Verb Issue S199 (July 20-26, 2012)

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Jul 20–26, 2012 • Pass it on

Regina’s New Stadium

Breaking Down How We’re Going To Pay For It P4

David Dyck

Local Artist Talks Creative Frustration, Love Of Bikes P12

Connect Fest

Electronica Stars Abound At This Amazing Summer Event P10

The Dark Knight Rises

Batman Finale Simply Unforgettable P15

EDO

Japan’s Last Shogun Age Explored In Incredible Mendel Exhibit P11 Photo: courtesy of the Mendel Art Gallery

Section Local Page 2

Jul 20–26, ‘12 VerbNews.com

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Grainfield’s

Saskatoon Cracks Top 20 Creative Cities Technology, Talent And Tolerance Determine Which Locales Make The Cut Alex J MacPherson

work come from. In Canada, where 80 percent of the population lives saskatoon, SK — Urban on just two percent of the land development maven Richard area, the importance of cities is Florida has named Regina the even more apparent.”

12th most creative city in Canada.

“What we’ve found is you need Florida, director of the Martin substantial but balanced perforProsperity Institute at the University mance,” says Kevin Stolarick, Ph.D. of Toronto’s Rotman School of Man- and research director at the Martin agement, based his assessment on Prosperity Institute, of the three a theory outlined main criteria used in his book, The “The creativity index to compile the Rise of the Creative [says] here are places list — technolClass, which sug- that have all of the ogy, talent and gests that creativtolerance. “It’s a ity has become an ingredients.” combination of all -Kevin Stolarick of those things.” increasingly important economic driver. Florida Scores for each category were tapped Ottawa as the most creative compiled using national data, city in the country, followed by Vic- Stolarick explains. Technology is toria and Vancouver in a dead heat a reflection of patents and patfor second place. Saskatoon came ent growth. Talent is a measure of in second last place, at 18. the creative class, which, Florida “Cities,” Florida writes in the writes, is “a new socioeconomic Huffington Post, “as the great ur- class…made up of scientists and banist Jane Jacobs told us long ago, engineers, architects and designare where new ideas, new inno- ers, artists and entertainers, and vations, new companies and new the growing ranks of professional

knowledge workers.”

They are people who are paid to think, Stolarick adds, noting that the creative class makes up about 30 percent of the population, two thirds of whom have a university degree.

The final measure, tolerance, is actually a reflection of openness, both to people and to ideas. This category factors in the number of gays and lesbians and the number of foreign-born people in a given community, as well as an integration index that determines if subdivisions of a metro area have the same ethnic composition as the region as a whole, Stolarick explains.

“We look at the creativity index as a leading indicator,” he says of the study’s importance. “It’s really helping to say here are places that have all of the ingredients. So they’re already situated — they have some level of innovation and technology, they have talented, skilled people, they have some openness and inclusion.”

Photo: courtesy of Eric Eggerston, Craik Sustainable Living Project, and dboyfotopages

Conversely, Stolarick says the study provides places that did not crack the top 10 with an opportunity to examine their weaknesses.

A lower ranking is “never a death sentence,” he says, and it can’t be solved with a silver bullet solution, but it does provide insight into why growth may not maximized.

“One of the things I’ve always said [regarding] the things that you have to do is…such a violent metaphor, but it makes such beautiful sense: it takes a shotgun and not a rifle,” he says. “What I mean is that so many people approach these questions and expect silver bullets.”

Explaining that growth cannot lie in a single massive project, Stolarick suggests that investment across a broad spectrum is the solution. “It’s the Guggenheim museum in Bilbao [Spain] argument,” he laughs. “You know, it didn’t work that well in Bilbao and it probably hasn’t worked anywhere else since.”

For comparison purposes, Stolarick refers to a similar study conducted in the United States. He thinks Ottawa, the most creative city in Canada, would certainly fall within the top 10 south of the border.

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Section

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Local

Page 4

Jul 20–26, ‘12 VerbNews.com

Who’s Paying For Regina’s New Stadium?

With A Price Tag Of $278M, The Facility Will Be Costing Us All A Little Bit Alex J MacPherson

Saskatoon, sk — After plenty of debate and many tantalizing news stories, a new football stadium is finally becoming a reality. Now, the question is: how are we going to pay for it?

After signing a memorandum of understanding (MOU), the provincial government, the city of Regina and the Saskatchewan Roughriders have announced a $278 million, 33,000-seat stadium to replace Mosaic Stadium, to be built at Evraz Place in Regina, west of the current facility. Boasting covered stands and an open-air playing field, the

stadium will be designed to permit and $73 million from Regina, which a retrofitted roof at some point in includes $3 million worth of land at the future.

Evraz Place. The province will also “It’s not just a simple replace- lend the City of Regina $100 million, ment of Mosaic Stadium,” says Brent to be repaid over 30 years.

Sjoberg, deputy Explaining Regina city man- “It’s not just a simple that renovating ager and chief replacement of Mosaic the “wanting” financial officer. Stadium.” infrastructure at “It’s actually going Mosaic would -Brent Sjoberg cost about $150 to be quite a new contemporary facility. It’ll actually million, Ken Cheveldayoff, minister be a significant upgrade.” responsible for the project, says The $278 million needed to build “there were certain limitations with the stadium can be broken down renovation…so we felt it would into an $80 million grant from the be best to look at a new open-air provincial government, $25 million structure.” to be collected by the Roughriders, Cheveldayoff says the government money will come from general revenues. “Right now in Saskatchewan we have an $11 billion budget,” he explains. “The stadium is going to be paid for with an $80 million grant over a four-year period. In that four-year period, the government will be spending about $45 billion, give or take. We’re going to be contributing $80 million… that’s one fifth of one percent of total government expenditures over the next four years…a small, small fraction.”

The $100 million provincial loan will be repaid using the facility fee, a surcharge added to tickets, which will be increased from $8 to $12, Sjoberg says, pointing out that the math is based on 10 games selling 30,000 seats each. That generates enough to pay the principal on the loan, he says.

Photo: courtesy of Huskies Football

U of S Huskies warm up before a game at Mosaic Stadium “Is there some risk in that?” Sjo- vast majority of events that take berg says. “Yeah, absolutely there place in the current Mosaic [Stais some risk because it’s the city dium] are of an amateur nature. on the hook to repay the loan. But It’s busy over 100 nights a year, and we’re pretty comfortable with the of those only 10 — or in a hopeful way the numbers line [up], that it year 11 or 12 — are Rider games.” should not be an issue.”

The second financial considThe facility fee applies to CFL eration is maintenance, which tickets, though Sjoberg notes there Sjoberg admits can get lost in the is no plan to charge a similar fee for excitement of actually building the amateur events. stadium. He says a public facility This is significant because, Chev- typically requires between 1.5 and eldayoff explains, “what people 2 percent of the capital cost each don’t know right now is that the year for maintenance. Based on the higher figure, the stadium will cost about $30 million to maintain for 30 years.

This money will be collected through an annual mill rate increase of 0.45 percent for the next ten years, which Sjoberg says will generate $300 million — enough to cover maintenance and the initial $70 million laid out by the city.

He says last year’s 3.9 percent mill rate hike worked out to about $52 per year, meaning a 0.45 percent increase will cost the average citizen about $5 each year.

Although the name of the new facility has yet to be decided, Cheveldayoff says “a number of organizations” have approached the government about securing naming rights.

The MOU was approved by Regina’s city council’s executive committee on July 18th.

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Global

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Jul 20–26, ‘12 VerbNews.com

Pill Reduces HIV Infection Risk Adam Hawboldt

Choc Helps Circulation

Dark Treat Has Even More Health Benefits: Study Adam Hawboldt

cocoa, helps blood flow, the EFSA ruled in favour of Barry Callebaut’s Bern. switzerland — Is findings. Now all that remains is for there anything dark chocolate the European Commission to sign can’t do? off on the EFSA ruling. If they do Seriously. It’s been proven to that, the Swiss company and its cuslower cholesterol, fight cancer, pre- tomers — Nestle, Hershey and more vent tooth decay, — will be able to slow the aging “[E]ating 10 grams of dark put a health claim process, protect chocolate … helps blood on pack aging against diabetes, flow.” for products like etc. and etc. chocolate drinks, -Adam Hawboldt biscuits and ceAnd now, according to Barry Callebaut (the real bars. world’s largest maker of chocolate “As the first company receiving products), dark chocolate and co- such a health claim, we see new coa powder can also help improve market potential both for us and your blood circulation. for our customers,” Chief ExecuBut this isn’t just some self- tive Juergen Steinemann said in a serving claim designed to rustle statement. up more business for the chocolate In order to back up their claim conglomerate. Okay, well, maybe it is, but it’s also a claim that’s been backed by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA).

After providing evidence to the EFSA that eating 10 grams of dark chocolate, or its equivalent in

Global At A Glance wine strength — Benjamin Franklin once quipped: “Wine makes daily living easier, less hurried, with fewer tensions and more tolerance.” And he’s right. But what Franklin left out was that wine is pretty good at preventing osteoporosis, too — especially if you’re a woman.

In a new study conducted at Oregon State University, researchers found drinking one or two glasses of wine a day helped women increase their ‘bone turnover’ rates, which is a measure of density. When they stopped drinking, their bones grew weaker. Feedback?

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that dark chocolate aids blood circulation, Barry Callebabut used a special process in which they made cocoa that retained its flavanols.

In the past, research has concluded that flavanols help people maintain a normal vasodilation, which aids in blood flow. Thus, by figuring out a way to keep these flavanols in their cocoa, Barry Callebaut gained EFSA approval.

And should the EFSA ruling be upheld by the European Union, it will be quite a victory for the Swiss chocolate maker. That’s because, recently, the EU has been seriously clamping down on health claims for food products, approving a mere 200 of the 2,500 applications they received earlier this year.

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also a way to prevent people from contracting HIV. In fact, a nearly Foster City, ca — We could three-year-long study found that be at a turning point in the battle daily doses of Truvada cut the risk against HIV and AIDS. of infection in gay and bisexual That’s because the U.S. Food and men by nearly 42 percent when sex Drug Administrawas accompanied tion has approved “Truvada cut the risk … by condoms and Truvada, a new in heterosexual couples counseling, and pill that is proven where one partner [had] in heterosexual to reduce the risk couples where of HIV infection. HIV by 75 percent.” one partner was -Adam Hawboldt infected with HIV Numerous public health organizations be- by 75 percent. lieve this approval could slow the However, many groups, includspread of HIV, which has been hold- ing the AIDS Healthcare Foundaing steady at about 50,000 new tion, are worried Truvada may give infections in the U.S. per annum. patients a false sense of security, While Truvada has been market- which they believe will lead to lessed as a treatment for those already frequent condom use — the most infected with HIV, 2010 saw new reliable way to prevent HIV. studies showing that the pill was Feedback? Text it to 306-881-8372.

Global

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Jul 20–26, ‘12 VerbNews.com

You May Soon Suss Out Lovers Based On Genes Adam Hawboldt

London, england — Tina Turner once posed the ever-lasting question: “What’s love got to do with it?”

Turns out in the future, when it comes to choosing your life partner, love may not have much to do with it at all. That’s because, according to a leading British scientist, Britain is on the cusp of a new and exciting era of genetics that will allow partners to be matched solely on the compatibility of their genes, rather than love.

Professor Armand Leroi, of Imperial College London, says that within five or 10 years the desire to have a healthy baby will lead

numerous young couples to pay to see the genetic information of any prospective partners.

And while it’s unlikely that people will be creating “designer” babies, complete with desired eye colour or intellect, Leroi does feel that because the cost of genetic sequencing is falling so dramatically, that “it is going to become very, very accessible, very, very soon”.

However, any form of eugenics does not sit well with some people.

“Our society’s increasing obsession with celebrity status, physical perfection and high intelligence fuels the view that the lives of people with disabilities or genetic diseases are somehow less worth living,” Philippa Taylor, of the Christian

Lying Eyes False Theory Just A Myth: Academics Adam Hawboldt

Medical Fellowship, tells the Daily Mail.

“Our priorities should be to develop treatments and supportive measures for those with genetic disease; not to search them out.”

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edinburgh, scotland — There are an abundance of common misconceptions out there.

For instance, some people think the sun is yellow. It’s not. Others believe Napoleon Bonaparte was really, really short. He wasn’t.

You know what else is false? The age-old idea that you can tell a person is lying by watching their eyes.

According to a new study conducted by Edinburgh University and Hetfordshire University, the relation between eyes and their in- training courses,” the BBC reports dications of honesty or dishonesty Dr. Caroline Watt, from Edinburgh is nothing more University, saying. than a myth.

“Our research …

“Our research pro“A large per- suggests that it is time to vides no support centage of the abandon this approach to for the idea and public believes so suggests that that certain eye detecting deceit.” it is time to aban-Caroline Watt don this approach movements are a sign of lying, and this idea to detecting deceit.” is even taught in organizational Researchers filmed volunteers and recorded their eye movements as they lied and told the truth. They At A Glance then asked a second group of volsubtitle specs — Are you deaf? Or unteers to watch the films and try to don’t speak English very well? If so, detect who was lying by watching here’s some good news: Sony has cre- eye movements. ated a pair of glasses that will subtitle “The results of the first study movies when you go to the cinema. revealed no relationship between Called Entertainment Access Glasses, lying and eye movements,” says they are transparent except for where professor Richard Wiseman, from a tiny projector shines subtitles visible Hertfordshire University. “The seconly to the wearer. The glasses are avail- ond showed that telling people able now, but so far only in theatres. about the claims made by NLP pracFeedback? Text it to 306-881-8372. titioners did not improve their lie detection skills.”

In case you’re wondering, NLP (neuro-linguistic programming) theory claims that when righthanded people look up to their right, they are visualizing a “constructed” or imagined event — i.e., they’re lying.

In contrast, NLP theory also claims that if right-handed people look to their left, they’re visualizing a “remembered” event — i.e., they’re telling the truth.

Too bad their theories are wrong.

But still if you want help spotting a liar, perhaps you could keep the following in mind: Liars tend to reduce the number of times they refer to themselves in a story, so keep an eye out for any sudden drop in words like me, mine and I, they are more hesitant than truth tellers and tend to stumble over their words, so listen out for umms and errs.

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Global

Offbeat

Page 7

Jul 20–26, ‘12 VerbNews.com

Scan Cow With QR Code, Learn About Dairy Life Adam Hawboldt

The ‘Lampbrella’ Canopy Senses Rain, Opens Adam Hawboldt

Petersburg street … and saw the street lamps illuminating people st petersburg, russia — trying to hide from the rain,” the Nobody likes getting caught out- inventor tells Gizmag. side in the rain. Your shoes get “I thought it would be approprisoaked, your clothes stick to you ate to have a canopy built into a and, no matter how hard you try, streetlamp.” you can’t quite get comfortable His proposed canopy has a diamuntil everything dries. eter of more than seven feet, stands If Mikhail Belyaev has his way, six-feet five-inches off the ground, however, that’ll and can comfortnever happen “His proposed canopy … ably cover nearly again. See, Be- can comfortably cover a dozen people. lyaev invented nearly a dozen people.”

And to ensure this thing called people’s safety, -Adam Hawboldt the canopy lifts the Lampbrella.

Part umbrella, part street lamp, up and closes with a low-middle this contraption comes equipped speed. with sensors that detect when it’s Furthermore, the canopy only raining, which then triggers a motor closes when another 360-degree that pushes up a canopy, offering motion sensor doesn’t detect passers-by shelter from the storm. people under the canopy for two Belyaev got his inspiration while minutes. watching people scrambling for Belyaev has not ruled out using cover from the rain. a button system for his invention.

“I was driving on a central Saint Feedback? Text it to 306-881-8372.

Underwear Claims To Burn Fat Adam Hawboldt

with Emana, a nanofiber with mineral bioactive crystals that absorb rome, italy — Want to lose a the human body heat to return in few pounds, but can’t be bothered the form of Far Infrared Rays. These going to the gym? stimulate blood microcirculation If so, you’re in luck. A new line and cellular metabolism.” of under wear Other benefits has been created “Other benefits of the of the underwear, that can help you underwear … include … listed on the comburn fat simply by improved metabolism…” pany’s website, inwearing it — or at clude: the elimina-Adam Hawboldt tion of toxins, the least, that’s what the manufacturers claim, saying covering of skin flaws, improved their product offers amazing cel- metabolism and decreased lactate lulite reducing effects. acid building during exercise.

Created by MyShapes, an Italian The somewhat costly undergarclothing company, the underwear is ments range in price from $60-100. made from “a range of articles made Feedback? Text it to 306-881-8372.

Offbeat At A Glance big blt — Three hundred pounds of

bacon, 210 loaves of French bread, over 100 pounds of tomatoes and 40 pounds of lettuce and mayonnaise: that’s what it took to make the world’s

largest BLT in South Virginia. Under the watchful eye of chef Steve Gillette, the sandwich, which is 306.5 feet long, was put together in less than 15 minutes.

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Leicestershire, England — Talk about moo-bile technology!

A dairy cow in Leicestershire, England, has had a QR Code spraypainted on her side to help people learn about the dairy industry.

Owner Jane Barnes is encouraging people to scan her eight-yearold Friesian cow, Lady Shamrock.

When they do, visitors are directed to a blog that details Lady Shamrock’s daily routine, along with information about challenges dairy farmers are currently facing.

“It looks like a puzzle — like a barcode on food items,” says Barnes of the QR Code. “We used a can of white spray paint that is animal user friendly, so it is not going to harm her in any way, and sprayed it on using a stencil.”

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Food

Page 8

Jul 20–26, ‘12 VerbNews.com

Pepper isn’t only black. It comes in a wide array of colours, from green to red to white. The ripeness of the plant and how its been processed is what determines the colour of pepper — and that’s not the only interesting thing about this spice. is native to India ■andPepper grows on a vine Pepper has been used in ■cooking for more than 2,000 years

In the Middle Ages, a ■person’s wealth was often

measured by how much pepper they had

When ancient Roman ■armies would besiege a city, they would often demand pepper as a ransom

Pepper is the number one ■selling spice in America

Spicy Garden: Great Asian Cuisine Photos: Courtesy of Adam Hawboldt

8th Street Restaurant Offers Vast Array Of Authentic Dishes Adam Hawboldt

Some places are “family” restaurants in name only. Other places are family restaurants through and through.

Take Spicy Garden, for instance.

Since 2006, this restaurant in Cum- the Spicy Garden one of the mostberland Square has been run by the welcoming restaurants in SaskaHong family, who arrived in Cana- toon, it also boasts some of the best da by way of Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnamese/Asian cuisine.

Vietnam and China. And trust me Don’t believe me? Just go when I tell you the there and order Hongs’ journey to “[T]he mussels are served the Black Pepthese shores sure in a creamy fresh basil pered Beef. With wasn’t an easy sauce that carries a kick.” its melt-in-yourone. There were mouth meat, ex-Adam Hawboldt quisitely spiced wars to flee from, gold to be traded, pirates to be sauce and loads of cracked pepper, avoided and refugee camps to be this heaping dish is a steal at less endured. than $11 dollars.

But endure the Hongs did, and So too is the pho. Sure, they lucky for us. Because not only is have the standard sliced beef pho

and beef ball pho, but if you really want the best, go with the House Special Pho. Made with sliced beef, beef balls and beef tendons (all butchered by Mr. Hong himself), this Vietnamese staple is amazingly delicious. The beef is tender, the noodles are ample and the broth is savoury, with a delectable hint of cilantro. Toss in a few sprigs of Asian basil and you’re ready to go.

If beef isn’t your thing and you’re more in the mood for seafood, then you should probably give the Thai Basil Mussels a try. Seriously: these mollusks are excellent. Huge and moist, the mussels are served in a creamy fresh basil sauce that carries a kick. Toss in some sliced onion and carrot, top it off with some fresh basil, and you have yourself one tasty entrée.

Or how about the Seafood Bird’s Nest? Consisting of shrimp, crab, squid, noodles and more vegetables than you can shake a stick at, this dish smothered in a sweet and savoury sauce that perfectly compliments the seafood.

With nearly 200 items on the menu, chances are I’ll be visiting the Spicy Garden again. And again.

Thing is, the restaurant is closed until the ever-pleasant Hong family gets back from their summer vacation to see family in Vancouver.

They’ll be back on August 7th.

The date is marked on my calendar.

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Spicy Garden

Address: #6 — 1501 8th Street East Hours: Tuesday-Thursday 11am - 8pm; Friday-Saturday 11am-9pm; Sunday noon-8pm Reservations: 373-8585

Opinion

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Jul 20–26, ‘12 VerbNews.com

Flying In Canada Costs Way Too Much

Making Air Travel More Affordable Would Generate Greater Economic Activity the Editors of Verb

saskatoon, SK — According to recent surveys, Canada has the second best quality of life in the world, behind only Australia. We’re ranked number two when it comes to happiness, number three in post-secondary eduction systems and number one amongst G20 countries in women’s rights.

Those are things to be proud of.

What we shouldn’t be proud of, however, is being ranked near the bottom of the barrel when it comes to airline taxes and airport fees.

How low are we in that category?

Well, out of 130 countries, Canada is ranked 125th in competitive ticket prices and airport charges. That’s how low. And we think it’s time something is done about this. It’s Needless to say, airports have time flying in Canada was made become a sizable source of revenue affordable again. for the government. So much so But before we tackle a solution that from 1992 through 2009, the here, let’s look at the problem. And, 14 leading Canadian airports paid in this case, the problem is simple. somewhere in the neighbourhood It all boils down to government of $3.3 billion in rent. Please repolicy. member: that is Once upon a “[A]irports have become a just rent. time, the federal sizable source of revenue And who bears government used for the government.” the burden for all to run our airports these taxes and -Verb’s editors government poli— and run them fairly well. Prices were low (rela- cies? Why, the customers, of course. tively), people were flying, business It’s gotten to the point where the was good. price of flying in Canada is simply But in 1992 the Mulroney gov- preposterous —especially when ernment, in an effort to drive down you compare it to other parts of the dastardly deficit, transferred the developed world. Take Europe responsibility of large airports over for instance. Using Ryan Air, it costs to local groups, then started tax- the equivalent of about $110 to fly ing the bejesus out of them. There return from Barcelona, Spain to was airport rent and security taxes, Hamburg, Germany. That’s a round sales taxes and fuel excise taxes. trip of a tad more than 3,400 km.

So many new taxes sprung up that Which, if you think about it, is similar government policies now account to flying return from Saskatoon to for up to 40 percent of domestic Detroit — a comparable distance, airfare prices. and both routes move between

two different countries.

But here, using, say, West Jet, the cost of a flight from Saskatoon to Detroit is, after taxes, around the $700 mark. And that’s only one way!

So the question remains … how do we solve this problem? How do we get cheaper flights? The answer is relatively simple. The government has to stop treating airports as a revenue stream and start viewing them as economic generators. To wit: ease the tax burden and lower the fees.

Doing so would increase competition in the industry, convince more people to fly, and lower airfares.

And according to professor Fred Lazar of York University, if the government eased up its policies, about three million trips would be generated annually, while economic output would be boosted anywhere from $2–4 billion. That is, even if the government loses revenue from lower fees and taxes, they’ll make it back in taxes on the boosted economic activity that

more flying would create. And if flying was more affordable, who wouldn’t use it more often?

Any way you slice it, that’s a lot of money and growth. So maybe

it’s time the federal government stopped helping itself and, instead, started helping those who want to fly.

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Feature

Page 10

Jul 20–26, ‘12 VerbNews.com

Connect Music Fest Celebrates 17 Years

Boasting Electronica Superstars And Tons Of Hot Music, This Event Is A Must-See Sebastien Dangerfield

saskatoon, SK — “It’s a hidden oasis,” says Jeff Bashutski, known by his stage name Jeff Galaxy. “An old smugglers’ route with sand dunes and a spring running through the whole thing. It’s so well-treed, the grass is so wellmanicured, it’s so well-kept that you think you’re in a city park.”

What Galaxy is talking about is the Besant Campground.

Why he’s talking about the

“Every year we try to pick people who we consider the up-and-coming stars.”

-Jeff Galaxy campground is because that’s where this year’s Connect Music Festival — the largest outdoor electonica/tribal party in the province — is being held. And by all accounts, Galaxy, who founded the festival 17 years ago, is happy with the current location.

“It’s just a great, great place,” he says. “It’s on a hillside, so there are upper and lower campgrounds …

We’re lucky to have ended up here.”

Lucky indeed. In the early going, when Connect was in its infancy, the festival was held at Oyama Regional Park near Regina.

“That first year, I just rented a big system, rented every DJ I could find, brought in some from the U.S. and the U.K, and threw together a party,” explains Galaxy.

Photo: courtesy of Connect Festival

“We lost quite a bit of money.

But we decided to keep it going.”

Eventually, the Connect Festival became more and more popular and outgrew Oyama. Where they ended up was at a park in McLean,

Saskatchewan, just off the TransCanada Highway.

“We were there for about five years, but eventually the infrastructure started to show wear and tear, it was put up on the auction block, nobody bought it,” says Galaxy.

“That happened in the spring, when we were ramping up for the festival.

And at the last minute the provincial government closed the park.”

Needless to say, organizers of the festival were left scrambling, and they scrambled right into the

always scenic Besant Campground.

That was a few years ago. These days the Connect Music Festival is thriving. With 40 acts playing three stages, this four-day festival, which draws thousands of party-goers every year, is big and getting bigger.

“We draw people from all corners of Saskatchewan and beyond,” says Galaxy. “We connect a lot of like-minded people with the music, with nature, with everything.”

So what, precisely, is the allure of an outdoor electronica festival?

“Plain and simple, we get brutalized by our winters here,” explains Galaxy.

“So when summer comes people want to be outdoors. If you give them an excuse to go camping with like-minded people, plus really good music across three stages, people can’t help but say ‘okay I’m packing up and going.’”

And for those people going to this year’s festival, you’re in for a treat. With a line-up that boasts the likes of Drumcell, Likwid, Griz, Vilify, Dislexik, Kraddy, Petebox and more, Connect 17 is going to be unbelievable.

“Every year we try to pick people who we consider the up-and-coming stars,” says Galaxy.

One such star, who they had at the festival four years ago, is a DJ named Deadmau5. These days Deadmau5 is gracing the cover of Rolling Stone magazine.

Connect 17 runs from August 2nd until the 5th. For more information about the festival or to purchase tickets, visit www.connectfestival. ca.

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Arts One

Page 11

Jul 20–26, ‘12 VerbNews.com

Edo Explores 18 and 19 Century Japan th

Photos: courtesy of the Mendel Art Gallery

th

Woodblock Prints, Samurai Paintings Offer Cross Section Of Last Shogun Age The objects on display in Edo are drawn from every facet of life in 18th Saskatoon, SK — Martin and 19th century Japan. From orAmis once wrote that things are nate suits of armour to rudimentary created in the violence of fire. He woodblock prints popular among was right: nothing spurs inno- the lower classes, the exhibition vation and unbridled creativity covers every segment of Japanese like conflict. And never has this society. been more evi“That’s what I dent than at the “[I]t’s not just a sword for tried to do, do it battle of Sekiga- killing, it’s an art piece like a historical hara, which was because it’s beautifully period,” Till says. fought on Oc“The history does tober 21, 1600. done.” influence the art -Barry Till to a large extent.”

That night, the sun set on a bloody battlefield.

If 18 th century Europe was a The following morning, it rose world lit only by fire, Japan was illuon the Edo period — one of the minated by an appreciation for the greatest periods of cultural dy- finer things in life. This is particularly namism the world has ever seen. true of the peasant class, who did a “The Japanese view it as ‘this is booming trade in brightly coloured what we should be,’” explains Barry woodblock prints. According to Till, curator of Asian art at the Art Till, these prints, known as ukiyo-e, Gallery of Greater Victoria. “Any- were not recognized for what they thing after that tends to be heavily depicted until later. Illustrating in western-influenced. But this is the fine and occasionally comic detail last great period when we had our every aspect of Japanese life, from best art, our best literature: this is transportation to prostitution and when we were purely Japanese.” the eventual influx of strangers, Till is talking about Edo: Arts of the ukiyo-e used to be trash. Now, Japan’s Last Shogun Age (1603-1868), they’re treasures. an exhibition of works from the Edo These simple prints made with period, which lasted until 1868. bold colours clash magnificently The epoch began when Tokugawa with the samurai paintings, miniIeyasu seized control of Japan af- malist works executed with a deft ter his victory at Sekigahara. To hand and all the refinements conconsolidate power, Tokugawa per- ferred by wealth and status. Today, suaded Emperor Go-Yozei to name however, time has flattened the dishim shogun, the highest military tinction between high and low art. authority in the land. In 1639 the “The low art, the prints, [are imTokugawa shogunate closed Japan portant] mainly because what they to outsiders. This had unexpected did to the Europeans, the impresconsequences, chief among them sionists and post-impressionists,” a period of creativity untainted by says Till, explaining that ukiyo-e external forces. inspired plenty of European art Broadly speaking, Edo is an im- once Japan was opened to forportant exhibition for two reasons: eigners. “It just had such a huge it offers a startling look at one of the impact … There was a beauty in last periods of complete cultural the simplicity.” isolation, and because it includes When asked what threads works from every social strata, it link seemingly disparate veins of captures a cross-section of life in a Japanese art, Till doesn’t hesitate: period about which most Western- “Workmanship,” he says. “Everyers know very little. thing is beautifully done, even the Alex J MacPherson

swords: it’s not just a sword for killing, it’s an art piece because it’s beautifully done.”

Interestingly, Till points out that every segment of Japan’s rigid social hierarchy had a role to play. Daimyos and samurai had the money to purchase art. The lower classes established cottage industries focused on producing art, and wealthy merchants, who formed the lowest class of all, spent

enormous sums on art — a futile attempt to buy status and prestige.

We know this because so much Japanese art is available, although Till says the works are more difficult to see than contemporary pieces from Europe or North America.

“There are very few museums in Canada that have Asian collections, only a handful in fact,” he says. “It’s fun collecting it because I’ve gone into all sorts of different fields.”

“I’m getting old,” he laughs, “but when I see something new I get excited.”

Feedback? Text it to 306-881-8372.

Event Info

Edo: Arts of Japan’s Last Shogun Age Where: Mendel Art Gallery When: Through September 16, 2012 Cost: Free!

Singer, Activist Kate Reid Has Something To Say Alex J MacPherson

saskatoon, SK — Kate Reid has a postcard in her kitchen that reads: “It’s not homophobia — everyone hates you.”

This might seem offensive, but it captures how Reid, who knows all about being ostracized and excluded, sees the world. She rolls with the punches, laughing at the worst of them.

“I’ve done a lot of therapy,” she laughs, letting it ring out before shifting to a more serious tone.

“Once you’ve done personal healing work and stuff, it allows you to be a little more lighthearted about some of the funny things.”

Talking to Reid on the telephone is like talking to an old friend. She’s open and approachable, warm and funny. But her penchant for dry humour shouldn’t detract from what

she does for a living.

Reid makes music with a message. Her latest record, Doing it for the Chicks, is a tightly-wound country romp, overflowing with hot licks, personal anecdotes, offbeat jokes and an earnest desire to make the world a better place.

The record addresses a number of serious topics. Gender identity.

Sexuality. Violence. Rape. But Reid never lectures. She makes her point and punctuates it with a shot of humour. Music is her way of talking about issues “that wig some people out.”

“I want to make music that matters to people,” she explains. “The people who get it are people who get that it’s not just about being queer,” she muses. “It’s about being different. Everybody, regardless of race, gender, class, ability level, whatever, has issues with that.”

This is the message, and it comes through clearly. Reid doesn’t expect the world to change overnight, but she’s encouraged by the progress she sees.

Reid may be an activist, but she is also an expert songwriter and musician. Crackling with energy, songs like “Captain Cupcake and the Cambie Hotel” pull you along on an epic journey. Her more serious songs are provocative, evocative, perfect. Reid can turn a phrase, and she spins a compelling tale.

She may be the only dyke at the open mic — a nod to one of her songs — but Kate Reid definitely has something to say. It’s worth hearing.

Feedback? Text it to 306-881-8372.

ArtsSect &C Still from a video by David Dyck at Spokes ‘N Slopes (PH)

Five Qs With Dav

Local Artist On Creative Frustratio Alex J MacPherson

AKA Gallery, Dyck’s sculpture offers a way to connect with the gallery David Dyck’s art career began space and dozens of other Saskawhere his professional life left off. toon artists.

Bored with his engineering job, Alex J MacPherson: Tell me Dyck, who is from Estevan, quit about your background. and started making art informed David Dyck: I learned a bunch by manufacturing of stuf f about and design prin- “I think it’s just that engineering and ciples. Now, he’s standard story of being a manufacturing — entering the last kid, that freedom you get design for manuyear of his MFA facturing. From program at the from biking.” there, I ended -David Dyck up working in University of Saskatchewan. Dyck’s latest creation, the north end at a steel fabricaBicycle Wheel, is a sculpture and vid- tion shop for four years. Then I got eo installation currently on display bored of that. It was repetitive and at Spokes ’N Slopes on 20th Street. didn’t really engage me creatively.

Born from Dyck’s love of cycling, Art was a major interest for me goBicycle Wheel raises questions about ing through school, but it was never our fascination with transportation, this functional career opportunity as well as the relationship between or anything. form and function. Part of Art Walk, AJM: You mentioned creative a public initiative spearheaded by frustration. Could it be that art is a process for you to find answers to your own questions?

DD: Yeah, that’s a really good way to put it. But if it’s just a personal thing, then what am I doing?

It eventually has to get shown to people and hopefully has to make sense. There has to be some sort of communication for it to work.

AJM: Even though you’re no longer working in manufacturing, those industrial ideas are embedded in your work.

DD: That eventually faded off, that self-hate I

Culture tion Pages PH, PH PH PH–PH, ‘PH VerbNews.com

Pages 12, 13 Pages Jul 20–26,10, ‘12 11 VerbNews.com

Tyler Gilbert, Guitar Junkie And Musician, To Play The Freehouse Alex J MacPherson

Photo: courtesy of the artist

vid Dyck

on, Love Of Bikes had for engineering. I thought this is actually a viable skill and it means something, or it meant something to me at one point — enough to pursue it for that many years of my life. Those are the thoughts that were going through my head when I made this bike piece. There’s a bunch of engineering there: it took technical skills to build it, and this thing was taking it back to something functional. I think it’s a response to these pressures, friends or family members being confused.

AJM: Tell me about the piece.

DD: I built this wheel out of art store materials. I work at an art supply store, so it was a few materials from there combined with some bicycle materials, an inner tube and that sort of thing. I was using basically the structure of a painting juxtaposed with a bike wheel into a functional object and then I was just riding this thing down the road, took a video of it, and looped it.

AJM: What drew you to bicycles?

DD: It’s just another autobiographical thing. I raced bikes for a bunch of years, and that was really important part of my adolescence … I think it’s just that standard story of being a kid, that freedom you get from biking. I guess bikes just did it for me since I learned how to ride one.

Feedback? Text it to 306881-8372.

saskatoon, SK — “When you are young they tell you who you think they are,” Tyler Gilbert sings in his song “Break Free.”

Gilbert, who is twenty-three, doesn’t need anyone to take the reins of his burgeoning career, he “It’s a tricky question, to make as has everything under control. In much noise as you can being that just four years the Regina song- you’re only one guy,” he laughs. writer has released three albums Gilbert’s modest, too. But if playof sensitive, thoughtful folk music ing guitar seems simple, songwritand racked up untold thousands of ing is anything but. Some songwritroad miles; hours spent ensconced ers work quickly, turning songs out in his bedroom playing guitar and fully formed in ten minutes while refining his craft have paid off. others take an obscene amount of B u t G ilb e r t time. h asn’ t a l w ay s “I still play electric guitar Gilbert is familflown solo. He … but I’m not overly iar with both ends used to play in sure why I enjoy playing of the spectrum, rock & roll bands, but the act of acoustic guitar so much.” and still names creating remains -Tyler Gilbert mys terious to Black Label Society guitar wizard Zakk Wylde as a him. major influence.

“It’s quite an amazing thing once Which is interesting, given that you actually have the song done,” the young Regina singer almost he says. “The whole thing starts never appears with an electric from a completely blank slate and guitar. comes from your head. It’s an amaz“That’s one of the main reasons ing process.”

I started playing guitar, [Wylde’s] But that doesn’t mean it’s easy. impeccable guitar playing, but I’ve Gilbert admits that stagnation is always been a fan of how you can common. hear the lyrics so much better as “I find writing songs comes easily a solo [act] compared to a band at certain times but you always go where the sound gets a lot more, into slumps, and after a few months uh, noisy,” he says. two or three songs kind of bang out Gilbert describes himself as a real quick,” he says. guitar junkie, not a gear head: it’s “Surprisingly, the ones I feel best an important distinction. about, the ones that seem to get a Gear heads obsess over sound, lot of responses, came out pretty the tonal qualities of particular easy in a spurt of good songwritcombinations of wood and wire; ing.” guitar junkies just want to play.

“I’m not picky about sound,” admits Gilbert.

“I know a lot of people are. I’ll Reid just pick up a guitar and start play- Kate Where: Gillian Snider’s House ing for hours, lose track of every- When: July 31 thing else. I still play electric guitar Cost: $10/$15 — gillians@sasktel.net at home, but I’m not overly sure Gilber why I enjoy playing acoustic guitar Tyler Where: Spadina Freehouse so much.”

When: August 1 Despite his obvious reverence Cost: Free for Wylde, Gilbert hasn’t let the rock ethic invade his playing. He plays David Dyck / Art Walk AKA Gallery/various locations with a light touch and possesses Where: When: Through ‘til July 28 the rare ability to make one guitar Cost: Free sound like two, two like three or Want some coverage for your upcoming event? Email layout@verbnews.com ASAP! even four.

Event Info

Photo: courtesy of the artist

Gilbert’s latest release, Tyler’s World, hit the streets last year. He admits that making a living playing music is difficult, but he won’t be

deterred.

No one, in other words, is going to tell him who he is.

Feedback? Text it to 306-881-8372.

Section Movies

Page Page 14PH

Jul PH 20–26, PH–PH, ‘12 ‘PH VerbNews.com VerbNews.com

The Intouchables Sweet, Charming

French-Language Film Follows Path Of Unlikely Friendship The Intouchables Runtime: 113 Minutes Rated: PG Adam Hawboldt Fact: The French seriocomedy, The Intouchables, has earned a whopping $350 million worldwide — making it the highest grossing non-English-language film of all time.

Fact: The Intouchables was nominated for nine César Awards (the French equivalent of an Academy

Award.) guy who suffers fools. So the careFact: The Intouchables is a darn takers come and go until he intergood movie. views a potential employee named Written and directed by Éric Tole- Driss (played by the captivating dano and Olivier Nakache, the film Omar Sy.) See, Driss isn’t like the tells the story of a others. He’s an millionaire named “[E]ven though … it ex-con from the Philippe (François sounds like a trite, feelParisian projects Cluzet). One day good movie [it’s] so much who is content to Philippe goes out sit back and just for a paragliding more than that.” collect his welfare -Adam Hawboldt cheques. adventure, things go awry and Philippe winds up a In fact, Driss has no intention of quadriplegic. taking the job; the only reason he Cut to present day and Philippe goes to the interview is to prove is ripping through caretaker after to the government he’s looking caretaker because, well, to put it for work so he can keep collecting tactfully, he’s not really the kind of welfare.

Needless to say, the two men are quite different. On the one hand, Philippe is cultured, reserved and uptight, but not without a sense of humour.

On the other, Driss is bombastic and crude with a quick (sometimes perverse) sense of humour.

But Philippe takes a shining to his new employee, mainly because Driss doesn’t pity him. If anything, Driss openly mocks Philippe’s immobile condition, his love of the arts, his taste in music, everything.

Soon, a warm and lasting friendship is formed.

Does that sounds a little formulaic? Sure.

Is The Intouchables sentimental?

Yes. Is it somewhat superficial? You bet.

Is it predictable and been done before? Yep. The thing is, even though, on the surface, it sounds like a trite, feelgood movie about a pair of unlikely friends from different sides of the tracks, The Intouchables is so much more than that. So much better.

Some of the credit for that can go to Toledano and Nakache, who came up with a funny, touching and well-crafted script.

That said, most of the credit must go to the two lead actors — Sy and Cluzet. Both men give astounding, big-hearted performances that transcend the formulaic story, making it easy to care for the characters, and allowing the movie to explore some deep, humane truths in a way that cuts to the core of each character’s existence.

And the best part?

This movie is based on a true story … sort of. Yes, there was a Parisian millionaire who had an

Photo: courtesy of Alliance Films

accident and became a quadriplegic. Yes, he did hire a caretaker with whom he forged a fast friendship.

But, in real life, the caretaker wasn’t a joint-smoking, 1970’s-funk-loving black dude from the wrong side of the tracks. He was an Arab man.

But who cares if a few facts were fudged? Not me. And you shouldn’t either.

The Intouchables is now being screened at Broadway Theatre.

Feedback? Text it to 306-881-8372.

Section Movies

Page Page 15PH

Jul PH 20–26, PH–PH, ‘12 ‘PH VerbNews.com VerbNews.com

Exceptional: The Dark Knight Rises Delivers

Photo: courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures

From Casting To Plot To Visual Effects, This Final Film Is Simply Unforgettable The Dark Knight Rises

Runtime: 165 Minutes Rated: PG Adam Hawboldt Thank you Christopher Nolan.

Thank you for resuscitating the Batman franchise after Joel Schumacher tried to kill it. Thank you for delving deep into the mind of Bruce Wayne and asking the question everyone wanted to know: Why does a billionaire dress up like a bat to fight crime? Thank you for giving Heath Ledger the material to be brilliant and for making Batman grittier and realer and more accessible than ever before. Oh, and perhaps most of all, thank you for finishing off your Batman series with a high and mighty bang. Take a bow, good sir. You deserve it.

Because unlike other trilogies that tend to limp into the finish line, you put your head down, bit your bottom lip and ran toward that ribbon like your arse was on fire. As a result, The Dark Knight Rises a) is

arguably the best Batman flick (if the Joker and the passage of the it weren’t for Heath Ledger’s take Harvey Dent Act, there isn’t much on the Joker, there’d be no arguing crime left in Gotham City. So Batat all) and b) has to be, to date, the man, for all intents and purposes, front-runner for the Academy’s Best isn’t really needed anymore.

Picture Award.

Not until Bane P i c k i n g u p “The Dark Knight Rises comes to town. eight years after is bleak, black, bold and Played with the events of The bloody brilliant.” haunting menace Dark Knight, this

by Tom Hardy (In-Adam Hawboldt ception, Warrior), latest and last installment of the Batman saga sees Bane is a big, broad-shouldered Bruce Wayne (Christian Bale), bat- battering ram of a villain who aims tered and bruised from years of to plunge Gotham into absolute crime fighting, living in his man- chaos and anarchy. sion like a recluse, a shadow of his Naturally, Batman comes out of former self. Since the downfall of seclusion … there’s a confrontation

… and, well, let’s just leave it at that.

To say much more would spoil a handful of fantastic surprises. What I will say, however, is that the acting in The Dark Knight Rises is excellent.

Bale is solid, as usual. Hardy kills as the main villain (literally and figuratively). Morgan Freeman, Michael Caine and Gary Oldman, who all reprise their roles, are once again top-notch. And Joseph GordonLevitt, well, he was the perfect pick to play detective John Blake.

Oh, and then there’s Anne Hathaway, who is magnificent as Selina Kyle — a sexy, sassy, quick-witted cat burglar who may be Batman’s

best friend … or worst enemy.

With a running time of close to three hours, The Dark Knight Rises is easily the longest film in the series. But here’s the thing: not once will you get bored or lose interest, because the movie delivers in every department: narrative, visual, action, emotional, socio-political, you name it.

Simply put, The Dark Knight Rises is bleak, black, bold and bloody brilliant. If you’re going to see one movie this summer, make it this one.

And don’t forget to thank Christopher Nolan.

Feedback? Text it to 306-881-8372.

Texts

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Jul 20–26, ‘12 VerbNews.com

This Week: Global Warming Debate Last week we asked what you thought about the global warming debate, and here’s what you had to say.

Next week’s topic: see page 9 — what do you think about

On Topic Interesting. It’s easy to get worked up about the rhetoric spouted by the opposing side, but we need to keep what’s important here as the focus: working together to make Canada an environmentally concious and responsible country.

The first steps aren’t going to be pretty though Re Global warming

lowering airport fees and airline taxes in Canada? Text FEEDBACK and your thoughts about the topic (or anything else) to 306–881-VERB (8372) and you could see your text printed in next week’s issue! debators its a nice idea but good luck implementing it. If one side for a moment even eases up and makes any sort of gesture about working together they’re going to get pounced on by there opponents.

Yah! My bff worked for Canada West a while ago and she’s been saying this for years.

Partisan politics hurt everyone.

Absolutely agree, and not just about the global warming debate. When people subscribe to whatever thoughts their “political side” spouts, without thinking critically, then they are contributing to the problem.

Working together is an idealistic point of view, but doesn’t actually achieve anything.

You need to deal with what the situation is like now, and not how you’d like the situation to be in a perfect world. Tyrant Harper is going out of his way to demolish our country’s natural resources, and Canada is galloping towards destroying

all of its pristine and natural beauty, pumping out more carbon emissions than ever. We need to fight this with every ounce of strength we have, with whatever means necessary. The state of the environment isn’t something to be taken lightly. We need to act now.

Off Topic Re: “Problem Drinking Reduced By Price Hike,” Local page, July 13th issue

So problem drinking is reduced by price hike?

Have you been to the Confed Superstore or 22nd Shoppers and seen the amount of Lysoland vanilla extract leaving the store. Have you been to the hospital or the neighbourhood clinics and seen the amount of Isogel going out the door. Sure we fixed the problem, they are not our problem anymore.

Re: “Crime Predictor,” Global page, July

13th issue

Re: Crime Predictor wasn’t there a movie along these lines?

Didn’t it result in massive government assassinations for the common good?

Re: “SK Hits New Record Number Of Employed,” Local page, July 13th issue

Alex J Macpherson’s piece on page 2 has to be one of the laziest cheer leading fluff pieces ever printed in Saskatchewan.

Saskatchewan citizens are worse off every day under the Saskparty & NDP. Statistics Canada says people are leaving Saskatchewan faster than they are coming now for Calgary & BC where wages are on average 30% higher. Whether it’s trying to sucker a bunch of immigrants to come to Saskatchewan by selling SnakeOil “boom” lies or whether repeating such garbage oversold PR in the VERB, the big losers are Saskatchewan’s youth who can’t afford a house or find a job and seniors who are competing with transient immigrants

Texts for healthcare that is getting worse by the minute.

Re: “We Think Euthanasia Should be Legalized,” Opinion page, June 29th issue

Those who oppose euthanasia due to “God” perhaps should also oppose radiation to keep dying cancer patients alive, incubators in the NICU for premature infants, and insulin for children with insulin dependent diabetes. You either let God/nature take its course or you don’t.

Simple. Quality of life and freedom of choice should allow for a good death.

Re: “Our Civil Servants Just Can’t Stay Healthy,” Opinion page, July 6th issue

how about an article on abuse in the workplace and how city workers are harassed and abused by the public. balance out your strident article I think the mayor should stop putting so much money into expanding the city and put more money streets and SIDEWALKS! there are

Page 17

Jul 20–26, ‘12 VerbNews.com

so many areas of town where there are no sidewalks and kids are forced to walk on the street.

Why is it that russia and china are protecting syria Forgiving someone for doing you wrong doesn’t mean you can forget what has been done. It just means that you aren’t going to hang onto those bitter feelings that are holding you back from getting on with your life.

We are star stuff.

Go Riders Go! And don’t come back!

The new stadium means debt pay pay pay for decades. Great for 60000 fans and a few businesses.

Nothing but a cost a burden for everybody else in Sask.

The current stadium always needed handouts from the public purse for upkeep etc. There’s

no way the new one is going to pay for itself or even cover its upkeep.

We should be holding a vote a referendum on building this new stadium before we take on that much ongoing costs and debt.

We should be holding a vote a referendum on building this new stadium before we take on that much ongoing costs and debt.

I think its not fair that you write stuff in the paper when it is only your opinon to the movie and not everyones opinon so why tell people that the movie is not good

when its just you that does not like it I was disgusted with the tomato fight that took place in San Diego where 3000 people took part!

What a classic waste of good food!

To the person saying euthanasia is wrong cause its not “gods will” or whatever...take your head outta your ass.

T0 THE PERSON WHO SAID wish us Canadians thought of a Zombie theme PARK We have one called 0ttawa!

I remember spray cheese. It was so

good.

SPRAY CHEESE! I lived on that my first year of college :D You own a car. You don’t own the road.

Love you bacon <3 u to Teri :) Went and saw Carly Rae Jepsen in Lloyd concert. I screamed like A little bitch I was.

Btw im A 22 yr old guy (: -Jessie K Dam Hot week left the pets in car 2 tired 2 cook s0 we had hot dogs!

The opinions expressed on this page are not necessarily Verb’s.

Nightlife

Page 18

Jul 20–26, ‘12 VerbNews.com

Saturday @ Snooker Shack Venue

Snooker Shack Billiard Room on Saturday, July 14th

Location Photos courtesy of Michelle Berg (feedback@verbnews.com)

3421 8th Street East

Playing on Arrival

“Lonely Boy” by The Black Keys

Music Vibe

A mix of jazz and blues during the day, and alt rock at night

Regular Gig

Every Saturday features a hip hop tournament: $15 buy-in, and all proceeds go to support literacy

Feature Deal

$2.75 for shooters

Popular Drink

Burt Reynolds shooters, and Alexander Keith’s

Food of Choice Nachos

Wing Notes

$4.75 a pound on Sundays between 7 and 11 pm; of the 8 available flavours, Al’s signature (hot) is the most popular

Something New

A new food menu will be released in the next few weeks

Nightlife

Page 19

Jul 20–26, ‘12 VerbNews.com

Saturday @ Lydia’s Venue

Lydia’s Pub on Saturday, July 14th

Location

650 Broadway Avenue

Playing on Arrival

DJ Clyde in the loft, and Ballgag N’ Chain Gang on the main level

Music Vibe

Electronic/house music in the loft

Regular Gigs

Live bands on the main floor every Saturday, and “Tonight It’s Poetry” every Sunday

Feature Deals

$5 wraps, and $4.75 for Great Western pints

Popular Drinks

Pints of Trad and Paddock Wood

Food of Choice Burgers

Wing Notes

2 orders for $9 on Wednesdays, with Buffalo the favourite of the 7 available flavours

Something New

New menu coming soon, along with new drink specials

Photos courtesy of Michelle Berg (feedback@verbnews.com)

Music

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Jul 20–26, ‘12 VerbNews.com

Friday 20

House DJs — Funk, soul & lounge DJs liven up the atmosphere at 6Twelve. 9pm, 6Twelve Lounge. No cover.

(NEXT WEEK) SLIM CESSNA’S AUTO CLUB @ AMIGOS Cantina — Take

country music, blues, southern gospel, gothabilly and alt-country, toss it all together and what do you get? The unique and uncompromising sound of Denver’s Slim Cessna’s Auto Club. Since forming in the early ‘90s, this band has

Photo: courtesy of the artist

been performing their highly contagious live act with energy and passion, all the while singing masterful songs about alcohol, violence and relationships gone wrong. Slim Cessna’s Auto Club will be playing Amigos on July 28th.

Tickets at the door. -Adam Hawboldt.

Feedback? Text it to 306-881-8372.

Sly Business — Feel like listening to some music that will tickle your groove bone and get your feet moving?

Look no farther. Sly Business is a collaborative and funky local band put together by Mark Ejack, Gregory S. Edmunds, Enver Hampton, Christian Kongawi, Andrew Dickson and friends, and are just what the doctor ordered. 10pm, Amigos Cantina. Tickets available at the door .

Austen Roadz — With over 25 years of DJ experience, Austen Roadz throws down a high-energy top 40 dance party along with DJ Ash Money every Friday night.

Happy hour 4pm, Béily’s UltraLounge.$5 cover after 9pm.

Ripper Train — With heavy basslines, intriguing hooks and strong vocals, this local quartet’s southern metal sound is all kinds of good.

10pm, Buds on Broadway.

Cover $6.

DJ Nick James — Come check out this talented local DJ spin the night away. 9pm,

8pm, Outlaws Country Rock Bar. $5 cover; ladies in free No Surrender — Indepen- before 11pm. dent Dog Face present a night of kickass music. There’s Black Douglas Boomhower Rain, Marty Ballentyne, Ques- — Come out and watch this tion of Authority, the T-Bear smooth-sounding jazz trio do Band and more. Don’t miss its thing. 8pm, Prairie Ink. No this show. 8pm, The Fez on cover.

Broadway. Tickets $10.

Dueling Pianos — Terry DJ Eclectic — Local turn- Hoknes, Neil Currie and Brad table whiz DJ Eclectic pumps King belt out classic tunes snappy electronic beats. 8pm, and audience requests, from The Hose &Hydrant. No cover. Sinatra to Lady Gaga. 10pm, Staqatto Piano Lounge. No DJ Sugar Daddy & DJ J- cover until 8pm, $5 thereafter.

Mats — Able to rock any party, these local crowd fa- Slash w/ Miles Kennedy vourites have always been — Slash, the iconic guitarist known to break the latest for Guns N’ Roses and Velvet and greatest tracks in mul- Revolver, is flat-out amazing. tiple genres. They are sure to Put him with Myles Kennedy, have you on the dance floor whose voice and vocal range in no time! 9pm, Jax Niteclub. is incredible, and you have a can’t-miss show. 7:30pm, $5 cover.

TCU Place. Tickets $29.50–45, M ar k Davis w/ Lou available at www.tcutickets.ca Wreath — Davis is a musician from Edmonton who Rational The Birthcombines driving rock, raw Write LP release party folk and light pop for a sound — Come down and check out all his own. He’ll be joined by this award-winning, Saskafellow Edmontonian, Wreath, toon-based hip hop artist as who plays a popish brand of he celebrates the launch of Americana. 9pm, Lydia’s Pub. his new LP. Vangelis Tavern. $5 at the door.

Cover $5.

Gala Trio, Adeel Salman DJ Big Ayyy & DJ HENCH- — Consisting of Gaye-Lynn MAN — Round up your Kern, Audrey Bayduza and friends ‘cause there’s no bet- Arlene Shiplett, the Gala Trio ter country rock party around! plays everything from classical to jazz and more. As for Salman, this New York musician plays rock, blues and smooth jazz. 11:30am, Victoria School’s Little Stone Stage. No cover.

Divas Club. Tickets TBD.

Saturday 21

House DJs — Resident DJs spin deep and soulful tunes all night. 9pm, 6Twelve Lounge.

No cover.

Hot Panda — Taking their name from a Chinese restaurant in Edmonton, this Albertan indie quartet are currently on their Western Canadian tour. 10pm, Amigos Cantina.

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Jul 20–26, ‘12 VerbNews.com

Tickets available at the door. 8pm, Outlaws Country Rock Bar. $5 cover.

Austen Roadz — With over 25 years of DJ experi- Matt Hunter — Come enence, Austen Roadz throws joy the instrumental guitar down a high-energy top 40 stylings of this local musician. dance party along with DJ 8pm, Prairie Ink. No cover.

CTRL every Saturday night. Dueling Pianos — Terry Drinks & appies 4pm, Béily’s Hoknes, Neil Currie and Brad Ultra Lounge. $5 cover after King belt out classic tunes 9pm. and audience requests, from Ripper Train — With heavy Sinatra to Lady Gaga. 10pm, basslines, intriguing hooks Staqatto Piano Lounge. No and strong vocals, this lo- cover until 8pm, $5 thereafter. cal quartet’s southern metal Eddy Robertson — Come sound is all kinds of good. check out this rockin’ blues 10pm, Buds on Broadway. musician. It promises to be Cover $6. one heck of a show. 10pm, Flashback! Retro Par- Vangelis Tavern. $5 at the door. ty — Come out, take a step back in time and dance the night away while DJ Aaron Paetsch does his thing. 9pm, Saskatoon’s original Divas Club. Tickets TBD. industry night — HostThe Soul Shakedown ed by DJ Sugar Daddy; this Party — Featuring The Gaff, crowd favourite has always A Pimp Named Slickback, been known to break the Mark Sly, Pimpton and the latest and greatest tracks in CJE, and Rami Shoker, this is multiple genres. Drinks & apone shindig you don’t want to pies 4pm, Béily’s Ultra Lounge. miss. 9pm, The Fez on Broad- $4 cover after 9pm; no cover for industry staff way. $10 cover.

DJ Kade — Saskatoon’s own DJ KADE — Saskatoon DJ DJ lights it up with hot tunes. lights it up with hot tunes.

8pm, The Hose & Hydrant. No 8pm, The Hose & Hydrant. No cover. cover.

DJ J-Mats & DJ Sugar SUNDAY JAM — The VanDaddy — Able to rock any gelis Sunday Jam is an instiparty, these local crowd fa- tution, offering great tunes vourites have always been from blues to rock and beknown to break the latest yond. 7:30pm, Vangelis Tavern. and greatest tracks in mul- No cover. tiple genres. They are sure to have you on the dance floor in no time! 9pm, Jax Niteclub. $5 cover.

Metal Mondays — If hard, Classy Chassys — With a heavy awesomeness is your stripped-down yet energetic thing, swing by. Listen to sound, this local four-piece some killer music and get in combines the best sounds of on some concert giveaways. rockabilly, swing, blues, jazz 9pm, Lydia’s Pub. and rock to put on a show you don’t want to miss. 10pm, Lydia’s Pub. $5 cover.

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DJ Big Ayyy & DJ Hench- Grady Champion — This man — Round up your bluesman from Mississippi friends ‘cause there’s no bet- combines high energy singter country rock party around! ing with fantastic harmonica

playing and a voice that’ll remind you of Robert Johnson.

Don’t miss Champion while he’s in town. 10pm, Buds on Broadway. $6 cover.

DJ SUGAR DADDY — Able to rock any party, this crowd favourite has always been known to break the latest and greatest tracks in multiple genres. 9:30pm, The Double Deuce. $4 cover.

VERB PRESENTS OPEN STAGE — The open stage at Lydia’s has hosted many of Saskatoon’s finest performers, and is a chance for bands, solo artists and even comedians to showcase original material.

9pm, Lydia’s Pub. No cover.

Shinedown — Hailing from Jacksonville, Florida, these melodic hard rockers kicked off their career in 2003 with a bang and have steadily accumulated platinum albums ever since. 6:30pm, The Odeon Events Centre. Tickets $43.75 (Ticketmasteer).

Open Mic — Come out to show your talent. 7pm, The Somewhere Else Pub. No cover.

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HUMP WEDNESDAYS — Resident DJ Chris Knorr will

(NEXT WEEK) ANVIL @ THE ODEON events centre — If you’ve never seen

Anvil! The Story of Anvil, check it out. It’s an excellent documentary that tells the story of this epic Canadian metal band. Hailing from Toronto, this trio — consisting of Steve “Lips” Kudlow, Robb

Photo: courtesy of the artist

Reiner and Sal Italiano — has played with the likes of AC/DC and Slash, and rocked festivals from SXSW to Bumbershoot. They’ll be at the Odeon on July 31st; tickets are $20 (www.theodeon. ca). -Adam Hawboldt. Feedback? Text it to 306-881-8372.

Music

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Jul 20–26, ‘12 VerbNews.com

local DJ tears up the dance King belt out classic tunes and floor. 9pm, Divas Club. Tickets audience requests, from Sinatra to Lady Gaga. 10pm, StaqaTBD. tto Piano Lounge. No cover.

The Avenue Recording Company presents Open Mic — Hosted by Chad Reynolds. Sign up and play at this weekly event. 10pm, The Fez SkeletonWitch — This on Broadway. No cover. heavy metal five-piece from DJ Kade — Saskatoon DJ Athens, Ohio, are loud and lights it up with hot tunes. pretty darn good. Also play8pm, The Hose & Hydrant. No ing: Barn Burner, Untimely Demise and Wrathed. 10pm, cover.

Amigos Cantina. Tickets availDr. J ‘Souled Out’ — Dr. J able at the door. spins hot funk and soul every Wednesday night. Doors 9pm, Who Drew A Porno — A local trio with a sound all their Lydia’s Pub. No cover. own. One listen to the “Acid WILD WEST WEDNESDAY Song” and you’ll see what — This is Saskatoon’s top In- we’re talking about. 10pm, dustry Night, hosted by DJ Big Buds on Broadway. $6 cover.

Ayyy & DJ Henchman. 9pm, Outlaws Country Rock Bar. Sas- DJ Aaron Paetsch — This katoon’s Most Wanted. $4 cov- local DJ will get your head er. No cover for industry staff. bobbing, your feet moving and your butt up on the dance Dueling Pianos — Terry floor. 9pm, Divas Club. Tickets Hoknes, Neil Currie and Brad TBD.

Thursday 26

Photo: courtesy of Ellen von Unwerth

other bands quite like the Red Hot Chili Peppers. Somehow this four-piece from L.A. took rock music, fused it with funk and elements of punk and psychedelic rock, and came up with a sound unlike any other. The moment you hear the

first chords of a Chili Peppers song, you know darn well it’s them. With seven Grammys and 65 million records sold, these guys are megastars of the music scene. They’ll be playing CUC on November 24th. Tickets $40+ (Ticketmaster). -Adam Hawboldt. Feedback?

Text it to 306-881-8372.

be spinning all of your favourite songs and requests, every Wednesday night! Doors at 7pm, DJ takes requests at 9pm, 302 Lounge & Discotheque. No cover until 10pm, $3 thereafter.

combines high energy singing with fantastic harmonica playing and a voice that’ll remind you of Robert Johnson.

Don’t miss Champion while he’s in town. 10pm, Buds on Broadway. $6 cover.

(COMING UP) RED HOT CHILI PEPPErS @ CREDIT UNION CENTRE — There are no

Grady Champion — This DJ Quadrant Khan — bluesman from Mississippi Come down and watch as this

Throwback Thursdays —Come experience the best in retro funk, soul, reggae and rock provided by Dr. J. 8pm, Earls. No cover.

Thirsty Thursdays — Hosted by MC Gabeius, this is a night of live performances, rap battles, local DJs, drink specials and nightly prizes.

Don’t miss it. 9pm, The Fez on Broadway. No cover.

DJ Kade — Saskatoon DJ lights it up with hot tunes.

8pm, The Hose & Hydrant. No cover.

DJ Sugar Daddy & DJJMats — Local DJs J-Mats and Sugar Daddy will be rocking the turntables to get you dancing on the dance floor!

Every Thursday night will be filled with passion parties, pole dancing, shadow dancers and much more! 8pm, Jax Niteclub. $5 cover, free cover with student ID before 11pm.

An Evening with Gillian Welch — This wildly talented singer/songwriter from Nashville plays bluegrass/ American/country the way it’s supposed to be played. She’s collaborated with the likes of Ryan Adams, Ani DiFranco, Alison Krauss and The Decemberists. And now she’s putting on a show here in Saskatoon.

7pm, The Odeon Events Centre.

Tickets $ 27.50, available at www.theodeon.ca.

Young Benjamins w/ Jenny Omnichord and Rory Borealis — This indie rocker are gonna blow the roof off the place. Also appearing will be Jenny Omnichord and Rory Borealis. If you’re into a groovy, chilled out show, this is the place to be. 10pm, Vangelis Tavern. $5 at the door.

Want your show listed?

Email layout@verbnews.com!

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Virgo (Aug 23–Sept 22)

Pisces (Feb 20–Mar 20)

Life really is like a box of chocolates, Virgo: “You never know what you’re gonna get.” Forrest Gump knows that, and so should you . Life may toss some expected things your way. Embrace them.

In the classic film Some Like It Hot, Joe E. Brown reminds us that, “Well, nobody’s perfect.” And he’s right, dear Pisces. So don’t waste your time this week chasing the impossible. It’s a fool’s errand.

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Aquarius (Jan 20–Feb 19)

The best advice Robin Williams ever gave on screen was “Seize the day, boys. Make your lives extraordinary.” You should heed his words, dear Aquarius.

Carpe diem and all that jazz.

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Leo (Jul 23–Aug 22)

Like Howard Beale in Network, are you “mad as hell, and … not going to take this anymore,” Leo? If so, go with it.

Get whatever is on your chest off. You’ll feel better.

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Capricorn (Dec 22–Jan 19)

In A Street Car Named Desire, the character Blanche Dubois explains she “always depended on the kindness of strangers.”

You should try the same, dear Capricorn. If someone offers to help you out, let them.

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Cancer (Jun 21–Jul 22)

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Remember in Cool Hand Luke when the prison captain says, “What we got here is failure to communicate.” You may face the same issue, but no matter what, keep trying to get through to people.

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Harry Callahan wants to know: “Do you feel lucky? Well, do ya punk?” If so, this week would be a good time to dare to be great. Put your luck to good use and see what happens.

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Sagittarius (Nov 23–Dec 21)

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“Toto, I’ve a feeling we’re not in Kansas anymore.” That’s how Dorothy felt when she landed in Oz, and that is how you may feel at some point this week.

Don’t worry. The feeling will soon pass.

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Gemini (May 21–Jun 20)

“The truth?” says Jack Nicholson in A Few Good Men.”You can’t handle the truth.” And that may very well be the case this week, dear Scorpio. So be very careful what you ask for.

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Scorpio (Oct 24–Nov 22)

One of Marlon Brando’s best lines in The Godfather was: “I’m going to make him an offer he can’t refuse.” And this week, you may get an offer or an opportunity just like that. Don’t hesitate.

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Taurus (Apr 20–May 20)

In the film Now, Voyager, Bette Davis’ character says “Oh, Jerry, don’t let’s ask for the moon. We have the stars.” The lesson? Be sure to appreciate what you have, Libra. Especially later in the week.

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Libra (Sept 23–Oct 23)

In Animal House, John Belushi’s character Bluto starts chanting “Toga! Toga!” and maybe you should be doing the same, Aries. This week try to organize a get-together or party of sorts.

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Aries (Mar 21–Apr 19)

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Horoscopes

Jul 20–26, ‘12 VerbNews.com 5 4 3 1 7 6 2 8 9

Time Out

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Sudoku

Directions: Fill each box with a digit from 1-9, following these conditions: - Each row must contain every digit from 1-9 once and only once.

- Each column must contain every digit from 1-9 once and only once.

- Each of the nine 3x3 boxes must contain every digit from 1-9 once and only once.

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8 2 6 4

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8 3 7 4 6 9 1 5 7 9 4 1