1163: Free of Fear

FREE (EXPRESSION)

#1163 / FEB 08, 2018 – FEB 14, 2018 VUEWEEKLY.COM

Black Arts Matter at Chinook Series 6 Black Label Society 13

ISSUE: 1163 • FEB 08 – FEB 14, 2018

FREE EXPRESSION PARTY 11

BLACK ARTS MATTER 6

All you need.

Snow? Slush? Dress up?

Dress down? Blundstone boots take it all in stride.

Try all-season, all-terrain, all-world Blundstone boots.

Laces? Who needs ‘em?

#1306 The Chisel Toe in Rustic Brown. $219.95

BLUNDSTONE.CA

MERCY FUNK/ LOVE FEST 14

BLACK LABEL SOCIETY 13 FRONT // 3 DISH // 4 ARTS // 6 CULTURE // 11 FILM // 12 MUSIC // 13 LISTINGS

ARTS // 10 MUSIC // 18 EVENTS // 19 ADULT // 20 CLASSIFIED // 21

BLUE MOON MARQUEE 16 v

FOUNDING EDITOR / FOUNDING PUBLISHER RON GARTH

Thanks for voting!

STAY TUNED FOR THE RESULTS COMING OUT ON FEBRUARY 22

2 front

PRESIDENT / PUBLISHER ROBERT W DOULL . . . . . rwdoull@vueweekly.com ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER / ACCOUNT MANAGER JOANNE LAYH . . . . . . . . . . joanne@vueweekly.com EDITOR LEE BUTLER . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . lee@vueweekly.com STAFF WRITERS STEPHAN BOISSONNEAULT . .stephan@vueweekly.com SIERRA BILTON . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .sierra@vueweekly.com LISTINGS HEATHER SKINNER . . . . . . listings@vueweekly.com PRODUCTION MANAGER CHARLIE BIDDISCOMBE . . charlie@vueweekly.com PRODUCTION STEVEN TEEUWSEN. . . . .stevent@vueweekly.com CURTIS HAUSER . . . . . . . . curtish@vueweekly.com ACCOUNT MANAGER JAMES JARVIS. . . . . . . . . . . . james@vueweekly.com DISTRIBUTION MANAGER MICHAEL GARTH . . . . . . .michael@vueweekly.com

#200, 11230 - 119 STREET, EDMONTON, AB, T5G 2X3 • T: 780.426.1996 F: 780.426.2889 COVER IMAGE / Curtis Hauser

CONTRIBUTORS JProcktor, Lucas Provencher, Ashley Dryburgh, Jeff MacCallum, Josh Marcellin, Brandon Baker, Scott Lingley, Brian Gibson, Rob Brezsny, Gwynne Dyer, Fish Griwkowsky, Stephen Notley, Dan Savage, Charlie Scream.

DISTRIBUTION Shane Bennett, Bev Bennett, Shane Bowers, Susan Davidson, Amy Garth, Aaron Getz, Clint Jollimore, Dona Olliffe, Beverley Phillips, Choi Chung Shui, Wally Yanish

Vue Weekly is available free of charge at well over 1,200 locations throughout Edmonton. We are funded solely through the support of our advertisers. Vue Weekly is a division of Postvue Publishing LP (Robert W. Doull, President) and is published every Thursday. Vue Weekly is available free of charge throughout Greater Edmonton and Northern Alberta, limited to one copy per reader. Vue Weekly may be distributed only by Vue Weekly's authorized independent contractors and employees. No person may, without prior written permission of Vue Weekly, take more than one copy of each Vue Weekly issue. Canada Post Publications Mail Agreement No. 40022989. If undeliverable, return to: Vue Weekly #200, 11230 - 119 St, Edmonton, AB T5G 2X3

VUEWEEKLY.com | FEB 08 - FEB 14, 2018

clear Posture Review gives for the new weapons is that the U.S. military are worried that other countries may see its existing nuclear weapons as too big to be used. The Pentagon also wants lower-yield bombs and “low and slow” cruise missiles in order to convince everybody else that the U.S. would actually use them.

Really? Do they really think that when those ‘revisionist powers’ see the new, smaller American nukes (no bigger than the bomb that destroyed Hiroshima), they will say to them-

Dyer Straight

Bad Posture

Pentagon’s Nuclear Posture Review may disguise a “limited” nuclear war

T

he U.S. ‘Nuclear Posture Review,’ published by the Pentagon late last week, announced that the United States will be getting two new types of nuclear weapons to provide, in the words of U.S. officials, “more flexible capabilities to give tailored deterrence.”

“Tailored deterrence?” What on Earth is that supposed to mean?

It’s a brand new euphemism that is designed to disguise an old, largely discredited and very dangerous concept. The United States is once again playing with the notion of a ‘limited’ nuclear war—and everybody else is very unhappy about it.

Sergei Lavrov, the Russian foreign minister, called the move “confrontational,” and expressed “deep disappointment.” The Chinese defence ministry said: “We hope that the United States will abandon its Cold War mentality [and] earnestly assume its special disarmament responsi-

bilities.” Even the Iranian foreign minister warned that the new move would bring the world “closer to annihilation.”

What the United States is actually going to do is change some of its existing nuclear weapons so that they make a smaller explosion. It’s also going to put nuclear-tipped cruise missiles back on some of the navy’s ships. At first glance, this is not very exciting stuff, but it really is very foolish and quite dangerous.

Various justifications were offered for the new weapons by Deputy Secretary of Defense Patrick Shanahan, including the “growing threat from revisionist powers” such as China and Russia. “Revisionist powers” are countries that would like to change the world’s pecking order so that the United States is no longer the sole superpower.

It doesn’t mean they are planning to attack the United States.

The main reason that the Nu-

capability. This is the old fantasy that you can safely fight a limited nuclear war in some distant part of the world without risking major damage to the homeland.

It’s a fantasy that has been killed many times, but it never stays dead for long. It just seems wrong and unnatural to the military mind that you should have these hugely powerful and expensive weapons and never be allowed to use them in any circumstances—that they exist entirely and exclusively to deter the other side from using its own nuclear weapons.

As Bernard Brodie, the father of the theory of nuclear deterrence, wrote in 1946: “Thus far, the chief purpose of our military establishment has been to win wars. From now on its chief purpose must be to avert them. It can have almost no other useful purpose.”

That is true, but it is not compatible with traditional military thinking, so “limited” nuclear wars that you could actually fight keep sneaking back onto the agenda, usually in disguise. The current proposal is not some transient whim of Donald Trump’s. It has

It’s so frustrating that in every military generation there are people who spin theories about how you might safely fight a “limited” nuclear war. selves: “I never believed the Americans would use megatonrange thermonuclear weapons on us, but they might actually use piddling little atomic bombs, so I’d better not invade lower Slobbovia after all.”

Nonsense. The Pentagon pretends that the new nukes will just fill a gap under the deterrent fence so that “Russia understands that any use of nuclear weapons, however limited, is unacceptable,” but what it is really after is a credible nuclear war-fighting

It’s so frustrating that in every military generation there are people who spin theories about how you might safely fight a “limited” nuclear war. The first time their ideas gained a temporary foothold in American strategic thinking was in the late 1950s, and they have resurfaced for a while at least twice since then.

Here they come again. It’s as predictable as the monsoon, and once again more sensible people will have to devote time and energy to defending the core concept of nuclear deterrence.

been gestating within the U.S. military for some time.

It may be possible for the U.S. military establishment to sell this really bad idea to the American media, the Congress and the White House, but do not imagine that the Russians or the Chinese are fooled. They know exactly what the Pentagon is up to, and they don’t like it one bit.

In due course they will respond, and the world will get a little more dangerous.

Gwynne Dyer gwynne@vueweekly.com

Queermonton

Conform, Fail, Repeat

Chris Samuel chats about his latest book and the issues surrounding it

A

t the end of December, I was lucky enough to attend a book launch and host a conversation with the author, former Edmontonian Chris Samuel. His new book, Conform, Fail, Repeat: How Power Distorts Collective Action, is brilliant and you should just go buy it already. In it, Chris uses examples from LGBTQ organizing (It Gets Better campaign, the sit-in staged by Black Lives Matter—Toronto (BLM-TO) during that city’s Pride Parade a few years ago, the controversy with Queers Against Israeli Apartheid, also in Toronto) and anti-globalization efforts (which Samuel calls “alter-globalization”) to illustrate how progressive movements don’t realize their full potential.

Samuel suggests that mainstream LGBTQ movements have “conformed” to existing power structures: we might be here and queer, but we’re also quite white, male, cisgender, and middle class. With this lens of conformity, Samuel provides a fantastic analysis as to the current state of LGBTQ organizing in Canada. Ultimately,

this is a book that is deeply concerned about justice and the potential of collective action to reduce the suffering of marginalized people. Fair warning: the book is based on Samuel’s PhD but he does an admirable job making some pretty heady philosophy accessible to a general audience.

Chris and I had a conversation over email about the book and the future of LGBTQ organizing.

Vue Weekly: What was the question, or spark, or inspiration that led you to this project/book?

Chris Samuel: No matter how abstractly or ambitiously they write, philosophers are really just trying to understand their place in the world. For me that meant working through all the contradictions and messiness of my own political desires and disappointments. I was, and am, committed to radical progressive change, but had spent years struggling with idealism, pragmatic demands, competing ideas about justice and a shifting and hostile political landscape. Conform,

Fail, Repeat is my effort to work through the meaning and possibilities presented by radical progressive movements.

VW: What’s one thing you hope people, specifically non-academics, take away from the text?

BLM-TO and police presence at pride parades. Where do you see these conversations heading?

Overall, what’s your impression of the future of LGBTQ politics?

CS: For me, policing represents a clear flashpoint for the dif-

listen to other voices rather than waiting for it to happen to them, but that hasn’t been the norm. I think, though, that there are other systems that more and more people are going to understand don’t work for them: the economy is becoming increasingly di-

This is a book that is deeply concerned about justice and the potential of collective action to reduce the suffering of marginalized people.

CS: I would love for readers to understand how internal fighting and resentments stall social movements and serve the status quo. That doesn’t mean we should stop challenging each other; it just means we need to commit ourselves to making those internal struggles productive.

VW: You spend a lot of time thinking through contemporary LGBTQ politics, including the continued conversation about

ference between queer and assimilationist approaches to LGBTQ politics. For years, racialized queers, poor queers, and disabled queers have been saying that the policing system doesn’t work for them. With recent news about an alleged serial killer in Toronto and lack of police action to catch him earlier, some white queers are realizing that policing doesn’t work for them either.

Ideally, white queers would just

VUEWEEKLY.com | feb 08 - feb 14, 2018

vided into the one percent and the rest of us. Trump-supported racism and xenophobia is a gateway to renewed homophobia and that doesn’t work for us. Rape culture does not work for us.

I’m optimistic about progress being made in some areas, but queers need to reconnect their fights against homophobia and transphobia to other economic and political struggles.

Ashley Dryburgh ashley@vueweekly.com front 3

COCKTAIL ESSENTIALS

LIQUID COURAGE Strathcona Spirits’ gin is Alberta grown and a step in a delicious direction

White Negroni / Brandon Baker

W

hat makes a good gin? Is it the quality of the aromatic ingredients that lend the spirit its essence? The skill of the gin-maker who guides the distillation process? The friends you raise your

glass with, and the experience of imbibing a well-made drink in good company?

To point, the answer is all of the above. Strathcona Spirits founder and distiller, Adam Smith (no rela-

Daawat AUTHENTIC INDIAN CUISINE

LUNCH & DINNER BUFFET MON-SAT 11AM-11PM SUNDAY 11AM-10PM 10015-82 ave (whyte avenue) 780-469-3517 Order online@daawat.ca

4 dish

tion to the capitalist guy), believes that his products are a true expression of the place in which they are made. You might call it “terroir for gin,” to borrow the term normally reserved for a wine’s expression of place. In wine, grapes absorb flavours from the soil in which they grow, the microclimates that surround them, the quality of sunshine and rain that falls on them.

Gin is not so different. The source of the juniper and other botanicals, for instance, has a huge impact on the aromatics and flavour of the final product.

If you’ve ever wondered how gin is made, Adam Smith is the man to talk to. He knows first-hand, having founded Edmonton’s first distillery. The unassuming workspace is a mere 740 square feet, nestled in the Strathcona area, a block off Whyte Avenue. Strathcona Spirits has had its license since 2013, but it took close to three years to transform the former live music venue (many of you may fondly remember the Baby Seal Club) into a distillery in 2016. Due to bylaw restrictions, which have now been modernized, they were only allowed to open their doors to the public for tours and tastings in 2017. Strathcona Spirits offers tours of the distillery for $10,

and you can visit their website for more information.

One might wonder how Edmonton survived without its own legitimate, working distillery until 2016. It wasn’t due to lack of desire, on Smith’s part especially, but due to provincial regulations that legislated a minimum distillation amount that was far above what a small batch spirits business could typically produce. This effectively blocked craft distilleries from ever getting off the ground.

After the change in legislation that allowed businesses like Smith’s to begin operating, Alberta’s would-be small batch distillers could now cut their heads and tails. Not only were they now allowed to legally operate a business producing craft spirits, they discovered that the market was thirsty for them.

The labels on Strathcona Spirits’ bottles are as unique as the juice itself. To the uninitiated, the labels might look bizarre, even a little spooky.

Their Single Grain Wheat Vodka label depicts an open-palmed hand, with symbols at the crest of each finger representing key components of the distilling process.

The label for the Badland Sea-

VUEWEEKLY.com | FEB 08 - FEB 14, 2018

berry Gin features an adorable, yet mysterious coyote, chilling in front of some hoodoos, (y’know, like mysterious coyotes do).

The line-drawing effect is reminiscent of the illustrations on a classic deck of tarot cards. Smith can read your future, and it probably involves a martini.

The Badland Seaberry Gin is made with wild-harvested sea buckthorn berries rogue-plucked from the backyards of the Edmonton area, and juniper that Smith picked himself from the Alberta Badlands on the bank of the Red Deer River. (Well, Smith or one of his team members.) You can’t get more Edmonton Adam Smith than the taste of locallygrown juniper. Smith describes foraged juniper as more pungent and spicy than cultivated varieties, and the Badland Seaberry Gin is indeed full flavoured, with a creamy mouthfeel and a balanced palette of botanical flavours expressed in the spirit.

The gin is distilled from Hard Red Wheat, again locally sourced from a mere 23 kilometres outside of Edmonton, the resulting flavour speaks volumes about its place of origin.

Wheat farming has shaped our very culture, and a spirit distilled from local wheat embodies our connection to the land, both past and present. In combination with bitter orange sourced from Haiti and sweet orange from California (a little less local, but nonetheless, decidedly delicious), the combo creates a complex tone with a citrus tang. Sea buckthorn berry, angelica root, coriander, and other classic botanicals round out the flavour and deliver a truly complex and exhilarating gin.

Brandon Baker cocktailessentials@gmail.com

SMALL PLATES

Bodega Highlands 6509 112 Ave. 780.757.0137

Francesinha / JProcktor

UPSTANDING IBERIAN S

Bodega Highlands features flavours worthy of the long line of family-resto hits

haring small plates over a glass of wine is one of my favourite ways to eat, a predeliction cultivated on travels through Spain and Portugal. So it’s a bit of surprise even to me that I’ve taken this long to make it to Bodega Highlands.

Just a block west of the legendary La Boheme, it’s a stylishly austere storefront space that’s seen a lot of restaurant action in the past decade-plus and now houses a satellite of the Sabor family of restaurants, which includes a Bodega in the Boardwalk Market and, as of last week, a Bodega on 124 Street.

Co-diner and I know this because, our server informed us,

the opening of the new location meant Bodega Highlands diverted some of its supplies that-a-way.

Hence, the official wine list was a bit foreshortened—though there were a number of unlisted vintages to choose from—and not all of food items were available.

Bodega’s menu lays on a baffling amount of choice. Still, you don’t want to hear that diners at a different location are eating your proverbial lunch. But then, Bodega has at least levelled the playing field by not taking reservations so that everyone has an equal shot at walking in and getting a table.

A frigid Wednesday night found the place not so full, and I was a bit surprised to see young families among the patrons as tapas and wine have always struck me as a more grown-up pastime. But tasty food is tasty food, and assembling a meal out of smaller, less expensive servings enables not just variety, but ordering exactly the right amount to satisfy everyone.

Spanish wine is superb food wine, and a glass of garnacha seemed a good place to start. Thus equipped, co-diner and I negotiated a meal based on the server’s suggestion that four plates would make a substantial base, then we could order

more as needed. Bodega also does bigger plates of paella and Sabor’s famed lobster risotto, as well as a highly regarded brunch.

Our meal started with complimentary montaditos—toasted slices of rustic bread smeared with sardine pate, which reminded me of sunny afternoon repasts in the Portuguese Algarve. Next came a dish of sherry-sauteed crimini mushrooms ($8) topped with a poached egg that spilled its gooey golden interior over the succulent fungus. This called for an order of crostini ($2) for scooping and dipping.

The spicy grilled calamari ($8) had the tender grilled squid rings tossed with tomato sauce and lots of onions, another delectably scoopable and dippable preparation. The bacon-wrapped dates ($8) filled with manchego cheese were exactly as described, but even more delicious for the way the dates melted and blended with the firm white cheese in the middle. I’m not sure they needed the drizzle of barbecue sauce on top, what with all the saltiness, sweetness and smokiness happening in the ingredients.

The most entrée-like dish came in the form of the grilled Angus skirt steak ($12) swimming in Argentine chimichurri, a condiment made with olive oil, parsley, onions, garlic, oregano and red wine vinegar. Cooked just a shade past medium rare, the beef was still tender and the tangy chimichurri demanded sopping up with bread. A diner at an adjacent table told her kids it was “delicious with more delicious on top.”

Not quite sated, we ordered some empanadillas ($6) to round out the savoury part of the meal.

Three baked pockets of pastry held beef, lamb and spinach and sundried tomatoes with manchego cheese respectively and comprised discreet little flavour explosions. Co-diner suggested something sweet to finish it all and opted for the port cheesecake ($6), a tidy square lavished with sauce made with the eponymous fortified wine and cherries.

It left nothing to complain about.

Even having tried all that stuff, we left large swathes of the Bodega menu—from cheese and charcuterie boards to braised boar cheeks and salt cod fritters—unsampled. As a big fan of Iberian nibblies (and wine!) there’s no question I’ll need to go back, for it seemed certain to me no place around here but Bodega can serve up as authentic a tapas repast.

Scott Lingley dish@vueweekly.com

hops... malt... heaven

VEGAN OFFERINGS VUEWEEKLY.com | FEB 08 - FEB 14, 2018

dish 5

/ Marc J. Chalifoux

ARTS FESTIVAL

Thu., Feb. 8 - Sun., Feb. 18 Black Arts Matter ATB Financial Arts Barns, various locations chinookseries.ca

M

Black Arts Matter multidisciplinary arts festival becomes an Edmonton mainstay

arking not only its second year, but a milestone in the development of Edmonton’s arts community, the Black Arts Matter (BAM!) Festival returns with a lineup full of local musicians, playwrights, performers, dancers, creators and workshops.

Last year marked a long-awaited cultural shift both with BAM!, but also with Edmonton’s first Afro Fest, a two-day festival celebrating African culture. And both plan to return bigger and louder for their second years.

There have undeniably been yearly shows and small festivals celebrating African culture in the city before this, but BAM! organizer Nasra Adem found they were only pockets of something that could show the greater community’s reach and strength more accurately. She decided it was high time to put together a festival that showed the talent and art that was already happening, just not always together, in a public place.

“What was happening was there were things going on, but in par-

6 arts

ticular communities,” Adem explains. “It felt like fragments, you know? They were whole in themselves, but I think a lot of it was that there was a disconnect in who got to see who perform and access to that information.”

Questions as to why it took so long for Edmonton to hold such festivals are complex to answer, and hold many contributing factors. As an actor, Adem has seen a few of those factors in past artistic experiences, which ended up being part of the reason she was so driven to create the festival. She found there were elements missing and questions left unasked as a direct result of her peers not being present at the decision-making tables.

“I was continually facing the statement by artistic directors and by people that really held power in the city and across Canada who were just like, ‘Well, the black artists are just not there,’” she says. “I knew that was completely false because I was partying with them every weekend.”

She set her sights on finding a way to bridge the two worlds— Edmonton’s established arts venues and the community of black artists—to create something that could be enjoyed both by those within her community and beyond.

“As a young black actor in the city … it was definitely hard trying to make and visualize a successful career for myself without having to sacrifice other parts of myself within the constructs that had been laid out to me,” Adem says. “I needed a space where my family could enjoy art and experience art and feel respected by the kind of care that goes into creative spaces.”

Last year’s festival drew over 400 people attending the five to six shows scheduled; for this year, BAM! expects even more with more showcases to choose from. For festival organizer and art contributor Betty Abebayehu, it’s important to give a platform for black artists to both be celebrated within their own community as well as the city at large.

“In the mainstream industry, I feel like a lot of times our culture and identity can be forgotten or forcibly removed. And to have a platform advocating for that, I think it’s very crucial,” she says.

Abebayehu, Natalie Meyer, and Camille Maclean will set up a pop-up art installation entitled Art for Her Sole on February 12.

Fellow Edmontonian and poet Brandon Wint agrees and finds the festival’s existence something of a turning point in the history of Edmonton. Not originally from the city, Wint sees an outside perspective of the city and how its arts community specifically has grown and changed in the two years he’s been here.

“It seems like the popular consciousness in this city has reached a point where a black arts festival is absolutely necessary,” he says. “We’re getting to a point of critical mass in the city where the consciousness among black artists makes it possible for a festival like this to take place on an annual basis.”

VUEWEEKLY.com | FEB 08 - FEB 14, 2018

Wint’s second full-length album, Infinite Mercies will be released during the festival on February 10, when he will perform a full set of the album’s 21 poems, accompanied by a full-band concept.

“Something like this might have seemed impossible 10 or 15 years ago,” he says. “The pool of black artists that Edmonton has always had is growing in richness, to such a point where we can’t help but come out of the woodwork now.”

The festival testifies not only to the resilience of this community, but also to the desire to celebrate what exists and create a place for shared joy. It’s not just Black History Month that makes it important to celebrate the arts of the black community, it’s all year.

“The expression of the willingness of black artists to collaborate and celebrate one another is just going to become stronger and broader and more emboldened,” Wint says.

Sierra Bilton sierra@vueweekly.com

EXHIBIT

/ Stephen Ferris

CHILDHOOD TRIPS

two hot weeks of cutting edge performance

Edmonton artist Stephen Ferris explores mysteries of childhood in his exhibition The Book of 7

H

e can’t sit still. Nor can he make eye contact for more than a few seconds. Edmontonian Stephen Ferris sits in a fold up chair near the centre of a room that holds six of his four-by-four foot graphic art paintings. He continually gets up to walk over to a specific piece and point out the images and symbols hidden within, explaining how they relate to one another and his own childhood.

“The cats or whatever here, and then the tarot card … and this one had kind of like endless-looking little ships going around here,” Ferris explains as he sweeps his custom-designed tattooed arm over a painting on the wall.

Each black-and-white painting in The Book of 7 is mesmerizing.

And each one holds its own loose “theme.” One has an strong psychedelic feel, with an elephantBuddha hybrid (think Death From Above 1979’s latest album art) beside an angel-winged hippy version of lady justice with swords balancing her scales. Another looks like the hillside favelas of Rio de Janeiro, climbing up a cliff of geometric squares, rectangles, and circles with two separate staircases that lead the eye upwards. A third entitled “Sea to Sky” features wheels in various forms that perhaps represent the

advent of man’s curiosity, which transitions to exploration abroad the oceans and above the sky, stars twinkling in the bottom right corner. This could go on.

Like most kids his age, his childhood was filled with comic books, encyclopedias, and slightly offputting cartoons like Fantastic Planet (1973). But along with themes of fantasy, futurism, and folklore are symbols that come straight from Ferris’ specific childhood in Northern B.C., like totem poles and massive tree roots. His images aren’t easily spelled out in a particular order or striking influence, but instead hold a literal mashup of memory and mathematics.

“It’s just random and organic, and kind of just grows,” Ferris says. “I kind of mix things together because I use other shapes and forms to fill out the spaces.”

Biology is also an evident force in his images with contradictions between man and machinery throughout his work. Strong Roman-esque face profiles are found in a few, peering through telescope-type objects or speaking smoke that becomes a human collective.

Ferris is an anomaly, in that he picked up his first art supplies only

Until Sat., Mar. 17 The Book of 7 Art Incubator Gallery Harcourt House five years ago, spending most of his time as a competitive cyclist.

“I got like a C or a C plus in an art class I took in Grade 12,” he laughs. “I remember the first day of Grade 12, it was like masks on the first day and I just walked out. Like no, ‘I’m not doing masks, so stupid.’”

A happy accident of an artist, once he began his meditative paintings, he didn’t stop. Now a full-time artist, about three days worth of work goes into each four-by-fourfoot piece, which he then sells online. He often listens to electronic and house to get into his meditative zone that can last for the better part of a day when he’s really into it. Though entirely self-taught and relatively new to art in general, his reputation has grown quickly.

Ferris actually had his first solo exhibition at the Milner Art Gallery a couple years ago that helped put him on the map in Edmonton, and now his work can be seen across the city in places like Remedy Cafe, Blue Plate Diner and Farrow.

Sierra Bilton sierra@vueweekly.com

VUEWEEKLY.com | FEB 08 - FEB 14, 2018

45 shows, 11 hot days.

Don’t miss the heat wave.

www.chinookseries.ca February 8-18, 2018 arts 7

MUSICAL

Quiana Holmes, Trenyce and Kayla Jenerson as The Supremes / Joan Marcus

MOTOR CITY DREAMS

Motown: The Musical tells the story of Berry Gordy’s quest to unify America’s music industry

Tue., Feb. 13 – Sun., Feb. 18 Motown: The Musical Northern Alberta Jubilee From $35

N

THE LOWER DEPTHS

by MAXIM GORKY

Freely adapted by David Kennedy

FEBRUARY 8-17, 2018 @ 7:30 pm No performance Sunday, FEBRUARY 11 | Matinee FEBRUARY 15 @ 12:30 pm

Timms Centre for the Arts, University of Alberta

ualberta.ca/artshows 8 arts

early 58-years-ago, Detroit’s Berry Gordy Jr. decided to hang up his boxing gloves and produce a few records, and the music world was never the same.

He went on to create the Motown record label, which produced powerhouse artists such as The Miracles, The Supremes, Smokey Robinson, Marvin Gaye, The Jackson 5, Stevie Wonder— the list goes on.

In 2013, Gordy and Motown’s story was turned into a musical that features more than 60 hits from the era.

“This musical tells the story of Berry Gordy and his journey of starting as a featherweight boxer and becoming a heavyweight music mogul,” says Quiana Holmes, who plays Mary Wilson and understudies the character of Diana Ross, both of The Supremes. “He [Gordy] transformed the artistry and careers of so many musicians and this shows how he kind of created the soundtrack of America.”

Motown played a pivotal role in the racial integration of pop music in the ‘60s. Black artists in America with a talent now had an African-American-owned record label to pursue their dreams.

“One of the most beautiful scenes in the musical is when Berry Gordy says ‘Look, I want to create music for all people no matter their colour,’” Holmes says. “He was knocked down many times and people said nobody wants your ‘Race music.’”

Instead of giving up, Gordy persevered with his vision and helped create music for everyone.

And it seemed to work. For many years, Motown was one of the most successful and profitable record labels, with 79 records in the Billboard Top 100.

During the early ‘60s The Supremes dominated the singles charts with songs like “Where Did

VUEWEEKLY.com | FEB 08 - FEB 14, 2018

Our Love Go,” “Baby Love,” and “I Want a Guy.” They rivaled the rampant Beatlemania that was taking America by storm and became the country’s most successful female vocalist group to date, and it was all thanks to musicians like Gordy.

“In order to fully become our individual characters we had to do the research,” Holmes says. “We know that The Supremes came to Berry Gordy and they were very excited and willing to work and do anything to just get into the music light.”

Being in a Broadway musical is a dream come true for Holmes.

She remembers first hearing the music of Motown as a kid and eventually went on to attend the Berklee College of Music for vocal and theory lessons.

Perhaps her favourite memory of being apart of the musical was when the cast actually met Gordy and he told them the whole story.

“In September he came to rehearsals and really put us back in the moment,” she says. “He remembers so much about the origin of Motown.

So we travelled back in time with him to those times he met Diana Ross or Smokey Robinson. It was amazing to hear the story from the man who created Motown and it’s amazing to portray his story.”

The musical might have more than 60 songs, but Holmes’ favourite has to be when the full cast sings Marvin Gaye’s “What’s Going On,” in unison.

“Marvin comes out when everything is in chaos on stage and everyone is looking for hope in this chaos that America is bringing us,” she says. “When we sing that song there is something that rattles in our hearts and the audience listens. Everybody needs to see that scene and hear that message.”

Stephan Boissonneault stephan@vueweekly.com

/ Dan Norman

MUSIC THEATRE

LOVE FOR THE DEAD

The Unrepentant Necrophile taps into the mind of a punk rock necrophiliac Wed., Feb. 14 – Feb. 18 The Unrepentant Necrophile Backstage Theatre, $22

T

he Coldharts have written a gothic-inspired musictheatre piece about Edgar Allan Poe’s childhood (Edgar Allan) and a moody folk play about a ghostly woman in Kansas (The Legend of White Woman Creek) but for their latest project, they decided to dabble in something that truly scared and repulsed them—necrophilia.

For those who don’t know, necrophilia is a sexual attraction to or initiating in sexual acts with a corpse. Basically, a necrophile is a person who prefers the company and love of the dead, rather than the living.

One particularly well-known necrophile named Karen Greenlee became the direct inspiration for The Coldharts’ (Nick Ryan and Katie Hartman) newest work The Unrepentant Necrophile.

“After being steeped in ghost stories we found ourselves becoming a little desensitized to the genre, so we challenged ourselves to find material that deeply disturbed and intrigued us,” Ryan says. “During that search, Katie came across an interview called “The Unrepentant Necrophile” with a mortician named Karen Greenlee, who in 1978, Sacramento stole a body and ...”

“Took it to the mountains and had a journey with it,” Hartman interjects.

Greenlee is considered the bestknown practitioner of necrophil-

ia and her 1987 interview with Jim Morton gained particular interest because she was a woman (research at the time indicated nine out of 10 necrophiles weremen). In the interview she gave a detailed account of her time with the body and her aspirations behind the act.

At the time, necrophilia was not illegal in California so Greenlee pleaded guilty and had a $250 fine with 11 days in jail and several hours of public service.

The Coldharts’ story follows the cleverly named Lee, (played

by Hartman) a mortician who falls in love with the corpse of a man named John (Nate Gebhard) three days before his funeral. As with all of The Coldharts’ pieces, there is also a musical component.

Lee shreds on a fuzzy guitar and screams punk rock vocals throughout, while Ryan plays a co-worker named Steve who rips on bass guitar. John the corpse also plays drums. That’s right.

They somehow found a way for a lifeless body resting on a slab to jam out drum beats.

“Most of the fun of the show is getting an inert dead body to play drums,” Ryan says. “It gets progressively more insane as the show goes on. We’re really laying out the theatricality of music to imply the extreme sexual acts that do occur.”

The idea to have a corpse actually play drums in the show was thought up quite early during The Coldharts intense 21-day writing session.

“We had an image in our minds of a person playing a corpse who was an excellent mover, dancer, or played the drums,” Hartman says. “It was a very specific search, but two months before we started, somebody recommended Nate to us.”

“The first day was getting Nate to show us his drumming. He played maybe two minutes and we were like, ‘Alright we’re building this entire show over you and your drum playing,’” Ryan says.

With lighting tricks and sound the show’s setting transforms from a mortuary, to a desolate Californian road, to a quiet grove in the Redwoods. At times because of the subject matter, it is unbelievably tense.

“When Lee’s alone with the dead body there are moments when it’s really intense. If nothing else you’ve never seen anything like this,” Ryan says.

For Hartman, the play also taps into the mind and the why of Lee along with her struggles.

“Our jumping off point for this show has always been: this is a woman who lives in a world where the only man worth fucking is a dead one,” she says.

Stephan Boissonneault stephan@vueweekly.com

VUEWEEKLY.com | FEB 08 - FEB 14, 2018

BLUEREVUE.CA arts 9

ARTS WEEKLY EMAIL YOUR FREE LISTINGS TO: LISTINGS@VUEWEEKLY.COM DEADLINE: FRIDAY AT 12PM

DANCE ARGENTINE TANGO DANCE AT FOOT NOTES STUDIO • Foot Notes Dance Studio (South side), 9708-45 Ave • 780.438.3207 • virenzi@shaw.ca • Argentine Tango with Tango Divino: beginners: 7-8pm; intermediate: 8-9pm; Tango Social Dance (Milonga): 9pm-12 • Every Fri, 7pm-midnight • $15

BALLROOM DANCE ASSOCIATION • Central Lions Recreation Center, 11113-113 St • 780.893.6828 • ebda.ca • An evening of ballroom, latin, country dancing • First Sat of every month, 8pm (doors)

DANCE CLASSES WITH GOOD WOMEN DANCE COLLECTIVE • Muriel Taylor Studio at Ruth Carse Centre for Dance, 11205-107 Ave • info@goodwomen.ca • goodwomen.ca/classes • Every Tue, Thu, Fri; 10-11:30am • $15 (drop-in), $65 (5 class pack), $100 (10 class pack)

FLAMENCO DANCE CLASSES (BEGINNER OR ADVANCED) • Dance Code Studio, 10575-115 St NW • 780.349.4843 • judithgarcia07@gmail.com • flamencoenvivo.com • Every Sun until Jun 10, 11:30am-12:30pm

HOUSE MIX • Timms Centre for the Arts, University of Alberta, 87 Ave, 112 St • bwdc.ca • Presented by Toronto Dance Theatre. House Mix features a program of short works that have been created over the last three decades by iconic Canadian choreographer, Christopher House • Feb 28-Mar 1, 8-10pm • $35 (general), $25 (student/senior), via TIX on the Square

HOUSE OF HUSH PRESENTS: A VALENTINE'S SHOW • Crash Hotel Lobby, 10266-103 St • hellothere@violettecoquette. com • houseofhushfeb16.eventbrite.com • houseofhushburlesque.com • Bring a party of friends, bring your sweetheart, or come alone: the House of Hush aims to fill your heart with all the burlesque lovin' you can handle • Feb 16, 7pm (doors), 8-9:30pm (show) • $30 (include a complimentary feature cocktail) • 18+ only

MILE ZERO DANCE DROP-IN DANCE & MOVEMENT CLASSES • Spazio Performativo, 10816-95 St • 780.424.1573 • mzdsociety@gmail. com • milezerodance.com/classes • Mile Zero Dance holds a number of drop-in dance & movement classes for people of all experience levels & ages; Mon: Professional Technique (10-11:30am), Contact Improv (7-9pm); Tue: Kids 6-10 (4:30-5:15pm), Toonie Yoga (5:30-6:45pm), Butoh (7-9pm); Wed: Noguchi Taiso (10-11:30am); Thu: Preschool 3-5 (10-10:45am), Beginner Contemporary (5-6:15pm); Sat: House (7-9pm) • $15 (regular), $12 (members), 10-class cards available for $100

SACRED CIRCLE DANCE • Riverdale Hall, 9231-100 Ave • Dances are taught to a variety of songs and music. No partner required • Every Wed, 7-9pm • $10

SUBARTIC IMPROV & EXPERIMENTAL ARTS • Spazio Performativo, 10816-95 St • milezerodance. com • Co-curated by Jen Mesch and Allison Balcetis, these unique events combine forces of local and visiting artists, who share with the audience to a melange of dance, visual art, music, and text • Feb 16 • $15 or best offer at the door

SUGAR FOOT STOMP! • Sugar Swing Ballroom, 10019-80 Ave NW • 587.786.6554 • dance@sugarswing.com • sugarswing.com • Swing dance social • Every Fri-Sat, 8pm (beginner lesson begins) • $12, $2 (lesson with entry) • All ages

FILM

METRO • Metro at the Garneau Theatre, 8712-109 St • 780.425.9212 • metrocinema.org • Visit metrocinema.org for daily listings • Canada's Top Ten Film Festival 2018 (Jan 25-Feb 4) • Black History Month 2018; through Feb • AFTERNOON TEA: Victoria & Abdul (Feb 11) • ART DOCS: Blurred Lines: Inside the Art World (Feb 8) • GATEWAY TO CINEMA: Get Out (Feb 13) • HOMO-CIDAL DRAG SHOW: Gremlins 2: The New Batch (Feb 18) • NIGHT GALLERY: Adult Cartoon Party! (Feb 17) • QUOTE-A-LONG SERIES: The Princess Bride (Feb 14) • REEL FAMILY CINEMA: Boss Baby (Feb 10), Muppet Movie (Feb 19), LEGO Batman Movie (Feb 24) • SCIENCE IN THE CINEMA: Hotel Transylvania (Feb 17) • SCI-FI: The Brother from Another Planet (Feb 11) • SUNDAY CLASSICS: Gigi (Feb 25) STATUS QUO? THE UNFINISHED BUSINESS OF FEMINISM IN CANADA • Westwood Unitarian, 11135-65 Ave • A screening with discussion to follow • Feb 9, 7pm • Free

FAB GALLERY • Fine Arts Building Gallery,1-1 FAB (University of Alberta) • ualberta.ca/artshows • Feeling the Flesh of the Other as Our Own: artwork by Angela Marino; Jan 23-Feb 10 • Alcuin Awards for Book Design in Canada 2016; Jan 23-Feb 10 • lacuna: artwork by Becky Thera; Feb 20-May 17 • Not Yet Earth: artwork by Madeline Mackay; Feb 20-Mar 17

FRONT GALLERY • 10402-124 St •

9534-87 St • 780.488.8558 • info@acuarts.ca • acuarts.ca • In Perspective: artwork by Maria Antoniv and Peter Gegolick; Feb 2-22 10186-106 St • 780.488.6611 • albertacraft. ab.ca • Process; Thinking Through: artwork by Charles Lewton-Brain; Jan 20-Apr 21 • Acceptable Bodies: artwork by Allison Tunis; Jan 13-Feb 24 • Chronicles of a Contemporary Dirtbag: TransDisciplinarity and the Things You Think of When Fixing A Fence: artwork by Jamie Kroeger; Jan 15-Feb 24

ALLIED ARTS COUNCIL OF SPRUCE GROVE • Melcor Cultural Centre, 35-5th Ave, Spruce Grove • 780.962.0664 • alliedartscouncil.com • A Charcoal Perspective: artwork by Corrine Roberts; Jan 22-Feb 9 • Figuratively Speaking: artwork by various artists; Mar 6-23; Reception: Mar 10, 1-3pm

ART GALLERY OF ALBERTA (AGA) • 2 Sir Winston Churchill Sq • 780.422.6223 • youraga. ca • Monument: artwork by Dara Humniski and Sergio Serrano; Oct 14-Feb 19 • Calling Stones (Conversations): artwork by Faye HeavyShield; Oct 28-Feb 19 • WordMark: A New Chapter Acquisition Project; Oct 28-Mar 25 • Songs for Pythagoras: artwork by Peter von Tiesenhausen; Jan 27-May 6 • Undaunted: Canadian Women Painters of the 19th Century; Dec 2-Mar 25 • WEEKLY DROP-IN ACTIVITIES: Tours for Tots, Every Wed, 10-11am • Youth Workshops, ages 13-17, Every Thu, 4-6pm • Kids’ Open Studio, Every Sat, 1-3pm • Exhibition Tours; Every Sat-Sun, 1pm, 2pm, 3pm • Art for Lunch; 3rd Thu of the month, 12-1pm • VIBE; 3rd Fri of the month, 5-9pm

ART GALLERY OF ST ALBERT (AGSA) • 19

Harbor Comics, 10729-104 Ave • Written by Kelsey Rae Barthel • Feb 11, 11am-3pm

Park • 780.410.8585 • strathcona.ca/artgallery • Members Show and Sale; Jan 11-Feb 25

HARCOURT HOUSE GALLERY • 3 Fl, 10215112 St • 780.426.4180 • harcourthouse.ab.ca • Macromea: artwork by Alana Biffert and Marta Gorski; Feb 1-Mar 17 • The Book of 7: artwork by Stephen Ferris; Feb 1-Mar 17

MCMULLEN GALLERY • U of A Hospital, 8440-112 St • 780.407.7152 • friendsofuah.org/ mcmullen-gallery • 21st Century Nesting Practices: artwork by Sydney Lancaster; Jan 6-Feb 25

MUSÉE HÉRITAGE MUSEUM • St Albert Place, 5 St Anne Street, St Albert • MuseeHeritage.ca • 780.459.1528 • museum@artsandheritage.ca • A Taste of Science – La science a bon goût!; Until Mar 25 MUTTART CONSERVATORY • 9626-96A St • sillygoatstudio.ca • Being With Trees Art Exhibit: artwork by Lynne Huras; Jan 12-Feb 22

PETER ROBERTSON GALLERY • 12323-104 Ave • 780.455.7479 • probertsongallery.com • Carbon Capture: artwork by Peter von Tiesenhausen; Jan 27-Feb 28 • Artwork by Julian Forrest; Mar 15-Apr 7 PICTURE THIS! FRAMING & GALLERY • 959 Ordze Rd, Sherwood Park • 780.467.3038 • info@ picturethisgallery.com • picturethisgallery.com • The Winter Art Show: artwork by Roger Arndt, Luke Buck, Charity Dakin, Trisha Romance and more; Dec 1-Feb 28

PROVINCIAL ARCHIVES OF ALBERTA • 8555 Roper Road • PAA@gov.ab.ca • 780.427.1750 • culture.alberta.ca/paa/eventsandexhibits/default. aspx • Open Tue-Sat, 9am • 150 Firsts: How Alberta Changed Canada…Forever; Until Aug 1 SCOTT GALLERY • 10411-124 St • scottgallery. com • 5 Artists 1 Love; Feb 3-24 • Keystone Confederates: artwork by Jesse Thomas; Feb 3-24

Perron St, St Albert • 780.460.4310 • artgalleryofstalbert.ca • Retinal Circus: artwork by the Nina Haggerty Collective; Feb 1-Mar 31

SNAP GALLERY • Society of Northern Alberta Print-

BLEEDING HEART ART SPACE • 9132-118 Ave • dave@bleedingheartartspace.com • Contemporary Relics: artwork by Dominika Koziak; Feb 10-Mar 3 BOREALIS GALLERY • 9820-107 St • assembly. ab.ca/visitorcentre/borealis.html • A Call for Justice: Fighting for Japanese Canadian Redress (19771988); Jan 15-Apr 2

BRUCE PEEL SPECIAL COLLECTIONS • Lower level, Rutherford South, University of Alberta • bpsc.library.ualberta.ca • Salt, Sword, and Crozier: Books and Coins from the Prince-Bishopric of Salzburg (c.1500-c.1800); Jan 2-Feb 7

BUGERA MATHESON GALLERY • 10345-124

Artists, 10123-121 St • 780.423.1492 • snapartists.com • Community Gallery: artwork by Jonathan S. Green; Jan 5-Feb 10 • Main Gallery: Tara Cooper; Jan 5-Feb 10

TELUS WORLD OF SCIENCE • 11211-142 St • telusworldofscienceedmonton.com • Daily activities, demonstrations and experiments • POPnology Exhibition; Feb 9-May 6 • Terry Fox–Running to the Heart of Canada; Feb 16-Sep 16 VASA GALLERY • 25 Sir Winston Churchill Ave, St Albert • 780.460.5990 • vasa-art.com • Emerging from Ignorance: artwork by Alena Valova; Jan 30-Feb 24

WALTERDALE THEATRE • 10322-83 Ave • 403.265.0012 • albertasocietyofartists.com • Emerging Artists Unleashed: artwork by winners of this year’s Alberta Society of Artists scholarships; Feb 7-17

St • bugeramathesongallery.com • Levitas: artwork by Linda Craddock; Feb 16-28

CAVA GALLERY • 910395 Ave • 780.461.3427 • galeriecava.com • Art & Film Installation with Lana Whiskeyjack and Beth Wishart MacKenzie; Jan 21-Mar 31

Starbucks upstairs, 10504-82 Ave • dorianjoyal@ gmail.com • retirementsocialnetwork.com/ index.php/events • A resource for all of those struggling with what to do and how to create social opportunities • Feb 11, 12-4pm

DOWNTOWN EDMONTON BOOK CLUB •

Downtown Edmonton Community League, 10042103 St • facebook.com/declorg • Open to anyone who lives, works, or plays downtown and wants to meet new people, have great conversations, and read cool stuff • Every 2nd Wed, 7-8:30pm

EDMONTON STORY SLAM • Mercury Room,10575-114 St • edmontonstoryslam.com • facebook.com/mercuryroomyeg • Great stories, interesting company, fabulous atmosphere • 3rd Wed each month • 7pm (sign-up); 7:30pm • $5 Donation to winner LOVE AND LUST WITH NAKED GIRLS READING • Sewing Machine Factory, 9562-82 Ave • 780.691.1691 • New year, new nude readers!

Naked Girls Reading celebrates Valentine's Day with a bevy of nudes reading stories of Love and Lust • Feb 13, 8-10pm • 18+ only

ROUGE POETRY SLAM HOSTED BY BREATH IN POETRY COLLECTIVE • BLVD Supper x Club,

Chimprov Citadel’s Zeidler Hall Every Sat., 10 pm Sept. 10 - June 9

EMPIRE OF THE SON • Citadel Theatre, 9828101A Ave • citadeltheatre.com • A dynamic solo performance about an emotionally distant father whose legacy is felt beyond his lifetime • Jan 31-Feb 18

HER MARK • Orange Hall, 10335-84 Ave • The story of a formidable family navigating a rocky history on the edge of our nation • Feb 2-10, 7:30pm (additional performance at 2pm on Feb 10) • $22.50, plus applicable fees

HMS PINAFORE • Jubilee Auditorium, 11455-87 Ave • edmontonopera.com • This worldwide favourite Gilbert and Sullivan operetta puts a nautical spin on the classic “boy meets girl, girl’s grumpy father gets in the way” story. When lower-class sailor Ralph Rackstraw falls in love with Josephine, the Captain’s daughter, mayhem ensues as the two lovebirds try to elope…while at sea • Feb 9, 7:30pm • Tickets from $40 (at edmontonopera.com or 780.429.100) LADIES FOURSOME • Mayfield Dinner Theatre, 16615-109 Ave • 780.483.4051 • mayfieldtheatre. ca • Imagine Sex and the City on a golf course!

It’s the day after the funeral, and three women gather for a round of golf in honour of their recently departed fourth. They are joined at the tee by an old friend of the deceased and many surprises, secrets and confessions come to the surface • Feb 6-Apr 1 LOVE AND INFORMATION • Theatre Lab in Allard Hall, 11110-104 Ave • More than a hundred characters try to make sense of what they know.

Churchill offers up snapshots of ourselves, existing, loving and figuring, and it is up to us to decide what we make of it • Jan 31-Feb 10, 7:30-9pm • $15-$25

LOVE TO YOU BURLESQUE REVUE • Triffo Theatre at MacEwan University, 11110-104 Ave • 780.709.5547 • edmontonburlesquefest.com/boxoffice • Celebrating all things romance, glitter, and a little kink • Feb 9, 6:30-11pm • 18+ only

10765 Jasper Ave • Every Tue

THE LOWER DEPTHS • Timms Centre for the Arts,

STILL STRAPPED–A FLASK FUELLED POETRY PRE-RELEASE PARTY • Aviary, 9314-111 Ave • Feb 28, 7:30pm • $10 (adv), $15 (door)

87 Ave & 112 St, University of Alberta • ualberta.ca/ artshows • A modern update of Maxim Gorky’s masterpiece of the human condition. A group of people displaced by economic and political upheaval scratch out a life on the margins of society • Feb 8-17

TALES–Monthly Storytelling Circle •

MAMMA MIA! • Citadel Theatre, 9828-101A Ave

Parkallen Community Hall, 6510-111 St • Monthly Tellaround: 2nd Wed each month • Sep-Jun, 7-9pm • Free • Info: 780.437.7736; talesedmonton@ hotmail.com

• citadeltheatre.com • Chase away the winter blues with the smash hit musical featuring all favourite ABBA songs • Feb 17-Mar 18

TALES CELEBRATES VALENTINES DAY: STORIES WE LOVE • Parkallen Community

Gateway Blvd • In Sheldon Elter’s hilarious and heartbreaking one-person show, we follow a young Métis man on his journey out of a destructive cycle.

This personal tale unfolds to expose the impact of family dysfunction, internalized racism, and the significance of embracing life’s choices • Feb 13-Mar 4

League, 6510-111 St • talesedmonton@hotmail. com • Celebrate Valentine's Day with heartwarming "Stories We Love." The TALES Tellaround welcomes both tellers and listeners. Short stories of all kinds are shared in the oral tradition, with a break for tea & nibblies • Feb 14, 7-9pm • Free

TURNING AN IDEA INTO A MANUSCRIPT • Strathcona County Library, 401 Festival Lane, Sherwood Park • 780.410.8600 • metrowir.com • Got an idea for a novel? Strathcona County Library Writer in Residence Michael Hingston will show you some tips and tricks for rolling up your sleeves and getting your idea down on paper. As an added bonus, he’ll give you strategies to defeat writer's block once and for all • Feb 18, 2-4pm • Free • Register online at sclibrary.ca or by calling 780.410.8600

UPPER CRUST CAFÉ • 10909-86 Ave • 780.422.8174 • strollofpoets.com • The Poets’ Haven Reading Series • Most Mon (except holidays), 7pm, Sep 18-Mar; presented by the Stroll of Poets Society • $5 (door)

11 O'CLOCK NUMBER • Basement Theatre at Holy Trinity, 10037-84 Ave • grindstonetheatre.ca • This completely improvised musical comedy is based on the suggestions from the audience who will get to experience a brand new story unfold in front of them, complete with impromptu songs, dance breaks and show stopping numbers • Every Fri, Oct 13-Dec 15, 11pm

DC3 ART PROJECTS • 10567-

BEWITCHING ELVIS • Jubilations Dinner

111 St • 780.686.4211 • dc3artprojects.com • Isachsen: artwork by various artists; Jan 12-Feb 17

Theatre, West Edmonton Mall, #2061 8882-170 St • 780.484.2424 • edmonton.jubilations.ca • Samantha Stephens and her husband Darren are trying to live a normal married life, but Samantha’s witch mother, Endora, doesn’t make it very easy for them. Samantha throws a party and is greeted by the real Elvis • Jan 26-Apr 1

CHIMPROV • Citadel's Zeidler Hall, 9828-101A Ave • rapidfiretheatre.com • Rapid Fire Theatre’s long form comedy show: improv formats, intricate narratives, and one-act plays • Every Sat, 10pm; Sep 10-Jun 9 • $15 (door or buy in adv at TIX on the Square)

DIE-NASTY • Varscona Theatre, 10329-83 Ave • die-nasty.com • Live improvised soap opera. Join the whole Die-Nasty family REBORN, for a whole season of great artists, earth-shaking discovery, glorious music, hilarious hi jinx...but mostly Machiavellian Intrigue • Runs every Mon, 6:30pm (doors), 7:30-9:30pm • Oct 23-May 29

INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL OF WINTER CINEMA • Hawrelak Park, 9330 Groat Road •

10 arts

BOOK SIGNING - RETIREMENT SOCIAL NETWORK • Chapters Strathcona - Next to

THEATRE

FILM SCREENING: SAMEER • Telus Centre 1-50, 87 Av. & 111 St, University of Alberta North Campus • alshammi@ualberta.ca • Screening of award-winning Indian feature film Sameer (2017) about a wrongfully accused man infiltrating a terrorist group to foil a bombing plot. Panel discussion with filmmaker Dakxin Bajrange to follow • Feb 9, 5-8pm • Free (RSVP at Eventbrite)

Celebrating Canadian and international cinema with winter, alpine, and polar themes of any genre and style for all audiences • Feb 9-10, Feb 16-18, 6:308:30pm • Available at Eventbrite

Galentine's Day; Feb 13, 7-9pm • Maia Caron "Song of Batoche" Book Launch; Feb 16, 7-9pm

GALLERY@501 • 501 Festival Ave, Sherwood

LOTUS ART GALLERY • 10321-124 St • lotus-gallery.com • Sexy & Wild: artwork by various artists; Jan-Mar

ALBERTA CRAFT COUNCIL GALLERY •

AUDREYS BOOKS • 10702 Jasper Ave •

BEYOND THE CODE: BOOK LAUNCH • Happy

of Alberta 1-15, Human Ecology Building • 780.492.3824 • Imagining a Better World: artwork

by Nelly Toll; Sep 28-Mar 11

ACUA GALLERY & ARTISAN BOUTIQUE •

LITERARY

thefrontgallery.com • Fallen Star Cars: artwork by Steve Coffey; Feb 8, 7-9pm

HUMAN ECOLOGY GALLERY • University

GALLERIES + MUSEUMS

WEST END GALLERY • 10337-124 St • 780.488.4892 • westendgalleryltd.com • Artwork by Dana Irving; Mar 3-15; Opening reception: Mar 3, 1-4pm

/ Supplied

VUEWEEKLY.com | FEB 08 - FEB 14, 2018

MÈTISMUTT • The Roxy on Gateway, 8529

MORTON THE MAGICIAN IN: TA DA! CREATED BY SHELDON CASAVANT • Arden Theatre, 5 St Anne St, St Albert • stalbert.ca/exp/ arden • Ta Da! finds Morton dreaming of becoming a magician. A school talent show seems like the perfect chance, but Morton is afraid! Can he overcome his fears with the help of his rabbit Henry?

• Feb 17, 2-3pm • $15 (adult), $12 (child/senior); available online or by phone

MOTOWN THE MUSICAL • Jubilee Auditorium, 11455-87 Ave • edmonton.broadway.com/shows • Motown the Musical is the true American dream story of Motown founder Berry Gordy’s journey from featherweight boxer to the heavyweight music mogul who launched the careers of Diana Ross, Michael Jackson, Smokey Robinson and many more • Feb 13-18, 8-10:30pm • $35-$130

NEW WORKS FESTIVAL 2018 • Second Playing Space at the Timms Centre for the Arts, University of Alberta, 87 Ave and 112 St • An entirely student-run production, the New Works Festival features exciting one-act plays from emerging playwrights • Feb 6-11 • $10-$15

OPEN JAM • Holy Trinity Church, 10037-84 Ave • 780.907.2975 • grindstonetheatre.ca • Facilitated

by Grindstone Theatre. Swap games and ideas and get an opportunity to play. For those of all levels • Last Tue of each month

TEMPUS EXTRAORDINARIUS • Theatre of La Cité francophone, 8627 rue Marie-Anne-Gaboury (91 St) • 780.469.8400 • lunitheatre@lunitheatre. ca • lunitheatre.ca • Confronted to a world deprived of all freedom, condemned to survive, Tubby and Nottubby will be carried by the turbulent flows of History and Time, in an epic journey of their own selves • Feb 7-10

THEATRESPORTS • Citadel's Zeidler Hall, 9828101A Ave • rapidfiretheatre.com • Improv • Every Fri, 7:30pm and 10pm • Sep 9-Jun 8 • $15

THE WOMEN • Walterdale Theatre, 10322-83 Ave • walterdaletheatre.com • In an era when a woman’s happiness was considered to be her husband and children, Clare Boothe Luce delivers a comedy/drama that proves that women aren’t always the sum of their parts • Feb 7-17 • $20 (adults), $18 (seniors 60+), plus applicable fees • The first Thu of every run is 2-for-1 Thu (at the door only)

CULTURE

/ Curtis Hauser

Edmonton organization empowers communities that too often live in fear

D

r. Jordan Peterson’s every move sprouts another interview or article that sparks mileslong Twitter brawls and sharp YouTube comment section duels.

The controversial clinical psychologist is on tour promoting his new self-help book, 12 Rules for Life: An Antidote to Chaos.

The psychologist-turned-professor first came into the spotlight in 2016 after refusing to use gender-neutral pronouns for any of his potential students. Peterson backed this up while testifying against Bill C-16—legislation protecting gender identity and expression from discrimination under the Canadian Human Rights Act—by claiming “free speech.”

His event, scheduled in Edmonton on the 11th, was declined by the Citadel on the grounds of his rhetoric not aligning with the theatre’s “mandate, values or vision statement,” which they further explained later. His event was then moved to the Hyatt, which quickly sold out, and was rescheduled yet again to be held at the Clarion Hotel and Conference Centre in Sherwood Park, which has again, sold out.

But there is also a counter-force not specifically working against him per se, but working to promote those communities that feel endangered with his rhetoric coming to the city.

“We can see it right now with the Colten Boushie trial. Stereotypes of Indigenous people [can] lead to their murders, lead to their deaths. The way that Jordan Peterson continues to use specific stereotypes and archetypes of people in violent ways, results in violence towards those people,” says field organizer with Progress Alberta, Batul Gulamhusein.

“By him claiming that he’s not going to use they/them pronouns, because he believes that the Canadian government shouldn’t get to decide what words you use, is saying to a whole bunch of people, ‘Hey, it’s okay for you to delegitimize trans identities and therefore, the violence that [subsequently] occurs.’”

A research and advocacy organization formed in Edmonton in early 2016, Progress Alberta feel that their responsibility in the situation is to the marginalized

populations that very likely will experience increased amounts of hate and aggression, if online responses are any predictor of human behaviour. With this in mind, Progress Alberta asked themselves who are the groups most affected by this emboldening rhetoric and potential of violence. By and large, they knew this was the queer and trans, as well as racialized communities.

“If these are the communities he’s choosing to target, these are the communities that we are going to choose to celebrate,” Gulamhusein says. “We almost never get the opportunity to celebrate the fact that people are living and surviving and thriving in our communities.”

That’s the point of the dance party they’ve planned, which will have live comedy and music from the Edmonton-adored Wares. Edmonton’s first transgender musician, Cassia Hardy, plans to provide a space for her community to feel “a cathartic sort of group exhale.”

But along with their Free Expression Party planned for the same evening as Peterson’s book

event, Progress Alberta is holding 12 Rules of Resistance organizer training sessions the day before (February 10) from 5 to 8 pm to strengthen the ability and skills of those in the queer and trans community as well as allies of it.

“It’s important to know how to tell an effective story regardless of whether you’re gonna use it to talk to media or not. It’s important to know how you can use political systems, even if you never want to run in an election, or never want to vote,” Gulamhusein adds. “They’re useful tools for people to have in their arsenal so that they can later weaponize them.”

The anti-oppression workshops will cover such topics as organizing in the age of surveillance, addressing cis-supremacy, accessibility and media training.

The workshops will be run by various social organizers and activists in the city including U of A advisor Rebecca Blakey and services expert Parker Leflar covering anti-oppression and transgender advocates Nicole Jones-Abad and Ezra H to discuss addressing transphobia.

VUEWEEKLY.com | FEB 08 - FEB 14, 2018

Sun., Feb. 11 (5 pm) Free Expression Party La Cité Francophone RSVP at eventbrite.ca Marni Panas, a transgender advocate who also testified at the Bill C-16 hearings last year, but in favour of the legislation, says that freedom of speech is not grounds to say whatever to whomever.

She explains that in the same way the Citadel had every right to reject his event, those who attend Peterson’s talk have every right to do so. But that freedom does still have a legal limit when it infringes upon the rights of others.

“Freedom of expression as we recognize it here in Canada, doesn’t mean you’re free from the consequences of that expression,” Panas says. “Once we can start seeing past those labels, and realize that it is one label of many which describe people, then we can start to humanize people.”

Upon reaching out to Peterson, his publicist told Vue in an email that Peterson is on a book tour in the U.S. and not available for comment.

Sierra Bilton sierra@vueweekly.com culture 11

The Square Directed by Ruben Östlund Metro Cinema Fri., Feb. 9 - Thu., Feb. 15 

REVUE

BIZARRE WORLD OF THE ARTS / Supplied

W

The Square questions the place of art in the midst of social class

hile the art market can be obscene—exhibit A: $450.3-million for Leonardo’s Salvator Mundi—corners of the art world can seem bizarre and byz-

antine, from jargon-riddled exhibit explanations to confounding installations. But The Square doesn’t so much mock galleries-gone-weird as stage its own conceptual-art pieces.

Ruben Östlund’s waggish, oddball film—more like a string of episodes—questions the good intentions of citizens in a liberal democracy, the relationship of a

modern art museum to our lives outside its walls, and society’s obligations to its poorest.

If that sounds lofty, this is more surreal japery than suave satire.

It plays out at times more like an arthouse-Jackass or a cringe-comedy made chucklingly icky-odd.

Even amid a flustered discussion of sex and power, for instance, there’s a background-audio gag.

After online-tracking his stolen phone’s GPS, X-Royal Museum curator Christian (Claes Bang) and aide Michael (Christopher Læssø) drive out to that spot—an apartment-tower in a sketchier part of Stockholm—only to bicker over who should slip return-myproperty-or-else flyers into all the mailboxes. Or, after sex, Christian’s chary of letting journalist Anne (Elisabeth Moss) throw out his condom—the stand-off threatens to become a latex tug of war.

While a little of this 140-minute work’s drollery can wear thin, a

few of its sequences languishing into longueurs, it boasts unforgettable moments of daft inspiration. (The through-line story rings us back to that stolen-phone search, but what was wry starts to chill.)

A floor-cleaner cautiously Zambonis among the heaps of little rocks in the “Mirrors & Piles of Gravel” exhibit; an ape ambles through Anne’s apartment as Christian looks on, befuddled.

From a Tourettes-sufferer’s outbursts at an artist interview to a confrontational apeman performance piece, the thin veneer between bourgeois sophistication and guttural animalism gets smeared and re-smeared.

In this respectable, polite beauxarts arena, dim left-ish notions of respect and tolerance are blown up. And, with its scenes of street beggars’ public struggles, The Square—named after a lightlined four-by-four installation described as “a sanctuary of trust and caring”—may just provoke you to wonder anew at art’s place and purpose in our world of haves and have-nots.

Brian Gibson film@vueweekly.com

GARBLED POLTERGEIST PLOT

REVUE

Even with Dame Helen Mirren leading, Winchester backfires

I

/ Supplied

PRESENTS MY FRIEND DAHMER THUR @ 9:30

FEB 8 - FEB 14

n 1881, a widow found herself owning 50 percent of a most profitable company. She headed West and began building a monstrous home, adding rooms, number 13 and spider-web motifs because, reportedly, she felt haunted by restless spirits of the dead—victims of the business she’d inherited, the Winchester Repeating Arms Company.

Now, a herstory-horror turns the legend of Sarah Winchester and her mystery manor into the terribly tiresome tour of a haunted house.

The main character, as expected, is that massive San Jose mansion

(with 161 rooms, 10,000 windows, 2,000 doors, 47 fireplaces, and 40 staircases when construction was halted by its owner’s death in 1922). But it becomes a wax-museum of apparitions stuck in a gabled, and garbled, poltergeist plot.

The laudanum-dropping Dr. Price (Jason Clarke) is summoned from San Francisco by the company’s board to determine if the un-merry widow Winchester (Helen Mirren) should remain head of the firm. A niece (Sarah Snook) and her son Henry (Finn Scicluna O’Prey) are staying, too,

FRI, FEB 9 – THUR, FEB 15

ART DOCS

BLURRED LINES: INSIDE THE ART WORLD THUR @ 7:00 SCREENS WITH THE SHORT FILM: CHAMP.

OSCAR NOMINEE

THE SQUARE FRI @ 6:45, SAT @ 9:30, SUN @ 3:15, MON @ 9:30, WED @ 9:30

ENGLISH, SWEDISH, & DANISH W/ SUBTITLES.

BOMBSHELL: THE HEDY LAMARR STORY FRI @ 9:30, MON @ 7:00 REEL FAMILY CINEMA / OSCAR NOMINEE

THE BOSS BABY SAT @ 2:00

FREE ADMISSION FOR CHILDREN 12 & UNDER.

TIGERS SAT @ 4:00

HINDI, URDU, GERMAN, & ENGLISH WITH SUBTITLES. Q & A FOLLOWING THE SCREENING.

BLACK HISTORY MONTH

WHOSE STREETS? SAT @ 7:00 AFTERNOON TEA

VICTORIA & ABDUL SUN @ 1:00 EDMONTON MOVIE CLUB AADHI SUN @ 6:15 MALAYALAM WITH SUBTITLES SCI-FI CINEMA / BLACK HISTORY MONTH

THE BROTHER FROM ANOTHER PLANET SUN @ 9:30 METRO SHORTS TUES @ 7:00 GATEWAY TO CINEMA / BLACK HISTORY MONTH

GET OUT TUES @ 9:30

FREE ADMISSION FOR STUDENTS WITH VALID ID. VALENTINE'S DAY - QUOTE-A-LONG

THE PRINCESS BRIDE WED @ 7:00

Metro Cinema at the Garneau: 8712-109 Street WWW.METROCINEMA.ORG

DARKEST HOUR

SAT & SUN: 1:15 & 3:45PM RATED: PG. SA

PHANTOM THREAD

FRI & SAT: 9:15PM, SUN: 8:15PM MON TO THURS: 9:00PM

THE SHAPE OF WATER

FRI, SAT & MON TO THURS: 6:45PM SUN: 1:00 & 6:00PM RATED: 14A, V, SC, NRFC

THREE BILLBOARDS OUT

RATED: 14A

LADY BIRD

FRI, SAT & MON TO THURS: 7:00PM SUN: 6:15PM RATED: 14A, CL, SC

12 film

VUEWEEKLY.com | FEB 08 - FEB 14, 2018

FRI: 9:30PM, SAT: 3:30 & 9:30PM SUN: 8:30PM MON TO THURS: 9:15PM RATED: 14A, CL, BV

Winchester Directed by Michael Spierig, Peter Spierig Now playing  just so the boy can be possessed now and then.

Spirits predictably pop up long before the rifle-littered climax. Any chance of a Poe-ish parable about the plague of gun-violence in America has been blown to smithereens.

(Despite prohibiting firearms, Sarah has a gunroom installed to placate the worst-ever ghoul of Christmas past, whose backstory is basically America’s first workplacemassacre—wreaked out of belated revenge for Civil War deaths 20 years earlier.)

By the time SoCal’s fairy-gunmother realizes the power of the blessed bullet Price still carries with him, well, this seismic spookfest becomes a snooze-fest with more soporific power than the damned doctor’s opium.

Forget this flick’s dull conversations, hackneyed conceits, and sluggish atmosphere. For a truly haunting story of Winchesterrelated business, consider the mogul-terrifying legend of the 1950 western, Winchester ’73.

James Stewart’s agent Lew Wasserman made a canny deal with Universal for the actor to get 50 percent of the film’s profits, but Wasserman’s agency later bought Universal, so Wasserman was soon forced to accept the very profit-participation deals he’d concocted. Now, that’s backfiring.

Brian Gibson film@vueweekly.com

Black Label Society / Justin Reich

HEAVY METAL

Zakk Wylde speaks on Grimmest Hits, Ozzy Osbourne and amateur gynecological repair Mon., Feb. 12 (6:30 pm) Black Label Society w/ Corrosion of Conformity & Eyehategod The Ranch Roadhouse $49.50

I

t’s a year of big anniversaries for Zakk Wylde. 2018 marks 30 years since he made his debut as Ozzy Osbourne’s guitarist on No Rest for the Wicked and 20 years since he started his own band, Black Label Society.

The first time I tried to get a hold of Wylde, I was told he was asleep and there was nobody who was willing to wake him up. We rescheduled, and I later learned that he was sleeping because he’d fallen ill.

“I didn’t even have the flu,” Wylde says. “I tore one of my fallopian tubes during a uterine Black Label deadlift meet. That was brutal.

But the whole thing is, you know, in pure Black Label fashion—you

play hard. It’s the playoffs and there is no sitting on the bench.

We just put some duct tape and Gorilla Glue on it and my vagina’s been holding up quite well. We’re back at it.”

Wylde, joined by bassist John DeServio, guitarist Dario Lorina, drummer Jeff Fabb, and his trademark New Jersey sense of humour, are iconic. Even if you’re not familiar with Black Label Society, you’ve probably at some point seen an image of the front man, bearded, leather vested, and playing his Les Paul with that signature black and white bullseye paint job.

The band’s latest record, Grimmest Hits, is not in fact a collection of greatest hits. It’s a little bit doom, a bit blues, and a bit rock and roll. The album hit strong on Billboard, securing the fourth spot on the Top 200 album chart.

Wylde says the fans, lovingly referred to as “Berserkers,” have received the new material well.

“Well we see them all start getting depressed,” Wylde says. “Then they start crying. I see them leave.

They go to the bathroom, they throw up a couple times, and then they come back. I’m like, ‘Wow. They must really be enjoying this.’”

Black Label was and remains a riff band, and Grimmest Hits is a solid riff album. Songs like “Room of Nightmares” and “Seasons of Falter” are where the band audibly wears their influences on their sleeves. One to two strings of a simple but heavy pattern like the greats of the 1970s did it.

Offhand, Wylde cites Led Zeppelin’s Jimmy Page, Deep Purple’s Richie Blackmore, and Black Sabbath’s Tony Iommi as integral.

Wylde grew up playing Sabbath covers at keg parties. His demo tape ended up in Ozzy’s hands and in his early 20s, Wylde joined the Prince of Darkness and followed him around the world, cowriting some of the most memorable songs of that era like “No More

Tears,” “Miracle Man” and “Mama I’m Coming Home.” With Ozzy announcing his final world tour last November, heavy metal fans are feeling a little rough. Wylde senses their frustration.

“As a fan,” Wylde says, “I think what we should hope is [that] they all get massive gambling problems and just make some horrendously bad business investments. Then they gotta come out and keep going.”

In many ways, Wylde is still that same young Sabbath fan. Now at 51, far from retired, rested and ready, Wylde still has much the same spirit of a young guitarist.

Sickness or health, rain or shine, the biker king of heavy metal is riding into town.

“As long as there’s duct tape and Gorilla Glue,” says Wylde, “I’ll be rollin’.”

Lucas Provencher music@vueweekly.com

10442 whyte ave 439.1273 10442 whyte ave 439.1273 MGMT

Little Dark Age

CD / LP

blackbyrd

M

Y

O

O

Z

I

K

w w w. b l a c k b y r d . c a SEE MAG: Jan 3, 1c x 2”/ 28 AG RB: BLACKBYRD MYOOZIK SALES:Samantha H S01367

VUEWEEKLY.com | FEB 08 - FEB 14, 2018

music 13

Mercy Funk / Leanne Eyo

FUNK

FOOLS OF LOVE

Mercy Funk gives back the love with its fifth annual Love Fest—guilty pleasures edition

W

ith a second EP recorded live off the floor at the Aviary released last November and their first fulllength coming out in April, Edmonton’s Mercy Funk has hit its stride and its sound in the last year. The plan is to celebrate with their annual Love Fest by crafting cardboard, glittered, and rosy-ribboned hearts, which they’ve been doing for weeks now.

“When we first started, it was kind of the idea that we make them all by hand, so each heart is an individual—we got kind of cheesy about it at the beginning,” vocalist Crystal Eyo laughs. “And now, we just want to build on Love Fest every year, which means we need more and more hearts every year.”

The first Love Fest, five years ago, was held on Valentine’s Day, which was a purposeful plan on the band’s part to ensure all their fans felt loved and valued on the holiday, not just the ones in relationships.

“It was packed and we sold out, so we were just like, ‘Okay, this has to happen every year now,” says bassist Angela Proulx. The “Guilty Pleasures 14 music

Edition” of this year’s Love Fest refers to some of the set list they’ve lined up (think ‘90s guilty pleasures like Britney, Whitney, Madonna, and TLC and, of course, their early funk hits mixed in as well).

“You know when you’re in the bar, and you hear your favourite song that you haven’t heard in like forever and then every girl goes, ‘Oh my God! That’s my song!’ That is the goal of guilty pleasures,” Eyo says.

Eyo and Proulx along with guitarist Allan Pangburn and drummer Kevin Gaudet are what we call the ‘Mercy’ and the ‘Funk’ of Edmonton.

Now with a reasonably set foursome, Mercy Funk has found their sound and it’s not always what you’d expect. They play the title track off their upcoming album as we chat in Eyo’s cozy ‘60s-inspired living room and there’s certainly some lovely surprises in there.

Pieces of pop and R&B work their way into a gritty baseline with an resonant glitzy guitar that isn’t really funk. But their roots are still there with tidbits of sax and keys layered in.

VUEWEEKLY.com | FEB 08 - FEB 14, 2018

Fri., Feb. 9 and Sat., Feb. 10 (8 pm) Mercy Funk Love Fest The Aviary $12 “With this album, we’ve gotten more comfortable with ourselves as writers,” Proulx says. “And we were starting to find our sound for the album—it’s not funk, I can tell you that.”

Although the four-piece have moved away from their funk roots for now, it wasn’t a conscious choice. The songs seemed to fall into place pretty easily, and much quicker than their first EP, which was half the length.

“With this album, we had these songs that hadn’t been recorded and that we really loved playing and it was just who we are,” Eyo says. “They just naturally fell into place and really sound like a collection.”

Keep your eyes peeled for their album release this spring. With their fresh new grooves, it’s not one you’ll want to miss.

Sierra Bilton sierra@vueweekly.com

ELECTRONICORE

YOU ARE NOT ALONE

Enter Shikari’s Rou Reynolds is here to provide a spark

Wed., Feb. 14 (7 pm) Enter Shikari w/ Single Mothers, Milk Teeth The Starlite Room $25

E

nter Shikari has your back. In fact, lead singer Rou (rhymes with “cow”) Reynolds will often leave the stage mid-set to sing from the room’s cheap seats—a levelling of the playing field very much in tune with the band’s message of connection and inclusion.

“That’s something we’ve always done,” Reynolds says during a break from stage setup in Philadelphia. “Often, if you go to a gig and you’re standing at the back, maybe you don’t feel truly amongst it. So it’s nice to get off stage and see the world from people’s eyes back there.”

No matter if you’re in the front or back, you’re going to want

Enter Shikari / Supplied

to be in the room when Enter Shikari plays. The veteran U.K. four-piece, formed in 1999 in St. Albans, a city northwest of London, is a formidable beast on stage, voted best live band in the country four times since 2007.

Over the course of four albums, the band pioneered an unholy alliance of disparate metal and electronic styles spiked with earnest progressive politics. You’re just as likely to hear some dubstep wobble or grime as you are a metalcore breakdown or throat-shredding screamed vocal.

It’s heavy, boundary-pushing stuff, with songs that can go in 20 different directions—a righteous noise to some, a gnarly racket to others.

But the fifth record, 2017’s The Spark, is Enter Shikari at its most lucid. You still get the innovative marriage of U.K.’s proud history of electronic and guitar music, but you also get a focused attack that reflects Reynolds’ maturing songwriting.

“I was starting to get frustrated for being labelled or thought of as a noisy band, or a crazy band,” Reynolds says. “It was a real willingness and desire to concentrate on levity and vocals taking the focus.”

That fight for levity—the spark in a world of gathering darkness—is the hero’s quest for Enter Shikari. The band has never shied from highlighting how political ac-

tion, especially youth action, is the only option for building a better, more caring future. Reynolds says he’s noticing more young people realize that politics is not something you can ignore.

“In this day and age, with how intense and bewildering things have got, you can’t avoid political discussion—you can try, but it’s impossible,” he says. “I think we try to encourage people to empower themselves to become knowledgeable about these things so they’re not just fucked over. And I think that’s improved dramatically. I can talk about the U.K.—in the last five years, youth apathy has just disappeared.”

VUEWEEKLY.com | FEB 08 - FEB 14, 2018

For Reynolds, a political act can be something as simple as focussing on your mental health. The 32-year-old has been open with his struggles with anxiety and depression. For him, the classic English “stiff upper lip” is a lonely choice, a missed opportunity to reach out and become a better person.

“People think that emotion is weak, and that’s a very dangerous train of thought that can lead people to become very nasty, extremely proud to the point of weakness,” Reynolds says. “The thing that breaks my heart is when people think that they’re alone.”

Josh Marcellin music@vueweekly.com

music 15

BLUES

/ Brain Muffin

RARE RAGTIME BREED

Blue Moon Marquee bring its own unique style to the world of blues

Fri., Feb. 9 (8:30 pm) Blue Moon Marquee Blue Chair Cafe $15 at the door

W

ith all its screamin’ and howlin,’ the Blue Moon Marquee is a rare breed in the gypsy-blues world. The Vancouver Island-based duo made up of Alexander (A.W.) Cardinal on vocals/ guitar and Jasmine Colette (a.k.a.

Badlands Jass) on upright bass, vocals, and drums, has soulful remnants of guys and gals like Tom Waits, Blind Willie Jonson, Django Reinhardt and Memphis Minnie.

Blue Moon Marquee primarily shine in a live setting. Whether it’s a dim-lit jazz bar, a bustling restaurant, or an outside festival stage, the duo has a mysterious allure that pulls people in.

The band began from happenstance, after Colette helped Cardinal record his solo record.

“We both grew up in Alberta playing in punk and rock ‘n’ roll bands so that’s how we initially met in our late teens,” Colette says. “While we were recording that, we realized our early love of 16 music

delta blues, New Orleans swing, and jazz. So we’ve been honing this gypsy blues sound ever since.”

The majority of the songs are sung by Cardinal with his raspy rag-time Tom Waits voice. On the 2016 album Gypsy Blues, he sings about things like maleficent coyotes, liquor, runaway ladies, and cheatin’ spouses. They’re all themes synonymous with the blues, but Blue Moon Marquee finds a way to keep it fresh.

“There are always themes that find you,” Cardinal says. “I don’t put too much emphasis on it and kind of let them come out.

A song always takes on its own voice and life.”

Perhaps the most well put together track is “Double Barrel Blues,” a raucous jangle about a jealous husband planting a buckshot in the chest of a man who is dancing and getting a little friendly with his wife. Of course, this is my interpretation of the song. At the end of the day, it’s the blues and it’s more about the emotion felt, rather than the inspiration or subject matter.

Colette sings backup on every song but sings lead on the track

VUEWEEKLY.com | FEB 08 - FEB 14, 2018

“Ain’t No Stranger,” an ethereal blues track guided by her smoky voice and Cardinal’s jumpy minorkeyed guitar riffs.

The rhythm section of the band is also led by Colette and her hybrid-crafted drum kit consisting of a hi-hat, bass drum, a snare, and crash cymbal.

“It’s a strange little dance I do while playing the bass at the same time,” she says. “It kind of happened when Al first came out to the West Coast. We had a rhythm player and we were a trio so we booked this big tour with the three of us and the night before we started, the rhythm guy bailed.

So it was just two of us and we needed to figure something out. I got an upright bass and we started slowly adding parts. I didn’t want it to be the boom-chick one-man band sound.”

Blue Moon Marquee are working on their follow-up album that should be released sometime this summer. Colette promises to sing more on the new album and a few songs will have a full band as opposed to the duo style the group has been known for.

Stephan Boissonneault stephan@vueweekly.com

NEWSOUNDS

The Wet Secrets The Tyranny Of Objects Six Shooter Records The return of The Wet Secrets helps fill a void for danceable, punchy, pop music in Canada.

Jeff MacCallum cupsncakespod.com

The band’s latest offering The Tyranny Of Objects consists of the four tracks found on 2016’s I Can Live Forever EP along with five new songs to cure what ails you.

As always, they bring us fun, bouncy tunes that force even the stiffest gent into a hip whirling frenzy. The Wet Secrets grab influences and ideas from nearly any genre you can think of and mash it all into a mighty beast that somehow can only be described as pop.

The album’s title offers a hint to the thoughtful ruminations on society that are hidden within these summer gems. The

standout track “Burn It All And Start Again,” has frontman Lyle Bell pondering over-consumption as swirling synths and stabbing horns permeate through a ferocious rhythm section.

While on the slightly subdued “Tidal Wave Of Hate,” he cleverly jabs at the culture of negativity found on the Internet, urging us to leave our screens, “let’s go back to the rarefied air, say what you want now see if I care.” The Tyranny Of Objects is an album for everyone, whether you are looking for a fun blast of danceable tunes or an album worth exploring on a deeper level. The Wet Secrets have you covered.

UPCOMING

EVENTS

SOUTH EDMONTON COMMON FEB 8

SLOWCASTER

FEB 9

LEO MARTINEZ PROJECT

FEB 10

WHYTE AVE. WOMP RATS

w/ Athabasca Barnburner and The Give ‘Em Hell Boys

WEST EDMONTON MALL FEB 8

THROWBACK THURSDAY w/ The Sissy Fits

FEB 9

TAKE COVER

FEB 10

NOTORIOUS YEG

For tickets and full listings TheRecRoom.com The Rec Room is owned by Cineplex Entertainment L. P.

The Dudes East Side Good Time 5 Seriously Lover 4 Real If hooks could kill, make sure you’re standing beside The Dudes when war breaks out.

This beloved Calgary band has

made a five-year wait disappear upon hitting play on its latest full-length, entitled East Side Good Times 5. The Dudes have always had a knack for delivering optimistic, feel-good, party tunes and, once again, they don’t disappoint. Lyrically the album urges us to live life to fullest, work hard and play hard.

The title track is about banding together with friends to get past the hard times and “Everybody Dies Too Soon” is a reminder that life is short so there’s no time to waste feeling sorry for yourself; get out there and live. The Dudes sound is well known through out this fine

MUSICNOTES

country, but on ESGT5 the production is amped up thanks to Kiril Telichev and Grammy Award winner Chris Shaw, who mixed the tracks. The album features R&B-tinged ballads and beer-soaked party anthems filled with foot stomping beats and sing-a-along choruses. As great as that all sounds, what makes these 11 songs so enticing is the inability for this reviewer to point out the album’s “single.”

Any song could be heard blaring through radio speakers and there is no track to skip and no tune that stands above the rest. The Dudes have made the wait worth while by giving us a perfect rock ‘n’ roll album.

Thanks Dudes!

Stephan Boissonneault stephan@vueweekly.com Conan w/ The Weir, and Culled / Sat., Feb. 10 (8 PM) Conan is a legionary brutal three-piece from Liverpool. Known for its down-tempo riffs and cacophonous atmosphere, this band will leave the stage slightly more crumbled from its unique brand of “caveman doom.” They sing of beasts from a different age and split the heads of anyone foolish enough to face them. This show will also mark the Starlite Room’s opening of the Temple stage. (Starlite Room–Temple, $18)

Conan / Supplied

Dana Wylie / Marc J. Chalifoux

Women of the Folkways / Sat. Feb. 10 (8 PM) Coming back for its ninth year, the Women of the Folkways show will have three female musicians dive through the extensive back-catalogue of Folkway Records. Local songstress Dana Wylie will be joined by Rachel Eddy and Her Crooked Heart (a.k.a. Rachel Ries). Come out to show your support for women in folk music.

(Parkview Community Hall, 9135 146 St., $27) The Real Sickies w/ Bogue Brigade and Chips Ov Oi! / Mon. Feb. 12 (8 PM) Looking for some old school punk reminiscent of The Ramones or Teenage Head? The Real Sickies have got your back. With the same spunk as The New York Dolls and the crusty CBGB’s sound these punks will be throwing a rager to raise funs for The Lobby DVD shop on Whyte. (Blues on Whyte, $10) VUEWEEKLY.com | FEB 08 - FEB 14, 2018

music 17

MUSIC WEEKLY EMAIL YOUR FREE LISTINGS TO: LISTINGS@VUEWEEKLY.COM DEADLINE: FRIDAY AT 12PM

THU FEB 8 ACCENT LOUNGE Katie and the

Wildfire; 9:30-11pm; $10 door; 18+ only ARIA'S BISTRO Open mic with Garrett James; 6-10pm; All ages AUSSIE RULES KITCHEN & PIANO BAR Piano Show; Every Thu, 8pm

Classical

the Leaf; Every Fri, 9pm; Free

EL CORTEZ MEXICAN KITCHEN + TEQUILA BAR Resident DJs playing

Overture Tour; 12pm; Email Michelle Jones to RSVP • Edmonton Symphony Orchestra: An Evening With Dvorák: Conducted By Adam Johnson; 8pm; $15-$82

LEDUC LEGION Michael Chenoweth;

the best in hip-hop, dance and classics; Every Fri-Sat, 9pm; No cover

DJs

ON THE ROCKS Grave New World;

WINSPEAR CENTRE Winspear

BLACK DOG FREEHOUSE Thu Main Fl:

ROSE & CROWN PUB Mike Dominey;

ATLANTIC TRAP & GILL Duff

Robison; 8:30pm

AVIARY Mercy Funk Love Fest, Guilty Pleasures Edition with Mercy Funk; 8pm; $12 (adv)

BOHEMIA Boreal Kinship, 15

B-STREET BAR Karaoke; Every

Pounds Of Beats; 7pm; $10-$15; 18+ only

Fri-Sat, 9:30pm

BRICK & WHISKEY PUBLIC HOUSE

Marquee; 8:30-10:30pm; $15

FIDDLER'S ROOST Acoustic Circle

Jam; 7:30-11:30pm THE FORGE ON WHYTE Bamboo Bass

Festival Pre-Party; 8pm; 18+ only HAVE MERCY Thigh Thursdays with

El Niven & The Alibi and friends; Every Thu, 8:30pm; No cover HORIZON STAGE Silver Screen Scoundrels; 2pm; $25; All ages LB'S PUB Open Jam hosted by

Russell Johnston NORTH GLENORA HALL Jam by

Wild Rose Old Tyme Fiddlers every Thu; 7pm REC ROOM–SOUTH EDMONTON COMMON Slowcoaster; 9pm; $10

(adv), $15 (door) REC ROOM–WEST EDMONTON MALL

BLUE CHAIR CAFÉ Blue Moon BLUES ON WHYTE Mike Mackenzie;

9pm BOHEMIA Yikes & Hewson Grey;

8pm; $10; 18+ only CAFE BLACKBIRD Mildly Wild;

8pm; $10 CAFFREY'S IN THE PARK Live

music; 9pm CARROT COFFEEHOUSE Live music

every Fri; all ages; 7pm; $5 (door) CASINO EDMONTON Blackboard

Jungle; 9pm CENTURY CASINO–ST. ALBERT

Justin Hogg; 9pm CHVRCH OF JOHN Marten Hørger

& Neon Steve; 9pm • Absolut Presents: Pete Tong; 9pm DENIZEN HALL Champ City Soundtrack; Every Fri-Sat DUGGAN'S BOUNDARY Joanne

Janzen; 9pm

8:30pm; $10 (adv), $15 (door) REC ROOM–WEST EDMONTON MALL

SHAKERS ROADHOUSE Blues Club

Jam hosted by Rodney Jewell; Every Thu, 7-11pm

LB'S PUB Sweet Vintage Rides;

9pm; No minors

SEWING MACHINE FACTORY Mortar & Marrow, The Misery Mountain Boys, Sam Wolfe; 8pm (doors), 9pm (show); $10; 18+ only SHAKERS ROADHOUSE Damage Inc!

Metallica Tribute; 9pm; No minors SHERLOCK HOLMES–DOWNTOWN

Andrew Scott; 9pm SHERLOCK HOLMES–WEM Mark

Mcgarrigle; 9pm SIDELINER’S PUB Friday Night Bands: live music; Every Fri STARLITE ROOM WiL with Caleb

Hart; 8pm; $25; 18+ only TEMPLE–STARLITE ROOM Romes;

8pm; $12; 18+ only

SQUARE 1 COFFEE Singer/Songwriter

Open Mic Hosted by Tommy Barker; Every Thu, 7-9:30pm TAVERN ON WHYTE Open stage

with Michael Gress (fr Self Evolution); every Thu; 9pm-2am

WILD EARTH BAKERY–MILLCREEK

Live Music Fridays; Each Fri, 8-10pm; $5 suggested donation YARDBIRD SUITE Jeff Antoniuk,

THE ALMANAC Jim Bryson with

Goldtop, James Rutherford and guests; 7pm; $15 (adv at YEGLive or Blacbyrd), $20 (door)

REC ROOM–SOUTH EDMONTON COMMON Whyte Ave. Womprats;

AVIARY Mercy Funk Love Fest, Guilty Pleasures Edition with Mercy Funk; 8pm; $12 (adv)

SEWING MACHINE FACTORY

9pm

B-STREET BAR Karaoke; Every BAILEY THEATRE–CAMROSE Battle

River Big Band - Latin Jazz Show & Dance; 8pm; $25 at the Bailey Box Office or online BLACK DOG FREEHOUSE Hair of the

Dog; 4-6pm; no cover

Ammar’s Saturday Sessions Jam; Every Sat, 4-8pm • Rod & The Mods! The ultimate Tribute to Rod Stewart; 9pm; No minors SHERLOCK HOLMES–DOWNTOWN

Andrew Scott; 9pm SHERLOCK HOLMES–WEM Mark

Mcgarrigle; 9pm

Wranglers; 8:30-10:30pm; $15 9pm BOHEMIA RC Sindicate with J-reds

, Knights Of Valor & DreamWakers; 9pm; $10; 18+ only CAFE BLACKBIRD Dr Blu Trio;

8pm; $10

STARLITE ROOM Ramriddlz; 8pm;

$20; 18+ only TEMPLE–STARLITE ROOM Conan, The

Weir, Culled; 8pm; $18; 18+ only YARDBIRD SUITE Bartosz Hadala Trio; 7pm (doors), 8pm (show); $20 (members), $24 (guests)

music; 9pm

CONVOCATION HALL Winds and

Roses; 7:30pm

CARROT COFFEEHOUSE Sat Open

Boom Chucka Boys); 4-6pm; Free CENTURY CASINO–ST. ALBERT Justin

Birthday with Crash To Eden and guests; 8pm; $10 (adv), $15 (door); 18+ only GERMAN CANADIAN CULTURAL ASSOCIATION Abusin' the Blues; 7pm

(doors), 8pm (music); $10 (members), $20 (guests); Available online, Acoustic Music, Blackbyrd Myoosik, Myhre’s Music and St. John’s Music + fees HILLTOP PUB Open stage hosted by Simon, Dan and Pascal; Every Sat, 4-7pm; Free

DJ Chris Bruce spins britpop/punk/ garage/indie; Every Sat; Wooftop: Sound It Up! with DJ Instigate spinning classic hip-hop and reggae; Underdog: hip-hop open Mic followed by DJ Marack THE COMMON Get Down It's

Saturday Night: House and disco and everything in between with Wright & Wong, Dane EL CORTEZ MEXICAN KITCHEN + TEQUILA BAR Resident DJs playing

the best in hip-hop, dance and classics; Every Fri-Sat, 9pm; No cover MERCER TAVERN DJ Mikey Wong

every Sat

HAVE MERCY To-Do Tuesday: open

mic night hosted by Justin Perkins; Every Tue (except for the 3rd of every month) • Outlaw Country Vinyl Night with Sheriff Taylor; Every 3rd Tue of the month LB'S PUB Tuesday Night Open Jam Hosted by Darrell Barr; 7-11pm; No charge SHAKERS ROADHOUSE Rod Jewell

Band Open stage YARDBIRD SUITE Tuesday Session:

Jamie Cooper Quintet; 7:30pm (door), 8pm (show); $5

DJs

Swing 'n' Skate: featuring The Hot Olives; 1-4pm

BLACK DOG FREEHOUSE Main Floor:

ON THE ROCKS Stilletto; 9pm SANDS INN & SUITES Open Jam;

Every Sun, 7-11pm YARDBIRD SUITE Yardbird Suite Jazz

Orchestra: Music of Kenny Wheeler and Jacob Mann; 1:30pm (doors), 2pm (show); $24 (members), $28 (guests)

Classical HAAR THEATRE IN THE ORANGE HUB Building Bridges Among Faith

Chris Bruce spins britpop/punk/ garage/indie; Every Tue EL CORTEZ MEXICAN KITCHEN + TEQUILA BAR Taco Tuesday with

resident DJs

WED FEB 14 99TEN Major Love with Amy van Keeken; 7pm; $15 (show only), $40 (show and meal) BLUES ON WHYTE JW-Jones; 9pm

Traditions: Multifaith Concert; 1:30pm; Free

DUGGAN'S BOUNDARY Wed open

DJs

THE FORGE ON WHYTE Jeru the

BLACK DOG FREEHOUSE Main Floor: DJ

Zyppy with DJ Late Fee; Every Sun

MON FEB 12 Metal Mondays with Metal Phil from CJSR's Heavy Metal Lunchbox

CAFE BLACKBIRD Edmonton Ukulele Circle; 6:30pm; Free

BLACK DOG FREEHOUSE Main Floor:

BLUES ON WHYTE JW-Jones; 9pm

CITY HALL, CITY ROOM & PLAZA

Ukrainian Male Chorus of Edmonton presents My Ukrainian Valentin; 5:30-11:30pm; $75

DJs

THE FORGE ON WHYTE Quinn's

BLUES ON WHYTE Mike Mackenzie;

9pm

Punk 1 Night; 9pm

DUGGAN'S BOUNDARY Joanne EMPRESS ALE HOUSE Bands at the Empress; Every Sat, 4-6pm; Free; 18+ only

Brunch with Jim Findlay; 9am-2pm; By donation

ST BASIL'S CULTURAL CENTRE

DENIZEN HALL Champ City Soundtrack; Every Fri-Sat

Janzen; 9pm

BLUE CHAIR CAFÉ Sunday Jazz

BLUES ON WHYTE Blues On Whyte Is

WINSPEAR CENTRE Edmonton Symphony Orchestra presents Wall To Wall Percussion: Conducted By Adam Johnson; 2pm; $15-$30

Hogg; 9pm

night; Every Sun, 6-9pm AUSSIE RULES KITCHEN & PIANO BAR Piano Show; Every Sun, 9pm

BLACK DOG FREEHOUSE Wooftop:

Classical

CASK AND BARREL Ryan Langlois (ex

Silver Screen Scoundrels Horizon Stage Feb. 8, 2 pm $25

Kodama, Old Crows, Rayleigh, Stalagmites; 8pm (doors), 9pm (show); $10; 18+ only SHAKERS ROADHOUSE Mark

Fri-Sat, 9:30pm

MUTTART HALL–ALBERTA COLLEGE Presented by the Edmonton

Fridays with DJ Echo & Freshlan

UNION HALL DJ Isaac; 9pm; 18+ only

ALIBI PUB AND EATERY Open mic

Beth Portman & the Good Find's Valentine Indoor Picnic and Concert; 5-9pm; $25 (adv), $30 (door)

ROSE & CROWN PUB Mike Dominey;

Classical

THE COMMON Quality Control

FIDDLER'S ROOST Fiddle Jam Circle; 7:30-11:30pm

funk, R&B and more with DJs Ben and Mitch; every Sat; 9pm-2am

SUN FEB 11

AUSSIE RULES KITCHEN & PIANO BAR Piano Show; Every Sat, 9pm

mic; 7pm; $2

Remo, Noosh, Fingertips & guests; Underdog: Rap, House, Hip-Hop with DJ Teddy Plenti; every Fri

TAVERN ON WHYTE Soul, motown,

PLEASANTVIEW COMMUNITY HALL

Notorious YEG; 10:30pm; Free

CAFFREY'S IN THE PARK Live

Classical Guitar Society: Beijing Guitar Duo (Meng Su and Yameng Wang); 8pm; Available at Tix on the Square, Acoustic Music Shop, Myhre's Music, ECGS website, and at the door

TUE FEB 13

Northern Lights Folk Club presents Women of Folkways; 8pm

Robison; 8:30pm

Jim Head Quartet; 7pm (doors), 8pm (show); $22 (members), $26 (guests)

DEVANEY'S IRISH PUB Karaoke night; Every Mon, 9pm; Free FIDDLER'S ROOST Open Stage; 7-11pm HAVE MERCY Mississippi Monday

Night Blues Jam hosted by the Dylan Farrell Ban; Every Mon, 8:30pm (sign up); No cover PLEASANTVIEW COMMUNITY HALL Wild Rose Old Tyme Fiddlers

Association: Acoustic instrumental old time fiddle jam every Mon; hosted by the Wild Rose Old Tyme Fiddlers Society; 7pm SIDELINER’S PUB Singer/Songwriter Monday Night Open Stage; Hosted

by Celeigh Cardinal; Every Mon (except long weekends), 8:30pm

mic with host Duff Robison; 8pm Damaja; HAVE MERCY Piano Karaoke featuring with Tiff Hall; Every Wed, 8:30pm LEAF BAR & GRILL Wang Dang Wednesdays; Every Wed, 7-11pm; Free MERCURY ROOM Noble Oak with

guests; 8pm; $10 (adv at YEGLive or Blackbyrd) PLEASANTVIEW COMMUNITY HALL

Acoustic Bluegrass jam presented by the Northern Bluegrass Circle Music Society; Guests and newcomers always welcome; every Wed, 7pm; $2 (donation, per person), free coffee available THE PROVINCIAL PUB Karaoke

Wednesday SHAKERS ROADHOUSE Country Jam

with 4 Dollar Bill STARLITE ROOM Enter Shikari, Single Mothers, Milk Teeth; 7pm; $25; 18+ only TAVERN ON WHYTE Karaoke; 9pm

Classical MCDOUGALL UNITED CHURCH Music

DJs

Wednesdays at Noon: Gordon Ritchie (Celtic harp); 12:1012:50pm; Free

BLACK DOG FREEHOUSE Main Floor:

DJs

Substance with Eddie Lunchpail TAVERN ON WHYTE Classic hip-hop

with DJ Creeazn every Mon; 9pm-2am

BLACK DOG FREEHOUSE Main Floor:

DJ Late Fee; Every Wed

VENUEGUIDE

WOODRACK CAFÉ Birdie on a

Branch; 2nd Thu of every month, 7-8:30pm; No cover (donations welcome)

99TEN 9910B-109 St NW, 780.709.4734, 99ten.ca ACCENT LOUNGE 8223-104 St ALIBI PUB & EATERY 17328 Stony Plain Rd THE ALMANAC 1035182 Ave, 780.760.4567, almanaconwhyte.com ARCADIA BAR 10988-124 St, 780.916.1842, arcadiayeg.com ARIA'S BISTRO 10332-81 Ave, 780.972.4842, ariasbistro.com ATLANTIC TRAP & GILL 7704 Calgary Trail South, 780.432.4611, atlantictrapandgill.com AUSSIE RULES KITCHEN & PIANO BAR #1638, 8882-170 St, 780.486.7722, aussierulesedmonton.com AVIARY 9314-111 Ave B-STREET BAR 11818-111 Ave BAILEY THEATRE 5041-50 St, Camrose, 780. 672.5510, baileytheatre.com BLACK DOG FREEHOUSE 10425-82 Ave, 780.439.1082 BLUE CHAIR CAFÉ 9624-76 Ave, 780.989.2861 BLUES ON WHYTE 10329-82 Ave, 780.439.3981 / Supplied

18 music

Showcase of Cooper Studios; Every Sat, 12-3pm

BLUES ON WHYTE Mike Mackenzie;

UNION HALL Benny Benassi; 9pm; $25-$30; 18+ only

THE PROVINCIAL PUB Saturday Nights: Indie rock and dance with DJ Maurice; 9pm-2am

PARKVIEW COMMUNITY HALL

BLUE CHAIR CAFÉ Ranger Creek

SHERLOCK HOLMES–DOWNTOWN

Andrew Scott; 9pm

SAT FEB 10

REC ROOM–WEST EDMONTON MALL

BLACK DOG FREEHOUSE Main Floor: DJ Late Fee; Every Fri; Wooftop: Selection Fridays with

DJs spinning 45s

ON THE ROCKS Grave New World; 9pm

ATLANTIC TRAP & GILL Duff

entertainment, Every Fri, 9pm

THE FORGE ON WHYTE Johnny

HAVE MERCY Petroleum Soul Club:

Live Local Bands every Sat

SANDS INN & SUITES Karaoke with

SANDS INN & SUITES Karaoke

SEWING MACHINE FACTORY The Den, Hersilia, Kyle Morris; 8pm (doors), 9pm (show)

MKT FRESH FOOD AND BEER MARKET

8:30pm; $10 (adv), $15 (door)

DJs

Death presents Resurrection III; 8pm

DJ; 9pm-2am

Jam; 3-7pm; Free

ARCADIA BAR The Jackpines; 9pm

7:30pm; $31-$35

Thursdays with JR; Every Thu, 9pm-1am

THE PROVINCIAL PUB Video Music

LEAF BAR AND GRILL Homemade

9pm

Throwback Thursday with The Sissy Fits; Every Thu, 8:30pm; Free

FESTIVAL PLACE Crystal Shawanda;

LB'S PUB Chillfactor; 9pm; No minors

ALIBI PUB & EATERY Rising Star

Uncommon Thursday: Rotating guests each week

Wine Alot (house, hip-hop and reggae music); Every Thu; No cover

7pm; $10

9pm

Take Cover; 10:30pm; Free

AUSSIE RULES KITCHEN & PIANO BAR Piano Show; Every Fri, 9pm

CAFE BLACKBIRD Shane Larmand;

Maria and Self Help Books; 8pm; $10 (adv, YEGLive or Blackbyrd)

THE COMMON The Common

BLUES ON WHYTE Mike Mackenzie;

Big Rockin' Thursday Jam & Open Mic; Every Thu, 8pm

MERCURY ROOM Exits with Marla

REC ROOM–SOUTH EDMONTON COMMON Leo Martinez Project;

FRI FEB 9

BLVD SUPPER X CLUB B**ch A Little,

7:30-11pm; No cover

Rock N' Roll, Funk & Soul with DJ Modest Mike; Every Thu; Wooftop Lounge: Dear Hip Hop with Freshlan; Underdog: Underdog Comedy Show

BAILEY THEATRE–CAMROSE The Harpoonist & The Axe Murderer; 8pm; $25 (Students $15) at the Bailey Box Office or online

9pm

LEAF BAR AND GRILL Karoake at

BLVD SUPPER X CLUB 10765 Jasper Ave BOHEMIA 10217-97 St BRICK & WHISKEY PUBLIC HOUSE 8937-82 Ave CAFE BLACKBIRD 9640-142 St NW, 780.451.8890, cafeblackbird.ca CAFFREY'S IN THE PARK 99, 23349 Wye Rd, Sherwood Park CARROT COFFEEHOUSE 9351118 Ave, 780.471.1580 CASINO EDMONTON 7055 Argylll Rd, 780.463.9467 CASK AND BARREL 10041104 St; 780.498.1224, thecaskandbarrel.ca CENTURY CASINO–ST. ALBERT 24 Boudreau Rd, St. Albert, 780.460.8092 CHVRCH OF JOHN 10260103 St, 780.884.8994, thechvrchofjohn.com CITY HALL, CITY ROOM & PLAZA 1 Sir Winston Churchill Sq COMMON 9910-109 St CONVOCATION HALL Old Arts Building, University of Alberta, music.ualberta.ca DENIZEN HALL 10311-103 Ave, 780.424.8215, thedenizenhall.com

VUEWEEKLY.com | FEB 08 - FEB 14, 2018

DEVANEY'S IRISH PUB 1111387 Ave NW, devaneyspub.com DUGGAN'S BOUNDARY 901388 Ave, 780.465.4834 EL CORTEZ MEXICAN KITCHEN + TEQUILA BAR 8230 Gateway Blvd, elcortezcantina.com EMPRESS ALE HOUSE 991282 Ave NW FESTIVAL PLACE 100 Festival Way, Sherwood Park, 780.449.3378 FIDDLER'S ROOST 730876 Ave, 780.439.9788, fiddlersroost.ca THE FORGE ON WHYTE 1054982 Ave (Whyte Ave) GERMAN CANADIAN CULTURAL ASSOCIATION 8310 Roper Rd HAAR THEATRE IN THE ORANGE HUB 10045-156 St HAVE MERCY SOUTHERN TABLE + BAR 8232 Gateway Blvd, havemercy.ca HILLTOP PUB 8220-106 Ave NW HORIZON STAGE 1001 Calahoo Rd, Spruce Grove, 780.962.8995, horizonstage.com L.B.’S PUB 23 Akins Dr, St Albert, 780.460.9100 LEAF BAR & GRILL 9016-132 Ave

LEDUC LEGION 5014-49 St, Leduc MCDOUGALL UNITED CHURCH 10086 MacDonald Dr NW, mcdougallunited.com MKT FRESH FOOD AND BEER MARKET 8101 Gateway Blvd, 780.439.2337 MERCER TAVERN 10363 104 St, 587.521.1911 MERCURY ROOM 10575-114 St MUTTART HALL 10050 Macdonald Dr, 780.633.3725 NORTH GLENORA HALL 13535-109A Ave ON THE ROCKS 11730 Jasper Ave, 780.482.4767 PARKVIEW COMMUNITY HALL 9135-146 St PLEASANTVIEW COMMUNITY HALL 10860-57 Ave THE PROVINCIAL PUB 160, 4211-106 St REC ROOM–SOUTH EDMONTON COMMON 1725-99 St NW REC ROOM–WEST EDMONTON MALL 8882-170 St NW ROSE AND CROWN 10235-101 St SANDS INN & SUITES 12340 Fort Rd, sandshoteledmonton.com SEWING MACHINE FACTORY 9562-82 Ave

SHAKERS ROADHOUSE Yellowhead Inn, 15004 Yellowhead Trail SHERLOCK HOLMES– DOWNTOWN 10012-101 A Ave, 780.426.7784 SHERLOCK HOLMES–WEM 8882-170 St, 780.444.1752 SIDELINERS PUB 11018-127 St SQUARE 1 COFFEE 15 Fairway Drive ST. BASIL'S CULTURAL CENTRE 10819-71 Ave NW, 780.434.4288, stbasilschurch. com STARLITE ROOM 10030-102 St, 780.428.1099 TAVERN ON WHYTE 10507-82 Ave, 780.521.4404 UNION HALL 6240-99 St NW, 780.702-2582, unionhall.ca WILD EARTH BAKERY– MILLCREEK 8902-99 St, wildearthbakery.com WINSPEAR CENTRE 4 Sir Winston Churchill Square; 780.428.1414 WOODRACK CAFE 7603109 St, 780. 757.0380, thewoodrackcafe.com YARDBIRD SUITE 11 Tommy Banks Way, 780.432.0428

EVENTS

WEEKLY EMAIL YOUR FREE LISTINGS TO: LISTINGS@VUEWEEKLY.COM DEADLINE: FRIDAY AT 12PM

COMEDY BIG ROCK PRESENTS: DEVANEY’S COMEDY NIGHT • Devaney's, 11113-87 Ave • 780.433.6364 • stephen.f.mcgovern@ gmail.com • Weekly open-mic hosted by Stephen McGovern • Sep 6-Apr 25, Every Wed, 8:30pm • Free

BIG ROCK PRESENTS: URBAN TAVERN COMEDY NIGHT HOSTED BY LARS CALLIEOU • Urban Tavern, 11606 Jasper Ave • Every Sun, 8pm

BLACK DOG FREEHOUSE • 10425-82 Ave • Underdog Comedy Show • Every Thu

COMEDY FACTORY • Gateway Entertainment Centre, 34 Ave, Calgary Tr • Thu-Fri: 8pm; Sat: 7:30pm & 10pm (until Apr) • Brian Link; Feb 8-10 • Justin Berkman; Feb 15-17

COMIC STRIP • Bourbon St, WEM • 780.483.5999 • Ali Siddiq; Feb 7-10 • Sean Lecomber; Feb 11 • Jeff Dye; Feb 15-18

EMPRESS ALE HOUSE • 9912-82 Ave • Empress Comedy Night: Highlighting the best stand-up Edmonton has to offer. New headliner every week • Every Sun, 9pm • Free

LAUGH STEADY • Nook Cafe, 10153-97 St • Live stand-up comedy hosted by Kevin Cianciolo • Last Fri of the month, 7:309:30pm • $5 (door)

GROUPS/CLUBS/MEETINGS ADULT DANCE CLASSES • Quantum Leap Dance, 11232-163 St • 780.974.0309 • MON: Adult Tap, 7-8pm; Stretch & Strength with Jazz, 8-9:15pm • Wed: Floor Barre 6:45-7:45, Adult Ballet 7:45-9:15pm • Drop in Rate $15.75 (inc.

GST); 5, 10, 15 Class passes available

AIKIKAI AIKIDO CLUB • 10139-87 Ave, Old Strathcona Community League • Japanese Martial Art of Aikido • Every Tue, Thu; 7-9pm

AMITABHA KADAMPA BUDDHIST CENTRE • 9550-87 St • 780.235.8257 • info@meditationedmonton.org • meditationedmonton.org • Weekly meditation classes and events. All welcome • Every Sun, Tue, Thu

THE CARROT COFFEE FRIENDSHIP CLUB • Carrot Coffeehouse, 9351-118 Ave • Have a cup of coffee with 55+ individuals single, divorced, or widowed who are looking to make new friends with neighbours in our local communities of: Delton, Eastwood, Parkdale – Cromdale, Westwood, Spruce Ave, and Alberta Avenue • Every Wed, 11am

DROP-IN D&D • Hexagon Board Game Café, 10123 Whyte Ave • 780.757.3105 • info@thehexcafe.com • thehexcafe.com • Each night will be a single campaign that fits in a larger story arc. For all levels of gamers and those brand new or experienced to D&D • Every Tue & Wed, 7pm • $5 (with drink purchase)

DROP-IN LARP • Jackie Parker Park • westernwinds.summerfrost.ca • Battle games and fighter practice using provided safe weapon boffer. An exciting way to get exercise while meeting new people with similar passions • Every Sat, 1:15pm • Free EDMONTON OUTDOOR CLUB (EOC) • edmontonoutdoorclub.com • Offering a variety of fun activities in and around Edmonton • Free to join; info at info@ edmontonoutdoorclub.com

FOOD ADDICTS • Alano Club (& Simply Done Cafe), 10728-124 St • 780.718.7133 (or 403.506.4695 after 7pm) • Food Addicts in Recovery Anonymous (FA), free 12-Step recovery program for anyone suffering from food obsession, overeating, under-eating, and bulimia • Meetings every Thu, 7pm

FORT SASKATCHEWAN 45+ SINGLES COFFEE GROUP • A&W, 10101-88 Ave, Fort Saskatchewan • 780.907.0201 (Brenda) • A mixed group offering conversation and friendship • Every Sun, 2pm

HABITAT FOR HUMANITY VOLUNTEER INFORMATION NIGHT • Habitat for

GLASS B LOWING C LASSES WITH PIXIE GLASSWORKS • Pixie Glassworks, 9322-

Humanity Prefab Shop, 14135-128 Ave • 780.451.3416 ext. 236 • vbatten@hfh.org • hfh.org/volunteer/vin • Learn about taking the next steps and what opportunities are available at Habitat for Humanity • Every 3rd Thu of the month, excluding Dec; 6-7pm • Free

60 Ave • 780.436.4460 • pixieglassworks. com/pages/classes • Offering three levels in each of: hollow body work, implosions, sculpture, pipe-making and beads. Call to book • Every Mon, Wed, Thu, 6-9pm (no classes on holidays) • $150 (plus GST)

MONDAY MINGLE • Hexagon Board Game Cafe, 10123 Whyte Ave • 780.757.3105 • info@thehexcafe.com • thehexcafe.com • Meet new gamers. Go to the event solo or with a group • Every Mon, 5-11pm • $5 (one drink per person)

MARIE HENEIN: REFLECTIONS ON JUSTICE AND LEADERSHIP • Chateau

Hall, 3728-106 St • nawca.ca • Meet every Wed, 6:30pm

Lacombe, 10111 Bellamy Hill Rd • Hosting lawyer, feminist and mother, Marie Henein as part of the EPL Forward Thinking Speaker series. Weaving in her experience with the Canadian legal system and her high profile cases, she will share her experiences with justice, social change, intellectual freedom and on finding success as a woman in a male-dominated industry • Feb 27, 7-8:30pm • $10-$75 (via Eventbrite)

OPEN DOOR COMIC CREATOR MEETINGS • Happy Harbor Comics,

SPIRITUAL TOOLS FOR SUCCESS IN RELATIONSHIPS • Upstairs at Strathcona

NORTHERN ALBERTA WOOD CARVERS ASSOCIATION • Duggan Community

10729-104 Ave • 780.452.8211 • happyharborcomics.com • Open to any skill level. Meet other artists and writers, glean tricks of the trade and gain tips to help your own work, or share what you've already done • 2nd and 4th Thu of every month, 7pm

ORGANIZATION FOR BIPOLAR AFFECTIVE DISORDER (OBAD) • Grey Nuns Hospital, Rm 0651, obad@shaw.ca; Group meets every Thu, 7-9pm • Free

Branch Library, 8331-104 St • 780.490.1129 • spiritualexperience.org • Presented by ECKANKAR CANADA in Alberta. Free spiritual discussion. Experience more love, joy and inner peace. Heal your emotions and your body. Transform your life and discover who you are as soul • Feb 21, 7-8:30pm • For free book, call or email

QUEER

PAINTING FOR PLEASURE • McDougall United Church, 10086 Macdonald Drive (south entrance) • 780.428.1818 • karenbishopartist@gmail.com • mcdougallunited.com • A weekly group for those who like to paint, draw or otherwise be creative on paper • Every Thu, 10am-noon SCHIZOPHRENIA SOCIETY FAMILY SUPPORT DROP-IN GROUP • Schizophrenia Society of Alberta, 5215-87 St • 780.452.4661 • schizophrenia.ab.ca • The Schizophrenia Society of Alberta offers a variety of services and support programs for those who are living with the illness, family members, caregivers, and friends • 1st and 3rd Thu each month, 7-9pm • Free

EVOLUTION WONDERLOUNGE • 10220-103 St • 780.424.0077 • yourgaybar.com • Mon: Drag Race in the White Room; 7pm • Wed: Monthly games night/ trivia • Thu: Happy hour, 6-8pm; Karaoke, 7-12:30am • Fri: Flashback Friday with your favourite hits of the 80s/90s/2000s; rotating drag and burlesque events • Sat: Rotating DJs Velix and Suco • Sun: Weekly drag show, 10:30pm

G.L.B.T.Q SENIORS GROUP • S.A.G.E Bldg, main floor Cafe, 15 Sir Winston Churchill Square • 780.4235510 (Sage) • tuff69@telus.net • Meeting for gay seniors, and for any seniors who have gay family members and would like some guidance • Every Tue, 1-4pm

TAKE OFF POUNDS SENSIBLY (TOPS) • Grace United Church annex, 6215-104 Ave • 780.479-8667 (Bob) • bobmurra@telus.net • Low-cost, fun and friendly weight loss group • Every Mon, 6:30pm TOASTMASTERS • Club Bilingue Toastmasters Meetings: Campus St. Jean: Pavillion McMahon; 780.667.6105 (Willard); clubbilingue.toastmastersclubs.org; Meet every Tue, 7pm • Fabulous Facilitators Toastmasters Club: 9888 Jasper Ave. 10th floor; fabulousfacilitators. toastmastersclubs.org; Meet every Tue, 12:05-1pm • N'Orators Toastmasters Club: Lower Level, McClure United Church, 13708-74 St: norators.com; meet every Thu, 7pm • Norwood Toastmasters: Norwood Legion, 11150-82 St NW; norwoodtoastmasters.ca; Every Thu, 7:30-9:30pm • Y Toastmasters Club: Queen Alexandra Community League, 10425 University Ave (N door, stairs to the left); yclubtoastmasters@ gmail.com; Meet every Tue, 7-9pm

VOLUNTEER INFORMATION SESSION AT THE ALBERTA AVIATION MUSEUM • Alberta Aviation Museum, 11410 Kingsway • Discover what the museum is about, meet our staff & current volunteers, and learn about our programs and exciting opportunities • Feb 10, 11am-1pm

WASKAHEGAN TRAIL ASSOCIATION GUIDE HIKE • waskahegantrail.ca • McDonalds, 87 Ave & 149 St • Feb 18, 9:45am-3pm

PRIDE CENTRE OF EDMONTON • Pride Centre of Edmonton, 2nd Floor, 10618-105 Ave • Wheelchair-accessible elevator at 10610 105 Avenue • (780) 488-3234 • pridecentreofedmonton.org/calendar.html • OFFICE & DROP IN HOURS: Mon-Fri 12-7pm; Closed Sat-Sun and holidays • YOGA: (all ages), 2nd and 4th Mon of every month • TTIQ: (18+ Trans Group) 2nd Mon of every month, 7-9pm • TRANS YOUTH GROUP & PARENTS/ CAREGIVERS SUPPORT: (24 and under) 3rd Mon of every month, 7-9pm • FIERCE FUN: (24 and under) Biweekly Tue, 7-9pm, games and activities for youth • JAMOUT: (12-24) Biweekly Tue, 7-8:30pm, music mentorship and instruction for youth • TWO SPIRIT GATHERING: 4th Wed of every month, 6-8pm, gathering for First Nations Two Spirit people • MEN’S SOCIAL CIRCLE: (18+) 1st and 3rd Thu, 7-9pm, for anyone masculine-identified • WOMEN’S SOCIAL CIRCLE: (18+) 2nd and 4th Thu, 7-9pm, for anyone feminine-identified • MOVIES & GAMES NIGHT: Biweekly Fri, 6-8:30pm • ARTS & IDENTITY: Biweekly Fri, 6-8:30pm • CREATING SAFER SPACES TRAINING: Interactive professional development workshops, with full or half-day options • QUEER YOUTH MENTORING: (Youth: 12–24) (Adults 26+)

Volunteers Wanted

Become a Volunteer Advocate and provide assistance to victims of crime and trauma in Strathcona County!

Please call (780) 449-0153.

Can You Read This?

LECTURES/PRESENTATIONS DEBATE! SHOULD ALBERTA HAVE ONE PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM OR TWO? • TELUS 150 Auditorium • Join in for a spirited debate on whether Alberta should change its dual school system of public and separate schools to one public school system. What are the constitutional considerations? • Feb 8, 5:30-7pm • Free and open to the public.

Register: bit.ly/DebF8

YOGA WITH JENNIFER • 780.439.6950 • ThreeBattles.com • A traditional approach with lots of individual attention. Free introductory classes • Tue evenings & Sat mornings SPECIAL EVENTS COLD HANDS WARM HEARTS • Hope Mission, 9908-106 Ave • hopemission.com/ warmhearts • A 2 and 5 km walkathon to raise support and awareness for the hungry and hurting this winter season • Feb 17, 4pm (registration), 5:15pm (walk)

EDMONTON WINEFEST 2018 • Shaw Conference Centre, Hall D, 9797 Jasper Ave • celebratewinefest.com • An annual event that offers guests an impressive and inclusive sampling experience with access to hundreds of wines from regions around the globe • Feb 16-17 FATBIKE FEST • Hawrelak Park, 9330 Groat Road • fatbikefest.ca • FatBike Fest aims to bring together fatbikers and neophytes from near and far for a good time on the snow and trails along the North Saskatchewan River Valley • Feb 18, 1-3pm

ICE CASTLES • Hawrelak Park, 9330 Groat Road • icecastles.com/edmonton • Opening for a third winter, featuring a tubular ice slide, small tunnels and crevasses to crawl through • Every Fri-Sun, Mon, Wed until weather permitting • $9.95-$20 MEET ME AT LOVERS' LANE • Hawrelak Park, 9330 Groat Road • The experience begins with delicious cups of hot chocolate and a festive Valentine's Day lantern as you wait for your horse-drawn cutter sled ride to begin. You and your date will join another couple on an intimate horse-drawn sleigh ride through Lovers' Lane in picturesque Hawrelak Park. Once the ride is over, enjoy many of the free activities the Silver Skate Festival has to offer • Feb 9-10, 14, 16-17; 5-9pm • $55 (tickets at Eventbrite)

Help Someone Who Can’t!

Volunteer 2 hours a week and help someone improve their Reading, Writing, Math or English Speaking Skills.

Call Valerie at P.A.L.S. 780-424-5514 or email palsvol@shaw.ca

SNOWSHOE & STARGAZE • Astotin Lake, Elk Island National Park • 780.922.5790 • bit.ly/2iZcFmp • Trek over snow and gaze into a star-filled sky. Following a short guided hike on snowshoes, attendees will enjoy snacks around a fire and learn about the night sky above • Feb 10, Feb 24, Mar 10; 7-9pm • $29.80 (book via phone) SPIRITS ON ICE • Hawrelak Park, 9330 Groat Road • Offers attendees to the Silver Skate Festival and the Ice Castle in Hawrelak Park, an opportunity to purchase various beer, wine and spirits samples as well as tasty food items from local drink and food vendors • Feb 9-10 • Available at Eventbrite

SWING 'N' SKATE • City Hall, City Room & Plaza, 1 Sir Winston Churchill Square • 780.970.7766 • brasko@edmontonarts.ca • edmontonarts.ca/churchillsquare • Local bands bring the swing with live jazz and big band music. Music will be broadcast outside to enjoy while skating on the Plaza • Every Sun, Jan 7-Feb 25, 1-4pm • Free SWING 'N' SKATE - FAMILY DAY SPECIAL • City Hall, City Room & Plaza, 1 Sir Winston Churchill Square • 780.970.7766 • brasko@ edmontonarts.ca • edmontonarts.ca/ churchillsquare • Swing ‘n’ Skate features the C Jam Big Band • Feb 19, 1-4pm • Free

THURSDAYS TBD TO BE DISCOVERED • Legislative Assembly Visitor Centre, Edmonton Federal Building, Main floor, 9820-107 St • 780.427.7362 • assembly.ab.ca/visitorcentre/events.html • Visitors can look forward to an array of guest speakers, film screenings, free concerts and more • Every Thu, Oct 5-Mar 1, 6-8pm • Free

WINTER ADVENTURE WEEK AT ELK ISLAND NATIONAL PARK • Elk Island National Park - Astotin Lake Recreation Area, 1- 54401 Range Road 203, Fort Saskatchewan • 780.92.5790 • elk.island@pc.gc.ca • Featuring snowshoeing, skating, wildlife viewing, and drop-in programs • Feb 19-25 8 National Park admission applies in 2018 for those who are 18+

SILVER SKATE FESTIVAL 2018 • William Hawrelak Park, 9330 Groat Road • silverskatefestival.org/go • Rooted in the Dutch tradition of a love of the outdoors and of experiencing winter’s cultural and aesthetic beauty, the festival has exploded into an extravaganza of art, culture, recreation and sports programming • Feb 9-19, 12-9pm (weekends), 4-8pm (weekdays) • Admission by donation

VUECLASSIFIEDS 1600.

WICCAN ASSEMBLY • Ritchie Hall, 7727-98 St • cwaalberta@gmail.com • The Congregationalist Wiccan Assembly of Alberta meets the 2nd Sun each month (except Aug), 6pm

TEAM EDMONTON • Locations vary • teamedmonton.ca • LGBTQ2+ inclusive. Various sports and recreation activities. Events include: "Gayming", archery, swimming, floor hockey, volleyball, yoga, and more • Events are seasonal and can change, visit website for more details

2005.

Film Screening: Sameer Telus Centre 1-50, 87 Ave. & 111 St., University of Alberta North Campus Feb. 9, 5-8 pm Free (RSVP at Eventbrite) / Supplied

To Book Your Classifieds, Call 780.426.1996 or email classifieds@vueweekly.com Artist to Artist

ART CLASSES FOR ADULTS, YOUTH, AND CHILDREN Check The Paint Spot’s website, paintspot.ca/events/workshops for up-to-date information on art classes for all ages, beginner and intermediate.

Register in person, by phone or online.

Contact: 780.432.0240 email: accounts@paintspot.ca

VUEWEEKLY.com | FEB 08 - FEB 14, 2018

2005.

Artist to Artist

ENJOY ART ALWAYZ www.bdcdrawz.com Check the site every two weeks for new work!

3100. Appliances/Furniture Old Appliance Removal Removal of unwanted appliances. Must be outside or in your garage.

Rates start as low as $30.

Call James @780.231.7511 for details

7005.

Financial Services

Are you in debt with your credit card? Consolidate your credit card for less with rates from 2.3% APR offer. Bad credit or low income okay.

Call 1-800-581-8288.

BOOK YOUR CLASSIFIED AD TODAY! CALL 780.426.1996 at the back 19

ADULTCLASSIFIEDS

To Book Your Adult Classifieds, Contact James at 780.426.1996 or at adultclassifieds@vueweekly.com 9450.

Kingsway Tokyo Spa

SUPREME SPA Open 7 days a week 5932 Calgary Trail 780.430.0962 supremespa.com Lic# 7440541

Mention This Ad For Special Gift

Highly Skilled Massage OPEN 8AM - 11PM

PASSIONS SPA

Lic. 118832868-001

7 days a week 200 -10408 118 Ave 780.885.1092

The truly Japanese Sensual Massage in Edmonton Beside liquor store at front

9547-76 Ave. Free parking at back From 9am=11pm

Booking 587.523.6566 or 780.246.3007 | LIC#132648203-001

Adult Massage

Happy Hour Every Hour!

Open 7 days a week 9947 63 Ave. Argyll Plaza 780-414-6521 www.passionsspa.com Lic# 42987342

BOOK YOUR CLASSIFIED AD TODAY! CALL 780.426.1996

Top notch down-to-earth Asian Girls in E-town!

#1 IN CUSTOMER SERVICE Monday - Friday • 10am - 11pm Saturday - Sunday • Noon - 7pm Book an appointment or walk in today

NOW HIRING

Fascinations License # 271215629-003

LIC#74125963-001

16628-109 Ave • 780.444.4974 • dejavumassage.ca Open 7am– 7am–11pm

Always

D Daily

Asian Girls

Available

VUEWEEKLY.com | FEB 08 - FEB 14, 2018

LIC# 15100058

4

780.489.75 780.489.7565 780.48 565 14817 1481 17 Yellowhead Yello Ye owhead Trail rail VelvetTouchStudio.com Velvet elvet ouchStudio.com elvetTouch udio.com

20 at the back

Ultimate Adult Massage fascinationsadultspa@gmail.com #201, 9305 111 Ave • 780.705.3330 Amazing service • Pleasure is our game, come and play with us

SAVAGELOVE FETISH IS HARD TO FIND

How does one get into the gay BDSM bottoming and leather scene?

SEEKING ANSWERS CONCERNING KINK One shows up, SACK. “Eighty percent of success is just showing up,” someone or other once said. The adage applies to romantic/sexual success as well as professional success, SACK, but showing up easily accounts for 90 percent of success in the BDSM/ leather/fetish scene. (Being a decent human being accounts for the other 110 percent*.) Because if you aren’t showing up in kink spaces—online or IRL—your fellow kinksters won’t be able to find or bind you. But you don’t have to take my word for it.

“The leather scene is a diverse place with tons of outlets and avenues, depending on how you navigate your life and learn,” said Amp from Watts the Safeword (wattsthesafeword.com), a kink and sexed website and YouTube channel.

“When I was first getting started, I found a local leather contingent that held monthly bar nights and discussion groups that taught classes for kinksters at any level. It provided an easy way into the community, and it helped me meet new people, make new friends, and find trustworthy play partners. If you’re a tad shy and work better online, these contingents have Facebook groups or FetLife pages you can join. And YouTube has a channel for everyone in the kink spectrum from gay to straight to trans to nonbinary and beyond!”

“Recon.com is a great option for gay men,” said Metal from the gay male bondage website MetalbondNYC.com. “It’s a site where you can create a profile, window-shop for a play buddy, and ‘check his references.’ Even better, if you can, go to a public event like IML, MAL, or CLAW, or to a play party like the New York Bondage Club, where you can participate in a monitored space with other people around, or just watch the action. Don’t forget the motto ‘safe, sane, and consensual,’ and be sure to have a safe word! And if you do want to explore bondage, take precautions.

Never get tied up in your own home by someone you don’t know.

If you go to his or her place, always tell a trusted friend where you are going. And when hooking up online, never use Craigslist.”

“Be cautious,” said Ruff of Ruff’s Stuff blog. “There are people out there who view ‘kink newbies’ as prey. Anytime anyone—top or bottom—wants to rush into a powerexchange scene, that’s a red flag.

Always get to know a person first.

A good-quality connection with any potential playmate is achieved only through communication. If they are not interested in doing the legwork, they’re not the right person for you.”

Follow Metal on Twitter @MetalbondNYC, follow Amp @Pup_Amp, and follow Ruff at RuffsStuffBlog.

COMPLICATED

I’m a 28-year-old bi-curious female,

Dan Savage savagelove@vueweekly.com

and I ended a three-year straight LTR a month ago. It’s been tough— my ex is a great guy, and causing him pain has been a loss on top of my own loss, but I know I did the right thing. Among other things, our sex life was bland and we had infrequent sex at best. Now I want to experiment, explore nonmonogamy, and have crazy and fulfilling sex with whoever tickles my fancy.

I met a new guy two weeks ago, and the sex is incredible. We also immediately clicked and became friends. The problem? I suspect he wants a romantic relationship. He says he’s open to my terms—open/ fuck-buddy situation—but things have quickly become relationshipish. I like him, but I can’t realistically picture us being a good LTR match.

I’m hoping we can figure out something in between—something like a sexual friendship where we enjoy and support each other and experiment together without tying ourselves down—but I have found very little evidence of such undefined relationships working without someone getting hurt. I am sick of hurting people! Any advice?

HOPING OPEN PEACEFUL EXPERIENCES FEEL UNLIKE LOSS If “someone might get hurt” is the standard you’re going to apply to all future relationships—if it’s a deal breaker—then you shouldn’t date or fuck anyone else ever again, HOPEFUL, because there’s always a chance someone is going to get hurt. The fact that hurt is always a possibility is no excuse for hurting others needlessly or maliciously; we should be thoughtful and conscientious about other people’s feelings. We should also remember that no one is clairvoyant and that someone can hurt us without intending to. But there’s no intimate human connection, sexual or otherwise, that doesn’t leave us open to hurting or being hurt.

So fuck this guy, HOPEFUL, on your own terms—but don’t be too quick to dismiss the possibility of an LTR. Great sex and a good friendship make up a solid foundation. You’re aware that nonmonogamous relationships are an option—and couples can explore nonmonogamy together. If you can have this guy and have your sexual adventures, too—this could be the start of something big.

when you’re spanking them? And how do you know they’re not bi—at least where spankings are concerned? (Also: There are tons of gay guys out there into spanking, SPANK. So if you aren’t finding any, I can only conclude that you aren’t looking.)

BEARABLE

I’m wondering about the application of the term “bear” to a straight man, such as myself. I’m a bigger guy with a lot of body hair and a beard. I love that in the gay community there is a cute term for guys like me reflecting body positivity. For us straight dudes, however, being big and hairy means getting thought of as an ape—big, dumb, smelly oafs. While I can be dumb, smelly, and oafish at times (like anyone), I’d also like to have a way to describe myself that is masculine yet attractive. Bear is a great

term, but I’m concerned about being insensitive in appropriating it. I haven’t asked my gay/bear friends about it (though they’ve referred to me as a bear on occasion) because I’m afraid I won’t get a straight answer (no pun intended).

Would it be okay for me to refer to myself as a bear or, as a highly privileged straight cis male, do I need to accept the fact that I can’t have everything and maybe leave something alone for fucking once?

HETERO APE INQUIRING RESPECTFULLY, YUP

lifestyle, and it’s celebrating yourself. Gay, straight, hairy, smooth, fat, muscled—bear is a state of mind. It’s body acceptance. It’s acceptance of who you are. So if you want to be a bear, WELCOME TO THE WOODS!” Matt Bee, the promoter behind Bearracuda Worldwide (bearracuda.com), seconded Mack. “The term ‘bear,’ like any other animal descriptor, is a pretty playful one to begin with. Please, by all means, use it and any other well-meaning word to describe yourself!”

“If you want to be a bear, BE A BEAR!” said Brendan Mack, an organizing member of XL Bears (xlbears.org), a social group for bears and their admirers. “DO YOU! There isn’t anything appropriative about a straight guy using the term ‘bear’ to describe himself—it’s a body type, it’s a

* Math is hard.

On the Lovecast, the robots are making your porn!: savagelovecast.com. mail@savagelove.net @fakedansavage on Twitter ITMFA.org

ALBERTA-WIDECLASSIFIEDS •• business •• opportunities HIP OR KNEE Replacement? Restrictions in walking/dressing? $2,500 yearly tax credit. $40,000 lump sum cheque. Disability Tax Credit. Expert Help.

Lowest service fee nationwide. 1-844-453-5372.

•• coming events •• FIREARMS WANTED FOR February 24th, 2018 live and online auction.

Rifles, shotguns, handguns, militaria. Auction or purchase; Collections, Estates, individual items.

Contact Paul, Switzer’s Auction, Toll Free 1-800694-2609; info@switzersauction.com or www. switzersauction.com.

•• employment •• opportunities SPRUCE POINT PARK ASSOCIATION accepting applications for position of Park Manager (Seasonal) for May 1st through September 30th with flexibility on September end date. Spruce Point Park Campground and Marina facility is on Lesser Slave Lake 285kms northwest

of Edmonton, AB near Hamlet of Kinuso. For complete package and details call 780-775-3805 or 780-805-0801 or email sprucepointpark@gmail. com. Closing date February 15, 2018 or until suitable candidate is found.

SEEKING A CAREER in the Community Newspaper business? Post your resume for FREE right where the publishers are looking. Visit: awna.com/ for-job-seekers.

SANDMAN INNS RURAL BC recruiting management couples. Both fulltime and part-time roles available. Ask us about our great employee perks and accommodation. Apply on https://sandmanhotels.prevueaps.com.

MEDICAL TRANSCRIPTION! In-demand career!

Employers have work-athome positions available.

Get online training you need from an employer-trusted program. Visit: CareerStep. ca/MT or 1-855-768-3362 to start training for your workat-home career today!

ROSEBUD GOLF COURSE hiring 2018. All positions: pro-shop, kitchen, grounds keeping, mechanical. Competitive wages.

Superior opportunity. Only aggressive, ambitious need apply. Send resume to: rosebudgolf.com.

•• equipment •• For sale BLANKET THE PROVINCE with a classified ad. Only $269 (based on 25 words or less).

Reach over 110 weekly newspapers. Call NOW for details 1-800-282-6903 ext 228; www.awna.com.

•• For sale •• METAL ROOFING & SIDING. 37+ colours available at over 55 Distributors. 40 year warranty. 48 hour Express Service available at select supporting Distributors. Call 1-888-263-8254.

SAWMILLS from only $4,397. Make money and save money with your own bandmill. Cut lumber any dimension. In stock, ready to ship. FREE info and DVD. www.NorwoodSawmills.com/400OT. 1-800567-0404 Ext.400OT. STEEL BUILDING SALE...”Really big sale is back - extra winter discount on now!” 20X23 $5,798; 25X27 $6,356;

30X31 $8,494; 32X33 $8,728; 35X35 $11,670.

One end wall included.

Pioneer Steel 1-855-2127036 www.pioneersteel.ca.

OVER ONE MILLION DOLLARS of Safety and Workwear Clear-Outs.

Serving Rural Municipalities and Farms across Canada since 1986. Great deals. Don’t Miss Out! directworkwear.com.

COLORADO BLUE SPRUCE: $0.99/each for a box of 180 ($178.20).

Also full range of tree, shrub and berry seedlings.

Free shipping most of Canada. Growth guarantee. 1-866-873-3846 or TreeTime.ca.

•• health •• GET UP TO $50,000 from the Government of Canada. Do you or someone you know have any of these conditions?

ADHD, Anxiety, Arthritis, Asthma, Cancer, COPD, Depression, Diabetes, Difficulty Walking, Fibromyalgia, Irritable Bowels, Overweight, Trouble Dressing....and hundreds more. All ages and medical conditions qualify. Call The Benefits Program 1-800-211-3550.

•• real estate •• 320 ACRES of Highly Assessed Saskatchewan Farmland for sale near Bengough, SK. 5 to 10 year lease available with profit share or cash rent. $498K. Contact Doug at 306-7162671 or saskfarms@shaw. ca for further details.

PRAIRIESKY ROYALTY LTD. is a publicly-traded company in Calgary that acquires oil and gas fee title and royalty interests at fair market value. To receive a cash offer, call 587-2934055 or visit www.prairiesky. com/Selling-Your-Royalties .

•• services •• GET BACK ON TRACK! Bad credit? Bills? Unemployed? Need money? We lend! If you own your own home - you qualify. Pioneer Acceptance Corp. Member BBB. 1-877-987-1420. www.pioneerwest.com.

CRIMINAL RECORD? Why suffer employment/ licensing loss? Travel/ business opportunities?

Be embarrassed? Think: Criminal Pardon. US entry waiver. Record purge. File destruction. Free consultation 1-800-347-2540; www. accesslegalmjf.com.

SPANKS

I’m a mid-20s, above-average-looking gay dude into spanking guys.

The weird thing is, the only guys I can find to spank are straight. It’s not that they’re closeted—most of them go on to have girlfriends, and that’s when we stop—and they make it clear they don’t want anything sexual to happen. No complaints on my end! But why don’t they want a woman spanking them?

SERIOUSLY PERPLEXED AND NEEDING KNOWLEDGE How do you know their new girlfriends don’t start spanking them when you stop? And how do you know they aren’t closing their eyes and imaging that you’re a woman VUEWEEKLY.com | FEB 08 - FEB 14, 2018

at the back 21

FREEWILLASTROLOGY ARIES (March 21-April 19): British athlete Liam Collins is an accomplished hurdler. In 2017, he won two medals at the World Masters Athletics Indoor Championships in South Korea. Collins is also a stuntman and street performer who does shows in which he hurtles over barriers made of chainsaws and leaps blindfolded through flaming hoops. For the foreseeable future, you may have a dual capacity with some resemblances to his. You could reach a high point in expressing your skills in your chosen field, and also branch out into extraordinary or flamboyant variations on your specialty.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): When he was 32, the man who would later be known as Dr. Seuss wrote his first kid’s book, And To Think That I Saw It on Mulberry Street. His efforts to find a readership went badly at first.

Twenty-seven publishers rejected his manuscript. On the verge of abandoning his quest, he ran into an old college classmate on the street. The friend, who had recently begun working at Vanguard Press, expressed interest in the book. Voila! Mulberry Street got published. Dr. Seuss later said that if, on that lucky day, he had been strolling on the other side of the street, his career as an author of children’s books might never have happened. I’m telling you this tale, Taurus, because I suspect your chances at experiencing a comparable stroke of luck in the coming weeks will be extra high. Be alert!

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): A survey of British Christians found that most are loyal to just six of the Ten Commandments. While they still think it’s bad to, say, steal and kill and lie, they don’t regard it as a sin to revere idols, work on the Sabbath, worship other gods, or use the Lord’s name in a curse. In accordance with the astrological omens, I encourage you to be inspired by their rebellion. The coming weeks will be a favourable time to re-evaluate your old traditions and belief systems, and then discard anything that no longer suits the new person you’ve become.

CANCER (June 21-July 22): While serving in the U.S. Navy during the Second World War, Don Karkos lost the sight in his right eye after being hit by shrapnel. Sixtyfour years later, he regained his vision when he got butted in the head by a horse he was grooming.

Based on the upcoming astrological omens, I’m wondering if you’ll soon experience a metaphorically comparable restoration. My analysis suggests that you’ll undergo a healing in which something you lost will return or be returned.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): The candy cap mushroom, whose scientific name is Lactarius rubidus, is a

22 at the back

burnt orange colour. It’s small to medium-sized and has a convex cap. But there its resemblance to other mushrooms ends. When dried out, it tastes and smells like maple syrup. You can grind it into a powder and use it to sweeten cakes and cookies and custards.

According to my analysis of the astrological omens, this unusual member of the fungus family can serve as an apt metaphor for you right now. You, too, have access to a resource or influence that is deceptive, but in a good way: offering a charm and good flavour different from what its outer appearance might indicate.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): A grandfather from New Jersey decided to check the pockets of an old shirt he didn’t wear very often. There Jimmie Smith found a lottery ticket he had stashed away months previously. When he realized it had a winning number, he cashed it in for $24.1 million— just two days before it was set to expire. I suspect there may be a comparable development in your near future, although the reward would be more modest. Is there any potential valuable that you have forgotten about or neglected? It’s not too late to claim it.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): The U.S. Geological Survey recently announced that it had come up with improved maps of the planet’s agricultural regions. Better satellite imagery helped, as did more thorough analysis of the imagery. The new data show that the Earth is covered with 618 million more acres of croplands than had previously been thought. That’s 15 percent higher than earlier assessments! In the coming months, Libra, I’m predicting a comparable expansion in your awareness of how many resources you have available. I bet you will also discover that you’re more fertile than you have imagined.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): In 1939, Scorpio comic book writer Bob Kane co-created the fictional science-fiction superhero Batman.

The “Caped Crusader” eventually went on to become an icon, appearing in blockbuster movies as well as TV shows and comic books. Kane said one of his inspirations for Batman was a flying machine envisioned by Leonard da Vinci in the early 16th century. The Italian artist and inventor drew an image of a winged glider that he proposed to build for a human being to wear. I bring this up, Scorpio, because I think you’re in a phase when you, like Kane, can draw inspiration from the past. Go scavenging through history for good ideas!

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): I was watching a four-player poker game on TV. The folksy commentator said that the assortment of cards belonging to the player named Mike was “like

Rob Brezsny freewill@vueweekly.com

JONESIN’ CROSSWORD

“Running Free” -- it’s freestyle, sobeit.

Anna Kournikova,” because “it looks great but it never wins.” He was referring to the fact that during her career as a professional tennis player, Anna Kournikova was feted for her physical beauty but never actually won a singles title. This remark happens to be a useful admonishment for you Sagittarians in the coming weeks.

You should avoid relying on anything that looks good but never wins. Put your trust in influences that are a bit homely or unassuming but far more apt to contribute to your success.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): A Chinese man named Wang Kaiyu bought two black-furred puppies from a stranger and took them home to his farm. As the months passed by, Wang noticed that his pets seemed unusually hungry and aggressive. They would sometimes eat his chickens.

When they were two years old, he finally figured out that they weren’t dogs, but rather Asian black bears. He turned them over to a local animal rescue centre.

I bring this to your attention, Capricorn, because I suspect it may have a resemblance to your experience. A case of mistaken identity? A surprise revealed in the course of a ripening process?

A misunderstanding about what you’re taking care of? Now is a good time to make adjustments and corrections.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Charles Nelson Reilly was a famous American actor, director, and drama teacher. He appeared in or directed numerous films, plays, and TV shows. But in the 1970s, when he was in his forties, he also spent quality time impersonating a banana in a series of commercials for Bic Banana Ink Crayons. So apparently he wasn’t overly attached to his dignity.

Pride didn’t interfere with his ability to experiment. In his pursuit of creative expression, he valued the arts of playing and having fun. I encourage you to be inspired by his example during the coming weeks, Aquarius.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): According to ancient Greek writer Herodotus, Persians didn’t hesitate to deliberate about important matters while drunk. However, they wouldn’t finalize any intoxicated decision until they had a chance to re-evaluate it while sober. The reverse was also true.

Choices they made while sober had to be reassessed while they were under the influence of alcohol. I bring this to your attention not because I think you should adhere to similar guidelines in the coming weeks. I would never give you an oracle that required you to be buzzed. But I do think you’ll be wise to consider key decisions from not just a coolly rational mindset, but also from a frisky intuitive perspective. To arrive at a wise verdict, you need both.

Matt Jones jonesincrosswords@vueweekly.com

Across

1 Big meals 8 Abrasive stones 15 Restricted, one way 16 Amount of a minor shock 17 Frazzle 18 Thorny problem 19 Glance of contempt 20 Oprah’s longtime partner Graham 21 They hold onto everything 23 Barnyard noise 24 Give permission 28 Reason for news to interrupt regular programming 36 Roam (about) 37 “Le Misanthrope” playwright 38 Assessment that may determine how well you work with others 40 In a way 41 “411” 43 Fuel-efficient vehicle 50 Tiny organism 54 Lovingly, in music 55 Freeloaders 56 Fallen for 57 First name on Mount Rushmore 58 “Gimme,” in more words 59 Tooth component 60 Egg containers

Down

1 Early Baseball Hall-of-Famer Edd 2 Film composer Morricone 3 “Bear” that’s not a bear 4 Like ___ in the headlights 5 Fathered 6 “Fiddler on the Roof” protagonist 7 Completely avoid, with “of” 8 Detergent containers that I shouldn’t have to tell you never to eat 9 Fathom, e.g.

10 “___ Kalikimaka” (Bing Crosby holiday song)

11 Exclamation akin to “Eureka!”

12 Council 13 Jazz trumpeter Ziggy 14 Played terribly 22 Sound of lament 25 Relating to coins or currency 26 Mail delivery site?

27 ___ May Clampett (“Beverly Hillbillies” daughter) 28 Oil additive letters 29 Early start?

30 Food involved in “typewriter eating,” according to tvtropes. org 31 Caption seen early in an alphabet book, maybe 32 NASDAQ newcomers 33 “It comes ___ surprise ...”

34 E-file agency 35 Badminton divider 39 Some capts.-to-be 41 “Grrr!”

42 Mythological weeper 44 Kitchen appliance brand 45 TV weatherman Al 46 Armour’s Spam rival 47 Apartment that’s owned 48 “Lord of the Rings” actor Sean 49 “The Tonight Show” house band, with “The” 51 “Fancy meeting you here!”

52 Rowan Atkinson’s “Mr.” character 53 J.D. Salinger title character ©2018 Jonesin’ Crosswords

VUEWEEKLY.com

VUEWEEKLY.com | FEB 08 - FEB 14, 2018

CURTIS HAUSER

VUEWEEKLY.com | FEB 08 - FEB 14, 2018

at the back 23

The Bighorn Backcountry west of Edmonton provides 88% of the city’s water. We have a chance to protect wildlife, water, and non-motorized recreation opportunities by creating a Wildland Park.

Show some love for the Bighorn.

Go to loveyourheadwaters.ca

Photo: Jody Hilti.

to find out how you can express your support for a Bighorn Wildland Park.

24 There’s a starman waiting in the sky

VUEWEEKLY.com | FEB 08 - FEB 14, 2018