1020: Edmonton's underground comedy scene

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VUEWEEKLY.com | MAY 14 – MAY 20, 2015

ISSUE: 1020 MAY 14 – MAY 20, 2015 COVER ILLUSTRATION: CURTIS HAUSER

LISTINGS

ARTS / 14 MUSIC / 31 EVENTS / 33 CLASSIFIED / 34 ADULT / 36

FRONT

4

"The point I would make is there are no professionals. We're all just amateur guys hacking away—there's nothing magical about it." //5

DISH

6

"Personally, I don't love the idea that somebody has to win and somebody has to lose, but there you go." // 6

BIG AL’S

ARTS

9

"At a comedy club, that stuff is the bread and butter: the light misogyny, light homophobia, the light playful racism—if such a thing could exist." // 9

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FILM

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"I grew up in the '70s, and the '70s was way less overt than all of this stuff." // 24

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MUSIC

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"And as I did more writing I realized, OK, I can hold my weight and I've got good ideas here." // 27

may 20

ROAD TRIPS • 15

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FOUNDING EDITOR / PUBLISHER.................................................................................................................RON GARTH PRESIDENT ROBERT W DOULL......................................................................................................................rwdoull@vueweekly.com PUBLISHER ANDY COOKSON ...............................................................................................................................andy@vueweekly.com ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER / SALES MANAGER JOANNE LAYH ..................................................................................................................................joanne@vueweekly.com OFFICE ADMINISTRATOR VALERIE GROSS .............................................................................................................................valerie@vueweekly.com MANAGING EDITOR / MUSIC EDITOR MEAGHAN BAXTER .................................................................................................................meaghan@vueweekly.com NEWS EDITOR REBECCA MEDEL.........................................................................................................................rebecca@vueweekly.com ARTS & FILM EDITOR PAUL BLINOV ........................................................................................................................................paul@vueweekly.com DISH EDITOR MEL PRIESTLEY ....................................................................................................................................mel@vueweekly.com ONLINE EDITOR / STAFF WRITER JOSH MARCELLIN ............................................................................................................................... josh@vueweekly.com POSTVUE / FEATURES WRITER JASMINE SALAZAR...................................................................................................................... jasmine@vueweekly.com LISTINGS HEATHER SKINNER....................................................................................................................... listings@vueweekly.com EDITORIAL INTERN KAYLEN SMALL .............................................................................................................................. kaylen@vueweekly.com PRODUCTION MANAGER CHARLIE BIDDISCOMBE .............................................................................................................charlie@vueweekly.com PRODUCTION CURTIS HAUSER .............................................................................................................................curtish@vueweekly.com ACCOUNT MANAGER JAMES JARVIS ....................................................................................................................................james@vueweekly.com NATIONAL ADVERTISING REPRESENTATIVE DPS MEDIA ..........................................................................................416.413.9291 .................dbradley@dpsmedia.com DISTRIBUTION MANAGER MICHAEL GARTH .........................................................................................................................michael@vueweekly.com

CONTRIBUTORS Ricardo Acuña, Rob Brezsny, Ryan Bromsgrove, Bruce Cinnamon, Gwynne Dyer, Michelle Falk, Brian Gibson, Fish Grikowsky, Brenda Kerber, Dan Savage, Mike Winters

Breezy Brian Gregg

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UP FRONT 3

FRONT POLITICALINTERFERENCE

NEWS EDITOR: REBECCA MEDEL REBECCA@VUEWEEKLY.COM

RICARDO ACUÑA // RICARDO@VUEWEEKLY.COM

The road ahead for Notley

Middle-of-the-road politics: from extreme right-wing to left-wingers who want it all now "The trouble with the middle of the road is you get hit by cars going both directions."

That quote, delivered by the fictional UK Prime Minister of Labour in the novel A Very British Coup, highlights what may well be the largest challenge going forward for Rachel Notley and her newly elected New Democrat government.

The attacks from the right, which had already begun before the election, ramped up immediately following Notley's victory as financial advisors quickly began recommending a sell-off of energy stocks. Two days after election day, the Edmonton Journal shamelessly highlighted a letter to the editor from a Stony Plain businessman suggesting that because of the election results he will not expand his business, he will not hire new staff and that he is

VUEPOINT

not the only one.

"Soon Albertans will see their neighbours put their house up for sale and move back to the province they came from," he wrote. "Soon, more and more people will be competing for fewer and fewer jobs in the cities as the oil field dries up."

What's happening here is not a genuine fear of the economy collapsing.

Sadly, these folks are quite happy and quite prepared to cause an economic collapse for the sake of making their point politically. It's not a new tactic. It was done to Bob Rae when he won in Ontario, and years before that to Dave Barrett in British Columbia. Although not a new strategy, we can likely expect it to be more pronounced in Alberta than in those other examples simply because here these folks have had 44 years of unfettered and uncontrolled privilege, influence and access to the halls of power. It's

not their money they are worried about losing, it's their political power, and they're actually willing to lose money in the short term to get it back.

At the same time, the New Democrats have a base on the centre-left of the political spectrum whose expectations have never been higher. They are expecting to see great things for the health-care system, the education system, social services and post-secondary education. They want democratic reform. They want tax reform. They want stronger environmental regulations and reduced reliance on oil and gas. They have worked for decades to make this happen, and many thought they would never see this day. Now here it is, and these folks want it all and they will want it right now.

This is the road whose middle Notley will have to figure out how to navigate without getting hit by the Mercedes' and BMWs going one way or the bi-

cycles and Prius' going the other direction. She will need to find creative ways to fight off the attacks from the right while managing the expectations of her base. She was able to do this successfully during the election, in part by presenting a very pragmatic and moderate set of policies in her platform, but also because Alberta's entitled and empowered corporate sector proved to be entirely tone deaf. The more often and more loudly they cried "wolf," the more Albertans responded with anger and flocked to the New Democrats.

That anger by Albertans has served Notley well in the early days of her government. She has been able to keep corporate blow-back to a minimum, but that honeymoon will fade and she will have to work harder and harder to do that. One potential policy that would effectively accomplish the dual goals of keeping her base happy while minimizing the impact of the newly disconnected corporate sector would be

party finance reform, and in particular, taking corporate and union money out of politics in Alberta. It's a core plank of the left, a policy long supported by the Official Opposition Wildrose Party, and it would have the added benefit of limiting the degree to which Alberta's wealthy could rebuild and prop up her largely defunct political opponents.

Throughout the campaign, Notley showed herself to have a keen understanding of the political landscape in the province and the smarts to walk the line to maximum effect. Hopefully she will show herself to have the same sense and ability over the next four years. V Ricardo Acuña is the executive director of the Parkland Institute, a nonpartisan, public policy research institute housed at the University of Alberta.

The views and opinions expressed are his own and do not necessarily reflect those of the Institute.

PAUL BLINOV PAUL@VUEWEEKLY.COM

Gritty business Hey, so this is scary: last week, Bill C-51—better known as the Secret Police Bill—a Harper-Conservative initiative that will widely share your private information among government agencies, make it easy to censor legitimate political discussions, and give CSIS the ability to act as both an intelligence agency and a police force, even though CSIS was created as way of keeping those very things separate—passed through the House of Commons. It's now made its way to the Senate, bringing it so much closer to becoming the Orwellian law of the land.

At that last House of Commons stage, the bill received 183 votes, a winning mix of Conservative and Liberal MPs—for the former, the sort of follow-the-leader voting block we've come to expect, for the latter, a pretty awkwardly transparent play to appeal to the right in advance of the upcoming election. (For the record: in all of Alberta, only Edmonton's NDP MP Linda Duncan voted against the bill.)

So let's talk about that Liberal voting block.

The party's opposed a number of key provisions in the bill but still voted for it, with talk of pushing for amendments in the future. The majority Conservative government could've passed it through without them, but every Liberal MP voted in favour of C-51 anyway. It's a bill that polls show only 33 percent of Canadians support, and that 56 percent oppose.

Ignorance of voters' will aside, it's also, and more depressingly, a shallow betrayal of the party's deeper ideals. Elsewhere, the Grits are trying to be a party that pushes for openness and freedom—in transparent government, in giving Canadians access to government information, in right-to-die legislation. Here, the party aligned itself with the fear-thy-neighbour politics of a governing party that's made it very clear it doesn't actually trust Canadians. So as the federal election inches closer, it's worth asking yourself to consider the move's deeper implications. Why would we replace the old ruling party with one that's willing to ignore the people and its own stated ideals for vague political gain? V

4 UP FRONT

DYERSTRAIGHT

GWYNNE DYER // GWYNNE@VUEWEEKLY.COM

More anti-terrorism laws

Terrorist threats mean the civil liberties of ordinary citizens are bargained away Left-wing, right-wing, it makes no difference. Almost every elected government, confronted with even the slightest "terrorist threat," responds by attacking the civil liberties of its own citizens. And the citizens often cheer them on.

Last week, the French government passed a new bill through the National Assembly that vastly expanded the powers of the country's intelligence services. French intelligence agents will now be free to plant cameras and recording devices in private homes and cars, intercept phone conversations without judicial oversight, and even install "keylogger" devices that record every key stroke on a targeted computer in real time.

It was allegedly a response to the Charlie Hebdo attacks that killed 17 people in Paris last January, but the security services were just waiting for an excuse. Indeed, Prime Minister Manuel Valls said the law was needed to give a legal framework to intelligence agents who are already pursuing some of these practices illegally. France, he explained, has never "had to face this kind of terrorism in our history."

Meanwhile, over in Canada, Minister of National Defence Jason Kenney was justifying a similar overreaction by saying that "the threat of terrorism has never been greater." Really?

In all the time since 9/11 there had never been a terrorist attack in Canada until last October, when two Canadian soldiers were killed in separate incidents. Both were low-tech, "lone wolf" attacks by Canadian converts to Islam—in one, the murder weapon was simply a car—but the public (or at least the media)

got so excited that the government felt the need to "do something."

The Anti-Terror Act, which has just passed the Canadian House of Commons, gives the Canadian Security Intelligence Service the right to make "preventive" arrests in Canada. It lets police arrest and detain individuals without charge for up to seven days. The bill's prohibitions on speech that "promotes or glorifies terrorism" are so broad and vague that any extreme political opinion can be criminalized.

In short, it's the usual smorgasbord of crowd-pleasing measures that politicians

ing freedoms in the name of fighting extremism—and the French parliament passed the new security law by 438 votes to 86.

The government in France is Socialist, but the opposition centre-right supported the new law, too. Prime Minister Stephen Harper's Conservative government in Canada is seriously right-wing, but the centreright Liberals were equally unwilling to risk unpopularity by opposing it. However, the centre-left New Democrats and the Greens voted against it, and the vote was closer in Canada: 183 to 96.

And the Canadian public, at the start 82 percent in favour of the new law, had a rethink during the course of the debate. By the time the Anti-Terror Act was passed in the House of Commons, 56 percent of Canadians were against it. Among Canadians between 18 and 34 years old, fully three-quarters opposed it.

Maybe the difference just reflects the smaller scale of the attacks in Canada, but full credit to Canadians for getting past the knee-jerk phase of their response to terrorism. Nevertheless, their parliament still passed the bill.

So should we chalk all this up as two more victories for the terrorists, with an honourable mention for the Canadian public?

No, not really. Islamic State, al-Qaeda and all the other jihadis don't give a damn if Western democracies mutilate their own freedoms, as it doesn't significantly restrict their own operations. The only real winners are the security forces. V

The cruel truth is that we put a higher value on the lives of those killed in terrorist attacks because they get more publicity. throw out when they want to look tough.

It won't do much to stop terrorist attacks, but that doesn't matter since the threat is pretty small anyway.

France has 65 million people and it lost 17 of them to terrorism in the past year. Canada has 36 million people, and it has lost precisely two of them to domestic terrorism in the past 20 years. In what way were those lives more valuable than those of the hundreds of people who die each year in France and Canada from less newsworthy crimes of violence like murder?

The cruel truth is that we put a higher value on the lives of those killed in terrorist attacks because they get more publicity. That's why, in an opinion poll last month, nearly two-thirds of French people were in favour of restrict-

VUEWEEKLY.com | MAY 14 – MAY 20, 2015

Gwynne Dyer is an independent journalist whose articles are published in 45 countries.

NEWS // GAMING

// Curtis Hauser

S

o you want to make a video game ... and you're in Edmonton. Well, you're not alone.

With hobbyists, university programs, indie studios and, of course, BioWare, Edmonton's game-development culture has a lot going on.

Enough so that a few weeks back, hundreds came out for the inaugural Game Discovery Exhibition.

Organized by the University of Alberta's Video Game Art and Design Club, the exhibition brought together everyone from industry professionals, artists, programmers and designers, to members of the general public who just like playing games.

Keynote speaker Trent Oster—now with local company Beamdog, but formerly with BioWare—has more or less seen it all when it comes to Alberta-made video games. He's been around since the founding of BioWare in 1995, working on its early releases, up through Baldur's Gate and Neverwinter Nights.

"BioWare was really well-served by our remote location," Oster says. "If you were good, and you wanted to do game stuff, you had no option."

But in the early 2000s, with the pressure of making bigger games, Oster admits the company fell off a bit when it came to local hiring as it became more on the lookout for ready-to-hire, experienced professionals—but that shouldn't intimidate newcomers.

"I'm a professional games developer.

I've been making games for 21 years, a few buddies together and put out form functions, like being a bridge or a and getting paid for 18 of those," Oster something to rival Assassin's Creed prison, with each of them also spawnsays. "The point I would make is there anymore. But that doesn't mean you ing various people.

"For this game, I was sitting in one of are no professionals. We're all just can't get a few buddies together and amateur guys hacking away—there's put out something cool. With free my classes and the idea just came to nothing magical about it. Even in huge, game engines like Unity now available, me. [I thought] 'I could do all that; that massive studios, guys leading teams of you only need a few collaborators to seems reasonable,'" Cassidy recalls.

"That class I got nothing done, 150 people, we're all making it but I came up with the idea and up as we go."

We're all just amateur guys wrote up a design document."

People are sometimes surHis display contained a notice prised to hear that Edmonhacking away—there's nothing unashamedly touting the proton has a renowned gamemagical about it. grammer graphics. But a lack development studio and that of an immediate collaborator its latest release, Dragon Age didn't stop him getting to work Inquisition, won resounding on the guts of the game. put together a game—if you don't acclaim internationally. And it is, "For now I'm definitely continuing in some ways, odd that a big-budget want to just do it solo. With tasks that previously would have required com- with myself until I get enough of an video game would be made here.

"Montréal has a massive game sub- plicated customized coding now only a idea," Cassidy notes. "If I want to do sidy. They will pay 37.5 percent of the matter of dragging graphics into place, anything with it, I'll need an artist— salaries of art staff that work on video it's never been easier to put together currently it's my art, it's terrible."

Domini Gee was also at the exhibigames. It's huge," Oster says. "Vancou- a game.

You'll still need someone to write tion showing off her game, Camera ver also has a subsidy, 17.5 percent of salary, as well, as an investor you're al- plenty of scripting to make the game Anima, for which she worked on the lowed a 30-percent tax credit. So it's work, to be sure—or someone to writing, programming and level demake all those pretty graphics if sign. The game is a point-and-click really stacking up pretty good."

There are no subsidies in Edmon- you're the scripting guy—but that's visual novel that she made as a ton. It is, as Oster notes, a bit of an where events like GDX and game demo solely for GDX, though she may expand on it later. oddity that BioWare happened here. jams come in.

"It's about a pair of twins and a serialThere were a few people into making video games, and there were a Dylan Cassidy, enrolled in the U of A's killer automaton that steals people's few people who happened to have video game certificate program, was souls—and the serial killings occur showing off a "Sim City-esque" space- over four decades," she explains. money to invest.

It's something that can easily be Several console generations have craft simulator he's been working on at passed, and major releases now re- Game Discovery. It's in its early stages, done by anyone with the right skills. quire teams of hundreds and market- but his idea is to allow players to place Camera Anima is made with Ren'Py, ing budgets rivalling or exceeding hallways and rooms on relatively large free software to aid the creation of development costs. You can't just get ships. These compartments will per- visual-novel games.

VUEWEEKLY.com | MAY 14 – MAY 20, 2015

Gee has also worked on Dead Weight.

Here, after murdering your boss in a fit of rage, you play a nameless employee who needs to hide the body without getting caught. This game was made for Global Game Jam 2015, and Gee isn't the only GDX attendee who's taken part in those events.

The usual Game Jam challenge: form a team and make a full game in just 48 hours. Following GDX, in fact, was a week-long version of it titled Madjam—put on by local indie studio Madsoft Games. These events are perfectly suited for people looking for others with complementary skill sets who are also passionate about making games.

They also tie back into one of the pieces of advice Oster had in his keynote for aspiring game developers in Edmonton: never mind the subsidies in other cities; you can just start making games here now. Big-budget, major studio games? They're like movies, he says. But smaller games, from app stores and Steam—they're like TV. There's a lot of good stuff on TV these days, and there are plenty of ways newcomers can still get started making games that shake up the industry at a lower cost than ever.

"We started BioWare with the question of, 'How hard could this possibly be?'" Oster says. "And the answer is, 'Oh my God, it's really hard,' but in the end, it was doable."

RYAN BROMSGROVE

RYAN@VUEWEEKLY.COM

UP FRONT 5

FEATURE // FOOD FIGHT

DISH

DISH EDITOR: MEL PRIESTLEY MEL@VUEWEEKLY.COM

S

// Pilar Ramírez

// Pilar Ramírez

6 DISH

Edmonton Food Fight facebook.com/edmontonfoodfight @FoodFightYEG

elling out in seven minutes: not a lot of events around town can claim that kind of hype.

The third instalment of Edmonton Food Fight, a homegrown chef competition created by Kathryn Joel of Get Cooking and local activist Mike Hudema, sold out seven minutes after tickets went on sale. The first and second fights also sold out quickly. Clearly, Edmonton has a taste for watching our local chefs go head-to-head.

"It seems to have really caught an appetite in Edmonton," Joel says.

"There's such a fervour for chef competitions on TV, with things like Chopped Canada; there's a natural audience for that. We also have this growing food scene here, so I think the excitement that TV creates, combined with the interest people have locally for our local chefs, and the ability to see them cooking randomly live, generates quite a bit of excitement."

Edmonton Food Fights are loosely based on the Knife Fights television show, but with a local flair. Two of our city's chefs face off in Joel's Get Cooking kitchen, where they have one hour to prepare at least two dishes with three mystery ingredients, sourced from local suppliers. A set of three judges, comprised of a local chef, food-media personality and local celebrity, determine the winner.

The first competition, which ran in February and saw Brayden Kozak of Three Boars trump Shane Chartrand of Sage Restaurant, used lamb heart, cod tongue and Jerusalem artichokes.

In the second Fight, Alexei Boldireff of S'wich Food Truck took the win over Spencer Thompson of Toast Fine Catering with lamb testicles, fiddlehead ferns and jumbo squid. Joel is still figuring out what she'll throw at the third pair of competitors in Food Fight's first themed fight—Battle Food Truck—which will pit Dean Gossen of Bully Food Truck against Mark Bellows of the Local Omnivore.

Although there's only been two Food Fights so far, Joel notes that they made quite a number of improvements from the first one, aided in large part by constructive criticism provided by local food blogger Cindy Nguyen (of Let's Om Nom): they added a webcam so that the crowd could see everything going on in the

VUEWEEKLY.com | MAY 14 – MAY 20, 2015

kitchen, adjusted the volume level of the emcee (Mike Chalut from 91.7 the Bounce), and ran the finished plates through the crowd after the judges had tasted so that people could have a bite of the dishes if they chose.

(Each chef also creates a bunch of canapés before the competition to give the audience a taste of their culinary style.) It's quite a party atmosphere, Joel notes.

But the real question for these fights: are Edmonton chefs as cutthroat as the ones on TV, à la Gordon Ramsay and Anthony Bourdain?

"Not really; we're trying to be pretty chill about it," Joel says with a chuckle. "I'm not a competitive person, and I'm not really encouraging huge competition; we want it to be fun and lighthearted. But most of the chefs I know are all Type A personalities, and they are pretty competitive naturally.

We're trying to downplay that and keep it really fun. I want them to like each other at the end of the night!

Personally, I don't love the idea that somebody has to win and somebody has to lose, but there you go."

Given the intense demand for a spot to witness these chef battles, Joel has considered increasing their frequency, though that's not confirmed—it takes a lot of time and coordination to put them together.

Currently they run every couple of months; the third is on June 8 (sold out) and the one after that will be in August. Joel is also working on the possibility of hosting a fight in a bigger venue, possibly in conjunction with a food event like Taste of Edmonton. Any chefs who are interested in competing can contact Joel.

For now, the Food Fights will continue to run every two months. Those eager to attend will simply have to treat it like a major music concert: be online right when tickets go on sale. (Follow their Facebook page and Twitter feed for updates.)

"There's some amazing chefs working in Edmonton right now," Joel says.

"I have a lot of chefs teaching classes in my space who have been away travelling, and have come back. I want to see them stay here, so I'll do my piece to try and make that happen."

MEL PRIESTLEY

MEL@VUEWEEKLY.COM

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DISH 7

DISH VENI, VIDI, VINO

MEL PRIESTLEY // MEL@VUEWEEKLY.COM

Recapping the California Wine Fair A few standouts amongst a whole lot of the usual suspects Say what you will about Californian wine: they sure know how to make solid Cabernet Sauvignon.

This year's edition of the California Wine Fair rolled through town a couple of weeks ago. Most Edmontonians know this event as the Citadel Theatre's annual fundraiser, and indeed that's when the majority of people attend: at the swanky evening affair, when it's as much about sampling Californian wine as it is about shameless people-watching. (Granted, people tend to be better-behaved at this wine event than at the Rocky Mountain Wine and Food Festival and especially Winefest, the latter of which is held on Valentine's Day for

maximum alcohol-fuelled ogling.)

I know the California Wine Fair mostly through the decidedly more subdued trade tasting portion, held earlier in the day. Alongside my fellow wine industry workers, I sampled through dozens of wines to get a feel for what's going on in California these days.

In many ways it's much the same as it has been for years: a slew of Chardonnays and Cabernet Sauvignons, most of which are fairly unremarkable and undifferentiated from the ones sitting on the next table. Some of them did stand out, however, and there was some other interesting stuff scattered throughout. California

is indeed a diverse region (or rather, set of regions), but you have to wade through a lake of homogeneity to discover this.

One thing the fair made very evident, by virtue of all those bottles lined up beside each other, is that the flashier the label, the less interesting the wine. (Granted, this is true not just of Californian wines but pretty much of wines from everywhere.) There are exceptions, of course, but at this event it was certainly true that when a really funky label caught my eye, most of the time I was underwhelmed with what landed in my glass. It

makes perfect sense: if the producer is putting an obvious effort into showy marketing, they probably aren't expending the same effort in their winemaking. Simpler labels usually indicate more complex wines.

Here is a selection of wines from the California Wine Fair, in no particular order whatsoever: Domaine Chandon Rosé: fresh strawberries and plum skin. Fine bubbles are just crisp enough to be eminently refreshing, but not so much that it strips the enamel from your teeth. Lovely.

Gloria Ferrer Sonoma Brut: another delicious sparkling wine, with a great mix of ripe pear, fresh raspberries and vanilla toastiness.

Silver Saviezza Sangiovese 2009: Italian grapes can do quite well in California, and this wine certainly supports that. It had the classic Sangiovese aroma I simply describe with the admittedly not-so-useful moniker "Italian funk." In a good way.

Ridge Geyserville 2012: one of California's longest-standing producers, Ridge's wines are pricey but tasty. The Geyserville stood out from their other Zinfandel blends for its high-toned, elegant fruit: cranberry, pomegranate.

Bell Town Cabernet Sauvignon 2012: come for the classic Californian varietal, stay for the gorgeous floral nose.

Lucas & Lewellen Pinot Noir 2012: proving that not all Californian Pinot Noir is overblown cherry

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8 DISH

VUEWEEKLY.com | MAY 14 – MAY 20, 2015

pie filling and unbalanced alcohol.

This is everything a Pinot should smell and taste like: no more, no less. Sometimes typicity is all you really need, anyway.

Ravenswood Old Hill Zinfandel 2012: this wine smells like you're walking through an herb garden on a hot summer day: sun-baked thyme and warm sage, followed by a beautifully textured palate of well-structured tannins and balanced fruit.

Maggio Petite Sirah 2012: there was so much smoky tobacco on the nose of this wine I think it gave me second-hand smoke.

Saldo Zinfandel 2013: the big red boldness of this wine is belied by its label, which is possibly the most austere, minimalist wine label on the planet. Rich and juicy. V Mel Priestley is a certified sommelier and wine writer who also blogs about wine, food and the arts at melpriestley.ca

COVER // COMEDY

e was standing there screaming, soaking wet with beer, nearly naked, with lipstick smeared all over his body and standing in broken glass. It was a moment that has since become legend in Edmonton's underground comedy scene.

Local comedian, improv and theatre artist Ben Gorodetsky was the dude, and the scene was unfolding at the beloved Dr Jokes comedy show at Wunderbar in 2013. Lou Reed had just died, and Gorodetsky celebrated the Velvet Underground legend by doing Broadway-musical backup dancing to Metal Machine Music, stripping and then whipping himself with his belt before shattering the pint glass he'd just poured over his body.

"I'm sure he didn't plan to break the beer glass," Tim Mikula laughs.

"It was so funny because it was this weird performance-art piece. The audience found it hilarious. I think it's the weirdest we ever got."

Mikula and Joleen Ballendine hosted the bi-weekly Monday night show from 2012 until the last edition happened in February of this year. Sitting at a Jasper Avenue café, they can connect its legacy to beyond just being the home to crazy nights.

The show helped inspire and foster an underground, alternative comedy scene: the Underdog Comedy show at the Black Dog, the Empress Comedy Night at the Empress Ale House, Funny Business at the Buckingham, the Comedy Nights of Arcadia at Arcadia Bar, Dirt Buffet Cabaret (hosted by Gorodetsky) at the Mile Zero Dance space—and a bunch of other glittering sparks of weirdo comedy genius scattered across this city.

A healthy chunk of the hosts of those shows, which have popped up like mushrooms in the past couple of years, were directly inspired by Dr Jokes. But for something so influential, Dr Jokes had inauspicious roots.

Mikula says he remembers seeing a comedy show at Wunderbar called Hangtime, a spiritual ancestor to Dr Jokes. This was before Craig Martell and company bought Wunderbar and the clientele was a bit unsavoury.

"We went to a show and it was full of dudes in full Nazi regalia doing salutes and stuff," Mikula says.

"I wouldn't say the previous owners were sympathetic to the white-power movement; they were probably afraid of them, but there used to be white-power nights."

Nazis or no Nazis, the idea of a comedy show at Wunderbar stuck. Mikula and Ballendine, friends since high school and members of local improv group Rapid Fire Theatre, took the positive, always-say-yes ethos of improv and applied it to comedy. The results were two-fold: things got weird but also very supportive.

ARTS

ARTS EDITOR: PAUL BLINOV PAUL@VUEWEEKLY.COM

It wasn't just stand-up. Dr Jokes became a tent for experimental character pieces, sketch comedy, storytelling, and yes, interpretive dance. The audience, Ballendine says, was young, artistic types who were open-minded and patient enough to allow absurd, surreal performance—the kind of stuff that wouldn't fly at a sports bar.

Not only were the audiences accepting, she says, they weren't going to put up with any hateful shit.

"Our audiences were smart," Ballendine says. "So racist jokes that weren't thought-out, or rape jokes, or sexist jokes—they just didn't fly in our room. It got a reputation pretty quick for being a space you don't bring that material into."

Simon Gorsak, along with Brett McCrindle, runs the Underdog Comedy show on Thursday nights at the Black Dog on Whyte Avenue. Gorsak's first time doing standup was at Dr Jokes and, inspired by what was happening at Wunderbar, he decided to start hosting his own show in 2013.

"I loved [Dr Jokes] with my whole heart," Gorsak says, sitting with McCrindle at the Black Dog. "Just watching [Mikula and Ballendine] make that show, they created a community around it. It was a big love fest where everyone was laughing their ass off and having an amazing time. My whole goal was to rip that off as hard as I could, because it was perfect."

As friends trickle in before the Underdog show starts, Gorsak and McCrindle discuss what makes Underdog tick. Its DNA is almost identical to Dr Jokes: weird, creative material is encouraged—racist, homophobic, misogynist garbage, not so much.

"Anything that's victimizing, the crowd has no patience for it down here," Gorsak explains. "Whereas at a comedy club, that stuff is the bread and butter: the light misogyny, light homophobia, the light playful racism, if such a thing could exist."

That's echoed by Empress Comedy Night co-creator Clare Belford. The Sunday-night Empress show, which marked its first anniversary in March, is now probably the biggest underground comedy draw in Edmonton.

Much like Dr Jokes and Underdog, it's a show that respects its audience and comedians.

"It's just a fun show to watch," Belford says. "Our bouncers will go around and ask people to be quiet if they're chatting too much. It makes for a better experience. That kind of support doesn't happen at the clubs."

Indeed, the comedy scene before Dr Jokes et al was mainly concentrated in clubs like Yuk Yuks in the west end, the defunct Laugh Shop on Whyte or the Comic Strip in West Edmonton Mall, plus a sprinkling of open mics in

Jasper Avenue bars like the Druid.

Gorsak says the alt-comedy shows are very encouraging for first-time comedians—it's way less nerve-wracking than a crowd that's trying to watch a hockey game and eat chicken wings.

"In the clubs, there's a certain expectation like: OK, clown, make me laugh," Gorsak says. "If you don't hook them right away, you're kind of fucked. The audience [at Underdog], I wouldn't say they're forgiving, because that makes it sounds easy, but they're going to listen to your full five minutes and they're not going to heckle or boo you."

David Rae is leaning against the bar at the Black Dog, killing time before the show starts. Rae and Charles Haycock, who both performed at and loved Dr Jokes, now run a monthly comedy show at Arcadia, a new-ish vegan bar on 124 Street.

That show—along with Dirt Buffet Cabaret and Liam Creswick's Exciting Times at the Mercury Room—is one of the few that has popped up outside the Whyte Avenue bubble.

Rae says he likes how Edmonton's alt-comedy scene is more willing to indulge a storytelling style of standup—it fits what he does—but he says it's beneficial for comedians to try both the clubs and the underground scene to sharpen their skills.

"I think you do need both," he says.

"It's really important to be able to win over a tough crowd."

But with the way Dr Jokes' influence spread across the city, a respectful crowd might become the new norm. Success 5000, the musical comedy duo of Joshua Lee Coss and Robyn Slack—who first gained, well, success at Dr Jokes—now host the monthly Funny Business show at the Buckingham on Whyte.

"Edmonton has got something happening right now that's not happening anywhere else in the country," Slack says. "We tend to get embraced by the weird, alt communities that Dr Jokes built. The embrace of weird comedy, the kind of stuff I wouldn't expect to do well—it seems the weirder something is, often the better it does."

So even though Dr Jokes is no more—Mikula and Ballendine say it didn't feel as necessary anymore with all the other strong alt-comedy shows in Edmonton—its weirdo heart beats on and grows.

"When we first started, there were no alt-comedy shows," Ballendine says. "And now, honestly—I don't feel too shitty about saying this— largely from Dr Jokes there are tons of venues now that you can see alternative comedy. That makes us feel great about what we did."

JOSH MARCELLIN

JOSH@VUEWEEKLY.COM

VUEWEEKLY.com | MAY 14 – MAY 20, 2015

// Curtis Hauser

ARTS 9

ARTS PREVUE // VISUAL ARTS

Passage 'E

verybody dies," artist Mayumi Amada says. "But my intention is to [remind us] that life is limited. Use the time, whatever you need to do. This is like asking you: in this limited life, what do you want to do, need to do?

It's not negative; it's a reminder. And for me it's positive. How do you want to live?"

In Amada's Passage, a crocheted doily sits innocently on a shelf like something you would see at your grandmother's house. But unlike your grandma's doilies, Amada has spelled out "everybody dies" within the lacy pattern. The jux-

maternal ancestors," Amada says.

"Each flower is like a grandma, and our life was made through eggs. I want to say thank you to grandmas, because they gave me my life—so [the] flower shape. And clear [materials] means no visible body."

The transparent flowers cast shadows on the wall, and the artist points out that you can often see faces in them, like the ghost of our ancestors.

When you enter the gallery, an enormous doily, cut out of white plastic, is suspended from the ceiling to the floor. The design has a distinctly Day of the Dead motif, which Amada says was unintentional but still lends itself well to her overarching theme. The pattern within the doily has more than a hundred skulls and roses repeating in concentric circles. The skulls represent the cycling generations.

Amada assigns 20 years as a generaUntil Wed, May 27 tion; multiplied by Works by Mayumi Amada the origin of life, or Harcourt House a hundred skulls, plastic water botthe work becomes tles representing a legacy to two millennia of women. And the rose is the water cycle.

In "Bouquets for Grandmas," Ama- given to each grandmother of the da made flowers from those egg past as the most beautiful flower.

Amada feels her Japanese background cartons, creating 12 transparent plastic bouquets of flowers as a gift and being a "part-time Buddhist" have of gratitude to the women who gave played a key role in her work.

"Western culture avoids thinking us life. The number 12, she notes, represents a full cycle of the Japa- about death, while the Japanese acnese Zodiac calendar (though only cept the dark side first and try to find light in the darkness." nine are on display in this exhibit).

"Our life was given by grandmas MICHELLE FALK MICHELLE@VUEWEEKLY.COM or grand- grand- grandmothers, // Mayumi Amanda

taposition is jarring, with the aim of enlightening viewers to the realities of mortality. Like Renaissance still-life painters, she uses skulls and withered flowers as a reminder to the viewer that life is short and we must not take it for granted.

"I found the centre of my theme: eternity in mortality," Amada says. "Before, I thought my theme was mortality in eternity, but when I was playing with words to find a good title for the next exhibition ... I switched eternity and mortality. It is a little different. ... Even though life is limited, it is repeated, and

this will be long."

The exhibition works through a number of related concepts: death, the passage of time, the cycles of life, recycling, passing things down, generations and ancestors.

Most of the materials Amada uses in Passage have symbolic resonance. In crochet, you have one long thread that is stitched from the centre outward, representing "continuous life." Many of her works incorporate clear, recycled plastic egg cartons representing

WHAT’S ON AT UALBERTA?

Tribes

By Nina Raine

Billy was raised to read lips and speak rather than sign.

Billy falls for Sylvia, a young woman who is becoming Deaf herself, and he finally discovers what it means to be heard.

U of A Studio Theatre Timms Centre for the Arts

May 14 - 23 7:30 pm

Matinee Thurs, May 21 at 12:30 pm ualberta.ca/artshows 10 ARTS

VUEWEEKLY.com | MAY 14 – MAY 20, 2015

PREVUE // THEATRE

The Ugly One re your eyes too small? Your forehead too big? Beard too patchy, hair too thin?

You've probably parsed your reflection in the mirror with a more critical eye than anyone else would ever care to—but they're also busy doing the same thing for themselves. For something that's ostensibly left in the eye of the beholder, we're pretty partial to endlessly concerning ourselves with our outward appearances. And for every positive change we make, some other new aspect of vanity creeps into the picture.

"It starts to become this thing of, when am I good enough?" Nathan Cuckow says, at a rehearsal-space table, while director Kevin Sutley, sitting beside him, nods agreement. "When is my physical appearance, which is in flux all the time, good enough? ... We're constantly going through self-improvement, or self-whatever: where we groom, we get haircuts, we shave. If we have crooked teeth we get our teeth fixed. Through all these body modifications that are socially acceptable, and then we start to veer into the plastic surgery world of our cosmetic appearance: having lips enhanced or eyes adjusted or whatever these things are."

This is where The Ugly One aims its satirical glance. Presented by Kill Your Television Theatre, it filters the ideas of vanity and appearance through a darkly comic cipher: Lette (Cuckow), an engineer, realizes that he's being passed over at work because of his looks— worse, his wife can only bring herself to look at his left eye. So he goes under

ARTIFACTS Train of Thought / Sat, May 16 – Sun, May 18 A Canada-crossing endeavour that's currently in motion, Train of Thought is making 20 stops in nine provinces; at each, a team of artists will collaborate with locals to collect and share stories of Canada's Indigenous histories and landscapes. While in Edmonton, the Train's doing a Heritage Council Community Forum (a creative workshop on storytelling) and an evening of performance, ceremony and storytelling from esteemed elder Jerry Saddleback of Samson Cree Nation in Hobbema, AB. Some events require previous registration, which you can do at trainofthought.co. Which, conveniently, is where you can also browse the full schedule. Convenience! (Various locations)

the scalpel, and he re-emerges with a new face that brings him acclaim—and, it quickly becomes apparent, a great many more issues than he had before.

The script, by German playwright Marius von Mayenburg—which will mark the first time his work has been shown in town—toys with the dynamics of live theatre to make its points.

Scenes jump quickly through time and space; three of the cast's four members play multiple characters.

"It's not like American realism, in that sense where they spend a lot of time in a room," Cuckow notes. "The play shifts location and environment on a dime; character shifts on a dime."

An oral and visual storytelling

Until Sat, May 23 (7:30 pm; 2 pm Saturday matinee) Directed by Kevin Sutley ATB Financial Arts Barns, $16.50 – $26.50 talk about how you want other people to perceive you, but it's ultimately a way of loving yourself, I think—which, on one level sounds like a healthy thing.

But then it becomes a narcissistic thing.

Where is the balance?"

PAUL BLINOV

PAUL@VUEWEEKLY.COM

The Carrot

9351 - 118 Ave May 10 and 17, 2015 from 3:00 - 5:00 pm Open to the general public, with adults as target audience For further info go to dragonflyphotography.ca

They found the script while working on The Crackwalker last year; there was an appeal to its contrasts with that project—that one was an epic-sized drama rooted in harsh, unrelenting realism, while this proved a shorter, funnier scirpt.

"The style is so very different," Cuckow says. "I felt like it was an opportunity for us to stretch our muscles in a different way, that fits thematically into the world we produce."

It also had a socially poignant story that remained on par with KYT's mandate of idea-challenging work. The vanity on display in The Ugly One, they both note, is as prevalent as ever off-stage: even rumoured plastic surgery on any major public figure still makes headlines and regenerates the conversation.

"And who are we doing it for?" Sutley asks. "For me, that's the interesting question: ultimately, it's for yourself. You can

PAUL BLINOV // PAUL@VUEWEEKLY.COM

// Jumblies Theatre MC119841

A

Mother Love

What's in a face? // Lucas Boutilier

VUEWEEKLY.com | MAY 14 – MAY 20, 2015

ARTS 11

ARTS REVUE // THEATRE

Mote 'I

am watching a movie and being watched by the movie," says Marion Crane (Twilla MacLeod) in an early scene of Mote.

It's an appropriate comparison to our audience experience—we're watching a reinterpretation of Alfred Hitchcock's Psycho, one of the most famous movies of the 20th century. And the actors are watching us right back.

Or they would be, if not for our vast distance. For whatever reason, Mote has us all sitting up on the theatre's first balcony, looking down on the actors far below. Coupled with the show's sluggish pace in its opening scenes (far from Hitchcock's quick plot and Bernard Herrmann's shrill, frantic strings) this distance makes it difficult to engage in a story whose

A new Psycho // Mat Simpson

REVUE // THEATRE

Code Word: Time / No One Showed Up to The Anarchist Rally

No One Showed Up To The Anarchist Rally // Mat Simpson

K

icking off Nextfest's 20th-anniversary run, two shows from eons past return for a drama/comedy double feature.

Leah Simone Bowen's Code Word: Time, Time which premièred at Nextfest 2001, portrays a nutty maintenance nerd who traps three people in an elevator in an absurd recreation of Three's Company.

Company The show putters along, flipping back and forth between the bland elevator sitcom and the wannabe director's ramblings, until the steady story is disrupted by a horrifying plot twist.

The play's commentary on surveillance, voyeurism and reality TV gets buried under this out-of-left-field incident, which could upset some viewers and warrants better trigger warnings from the theatre (beyond the generic content warning signs on the ticket booth).

Rosemary Rowe's No One Showed Up for the Anarchist Rally is a wel-

Until Sun, May 17 (7:30 pm; 1:30 pm Saturday matinees) Directed by Wayne Paquette La Cite Francophone, $15 – $22 plot is already familiar.

The question that every reimagining of a very famous work needs to answer is, what is this retelling contributing to our understanding of the original story? How is it complicating or problematizing what we already know about the characters and their actions? Mote follows Psycho very faithfully for its first 30 minutes. The movie's quick get-up-and-go is substituted for long monologues from MacLeod. To be fair, some of this text is beautifully written and hauntingly performed. An evocative speech about fleeing to the desert stands out: "Take something to the desert and it disappears forever. Build yourself an island in the desert and nobody can find you."

come breath of fresh air after Code Word: Time's skin-crawling conclusion. Rowe's show pairs well with Bowen's, since it focuses on three university women who obsess over how they are perceived.

There's Celia (Marina Mair-Sanchez), the radical lesbian feminist who's concerned entirely with the esthetics of anarchy (hoping that her consummately proletarian, smash-the-patriarchy coveralls will get her laid). There's Veronica (Paula Humby), plucking away at her hipster ukulele and indulging in playing the part of the dumped girlfriend.

The show's stand-out performance comes from Lianna Makuch, whose space-case, nightie-clad Anna spouts oddly brilliant observations as her anorexia slowly fogs her consciousness: "Sometimes it's OK for your sentence structure to suck ass.

But only if you're saying something

HARCOURT HOUSE ARTIST RUN CENTRE

12 ARTS

VUEWEEKLY.com | MAY 14 – MAY 20, 2015

But it's when Crane and Norman Bates (Luc Tellier) come together that the show really gets its legs, drawing out deeper similarities between the pair of them: she felt trapped by her life and ran away. He feels trapped by his but he can't escape.

Tellier's creepy little boy performance inspires simultaneous shivers and sympathy. It's never clear whether he's the Norman Bates we know and fear, or a parallel-universe version who's just as much a victim of his circumstances as Marion. Are we watching a romance of two lost souls saving each other? Or the prelude to a famous murder?

As its resolution proves, Mote becomes more interesting when it deviates from its source material.

BRUCE CINNAMON

BRUCE@VUEWEEKLY.COM

Until Sun, May 17 (8 pm; 2 pm matinee on Sundays) Mercury Theatre, $13 – $20 really beautiful," she drawls into the mirror in a hilarious monotone.

This argument sums up both Code Word: Time and Anarchist Rally, along with most Nextfest shows.

They're rough, rugged, young theatre—not sleek, not edited down to perfection—but they burst with creative ideas and earnest emotion.

Nextfest has proven a wonderful testing-ground for an entire generation of Edmonton theatre artists. Whether your palate veers to drama or to comedy, the 20th Anniversary Showcase will provide you with a taste of our city's theatre history, and an appetite for things to come.

BRUCE CINNAMON

BRUCE@VUEWEEKLY.COM

PREVUE // THEATRE

Tribes T

here's a moment in Tribes, an award-winning play, where the beauty of sign language becomes obvious. "It's like music," a character says. "It gives you feelings."

The 2010 work by UK playwright Nina Raine is about Billy, a young Deaf* man raised in a hearing family. Billy is raised to read lips and speak—basically, as a hearing person. His world opens when he meets and falls for Sylvia, a hearing woman born to Deaf parents who is going deaf herself: she teaches him sign language, opening a new spectrum of expressiveness and inclusion for Billy.

Amanda Bergen, an MFA directing student at the University of Alberta who is directing the play with Studio Theatre, says she was attracted to Tribes for many reasons—not the least of which was the fact she knew little about the local Deaf community.

"Having a Deaf character in the play was an exciting way to challenge myself," Bergen says during a break in rehearsal. "I wanted to cast a Deaf actor. For me, that was opening up a whole world of different ways of communicating and rehearsing."

Bergen was adamant about having a Deaf actor—"I felt like anything less would be a terrible mistake,"

PREVUE // THEATRE

she says—and one name kept popping up: Connor Yuzwenko-Martin.

Yuzwenko-Martin, a young local Deaf actor fluent in American Sign Language (ASL), was part of Rapid Fire Theatre for years , and he gave Bergen valuable insight into the realities of being a Deaf person.

"Having him in the room was an eye opener," she says. "We were all a bit nervous. None of us were fluent in ASL, so the beginning was a little bumpy. We had some technology, like iPads, in the room to help. But Connor is really talented and funny and his humour really makes Billy a funny and likeable character."

Part of Bergen's research included taking ASL classes and reaching out to Edmonton's Deaf community. It was through connecting with Nicole Sander from Edmonton's NICA (Network of Interpreters, Consultants & Advocates) Incorporated that she realized the challenges facing the Deaf community when it comes to watching live theatre in this city.

In Edmonton's cash-strapped performing-arts landscape, paying for interpreters is often impossible.

Tribes will have interpreters for performances on May 16 and 23, but that was only possible because the ASL professionals are donating their time.

Thu, May 14 – Sat, May 23 (7:30 pm; 12:30 pm matinee on Thu, May 21) Directed by Amanda Bergen Timms Centre for the Arts, $11 – $22 "[Sanders] describes it as a humanrights issue," Bergen says. "Accessibility is more than a wheelchair ramp, it's not just a one-time thing."

JOSH MARCELLIN

JOSH@VUEWEEKLY.COM

*The word Deaf is capitalized throughout this story. This is in reference to the Deaf community and Deaf identity, which is a cultural and social way of defining oneself. The word is capitalized to reflect one's acceptance of being a part of that community.

PREVUE // SKETCH COMEDY

The Photo

Stuck in a moment

T

he title is mostly innocuous, but slightly ominous; the marketing materials are cryptic at best.

Without giving away all the particulars, know that the newest work by local playwright Dana Rayment is set 15 minutes after one of the worst possible tragedies a parent could experience.

"It's an old theatre trick," Michael Peng says. "You take a couple characters and lock them in a room and you don't let them out and see what happens."

Peng is playing the male half of The Photo, a two-hander being staged

by Theatre of the New Heart. While he's new to the project, the show has been evolving through workshops and staged readings for the past 12 years. He describes himself as a kind of tether to reality for his partner on stage, and the main link between the audience to the events unfolding.

"It sort of comes in and out of time and space," Peng says, noting that the show uses lighting and video design to augment the actors' performances.

"Time slows down and then we're there for what seems like minutes and minutes, even though it's just a second, and then we're back in real

Fri, May 15 – Sat, May 23 (8 pm; Sun, May 17 at 2 pm) Directed by Michelle Kennedy C103, $15 – $20 time and it's super frenetic because a thousand thoughts go through your mind in those kinds of situations."

It's a gamble to stage such highstakes stuff on stage; knowing the subject going in could cause some potential audience members to write it off for being too heavy. But it's also exactly the sort of thing we need to see on stage, Peng argues.

"I think it's pretty brave to put that kind of stuff on stage, because that's the kind of stuff that as a society we shun—put it behind closed doors, throw it over there in a medical ward," he says. "It's so rare in the theatre, I think, to just sit in a moment and mine that moment for all of its dimensions and all its emotional and psychological value. I think people are going to find it really compelling on that level. Because we're usually just on to the next thing, especially in our culture, but you get to sit with these people in this place. It's a very brave little piece."

MEL PRIESTLEY

MEL@VUEWEEKLY.COM

The Kids in the Hall D

on't call it a comeback: the Kids in the Hall have been around for three decades, if you can believe it, despite a gap in the middle.

The acclaimed Canadian sketchcomedy troupe of Dave Foley, Kevin McDonald, Bruce McCulloch, Mark McKinney and Scott Thompson is back on the road, touring with new and classic material. The Kids were always edgy, existing before political correctness chilled TV comedy, and it was arguably Thompson who took the biggest risks.

The show aired at the height of the AIDS epidemic, and Thompson, who is openly gay, met the controversy head on with his recurring gay characters like Buddy Cole as well as unapologetic and wickedly funny sketches featuring gay men.

"Every time you did a gay character, you were under such a microscope because stakes were so high back then," Thompson says over the

Protect ya turtleneck // David Hawe

The troupe was inducted into Canphone from Toronto. "There's a fine line: activism is not the same as art. ada's Walk of Fame in 2008 and was When you're an artist you have to ex- back on CBC in 2010 with the minipose the flaws, the ugliseries, Death Comes to ness. Activism is pretty- Tue, May 19 (8 pm) Town. And the Kids have ing it up to make it look Jubilee Auditorium, since done more nationmore palatable." al tours and performed $63.65 – $70.40 to sold-out crowds at The Kids in the Hall's sketch-comedy festivals.

The five have gone on to successTV show had six seasons, running until 1995, and its cult-classic ful solo careers in TV, writing, commovie Brain Candy was released in edy, directing, movies or theatre.

1996. Thompson says the Kids didn't Thompson says the chemistry when talk to each other for years after the they get back together, even after troupe broke up in the mid-'90s. But 30 years, is undeniable—as is their the group reunited for a tour in 2000 mark on comedy.

"I think we changed sketch comand have been in constant contact edy—there were other groups as imsince then.

"We don't fight like we used to," portant, but we're not talking about Thompson says. "We still fight—I'm them," he laughs. "There are certain waiting for the big one; there's always things I can't be falsely modest about. one to get out of the way. But there's I'm so proud of us. When we're clickno group of people I feel more com- ing, no one can touch us." fortable with. Everything is perfect, JOSH MARCELLIN JOSH@VUEWEEKLY.COM even when it's not perfect."

VUEWEEKLY.com | MAY 14 – MAY 20, 2015

ARTS 13

ARTS WEEKLY EMAIL YOUR FREE LISTINGS TO: LISTINGS@VUEWEEKLY.COM FAX: 780.426.2889 DEADLINE: FRIDAY AT 3PM

CENTRE D’Arts visuELs DE L’aLBErta (cava) • 9103-95 Ave •

Bugs, There's Gibs And Some Other Weirdos: art by Tony Baker • Apr 24-May 31

780.461.3427 • savacava.com • Regard sur l'art contemporain; May 2-Jun 16

PETER ROBERTSON GALLERY • 12304

DAFFODIL GALLERY • 10412-124 St • 780.760.1278 • daffodilgallery.ca • Gravity: Featuring the work of Blu Smith; May 6-30

DC3 ART PROJECTS • 10567-111 St • 780.686.4211 • dc3artprojects.com • Broken Sound; May 7-Jun 13

FAB GALLERY • 1-1 Fine Arts Bldg, 89

DANCE

Ave, 112 St • 780.492.2081 • Design Latitudes: Bonnie Sadler Takach, University of Alberta’s Art & Design faculty; May 12-Jun 6

SUGAR FOOT SWING DANCE • Sugar

FRONT GALLERY • 12323-104 Ave •

Swing, 10545-81 Ave • 587.786.6554 • sugarswing.com • Swing Dance Social every Sat; beginner lesson starts at 8pm. All ages and levels welcome. Occasional live music– check web • $10, $2 lesson with entry

thefrontgallery.com • Silent Metaphors: Sculptor Blake Ward; May 2-25

FILM

GALLERY 7 • Bookstore on Perron, 7

CELEBRATING 60 YEARS IN FILM • Winspear Centre, 4 Sir Winston Churchill Square • Stroll down memory lane with movie and television clips from Shirley MacLaine's illustrious career starting in 1955 with her first movie, Alfred Hitchcock’s, “The Trouble with Harry” • May 25, 7:30pm • $40

CINEMA AT THE CENTRE • Stanley Milner Library Theatre, bsmt, 7 Sir Winston Churchill Sq • 780.496.7070 • Film screening every Wed, 6:30pm • Trick or Treaty (May 13), Life Partners (May 20), Diplomatie (May 27) • Free

EDMONTON FILM SOCIETY • Royal Alberta Museum Auditorium, 12845-102 Ave • 780.439.5285 • edmontonfilmsociety@ gmail.com • royalalbertamuseum.ca • royalalbertamuseum.ca/events/movies/ movies.cfm • Walk In The Shadows Film Series: On Dangerous Ground, May 25; The Big Heat, Jun 1; Kiss Me Deadly, Jun 8; The Asphalt Jungle, Jun 15; Touch Of Evil, Jun 22 • All at 8pm • Series membership tickets (all 8 films), $30; Single film: $6 (general), $5 (seniors 65 and over/students), $13 (kids 12 and under) FROM BOOKS TO FILM • Stanley A. Milner, 7 Sir Winston Churchill Sq • 780.496.7000 • epl.ca • Films adapted from books every Fri afternoon at 2pm • 10 Things I Hate About You (May 15), Throne of Blood (May 22), West Side Story (May 29)

METRO • Metro at the Garneau Theatre, 8712-109 St • 780.425.9212 • Global Visions Festival; May 7-18 • Bad City: Screening followed by a Q&A with the director; May 17-20 • CULT CINEMA: The Peanut Butter Solution (May 26) • Music Docs: Buena Vista Social Club (Jun 2) • EDMonton MoviE CLUB: 36 Vayadhinile (May 18) • criME Watch: The Pink Panther (May 19) • MEtro Bizarro: Fritz the Cat (May 20)

GALLERIES + MUSEUMS ALBERTA CRAFT COUNCIL GALLERY • 10186-106 St • 780.488.6611 • albertacraft.ab.ca • Language Of Craft; Apr 4-Jul 4 • Landed; Apr 11-May 23 • Small Joys: Jogakbo inspired small needlework by Calgary fibre artist Diana Un-Jin Cho; May 30-Jul 11 • Thinking in Threes: Explore ten themes in groups of threes; May 30-Jul 11

ART GALLERY OF ALBERTA (AGA) • 2 Sir Winston Churchill Sq • 780.422.6223 • youraga.ca • Daveandjenn: No End: Mar 21Jun 7 • Pop Show! Dazzled By The Everyday; Mar 21-Jun 7 • Open Studio Adult Drop-In : Figuratively Speaking (May 20); Wed, 7-9pm; $18/$16 (AGA member) • Conversation with the Artist: You Don’t Know Jack – Marc Mayer & Sarah Stanners in Conversation (May 30) • All Day Sundays: Art activities for all ages; Activities, 12-4pm; Tour; 2pm • Late Night Wednesdays: Every Wed, 6-9pm

780.461.3427 • Theme: Regards sur l'art contemporain; May 2-Jun 16

scottgallery.com • Robert Sinclair; May 9-30 • Joel Sinclair; May 9-30 Alberta Print -Artists, 10123-121 St • 780.423.1492 • snapartists.com • Between The Lines: Briar Craig; Apr 9-May 23 • Ass U Me: Ben Weinlick; Apr 9-May 23 • Present Density: artwork by Gabriela Jolowicz; Jun 4-Jul 18; Opening reception: Jun 5, 7-9pm • Atavistic: artwork by Daniel Evans; Jun 4-Jul 18; Opening reception: Jun 5, 7-9pm

GALLERY@501 • 501 Festival Ave, Sherwood Park • 780.410.8585 • strathcona. ca/artgallery • Strathcona Salon Series Acquisitions And Loans; May 15-Jun 28

35-5 Ave, Spruce Grove • 780.962.0664 • alliedartscouncil.com • FIREPLACE ROOM: Katharina Nebel; through May • MAIN GALLERY: Students Show; May 10-May 30

GALLERY AT MILNER • Stanley A. Milner

STRATHCONA COUNTY MUSEUM & archivEs • 913 Ash St, Sherwood Park •

Library Main Fl, Sir Winston Churchill Sq • 780.944.5383 • epl.ca/art-gallery • Moment In Time Series: Mixed media on canvas and linen by Gisele Jerke; May 1-31

780.467.8189 • strathconacountymuseum. ca • Daring Dames: Experience The Lives Of Pioneer Women; until Jun 30

HAPPY HARBOR COMICS • 10729-104

TELUS WORLD OF SCIENCE • 11211-

Ave • happyharborcomics.com • Open Door: Collective of independent comic creators meet the 2nd & 4th Thu each month; 7pm

HARCOURT HOUSE GALLERY • 3 Fl, 10215-112 St • 780.426.4180 • MAIN SPACE: A Moment In The Flow: Mayumi Amada; Apr 23-May 27 • FRONT ROOM: Untitled (It’s Almost A One-Liner): Sarah Beck and Shlomi Greenspan; Apr 23-May 27

JAPANESE CULTURAL SOCIETY • 675088 St • Edmonton Art Club Annual Spring Show & Sale; May 23-24; Opening reception: May 22, 6-9pm

142 St • telusworldofscienceedmonton. com • GPS Adventures Canada: Combining technology, nature, and hidden treasure; until Jun 1 • Dinosaurs Unearthed: May 15-Oct 11; $26.50 (adult), $19.50 (child), $23.50 (youth/student/senior)

U OF A MUSEUMS • Enterprise Square Galleries, 10230 Jasper Ave • Thu-Fri, 12-6pm; Sat 12-4pm • What's New?: New acquisitions, new discoveries, new species, new ideas, new technologies, new theories and a few new mysteries; Apr 23-May 23

vaa GaLLErY • 3rd Fl, 10215-112 St •

JEFF ALLEN ART GALLERY (JAAG) • Strathcona Place Senior Centre, 10831 University Ave, 109 St, 78 Ave • 780.433.5807 • seniorcentre.org • Out Of The Box: with artist Marie Sieben; May 1-May 27 • Artists Edmonton Needlecraft Society; May 28-Jul 14; Reception: Jun 10, 6:30-8:30pm

visualartsalberta.com • Gallery A: Searching Skies, Seeing Through Trees: Gerald St. Maur; Gallery B: Edited Realism: Jean Pilch; Apr 2-May 31 • Gallery B: Familiars, Out-of-Towners, As Well As All the Others: Erika Andriashek; Jun 4-Jul 25; Opening reception: Jun 18, 7-9:30pm • Gallery A & B: TREX Alberta Foundation For Th

JURASSIC FOREST/LEARNING CENTRE • 15 mins N of Edmonton off Hwy

vasa GALLERY • 25 Sir Winston Churchill

28A, Township Rd 564 • Education-rich entertainment facility for all ages

Ave, St Albert • 780.460.5990 • vasa-art. com • Members Spring Exhibition; May 5-29

WEST END GALLERY • 10337-124 St •

LANDO GALLERY • 103, 10310-124 St • 780.990.1161 • landogallery.com • May Group Exhibition and Sale; until May 20

LATITUDE 53 • 10242-106 St • 780.423.5353 • Dubious Translations: Brad Necyk; Apr 10-May 22 • Mutations: José Luis Torres; Apr 10-May 22

LOFT GALLERY • AJ Ottewell Gallery, 590 Broadmoor Blvd, Sherwood Park • 780.449.4443 • artstrathcona.com • Open: Fri-Sun 10-6pm • Artwork with Dianna Sapara; May 2-Jun 26

MCMULLEN GALLERY • U of A Hospital, 8440-112 St • 780.407.7152 • Title Forthcoming: Dr. Stephen Aung and Lucie Bause; May 9-Jun 28; Opening reception: May 14, 7-9pm MULTICULTURAL CENTRE PUBLIC ART GALLERY (MCPAG)–Stony Plain • 5411-51 St, Stony Plain • multicentre.org • Fibre Artist: Magie Davididson; Apr 24-May 20 • Memorial Comp. High School; May 16Jun 5; reception: May 24 Albert Place, 5 St Anne Street, St Albert • MuseeHeritage.ca • 780.459.1528 • museum@artsandheritage.ca • Francophones In Alberta; Apr 21-Jun 22

14 ARTS

SCOTT GALLERY • 10411-124 St •

sPrucE GrovE art GaLLErY •

• 19 Perron St, St Albert • 780.460.4310 •

10345-124 St • bugeramathesongallery. com • A Stop Along the Way: art by Jerry Heine & Rogelio Menz; May 23-Jun 6; artist reception: May 23, 1-4pm

Ave • 780.453.9100 • royalalbertamuseum. ca • Natural Hi-Stories: Showing plants in their native habitats in a given location; Mar 28-Jun 21 • Glimpses Of The Grasslands: The Artistic Vision of Colin Starkevich; May 16-Aug 23

Perron St, St Albert • 780.459.2525 • Tony Overweel (pastel); May 5-Jun 1 • Members of the St. Albert Painters Guild; Jun 2-29; Opening reception: Jun 4

MUSÉE HÉRITAGE MUSEUM • St

BUGERA MATHESON GALLERY •

ROYAL ALBERTA MUSEUM • 12845-102

SNAP GALLERY • Society of Northern

GaLLEriE Pava • 9524-87 St,

ART GALLERY OF ST ALBERT (AGSA) artgalleryofstalbert.ca • High Energy 20: St. Albert High Schools; May 7-23 • What is Left Behind: art by Sarah Pike & Erin Ross; Jun 4-Aug 1 • Art Ventures: Reimagined Materials (May 16); 1-4pm; drop-in art program for children ages 6-12; $6/$5.40 (Arts & Heritage member) • Ageless Art: Repurposed Pages (May 21), 1-3pm; for mature adults; $15/$13.50 (Arts & Heritage member)

Jasper Ave • 780.455.7479 • probertsongallery.com • Actually, Everything Is Just About The Same: Steve Driscoll; May 1-19

NAESS GALLERY • Paint Spot, 10032-81

780.488.4892 • westendgalleryltd.com • Provence: Artwork By Raynald Leclerc; May 8-20

LITERARY AUDREYS BOOKS • 10702 Jasper Ave • 780. 423.3487 • audreys.ca • Konn Lavery "Mental Damnation: Fusion" Lunch Hour Book Signing; May 14, 11:45am • Myrl Coulter "A Year of Days" Book Launch; May 14, 7pm • Jamie Sharpe "Cut-Up Apologetic" Poetry Reading & Launch with Palmer Olson; May 19, 7pm • Vivian Demuth "Bear War-den" Book Launch with S. Noël McKay "Stony Point"; May 20, 7pm

BIGGER THAN HIP HOP: A BENEFIT FOR THE IHUMAN YOUTH SOCIETY • Brixx Bar, 10030-102 St (downstairs) • 780.428.109 • A night of socially conscious music and poetry • May 15, 8pm (doors) • $20 (adv), $25 (door)

CARROT COFFEEHOUSE • 9351-118 Ave • vzenari@gmail.com • Prose Creative Writing Group • Every Tue, 7-9pm

CATERINA EDWARDS "THE SICILIAN WIFE" BOOK LAUNCH • Tegler Centre, Concordia University of Edmonton, 7128 Ada Blvd • A novel that interweaves folk tales, classical allusions, and recent Italian history with the conventions of a detective story • May 15, 7-9pm

Ave • 780.432.0240 • paintspot.ca • City Visions: New York New Work by Gordon R Johnston & Bridgescapes by Frank van Veen.

Two appreciations of the urban landscape; Apr 7-May 19 • Artisan Nook: Adventures Of Le Chat, The French Traveling Cat: Sylvia Soo, whimsical ink & watercolour pencil images; Apr 7-May 19

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

PARADE GALLERY • Window Display Box

KOFFEE CAFÉ • 6120-28 Ave • This

101 Street, north of 102 Ave, Edmonton City Centre Mall • paradegallery.ca • There's

episode presents: Karen Bass (Grande Prairie Young Adult author), Leslie Greentree (Red

Deer poet, playwright, author), Blaine Newton (Red Deer poet, playwright, author), Julia Nicholson (Edmonton singer and songwriter).

Books and CDs for sale • May 28, 7-9pm • Donations accepted

DIE-NASTY • Varscona Theatre, 10329-83 Ave • varsconatheatre.com • Live improvised soap opera • Runs every Mon, 7:30pm • Until Jun 1 • $13 or $9 with a $30 membership; at the door (cash) or at tixonthesquare.com

NAKED CYBER CAFÉ • 10303-1008 St • The Spoken Word: Featuring writers and an open mic for performances for short stories, book excerpts, poems • 1st Wed ea month, 7:30pm

HEY LADIES! • ATB Financial Arts Barns

ROUGE LOUNGE • 10111-117 St • 780.902.5900 • Spoken Word Tuesdays: Weekly spoken word night presented by the Breath In Poetry Collective (BIP); info: E: breathinpoetry@gmail.com SCALES & TALES • Cha Island, 10332-81 Ave NW • 780.222.7243 • An evening of prose and music. This month will feature Tony Flemming-Blake as host and reader, and Justine Vandergift, Anthony Middel (violinist), Eva Foote,The Rosalins (Andrea Vissia, Arianna Lynne Borphy) for entertainment • 3rd Wed of the month; 7pm start • Donations (door prizes available) SCRAMBLED YEG • Brittany's Lounge, 10225-97 St • 780.497.0011 • Open Genre Variety Stage: artists from all mediums are encouraged to occupy the stage and share their creations • Every Tue-Fri, 5-8pm SCRIPT SALON • Holy Trinity Anglican Church, Upper Arts Space, 10037-84 Ave • A monthly play reading series: 1st Sun each month with a different play by a different playwright

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

WORDS IN 3D 2015: INTERSECTIONS • Chateau Lacombe Hotel, 10111 Bellamy Hill Road • wordsin3d.com • Where writing, editing, and publishing intersect and interact.

Featuring keynote speakers, workshops, pitch-camps, and so much more • May 22-24

THEATRE THE 11 O'CLOCK NUMBER • The Backstage Theatre, 10330 84 Ave (North Side of the ATB Financial Arts Barns) • 90 minutes of improvised entertainment that unveils scenes, songs and choreographed numbers completely off the cuff based on audience suggestions • Every Fri, until Jun 26, 11pm • $15 (online, at the door) • grindstonetheatre. ca 2015 thousanD FacEs FEstivaL OF MYTHIC THEATRE • Alberta Avenue Community League, 9210-118 Ave • thousandfaces.ca • A unique multicultural, multidisciplinary festival that celebrates stories, folklore and mythologies from around the world that make up Canada’s cultural mosaic • May 20-26

avEnuE Q • 9828-101A Ave • 780.425.1820 • citadeltheatre.com • A musical with part felt and part flesh that tells the timeless story of a recent college grad named Princeton who moves into a shabby New York apartment all the way out on Avenue Q. There, he meets colorful types who help Princeton finally discover his purpose in life • Apr 25-May 24

BECOMING SHARP • Varscona Theatre, 10330-84 Ave • shadowtheatre.org • Recruited as the ghostwriter for the author of the world's most famous mystery series, Judy Parker thinks she's won the chance of a lifetime. But secrets and conspiracies surround her and becoming the writer she dreams to become might cost her everything she is • Apr 29-May 17 CABARET • Mayfield Dinner Theatre, 16615-109 Ave NW • mayfieldtheatre.ca • A musical set in the strange playground of 1931 Berlin, where the seedy Kit Kat Club reveals a tale of love in the ruins, of hope and ultimately of loss • Apr 14-Jun 14 chiMProv • Citadel's Zeidler Hall, 9828101A Ave • rapidfiretheatre.com • Rapid Fire Theatre’s longform comedy show: improv formats, intricate narratives, and one-act plays • Every Sat, 10pm • $12 (door or buy in adv at TIX on the Square) • Until Jun 13

craDLE to staGE - an EvEninG oF NEW WORK • Walterdale Theatre, 1032283 Ave • A one-act play that explores the ways in which a family takes care of each other, and what happens when a young girl’s evening out with her friends doesn’t go quite as planned • May 18-23

VUEWEEKLY.com | MAY 14 – MAY 20, 2015

- Varscona Backstage Theatre, 10330-84 Ave • It's tattoos, homemaking tips, booze, prize and even get some culture all in one spectacular evening • May 22, 8pm

INTERNATIONAL CHILDREN’S FESTIvaL • Downtown St. Albert • stalbert.ca/ experience/international-childrens-festival • Interact with artists and performers from around the world, learn about faraway places and time periods and get a hands-on creation of one-of-a-kind artistic masterpieces • May 26-30

KIDS IN THE HALL • Jubilee Auditorium, 11455-87 Ave • kithtour2015.com • The Kids in the Hall: Dave Foley, Bruce McCulloch, Kevin McDonald, Mark McKinney and Scott Thompson will perform new material, revisit cult characters and revive classic sketches from their deep and expansive archive • May 19, 8pm • $49.50-$55, or $100 with Meet and Greet MAESTRO • Citadel Theatre, 9828-101A Ave • Rapid Fire Theatre • Improv, a highstakes game of elimination that will see 11 improvisers compete for audience approval until there is only one left standing • 1st Sat each month, 7:30-9:30pm • $12 (adv at rapidfiretheatre.com)/$15 (door) MOTE • La Cite Francophone (L'Unitheatre), 8627-91 St • blarneyyeg.com • A fleeting yet life-altering friendship between a secretaryturned-fugutive and the desperately lonely proprietor of a forgotten desert motel • May 8-17 nExtFEst 20th annivErsarY SHOWCASE • Mercury Theatre, 11315-106 Ave • A re-imagine of two plays from the festival archives • May 6-17

THE PHOTO • C103, 8529 Gateway Blvd • newhearttheatre.ca • A love story, a mystery story, a story about two individuals who are just trying to find their place in a world that has redefined them in an instant • May 15-23 • $20 (adult), $15 (seniors, students, artists) SPROUTS 2015 • concretetheatre.ca • 780.439.3905 • Westbury Theatre, Lobby, and Board Room, ATB Financial Arts Barns 10330-84 Ave • Three brand new short plays for kids and their families by local playwrights from diverse cultural backgrounds • Jun 6-7

THAT’S DIRTY DANCING • Jubilations Dinner Theatre, #2690, 8882-170 St • Who doesn't like a good spoof? Featuring songs from the 80s', it's the summer time romance story visitors will want to see. The story focuses on “Baby” Hoseman, the youngest of her family, and just beginning to explore independence, dancing, and the opposite sex.

It's all set Kellerman’s posh prairie resort, which also happens to employ a very odd groundskeeper, who is constantly doing battle with a surprisingly clever band of pesky prairie dogs • Apr 17-Jun 14

THAT'S TERRIFIC • Varscona Theatre • last Sat ea month • An enthusiastic celebration of all things notable, important, encouraging, and superior • Nov 29-Jul 25 THEATRESPORTS • Citadel's Zeidler Hall, 9828-101A Ave • rapidfiretheatre.com • Improv • Every Fri, 7:30pm and 10pm • Jan 16-Jun 12 • $12/$10 (member) at TIX on the Square TRIBES • Timms Centre for the Arts - Main Stage, 112 St Northwest, University of Alberta • drama.ualberta. ca/StudentFestivalsandProductions/ NewWorksFestival • Introduces an unconventional family with three dysfunctional adult children still living at home. It focuses on Billy, their deaf son who was raised to read lips rather than sign.

Billy falls for Sylvia, a young woman who is becoming deaf herself, and he finally discovers what it means to be heard • May 13-23 THE UGLY ONE • PCL Theatre, ATB Financial Arts Barns, 10330-84 Ave • A scalpel-sharp comedy about image, identity, and social conformity from acclaimed German playwright Marius von Mayenburg • May 13-23

THE TRANS CANADA TRAIL 16 LONG-DISTANCE CYCLE TOURS 18 VUEWEEKLY.com | MAY 14 – MAY 20, 2015

ROAD TRIPS 15

ROAD TRIPS // TRAIL

ROAD TRIPS

Trans Canada Trail tctrail.ca Part of the Trans Canada Trail's Alberta leg // Banff lake Louise Tourism P Zizka

B

etween Cape Spear, Newfoundland in the east and the Yukon's Mt St Elias—together forming a line of Canada's absolute width—there's approximately 9306 kilometres of country, much of it undeveloped, spread across multiple topographies, beckoning to be explored. And that's just east to west, left to right, without thinking about the other, northto-south axis of distance.

There is a highway that can take you through a lot of that span, coast to coast. But that's only one way of experiencing the full scale of the land, and it's burdened by the fact that you're actually in a vehicle as you go; another, more open-air option is the Trans Canada Trail, which goes coast to coast to coast.

Currently heading towards completion—eyeing a finish in 2017, in accordance with Canada's 150th birth-

16 ROAD TRIPS

day—the TCT is set to be the world's largest network of recreational trails: 23 000 kilometres of multi-use paths that tangle and knot through the country, touching the Atlantic, Pacific and Arctic oceans along its route.

Some of the Trans Canada Trail's span is made up of repurposed rail lines, donated by companies and re-imagined as walkable (or cycle-friendly) routes; other parts are roomy enough for snowmobiles or equestrian usage.

But it's not the sort of trail you have to head out into the deep wilderness to begin to enjoy: Christina Kozakiewicz, a communications advisor with the Trans Canada Trail organization, notes that about 80 percent of Canadians are less than 30 minutes from a TCT segment right now, wherever in this continent-spanning country they happen to be.

"It's just so vast," she says. "The idea

that this huge country, with so many people and so many different climates and cultures, could be linked together in such a way is just really exciting."

The Trans Canada Trail was an idea born back in 1992, a project to celebrate the country's 125th anniversary.

The idea, Kozakiewicz notes, was to help align the idea of Canada's natural outdoor beauty with a sense of national pride.

"It really does chart the Canadian journey," she adds. "A lot of the trails designated TCT today were the same trails First Nations and explorers travelled with the founding of Canada.

There's definitely a literal historical connection."

Presently, the TCT is sitting at about 75-percent completed, though sitting's misleading: it's inching towards that goal all the time. The TCT orga-

nization offers oversight, but doesn't actually own any of the 400-plus pathways its namesake runs through.

It's a massive task, requiring plenty of on-the-ground work. As the organizing body, the TCT works with local and provincial partners to maintain and develop the trails, meaning their development is volunteer-led, though the TCT tries to make sure the organizations themselves have enough funding to make it all happen.

"It's concentric circles," Kozakiewicz says. "We're at the centre— we're the national head office, and we're basically a granting agency.

We make sure trail groups get the money that they need, but they really oversee everything from the construction plans to the actual realization. We have to approve their plans, but basically it's them— they're fighting the good fight,

VUEWEEKLY.com | MAY 14 – MAY 20, 2015

they're the ones doing all the work to get trail on the ground.

"I don't know if we're the biggest volunteer effort," she adds. "But we're certainly one of Canada's greatest volunteer efforts."

There are even water-based legs of the trail, Kozakiewicz says, for those itching to kayak or canoe part of their way across the country. They're also partly a necessity, too; with just over two years remaining before the country's 150th anniversary (and the trail's 25th birthday, too), there's still more than 6000 kilometres yet to be completed in the TCT. "We have a list of gaps, so to speak, and the focus is those gaps, and making sure they get connected and signed," Kozakiewicz says.

"That's ongoing; that's every day."

PAUL BLINOV

PAUL@VUEWEEKLY.COM

Not all those who wander are lost.

HIKING GOLDEN’S GEMS

by Lynn Martel

Not far into our hike, we cross a babbling creek, its sparkling water brushing the rocks like a bronze polish. As the trail winds along strategically laid stone steps, we hear the swoosh of raven’s wings flying overhead. Then, just beyond a small stand of sub-alpine firs, there it is, a secluded alpine tarn, a gentle breeze causing delicate ripples on the glimmering water.

What a perfect place to enjoy the fresh-baked goodies collected from Golden’s irresistible cafes, and to study our updated 2015 Golden Rules hiking map. Available in print or at www.tourismgolden.com/hike it’s brimming with hiking suggestions.

For a relaxing day, we could explore Take it Easy, a 4-kilometre trail that follows the steady-flowing Columbia River bank. Binoculars are a must to spot some of the common mergansers, redneck grebes, ospreys and bald eagles that inhabit the river basin.

If we’re feeling more energetic, we’ll hike the Canyon Creek trail starting from Nicholson, a 10-minute drive south of Golden. While the start of the trail is a bit steep, it quickly leads to a smooth, broad path bordering the north rim of the deep, narrow gorge. Dating back to Golden’s early history when prospectors searched for gold, the views from three lookouts along the way provide spectacular vistas for miles down the Columbia Valley. Just be sure to leave the earbuds at home so you can hear oncoming mountain bikers riding the trail in the downhill direction – or maybe even a woodpecker or a deer!

And for a unique thrill, we’ll ride the gondola to the top of Kicking Horse Mountain Resort to hike Terminator Ridge, enjoying an eagle’s eye view of the entire Columbia Valley.

Back in town, we’ll savour a scrumptious dinner on a restaurant patio as we plan our next adventure. Maybe whitewater rafting? Mountain biking? Climbing? Or skydiving?

And on the May 16 – 18 weekend, we’ll catch the Golden Mountain Festival www.goldenfest.ca to meet professional mountain guides and bold adventurers, including festival headliner Will Gadd, Niagara Falls climber and 2014 National Geographic Adventurer of the Year.

ORDER YOUR FREE COPY OF THE NEW GOLDEN HIKING TRAIL MAP www.tourismgolden.com/hike

For more information on summer events visit www.tourismgolden.com/discover

Then by mid-July, in Glacier National Park we’ll hike the moderate trail past gushing creeks to Balu Pass, where the slopes are carpeted in dazzling, colourful wildflowers. Or, in Yoho National Park, we’ll hike the five-star Canadian Rockies’ favourite, the 21-kilometre Iceline trail with its rock staircases, up-close glaciers and see-forever high alpine views.

VUEWEEKLY.com | MAY 14 – MAY 20, 2015

ROAD TRIPS 17

Enjoy summer from the best patio in town

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18 ROAD TRIPS

ROAD TRIPS ROADTRIPS // CYCLING

Edmonton cycling resources bikeclub.ca mountainmadnesstours.com crazyguyonabike.org

T

hirty years ago, Alberto Rodriguez and his family made the choice to start travelling by bike. It was a decision that would transform how they explored their world—one which Rodriguez recommends for anybody.

"We wanted to travel in a different way that would allow us to be more in touch with our surroundings," he explains. "That made a huge difference: the ability to go slow, stop and be approached by people and really get to know the place you're in.

"It's been a real family affair," he adds.

When their son was four years old, Rodriguez and his wife took him on the Camino Portugués, from Lisbon to Santiago de Compostela, some 600 kilometres end to end. Other trips have taken them through Cuba, Scandinavia and western Canada.

For those who get out on the odd weekend for a couple of leisurely kilometres, that might seem like a stretch. But Rodriguez suggests starting small and building up, doing some research and perhaps joining an organization, such as the Edmonton Bicycle and Touring Club, where he's been a member for more than 25 years.

From there, it's just a matter of getting out the door and starting to ride. Alberta has some of the finest cycling anywhere, right on our doorstep. All it takes to get started is a little know-how and a push.

Ben Johnson got his first serious taste for the sport when he and some friends self-guided themselves through the French Alps, following the course of the Tour de France. After travelling and adventuring around the world, he landed in Alberta.

A millwright by trade, Johnson was restless, inspired more by the Alberta scenery than his chosen profession.

That's how Mountain Madness Tours

began. Six years later, he now coordinates group trips on some of Alberta and BC's best rides.

When asked his favourite route, he doesn't hesitate.

"The granddaddy of them all: Jasper to Waterton," he says. "You knock off three national parks, and the three highest passes in western Canada. And then you've just got all the wildlife, lakes, waterfalls, snow-capped mountains, ranchlands and rolling hills."

Climbing mountain passes on a pedal bike might sound intimidating, but Johnson recalls one cyclist he met who proved that wrong. This man had recently trimmed down from 350 lbs to about 250 lbs. He was slowly working to overcome weight-related health issues, including arthritis and diabetes.

"When he made it to the top of Bow Summit, there were tears in his eyes," Johnson says. "It was great to see."

Motivation only takes you so far, of course. Whether you're with a tour or self-guided, good preparation is invaluable. On roads and highways in the west, you can often be hundreds of kilometres from the nearest town or gas station. Weather can be unpredictable, and there's gear, food, navigation and lodging to consider.

Going with a tour organizer like Mountain Madness or taking a support vehicle relieves a lot of the burden, but it is possible to self-support your adventure as well. For the latter, that opens up the world of panniers (or saddlebags), tenting gear, repair tools, food, clothing and general supplies to get you between Canada's spread-out patches of civilization.

Packing for cycle touring is minimalism at its best: getting the lightest weight, highest benefit items into a couple of small bags. For repairs,

VUEWEEKLY.com | MAY 14 – MAY 20, 2015

at minimum you should have a bike multi-tool, a couple of tubes and some idea of how to use them, so you're not stuck with a flat in the middle of nowhere, or struggling along with chafing brakes.

Tenters will want small tents, sleeping bags and between two-tothree days' worth of food (including lots of snacks for fuel on the road) at a time. For that unpredictable weather, it's always nice having rain gear and warm layers somewhere near the top of the panniers. The list of essentials will vary depending on where you're going, for how long and how you're supported.

Rodriguez recommends reading up on how others have approached long-distance cycling to get a sense of what works best for you, and to familiarize yourself with where you're going. One of his favourite resources, which many cyclists follow, is crazyguyonabike.org, where cyclists share stories of their latest adventures in various parts of the world.

Now in his early 60s, Rodriguez is still churning out the kilometres on his bike. Last summer, he walked out the front door of his Edmonton home, saddled up and rode to Valdez, Alaska over the course of 37 days.

"It was an amazing opportunity to see the countryside," Rodriguez says. "[Cycle touring] has totally changed my perspective ... any time you arrive in a place with your bike and your panniers, it attracts people. They want to know where you're going. I hear a lot of people saying, 'oh, I wish I could do that.'

"I just say, go for it—just get on that bike and get going. You'll never regret it."

JEREMY DERKSEN

JEREMY@VUEWEEKLY.COM

The Alberta Northern Rockies Are Calling You. Grande Prairie

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outdoor activities to enjoy are what make this area a must for your vacation bucket list. When you visit, make sure you leave enough time – you’ll be surprised at how much there is to do.

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ROAD TRIPS 19

ROAD TRIPS

KAYLEN SMALL // KAYLEN@VUEWEEKLY.COM

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VUEWEEKLY.com | MAY 14 – MAY 20, 2015

Caroline Bighorn Stampede / Fri, May 15 – Sun, May 17 / carolinebighornstampede.webs.com Enjoy May long seekend with a rodeo, parade and a pancake breakfast. Even better than that?

Camping is free with admission.

(Caroline, AB)

Bikinis and Boardshorts / Sun, May 17 / skibanff.com/events Swap your winter wear for a bathing suit and get on the slopes.

The seventh-annual Bikinis and Boardshorts ski and ride for the fight against cancer has men and women of all ages donning their best beach wear on the Strawberry Face run at Sunshine Village.

Other activities include a dual slalom, beach volleyball, a raffle, BBQ and live music. All you have to do is raise a minimum of $50 (or $120 for a team of three) to enjoy this one. (Sunshine Village)

Not that kind of fresh.

The other kind that gets you outside to enjoy hiking by the river.

Find out what’s really fresh at Campers-Village.com

Devon Days / Wed, May 20 – Sun, May 24 / devondays.ca Experience the best of everything that Devon has to offer: Taste of Devon, a parade, fashion show, slow pitch, kids' activities, live entertainment, a silent auction, beerfest and fireworks. And don't forget the Outhouse Races on Main Street—you wouldn't want to miss that, would you?

(Various venues)

CONTINUED ON PAGE 22 >>

VUEWEEKLY.com | MAY 14 – MAY 20, 2015

ROAD TRIPS 21

Explore

Just east of Edmonton on Highway 14

OUTDOORS INSIDER

Beaver County

ROAD TRIPS

<< CONTINUED FROM PAGE 20

Run for Pie / Sun, May 24 / runforpieedmonton.wordpress.com Has there ever been a better incentive than pie? Head to Kinsmen Park to support the Stollery Children's Hospital Music Therapy Program and you'll get a slice once you cross the finish line. Registration is $30, with options of a five-kilometre walk, five-kilometre run or 10km run. For $10, there's also a one-kilometre kids' fun run. (Kinsmen Park) Slush Cup // Wikimedia Commons

Black Nugget Lake 15 min east of Tofield 780-663-2421

Camp Lake Park 15 min east of Viking 780-336-3414

780-663-3730 1-866-663-1333 www.beaver.ab.ca

Slush Cup / Mon, May 18 / skibig3.com A truly unique spring event sees skiers and riders showing up to Sunshine Village in original costumes on the last day of the season. While wearing these crazy creations, participants try to jump over the infamous ice-cold pond. Challenge accepted. (Sunshine Village)

Trails Fest / Sat, May 30 / kananaskis.org This inaugural event celebrates Kananaskis trails, people and culture. Watch presentations and chat with tons of outdoor enthusiasts from clubs such as the Alberta Equestrian Foundation, Alberta Wilderness Association, Rocky Mountain Ramblers Association and many more. Eat a free barbeque lunch before embarking on guided adventures like hiking, biking and bird watching. These activities are free, but donations are appreciated. (Canmore Nordic Centre)

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PREVUE // BUDDY COP

FILM

FILM EDITOR : PAUL BLINOV PAUL@VUEWEEKLY.COM You have the right to remain stylish

funky fuzz Bad City: the '70s-Canuxploitation film that never actually was

'I

think there's something about our memory banks; we tend to invest our memory of eras with a hyper-real view of what was there," director Carl Bessai begins. "The cars were bigger, the collars were wider, the flares were wider, the colours were weirder—everything was an extreme. That's how we remember it."

With that in mind, it seems fitting that the Bessai-directed Bad City opens its send-up of '70s buddy-cop movies— complete with car chases and outrageous fashions—with a bit of context: before any action hits the screen, we're greeted with a pre-movie historian setting the stage, discussing Bad City's faux-history in the world of "Canuxploitation" films—"A romantic era of Canadian film history," we're assured, one

REVUE // COMEDY

of tax breaks and desperate American actors—and giving a sense of where it came from.

"I grew up in the '70s, and the '70s was way less overt than all of this stuff," Bessai continues, talking from the side of the road en route to a shoot in Vancouver. "But it's like, why do people love Halloween? There's something about dressing up and being silly and taking something not too seriously, and just indulging in the flavours, colours and styles of an era, and I think these movies are like that: they're kind of like putting on a costume. ... I think we love to remind ourselves in an era in a kindof ultra way, in a caricature-ish way.

And I think the spoofs help us embrace the era in the dumbest way possible."

Bad City goes joyfully towards the

stupid in a made-for-a-midnightcrowd sort of way: after Detective Franky New-Guinea (Aaron Brooks) loses his partner, he's paired up with Detective Reverend Grizzly NightBear (Dustin Milligan), an odd-couple partnering that's forced to find its groove as the duo attempt to thwart a sinister, corrupt city councillor's plans to take over the town.

The film began after Bessai met Milligan on a different project; afterwards, discussing career trajectories, Milligan—whom Bessai had known as a leading-man type of guy—let slip he harboured more comic aspirations. After shooting some goofy shorts that Milligan had written with Brooks—about a secret society of wingmen—Bessai offhandedly joked

After a few revisions, they shot it, off-the-cuff and on an indendent-sized budget that provided the freedom to chase jokes and ideas wherever they needed to go.

"It was a way to explore and play and do something a little off the cuff, and indie," Bessai says. "Not in the usual wheelhouse of needing to raise a lot of money and ask a lot of permission and have a lot of bosses, and so on. It's a crazy indie approach, which was awesome."

Bessai, an Edmonton-raised direc-

tor—whose previous work includes Brent Butt's No Clue, and who will be attending the May 17 and 19 screenings here—notes that the balance between knowing comedy and playing the genre seriously proved a tricky balance.

"I remember Dustin coming up to me and saying, 'Are you sure it's not looking too good? We don't want it to look good.' And I'd go, 'No, no, trust me, it's not looking good,'" he says.

"But the idea is: if you try too hard to be funny, or make something deliberately funny, it almost doesn't land. ...

I think comedy has to be done really seriously, in a way."

PAUL BLINOV

PAUL@VUEWEEKLY.COM

Hot Pursuit A

las, Tracy Enid Flick, what's become of you? In 1999, you hopped and jumped—all go-getting and sure-of-yourself and exasperatingly peppy and ever-so-uptight— from Tom Perrotta's book to screen, played by Reese Witherspoon in Alexander Payne's Election. Now Witherspoon's gone and turned your overachieving antagonist into a dully officious, do-gooder cop protagonist. And the movie we're stuck in for 90 minutes with her, Hot Pursuit, remains cold as comedy, pursuing laughs unsuccessfully until the end ... where a bloopers reel reveals the cast's chuckling fun. At least someone got some guffaws out of this guff.

Right from the silly start— Now playing girl grows up in the back of Directed by Anne Fletcher dad's patrol vehicle—this  clown car's root-a-toot-tootling along to Dallas with its Buddy-cop law enforcement wheels coming off. Code-quoting

24 FILM

about making a cop film.

"I didn't think much of it, and then a month later, I got this call," he says."'So, that 70s cop movie you wanted to make? We have the script.'"

Sun, May 17 – Wed, May 20 Bad City Directed by Carl Bessai Metro Cinema at the Garneau

officer Rose Cooper (Witherspoon), on lock-up duty after accidentally tasing on fire a guy carrying alcohol (wow, Burning Man! Hilarious!), is assigned to witness protection— the witness being a walking Colombian stereotype. Curvy, snarky, super-made-up fashionista and rich drug-cartel member's wife Daniella Riva (Sofia Vergara, adopting a gratingly broad Spanish-accented English) is set to testify against the big boss in Texas' big city, but her husband's murdered and soon the odd couple is on the midnight run from masked men.

Tasteless lesbian jokes, handcuffed-togetherness, freaking out two guys with the truth about menstruation, girl-on-girl bickering, and concern about Cooper's lack of a love life ensue. (So, yeah, there's nothing, apart from a few cellphones, in this slog of a buddy road

VUEWEEKLY.com | MAY 14 – MAY 20, 2015

trip to suggest that the 21st or even late 20th century arrived already.)

You'd need more than an elite team of script doctors to induce any hilarity here. The closest this busted-up (and busty—cleavage gets pointlessly exposed plenty) theme-park ride comes to amusement is when Cooper accidentally ingests some cocaine and goes on an energetic, chatty tear through a roadside store. High-larious.

The movie's so ploddingly predictable that the only three station cops who talk to Cooper turn out to be dirty double-crossers, the showdown involves a slo-mo, heroic diving-in-front-of-someone and the uptight, too-officious cop learns to loosen up a little and get her man.

It's all enough to make you nostalgic for a certain '90s comedy-flick anti-heroine ... RIP, TEF. BRIAN GIBSON

BRIAN@VUEWEEKLY.COM

ASPECTRATIO

BRIAN GIBSON // BRIAN@VUEWEEKLY.COM

Wistful in the sunset years

End of the lines

Wrinkles examines old age through the lens of animated magical realism Wrinkles is all about lines: the lines on a front gate, sliding shut; the dotted line down the centre of a road, an escape route; trains of thought running along the same lines of memory, over and over; life-lines drawing to a close; the lines of a life, etched on the face.

Emilio has a curve under each eye, a line in each cheek, lines around the mouth, and two creases in his brow. For a man who's feeling less distinguished with each passing day, those are clear, distinguishing marks ... because they're line-drawn.

An animated feature set in an old-folks' home, the last stop before the end of the line, Wrinkles (Arrugas) is a keenly bittersweet, unsentimental look at old age. The mischievous, all-too-lucid Miguel tells Emilio, addling his way into Alzheimer's, that "It's better to just not dwell" on aging. But we reside with this pair, plodding down the halls with Miguel, staring at Emilio

as routine becomes a succession of days to become resigned to, or rare family visits turn into those fleeting times when you act cheerful ... and the faint discontent of our winter seems so bracing in its chill air.

While Hollywood's shied away from the hard truths of dementia, common rooms full of nonagenarians, and senior-care nurses, there have been a few profound works that deal with nursing homes or elder-care facilities before—Tamara Jenkins' The Savages (2007) or Getting On (a BBC Four series remade by HBO) come to mind. What Wrinkles does differently is lend a poignant magic-realism to flights of fancy and mental mirages—a woman thinks herself on the Orient Express; a devoted wife recalls the reason for the catchphrase she whispers to her ailing husband— that animation can meld into the plot's "reality" so movingly. Drawn

from the comic book by Paco Roca, Ignacio Ferreras' 2011 film has the grace, narrow focus and careful frame-to-frame, panel-to-panel pacing of a very fine graphic novel.

While Emilio, a former bank manager, tries to hold on to a proper, past version of himself, denying his soft slide into senility, Miguel tricks fellow residents into giving him money, or gets a puppy for a man he knows will soon lose it (he'll replace it for him), or makes sharp, even cold comments. "All we do is eat, sleep and poop!" he scoffs. The TV's showing nature docs because "I guess they want us to watch something peaceful" (just as the airing show's narrator discusses the "sexual cannibalism" of an insect species!). Or he jokes about how relatives, only coming around Christmas-time, are like egg nog. Speckled over the skin of the film, too, are lyrical, elegiac

moments: the noodles and plate shards on the ground marking Emilio's fall from independence; an autumn leaf sticking to the outside of a sliding door; the blink-blinkblinking lights of a Christmas tree.

With its wry moments and those poetic interludes (clouds are especially important here, as our lives— so many little, special lives—mist away from us), this is a film that

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takes its time, though time is all the residents have. There are slow zooms, trips down memory lane, and moments of floatiness, reflecting the glacial pace in the home, the residents' retreats into the past, and the medication they're taking daily. But it's the mixture of melancholy, wistfulness, and ennui here that makes the headiest, heartiest cocktail. V

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FILM 25

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FILM REVUE // ROMANCE

Far From the Madding Crowd

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Chillin' in Dorset

D

orset, England seems like it was was a serenely pastoral place in 1870, which is when and where Far From The Madding Crowd places itself and its central figure, Bathsheba Everdene (Carey Mulligan), who, in her way, looks to shake up the era's tender idyll.

Her parents died young, so she doesn't know where her name comes from, but she's educated, hardworking and pretty content not to wed; she turns down the first proposal we see her get, from shepherd Gabriel Oak (Matthias Schoenaerts), while working on a cousin's land. Soon she comes into money, buys her own farm and ends up hiring a now out-ofsheep Oak to help manage the place.

Oh, the romantic tension, right? But there are more would-be suitors to get in-between them over the course of Far From The Madding Crowd. An

adaptation of the like-titled Thomas Hardy novel, which was written around the same time as the events it portrays, it looks to offer both a sweeping rural love story and a protagonist who kind of refutes it most of the way, harbouring some nascent feminism in her avoidance of typical gender roles. "I intend to astonish you all," she tells her farm staff after firing a particularly lethargic one, and she manages to do just that, though we rarely see them challenged beyond an early scene or two. The film's erabased gender politics take a back seat to more general matters of the heart.

And so the romances take focus for most of the film's runtime—there's the well-off but perpetually bumbling WIlliam Boldwood (MIchael Sheen) as well as the suave soldier Francis Troy (Tom Sturridge), and Oak, always

there in the periphery. As often happens with a novel-made-film, there are some compression fractures: some moments seem to lack the necessary context to land—a woman shows up to the wrong chapel on her wedding day, and then her would-be husband never seeks her out?

The last third or so feels like the film's just drawing out the steps towards what increasingly seems like an eventuality. But Mulligan's excellent in the leading role, and Schoenaerts is effective as the quiet giant Oak too, giving dimension to what could otherwise be a cloying, wooden character.

So even when its telling and story start to languish, Far From The Madding Crowd's main figures are charismatic enough to carry its weight.

PAUL BLINOV

PAUL@VUEWEEKLY.COM

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PREVUE // FOLK-POP

MUSIC

MUSIC EDITOR: MEAGHAN BAXTER MEAGHAN@VUEWEEKLY.COM

Mon, May 18 (7 pm) With Luke Sital Singh Mercury Room, $15 in advance, $20 at the door

I

f a creative process has worked in the past, it can be easy to fall back into the same method and repeat yourself—precisely the situation singer-songwriter Peter Katz found himself in as he approached his album We Are the Reckoning.

"I didn't realize it until some trusted people pointed it out to me, but I was sort of in this cycle: I was touring solo, I was writing solo, I was doing everything solo," he explains. "All of my energy was just on the next tour, the next show—everything was just this bubble of trying to make it all work, and it wasn't really condu-

cive to actual creative, artistic development. I realized I was about to do the same thing again and maybe it wasn't the right thing to do."

Katz realized he'd need to slow down his touring schedule and focus on songwriting. He didn't want to make another record just for the sake of releasing one, and he spent two years writing about 50 songs—50 he was willing to show a producer, at least. He set challenges for himself along the way, such as completing a song per week, and he allowed himself to co-write for the first time.

Over

"Sometimes when you're writing, by yourself or with other people, you just want to stop," he says. "It's not laziness, it's just like it's overwhelming because you're trying to make something that doesn't exist. You don't know what going on before it's done, and so I think it requires just a rule that you're like, we are not going to stop until we're done."

One of those co-writers was Royal Wood, who also served as co-producer alongside Bill Lefler on the heartfelt single "Brother"—Wood provides some vocals for the track,

too. Katz admits it was intimidating to work alongside writers he admires, which also included Simon Wilcox and Andy Stochansky, but he learned to trust in the process as well as his own abilities. Artists often have an idea of what they should sound like and can become too close to a project, he says, and an outside perspective is enough to shake things up while still staying true to their vision.

"When you're writing by yourself it's hard, but it's kind of comfortable, whereas when you're put into a room with someone who's written some

30 years of diverse and

great songs and really knows what they're doing and is used to writing with all kinds of great people, you're sort of like, uh, jeez, how do I measure up?" Katz says. "I'd never done it before, so I didn't really know where I fit, whether I actually was OK at it, you know? So that was a challenge, too, just to deal with the intimidation and not let that get in the way of doing the thing that I can do. And as I did more writing I realized, OK, I can hold my weight and I've got good ideas here."

MEAGHAN BAXTER

MEAGHAN@VUEWEEKLY.COM

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MUSIC PREVUE // ROCK

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Tallest to Shortest 'W

e don't take the lyrics too seriously, but we take the music really seriously—so that's our dichotomy," says Tallest to Shortest bassist Mark Feduk.

There's certainly a tongue-and-cheek sensibility that runs throughout the local trio's debut self-titled EP—start-

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ing with the reverb-heavy opening track "Rich People Don't Smoke" right through to the country-tinged closer "Drive By Couch Dump."

"In any lyric there's meaning that anyone can take out of it, and so even if they sound silly sometimes we are actually singing about things," Feduk

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// Mike Kuby

explains. "But the main thing we talked about is taking the music really seriously so when people hear us play they're like, 'Whoa, these guys have put a lot of work into this.' But the lyrics make you smile, and we found it gets a bit of a connection for people."

Indeed, the musical elements that drive Tallest to Shortest's often humorous lyrics are polished and intricate, reflecting on a varied palette that has drawn comparisons to the Stooges, the Ramones, Talking Heads and even Black Sabbath, depending on the song you happen to be listening to.

"On the EP they all sound a little different, but when you hear us live it makes a lot of sense," Feduk adds. "It's all cohesive."

That motley mix of influences stems from the band members' respective music backgrounds: Feduk and guitarist/vocalist Sean Brewer toured the country together as part of the Uncas and Red Ram, while drummer Corey Motz has been involved in groups like Longshadows and the Fails. Tallest to Shortest began as a side project back in 2012—originally as a five-piece— and it's only been within the past year or so that it's shifted gears and made it the main focus. It's since pared down to three members, too, a move Feduk notes has been beneficial to the group's sound as well as the sheer logistics of being an independent act—hotel rooms aren't cheap, after all.

"We've always been in bands with many members, and we actually found that when we dropped down to a trio and started playing like that, things just got tighter for us," he says, noting the lineup change was amicable. "Even though Sean and I have been playing for years and years in the city, we both realized that we became much better players because we could actually hear everything we were doing, and it's just a lot of fun and it's more viable for the road."

MEAGHAN BAXTER

MEAGHAN@VUEWEEKLY.COM

&

PREVUE // GARAGE

WANT TO SEND YOU AND A FRIEND TO SEE

MAYHEM JuliaWhy? A

severed thumb, a nerve-damaged arm and a dislocated shoulder.

Those were some of the ingredients that went into making Sydney, Australia-based JuliaWhy?'s recently released debut LP, Wheel.

"That was all my doing; I'm the spanner in the works," says the trio's drummer Peter Beringer. "It was doing menial, boring things. I nearly sliced my right thumb off taking a new knife out of a block. It made a really clean cut: two nerves and a tendon. I got radial nerve palsy in my right arm falling asleep on my elbow wrong. And the dislocated shoulder is a much more interesting story—but it's not a PG story I can share."

Beringer was calling from a truck stop outside of Odessa, ON, marvelling at the exotic Tim Horton's fran-

ON MAY 23RD AT THE EDMONTON SPORTSDOME!

Straight outta Sydney

chise. The Aussie had been in Canada / but he goes down on me for hours" for a week after being invited to play she drawls on the psych-flavoured Canadian Music Week in Toronto, ac- "Flowers") JuliaWhy? is often labelled climatizing to the 14-hour time differ- as a Riot Grrrl band. ence by spending But Beringer sleepless nights in Wed, May 20 (8 pm) says there's not With Gender Poutine, Borscht, New York City. much to link the JuliaWhy?, front- CONJURE band to the '90s ed by singer and Wunderbar, $8 feminist hardbass player Julia core-punk movement—except Wylie, has been making waves in the group's native maybe the attitude. country on the strength of Wheel, "Certainly Julia is quite into Bikini Kill, eight earworm tracks that clock in at and I'm cool with that, but we've [got] a very punk-rock 20 minutes. no feminist political agenda," he says.

"We've got a very strong frontwoman The band plays scrappy, garage rock and the music is pretty abrasive and in tight, ballsy bursts of hooky pop played with as much energy as we can mastery. Because of Wylie's badass round up on any given night." stage presence and give-no-shits lyr- JOSH MARCELLIN JOSH@VUEWEEKLY.COM ics ("He can't afford to buy my flowers

To enter, head to

vueweekly.com/contests Contest closes on May 18th, winners will be notified by email and prize pickup will be available at the venue.

FRI, MAY 15, MERCURY ROOM

SECRET SETLIST PRESENTS: JEFF STUART & THE HEARTS, WE WERE FRIENDS, & SHORT OF ABLE SAT, MAY 16, MERCURY ROOM

SECRET SETLIST PRESENTS: BILLIE ZIZI, NATURE OF, & KAYLA HOTTE & HER RODEO PALS SUN, MAY 17, MERCURY ROOM

THE ASHLEY HUNDRED W/ I AM MACHI, AND THE VELVETEINS

MON, MAY 18, MERCURY ROOM

PETER KATZ

W/ LUKE SITAL SINGH

TUE, MAY 19, MERCURY ROOM

PETUNIA & THE VIPERS

PREVUE // FOLK PUNK

River Jacks

Fri, May 15 (9 pm) With Rhubarbs, Seth Anderson Band, Rusty Wunderbar, $10 ticularly good at them; you just need to be honest. Like, Woody Guthrie: he wasn't necessarily that good at guitar or singing, but he had this conviction that was so punk rock."

'U

nder Bill C-51 this would implicate us as terrorists," says Spencer Jo Burgess over the phone from his home in Calgary.

Burgess, better known as Spencer Jo, fronts Calgary folk-punkers River Jacks, and he's talking about the song "Bomb the Landlord" off the band's self-titled debut LP. It's an incendiary 51 seconds of crusty punk that rages against paying rent to a slumlord. To illustrate the point, the cover of the band's record shows an explosion blasting out a window of a dumpy tenement.

It has shades of Dead Kennedy's 1980 classic "Let's Lynch the Landlord." But Burgess says it was more a nod to Irish folk songs at the beginning of the 20th century, when oppressive rental rules led to

popular uprisings.

"They were all singing about landlords and the terrible situations they were living in," he says. "I guess that's what we're trying to make: a modern version of old songs and exaggerate our feelings toward deplorable living conditions."

Politics and history, punk and folk all intersect in River Jacks. The band channels the Celtic soul of the Pogues—thanks in large part to accordion player Andy "The Mandrill" Shannon—and flavours it with the boundary-pushing genius of the Clash. And Burgess cites folk heroes Woody Guthrie and Pete Seeger as inspiration—and punk's forefathers.

"You only need to know three chords to play folk and punk," he says. "And you don't need to be par-

Formed in 2012 as a one-off for Burgess' solo album release, River Jacks has since turned into a standalone creative force. The six full-time members each play in several other Calgary bands. Bass player Ben Olson, who produced River Jacks' LP and added his harmonica skills, is a solo Edmonton musician who used to play in the Old Sins and On the Brink.

For what's essentially a Calgary punk supergroup, Burgess says the band is more a tight-knit family than a cluster of competing egos. And they're a band that pushes back against the hyper-commercial city that is Calgary.

"Calgary is such a money-driven city," he says. "There's guys with huge oil money flying around town acting like they own everything and the culture reflects that. Everyone wants to know how much money you make and build a hierarchy in their minds. The idea of River Jacks is we would exist to bring people together and have a hell of a time doing it, not to schmooze or further our business."

W/ MATT & LAYLA HOTTE

TUE, MAY 26, MERCURY ROOM

WHITNEY ROSE

W/ MOHSIN ZAMAN, & ELLA COYES

THU, MAY 28, ROYAL MERCURY ROOM

LEEROY STAGGER

W/ MARIEL BUCKLEY

FRI, MAY 29, ROYAL ALBERTA MUSEUM THEATRE

GREAT LAKE SWIMMERS W/ THE WEATHER STATION, & GUESTS

SAT MAY 30, MERCURY ROOM

GREG MACPHERSON BAND W/ GUESTS

SUN MAY 31, MERCURY ROOM

THE LION THE BEAR AND THE FOX W/ SAM WEBER, & GUESTS

THUR JUN 11, MERCURY ROOM

CRAIG CARDIFF

W/ GUESTS

FRI JUN 12, MERCURY ROOM

MATT EPP

W/ GUESTS

SAT JUN 13, MERCURY ROOM

ELECTRICITY FOR EVERYBODY CD RELEASE SHOW, W/ GUESTS

THUR JUN 25, MERCURY ROOM

THE WOODEN SKY

W/ NATURE OF, & GUESTS

THUR JUL 2, MERCURY ROOM

MIKE PLUME

W/ GUESTS

JOSH MARCELLIN

JOSH@VUEWEEKLY.COM

VUEWEEKLY.com | MAY 14 – MAY 20, 2015

MUSIC 29

MUSIC

PRESENTS THE

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PREVUE // BLUES-ROCK Browne as influences. "Naturally, once I listened to the records, I was like, 'Man, I've got to be part of this.'"

When it comes to what to see, what to bring and what to wear to some of the best festivals in Alberta, Saskatchewan and British Columbia, we have you covered.

The

Plus comprehensive listings of Festival City and areaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s seasonal offerings!

< Ă + MKÄ?

10442 whyte ave 439.1273 10442 whyte ave 439.1273 CD/ PATRICK WATSON LP LOVE SONGS FOR ROBOTS

Smithsonian Institute in Washington, DC produced his latest album, Rumble: A TribSat, May 16 (4 pm) ute to Native Music Icons.

Empress Ale House "We did a live performance in conjunction with an exhibit called 'Up Where We Belong' that featured all these mainstream indigenous artists' contributions. If you look at it, it's like a blue print to American rock 'n' roll because it starts right with blues from Charley Patton, right up to Jimi Hendrix, the Band and Buffy Sainte-Marie."

This was a tribute to these artists, with some songs staying truthful to the original, while others became days is to thank for its namesake. infused with Miller's style.

Miller, who is now a two-time "We're learning some of the songs Juno winner and four-time Aborigi- and culture of the Iroquois and nal Music Award winner, proved his we're having a good time trying to dedication to music at 13, trying out figure out new technology," Miller the guitar, and later, using grocery says. "We're trying to continue on money to buy recording time while and find that common compassion his family was on vacation. and ... that good stuff that was giv"It was a medicine for me," he en to us by the Cree Nation and to says, referencing his 2002 album share with everybody." title, Music is the Medicine. He cites KAYLEN SMALL Led Zeppelin, Neil Young and Jackson KAYLEN@VUEWEEKLY.COM

Derek Miller blackbyrd

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his is Derek Miller's first time doing the Red Ride tourâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;and, "It's going to be fun, damn it!"

The tour, now in its fifth year, is a collective of aboriginal musicians showcasing their talents across North Americaâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;Miller is touring alongside the Red Ride's co-founder, Haida/Cree singer-songwriter Kristi Lee Sinclair, and local Dene artist Jay Gilday will open the show. A red hatchback used for the tour's early

PREVUE // PSYCH-FOLK

The Ashley Hundred B

COMEDY AT THE CENTURY CASINO

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MAY 15 & 16

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13103 FORT RD â&#x20AC;˘ 643-4000 30 MUSIC

rett Cassidy of psych-folk band the Ashley Hundred doesn't have a lot of free time to spare these days.

"I finished my last exam and left on tour the next day," says Cassidy, who completed the marketing program at Mount Royal University while juggling his duties as the band's manager and banjo player.

Cassidy, along with bandmates Chad Dalley, Andrew Franks, Jordan Moe and Carson Stewart, went to the same high

school, though their ages span across three grades. The Calgary-based fivepiece bonded over shared musical ideals during some acoustic jam sessions in 2012. In 2013, the Ashley Hundred took third place at the Calgary Folk Fest Songwriting Contest, which Cassidy cites as a "huge motivation."

"We had no intention of ever touring or making albums when we first started," Cassidy says while hanging out by the harbour in Toronto before the group's next show. "We had just been writing these folky songs and wanted to perform them. [Touring] is something I've always wanted to do, but never imagined myself doing."

When the group started, Mumford and Sons and the Avett Brothers served as inspiration for its sound.

"A lot of bands were stripping it down to the bare bones: acoustic guitar, minimal drumming, mandolins and banjos," Cassidy explains. "At the time, that was what we were really connecting with and identifying with, but, it didn't take us very long to realize that's not really what we wanted to do."

The band experimented with new sounds and reverb before falling into its own style, a blend of traditional folk and psychedlic rock. As the Ashley Hundred's sound changed and opportunities to play live started rolling in, its equipment list expanded to include amps, pedals, a keyboard, a lap steel and another electric guitar.

"We realized that we were not the same band that we started out as, but I think we'll kind of always have those organic elements, like I am a banjo player,

VUEWEEKLY.com | MAY 14 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; MAY 20, 2015

Sun, May 17 (7 pm) With I Am Machi, the Velveteins Mercury Room, $10 in advance, $14 at the door that's what I do," Cassidy says. "I couldn't imagine not having a banjo in the band or not having some of the folk aspects like acoustic guitar [and] piano."

As for the name, the band stumbled upon the Ashley Hundred through a story about General William Ashley, who in 1822 recruited 100 "enterprising young men" to work. Mountain man Hugh Glass responded to the ad, embarked on the adventure and fought a bearâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;an inspiring story that resonated with the band. Cassidy is an extra in the upcoming film The Revenant, based on the group's namesake story and starring Leonardo DiCaprio.

"I saw the call for that and was like 'I need to do this,'" says Cassidy, who appears in one scene as a lookout. "I didn't meet Leo, but I got my hair and makeup done next to Tom Hardy."

The Ashley Hundred released its EP Postcards from the Moon in 2014 and plans to follow up with a split LP alongside friends and fellow Calgary band 36? this August.

"They actually approached us to do it after the first show we played together. [Front man] Taylor Cochrane had the plan to make a split, and was looking for a band that has similar values in songwriting and production," says Cassidy.

Of the largely crowd-funded album, Cassidy says it is "very humbling to get to know that people are so willing to support our art."

KAYLEN SMALL

KAYLEN@VUEWEEKLY.COM

MUSIC

WEEKLY

EMAIL YOUR FREE LISTINGS TO: LISTINGS@VUEWEEKLY.COM FAX: 780.426.2889 DEADLINE: FRIDAY AT 3PM

THU MAY 14 ACCENT EUROPEAN LOUNGE Live

Music every Thu; 9pm BIG AL'S HOUSE OF BLUES Thirsty

Thursday Jam; 7:30pm BLUES ON WHYTE Skyla Burrell BRITTANY'S LOUNGE Scrambled

YEG: Open Genre Variety Stage: artist from all mediums are encouraged to occupy the stage and share their creations • Every Tue- Fri, 5-8pm CAFE BLACKBIRD Nicky Pearson;

7:30pm; $6 CAFÉ HAVEN Music every Thu; 7pm

APEX CASINO Kat Kelly & the Great

YARDBIRD SUITE Peter Brötzman, Hamid Drake, William Parker Trio; 7pm (doors), 8pm (show); $22 (members), $26 (guests)

Escape

YEG DANCE CLUB Awilo; 9pm; $35

Wafer Thin Mints; 8:30pm; Free

Vintage Rides

Classical

GAS PUMP Saturday Homemade

BIG AL'S HOUSE OF BLUES Gary

LA CITÉ FRANCOPHONE Ancient Airs;

HILLTOP PUB Open Stage, Jam

FRI MAY 15 ATLANTIC TRAP & GILL Sweet

Martin Band; $10 BLUE CHAIR CAFÉ Dinner and music:

Jamie Philp, Christine Hanson; 7:30-10pm; Cover by donation BLUES ON WHYTE Skyla Burrell BOHEMIA Sister Sarcophagus; 8pm;

12-1pm; Free

every Sat; 3:30-7pm LEAF BAR AND GRILL Open Stage

Competition; $10

Sat–It's the Sat Jam hosted by Darren Bartlett, 5pm

DJs BLACK DOG FREEHOUSE Every Friday

BOURBON ROOM Dueling pianos

THE BOWER Strictly Goods: Old school and new school hip hop & R&B with DJ Twist, Sonny Grimez, and Marlon English; every Fri

YEG: Open Genre Variety Stage: artist from all mediums are encouraged to occupy the stage and share their creations • Every Tue- Fri, 5-8pm

FIONN MACCOOL'S–DOWNTOWN

MUTTART HALL The Shean Strings

$10; 18+ only

BRITTANY'S LOUNGE Scrambled

Concerts: The Orchard with guest Nadine Kellman; 4pm; No cover

Jam: Mike Chenoweth

DJs on all three levels

every Fri Night with Jared Sowan and Brittany Graling; 8pm

FILTHY MCNASTY'S Free Afternoon

THE COMMON Good Fridays: nu disco, hip hop, indie, electro, dance with weekly local and visiting DJs on rotation plus residents Echo and Justin Foosh DRUID IRISH PUB DJ every Fri; 9pm

LEGENDS Sat 3pm Jam and Open

Mic with Nick Samoil and guests MERCURY ROOM Peter Katz with

guests MKT FRESH FOOD AND BEER MARKET Live Local Bands every

Sat NEW WEST HOTEL Nash Ramblers O’BYRNE’S Live band every Sat,

3-7pm; DJ every Sat, 9:30pm O'MAILLE'S Cody Mack

CARROT COFFEEHOUSE Thu Open Mic: All adult performers are welcome (music, song, spoken word); every Thu, 1:30-3pm

A Benefit For The Ihuman Youth Society; 8pm (doors), 9pm (show); $20; 18+ only

every Fri

CHA ISLAND TEA CO Bring Your

CAFE BLACKBIRD Kim Lesaca

Group; 8pm; $10

Indie rock and dance with DJ Brodeep

School DJ

CAFFREY'S IN THE PARK Big Red

RED STAR Movin’ on Up: indie, rock,

PALACE CASINO–WEM The Top Tones

funk, soul, hip hop with DJ Gatto, DJ Mega Wattson; every Fri

PAWN SHOP Tides Of Kharon,

Own Vinyl Night: Every Thu; 8pm-late; Edmonton Couchsurfing Meetup: Every Thu; 8pm DV8 TAVERN Crowchild,

Wheelhouse, Snakebite, Sleep Demon; 9pm; $10

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

EARLY STAGE SALOON–Stony Plain

ELECTRIC RODEO–Spruce Grove DJ THE PROVINCIAL PUB Friday Nights:

SOU KAWAII ZEN LOUNGE Amplified

Fridays: Dubstep, house, trance, electro, hip hop breaks with

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ON THE ROCKS Heather McKenzie ORLANDO'S 1 Bands perform every

week; $10 OVERTIME Sherwood Park Old

Wolfrik, Afterearth, Driven To Exile; 8pm (doors); $15; 18+ only RED PIANO BAR Hottest dueling

piano show featuring the Red Piano Players every Sat; 9pm-2am RICHARD'S PUB The Mad Dog Blues and Roots Jam hosted by Jimmy Guiboche; 3-7pm

FIONN MACCOOL'S–DOWNTOWN

Jake Ian; 7:30pm; Free J R BAR AND GRILL Live Jam

THE SANDS HOTEL Boneyard;

Thu; 9pm

9pm; Free

KELLY'S PUB Jameoke Night with

the Nervous Flirts (sing-along with a live band); every Thu, 9pm-1am; no cover

SHERLOCK HOLMES–DOWNTOWN

L.B.'S PUB South Bound Freight

and Ty

open jam with hosts: Rob Kaup, Leah Durelle

Scott

Stan Gallant SHERLOCK HOLMES–U OF A Matt SHERLOCK HOLMES–WEM Andrew

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SNEAKY PETE'S Sinder Sparks K-DJ

Show; 9pm-1am

northlands.com

MKT FRESH FOOD AND BEER

STARLITE ROOM Sepultura '30 Yr.

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Flirts

8pm; all ages (15+)

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NEW WEST HOTEL Nash Ramblers

DUGGAN'S BOUNDARY Doug Stroud

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Rose Old Time Fiddlers every Thu; contact John Malka 780.447.5111 RED PIANO Every Thu: Dueling pianos at 8pm

With Drunken Superheroes, Abombanation and guests; 8pm; No minors HILLTOP PUB Whiskey Business;

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MKT FRESH FOOD AND BEER MARKET Thu and Fri DJ and dance

STUDIO 96 Nourishing our

floor; 9:30pm

Neighbours; 7:30pm

MERCURY ROOM Secret Setlist;

TAVERN ON WHYTE Open stage

7pm; $15 (adv), $18 (door)

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

NEW WEST HOTEL Nash Ramblers

Classical

ON THE ROCKS Heather McKenzie

WINSPEAR CENTRE Suzuki Charter

School: 20th Anniversary Concert; 6:30pm; $15 (adults), free (kids)

DJs BLACK DOG FREEHOUSE Thu Main Fl:

Throwback Thu: Rock&Roll, Funk, Soul, R&B and 80s with DJ Thomas Culture; jamz that will make your backbone slide; Wooftop: Dig It! Thursdays. Electronic, roots and rare groove with DJ's Rootbeard, Raebot, Wijit and guests CENTURY ROOM Lucky 7: Retro

'80s with house DJ every Thu; 7pm-close THE COMMON The Common

Uncommon Thursday: Rotating Guests each week!

ELECTRIC RODEO–Spruce Grove DJ

every Thu FILTHY MCNASTY’S Taking Back

Thursdays KRUSH ULTRA LOUNGE Open stage;

7pm; no cover ON THE ROCKS Salsa Rocks: every

O'MAILLE'S Cody Mack OVERTIME Sherwood Park Old

School DJ PALACE CASINO–WEM The Top Tones PAWN SHOP Mayday and the

Beatcreeps with guests; 8pm; $10 (adv) RED PIANO BAR Hottest dueling

piano show featuring the Red Piano Players every Fri; 9pm-2am RENDEZVOUS PUB A Night Of Rock

Y AFTERHOURS Foundation Fridays

YARDBIRD SUITE Rahsaan Roland Kirk, The Case Of The Three Sided Dream; 7pm (doors), 8pm (show); $5 (members & guests, door only)

SAT MAY 16

9pm; $10

APEX CASINO Kat Kelly & the Great

Classical

UNION HALL Ladies Night every Fri

Escape ATLANTIC TRAP & GILL Sweet

Vintage Rides BIG AL'S HOUSE OF BLUES Gary

Martin Band; $10 BLACK DOG FREEHOUSE Hair of the

YEG DANCE CLUB Island Explosion;

HOLY TRINITY ANGLICAN CHURCH

Vaughan String Quartet & Lily String Quartet; 7:30pm MUTTART HALL The Shean Strings

Competition; $10

Dog: Brett Nelson (live acoustic music every Sat); 4-6pm; no cover

DJs

BLUE CHAIR CAFE Brad Bucknell and

The Menace Sessions: alt rock/ Electro/Trash with Miss Mannered; Wooftop: Sound It Up!: classic Hip-Hop, R&B and Reggae with DJ Sonny Grimez & instigate; Underdog: Alternating DJs

the oHNo band - featuring Lauren Busheikin; 7:30-10:30pm; Cover by donation BLUES ON WHYTE Every Sat

afternoon: Jam with Back Door Dan; LATER: Skyla Burrell

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Sat Night with Jared Sowan and Brittany Graling; 8pm

N' Stand Up; 8pm; $15; 18+ only

CAFE BLACKBIRD Orit Shimoni with

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Headpins & Holly Woods & Toronto; 7pm (doors), 9pm (show); 18+ only

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MERCER TAVERN DJ Mikey Wong

SHERLOCK HOLMES–DOWNTOWN

every Sat

Stan Gallant

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mic; 7pm; $2

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CASINO EDMONTON The Nervous

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and Ty

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Scott STARLITE ROOM OPIUO, FKJ; 9pm

(doors); $20; 18+ only

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every Fri

Tour 2015 with Derek Miller, Kristi Lane Sinclair & Jay Gilday; 4-6pm; No cover

UPTOWN FOLK CLUB Open stage;

ENCORE–WEM Morgan Page- Dc To

TIRAMISU BISTRO Live music

Thu; dance lessons at 8pm; Cuban Salsa DJ to follow

6:30pm (sign-up), 7pm (start)

UNION HALL 3 Four All Thursdays:

WUNDERBAR Rhubarbs, River

rock, dance, retro, top 40 with DJ Johnny Infamous

DJ Aeiou, DJ Loose Beats, DJ Poindexter; 9:30pm (door)

Anniversary Tour' with Destruction, Arsis, Boris The Blade & Micawber; 7pm (doors); $30; 18+ only

Jacks, Seth Anderson Band, Rusty; 9pm; 18+ only

Light Album Tour; 9pm FESTIVAL PLACE Punjabi Folk

Festival 2015; 2pm

THE PROVINCIAL PUB Saturday Nights: Indie rock and dance with DJ Maurice RED STAR Indie rock, hip hop, and electro every Sat with DJ Hot Philly and guests ROUGE LOUNGE Rouge Saturdays: global sound and Cosmopolitan Style Lounging with DJ Mkhai

VUEWEEKLY.com | MAY 14 – MAY 20, 2015

MUSIC 31

SOU KAWAII ZEN LOUNGE

JUBILEE AUDITORIUM German Male

Your Famous Saturday with Crewshtopher, Tyler M

Choir; 2pm

SUGAR FOOT BALLROOM Swing

Dance Party: Sugar Swing Dance Club every Sat, 8-12; no experience or partner needed, beginner lesson followed by social dance; sugarswing.com TAVERN ON WHYTE Soul, Motown,

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

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MAY/26 MAY/28

REVEREND HORTON HEAT

Bad, The Blues

Nandini Rao; 2-4pm; $5

L.B.'S PUB Tue Variety Night Open

BRITTANY'S LOUNGE Scrambled

stage with Darrell Barr; 7-11pm

YEG: Open Genre Variety Stage: artist from all mediums are encouraged to occupy the stage and share their creations • Every Tue- Fri, 5-8pm

DJs BLACK DOG FREEHOUSE Main Floor:

Soul Sundays: A fantastic voyage through '60s and '70s funk, soul and R&B with DJ Zyppy

BIG AL'S HOUSE OF BLUES Sun

BBQ jam hosted with the Marshall Lawrence Band; 4pm BLACKJACK'S ROADHOUSE–Nisku

BIG AL'S HOUSE OF BLUES Blue Mondays with Jimmy and the Sleepers; 8-11pm

Blue Jay’s Messy Nest: Mod, Brit Pop, New Wave & British Rock with DJ Blue Jay; Wooftop: Metal Mon: with Metal Phil (fr CJSR’s Heavy Metal Lunch Box) BLUES ON WHYTE The Good, The

Open mic every Sun hosted by Tim Lovett

Bad, The Blues

BLUE CHAIR CAFE Charlie Austin;

DUGGAN'S BOUNDARY Monday

9-3pm; Donations

open mic

BLUES ON WHYTE Skyla Burrell

MERCURY ROOM Music Magic

BRIXX BAR Black Thunder, Labra-

doodle, The Worst; 8pm (doors), 9pm (show); $10; 18+ only CARROT COFFEEHOUSE Mother Love,

Featuring Mary Ann And Rebecca Lippiat; 3pm; on the South Side: live bands; all ages; 7-10:30pm DUGGAN'S BOUNDARY Celtic Music

with Duggan's House Band 5-8pm

Monday Nights: Capital City Jammers, host Blueberry Norm; seasoned musicians; 7-10pm; $4 NEW WEST HOTEL Ghost Rider PLEASANTVIEW COMMUNITY HALL

Acoustic instrumental old time fiddle jam every Mon; hosted by the Wild Rose Old Tyme Fiddlers Society; 7pm; contact Vi Kallio 780.456.8510 ROUGE RESTO-LOUNGE Open Mic

Night with Darrek Anderson from the Guaranteed; every Mon; 9pm

UNIONEVENTS.COM PRESENTS

HOG'S DEN PUB Rockin' the Hog

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4pm

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RUSTIE & GUESTS NIGHT VISION PRESENTS

Hundred with I Am Machi and the Velveteins; 7pm; $10 (adv), $14 (door) NEWCASTLE PUB The Sunday

Soul Service: acoustic open stage every Sun

ARDALAN

AARON CARTER

THE STARLITE ROOM IS A PRIVATE VENUE FOR OUR MEMBERS AND THEIR GUESTS. IF YOU REQUIRE A MEMBERSHIP YOU CAN PURCHASE ONE AT THE VENUE PRIOR TO / OR AFTER THE DOOR TIMES FOR EACH SHOW.

JUBILEE AUDITORIUM Diljit Dosanjh;

DJs BLACK DOG FREEHOUSE Main Floor:

Blue Jay’s Messy Nest: mod, brit pop, new wave, British rock with DJ Blue Jay

9:30pm-1am RICHARD'S PUB Sunday Jam hosted

TAVERN ON WHYTE Classic Hip

by Jim Dyck, Randy Forsberg and Mark Ammar; 4-8pm STARLITE ROOM Hunter Siegel, Smalltown DJS; 9pm (doors); 18+ only

hop with DJ Creeazn every Mon; 9pm-2am

MERCER TAVERN Alt Tuesday with

Kris Harvey and guests Vipers with Matt & Layla Hotte; 7pm; $15 (adv) NEW WEST HOTEL Tue Country Dance Lessons: 7-9pm • Ghost Rider O’BYRNE’S Celtic jam every

Tue; with Shannon Johnson and friends; 9:30pm OVERTIME–Sherwood Park Bingo

Toonz every Tue RED PIANO Every Tue: the Nervous Flirts Jameoke Experience (sing-along with a live band); 7:30pm-12am; no cover; relaxed dress code RICHARD'S PUB Tue Live Music Showcase and Open Jam (blues) hosted by Mark Ammar; 7:30pm ROCKY MOUNTAIN ICEHOUSE Live

music with the Icehouse Band and weekly guests; Every Tue, 9pm SANDS HOTEL Country music dancing every Tue, featuring Country Music Legend Bev Munro every Tue, 8-11pm UNION HALL Milky Chance with

guests; 8pm (doors); 18+ only; $22 YARDBIRD SUITE Tuesday Session: Grumpy Dan And The Jazz Curmudgeons; 7:30pm (door)/8pm (show); $5

MYER HOROWITZ THEATRE Tommy

Emmanuel, with Frank Vignola and Vinny Raniolo; 7pm; $47.25

Bad, The Blues BRITTANY'S LOUNGE Scrambled

YEG: Open Genre Variety Stage: artist from all mediums are encouraged to occupy the stage and share their creations • Every

NEW WEST HOTEL Ghost Rider ORIGINAL JOE'S VARSITY ROW Open

mic Wed: Hosted by Jordan Strand; every Wed, 9-12 jordanfstrand@gmail.com / 780655-8520 OVERTIME–Sherwood Park Jason Greeley (acoustic rock, country, Top 40); 9pm-2am every Wed; no cover PLEASANTVIEW COMMUNITY HALL

Acoustic Bluegrass jam presented by the Northern Bluegrass Circle Music Society; every Wed, 6:30-11pm; $2 (member)/$4 (nonmember) RED PIANO BAR Wed Night Live:

hosted by dueling piano players; 8pm-1am; $5 RENDEZVOUS PUB Affinitry with

Upsidedowntown & The James Beaudry Band; 8pm; $10 (adv), $15 (door); No minors ROSSDALE HALL Little Flower Open

Stage with Brian Gregg; 7:30pm (door); no cover WUNDERBAR Julia Why?; 8pm;

$8 (adv) ZEN LOUNGE Jazz Wednesdays: Kori

Classical

Brit Pop, Synthpop, Alternative 90’s, Glam Rock with DJ Chris Bruce; Wooftop: Substance: alt retro and not-so-retro electronic and dance with Eddie LunchPail

Hallowe'en horrorpunk, deathrock with Abigail Asphixia and Mr Cadaver; every Tue

BLUES ON WHYTE The Good, The

DUGGAN'S BOUNDARY Wed open mic with host Duff Robison

BLACK DOG FREEHOUSE Main Floor:

BIG AL'S HOUSE OF BLUES Tuesday

FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

this month featuring Justine Vandergift, Anthony Middel (violinist), Eva Foote,The Rosalins (Andrea Vissia, Arianna Lynne Borphy) for entertainment and Tony Flemming-Blake as featured reader; 7pm; Admission by donation

Wray and Jeff Hendrick; every Wed; 7:30-10pm; no cover

TUE MAY 19 Night Jam with host Harry Gregg and Geoffrey O'Brien; 8-11pm

CHA ISLAND CO. Scales and Tales,

DJs

BRIXX Metal night every Tue

Classical Ten Years of Our Lives; 3pm; $15 (adults)/$10 (students/seniors)/$5 (children 12 and under) in advance; $20 (adults)/$15 (students/seniors)/$10 (children 12 and under) at the door

Jam: Trevor Mullen

Classical

DV8 T.F.W.O. Mondays: Roots industrial,Classic Punk, Rock, Electronic with Hair of the Dave

O’BYRNE’S Open mic every Sun;

LEAF BAR AND GRILL Tue Open

MERCURY ROOM Petunia & the

BLACK DOG FREEHOUSE Main Floor:

SUN MAY 17

BLUES ON WHYTE The Good, The

Tue: featuring this week: Corey Danyluk; 9pm

EMPIRE BALLROOM Soundwave with

MAY/30 JUSTIN MARTIN JUN/2

Y AFTERHOURS Release Saturdays

and Roll witih LL Cool Joe and DJ Downtrodden on alternate Weds

STANLEY MILNER LIBRARY THEATRE Classical Concert By

W/ NEKROMANTIX, THE BRAINS

W/ GUESTS

MAY/29

every Sat hosted by DJ Johnny Infamous

DIVERSION LOUNGE Sun Night Live

CONCERTWORKS.CA PRESENTS

DRUID IRISH PUB Open Stage

MON MAY 18

UNION HALL Celebrity Saturdays:

Tue- Fri, 5-8pm

DV8 Creepy Tombsday: Psychobilly,

WED MAY 20 ALBERTA BEACH HOTEL Open stage Wed with Trace Jordan; 8pm-12 BLACK DOG FREEHOUSE Main Floor:

Alt '80s and '90s, Post Punk, New Wave, Garage, Brit, Mod, Rock

JUBILEE AUDITORIUM Zelda Symphony of Goddesses; 7pm

DJs BILLIARD CLUB Why wait Wednesdays: Wed night party with DJ Alize every Wed; no cover BLACK DOG FREEHOUSE Main Floor:

Alt '80s and '90s, Post Punk, New Wave, Garage, Brit, Mod, Rock and Roll witih LL Cool Joe and DJ Downtrodden on alternate Weds BRIXX BAR Eats and Beats THE COMMON The Wed Experience: Classics on Vinyl with Dane RED STAR Guest DJs every Wed

VENUEGUIDE

MAY/15 MAY/17

GUERRILLARADIO.CA AND HIP HOP IN THE PARK FOUNDATION PRESENTS

BIGGER THAN HIP HOP

BLACK THUNDER W/ LABRADOODLE, THE WORST

MAY/21

RADIO RADIO TOM OLSEN W/ HIGH TIDES

MAY/22

RELEASE WRECKAGE CD

AND THE W/ EMILY TRIGGS

MAY/29

THE GOOD IN EVERYONE W/ WE WERE FRIENDS, ALEA RAE

MAY/30

THE MANDATES W/ NERVOUS TALK, BEN DISASTER

32 MUSIC

ACCENT EUROPEAN LOUNGE 8223-104 St, 780.431.0179 ALE YARD TAP 13310-137 Ave APEX CASINO 24 Boudreau Rd, St Albert ARTERY 9535 Jasper Ave ATLANTIC TRAP & GILL 7704 Calgary Trail South "B" STREET BAR 11818-111 St BIG AL'S HOUSE OF BLUES Yellowhead Inn, 15004 Yellowhead Trail BLACK DOG FREEHOUSE 1042582 Ave, 780.439.1082 BLACKJACK'S ROADHOUSE– Nisku 2110 Sparrow Dr, Nisku, 780.986.8522 BLUE CHAIR CAFÉ 9624-76 Ave, 780.989.2861 BLUES ON WHYTE 10329-82 Ave, 780.439.3981 BOHEMIA 10217-97 St BOURBON ROOM 205 Carnegie Dr, St Albert THE BOWER 10538 Jasper Ave, 780.423.425; info@thebower.ca BRITTANY'S LOUNGE 10225-97 St, 780.497.0011 BRIXX BAR 10030-102 St (downstairs), 780.428.1099 THE BUCKINGHAM 10439 82 Ave, 780.761.1002, thebuckingham.ca BUDDY’S 11725B Jasper Ave, 780.488.6636 CAFE BLACKBIRD 9640-142 St NW CAFÉ HAVEN 9 Sioux Rd, Sherwood Park, 780.417.5523, cafehaven.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 CASINO YELLOWHEAD 12464153 St, 780.424 9467 CENTRAL SENIOR LIONS CENTRE 11113-113 St CENTURY CASINO 13103 Fort Rd, 780.643.4000 CHA ISLAND TEA CO 10332-81 Ave, 780.757.2482 COMMON 9910-109 St DARAVARA 10713 124 St, 587.520.4980 DUGGAN'S BOUNDARY 9013-88 Ave, 780.465.4834 DRUID 11606 Jasper Ave, 780.454.9928 DUSTER’S PUB 6402-118 Ave, 780.474.5554 DV8 8130 Gateway Blvd EARLY STAGE SALOON– Stony Plain 4911-52 Ave, Stony Plain, 780.963.5998 ELECTRIC RODEO–Spruce Grove 121-1 Ave, Spruce Grove, 780.962.1411 EMPIRE BALLROOM 8882-170 St NW EMPRESS ALE HOUSE 9912 Whyte Ave ENCORE–WEM 2687, 8882-170 St FESTIVAL PLACE 100 Festival Way, Sherwood Park, 780.449.3378 FILTHY MCNASTY’S 10511-82 Ave, 780.916.1557 FIONN MACCOOL'S–DOWNTOWN 10200-102 Ave FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH 10025-105 St NW

VUEWEEKLY.com | MAY 14 – MAY 20, 2015

HILLTOP PUB 8220 106 Ave HOGS DEN PUB Yellow Head Tr, 142 St HOLY TRINITY ANGLICAN CHURCH 10037-84 Ave NW IRISH SPORTS CLUB 12546-126 St, 780.453.2249 J AND R 4003-106 St, 780.436.4403 JAVA XPRESS 110, 4300 South Park Dr, Stony Plain, 780.968.1860 JUBILEE AUDITORIUM 11455-87 Ave NW KELLY'S PUB 10156-104 St L.B.’S PUB 23 Akins Dr, St Albert, 780.460.9100 LA CITE FRANCOPHONE 8627 Marie-Anne Gaboury LEAF BAR AND GRILL 9016-132 Ave, 780.757.2121 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 MYER HOROWITZ THEATRE Students' Union Building, 8900114 St NW MUTTART HALL 10050 Macdonald Dr NAKED CYBERCAFÉ 10303-108 St, 780.425.9730 NEWCASTLE PUB 8170-50 St, 780.490.1999 NEW WEST HOTEL 15025-111 Ave NOORISH CAFÉ 8440-109 St NORTH GLENORA HALL 13535109A Ave O2'S–West 11066-156 St, 780.448.2255

O’BYRNE’S 10616-82 Ave, 780.414.6766 O'MAILLE'S 398 St Albert Trail, St Albert ORIGINAL JOE'S VARSITY ROW 8404-109 St ORLANDO'S 1 15163-121 St O'MAILLES IRISH PUB 104, 398 St Albert Rd, St Albert ON THE ROCKS 11730 Jasper Ave, 780.482.4767 OVERTIME–Sherwood Park 100 Granada Blvd, Sherwood Park, 790.570.5588 PALACE CASINO–WEM West Edmonton Mall, 8882-170 St PAWN SHOP 10551-82 Ave, Upstairs, 780.432.0814 PLEASANTVIEW COMMUNITY HALL 10860-57 Ave THE PROVINCIAL PUB 160, 4211-106 St RED PIANO BAR 1638 Bourbon St, WEM, 8882-170 St, 780.486.7722 RED STAR 10538 Jasper Ave, 780.428.0825 RENDEZVOUS 10108-149 St RICHARD'S PUB 12150-161 Ave, 780.457.3118 RIC’S GRILL 24 Perron Street, St Albert, 780.460.6602 RIVER CREE 300 East Lapotac Blvd, Enoch ROCKY MOUNTAIN ICEHOUSE 10516 Jasper Ave, 780.424.3836 ROSEBOWL/ROUGE LOUNGE 10111-117 St, 780.482.5253 ROSE AND CROWN 10235-101 St SANDS HOTEL 12340 Fort Rd, 780.474.5476 SIDELINERS PUB 11018-127 St

SHERLOCK HOLMES– DOWNTOWN 10012-101 A Ave SHERLOCK HOLMES–U OF A 8519-112 St SHERLOCK HOLMES–WEM 8882-170 St SMOKEHOUSE BBQ 10810-124 St, 587.521.6328 SNEAKY PETE'S 12315-118 Ave SOU KAWAII ZEN LOUNGE 1292397 St, 780.758.5924 STANLEY MINLER LIBRARY THEATRE 7 Sir Winston Churchill Square STARLITE ROOM 10030-102 St, 780.428.1099 STUDIO 96 10909-96 St STUDIO MUSIC FOUNDATION 10940-166 A St SUGAR FOOT BALLROOM 10545-81 Ave TAVERN ON WHYTE 10507-82 Ave, 780.521.4404 TIRAMISU 10750-124 St UPTOWN FOLK CLUB 7308-76 Ave, 780.436.1554 VEE LOUNGE, APEX CASINO–St Albert 24 Boudreau Rd, St Albert, 780.460.8092, 780.590.1128 WINSPEAR CENTRE 4 Sir Winston Churchill Square; 780.28.1414 WUNDERBAR 8120-101 St, 780.436.2286 Y AFTERHOURS 10028-102 St, 780.994.3256, yafterhours.com YARDBIRD SUITE 11 Tommy Banks Way, 780.432.0428 YEG DANCE CLUB 11845 Wayne Gretzky Dr YESTERDAYS PUB 112, 205 Carnegie Dr, St Albert, 780.459.0295 ZEN LOUNGE 12923-97 St

EVENTS WEEKLY EMAIL YOUR FREE LISTINGS TO: LISTINGS@VUEWEEKLY.COM FAX: 780.426.2889 DEADLINE: FRIDAY AT 3PM

COMEDY Black Dog Freehouse • Underdog

FORT SASKATCHEWAN 45+ SINGLES COFFEE GROUP • Crazy Loon Pub, 10208-99 Ave N.E., Fort Saskatchewan • 780.907.0201 • A mixed group, all for conversation and friendship • Every Sun, 2pm

HABITAT FOR HUMANITY VOLUNTEER INFORMATION NIGHT • Habitat for Humanity Prefab Shop, 14135-128 Ave • vbatten@hfh.org • 780.451.3416 ext. 236 • hfh.org/volunteer • Learn about taking the next step and what opportunities are available • 3rd Thu of the month, 6-7pm, until Nov 2015 • Free

ILLNESS SUPPORT AND SOLUTIONS

CENTURY CASINO • 13103 Fort Rd •

• Robertson Wesley United Church Library, 10209-123 St • 780.235.5911 • Crohn's Colitis, I.B.D. Support and Solutions • Every 2nd and 4th Tue, 7-9pm

780.481.9857 • Open Mic Night: Every Thu; 7:30-9pm

LOTUS QIGONG • 780.477.0683 • Down-

Comedy show: Alternating hosts • Every Thu, 8-11pm • No cover

COMEDY FACTORY • Gateway Entertainment Centre, 34 Ave, Calgary Tr • Fri-Sat: 8:30pm • Sean Baptiste; May 15-16 • Paul Sveen; May 22-23

COMIC STRIP • Bourbon St, WEM • 780.483.5999 • Wed-Fri, Sun 8pm; Fri-Sat 10:30pm • Hit or Miss Mondays: Amateurs and Professionals every Mon, 7:30pm • Battle to the Funny Bone; last Tue each month, 7:30pm • Dave Coulier Special Performance; May 14-16 • Sean Lecomber; May 17 • Bob Marley Special Performance; May 20-24

CONNIE'S COMEDY • Draft Bar & Grill, 129120-59 St • With Sean Baptiste and Kevin McGrath as our headliner • May 20, 7:30pm

town • Practice group meets every Thu

MADELEINE SANAM FOUNDATION • Faculté St Jean, Rm 3-18 • 780.490.7332 • madeleine-sanam.orgs/en • Program for HIV-AID’S prevention, treatment and harm reduction in French, English and other African languages • 3rd and 4th Sat, 9am-5pm each month • Free (member)/$10 (membership); pre-register NORTHERN ALBERTA WOOD CARVERS ASSOCIATION • Duggan Community Hall, 3728-106 St • nawca.ca • Meet every Wed, 6:30pm

ORGANIZATION FOR BIPOLAR AFFECTIVE DISORDER (OBAD) • Grey

DRUID • 11606 Jasper Ave • 780.710.2119

Nuns Hospital, Rm 0651, obad@shaw.ca; Group meets every Thu, 7-9pm • Free

• Comedy night open stage hosted by Lars Callieou • Every Sun, 9pm DJ to follow

POOR VOTE TURNOUT • Rossdale Hall,

EMPRESS ALE HOUSE • 9912-82 Ave • Empress Comedy Night: featuring a professional headliner every week Every Sun, 9pm

CONNIE'S COMEDY PRESENTS KOMEDY KRUSH • Krush Ultralounge, 16648-109 St • Starting with Mark Debonis and Charles Haycock; May 26, 7:30pm (doors), 8pm (show)

ROUGE LOUNGE • 10111-117 St • Comedy Groove every Wed; 9pm

GROUPS/CLUBS/MEETINGS AIKIKAI AIKIDO CLUB • 10139-87 Ave, Old Strathcona Community League • Japanese Martial Art of Aikido • Every Tue 7:30-9:30pm; Thu 6-8pm

AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL EDMONTON • 8307-109 St • edmontonamnesty.org • Meet the 4th Tue each month, 7:30pm (no meetings in Jul, Aug) E: amnesty@edmontonamnesty.org for more info • Free

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

BRAIN TUMOUR PEER SUPPORT GROUP • Mount Zion Lutheran Church, 11533-135 St NW • braintumour.ca • 1.800.265.5106 ext. 234 • Support group for brain tumour survivors and their families and caregivers.

Must be 18 or over • 3rd Mon every month; 7-8:45pm • Free

CANADIAN INJURED WORKERS ASSOCIATION OF ALBERTA (CIWAA) • Augustana Lutheran Church, 107 St, 99 Ave • canadianinjuredworkers.com • Meeting every 3rd Sat, 1-4pm • Injured Workers in Pursuit of Justice denied by WCB

EDMONTON OUTDOOR CLUB (EOC) • edmontonoutdoorclub.com • Offering a variety of fun activities in and around Edmonton • Free to join; info at info@edmontonoutdoorclub.com

EDMONTON UKULELE CIRCLE • Bogani Café, 2023-111 St • 780.440.3528 • 3rd Sun each month; 2:30-4pm • $5 FOOD ADDICTS • St Luke's Anglican Church, 8424-95 Ave • 780.465.2019, 780.634.5526 • 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

10135-96 Ave • poorvoteturnout.ca • Public meetings: promoting voting by the poor • Every Wed, 7-8pm

SAWA 12-STEP SUPPORT GROUP • Braeside Presbyterian Church bsmt, N. door, 6 Bernard Dr, St Albert • For adult children of alcoholic and dysfunctional families • Every Mon, 7:30pm

SCHIZOPHRENIA SOCIETY FAMILY SUPPORT DROP-IN GROUP • Schizophrenia Society of Alberta, 5215-87 St • schizophrenia.ab.ca • The Schizophrenia Society of Alberta-Edmonton branch provides a facilitated family support group for caregivers of a loved one living with schizophrenia. Free drop-in the 1st and 3rd Thu each month, 7-9pm

SEVENTIES FOREVER MUSIC SOCIETY • Call 587.520.3833 for location • deepsoul. ca • Combining music, garage sales, nature, common sense, and kindred karma to revitalize the inward persona • Every Wed, 7-8:30pm

SHERWOOD PARK WALKING GROUP + 50 • Meet inside Millennium Place, Sherwood

12:05-1pm

• Fabulous Facilitators Toastmasters Club:

2nd Fl, Canada Place, 9700 Jasper Ave; 780.467.6013, l.witzke@shaw.ca; fabulousfacilitators.toastmastersclubs.org; Meet every Tue, 12:05-1pm • N'Orators Toastmasters Club: Lower Level, McClure United Church, 13708-74 St: meet every Thu, 6:45-8:30pm; contact bradscherger@hotmail.com, 780.863.1962, norators.com • Terrified of Public Speaking: Norwood Legion Edmonton, 11150-82 St NW; Every Thu until 7:30-9:30pm; Free; contact jnwafula@yahoo. com; norwoodtoastmasters.org • Upward Bound Toastmaster Club: Rm 7, 6 Fl, Edmonton Public Library–DT: Meets every Wed, 7-8:45pm; Sep-May; upward. toastmastersclubs.org; reader1@shaw.ca • Y Toastmasters Club: Queen Alexandra Community League, 10425 University Ave (N door, stairs to the left); Meet every Tue, 7-9pm except last Tue ea month; Contact: Antonio Balce, 780.463.5331

USING SELF-COMPASSION AS YOU GRIEVE • Pilgrims Hospice, 9808-148 St • jessem@pilgrimshospice.com • 780.413.9801 ext. 107 • Learn the principles of selfcompassion and how different self-compassion techniques can help you as you grieve • May 20, 7pm; Jun 17, 7pm • $30

WASKAHEGAN TRAIL ASSOCIATION • waskahegantrail.ca • Karen B. 780.642.6372 (home) • Beyond Waskahegan-Elk Island National Park: Meet at Capilano McDonalds (9857-50 St) parking lot at 8:45 to sign in; car pool leaving at 9am; May 17, 8:45am WICCAN ASSEMBLY • Ritchie Hall, 772798 St • The Congregationalist Wiccan Assembly of Alberta meets the 2nd Sun each month (except Aug), 6pm • Info: contact cwaalberta@ gmail.com WILD ROSE ANTIQUE COLLECTORS SOCIETY • Delwood Community Hall, 7515

LECTURES/PRESENTATIONS ALBERTA & THE GREAT WAR • Provincial Archives of Alberta, 8555 Roper Road • PAA@ gov.ab.ca • 780.427.1750 • culture.alberta. ca/paa/eventsandexhibits/default.aspx • An exhibit that draws upon archival holdings to show the many ways that the First World War changed the province forever • until Aug 29, 9am-4:30pm

ston Churchill Square • 780.248.1161 • colin. mcguinness@ualberta.ca • Learn how you can become a difference-maker in your own community • May 22, 7:30-10pm • $10

UNIQUE LIVES & EXPERIENCES • Winspear Centre • Canada’s foremost women’s lecture series featuring: Shirley MacLaine: Celebrating 60 years in film; Monday, May 25, 7:30pm • Series tickets at Winspear box office

QUEER AFFIRM SUNNYBROOK–Red Deer • Sunnybrook United Church, Red Deer • 403.347.6073 • Affirm welcome LGBTQ people and their friends, family, and allies meet the 2nd Tue, 7pm, each month

BEERS FOR QUEERS • Empress Ale House,

Karma Tashi Ling Society, 10502-70 Ave • Tranquility and insight meditation based on Very Ven. Thrangu Rinpoche's teachings.

Suitable for meditation practitioners with Buddhist leanings • Every Thu, 7-8:30pm • Donations; jamesk2004@hotmail.com

9912 Whyte Ave • Meet the last Thu each month

BISEXUAL WOMEN'S COFFEE GROUP • A social group for bi-curious and bisexual women every 2nd Tue each month, 8pm • groups.yahoo.com/group/bwedmonton

TOASTMASTERS • Club Bilingue Toastmasters Meetings: Campus St; Jean: Pavillion McMahon; 780.467.6013, l.witzke@shaw.ca; fabulousfacilitators. toastmastersclubs.org; Meet every Tue,

G.L.B.T. SPORTS AND RECREATION • teamedmonton.ca • Blazin' Bootcamp: Garneau Elementary School Gym, 10925-87 Ave; Every Mon and Thu, 7pm; $30/$15 (low income/student); E: bootcamp@teamedmonton.ca • Mindful Meditation: Pride Centre: Every Thu, 6pm; free weekly drop-in • Swimming–Making Waves: NAIT pool, 11762-106 St; E: swimming@teamedmonton.ca; makingwavesswimclub.ca • Martial Arts–Kung Fu and Kick Boxing: Every Tue and Thu, 6-7pm; GLBTQ inclusive adult classes at Sil-Lum Kung Fu; kungfu@teamedmonton.ca, kickboxing@ teamedmonton.ca, sillum.ca

G.L.B.T.Q SENIORS GROUP • S.A.G.E Bldg, Craftroom, 15 Sir Winston Churchill Sq • 780.474.8240 • Meeting for gay seniors, and for any seniors who have gay family members and would like some guidance • Every Thu, 1-4pm • Info: E: Tuff69@telus.net

ILLUSIONS SOCIAL CLUB • Pride Centre, 10608-105 Ave • 780.387.3343 • edmontonillusions.ca • Crossdressers meet 2nd Fri each month, 7:30-9pm INSIDE/OUT • U of A Campus • Campus-

LIVING POSITIVE • #33, 9912-106 St • 780.424.2214 • livingpositivethroughpositiveliving.com • In office peer counseling, public speakers available for presentations, advocacy and resource materials available • Support group for gay men living with HIV: 2nd Mon each month, 7-9pm

Strathcona Farmers' Market • Silent vigil the 1st and 3rd Sat, 10-11am, each month, stand in silence for a world without violence

SEEING IS ABOVE ALL • Acacia Hall, 10433-83 Ave, upstairs • 780.554.6133 • Free instruction in meditation on the Inner Light • Every Sun, 5pm

TIBETAN BUDDHIST MAHAMUDRA •

EVOLUTION WONDERLOUNGE • 10220103 St • 780.424.0077 • yourgaybar.com • Community Tue: partner with various local GLBT groups for different events; see online for details • Happy Hour Wed-Fri: 4-8pm • Wed Karaoke: with the Mystery Song Contest; 7pm-2am • Fri: DJ Evictor • Sat: DJ Jazzy • Sun: Beer Bash

WOMEN IN BLACK • In Front of the Old

SUGAR FOOT BALLROOM • 10545-81 Ave

• Grace United Church annex, 6215-104 Ave • Low-cost, fun and friendly weight loss group • Every Mon, 6:30pm • Info: call Bob 780.479.5519

105 Ave • 780.488.3234 • eplc.webs.com • Free year long course; Family circle 3rd Sat each month • Everyone welcome

based organization for lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans-identified and queer (LGBTQ) faculty, graduate student, academic, straight allies and support staff • 3rd Thu each month (fall/ winter terms): Speakers Series. E: kwells@ ualberta.ca

BE A DIFFERENCE MAKER FEATURING RICK HANSEN • Winspear Centre, 4 Sir Win-

TAKE OFF POUNDS SENSIBLY (TOPS)

EPLC FELLOWSHIP PAGAN STUDY GROUP • Pride Centre of Edmonton, 10608-

Delwood Rd • wildroseantiquecollectors.ca • Collecting and researching items from various periods in the history of Edmonton. Presentations after club business. Visitors welcome • Meets the 4th Mon of every month (except Jul & Dec), 7:30pm

Place • Weekly outdoor walking group; starts with a 10-min discussion, followed by a 30 to 40-min walk through Centennial Park, a cool down and stretch • Every Tue, 8:30am • $2/ session (goes to the Alzheimer’s Society of Alberta) • 587.786.6554 • sugarswing.com • Friday Night Stomp!: Swing and party music dance social every Fri; beginner lesson starts at 8pm.

All ages and levels welcome. Occasional live music–check web; $10, $2 (lesson with entry) • Swing Dance Social every Sat; beginner lesson starts at 8pm. All ages and levels welcome. Occasional live music–check the Sugar Swing website for info • $10, $2 lesson with entry

Millionaire • Fri: Dance all Night with Dj Arrowchaser • Sat: Weekly events and dancing until close • Sun: Weekly Drag show with Shiwana Millionaire and guests; 12:30am

BUDDYS NITE CLUB • 11725 Jasper Ave • 780.488.6636 • Tue: Retro Tuesdays with Dj Arrow Chaser; 9pm-close • Wed: DJ Griff; 9-close • Thu: Wet underwear with Shiwana

MAKING WAVES SWIMMING CLUB • geocities.com/makingwaves_edm • Recreational/competitive swimming. Socializing after practices • Every Tue/Thu PRIDE CENTRE OF EDMONTON • Pride Centre of Edmonton, 10608-105 Ave • 780.488.3234 • A safe, welcoming, and non-judgemental drop-in space, support programs and resources offered for members of the GLBTQ community, their families and friends • Daily: Community drop-in; support and resources. Queer library: borrowing privileges: Tue-Fri 12-9pm, Sat 2-6:30pm, closed Sun-Mon; Queer HangOUT (a.k.a. QH) youth drop-in: Tue-Fri 3-8pm, Sat 2-6:30pm, youth@pridecentreofedmonton.org • Counselling: Free, short-term by registered counsellors every Wed, 5:30-8:30pm, info/bookings: 780.488.3234 • Knotty Knitters: Knit and socialize in safe, accepting environment, all skill levels welcome; every Wed 6-8pm • QH Game Night: Meet people through board game fun; every Thu 6-8pm • QH Craft Night: every Wed, 6-8pm • QH Anime Night: Watch anime; every Fri, 6-8pm • Movie Night: Open to everyone; 2nd and 4th Fri each month, 6-9pm • Women’s Social Circle: Social support group for female-identified persons +18 years in the GLBT community; new members welcome; 2nd and 4th Thu, 7-9pm each month; andrea@ pridecentreofedmonton.org • Men Talking with Pride: Support and social group for gay and bisexual men; every Sun 7-9pm; robwells780@ hotmail.com • TTIQ: a support and information group for all those who fall under the transgender umbrella and their family/supporters; 3rd Mon, 7-9pm, each month • HIV Support Group: Support and discussion group for gay men; 2nd Mon, 7-9pm, each month; huges@shaw.ca

ST PAUL'S UNITED CHURCH • 11526-76 Ave • 780.436.1555 • People of all sexual orientations are welcome • Every Sun (10am worship)

VUEWEEKLY.com | MAY 14 – MAY 20, 2015

WOMONSPACE • 780.482.1794 • womonspace.org, womonspace@gmail.com • A Non-profit lesbian social organization for Edmonton and surrounding area. Monthly activities, newsletter, reduced rates included with membership. Confidentiality assured WOODYS VIDEO BAR • 11723 Jasper Ave • 780.488.6557 • Mon: Massive Mondays Comedy Night with Nadine Hunt; 8pm; New Headliner Weekly • Tue: You Don't Know Show with Shiwana Millionaire; 8pm; Weekly prizes and games • Wed: Karaoke with Shirley; 7pm1am • Thu: Karaoke with Kendra; 7pm-1am • Fri-Sat: Dancing and events until close • Sun: Karaoke with Jadee; 7pm-1am

SPECIAL EVENTS 10TH ANNUAL BUDUSIRI WESAK CELEBRATION • Londonderry Community League Hall, 14224-74 St NW • admin@ budusiri.com • 780.478.4800 • budusiri.com • To commemorate the birth, enlightenment and passing away of Gautama Buddha • May 16-17

ACTSS SPRING CHARITY DOG WASH • Various pet groomers in Edmonton and area • 587.989.1948 • actssalberta.ca/content/22 • Help support pets living with cancer • May 23, 9am-6pm AFRICAN CULTURAL NIGHT 2015 • Central Lions Senior Citizens Recreation Centre, 11113-113 St NW • jrextent@gmail.com • 780.908.7511 • An annual event that celebrates Africa’s unique culture, tradition, and heritage as well as promotes awareness about current affairs in Africa • May 16, 5:30pm

BUTTERFLY DAY • Devonian Botanic Garden - University of Alberta, 51227 AB-60, Parkland County • devonian.ualberta.ca • 780.987.3054 ext. 2243 • Meet beautiful butterflies from around the world, make crafts, decorate cookies, catch interesting creatures, and learn about butterflies • May 24, 12-3pm • Free with admission

DEEPSOUL.CA • 587.520.3833; call or text for Sunday jam locations • Every Sun: Sunday Jams with no Stan (CCR to Metallica), starring Chuck Prins on Les Paul Standard guitars; Pink Floydish originals plus great Covers of Classics: some FREE; Twilight Zone Lively Up Yourself Tour (with DJ Cool Breeze); all ages

E-VILLE ROLLER DERBY PRESENTS: MAYHEM • Edmonton Sportsdome, 10104-32 Ave NW • May 23, 7-9pm • $15 (door) or $10 (adv), free (kids 10 and under)

EDMONTON REPTILE AND AMPHIBIAN SPRING SHOW • The Sand Hotel, 12340 Fort Rd • edmontonreptiles.com • Meet some amazing creatures and the people who love them. Lectures, and more will be available • May 23-24 • $6 (adults), $5 (Kids 13-17), $4 (kids 4-12), Free (kids 4 and under/E.R.A.S. members)

IHEARTFASHION • Alberta Aviation Museum, 11410 Kingsway Ave • An evening of fashion from local Edmonton designers, entertainment from local musicians, local businesses and local people • May 23, 7pm; $30 (general), $50 (VIP); tickets available at Eventbrite

I CAN DO IT! 2015 EDMONTON • Winspear Centre, 4 Sir Winston Churchill Square NW • A weekend retreat to help you create a life participants will love, featuring a diverse array of uplifting topics from authors • May 16-17

MARCH AGAINST MONSANTO 2015 • End of Steel Park, 87 Ave and Gateway Boulevard • michael.kalmanovitch@gmail. com • Calling for the permanent boycott of Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) and other harmful agro-chemicals • May 23, 122pm • Free

NIGHT MARKET EDMONTON • Beaverhill House Park, Jasper Ave & 105 St • nightmarketedmonton@gmail.com • 780.934.1568 • nightmarketedmonton.com • Watch an old movie, eat some food, or shop at the vendor’s stalls • Every Fri, 7-11pm, May-Aug • Free

SCRAMBLED YEG • Brittany's Lounge, 10225-97 St • 780.497.0011 • Open Genre Variety Stage: artist from all mediums are encouraged to occupy the stage and share their creations • Every Tue-Fri, 5-8pm

AT THE BACK 33

CLASSIFIEDS To place an ad PHONE: 780.426.1996 / FAX: 780.426.2889 EMAIL: classifieds@vueweekly.com 1005.

Help Wanted

Graphic Designer Needed High Speed Printing is seeking a full time designer. Email resume, cover letter and portfolio to Cathy@highspeed.ca.

5531-99Street, Edmonton, AB

1600.

Artist to Artist

Cast and Crew Call for the Low Budget Short Action Film “Heaven”. No-pay gig.

Shoot scheduled for 4 days in September. Please e-mail jeremyalafond@gmail.com for more info.

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

Dog Walk Run! Supporters of Alberta Animal Rescues is having their 2nd Annual “Fun Run” fundraiser on June 6, 2015. We need volunteers from 7:30-10:30am to fill various positions as road marshals. A nice “good quality” t-shirt will be yours as well as our gratitude. Please sign up

by May 31; contact Kendra at Soaar.run@gmail.com. You must be comfortable around dogs as this is an owner/dog event in a dog park.

Habitat for Humanity Hosts Women Build Week - May 26-30 Attention Women: Volunteer with us on a Habitat build site to help build homes and hope with other women! Our expert staff provides training with a focus on safety in a fun and welcoming environment. Take home an inspiring sense of accomplishment. Tools, equipment and lunch are provided. Visit http://www.hfh.org/volunteer/w omen-build/, and Follow us on Facebook/@HabitatEdm and Twitter@HabitatEdm.

Room to Read Event Planner Volunteer Needed Are you a self-motivated individual who wants to use your creativity to plan fun, interesting events to support a great cause? Room to Read, Edmonton Chapter organizes several events every year to raise money to support our literacy and girls’ education programs in Asia and Africa.

We require people who are willing to generate ideas for events and execute them, while working with other volunteers and Chapter Leaders. Contact Edmonton@roomtoread.org if you are interested.

VUEWEEKLY.com | MAY 14 – MAY 20, 2015

2020.

Musicians Wanted

Guitarists, bassists, vocalists, pianists and drummers needed for good paying teaching jobs.

Please call 780-901-7677

Looking for a bass player and drummer; heavy metal style.

Call Randy at 780.479.8766.

Volunteers Wanted

Can You Read This?

34 AT THE BACK

2005.

1st Assistant Film Director is needed to assist Main Director on film project. This individual must have experience working with Arriflex motion-picture film camera.This individual must travel when required, to Jasper National Park (townsite) for segments of filming. The film directing schedule might be tight, because Jasper is a tourist town, with many people visiting the area each month. The Main Director can’t always be present on location to direct actors. The Main Director, Craig will send the film script to the assistant; once a qualified film director is chosen. If this Director has film producing experience, and has worked on film budgets before; this would be helpful. For further information, e-mail Craig at crgsymonds49@gmail.com.

Please e-mail your Film Directing resume.

Assistant Director needed.

The Assistant Director must have Film Producing experience as he/she will be calculating the Films budget. If the Director has experience with being a Location Manager; this would be very beneficial for the Main film Director, since he doesn’t live in the. Jasper town area.

P.S. When an experienced Film director is chosen then the project starts. FAVA Edmonton members are very welcome to apply for position.

You can also Skype video the Main Director for more details crgsymonds49@gmail.com

Loft Art Gallery and Gift Shop – Opens January 31 with new artwork by the artists of the Art Society of Strathcona County.

Ottewell Centre, 590 Broadmoor Blvd. Open Saturdays and Sundays 12 to 4 pm for your viewing and purchasing pleasure. Local artwork for your home, business or gift giving.

2010.

Musicians Available

Veteran Drummer Available Digs Blues, Boogie, and RnB. Phone: 780.462.6291

Tenor/Baritone Sax Player Wanted Local blues/reggae/psych band with original songs looking for a tenor/baritone sax player.

Call Corey at 780.819.9836.

2100.

Auditions

Open Call for Musicians, Bands, and Composers Toy Guns Dance Theatre and Ecco Theatre are collaborating on an original production titled Disenchanting Facades: A Dream Play About Blueberries, Christmas Lights, and A Rickety Old Shitter. The production will be performed outdoors at dusk featuring Live Music, Dance, and Classical Voice.

We are looking for submissions from Local Songwriters to create a score for this original production. We are very open to all styles of music although some reorchestration may be necessary in creating a unified art work.

All artists who’s music is used in the production will be given full credit for their work, tickets to attend performances of the show, as well as an honorarium. The show venue and dates are TBD. The pilot of the show will be produced for the end of August, 2015.

For further details contact kasia@toygunstheatre.com or visit www.toygunstheatre.com

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

7020.

Legal Services

Final Estate Planning Wills, Powers of Attorney and Personal Directives.

Please call Nicole Kent with At Home Legal Services(780) 756-1466 to prepare your Final Estate Planning Documents.

ALBERTA-WIDE CLASSIFIEDS •• ANNOUNCEMENTS •• NEED TO ADVERTISE? Province wide classifieds. Reach over 1 million readers weekly.

Only $269. + GST (based on 25 words or less). Call this newspaper NOW for details or call 1-800-282-6903 ext. 228.

•• AUCTIONS •• COLLECTOR CAR AUCTION! 8th Annual Calgary Collector Car Auction, June 12 - 14, Indoors Convention Center Grey Eagle Casino.

All makes & models welcome.

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MAJOR ANNUAL Spring R.V. Repossessed & Consignment Auction Sale. Saturday, May 23, 2015. Sale at 10 a.m.

Viewing Friday, May 22, 2015 from 1 - 4 p.m. 5th wheel trailers, conventional trailers, tent trailers, motorhomes, motorbikes, etc. Consignment are welcome! Gary Hanna Auctions, 11303 - Yellowhead Trail NW, Edmonton, Alberta. Check our website on sale week for photos & listings at www.auctions.ca.

AUTO & BODY SHOP Equipment. Classic Dream Machines Ltd. Sat., May 23, 2015 at 10 a.m., MAS Sales Centre, Blackfalds, Alberta. Selling: Paint booth, shop equipment, 1955, 56, 57, body & mechanical parts, skidded office, Hummer kit SUV, trailers, police seizure items, police, fire and EMS clothing, boots, accessories, & paraphernalia. See www. montgomeryauctions.com or 1-800-371-6963.

•• BUSINESS •• OPPORTUNITIES HIP OR KNEE Replacement? COPD or arthritic conditions? The Disability Tax Credit. $1,500 yearly tax credit. $15,000 lump sum refund (on average). Apply today! 1-844-453-5372.

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•• CAREER TRAINING •• MEDICAL TRAINEES needed now! Hospitals & doctor’s offices need certified medical office & administrative staff! No experience needed! We can get you trained! Local job placement assistance available when training is completed. Call for program details! 1-888-627-0297.

MEDICAL TRANSCRIPTIONISTS are in huge demand!

Train with the leading Medical Transcription school. Learn from home and work from home. Call today. 1-800466-1535; www.canscribe. com. info@canscribe.com.

•• EMPLOYMENT •• OPPORTUNITIES LOON RIVER First Nation, located 170 kilometres north of Slave Lake, Alberta, requires full-time, permanent Community Health Registered Nurse.

Graduation from accredited nursing school, current CARNA registration, immunization certificate, three years experience in public or community health nursing preferred. RAI assessment training considered asset. Benefits, pension, business vehicle, subsidized accommodation available. Send cover letter, resume, CARNA registration, RCMP Information Check and Child Intervention check to health@loonriver.ca.

QUALIFIED JOURNEYMAN Autobody Tech required immediately. Independent, organized, self-motivated, own tools. Competitive wages/benefits. Apply: Northpark Collision & Frame Ltd., St. Paul, Alberta. 780-6455548; northprk@mcsnet.ca.

PEN CHECKERS. Immediate permanent, full-time positions available. Wages are negotiable and will commensurate according to qualifications and experience. Lakeside offers an excellent benefits package. Fax resume to: Neil Thauberger - JBS Lakeside Feeders 403-362-8231 or email: neil.thauberger@jbssa.com REFRIGERATION MECHANIC WANTED. 3rd year to Journeyman for the Lloydminster area.

Top wages and benefits. Please call 1-780-909-7630 for more information and interview.

MEDICAL TRANSCRIPTION! In-demand career! Employers have work-at-home positions available. Get online training you need from an employertrusted program. Visit: CareerStep.ca/MT or 1-855-7683362 to start training for your work-at-home career today!

INTERESTED IN the Community Newspaper business? Alberta’s weekly newspapers are looking for people like you. Post your resume online. FREE. Visit: awna.com/for-job-seekers.

FULL-TIME GRAPHICS DESIGNER required at the Vermilion Voice newspaper.

Some weekend scheduling. Some experience is required. Email resume to: vermilionvoice@gmail.com.

•• EQUIPMENT •• FOR SALE A-CHEAP, lowest prices, steel shipping containers. Used 20’ & 40’ Seacans insulated 40 HC DMG $2450. 1-866-528-7108; www.rtccontainer.com.

•• FOR SALE •• BEAUTIFUL SPRUCE TREES. 4 - 6 feet, $35 each. Machine planting: $10/tree (includes bark mulch and fertilizer). 20 tree minimum order. Delivery fee $75 - $125/order. Quality guaranteed. 403-820-0961.

SAWMILLS from only $4,397. Make money & save money with your own bandmill. Cut lumber any dimension. In stock ready to ship. Free info & dvd: www.

NorwoodSawmills.com/400OT. 1-800-566-6899 ext. 400OT. METAL ROOFING & SIDING. 30+ colours available at over 40 Distributors. 40 year warranty.

48 hour Express Service available at select supporting Distributors. Call 1-888-263-8254.

BUILDING FOR SALE - To be moved. A variety of sizes and styles available. Please call 403-279-6395 or visit: www. mccannsbldgmovers.com.

•• MANUFACTURED •• HOMES THE HEART of Every Home is in its Kitchen. Kitchen specials starting at $138, 500. Upgrades include full backsplash, stainless steel appliances & more.

For more information call United Homes Canada 1-800461-7632 or visit our site at www.unitedhomescanada.com.

•• SERVICES •• CRIMINAL RECORD? Think: Canadian pardon.

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Equity Mortgages for purchases, debt consolidation, foreclosures, renovations. Bruised credit, self-employed, unemployed ok. Dave Fitzpatrick: www.albertalending.ca. 587437-8437, Belmor Mortgage.

•• TRAVEL •• GRIZZLY BEAR TOUR. Experience a one day fly and cruise adventure to Khutzeymateen, BC this summer. Calgary and Edmonton departures.

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FREEWILLASTROLOGY

ARIES (Mar 21 – Apr 19): The danger of resisting a temptation too strenuously is that the temptation might depart. I suggest you prevent that from happening. Without throwing yourself at the mercy of the temptation, see if you can coax it to stick around for a while longer. Why? In my view, it's playing a useful role in your life. It's motivating you to change some things that really do need to be changed.

However, I'm not yet sure that it should become anything more than a temptation. It might serve you best that way, not as an object of your satisfied desire.

TAURUS (Apr 20 – May 20): My astrological colleagues discourage me from talking to you Bulls about financial matters. "Most Tauruses know 10 times more about the mystery of money than you will ever know," said one. "Their excellent instincts trump any tips you could offer."

Another astrologer concurred, noting, "The financial advice you give Tauruses will at best be redundant and at worst simplistic." A third colleague summed it up: "Offering Tauruses guidance about money is like counselling Scorpios about sex." So although I'm shy about providing recommendations, I will say this: the next five weeks will be a favourable time to set in motion the plans to GET RICHER QUICKER! GEMINI (May 21 – Jun 20): "Endings to be useful must be inconclusive," wrote science-fiction novelist Samuel R Delany. I endorse that theory for your use in the coming weeks. Interweave it with this advice from playwright Sam Shepard: "The temptation towards resolution, towards wrapping up the package, seems to me a terrible trap. Why not be more honest with the moment? The most authentic endings are the ones which are already revolving towards another beginning." In other words, Gemini, don't be attached to neat finales and splashy climaxes. Consider the possibility that you can simply slip free of the complicated past and head toward the future without much fanfare.

CANCER (Jun 21 – Jul 22): In mythic terms, you should be headed for the winner's circle, which is inside the pleasure dome. The parade in your honour should follow the award ceremony, and let's hope you will be on the lead float wearing a gold crown and holding a real magic wand while being sung to by a choir of people you love and who love you. If for any reason you are not experiencing some version of these metaphors, I urge you to find out why. Or, better yet, get busy on planning a homecoming or graduation party or award ceremony for yourself.

From an astrological perspective, you have a mandate to be recognized and appreciated for the gifts you offer the world.

VUEWEEKLY.com | MAY 14 – MAY 20, 2015

ROB BREZSNY FREEWILL@VUEWEEKLY.COM

LEO (Jul 23 – Aug 22): British Field Marshal Arthur Wellesley was a brilliant military commander. Renowned for his ability to beat larger armies, he also had great skill at minimizing loss of life among his own troops.

His most famous triumph took place in 1815, when he led the forces that defeated Napoleon Bonaparte at Waterloo. In the aftermath, the French tyrant lost his power and went into exile. What was the secret of Wellesley's success? "Bonaparte's plans were made in wire," he said. "Mine were made in string." In other words, Wellesley's strategy was more flexible and adaptable. As circumstances changed, it could be rearranged with greater ease. That's the approach I recommend for you in the coming days.

a virtual virtuoso in your ability to reconcile both apparent opposites and actual opposites. I invite you to use this aptitude with flair and daring.

VIRGO (Aug 23 – Sep 22): You may not be strong enough to take a shot at a daunting challenge that's five levels beyond your previous best. But I think you are at least ready to try a tricky challenge that's one level higher than where you have been operating. And that, in my opinion, is a more practical use of your courage. I think it would be a waste of your energy to get wrapped up in grandiose fantasies about impossible perfections. As long as you don't overreach, you can accomplish small miracles.

CAPRICORN (Dec 22 – Jan 19): Long before Lou Reed recorded the song "Walk on the Wild Side," Nelson Algren wrote a novel titled A Walk on the Wild Side. It depicts the luxuriant depravity of New Orleans' French Quarter in the 1930s. One of Algren's most enduring bits of spiritual advice goes as follows: "Never, ever, no matter what else you do in your whole life, never sleep with anyone whose troubles are worse than your own." What do you think of that, Capricorn? Even if you don't regard it as a universal rule that you should unfailingly obey, I suggest you observe it in the coming weeks. For the sake of your mental hygiene, be extra discerning about what influences you absorb—not just in bed, but everywhere.

LIBRA (Sep 23 – Oct 22): I suspect you are about to experience some prime contenders for The Most Unusual Adventures of 2015. Are you thoroughly prepared? Of course not. There's no way you can be totally ready to adapt to unpredictable wrinkles and change your mind at a moment's notice. But that's exactly what will make these experiments so fun. That's why they will be effective in building up your resilience and willpower.

For best results, apply your nighttime thinking to daytime activities, and vice versa. Spend minimal time on responsibilities that don't teach you noble truths about your fellow madmen and madwomen. Now here's my big question: how can you tap into the extra power you will need during your rite of passage?

SCORPIO (Oct 23 – Nov 21): Many modern astronomers are allergic to astrology, but from my perspective there is no inherent conflict between the two fields. Four of history's greatest astronomers were practicing astrologers, after all: Johannes Kepler, Galileo Galilei, Tycho Brahe and Pierre Gassendi. One of my friends in college, a Scorpio woman named Martha Maiden, is a first-rate astrologer who got a degree in astronomy and became a top scientist at NASA. In the spirit of finding reconciliation between apparent opposites, I'm happy to say that you are now

SAGITTARIUS (Nov 22 – Dec 21): Sagittarian Matt Stutzman competes in the sport of archery.

He's the world's record holder for longest accurate shot, having hit a target 230 yards away.

What makes his accomplishment so extraordinary is the fact that he was born without any arms.

He holds each arrow in his mouth and grasps the bow with his right foot and the help of a chest harness. In the spirit of this armless archer, and in accordance with your current astrological omens, I invite you to initiate an attempt to triumph over one of your socalled disadvantages.

AQUARIUS (Jan 20 – Feb 18): The cosmos has authorized you to be hungrier than usual. You may also feel free to respond to your enhanced hunger with an extra aggressive quest to be fed.

Therefore: be voracious! Risk being avid, ardent and even agog.

Fill yourself up with pudding, pleasure, praise, peace, perks and privileges. Anything else you'd like to engorge? If some unenlightened person questions your right to claim the biggest piece and the sweetest taste and the best fuel, inform them that your astrologer says you have ultimate permission.

PISCES (Feb 19 – Mar 20): Is there an interesting ally whose path rarely crosses yours? Do you draw inspiration from a likeminded dynamo who is not fully available? Has fate kept you and a friend from getting as close as you would wish? According to my reading of the astrological omens, relationships like these could become more substantial in the coming weeks. The dream of a more robust connection could ripen into an opportunity to actually collaborate. So be alert for the openings, and be prepared to do what's necessary to go deeper. V AT THE BACK 35

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BRENDA KERBER BRENDA@VUEWEEKLY.COM

Guys and toys

Shaming men for using masturbation toys is not cool Since May is International Masturbation Month, I've been doing a lot more thinking about masturbation than I normally do (which is already a lot). It may seem like we're so much more open about sex now than we were in 1995, when Masturbation Month first began, that we don't need this awareness campaign anymore—or do we?

Over the past year, I've noticed a steady stream of articles and posts that shame or pathologize men who use toys to get off.

Last spring, David Covucci of BroBible got a lot of attention when he wrote about his experience trying Tenga's male masturbation toys. Sure, the post was hilarious, but most of the humour revolved around how ashamed he was of himself. A lot of other bloggers picked up on the post and piled on even more shame. Most notably, Erin Gloria Ryan wrote on Jezebel that men who play with toys are depraved freaks and "chair sniffers."

A BuzzFeed video, in which guys talk about trying toys for the first time, became a viral sensation a few months ago. Again, most of the humour came from their discomfort with the idea, shame about having done it or enjoyed it, and concern about what other people would think.

These are only a few examples of a common derisive attitude about guys and toys. Yet male masturbation toys are big business. Love Honey, the UK's biggest sex-toy retailer carries 428 toys designed specifically for male masturbation. Tenga has sold more than 19 million units. Autoblow, a mechanized hands-free masturbation toy raised more than $280 000 by crowdfunding. There

were so many online preorders for the toy that the company's servers crashed.

Clearly, men like toys. Why isn't it OK for them to admit it?

I think the answer lies in our fear of sexuality and our unconscious desire to control it. If a guy uses his hand to get off, we can assume that he's only doing it on the spur of the

predicting that these new toys will cause men to lose interest in sex with people altogether. The comments section was even more alarmist, with one person asserting that masturbating with toys is addictive, leading to a need for increasingly novel and intense sensations, to the point of physically harming oneself. Neither the editorial nor the comment cited any research or case studies that verify if, and how often, these things actually happen.

There will always be compulsive behaviours and compulsive people, but it's relatively rare and it's a pretty big leap to say that toys cause it. Most men who like toys, and I know a lot of them, do not become compulsive. They use toys because it feels good and it's fun. I guess until we are comfortable with the fact that it really is that simple, we still need Masturbation Month. V

I think the answer lies in our fear of sexuality and our unconscious desire to control it. moment, maybe to relieve tension and probably because he doesn't have a partner handy. If he goes out and buys a toy, however, he's obviously planning to masturbate and wants to really enjoy it. It's that unbridled enjoyment of pleasure that makes us uneasy.

Coinciding with all of this toy shaming, I've noticed a major increase in material warning about masturbation getting out of control. I recently read a post on Psychology Today

Brenda Kerber is a sexual health educator who has worked with local not-for-profits since 1995. She is the owner of the Edmonton-based, sexpositive adult toy boutique the Traveling Tickle Trunk.

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“...And Red All Over” -- or at least at the start.

Across

1 Adjust accordingly 6 “The Many Loves of ___ Gillis” 11 Consumed 14 “Against the Wind” singer Bob 15 It’s not what you’d expect 16 Shins genre 17 V-shaped fabric pattern 19 Smith or Taylor 20 Chapter in history 21 “Disco Duck” singer Rick 22 Renaissance Faire title 24 Curly treatment 25 Molly formerly of “SNL” 27 Show up 30 Deli turnover 31 Kazakh character who’s been retired 32 Muscular jocks, stereotypically 36 “South Park” character Cartman 37 Wild hogs 38 Anti-piracy org.

39 Adult contemporary radio fare 41 Like Old King Cole 42 Band with a Ben & Jerry’s flavor named for it 43 Endowment recipients 44 Person on a pension 47 Dad’s sister 48 Big name in violins 49 Killer whale of a 1977 film 50 Hotel amenity 53 Instrument for Stan Getz 54 Lines seen outside the club?

58 50-50, for instance 59 Dasani rival 60 Blackboard stuff 61 Ice Bucket Challenge cause, for short 62 “Touched by an Angel” actress Reese 63 Sharpens

Down

1 Tennis Hall of Famer Arthur 2 “Caught in the headlights” animal 3 Taj Mahal’s locale 4 Part of MPH 5 Neptune prop 6 Mascot of Kellogg’s Honey Smacks 7 Odist’s spheres 8 Haunted house greeting 9 “Canterbury Tales” locale

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10 Hair that’s wished upon 11 Reddy or Hunt 12 Chum 13 Amount of eggs 18 One short on social skills 23 Occurring naturally 24 It’s surrounded by the fuzz?

25 Sarcastic comments 26 Compilation album tracks, often 27 His mother raised Cain, too 28 “90210” actress Spelling 29 Advanced math course 30 Stacy of “Prison Break” 32 Bullwinkle, e.g.

33 Frigid follower?

34 Bold challenge 35 “Survey ___ ...” (“Family Feud” phrase) 37 Soft white cheese 40 Flourished 41 Black-and-orange butterfly 43 Air conditioning conduit 44 One who uses cannabis spiritually 45 Letter with an attachment, maybe 46 Perennial presidential debate issue 47 Venue for some football games 49 Toyota logo’s shape 50 C-___ 51 Brazilian hero 52 Makes inquiries 55 Night before 56 Rapper ___ Wayne 57 “So that’s your game!” ©2015 Jonesin' Crosswords

My wife is one of those women who need manual stimulation of her clit during sex to climax. Before meeting her, I had several long-term girlfriends, and not one needed to do this in order to climax. Before we got married, I explained that I wanted to explore and push the boundaries, and she promised me that would happen. But she has no fantasies, kinks or fetishes, and she's not into any of the things I've proposed. Bringing this all together is that when we are having sex, she's so fixated on stimulating her clit, it's almost like we are in two different worlds. When she's working toward an orgasm, her eyes are shut and she's concentrating on the rubbing—whether she's doing it or I am—and I can't help but wonder if the work it takes to get her to orgasm is part of the reason she's not interested in exploring. I've talked to her several times about how I'm yearning to do more, but I haven't brought up my thoughts on how the way she comes may be affecting things.

Come As You Are

may need to block you out—she may need to clamp her eyes shut— in order to climax because ... um ... she may not be sexually attracted to you. That's harsh, I realize, and I hope that's not the case. But if marital sex for her is a joyless exercise—she gets you off then clamps her eyes shut and gets herself off— then this is a problem that can't be fixed, and spending the next five decades trying to fix it will be both futile and frustrating.

Here's hoping your wife's issue is something more common and something that can be fixed—she's sexually repressed but can work through it, this clamp-eyes-andrub-clit routine was her masturbatory go-to for years but you two can find new and exciting ways to get her off. Those new and exciting ways to get her off will most likely require her to fixate on stimulating her clit—and that's OK.

likely won't find attractive—but you never know—is a small price to pay to make the online dating world a less shitty place for trans people. It's what an ally would do.

DOWN ON DICKS

I'm a 29-year-old gay guy in a committed relationship. My boyfriend says he feels sexually inadequate, because I'm not the type of guy who needs to come in order to feel that I had great sex. Honestly, foreplay and receiving anal sex are much more pleasurable for me. If I want to come, I will, just not all the time.

As long as there's plenty of kissing, touching and licking—and all the other wonderful "ings"—I don't feel like ejaculation is a big deal. He thinks it means I'm not attracted enough to him. He's self-conscious since his dick is a bit on the small side, and my not coming seems to make it worse. I've told him that I find him utterly attractive—bless those legs, that chest, that ass— and I always try to make him have an orgasm. I've also tried to come more often for him, but sometimes I'm just not in the mood. I've also told him that he's not doing anything wrong and this is just the way I'm wired. He says he still feels inadequate. I don't know what else to do or say.

Orgasms Reliably Great Although Sometimes Missed

Sometimes I'll come, sometimes I won't.

Putting up with that—and getting over your insecurities or at least shutting up about them—is the price of admission to be with me.

My thoughts, in no particular order ...

1) Three out of four women need direct, focused, and sometimes intense, stimulation of their clit in order to climax—sailing a dick up the vaginal canal isn't going to do it for most women—so either you lucked out and all of your previous girlfriends were 25 percenters or many/most/all of your previous girlfriends were faking it.

2) I've never met a man who wasn't fixated on stimulating his dick during sex and/or having his dick stimulated for him during sex.

3) If your wife is picking up on your negativity about the way her pussy works, that could negatively impact her enthusiasm for sex in general and sex with you in particular.

4) Your wife is fantasizing about something when she closes her eyes and starts rubbing her clit.

You might be able to have more productive conversations about your sex life—and your desire for a more adventurous one—if you drew her out about what's going on in her head when she's getting off.

Tell her how sexy she looks, tell her you would love to know what she's thinking about, tell her how hot her fantasy is if she opens up about it (and don't freak out if she's not fantasizing about you), carefully build on her fantasy with some dirty talk.

Once she opens up about whatever it is that's unspooling in her head, you can suggest realizing her fantasies in real life—and a few of yours as well.

5) And ... um ... lastly ... your wife

ONLINE ETIQUETTE

I'm a lesbian who has been pretty successful at online dating. Lately, however, I've had a few women contact me who turn out not to be cisgender. I've tried to remain open, but I have never been attracted to a trans woman. I don't rule out the possibility that it could happen. But one great thing about online dating is that you can express preferences before going on a date, and I'd rather not unknowingly walk into these potentially awkward and painful situations. Is there something I could put on my profile expressing my preference for cisgender women that is not offensive to trans people? It's important to me that I remain an ally.

Can I Say? You can put "not into trans women" in your online dating profile, CIS, but you'll have to hand in your Trans Ally card. Gay men are likewise free to put "no fats, no femmes" or "white guys only—just expressing my preference" on their profiles, and too many do (and not all of them are white guys), but gay men who do that have to hand in their Not an Asshole cards. Occasionally having coffee with someone you're not into—and having to tiptoe through the awkwardness— isn't something you can avoid in online dating. You would have to do that even if only cis lesbians responded to your ads, as you're presumably not attracted to all cis lesbians. Having a coffee now and then with a trans woman you most

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You've done the reassuring thing (about his size), you've done the explaining thing (this is just the way you're wired), and you've done the meeting him halfway thing (coming more often to appease/mollify).

Now it's time for the exasperated ultimatum thing. I've taken the liberty of scripting your ultimatum: "You have to stop obsessing about whether or not I come every time we fuck. I would never make you feel bad about your dick, but you're making me feel bad about my dick.

So here's the deal: you're going to drop this. You're going to take 'Yes, I'm attracted to you' and 'This is how my dick works' for an answer.

And you're not going to bring this up anymore. Sometimes I'll come, sometimes I won't. Putting up with that—and getting over your insecurities or at least shutting up about them—is the price of admission to be with me. If you can't pay that price, if me not coming every time we have sex is something you'll never get over, then we should break up."

Don't miss Sherman Alexie on the Savage Lovecast: savagelovecast.com. V @fakedansavage on Twitter

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