Download this Giant Sappy Mix
lovely lisa bozikovic This year Sappyfest has created the mother of all hype machines, releasing a monster compilation mix featuring songs from every artist playing the festival. So basically, there’s 45 songs on there. That’s your driving playlist from Halifax to Sackville. Go here and put in the code “sap2011x3d” and then enjoy some of…
Pocket Full Of Rocks
I am going to start carrying around a pocket full of rocks so when idiot drivers pretend not to see me in the crosswalk, I can toss a little rock at their car! I bet they will notice me then! I push the button, I wait, and crossing Portland St. is still like playing frogger.…
Hot Waxing Mess
To a certain spa on Spring Garden, test your waxers before you hire them! Went in yesterday and got placed with a waxer I’ve never have before. She started to wax me and I felt things were wrong. I asked her if she knew what she was doing and told me that she was using…
Very Grateful Visitor
While visiting Halifax on business on June 8th, 2011, I had a nasty fall. Three kind samaritans came to my assistance, called 911, located a coworker and stayed with me until I was transported. Many thanks to them, the paramedics and the staff at the infirmary. Thank you to everyone for your kind assistance in…
Percy Paris praises Scott Ferguson’s improper behaviour
How hard up is economic development minister Percy Paris for a new convention centre? So hard up that he’ll shove any impropriety on the part of Trade Centre Limited officials—financial, ethical, what have you—down the memory hole. Monday, I detailed how Scott Ferguson, president of TCL, had been warned by the TCL auditor to stop…
Fan’s delivers to Halifax
For those Haligonians who know of its startlingly good ginger beef, Fan’s Chinese Restaurant (451 Windmill Road, 469-9165) is very much worth the trip to Dartmouth. Now we’ve learned we needn’t always make that trip, that Fan’s will deliver to peninsular Halifax. The catch is the service is only available after 7:30pm in the evening,…
Attenburg by Athina Rachel Tsangari screens
Attenburg by Greek filmmaker Athina Rachel Tsangari will show On Thursday, June 16 at Carbon Arc at the Khyber (1588 Barrington Street), the independent film series. It starts at 7pm and is $6. It’s a Greek drama about a woman bereft of love and maybe dying of loneliness, living in a failed and decaying architectural…
Cursed Arrows Release Video for “Death Rattle Blues”
Cursed Arrows have put together a video for the bluesy rager “Death Rattle Blues.” It features the duo wandering around a spooky field littered with old cars and a rotted bus. It’s a creepy looking place that I would like to visit. Like the song, the video is gritty and a little mean. They host…
Atlantic Fashion Week is on like Kreayshawn
Currently pumping this jam more than usual in anticipation of the 2011 Atlantic Fashion Week’s first show, the Emerging Designer Showcase, this Wednesday at 8pm at Casino Nova Scotia. AFW sent out a very compelling press release that wrote, among other things, about the make-up trends for the 2011 AFW. They are as follows: “The…
Bang Bang
Lying in my bed… wishing I was dead. Bang, bang, bang went the Fairview gang. I hate it. I hate them. I hate the fear. Someone do something about it. —Tired of the Hood
Idiot Bicyclists
You speed down the one way streets, through stops signs, and into the middle of Allan St. You ride on the sidewalks. You come barreling out of no where through crosswalks when cars are making a right turn on a red. You ride straight through right turn lanes, and make illegal left turns in no…
Irresponsible Reporting
I realize we all have freedom of speech, and for some reason we all think we have a ‘right’ to know, but if there is a horrific crime in HRM and the police don’t want to release information on the victim yet, why do some reporters still take it upon themselves to print that very…
Not a Love Letter
Aw, what an amusing story you tell. You were “so busy” this week – too busy to text or call your wife who is stuck in Hellifax alone while you were “sooo busy” drinking your face off. I loved when you found the 10 seconds out of your ‘busy’ day to call and then basically…
Captain Bligh
I listened to a couple of the councillors squabbling on CBC yesterday, the topic was the concerts for cash scandal and the Mayor’s intention to tough it out and stick with the amnesia defense. It now appears that several of our paid (overpaid?) representatives are seeking outside legal opinions as to the chances of casting…
Conveniently Lost
Where do I start with this one? I can’t name names because it is still an ongoing issue at the moment. My situation goes back to a year ago, I am renting an apartment from a big rental agency here in HRM. As per their instructions and the residential tenancies act of Nova Scotia, I…
Verbally Abusive Driver
You had no right to hurl verbal abuse at the cyclist in front of you, you should be ashamed of yourself! He wasn’t breaking any rules and was riding where he was supposed to. You said some really nasty things and probably ruined his afternoon. I only wish I had gotten your license plate so…
Respect Your Environment
I am a dog owner and I spend a lot of time in local parks letting my little monster get some exercise. Since the start of baseball season I have noticed an alarming amount of garbage left around the bleachers in these parks. I have many times, in three different baseball fields in the city,…
Librarian Puts Himself at Risk
I thought that you just gave out books and sometimes quite cute, funny looks. Yet at roller derby, just like with my Furby, I wanted you so bad I shook. —An Emo Meter
Early Bird Ferry Tourists
I realize that squawking is all you do to contain your excitement as we sail toward the radiant beauty of the filthy industrial buildings in Woodside, but for the love of god SHUT THE HELL UP. Being a tourist is irritating enough, but being a loud, perfume-soaked American who insists on SCREAMING a play-by-play to…
Talk Derby to Me!
Halifax’s first Roller Derby event… wow… I was entirely overwhelmed by all of you, the organizers, volunteers, supporters, the whole freaking crowd was WOW! Every last one of you! My heart is filled with such joy. I am pumped for the next bout later this summer at the BMO center in Bedford! All the best…
Big Tipper
Thank you to the guy who left a generous tip at a South Park coffee shop two days ago. It’s nice to know that people appreciate us! —Barista in Love
The Dog’s Address
Hey, my name is Sir Rex a Lot, and I’m a big, strong 95lb dog. I’m a pretty happy guy, and I love my family. I do not love you, and I really don’t give a hoot about how much of a dog person you are, how many dogs you had when you were growing…
You are My Drug
What can I say about something that has always put a smile on my face and gave me reason to wake up in the morning? Without you I would be lost. I can’t wait to see you again at lunch time. I love you Horsey sauce! —Addict
Both Peter Kelly and Scott Ferguson should resign
In March, almost as soon as the concerts funding scandal came to light, city hall’s head bureaucrat Wayne Anstey resigned. Now, with city auditor general Larry Munroe’s report revealing the backstory, the question of blame needs to be raised again. Should mayor Peter Kelly resign over his involvement in the funding scheme? Absolutely. Kelly was…
Atlantic Author Day happens this weekend
If you haven’t figured out what book will absorb your interest this summer, we have a suggestion for you: Check out Atlantic Author Day, organized by Atlantic Books Today and the Atlantic Publishers Marketing Association. It happens Saturday June 18 in a variety of bookstores from 10am to 4pm, with authors reading from their books.…
The Carleton has a VERY Happy Hour
Every weekday between 4-6pm, stop by The Carleton (1685 Argyle Street, 422-6335) for a celebratory drink. What’s to celebrate? Anything you want, including the two-hour Happy Hour. The kitchen will be offering two-for-one appetizers while Keith’s and Stella draught, the house red and white wines and all the well brand spirits are on for $5.…
Halifax comic artist on new Captain America title
With Captain America: The First Avenger opening July 22, the star-spangled Marvel Comics hero is front and centre of the comic world at the moment. Marvel is relaunching the title to coincide with the movie, written by popular hardboiled writer Ed Brubaker and drawn by star artist Steve McNiven. McNiven is a Haligonian, who’s worked…
Luke Hansen-MacDonald launches Fly By Shooting
Luke Hansen-MacDonald is a director, cinematographer and editor who’s shot videos for Juno-nominated rapper Classified as well as Quake’s “Just Got Home.” Hansen-MacDonald is in the midst of a cross-Canada video tour, providing his talent and experience to new artists who couldn’t generally afford an established video director. “Essentially, I will be shooting 10 music…
City officials contemplate suing Trade Centre Limited
Two city officials are implying there’s a simple solution to the $359,550 bill related to concerts scandal: Don’t pay it. That course of action, suggested by both city auditor Larry Munroe and city councillor Gloria McCluskey, threatens to create an epic legal battle between the city and Trade Centre Limited, a provincial crown corporation. But…
Fid Resto and Boulangerie le Vendeenne owners inducted into prestigious French academy
Congratulations to Dennis Johnston and Jean Marc Riant, chef and head baker respectively from Fid Resto (1569 Dresden Row, 422-9162) and Boulangerie le Vendeenne (Halifax Farmers’ Market, 1496 Lower Water Street), who have both been inducted into one of the world’s most prestigious culinary organizations. They are now part of the Académie Culinaire de France,…
Bird World. COME ON.
FOR REAL. I mean, really! This makes me want to take all of Bird World and do this:
Cows in Heels
First off, I am female. Secondly, I’m not perfect and could probably stand to lose a few pounds. However, one of my biggest pet peeves (not to mention fashion faux pas) is when I see 300lb young women (usually see this in the 20s) with short skirts and these tiny stiletto heels that make them…
Egg Bandit
Dear unknown roommate, there are five of us in the house now and I think I’ve narrowed it down. All of us like to have eggs in the morning and I have seen you boiling quite a few. But it is quite fucking annoying when I open up my carton of eggs that I have…
Save the Seats
Way to not warn us that your earth-loving, granola group would be biking down SGR on Saturday with fat asses, floppy tits, hairy backs, and saggy ball sacks hanging out for all to see. Ivory doesn’t make enough soap for the innocent people to wash their eyes with after witnessing that unsightly mess. Great, you…
The Slutty Look
Can someone please tell me what it is? Why are young girls dressing so slutty? They aren’t acting like sluts. You can see most of their ass hanging out of their dress, but no way in hell will the 3 or 4 guys in their ‘herd’ at the bar be getting any action… in Ontario,…
Lacks People Skills
Thank you for applying, but the position has been offered to another applicant. How hard is that for you to understand? Coming back to our office building a week later with the letter of rejection asking why you didn’t get offered the job, and going all crazy on the receptionist did nothing but ensure we…
Emergency Call
Not a week goes by that we don’t get an emergency call from you claiming you are having chest pain. We’re obligated to respond to the call, and each and every time we get there you waste our time. We’ve told you that you are not having a heart attack, we’ve suggested you contact your…
For My Sister
I’m severely disappointed to find out how you treat your family. Keep tossing them away one by one and eventually you will have nothing left. —Blood is Thicker than Money
Stupid Old Vulture
To the pushy loud-mouthed bitch who asked me who was in the viewing room at the funeral home (it was my Mum’s viewing for identification before cremation), I hope my answer of ‘Elvis’ satisfied your fucking morbid curiosity. Some fucking people. —TTFN
Pardis Parker makes finals of Stand Up & Bite Me
Former/current Halifax resident (he lives a lot of places, it’s weird) Pardis Parker (of acting, writing and directing fame) advanced to the finals of the Bite TV’s Stand Up & Bite Me competition last night. The finals take place June 23 at Second City in Toronto, and the lucky winner becomes the proud owner of…
Golf Club Wielding Moron
To the idiot who hopped out of his brown, older model minivan on Almon St. and approached my car with a golf club with the intent of using said club to cause bodily harm. I see you all the time, did you notice the uniform I was wearing when you jumped out of your shitty…
Nosy Neighbours
So, I moved into your neighbourhood 5 years ago, and since then you seem to get a lot of amusement out of watching my comings and goings. Do you think I don’t notice your pathetic attempts at engaging me by coming out of your house every morning at 8:45 am just as I am preparing…
Armchair Enterprisers
Okay, I get it. You have a lot of junk in your house. Rather than throw it out, you hold a yard sale. Swell. But of all the days to pick to have your front yard shindig, you choose “Free Shit Day”? Why the hell would I be interested in paying $50 for a beat…
Maniac Cop at Monday Night Massacre
Monday Night Massacre is a semi-regular grindhouse screening held Monday nights at Gus’ Pub (2605 Agricola Street, 423-7786). Admission and popcorn is free. Tonight’s bloody offering is Maniac Cop. Things get going at 9pm.
Learn to Drive
To the senile old man in the silver car: You were inches from hitting me as I was crossing the street at a crosswalk on a walk light at the corner next to the Halifax archives as you walk into the Dalhousie district. I believe you were trying to make a LEFT turn on a…
Spit-tacular
You just moved into my building, and I must say a welcome change to the two elephants with the screaming child. However, you spit off your balcony onto the ground below, right in front of the back entrance. Nothing like walking through your spit on a fresh early morning. I suppose it’s your way of…
The Girl Code
It’s as simple as this: A best friend doesn’t go after my husband. We’re separated and had been trying to make a go of things and YOU fucked it up. I no longer want anything to do with either of you. So maybe I should thank you for being a sleaze bag. You deserve one…
Customers Appreciate You
I love the way you both interact with your customers, the way you interact with each other. I’m almost certain that there was another article about both of your “sweetness”, however, I thought it would be a wonderful way to express how you brighten my day everytime I come into your shoe store just off…
Good Grief
Dear public, PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE do not walk in 2 mins before closing time and request a process that takes at least 15 mins. Also, do not get angry when you’re informed of this! —Come On
NSMW Showcase Submission Deadline is TODAY
Hey guys – if you’re looking to apply for a showcase submission for Nova Scotia Music Week 2011 – taking place November 3 – 6 in Yarmouth – the deadline is TODAY! At 5PM!! Run, don’t walk! Or rather, start typing your damndest, since they only accept online submissions. First, check out the showcase guidelines…
Link Stink
What happened to the “no scents make sense” policy of Metro Transit? Fucking guys drenched in Old Spice, Axe and who knows what else on the Portland Hills Link. At least the women know better. The occasional woman has too much perfume, not many. So many men are so unhappy being themselves, insecurity is what…
Thank You Sweetpea
You are the best thing to have ever happened to me. You support me when times are hard. I wake to your smile every morning and dream of it at night. I feel so very lucky because of you and I wanted to thank you for it. I love you sweetheart, I love you so…
Amazing Nurses
To the amazing nurses who may have thought that they were simply taking care of someone a little too fried… you saved my life. I don’t think I would have made it through the night alive if I hadn’t gone to the hospital. I wish I could remember your names, but that would just be…
I Love You Red
I call you Red because of your red jacket, but Wednesday on the ferry you wore a white trench. Your hair was shorter-very sexy. You had the collar turned up, blue Ray-Ban sunglasses. You looked too cool to be real. I think I love you. —Olive Drab
Naked Bike Ride 2011
This year’s naked bike ride was so much fun! Much love to everyone who bared their boobies, wheeled around with their ween out, and showed of their undies. You all are the best! Especially a certain energy trading, sushi serving, life loving lady. —Chubese and Proud
My Sailorman
I’ve loved you from the start You’ve always had hold of my heart Too bad we always tore it apart. Like Taylor Swift’s song, you belong with me. It’s too late now, you’re with her—you missed your chance with me. I pray all the best for your new family. I’ll always love you though and…
Alteregos introduces Weekend Warm-up
Though Gottingen is down one eatery since the departure of Good Food Emporium to Windsor Street, the Halifax Backpackers’ eatery Alteregos (2193 Gottingen Street, 431-3170) has plenty to offer those looking for an evening out. Consider their new Weekend Warm-up on Thursday evenings. For $30 you get a bottle of Nova Scotian wine, house-made hummus,…
Nova Scotian screenwriters selected for PEI Screenwriters’ Bootcamp
Starting today and running until June 17 is the PEI Screenwriters’ Bootcamp , a great Atlantic Canadian program that allows burgeoning screenwriters a chance to workshop and pitch their projects to seasoned industry professionals, including writer/story editor Ken Chubb, Tom Shoebridge and Jennifer Podemski. From Nova Scotia, the attendees this year are Eva Madden, Chris…
Michael
Michael is the first acting/theatre student for Youlookfiiine. Hailing from the nation’s capital, Michael likes to shop at Value Village and Sally Ann. We all saw that one coming (in the best way). He also likes to shop at local secondhand shops; Elsie’s, The Clothes Horse and Dress in Time are shops he frequents often.…
Was it a dream? Dream Friends, Quivers and more in the woods
Saturday afternoon found my intrepid travelling companion Tara Thorne and I hiking, portaging light drum gear, spilling Mike and Ikes in the blueberry bushes and trying not to catch some rays. We attended a mildly advertised show out of doors at a bunker in Duncan’s Cove with Dream Friends (the keen organizers), Bird World, Quaker…
La Cucina Cafe Pizzeria and Spaghetti House opens
After a long day shopping at big box zone Dartmouth Crossing, a wrap, panini or pasta dish might be exactly what you’re looking for. Benvenuto to La Cucina Cafe Pizzeria and Spaghetti House, (151 Hector Gate, 481-6367) recently relocated from truro, a casual restaurant open for lunch or dinner, offering a wide selection of Italian…
Don’t miss Colm Tóibín tonight at the King’s Elizabeth Bishop Symposium
The great Colm Tóibín—award-winning novelist, journalist, playwright, critic and generally nice fellow—is speaking tonight at the University of King’s College Elizabeth Bishop Symposium to celebrate The Elizabeth Bishop Centenary as part of the Flemming Lecture Series. Tóibín is the keynote speaker with Marie-Claire Blais for “It Must Be Nova Scotia: Negotiating Place in the Writings…
Wildflower turns 11, offer 25 percent off sale
Wildflower (5553 Clyde Street, 420-0364), run by the Best of Halifax award-winning Jill Strong, is 11 years old, and is celebrating the birthday by offering 25 percent of everything in the store this Saturday, June 11, from 10am-6pm. Plus, there’ll be cupcakes!
NS environmental groups question Lower Churchill project
Sierra Club Atlantic and Ecology Action Centre urge Nova Scotia to consider alternatives to the Lower Churchill electricity project.
Java Blend offers coffee delivery by bicycle
From now to October 1, Java Blend (6027 North Street, 423-6944) will send out a bicycle each Thursday to bring freshly roasted coffee beans to any door with a postal code starting with B3K, B3L, B3H, or B3J. (That’s peninsular Halifax, folks.) Orders received before noon on Wednesday will arrive on Thursday of the same…
Black Moor, Metalian and Sanktuary get “Tundrastruck”
eric hanlin tastes it out Oh Black Moor, where you been girlfriend? Our Halifavorite metal band has gone through some tumult in the past year, losing drummer Sylvan Coderre and guitarist Nick Jones (Jones now plays in We’re Doomed). They’ve still managed to record a few songs in studio, one of which will be appearing…
BREAKING NEWS: O’Neill cancels surf competition
Surfwear company O’Neill has cancelled its plans to hold its Cold Water Classic surf competition in Halifax. The company had earned the ire of the local surf community by failing to engage with the Surfing Association of Nova Scotia, Instead, the company went directly to the city of Halifax, and city council happily gave the…
Sun News, Margie Gillis and misinformation
Anyone who watched the SunNews interview with Margie Gillis was not only treated to a whole whack of spray tan and shouting, they also heard a lot of misinformation about the arts community. Despite her best efforts, Gillis’ saint-like patience couldn’t quite cut through interviewer Krista Erickson’s agenda, and today, the Canadian Dance Assembly National…
Sorry I Was an Asshole
To the girl driving a small green car by Citadel High who pulled over into the bike lane to get out of the way of an ambulance coming from behind: I was the cyclist yelling at you for being in the bike lane, totally in my own headspace, not really noticing the ambulance siren (you…
Picnicface wants you!
As most Haligonians in the know are aware of, awesome local comedy octet Picnicface is busy spinning laughs into gold with their brand new TV series, shooting the first season, 13 30-minute episodes, now in Halifax. How would you—yes, YOU—like to be part of it? They’ll be filming a big crowd scene in central Halifax…
The Tenant Not Renewing Their Lease
So, you’re leaving in a couple of months and I have to find someone to replace you. Would it kill you to make the place look good so I can have someone to rent out to when you leave?! When the place is a cluttered mess, potential tenants are turned off and will likely not…
Did Not Quack Me Up at All
To the group of teenage punks at Shubie Park tonight throwing rocks at the ducks, I think you need to find a new past time and if it wasn’t against the law, I would have thrown rocks right back at you. To the one single girl in the group who looked at me like I…
Goodbye Bicycle
Many thanks to the person who stole my locked bike from outside of my house last night. You have broken my heart. I understand why you would want to steal such a beautiful treasure, but you have crushed my summer biking plans & ruined my quick rides to work. I bet you weren’t thinking about…
Wrong Attitude
What is wrong with people who accidentally dial the wrong number, and when informed of their mistake by the recipient of said call, they just HANG UP? Why do people think this is acceptable? In what planet does, “Oh I’m sorry, I’m afraid you have the wrong number,” warrant a blank pause and a hang…
I Love Rain and Winter
Let me try to describe to you the difference between walking past a busker and hearing a few seconds of a performance by a person who is blissfully unaware that they are talent free and having to work for eight hours within earshot of them. Imagine sitting at an hours long concert starring one or…
Stop at the Sign
I was in a car accident several years ago. My passenger side door was smashed in because some inattentive fool drove through a stop sign. So, for the sake of my nerves anticipating another accident, common decency, and the rules of the road, PLEASE STOP at all stop signs! Don’t roll through, don’t pull up…
Culturally Incompetent, Socially Inept
To the man who entered a SGR bank last week blustering about how “stupid it was to wear a mask outside of a bank” when referring to two teen girls wearing hijabs, trust me buddy, I was way more skeptical and leery of you. When you came in I held my purse just a little…
Stop Sucking the Life Out of People
The only human contact you have is when you corner people you barely know and blather at them endlessly. You plant yourself in front of people you are barely acquainted with or working people like me who are paid to interact with you and yak yak yak away. Everyone you do this to and everyone…
Next Time
What is it with the bitchers who claim, “Next time I’m going to _______,” or “If it wasn’t for the fact that ________ I would have _________.” Let’s be honest, next time you are going to do the same thing you did today; run to the internet and bitch about it in an online forum.…
Bike Rage
This is to the guy that yelled at me and about six other people while walking on the path in The Commons. I apologize for not having eyes in the back of my head. Have you ever thought about getting some kind of bell? Do you really think your obvious bike rage can compete with…
Always Remember Me
I met you two years ago, I felt like I knew you even before we ever spoke. You came up to me and asked if I had a light and from that moment on we spent so many great times together. You gave me so much and took even more in return. I knew we…
Spell it Right
To the dozens of people at my place of work, why is it that when you send me an email you cannot take a split second to glance up to make sure you’re spelling my first name correctly?! I know there are lots of ways to spell it, but when you have it right in…
Hungover X-Men
To the tall guy with the sweet smile standing in line waiting to see The Hangover with his buds—thanks for chatting with this X-Men girl. I was having a seriously horrible night and had even cried all my makeup off minutes before. I decided to go for a movie by myself to cheer up and…
Aphasia: Hope Is A Four Letter Word screens June 15
Aphasia: Hope is a Four Letter Word screens Wednesday, June 15 at Park Lane Cinema, 7pm. The film sheds a light on aphasia, an acquired communication disorder impairing a person’s ability to process language due to trauma to the brain, such as a stroke. Tickets are $20, purchased in advance by calling 445-4960 or emailing…
Second Annual Ocean’s Film Fest screens starting Wednesday
On Wednesday, June 15 at 7pm, the 2nd annual Halifax Oceans Film Festival starts at the Museum of Natural History (1747 Summer Street). On Wednesday’s program is Life At Sea: An Inside Look at Life as a Whale Biologist and Disneynature’s Oceans. Cone back on June 22 for more ocean sustainability programs and films, and…
Wintersleep Plays Free Show in Dartmouth July 30
Wintersleep announced about a half hour ago via Twitter that they’ll be playing a free all-ages show at Alderney Landing on Saturday July 30. This is a pretty good summer for the D, concert-wise – the Arcade Fire and M-Fest concerts are also taking place at Alderney Landing. And hey, I heard a rumour they’re…
Talk About a Waste of Tax Payers’ Money
So little Stevie Harper was at the Canucks/Bruins game in Boston. Because he is such an important and high level individual, Stevie had to use a military jet to go to this game. The jet cost taxpayers about $10,000 an hour with security costs, etc. Besides paying for his own tickets all Stevie has to…
Overdone Stereotypes
I hate it when I meet people who fit stereotypes that reinforce those biases I’d like to think I’m growing out of. Take used car salesmen; I recently bought a used car in Sackville, went through the typical sales guy that would wipe my ass in order to get a sale. I return later to…
Brotherly Love
This has nothing to do with Halifax. In fact it has everything to do with Philadelphia. But a recent trip there has lead me to say Philly you are an AMAZING city! I can’t wait to go back! If you haven’t gone, go! —Nom Nom Nom Cheesesteak
Hogging the Path
Everybody knows the paved path through The Commons and the skate park, right? Well, this is a special “FUCK YOU ASSHOLES” to all those people that seem to think it’s perfectly OK to walk 3 or 4 people wide blocking the whole path and when you try and pass by them or brush against them…
Halifax Regional Police
Thank you for paying particular attention to the North & Agricola intersection recently with your extended foot patrols and monitoring. The intersection has recently seen lots of overzealous squeegee kids, stoned homeless zombies gargling about change while groping cars and pedestrians, idiot leftist taggers and their half-breed cousins, and the local prostitutes. It makes me…
Dear Question Period
I love you. You’re better than any soap opera out there. —Loving My Secret Shame
Like a Motorcycle
Like a Motorcycle played its first show at Gus’ in March. Since then the band has been working its ass off in a quest to create rock music that is darkly melodic and deeply felt. Good buddies Kim Carson, Jillian Comeau and Michelle Skelding have kept themselves busy booking shows, creating merch (cute t-shirts and…
Meriah
Those curls! That get-up! Bombshell, right? A server at Obladee Wine Bar, Meriah likes to dress for comfort and whatever feels and looks good. She likes to do her shoe shopping at Frenchy’s on Almon Street and otherwise likes to shop chez Envy, Sweet Pea, Pseudio and Dynamite—to name a few. A self-proclaimed “political geek,”…
Long Weekends
Long Weekends began with a dorm. Noel Macdonald (A History Of, Tomcat Combat) was living in Montreal last summer taking a French language course. “I was definitely the oldest guy there and they stuck me in a dormitory, I just felt so old and lonely,” he says. He began writing songs and started jamming with…
Boundary war
After years of complaints by educated wine consumers about the illogical illegality of buying booze from out of province, the lobbying efforts of wineries, the media, a nifty website called freemygrapes.ca and several wine-loving Western politicians are starting to be noticed by average Canadians. And this is making some folks at the provincial liquor boards…
Minus World
Minus World originally started out as a solo project, after singer/keyboardist Justin Wiles saw a Rich Aucoin show and realized that you don’t need a band—or even a guitar —to write thoughtful, emotive dance music. However, he eventually decided he needed a drummer and enlisted Kat Williams on the kit. Their debut EP is deceptively…
NOFX back in Halifax seven years early
When punk rock legends NOFX played Alderney Landing in the summer of 2006, frontman Mike Burkett (AKA Fat Mike) told the crowd, “We haven’t been to Halifax for 12 years.” And with half the crowd booing and half the crowd cheering, he added, “And we probably won’t be back for another 12!” “Well, we’re comin’…
Nick Everett
If you see Nick Everett recording that grinding noise that the ventilation system up the street makes, don’t think twice. The man is hardwired to make music. He hears potential in subtle sounds that your ears might miss. “If you’re looking for music, you’ll find it—everywhere,” says the London, ON, native who used everything—from a knocking…
Free Will Astrology
GEMINI (May 21-June 20) Primatologist Jane Goodall, who lived for years among chimpanzees in Tanzania, is one of the world’s top experts on the creatures. Can you guess what her favourite toy was when she was young? A stuffed monkey, of course. There were no doubt foreshadowings like that in your own childhood or adolescence,…
The Bang Bang Club misses the shot
Steven Silver is a South African whose filmmaking background in documentaries, so it stands to reason that he’s the guy to translate this true story, about a group of thrill-seeking white photographers documenting the violent last days of apartheid, to the screen. Yet The Bang Bang Club is curiously devoid of heft, diluted by Silver’s…
Snailhouse comes out of his shell
[iamge-1] Mike Feuerstack (AKA Snailhouse) has just given Europe a taste of his new record and now it’s our turn. Sentimental Gentleman may be his sixth full-length, but Feuerstack’s starting to see a growth in his songwriting that’s resulted in a record that is both honest and humourous. “I think it’s just a sign of…
Shalom Bard
There’s a new conductor in town, folks. Symphony Nova Scotia has just happily welcomed Shalom Bard, a vibrant, Israel-born clarinetist, as its resident conductor for the next two performance seasons. He comes to Halifax packing major prowess, having studied music since he was six and most recently receiving a master’s in orchestral conducting from McGill.…
The Express’ family ties
It’s a wonder Hey Rosetta!’s Kinley Dowling and her cousin Liam Corcoran (Two Hours Traffic) have time to make more music on the side. But after Corcoran shared some softer, folkier songs with Dowling that stepped outside the lines of his regular rock gig , the two decided that a collaboration was in order. In…
Southern Shores
Two of Halifax’s best-kept secrets have finally started making a name for themselves. Guitarist Ben Dalton and producer/beatmaker Jamie Townsend formed Southern Shores while living together in Berlin last fall. Less than a month after posting their first track “Grand Comore” on Soundcloud, New York/LA-based label Cascine Records offered to release a six-song EP (slated…
Penis photo etiquette
Q I’m a 22-year-old FTM. I will become a legal male this summer. WOOT. Useless hole but still no pole. My friends—all straight —don’t know I’m FTM because I don’t feel it matters. I don’t know any other FTMs and I really don’t care to. However, I like men. I have never had a boyfriend…
Slumlord
Slumlord was originally a “one-time-only band,” according to Severine Kavanaugh, who learned bass in order to play a show with drummer Tasha Gobeil and husband TJ Kavanaugh at their wedding last summer. However, the trio enjoyed it so much they decided to keep things going. “Anywhere TJ goes, I’m going,” says Gobeil, who also plays…
Post-production in Halifax
Brian Power is a sound mixer and editor. He runs his post-production sound facility The Hideout Studios in the Roy Building, the headquarters of his company Cottage Lunch Consulting. It’s a cozy, high-tech service provider, offering post-production sound editing and ADR (also known as “looping”) to local and from-away TV and movie productions. The last…
The Graboids
Here’s what you need to know about the Graboids: They understand that punk is not vain. They understand that punk is fun. And when Halifax is starved of sunlight and everyone’s broke and you’re feeling fat and gross and just wanna get trashed, sometimes that’s just the ticket. Case in point: their live show, which…
Schizo-virtual storytelling
In this schizo-virtual world we live in, it’s miraculous anyone can sit and think long enough about one thing to write a thesis or book about it. Good thing writers have the internet to crib from, though my guess is it takes longer to research infilling—soil quality—agrifood—the 10 best burgers in America—Elvis Presley’s influence on…
TRANSFIXED
After the demise of his noise-punk band PIG last year, Matt Samways found himself stuck for the winter in his hometown of Truro. Meeting up with Ian Phillips, also grounded in Truro, they began playing in Samways’ mom’s basement and discovered the house had once belonged to Phillips’ great-grandparents. “At that, I was like, ‘we…
Audrey and the Agents
“I used to listen to only country…and The Beatles,” says Audrey and the Agents’ commanding frontwoman Chantal Caissie of her seven-year-old self. It wasn’t until her brother bestowed No Doubt’s Tragic Kingdom upon her, and Gwen Stefani’s hardcore on-stage pushups blew her mind, that Caissie began to think about leading a rock band, looking to…
Chloe Jones
Chloe Jones is starting over. Well, sort of. After getting warmed up with her debut EP, Old Palace, the UK native, who’s a classically trained pianist with a master’s in pop music, has a new plan. During a recent trip to London for some festival gigs, Jones and her like-minded bandmate Matt Fudge, decided to…
Vixens
Vixens are one of those bands you keep hearing about before you actually get to see them. Their brand of quick, venomous hardcore punk seems to leave people dumbfounded. Josie Stevens, Rosie Davis, Bridget Robins and Julia Tufts first met while attending all-ages shows and bonded over a mutual desire to “sound like a bunch…
Bird World
At press time, Bird World’s future is uncertain—though the band just released a new EP, it’s embarking on a temporary hiatus. Seamus Dalton began writing songs for the shoegazey four-piece two years ago, while living in St. John’s for school. He got together with friends Kathleen Prinsen, Scott Grundy (Quaker Parents, Gamma Gamma Rays) and…
Deadly Hearts
You may know Jake Thurgood from his job beside the stage at Gus’—pouring your baby drafts—but enough nights beside the scene led him to join a band. Thurgood teamed up with Myles Deck, after trading records and chatting at the bar. “[Working at Gus’] got me thinking more about playing, for sure. I got to…
Willie Stratton
We can thank the ghosts of music past for Willie Stratton’s sound—folk grandfathers like Woody Guthrie for his lyrical storytelling, and military drummers for spirited, steady beats. But Stratton keeps a fine balance between the old and the new. “Just growing up and figuring out who I am is a big inspiration,” says Stratton, who’s been…
Cactus Flower
Jess Lewis has spent the last decade proving herself a stellar sidekick in a handful of Just Friends groups including The Pinecones, Hymm, Church Of Satan and The K-Tels, handling bass, guitar and backing vocal duties. However, in the past year, mostly due to requests from her close friends, Lewis has stepped into the spotlight.…
Dream Friends
Upon arriving at the home of Jonathan Carroll (guitar/vocals), I was roped into a game of four square with his five-year-old neighbour. After the interview, I was invited to stick around and watch Star Trek or “maybe go to Value Village.” Everything with this band is so delightfully copacetic. They insist the band works because…
Super 8 scratches summer movie itch
Just when you thought we’d gone digital for good, J.J. Abrams (Star Trek) brings Kodak back with a bang. The extraterrestrial mystery unfurls when a pack of preteens shooting a movie —on super 8 film, duh— witnesses an explosive train accident leaving behind countless little “white Rubik’s cubes,” misbehaving electronics and prompts clandestine Air Force…
Gigas
Nick Iwaskow started Gigas “a while ago” while still in high school and looking to focus on a solo project while his other band was falling apart. He started collecting synths and looping pedals and playing house parties. Inspired by Boards of Canada, Cocteau Twins, shoegaze bands and folk, Iwaskow says, “I like to try…
Atlantic Fashion Week kicks off their fifth season
In Atlantic Canada we’re often confused about which shoes to wear with which top. Trends seem to dribble east from Toronto and Montreal three years late and, when they do get here, the end result usually feels too dressed up for these modest Halifax hills. But Hali does have an underground pipe of hot looks…
Inmortis
The members of Inmortis—Holly Fox, Lisa Faulkner, Jolene Zacher and Gerald Smith—bring a variety of influences to their virulent musical brew, including punk, thrash and black metal. “Basically we like music that doesn’t suck, and we smash it all together,” says Fox. The band is currently working on its first album with producer Mitch Kelly,…
TED’s in town
Those brilliant little TED videos can trap you in front of your computer screen for hours. Imagine the power of seeing and hearing those words of wisdom in person, and from someone who might just live in your neighbourhood. TEDxNovaScotia is giving you the chance to do just that, bringing together an incredibly eclectic lineup…
Hind Legs rule at slightly weird
I hadn’t intended to meet Hind Legs at a weird, heretofore-unknown-to-me jam space called Headquarters in the north end at 11pm on a Sunday night. But singer/guitarist Hally Jones is rather charmingly persistent—“Dude! You have to come to Headquarters!” she texted, over and over again—and so I went. At the door, Jones is resplendent in…
Eric Desmarais and Palimpsest take the Khyber
This may be the busiest weekend the Khyber’s seen in a while. Quebec-based artist Eric Desmarais brings Le mot traduit le bruit des contingences passées (The Word Reflects the Noise of Past Contingencies) to town, an installation that examines the impermanence of sound by playing with its relationship with words and images. Also Palimpsest, an…
Andrea Dorfman’s Flawed now online
If you missed it at the Atlantic Film Festival and other screenings in town, see the lovely short film Flawed by Andrea Dorfman here.
What happens in Halifax stays in Halifax
Let’s do a quick association game. You know the kind. I say something— “Stanley Cup”—and you say the first word that comes to mind (like “Bieksa”). Ready? Here goes. I’ll say: “A bunch of politicians from towns and cities across Canada come to Halifax to talk about stuff like homelessness.” What did you think of?…
Maryvale Moon Cafe & Art opens
Now open is Maryvale Moon Food & Art (245 Waverly Road, 431-8253), located a few minutes from Mic Mac Mall offering comfort food, baked treats and art on the walls. Owner Leona MacDougall is a painter and singer, offering food, art and music with performers playing every Saturday 12pm to 3pm. Expect fair trade organic…
Peter Kelly is the Sarah Palin of Halifax
Throughout his report on the concert loan scandal, auditor general Larry Munroe utterly castigates Halifax mayor Peter Kelly for his involvement in the financial improprieties. Kelly is mentioned by name 54 times in the 96-page report, and his office is cited over 100 times. Here’s how Munroe summarizes Kelly’s role in the scandal: Based on…
Full Sappyfest Lineup Announced
Steve Foule that’s a gobble gobble! Sappyfest released its line-up this week. I just bought my ticket. Have you bought your ticket? Perhaps you ought to. You can do this by going here. Owen Pallett et Les Mouches | Charles Bradley | Jon Langford & The SadiesChad Van Gaalen | Bonjay | John K. Samson…
