Verb Issue R87 (July 19-25, 2013)

Issue #87 – July 19 to July 25

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SAM KLASS fluid identity read & share

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top of the world Saskatchewan man’s quest for Everest five alarm funk Gettin’ down with this funky orchestra the conjuring + love is all you need Films reviewed­

Photo: courtesy of the artist

contents

On the cover:

sam klass

On Fluid Identity. 10 / feature

Photo: courtesy of the artist

NEWs + Opinion

entertainment

culture

Q + A with five alarm funk A Vancouver funk orchestra. 8 / Q + A

listings Local music listings for July 19 through July 27. 14 / listings

drag racing

legs

Nightlife Photos

“Alcohol funny cars” on the track.

Kris Brandhagen’s abstract photography. 9 / Arts

We visit The Owl.

drumhand

the conjuring + love is all you need

3 / Local

15 / Nightlife

Exotic musical fusion from Toronto.

9 / Arts

The latest movie reviews. 16-17 / Film

top of the world One Saskatchewan man’s trip up Mount Everest. 4 / Local

independence day

sweet satisfaction

on the bus

Our thoughts on severing ties to the monarchy. 6 / Editorial

This week we visit le Macaron.

Weekly original comic illustrations

by Elaine M. Will. 18 / comics

12 / Food + Drink

comments

Music

Games + Horoscopes

Here’s what you had to say about smart meters. 7 / comments

Iron Kingdom, Flying Fox + The Hunter Gatherers + Chris Young

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

13 / music

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

Design Lead / Andrew yanko Graphic Design / Brantin Fix Contributing Photographers / Baily eberle, Maxton Priebe, Adam Hawboldt + Alex J MacPherson

Office Manager / Stephanie Lipsit account Manager / Kerri Senkow + Gino Giambattista Marketing Manager / Vogeson Paley Financial Manager / Cody Lang

Comments / feedback@verbnews.com / 306 881 8372 advertise / advertise@verbnews.com / 306 979 2253 design / layout@verbnews.com / 306 979 8474 General / info@verbnews.com / 306 979 2253

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Funny Cars and fun times

Photo: Courtesy of adam hawboldt / verb magazine

Drag racing, community and lots of smoke at the Saskatchewan international raceway by ADAM HAWBOLDT

S

herrie Bodnarchuk is standing next to her trailer, dressed in a pale, grey racing suit. In front of her, the body of a 1970 Superbird is lifted at a 45-degree angle.

But this is no normal ’70 Superbird.

With four exhaust pipes jutting out each side and a motor that stands two feet high, Bodnarchuk’s Superbird is what people in the drag-racing business call an “alcohol funny car.”

“These cars do great burnouts, they make a lot of noise and they go really fast. This one here does about 200 miles an hour, ” says Bodnarchuk, as her crew tinkers with the engine. To her right a voice says, “Does anyone know where the shoe polish is?” Still staring at the car, Bodnarchuk explains they need shoe polish to write the racing number on the window.

Then she slides into the narrow seat of her car and is towed out to the starting line by a pick-up truck. The body of the Superbird still lifted on an angle, Bodnarchuk looks calm in the driver’s seat. Racing since the early ‘90s, she’s been here before. Seen it all. She’s run perfect races and blown up cars.

Just before the car enters the burnout box, Bodnarchuk’s team takes one last look at the engine. All eyes are on them. The crowd waits for the body to be lowered and the burnout to begin.

But there’s a problem. There’s something wrong with the Superbird.

When you enter the grounds at the Saskatchewan International Race-

way, the first thing you notice are the motorhomes, RVs and trailers. Next to them families sit at picnic tables, shaded from the sun by umbrellas.

There are cars everywhere, too. Blue SS Monte Carlos, lime-green Mustangs, black Cameros. Most have their hoods open, engines exposed. Some people tinker with their cars. Others stand around chatting.

The people come from all over.

From Regina to Prince Albert, Saskatoon to small-town Alberta. There’s a real sense of community here. A bunch

jumps forward, and inches up to the starting line. Lights on the “Christmas tree” — the automatic starter at the starting line — flick on. They start on yellow at the top, and descend slowly.

When the light turns green at the bottom of the tree, the front wheels of the Mustang pop off the ground and it’s off, speeding out of sight in a straight line down the track.

An hour or so later, Bodnarchuk and her alcohol funny car pull up to the

…you don’t … have to watch out the front to do the driving. You can actually feel it… sherri bodnarchuk

of like-minded folks brought together by a common interest — drag racing.

The closer you get to the track, the louder it gets. The roar of engines echo through the raceway. Great wafts of smoke and the smell of burning rubber are everywhere. A blue and white car pulls up to the burnout box, a space just under the tower where cars go to burn rubber so that their tires will be warm and stick to the asphalt during their race. And over the PA-system, a voice is saying, “This ’79 Mustang came here all the way from Alberta.”

The driver of the Mustang revs the engine and holds in the brake. Smoke fills the burnout box. Then the Mustang

burnout box. The engine trouble has been remedied and she’s ready to go. In front of the car, raceway workers spray traction compound on the asphalt to give it more grip. She pulls into the burnout box and revs the engine.

This car doesn’t sound like the rest.

It’s louder, more feral, more guttural.

When Bodnarchuk guns the engine and spins the tires, a huge cloud of smoke billows around the car. It shoots forward a couple of feet past the starting line, then backs up. Gets ready to run its first race since blowing up last year in Bakersfield.

Before Bodnarchuk pulls up to the line, she tightens her belts and pulls the

car to the starting position. Her foot is already on the gas, the engine roars.

When the Christmas tree lights flash she lets go of the button which is holding the car in place, and the 1970 Superbird takes off. The engine screams in your ears, sending vibrations rattling through your face when it passes. Things are looking good out the gate, but a few feet up the track Bodnarchuk’s car jumps, nearly running into the centre area of the track.

“If the car starts to get away from you, sometimes you have to lift [your foot off the gas],” says Bodnarchuk.

“Other times you have to short shift to straighten it out. The thing about these cars is, you don’t really have to watch out the front to do the driving. You can actually feel it in your bum. The back

of your car does the sliding. You can feel it and have to straighten that out before it gets to the front.”

Whatever Bodnarchuk does works, because in less than a nanosecond her car is straight and zipping down the quarter mile at 180 miles an hour.

It takes her 7.68 seconds to finish.

When it’s over, Bodnarchuk’s team drives the pick-up truck to the finish line, attaches a rope to the front of the Superbird, and takes it back to the trailer.

There’s still another race to run.

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Photo: courtesy of Steve Whittington

Nowhere left to climb

Saskatchewan mountaineer recounts his harrowing journey to the rooftop of the world by alex j macpherson

t

he men and women who climb mountains refer to the upper reaches of Mount Everest as the Death Zone. Above 26,000 feet there is simply not enough oxygen in the atmosphere to sustain human life for more than a few hours. Shortly before 11:00pm on May 16, Steve Whittington left the relative safety of his tent on the South Col, the windswept plateau that marks the entrance to the Death Zone, and ascended into the night. The summit lay more than 3,000 feet above him, wreathed in clouds and hidden by the gloom. Drained after weeks of climbing and debilitated by the altitude, Whittington knew his chances of reaching the top were slim in the best of conditions — and these were not the best of conditions. As he climbed, his world lit only by the narrow beam of his headlamp, he was buffeted by the wind and blinded by the driving snow. Normally one of the strongest climbers on any expedition, Whittington was cold and wasted. Then, he started to doubt.

“I didn’t know if I was going to make it,” he says. “I had never been that weak in my life before, and I didn’t know if I could dig deep. That’s

a feeling that I’ve never had before.”

Whittington’s doubts were confirmed when his longtime friend and climbing partner Daniel Branham elected to turn around. After struggling on the

of the world’s most difficult and dangerous summits. He grew up in rural Manitoba, far from anything that even remotely resembled a mountain. His love of climbing was

I didn’t know if I was going to make it. I had never been that weak in my life… steve whittington

ascent to the South Col the previous day, Branham simply couldn’t keep up. “On every climb around the world he’s been tied to me on a rope, and he’s matched me pace for pace — thousands and thousands and thousands of steps,” Whittington says. “I just think he lost heart when he wasn’t tethered to me and couldn’t keep up with my pace.” As Branham began the long descent, Whittington kept slogging upward, determined to realize the moment he had been visualizing for years — the final steps up the summit ridge and the surge of emotion that accompanies arrival on the rooftop of the world.

Steve Whittington didn’t plan to spend his adult life in pursuit

ignited ten years ago when a friend invited him to join a climb in southern Alberta. Bewitched by the allure of the heights, the rawness of the landscapes and the visceral thrill of pitting himself against the wonders of nature, he resolved to keep climbing. He has since completed many technical ice climbs and straddled some of the world’s most demanding peaks, including Denali and Aconcagua. His goal is to complete the Seven Summits — the ascent of the highest peak on each of the seven continents. Everest has been on his horizon for years. “There’s so much history on that mountain,” he told me before leaving for Nepal. “I want to be on that mountain because it’s

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a symbol of mountaineering, and I want to be a part of that.”

Conquering Everest requires a different strategy than other, lesser peaks. Teams lay siege to the mountain, establishing a series of progressively higher camps before striking out for the summit. The route meanders from Base Camp, a tent city perched at a breathless 18,000 feet, through the serrated maw of the Khumbu Icefall, across the vast valley of the Western Cwm, and up the steep slope of the Lhotse Face to the frozen expanse of the South Col. “It was fun in a terrifying way,” Whittington says of the mountain’s lower reaches, which are prone to avalanches and proved far more difficult than he expected. “I’d read a lot of accounts of how difficult it was, and I’d hoped that it would be easier for me — and it wasn’t. It really pushes you right down to the bottom. Every step, every movement, every time you raise your hand to pull yourself up, really becomes a force of will.”

By the time he and his team set out for the summit, Whittington was in bad shape. High altitude suppresses the appetite and keeps the body from absorbing calories. Over the preceding few days, he hadn’t eaten anything more substantial than a granola bar and a few pieces of meat and cheese. He was also exhausted. Even with bottled oxygen, sleep is impossible above 24,000 feet. This, he explains, can be problematic. “That’s the point where people get into trouble. They push themselves to where they’re in this zombie-like state, just stumbling along. They don’t

have the will to properly place their feet, place their hands, or make sure their rappel device is safe. They lose the ability to make decisions properly because they’re so exhausted.” And then there was the weather.

By the time Whittington and Dawa Sherpa reached the balcony, a prominent ledge at 27,300 feet, he was thinking about quitting. “We’d been knocked around and beaten up by the storm quite a bit,” he says. “The storm had gotten really bad and I remember saying to Dawa, ‘The storm…’ He knew the unfinished question was whether we should turn around, but you don’t want to say it. If you say it, you’ll start to believe it.” Then, a glance at his oxygen cylinder revealed that the bottle was half-full. Most climbers exhaust a full bottle between the South Col and the Balcony, but Whittington and Dawa were climbing well. “That renewed my hope,” he says. “I just had this renewed sense of energy, and I got mad at the mountain. I just started driving my ice axe in, kicking steps in the snow, and leading up. Dawa and I just kept going. We got in a rhythm and started marching up this snow slope.”

After climbing around several other climbers who had stalled on one of the steep technical sections, Whittington and Dawa emerged into daylight. “The sun was rising, it was rising above the clouds, and I’d literally climbed out of the storm,” he recalls.

“The sun brings warmth, it brings hope. The night is behind me, the storm is below me, and I’ve got a clear horizon.” As he and Dawa crested the

Photo: courtesy of Steve Whittington

South Summit, a slender fin of snow at 28,500 feet, Whittington knew he was going to make it. After traversing a narrow corniced ridge, Whittington free-climbed the famous Hillary Step, a daunting chimney of rock and snow.

At the top of the Step, he and Dawa ascended the summit ridge until they reached a hump of snow adorned with countless strings of prayer flags, snapping in the stiff morning breeze.

It was 7:00am on May 16 and there was nowhere left to climb.

Whittington and Dawa didn’t linger on top of the world. After unfurling a pair of banners and taking a handful of photographs, the pair turned their backs on the summit and headed down the mountain. They reached the South

Col a few hours later and collapsed in their tents, too tired to move yet filled with joy at having summited — and survived — Everest. Today, more than a month after his successful summit bid, Whittington is still trying to grasp exactly what Everest means. In the past, he has struggled to return to society after a long expedition, confused and annoyed by the way people obsess over things that don’t matter at all. The mountains always cast the exigencies of life into stark relief, but Everest was different. He returned from Nepal with a newfound sense of self, and a new appreciation for the slender threads from which our lives hang.

“I look at that stuff and I see possibility,” he muses. “I think the scope

of what I believe is possible has been enhanced. I had a lot of confidence doing things before. However, now I’ll always be able to revert back and know what I did in May of 2013 — and know that I can dig deeper and make things happen. For myself, Everest helped dial in what’s important. I have a good life here, and I want to make sure I live it to the fullest. It’s made things a little sharper that way. But I’m still figuring it out.”

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Photo: Courtesy of NASA/Bill Ingalls

independence day

We think it’s time for Canada to sever its ties to the British monarchy

B

reaking news: Kate Middleton, the royal wife of Prince William, is past her alleged due date.

Or at least that was the rumour flooding the Internet when we sat down to write this piece. And who knows, by the time you read this she may have already given birth. In fact, even before the royal pregnancy Will and Kate were no strangers to media attention. Seems like everything they do (or don’t do) ends up as national headlines. They are celebrities, and it’s clear that they are rekindling people’s interest in the British monarchy.

Which is why we think this is the perfect time for Canada to cut its ties with the crown.

Well, not right this instant. Queen Elizabeth II still has plenty of fans, so ruffling feathers while she still sits on the throne would probably cause a lot of unnecessary angst. But the second she’s finished fulfilling her royal duties, we should take steps to break free of the monarchy — before it’s too late.

You see, we’ll have a window here, folks. A brief period of time when the widely unpopular Prince Charles takes over that we can push hard to sever our ties with the monarchy. Because if we wait too long, and Will and Kate ascend to the throne, or even simply take over as the public face of the royal family, well then that’s it. People will allow their pseudo-celeb love with the

$40-$50 million per year, which we’re quite certain could get Canadians better value if it were spent on almost anything else.

Besides, Canada is a major player on the world stage, and it’s high time we asserted our independence from our current, wildly outdated model.

After all, how serious can we appear if our head of state is some other country’s queen, a person to whom we make new Canadians swear an oath?

And her presence is everywhere: her face adorns our money (rather than some prominent, you know, Canadian).

new royal couple to drain their resolve to change and all will be lost. So let’s get things done while we still can.

Now, some of you may be saying “Why should we break ties with the monarchy?” It’s simple. In fact, we’ve talked about it before in these pages, and one of the reasons we pointed out was the cost. You see, Canadians spent $1.53 per capita in 2009 on the royals, according to Maclean’s. In case you were wondering, the money went to supporting the Queen’s performance of her duties when in Canada, or when she is

[Most] Canadians would like to dissolve our relationship with the royal family… verb magazine

And to really hit home just how out of touch maintaining our relationship with the Queen is, Canadian women are still expected to curtsey when they meet her. How quaint!

So not only are we paying out of pocket to support the monarchy, and not only is maintaining these ties holding us back from being an independent nation, but it turns out most of us are ready to cut the proverbial apron string. According to a 2010 Angus Reid poll, 69 percent of Canadians would

abroad in her role as Queen of Canada. Some of the cash also covered certain costs associated with the governor general and ten lieutenant governors, including travel, security, residences and ceremonies.

Ok, so we understand that a dollar and a half might not sound like much, but as the Brits themselves were only paying $1.32 per capita, it seems a bit suspect. And added all together, maintaining our connection with the throne comes in at a price tag of around

like to dissolve our relationship with the royal family and see a Canadian serving as our head of state.

Of course, doing so isn’t an easy process, and would obviously require a serious constitutional amendment. So here’s what we suggest: first, let’s hold a referendum and pose the question to Canadians: should we break up with the monarchy? Presuming the answer is yes, we could set up a federal commission to determine the various ways we could select the next head of state, after which Canadians could vote on how we do this.

Perhaps the Irish model is one most worth examining: they elect their presidents, who serve almost directly the same function as our governor generals, but with popular support because they have been chosen by the people. It is worth noting that in Ireland there has never been a struggle between the offices of president and prime minister.

Whatever answer is, we should do it and do it soon. The clock is ticking.

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

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comments

On Topic: Last week we asked what you thought about smart meters. Here's what you had to say:

– Smart meters article interesting.

My dad retired to BC he said that new meters didn’t really make any savings for him just no difference but he didn’t try to make it cost less so maybe that would have a difference.

– Smart meters are definitely the way to go. You don’t like how much you’re spending? You actually have control over something so make a change to reduce your bill. Most people were probably just pissed when they realized how much they were wasting energy. It’s hard to notice when you’re getting a rounded off figure every now and then.

– I am totally against smart meters.

They haven’t been around long enough for us to know what kind of health consequences they could have. Plus how much does it cost to roll these out? I think it makes way more sense to stick with what we’ve got for now, wait and see how it works for BC and Ontario.

– Hi I just read your article about Smart Meters. It seems to me like this article was written by Saskpower, I moved here from BC last year and stating that health issues from RF exposure and concerns over Smart Meters causing fires are the main concerns over these meters is absolute rubbish. The main objection is the cost of your power, saying Smart Meters will allow consumers to save money is absolutely nieve. Government corperations and all corporations are about profits and making money and not about investing money on new equipment to save consumers money. The truth behind Smart Meters is they will allow SaskPow

text yo thoughtsur to 881 vE R b

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er to increase their rates at peek power consumption times, costing consumers more money not saving them money. Arron Rigden

– Conspiracy theorists love anything like this: it’s the government, it’s the radio waves, it’s big brother.

Just relax: these have been used in various countries around the world for a while and they’re doing okay. You’ll be fine. I say bring them on

people or not. I bet it was Harper and then you’ll have to think why he would want to do that. The government wants you to think it’s all okay then you get one and you pay way more. Think about it!

OFF TOPIC – Henry Woolf is brilliant, apparently hilarious, and a treasure.

What a pleasure to read your profile of him. I like that he likes wine gummies :) In response to “Regarding Henry,” Local, #86 (July 12, 2013)

sound off – Smart meters radio frequency is DANGEROUS FOR PEOPLE! Don’t listen to the government who says its okay it isn’t!

– Smart meters are a green solution and the way of the future. More people should be furious they’ve been shelling out their hard earned dollars on the utility companies rough estimation of what they’ve used. Why aren’t people more upset about that?! I’d rather pay for exactly what I used. And of coarse they are safe you think they don’t test that stuff? Come on!

– It’s a nice idea to think you can control the cost, but think about this: it’s costing the companys a lot of $$$ to switch things over to smart meters. How r they going to recoup that? By making the power cost a lot more! So you might be able to control when you use power better but you’re paying way more for it overall. You really put on those rose colored glass verb lol.

– You should look into who paid for those tests to see if the radio frequency were dangerous to

– Nothing more frightening than driving the car slowly over some major potholes to avoid wrecking the suspension and then to get the savage eye from some guy driving a 4x4 with a massive lift kit

– Last weeks text about being with the family in the park and sharing the spot with wasted teens was great. . In the USA someone might of pulled out a revollver and tried to arrest them..canada #1

– What happens when we die??

Atheists think it is like someone shuts off your TV. Theists think someone changes channels..

– Saddened by not surprised by Travon Martin case. FL should maybe not have a law that allows some random to stalk a kid and then shoot him

– Sitting here in a motel room with a broken wrist bad back and gimpy leg I realize the average hotel or motel room isn’t very disability friendly. Its out of touch insensitive in the modern era.

Next week: What do you think of Canada cutting our ties with the monarchy ? Pick up 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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Five Alarm Funk

Photos: courtesy of Johnny liu photography

Vancouver funk orchestra on the beauty of funk and their forthcoming concept album by Alex J MacPherson

A

nybody who has seen Five Alarm Funk play, either on a festival stage or inside a sweaty rock and roll club, will agree that the Vancouver ten-piece funk outfit is one of the best live bands in the country. With a wide variety of musical backgrounds and an even wider array of instruments, these purveyors of infectious grooves and searing melodies have transformed funk from a genre into an experience. Rooted in tradition yet unafraid of exploration, Five Alarm Funk have created a sound that transcends the borders of style and genre — and can only be described as a sustained rush of pure, unadulterated joy. I called drummer and vocalist Tayo Branston to find out more about how a hard-touring band from British Columbia is carrying funk into the twenty-first century with style.

Alex J MacPherson: I think we have to start with your live performances, which people rave about for weeks afterward. Why do they do that? What about your band is so infectious?

Tayo Branston: The goal, with us and our music, and it’s the same thing we want to give to our crowd, is fun — a fun, vibrant atmosphere that you can

TB: We wanted to play funk because a lot of us were influenced by funk music and jazz and rock and roll as well. We started off as a funk and afrobeat band, which we really wanted to do, but now we’ve kind of progressed into this monster of gypsy rock and roll funk

really enjoy. Everybody likes to have fun and smile and feel good, and that’s basically what the goal of our band is.

And in doing that for ourselves, we do it for other people, too. You listen to funk, and it’s music that makes people dance — big sound, lots of groove, and it makes people get up.

You listen to funk, and it’s music that makes people dance… tayo branston

AJM: What drew you to funk in the first place?

— a musical behemoth of sorts. It’s really interesting to see the band’s progression of the last ten years because it’s totally changed, but it’s kept the original concept of funk and depth and groove and passion and fun.

TB: When I was a young, young guy, I was very much into rock and roll — the grunge scene and stuff like that.

My mother is a salsa dancer. Through my high school years that stuff opened up the breadth of what I listened to, and that’s when I got influenced by the horns. Through all the music she listened to, I started listening to a ton of funk. That turned to afrobeat and from there on out your mind expands with all this music, and you get influenced by everything that’s around you.

AJM: And speaking of individual songs, you’ve got a new single out, “We All Scream.” Does that herald the arrival of a new record?

AJM: How do you go about writing songs with ten people in the band?

That sounds like a daunting task.

TB: It can be difficult. For a song like “The Critic” we literally sat in the jam space and went over it piece by piece. I think it took us about two or three months as a ten-piece unit to write. With other songs like “Wash Your Face,” our guitar player, Ollie [Gibson], came in and said, ‘I’ve got

AJM: Which I suppose explains the diversity of sounds on your latest album, Rock The Sky.

this great guitar line.’ He played it, I started a beat, and then the horn guys just came up with this line — it took a week or two to write. Each individual song has its own way of coming to fruition.

TB: “We All Scream” is the start of the album we’re hopefully going to be releasing next spring. It’s the start of a story of a concept album that we have now written. The whole concept is based around this diabolical ice cream man, who lures

Five Alarm Funk into his factory by kidnapping our conga player and then feeds us this psychoactive ice cream — and we go on this massive journey of the mind. It’s a giant concept album, and it’s basically a massive doomsday event this ice cream man sets off in our minds. But I can’t give away the end!

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Legs

Kris Brandhagen’s abstract photography

K

ris Brandhagen, a multidisciplinary artist from Regina, was having a conversation with a friend when the world cracked open and she saw something ordinary in a completely new way. Struck by the power of this observation, the excitement of subverting the banal, she recreated the scene a few days later and then photographed it.

The resulting series of forty-two monochromatic images, rendered in hues of pink and red, make up her latest exhibition, Legs.

“I work between the lines of mediums,” Brandhagen says of the exhibition, which consists of photographic prints and a video installation composed of the same images.

“There’s very little postproduction in the actual imagery; it is what

by alex J MacPherson

appeared. The abstraction is in the noticing of things that are abstract that exist in the world.”

Brandhagen, who studied at the University of Regina and Montreal’s Dawson College, has been making abstract photographs for the best part of a decade, and working in traditional forms of photography for much longer. Legs, her second major series of abstract photographs, expands on the ideas laid out in Spine, which used a secret technique to examine the relationship between people and their books.

Perceptive viewers will almost certainly figure out what Brandhagen was taking photographs of, and she concedes that part of the reason people enjoy abstract work is the inherent mystery. But Legs is much more than a simple guessing game.

By examining and reinterpreting the formal elements of composition — line, shape, colour — that exist in the world, Brandhagen drives home the point that reality is merely a function of perspective. In other words, that art offers an opportunity to see the world in a different way.

“When I make images, I forget about them and then I come back to them,” Brandhagen says, “and then I look at them and I try to see them in a way that is like for the first time. I try to experience what the viewer experiences.”

This reflection, as well as the time and effort Brandhagen devoted to planning the structure of the exhibition, is what gives Legs its emotional weight. Each image in the show is imbued with a sense of persistent wonder; taken together,

Photo: courtesy of Kris Brandhagen

1. Kris Brandhagen, Legs, 2012, Photographic prints + video installation.

they create a radical idea that undermines our view of the world as a predictable, familiar place.

Legs Through August 5 @ 5th Parallel Gallery

percussion track and some horn flourishes called “The Long Road,” it is clear that Cheer On The Sun emphasizes the elemental connections between people.

“More recently, we’ve been using a lot more lyric content,” Graves continues. “And even though some of the lyrics get into parodies of sociopolitical issues, ultimately our music is designed to be uplifting.”

And by shrugging off the shackles of genre and style, the twin tyrannies that impose so many rules on popular music, Graves and his bandmates have left themselves with just one limit: what sounds

can be achieved with their instruments, and which sounds can’t. It is an agenda everyone can subscribe to — and it promises to be an engaging, dynamic performance for anybody fortunate enough to hear Cheer On The Sun played live.

Drumhand

Exotic musical fusion from Toronto knows no bounds

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ypnotic grooves. Propulsive rhythms. Punchy horns. These are the hallmarks of Drumhand, a band from Toronto whose blend of evocative percussion from around the world and the timeless sound of American jazz is fusion in the purest sense. Although the group draws on a wide range of traditions, including instruments and sounds from countries as diverse as Brazil, India, and Cuba, they cleave to none.

“We don’t tend to use traditional rhythmic content from other parts of the world,” explains Larry Graves, one of Drumhand’s three

by alex J MacPherson

percussionists. “A number of the band members have had a lot of experience researching, studying, learning, being inspired by a lot of traditions, especially very heavy, percussion-based traditions. Over time, we realized that instead of playing music that had a strict tradition or history to it, we started making our own.”

Musicians are naturally curious, and Graves and his colleagues were soon experimenting with a wide array of instruments, from the onestringed Berimbau from Brazil to the West African Gomé foot drum.

By weaving instruments together, and by combining sounds that were

never meant to be combined, the band was able to create grooves that defy description — music that flows across borders, political and musical, with ease.

Whether this is intentional, or merely what happens when a bunch of musicians arm themselves with strange instruments, is difficult to determine. But Graves says the band is interested in seeking out connections between people, regardless of their differences. This humanistic streak is most apparent on the band’s latest album, Cheer On The Sun. From the opening number, a simple chant animated by a springy

Drumhand August 1 @ Creative City Centre $10 Feedback? Text it! (306) 881 8372

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Fluid Identity Sam Klass and his quest to become a one-man jam band

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am Klass has always been attracted to jam bands and the culture that surround them. Growing up in Berwyn, Pennsylvania, he was drawn to groups like Phish and the Grateful Dead, iconic acts who fused the improvisation and experimentation of jazz to the sounds and textures of rock and roll. He was captivated by the idea of simple rock songs as extended displays of instrumental mastery, songs that broke the rules imposed by commercial radio in search of musical perfection. Klass played in bands throughout his high school years and spent even more time jamming when he moved to Hamilton, Ontario to attend university. But none of his projects lasted. By the time he graduated, most of his friends had abandoned music for more stable careers. Undaunted, Klass began experimenting with a tool he had been using for years to practice his guitar playing — a looping pedal.

In music, looping is the process by which a short audio track is recorded and then repeated. This can be accomplished with an inexpensive electronic pedal. “I kind of got good at it by accident,” Klass says with a laugh before explaining that looping allowed him to perfect difficult passages without the other band members. “It was just a convenient thing to do. You can just keep the loop going.

I was always pretty serious about wanting to pursue music, and what I was left with when all those bands broke up was my loop pedal.”

Today, Klass is one of the most accomplished looping artists in North America. His latest album, Fluid Identity, is an expression of his desire

by Alex J

ducers sample and combine dozens of different sounds, Klass uses the RC-50 to record and then replay as many instrumental parts as he likes. With three tracks, he can create complex songs with different parts and even different key signatures in real time. “I only started thinking about making it

I was just shocked at how easily people were drawn to it … In terms of being a spectacle to watch? It works for me. sam klass

to create a one-man jam band. But it didn’t occur to him that looping could be anything other than a practice tool until he bought a Roland RC-50 “Loop Station.” Early loop pedals were primitive; with only a single recording track, Klass was unable to expand his musical horizons beyond simple, onedimensional songs. The technology simply didn’t exist. “When you have the one single loop pedal, no matter what you’re kind of always stuck with a song that’s based on one riff, or at least one key,” he says. “When you’re in a multitrack environment, it just exponentially expands what you can do.”

The introduction of the Roland RC-50 changed everything. In much the same way as electronic music pro-

into a show, a thing, a solo act, once I got the RC-50,” he recalls. “It was kind of like the ideas were there, and then as soon as the technology became available I knew what to do with it.”

Shortly after the release of his first album, 2009’s The Last Names, Klass recorded One Track One Take. Whereas The Last Names was a collection of songs recorded as a series of overdubs, One Track One Take was a true looping album — one live take with no overdubs and no postproduction.

“It’s the missing link,” Klass says of the record, which bridges the gap between The Last Names and Fluid Identity. “All of these songs are straight-up loop songs without the production of Fluid Identity. All you Continued on next page »

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Photo: courtesy of Sam Klass

J MacPherson can hear is guitar, beat-box, voice, and the bass generator.” But One Track One Take owes its existence to more than just technology. Klass only cut the record after he discovered that his live performances could attract a crowd.

After watching a video of the Australian looping artist Dub FX performing

Photo: courtesy of sam klass

on the street, Klass packed up his gear and ventured into the city. “I was just shocked at how easily people were drawn to it,” he says. “It makes it fun to watch, and not just because of the crazy foot dance. Things are happening, and at no point am I just chilling on my instrument. I’m always recording a loop or beat-boxing or changing the structure of the song or manipulating the loops. In terms of being a spectacle to watch? It works for me.”

Klass knew he could forge a career after a spontaneous performance at Nuit Blanche in Toronto attracted hundreds of people. “The street performance was what got me noticed as well as inspired me to do it,” he recalls, adding that the impromptu perfor-

mance gave him the idea of travelling to electronic music festivals across North America. “I went to the Electric Forest Festival in 2011. I brought all the gear to Electric Forest and set up in the campground. It was like — holy s**t.” People were captivated by Klass, whose performances are a combination of delicate choreography and titanic waves of sound. And while Klass concedes that American fans, who are much closer to the nexus of jam band culture, are often quicker to grasp the essence of his project, Fluid Identity is the tool to which he has harnessed his hopes and dreams.

All of the songs on the record were recorded in real time, with nothing but a looping pedal, an electric guitar, and a wide array of effects boxes. “Jer’s Line,” a three-minute barrage of slippery funk guitar and complex melody lines, captures both Klass’s jam band influences and also his ability to weave an incredibly detailed sonic tapestry with just a few simple tools. But Fluid Identity is more than just a collection of jams. “Myself,” which fuses a choppy guitar lick to a hip hop-inspired beatbox track, features Klass’s first vocal on the record. As smooth as his guitar playing, Klass’s voice adds an extra dimension to the songs — and separates him from many looping artists, who play purely instrumental music.

“Some songs are more conceptual,” he muses. “At a certain point, they become whatever they are. I don’t try and

force lyrics into songs that have strong melody hooks.” This is indicative of the way Klass thinks about music. Instead of treating songs as mere backdrops for vocals, he conceives of his voice as just another instrument, another piece of the whole. “Spiral Growth,” for example, is defined by a rotating series of complex melodic, harmonic, and contrapuntal ideas; adding a vocal line would detract from the essence of the song. “Wrapped Up,” on the other hand, is built around a simple guitar figure and a hypnotic beat-box. Klass’s vocal line adds to the song, providing a simple focal point for a simple yet effective song.

Fluid Identity is a strong record, both in terms of the songs it contains and as an expression of Klass’s musical vision. But its creator has struggled to overcome the idea that his act is a gimmick. Looping is essentially live sampling, but while electronic music has a strong following, looping artists are often regarded as novelty acts. “The idea of being a gimmick is something I’m constantly fighting against,” he says. “I feel like if I’m using my creativity and if I’m getting my artistic messages across and expressing myself live through my instrument, then that’s enough for me.

I do want to develop into a band, and I do love playing with other people on stage, but I don’t think I’m missing anything as sometimes people suggest.” This is true. Klass is a talented

musician, a gifted songwriter, and possessed of the innate ability to stop jams before they lose meaning. But he is also a pioneer, and pioneers are too often relegated to the fringes.

In the same way electronic music has moved from the periphery into the spotlight, Klass’s one-man jam band idea will surely find the success it deserves.

Sam Klass August 3 @ Connect Music Festival Tickets: $130+ @ connectfestival.ca

Feedback? Text it! (306) 881 8372

@VerbRegina amacpherson@verbnews.com

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sweet satisfaction Photos courtesy of Maxton Priebe

le Macaron brings a taste of Paris to the city by victoria Abraham

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can always tell a new customer, they have this amazement, this delightful look on their face … their mouths drop a little bit,” said le Macaron co-owner and cake designer, Jacqueline Gobin.

Such a reaction is not surprising. le Macaron is a full artisan bakery, meaning they make everything from scratch, including the chai latte syrup. They use fresh lemons for the filling in their lemon tarts and shavings of real Belgian chocolate for their hot chocolate.

second generation pastry chef from Casablanca, Morocco.

If you are able to tear your eyes away from the delectable drink

“You can’t go wrong with flavours when you’re using real ingredients,” said co-owner and pastry chef Gilles Gobin. Gobin trained

You can’t go wrong with flavours when you’re using real ingredients. gilles gobin

menu and the assortment of pastel coloured macarons, generous fruit tarts, éclairs, cashew caramel New York style cheesecakes and almond tarts that beckon from behind the glass, you will notice the burnt orange walls, large, ornate leather chairs, and high round tables that make le Macaron every bit the pretty, Parisian-style café.

The Gobins opened the place two and a half years ago. They were inspired by the macaron renaissance taking place in Europe at the time, with macarons popping up everywhere as the go-to dessert, and the lack of a French-style café in Regina. Having worked at the Hotel Saskatchewan for 10 years, Gilles was also keenly aware of Reginans’ growing desire for highquality food.

“Regina is on a nice wave in the past five to six years of change,”

in pastry arts in Winnipeg, and his right-hand man at the café is a

let’s go drinkin’ Verb’s mixology guide french 75

Ingredients

This cocktail was allegedly created in 1915 at the Parisian landmark Harry’s Bar and was a favourite of French soldiers, so why not have a Frenchthemed party and drink a toast to history! This cocktail is sure to make your night memorable.

1 ounce gin 1 ounce Cointreau squeeze of lime 1 sugar cube champagne

directions

Place the sugar cube into a tall glass. Pour everything in except the champagne. Finally top off with the champagne and add a squeeze of lime.

said Jacqueline. “People are much more educated about food now,” added Gilles.

As a result, between making delicious pastries to please the sweet-toothed among us and doing catering and weddings, le Macaron has done very well.

They make approximately 1,800 macarons every week with six or seven different flavours; a complicated process that involves whipping eggs and sugar into an Italian-style meringue, grinding almonds, and folding and sanding the “shell” until it’s smooth. The dessert is baked at a low temperature to create the perfect crunch on the outside and a soft, chewy filling on the inside.

I tried the salted caramel, espresso and berry macarons; all three lived up to the crunchy and chewy promise, and were distinctly and richly flavoured. I also had the famous chai latte and the blanche neige torte, a light white chocolate mousse and raspberry cake I am still thinking about.

It’s great having a little taste of Paris right here in the prairies. le Macaron 2705 Quance Street East | 306 779 2253 Feedback? Text it! (306) 881 8372

@VerbRegina vabraham@verbnews.com

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Next Week

coming up

iron kingdom

flying fox + the hunter gatherers

chris young

@ the exchange saturday, july 27– $10

@ artful dodger thursday, august 1 – $tBD

@ brandt centre thursday, october 24– $63+

There was a time when heavy metal ruled the airwaves. Back in the ‘80s, bands like Metallica, Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, Slayer and more stomped the musical terra like long-haired, hard-partying gods. Those days are gone now, but the influence of these bands isn’t. Case in point: Surrey, B.C.’s, Iron Kingdom. With their soaring lyrics, fast-fingered guitar riffs and driving drums, this metal band has a sound that will transport you back in time to when metal was king.

Consisting of Chris Osterman (lead guitar/lead vocals), Amanda Osterman (drums), Leighton Holmes (bass) and Kenny Kroecher (guitar), Iron Kingdom sounds like if Iron Maiden and Judas Priest had a modern-day child.

Check them out when they lift the roof off The Exchange next week.

How does one describe the music of Flying Fox and the Hunter Gatherers? Gypsy-jazz orchestral? Operatic rock? Does it even matter? Not really.

The only thing that matters is that the music this five-piece from Winnipeg makes is all kinds of good. It’s the kind of music that, since releasing Hans My Lion in 2011, has been honed in venue after venue all across this vast country of ours. Consisting of frontman Jesse Krause, Lindsey Collins (bass), Andrew Littleford (trumpet), Kyle Wedlake (sax/ clarinet) and Jaime Carrasco (drums), Flying Fox and the Hunter Gatherers sing dark, beautiful, imaginative tales that grab audiences’ attention and never let go. Their sound is hip and haunting; their stage presence magnetic. Head down to the Artful Dodger when they come in August!

Sometimes it takes artists a while to hit their stride, find their voice, come into their own — whatever you want to call it. For some it comes early in their career, for others it comes later. For Chris Young, that moment undoubtedly came when he sat down to record his third studio album, Neon.

Sure, his previous records did well and earned him some award nominations. But on Neon Young’s sound has matured and excelled. The record shot up the charts, topping out at #4 on the Billboard Top 200, and spawned hit singles like “Tomorrow,” “You” and “I Can Take it from Here.” If he keeps on this trajectory, Young’s future is so bright he’ll have to wear shades (or pull his cowboy hat down a little lower). He’ll be touring this fall with Brad Paisley.

Tickets through Ticketmaster.

– By Adam Hawboldt

Photos courtesy of: cassie devaney / the artist / the artist

Sask music Preview If you are a musician or vocalist that has performers as a featured or background performer on a commercially released sound recording, then Musicians’ Rights Organization Canada may have some money for you! MROC collects a different type of royalties than SOCAN does — ones for performers, not songwriters. For more information, and to complete your free registration, please visit http://musiciansrights.ca.

Keep up with Saskatchewan music. saskmusic.org

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July 19 » July 27 The most complete live music listings for Regina.

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Friday 19

DJ Juan Lopez / Envy Nightclub — This DJ loves requests, nothing is off limits, so stop on by and get your groove on. 10pm / $5 DJ Pat & DJ Kim / Habano’s Martini & Cocktail Club — Local DJs spin top 40 hits every Friday night at this popular Regina hotspot. These two 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.

Could a Friday get any better?10pm / Cover TBD Sean Burns Band / McNally’s Tavern — A talented singer/songwriter from Ontario who blends electric and acoustic guitars.10pm / $5

Diana Desjardins / Pump Roadhouse — This country songstress can really belt ‘em out, so come on out and hear her do her thing. 9pm / Cover TBD Sonic Orchid / The Sip Nightclub — A hard-rocking local four-piece. 9pm / 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. It’s time to get the party started, so come on down!

8pm / Cover TBD Chris Henderson / Whiskey Saloon - Doing country the way it’s meant to be done. 10pm / $10

Diana Desjardins / Pump Roadhouse — This country songstress can really belt ‘em out, so come on out and hear her do her thing. 9pm / Cover TBD Sonic Orchid / The Sip Nightclub — A hard-rocking local four-piece. 9pm / Cover TBD Chris Henderson / Whiskey Saloon - Doing country the way it’s meant to be done. 10pm / $10

Sunday 21

Weak Link, The Man and his Machine, FPG / The Club — Everything from punk to hardcore to thrash. 7pm / $10 Board to Death / The Exchange — Featuring Jah Cutta and Determination along with Pimpton. 8pm / $10

Saturday 20

Jordie Lane / Artful Dodger — A captivating folk musician from Australia, Lane’s performance will not disappoint.

8pm / Cover TBD Reba McEntire / Brandt Centre — One of the most successful female recording artists will be rolling through Regina!

7:30pm / $49.50+ Kroovy Rockers, Zero Cool, Soiled Doves / The Club — Punk rock from Edmonton and here. 7:30pm / $10 DJ Juan Lopez / Envy Nightclub — This DJ loves requests, nothing is off limits. 10pm / $5 Sean Burns Band / McNally’s Tavern — A talented singer/songwriter from Ontario.10pm / $5

Monday 22

Open Mic Night / The Artful Dodger — Come down and jam! 8pm / No cover Monday Night Jazz & Blues / Bushwakker Brewpub — Featuring Whiteboy Slim. 9pm / No cover West of Hell, Deadrot, Vivisepulture / The Exchange — Heavy metal mayhem all night. 7:30pm / Cover TBD

Tuesday 23

Megadeth / Brandt Centre — A legendary thrash metal band you gotta see.

4:30pm / $48+ (ticketmaster.ca)

Wednesday 24

Elliott Brood / Artful Dodger — Awesome alt-country from Ontario, Elliott Brood packs the house every time they play. Come be a part of the action 8pm / Cover TBD Wednesday Night Folk / Bushwakker Brewpub — Featuring Becky and the Jets, a popular Regina group playing some classic folk tunes. 9pm / No cover Jam Night and Open Stage / McNally’s Tavern — Come on down and enjoy some local talent. 9pm / No cover

Thursday 25

Shotgun Jimmie / Casino Regina Summer Stage — Rock out at the F.W. Hill Mall on your lunch break. 12pm / Free Gateway Festival Kickoff Party / The Exchange — Featuring Indigo Joseph, Shotgun Jimmie and more. 7pm / $12 Decibel Frequency / Gabbo’s Nightclub — A night of electronic fun. 10pm / Cover $5 PS Fresh / The Hookah Lounge — DJ Ageless started spinning in Montreal, DJ Drewski started in Saskatoon. They both landed in Regina and have come together to sling some bomb beats. 7pm / No cover Open Mic Night / King’s Head Tavern — Come out, play some tunes, sing some songs, and show Regina what you got. Not up for it? Then kick back and enjoy the show. 8pm / No cover Midwife Crisis / McNally’s Tavern — Come out and support some amazing local talent. 8:30pm / $5 Marc Labossiere / Pump Roadhouse — A must-see singer/songwriter from Winnipeg. 9pm / 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. It’s time to get the party started! 8pm / Cover TBD Alex Runions / Whiskey Saloon — A little country loving coming at ya from Kipling, Saskatchewan. Runions will have you moving your feet! 10pm / $5

DJ Pat & DJ Kim / Habano’s Martini & Cocktail Club — Local DJs spin top 40 hits every Friday night at this popular Regina hotspot. These two 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 Men Without Shame / McNally’s Tavern — A guitar-driven classic rock band. 10pm / $5 Marc Labossiere / Pump Roadhouse — A must-see singer/songwriter from Winnipeg. 9pm / Cover TBD Whatever / The Sip Nightclub — Playing covers you’ll rock along to. 9pm / 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. It’s time to get this party started! 8pm / Cover TBD Alex Runions / Whiskey Saloon — A little country loving coming at ya from Kipling, Saskatchewan. Runions will have you moving your feet! 10pm / $10

Saturday 27

Iron Kingdom, Itchy Stiches, Naraka, Oblivion’s eye / The Club — A wicked night of awesome metal.

9pm / $10 DJ Juan Lopez / Envy Nightclub — This DJ loves requests, nothing is off limits. 10pm / $5 Men Without Shame / McNally’s Tavern — A guitar-driven classic rock band.10pm / $5 Marc Labossiere / Pump Roadhouse — A must-see singer/songwriter from Winnipeg. 9pm / Cover TBD Whatever / The Sip Nightclub — Playing covers you’ll rock along to. 9pm / Cover TBD Alex Runions / Whiskey Saloon — A little country loving coming at ya from Kipling, Saskatchewan. Runions will have you moving your feet! 10pm / $10

Friday 26

FPG, Soiled Doves, No Blood, No Foul / The Club — Hardcore, punk and more. 7:30pm / Cover TBD DJ Juan Lopez / Envy Nightclub — This DJ loves requests, nothing is off limits. 10pm / $5 U.V. Paint Party / The Exchange — Featuring DJ Izn and Neuf. 9pm / $20

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

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wednesday, july 17 @

the owl

The Owl 3737 Wascana Parkway (306) 586 8811 Music vibe / Top 40, hip hop

and house Featured deals / Famous Dollar

Draft Wednesdays Drink of Choice / The Alabama

— named for a player from the Regina Red Sox, and made with secret ingredients something new / Many things in the works, to be revealed when students return. See you in September!

Check out our Facebook page!

These photos will be uploaded to Facebook on Friday, July 26. facebook.com/verbregina

Photos: courtesy of Verb magazine

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the conjuring James Wan Starring Vera Farmiga, Patrick Wilson, Ron Livingston + Lili Taylor Directed by

112 minutes | 14A

Photo: Courtesy of warner bros pictures

true terror

Lovers of horror films will dig The Conjuring by adam hawboldt

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t’s 1971. The Perron family — Roger (Ron Livingston), Carolyn (Lili Taylor) and their daughters — have moved into a musty, old townhouse in Rhode Island. There’s nothing out-of-the-ordinary about the Perrons: they’re a generic, working-class family.

But there is something outof-the-ordinary about the house they’re moving into.

Covered in cobwebs, there’s a hidden cellar door in the bowels of the house. The kind of door you see in horror movies and think: “Whatever you do, don’t open that!”

Alas, the door is opened and strange things start happening —

Things get so creepy the Perrons decide to get some help.

Enter Ed and Lorraine Warren (Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga.)

creepy things. The family dog takes off, all the clocks in the house get stuck at 3:07am, strange odors fill the house, one of the Perron

…Wan lets the tension slowly mount, piece by piece, until the audience is on the edge of their seat…

Adam Hawboldt

The Warrens aren’t your average, run-of-the-mill married couple. No. They’re what we call,

daughters begins sleepwalking. Oh, and the youngest daughter starts talking to an imaginary friend.

in today’s lingo, ghost hunters.

Lorraine is a clairvoyant, Ed is a Vatican-sanctioned demonologist.

Working for the church, the pair have investigated hauntings and waged holy war on evil spirits.

More often than not, the cases they work on are hoaxes.

But not this one.

The Perron case is about to take the Warrens (and the Perrons, for that matter) to the brink of fear and madness.

This, in case you’re wondering, is a true story. It’s also the plot of director James Wan’s new horror flick. The Conjuring.

And you know what? Wan, who previously directed Saw and Insidious, has hit a home run with this film. Unlike most horror flicks out there these days — which fall under massacre porn or a specialeffects bonanza — The Conjuring isn’t out to shock or wow you. It’s a throw-back horror flick, kind of like The Amityville Horror or Poltergeist or The Exorcist. Those late-’70s/ early ‘80s horror films that worked their way under your skin like a slow-moving virus.

The Conjuring is that kind of a film.

Relying on small things like pencils, a ball and a music box, Wan takes horror and makes it minute again. He makes it creepy, makes it scare the bejesus out of you in subtle, smart ways. He doesn’t try to smack you in the face with shock after shock. Instead, Wan lets the tension slowly mount, piece by piece, until the audience is on the edge of their seat (or clinging onto the person next to them), then he strikes.

It’s a master work of a director who seems to have really found his stride in the horror genre.

It’s also a display of excellent acting. Both Taylor and Farmiga are excellent in their roles. They bring a gravitas to the screen, a whole lot more than many horror heroines who get by on being pretty and being able to scream really well. The guys (Ron Livingston and Patrick Wilson) are also good. Same goes for the kids.

So if you’re a fan of horror (or if you just want to stay awake at night wondering if something is going to yank you out of bed), you should probably check out The Conjuring. It’s one heckuva film.

Feedback? Text it! (306) 881 8372

@VerbRegina ahawboldt@verbnews.com

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Photo: Courtesy of Sony Pictures Classics

Not just another marriage comedy

Love is All You Need takes a realistic approach to a nearly worn-out genre by adam hawboldt

H

aving a sympathetic character in your movie goes a long way towards keeping the audience interested.

And in Love is All You Need, the main character, Ida (Trine Dyrholm) is about as sympathetic as you’ll find in a romantic comedy.

Ida, a Danish hairdresser, is lovable, kind, sweet and caring. She’s also kind of goofy and a tad awkward. When we first meet Ida, she’s returning home from a session of breast cancer treatment. She is feeling hopeful and is in decent spirits. Those spirits are crushed when she walks into her house and

finds her husband Leif (Kim Bodnia) cheating on her with a pretty young

expect Ida to pick up a vase and throw it at her husband or to say something

…what sets Love is All You Need apart from other family-chaos wedding movies … is its director — Susanne Bier.

Adam Hawboldt

woman named Thilde (Christiane Schaumburg-Müller). At this point, it being a romantic comedy and all, you

cuttingly funny. None of that happens.

Instead, Ida just stands there. Staring. Crushed. Not saying a word. And

in that moment, the audience immediately and sympathetically connects with her.

It’s a connection that lasts throughout the rest of the movie.

After the cheating incident, Ida attempts to pull things together long enough to attend her daughter’s wedding in Italy. She heads to the airport and runs into the father of her future son-in-law, Philip (Pierce Brosnan). And when I say “runs into,” I mean literally. While in the parking lot she backs out and hits the side of Philip’s car. Philip — a successful businessman who lost his wife a few years back — is a sour, curmudgeonly bastard who doesn’t take the accident too well.

He gets past it, though, and Ida and Philip head to Italy together for the wedding. Needless to say, the two don’t get along well in the beginning. Their relationship is marked by cutting barbs and funny verbal sparring.

Eventually, inevitably, the two reconcile their differences and begin to fall for each other as funny family chaos erupts around them.

If this sounds like nearly every other comedic family wedding movie you’ve ever seen, don’t worry. It’s not.

Yes, all the normal clichés and standard plot points are there, and yes, the outcome is entirely predictable. But what sets Love is All You Need apart from other family-chaos wedding movies like, say, Mamma Mia! or The Big Wedding, is its director — Susanne Bier.

Love Is All You Need Susanne Bier Starring Pierce Brosnan, Trine Dyrholm, Kim Bodnia + Paprika Steen Directed by

110 minutes | PG

In this Oscar-winner’s hand, Love is All You Need becomes more than just another silly, feel-good marriage movie, mainly because she has a way of making the ridiculous look true-to-life. Of manipulating the story in such a way that it is forever taking subtle, naturalistic turns back to the core of each of the main characters. For instance, instead of having Philip fall for Ida after some slap-sticky incident, Bier lets this happen when Philip sees Ida at her most vulnerable: naked, bald (she wears a wig because of the chemo), trying to hide her breasts.

That doesn’t mean Love Is All You Need is a special film that everyone must see. But it is a refreshing, realistic installment to the worn-nearly-thin marriage comedy genre.

Love is All You Need is being screened at Regina Public Library; it opens on July 25. See reginalibrary.ca for more information.

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@VerbRegina ahawboldt@verbnews.com

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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 DOWN

© walter D. Feener 2013

Horoscopes july 19 – July 25

27. Sends out 30. They are eaten mixed with milk 34. Cutting side of a blade 35. Modelling material 36. ‘The dog ate my home work’ is one 37. Weather map symbol 38. Does garden work 39. Place to build 40. Has an inclination 42. The remaining ones of several 44. Attempt to heal 45. Whom a leader follows 46. Big elephant features 47. Complete collections

Aries March 21–April 19

Leo July 23–August 22

Sagittarius November 23–December 21

You’re going to be like the Energizer Bunny this week, Aries.

You’ll keep going and going and going, so make sure you’re accomplishing something.

Your emotional cup may overflow this week, Leo. This could mean a couple of turbulent days, but don’t fret.

The storm will soon pass.

The sun is shining, the weather is sweet. Don’t get stuck indoors.

Your adventurous energies will be taking over, so go out and explore, Sagittarius.

Taurus April 20–May 20

Virgo August 23–September 22

Capricorn December 22–January 19

Don’t be afraid to let new people into your life, Taurus. They’ll be of use to you in the weeks ahead. Trust in them, and you can achieve great things.

Tasks and appointments may threaten to overwhelm you in the coming days, Virgo. Get your cards in order — now is not the time for things to get confusing.

I see patios and friends and drinks in your near future, Capricorn.

What better way to unwind in the summer?

Enjoy it. Things won’t remain calm for long.

Gemini May 21–June 20

Libra September 23–October 23

Aquarius January 20–February 19

Some people will have fun at your expense very soon, Gemini. Don’t take it too seriously, their hearts are in the right place.

Questions will fly at you this week.

Too bad the answers are nowhere to be found. Try not to speak out of turn unless you’re certain of what you’re saying.

It’s tempting to take things at face value, Aquarius. But not this week.

Objects and people may be different than they appear.

Cancer June 21–July 22

Scorpio October 24–November 22

Pisces February 20–March 20

Ever get the feeling you aren’t getting out what you put into things, Cancer? Don’t worry. That’ll change this week when all your efforts bear fruit.

Don’t doubt the power of positive thinking, Scorpio. You’ll be needing every ounce of that power in the coming days.

If you can dream it, you can do it. Act as though those words are always dangling over your left shoulder, Pisces. Time to tackle that big project!

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

sudoku answer key

1. Unpleasant surprises 2. Raptorial bird 3. Unrefined rock 4. Entertain an audience 5. Back of a boat 6. Facility 7. Gallery display 8. Pollen-bearing organ 9. Put a polish on 11. Fixate one’s eyes 12. Came into a base horizontally 14. Places for patches 17. Written piece in a newspaper 20. Flower gardens 21. Be hard to find 23. Auction

24. Exceedingly 26. Thinks logically about 27. Hoarder’s problem 28. Mature person 29. Pay no attention to 31. Beings from another world 32. 1.76 pints 33. Catches a glimpse of 35. Is priced at 38. Get wind of 39. Hypodermic injection 41. Pod occupant 43. Bunion locale

A

B

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

1. Use a cart, perhaps 5. The world has seven of them 9. Be unselfish 10. Bite-size pies 12. It sprays water over you 13. Landed property 15. Eat an ice cream cone 16. Price of a cab ride 18. Fifth calendar page 19. Big expense for news papers 20. Brought into life 21. In no other place 22. You may not have room for it 24. Trailing plants 25. Looked up to

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

ACROSS

crossword answer key

A

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

B

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