vue weekly 776 sep 2 - sep 8 2010

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VUEWEEKLY // SEP 2 – SEP 8, 2010

INSIDE

COVER

#776 • Sep 2 – Sep 8, 2010

UP FRONT // 5/ 5 Vuepoint 8 Bob the Angry Flower 9 Dyer Straight

DISH // 10/ 11 To the Pint

ARTS // 17 18 Prairie Artsters

FILM // 21 24 DVD Detective

MUSIC // 26/ 30 Enter Sandor 37 Gutterdance 38 New Sounds 39 Old Sounds 39 Quickspins

BACK // 40

26

The Gaslight Anthem faces down the past

FRONT

ARTS

40 Free Will Astrology 42 Queermonton 43 Alt.Sex.Column

EVENTS LISTINGS 20 Arts 25 Film 28 Music 41 Events

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17

Tailings ponds controversy

Blacklisted: You Can't Say That on Television

VUEWEEKLY.COM SLIDESHOW // Lady Gaga

MUSIC

• Slideshow Lady Gaga FILM

• Sidevue Movies killed for the video star: Brian Gibson charts five men who made the jump from directing music videos to making full-length features • Revue David Berry's one star review of Takers DISH Lady Gaga performs at Rexall Place

• Dishweekly.ca Restaurant reviews, features, searchable and easy to use

VUEWEEKLY // SEP 2 – SEP 8, 2010

FRONT // 3

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VUEWEEKLY // SEP 2 – SEP 8, 2010

EDITORIAL

Vuepoint Deny all knowledge samantha power

// samantha@vueweekly.com

A

lthough information should always be up for debate, critically challenged and analyzed, there comes a point where you have to recognize a fact as a fact. And through the years humanity has actually divined a few methods to prove facts such as gravity and the shape of the earth (round). These methods were employed by water expert and University of Alberta researcher David Schindler who has proven that metals such as lead, arsenic and mercury are seeping into the Athabasca River at elevated levels, and that those levels are caused by the oil industry situated upstream.

Environment Minister Rob Renner, in his responses to the study, attempts to undermine the information, challenging the research as simply another set of raw data that could have been collected at particularly damaging points in chemical runoffs. Renner fails to recognize the method by which Schindler researched and published his conclusions.

The study appeared in a peer-reviewed science publication, the Proceedings of the National Academy

INSIDE // FRONT

UP FRONT

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8 9

Tailings ponds

Bob the Angry Flower Dyer Straight

GRASDAL'S VUE

of Sciences, which requires papers be reviewed by scientists in the field.

Schindler's research paper itself is peer-reviewed, undergoing the strict academic guidelines of the University of Alberta, guidelines which compose pages upon pages of academic regulation and policy governing the University. Schindler himself is quick to point out that much of the debate about the tar sands has persently gone out without the conclusiveness of science. And so as a scientist, he set out to prove the source of the problem.

Renner believes his own scientists. The Regional Aquatic Monitoring Program is a joint initiative of industry and government to monitor pollutant levels in the water surrounding the tar sands. The problem: RAMP is funded by industry and one can't help but question where loyalties lie when RAMP claims chemical levels are naturally occurring.

Schindler's report is the first independent report to challenge RAMP's assertions. What Schindler has done is place facts outside of the influence of bias and into the harsh light of critical analysis.

It's a light the Alberta government cannot hide from, however they may try. V

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Last week Premier Stelmach skipped out on a meeting about it. The week before that citizens proclaimed the consultations futile. One wouldn't think the issue of power lines, those towering structures dotting the landscape and appearing along every highway would create such controversy. So why is there so much opposition to this particular proposal for power lines through the north end of Edmonton out to Fort Saskatchewan? We talk to Bruce Johnson, President of Responsible Electricity Transmission for Albertans about why there may be citizen opposition to new powerlines.

GO TO VUEWEEKLY.COM to hear Vue's interview with Responsible Electricity for Albertans.

Letters VUEWEEKLY // SEP 2 – SEP 8, 2010

Vue Weekly welcomes reader response, whether critical or complimentary. Send your opinion by mail (Vue Weekly, 10303 - 108 Street, Edmonton AB T5J 1L7), by fax (780.426.2889) or by email (letters@vueweekly.com). Preference is given to feedback about articles in Vue Weekly. We reserve the right to edit for length and clarity.

FRONT // 5

COMMENT >> ALBERTA POLITICS

Issues

Issues is a forum for individuals and organizations to comment on current events and broader issues of importance to the community. Their commentary is not necessarily the opinion of the organizations they represent or of Vue Weekly.

Missing the point

Opposition parties fail to hit on the problem with Alberta's finances The summer months in Alberta tend to be an incredibly frustrating time for mainstream reporters assigned to the legislature beat. Virtually nothing happens in terms of policy and government decisions over the summer, and reporters and commentators alike find themselves forced to report on the largely meaningless power-plays and furniture rearrangements of the province's political parties to fill inches of type and minutes of broadcasts.

It is for this reason that the annual first quarter financial update from the government, usually released in late August, garners as much media attention as it does. This year, of course, was no different. The fiscal update was released last week, and has occupied a significant amount of print and broadcast space ever since.

The problem is that the update itself, at least this year, contains absolutely nothing that is newsworthy or even interesting. Projected revenues are up a little bit from what the government estimated in its budget six months ago, and projected expenses are up by approximately the same amount. The bottom line and general direction of the province's finances remain virtually the same. The projected

deficit for the current fiscal year remains at about $4.7 billion.

Aside from the novelty of this government being able to stay on budget for three months, there really was nothing there for the media to sink its teeth into.

So they did what they always do—they identified an angle and created a story where there was none.

The angle they identified was that the province is increasingly relying on revenue from liquor and gambling to compensate for low taxes and royalties. Although this is a valid and important story to tell, it is really one that should have been told five or even 10 years ago. Given that reality, it is also one they should have done a much better job of telling than they actually have.

The numbers in the first quarter update make the case clearly. The government is projecting that this fiscal year it will bring in more money from gaming, lotteries and liquor than it will from natural gas royalties or from conventional oil royalties. But this story isn't new. As recently as the 2005 – 2006 fiscal year, at the height of the boom, the province brought in twice as much from gaming and liquor as it did from tar sands royal-

ties.

So why has the media just noticed this now, four years later? It's hard to say definitively, but it might have something to do with the fact that Danielle Smith and the Wild Rose Alliance have decided to make Alberta's growing deficit a key plank in its platform, and the media are very interested in anything Ms Smith has to say.

In her response to the fiscal update, and initial speculation that the government might at some point in the future consider a sales tax, Danielle Smith criticized the government for spending too much money and blaming their problems on others (a bad US economy, and falling gas prices). The Liberals echoed the sentiment, as MLA Hugh MacDonald suggested to the media that Alberta had enough revenue and instead needed to deal with spending.

It's interesting to hear both a WAP leader and a Liberal MLA so closely mimicking the past strategy of former Conservative Premier Ralph Klein, who in 1993 made the statement, "Alberta does not have a revenue problem. We have a spending problem" the central plank in his campaign.

Klein proceeded to get elected and

drastically cut spending across the board on public services and infrastructure.

That took care of the "spending problem." At the same time, he drastically cut royalties, slashed corporate taxes and instituted a flat tax, all of which greatly reduced the province's revenues. All of these policies are still in place, and it is those same policies which directly resulted in the government’s current overreliance on gaming, lottery and liquor revenue.

But because the media missed this story 10 years ago, none of them thought to ask Smith and MacDonald the following question: "If Alberta had 'enough' revenue in 1993, and Klein proceeded to drastically slash revenue, and we've had huge population growth since, then how can we still have "enough" revenue today?"

Furthermore, no one in the media actually asked Smith or MacDonald where their parties would cut the close to $5 billion required to balance the budget without increasing revenues. Would they close more hospital beds and schools?

Would they privatize more public services? If so, which ones?

proposal has had an insufficient environmental assessment and lacked progress on government regulation. "The company's assessment does not realistically portray the cumulative environmental consequences or the latest peer-reviewed science of pollution impacts on the Athabasca River, and so it should be thrown out." says Terra Simieritsch, policy analyst for the oil sands program at the Pembina Institute. The Total Joslyn mine hearings begin in Fort McMurray on September 21.

eracy is not high enough to compete in a knowledge-based economy. President of CCL, Paul Cappon, describes the report as a culmination of five years of research at the Council and has created a free online data warehouse of information related to the report for educators and policy makers.

The bottom line is that if we were to return to the tax system that was in place

in 1999, six years into Klein's reign, we would be generating at least an extra $5.5 billion in revenue this year. And if we were to return to the royalty regime that was in place when Klein got elected, we would generate billions more. That would be more than enough to cover the current deficit, put some money into savings, and even generate enough of a surplus to expand services like health, education, social services and disability services to the level Albertans have said they want.

The reality is that Alberta's services and infrastructure today are nowhere near the level or quality they should be, and the government continues to pass up the revenue which would help get them to that level. For the Wild Rose Alliance and the Liberals to pretend, therefore, that the solution is to cut spending further and continue to ignore the income side of the equation is naïve and dangerous. And for the media not to call them on it is irresponsible. Albertans deserve better on both fronts. V Ricardo Acuña is the executive director of the Parkland Institute, a non-partisan public policy research institute housed at the University of Alberta.

News Roundup QUOTE OF THE WEEK "Compounds that can be detected in the Athabasca River ... are not a concern and are of insignificant levels."

— Environment Minister Rob Renner disputing a peer-reviewed environmental study by water expert David Schindler.

NATIONAL STANDARD NO TRESPASSING

people should unite and not be bought out by these industry giants."

T

NOT GOOD ENOUGH

he Hereditary Chiefs of the Likhts'amisyu Clan issued their final trespass notice to Enbridge representatives on August 24. The Wet'suwet'en First Nation has been engaged with Enbridge over the proposed Gateway pipeline which would extend from Alberta to Kitimat and cross through unceded aboriginal territory.

Hereditary Chief Hagwilkw issued the final warning stating that consultation should not be Enbridge simply telling aboriginal communities their plans. "We cannot risk the destruction and contamination of this eco-system. When I stated that we cannot be bought, I truly feel that

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otal's Joslyn oil sands project is slated to begin in November of 2017 with a projected production rate of 100 000 barrels. But while Total has claimed that this new project will utilize innovative new techonologies to lessen environmental impacts, the Oil Sands Environmental Coalition has concerns over the company's proposal.

The Coalition, composed of the Toxics Watch Society, the Pembina Institute, and the Fort McMurray Environmental Association filed a submission stating the Total

D

espite a report last week stating the Canadian government is earning its return on investment in education, the Canadian Council on Learning released a report revealing Canada has a lot of work to do to build a knowledge advantage. The report, "Taking stock of lifelong learning: Progress or Complacency," states key areas where Canada should improve its investment in lifelong learning.

Childcare investments are the lowest among OECD countries and Canada has consistently failed to provide a national strategy to develop early learning, and has no measures to understand the state of access and financing of childcare.

The report determined that while Canada has one of the world's most educated populations, the rate of prose lit-

VUEWEEKLY // SEP 2 – SEP 8, 2010

MADE IN CANADA NO MORE

T

he United Steelworkers Union has stated that Canadians should be concerned over the recent takeover bid on the Potash Corporation of Saskatchewan.

The USW is concerned this is just one more takeover of a Canadian company by a foreign corporation. The contention is that the Saskatchewan mine within the foreign company, BHP, would constitute such a small part that unionized workers would lose bargaining power and the provincial government would lose ground on negotiating royalites and taxes.

The USW would like to see the federal government use the powers granted in the Canadian Investment Act to reject takeovers that would not provide a net benefit to Canadians. samantha power

// samantha@vueweekly.com

word of the week

Peer-review:

Peer-reviewed articles have been evaluated and critiqued by researchers and experts in the same field before the article is published. An author can then revise the article to make corrections and include suggestions that will make the article stronger, such as incorporating previously overlooked ideas and addressing other concerns. Peer review ensures that an article—and therefore the journal and the scholarship of the discipline as a whole—maintains a high standard of quality, accuracy, and academic integrity. When you consult peer-reviewed sources, you are tapping into a wealth of established, verified knowledge.

Source: University of Victoria Libraries

FEATURE // TAILINGS PONDS

Failure to enforce

New rules for tailings ponds are not being enforced mimi williams // mimi@vueweekly.com

E

protection. "We supervise and strictly limit water use, monitor air quality 24/7 and require by law that any land used for tailings ponds be returned to a productive state," says a reassuring voice in the radio ads.

Pembina Institute.

Last month, Environment Canada released data that showed the amount of toxic chemicals such as arsenic and lead being stored in tailings ponds increased 26 percent in the past four years. The information, collected from 85 mining companies, was released only after a court challenge by Ecojustice (formerly known as the Sierra Legal Defense Fund) forced the government department to make public what is being stored on site at mining operations.

Just as environmental groups and researchers were receiving that information, the ERCB approved Imperial Oil's tailings management plan for the Kearl tarsands project, which also fails to meet regulatory requirements.

"Ed Stelmach is spending millions trying to convince the world Alberta is serious about environmental sustainability at the same time his government is approving substandard oil sands projects," NDP leader Brian Ma-

son said in a release.

Last week, the Pembina Institute and Water Matters, an organization focused on water policy research in Alberta, joined with Ecojustice to challenge whether the ERCB has the authority to override its own regulation. The group filed an application with the ERCB requesting the approval of Syncrude's non-compliant tailings management plans be withdrawn until the plans are brought in line with the ERCB's tailings management directive.

"The ERCB directive requires the tarsands operators to divert at least 50 percent of a component of their tailings, known as fine tailings, by June 30, 2013," said Barry Robinson, Ecojustice staff lawyer. The Syncrude plans approved by the ERCB would achieve less than 15 percent diversion.

Robinson says the ERCB does not have the legal authority to approve plans that are not in compliance with its own directive. Ecojustice will use all

d Stelmach used Earth Day, April 22, to send a tough-talking message to the oil industry, announcing his intent to see the elimination of tailings ponds.

Calling them a blight on Alberta's interWhat the ads don't mention is that the national image, the Premier may have government, and its agencies, wilfully been trying to atone for the minor meignore its own laws, a practice environdia controversy he had triggered the mental groups intend to put a stop to. previous month during the Syncrude They point to the fact that the very trial. When photographs of the hunday after Stelmach used Earth Day to dreds of dead ducks in tailings ponds declare that his government would were introduced as evidence, Stelmach force an end to tar sands tailings ponds, claimed to have never seen the images, the ERCB approved Syncrude's tailings which had been transmitted widely management plans for the Mildred around the world. To the surprise of Lake and Aurora North tarsands projno one, Greenpeace obligingly showed ects despite the fact the plans clearly up at the Legislature the next day with state they will not meet the ERCB's own large prints of the images for the Preregulatory requirements. mier. The Earth Day announcement "The provincial government talks seemed intended to draw attention about having strict new laws to reaway from that negative publicity. duce tailings, but then it exempts Questions about Alberta's record on operators from meeting those laws, environmental protection didn't subrendering them toothless," says Siside throughout the summer, however, mon Dyer, oil sands program diso last month, the provincial governrector for the ment embarked upon a $268Â 000 ad campaign aimed at silencing critics. Aimed within Alberta markets, the promotion defends the ConserA recent report by reknowned water scientist David Schindler has put into serious vatives' record on question the environmental safety of the tar sands tailings ponds. The provincial govenvironmental

A timeline of tailings

available legal tools to ensure that the ERCB operates within the law, he added. The ERCB defended its decision on Syncrude's Mildred Lake and Aurora North plans, with spokesman Davis Sheremata telling the media that the company did the best they could. "We got a tailings plan at the end of the day that we felt did everything that Syncrude could possibly do that was technologically feasible to bring their processes into compliance with the directive," he said.

The Ecojustice application will be reviewed by legal staff to see if it meets technical requirements to be considered. In the meantime, the Syncrude decision will stand, which has environmentalists concerned.

Joe Obad, associate director of Water Matters says, "Tailings ponds continue to threaten water quality in Alberta, but the ERCB is treating the regulations as a starting point for negotiation, rather than as clear rules with which the companies must comply."

The ERCB has yet to announce whether it will accept Ecojustice's request for a review. V

ernment has pledged an end to wet tailings ponds and directed companies toward stricter regulations, but has consistently failed to enforce those regulations. Here's a short history of that promise.

February 2009: Alberta's Energy Resources Conservation Board announced new rules to regulate the reclamation and management of tailings ponds.

Directive 74 called for stricter guidelines regulating a 20 percent reduction in liquid tailings by this year, 30 percent by June 30, 2012 and 50 percent

by June 30, 2013. The Directive is meant to be a requirement on all existing tar sands projects.

March 31, 2009: Syncrude admits to 1606 ducks found dead in its Aurora tailings ponds site, three times the original number thought to have died.

June 2009: ERCB spokesperson Davis Sheremata says about Directive 74, "We needed something that had some teeth in it, where we were able to get targets set that would be enforceable if those targets weren't met"

September 30, 2009: Tar sands mining companies submit tailings ponds project proposals which should have fallen in line with the new Directive 74.

April 22, 2010: Premier Stelmach declares he will work aggressively to force an end to wet tailings ponds.

April 23, 2010: The ERCB approves three tailings ponds plans, two of which do not fit within the Directive 74 criteria: Syncrude's Mildred Lake and the Aurora mine site.

August 24, 2010: Ecojustice, on behalf of the Pembina Institute and Water Matters, filed an application with the ERCB requesting that the approval of Syncrude's tailings management plan be withdrawn until it falls in line with Directive 74. V

August, 2010: The ERCB approves yet another tailings pond plan, this time from Imperial Oil, that does not fit within the Directive 74 requirements.

VUEWEEKLY // SEP 2 – SEP 8, 2010

FRONT // 7

BOB THE ANGRY FLOWER

8 // FRONT

VUEWEEKLY // SEP 2 – SEP 8, 2010

COMMENT >> AMERICAN POLITICS

Reneging predictions

'Ground Zero mosque' issue may prove to be a win for Democrats The great journalist HL Mencken once was begun by players like Fox News said that nobody ever went broke by and Mark Williams, organizer of the Tea underestimating the intelligence of Party Express, who warned that "The the American public—but I may be mosque would be for the worship about to prove him wrong. of the terrorists' monkey god."

Three or four months ago, (It's really hard to tell Muslims I started betting various and Hindus apart, especially if friends that the Democrats you're really stupid.) But the om would lose control of both campaign works for the hard eekly.c w e u v e@ gwynn houses of the US Congress right because a large propore n n y Gw in the mid-term elections this tion of the US population is Dyer November. I was way ahead of anti-Muslim. the opinion curve, so I got lots of Exactly how large nobody knows, takers. But now, when the general opinbut we may safely assume that the 24 ion has shifted in that direction, I begin percent of Americans who believe that to think I was wrong. And it all has to do Barack Obama is a Muslim are not thinkwith the "Ground Zero mosque." ing: "Good. When Americans elected a If you have been paying attention and are fully sentient, you will know that it is not actually a mosque. If the sponsors can raise the money (which remains to be seen), it would contain a prayer room, but also a restaurant, a 500-seat theatre, basketball courts and a swimming pool that would be open to all.

It would not have a minaret, but there would be a memorial to the 3000 people (including 300 Muslims) who died in the 9/11 attacks.

And it is not, of course, at Ground Zero. It is two blocks up and around the corner, invisible from where the World Trade Center once stood. Not that there's any reason for it to hide around the corner: there's nothing wrong with an Islamic cultural centre. It should also be pointed out that the Pussy Cat Lounge, an upmarket strip club, is closer to the site and not invisible at all.

So should we ask whether those on the right wing of the Republican Party who started this business about a mosque at Ground Zero intended to exploit the latent Islamophobia of the American public? You might as well ask if the Pope is a Catholic. This is a wedge issue, deliberately concocted to drive the dimmer elements of the Republican Party into supporting the right wing's other positions as well.

I hear you protesting that the Republican Party doesn't have a left wing any more, so how can it have a right wing?

But everything is relative in politics, and the real contest this autumn is not being held in November. Most Congressional districts have been gerrymandered to the point where they are safe seats for one party or the other, so the real contest is in the primary (which chooses the party's candidate) in any given district.

Senate seats cannot be gerrymandered in the same way, but there are also bitter primary struggles between left and right Republicans in many of them. Republican senator John McCain, the former presidential candidate, survived the Arizona primary on 24 August only by shifting sharply right on many issues, including climate change and immigration. Other moderate Republican senators are doing the same, but they may not be so lucky.

The "Ground Zero mosque" campaign

R DYEIG HT

STRA

black, Muslim president, we showed how tolerant the country is." They are thinking: "Oh my God, there's a black Muslim terrorist in the White House.

America is doomed."

Let us assume, therefore, that the proportion of Americans who fear and hate Muslims (in most cases without ever having met one) is somewhere between that 24 percent and the 61 percent, according to a recent Time Magazine poll, who oppose the "Ground Zero mosque."

How excited should we get about this?

Not very. You would probably get a similar figure if you asked people in almost any Muslim country whether they see

VUEWEEKLY // SEP 2 – SEP 8, 2010

contemporary Americans as a new generation of "crusaders." They aren't, any more than Muslims are terrorists, but the Muslim Middle East has a rather one-sided view of the Crusades.

After five centuries when the Middle East and North Africa had been mostly Christian, Islam conquered the whole region in the seventh and eighth centuries. The Crusades, three centuries later, were a counter-attack aimed at recovering some of the lost territory for Christendom, neither more nor less reprehensible than the original Islamic conquest. It's just history, and nobody has clean hands. But I digress.

Why am I going to lose my bets on the

outcome of the mid-term elections? Because the primaries attract at most ten percent of the potential voters, and they tend to be the ideologically committed ones. Hard-right candidates can win that audience over—but when 50 or 60 percent of American voters come out in the real election, the extremists tend to lose in the critical districts where the outcome might go either way.

The Democrats will keep their Senate majority. They might even keep the House. V Gwynne Dyer is a London-based journalist whose articles are published in 45 countries. His column appears every week in Vue Weekly.

FRONT // 9

INSIDE // DISH

DISH

Online at vueweekly.com >>DISH

13

Restaurant Reviews

The Butler Did It

Check out our comprehensive online database of Vue Weekly’s restaurant reviews, searchable by location, price and type.

REVUE // NARAYANNI'S RESTAURANT

South by South Africa

Southside Indian restaurant serves up a new style Maria Kotovych // maria@vueweekly.com

I

discovered Narayanni's while visiting a neighbouring bookstore on a quiet road a block south of Whyte.

Intrigued by seeing a new restaurant in a building that was probably once a garage, I invited my friend to join me one Friday evening.

A pleasant woman greets me, all smiles, at the door. She explains that they serve South-Indian food cooked in South-African style, and that her mother does all the cooking. She continues that everything is buffet-style, including appetizers, main courses and desserts, and that I can start whenever I want (Friday and Saturday evening buffet is $24.99; Tuesday – Thursday evening buffet is $19.99). The large plates on the table are the placemats; food plates are by the buffet she says as she shows me to my table.

While waiting for my friend, I admire the tasteful décor of the spacious restaurant. The buffet, a silver circle in the centre, beckons me. Small Indian statues and other artwork dot the space, offering an ambience that mixes traditional decorations with the ultra-modern appearance of the buffet. Shades of gold, red and brown abound anywhere I look. Soft music mirrors the restaurant's visual beauty.

When my friend arrives, we examine the drink menu. The pistachio chai ($4) has caught our attention, but the server, the same woman who'd seated us, explains that as a creamy drink, this chai probably goes better with dessert. We opt for beer instead.

My friend orders Indian Kingfisher beer ($6); I order Lions Lager from South Africa ($6). For us both, this is our first time eating South-Indian cuisine, not to mention one prepared South-African style, so we choose a matching set of beers.

We head to the appetizers. I take some bahja, potato rolls and lamb rolls. At this table, I meet the mother, who explains that bajha is made from spinach, and that cumin is one of the spices used. I put some tangy chutney on the bajha and the rolls.

The sweet zest of the chutney pleasantly brings out the bajha's flavour.

Covered with a delicate crust, the bajha is just hot enough, and the chutney gives my tongue that extra little nudge into self-awareness. A great way to start.

As for the potato and lamb rolls, I

10 // DISH

HERITAGE BUILDING >> The former garage that now houses Narayanni's can't imagine the last time I ate pastry-covered items that were so delicate. The lamb in the rolls seems so fine that I almost expect it float off my tongue. I enjoy the appetizers so much that I go back for another

// Bryan Birtles

my South African selection counterbalances the gentler dishes, such as the dahl from the main-course buffet. The dahl, hearty and goldenyellow, impresses me.

The egg-and-prawn curry catches my

I walk past the buffet again, wondering if I have room for more. I don't, so I do the next logical thing: get dessert. helping, even though I realize that I might not be able to try all the dishes on the main buffet.

Now, about those beers. My friend's Indian selection has a strong and sweet flavour, one that introduces some new sensations after the spicy chutney. Milder and slightly bitter,

attention next—I've never eaten eggbased Indian dishes before. The curry is the hot, red kind; if anything should be eaten with this curry sauce it's hard-boiled eggs. Another winner.

As much as I enjoy the spicy food, I appreciate the yogurt on the side of my plate that calms down my mouth when

VUEWEEKLY // SEP 2 – SEP 8, 2010

I dive too eagerly into my dishes. Little slices of cucumber also help with the cooling. And so does my beer.

Less spicy than the curry is the tofu chutney. The tofu soaks up that sauce, and I appreciate that the tofu isn't over-cooked or mushy. A bite into a piece releases the soaked-up chutney; I'd probably have seconds if not for my full stomach.

All this time, the server checks on us, asks if we like the food, and jokes with us. She refills our water and answers our questions. When I ask about the building's history, she explains that it's actually a heritage building—initially a garage a long time ago, more recently, it was a piano shop. And since mid-June, it's housed this restaurant.

I walk past the buffet again, wondering if I have room for more. I don't, so

I do the next logical thing: get dessert. I also order the pistachio chai that tempted me earlier. Covered with whipped cream and a drizzle of pistachio sauce, the chai is a great companion to my selected desserts—a strawberry square and a chocolate truffle.

The beverage is so warm and comforting that I can imagine drinking it on a cold winter's evening.

Stuffed and happy, I smile, impressed by everything this restaurant offers. The sign on the buffet had also mentioned that food selections change daily. I wonder what will await me when I return. V Tue – Fri (12 pm – 2 pm & 6 pm – 9 pm); Sat (6 pm – 9 pm) Narayanni's Restaurant 10131 - 81 Ave, 780.756.7112

BEER

Je me souviens

Don't forget that Quebec City's beer scene has plenty to offer Montréal, Toronto, Vancouver. These cities get the accolades in the craft beer world, mostly for good reason. However, I have come to realize that many other places in Canada are equally deserving of attention—their beer communities might be smaller, but they offer local flavour not found elsewhere. A perfect example is Quebec City, known mostly for its history and its awesome Vieux Ville. I had the good fortune to find myself in that wonderful city, and given who I am, made a ly.com eweek point of seeking out some int@vu p e th to of its beer secrets, finding a Jason city with a rich, communityFoster focused beer scene.

The night of my arrival, I hopped the ferry across the St Lawrence to seek out Corsaire, a two-year-old brewpub in neighbouring Lévis. Just a few feet from the ferry terminal, it sits in an old industrial warehouse. Inside it has a funky feel of wood, utilitarian tables and large windows overlooking the river, emitting part-hipster, part-hippy vibes. The line-up of nine beers on tap, plus a traditional cask ale Thursday to Saturday, is eclectic, ranging from a light (3.5 percent) bitter to a stout and a pilsner to more creative // Pete Nguyen offerings, like a witbier with ginger and rye beer (roggenbier). In general I found additions. It seems to like taking a tradithe beer to be well-crafted with original tional style—witbier, stout, pale ale— interpretations of the style. As a young and adding a curious twist. While I was brewpub some of the recipes, in my visiting there was a pale ale with lime opinion, could use a little tweaking to and ginger added, a witbier with honey draw out more of their best qualities, and citrus, and—what may be the pièce but there are some good beer available. de résistance—a sangria beer, which his I enjoyed the unique St Laurent, a black brewed with red wine grapes and citrus wit, and the IPA. Expect good things to fruits to create a surprisingly delicious come from Corsaire. sangria/beer hybrid.

Quebec's version of Whyte Avenue is Le Grande Allée, and in the middle The sangria beer was evidence for me of the strip sits L'Inox, the city's oldest of the brewer's skill. Upon being told brewpub. Lots of stainless steel, loud about it, I was skeptical—it seemed club music and urban chairs give the an awful combination—but the beer place an upscale, hipster feel. It has is refreshing and sweet with a pleasfour beers on tap. I was not all that ant twist of citrus to give it sharpness. impressed with the offerings the night I found myself enjoying it, as I did most I was there; all four beer were lacking of the beer. liveliness, and some were mislabeled.

But what may have been my most The Scottiche, which the pub calls a pleasant stop was the most unexpectScotch ale, was clearly a better examed. I hoped to arrange a meeting with ple of a brown ale, while the Trois de the city's newest brewpub, La KorrigPique was labeled an American amber ane, just a few blocks from La Barberie. but lacked any hop and had the bold Sadly, the brewpub's opening had been sweetness of a Scottish ale. Go figure. delayed. However, the proprieters were The visit I was most looking forward to kind enough to pause from their renowas to La Barberie, a microbrewery and vations to visit with me for an hour or brewpub quite a hike from the tourist so and I must say that they treated me area. La Barberie, opened in 1997, is a like a celebrity, pulling out an amazing mainstay of the city's beer scene. Making tray of artisanal Quebec cheeses and it ultra-cool is that it is a worker co-op. stopping all work to sit with me. Only I spent a couple of hours with the head three of the planned 12 beers were brewer and current president, Bastien ready on the day of my visit—the Vila Têtu. I could go on and on about the (a blonde ale), Malguen (an amber ale) co-op aspects of the operation which and Le Conreux (oatmeal stout). All are fascinating, but will restrict myself presented as well-crafted examples of to just the beer. La Barberie normally their style. The blonde was particularly has 16 beers on tap at the brewpub and good, offering flavour and drinkabilsell eight in the bottle. My impression ity in the same sip. The stout also has is this: the beer is creative, imaginative much potential. and accessible. The brewery uses fruit What I appreciated about all four locaa lot as well as some interesting spice tions was the commitment to the local

TO TH

E

PINT

community. The owners of La Korrigane live in the neighbourhood and are committed to serving that community. Corsaire aims its business at the folks on either side of the ferry ride. Plus each place has its own personality. The creativity of La Barberie, the solid accessibility of La Korrigane and the eclectic playfulness of Corsaire.

Quebec City has much to offer, beerwise. It's a pity most of their attributes are a secret to most Canadians. Hopefully not for long. V Jason Foster is the creator of onbeer.org, a website devoted to news and views on beer from the prairies and beyond.

July 7, 2010 Vue

VUEWEEKLY // SEP 2 – SEP 8, 2010

DISH // 11

PROVENANCE

The history of stuffing

BIRD IS THE WORD >> A well-stuffed turkey Filling foods with other foods is as old as history itself. Splitting meat, coring fruit or scooping out potatoes to replace with other foodstuffs could all be considered "stuffing." In the most commonly understood sense of the word, however, the earliest documentation is in the Roman cookbook, Apicius' De Re Coquinaria which contains recipes for stuffed chicken, rabbit and pig. Most of the stuffings described consist of vegetables, herbs, spices and nuts—not so dissimilar to some of our own turkey stuffing recipes.

Stuffing in the Middle Ages was known as "farce" from the Latin farcire and French word farcir meaning to stuff.

A farce originally was a short, comical play stuffed in at intermissions between lengthy dramatic productions to keep the audience from being bored.

The term stuffing first appeared in England but after 1880 the term didn't appeal to the Victorian upper crust, who referred to it as "dressing." The terms stuffing and dressing are now used interchangeably, with stuffing being preferred

12 // DISH

VUEWEEKLY // SEP 2 – SEP 8, 2010

// File

in the Southern and Eastern portions of the United States, as well as the Canadian Prairies.

In North America, stuffing chickens, turkeys and other fowl seemed natural due to the deep cavities. Writings of early New England pilgrims talk of stuffing and cooking a large variety of birds.

There is no historical evidence that stuffing was served at the first Thanksgiving, but the tradition is longstanding.

Turkey stuffing usually consists of celery, onion, salt, pepper, bread crumbs, and poultry seasoning. Other popular ingredients are oysters and sausage.

An interesting side note to stuffing is that, when cooked inside the turkey, it draws both moisture and flavour away from the meat. The next time you cook a turkey, insert your potatoes, carrots, turnip or preferred vegetables in place of stuffing, which you can prepare outside the bird. The difference is staggering. V PETE DESROCHERS // DESROCHERS@vueweekly.com

PROFILE // THE BUTLER DID IT

White gloved

Jasper Ave eatery an outgrowth of busy catering business

// Pete Nguyen

Sharman Hnatiuk // sharman@vueweekly.com

O

n 105 Street just north of Jasper Ave there is a sign for The Butler Did It. It's likely you have walked by and never noticed it, or like many others, you have looked up and assumed the shop was nothing more than a fancy kitchen gadget store. Those who venture inside are surprised to learn they can order a designer lunch from one of Edmonton's most creative caterers.

Marianne Brown is behind The Butler mystery. She's not trained as a chef, but she has a passion for food that has motivated her into creating a colourful culinary service. The Butler Did It has been catering in Edmonton for 10 years, but the quiet spot on 105 Street has only been its home for the last five. Originally designed to give a personal touch to the catering scene in Edmonton, Brown takes an intimate approach designed for events smaller than 100 people—everything from private dinners to intimate anniversaries to divorce parties.

"There is a lot of bad party food out there," explains Brown. "I wanted to make simple yet delicious and pretty food that doesn't come served on a black tray." Her distinct serving style using creative dishes have made a mark on her clients. So many asked where she bought them from that she started making them available by selling dishes and creative kitchen and food items on site.

The Butler Did It is not average and neither are its catering prices, but there are clients throughout the city who are loyal and more than willing to pay for The Butler experience. While the recipes are simple, Brown relies on quality ingredients paired with a whimsical presentation to satisfy her patrons. One of their most popular cocktail party options is the filet mignon martini dinner in a glass.

Preparing the simple yet delicious menu choices are the easy part, it's packing and unpacking all of the designer dishes that take up the most time and space.

"I have taken a few courses, but I am mainly a self-taught passionate food girl," laughs Brown. "I like to serve what I like to eat; the ingredients are common, the recipes aren't complex—I just add a bit of theatre to the mix. I use unusual dishes to make the food more interesting, it requires some heavy duty packing but it is worth it."

With the change in the economy, Brown realized that she had to adjust her business; the storefront concept for lunch became a reality. With so many people looking for lunch in the downtown core, The Butler has become a staple to a number of regular customers. Lunch orders now makes up 30 percent of The Butler's business.

"I was so focused on catering that I didn't need the walk up," explains Brown. "But sometimes we all have to modify our business and I realized that with 10 000 people working within five blocks of this location I had an opportunity to diversify and expose a new client base to our catering service by serving lunch."

For those looking for a quick bite of lunch, calling your take-out order in advance is recommended. Good food takes time, and sometimes it takes a few extra minutes when it is served on an extra pretty plate. The lunch experience is loyal to the catering The Butler Did It offers; quality ingredients which make up delicious dishes served in a whimsical way.

Sometimes, food just tastes better when it looks pretty. V Marianne Brown The Butler Did It 10130 - 105 St, 780.455.5228

VUEWEEKLY // SEP 2 – SEP 8, 2010

DISH // 13

INSIDE // ADVENTURE

ADVENTURES

OUTDOOR

16

Mexico

ECO-TOUR // COSTA RICA that he's stuffed with onions, garlic, butter and slices of lemon. The fish feeds everyone at the communal-style table, a service that reduces unnecessary dishes and waste and encourages lively conversation between guests, owners, yoga instructor and guides, all assembled at the table for the meal. We rehash the day's wildlife sightings and make plans for tomorrow's adventures.

The sun sets at about six every evening near the equator, giving us a bit of relief from the heat, and bringing out the night sounds of the jungle.

Jungle rhythms

Holidaying lightly in the 'sweet gulf' DEEP JUNGLE >> Exploring a waterfall in Golfo Dulce ANDREW DERKSEN // ANDREW@vueweekly.com

T

he jungle—lush, green, wet, noisy, vibrant—is everywhere, all around us. It pervades, it informs and educates; it lives and breathes. At Playa Nicuesa Rainforest Lodge, all decisions are made with respect for the jungle, its dangers and pleasures, its perpetuity.

From Golfito, Costa Rica, it's a short boat trip over the calm waters of the Golfo Dulce ("sweet gulf"), the only way to access the 165-acre private reserve that reclaims land formerly used as a cacao plantation and protects primary and secondary forest in its natural state. The isolation helps preserve the forest, making the journey a pilgrimage to a magical mecca of nature.

From the dock, we walk into a wall of trees and leaves crowding the black

14 // OUTDOOR ADVENTURES

// Andrew Derksen

beach, rising into the hills of Piedras Blancas National Park. Passing the garden on the way to the main lodge, our guide points out medicinal, edible and ornamental plants.

Designed by a Costa Rican architect, the lodge serves as reception, sustainability centre, lounge, kitchen, dining hall, library and storage facility. Its open walls allow constant jungle views from the hammocks strung between polished, solid wood support beams that are certified by the government as naturally fallen (rather than logged) and skidded out of the forest by oxen to reduce carbon footprint.

A basilisk, or "Jesus lizard," skitters across the tiled floor as I talk with owner Michael Butler about the sustainable features of the property and their conservation philosophy: "We take a camping approach. We leave things the way

we found them or better."

Every winter, Canadians take advantage of bargain packages offering sun, sand and surf. And every winter people return from vacation hung over and sunburnt, with a bottle of tequila and an uncomfortable conscience.

All-inclusive vacations can save you money, but they provide you with prepackaged experiences.

From the design of the buildings to the personalized, super-friendly service, to the philosophy of sustainability, Playa Nicuesa's true eco-lodge can provide the unforgettable moments that everyone seeks. And it's light on the conscience knowing the money you spent helps to support people who work hard to care for their environment and community.

All buildings at Playa Nicuesa are

VUEWEEKLY // SEP 2 – SEP 8, 2010

erected on the original footprint of the plantation structures, so as not to disturb more forest. But respect for the forest goes beyond just the footprint. After settling into our cabin, I jump into the jungle shower, wash with handmade biodegradable soaps and water heated by solar power. I can touch the leaves from under the falling water.

Refreshed, we take a discovery tour that acquaints us with some of the reserve's hiking trails, Erick, our naturalist guide and, from a distance, some wild boar.

We sample the citrus-flavoured flesh of the cacao fruit and munch on hearts of palm straight from the ground.

For cocktail hour, the bartender whets our appetites with creations made with mango, pineapple and bananas fresh from the trees. The chef beckons me to the kitchen to get a preview of today's catch, a massive Pacific dog snapper

Hiking to a waterfall the next day, we see spiders, lizards, birds, a coati and a tree-climbing anteater. Erick shows us how to make natural insect repellent from special leaves and some water. We learn more about the roughly 700 tree, 10 000 plant, 400 bird, 125 mammal, 130 snake and 225 butterfly species that call the area home. Pulling out the bright orange throat skin of the Golfo Dulce anol (a small lizard) thrills my wife, as does sighting the Golfo Dulce tree frog, a thumb-sized frog with toxic skin and vibrant orange stripes on its back. Both are found only in the Golfo Dulce area, which, along with the Osa Peninsula that forms the gulf, has been called the most biologically diverse place on earth.

For the last section of the hike, we climb a rope up the course of a small waterfall and walk along the jungle ravine to the towering falls at the end. I swim through the small pool and sit under the massaging waters of the falls.

It's a moment worth reflection. I'm sitting deep in the Costa Rican jungle, in a place that's both difficult to access and beautiful for that reason. It's the kind of moment that few people have the opportunity to experience, but it's exactly the kind of moment Playa Nicuesa Rainforest Lodge specializes in.

There's more to tell about the conservation philosophy. I could go on about the commitment to community, partnerships with Campaña Golfito Limpio y Bonito (the campaign for a clean and beautiful Golfito) and contributions to organizations like the Osa Conservation Campaign, Mar Viva (living sea) and the Rainforest Alliance. But the best way to appreciate it is to experience it for yourself. V

ON THE WEB playanicuesa.com Carbon free flying

For visitors short on time, the world's first carbon-neutral airline, Nature Air (natureair.com), offers direct, internal flights from mainland Cost Rica to the Golfo Dulce/Osa Peninsula region.

OUTDOORS >> INSIDER Trail with a friend and discovered the difference between hiking and running Jasper trails. Jasper terrain challenges the most fleet and agile, but if you pace right it will reward you with some incredible sights and experiences.

Just don't forget to watch your step.

Swimming up river After killing my legs and blackening my big toenails at the Canadian Death Race, the only sane thing to do was to head for BC lake country to convalesce.

But it wasn't long before I was back on the trails.

While most people spend their time on the water when they come to the Shuswap region, there's actually a great network of local trails that are easy to access, including an excellent web resource at shuswaptrails.com. It has maps, deGet your roots on scriptions and driving guides for trails With its cooler temps and variextending from Kamloops south able conditions, fall is often to the Thompson-Okanagan S R O O considered downtime between O U T D region. sporting seasons—but it Of course, the Salmon Arm om doesn't have to be. For those area is famous for its fall eekly.c w e u v @ jeremy still itching for action, check salmon run, and the seasonJeremoyn out the Jasper Root Romp at able temperatures and natural s k r De runjasper.com. It's billed as one views are fantastic. Which brings of the toughest 10-kilometre races me to one of my most pondered in North America, for its approximately questions: how much vacation time can I 2000 feet of vertical, rooty track, bog afford this year? and steep climbs.

If you haven't already, perhaps you This year's event takes place October 16 should ask yourself the same. We at 1 pm, and it promises to be a good time. work too damn hard in this part of Earlier this season I ran the Overlander the world. V

INSID

ER

VUEWEEKLY // SEP 2 – SEP 8, 2010

OUTDOOR ADVENTURES // 15

DIVE // MEXICO

Ocean close-up

Snorkeling, diving reveal Mexico's aquatic beauty

TAKES ONE TO KNOW ONE >> A blue-footed booby observes divers from its perch BRyan Saunders // bryansaunders@vueweekly.com

I

'm in a backwards freefall for what feels like an eternity. Finally, I hit the warm surface of the water and gaze transfixed as the bright surface disappears above me in slow motion.

It's been years since I last dived. Even after a refresher course, I was still a little anxious letting Hector Molina—divemaster with Mazatlán's Aqua Sports Center—gently shove me into the water near Isla de Venados ("Deer Island"), one of the best places in Mazatlán for scuba diving. But I'd come this far and I didn't want to miss out or hold back our party. So I took the plunge.

Seconds later, time returns to normal as I pop back up to the surface. Now I'm ready. The three of us regroup and then dive back down together.

Below, a school of tiny fish swims all around me and I take a moment to soak it all in. With a tap on my shoulder, Molina points to a fully expanded puffer fish floating inches above his hand. However, moving to deeper waters it quickly gets increasingly murky.

Hardly able to see three or four feet in front of me, I struggle to keep sight of my companions in the sandy water. Soon, they've vanished completely.

Disoriented, I make my way back up to the surface to look for their bubbles and to figure out where exactly I've swum. I'm quickly joined by the others.

"The visibility is usually a lot better than this, but sometimes we get waters like this in the summer," Molina apologizes. "The winter is typically the best time to come diving in Mazatlán because the water's almost always clear."

After diving a little while longer, we decide to call it a day. Molina—not wanting us to go home disappointed by the unusually poor conditions— takes us on a boat tour of Bahía Puerto Viejo, Isla de Lobos ("Sea Lion Island") and Isla Piedra Blanca ("White Rock Island").

Back on shore, Aqua Sports' manager Isaac Salazar Vargas doesn't want us to go home disappointed either and offers us the chance to go jet skiing, kayaking or parasailing instead. We immediately jump on the last option. It's my first time parasailing and I love the high-flying experience, but even as I float like an osprey 300 feet in the air, I'm wondering when I'll get back in the water.

It's early in the morning when Capitán Efren Joya Joya and guide "Kimi" Moreno Hernandez of Vallarta Adventures meet me at the marina for a snorkeling excursion in Nuevo Vallarta. Within minutes, we're shooting across Bahía de Banderas ("the

16 // OUTDOOR ADVENTURES

VUEWEEKLY // SEP 2 – SEP 8, 2010

// Bryan Saunders

Bay of Flags") towards Isla Marietas National Park.

The Bay of Flags is the biggest natural bay in Mexico and one of the biggest in the entire world, Kimi explains, so even in our fast boat it takes us a while to reach our destination. Along the way, we spot a pair of giant sea turtles mating in the water—a rare sight indeed.

"There aren't many turtles left because people throw away their cigarettes butts on the beach or in the streets. Those butts get washed away, and end up in the water. The cigarette filter swells up and when the turtles see it they eat it, thinking it's one of their favourite snacks. They end up choking to death," Kimi laments.

As he says this, I spot a dolphin jumping out of the water about half a kilometer away.

Closer up, it turns out to be a pod of half a dozen.

The original pod is quickly joined by other pods and we're soon in the middle of a super-pod of at least 40 or 50.

The dolphins are in a playful mood and one of them swims right up beside the boat and poses for a photo-op. Making eye contact with me, he gives me what I can only assume is the dolphin equivalent of a wink, slaps his tail down hard, and soaks everyone and everything in the boat, including me and my not waterproof camera.

I'm still carefully drying my camera when we arrive at Isla Marietas, where we see some of the island's famous blue-footed booby birds hopping into the water. Feeling a bit like a blue-footed booby myself, I slip on my rubber flippers and jump into the crystal-clear water.

Underwater, visibility is around 50 feet and we quickly spot manta rays, sea cucumbers, eels, jellyfish—"These ones are harmless," Kimi assures me—and more species of colourful, neon fish than I can readily identify. Nearly an hour later, we hop back into the boat exhausted and grinning from the experience.

"Today was really special," Kimi notes as Capitán Efren steers the boat back to the hotel. "The water's not always so clear, and it's definitely not every day that you'll see all the things that we saw. We were very lucky."

I laugh at this and decide that when it comes to snorkeling or scuba diving, success nearly always depends on Mother Nature's mood on any given day. V

ON THE WEB mazatlan-aquasports.com vallarta-adventures.com

INSIDE // ARTS

ARTS

Online at vueweekly.com >>ARTS

18

Arts Reviews Find reviews of past theatre, dance and visual arts shows on our website.

Reframing a Nation

PREVUE // BLACKLISTED: YOU CAN'T DO THAT ON TELEVISION

Back in black

Blacklisted return to their anything goes roots on the stage Paul Blinov // paul@vueweekly.com

I

t's official: Jeff Halaby is the funniest member of Blacklisted. The honour's conferred onto him by the sketch troupe unanimously, except for Dana Anderson (he's not present to vote) and Halaby himself, who has yet to arrive at the Roxy. While they wait, assembled in the lobby, Matt Alden, Sheldon Elter, Aaron Macri and Ryan Parker go on to award Halaby the additional titles of "the one that prevents us from getting the majority of work done," the one "who comes up with the raunchiest, most nastiest sketches" and the one who then "gets the most upset about them."

It's this sort of the comic roughhousing chemistry Blacklisted has between members that's allowed them to go from a tipsy party idea—Alden and Parker discussed forming the sketch troupe at a Nextfest after party eight years ago, then actually followed up on the idea, with the rest eventually getting roped in—to a Fringe-weathered group that also forms the writing core of APTN's Caution: May Contain Nuts.

But as the title of their upcoming return to live sketch implies, You Can't Do That On Television is more risqué than Caution, more akin to their early stage work than the material that made it past TV's cutting room floor.

"The reason we're called Blacklisted is because we'd sit around, when we were writing stuff, and people would go 'you can't say that, you can't do that.'" Halaby explains, "It's like, 'No, we can, and we will,' and we did that stuff. There was nothing holy, there was nothing sacred."

As Parker notes, it took a little time to get back into the headspace of writing for live performance.

"We found that we were holding back," he says. "We found we couldn't get to the grit of the joke." Halaby agrees: "[When] we came back to the table recently, the sketches were kind of flat for the stage. And then we kind of broke through it again and went, we can say whatever the fuck we want, about anybody, anything. So then we started going that way again."

In that lampoon-anything-thatmoves spirit—"almost all our humor is commenting on shit that we see," Parker notes—they troupe salvaged some ideas they had while making the show that were deemed inappropriate for televised audiences, along with drumming up fresh new material based on the world at large.

They also had retitle the show: You Cant Say That On Television was originally SOLD OUT, following in Blacklisted's proud tradition of hyping

their shows in their very titles (A few fringes ago, naming their show  BLACKLISTED duped plenty and sold out the run.) SOLD OUT, then, was meant to be advertised during the Fringe, to catch the hype of a Hold Over show.

"The whole point was to get people thinking this was a show so hot the only time they could see it was later," Halaby explains, while Parker notes the plan might have backfired.

"Everyone thinks we're sold out," he laughs. "but we might not have anyone there." V Thu, Sep 2 – Sun, Sep 5 (8 pm) Blacklisted: You Can't Do That On Television Featuring Matt Alden, Dana Anderson, Sheldon Elter, Jeff Halaby, Aaron Macri, Ryan Parker Roxy Theatre, (10708 - 124 st), $21

RETURN TO FORM >> Blacklisted, free from TV censors

// Supplied

REVUE // NASTY, BRUTISH AND SHORT

Doin' the nasty

Nasty, Brutish and Short is best taken as pop-science bathroom reading Lewis Kelly // lewis@vueweekly.com

N

asty, Brutish and Short pulls a bit of a bait-and-switch on its reader. "Scientific voyeurs, step right this way," say the book's title, introduction by Quirks & Quarks host Bob McDonald, and the cover illustration of two bugs doin' the dirty.

"You fans of the bizarre, fascinating, scandalous ways non-humans make more non-humans, take heed. We've got redback spiders, cannibal fish, hyenas, and more than you could ever want to know about insect and crustacean penises."

And for the first hundred pages, author Pat Senson, an ex-producer of Quirks & Quarks, lives up to the claims. The reader learns about the underwater orgies of hermaphroditic sea slugs, the mind-bog-

gling volume expelled by male cowpea weevils when they ejaculate (about 10 percent of their body mass: this works out to between 16 and 20 pounds for the average human male) and the Amazon molly, a small fish that clones itself to reproduce but mates with males from another, similar species of fish just for kicks.

But then things start to wander a bit.

Senson delves into less interesting territory, like parenting behaviour and feeding strategies. Birds that time-share their nests among mating pairs and killer whales preferentially hunting chinook salmon over more abundant coho and sockeye don't quite inspire the same sort of scientific titillation as, say, the male spider that rips off one of its two reproductive organs (called a pedipalp, incidentally) for a speed boost when it chases down

a female with which to mate.

Nasty, Brutish and Short gets even less focussed from there. In the last third of the book, Senson prattles on about farting fish and the nutritional approach the semi-palmated sandpiper takes to migration. Some of it is fairly interesting stuff, but the non-sex parts of the book make up more than half of it. Billing it first and foremost as a foray into the weird world of animal sex seems a little disingenuous and—to an obsessive jerk like me—profoundly annoying.

The structure and style of Senson's writing also irritates at times. Beyond the fact that they all focus on animals, the book's chapters have little in common: there's no grand argument stitching things together, or even thin intellectual thread

VUEWEEKLY // SEP 2 – SEP 8, 2010

connecting the chapters. The book almost prides itself on saying nothing more than, "Gee whiz, isn't this stuff neat?"

Which would be fine—a lot of the stuff is really neat, after all—except that Senson's writing style feels like he just copypasted a bunch of old Quirks & Quarks scripts together and sent them off to the publisher. Each two- or three-page story starts with an oversold scientific generalization, moves to a brief profile of a single scientist, their research and its implications, and then finishes with an incredibly lame joke or some deliberately useless advice masquerading as humour. (An egregious example: "The next time you're near the monkey cages at the zoo, you might want to think twice before shaking hands with the capuchin."

Thanks, Pat. After you told me they de-

liberately pee on their own hands, I was dying to rush out and grab one.)

But even though Nasty, Brutish and Short reads more like a collection of Trivial Pursuit cards than an actual book and drifts away from its ostensible subject more than it should, it still contains enough genuinely bizarre stories about the natural world to reward at least a casual perusal. In fact, that's one of its strengths: because none of the book's myriad sections relate to one another in any significant way, the reader can read it in any order and skip the boring parts without losing anything. Think of it as pop-science bathroom reading and you won't be disappointed. V Available Now Nasty, Brutish and Short: The Quirks & Quarks Guide to Animal Sex and Other Weird Behaviour

By Pat Senson McClelland & Stewart 274 PP, $22.99

ARTS // 17

COMMENT >> ARTS

For all to see

Blogger debacle: Haslam versus Yeo Not to beat a dead horse back to life, which includes going to the theatre, but the recent Jeff Haslam versus for all who care to read along. It's a The Social Media World is still runpublic journal, but it's still in the forning through my mind. For those who mat of a journal, which means she's stayed out of the fray, here's a brief writing mostly for herself. summary: Sharon Yeo has a blog, Here For The Food. Writing down her The fallout of Haslam's poorly timed thoughts about various events in Edoutburst is that there's now a lot of monton, from festivals and social mixnegative press—although he's apparers to attending live theatre, Yeo ently now sent a hand-written apolupdates her blog steadily with ogy to Yeo—but the irritating descriptions and opinions thing is that it's now directed about things she liked and at Haslam. If anything should didn't like about what she be closely examined here, it ate, and what she experishould be the shows themkly.com e e w e vu enced. The entries are imselves. amy@ mediate and unprocessed, Calling Haslam arrogant and Amy but they are regular and conFung rude is true enough, but will it sistent in tone and voice. They make the theatre shows any betdon't say all that much, and yet, her ter? Certainly his attitude in asking writing has raised the ire of local theYeo to take her business elsewhere atre actor Jeff Haslam. is not going to improve the quality of Apparently, Yeo's writing has been a the shows either, but this is the part in throbbing thorn in Haslam's side for the whole story that worries me the some time, resulting in an outburst most. where he publicly called her "snotty," There's an unspoken rule in the print "arrogant," "weird" and "a pretentious world that you never run a bad review doof." By publicly, I mean he left a on a first-impressions basis. If there comment on her blog, directly below is something inherently negative that her last review of a Teatro la Quindicneeds to be said, it needs to be reinina production, where Haslam serves forced by more than one experience, as artistic director, besides acting and which gives the story and writer some sitting on the board. ethical credibility. In an age of online During the Fringe of all times, the stoand self-publishing, instantaneity has ry of Haslam's outburst exploded into been given more privilege than accuraa series of tangents ranging from the cy. That is an easy dismissal, and Yeo's impact of social media to last weekwriting does not offer much in terms end's story in The Globe and Mail that of depth or insight. However, she has skinned Haslam alive for coming across been a regular theatregoer for close to as ungrateful and arrogant, and framed 10 years, and Teatro is one of her reguthe incident as the perfect example of lar haunts. If a devoted regular is saywhat not to do with bad press. ing something that's hitting a nerve, Only, what Yeo wrote can barely be there's probably something to it. V considered as press, let alone bad press. Yeo is keeping an online jourAmy Fung is the author of nal of her experiences and memories, PrairieArtsters.com

IE PRASITRERS

ART

REVUE // REFRAMING A NATION

Same ol' frame

Canadian landscape exhibit lacks identity Amy Fung // amy@vueweekly.com

C

ulling from the AGA's permanent collection, Reframing a Nation gathers together a series of recognizable landscape painters and attempts to question how they have represented the nation's identity. While this is certainly not a new idea—and it is a valid one—the concept only hits home if the show begs a greater understanding of how representation, identity and legacy are closely intertwined. Unfortunately, after spending an afternoon with this show, I do not sense an understanding, or even a coherent statement, within this assemblage of works that provokes or furthers how we view and shape our Canadian art history and identity.

First off, it was surprising to see the show spread out in such a large space, as the bones of the show could have been summarized in 12 or less paintings. Beginning with 19th century oil paintings of Quebec and Ontario and European settlers' first contact with First Nations people, Canadian wildlife and the vastness of space, it is clear and obvious that we are seeing the new country through old world eyes in examples of Otto Reinhold Jacobi and Maurice Cullen and their treatments of composition and light.

But embedded within this early work, from the bronze statues of women walking through an open clearing and the repeated mist of clear, unfiltered light, there is the underpinning of a Canadian esthetic at work, one that is evidently shaped through the presence of wind and latitude.

The show as a whole does not nurture this aspect, or show how representation of Canadian landscapes have evolved, as the exhibition simply levels out with

LANDSCAPING >> Franklin Carmichael's "Sombre Valley" the preapproved accreditations of David Milne and the The Group of Seven.

If the show proposes to re-engage how Canada has been represented and how Canadians continue to view ourselves, the answer, accordingly to the works on the wall, would be "very safely." Not only does this show suggest that we still see, promote and understand Canada through a 20th century romantic-yet mastery-Eurocentric lens, but we are still most engaged in representations of Upper and Lower Canada with a minor dash of the Rockies, the West Coast and the Artic for good measure. The uneveness of this show and its decision to rehash the art history textbook reading of a wild yet controlled Canadian landscape without offering much of a contrast is certainly questionable, as there is a conflicting attempt to inject contemporary perspectives with a commission by photographer Maria Hupfield and a juxtaosition with abstract painter Jack Bush.

Only, the anomaly of Bush's "Sharp Flats" exists as a strange tangent to tie landscape painting into abstract painting, due to an encounter between Bush and several members of The Group of Seven. Trying to open up the topic of genre limitations, the show isn't strong enough in its grounding of the genre to go off into such an offshoot, especially one that seems to suggest landscape painting is dead. One could have easily tied in Carr as an abstraction of landscape painting, as that would have been

18 // ARTS

VUEWEEKLY // SEP 2 – SEP 8, 2010

// Supplied

less a jump than showing "Sharp Flats," but Carr's iconic paintings remain here in the proliferation of Canada as "wild."

Hupfield, who showed a similar work in the Face the Nation exhibition, (which was a far more successful and unmitigated reframing of the nation through the perspectives of contemporary Aboriginal artists), is awkwardly placed in a back corner behind the Lismers and Varleys, which is disappointing as her piece directly responds to the limited perspectives of those very paintings and traditions.

But these are not the only discrepancies, as the show is also divided somewhat by panels, one suggesting "Wilderness" and another in the "Industrial" landscape. But the show still somehow overlooks the fact that Tom Thomson and Emily Carr were preoccupied with the rapid industrialization of their landscapes through evident interest in the logging industry and clear cutting?

Why keep them in the context of the romantic wild in a show that is supposedly attempting to reframe how we see the construction of this country?

It's sad to say, but the overall sentiment of the show is that there isn't one, which seems to be the perpetual problem of locating Canadian art history and consequently, Canadian identity. V until Sun, Jan 30 Reframing a Nation AGA (Sir Winston Churchill Square 2)

VUEWEEKLY // SEP 2 – SEP 8, 2010

ARTS // 19

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20 // ARTS

VUEWEEKLY // SEP 2 – SEP 8, 2010

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Oaff]j oYdck gml oal` Ydd l`] Ym\a]f[] \gfYlagfk ROUGE LOUNGE )()))%))/ Kl /0(&1(*&-1(( Hg]ljq ]n]jq Lm] oal` =\egflgf k dg[Yd hg]lk STANLEY A. MILNER LIBRARYʸ / Kaj Oafklgf ;`mj[`add Ki /0(&,1.&/((( Centre for Reading2 >jge :ggck lg >ade3 ]n]jq >ja$ *he Teen Movie Scene2 egna] [dmZ ^gj l]]fk3 )kl Yf\ +j\ L`m ]n]jq egfl` Writers’ Corner2 =HD¿k Ojal]j af J]ka\]f[]3 `gklk Y \a^^]j]fl Yml`gj ]Y[` egfl`3 DYkl Kmf g^ ]Y[` egfl` Yl )2+(he T.A.L.E.S.�FORT EDMONTON PARK STORYTELLING FESTIVAL >gjl =\egflgf HYjc ;mdlmj]k ;gff][l Sep 5-6 >]Ylmjaf_ ;af\q ;YehZ]dd @Yda^Yp!$ Yf\ klgjql]dd]jk ^jge Y[jgkk ;YfY\Y& >gj egjfaf_ klgjql]dd% af_ ogjck`ghk& hj]%j]_akl]j Yl /0(&1+*&,,(1& 9^l]jfggf klgjql]ddaf_ gf , klY_]k2 af[d oal` HYjc Y\eakkagf3 )%-he$ klgja]k ^gj Ydd Y_]k >]klanYd ;gf[]jl2 Sun, Sep 5, 8pm Yl =__] k :Yjf oal` ;af\q ;YehZ]dd$ EYp L]dd$ B]^^ Klg[clgf$ Bae ?j]]f$ C]naf EY[C]fra]$ B]jjq @Ya_`$ CYl`q B]kkmh$ Yf\ emka[ Zq EYjaY <mff3 [gf[]jl la[c]lk2 )- L&9&D&=&K& /0(&1+*&,,(1!' ). \ggj! Gh]f ea[ klY_]2 Mon, Sep 6, 4pm T.A.L.E.S. MONTHLY STORYTELLING CIRCLE ;]fl]ffaYd Je$ KlYfd]q Eadf]j DaZjYjq /0(&1+*&,,(1 lYd]kklgjql]ddaf_&[ge L]dd klgja]k gj [ge] lg dakl]f *f\ >ja g^ l`] egfl`3 Sep 10-Jun 2011$ /%1he >j]] T.A.L.E.S. STORY CAFÉ Jgka] k :Yj$ )(,/-%0( 9n] Cultures Connect2 Y kf]Yc hj]na]o g^ l`] L&9&D&=&K& Klg% jql]ddaf_ >]klanYd K]h -%. Yl >gjl =\egflgf! ^]Ylmjaf_ >]klanYd L]dd]jk2 ;af\q ;YehZ]dd$ Bae ?j]]f$ Yf\ EYp L]dd Thu, Sep 2, 7-9pm HYq O`Yl Qgm Oadd eaf .!

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INSIDE // FILM

FILM

Online at vueweekly.com >> FILM

23

Sidevue Movies killed for the video star: Brian Gibson charts five men who made the jump from directing music videos to making fulllength features Revue David Berry's one star review of Takers

Agora

REVUE // THE AMERICAN

The man who said too little A silence speaks volumes for The American Josef Braun

// josef@vueweekly.com

I

t is good for a film actor to have a face that remains interesting to observe even when doing nothing, but it's better to have a face that's never doing nothing, even when it seems like it's doing nothing. George Clooney's handsome, sunbeaten visage conveys an awful lot of worry in The American without much dialogue and without any ostentatious gesticulation that I can detect. He's always thinking, while trying not to transmit what he's thinking to those around him, while somehow always transmitting just enough of what he's thinking to the camera to keep us captivated. The American is itself a captivating, quiet, slow burn of a thriller, and Clooney's face, the face of a genuine star and a genuinely talented film actor, is integral to its effectiveness.

The script is Rowan Joffe's adaptation of Martin Booth's 1990 novel A Very Private Gentleman, though this being the second feature from rock photographerturned-filmmaker Anton Corbijn, much of whatever was good or bad in Joffe's script has been rendered invisible by Corbijn's continual emphasis on sound, image, place and behaviour. The American follows Clooney's character, a professional assassin or gunrunner, from the snow-covered woods of Dalarna to the hillside villages of Abruzzo, and Corbijn's favoured image when introducing these locations is that of a very

WHAT DOES THIS LOOK MEAN? >> George Clooney in The American wide landscape with tiny figures or a car traversing the absolute bottom of the screen—the movement is often so low in the composition that if you sit behind a tall person you might miss it. These images occur throughout the film and imbue it with a steady blend of beauty and dread. We feel our protagonist's vulnerability, being so out in the open.

We know from the first scenes onward that there could at any moment be a stranger hiding somewhere, probably wearing ugly pants, waiting to kill.

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Clooney's character—he goes by Jack or Edward, depending on company—is as taciturn as any of the antiheroes of JeanPierre Melville, yet is far more expressive, unable to disguise his nervousness.

It seems there are some Swedes after him, so he keeps a low profile in Castel del Monte, where he gradually prepares a package for a mysterious woman. We see a tattoo of a butterfly on his back but learn virtually nothing of substance of his background. Still, we follow him closely enough to glean something of his

tendencies and desires. He visits a beautiful prostitute with an unnerving gaze named Clara, played by Violante Placido, with whom he develops a peculiar rapport. He has some largely one-sided conversations with an aging priest, played

by Paolo Bonacelli, who may or may not know something about his line of work— Clooney claims he's a photographer, even though it's obvious the priest doesn't buy it. When in doubt Clooney simply says nothing, and sometimes it's these refusals to respond that say he most.

It's tempting to compare The American to The Limits of Control. Both films feature an enigmatic killer with a disliking both for small talk and modern devices, biding his time, visiting out-of-the-way European locales, doing exercises alone in a room, taking meetings in outdoor cafés, trading cryptic messages with people he probably can't trust. Both also happen to feature memorable shots of a woman's naked behind. But The Limits of Control is on another plane, concerned with philosophy over action, groove over structure. The American is more grounded, more familiar, moves steadily toward an end, deals openly in suspense, and reveals palpable stakes.

What fundamental elements it does have in common with its recent predecessor is a knowingness about the potency of simple bits of business, the pleasure of watching George Clooney seated at a table, piecing together a rifle. It also, much more than your average tough guy thriller, understands the value of withholding information, of playfully and shrewdly managing ambiguity, of old-fashioned silence as the most seductive method of pulling us closer, and deeper, into story. V Now playing The American Directed by Anton Corbijn Written by Rowan Joffe Featuring George Clooney, Violante Placido

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REVUE // JOAN RIVERS: A PIECE OF WORK

Joan's arc

Joan Rivers: A Piece of Work captures the contradictions of celebrity docs Jonathan Busch // jonathan@vueweekly.com

I

n seeking out the esthetic patience of a theatrical arthouse audience, documentary films that profile celebrities, especially those about female entertainters, eventually fall suspect to bribery through the warts-and-all representation. From Madonna to the Dixie Chicks to even Paris Hilton, it is easy to wonder if they are feigning a sense of heart and realism intended to enrich the complexity of their icon status. Is it for personal gain? Likely.

But more importantly, is it real?

From political filmmakers Ricki

Stern and Anne Sundberg, Joan Rivers: A Piece of Work is a conscious overlap of the supposedly fabricated subject of show business and a genuine personality harbouring a free will underneath. Rivers' notoriety, which stems largely from her openvoiced adventures in plastic surgery, is already perceived as unhumanly attention-seeking—a quality that the film has us realize that the career of any struggling performer is required to maintain, despite whatever sort of truth we might be looking for.

Early on, we learn that Rivers is perpetually worried about keeping busy.

Despite her manicured fingers being

dipped in several glitzy pots, from comedy nightclub gigs to her QVC jewelry endorsement, the white space of her datebook calendar is a nagging fear that the industry which bore her has also essentially cast her off. As the film proceeds to chart her trailblazing years as one of the very few bold female stand-up comedians to spew celebrity insults and obnoxious details of her anatomy, we also see her influence as a potential nail in the coffin.

The more praise she receives for previous efforts, the louder the message blares that her spotlight may have dimmed and trapped her in the pages of comedy history.

VUEWEEKLY // SEP 2 – SEP 8, 2010

It is here that the pesky realism sneaks up on the film—Rivers is a phenomenal presence who cannot help but perform for the camera. Amidst the heartfelt confessions, she is primarily a gusher and a joker of hard knocks in the same package. The reality of the falsehood shines through as her life becomes a stage and vice versa, a contradictory platform for her persona to wade through in an era where the current appeal of celebrity is precisely the hidden narratives of their ever-shrinking private lives.

A similar method works for reality television—notably the Emmy-winning My Life On The D-List featuring

the top-selling Kathy Griffin, who makes an appearance in the film as both Rivers' industry rival and endearingly appreciative fan. The sense of humour, however, emerges not from the timely editing of heaps of intrusive footage, but more so as each cut is permitted to linger without the incessant worry that we might flip the channel. Instead, that worry resides within the heart of our subject, who, even as she may bullshit for our sympathy, thankfully challenges herself to be exposed. V

Opens Fri Joan Rivers: A Piece of Work directed by Ricki Stern and Anne Sundberg Princess Theatre (10337 - 82 ave)

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FILM // 21

22 // FILM

VUEWEEKLY // SEP 2 – SEP 8, 2010

REVUE // AGORA

Enlightened ignorance

Agora's limp sub-plots outweigh some deeper explorations

ANCIENT GATHERING PLACE >> Rachel Weisz in the agora in Agora David Berry // David@vueweekly.com

A

gora sets itself up more as allegory than history, casting the story of Hypatia of Alexandria as a grand myth about the destructive powers of religion against the rational inquiries of science and philosophy: a tension spelled out rather simply by Hypatia (Rachel Weisz) herself, to an erstwhile student who has since become a bishop—"You don't

// Supplied

question what you believe, or cannot. I must." Here, in a bit of an inversion of the expected order, it is religion that is all-too-much of this world—with one pathetic exception, our believers are all in pursuit of worldly power, whether they're fanatics or Christians of convenience—while Hypatia's explorations of the heavenly bodies at the expense of practicality ultimately seal her doom.

There is perhaps a lot to be explored here—the obvious critique of religion

and some unfortunate parallels to modern America at the least—but unfortunately Agora leaves almost all the heavy lifting to romantic sub-plots, which have a way of fuzzing and softening the larger points at the expense of some mildly pointless drama. In between some choice historical details—Hypatia rebuffing a suitor with her menstrual blood, the sacking of Alexandria's library, her ultimate death at the hands of a Christian mob—we are treated mostly to a trio of men under her spell to varying degrees, plus one powerthirsty Christian priest trying to destroy her. Among her admirers, there is the young prefect, Orestes (Oscar Isaac), previously spurned but still constantly seeking her advice; the aforementioned bishop, Synesius (Rupert Evans), whose Christian faith overwhelms his love and respect for her; most egregiously of all, we have Davus (Max Minghella), her former slave who's become a Christian soldier, basically solely because she won't love him.

and ultimately just kind of choked into stuffy obsequiousness. This is when they don't undercut the grander point entirely, though: Davus' last-minute repentance might be a suggestion that the only thing Christianity can do for science is mercifully smother it, but it feels more like a grand romantic contrivance, and it further muddies waters that are already fairly opaque with subplots.

Cutting through much of this, though, we get Weisz's central performance, which grounds and enlivens what could otherwise be relentlessly plodding. She captures perfectly the enlightened ignorance of the absentminded professor, the naivete of someone who's far more interested in the

stars than the planet she's watching them from. About the only strong point of all the relationship entanglements is Weisz's brushing-off-a-fly response to all of them, and Agora would have done well to follow its main character's lead, keeping its eyes on the bigger moving forces, instead of the flesh-and-blood cares in front of it. V Agora Directed by Alejandro Amenábar Written by Amenábar, Mateo Gil Starring Rachel Weisz, Max Minghella, Oscar Isaac Princess Theatre (10337 - 82 ave)

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Far from spicing up the airy philosophy or potent allegory, though, these relationships just slog on, caught in the middle ground between thematically significant and emotionally relevant,

VUEWEEKLY // SEP 2 – SEP 8, 2010

FILM // 23

COMMENT >> DVD

Sunshine noir

Warner's fifth Film Noir Classic Collection caps off the summer Is it my own perverse nature that promptgiven that Warner's previous collections ed me to start and now end my summer boasted consistently lively audio comcontributions to this column with deluges mentaries from the likes of Martin Scorsof film noir, hardly the most Frisbee ese, James Ellroy, Eddie Muller, Alain of cinematic corpuses? I wouldn't Silver and Peter Bogdanovich. To put it past me, yet noir isn't be fair, I guess assembling such entirely antithetical to summaterial must be costly, and mer—it's so often about genI'd rather have these movies om eekly.c erating heat. Truthfully, not available than not. @vuew e v ti c everything in Warner's Film dvddete Former song-and-dance man f Jose Noir Classic Collection Vol 5 Dick Powell seemed an odd fit n u Bra can rightfully be granted noir or as the cinema's first Philip Mareven gris status. There aren't many lowe in Edward Dmytryk's superb classic examples of the movement/style/ Raymond Chandler adaptation Murder, thematic here, though there's a pleasing My Sweet (1944), yet as the freshly widmajority of forgotten gems, however you owed Canadian pilot and newly released classify them. The only real disappointment is the absence of supplements,

shore leave who mistakenly robbed and maybe murdered a woman while drunk.

The sailor had a near-death experience at the age of 12, so maybe that somehow contributed to his almost absurd air of innocence. The script comes from socialist thespian Clifford Odets and abounds in corny ethnic working-class types and cornier dialogue. Still, it's quite diverting, at times intriguingly loopy and, best of all swathed in the chiaroscuro imagery of cinematographer Nicholas Musaraca, best known for Out of the Past (1947) and his work with Val Lewton.

Desperate (1947) was director Anthony Mann's first noir and fully exercises the

POW Laurence Gerard in Cornered (1945), unshaven, cold-eyed, with that severe haircut, he's so at one with his vengeful protagonist it's chilling. This reunion with Dmytryk, who displays an exacting sense of atmosphere and detail, is an all-round success, if unrelentingly harrowing. As the war winds down Gerard travels from Europe to Argentina in search of the ostensibly deceased Vichy official responsible for the death of his young French bride.

Gerard's single-minded—he's got nothing left to live for—so the trip's strictly business, yet numerous shady types he encounters provide ample colour, especially the marvelous Walter Slezak.

Deadline at Dawn (1946), inspired by a Cornell Woolrich novel, is considerably lighter. It's a sweltering New York night when dancer Susan Hayward feels compelled to look after a young sailor on

sort of muscular expressionism and bracing brutality he'd become known for: Steve Brodie's truck-driving hero is beaten in some dingy basement under a swinging lamp whose hard light slices the assailants' faces before we're treated to a tight close-up of a broken bottle held

by Raymond Burr, who really resembles Victor Mature—if Mature ate donuts and hunkered over Wittgenstein instead of going to the gym. Newlywed Brodie is framed by Burr's thugs but proves highly resourceful—his desire for pleasantly dull domesticity is that strong.

Perhaps the biggest surprise in this set is Dial 1119 (1950), a terrifically menacing little hostage drama I'd never heard of, though fellow noir addicts will welcome the sight of William Conrad, James Bell and Sam Levene like old pals. Conrad plays Chuckles, the proprietor of the

DVCD TIVE

DETE

There aren't many classic examples of the movement/style/thematic here, though there's a pleasing majority of forgotten gems, however you classify them.

24 // FILM

VUEWEEKLY // SEP 2 – SEP 8, 2010

ironically titled Oasis, the bar under siege, while Bell's a lonely older nerdy type who shamelessly propositions a drunk blonde, and Levene, as always, is the resident doctor. The sound of wrestling on TV is the only scoring in the movie, even during the beautiful, long reaction shot of all the barflies when formerly institutionalized Marshall Thompson says out loud that he's going to kill everyone. We believe him—he's already iced a bus driver. Very effective, taut and worth checking out just for the attention it brings to the sad lives of the Oasis clientele.

Backfire (1950) is another title I'd never come across, somewhat surprising given that noir mainstay Edmond O'Brien's one of its pair of war buddies hoping to go in on a ranch together once Gordon MacRae gets out of the veterans' hospital. Some fox with a sexy foreign accent comes to the hospital one night to tell a doped-up MacRae that O'Brien's been debilitated and is suicidal. The next morning everyone thinks the lady messenger was a hallucination, but O'Brien's missing and MacRae immediately starts to play detective upon checking out. It's a picture full of interesting relationships and ominous clues that would have appealed to Polanski.

Armored Car Robbery (1950) meanwhile looks forward to Stanley Kubrick's early feature The Killing (1956), whose plot is nearly identical. Helmed by Richard Fleischer, it's a bracingly efficient 67-minutes— the titular heist unfolds with barely a word of dialogue spoken, even when one of the robbers gets shot in the guts—yet leaves plenty of room for imaginative character development. Charles McGraw would reunite with Fleischer for the more famous Narrow Margin (1952), but anticipates that film's protagonist here with his charismatically gruff Lieutenant Jim Cordell, a cop so useless with sentiment he can barely offer condolences to his partner's widow. He's complimented superbly by the froggy-eyed criminal mastermind played by William Talman, an actor whose work I'm hungry to see more of.

"Fancy women, slot machines and booze," go the lyrics to "Phenix City Blues," the song performed near the top of The Phenix City Story (1955), Phil Karlson's appallingly violent docudrama about the seemingly impossible task of driving organized crime out of a notoriously corrupt Alabama town. It features the always likable John McIntire—the sheriff from Psycho (1960)—as a crusading DA undeterred by threats as unabashed as having a murdered black girl tossed on his front lawn from a moving car in broad daylight.

Something tells me they mightn't have gotten away with that if it weren't for the story's foundation in fact.

Though it opens with a riveting and very stylishly wrought confrontation between rival youth gangs, Crime in the Streets (1956), all too much the "social problem" picture, is both the chronological last and probably least powerful movie in Film Noir Vol 5. Having said that, I'm fascinated that the gang leader seems to deliberately select the most obviously gay kids in his group—among them Sal Mineo—to be part of his nutso murder conspiracy.

Admirers will surely be curious to see a very young John Cassavetes as Frankie Dane, though, speaking as one of those admirers, I can't say he looks very comfortable in this psychotic, not altogether convincing role. V

FILM WEEKLY FRI, SEP 3 – THU, SEP 9, 2010 s

CHABA THEATRE�JASPER 6094 Connaught Dr, Jasper, 780.852.4749

DATE OF ISSUE ONLY THU, SEP 2

THE OTHER GUYS (PG coarse language,

CASABLANCA (STC) WED 7:00 CINEPLEX ODEON SOUTH 1525-99 St, 780.436.8585

GOING THE DISTANCE (14A crude coarse

language, sexual content, not recommended for children) No passes FRI�WED 12:10, 3:00, 6:50, 9:35; THU 3:45, 6:50, 9:35; Star & Strollers Screening: THU 1:00

MACHETE (18A gory violence) Digital Cinema, No passes DAILY 1:15, 4:20, 7:20, 10:15

crude sexual content, not recommended for young children) THU, SEP 2: 7:00, 9:15

THE AMERICAN (14A nudity, sexual content)

THU, SEP 2: 6:45, 9:15

12:40, 4:45, 7:50, 10:30

EAT PRAY LOVE (PG language may offend) CINEMA CITY MOVIES 12 5074-130 Ave, 780.472.9779

WE ARE FAMILY (STC) Hindi W/E.S.T. DAILY 1:15, 4:15, 7:05, 9:30

CHAK JAWANA (PG substance abuse) Punjabi

W/E.S.T. DAILY 9:45

CATS AND DOGS: THE REVENGE OF KITTY GALORE (G) FRI�SAT 1:40, 3:50, 6:35,

8:55, 11:10; SUN�THU 1:40, 3:50, 6:35, 8:55

CHARLIE ST. CLOUD (PG mature subject matter) DAILY 1:50, 4:20, 7:30, 9:50

RAMONA AND BEEZUS (G) DAILY 1:10, 3:50,

6:45

THE SORCERER'S APPRENTICE (PG vio-

lence, frightening scenes) FRI�SAT 1:45, 4:25, 7:10, 9:30, 11:50; SUN�THU 1:45, 4:25, 7:10, 9:30

PREDATORS (18A gory violence) FRI�SAT 6:55, 9:15, 11:45; SUN�THU 6:55, 9:15

THE TWILIGHT SAGA: ECLIPSE (PG violence) FRI�SAT 1:25, 4:00, 6:40, 9:20, 12:00; SUN�THU 1:25, 4:00, 6:40, 9:20 GROWN UPS (PG crude content, language may

offend) FRI 1:50, 4:35, 7:25, 9:40, 11:55; SAT 1:50, 4:35, 7:25, 9:40, 11:50; SUN�THU 1:50, 4:35, 7:25, 9:40

KNIGHT AND DAY (PG violence, coarse

language) FRI�SAT 1:20, 4:05, 7:15, 9:45, 12:10; SUN� THU 1:20, 4:05, 7:15, 9:45

THE KARATE KID (PG violence, not recom-

mended for young children) DAILY 1:05, 4:00, 7:00, 9:55

SHREK FOREVER AFTER 3D (PG)

Digital 3d FRI�SAT 1:00, 3:45, 6:50, 9:00, 11:20; SUN� THU 1:00, 3:45, 6:50, 9:00

IRON MAN 2 (PG violence, not recommended

for young children) FRI�TUE, THU 1:35, 4:30, 7:20, 10:00; WED 1:35, 10:00

HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON (PG

violence) DAILY 1:30, 4:10

CINEPLEX ODEON NORTH 14231-137 Ave, 780.732.2236

GOING THE DISTANCE (14A crude coarse

language, sexual content, not recommended for children) No passes FRI�TUE, THU 1:40, 4:20, 7:05, 9:40; WED 4:20, 7:05, 9:40; Star & Strollers Screening: WED 1:00

MACHETE (18A gory violence) No passes DAILY 1:50, 4:50, 7:45, 10:30

THE AMERICAN (14A nudity, sexual content) DAILY 12:50, 3:40, 7:10, 9:45

TAKERS (PG violence, coarse language) DAILY 1:10, 4:30, 7:40, 10:15

THE LAST EXORCISM (14A disturbing content, gory scenes) Digital Cinema DAILY 2:00, 5:00, 8:00, 10:40

PIRANHA 3D (18A gory scenes, brutal violence, nudity) Digital 3d DAILY 2:10, 5:20, 8:10, 10:35

THE SWITCH (PG mature subject matter, not

recommended for young children) Digital Cinema FRI�TUE, THU 12:30, 3:50, 7:00, 9:30; WED 12:30, 3:50, 9:30

NANNY MCPHEE RETURNS (G) FRI 1:20 VAMPIRES SUCK (14A crude content) FRI�WED 12:40

THE EXPENDABLES (18A brutal violence) DAILY 12:00, 2:30, 5:10, 7:50, 10:20

EAT PRAY LOVE (PG language may offend)

FRI�TUE, THU 12:20, 3:30, 6:40, 9:50; WED 3:50, 6:40, 9:50; Star & Strollers Screening: WED 1:00

SCOTT PILGRIM VS. THE WORLD (PG

violence) Digital Cinema DAILY 9:00

THE OTHER GUYS (PG coarse language,

crude sexual content, not recommended for young children) FRI�WED 1:30, 4:40, 7:30, 10:10; THU 4:40, 7:30, 10:10

DINNER FOR SCHMUCKS (14A) FRI 4:10,

7:20, 10:05; THU 4:10, 10:05

SALT (14A) FRI�WED 4:00, 6:50, 9:20; THU 12:40,

6:50

INCEPTION (PG violence) DAILY 12:10, 3:20,

6:45, 10:00

DESPICABLE ME 3D (G) Digital 3d DAILY 1:00, 3:45, 6:30

DAILY 12:20, 3:40, 7:15, 10:10

TAKERS (PG violence, coarse language) DAILY THE LAST EXORCISM (14A disturbing

content, gory scenes) Digital Cinema DAILY 1:30, 4:00, 7:40, 10:05

AVATAR: SPECIAL EDITION 3D (PG

THE AMERICAN (14A nudity, sexual content)

FRI 4:35, 7:15, 9:50; SAT�MON 1:45, 4:35, 7:15, 9:50; TUE�THU 5:45, 8:35

EAT PRAY LOVE (PG language may offend) FRI 4:40, 8:00; SAT�MON 1:15, 4:40, 8:00; TUE�THU 4:50, 8:00 DESPICABLE ME 3D (G) Digital 3d FRI 4:45; SAT�MON 1:10, 4:45

MACHETE (18A gory violence) FRI 4:30, 7:00, 9:35; SAT�MON 1:50, 4:30, 7:00, 9:35; TUE�THU 5:30, 8:10 GOING THE DISTANCE (14A crude coarse

language, sexual content, not recommended for children) No passes FRI 4:00, 6:45, 9:20; SAT�MON 1:20, 4:00, 6:45, 9:20; TUE�THU 5:00, 8:30

DUGGAN CINEMA�CAMROSE 6601-48 Ave, Camrose, 780.608.2144

GOING THE DISTANCE (14A crude coarse

violence, not recommended for young children) Digital 3d DAILY 12:00, 4:00, 8:00

language, sexual content, not recommended for children) DAILY 6:55 9:20; SAT�MON 1:55

nudity) Digital 3d FRI�TUE, THU 9:30; WED 10:05

DAILY 9:10

PIRANHA 3D (18A gory scenes, brutal violence,

THE EXPENDABLES (18A brutal violence)

THE SWITCH (PG mature subject matter, not

TAKERS (PG violence, coarse language) DAILY

recommended for young children) DAILY 12:15, 3:20, 7:40, 10:25

NANNY MCPHEE RETURNS (G) FRI�WED

1:00, 3:40, 6:25, 9:00; THU 3:40, 6:25, 9:00; Star & Strollers Screening: THU 1:00

THE EXPENDABLES (18A brutal violence) DAILY 12:15, 3:25, 7:00, 9:45

EAT PRAY LOVE (PG language may offend) DAILY 12:05, 3:15, 6:40, 10:00

SCOTT PILGRIM VS. THE WORLD (PG vio-

lence) FRI�WED 1:00, 4:15, 7:10, 9:55; THU 7:10, 9:55

THE OTHER GUYS (PG coarse language,

crude sexual content, not recommended for young children) DAILY 12:30, 3:45, 7:00, 9:40

DINNER FOR SCHMUCKS (14A) FRI�MON 12:50, 4:10, 7:35, 10:20

SALT (14A) DAILY 9:20 INCEPTION (PG violence) DAILY 12:00, 3:10,

6:30, 9:50

DESPICABLE ME 3D (G) Digital 3d FRI�TUE,

THU 1:20, 4:05, 6:55; WED 1:20, 4:05

TOY STORY 3 (G) DAILY 12:45, 3:55, 6:35 CITY CENTRE 9 10200-102 Ave, 780.421.7020

THE AMERICAN (14A nudity, sexual content)

Dolby Stereo Digital DAILY 12:50, 3:45, 7:00, 9:40

6:50, 9:15; SAT�MON 1:50

THE LAST EXORCISM (14A disturbing con-

tent, gory scenes) DAILY 7:05, 9:05; SAT�MON 2:05

THE AMERICAN (14A nudity, sexual content) DAILY 7:00 9:25; SAT�MON 2:00

NANNY MCPHEE RETURNS (G) DAILY 6:45; SAT�MON 1:45

GALAXY�SHERWOOD PARK 2020 Sherwood Dr, 780.416.0150 Sherwood Park 780-416-0150

GOING THE DISTANCE (14A crude coarse language, sexual content, not recommended for children) No passes FRI 3:50, 7:05, 9:45; SAT�MON 1:15, 3:50, 7:05, 9:45; TUE�THU 7:05, 9:45 MACHETE (18A gory violence) No passes FRI 4:40, 7:30, 10:00; SAT�MON 1:50, 4:40, 7:30, 10:00; TUE�THU 7:30, 10:00

THE AMERICAN (14A nudity, sexual content)

Digital Cinema FRI 4:00, 7:00, 9:30; SAT�MON 1:20, 4:00, 7:00, 9:30; TUE�THU 7:00, 9:30

TAKERS (PG violence, coarse language) FRI 3:30,

6:50, 9:20; SAT�MON 1:00, 3:30, 6:50, 9:20; TUE�THU 6:50, 9:20

THE LAST EXORCISM (14A disturbing content, gory scenes) FRI 4:30, 7:40, 10:15; SAT�MON 1:45, 4:30, 7:40, 10:15; TUE�THU 7:40, 10:15

THE SWITCH (PG mature subject matter, not

recommended for young children) Digital Cinema

THE EXPENDABLES (18A brutal violence)

DAILY 9:15

MACHETE (18A gory violence) Dolby Stereo

4:25, 7:20, 10:10; SAT�MON 1:30, 4:25, 7:20, 10:10; TUE�THU 7:20, 10:10

Stadium Seating, Dolby Stereo Digital DAILY 12:00, 2:35, 5:10, 7:45, 10:20

THE EXPENDABLES (18A brutal violence) FRI

Digital DAILY 12:40, 3:35, 6:40, 9:20

EAT PRAY LOVE (PG language may offend) FRI

INCEPTION (PG violence) DTS Digital, Stadium

Seating, Digital DAILY 12:05, 3:25, 6:50

3:45, 6:45, 9:50; SAT�MON 12:45, 3:45, 6:45, 9:50; TUE�THU 6:45, 9:50

crude sexual content, not recommended for young children) Stadium Seating, DTS Digital DAILY 12:30, 3:15, 6:30, 9:10

sexual content, not recommended for young children) FRI 4:10, 7:15, 9:35; SAT�MON 1:10, 4:10, 7:15, 9:35; TUE�THU 7:15, 9:35

THE OTHER GUYS (PG coarse language,

THE SWITCH (PG mature subject matter, not

recommended for young children) DTS Digital, Stadium Seating DAILY 12:10, 2:45, 5:20, 7:55, 10:30

THE LAST EXORCISM (14A disturbing

content, gory scenes) Dolby Stereo Digital, Stadium Seating DAILY 12:20, 2:40, 5:05, 7:20, 9:35

AVATAR: SPECIAL EDITION 3D (PG violence, not recommended for young children) Digital 3d, Stadium Seating, No passes DAILY 1:00, 5:00, 9:00 GOING THE DISTANCE (14A crude coarse

language, sexual content, not recommended for children) Stadium Seating, DTS Digital DAILY 12:15, 2:50, 5:25, 8:00, 10:35

CLAREVIEW 10 4211-139 Ave, 780.472.7600

THE OTHER GUYS (PG coarse language, crude sexual content, not recommended for young children) FRI�MON 6:40, 9:15; TUE�THU 5:20, 8:15

THE EXPENDABLES (18A brutal violence) FRI 4:10, 7:10, 9:45; SAT�MON 1:30, 4:10, 7:10, 9:45; TUE�THU 5:10, 8:20

VAMPIRES SUCK (14A crude content) FRI�MON 9:25; TUE�THU 9:00

THE SWITCH (PG mature subject matter, not

recommended for young children) FRI 4:15, 6:50; SAT�MON 1:40, 4:15, 6:50; TUE�THU 5:40

NANNY MCPHEE RETURNS (G) FRI 3:50; SAT�MON 1:00, 3:50

PIRANHA 3D (18A gory scenes, brutal violence, nudity) Digital 3d FRI�MON 7:30, 9:55; TUE�THU 5:25, 8:40

TAKERS (PG violence, coarse language) FRI 4:20,

7:05, 9:40; SAT�MON 1:25, 4:20, 7:05, 9:40; TUE�THU 5:35, 8:25

THE LAST EXORCISM (14A disturbing content, gory scenes) FRI 4:50, 7:20, 9:30; SAT�MON 2:00, 4:50, 7:20, 9:30; TUE�THU 5:50, 8:50

VUEWEEKLY // SEP 2 – SEP 8, 2010

THE OTHER GUYS (PG coarse language, crude

INCEPTION (PG violence) FRI�MON 3:30, 6:30, 9:40; TUE�THU 6:30, 9:40

DESPICABLE ME 3D (G) Digital 3d FRI 4:15, 6:50; SAT�MON 1:40, 4:15, 6:50; TUE�THU 6:50 GARNEAU

8712-109 St, 780.433.0728

GET LOW (PG) DAILY 7:00, 9:10; SAT�MON 2:00 GRANDIN THEATRE�ST ALBERT Grandin Mall, Sir Winston Churchill Ave, St Albert, 780.458.9822

THE AMERICAN (14A nudity, sexual content) DAILY 1:15, 3:15, 5:15, 7:15, 9:15

THE EXPENDABLES (18A brutal violence) DAILY 4:55, 7:00, 9:10

CATS AND DOGS: THE REVENGE OF KITTY GALORE (G) DAILY 1:00 THE LAST EXORCISM (14A disturbing

content, gory scenes) DAILY 1:10, 2:55, 4:35, 6:15 7:55, 9:35

NANNY MCPHEE RETURNS (G) No passes DAILY 2:45

GOING THE DISTANCE (14A crude coarse

language, sexual content, not recommended for children) DAILY 1:20, 3:20, 5:20, 7:20, 9:20

DESPICABLE ME (G) DAILY 12:50, 2:40, 6:00 VAMPIRES SUCK (14A crude content) DAILY 4:25, 7:50, 9:30

LEDUC CINEMAS Leduc, 780.352.3922

GOING THE DISTANCE (14A crude coarse language, sexual content, not recommended for children) DAILY 12:55, 3:25, 6:55, 9:25 PARKLAND CINEMA 7 130 Century Crossing, Spruce Grove, 780.972.2332 (Spruce Grove, Stony Plain; Parkland County)

GOING THE DISTANCE (14A crude coarse language, sexual content, not recommended for children) DAILY 7:00, 9:15; SAT�MON 1:00, 3:15; TUE 3:15; Movies For Mommies: TUE 1:00 MACHETE (18A gory violence) DAILY 6:45, 9:00; SAT�TUE 12:45, 3:00

THE AMERICAN (14A nudity, sexual content) DAILY 7:05, 9:30; SAT�TUE 1:05, 3:30, 1:05, 3:30

NANNY MCPHEE RETURNS (G) DAILY 6:55,

9:05; SAT�TUE 12:55, 3:05

THE OTHER GUYS (PG coarse language, crude sexual content, not recommended for young children) DAILY 6:50, 9:10; SAT�TUE 12:50, 3:10

THE EXPENDABLES (18A brutal violence) DAILY 7:15, 9:20; SAT�TUE 1:15, 3:20

THE LAST EXORCISM (14A disturbing content, gory scenes) DAILY 7:10, 9:25; SAT�TUE 1:10, 3:25 PRINCESS 10337-82 Ave, 780.433.0728

THE GIRL WHO PLAYED WITH FIRE (18A brutal violence, disturbing content) DAILY 6:50;

SAT�MON 1:00

AGORA (14A) DAILY 9:20; SAT�MON 3:30 JOAN RIVERS: A PIECE OF WORK (14A

language may offend) DAILY 7:00, 9:00; SAT�MON 2:00

SCOTIABANK THEATRE WEM WEM, 8882-170 St, 780.444.2400

GOING THE DISTANCE (14A crude coarse

language, sexual content, not recommended for children) No passes DAILY 1:00, 3:50, 6:45, 9:30

MACHETE (18A gory violence) No passes DAILY 1:40, 4:40, 7:40, 10:20

THE AMERICAN (14A nudity, sexual content) Digital Cinema FRI�TUE, THU 1:15, 4:10, 7:10, 9:50; WED 4:10, 7:10, 9:50; Star & Strollers Screening: WED 1:00 TAKERS (PG violence, coarse language) DAILY 1:20, 4:20, 7:20, 10:00

THE LAST EXORCISM (14A disturbing content, gory scenes) DAILY 1:50, 4:50, 7:50, 10:15

PIRANHA 3D (18A gory scenes, brutal

violence, nudity) Digital 3d DAILY 2:00, 5:00, 8:00, 10:30

NANNY MCPHEE RETURNS (G) DAILY 12:40

THE EXPENDABLES (18A brutal violence) DAILY 1:45, 4:45, 7:45, 10:30

EAT PRAY LOVE (PG language may offend) DAILY 12:30, 3:30, 6:30, 9:45

SCOTT PILGRIM VS. THE WORLD (PG

violence) DAILY 3:20, 6:30, 9:20

THE OTHER GUYS (PG coarse language, crude

sexual content, not recommended for young children) FRI�TUE, THU 1:30, 4:30, 7:30, 10:10; WED 4:30, 7:30, 10:10; Star & Strollers Screening: WED 1:00

STEP UP 3D (PG) Digital 3d FRI�WED 1:10, 4:00, 6:50, 9:40; THU 1:10, 4:00, 9:40

INCEPTION: THE IMAX EXPERIENCE (PG

violence) FRI�MON 12:15, 3:30, 7:00, 10:15; TUE�THU 2:15, 7:00, 10:15

DESPICABLE ME 3D (G) Digital 3d DAILY 12:50, 3:40, 6:40, 9:15

WESTMOUNT CENTRE 111 Ave, Groat Rd, 780.455.8726

THE AMERICAN (14A nudity, sexual content)

Dolby Stereo Digital FRI 6:35, 9:15; SAT�MON 1:15, 4:00, 6:35, 9:15; TUE�THU 5:30, 8:15

INCEPTION (PG violence) Dolby Stereo Digital FRI, TUE�THU 7:30; SAT�MON 12:45, 4:10, 7:30

EAT PRAY LOVE (PG language may offend) DTS Digital FRI, TUE�THU 7:15; SAT�MON 12:30, 3:50, 7:15

THE SWITCH (PG mature subject matter, not recommended for young children) DTS Digital

FRI�MON 6:50, 9:30; TUE�THU 5:15, 8:00

NANNY MCPHEE RETURNS (G) DTS Digital SAT�MON 1:00, 3:45

WETASKIWIN CINEMAS

Wetaskiwin, 780.352.3922

STEP UP (PG) DAILY 7:05, 9:30 THE KARATE KID (PG violence, not recommended for young children) DAILY 12:55, 3:35

GROWN UPS (PG crude content, language may

VAMPIRES SUCK (14A crude content) DAILY

TOY STORY 3 IN 3D (G) DAILY 1:05, 3:30 THE LAST EXORCISM (14A disturbing content, gory scenes) DAILY 1:10, 3:20, 7:10, 9:20

GOING THE DISTANCE (14A crude coarse language, sexual content, not recommended for children) DAILY 12:55, 3:20, 6:55, 9:20

DAILY 1:00, 3:35, 7:00, 9:35

tent, gory scenes) DAILY 1:10, 3:35, 7:10, 9:35

offend) DAILY 7:05, 9:30

THE AMERICAN (14A nudity, sexual content)

1:00, 3:25, 7:00, 9:25

THE LAST EXORCISM (14A disturbing con-

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COVER // THE GASLIGHT ANTHEM David Berry // david@vueweekly.com

P

unk is a genre that lives in the glow of eternal youth—Never Never Land with more disaffection and safety pins.

This can keep it vital at the same time as it holds it back: for every group of 40plus-year-old skate-punks proving that punk is quite dead by singing songs of rebellion to kids who could be their own, there is another group of young punks ready to spit in the face of establishment with all the fire and passion that comes with being young, dumb and full of cum. But, sometimes, punks learn how to grow up, learn to bring that same skepticism and passion to the fact that eventually we have to get jobs and responsibilities and regrets.

Strictly speaking, it's hard to classify the Gaslight Anthem as solely punks.

True, the band members got their start in the punk community, their 2007 debut Sink or Swim blowing up on punk blogs and websites before more mainstream attention followed, and to this day they'll show up at events like Protest Fest. They still have some very identifiable elements from youths spent in punk acts in their home state of New Jersey, ragged guitars and ferocious drums popping up on more than a few songs.

And they still self-identify to a degree, so that has to count for something.

But maybe just because they've grown up with a certain grace, started wearing their pre-worn faces as well as their pre-washed jeans, they seem to be something a bit more. Their roots extend back to a very particular type of American middle-class storytelling as to graffitied clubs, and it's there where the band seems to be going.

On the group's latest album, American Slang, the Gaslight Anthem has given up youthful dalliance and even wistful nostalgia for something a bit more, well, mature. It would be wrong to say Slang is an album infused with regret: as much as anything, it is a celebration of the youthful indiscretions and blatant fuckups that lead a person to where they're at now. But it's also an album that recognizes how dangerous it can be to look

// Ashley Maile

back, or at least to get trapped in past glories (or defeats, for that matter). As much as anything, it is a plea to embrace life's propulsive force, to accept that the past leaves its marks with whips, not chains, and keep moving on.

"You always feel like something is slipping away," admits Anthem's lead singer and songwriter Brian Fallon in a plaintive but upbeat measure. "You really start to realize that as you get older—you start to see it in daily life— that a piece of what's happening in each moment is something you'll never have again. And then it's gone, and there's nothing you can do about it.

"That's very sad, and kind of weird, but time is ever moving forward, whether you like it or not," he continues. "People like to try and catch a break, gather up the pieces and start over. But you can't really, because in that time, while you're waiting for all the pieces to come together, your life is moving on. It's 10 years later, and then they're gone. So that's a bad process, and you just have to keep going. God, I sound like I'm 60, right?"

"I used to get really uppity about it, and be sort of like, 'That's not the only thing we listen to' and blah blah blah. I almost felt like people were trivializing how I felt about him, and it kind of made me angry.

It's not like we sit around and have this big shrine or anything," he explains. "But then I started thinking about it as if I was 21. I had this long talk with a friend of mine, and he pointed out that, no one was saying, 'You're ripping them off.' They're com-

paring you to say that you're next in line.

That singular sentence just blew my mind.

It just doesn't seem ... I don't know.

Fallon certainly has something of an older soul, unless it's recently become chic for 30-year-olds to start spouting world-weary wisdom. But even that

seems to be something fairly recent for him. Though you could hardly accuse the world view on previous albums Sink or Swim or 2008's The '59 Sound of being naïve, American Slang still seems like a leap into much murkier and richer territory, the product of someone who's done an awful lot of growing up in the past two years. That's something Fallon recognizes now, but he admits that, while he was actually writing the album, it was somewhat hidden.

"When we started out, our goal was really to write albums that people would listen to from the beginning to the end.

For this time, though, I didn't know it

was going to happen, and it just kind of sounded like that when it was done," he admits. "When you write very immediately, it just kind of happens: whatever's on your mind in your subconscious comes to your conscious, and you don't really figure that out until after, then it becomes, 'Oh, that's what I was dealing with.' You only grow one step at a time."

For anyone who's listened to Slang, that has to be a bit of a surprising admission.

The album is a very acute exploration of the near-inescapability of personal history, the struggle to reconcile what has happened without actually getting bogged down in it. A song like "The Queen of Lower Chelsea" is a wistful remembrance of glorious youth that is also heavily shaded with the realization that it probably wasn't as great as you're making it out to be. "Orphans," too, rocks along like an anthem for rambunctious youth, but is fully cognizant of the fact that it's not all it's cracked up to be, undercutting its anthemic qualities with sentiments like "We were orphans before we were ever the sons of regret." The whole thing almost seems like it's trying to remind us that the root, literal meaning of nostalgia is "memory of an old wound." "[That it was about letting go of the past], that was something I discovered in the middle of the process, and that realization ended up being 'Old Haunts,' he explains, referencing one of Slang's standouts, a song that includes lines like "God help the man who says, 'If you'd have known me when.'" "Looking back on all these different things I'd gone through and different people, I remembered this one particular thing that I'd gone through and this one particular person. You always know that girl who has everything in high school and kind of ends up throwing it all away, ends up somewhere mediocre and maybe wasting some talent, because they kind of bet everything on their youth.

That's kind of not smart, because at the end of the day we all end up looking like Keith Richards." V Wed, Sep 8 (7 pm) The Gaslight Anthem With the Menzingers, Fake Problems Edmonton Event Centre, $27.50

Comparisons are Boss One thing that has stuck with the Gaslight Anthem throughout the entirety of its career are comparisons to Bruce Springsteen. They are, after all, from the same Jersey town, and their subject matter—stories of the wounded but resilient lower-middle class—isn't exactly entirely divergent.

But though pigeonholing can get frustrating for a band, as Brian Fallon explains, he's learned to embrace the comparison.

26 // MUSIC

Keeping in line with American Slang's themes of getting over the past, Fallon now has little bad to say about comparing him to one of his idols. For him now, if people hear a little—or a lot—of Boss in the Gaslight Anthem, well, it's probably just because there is.

VUEWEEKLY // SEP 2 – SEP 8, 2010

"I mean, if we were from Oklahoma, maybe it wouldn't come up as much. But I grew up on Kingsley Avenue. When I was born, I came back from the hospital and was four or five blocks from the actual E Street. It's in our blood. If we're writing about the same things, it's because we have the same upbringing in the same class structure in the same town," he says. "It's one of those things that just— it's not something bad, so why get upset

about it? It's helped us in an enormous way, and it's just cool. Like, imagine if Bob Dylan came up to Bruce when he was my age and said, 'You're the best thing I've heard in the last 10 years.' Imagine! And that's why he said—it was in a magazine thing where they were asking people what album they'd recommend from the last decade, and Bruce said ours. That's incredible. How can you get bummed out about that? You can't." V

PREVUE // Lady Daisey

Travelling Daisey Hip-hop artist on the move Mike Angus // mikeangus@vueweekly.com

H

ip-hop soul sister Lady Daisey and her DJ/producer/husband Batsauce will be stopping in Edmonton in support of her debut album In My Pocket. Originally from Jacksonville, FL, the couple now resides in Berlin, Germany and is in North America to build support here in the New World.

Daisey grew up on the road, touring with her family's cover band in a Winnebego where she states, "The seed was planted … [I] was meant to be on stage."

Having met Batsauce on stage, the creative couple fell in love with Europe while on tour, and just never left. "We just fell in love with the place," Daisey extols. "It's cheap, it's really inexpensive to live there and it's so centrally located to all things in Europe that it really makes sense for us to keep that crib."

Audiences in Europe also offer keen, discerning attention, something that took her some time to adapt to.

"It's funny—the first couple of shows we played in Europe we were taken aback, because audiences actually sit and listen and watch you. Coming from the States, we've done so many shows

where people are at the bar, walking around, all kinds of chatter, but in Europe they all sit down and listen. It's a

The first couple of shows we played in Europe we were taken aback, because audiences actually sit and listen and watch you.

"I've always been a tomboy growing up," she continues, "and being in music is mostly being surrounded by men. Going over there and realizing there's this beautiful sisterhood that happened, it really expanded my world because now I have a lot of girlfriends I bond with on a musical basis. And I've done a lot of all-female shows over there, which is something I never did in Jacksonville.

It's a breath of fresh air."V Thu, Sept 9 (7:30 pm) Lady Daisey With guests Haven Social Club, $10

beautiful feeling, and it made us have to step our game up as well. It tightened us up."

As a female artist in hip hop's maledominated industry, Daisey also finds Europe offers more of a gender balance when it comes to audiences and artists.

"The crowds are really mixed. A lot of hip-hop shows in the Southeast states are mostly guys. Over there, there are probably more die-hard females involved than males—it's a really beautiful thing.

VUEWEEKLY // SEP 2 – SEP 8, 2010

MUSIC // 27

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

THU SEP 2 BLUE CHAIR CAFÉ Prairie to Oceans tour, Jessica Heine, Kelly Tschritter, Sir Touby; 8pm; $10 BLUES ON WHYTE Carson Cole BOHEMIA Close Your Eyes, Energetic Action, Signs of Hope, Oh Messy Life; no minors; 7pm (door), 8pm (show); $8 (door) BRIXX BAR Radio Brixx: rock and roll with Tommy Grimes; 8pm

L.B.'S PUB Thu open jam with Kenny Skoreyko, Fred Larose and Gordy Mathews; 9pm-1am LIVE WIRE BAR Open Stage Thu with Gary Thomas LYVE ON WHYTE Keep 6, Looking East, Action News Team MARYBETH'S COFFEE HOUSE�Beaumont Open Mic Thu; 7pm

CAFÉ HAVEN Grabill; 7pm

NAKED CYBERCAFÉ Open stage every Thu; bring your own instruments, fully equipped stage; 8pm

CARROT CAFÉ Zoomers Thu afternoon Open Mic; 1-4pm

NORTH GLENORA HALL Jam

by Wild Rose Old Time Fiddlers

COLAHAN'S Back-porch jam with Rock-Steady Freddy and the Bearcat; every Thu 8pmmidnight

RIC’S GRILL Peter Belec (jazz); every Thu; 7-10pm

CHRISTOPHER'S PARTY PUB Open stage hosted by Alberta Crude; 6-10pm CROWN PUB Crown Pub Latin/ world fusion jam hosted by Marko Cerda; musicians from other musical backgrounds are invited to jam; 7pm-closing DUSTER'S PUB Thu open jam hosted by the Assassins of Youth (blues/rock); 9pm; no cover DV8 Open mic Thu hosted

by Cameron Penner/ and/or Rebecca Jane DV8 Messiahlator, Bat-L'eth (tour kick-off ); Deadhead Catastrophe; 10pm-2am ELECTRIC RODEO�Spruce Grove Open Stage Thu: Bring an instrument, jam/sing with the band, bring your own band, jokes, juggle, magic; 8-12 ENCORE CLUB With A Latin Twist: free Salsa Dance Lessons at 9pm EXPRESSIONZ CAFÉ Open stage every Thu; 7-11pm HOOLIGANZ Open stage Thu hosted by Phil (Nobody Likes Dwight); 9pm-1:30am J AND R Classic rock! Woo! Open stage, play with the house band every Thu; 9pm JAMMERS PUB Thu open jam; 7-11pm JEFFREY'S CAFÉ Wyclarify (indie rock duo); $10

RUSTY REED'S HOUSE OF BLUES Rusty Reed Band; 9pm12am; cover charge SECOND CUP�Varscona Live music every Thu night; 7-9pm STARLITE ROOM Strung Out, Rufio, Mute, We Are the Union; 8pm (door); $24 at UnionEvents.com, TicketMaster, Blackbyrd WILD BILL’S�Red Deer TJ the DJ every Thu and Fri; 10pm-close WILD WEST SALOON Trick Ryder

DJs BILLY BOB’S LOUNGE Escapack Entertainment BLACK DOG FREEHOUSE Big Rock Thu: DJs on 3 levels– Topwise Soundsystem spin Dub & Reggae in The Underdog BRIXX BAR Radio Brixx with Tommy Grimes spinning rock and roll BUDDY'S DJ Bobby Beatz; 9pm; no cover before 10pm CENTURY ROOM Underground House every Thu with DJ Nic-E DRUID IRISH PUB DJ every Thu at 9pm FILTHY MCNASTY’S Punk Rock Bingo with DJ S.W.A.G. FLUID LOUNGE Girls Night out FUNKY BUDDHA�Whyte Ave Requests with DJ Damian GAS PUMP Ladies Nite: Top 40/ dance with DJ Christian

HALO Thu Fo Sho: with Allout DJs DJ Degree, Junior Brown

IRISH CLUB Jam session; 8pm; no cover

KAS BAR Urban House: with DJ Mark Stevens; 9pm

IVORY CLUB Duelling piano show with Jesse, Shane, Tiffany and Erik and guests

LEVEL 2 LOUNGE Absolut Thu: with DJ NV and Joey Nokturnal; 9:30pm (door); no cover LUCKY 13 Sin Thu with DJ Mike Tomas NEW CITY SUBURBS Bingo at 9:30pm followed by Electroshock Therapy with Dervish Nazz Nomad and Plan B (electro, retro) ON THE ROCKS Salsaholic Thu: Dance lessons at 8pm; Salsa DJ to follow PLANET INDIGO�St Albert Hit It Thu: breaks, electro house spun with PI residents PLAY NIGHTCLUB Gameshow every Thu with Patrick and Nathan; 9pm RENDEZVOUS PUB Mental Thurzday with org666 SPORTSWORLD Roller Skating Disco: Thu Retro Nights; 7-10:30pm; sports-world.ca STOLLI'S Dancehall, hip hop with DJ Footnotes hosted by Elle Dirty and ConScience every Thu; no cover

FRI SEP 3 180 DEGREES Sexy Fri night BEAUMONT BLUES FESTIVAL Youth at the Blues: 5-11pm; $5 (free with weekend pass)/$65 (2-day weekend pass)/$35 (adult day)/$25 (senior/student day) available at Town of Beaumont office BLUE CHAIR CAFÉ Cam Penner; 8pm; $10 BLUES ON WHYTE Carson Cole BRIXX BAR Hoshekh, Dirty Picture Show, Arsh Khaira, James Davies; guests; 9pm CARROT CAFÉ Live music Fri; all ages; 7pm; $5 (door) CASINO EDMONTON Catalyst (Caribbean) CASINO YELLOWHEAD The Top Tones (pop/rock) CENTURY CASINO Almost ABBA; $29.95 at TicketMaster and Century Casino 643.4000 COAST TO COAST Open Stage every Fri; 9:30pm DV8 Black Wizard, Nu Sensae, Real Problems; 9pm EDDIE SHORTS Our Sound Machine ENCORE CLUB 4 Play Fri GCCA CENTRE GCCA Fri Dance: Romantics; $10 (member)/$7 (non-member) HAVEN SOCIAL CLUB SlowStinger (CD release), Finest Hour, guests; 8-11:30pm; $10 at YEG Live

JEKYLL AND HYDE PUB Every Fri: Headwind (classic pop/rock); 9pm; no cover L.B.’S PUB Chris Durand; 9:30pm LYVE ON WHYTE Dean Lonsdale and the Ramifications; 8pm; $5 (door) NEW CITY LIKWID LOUNGE Singh (CD release party, Llive Banghra

BLACK DOG FREEHOUSE Fri DJs spin Wooftop and Main Floor: Eclectic jams with Nevine–indie, soul, motown, new wave, electro; Underdog: Perverted Fri: Punk and Ska from the ‘60s ‘70s and ‘80s with Fathead BOOTS Retro Disco: retro dance BUDDY’S DJ Arrow Chaser; 8pm; no cover before 10pm CENTURY ROOM Underground House every Fri with DJ Nic-E CHROME LOUNGE Platinum VIP Fri DRUID IRISH PUB DJ at 9pm

NEW CITY SUBURBS Unrest Fest: Poison Idea, Skitsystem, Toxic Holocaust, Golers, Tarantuja, Dfa, Rehashed; no minors; $25 (door)

EMPIRE BALLROOM Rock, hip hop, house, mash up; no minors

ON THE ROCKS Ratt Poison; 9pm; $5

FUNKY BUDDHA�Whyte Ave Top tracks, rock, retro with DJ Damian

PAWN SHOP Easy Love Presents: Data, DJ Ron, Oprimixx Prime, Miyuru Fernando REDNEX BAR Coaster 44 playing Live Classic Rock RED PIANO BAR Hottest dueling piano show featuring the Red Piano Players; 9pm-2am RUSTY REED'S HOUSE OF BLUES Joe Piccolo and the Swing Cat; 9pm-1am; cover STARLITE ROOM Nekromantix, Howlers, the Mutilators; no minors; 8pm (door); $15 at UnionEvents.com, Blackbyrd, TicketMaster STEEPS�Old Glenora Live Music Fri TAPHOUSE�St Albert BusA-Rhyme Showcase: K-Blitz, Habe, Brothers Grimm, Kazmega, Stripes; $20 (bus and cover)/$10 (presale)/$15 (regular cover); bus pick-up at 9pm at Claireview Boston Pizza; tickets available at theton.ca WILD BILL’S�Red Deer TJ the DJ every Thu and Fri; 10pm-close WILD WEST SALOON Trick Ryder

Classical HERITAGE AMPHITHEATRE Symphony Under the Sky: Bach, Beethoven, and Brahms with the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra; 7pm; $29 (adult reserved)/$20 (adult, grass adv)/$25 (adult, grass day-of )/$13 (child reserved)/free (child grass)

DJs AZUCAR PICANTE Every Fri: DJ Papi and DJ Latin Sensation BANK ULTRA LOUNGE Connected Fri: 91.7 The Bounce, Nestor Delano, Luke Morrison BAR�B�BAR DJ James; no cover BAR WILD Bar Wild Fri

ESMERELDA'S Ezzies Freakin Frenzy Fri: Playing the best in country

GAS PUMP Top 40/dance with DJ Christian LEVEL 2 LOUNGE Formula Fri: with rotating residents DJ's Groovy Cuvy, Touretto, David Stone, DJ Neebz and Tianna J; 9:30pm (door); 780.447.4495 for guestlist NEWCASTLE PUB Fri House, dance mix with DJ Donovan NEW CITY LIKWID LOUNGE DJ Anarchy Adam (Punk) PLAY NIGHTCLUB Pretty People Get Nasty with Peep n Tom, Showboy and rotating guest; DJS; every Fri; 9pm (door) REDNEX�Morinville DJ Gravy from the Source 98.5 RED STAR Movin’ on Up Fri: indie, rock, funk, soul, hip hop with DJ Gatto, DJ Mega Wattson ROUGE LOUNGE Solice Fri SPORTSWORLD Roller Skating Disco Fri Nights; 7-10:30pm; sports-world.ca STOLLI’S Top 40, R&B, house with People’s DJ TEMPLE Options Dark Alt Night; Greg Gory and Eddie Lunchpail; 9pm (door); $5 (door) Y AFTERHOURS Foundation Fri

SAT SEP 4 180 DEGREES Dancehall and Reggae night every Sat ALBERTA BEACH HOTEL Open stage with Trace Jordan 1st and 3rd Sat; 7pm-12 BEAUMONT BLUES FESTIVAL Elektric Squirrels, Alberia Playboys, Kyler Schogen, Johnny Quazar and the Swingbots, Steve Bowers and Jerry Brown, Jimmy and the Sleepers, Graham Guest, Boogie Patrol, Erasmo Coco, Gordie Johnson & Kelly Hoppe; 12 (gate), 1pm (music); $65 (2-day weekend pass)/$35 (adult day)/$25 (senior/student day)

VENUE GUIDE 180 DEGREES 10730-107 St, 780.414.0233 ARTERY 9535 Jasper Ave AVENUE THEATRE 9030-118 Ave, 780.477.2149 AXIS CAFÉ 10349 Jasper Ave, 780.990.0031 BANK ULTRA LOUNGE 10765 Jasper Ave, 780.420.9098 BEAUMONT BLUES FESTIVAL BADAS Fair Grounds, 1 mile west of Beaumont on 50 Ave, beaumontblues.net BILLY BOB’S Continental Inn, 16625 Stony Plain Rd, 780.484.7751 BLACK DOG FREEHOUSE 1042582 Ave, 780.439.1082 BLUE CHAIR CAFÉ 9624-76 Ave, 780.989.2861 BLUES ON WHYTE 10329-82 Ave, 780.439.3981 BOHEMIA 10575-114 St BOOTS 10242-106 St, 780.423.5014 BRIXX BAR 10030-102 St (downstairs), 780.428.1099 BUDDY’S 11725B Jasper Ave, 780.488.6636 CAFÉ HAVEN 9 Sioux Rd, Sherwood Park, 780.467.9541, cafehaven.ca CASINO EDMONTON 7055 Argylll Rd, 780.463.9467 CASINO YELLOWHEAD 12464153 St, 780 424 9467 CHRISTOPHER’S 2021 Millbourne Rd, 780.462.6565 CHROME LOUNGE 132 Ave, Victoria Trail COAST TO COAST 5552 Calgary Tr, 780.439.8675 COLAHAN'S 8214-175 St,

28 // MUSIC

780.487.8887 CROWN AND ANCHOR 15277 Castledowns Rd, 780.472.7696 CROWN PUB 10709-109 St, 780.428.5618 DIESEL ULTRA LOUNGE 11845 Wayne Gretzky Drive, 780.704.

CLUB DEVANEY’S IRISH PUB 9013-88 Ave, 780.465.4834 DRUID 11606 Jasper Ave, 780.454.9928 DUSTER’S PUB 6402-118 Ave, 780.474.5554 DV8 8307-99 St, DV8TAVERN.com EDDIE SHORTS 10713-124 St, 780.453.3663 EDMONTON EVENTS CENTRE WEM Phase III, 780.489.SHOW ELECTRIC RODEO�Spruce Grove 121-1 Ave, Spruce Grove, 780.962.1411 ENCORE CLUB 957 Fir St, Sherwood Park, 780.417.0111 EXPRESSIONZ CAFÉ 9938-70 Ave, 780.437.3667, expressionzcafe. com FIDDLER’S ROOST 8906-99 St FILTHY MCNASTY’S 10511-82 Ave, 780.916.1557 FLOW LOUNGE 11815 Wayne Gretzky Dr, 780.604.CLUB FLUID LOUNGE 10105-109 St, 780.429.0700 FORT EDMONTON PARK Whitemud Dr and Fox Dr, talesstorytelling.com GCCA CENTRE 8310 Roper Rd, 780.466.4000, gcca.ca FUNKY BUDDHA 10341-82 Ave, 780.433.9676 GAS PUMP 10166-114 St,

VUEWEEKLY // SEP 2 – SEP 8, 2010

780.488.4841 HALO 10538 Jasper Ave, 780.423.

HALO HAVEN SOCIAL CLUB 15120A (basement), Stony Plain Rd, 780.756.6010 HERITAGE AMPHITHEATRE Hawrelak Park, 780.428.1414, EdmontonSymphony.com HILL TOP PUB 8220-106 Ave, 780.490.7359 HOOLIGANZ 10704-124 St, 780.452.1168 HYDEAWAY 10209-100 Ave, 780.426.5381 IRON BOAR 4911-51 St, Wetaskiwin IVORY CLUB 2940 Calgary Trail South JAMMERS PUB 11948-127 Ave, 780.451.8779 J AND R 4003-106 St, 780.436.4403 JEFFREY’S CAFÉ 9640 142 St, 780.451.8890 JEKYLL AND HYDE 10209-100 Ave, 780.426.5381 KAS BAR 10444-82 Ave, 780.433.6768 L.B.’S PUB 23 Akins Dr, St Albert, 780.460.9100 LEGENDS PUB 6104-172 St, 780.481.2786 LEVEL 2 LOUNGE 11607 Jasper Ave, 2nd Fl, 780.447.4495 LIVE WIRE 1107 Knotwood Rd. East MARYBETH'S COFFEE HOUSE–Beaumont 5001-30 Ave, Beaumont MORANGO’S TEK CAFÉ 10118-79 St NAKED CYBERCAFÉ 10354

Jasper Ave NEWCASTLE PUB 6108-90 Ave, 780.490.1999 NEW CITY 10081 Jasper Ave, 780.989.5066 NIKKI DIAMONDS 8130 Gateway Blvd, 780.439.8006 NORWOOD LEGION 11150-82 St, 780.436.1554 NORTH GLENORA HALL 13535109A Ave O’BYRNE’S 10616-82 Ave, 780.414.6766 ON THE ROCKS 11730 Jasper Ave, 780.482.4767 ORLANDO'S 1 15163-121 St PAWN SHOP 10551-82 Ave, Upstairs, 780.432.0814 PLANET INDIGO�Jasper Ave 11607 Jasper Ave; St Albert 812 Liberton Dr, St Albert PLAY NIGHTCLUB 10220-103 St PLEASANTVIEW COMMUNITY HALL 10860-57 Ave REDNEX BAR�Morinville 10413100 Ave, Morinville, 780.939.6955, rednex.ca 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 RIC’S GRILL 24 Perron Street, St Albert, 780.460.6602 ROSEBOWL/ROUGE LOUNGE 10111-117 St, 780.482.5253 ROSE AND CROWN 10235-101 St RUSTY REED'S HOUSE OF BLUES 12402-118 Ave, 780.451.1390

SECOND CUP�Mountain Equipment 12336-102 Ave, 780.451.7574; Stanley Milner Library 7 Sir Winston Churchill Sq; Varscona, Varscona Hotel, 106 St, Whyte Ave SIDELINERS 11018-127 St, 780.453.6006 SONIC BOOM Northlands Park, sonicboomfestival.com SPORTSWORLD 13710-104 St SPORTSMAN'S LOUNGE 8170-50 St STANLEY A. MILNER LIBRARY THEATRE 7 Sir Winston Churchill Sq, 780.496.7000 STARLITE ROOM 10030-102 St, 780.428.1099 STEEPS�College Plaza 11116-82 Ave, 780.988.8105; Old Glenora 12411 Stony Plain Rd, 780.488.1505 STOLLI’S 2nd Fl, 10368-82 Ave, 780.437.2293 TAPHOUSE 9020 McKenney Ave, St Albert, 780.458.0860 WHISTLESTOP LOUNGE 12416132 Ave, 780. 451.5506 WILD BILL’S�Red Deer Quality Inn North Hill, 7150-50 Ave, Red Deer WILD WEST SALOON 12912-50 St, 780.476.3388 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 YESTERDAYS PUB 112, 205 Carnegie Dr, St Albert, 780.459.0295

available at Town of Beaumont office

Londonderry Mall), Occulist (WEM; boodang.com

BLACK DOG FREEHOUSE Hair of the Dog: live acoustic music every Sat; 4-6pm; no cover

SONIC BOOM KO, The Dirty Head, Arkells, Mother Mother, Tokyo Police Club, Wintersleep, Bad Religion, City And Colour, Weezer, Rise Against; 11:30am (gate); tickets at TicketMaster, unionevents.com; info at sonicboomfestival.com

BLUE CHAIR CAFÉ Tim Harwill; 8pm; $10 BLUES ON WHYTE Carson Cole BOHEMIA Tomas Marsh, The Fantastic Brown Dirt, guests; 9pm (show); $5 (door) BRIXX BAR Freshman Years, Color in Conflict, guest; 9pm; $12 (door) CARROT Open mic Sat; 7:3010pm; free CASINO EDMONTON Catalyst (Caribbean) CASINO YELLOWHEAD The Top Tones (pop/rock) CENTURY CASINO Almost ABBA; $29.95 at TicketMaster and Century Casino 643.4000 COAST TO COAST Live bands every Sat; 9:30pm CROWN PUB Acoustic Open Stage during the day/Electric Open Stage at night with Marshall Lawrence, 1:30pm (sign-up), every Sat, 2-5pm; evening: hosted by Dan and Miguel; 9:30pm-12:30am DV8 Whiskey Wagon, Looking East, Micelli, What Grace; 9pm GAS PUMP Blues Jam/open stage every Sat 3-6pm, backline provided HAVEN SOCIAL CLUB The Entropy, Mindweiser,Nobody Likes Dwight, Still Within; 8-11:30pm; $10 (adv at YEG Live)/$12 (door) HILLTOP PUB Open stage/mic Sat: hosted by Sally's Krackers Sean Brewer; 3-5:30pm IRON BOAR PUB Jazz in Wetaskiwin featuring jazz trios the 1st Sat each month; $10 IVORY CLUB Duelling piano show with Jesse, Shane, Tiffany and Erik and guests JAMMERS PUB Sat open jam, 3-7:30pm; country/rock band 9pm-2am L.B.’S PUB Sat afternoon open jam with Gator and friends; 5-9pm

STARLITE ROOM Sonic Boom 2010 Official After Party: Michael James Band, Old Wives, On the Sidewalk Bleeding; 9pm (door); $10 (adv at Starlite, Blackbyrd)/$12 (door) WEM�Newcap Stage Canadian Country Music Association (CCMA): local, up-and-coming country music artists (RBC Emerging Artists Project); 2pm; every Sat until Sep 11 WILD WEST SALOON Trick Ryder

Classical HERITAGE AMPHITHEATRE Symphony Under the Sky: The Celtic Spirit: the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra at 2pm; John Williams' Greatest Hits: at 7pm; $29 (adult reserved)/$20 (adult, grass adv)/$25 (adult, grass day-of )/$13 (child reserved)/free (child grass) STANLEY A. MILNER LIBRARY THEATRE Oscar Castro Revisited: Recital by Concierto Group; 7pm; $15 donation in adv at 780.450.1234

DJs AZUCAR PICANTE Every Sat: DJ Touch It, hosted by DJ Papi BLACK DOG FREEHOUSE Sat DJs on three levels. Main Floor: Menace Sessions: alt rock/electro/trash with Miss Mannered BUDDY'S DJ Earth Shiver 'n' Quake; 8pm; no cover before 10pm CENTURY ROOM Underground House every Sat with DJ Nic-E DRUID IRISH PUB Sat DJ at 9pm EMPIRE BALLROOM Rock, hip hop, house, mash up ENCORE CLUB So Sweeeeet Sat

L.B.’S PUB Lou Rye; 9:30pm

ESMERALDA’S Super Parties: Every Sat a different theme

LYVE ON WHYTE Dean Lonsdale and the Ramifications; 8pm; $5 (door)

FLUID LOUNGE Sat Gone Gold Mash-Up: with Harmen B and DJ Kwake

MORANGO'S TEK CAFÉ Sat open stage: hosted by Dr. Oxide; 7-10pm

FUNKY BUDDHA�Whyte Ave Top tracks, rock, retro with DJ Damian

NEW CITY LIKWID LOUNGE Outdoor Miners, Mount Royal, Slam Dunk

HALO For Those Who Know: house every Sat with DJ Junior Brown, Luke Morrison, Nestor Delano, Ari Rhodes

O’BYRNE’S Live band Sat 3-7pm; DJ 9:30pm ON THE ROCKS Ratt Poison; 9pm; $5 PAWN SHOP JFR Project, Desousa Drive, Owls By Nature; 9pm; $10 (door)/$5 (adv at Blackbyrd and bands) REDNEX BAR DJ Gravy (Radio CFWE) RED PIANO BAR Hottest dueling piano show featuring the Red Piano Players; 9pm-2am RUSTY REED'S HOUSE OF BLUES Joe Piccolo and the Swing Cat; 9pm-1am; cover SHAW CONFERENCE CENTRE Metropolis Electronic Music Festival: Sander Van Doorn, Gareth Emery, Showtek, Tommy Lee, Dj Aero, many more; $60.85-$87.10 at TicketMaster, Foosh (Whyte Ave), Shadified (Northgate), Restricted Elite (Kingsway Mall,

LEVEL 2 LOUNGE Signature Sound Sat: with DJ's Travis Mateeson, Big Daddy, Tweek and Mr Wedge; 9:30pm (door); $3; 780.447.4495 for guestlist NEWCASTLE PUB Top 40 Sat: requests with DJ Sheri NEW CITY LIKWID LOUNGE Punk Rawk Sat with Todd and Alex NEW CITY SUBURBS Black Polished Chrome Sat: industrial, Electro and alt with Dervish, Anonymouse, Blue Jay PALACE CASINO Show Lounge Sat night DJ PAWN SHOP SONiC Presents Live On Site! Anti-Club Sat: rock, indie, punk, rock, dance, retro rock; 8pm (door) PLANET INDIGO�Jasper Ave Suggestive Sat: breaks electro house with PI residents PLAY NIGHTCLUB Every Sat

with DJ Showboy; 8pm (door) RED STAR Sat indie rock, hip hop, and electro with DJ Hot Philly and guests RENDEZVOUS Survival metal night SPORTSWORLD Roller Skating Disco Sat; 1pm-4:30pm and 7-10:30pm STOLLI’S ON WHYTE Top 40, R&B, house with People’s DJ TEMPLE Oh Snap!: Every Sat, Cobra Commander and guests with Degree, Cobra Commander and Battery; 9pm (door); $5 (door) Y AFTERHOURS Release Sat

SUN SEP 5 AVENUE THEATRE House Party–Vol. 1: the UNofficial sonic boom afterparty; live DJ; no minors; 9pm BEAUMONT BLUES FESTIVAL Greg Zawaski, Erin Faught, No Foolin', The Smokin 45s, Adam Holm, Blue Gator, featuring Wayne Allchin, Harpdog Brown, Darrell Barr, Cousin Harley, featuring Paul Pigat, Amos Garrett; 12 (gate), 1pm (music); $65 (2-day weekend pass)/$35 (adult day)/$25 (senior/ student day) available at Town of Beaumont office BEER HUNTER�St Albert Open stage/jam every Sun; 2-6pm BLACK DOG FREEHOUSE Best In Show 4–Mini-Music Fest: 100 mile House 4-4:45pm, Yes Nice 5:15-6pm, Triple Exposure 6:307:15pm, The Fight 7:45-8:30pm, The Give Em Hell Boys 9-10pm; no cover BLUE CHAIR CAFÉ Sun Brunch: PM Bossa; 10am-2:30pm; donations BLUE PEAR RESTAURANT Jazz on the Side Sun: Don Berner (sax); $25 if not dining BLUES ON WHYTE Scott Cook B�STREET BAR Acoustic-based open stage hosted by Mike "Shufflehound" Chenoweth; every Sun evening CENTURY CASINO Almost ABBA; $29.95 at TicketMaster and Century Casino 643.4000 CROWN PUB Latin/world fusion jam hosted by Marko Cerda; musicians from other musical backgrounds are invited to jam; 7pm-closing DEVANEY’S IRISH PUB Celtic Music Session, hosted by KeriLynne Zwicker, 4-7pm EDDIE SHORTS Songwriters Showcase Sun with Michael Dunn FORT EDMONTON PARK Storytelling Festival–Concert at Egge’s Barn: Maria Dunn with storyteller Cindy Campbell; 8pm; $15 (adv, TALES 780.932.4409)/$16 (door) HAVEN SOCIAL CLUB Bluebird North: Where Writers Sing and Tell: Matt Masters, Terry Morrison, Kevin Cook, Heather Blush; 8pm; $15 (door or adv tickets at TIX on the Square)/$12 (door for S.A.C. member with valid card) HYDEAWAY Sun Night Songwriter's Stage: hosted by Rhea March J AND R BAR Open jam/stage every Sun hosted by Me Next and the Have-Nots; 3-7pm JUBILEE AUDITORIUM Alberta Gujarati Association: 2010 Raas Garba Festival LYVE ON WHYTE Amy Van Keeken's Rock 'n' Roll Singalong (Motown and '70s rock); no minors; 8-11:30pm; $5 (door)

NEWCASTLE PUB Sun Soul Service (acoustic jam): Willy James and Crawdad Cantera; 3-6:30pm NEW CITY Open Mic Sun hosted by Ben Disaster; 9pm (sign-up); no cover O’BYRNE’S Open mic Sun with Robb Angus (Wheat Pool); 9:30pm-1am ON THE ROCKS Ratt Poison; 8pm; $5 ORLANDO'S 2 PUB Sun Open Stage Jam hosted by The Vindicators (blues/rock); 3-8pm PAWN SHOP Long Weekend Sun: Needles To Vinyl, Ill Ragazzi, Vox Humana; 9pm2am; $5 (adv) at Blackbyrd, bands/$10 (door) RED PIANO Back to School Long weekend Sun: Dueling Piano performance RIVER CREE Deadliest Catch; 8pm; $36 RUSTY REED'S HOUSE OF BLUES Sun open stage with the Rusty Reed Band; 3-6pm RUSTY REED'S HOUSE OF BLUES Tim Lee at 3-7pm; Rusty Reed Band at 9pm-1am SECOND CUP�Mountain Equipment Co-op Live music every Sun; 2-4pm SHAW CONFERENCE CENTRE Metropolis Electronic Music Festival: Sander Van Doorn, Gareth Emery, Showtek, Tommy Lee, Dj Aero, many more; $60.85-$87.10 at TicketMaster, Foosh (Whyte Ave), Shadified (Northgate), Restricted Elite (Kingsway Mall, Londonderry Mall), Occulist (WEM); boodang.com TEMPLE Reform School Party with Greg Gory and Eddie Lunchpail; 9pm

Classical HERITAGE AMPHITHEATRE Symphony Under the Sky: Edmonton Symphony Orchestra Family Matinee: 2pm, $12 (adult)/free (child); The Piano Men: the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra at 7pm, $35 (adult reserved)/$25 (adult, grass adv)/$30 (adult, grass day-of )/$15 (child reserved)/free (child grass)

DJs BACKSTAGE TAP AND GRILL Industry Night: with Atomic Improv, Jameoki and DJ Tim BLACK DOG FREEHOUSE Sun Afternoons: Phil, 2-7pm; Main Floor: Got To Give It Up: Funk, Soul, Motown, Disco with DJ Red Dawn BUDDY'S DJ Bobby Beatz; 9pm; Drag Queen Performance; no cover before 10pm FLOW LOUNGE Stylus Sun NEW CITY SUBURBS Get Down Sun: with Neighbourhood Rats PLAY NIGHTCLUB Rotating Drag shows; every Sun; 9pm (door) SAVOY MARTINI LOUNGE Reggae on Whyte: RnR Sun with DJ IceMan; no minors; 9pm; no cover SPORTSWORLD Roller Skating Disco Sun; 1-4:30pm; sportsworld.ca

MON SEP 6 BLACK DOG FREEHOUSE Sleeman Mon: live music monthly; no cover BLUES ON WHYTE Big Dave Mclean, Jimmy Guiboche DEVANEY'S IRISH PUB Open

stage Mon with Ido Vander Laan and Scott Cook; 8-12 DV8 Redrick Sultan with Solopsism and Elphida Trio; 9pm NEW CITY This Will Hurt you Mon: Johnny Neck and his Job present mystery musical guests PLEASANTVIEW COMMUNITY HALL Acoustic instrumental old time fiddle jam hosted by the Wild Rose Old Tyme Fiddlers Society; 7pm ROSE BOWL/ROUGE LOUNGE The Legendary Rose Bowl Mon Jam: hosted by Sean Brewer; 9pm RUSTY REED'S HOUSE OF BLUES Blue Mon: Jammin' with Jim Guiboche; 8pm-12

Classical HERITAGE AMPHITHEATRE Symphony Under the Sky: Great Canadian Song Book: Edmonton Symphony Orchestra at 2pm; $29 (adult reserved)/$20 (adult, grass adv)/$25 (adult, grass day-of )/$13 (child reserved)/free (child grass)

DJs BAR WILD Bar Gone Wild Mon: Service Industry Night; no minors; 9pm-2am BLACK DOG FREEHOUSE Main Floor: Eclectic Nonsense, Confederacy of Dunces, Dad Rock, TJ Hookah and Rear Admiral Saunders BUDDY'S DJ Dust 'n' Time; 9pm FILTHY MCNASTY'S Metal Mon: with DJ S.W.A.G. FLUID LOUNGE Mon Mixer LUCKY 13 Industry Night with DJ Chad Cook every Mon NEW CITY LIKWID LOUNGE Daniel and Fowler (eclectic tunes)

TUE SEP 7 BLUES ON WHYTE Big Dave Mclean, Jimmy Guiboche BRIXX BAR Troubadour Tue CROWN PUB Underground At The Crown: underground, hip hop with DJ Xaolin and Jae Maze; open mic; every Tue; 10pm; $3 DRUID IRISH PUB Open stage with Chris Wynters, with guests Jessie and Monika; 9pm DV8 The Mentors!! (20 Year anniversary tour), Mr Plow, guests; 9pm HAVEN SOCIAL CLUB Stef Lang; 7:30pm (door), 9:30pm (show); $10 (adv at YEG Live)/$12 (door) L.B.’S PUB Ammar’s Moosehead Tue open stage; 9pm-1am LYVE ON WHYTE Bend Sinister, The Reason, Fendercase, guests; 8-11:30pm; $5 (door) NEW CITY LIKWID LOUNGE Open Mic; Hosted by Ben Disaster; 9pm O’BYRNE’S Celtic Jam with Shannon Johnson and friends ON THE ROCKS Scatterheart; 8pm; $5 RUSTY REED'S HOUSE OF BLUES Brian Gregg and Patsy Amico (acoustic open stage); 8pm-12am SECOND CUP�124 Street Open mic every Tue; 8-10pm SECOND CUP�Stanley Milner Library Open mic every Tue; 7-9pm

VUEWEEKLY // SEP 2 – SEP 8, 2010

MUSIC // 29

COMMENT >> FEAR MONGERING

Tasteless tactics

Bootlegging worse than child exploitation?

We've all seen commercials for cleaning services ... offered today. This means products that go something likes this: that broadband providers can work with A narrator tells you that your home is other players to develop new services. It filled with horrible germs and bacteria, is too soon to predict how these new often portrayed by monstrous, services will develop, but exambrown animated furrballs. ples might include health care Then, you're told that the monitoring, the smart grid, cleaning product on offer will advanced educational serm kill all of those germs. It will vices or new entertainment ekly.co e w e u @v sanitize your home. It will proand gaming options.” steven tect your family.

Of course, as soon as the Steveonr Basically, the message is this: If Google/Verizon proposal Sand you don't buy new and improved, mentioned new entertainment grime-fighting (PLACE PRODUCT NAME options, the music industry had to reHERE), you and your family ... will die. spond. A group of major lobby groups Buy or die. Well, I think that a whole representing the recording industry in bunch of PR wags representing the muAmerica, including the Recording Indussic industry in America have learned a lot try Association of America, SoundExfrom fear-mongering ad campaigns. change and Nashville Songwriters AssoLet's start at the beginning: Communiciation International, sent an open letter cations giant Verizon and Google have to Google CEO Eric Schmidt. made major waves after they made As expected, it stressed that no mata seven-step proposal to the United ter how Verizon and Google team to States government; it's what they think open up the Net, they have to keep in the guidelines should be to ensure that mind that they aren't to slack off when it Internet access continues to grow in an comes to allowing illegal activity. open fashion.

Of course, any Internet regulations And that's where the fear-mongering in America affect the entire world. So came in. “We read about your recent what happens there is important to joint policy proposal for an open InterCanadians. net and commend you and Verizon for One of Verizon/Google's proposals: advancing the public conversation on “Therefore, our proposal would allow this important issue,” reads the letter. broadband providers to offer additional, “The music community we represent bedifferentiated online services, in addilieves it is vital that any Internet policy tion to the Internet access and video initiative permit and encourage ISPs and

ENTER

SAND

SIDELINERS PUB Tue All Star Jam with Alicia Tait and Rickey Sidecar; 8pm SPORTSMAN'S LOUNGE Open Stage hosted by Paul McGowan and Gina Cormier; every Tue; 8pm-midnight; no cover STEEPS�Old Glenora Every Tue Open Mic; 7:30-9:30pm

DJs BLACK DOG FREEHOUSE Main Floor: CJSR’s Eddie Lunchpail; Wooftop: with DJ Gundam BRIXX BAR Troubadour Tue: The Balconies and Sean Brewer, hosted by Mark Feduk; 9pm; $8 BUDDY'S DJ Arrow Chaser; 9pm ESMERALDA’S Retro Tue; no cover with student ID FUNKY BUDDHA�Whyte Ave Latin and Salsa music, dance lessons 8-10pm NEW CITY LIKWID LOUNGE ‘abilly, Ghoul-rock, spooky with DJ Vylan Cadaver RED STAR Tue Experimental Indie Rock, Hip Hop, Electro

30 // MUSIC

OR

with DJ Hot Philly

Blackbyrd

WED SEP 8

FIDDLER'S ROOST Little Flower Open Stage Wed with Brian Gregg; 8pm-12

ARTERY Emo LeBlanc, Ky Babyn (country); 8pm; tickets at emoleblanc.eventbrite.com

HAVEN SOCIAL Open stage with Jonny Mac, 8:30pm, free

BLACK DOG FREEHOUSE Main Floor: Glitter Gulch Wed: The Pack AD and Young Rival; no cover; 9-11:30pm BLUES ON WHYTE Big Dave Mclean, Jimmy Guiboche BRIXX BAR Really Good… Eats and Beats: DJ Degree every Wed, Edmonton’s Bassline Community; 6pm (music); no cover COPPERPOT RESTAURANT Live jazz every Wed night: Mike Lent CROWN PUB Creative original Jam Wed (no covers): hosted by Dan and Miguel; 9:30pm12:30am EDDIE SHORTS Wed Open Stage with Kelsey Slidemaster EDMONTON EVENT CENTRE The Gaslight Anthem, The Menzingers, Fake Problems; all ages; 7pm (door); $27.50 at TicketMaster, Unionevents.com,

VUEWEEKLY // SEP 2 – SEP 8, 2010

JUBILEE AUDITORIUM DJ Lance Rock and the cast of Yo Gabba Gabba! Live LEVEL 2 LOUNGE Open mic LYVE ON WHYTE The Dustin Bentall Outfit, National Divide, Joe Nolan, Jay Gilday; no minors; 8-11:30pms; tickets at at TicketMaster NEW CITY Circ-O-RamaLicious: Gypsy and circus fusion spectaculars; last Wed every month PAWN SHOP Dreamface, The Salteens, The Whitsundays; 8pm; $5 PLEASANTVIEW COMMUNITY HALL Acoustic Bluegrass jam presented by the Northern Bluegrass Circle Music Society every Wed evening RED PIANO BAR Wed Night Live: hosted by dueling piano players; 8pm-1am; $5 RIVER CREE Wed Live Rock

other intermediaries to take measures to deter unlawful activity such as copyright infringement and child pornography.”

Whoa. Copyright infringement and child porn ... in the same breath?

I can't think of a more vile thing that is spread on the Net than child porn. I imagine neither could the PR firms behind the RIAA and co. So, to stress just how evil music pirates are, why not lump them into the same category as the sickos out there who exploit children?

Let's get this straight. If there is a hell, there is a special place in it for those who abuse children. But, I would wager that Satan hasn't really come up with a new level for the people who bootlegged the new Lady Gaga single.

Seriously, it's like comparing the teen who smokes pot to a serial killer. Yeah, both are crimes—and on entirely different ends of the sliding scale.

It's reprehensible that the recording industry sought to link such disparate levels of criminal activity to make a point.

We get it. We understand that labels want their copyrights protected.

But you don't need to scare us with child porn.

Tasteless, tactless and completely unnecessary. All it serves to do is weaken, not strengthen, the industry's point. It's as if they came to some kind of weird conclusion that their issues might not come off as being important on their own merits, so they had to throw in the entirely unrelated issue of child abuse in there. Sad. V Steven Sandor is a former editor-in-chief of Vue Weekly, now an editor and author living in Toronto.

Band hosted by Yukon Jack; 7:30-9pm RUSTY REED'S HOUSE OF BLUES Gord Matthews; 8pm-12am SECOND CUP�Mountain Equipment Open mic every Wed; 8-10pm STEEPS TEA LOUNGE�College Plaza Open mic every Wed; hosted by Ernie Tersigni; 8pm STEEPS TEA LOUNGE�Whyte Ave Open mic every Wed; 8pm TEMPLE Wyld Style Wed: Live hip hop; $5

DJs BANK ULTRA LOUNGE Wed Nights: with DJ Harley BLACK DOG FREEHOUSE Main Floor: Blue Jay’s Messy Nest Wed Night: Brit pop, new wave, punk, rock ‘n’ roll with LL Cool Joe BRIXX BAR Really Good... Eats and Beats with DJ Degree and Friends BUDDY'S DJ Dust 'n' Time; 9pm; no cover before 10pm DIESEL ULTRA LOUNGE Wind-up Wed: R&B, hiphop,

reggae, old skool, reggaeton with InVinceable, Touch It, weekly guest DJs FLUID LOUNGE Wed Rock This IVORY CLUB DJ ongoing every Wed; open DJ night; 9pm-close; all DJs welcome to spin a short set LEGENDS PUB Hip hop/R&B with DJ Spincycle NEW CITY LIKWID LOUNGE DJ Roxxi Slade (indie, punk and metal) NEW CITY SUBURBS Shake It: with Greg Gory and Eddie Lunchpail; no minors; 9pm (door) NIKKI DIAMONDS Punk and ‘80s metal every Wed PLAY NIGHTCLUB Movie Night every Wed; 9pm (door) RED STAR Guest DJs every Wed STARLITE ROOM Wild Style Wed: Hip-Hop; 9pm STOLLI'S Beatparty Wed: House, progressive and electronica with Rudy Electro, DJ Rystar, Space Age and weekly guests; 9pm2am; beatparty.net Y AFTERHOURS Y Not Wed

VUEWEEKLY // SEP 2 – SEP 8, 2010

MUSIC // 31

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VUEWEEKLY // SEP 2 – SEP 8, 2010

PREVUE >> TOKYO POLICE CLUB

Building a Champ

Tokyo Police Club takes the time to do it right In advance of Tokyo Police Club's appearance at Sonic Boom, Vue talks to singer Dave Monks about the group's latest album. With two years in between the group's first LP, 2008's Elephant Shell, and this year's Champ, the members had plenty of time to think about what they wanted out of their sophomore album.

started to accumulate over 2008 and 2009 and it meant that we had a larger base of songs to work with and that no one song was so important— which kind of frees you up. It's not like we had 11 songs and this one had to be the jam and this one had to be the trippy one—they can kind of reveal themselves to you.

VW: Did you feel VUE WEEKLY: You less pressure redecided to record cording Champ this one in LA. Can than recording Elyou tell me about ephant Shell? that decision?

DM: Yeah, way DAVE MONKS: It was initially on the advice of our less. I think we'd just been through more at that new label Mom + Pop. They suggested a handful point; we put out Elephant Shell which divided of names and so we made some calls to try people. When you work on something really and get a vibe of what these people are hard and it comes out and it gets negative like musically and we just got a good reviews and it gets positive reviews it's sense from Rob Schnapf. We spent a bummer to deal with, but once you're three months recording with him in LA a year and a half into it you go, "Wow m o .c ly k e at a bunch of different studios and it we're playing bigger rooms and we love vuewe bryan@ was awesome, it totally shaped the rewhere our band is right now." You learn n a y Br es that you're cord for the better. And the bonus was not so vulnerable. The worstl t r i B that it felt like summer to us, it felt like we case scenario isn't that bad. I think that inwere making a cool summer record despite the spired some confidence. fact that we recorded in December and January.

VW: You're playing a festival when you come to VW: Can you tell me a bit about the process of Edmonton and festivals have a dynamic all their recording? own different from club shows, which you normalDM: Rob, who's been doing this for 20-odd years, ly play, can you tell me about that difference? has all his gear in these different flight cases and DM: Festivals are something that come up seasonhe just rolls into a studio and sets up shop and ally so they're a nice break from club shows. At it's automatically the Rob Schnapf special which the same time it's a different scenario and we've is really cool because he can go anywhere and rebeen making a conscious effort to improve our cord different stuff and still have the gear that festival presence because you can't assume that he's comfortable with and can rock. It also meant people watching there know what you're playthat we didn't get trapped in the romance of, "Oh ing at the moment or can see you or maybe they the studio is so cool and everything we make is think you're the next band. You need to project awesome." It's less precious than that and I think double—whatever personality you're putting out it's really good for keeping up the creative mothere you have to amplify it. You gotta be a little mentum. more of a showman. V

ON TH

E

D RECOR

VW: What about the writing process, how did that work?

DM: My writing portion of a song comes at the very beginning with the initial idea and then it takes the whole band to flesh it out, but some of those initial seeds I'd come up with even before Elephant Shell was done which was really cool because they just

Sat, Sep 4 (11 am) Sonic Boom Featuring Tokyo Police Club, Weezer, Wintersleep, Rise Against, Mother Mother, Bad Religion and more Northlands, $69.50

VUEWEEKLY // SEP 2 – SEP 8, 2010

MUSIC // 33

PREVUE // POISON IDEA

What goes around Poison Idea has a message for today Bryan Birtles // bryan@vueweekly.com

N

ow would be a good time for punk to come out of wherever it's been hiding the last little while. I'm not talking about the music with crunchy guitars filling up the airwaves, or the vacuous and considered faux-politics of the likes of Green Day: I'm talking about snarling progressive punk, the kind so angry and hungry for the world to change that if you don't scream about how shit the world is you're gonna break someone's face.

Now's a good time for Poison Idea to roll through town, reminding everyone how it's done.

Back in 1986, Poison Idea put out perhaps its best album, Kings of Punk.

In it, the Reagan-era, moral majority politics of the day were considered and found to be lacking, their polarizing and anti-poor, anti-difference stances denounced by Jerry A and his comrades. When the reformulated Poison Idea comes to Edmonton for Unrest Fest's third incarnation, the group will play the entire 1986 album front to back not just because it's good timing, but also because of practical considerations.

"We've been a five-piece for as long as I can remember [but] Kings of Punk, when we recorded it, we were a fourpiece," singer Jerry A reminisces from his home in Portland. "One of our guitar players, his wife is having a baby so he's staying in Portland and so we're going up as a four-piece, so we were drawing up a set going, 'Which songs can we play as a four-piece?'"

The answer to that question was every song from Kings of Punk, including a few the band has never even attempted to play live.

"When we started writing down the

34 // MUSIC

VUEWEEKLY // SEP 2 – SEP 8, 2010

set to do Kings of Punk we realized there's three or four songs off that record we've never ever played live before, ever. It's kind of cool in a way to do them at least once," Jerry A says, before explaining the process the band went through to relearn the old songs.

"It takes a couple practices ... the guys who are playing these didn't play on that record either—those guys are all in prison or dead or whatever—so they were happy to play it. It was a kick, we had a blast."

Not only does Kings of Punk allow the band to play as a four-piece, the message the album wrought is as important today as it was in 1986. With America harshly polarized and a neomoral majority movement coalescing around the mean-spirited likes of Glenn Beck and Sarah Palin, the messages delivered by Poison Idea 25 years ago would seem prescient if they didn't seem so tragic.

"I'm sitting here looking at my coat with my Germs armband on it and they said that everything goes in circles ...

I keep hoping things'll change, but man, the bacon's still burning," he says of the lack of substantial change between 1986 and now. "We pretty much pushed it to the extreme and we were very, very upset and there was some really bad stuff going on and I'm just happy it's no worse. I would hope that it inspires kids—be a good person and work for a change. It's gotta change.

We're still waiting." V Fri, Sep 3 (7 pm) Unrest Fest Featuring Poison Idea, Skitsystem, Toxic Holocaust, The Golers, Massgrave, DFA, Tarantuja, Rehashed New City, $25

PREVUE // THE PACK AD The standard for band construction is still the four-piece, but the last decade has seen more people than ever stripping down to the bare essentials. Band's like Vancouver's the Pack AD have learned that even just drums and a guitar (or a bass or a keyboard, depending on your flavour) can still unleash one unholy racket when played with enough abandon. In honour of the duo's upcoming show at the Black Dog, Vue finds out where they fit in the constellation of two-piece rockers. â&#x20AC;&#x201C;David Berry / david@vueweekly.om

fuzzy

9

fig. 1

1. Mates of State (-5, -5) Lovey-dovey couple pop 2. The Ting Tings (-4, -5) Grammy-nominated electro dance-rockers with nomenclature issues

8

3. The Dresden Dolls (-3, -1) Cabaret pop for the goth in all of us

12 4

4. Matt & Kim (-2, 2) Williamsburg hipster power couple 5. The Black Keys (0, -3) White soul brothers

6

6. The Raveonettes (1, 2) Late-'60s pop meets late-'80s shoegazey distortion 7. Japandroids (2, -1) Vancouver punks refute all who came before

0

8. Japanther (2, 4) Wry fuzz-rockers pack a telephone and all kinds of attitude

3

7 10

slick

5 11 1 pop

2

0

rock

9. No Age (3, 5) Mad Libs rock where the blank is always filled with distortion 10. Pack AD (4, -2) Vancouver Luddites kill computers with bluesrock riffs 11. White Stripes (4, -4) The benchmark by which all two-pieces will be measured 12. The Famines (5, 3) Edmonton's black-and-white sludge stars Wed, Sep 8 (9 pm) The Pack AD With Young Rival Black Dog, free

VUEWEEKLY // SEP 2 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; SEP 8, 2010

MUSIC // 35

36 // MUSIC

VUEWEEKLY // SEP 2 – SEP 8, 2010

PREVUE // NEKROMANTIX

Hard as hell

Nekromantix tries to find the time to release a new record that recording mode, and then you're out on the road and you're in the 'live show' mode, then back to the studio ... it's a little weird. Now we need to focus on the recording mode again. We just need to sit down and get it recorded the way we want it to sound."

Mike Angus // mikeangus@vueweekly.com

F

or Danish psychobilly band Nekromantix, a year spent touring has been a great excuse not to record a follow up album to 2007's Life is a Grave & I Dig It. As frontman and bass player Kim Nekroman explains over the phone from a tour stop in Portland, OR, plans to record a new record (to be titled What Happens In Hell Stays In Hell) kept being interrupted and pushed back due to demand for the horrorbilly trio's thrilling live show.

"We spent most of last year touring and writing new songs and did start recording, but then we got offered the supporting spot for Reverend Horton Heat, which we couldn't turn down," Nekroman explains. "We went back in the studio after that tour, then we got offered the Rob Zombie tour, which we couldn't turn down." As persistent as the band—rounded out by guitarist Franc and drummer Lux—has been to

Nekromantix has resisted the urge to give audiences a sneak peak of the new material, believing that the success of the band's live show relies on fans' dedication to the catalogue.

When it comes to playing live, Nekroman states, first thing's first.

"Like I always say, we're a live band first. I'm not a big fan of when people know the songs before I play them.

We'll wait until we release it so people know the songs." V NEKROMANTIX >> Oh, the horror

// Supplied

finish a new record, it's been forced to sit on all the finished material that will appear on What Happens.

"It's a little awkward 'cause you get in

Fri, Sep 3 (8 pm) Nekromantix With the Howlers, the Mutilators Starlite Room, $15

COMMENT >> LOCAL MUSIC

Local sound

Does geography influence the music anymore?

Can we still talk about an identifiable da" sound that was developing, which I'd sound from a geographic region loosely define as garage- and psychanymore? The '90s were pretinfluenced fuzz-rock, sort of a ty flush with various scenes '90s-college throwback with a that seemed to have an bit more pop influence. identifiable common ground m o .c ly ek vuewe of interests and influences, It does make some sense david@ but that kind of framework that community would still v a id D seems to have all but disapplay a stronger role than the Berry Internet, peared in the Internet age. Peoespecially in an outple might point to, say, Brooklyn as post like Edmonton: after all, you can a hotbed of musical creativity, but the download a single, but going out to see bands coming out of there are generally a show usually means local exposure. pretty diverse in terms of sound, and I was reminded of that the next night are more likely to have their own little at the Scrapbooker/Bayonets!!! show: pockets of similar-minded bands, either both of those bands push hardcore into within the city or without. a more interesting, noisier, more chaotic The topic came up at last week's Play place, but the roots in Edmonton's earlyGuitar show, put on by Weird Canada's '00s scene are pretty apparent, even just Aaron Levin. Weird Canada seems to be a from the personnel up on stage. major influence on a growing number of Still, it's entirely possible that in five years' younger bands in town, and a few people time, any trace of local influence will be a mentioned quite liking the "Weird Canadistant memory: look at kids like Kumon

R GUTTE E

DANC

Plaza's Dylan Khotin-Foote, whose eight-bit atmosphere-dance tracks have a lot more precedents on various blog scenes than anything in town. Ditto Gobble Gobble: the line you could draw to someone like SO4 would be a lot shakier than to a bunch of American chiptune/electro-dance acts.

Despite latent civic pride, I can't really see this as a bad thing. I think you could argue that some of the reason Edmonton's been overlooked is because of the prominence of scenes that were out-ofstep with the surrounding world. Now even the outliers can find fellows with relative ease, and get meaningful attention while barely playing a gig here.

Bands will likely always need some kind of community support, but homogeneity is poor grounds for evolution, and it's hardly the end of the world if people need to read about someone on a blog out of New York to come to a show in their own backyard. V

VUEWEEKLY // SEP 2 – SEP 8, 2010

MUSIC // 37

ALBUM REVIEWS

New Sounds

Ryan Bingham Junky Star (Lost Highway) 

Eden Munro // eden@vueweekly.com

R

yan Bingham has been quietly carving out a life as a musician for a few years now. It started back when he was riding bulls on the rodeo circuit and he began strumming a few chords on a guitar, leading to one song in particular, "Southside of Heaven," that found a place on a fine, if nondescript, independent album, before busting out of that mould on 2007's Mescalito, a rawer, tougher record produced by guitarist Marc Ford.

Another Ford-produced album, Roadhouse Sun, followed in 2009—and, like Mescalito before it, it was a solid record that shone a light on the hard-but-honest outlook that the young songwriter viewed the world with—but despite the dust and bones that blew through Bingham's records to that point, it was the glitz of Hollywood and the gloss of producer T-Bone Burnett that would offer the singer a stepping stone to the next level of the music industry: Bingham performed on the soundtrack and wrote the theme song for the Jeff Bridges-vehicle Crazy Heart, winning an Os-

car in the wake of the film's success.

And so for Bingham's follow-up album Burnett has stepped in to replace Ford as producer. That's a potentially dangerous trade-off for a songwriter who's at his best when his raspy voice is allowed to settle into the rattle of his band, the Dead Horses: Burnett is a capable producer, but he has a long history of polishing up the edges of various records, making them palatable to an audience that is more likely to take in the music on screen—in films like Crazy Heart and O Brother, Where Art Thou?—or on layered, rather inoffensive albums by the likes of Robert Plant and Jakob Dylan (among many, many others).

But Burnett is restrained here, mostly allowing Bingham and the Dead Horses to lead the way: the producer simply cleans up the slate so that the group has room to try to mess it back up. And that's as it should be, because Bingham is far from a pop singer, his voice worn and his words wise beyond their years as he sings of tough times in the past and present, and faith in the future: "When your world's of madness and you're burned at both ends / Your walls are closing in, won't you remember / Open up your heart, let yourself unwind / Find peace of mind among the wandering."

In the end, Junky Star's hits and occasional misses—"Direction of the Wind" never gets over a tired progression— rest mainly on the often bleak and downtrodden pictures that Bingham conjures, and in the Dead Horses' ability to hone in on the emotional centre of the band leader's songs—illustrated in the struggling characters scattered up and down heartworn highways— accenting but never overplaying.

That said, Junky Star does come off a little on the polished side—not gleaming, but just a little too buffed for songs as ragged as Bingham's. V

Luke Doucet & the White Falcon Steel City Trawler (Six Shooter)  Luke Doucet's getting a little bit rock 'n' roll on Steel City Trawler, but those aren't the parts that work the best. Not that there's anything wrong with the album when Doucet turns up his amp and kicks it to the edge of the stage—it's just that tracks like "Monkeys" and "Dirty, Dirty Blonde" should be bursting with energy when they struggle a bit in the mid level with the shiny production by Sloan's Andrew Scott and the careful performances by Doucet and the White Falcon. Of course, they do have their moments, and some of the other rockers hold their own just fine: the guitar crunch of "You Gotta Get It" and the wide-open chords and harmonies on a cover of Gordon Lightfoot's "Sundown" come to mind. Steel City Trawler's best moments are Doucet's most introspective, though, with the lofi acoustic strums of "Hey Now," the bass-driven "The Ballad of Ian Curtis" and the acoustic picking and '60s vocal harmonies of "Magpie" being standouts on the album.

Eden Munro

// eden@vueweekly.com

Land of Talk Cloak and Cipher (Saddle Creek) 

Since emerging from Montréal, Land of Talk has had a pretty regular ebb and flow pattern to its releases: the snarling guitar attack of Applause Cheer Boo Hiss preceded the more restrained, textured Some Are Lakes, which in turn led to the more experimental energies of Fun and Laughter. Cloak and Cipher, then, returns to Lakes' dreamy washes, though the band puts more energy into its choruses while Elizabeth Powell's icy-cool voice drifts above. That's pretty much the structure, in fact. Though Powell's got a solid grasp on her style here, the few departures we get from the mid-tempo standard—the jazzy opening plucks of "Hamburg, Noon," the acoustic secret track—are stand outs simply for being variations on the form. I wouldn't mind a couple more.

Paul Blinov

// paul@vueweekly.com

38 // MUSIC

VUEWEEKLY // SEP 2 – SEP 8, 2010

Ray LaMontagne & the Pariah Dogs God Willin' & the Creek Don't Rise (RCA)  No matter how many times somebody claims that the album is dead in this age of singlesong downloads, the truth is that artists are still recording batches of songs and then packaging and releasing the material as a whole collection. So as long as that's still happening, albums will continue to be judged as a complete piece of work. Unfortunately, sometimes that can work against a project, as in the case of Ray LaMontagne's latest.

While the bulk of the record is understated, packing an emotional punch in its shuffling country music and lyrics of quiet desperation, God Willin' & the Creek Don't Rise opens with "Repo Man," a fastpaced, acoustic strummer that recalls the frenetic pacing of the Dave Matthews Band: it's punchy, but ultimately goes nowhere interesting, practically hitting the off switch before the album even gets started. Beyond there, though, "New York City's Killing Me" and the title track strike pretty gut-wrenching notes, while "Old Before Your Time" is a gently rolling assessment of the past and steeling of resolve for the future and "Devil's in the Jukebox" closes the album out on just the right note with a hill-country stomp But that first missed step is a big one in terms of setting the tone of what's to come.

ALBUM REVIEWS Steve Vai Flex-Able (Urantia)

quietly, but then builds (and builds and builds) to a scorching wail of soloing.

Originally released: 1984 But those pieces are the exceptions here, tying together the Steve Vai didn't exactly start Vai who would soon go on to rehis career out as a guitar place Yngwie Malmsteen in Alkly.com e e w e vu eden@ hero, though it's a path he catrazz and then take Eddie Van n e Ed o Halen's spot as David Lee Roth's seemed to be headed on even Munr sideman, with the quirky musician before it became apparent to the outside world, and quite probwho had cut his teeth with Zappa. ably even to himAt its heart, Flexself, going from Able is more conguitar lessons cerned with pop with Joe Satriani music then with (another future guitar acrobathero) to in-house ics—except when transcriber for those acrobatics Frank Zappa and are in the serthen to becomvice of the song. ing a member of Tracks like "Little Zappa's touring Green Men," Viv and recording enWoman" and semble for a few "Junkie" are built years. on hooks more While he was a than random fiery member of Zapoutbursts. pa's group, Vai Certainly Vai was credited on enters the realms records as "stunt guitar" and "impossible of ridiculousness on the album, but that guitar parts," and the technical ability seems to be his point as he veers wildly that those credits emerged from is given between gentle ballads and noisescapes, no short shrift on his debut solo record, rooting those within solid structures.

Flex-Able: "The Attitude Song" may very In hindsight, Flex-Able may have been well be one of the most over-the-top an indicator of the guitar excess that folpieces of music ever committed to tape, lowed in the mid to late '80s, but what leaving pretty much no note un-turned, makes it stand apart is Vai's sense for unbent, un-picked or un-whammied. pop hooks and his sheer enthusiasm for Likewise, the ballad "Call it Sleep" begins the guitar. V

SO

Eden Munro

// eden@vueweekly.com

Mary Kastle Beneath the Folds (Black Hen) 

There is something disappointing about Beneath the Folds, Mary Kastle’s first full-length album. Many of the tracks are quite good on their own, but as a whole they lack a cohesive centre. The album has a bit of jazz, a bit of soul, a bit of gospel and even a little bit of country. Unfortunately, in the end that all adds up to a bit too much of everything. Kastle does have considerable talent, but we may have to wait for her next album to see it fully unleashed.

Jim Dean

// jim@vueweekly.com

OULNDDS

HAIKU Rox Memoirs (Rough Trade) She's belting it out And it's more piercing than a Tattoo convention

QUICK

SPINS

kly.com

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ins@v

quicksp

Whiteoyn Houst

Krome Kronic Rock (Cordova Bay)

Old school rockin' rock Fist pumps and lighters aloft For all 10 songs dude

The Franco Prioetti Morphtet Live! A weekend at Centre St. Ambroise (Bongo Beat)

Cotton Jones Tall Hours in the Glowstream (Suicide Squeeze)

Great skronkin' live jazz But is it a real show when Band outnumbers crowd?

Relaxed nostalgia Maybe they should have been called Patsy Recliner

Efa Etoroma Jr. Trio Before & After (Independent)

Fond Of Tigers Continent & Western (Drip Audio)

Yes, I do like jazz Problem is, I just don't like To listen to it

It's post-pop post-rock Post-nü-avant-noise-garde-jazz Post-traumatic stress

VUEWEEKLY // SEP 2 – SEP 8, 2010

MUSIC // 39

HOROSCOPE ARIES (Mar 21 – Apr 19)

I had last night. In the dream, all of my In an old comedy sketch called "One Leg Gemini friends had sent me poignant Too Few," a one-legged man comes into emails. Every one of them said somea casting agent's office to audition for thing like, "I've got to get back to where the part of Tarzan in an upcoming show. I started from" or "I hear a voice calling The agent is diplomatic given my name but I don't know who it is the fact the role would best or where it's coming from." And be played by a strapping each of their emails ended like Y this: "Sent from my iSoul." I young man with excepG O L tional running and leaping A S T R O .com suspect my dream is in perfect weekly l@vue skills. "It's possible that no accordance with your astrofreewil two-legged men will apply," logical omens, Gemini. It's time Rob y the agent tells the applicant, to go home, in every sense of Brezsn "in which case you could get the the word. part." Don't be like the one-legged man in this story, Aries. While I usually CANCER ( Jun 21 – Jul 22) encourage you to think big and dream My name was "Robbie" from birth till of accomplishing amazing feats, this is seventh grade. But as my adolescent one time when you should respect your hormones began to kick in, I decided I limitations. needed a more virile stature. My name became the punchier, sleeker "Rob." TAURUS (Apr 20 – May 20) But with every year that passes, I find As I was meditating on your horoscope myself heading back in the direction of for this week, a song popped into my "Robbie." I want my paradoxes to harhead: Marvin Gaye's "Sexual Healing." I monize—my blithe feminine qualities instantly knew it was a message from to cooperate with my aggressive masmy unconscious: a perfect action plan culine side. Isn't it time for you, too, my for you to be in maximum alignment fellow Cancerian, to circle back and rewith the astrological omens. I encour- claim an early part of you that got lost age you to come up with your own in- along the way? terpretation of what "sexual healing" means for you, maybe even write your LEO ( Jul 23 – Aug 22) own lyrics. And you don't necessarily The Clash was a leftwing punk band need a partner to conjure up the cure. that launched its career in 1979. With its dissident lyrics and experimental music, GEMINI (May 21 – Jun 20) it aspired to make an impact on politiYou probably get emails that close like cal attitudes. But then one of its songs, this: "Sent from my iPhone." Keep that "Rock the Casbah," got so popular that detail in mind while I tell you the dream college fraternity parties were playing it

IL FREEW

40 // BACK

L

as feel-good dance music. That peeved the Clash's lead singer Joe Strummer, born under the sign of Leo. He didn't want his revolutionary anthems to be used as vulgar entertainment by bourgeois kids. I sympathize with his purity, but I don't advocate that approach for you. For now, relinquish control of your offerings. Let people use them the way they want to.

VIRGO (Aug 23 – Sep 22)

"The trouble with life isn't that there is no answer; it's that there are so many answers," said folklorist Ruth Benedict.

That's always true, of course, but it's especially apropos for you right now.

There are so many decent ideas eddying in your vicinity that you may be hardpressed to pick out just a couple to give your power to. My advice: Let them all swarm and swirl for a few more days, then go with the ones that you feel will last the longest.

LIBRA (Sep 23 – Oct 22)

Jack Mytton was a famous 19th century eccentric. One of his less successful adventures came on a night when he got a bad case of the hiccups. Thinking he could scare himself, he set fire to his pajamas. In the ensuing mayhem, his hiccups disappeared but he burned himself.

I bring this to your attention, Libra, in the hope it will dissuade you from attacking a small problem in a way that causes a bigger problem. For now it's better to endure a slight inconvenience. Don't seek a quick fix that causes a complicated mess.

VUEWEEKLY // SEP 2 – SEP 8, 2010

SCORPIO (Oct 23 – Nov 21)

In accordance with the astrological omens, Scorpio, I will ask you to make everything wetter; to be the personification of fluidity. Be ingenious, not rash, as you stir up dormant feelings in people you care about. Remind those who are high and dry about the river that runs through them. A good way to do that is to reveal the river that runs through you.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov 22 – Dec 21)

Gwyneth Paltrow is the most perfect person alive, said Gawker.com. From a certain perspective, I suppose it's possible to award her that title. She's beautiful, famous, in good shape, a talented actress and published author. Without denying that Gwyneth is a gem, however, I must say that my standards of perfection are different. Are you doing the work you love? Are you engaged in ongoing efforts to transform your darkness? Are you saving the world in some way? Those are my primary measures.

What are yours, Sagittarius? It's an excellent time to define your ideal human.

CAPRICORN (Dec 22 – Jan 19)

In an old Star Trek episode, a 24th-century starship captain is weighed down by a knotty problem about how to deal with two of her enemies who are at war with each other. Unable to come up with a viable solution, she retreats to the holodeck where she seeks out Leonardo da Vinci in his 16th-century studio. Once she has outlined her dilemma, Leonardo

offers his counsel: "When one's imagination cannot provide an answer, one must turn to a greater imagination." This is my advice to you right now, Capricorn.

AQUARIUS ( Jan 20 – Feb 18)

Seth Grahame-Smith rewrote Jane Austen's classic novel Pride and Prejudice.

He kept 85 percent of her material, but also added a big dose of "ultraviolent zombie mayhem," creating a new story, Pride and Prejudice and Zombies. In his version, Austen's tale is expanded and altered by the previously unrevealed activities of zombies. I urge you to follow Grahame-Smith's lead, Aquarius.

Take some original creation you really like, and add a shot of your own unique approach to generate a completely new thing.

PISCES (Feb 19 – Mar 20)

Everyone alive should see the musical comedy "I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change." At the very least, we should all meditate regularly on the play's title, using it as a self-mocking mantra that dissuades us from committing the folly it describes. How better to serve the health of our relationships than by withdrawing the projections we superimpose on people, thereby allowing them to be themselves? Right now you're in special need of honoring this wisdom, Pisces. If you feel the itch to tell friends and loved ones that they should be different from how they actually are, stop and ask yourself whether maybe you should transform yourself instead.

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

COMEDY bohemia • 10575-114 St • Open Mic Comedy Night • Fri, Sep 3, 8pm • Entry by donation

Hall, 9231-100 Ave • Sep Potluck: Featuring speaker Jackie Latimer, Colon Hydrotherapist on the importance of inner cleansing. Bring dish to serve at least 6 people, your own plate, bowl, cutlery, cup, napkin, serving utensil • Sun, Sep 12, 5:30pm

Boots Bar and Lounge • 10242-106 St • 780.423.5014 • 2nd Thu:

WOMEN IN BLACK • In Front of the Old Strathcona Farmers'

BUDDYS NITE CLUB • 11725B Jasper Ave • 780.488.7736 • DJ Dust 'n'

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

Your Watershed Your Voice • Prince of Wales Armoury,

10440-108 Ave • 780.496.5577 • Central Forum for North Saskatchewan River Watershed • Thu, Sep 9, 1:30-4:30pm • Free, pre-register: Billie Milholland T: 780.496.5577; E: water@nswa.ab.ca

LECTURES/Presentations Human Rights Café Series • Three Bananas Café, Churchill

Sq, 9918-102 Ave • jhcentre.org • 1st Sun each month dialogue on human rights issues • Free

Illusions Social Club • 2nd Tue: Edmonton Rainbow Business Association • Every Fri: Philosophy Café • Fri/Sat DJ SeXXXy Sean 10-3 • Long Weekend Sundays feature the Stardust Lounge with Miss Bianca and Vanity Fair Time; Mon 9pm • DJ Arrow Chaser; Tue 9pm • DJ Dust 'n' Time; Wed 9pm, no cover before 10pm • DJ Arrow Chaser; Fri 8pm, no cover before 10pm • DJ Earth Shiver 'n' Quake; Sat 8pm, no cover before 10pm • DJ Bobby Beatz; Sun 9pm • Drag Queen Performance Show, Sun, no cover before 10pm

EDMONTON PRIME TIMERS (EPT) • Unitarian Church of Edmon-

ton, 10804-119 St • A group of older gay men who have common interests meet the 2nd Sun, 2:30pm, for a social period, short meeting and guest speaker, discussion panel or potluck supper. Special interest groups meet for other social activities throughout the month. E: edmontonpt@yahoo.ca

G.L.B.T.Q, African Group • Pride Centre, 9540-111 Ave • 780.488.3234 • Meets 2nd Thu every month, 6pm

ca • Volleyball: Mother Teresa Elementary School at 9008-105A; Amiskiwaciy Academy, 101 Airport Rd; recvolleyball@teamedmonton.ca; volleyball@teamedmonton.ca • YOGA (Hatha): Free Yoga every Sun, 2-3:30pm; Korezone Fitness, 203, 10575-115 St, yoga@ teamedmonton.ca

Illusions Social Club: Crossdressers •

780.387.3343 • meet monthly • Info: groups.yahoo.com/group/ edmonton_illusions

LIVING POSITIVE • 404, 10408-124 St • edmlivingpositive.ca •

1.877.975.9448/780.488.5768 • Confidential peer support to people living with HIV • Tue, 7-9pm: Support group • Daily drop-in, peer counselling

MAKING WAVES SWIMMING CLUB • geocities.com/makingwaves_edm • Recreational/competitive swimming. Socializing after practices • Every Tue/Thu

Play Nightclub • 10220-103 St • Open Thu, Fri, Sat with DJs Alexx Brown and Eddie Toonflash

PRIDE CENTRE OF EDMONTON • 9540-111 Ave •

Brooklyn's Lounge • 9216-34 Ave • 780.221.5662 • Tuesday

780.488.3234 • pridecentreofedmonton.org • Open Tue-Fri 1-10pm, Sat 2-6:30pm • LGBT Seniors Drop-in: Every Tue/Thu, 2-4pm • CA: Thu 7pm • Suit Up and Show Up: AA big book study group every Sat, noon • Womonspace: meet 1st Sun each month, 10:30am-12:30pm • Trans Education/Support Group meet: 1st/3rd Sun, 2-4pm, each month; albertatrans.org • Men Talking with Pride: Sun 7pm; facilitator: Rob Wells robwells780@hotmail.com • HIV Support Group: 2nd Mon each month, 7pm • Transgender, Transsexual, Intersex and Questioning (TTIQ) Alliance support meeting 2nd Tue each month, 7:30pm • Transgender, Transsexual, Intersex and Questioning: Education, advocacy and support for men, women and youth • Free professional counselling every Wed except the 1st Wed each month; 7-10pm; appt preferred, drop-ins welcome • YouthSpace: drop-in for LGBTQ for youth up to 25; Tue-Sat, 3-7pm

Night Live at Brooklyn's: Open Mic Comedy night; amateurs and pros welcome • Every Tue; 8:30pm • No cover

Century Casino • 13103 Fort Rd • 780.481.9857 • Shows

start at 8pm Thu-Sat and late show at 10:30pm on Fri-Sat; $12 (Thu)/$19 (Fri/Sat)

COMEDY FACTORY • Gateway Entertainment Centre, 34 Ave, Calgary Tr • Thu, 8:30pm; Sat, 8pm and 10pm • That's Improv!; Sep 3-4 • Paul Sveen; Sep 10-11

Comic Strip • Bourbon St, WEM • 780.483.5999 • Wed-Fri,

Sun 8pm; Fri-Sat 10:30pm • TJ Miller; until Sep 5 • Debra Digiovanni; Sep 8-12 • Charlie Murphy Live!; Sep 15, 7:30pm, 9:30pm • Craig Shoemaker; Sep 16-19

Prism Bar • 10524-101 St • 780.990.0038 • Wed: Free Pool;

DRUID • 11606 Jasper Ave • 780.710.2119 • Comedy night open stage hosted by Lars Callieou • Every Sun, 9pm

Karaoke, 9pm-midnight • Thu: Prism Pool League; 7-11:30pm • Fri: Steak Nites; 5-9pm; DJ at 9:30pm

Hydeaway–Jekyll and Hyde • 10209-100 Ave •

Robertson-Wesley United Church • 10209-123 St •

780.426.5381 • Super Awesome Comedy presents: Wife Beater comedy night • $5 (door) • Live comedy every Tue

780.482.1587 • Soul OUTing: an LGBT-focused alternative worship • 2nd Sun every month, 7pm; worship Sun, 10:30am; people of all sexual orientations welcome. LGBT monthly book club and film night. E: jravenscroft@rwuc.org

Newcity liquid lounge • 10081 Jasper Ave • Newcity

Upstairs Underground Comedy Night presents: lies the state told you: Disestablishmentarianism comedy night • 1st Tue every month, 9pm

St Paul's United Church • 11526-76 Ave • 780.436.1555

• People of all sexual orientations are welcome • Every Sun (10am worship)

Groups/CLUBS/meetings

WOMONSPACE • 780.482.1794 • womonspace.ca, womon-

space@gmail.com • A Non-profit lesbian social organization for Edmonton and surrounding area. Monthly activities, newsletter, reduced rates included with membership. Confidentiality assured

Aikikai Aikido Club • 10139-87 Ave, Old Strathcona

Community League • Japanese Martial Art of Aikido • Every Tue 7:30-9:30pm; Thu 6-8pm

WOODYS • 11723 Jasper Ave • 780.488.6557 • Karaoke with

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

Nathan; Mon 8pm • Martini Mondays; 3pm • You Don't Know Game Show with Patrick and Nathan; Thu 9pm • Long Island Iced Tea; Thu 3pm • Karaoke with Morgan; Wed 7pm • Karaoke with Kevin; Sun 8pm

Big Bin Event • Various venues • edmonton.ca/for_residents/

Youth Intervention and Outreach Worker •

garbage_recycling/bigbin-events.aspx • Dispose of household items too large for regular garbage collection at no cost • Sep 1112 @ Millwoods Town Centre (23 Ave, 66 St)

iSMSS, U of A • 780.248.1971 • Provides support and advocacy to queer youth 12-25; you don't need to be alone

Youth Understanding Youth • yuyedm.ca • Meets

Canadian Mental Health Association • Suite 800,

every Sat, 7-9pm • E: info@yuyedm.ca, T: 780.248.1971

10045-111 St • 780.414.6311 • Family support drop-in group for those who are supporting an adult family member living with a mental illness • Every Wed, 6:30-8:30pm

SPECIAL EVENTS Brazil Week • U of A Campus • arts.ualberta.ca/~spanport/port-

Edmonton Bicycle Commuters' Society • Back

mission.html • Sep 9-15 • Front of Arts Bldg/Convocation Hall: Capoeira Roda , The Capoeira Academy Edmonton; Thu, Sep 9, 4pm • Rutherford Library Galleria: Electronic Screens: Exhibit of new Library materials related to Brazil; Sep 9-15 • Front of Arts Building/ Convocation Hall: Escola de Samba de Edmonton (Edmonton Samba School); Fri, Sep 10, 4pm • U of A, BUS 3-6: My Brazil (Meu Brasil), Documentary film by Daniela Broitman; Mon, Sep 13, 4pm • Senate Chamber, Arts Bldg/Convocation Hall: Ukrainians in Brazil, lecture by Prof. Andriy Nahachewsky; Tue, Sep 14, 4pm

Alley, 10047-80 Ave • Hands-On Bike Maintenance Seminar • Every Thu 6pm • $5 non-members • edmontonbikes.ca

Edmonton Corn Maze • Garden Valley Rd/23 Ave •

780.288.0208 • edmontoncornmaze.ca • Until Oct 16 • $9/$7 (child 5-12)/free (child under 5) • Fundraiser for the Edmonton Food Bank

Edmonton Esperanto Society • 10025-102A Ave, Rm 18128 • 780.702.5117 • Every Fri and the 2nd Thu of each month; 12-1pm

Edmonton Queen Summer Military Boat Party •

Edmonton Queen Riverboat, 9734-98 Ave • Wear your sexiest military uniform! The best dressed male and female will get a special gift bag filled with goodies music by DJ Tianna J and DJ Stratus • Sep 11, 6:30pm; transportation from Play Nightclub at 5:30pm • $35 (adv at TIX on the Square)/$40 (on the boat); no minors

Edmonton Ghost Tours • 780.289.2005 •

edmontonghosttours.com • Old Strathcona Walk: A ghostly 1 hour walk through Old Strathcona. Depart from the Rescuer Statue, Walterdale Playhouse, 10322-83 Ave; Mon-Thu, until Sep 2, 9:30pm; $10

International Blues Challenge 2012 • Bonnie Doon

FOOD ADDICTS • St Luke's Anglican Church, 8424-95

Hall, 9249-93 St • Edmonton Blues Society fundraiser featuring Paul James and Friends • Sat, Sep 11, 8pm 7pm (door) • $30 (adv)/$25 (Edmonton Blues Society member)/$35 (door)

Ave • 780.465.2019/780.450.6179 • 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

Kaleido Family Arts Festival • Variou venutes, Alberta

Ave betw 90 and 94 St • Free arts festival featuring music, dance, theatre, film, literary and visual arts with performances on rooftops, sides of buildings, back alleys, and parks • Sep 10-12 • Old Cycle Bldg, 9141-118 Ave: No-Tie Gala: Art show; opening: 6pm; wine and cheese reception, live performance by Lionel Rault • Vintage Movie Night: Outdoor screening of Swiss Family Robinson, performance of Jeremy Bauming’s Homeless, the Aurora lantern parade, and Friday Night Blues Party featuring Dr. Blu, Kevin Cook Band; Fri, Sep 10 • Bluegrass pancake breakfast; 10am-12pm; music

by Back Porch Swing, ribbon cutting with Mayor Stephen Mandel; Sat, Sep 11 • Central Stage, 9210-118 Ave: ARAZ: Azerbaijani dance and drumming, Hawaiian Holiday, Aurora and the Edmonton Belly Dance Ensemble, Samulnori Korean drumming, Tilo Paiz’ Northern Lights, Allegiance Elite; Sun, Sep 12 • Various activities, please check artsontheave.org

GCCA (German Canadian Cultural Association) • 8310 Roper Rd • 780.466.4000 • gcca.ca • Fri dance with live band the Romantics • Sep 3 • $10 (member)/$7 (non-member)

Home–Energizing Spiritual Community for Passionate Living • Garneau/Ashbourne Assisted Living Place, 11148-84 Ave • Home: Blends music, drama, creativity and reflection on sacred texts to energise you for passionate living • Every Sun 3-5pm

Lotus Qigong • 780.477.0683 • Downtown • Practice group meets every Wed

Living with Loss • 780.454.1194, ext 224 • Introduction to

the challenges of grief and ways to support oneself or others • Central Lions Seniors' Centre, 11113-113 St: Tue, Sep 7, 10amnoon • Strathcona Library, 8331-104 St: Tue, Sep 7, 6:30-8:30pm • Londonderry Library, 110 Londonderry Mall: Thu, Sep 9, :30-8:30pm

Mental Health Classic Golf Tournament •

Highlands Golf Club, 6603 Ada Blvd • Proceeds raised will support CMHA-ER programs • Sep 2 • Fees: $200 (individual)/$800 (team)

Organization for Bipolar Affective Disorder (OBAD) • Schizophrenia Society of Alberta, 200, 10621-100 Ave,

Prairie Gardens’ Corn Fest • 56311 Lily Lake Rd, Bon

780.452.4661; Support group meets 1st and 3rd Tue each month, 7-9pm • Grey Nuns Hospital, Rm 0651, 780.451.1755; Group meets every Thu; 7-9pm

Accord • 780.921.2272 • prairiegardens.org • Celebrate the "season of corn" at the Great Prairie Corn Maze Corn Fest featuring the Great Prairie Corn Maze, folk music, and hands-on corn doll craft activities for children • Sep 4-6

POWEr to the Women • Chateau Nova Hotel, 101-159

Rotary Run For Life • Stony Plain • rotaryrun.ca • A half-

Airport Rd • Hosted by Kathleen Gagnon • Thu, Sep 9, 11am2:30pm • $40 at E: kathleen@powe.ca; T: 780.984.00781

marathon, 10km run or 5km run/walk. A full breakfast and fun.

Fundraiser for Rotary Clubs of Stony Plain & Spruce Grove's Coordinated Suicide Prevention Program (CSPP) • Sun, Sep 12, 8am

Seba Mixer • Koutouki Taverna, 10310 Gateway Blvd, 45

Ave, patio • sebaonline.ca • South Edmonton Business Association

Society of Edmonton Atheists • Stanley Milner Library, Rm 6-7 • Meet the 1st Tue every month, 7:15pm

Sugarswing Dance Club • Orange Hall, 10335-84

Ave or Pleasantview Hall, 10860-57 Ave • 780.604.7572 • Swing Dance at Sugar Foot Stomp: beginner lesson followed by dance every Sat, 8pm (door) at Orange Hall or Pleasantview Hall

Vegetarians Of Alberta • Riverdale Community

GLBT sports and recreation • teamedmonton.ca • Badminton,

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

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

Co-ed: St. Thomas Moore School, 9610-165 St, coedbadminton@teamedmonton.ca • Badminton, Women's Drop-In Recreational: Oliver School Gym, 10227-118 St; badminton@teamedmonton.ca • Co-ed Bellydancing: bellydancing@teamedmonton.ca • Bootcamp: Lynnwood Elementary School at 15451-84 Ave; Mon, 7-8pm; bootcamp@teamedmonton.ca • Bowling: Ed's Rec Centre, West Edmonton Mall, Tue 6:45pm • Curling: Granite Curling Club; 780.463.5942 • Running: Every Sun morning; running@teamedmonton. ca • Spinning: MacEwan Centre, 109 St and 104 Ave; spin@teamedmonton. ca • Swimming: NAIT pool, 11762-106 St; swimming@teamedmonton.

VUEWEEKLY // SEP 2 – SEP 8, 2010

Scotiabank Aids Walk for Life • Sir Winston Churchill Square • hivedmonton.com • Sun, Sep 12, 10am-4pm • Register at 780-488-5742, E: Joyce@hivedmonton.com

TASTE of Old Strathcona • TransAlta Arts Barns, 10330-

84 Ave • Old Strathcona Foundation is holding its Annual Taste of Old Strathcona with entertainment by U22 • Fri, Sep 24, 7-10:30pm • $25 at TIX on the Square, Old Strathcona Foundation booth at the Old Strathcona Farmers’ Market, door

BACK // 41

COMMENT >> LGBT

Identities aplenty

more, and thank the Goddess there is!"

Filmmaker Chris Vargas explores the changing meanings of identity Ever consider dating Barbara Walters? ie's interview? "The whole affair initially Oakland filmmaker Chris Vargas has. made me really uncomfortable because "First I'd like to take [her] to a while Thomas was unapologetisoft, sandy beach for a long cally rejecting gender convenwalk at sunset. Then we'd go tions—by identifying as a to a nearby hotel overlookman and having a baby—he ing the water, where a nice was also reproducing a very ly.com k e e w vue romantic candle-lit transnormatively gendered, hetlucas@ gender sensitivity training erosexual picture of himself Lucas d r was taking place in one of the and his family."

Crawfo hotel's plush corporate conferSome would celebrate Beatie's ence rooms." on-air hours, but Vargas is attuned to To be fair, I asked Vargas to plan the the ambiguities of representation. "Afdate. Walters is featured in one of his ter reading his autobiography ... countnew flicks, Extraordinary Pregnanless transphobic news items about cies (2010), which reworks Walters' him ... [and] many mean-spirited forum interview with pregnant female transdiscussions (trans and not), I realized gendered man (FTM) Thomas Beatie by that in many ways he failed. He did not splicing in Vargas' responses. Why Beatgain the acceptance and sympathy from

EERN Q UN TO MO

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42 // BACK

straight, non-trans people that he wanted, and many FTMs were angry at him and rejected his experience as unrepresentative ... I wished he could get some revenge for enduring all that."

This uncommon savvy about visibility is a Vargas trademark. In Have You Ever Seen a Transsexual Before? (2010), he visits Mormon Headquarters, "vast salt flats," "death valley" and beyond. Everywhere, he flashes his chest and announces the titular question—until he escapes to an animated world where even birds and beachballs bear the scars and nipples of FTMs. This addictive short "is about the politics of visibility, but also about the limits of it. I don't think just being out and visible is always all that radical in itself. There has to be is noon the Tuesday before publication. Placement will depend upon available space

ARTIST TO ARTIST

Wufniks Magazine is looking for short fiction and poetry submissions. wufniks.com Send us your scribblings. submissions@wufniks.com ARTERY theartery.ca – call for Visual Art Exhibitions: Looking for visual and interdisciplinary artists to exhibit their works. Artists/curators are encouraged to submit proposals for both the Front and Back space. Deadline: Oct 1. Send outline of proposed project; CV; CD, DVD Image; contact info to: ARTERY, 9535 Jasper Ave, T5H 3V2 Call for submissions: Gallery at Milner for emerging artists working in two-dimensional mediums. Deadline: Oct 15. Inquiries to: T/voice mail: 780.496.7030; E: cragalleries&displays@epl.ca Movements Dance is accepting applications for Dance Instructor for its 2010/2011 season. Applicants should have an extensive background in West African and Caribbean dance with a min of 5 yrs experience. Info: 780.415.5211 Any artist, musician, or performance artist interested in being featured for the Local Art Showcase @The Old Strathcona Antique Mall, please be inspired to contact Jenn@oldstrathconamall.com Kaleido Festival is in need of BLACK HOCKEY TAPE and BLACK WOOL for an on-site collaborative art piece during Kaleido, Sep 10-12. Drop-off items at the Carrot Coffeehouse, 9351-118 Ave Expressionz Café–The School of Life 9938-70 Ave is a centre for the arts. Looking for visual artists and artisan/ wellness vendors for the rotating gallery space and monthly market; t: 780.437.3667; e: expressionzcafe@ gmail.com "Be Idle Free" - youth video contest: The City of Edmonton's Carbon Dioxide Reduction Edmonton (CO2RE) program focus on reducing greenhouse gas emissions in Edmonton. For 7-11 year olds, 12-14 year olds and 15-18 year olds. Receiving entries until Sep 30. Info beidlefree. strutta.com Call to local artists, musicians, performers to be featured in Yuk Yuk's new "Thursday Night Variety Show". Call 780.481.9857 and ask for Chas or email: chaz_beau@ hotmail.com for more information Voice actors needed for work on video game based graphic novels. Interested? Check outfrostmore.com for lists of characters. Then E: Ike at lobitec@hotmail.com

VUEWEEKLY // SEP 2 – SEP 8, 2010

Vargas has plenty "more" ideas on offer. In Criminal Queers (co-directed by Eric Stanley), radical queers bust folks out of prison. "What many people understand as the first rumblings of a gay liberation movement were actually responses to relentless police harassment of queer bars and street culture. Criminal Queers is situated within this history and asks why the gay movement today is dominated by liberal ideals that tend to ignore the huge injustices that nonaffluent LGBT people still face."

Will the crew foil the white gay jury foreman who is aghast at the defendant, "another young African-American male ... in a dress [who] bombed a gay wedding"? (chrisevargas.com will satisfy your curiosity.)

Vargas' boyfriend and collaborator Greg Youmans (who plays the gay jury foreman) "has made it his special project in life to critique all things white, gay Call for Submissions for a Permanent Urban Art Feature in the Perron Courtyard "remembers Fleury Perron". Open to local, regional, national and international artists. Info: Jenny Willson-McGrath at Profiles Public Art Gallery, 780.460.4310 Deadline: Sep 15 Call for entries: 2011 Dreamspeakers; Deadline: Mar 31, 2011; Info E: info@dreamspeakers.org. Send entries to: Attn: Executive Director, Dreamspeakers Festival Society, 8726-112 Ave, Edmonton, AB, T5B 0G6 Call to artists: Art From the Unknown, Edmonton; Deadline: Sep 10. Info: 780.414.0702 Allied Arts Council/Spruce Grove Art Gallery: call for Alberta artists 55 and over to participate in the 2010 Senior Art Show. Deadline: Sep 17. 780.962.0664, E: alliedac@shaw.ca

and male while negotiating that identity within himself." When I asked Vargas what advice he would give to such jury foremen, he offered a wise gem about the personal costs of being turned into a teachable moment: "if I had 30 seconds to appeal to all future gay jury foremen I would hand them over to Greg. My back is not a bridge."

Vargas' loving critiques of queer wildlives are wide-ranging. "My character in Falling in Love ... with Chris and Greg [is] a caricature of a self-righteous, dogmatic radical queer, one who walks the party line uncritically and who non-consensually forces his boyfriend into an open relationship. I have been on dates with this person. It was hard." Barbara Walters?

Maybe she learned something from Extraordinary Pregnancies. When Walters suggests Beatie is "trying to have it both ways," Vargas declares a thesis statement of his oeuvre: "I don't believe there are just two ways to have it." V Actors to meet monthly to work on scenes and monologues with optional coaching from professional director and actor. email: elaine.elrod@telus.net Night 32 Productions Inc. seeks a qualified screen writer for a TV pilot titled “Ghostwater” a horror-cop drama. The first draft has been written. Please contact Kevin Sisk, Associate Producer at drsiskphddd@msn.com with contact info and sample of your work

MUSICIANS Vocalist wanted – Progressive/Industrial/metal; age 17-21. Contact justinroyjr@gmail.com

COMMENT >> ALT SEX

Sex roundup Dear Andrea: cause injury, but it shouldn't. I'd certainly I want to have anal sex with my boyfriend. suggest you try a smoothly manicured finIn order to prepare myself, I read that you ger first to see if you even like this sort of can wear a butt plug for a certain period of thing. Use a bottle or so of lube. It may take time everyday. Then anal sex is easier time—it ought to take time—but by and more pleasurable. Is it true? If time I mean minutes or hours, not it is true, how long should I wear weeks. Honestly. my butt plug everyday?

There's nothing wrong with Love, employing a butt plug, whether m Willing in preparation for or in addiekly.co vuewe altsex@ tion. They are nice, and unlike Andresaon other household objects, they Dear Will: r e Nem You don't need weeks of prep are endowed with a flange, a wide in order to achieve what may be in base to keep them from taking an some senses an "unnatural act" (the rectum unexpected trip up your lazy river. You are being far better at pushing things out than even welcome to wear one to class or to it is at taking things in) but is in any case meet with your accountant or whatever. I performed regularly and pleasurably by just don't want you to get the idea that you normal people everywhere. have to.

Certainly anal intercourse is trickier than Love, its opposite number. It can hurt, and even Andrea

ALT.

SEX

MUSICIANS Vocalist wanted – Progressive/Industrial/metal; age 17-21. Contact justinroyjr@gmail.com The Singing Christmas Tree 2010: invites singers of all ages to audition on Sep 19, 1pm at Edmonton City Centre, 10025-102A Ave Towers. Info: W: edmontonsingingchristmastree.com or T: 780.487.TREE New Rehearsal Studios! Sound Check Rehearsals is having an opening party Sep 24. Tickets available from Axe Music, Long & McQuade, and Mother's Music. Call 780.964.8852; souncheckrehearsals.com for details Blue Kollared Krooner wants to sing, also sings the blues and a little rock & roll. Ask for Katz 587.785.4481, 780.719.7697, okatz33@telus.blackberry.net Edmonton Columbian Choirs auditions on Tue, Sep 7, 6:30pm, at St Joseph Catholic High School.

Opportunities in: Young Columbians (age 6-11); Columbian Junior Singers & Edmonton Catholic School Honour Choir (age 11-15); Chanteuses Ladies’ Choir (women 18+) Looking for a fiddle player to do traditional, old country and original music.... Please phone Larry at 780.466.1975 Solid bass player needed a.s.a.p. please have a decent image and be able to cut it in a modern rock trio. Serious only please, thank you 780.999.5124 Decent songwriter/rhythm with good originals wants lead guitarist and bass (prefer acoustic), violin, drums or bongos, horns or other muscians for a funky acoustic band for gigs or jam crew... music infl bob marley, sublime, bob dylan. Call Adam 780.660.3369. Lets jam Seeking male singer between ages 14 - 18 for alternative cover band. Must have vocal range to cover artists such as Nickelback, P.O.D. Band located in Edmonton but have gigs booked outside of the city. Call 403.999.6976 Singing competition. Majestic Mountain Music presents the first season of NovastarZ. Call Dan by Sep 3 to register at 587.989.6243 or e-mail hitloadz@ gmail.com. $1000 cash prize, as well as recording time and many other cool prizes. Looking for fresh new originals only Experienced drummer/singer with own music, digital drums, Gibson Les Paul and Roland keyboard, looking to collaborate. 587.989.6243 Professional metal band seeks dedicated guitarist and bass player. No coke heads etc Call Rob 780.952.4927 Seeking folk/bluegrass/improv/country type small string band to work with me on some cool innovative performances. Must be willing to try new takes on some traditional work. 780.239.5758 Metal band All Else Fails seeking drummer. Committed, dependable, financially stable and able to tour often.

Seedy@allelsefails.ca or Mitch@780.707.3908 Harmonica player, vocalist, percussionist, front man. 30 yrs experience. Available for live sessions or road work.

Serious inquiries only, please. J.B. 780.668.8665 We are a party / wedding band that already has over 10 gigs booked. Looking for a lead guitarist to fill out our sound. Call 780.271.0030 today!

Pro level trio require experienced drummer. Please be able to rehearse at least once/wk and have an upbeat attitude. T: 780.299.7503

VOLUNTEER Volunteer for Rotary Run For Life on Sun, Sep 12, 8am, a half-marathon, 10km run or 5km run/walk. A full breakfast and fun. Fundraiser for Rotary Clubs of Stony Plain & Spruce Grove's Coordinated Suicide Prevention Program (CSPP) please call 780.289.1803 Alberta board development program recruiting volunteer instructors for not-for-profit organizations. Call 780.427.2001. Deadline: Oct 1 Volunteer at the Kaleido Family Arts Festival–a visual art, music, theatre and dance festival Sep 10-12 at various venues on 118 Ave. Contact Dorothy Ritz at kaleidovolunteers@gmail.com. Orientation on Mon, Aug 30 Cityfarm Growing Assistants The Growing Assistant volunteer has an opportunity to work with children and see their fascination with plants, seeds and soil, and to help a teacher/leader feel successful in growing plants indoors. A green thumb is not a prerequisite, however, gardening experience and a passion for children and youth are required. Info: city-farm.org/ jobs_volunteer.htm; E: susan@city-farm.org Volunteer Meal Deliverer/Driver: "Life is a Highway" why not volunteer to be in the driver's seat? Come make a difference every day. Volunteer with Meals on Wheels as a driver. Call 780.429.2020 Carrot Café seeks volunteers: baristas to serve coffee, tea and carrot muffins; full training given on making specialty coffees and teas. Also need volunteer to clean daily from 7:30am, Tue-Fri, or once a week on Sun. For info contact Irene Yauck at Irene@ehenri.ca, 780.471.1580 The Canadian Liver Foundation: looking for new members who can assist with fundraising and promotion of the Northern Alberta Chapter. Contact: Carmen Boyko T: 780.444.1547; Toll-free: 1.888.557.5516 Edmonton Mennonite Centre for Newcomers, need volunteers to help immigrant children and youth of all ages–volunteer in a homework club. Phillip Deng at 780.423.9516, pdeng@emcn.ab.ca Do you remember someone who believed in you when you were a child? Be that person in a child's life today. All it takes is one hour a week, which may not be much to you but will make all the difference in the life of a child. Be a Big Brother or Big Sister! Be a Mentor! Call Big Brother Big Sister today. 780.424.8181 Volunteer website for youth 14-24 years old. youthvolunteer.ca The Edmonton Immigrant Services Association is looking for volunteers to help with its New Neighbours, Host/Mentorship, Language Bank, and Youth Programs.

Contact Alexandru Caldararu (Volunteer Coordinator) at 780-474-8445 or visit: eisa-edmonton.org for more info Edmonton Immigrant Services Association: looking for volunteers to help with Youth Tutoring & Mentorship, New Neighbours, Language Bank, and Host/Mentorship programs. Contact Alexandru Caldararu 780.474.8445; W: eisa-edmonton.org Mechanics needed: The Edmonton Bicyle Commuters' Society operates a volunteer-run community bike workshop called BikeWorks, 10047-80 Ave (back alley), also accepting bicycle donations; E: volunteer@edmontonbikes.ca; W: edmontonbikes.ca

HELP SUPPORT THE YOUTH EMERGENCY SHELTER SOCIETY Programs for youth; 780.468.7070; yess.org

Dear Andrea: My boyfriend and I are planning to start having sex. I feel kind of silly saying this but I am really scared! I'm 22 and this is kind of late to be starting. I'm afraid he won't fit! Should I try stretching first with something? Or is that just ridiculous and I should just get over myself?

Love, Tightly Dear Tight: First off, please stop using words like "silly" and "ridiculous" to describe yourself and/or your perfectly reasonable concerns. And secondly, well, yes, it would be pretty ridiculous to resort to something like vaginal sounds or graduated dildos to do what your very own vagina so cleverly evolved to do for itself.

The chances of any random set of male and female genitals fitting together are extremely good. It may take some time, fingers, patience and lubrication. It is far more likely to be successful when you

are hot and bothered and ready to go.

It will not, however, take weeks of preparatory homework and a specially-fitted case full of precision instruments.

Love, Andrea Dear Andrea: I am just starting to date a new woman. I find her very attractive but frankly, she is big. I've never had sex with a woman her size before. Is this going to be a problem?

Do I have to figure out some new positions or angles?

Love, Skinny Dear Skinny: You might, but, just a guess here, your new girlfriend may know something about this herself. You may want to consult her when and if it comes to that.

I enjoyed this summation of how not a problem your problem is likely to be, from the "Fat Sex" page of Dimensions

Magazine's web site: " ... Those authorities who have taken the trouble to investigate the matter report that obesity is rarely, if ever, a barrier to intercourse. Fat is never stored in the penis, nor does it choke off access to the ovaries (as Hippocrates taught, and generations of physicians believed). In fact, the human body is remarkably well-designed for storing fat in large quantities. Mother Nature keeps fat away from the vital and sensory organs, away from the joints, and away from the genitals.

OK! the magazine does go on to suggest a number of specific positions, including female-dominant-facing-backwards, doggie style, "T-Square," a modified missionary with the man sliding his hips lower, under her belly, if she has a particularly lush one, and something called Sim's position.

Just do what comes naturally. It just isn't that complicated.

Love, Andrea

The Candora Society of Edmonton–Board Recruiting; candorasociety.com; promotes positive growth in the lives of women, children/families in Rundle/Abbottsfield communities. Info: Elaine Dunnigan E: edunnigan@ shaw.ca Mediation & Restorative Justice Centre Edmonton: Vol Facilitator Recruitment 2010; mrjc.ca/mediation/ volunteering/complete a volunteer application form; 780.423.0896 ext. 201 Volunteers instructors needed–Tap Dancing, Line Dancing and Calligraphy. Wed: kitchen helper, Fri: dining room servers; Wed evening dinners: dishwashers, kitchen prep and servers. Mary 780.433.5807 S.C.A.R.S.: Second Chance Animal Rescue Society. Our dogs are TV stars! Watch Global TV every Sat at 9:45 AM where new, wonderful dogs will be profiled. scarscare.org People between 18-55, suffering from depression or who have never suffered from depression are needed as research volunteers, should not be taking medication, smoking, or undergoing psychotherapy and not have a history of cardiovascular disease. Monetary compensation provided for participation. 780.407.3906 Volunteer at ElderCare Edmonton: help out with day programs with things like crafts, card games and socializing.

Call Renée for info at 780.434.4747 Ext 4 Volunteer with Strathcona County RCMP Victim Services Unit and assist victims of crime and trauma. Call Katie at 780.449.0183 The Nina Haggerty Centre for the Arts: looking for artists to provide mentorship to our artists with developmental disabilities. Share your talents and passion while gaining work experience.

Info: volunteer@ninahaggertyart.ca

SERVICES NARCOTICS ANONYMOUS Help Line 24 Hours a Day–7 Days a Week If you want to stop using, we can help Local: 780.421.4429/Toll free: 1.877.463.3537

Want to stop smoking? Nicotine Anonymous meetings: 7pm, every Wed, Ebenezer United Church Hall, 106 Ave, 163 St. Contact Gwyn 780.443.3020

ADULT STEAMWORKS GAY & BI MENS BATHHOUSE. 24/7 11745 JASPER AVE. 780.451.5554 WWW.STEAMWORKSEDMONTON.COM

Have you been affected by another person's sexual behaviour? S-Anon is a 12-Step fellowship for the family members and friends of sex addicts. Call 780.988.4411 for Edmonton area meeting locations and info, sanon.org

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SACE–Public Education Program: Sexual Assault Centre of Edmonton (sace.ab.ca) provides crisis intervention, info, counseling, public education. T: 780.423.4102/F: 780.421.8734/E: info@sace.ab.ca; sace.ab.ca/24-hour Crisis Line: 780.423.4121 Are you an International Medical Graduate seeking licensure? The Alberta International Medical Graduates Association is here to help. Support, study groups, volunteer opportunities–all while creating change for tomorrow. aimga.ca

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Jewish Family Services Edmonton/TASIS (Transforming Acculturative Stress Into Success): A free program aimed at minimizing culture shock and displacement for trained professional immigrant women. T: Svetlana 780.454.1194

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