stars on both the Canadian and Hollywood Walk of Fames? That, in 2008, he was ranked 38 on the list of all-time top artists by the Billboard Hot 100 50th Anniversary Charts. This noteworthy musician will be performing at Regina in the new year. Don’t miss it. Tickets are available through www.conexusticket.com. – By Adam Hawboldt
Photos courtesy of: the artist/ truncata/ amanda ash
Sask music Preview SaskMusic supports the SaskCountry Christmas for the Saskatoon Crisis Nursery! Taking place at Saskatoon’s Mayfair United Church on December 11 at 7pm, the event will feature Saskatchewan country musicians coming together in support of the Crisis Nursery, a non-profit organization that helps children during times of family crisis and emergency. The line-up includes Jay Semko, Eli Barsi, Amy Nelson and more. Tickets are $20, and available at piratic.com and Saskatoon Co-op food stores.
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december 6 » december 14 The most complete live music listings for Regina. S
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Friday 6 Treebeard / The Club — With Lost Sherpas and William Wenaus. 8pm / $5 DJ Pat & DJ Kim / Habano’s Martini & Cocktail Club — Local DJs spin top 40 hits every Friday night that are sure to get you on the dance floor. 9pm / $5 cover 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 Breakdown Party Band / McNally’s Tavern — Playing classic rock favourites to get the weekend started. 10pm / $5 Marc LaBossiere / Pump Roadhouse — A talented singer/songwriter from Winnipeg. 10pm / Cover TBD Albert / Pure Ultra Lounge — Appearing every Friday night, come listen to Albert as he does his spinning thing. 10pm / $5 cover DJ Longhorn / Whiskey Saloon — Come check out one of Regina’s most interactive DJs as he drops some of the best country beats around. 8pm / Cover TBD J.J. Voss / Whiskey Saloon — Urban country from a local artist. 9pm / $10
Saturday 7
2 Beats and a Hat / Artful Dodger — Welcome to DJ Night! Enjoy. 8pm / Cover TBD Lost Sherpas / The Club — With Shadow in the Mirror and Dan Holbrow. 9pm / $5 Intergalactic Virgin / Lancaster Taphouse — Local electro-house/psychedelic music. 9pm / No cover A-Maze / McNally’s Tavern — Rock ‘n roll favourites! 8:30pm / $5 Marc LaBossiere / Pump Roadhouse — A talented singer/songwriter from Winnipeg. 10pm / 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 Shane Chisolm / The Sip Nightclub — An award-winning country crooner. 10pm / Cover TBD J.J. Voss / Whiskey Saloon — Urban country from a local artist. 9pm / $10
DJ Drewski started in Saskatoon. They both landed in Regina and have come together to sling some bomb beats. 7pm / No cover Open Mic Night / King’s Head Tavern — Come out, play some tunes, sing some songs, and show Regina what you got. 8pm / No cover Milkman’s Son / McNally’s Tavern — Come out and support local live bands! 8:30pm / $5 Foxx Worthee / Pump Roadhouse — A sassy female duo with a smooth sound. 10pm / Cover TBD DJ Longhorn / Whiskey Saloon — Come check out one of Regina’s most interactive DJs as he drops some of the best country beats around. 8pm / Cover TBD Joe Hikk / Whiskey Saloon — Countryrock straight out of Calgary. 9pm / $5
Sunday 8
Yana Bylik / Artful Dodger — A Ukrainian Christmas CD release party. 8pm / Cover TBD
Monday 9
Open Mic Night / The Artful Dodger — Come down and jam! 8pm / No cover Monday Night Jazz / Bushwakker Brewpub — Featuring ‘round Midnight. 8pm / No cover The Huron Carole / Conexus Arts Centre — With Tom Jackson, George Canyon + friends. 7:30pm / $42+ (conexusticket.com) Samuel Deason / Knox-Metropolitan United Church — Performing works by Brahms, LIszt and Busoni. 7pm / $25( adults)/$15(students)/$5(seniors)
Saturday 14 Tim Williams / Artful Dodger — Charming folk music that’s perfect to unwind to. 8pm / Cover TBD Madame Diva / Carrefour des Plaines — Family dinner and show. 6pm / $20 (students), $35 (adults) Night Fever / Casino Regina — A tribute to ABBA and the Bee Gees will have you rocking all night long. 8pm / $25 (ticketbreak.com) Whiskey Manner, Electric Mother / The Exchange — A night of acoustic altcountry and psych-blues. 7:30pm / $10 Friend Friend, Northern Lights / Lancaster Taphouse — Indie music done right. 9pm / No cover Absofunkinlutely / McNally’s Tavern — A blend of stubble-punk, prairiedisco and more. 10pm / $5
Foxx Worthee / Pump Roadhouse — A sassy female duo with a smooth sound. 10pm / 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 Parlor Trixx / Sip Nightclub — Playing hard rock tunes all night long. 10pm / Cover TBD Jo Hikk / Whiskey Saloon — Countryrock straight out of Calgary. 9pm / $10
Get listed Have a live show you'd like to promote? Let us know! layout@verbnews.com
Friday 13
Spellbound / Artful Dodger — An Eric Clapton tribute show. 8pm / Cover TBD Night Fever / Casino Regina — A tribute to ABBA and the Bee Gees. 8pm / $25 (ticketbreak.com) Soiled Doves, FPG, None Shall Sleep Tonight / The Club — Punk, hardcore and industrial rap to get your weekend started. 7:30pm / $10 DJ Pat & DJ Kim / Habano’s Martini & Cocktail Club — Local DJs spin top 40 hits every Friday night that are sure to get you on the dance floor. 9pm / $5 cover 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 — A blend of stubble-punk, prairiedisco and more. 10pm / $5 Foxx Worthee / Pump Roadhouse — A sassy female duo with a smooth sound. 10pm / Cover TBD Albert / Pure Ultra Lounge — Appearing every Friday night, come listen to Albert as he does his spinning thing. 10pm / $5 cover Parlor Trixx / Sip Nightclub — Playing hard rock tunes all night long. 10pm / Cover TBD DJ Longhorn / Whiskey Saloon — Come check out one of Regina’s most interactive DJs as he drops some of the best country beats around. 8pm / Cover TBD Jo Hikk / Whiskey Saloon — Countryrock straight out of Calgary. 9pm / $10
Tuesday 10
Meaghan Smith / Artesian on 13th — A Juno-winning singer/songwriter from Toronto. 8pm / $15+ (picatic.com) Troubadour Tuesdays / Bocados — Come check out some live tunes from local talents every week, then bring an instrument and partake in the open mic/jam night. 8pm / No cover The Hit Men / Casino Regina — Featuring musicians from Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons. 8pm / $35+ (ticketbreak.com)
Wednesday 11
Wednesday Night Folk / Bushwakker Brewpub — Featuring The Dickens Yuletide Singers. 9pm / No cover Ham Jam / McNally’s Tavern — Come on down and enjoy some local talent. 9pm / No cover
Thursday 12
Bob Evans, Michel Lalonde / Artesian on 13th — Two of Regina’s top guitar players. 8pm / $20 Joey Stylez / The Exchange — With Deejay Elmo, Pimpton, Brock Prentice. 8pm / $10 Decibel Frequency / Gabbo’s Nightclub — A night of electronic fun. 10pm / Cover $5 PS Fresh / The Hookah Lounge — DJ Ageless started spinning in Montreal,
16 Dec 6 – Dec 12 entertainment
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friday, november 29 @
The Owl
The Owl 3737 Wascana Parkway
Check out our Facebook page! These photos will be uploaded to Facebook on Friday, December 13.
Photography by Marc Messett facebook.com/verbregina
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saturday, november 30 @
cloud 9
Cloud 9 Ultra Lounge & Hookah Bar 1235 Broad Street (top floor) 306 565 2883
Check out our Facebook page! These photos will be uploaded to Facebook on Friday, December 13.
Photography by Marc Messett facebook.com/verbregina
19 Dec 6 – Dec 12 /verbregina
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Photo: Courtesy of Relativity Media
Blue-collar badassery
Out of the Furnace a gritty tale of two brothers by adam hawboldt
B
efore we dive headfirst into this, you have to know something: Scott Cooper’s new movie, Out of the Furnace, isn’t for everyone. If you aren’t a fan of visceral, in-your-face violence, or if you get bored by grey-and-gritty blue-collar dramas, you might want to see something else this weekend. But if you’re anything like me — if you love the backwoods novels of Frank Bill and Daniel Woodrell, have a soft spot for the tragic working-class feel of Bruce Springsteen’s Nebraska, and really, really dig ‘70s cinema — you should run (don’t walk) to the cinema and watch Out of the Furnace. Featuring a stacked, all-star cast, Cooper’s new flick (his last film was the terrific Crazy Heart) is about a pair of brothers in over their heads. The year is 2008. The place, a small, Rust Belt town in Pennsylva-
competing in bare-knuckle boxing matches to get the cash to pay Petty back. And to compound problems, Rodney is getting ready to fight a big match sponsored by a hillbilly meth
nia. Russell Baze (Christian Bale), a local steel mill worker, gets sent to prison after killing a man in a drunk-driving accident. While he’s away, his younger brother Rodney
[Bale] plays Russell with a quiet, subtle nuance that grabs your attention… Adam Hawboldt
dealer/drug lord named DeGroat (Woody Harrelson.) DeGroat isn’t the kind of guy who messes around. Just watch the opening scene and you’ll realize that much. So when DeGroat tells one of his fighters to throw a fight, the fighter does it — or else. Problem is, Rodney isn’t much of a fight thrower.
(Casey Affleck) — a war vet suffering from PTSD — gets in deep to a bookie named Petty (Willem Dafoe). Gambling debts mount. By the time Russell gets out of jail, things have taken a turn for the worse. His girl, Lena (Zoe Saldana), is now dating the sheriff (Forest Whitaker). His little brother is
I don’t want to ruin it for anyone, so let’s just say that, from the beginning of Out of the Furnace to the end, the Baze brothers walk a dark and dangerous road. And along the journey, the audience is treated to a realistic tale full of moral ambivalence that unfolds slowly but surely towards a pitch-perfect climax. But none of that would be possible if not for the actors. And, if nothing else, like the best movies from the golden days of ‘70s cinema, Out of the Furnace is an actor’s movie. And boy, do the actors ever show up. Everyone from Casey Affleck to Willem Dafoe, Woody Harrelson to Zoe Saldana hit the mark. But in the end, it’s really Christian Bale’s film. Playing a man who is always longing to do the right thing but keeps getting set back by fate and circumstance, Bale simply slays it. He plays Russell with a quiet, subtle
Scott Cooper Directed by Scott Cooper Starring Christian Bale, Casey Affleck, Zoe Saldana, Woody Harrelson, Forest Whitaker
106 minutes | 14A
nuance that grabs your attention and never lets go — especially in the scenes with Saldana. But don’t take my word for it. Go see Out of the Furnace and decide for yourself. For people of a certain bent and certain taste, it’ll be a great experience.
Feedback? Text it! (306) 881 8372
@VerbRegina ahawboldt@verbnews.com
20 Dec 6 – Dec 12 entertainment
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Rural noir
Vic and Flo Saw a Bear another genre-bending film by Denis Côté by adam hawboldt Vic and Flo Saw a Bear Denis Côté Starring Pierrette Robitaille, MarcAndré Grondin, Romane Bohringer + Marie Brassard Directed by
95 minutes | NR
Photo: Courtesy of funfilm distribution
U
nique. Cooly elegant. Daring. Experimental. Those are just a few adjectives that have been used to describe the films of New Brunswick-born filmmaker Denis Côté. And you know what? Those descriptions are right on the money. Whether it be in Les Etats Nordique, about a man who builds a new life for himself after his mother slips into a coma, or in Carcasses, his documentary about teenagers with Down Syndrome sifting through an auto salvage yard, the films of Côté are always original, groundbreaking and genre-bending works of minimalist art.
And his latest film, titled Vic and Flo Saw a Bear, is no different. It tells the story of a middleaged woman named Vic (Pierrette
To take care of her elderly, mute, paraplegic uncle (Georges Molnar), who lives in a sugar shack. It’s a strange place, this sugar shack. A
It’s a strange bit of genre-bending moviemaking but … it works. Adam Hawboldt
Robitaille), who ends up moving to a rural community. The reason?
one-time party centre, it’s now a lonely place with a few old vending machines in it. When Vic arrives,
she tells the teenager caring for her uncle that he can leave. The lad’s father gets angry over this. It’s not the last time Vic will rile up the town folk. Once Vic gets settled in, a parade of characters begin showing up at the sugar shack. First there’s Guillaume (MarcAndré Grondin), a lean, bald parole officer. Turns out that Vic is an ex-con, and Guillaume is in town to keep an eye on her. Next up, a lady named Flo (Romane Bohringer, the narrator from The March of the Penguins) comes to the shack. Her deal? She was Vic’s cellmate in prison, and her lover. The two women pick up where they left off in prison, rekindling their romance and wrinkling a few sheets in the process. But there’s trouble in paradise. See, Flo grows restless out there in the sticks. And soon she finds herself hanging out at a local bar, hitting on the occasional man. Eventually another visitor shows up, Marina St-Jean (Marie Brassard), and starts flirting with Vic, offering her advice about the garden she’s built. It’s slow going in the beginning of Vic and Flow Saw a Bear, some might even say boring. But as
these characters weave their way through the story tension begins to mount. And mount. And mount. And what was once seemingly just another rural Canadian movie morphs into a backwoods noiresque thriller. The kind of thriller that ends with a surreal twist that you never see coming. It’s a strange bit of genrebending moviemaking but, for the most part it works. Sure, it staggers along to a weird, jagged rhythm. And sure, true to its minimalist aesthetic we never really figure out many backstories or underlying motivations in Vic and Flow Saw a Bear. But the reason why the film works is precisely because of that. Because we don’t know the backstories, because there is no foreshadowing, the audience gets surprised at exactly the same time the characters. So if you’re in the mood for an art-house/critically acclaimed Canadian movie that will keep you on edge, you could do worse than to check out Vic and Flo. It’s not Côté’s best work, but it’s still pretty good. Vic and Flow Saw a Bear will be screened at Regina Public Library beginning on December 19; see reginalibrary.ca for more information.
Feedback? Text it! (306) 881 8372
@VerbRegina ahawboldt@verbnews.com
21 Dec 6 – Dec 12 @verbregina
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Š Elaine M. Will | blog.E2W-Illustration.com | Check onthebus.webcomic.ws/ for previous editions!
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timeout
crossword canadian criss-cross 30. Drink made with gin and vermouth 33. Like some basements 37. Pub order 38. Reminds constantly 40. It’s worn below the ankle 41. Communicate non-verbally 43. Supply with nourishment 45. Collection of anecdotes 46. Import tax 48. Educational book 50. Flower part 51. Earthy pigment 52. Weight of a vehicle without cargo 53. Flightless birds
DOWN 1. Made a call 2. Strawberry colour 3. Long thin fish 4. Pressed fold 5. Team that has the puck and is trying to score 6. Broadcast on TV 7. Tire that needs air 8. Unknown to other people 9. Sought the love of 11. Pan-fry 12. Pocket bread 14. Brand with a hot iron 17. All that remains 20. Salamander 22. College building 25. Equestrian’s strap
27. Responsibility sudoku answer key 29. Quickly take for your A self, before someone else does 30. Pole sails hang from 31. Name used by a criminal 32. Wish that you had not done 34. Dark glasses 35. Laser printer powder B 36. Twelve months 39. It helps fight an infection 42. Palm of the Philippines 44. Test-driven car 47. A long way 49. Arab’s garment
8 5 6 4 1 9 3 7 2 1 3 4 7 2 5 6 8 9 7 2 9 8 3 6 1 5 4 3 6 1 2 5 8 4 9 7 9 7 8 6 4 1 5 2 3 2 4 5 3 9 7 8 1 6 5 9 2 1 6 3 7 4 8 6 1 7 9 8 4 2 3 5 4 8 3 5 7 2 9 6 1
. Make a patient ready 1 for surgery 5. Louts 9. Push a gurney 10. Manicurist’s tools 12. Curly-haired dog 13. Noisy quarrel 15. Electrically charged atom 16. Buy at a reduced price 18. Agreeing with fact 19. High school student 21. Have a habit of 23. Seventh Greek letter 24. Snake of the viper family 26. Vehicle steered by a handlebar 28. Cowboy movie
5 8 3 4 1 6 9 7 2 7 9 2 5 8 3 6 1 4 4 1 6 2 7 9 5 3 8 8 4 9 7 2 1 3 6 5 1 2 5 6 3 8 4 9 7 3 6 7 9 4 5 2 8 1 2 7 8 3 6 4 1 5 9 6 5 1 8 9 2 7 4 3 9 3 4 1 5 7 8 2 6
ACROSS
© walter D. Feener 2013
Horoscopes december 6 - december 12 Aries March 21–April 19
Leo July 23–August 22
Sagittarius November 23–December 21
A wise person once said, “Always leave ‘em wanting more.” That’s advice that you would be wise to follow this week, Aries.
Whatever you do, don’t initiate an argument with a loved one this week. It will end poorly for both of you.
An argument may break out amongst friends this week, Sagittarius. Fight the urge to get involved — doing so will end badly for everyone.
Taurus April 20–May 20
Virgo August 23–September 22
Capricorn December 22–January 19
You may find yourself going around in circles on a certain project this week, Taurus. Try to straighten yourself out.
Your mind may be telling you one thing, your intuition another. Be sure to follow your intuition this week, Virgo. It’ll pay off in the long run.
If things get hectic this week, Capricorn, make a plan and stick to it. Do that, and it’ll be smooth sailing from here on out.
Gemini May 21–June 20
Libra September 23–October 23
Aquarius January 20–February 19
At some point this week, someone may make you wait longer than you want. Don’t be impatient — it will be worth it in the end.
Someone you know may be really upset this week, Libra. Try your best to comfort them and find out what’s going on. They might need you right now.
Feeling confused? Get outside and go for a brisk walk, Aquarius. It’ll help clear your head and put things into perspective.
Cancer June 21–July 22
Scorpio October 24–November 22
Pisces February 20–March 20
Try to clear your mind this week, Cancer. If not, you could work yourself into a fevered frenzy. Take a deep breath and a step back.
Emotions will run high later in the week, Scorpio. Whatever you do, don’t let them get the better of you. Cooler heads will ultimately prevail.
Make sure you spend some quality time with a loved one this week, Pisces, especially if you haven’t seen him or her in awhile. You won’t regret it.
sudoku 8 4 7 5 3 6 4 1 6 2 5 8 9 2 1 3 1 2 5 6 3 4 7 8 7 1 5 9 8 9 2 9 3 4 7 6
crossword answer key
A
8 5 1 3 7 1 7 9 8 3 5 4 1 2 5 9 7 4 5 4 3 8 1 6 2 6 4 6 7 9 8 2 3 2 9 6
B
23 Dec 6 – Dec 12 /verbregina
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