According to Chinese astrology, the Year of the Rat is a fantastic time to hunker down for some hard work. Thats exactly what contemplative photographer Joanne Chilton captured when she took thousands of images of performer Azalia Liu meticulously preparing backstage for the Beijing Opera. Thirteen of those photos are on display at Pier 21, […]
Sue Carter Flinn
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Love, actually
In our Valentines Day issue last year, writer Tara Lee Wittchen mined stories about the crappiest gifts ever received. Take Christina, whose boyfriend gave her a homemade CD featuring him singing songs like Space Oddity, Moon River and Famous Blue Raincoat alone in his dorm room, accompanied only by the original versions playing faintly in […]
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Rufus Waingwright
Rufus WaingwrightRufus Does Judy at Carnegie HallGeffenYou might not be a Judy Garland fan beyond the ruby slippers. And maybe Rufus Wainwright’s nasal warble ain’t your thing. But one day, you’re going to get home after the shittiest day in the office/school/bar, and nothing is going to cure your malaise faster than a Rusty Nail […]
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Bran Van 3000
Bran Van 3000RoséRemstarLong before music writers were frothing over Arcade Fire’s Montreal, Bran Van was demonstrating their hometown’s cosmopolitan influences—2001’s Discosis was equally at home in a neighbourhood bar as it was a soundtrack for champagne on the Riviera. Then the band disappeared, until head-Vanner James Di Salvio rounded up the old collective for Rosé. […]
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Mahjongg
MahjonggKontpabK RecordsIgnore the Chicago band’s weirdo manifesto “irratainment” designed to “teach the warnings and revelations of the almighty god Kontpab. Kontpab basically warns the human race of the mass ‘funnelling’ of the populace minds into The Grid.” Umm, yeah. Focus on the music. Electronic art-pop with an obvious adoration for Afro-funk dance, Mahjongg has been […]
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Barmitzvah Brothers
Barmitzvah BrothersLet’s Express Our MotivesweeworkAn appropriately themed narrative of 19 under-appreciated jobs by this Guelph art-pop band weaned on the indie music scene—especially as all members are involved in side projects. Songwriting and style is split between Geordie Gordon, who gives “Projectionist” David Byrne-like lyrics and sound, and Jenny Mitchell, whose pretty voice and plucky […]
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Buck 65
Buck 65SituationStrange FamousOn Situation, Mr. Terfry’s killer flow time-travels back to 1957. A hip-hop homage to ’50s counterculture, Ginsberg and the avant-garde Situationalist movement, he abandons the singing and keyboards from his last album, returning to a familiar sound. Producer Skratch Bastid’s backbeats help keep it lively and fresh, like it’s 2007. Sue Carter Flinncategories: […]
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Words or pictures
It’s always a pleasure to listen to George Elliott Clarke, who’s reading Saturday, February 2, 2pm, at Carrefour Atlantic Emporium (1869 Upper Water), for African Heritage Month. Afterwards, Clarke will rush over to Pier 21 at 3pm to take part in their Global Chinese New Year celebration, kicking off the Year of the Rat with […]
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Halifax’s Dream Genies
On January 28, this years Genie nominations were announced, and theres solid Halifax representation, thanks to Shake Hands With The Devil (12 nominations, including Best Motion Picture for Michael Donovan) and Poor Boys Game (with three noms), plus a Best Actress shout-out to Ellen Page for The Tracey Fragments. Joining the H-town red carpet […]
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Askevold’s mystery tour
There are elements of David Askevolds video and photographic work that make people uneasy. They evoke a sense of arriving during the aftermath of a crime, or an accident. Youre not sure what happened, but theres residue. Take one of the cibachrome prints from Askevolds well-known series, The Pit: ghostly figures linger in a backyard, […]
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Front Page
In our January 3 cover story, fiddling-premier inspiration Ellen Page described to Tara Thorne what it felt like when Robert Ebert predicted she’d receive an Academy Award nomination: “It’s like your brain kind of explodes. Quietly. It’s like a Family Guy or a Simpsons moment where it closes-up on the brain, you know what I […]
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Springtime
If Robbie Burns’ haggis makes you queasy, but you love Daniel MacIvor‘s work, don’t miss readings of his new play, Was Spring, on January 24 and 25, 8pm at The Space (2353 Agricola), with local actors Marguerite McNeil, Sherry Smith and Margaret Smith. MacIvor—who in 2007, sadly closed the doors to his own theatre company […]