The Scope issue 102

THE SCOPE | free eVERY OTHER THURSDAY | march 25 - April 8, 2010 | Volume 5, Number 6 | Issue 102 | www.thescope.ca

arrrrrrpm challenge, I got nothin’ against ya

86 nalew local albums l recorded in feburary as pa the month of rt of the RPM challenge

thescope’s

Yes ma’am, it’s time for our annual comic contest, which means this year might just be your chance at (regional) fame and (minuscule) fortune! Think you can do it? do you have what it takes? Then the Scope’s third Annual Comic Contest is for you. Submit five installments of your single-panel or multi-panel comic to us at: comic contest c/o the scope P.O. Box 1044 St. John’s, NL A1C 5M3

g

autobiographical! political! well drawn! poorly drawn! photo comics! arty! poetic! absurd! mysterious! historical! animal related! non animal related! serial adventure! cereal adventure! single panel! multi panel! super hero! romance! journalism! girl comics! boy comics! weird comics! not-weird comics! gag strips! not quite comics! etc!

Entries must be post-marked on or before Thursday, April 16, 2009. a judging panel made up of local cultural icons and assorted miscreants will have a nomination round, and the top comics will then be presented to scope readers for a public vote.

The winners will earn a paid, one-year run with The Scope (online and in print). First runnerup will win $100, and second runner-up will win $50. The winners and select submissions will get some exposure in our annual Comics Issue, slated for May 20.

The contest is open only to residents of Newfoundland and Labrador. The comics should be black and white only, and can be any shape (please stay consistent), so long as they fit on an 8.5 x 11 page.

Please don’t send originals because we can’t return them to you; good photocopies or files on CD are fine.

Questions? E-mail elling@thescope.ca. No phone calls please.

Rock House The

on George Street

L i v e

b a n d s

Thurs, april 1st

Scoff drive

Customer-submitted restaurant reviews for St. John’s and the metro area.

thescope.ca/scoff

Powered by

thescope

THursday evening

pap clinics

reunion

Women in Newfoundland and Labrador have one of the highest rates of cervical cancer in the country. A regular pap test can help prevent cervical cancer. Ask your health care provider about getting your pap test or phone Planned Parenthood for more information.

the monday nights jerry stamp

Planned Parenthood offers various medical clinics, including Thursday evening pap clinics. To book an appointment today, please phone.

Sexual Health Medical Clinics • Birth Control Supplies • Free Condoms • Pregnancy Testing • Educational Workshops • Youth Groups • Information

Sexual Health Questions? We Have Answers!

579-1009 or 1-877 NO MYTHS (666-9847) | 203 Merrymeeting Road, St. John's info@nlsexualhealthcentre.org

Quidi Vidi photo by Peter Hanes (www.flickr.com/peterjhanes/)

COVER ART

LISTINGS

SECTIONS

10 Music 14 Movies 17 Community Events 15 On Stage 19 Visual Arts and Museums 18 Classifieds

6 Feature 4 Storefront 5 Your City 13 Food Nerd 14 On Screen 12 Restaurant reviews 15 On Stage 16 100% Local Comics 16 Free Will Astrology 18 Savage Love

Cover photo (polar panorama!) by Kevin Coffey. (www.flickr.com/penpal)

thescope

BackFeed

issue 102, vol 5, num 6, mar 25 - apr 8, ‘10

Pedestrian’s Manifesto

S

t

.

J

o

h

n

’

s

B

i

-

W

e

e

k

l

y

E-mail: inbox@thescope.ca Online: www.thescope.ca Listings: listings@thescope.ca Mail: The Scope PO Box 1044, St. John’s, NL, A1C 5M3 Phone: 709-726-8466 Ad sales: 709-693-5028 Fax: 709-726-7682 Publisher/Listings Editor/Distro Manager: Bryhanna Greenough (publisher@thescope.ca) Editor: Elling Lien (editor@thescope.ca) Advertising Diva: Lesley Marie Reade (sales@thescope.ca) Production Assistant: Mark Bennett Copy Editors: Sarah Smellie and Bryhanna Greenough Distribution team: Barry Ross, Phil Coates, Rachel Jean Harding, and Gary Sexton Bottom Line Editor: Adam Clarke Contributing Writers: Adam Clarke, Martin Connelly, Kerri Breen, Jill Butler, Andrew Harvey, Bryhanna Greenough, Andreae Callanan Contributing Illustrators: Ricky King, Bryan Melanson, Andrew Power, Jennifer Barrett, Peter Hanes, and Andrew Wickens.

Also contributing: Dan Savage and Rob Brezsny.

The Scope is St. John’s arts and entertainment newspaper, published by Scope Media Inc. 14,000 copies of The Scope are printed fortnightly and distributed throughout the metro area. The Scope seeks to publish a newspaper that will entertain, inform, and foster cultural development in the St. John’s metropolitan area. The Scope claims absolutely no responsibility for your April Foolery, nor for your March Malarchy. Arrr! Free issues of The Scope are limited to one copy per reader. All rights reserved. © 2010 Proudly independent and locally owned.

Founded in 2006.

comments from thescope.ca

It’s spring, and people are venturing out of their homes and into the streets. Which inevitably, here in the north-east Avalon, means pedestrians are getting hit. Why is this happening? Our angry love letter to bad drivers from our last print edition channeled some of the frustration. Here’s some of the online reaction: Comment by Suggestion: I always stop for a pedestrian on a crosswalk (because it’s the law!) but when I’m driving, it is just as frustrating to have the shit scared out of me when someone steps out in front of me on a regular stretch of road without any regard for their own safety.

Comment by sinjan: Many drivers direct their frustration of having to share the road at the pedestrians themselves. They start thinking that it’s bad behaviour just to walk along busy thoroughfares in winter. Some pedestrians, myself included, sometimes walk further out from the curb specifically to be more visible around curves, not to get splashed, and generally to force vehicles to slow down. There’s nothing bad about being a defensive pedestrian.

Comment by HBeez: I think

it’s time for the city to bring in a bylaw that makes homeowners responsible for clearing the sidewalk in front of their property.

These types of bylaws are in place in most municipalities in Canada, why not here?

Comment by Frank: Because we get roughly ten times the amount of snow than municipalities that do.

That’s why.

Comment by Ken O’Brien: I agree with the thrust of making our streets safer for pedestrians, but what’s this about not waving a thank-you when a driver yields to you? Don’t be such a crookedarse. We could all use some more politeness and courtesy.

Comment by Motorist and Taxpayer: More and better maintained crosswalks are all well and good, but we also need stricter enforcement of existing rules, and that includes ticketing jaywalkers, ticketing disabled people who seem to think their mobility scooter is a car, and yes, arresting and charging any idiot who throws a rock at any car for any reason.

Comment by Peartree: I’m glad I live in Mount Pearl where the streets are paved with gold and the sidewalks near any school are always clear!

march 25 - april 8, 2010

thescope 3

storefront On patrol with Martin Connelly — Harvey Road to Long’s Hill

HI-LITE framing

59 Harvey Road, 753-2700 Owner Patricia Schubert has been in the business for 27 years, and attributes her location to the ineffable inevitable. “I was meant to be here,” she says. “I should write a book.” Best part of the business?

“Taking something that already means a lot to someone, and making it awesome.” According to Schubert, business is good, people are more discerning, and The Rooms puts them in the mood.

The Big R

69 Harvey Road, 722-2256 It’s been in the family for 56 years this October, with the exception of nine months when owner Karen Lambert’s uncle sold it to former MHA Jim Walsh. Lambert has been working at the restaurant since she was 16. It was completely rebuilt after the ‘92 fire, and it’s been pink and green since then. The “R” comes from “Races,” the maiden name of a family member from way back when.

Non-fried items were recently added to the menu, but fi & chi is still the big seller.

Richard Steele Gallery

63 Harvey Road, 754-6741 This gallery only sells Steele prints and originals. Richard is a retired teacher, and paints nostalgic pictures chiefly concerned with growing up on Livingstone Street. He mostly works from memory, painting buildings that don’t exist anymore, but sometimes uses photos. All prints are hand-printed in the shop, which means that if you’re looking for art on a budget, you can take home a nice, though small, framed piece for $70.

Long’s Hill Convenience

103 Long’s Hill, 753-5245 Owner David D’Entremont worked on Canada’s first satellite, the Alouette 1, before coming to Newfoundland. Long’s Hill Convenience has sandwiches, beer, lotto tickets, and dry goods. D’Entremont is passionate about literacy, and manages the Read To Ride program, which allows individuals to earn a free bicycle (and helmet) by reading books. The bikes come from the RNC’s unclaimed bicycle department, and other support comes from the Rotary Club, VOCM Cares Foundation, and Co-operators’ Insurance. D’Entremont plans to retire in two years, so if you’re interested in getting into the convenience store business, you should talk to him.

4 thescope

march 25 - april 8, 2010

Toya International Market

107 Long’s Hill, 579-0999 A newcomer to the block, this shop was originally on Lemarchant. Big sellers are fish heads and cow’s feet, and they’re now offering goat meat. The cow’s feet are actually everything from the knee down, and they’re used in stews. It’s also a good place to buy hair extensions. They ship stock to Grand Falls and Port Aux Basques.

Bill’s Cycle and Sport Shop

115 Long’s Hill, 753-6410 Bill’s has been a cycle shop since the 30s, and it’s been Bill’s since 1970. They’ll sharpen your skates all year and repair almost anything, but only sell Norco bikes. Bill’s offers a good selection of road and mountain bikes but Monty Barfoot, who this year celebrates his 40th year as a bike mechanic, and his 22nd at Bill’s, suggests that to ride the roads around here, you should really get a mountain bike.

Stogger’s Pizza

77 Harvey Road, 579-7864 Employee Mark Whalen says, “The best time to order a pizza is Monday and Thursday when Mac is working, except when Coronation Street is on.” The BBQ chicken pizza is really good, and pizzas are made from a recipe adopted from the original Venice Pizzeria recipe, which they inherited along with the original Venice oven, which is 38 years old—one of the oldest pizza ovens in the city.

Essential Nail and Spa

121 Longs Hill, 739-8885 Opened three years ago, when the owners moved here from Winnipeg, they do nails, waxing, and esthetics, so it’s a good option if you don’t need a whole haircut/spa treatment package.

Fake nails are a big seller. Clientele is mostly women, but there are a few men: “If they come once, they’ll come back.” A manicure is $20, and a pedicure is $40. Both for $50.

Nova Yoga

125 Long’s Hill, 743-8303 Owner Melanie Caines trained in New York City and runs classes six days a week. Classes are centered around the idea of “flow.” A one week trial costs $20. The studio is also available to rent as an event space.

yourcity notes from st. john's city hall This space is usually reserved for my critique of what the city is doing, but when it comes to affordable housing, I find it hard to criticize our city government. Since 2007, when the city struck the Affordable Housing Action Committee (AHAC) and made a commitment to addressing the issue, they have been tackling it head on.

In December 2008, the AHAC hosted an Affordable Housing Public Forum where the main role of the city was identified as leadership—to help the people and organizations Andrew involved reach Harvey andrew@thescope.ca the solutions.

During the last election, in September 2009, the St. John’s Housing and Homelessness Network solicited candidates to sign and support four specific “housing actions”—which all present councillors have done.

The first action was to recognize that there’s a problem, and to work with community, government, and private partners to fix it.

The second action was to create a dedicated staff position to address affordable housing for the city. At the March 16th meeting of council, they approved this position, and hope to hire someone soon.

The third action is to commit to making a formal policy to help the city plan around the issue. There

has been no formal commitment in council to do so, but we can hope that with the new staff member the AHAC will make this a priority.

The fourth action is a big one, but what I consider to be the most important: to implement a “one in ten” affordable housing plan. The idea is exactly how it sounds—one out of every ten units developed in the city would be affordable housing.

Another great initiative came from Danny Breen on March 16th when he moved to rename the Affordable Housing Action Committee to the Mayor’s Advisory Committee on Affordable Housing, which means the committee will now report directly to council.

Before it was a sub-committee of the Planning and Housing committee.

They’ve done well, but I think the real test of St. John’s commitment to the issue will be whether or not they take the “one in ten” initiative seriously. A commitment to make one new house out of every ten affordable housing is a serious step, and will not happen without the firm backing of council, the public, developers, and all levels of government.

They have all the people sitting around the table, and have done everything right up until now. Let’s hope the first recommendation of the committee is to fulfill the commitment council made during the election.

Got an opinion? Need to vent? We want to hear from you. Submit your anonymous accusation or confession at thescope.ca/rant. Submissions may be edited for length, grammar, spelling, legal, or obscenity reasons.

One submission will be printed each fortnight, but more submissions to Rant Farm can be found at thescope.ca/rant.

RICKY KING

A thank you to the arts community of St. John’s: I just arrived back home in Toronto after a week of shows in St John’s. A special thank you to the folks on Cabot for housing and feeding us, to Matt Hornell for lending us gear when we locked half of ours in Whalen’s pub, To The Sprout and Hava Java for curing our hangovers, and for the wednesday morning sun which reflected off the harbour like sequins on a black dress! — Dave Borins

march 25 - april 8, 2010

thescope 5

what’s stopping you?

It’s pretty weird to look forward to February, but ever since 2008 we get excited at the thought that people across the province are hard at work in their basements, kitchens, or wherever their makeshift recording studios are, trying to come up with 10 songs or 35 minutes of original material for the RPM Challenge—Record Production Month.

Then, once March 1 rolls around, our mailbox key starts to gets real itchy.

In our first year as a regional hub for the international challenge, we received 22 albums of local music. Last year that number jumped to 70.

This year we received 86 albums of original music. That’s a lot of music. In fact, if you were to listen to it all in one shot, it would be two whole days of listening.

It’s not a contest—there are no winners, no losers. It’s just a challenge to get people working on their music. We can’t think of a more worthwhile thing to do in the coldest, crappiest month of the year.

photo by Kevin Coffey

you got

When you have a cruel, cruel deadline staring you in the face, suddenly not having access to things like good equipment or instruments actually matter. This is the zen art of the RPM Challenge.

Once you come to realize that this is supposed to be fun, you’re liberated. You’re free to concentrate on the music.

Crash Jones, who recorded a solo album, for instance, may not have a recording studio, but he does have an iPhone.

“I wanted to use the recordSTUDIO application (a 4-track) and try to build the songs around the original take,” he says.

What came out was an intimate, raw album of music.

Bands The Coffee Dates and Friends Of both used microphones from the Rock Band video game for their records.

“When we initially started recording some takes came out super distorted and robot-like, we thought the Rock Band mics wouldn’t handle it after all,” says Friends Of. “But luckily they came out pretty good, all considered.”

Lo-fi is the name of the game for Bart Pierson, who recorded his sludgy, psychedelic album on a “shitty computer mic.”

Allan Locke’s solo pop disc may sound like a full band is playing, but it’s all just him, live.

“I recorded it all directly through my guitar effects pedal, which has a record/overdub/looper function and two inputs,” he says. “I hooked up a guitar and a microphone to the pedal and made a layered album in real-time, whereby I recorded percussion through the mic, for example, which the pedal would then playback as a loop, and then as the pedal played the loop I could overdub a guitar riff to be looped on top of the percussion.”

6 thescope

march 25 - april 8, 2010

RPM

Firsts It’s the first year we received

submissions from kids.

12-year old Naomi Russell’s folk/pop album Who I Am was the product of lots of work after school in the music room with her family— which includes Newfoundland fiddler and multi-instrumentalist Kelly Russell, her father.

“When we finished recording the album ...my family was overjoyed,” she says. “It made me feel so proud while we sat in the living room listening to it.”

10-year old Nicolas Trnka’s “funny and weird” album, made up of 10 short songs about going to the comic store, aliens, jumping on a trampoline, and other stuff, is, like tigers, “just plain awesome.”

Ten years old may seem young, but it’s not the youngest participant of the bunch. We received an entire solo album by 12-month old “EGo” strumming on a guitar and plunking on a keyboard—“Avant garde experimentation for the toddler set.”

One of Ritche Perez’s favourite moments recording Wizards of Kaos’ psychedelic rock/metal opus was having his daughter lay down a few vocal tracks.

This is also the first year we’ve received spoken word submissions, including an album by The Last Starfighter and the stand-up comedy troupe Shawn Walsh’s Mustache.

On THE

MOVE

Moving was a theme for some RPMers this year, whether it was across the country or across the city.

Moving to a new place in the middle of the month was tough for Brian Downton of Schizophrenic Bi-Polar Bear but he managed to complete the album days ahead of the deadline. “So it wasn’t that bad,” he says. “And the new place is

listeni

partie2s7 march

blic!

e pu open to th 8.

Free and n page o ls ai et D

Arranged by Elling Lien and Sarah Smellie

Use what

3 RPMng

awesome!”

Moving slightly farther afield was the cast of Artistic Fraud’s Tempting Providence, who were touring the Canadian North as they worked on their “headphone road album” under the name Crystal City Printing Press.

Half of digital duo Robot Scout had to travel the province for a theatre show as well, so the majority of the tracks were mixed on the road.

SUPERGOD!! aka Patrick Canning, also moved in the month of February. “I only had three weeks to do anything this year since I was in the midst of moving to a different province,” he says. “But I was still able to get 15 tracks done. Not knowing anybody in a new town helps the creative process a lot.

Having a supportive girlfriend and neighbours who don’t mind loud guitars in the afternoon are both good things.”

RPM

withdrawal After 28 days of concentrating on

the music and letting real life fall to the wayside, March 1st rolls around.

How do you feel, now that it’s over?

Jason Earle: “Relieved, but at the same time kinda bored.”

People on Pause: “Kinda sad, it was an exciting time and the whole thing was going so smoothly. Can we stick another month of February in the summer or something?” epo: “It took a few days after it ended to realize that it was all over and to get used to not thinking about it all the time.”

Jack E. Tar: “I’m ready to make another album... a bit mad at myself I waited this long to make a record actually.”

Mythical Man Month: “Safer— I’m not tripping over cables and maneuvering around gear. And a little lost on Monday, like when any big project ends and a void is created. No worries though, work filled the void real quick.”

Brett Vey: “With everyone’s busy day to day lives it is very challenging to focus purely on the music. Now that it is over, I have to wait till next year before I can commit this much consecutive time to writing and recording.”

Magnus Svensons: “Void.”

The Blossoms: “I want to do it again! I feel like I want to keep writing and keep the high you get from the creative process, but it’s hard after a month straight.”

18 Hertz/The Composers: “I wonder what else I could have written if I would of had more time to do more songs.”

Ice Cream Headaches: “Sticky.”

Action Hotdog: “Feeling empty again, purposeless.”

Counter Destroyer: “...everything I do is void of meaning or purpose. I feel alone in this world, and cold, so very cold.”

HIDDEN

TALENTS

Sometimes you don’t know what you’re capable of. Below are a few examples of people who tried and succeeded at something they hadn’t ever attempted before.

Jack Betty (aka Boobie Browne) realized he “could probably have a decent schmaltzy jazz career if [he] wanted.”

Repeat duo Other People found a backup singer: “My friend Debi came in to record some backup vocals for us,” says Amy Joy. “She’s a friend of mine, i grew up with her in Bonavista. She’s like a little hidden gem with this magical voice, she can pretty much harmonize anything, but she’s never recorded anything before. So it was so great to hear her belt out harmonies for a few of the songs, it almost seemed effortless to her ... Then to see her face when it played back was the best feeling ever.”

Something about writing an album about Friday the 13th Part II helps people release their inner metalhead. If you ever wondered

what the Idlers sounded like without the niceness and the reggae, you should hear the album

by The 6 Fort Waldegrave.

The Subtitles’ Rebecca Cohoe teamed up with Exit Party’s Ian Murphy for the second year in a row for Pet Legs: “For some reason doing RPM liberates us to make the kind of pop music we love listening to, but don’t really do in our other bands,” says Murphy.

NEW ON

THE SCENE Some bands and musicians

used the opportunity to hammer themselves into shape or come up with material. If you haven’t already seen them perform in town, you may see them soon...

Parliament of Owls: “The members of the Parliament of Owls are now working out details of a performance in the near future.”

Nightmen: “We used the RPM to force us to get together to get a band started and get some material ready to play shows. It was sink or swim and I’m glad to say we stayed above water. We already have played a show and will be looking to many more in the next year.”

Barbeau: “It was a great adventure and it really put my creativity to the test. After years of helping other people finish their songs it was very satisfying to actually complete my own... I’m going to re-record these songs and I plan on turning this into a CD release. Also, I can’t wait for next year’s challenge.”

Stephen Green: “I feel like I want to keep writing and keep this moving forward, and to start performing these songs live.”

Back to Copenhagen: “RPM rolling around seemed like a great opportunity to christen the band...

We learned a great deal about the many angles of music creation.

Now that we don’t have a deadline we can improve some of our RPM songs as necessary and we’re free to begin creating a whole new set of

songs that we hope to debut in the coming months.”

4 Fold Aprons, who describes his music as “a drunk DJ in limbo” says he is already starting another album. “Bigger and better. Keep the ears tuned.”

Was it easIER the

second time around?

Pilot to Bombardier: Nope. “From

RPMing last year I knew what to expect though it didn’t make much difference. The chords and melodies came together pretty quickly, the lyrics were a struggle—I rarely pay attention to song lyrics but I realize that most of my friends do. I felt I couldn’t get away with random sentence fragments so I consciously fought with/for the words.”

Mike Williams: Yes! “This year was my second year completing the challenge and I went into it with a bit more of a plan than the previous year. That alone took a lot of the pressure off cause I knew what I wanted to accomplish and I had a rough idea of how everything was going to layout right from the start.

Last year was more of a learning experience that anything.”

Worker: Yes. “Compared to a year ago, my skills have grown a lot.

It was a lot of fun to come up with ideas and fiddle with sounds all month. I think I work better under pressure.” am/fm dreams: No. “This was by far the hardest year of the three [RPM albums we’ve done]. February was full of a lot of nasty real life things for us. That being said it was nice to have this little project we could immerse ourselves in... and kind of take our minds off things. “ Sluts on Sluts: Yes. Matthew Beverly is confident he has discovered the right sound for his project. “If I was ever in the mood to put together a song in the vein of ‘Sluts On Sluts’, I would have a good

idea of what buttons to press and what knobs to tweak.”

Grant Kingston: Yep. “I had a slightly better understanding of my recording equipment than last year so it went a little smoother.”

Barry O:Definitely not! “I thought that having the history of the first one would make this one a little easier - wrong. I again found myself scrambling around, sequestering myself from the “real world”, trying to not only stay within the parameters of the RPM itself, but also trying to avoid repeating my ideas from last year.”

the tricks and inspiration Some of the creative techniques

people used to gitterdun.

Potholez: “Had to be when I when I was conducting Steve Crewe through the powers of interpretive hand dance.”

J. Alfred: “Some of the lyrics on the album were accomplished through a mental process equivalent to performing my own dentistry by punching myself in the mouth until the right tooth came out.”

WCTU: “Late night writing session fueled by new frontier in tummy aching culinary delights: toaster waffles with peanut butter and simulated breakfast syrup and a bottle of cream soda. Mmmm.”

Sharona Clarke: “It was a live, piano-and-vocal-only collection of songs from my two albums On the Right Track and The Secret… is to Dream. Stripped down to how I play them solo with just the piano.”

Ultramammoth: “I’ve always been inspired by the old homerecording stuff by Beck when he’d record songs in his shed. Therefore, I happily (and unashamedly) use that influence as an excuse to record half-arsed songs in one take.”

Hatch: “One night I had this incredible feeling of creativity coming to me. I usually start songs

with a riff, or a little melody that comes to me, however this time I knew there was this entire song coming. I didn’t have any idea how it sounded in my head, but I just sat down with my acoustic and the whole thing just flowed out of me— chords and lyrics. It was almost surreal. It’s not one of the songs I am most proud of.”

Liam Peacock I wrote eight songs about the eight games of the 1972 Summit Series between the Canadians and the Russians. I pinpointed this theme because it gave me a very rigid framework to work within, which I think is something of a necessity for RPM (especially if you lose a week’s worth of work because of stupid equipment issues).”

Vickee Loo (Victor Lewis): “Happiness is the New Depression is a collection of negative thoughts that I’ve attempted to invert through the use of recycled melodies and bad electronic effects for the purposes of cheap entertainment.”

Osprey Signal “I had wanted to record the hum of airplanes from behind the airport for a long time.

I finally got around to doing that.

It was fun and resulted in a lot of ambience that really suited the album.”

St. John’s Ukulele Orchestra: “I don’t think there are words for some of the things we did during [this album’s] creation. If those words existed, they would be used in laws to make those things illegal.”

musicreviews

Patrick Canning picks some of his favourites from the 86 successful local RPM submissions.

Vicky Loo

Nicolas Trnka Doin’ The Robot (RPM Challenge)

The New Depression (RPM Challenge)

If by ten seconds in you aren’t totally charmed by 10 year old Nicolas Trnka’s album “Doin’ the Robot” you have no right being alive. It is as great a thing as you could possibly imagine. All the songs are 30 to 45 seconds long, which is the perfect length of time for a song (it has been proven through “science”) and song topics range from robots (as heard in the song “Doin’ the Robot”), bouncing on trampolines, how “it’s cool to brush your teeth,” or how Nicolas loves “tigers so much because they are just plain awesome”. My personal favorite is the delightful story of “Comic Store” where Nicolas sings about how he’s “going to read my comics now, gonna eat my soup and have some fun”. It’s too bad everybody past the age of 10 can’t have the same enthusiasm for awesome things like tigers and trampolines. Nicolas is so awesome he puts us all to shame.

Yes, I’m biased. I contributed to a couple of songs on this album. I even directed a video for one of the songs. So for truly objective reviews, go somewhere else.

“The New Depression” is destined to be possibly my favorite album of the decade.

I don’t know what was possessing Victor Lewis when he made this, but it is the most ridiculous, funny, catchy as f**k, inventive, and just purely joyful things I’ve heard in years. This is sharp-focused, falsetto-drenched, 80’s-style synth pop silliness, with a seriously bent persona.

Although it was clearly made with tongue lodged firmly in cheek, that shouldn’t take away from the fact that Vickee Loo is a genius of pop arrangements who knows exactly what to do with a great hook once he’s found it. The choruses burrow deep into your head like parasitic worms, never letting you free of their melodies. This album bounces in all the right places, and is sure to get booties rockin’.

— PC

— PC

words of

Advice for future

participants ShedDevils (with their tenth

album!): “If I have any advice, it’s always record and write as you go. Don’t write first then record because the direct-from-air-tosystem version is hard to beat some times... In short: record it every time

and then whittle it down.”

Kevin Woolridge: “A guy on the RPM site made a comment on my blog. He was quoting John Peel’s defense of vinyl, that ‘life has surface noise.’ After that I accepted the hiss and pretended it was just warm vinyl noise. It helped an awful lot.”

Matthew Hare: “You really have to put everything you’ve got into it and the end result is either going to be what you had pictured or it’s going to let you down in some way...

If there is anybody out there who is thinking about doing the RPM, do it! It’s worth it in the end and even if you don’t finish all 10 songs then you still might end up with one of the best songs you’ve ever written.”

Jonathon Aubrey: “It’s something that every musician should try. It’s so much fun, and it really makes you think more about your music.”

DJ Frosty: “I don’t think we need an excuse to make an album at all, we should treat every month as RPM month.”

march 25 - april 8, 2010

thescope 7

Robin Graves: “I’d love to see more people, especially ‘nonmusicians’, make an effort to complete the RPM Challange.

Everyone can make music, if they really want to.”

Manny Steiner: “Seriously, who cares if its rough, low-fi or whatever? You don’t need several thousand dollars in equipment and an audio engineering degree to make an album; of course it helps, but resourcefulness is what this thing is all about.”

we shall

overcome

Free and open to the public!

Listening parties

These are but a small sample of the myriad problems experienced by our fearless RPMers. Especially technical failure. That just sucks.

South Symposium: Worst moment? Trying to find a drummer.

The Cause: “Thinking we recorded three hours only to discover the recorder was on pause the whole time.”

The Dead Ponies: “Finally getting together the equipment we needed, getting a quick tutorial on how to use M-Audio, then realizing right after our tutor left that we had somehow screwed up the settings and could record nothing. I think that was frustration in its purest form.”

Drysdale: “[I was] down to the wire, finishing the CD, and I rushed around to get the cover done and stupidly locked my keys in my car with my CD 30 minutes before the

8 thescope

march 25 - april 8, 2010

deadline... in the rain.” to help me get a CD of my songs Adam Baxter: “The worst together! It was nerveracking moment was at 10:30pm on January because I am so technology 31st when my recording gear challenged.” completely died on me. I had Dave Walsh: “Everyone says to go out the next day and finishing the RPM is their purchase new recording best moment but that’s hardware. Then I had to wrong. The best moments visit figure out how to use it.” thescope.cmae are when you surprise Alex Wells: “I’m not to hear sosic yourself with a note you overly a confident singer never thought you could of the mu and some trained ears hit or you finally get the out there might recognize correct 3rd of a guitar riff.” why. I think for the most part

Billy Boland: “Every time things turned out okay. It wasn’t I got a song finished, I felt better easy, but I’m sure it made me better about the whole experience. Seeing in the end!” the album and a few songs show up Ryan Taylor: “I knew noise on the livestream a few days after complaints would be an issue with was nice. Feedback and comments everything, so figuring out where as well made it worth while.” to do the singing was also a bit of a Tim Barnes: “[The worst moment challenge. My biggest obstacle was was] realizing what day it was, as in getting past the fact that there were it was the 27th and recording was so many obstacles... And in the end, yet to start.” everything worked out (as it always OK Potato: “The biggest does!)” challenge was finding time.

Between figuring out our recording equipment and scheduling ourselves, including Olympic Now that it’s all over... hockey on Feb 28, it was tight.”

Cara Lee Coleman: “Now that it’s Joe Harvey: Worst moment? over I feel proud that I’m at a stage “Having to watch the Olympic in my life where I can churn out Men’s Hockey championship game something so good, so quick. I’ve on mute while trying to finish learned a lot.” recording the album.”

Andrew Harvey: “With all the terrible things technology does, (Honourable mention goes to tearing down the corporate music the nearly-complete participants industry by enabling anyone to Ragged Dick, electro-CHAK, record an album might be one of its and Audrey Cohen. Come to the most positive aspects.” listening parties to hear some of their Terry Rielly: “Thanks to Glenn music too!)

Tizzard of Distortion for offering

MISC.

musicreviews

Patrick Canning picks some of his favourites from the 86 successful local RPM submissions.

The Jack E Tar

The Blossoms

TEMPERED (RPM Challenge)

s/t (RPM Challenge)

When I first came across St. John’s underground recording artist Jack E. Tar purely by chance online a few months ago, it was a revelation. Here was the deeply weird, dark, experimental, and hermetic music I’ve been searching for in St John’s for ages but never quite finding. I was jived to hear he’d be joining in the RPM madness and his album TEMPERED really lives up to the expectations. It is expertly crafted crust, simultaneously sinister, catchy, oppressively noisy and aurally engrossing.

Songs like “Pistol Whipped For Jesus” are an exquisite mix of layers of foreboding voices and sickly guitars in a swell of dank cavernous percussion. It reveals a man with a great ear for atmospherics and the pitch-perfect dark sensibilities for melodies and arrangements. It’s a ferocious and rich experience from start to finish.

For those with a love of fuzzy and infectious lo-fi pop, the RPM challenge is a perfect outlet for finding it. This genre is precisely the type that benefits a very short schedule, rushed performances and a singular focus. RPM participants The Blossoms took to the challenge and made one of the best lo-fi pop albums I’ve heard in years. Thoroughly charming and crazy catchy, the melodies are reverent to classic 60’s garage pop with delightful harmonies and a bouncy yet slightly melancholic feel. Everything is wrapped in a thick warm Snuggie(tm) of fuzzy distortion that gives it a nice, nostalgic harkening back to the hastily recorded garage pop bands of yesteryear. A quick and tasty slice of breezy, pop-fun pie that gets better with every bite. Perfect for sunny spring days.

Folly (All ages) 1-3pm

The Levee (19+) 9-11pm CBTGs (19+) 9pm-late Holdsworth Court

Holdsworth Court

1:00pm - 1:30pm

9:00pm - 9:30pm

9:00pm - 9:30pm

5 Bates Hill

Allan Locke — Live By Love Pilot to Bombardier — The Lights of Pearl Mountain Nicolas Trnka — Doin’ The Robot Stephen Green — Track 1 St. John’s Ukelele Club — Track 4 Wizards of Kaos — Deliverance Scrambled Meggz — Snakes & Ladders WTCU — White Night Sigma — The New Scene Kevin Woolridge — Will You Run?

1:30pm - 2:00pm

Other People — Wind Up Robots The South Symposium — Track 1 Pet Legs — The Fast Years Jason Earle — Hi, My Name Is Jason Jack Betty — Brno Bryes!

Nicolas Trnka — Comic Store Terry Rielly — No Kiddin’ electro-CHAK — Track 4 The Last Starfighter — Track 5 Ubiquitous Gazelle — Shake

2:00pm - 2:30pm

Back to Copenhagen - Jesus Drove a Pickup Truck 4 Fold Aprons — My Little Shadow Vickee Loo — Phantom Vibrations Naomi Russell — Who I Am Cara Lee Coleman — Outbreak Jonathon Aubrey — Just Can’t Ragged Dick — small girl Liam Peacock — Night Games

2:30pm - 3:00pm

Matthew Hare — This City OK Potato — Feaver’s Lane Tim Barnes — Livin’ Right Nicolas Trnka — Tiger EGo — Synthy Skins Mythical Man-Month — Sleepy All Day Blues Joe Harvey — Poor In The Summertime Sharona Clarke — A Bully Revealed Schizophrenic Bi-Polar Bear — Fart Party (Poopie Pants Dance) The Magnus Svensons — Paarjavi Shed Devils — You Got A Lot To Learn

J. Alfred — Sliders DJ Frosty — Day 1 - Exposure Shed Devils — You Got A Lot To Learn The Ice Cream Headaches — 106 Elling Lien — Falling in Love!

Crash Jones — She’s All Love Hatch — free, simple.

9:30pm - 10:00pm

Grant Kingston — Track 3 The Cause — A Funk The Dead Ponies — I Played House epo — two eyes on the door The 6 Fort Waldegrave — Triple Murder!

Sheavy — The Black Tower

9:30pm - 10:00pm

SUPERGOD!!!!! — Satan Has Two Eyes You Know Crystal City Printing Press — Hotel Rooms The Potholez — Wait For Me Counter Destroyer — Buffalo Plant Dave Walsh — Why Not? Sluts on Sluts — Damhnait Cara Lee Coleman — Outbreak Ryan Taylor — Revolution in Heaven

10:30pm - 11:00pm

Crisis Averted — Help The Coffee Dates — Breathe The Composers — Track 1 Rob Bishop — Sterile Brett Vey — Please Don’t Go (Crystal Vey) Robot Scout — Robot Two-010 Friends Of — Run Riverbed The Jack E. Tar — Pistol Whipped for Jesus Robin Graves and the Diggers — RPM Jam

— PC

— PC

Allan Locke — Live By Love Pilot to Bombardier — The Lights of Pearl Mountain Nicolas Trnka — Doin’ The Robot Stephen Green — Track 1 St. John’s Ukelele Club — Track 4 Wizards of Kaos — Deliverance Scrambled Meggz — Snakes & Ladders WTCU — White Night Sigma — The New Scene Kevin Woolridge — Will You Run?

9:30pm - 10:00pm

Other People — Wind Up Robots The South Symposium — Track 1 Pet Legs — The Fast Years Jason Earle — Hi, My Name Is Jason Jack Betty — Brno Bryes!

Nicolas Trnka — Comic Store Terry Rielly — No Kiddin’ electro-CHAK — Track 4 The Last Starfighter — Track 5 Ubiquitous Gazelle — Shake

10:00pm - 10:30pm

Back to Copenhagen - Jesus Drove a Pickup Truck 4 Fold Aprons — My Little Shadow Vickee Loo — Phantom Vibrations Naomi Russell — Who I Am Cara Lee Coleman — Outbreak Jonathon Aubrey — Just Can’t Ragged Dick — small girl Liam Peacock — Night Games

10:30pm - 11:00pm

Matthew Hare — This City OK Potato — Feaver’s Lane Tim Barnes — Livin’ Right Nicolas Trnka — Tiger EGo — Synthy Skins Mythical Man-Month — Sleepy All Day Blues Joe Harvey — Poor In The Summertime Sharona Clarke — A Bully Revealed Schizophrenic Bi-Polar Bear — Fart Party (Poopie Pants Dance) The Magnus Svensons — Paarjavi Shed Devils — You Got A Lot To Learn

11:00pm - 11:30pm

am-fm dreams — Paint By Numbers Barbeau — Lovely Blues 18 Hertz — Track 1 Worker — 1987 Shawn Walsh’s Mustache — Screaming Mittens (Sarah Walsh) Alex Wells — Scape Goat manny steiner — orgasmic od0ntalgia Billy Boland — Tapes

11:30pm - 12:00pm

The Parliament of Owls — Peacher Noble Shawn Walsh’s Mustache — Glasses (Jeff Patey) Audrey Cohen — Six Is The Loneliest Number Drysdale — Gothic Girl Thom Coombes — Down To The Wire Back to Copenhagen — Jesus Drove a Pickup Truck Osprey Signal — Rothera The Blossoms — The Glow The Bart Pierson — Walking Dead

12:30pm - 1:00am

People On Pause — Jack-O-Lantern Shawn Walsh’s Mustache — Dairy Queen (Kurt Hull) Ultramammoth — You Baaastaaarrddss!!!

Night Men — From The Depths Andrew Harvey Presents False Advertising — Powder Revisited (Hand in Hand) Mike Williams — The Cause Action Hotdog — Going Adam Baxter — Affirmation Shawn Walsh’s Mustache — Pet Names (Shawn Walsh) BarryO — Ironic Shelter Glen Connolly — Come Apart

1:00am - 3:00AM Random play

news

Off to the races! Photo illustration by Elling Lien.

Women of the house

For the first time in this province’s history, three of the province’s political parties were led my women for the six weeks Premier Danny Williams was recuperating from heart surgery. Is this still a landmark for women’s representation in politics if few made the connection?

by Kerri Breen

T

he stars aligned for Newfoundland and Labrador provincial politics last month, and for the first time ever, provincial party leadership was a girls’ club.

With Danny out of commission, the promotion of Deputy Premier Kathy Dunderdale to the role of acting premier was a matter of temporary circumstance.

Nonetheless, having three female party leaders—Cartwright-L’Anse au Clair MHA Yvonne Jones of the Liberals, Signal Hill-Quidi Vidi MHA Lorraine Michael of the NDP and Virginia Waters MHA Dunderdale—is nearly unprecedented in Canadian politics.

In 2007, women constituted 22 per cent of members of provincial legislatures in Canada. Women’s representation in cabinet is slightly higher, but there have been only four female premiers in Canadian history.

It was only three years ago Newfoundland and Labrador

possessed half the female provincial party leaders in the country—there were just four. (Now there are nine—many opposition leaders).

Throughout the world, explains political science PhD Amanda Bittner, women’s participation in politics has reached a plateau of 20 or 22 per cent.

Why then did no one seem to notice that women were—at least in one sense—running the show in Newfoundland and Labrador for over a month?

Bittner, a political science professor at Memorial and researcher in the area of women’s representation in politics, says people aren’t thinking about gender as much any more.

“If you ask a person walking down the street they’re not going to really think about women in politics that much,” she says.

The belief that the barriers for women’s participation in politics were removed when they were given the right to run is fueling complacency, even though most societies are far away from having equal gender representation in the political sphere, she says.

“Because we don’t have these

grand, symbolic goals like suffrage, let’s say, it’s hard to rally around [the issue],” she says.

Bittner is working with two graduate students on a conference

Bittner says being a feminist is a taboo—and not just for women—but studies have shown that women who run on women issue’s platforms tend to do better than those who don’t.

paper called “Who Cares? Canadian Attitudes About Women in Politics.”

The as yet unfinished paper is about the simple, but potent idea that women aren’t as represented in politics because the public, and therefore policy makers, haven’t prioritized the goal.

“Until we kind of care about it, as a population, nothing is really going

to happen,” Bittner says.

Newfoundland and Labrador is an interesting case: It’s ahead of Canadian averages in some measures of gender equality in politics, but not in others. The representation of women in cabinet is at 31.5 per cent, which is high by Canadian standards.

“We’re a little bit above average on that, and we’re a little bit below average in terms of the numbers of women in the legislature in general,” Bittner says.

Just over 30 women ran in the 2007 provincial election; 11 of them won.

“The biggest barrier to having women in legislatures is getting them to run in the first place. If they run, they win, as evidenced by the number of women who have won in Newfoundland in the last election,” Bittner says.

The variables that prevent them from running are complex and deeply rooted in other issues affecting women. Bittner attributes women’s lower levels of participation in politics to the fact that women are statistically poorer than men, giving them less access to campaign funds.

Generally speaking, women also have the lion’s share of childcare responsibility.

“There are things that prevent them from getting involved that other members of the population don’t have to face, and until we deal with those kinds of things, there’s going to be a problem.”

There’s a debate as to whether it’s unwise for female politicians to talk frankly about being women in politics, as opposed to politicians who happen to be female.

Bittner says being a feminist is a taboo—and not just for women— but studies have shown that women who run on women issue’s platforms tend to do better than those who don’t.

“Which is kind of a bizarre thing you might not expect, but when you point out that you care about those issues and stand up for those issues, others who identify with those issues will tend to vote for you, and others who don’t necessarily will also respect you for what you’re doing and sort of go from there.”

It’s unwise to align oneself with any sort of symbol of weakness in politics, even if the weakness is theoretical, statistical or historical and not experienced by everyone in the same manner. Female Members of the House of Assembly—or any other Canadian legislature—don’t publicly acknowledge their gender often.

Privately, it may be another story.

The public and the media may not have noticed that the province’s three political leaders were women, but Bittner bets the leaders themselves made the connection.

Leave a comment online at thescope.ca

fair trade recycled materials biodegradable substances

175 water street. st john’s, nl 709 722 6004 monday - saturday 10-6 sunday 12-5

twistedsistersboutik.blogspot.com

march 25 - april 8, 2010

thescope 9

music

SATURDAY

MAR 27

Another North (alt rock), Roundelay (rock/ alt), Ragged Ends, 10:30pm, $5, Junctions Submit your show information by e-mail to listings@thescope.ca or click “Submit a Blue Eyed Blonde (cover rock) Club One Listing” online at thescope.ca. Event listings are free, and hi-res photos are welcome and Breakdown, Dusk Ultralounge encouraged.

Dancing Under the Stars: Gala ball featurListings deadline for our next print edition is 5pm Sunday, April 4. ing Jazz East Big Band, 7:30pm, $45 (dinner & dance), Royal Can Legion-Pleasantville 579-3233 Dave Panting (5pm); Bob Taylor, Carl Peters & Pat Moran (8pm); Tarahan (11pm), Shamrock Chris Hennessey (5pm); Bill Kelly (8pm), City Pub Achora (11:30pm), O’Reilly’s Irish Pub DJ Big Frank, Konfusion Classy Little Shin Dig: Antoine Dufour DJ Nu Rock, Loft 709 (guitar), DJ Sina, $5, The Breezeway Alex Cornick Jam, CBTGs Greg Bolger & Chris Marshall, Green Cody Westman, 12am, no cover, Bull & Barrel Antoine Dufour (Canadian finger style Sleeves Pub D’arcy Broderick & Ron Kelly (5pm); acoustic guitar champion) 7pm-10pm, $10, Ian Foster & The Thieves (folk rock), MelaBarry Kenny & Glen Harvey (8pm); Tarahan Martini Bar nie O’Brien, 10:30pm, $5, Fat Cat Blues Bar (11pm), Shamrock City Pub Carl Peters & Bob Taylor (7pm), Middle Jill Porter (rock), Snake Eye (rock), 10:30pm, Dave Reardon, 5pm, Station Lounge Tickle (11pm), Shamrock City Pub Rose & Thistle DJ Fabian: Wear your PJs night with Kai-Kai & Craig Young (solo acoustic) no cover, Fat Cat Mick Davis & The Skinny Jims (rock), 11pm, Betty Boo Kakke, no cover, 11am, Zone 216 Blues Bar $5, The Ship DJ Mayehem, Loft 709 Dave Panting, Erin’s Pub Rob Cook (4:30pm);Bill Kelly (8pm); DJ Sina, Konfusion Des Gambin, 7pm, West Side Charlie’sAchora (11:30pm), O’Reilly’s Irish Pub Kenmount Rd Dodgeband (alt), Colonel Craze ST O M Raul Malo (lead singer of “The THE & The Hunch (rock), Catmanduah DJ Big Frank, Konfusion FIND -DATE Mavericks”), 46.13, Holy Heart (rock), Red Planes, $6, The Levee up-TO GS DJ Nu Rock, The Breezeway Theatre LISTIN AT Filthy Fridays: DJ JayCee, Early Show, Jerry Stamp, Ian Foster, no cover, RPM Challenge Listening Turkey Joe’s ONLINE e.ca Rose & Thistle Party 2: Celebrating 86 local althescop Greg Bolger & Chris MarFergus O’Byrne (7pm); Acoustic bums created this February, no cover, shall, Green Sleeves Pub Punters(10:30pm), O’Reilly’s Irish Pub 9pm-11pm, The Levee.

Holy Fucking Dance Party: DJ Dr Jerry Stamp, Melanie O’Brien, 12am, no cover, RPM Challenge Listening Party 3: Drake, Junctions Bull & Barrel Celebrating 86 local albums created this FebruKujo (rock), The Subtitles (pop), Bay Town ary, 9pm-close, CBTGs Stixx & Stones, The Dock Connection (beach rock), $7, Rock House The Reluctant Showmen (rock), Say Fire, Thirsty Thursdays: DJ JayCee, Turkey Joe’s Mick Davis & The Skinny Jims (rock) Fat Living Daylights, 11pm, The Levee Trevor Kelly, Whalen’s Pub Cat Blues Bar Sexual Saturday: DJ JayCee, Turkey Joe’s Unlisted, Green Sleeves Pub Musique Non-Stop: Indie Dance Night w/ DJ Stupid Fresh (UK fidgety funk electro), Steve Benjy, DJ Forest, Pookas Hauntas. Wear sports Murray, Graeme White, Dr Drake, DJ Fox, 11pm, jerseys, clothes & uniforms, 11pm, no cover, $12/$15, Liquid NightClub Distortion The Tequila Rockingbirds, no cover, TrapOverlay (rock), Roundelay (rock/alt), The per John’s Pub Wolves (rock), Adam Baxter Threesome (indie), The Vibe, 10pm, Martini Bar 9:30pm, The Ship AE Bridger (psychedelic rock), The Crooks VJ Eric, DJ Fabian, 11pm, $5/$7 after 1:30pm, The Tequila Rockingbirds, no cover, Trap(rock), Bonavista Chain Locker, CBTGs Zone 216 per John’s Pub Blue Eyed Blonde (cover rock) Club One The Vibe, 10pm, Martini Bar Breakdown, Dusk Ultralounge

THURSDAY

MAR 25

FRIDAY

MAR 26

music venue

directory Arts & Culture Centre, Prince Philip Dr, 729-3900 The Attic, 2 George St, 579-9632 Bar None, 164 Water St, 579-2110 Bella Vista, 26 Torbay Rd, 753-2352 Big Ben’s, 55 Rowan St, 753-8212 Black Dog Pub, 318 Water St, 726-6015 Bull & Barrel, Holdsworth Court, 579-7077 Bull & Finch, Torbay Rd, 738-7007 The Breezeway, MUN Campus, 737-4743 Bridie Molloy’s, 5 George St, 576-5990 Brownings Pub, Hotel Mount Pearl, 364-7725 CBTG’s, Holdsworth Court, 722-2284 Christine’s Place, 210 Lemarchant Rd, 722-6400 Club One, George St, 753-7822 Crow’s Nest (Officer’s Club), 88 Water St (by War Memorial), 753-6927 D.F. Cook Recital Hall, Memorial University 7374700 Corner Stone Sports Bar, 16 Queen St, 754-4263 Darnell’s Pub, 1570 Topsail Rd 782-2440 Distortion, Holdsworth Court, 738-8833 The Dock, 17 George St, 726-0353 Dusk ULTRA LOUNGE, George St Erin’s Pub, 186 Water St, 722-1916 Fat Cat Blues Bar, George St 739-5554 George Street Beer Market, George St, 753-7822 Georgetown Pub, 754-6151 Green sleeves PUB, 14 George St, 579-1070 The Grapevine, Water St, 754-8463 Grumpy Stump, Torbay Rd, 753-2337 Holy Heart Theatre, 55 Bonaventure Ave, 579-4424 Junctions, 208 Water St, 579-2557 Karaoke Kops Party Bar, 10 George St, 726-8202 Kelly’s Pub, 25 George St, 753-5300 Konfusion, George St, 753-4884 Kruger’s Bar, 986 Conception Bay Hwy, Kelligrews The Last Drop, 193 Water St, 726-3767 THE LEVEE, Holdsworth Court Liquid NIGHT CLUB, 186B Water St, 754-5455 Loft 709, 371 Duckworth St 351-2183 Lottie’s Place, 3 George St, 754-3020 Lower Path Grill & Bar, 312 Water St 579-1717 LSPU HAll, 3 Victoria St, 753-4531 Majestic Theatre, 390 Duckworth St Marg’s Place, Kelligrews Martini Bar (Above Peddler’s On George) 739-9180 Masonic Temple, 6 Cathedral St, 579-3023 Mickey Quinn’s, 120 New Gower St, 739-6404 Mile One Centre, 50 New Gower St, 576-7657 MUN MUSIC, 737-4455 Mrs Liddy’s, Torbay 437-6005 The Old Mill, 271 Brookfield Rd, 368-1334 O’Reilly’s Irish Pub, 15 George St, 722-3735 Peddler’s On George, George St, 739-9180 Peter Easton Pub, Cookstown Road Petro-Canada Hall, Memorial University Players Cue, 50 Commonwealth Ave-Mt Pearl 3682500 Republic, Duckworth St, 753-1012 Rob Roy Pub, George St, 739-6270 THE Rockhouse, George St, 579-6832 rose & Thistle, 208 Water St, 579-6662 Shamrock City Pub, 340 Water St, 7585483 Ship Pub, 265 Duckworth St, 753-3870 Spin, 2 George St Sharky’s Pub, Manuels 834-5636 The Sprout, 364 Duckworth St, 579-5485 SS Meigle Lounge, Seal Cove 744-1212 Stanley’s Pub, 26 Torbay Rd, 754-0930 Station Lounge, 7 Hutchings St Steller Club, Henry St, 753-8222 Stetson Lounge, 260 Water St, 753-8138 Sundance, George St, 753-7822 Tol's Time-Out Lounge, 74 Old Placentia Rd 745-8657 Topsail Breeze Tavern, Topsail 781-0010 Trapper John’s PUB, 2 George St, 579-9630 Trinity Pub, George St, 579-5558 Trip in Lounge, Kelligrews 834-4002 The Well, 14 George St - 2nd level Green Sleeves Whalen’s Pub, 32 George St 722-4900 Zone 216, 216 Water St, 754-2492. Do you host live music or DJs? Joining our directory is free. E-mail listings@thescope.ca

SUNDAY

MAR 28 Chris Henessey (7pm); Con & Arthur O’Brien (10pm), Shamrock City Pub Damian Follett, Green Sleeves Pub Joe Belly Sunday Jam, CBTGs

IS YOUR VEHICLE A 1995 MODEL OR OLDER? IF SO, YOU CAN RECEIVE REAL REWARDS FOR RECYCLING IT WITH US. To participate, call 1-877-773-1996 to speak with a Retire Your Ride representative or log on to www.retireyourride.ca

10 thescope

march 25 - april 8, 2010

Mike Hanrahan, Irish Session, Bridie Molloy’s Old School Sunday, Turkey Joe’s Song Session: Allan Byrne, 7pm, O’Reilly’s Irish Pub

MONDAY

MAR 29 Andrew LeDrew, The Grapevine Anthony MacDonald & Ronnie Power, 10pm, Shamrock City Pub Damian Follett, Green Sleeves Pub Gordon Lightfoot, Holy Heart Theatre Larry Foley & Patrick Moran, 9:30pm, O’Reilly’s Irish Pub

TUESDAY

MAR 30 Carl Peters & Dave White, Turkey Joe’s DT, Mast & Friends, CBTGs Larry Foley & Rob Cook, 12am, O’Reilly’s Irish Pub Connemara, 10pm, Shamrock City Pub Damian Follett & Gary Gambin, Green Sleeves Pub DJ Paddy Green (hip hop) Loft 709 Gordon Lightfoot, Holy Heart Theatre Hot Tuesday: Dave Walsh, Grant Kingston, Joey Bennett, 9:30pm, no cover, The Levee Latin & Swing (MUN Music) MUN Jazz Ensemble do Latin & Swing big band music, 8pm, $7/$12, DF Cook Recital Hall Shawn Beresford (solo acoustic) no cover, Fat Cat Blues Bar The Gambin Brothers (acoustic duo) no cover, 10pm, Martini Bar

WEDNESDAY

MAR 31

Blackie O’Leary (7pm); The Navigators (10pm), Shamrock City Pub Chris Hennessey (5pm); Best Kind (10:30pm), O’Reilly’s Irish Pub Dave White, 10pm, Turkey Joe’s DJ Mark Power, no cover, Loft 709 Epic Wednesdays: Adam Baxter, 10pm, $5, Distortion Folk Night: Terry Rielly, 9pm, $5, The Ship

Jason Lacour, Trapper John’s Pub Jeremy Rice (solo acoustic) no cover, Fat Cat Blues Bar Kronik, Green Sleeves Pub Noise Terror 9: Black Mask Brigade, Rocket Rocket Ship, Patrick Swayze & The Dirty Dancers, Breakaway, 10pm, $5, The Levee Stixx & Stones, no cover, Martini Bar Victor Lewis Jam, CBTGs

THURSDAY

APR 1

Alex Cornick Jam, CBTGs Carl Peters & Bob Taylor (7pm), Middle Tickle (11pm), Shamrock City Pub Colours & Contours (MUN Music) Modern wind ensemble perform works by Joseph Schwantner, David Gillingham & Felix Mendelssohn under direction of Denise Grant, 8pm, $7/$12, DF Cook Recital Hall Craig Young (solo acoustic) no cover, Fat Cat Blues Bar Dave Panting, Erin’s Pub Des Gambin, 7pm, West Side Charlie’sKenmount Rd DJ Big Frank, Konfusion DJ Mark Power, no cover, Martini Bar DJ Nu Rock, The Breezeway Dough Low Rock (Toronto electro hip hop), Bubba Sean, $5, Loft 709 Drive, The Monday Nights, Jerry Stamp, Rock House Hatrick, 11pm, no cover, Trapper John’s Pub Larry Foley & Patrick Moran, 10:30pm, O’Reilly’s Irish Pub Madonna: An Evening of Worship with Drag Queen Felicia Cox, 11pm, Zone 216 Jerry Stamp, midnight, no cover, Bull & Barrel Stixx & Stones, The Dock The Early Show: Ian Foster, 9pm, no cover, Rose & Thistle Thirsty Thursdays: DJ JayCee, Turkey Joe’s Unlisted, Green Sleeves Pub

FRIDAY

APR 2 Chris Hennessey (5pm); Bill Kelly (8pm), O’Reilly’s Irish Pub D’arcy Broderick & Ron Kelly (5pm); Barry Kenny & Glen Harvey (8pm), Shamrock City Pub Dave Reardon, 5pm, Station Lounge Dave Walsh (acoustic), Chico Connors, 10:30pm, no cover, Trinity Pub DJ Fabian, no cover, 11am, Zone 216 DJ Sina, Konfusion Duane Andrews Trio (jazz/folk), Al Tuck (folk), 9:30pm, $10, The Ship Filthy Fridays: DJ JayCee, Turkey Joe’s Jump Smokers (Chicago electro neon party), DJ Alligator, Remix ‘86, Loft 709 Signal Hill, Club One Steve Davis Duo, 11pm, no cover, Trapper John’s Pub The Cumuppins (rock) CBTGs

SATURDAY

APR 3

Dave Panting (5pm); Bob Taylor, Carl Peters & Pat Moran (8pm), Shamrock City Pub DJ Big Frank, Konfusion DJ Nu Rock, Loft 709 Mick Davis & The Skinny Jims (rock), 11pm, $5, Rose & Thistle Rob Cook (4:30pm);Bill Kelly (8pm), O’Reilly’s Irish Pub Sexual Saturday: DJ JayCee, Turkey Joe’s Shiest, Poitic Live, Rock House Sidekicks, 11pm, no cover, Trapper John’s Pub Signal Hill, Club One Such Gold (NY punk), Rust Belt Lights, Distortion The Fast Years (rock) 11pm, CBTGs The New Zazou (ska), Mercy the Sexton (pop rock), 11:30pm, $7, The Levee VJ Eric, DJ Fabian, 11pm, $5/$7 after 1:30pm, Zone 216

musicreviews

Patrick Canning picks some of his favourites from the 86 successful local RPM submissions.

Rob Bishop

People on Pause s/t (RPM Challenge)

To The Last (RPM Challenge)

One of my favorite participants from last year’s RPM, Justin Guzzwell, teamed up with like-minded local prog-rock-weirdoSuperguy AE Bridger to form People On Pause. The duo have an interesting symbiotic relationship. Songwriting duties are divided equally between the two of them and while both have pretty different styles, Guzzwell with his pummeling piano punk and Bridger with his complex guitar acrobatics, the songs flow without conflict or disparity. I’m a total jerk to complain about this considering it’s an RPM, but I sorta wish the mix weren’t so murky, ‘cause it distracts from some really great performances on the last tracks. Guzzwell and Bridger are two of the most talented folks from the St John’s weirdo scene and POP definitely doesn’t lack in ideas and energy. It’s a really rewarding album well worth some dissecting ears.

One of lushest entries from this year, Rob Bishop has serious raw talent with some really masterful arrangement skills. There’s enough variety and depth to the music for five albums. A lot of his songs have a real cinematic openness to them, and there’s a lot of genre shifting throughout, making it feel much like listening to a film score underlying many different scenes and settings. The album feels like a project in genre experimentation, as it goes from goth industrial to acoustic pop to surf guitar to daft punk. Some styles work much better then others, but overall it makes for a very enjoyable and impressively ambitious RPM album.

Lyrically, he’s a few ounces of selfawareness away from being great, with some songs coming off a bit over-serious and cheesy, but these are small complaints.

On the flipside, the song “Sterile” has the greatest keyboard solo I’ve ever heard.

— PC

— PC

fair trade recycled materials biodegradable substances

175 water street. st john’s, nl 709 722 6004 monday - saturday 10-6 sunday 12-5

twistedsistersboutik.blogspot.com

march 25 - april 8, 2010

thescope 11

Stixx & Stones, no cover, Martini Bar

SUNDAY

APR 4

“What part of confidante has that poor teapot played ever since the kindly plant was introduced among us. Why myriads of women have cried over it, to be sure! What sickbeds it has smoked by! What fevered lips have received refreshment from it! Nature meant very kindly by women when she made the tea plant; and with a little thought, what a series of pictures and groups the fancy may conjure up and assemble round the teapot and cup.”

—William Makepeace Thackeray

Chris Henessey (7pm); Con & Arthur O’Brien (10pm), Shamrock City Pub Damian Follett, Green Sleeves Pub Joe Belly Sunday Jam, CBTGs Mike Hanrahan, Irish Session, Bridie Molloy’s Old School Sunday, Turkey Joe’s Song Session: Allan Byrne, 7pm, O’Reilly’s Irish Pub

MONDAY

APR 5

Anthony MacDonald & Ronnie Power, 10pm, Shamrock City Pub Damian Follett, Green Sleeves Pub Larry Foley & Patrick Moran, 9:30pm, O’Reilly’s Irish Pub Slaughterhouse (US hip hop), Pharoahe Monch, Shiest, Large Live N‘ Direct, DJ Crafty, Club One

TUESDAY

APR 6

Carl Peters & Dave White, Turkey Joe’s Dust Radio, The Grapevine Larry Foley & Rob Cook, 12am, O’Reilly’s Irish Pub Connemara, 10pm, Shamrock City Pub Damian Follett & Gary Gambin, Green Sleeves Pub DJ Paddy Green (hip hop) Loft 709 Great Beginnings (MUN Music) MUN Brass Ensemble under the direction of Karen Bulmer welcomes spring with majestic overtures, 8pm, $7/$12, DF Cook Recital Hall Shawn Beresford (solo acoustic) no cover, Fat Cat Blues Bar The Gambin Brothers (acoustic duo) no cover, 10pm, Martini Bar

WEDNESDAY

APR 7

Blackie O’Leary (7pm); The Navigators (10pm), Shamrock City Pub Chris Hennessey (5pm); Best Kind (10:30pm), O’Reilly’s Irish Pub Chris Kirby (solo acoustic) no cover, Fat Cat Blues Bar Dave White, 10pm, Turkey Joe’s Director’s Choice (MUN Music) Tom Gordon & faculty, 8pm, DF Cook Recital Hall DJ Mark Power, no cover, Loft 709 Director’s Choice (MUN Music) Tom Gordon book-ends his term as director of the School of Music in a retrospective concert with friends & colleagues, 8pm, DF Cook Recital Hall Epic Wednesdays: Adam Baxter, 10pm, $5, Distortion Folk Night: Allan Byrne, 9pm, $5, The Ship Jason Lacour, Trapper John’s Pub Kronik, Green Sleeves Pub Noise Terror 10: Regurgitation, The Rit, 10pm, $5, The Levee

THURSDAY

APR 8

Carl Peters & Bob Taylor (7pm), Middle Tickle (11pm), Shamrock City Pub Craig Young (solo acoustic) no cover, Fat Cat Blues Bar Dave Panting, Erin’s Pub Des Gambin, 7pm, West Side Charlie’sKenmount Rd DJ Big Frank, Konfusion DJ Mark Power, no cover, Martini Bar DJ Nu Rock, The Breezeway DJ Sina, Loft 709 Jerry Stamp, Sharona Clarke, no cover, Bull & Barrel Larry Foley & Patrick Moran, 10:30pm, O’Reilly’s Irish Pub Jerry Stamp, midnight, no cover, Bull & Barrel Stixx & Stones, The Dock The Early Show: Ian Foster, 9pm, no cover, Rose & Thistle Thirsty Thursdays: DJ JayCee, Turkey Joe’s Unlisted, Green Sleeves Pub

ALLAGES Saturday Mar 27 from 1pm-3pm RPM Challenge Listening Party 3 (See Mar 27 listings for other parties) Celebrating 86 local albums created this February, free, Folly—5 Bates Hill

openmic/jam Tuesdays: Dave Carroll & Rob Moran at O’Reilly’s Irish Pub (10pm) Wednesdays: Chris Ryan & Ronnie Power at Shamrock City Pub (9:30pm) Thursdays: The Levee (9pm) Sundays: Shawn Beresford at Fat Cat Blues Bar; Young Musicians at Shamrock City Pub (2pm); Young Performers at O’Reilly’s Irish Pub (3pm)

karaoke Wednesday: Karaoke Kops Party Bar Thursday: Karaoke Kops Party Bar; West Side Charlie’s-Torbay Rd Friday: Karaoke Kops Party Bar Saturday: Karaoke Kops Party Bar; Murf at Darnell’s Pub

Find the most up-to-date listings at

thescope.ca/events

reader restaurant reviews Recent positive reviews from

thescope.ca/Scoff Hava Java 216 Water Street, 753-5282

 Reviewed by mark

As humorous and true as the comments about this place being pretentious may be, I found the food and beverages here to be amongst the best I’ve ever had. Artsy cliches are to be expected here, but don’t let that deter you from trying this place. 5 stars for their White Heat hot chocolate alone.

Avg rating

1/2 (based on 5 reviews)

Mama Soula’s

407 Torbay Road, 738-7014 (Not rated) Reviewed by Billy

My wife and I visit here quite often for the greek menu. Portions are large and food is always tasty. One of the few places I’ve been locally where you can get lamb dishes.

Spanikopita app is very good as well. Atmophere is nice, I believe Friday and/or Sat they have some live background music by a female who plays guitar and sings.

No avg rating yet

Afghan Restaurant 375A Duckworth Street, 754-2230

 Reviewed by AAR

Don’t let the decor fool you…. the food is so delicious. And inexpensive. And try the Baklava… yum. There were three women there, a woman and her young daughter, and an elderly woman there when I visited. You really got the feeling that these were authentic family recipes, and there were 3 generations of that family in the room. Very friendly.

Avg rating

(based on 9 reviews) Shalimar

115 Duckworth Street, 579-7050



Reviewed by Scott

2 1 6 W at e r S t r e et

hava lattÉ 12 thescope

march 25 - april 8, 2010

My girlfriend and I visited Shalimar last night for a meal and I will definitely be returning for more! The atmosphere is family oriented and welcoming and the food is fantastic.

Our meals consisted of the Shalimar Plate, Chappal Kebab, and Handi Ghost. All of which were terrific.

The owner was a little concerned it may be too spicy. My response to him was, “Don’t hold back”. Keep it authentic Shalimar!

Avg rating

(based on 2 reviews)

Disagree? Write your own reviews at

thescope.ca/Scoff

foodnerd

freaky coconut-flour rules

S

o you know when you’re at the bulk store and there are all those crazy kinds of flour there? Past the candy, past the lentils, in what I call the “freak section”? Freak flours. I’m right into them. In the last year, I have experimented a lot with different kinds of flour in order to replicate the magical—but, for my family, crazy-making—properties of gluten.

I read a lot, I try a lot, I screw up a lot, and every now and then I have a brilliant success and I hurry to the computer to tell you all about it.

Gluten-free baking usually requires more than one kind of flour. If you’re making straight-up wheaty muffins, you take your all-purpose flour or whatevAndreae er, wing it in the Callanan dreae@thescope.ca bowl, add your baking powder or baking soda or both, mix up some eggs and oil and milk or some such combo of wet ingredients, and off you go. You may mix white and whole wheat flours, but that’s about as crazy as it gets.

At my house, though, I usually have to mix three or four different kinds of flour any time I have to make anything. Each flour imparts a different taste or a different textural

Muffins! Photo by Andrreae Callanan

dimension, and I haven’t really found a blend that works awesomely for all the different things I like to make. A lot of brown rice flour makes excellent waffles but weird, gritty cookies. Quinoa flour is tasty and nutty but it’s heller expensive.

I’ve made gorgeous squares with teff

flour, and one appallingly gross carrot cake. Usually I do a blend of rice, buckwheat, sorghum and tapioca flours, plus xanthan gum.

I’m sure that, for a lot of you, this sounds like a complete pain in the arse, but I enjoy it. Because I’m like that. Sometimes, though, people come to me asking for a recipe

Coconut-flour cherry muffins Do not be alarmed by the unusually huge number of eggs in this recipe. Coconut flour works best in the company of a whole lot of eggs. They’re good for you, and the shells are

Classical Chinese acupuncture / herbal medicine

super good for your compost. If you don’t have a compost and you live near me, just drop

Dr. X Hong Liu MD (China)

your eggshells at my house. I swear, I won’t think you’re weird or creepy. Unless you are.

I’ll bet you didn’t even know coconut flour existed, did you? Neither did I, but it’s right there in the freak section at the bulk store.

Chinese Therapy Centre

R.Ac. CAFC, ND.

20 Years of Experience.

Then don’t.

Most insurance accepted.

49-55 Elizabeth Avenue, Suite 201 www.chinesetherapy.ca E-mail: xhliu@nfld.net 753-1150

Makes 12 muffins 6 eggs 6 tablespoons butter, melted 1/3 cup sugar ¾ teaspoon vanilla extract (or other flavouring, like almond extract)

for gluten-free whatever because their mother-in-law or their best friend’s boyfriend or someone else is coming over for brunch and they can’t eat gluten, and “please can the recipe not have any weird ingredients in it.”

Well, whaddaya do?

You get some coconut flour, that’s what.

I’ll bet you didn’t even know coconut flour existed, did you?

Neither did I, but it’s right there in the freak section at the bulk store.

Does it smell like coconuts? A little, yeah. Does it taste like coconuts? A tiny bit, depending on what else is in your particular baked goods. So provided you have nothing against coconuts, this may be the most amazing glutenfree flour ever.

Coconut flour has many, many strange properties. First of all, it’s very thirsty, so you use very little of it in a recipe. Like, half a cup in a batch of muffins. If you just substitute it, cup for cup, for regular white flour in a recipe, you will end up with a gummy brick. But in the right proportions, coconut flour rules the baking world. It’s not grainy or

½ cup coconut flour ½ teaspoon salt ½ teaspoon baking powder 1 cup fresh or frozen cherries, chopped (or berries.) If you are using frozen fruit, do not thaw it first.

1.

Preheat your oven to 400F. Butter a 12-cup muffin tin, or line with cupcake wrappers

2.

In a medium bowl, beat eggs lightly. Whisk in melted butter, sugar, and vanilla.

3.

In a large bowl, stir together coconut flour, salt, and baking powder, breaking up any

large flour lumps.

4.

Add wet ingredients to dry and stir until smooth. Stir in fruit.

5.

Fill muffin cups about 2/3 full and bake 16-20 minutes (they’ll take closer to 20

minutes if the fruit is frozen). Remove muffins from oven and let sit several minutes in the muffin tin before removing to a cooling rack. Once cool, store in an airtight container.

gritty—in fact, since coconut isn’t a grain, it’s suitable for people who can’t eat any grains at all (it’s more common than you probably think).

It’s light and naturally sweet, so you don’t have to add a lot of sweetener to your baked goods.

And here’s my favourite: unlike most gluten-free flours, it doesn’t taste all that “health-food-y.” Not that there’s anything wrong with health food, but sometimes you want something cakey and moist and fluffy to snack on. Coconut flour is low-carb, low on the glycemic index, and high in fibre, and you can still make a nice, white birthday cake with it. Without adding any other “weird ingredients” like tapioca starch and xanthan gum. Even

if gluten doesn’t bother you in the least, you should give it a try, for no other reason than that it’s good.

I’ve been making nice fruity muffins with coconut flour lately, as I have a lot of cherries and berries in my freezer to get through in order to make room for more of the same when summer comes. You can fancy the recipe up with citrus zest or some other kind of flavouring, but the vanilla-cherry combination I made yesterday has been the favourite here so far. I plan to adapt this to a lemon-poppyseed version soon, and I’ll let you know how it turns out.

Comment online at

thescope.ca/foodnerd

march 25 - april 8, 2010

thescope 13

onscreen limitedrun

Thursday Mar 25 at 7pm Broken Embraces (MUN Cinema) Behold the dual life of Harry Caine, a blind writer who was once a well-known filmmaker.

Expect a lusty, sensual visual style fitting for the director of Harry Potter 3. Directed

by Pedro Almodovar (SPA 2009) Empire Theatres-Avalon Mall Sunday Mar 28 at 10:30am Happy Feet: MUN alumni, family and friends are invited to come and enjoy a special viewing of the academy award winning film, $2.50, Empire Theatres-Avalon Mall 737-2313 Wednesday Mar 31 at 7pm Kings (Global Cinema) TV’s favourite security chief, Miles O’Brien, stars as Joe Mullan.

Mullan is returning to ireland for a funeral.

Shot in English and Irish Gaelic with English subtitles. Directed by Tom Collins(IRE 2007) $8, Inco Innovation Center auditorium Thursday Apr 1 at 7pm Un Prophète (MUN Cinema) A jailed Arab man gains the respect of his fellow inmates and rules them with an iron fist. Imagine Li’l Orphan Annie winning over Daddy Warbucks, only with more prison fights. Directed

by Jacques Audiard (FRA 2009) Empire Theatres-Avalon Mall Thursday Apr 8 at 7pm A Single Man (MUN Cinema) Ladies love Colin Firth. Now, are they ready to love him as a suicidal gay professor shacking up with town drunk Julianne Moore? Directed

by Tom Ford (USA 2009) Empire TheatresAvalon Mall

daily showings

call For times and prices Avalon Mall’s Empire Studio 12 722-5775 • Mount Pearl Shopping Centre Empire Cinemas 364-8527 Alice In Wonderland: Yes, Lewis Carroll’s book is adapted yet again. This one’s directed

by Tim Burton, so expect lots of spindly trees and an “ooh, ahh” choral soundtrack courtesy of Danny Elfman. (Avalon Mall) Avatar: In search of a mineral called Hardtogetmium, the military threatens to eradicate the offspring of the Blue Man Group. Loosely based on The Smurfs with the military standing in for Gargamel. (Avalon Mall) Blind Side: The story of Michael Other and Other’s other mother (played by queen of Oscar baiting, Sandra Bullock), a boy who’d grow up to play football thanks to his mother’s encouragement and Hallmark cliché bon mots.

(Mt Pearl) Brooklyn’s Finest: 1 cup Lethal Weapon, two tablespoons Training Day and a pinch of New Jack City results in a retiring cop facing corrupt Ethan Hawke and drug-dealing Wesley Snipes. (Mt Pearl) Cop Out: Tracy Morgan and Bruce Willis are mismatched cops in this buddy movie directed

by Kevin Smith. After all, wouldn’t you want your script to have all the visual flair of Clerks?

(Mt Pearl) Crazy Heart: You’ve known him as Dude, Clu and Obadiah. Now Jeff Bridges adds Bad Blake to his list of improbable character names in this well-received drama about a hard-living country singer. (Mt Pearl) Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Young Greg is a middle-school child who must outwit bullies, a girl who is far too eager to wrestle him, and something called “the cheese touch.” (Avalon Mall) The Ghost Writer: If you’re expecting a disembodied ball of energy helping kids to solve crimes, prepare to be disappointed! This similarly-titled film stars Ewan McGregor as a writer who knows too much. (Mt Pearl) Green Zone: Paul Greengrass, best known for the Bourne sequels and almost making Watchmen (along with half of Hollywood), directs this Iraq War drama about a soldier gone rogue.

Matt Damon stars. (Avalon Mall) Hot Tub Time Machine: Ensemble comedy about, yes, a hot tub that sends four men back to the 1980’s. To borrow the tagline from Pieces, Hot Tub Time Machine is exactly what you think it is. (Avalon Mall) How To Train Your Dragon: A viking named Hiccup domesticates a dragon to the disbelief of his fellow Norsemen. Remember, this is a Dreamworks cartoon, so expect celebrity voices and Smashmouth on the soundtrack.

(Avalon Mall & Mt Pearl) Remember Me: In this romantic drama, Robert “Glitterati” Pattinson falls in love with Emilie de “That’s So” Ravin in the wake of his brother’s suicide. (Avalon Mall & Mt Pearl) Repo Men: Based on the novel “Repossession Mambo,” this film depicts a bleak future where organ replacements are bought on credit and are repossessed by eager repo men, Forest Whitaker and Jude Law. (Avalon Mall) She’s Out Of My League: In the tradition of every single Judd Apatow film, this sex comedy (from Apatow alumnus Jay Baruchel) asserts what Sinbad was telling us all along: women be different from men. (Avalon Mall) Shutter Island: Tiger Beat poster boy hall of famer Leo DiCaprio plays an edgy detective investigating the disappearance of a mental patient from a mysterious, isolated insane asylum.

Directed by Martin Scorsese. (Avalon Mall) The Bounty Hunter: When a bounty hunter (Gerard Butler) is ordered to rub out his exwife (Jennifer Aniston), he decides to save her instead. Despite this, both still nag and bicker down wacky-plot lane. (Avalon Mall)

I, Repo

What do Repo Man and Repo Men have in common anyway?

Repo Men

Avalon Mall Empire Studio 12

Repo Man

Available on special edition DVD

W

hen the news broke that Alex Cox (writer and director of of the 1984 cult film Repo Man) was considering suing the makers of the recently-released Repo Men, film critic and entertainment lawyer Adam Clarke was consulted for legal council. Clarke has allowed The Scope to reprint his letter to Cox regarding the case.

Dear Mr. Cox, You allege that Universal Studios’ Repo Men has been released to

march 25 - april 8, 2010

cash-in on the continued cult success of your film. It also interferes with plans to release your own cashin sequel, Repo Chick1, a film that looks like Southland Tales, only with blue-screen work on the same level of Tommy Wiseau’s The Room2.

Both films follow unlikeable characters doing an unpleasant jobs, referencing their personal beliefs and “repo codes” along the way, but that’s where the similarities end.

Your film’s plot involves a young punk becoming a car repossessor and happening upon a nuclearpowered Chevy Mustang that may-or-may-not be a time machine.

1 The understandably hard-to-find trailer for Repo Chick has been spotted at tinyurl.com/yb9m64m 2 One of The Room’s many faults was that all exterior shots in the film were not shot on location, but ineptly reproduced on a set with the backgrounds added in later. See here: tinyurl.com/yae3c3x

“We all gotta eat.” — Obi-Wan Kenobi

Ghost in the Machine Polanski’s new political thriller goes international.

The Ghost Writer

Dir. Roman Polanski Mount Pearl Shopping Centre

F

ormer British Prime Minister Adam Lang (Pierce Brosnan) – described early on as less a politician than a political craze—is holed up in an artfully sterile Cape Cod mansion, penning his hotly anticipated memoir. Enter the Ghost Writer (Ewan McGregor, playing an unnamed character), flown in from London to replace the former writer, a long-time aide of Lang’s who drowned in a tragic accident a mere weeks before.

But Lang is a terse, impatient

thescope.ca 14 thescope

A tale of two Repos

subject. Of course, his camp is also weathering an accusation of war crimes: it seems, during his last term, that Lang ordered the illegal kidnapping and torture of four terrorism suspects. For any typical middlebrow thriller, this would be fairly ambitious territory—after all, Lang is a barely veiled portrait of Tony Blair, and the film doesn’t shy from the ambiguous morality of a post-9/11 political landscape. But director Roman Polanski’s usual themes—the terror of the domestic, or the numbing certainty of being watched—are neutered. They’re taken as givens.

From the first, the writer is hesitant to take this job, persuaded only by money and maintaining a

Repo Men’s plot owes more to 2008’s Repo! The Genetic Opera3, but, as a lawyer, I can honestly say that I care about the facts as little as you do.

In the pseudo-futuristic world of Repo Men, expensive artificial organs can be purchased on credit.

Jude Law and Forest Whitaker star as a bromantic pair of hired goons who slaughter those buyers who’ve become delinquent, and bring the artificial bits back to their employer (Liev Schreiber, delivering an admirably dickish performance). Their lives take a predictable turn when Law requires an artificial heart and inevitably falls behind on his payments, pitting him against Whitaker.

The action you should pursue, Mr. Cox, would be to instead file a class action suit against the film with the casts and crews of Blade Runner, Pulp Fiction, Brazil and the aforementioned Opera, all of which are more heavily ripped-off than yours.

Repo Men director Miguel Sapochnick and screenwriters Eric Garcia and Garrett Lerner are so bereft of ideas that they even steal from The Matrix for one of the climactic fight sequences. And who does that anymore?

If I were you, Mr. Cox, I wouldn’t concern myself with Repo Men, and instead be proud that your freeassociation comedy still strikes a chord more than 25 years after it was made. You should cease any further council and treat yourself to a nice plate of shrimp.

Adam Clarke 3 Bladerunner + Rocky Horror! www.repo-opera.com

“professional distance” from his subject. So when the avowedly apolitical writer digs into the mysteries surrounding Lang, it feels somewhat unearned—abrupt, even. But the film’s third act redeems itself, erases much of the confusion and wraps up with satisfyingly macabre flair.

To its credit, the film maintains an ominous happenstance—an abandoned car on a ferry, an unexplained mugging, the childlike cattiness of Lang’s intellectually frustrated wife (Olivia Williams), or the stringent security surrounding the only copy of the manuscript.

The writer senses that something is rotten in the state of Massachusetts.

The careful, moody visuals cut through a dizzy plot and uneven pacing to craft a sense of political intrigue that manages to be both global and strangely esoteric; while it’s hardly his greatest work, it’s easily a distant cousin. Call it Chinatown with more passport checks.

Attending the book’s launch, the ghost writer admits he hasn’t been to many of them. “It’s a bit like having the mistress at the wedding,” he says. Or perhaps, having the filmmaker’s reputation outperform the film.

Let’s all pity the actors making routine publicity stops for The Ghost Writer, for as soon as director Roman Polanski is mentioned, the interview screeches to a self-conscious halt. But leave the scandal at the door: it’s one of the tamer films in his notoriously dark repertoire.

Jillian Butler

onstage

theatre

theatre dance & burlesque spoken & written comedy

Two debuts Until June by Jane Maggs will officially debut in Newfoundland on April 8th, but the actors will be sharing centre stage with the stage itself: the newly renovated LSPU Hall.

by Martin Connelly

A

ccording to Amy House, RCA Artistic Animateur “The entire envelope of the building is redone. The entrance is now glass and the corridor is quite wide, it’s very nice and it’s very inviting. It’s like being in a new building.”

The RCA has been out of the Hall for about two and a half years, and construction has been ongoing for the past year.

The biggest change is the set up.

The RCA converted what used to be the gallery into a downstairs performance space that will seat

Photo by Martin Connelly

60. House says the facility will accommodate developmental works and readings, but will also be used as a crush space when there’s a show on the go upstairs. “It’s also where the bar is,” she adds.

Until June marks the soft opening of the renovated hall, which will continue to softly open until the grand opening on October 6th this year. Between now and then, House says, they’ll work out the kinks associated with the new space, and work out scheduling, box office, and any other issues. There will never be two events running simultaneously, but there’s still a lot to figure out.

This will be the play’s second developmental incarnation—which explains the limited four night1 run. The first was last summer in Toronto at the Summerworks Theatre Festival. This time around, 1 The preview doesn’t count as part of the official run.

playwright and actor Jane Maggs wanted to see how the play, set in Newfoundland, resonated with local audiences.

Until June is a tragic comedy about Lily, a young woman who has idolized her older sister Monica throughout her life. It explores how the people we love can alter our lives with their failings as much as their affection, and features Maggs, Sue Kent, Mark O’Brien, and director Sherry White. It is a coproduction of RCA theater, East of Reason (run by Maggs herself ) and White Rooster.

Until June will run at the LSPU—3 Victoria St—from Wednesday, Apr 7 to Sunday, Apr 11 at 8pm. $25. Pay What you can matinee on Sunday, Apr 11 at 2pm. Call 579-4424 for tickets or info.

Coming To (For the Love of Learning) It tells of Murray, a young man struggling both as artist and alcoholic. After an encounter with a hobo, Murray must face the effects of his actions on his sister and nephew, Basement Theatre-Arts & Culture Centre 729-3900 (Fri Mar 26 at 8pm & Sat Mar 27 at 2:30pm) Smitten & Snails: Two new original one-act plays by winners of “So You Think You Can Write?” $7/$10, Reid Theatre (Sat Mar 27 at 7pm) Until June (RCA, East of Reason & White Rooster) Written by Jane Maggs, directed by Sherry White. Featuring Jane Maggs, Susan Kent and Mark O’Brien. Together they tell the story of Lily, a young woman who has idolized her wildchild older sister throughout her life – often to Lily’s detriment, $25, LSPU Hall-3 Victoria St 579-4424 (Wed Apr 7 - Sun Apr 11 at 8pm; PWYC Sun Apr 11 at 2pm)

Spoken &written Eat Your Words: A Mad Hatter’s Tea Party & Edible Book Contest with readings by Jack Eastwood, Catherine Safer & Andy Jones, $2/$5/ free if you bring an edible book, Eastern Edge Gallery-72 Harbour Dr 739-1882 (Sat Apr 3 from 1pm-4pm) Poetry Reading: Antony Christie will be reading from Of Love and Drowning, AC Hunter Library-Arts & Culture Centre (Thu Apr 8 at 7pm) Spring Tides Reading Series (WANL) Featuring Chad Pelley and Bernice Morgan, free, The Ship (Mon Mar 29 at 7pm) St John’s Storytelling Circle: An open mic of local tales by local tellers w/ resident fabulist Dale Jarvis, $3, Crow’s Nest Officer’s Club (Thu Apr 8 at 7:30pm)

performance &DANCE Latin Tuesdays, 8pm, $5, The Bella Vista Miss Teen NL Pageant: Witness our province’s most accomplished and high achieving young women as they compete for the coveted title, $10/$22/$25, Arts & Culture Centre 7293900 (Sun Mar 28 at 7pm) Tango On The Edge: A social gathering to dance Argentine Tango, $5, RCA Club-10 Bennett Ave (Thursdays at 8:30pm)

comedy David Merry: Stand up comedy, $20+, Yuk Yuk’s-193 Kenmount Rd 726-9857 (Fri Mar 26 & Sat Mar 27 at 9:30pm) Funny Mondays: Yuk Yuk’s comedians plus Matt Esteves, Lisa Baker & James Ball, $5, The Breezeway-MUN (Mon Mar 29 at 8pm) On the Sunny Side: Stand up comedy with host George Price, $2, The Levee-Holdsworth Crt (Sundays 8pm-11pm) Pro/Am Comedy Slam: Amateurs at 8pm & David Merry at 9:30pm, two show $20, Yuk Yuk’s-193 Kenmount Rd 726-9857 (Thu Mar 25) Pro/Am Comedy Slam: Amateurs at 8pm & Roy Daye & Brett Martin at 9:30pm, two show $20, Yuk Yuk’s-193 Kenmount Rd 726-9857 (Thu Apr 1) Pro/Am Comedy Slam: Amateurs at 8pm & Ron Josol & Lori Ferguson at 9:30pm, two show $20, Yuk Yuk’s-193 Kenmount Rd 726-9857 (Thu Apr 8) Roy Daye & Brett Martin: Stand up comedy, $20+, Yuk Yuk’s-193 Kenmount Rd 7269857 (Fri Apr 2 & Sat Apr 3 at 9:30pm) Shawn Walsh’s Mustache: Open mic comedy troupe , no cover, Whalen’s Pub (Thursdays at 8pm)

thescope.c

march 25 - april 8, 2010

thescope 15

100%localcomics

freewillastrology by rob brezsny for the week of march 25

†

comic sans by Andrew Power

ARIES (Mar 21 – Apr 19)

All but one of our planet’s mountain ranges have been mapped: the Gamburtsev Mountains, which are buried under 2.5 miles of ice in Antarctica. Recent efforts to get a read on this craggy landscape, aided by a network of seismic instruments, have revealed some initial details about it, including its role in forming the East Antarctic Ice Sheet. I recommend that you regard the Gamburtsevs as an iconic metaphor in the coming months, Aries. They’ll be an apt symbol for one of your life’s featured themes: the discovery and exploration of a massive unknown territory that has been hidden from view. Happy birthday to Jonathan Kennedy, Meghan O’Dea, Geoff Younghusband, Danielle Devereaux, Mark Bennett and John Gushue.

‡

TAURUS (Apr 20 – May 20)

It’s my opinion that everyone has a duty to periodically check in with themselves to make sure they still are who they say they are. Over time, there’s a tendency for all of us to fall into the habit of believing our own hype. We get entranced by the persona we project. We’re tempted to keep capitalizing on our past accomplishments in ways that lull us into complacency and give us unconscious permission to stop growing. You, Taurus, are in no worse danger of doing this than any of the rest of us. But the coming weeks will be an excellent time, astrologically speaking, for you to do an intensive check-in.

werebears and only children by Jennifer Barrett

everything that’s crazy-making about our culture: brilliantly executed, gorgeous to behold, and perversely seductive, even though its subject matter is degrading, demoralizing, and devoid of meaning. In my role as a kick-ass educator, however, I encourage you to watch the video at least once. I think you’d benefit from seeing such an explicit embodiment of the crazy-making pressures you’ll be wise to avoid exposing yourself to in the coming weeks.

You can find it at tinyurl.com/ycx6p34 or tinyurl. com/ycvkkdz.

≠

SCORPIO (Oct 23 - Nov 21)

“Most of the time, life does not talk to you,” writes Robert T. Kiyosaki in his book Rich Dad, Poor Dad. “It just sort of pushes you around.

GEMINI (May 21 – Jun 20) Each push is life saying, ‘Wake up. There’s someThe odds are higher than usual that you’ll thing I want you to learn.’” Different people reencounter a future soul brother or soul sister in spond in different ways, Kiyosaki says. “Some the coming weeks. Potential allies are just let life push them around. Others gravitating toward you, even if neither get angry and push back. But they they nor you are aware of it yet. push back against their boss, or their You’re also likely to brush up against job, or their husband or wife. They do a tribe or team you could benefit Listen to “Prayer for Us.” not know it’s life that’s pushing.” I’m from knowing more about. That’s It’s here: bit.ly/PrayerforUs. here to tell you, Scorpio, that what Then read the lyrics why I’m counseling you to be extra at bit.ly/OurPrayer. he says is particularly apropos for you open to meeting people you don’t right now. And I hope that you will neiknow. Talk to strangers. Ask your ther allow yourself to get pushed around friends to introduce you to their friends. nor blame the wrong source for the push. InAnd consider the possibility of skipping over the stead, make yourself available to learn the lesson customary social formalities so you can reveal that life’s nudging you to pay attention to. some of the core truths about who you are right

Ω

Home work

≤

from the start.

CANCER (Jun 21 – Jul 22)

Sci-fi author Neil Gaiman sometimes invites his readers to get involved in his creative process. While working on the story “Metamorpho,” for example, he Twittered, “Trying to decide if broccoli is funnier than kohlrabi in a list of vegetables.” When a number of fans suggested “rutabaga” instead, he took their suggestion.

(Thanks to The New Yorker for that report.) I’d like to borrow Gaiman’s approach, as you’re entering a phase of your astrological cycle when you’ll have maximum power to shape your own destiny. So here’s my question: What accomplishment would you like your horoscope to say you will complete

by May 15? Email me at Truthrooster@gmail.com.

Everybody cheer up by Bryan Melanson

™

LEO (Jul 23 – Aug 22)

From the 9th to the 15th century, the Khmer empire thrived in what is now Cambodia. Its rulers were regarded as deities who had privileges that common folk didn’t have -- as well as special responsibilities. For example, each god-king was expected, according to custom, to engage in sexual relations with a sacred nine-headed serpent every single night, whether he was in the mood or not.

(An actual human being usually served as a proxy for the magic snake.) I suspect you may get an inkling of the god-king’s double-edged situation in the coming week, Leo. On the one hand, you’re likely to be presented with the possibility of experiencing uncommonly interesting pleasure. On the other hand, there may be an obligatory quality to it -- a slightly oppressive pressure that is fully blended with the bliss.

Ms. Quote by T.L. Fleming

‘

VIRGO (Aug 23 – Sep 22)

According to the oracular priestess at the ancient Greek shrine of Delphi, whom I consulted in my dream last night, your code phrases for the week are “luminous shadow” and “hidden light.”

That was the gist of her entire message; she didn’t provide any more practical clues. But here are some ways I might interpret her prophecy if I were you: What dark place in your life might soon shine forth with a new radiance? Or: What secret beauty is aching to be found? Or: What odd asset have you been concealing for no good reason?

µ

LIBRA (Sep 23 – Oct 22)

In my role as moral sentinel, I strongly urge you not to watch “Telephone,” the music video by Lady Gaga and Beyoncé. It epitomizes

second opinion

Horoscopes 16 thescope

n

n Aries

z Taurus

h Gemini

f Cancer

 Leo

x Virgo

|

(February 19 – March 20)

(March 21 – April 19)

(April 20 – May 20)

(May 21 – June 21)

(June 22 – July 22)

(July 23 – August 22)

(August 23 – September 22)

(September 23 – October 22)

The duck stole my badge

We like Roy

Don’t whack the snakes

Yes, Mr Sherman.

Everything stinks

(October 23 November 21)

Mmm...beer

It was, Marge.

Admit it.

Nobody ever says Italy

p Pisces

march 25 - april 8, 2010

Be like boy!

Java > UNIX

Libra

Scorpio

∑

SAGITTARIUS (Nov 22 – Dec 21)

‹

CAPRICORN (Dec 22 – Jan 19)

π

AQUARIUS (Jan 20 – Feb 18)

∫

PISCES (Feb 19 – Mar 20)

NASA scientist Richard Gross believes that the recent 8.8 earthquake in Chile was so strong that it shifted the planet’s axis and shortened the length of the day. The amounts were relatively small -- three inches and 1.26 microseconds -- but it was enough to make “the Earth ring like a bell.” I predict a somewhat comparable seismic shift for you in the coming weeks. The main difference is that yours will not be generated by a painful jolt but rather by a breakthrough that’s half smart and half lucky.

In a library in Warsaw, there is a 1,000+page memoir written by my great-great-greatgreat grandfather, Leon Dembowski, a close advisor to the last king of Poland. Someday I’ll make a pilgrimage over there, photocopy that family heirloom, bring it back to America, and have it translated into English. The task I envision for you in the coming weeks, Capricorn, has a certain resemblance to mine. I think you will have the chance to uncover a wealth of material about where you came from, but it’ll take a lot of footwork and reinterpretation.

There’s no need for you to get a t-shirt that says, “Oh no, not another learning experience.” According to my analysis of the astrological omens, you are not about to have an embarrassing stumble that could in retrospect be euphemistically referred to as a “learning experience.” On the contrary, the educational events you’ll be communing with will be pretty pleasurable, and will more closely resemble a hop, skip, and a jump than a stumble.

I’m inclined to prophesy that in the days to come, you may be able to read the minds of people whose actions are critical to your success.

I also suspect that you will know exactly what to do in order to banish a minor health problem. I’m even tempted to believe that when you gaze into the mirror you will be more intrigued than you’ve been in a while. Have you ever heard a bird sing a song just for you? Did you ever find a small treasure you assumed was lost forever? Developments like those are in the works. There’s only one catch: To get the most out of this grace period, you will have to summon more faith in yourself than you usually do.

j Sagittarius (November 22 – Dec 21)

Thrillho

L Capricorn

J Aquarius

(December 22 – January 19)

(January 20 – February 18)

Your dog, it is cat now!

Choo-choo-choos

Events

community events lectures & forums daytime music kids & teens meetings & classes

MEETINGS &CLASSES

ielle Hann, O’Reilly’s Irish Pub (Sundays at 3pm) free classes clubs groups

Check out the 14th annual climbing competition at Wallnuts on March 28. Photo: Julia Pohling (climber) and Alexandra Fedotova (spotter)

Community 14th Rockfall Climbing Competition: Dramatic falls, local DJs, food, and jaw dropping climbing action by The Newfoundland Junior Climbing Team, Wallnuts Climbing Centre (Sun Mar 28 at 7pm) Heaven = Art + Beer 3: Silent art auction of small works, Irish stew and beer, Eastern Edge Gallery-72 Harbour Dr 739-1882 (Wed Mar 31 at 7pm) SPCA Giant Flea Market, Doors open 10am, Admission $1, St Mary’s Church Auditorium 726-0301 (Sat Mar 27)

lectures &forums Canadian Bioethics Society: Responsibility for Health Promotion in an Era of Social Connection & Global Threats Noon with Dr. Susan Sherwin (Dal Uni), MUN Health Sciences Centre-Lecture Theatre A (Fri Mar 26 at 1pm) EJ Pratt Lecture: Don McKay, award winning poet, essayist, editor and educator, will deliver a lecture titled: The Speaker’s Chair: Field notes on betweenity, free, Inco Innovation CentreParking in lots 15 & 18 (Sat Mar 27 at 8pm) Newfoundland Historical Society: The Grandchildren of Fogo: The Ripples of the Fogo Island Films of 1968 with Susan Newhook, free, Hampton Hall,Marine Institute-155 Ridge Rd (Thu Mar 25 at 8pm) Philosophy Winter Colloquium: Imagination & The Word in Medieval Thinking with Peter Harris, MUN Science-2098 (Tue Mar 30 at 2pm) Promise of Community & Practice of Gardening: Considering community as it was discussed by people affiliated with a community garden located in a social housing development in central St John’s with Laura Nelson-Hamilton, MUN Sally Davis Seminar Rm (Fri Mar 26 at 2pm) St John’s Public Lecture Series: Is International Law Really Law?, free, The Ship Pub (Tue Mar 30 at 8:30pm) Words In Edgewise (MUN Philosophy & Eastern Edge) A speaker’s series featuring wide-ranging topics from art to philosophy, paywhat-you-can, Eastern Edge Gallery-72 Harbour Dr 739-1882 (Thu Apr 8 at 7pm)

MUN Festival Choir (MUN Music) A retrospective featuring choral favourites by composers including Monteverdi, Bach, Schubert, Healey Willan, Britten & Poulenc, DF Cook Recital Hall (Sun Mar 28 at 3pm) Performance Recital: Katie Noseworthy presents third year clarinet, free, Petro-Canada Hall (Fri Mar 26 at 5:30pm) Performance Recital: Emily Stockley presents graduating recital in voice, free, DF Cook Recital Hall (Sat Mar 27 at 2pm) RPM Challenge Listening Party: Celebrating 86 local albums created this February, free, Folly-Bates Hill (Sat Mar 27 from 1pm-3pm) The Great Casavant Organ: David Drinkell plays varied programs of sacred and secular works, free, Anglican Cathedral (Wednesdays at 1:15pm)

KIDS &TEENS Going Green: Did you know that frogs can tell us if the stream is clean? Learn how we can help our froggy friends by going Green ourselves. Game, story-time, arts & crafts, The Fluvarium-5 Nagle’s Pl 754-3474 (Sat Mar 27 & Sun Mar 28 at 1:30pm) Spring Showers: Interactive children’s program all about the water cycle & the importance of clean water for healthy ecosystems.

Include games, storytime, guided tour, arts & crafts, The Fluvarium-5 Nagle’s Pl 754-3474 (Sat Apr 3 & Sun Apr 4 at 1:30pm) Young Musicians, Open mic at Shamrock City Pub (Sundays at 2pm) Young Performers: Open mic with Denielle Hann, O’Reilly’s Irish Pub (Sundays at 3pm)

Avalon Wesleyan Church: Weekly meet up in a casual atmosphere with coffee & contemporary music, free, Rabbittown Theatre-106 Freshwater Rd 576-6937 (Sundays at 10am) Breakfast with the Easter Bunny, $3/$7, Topsail United Church Men’s Club (Sat Mar 27 from 8am-11am) Capital Toastmasters: Improve selfconfidence and overall leadership abilities for career and life, free, MUN Inco Centre-2014 687-1031 Caregiver Conversations: A Support Group for Unpaid Caregivers, Seniors Resource Centre-Torbay Rd 726-2370 (Every third Monday) Comic Artist Breakdown: Drop in comicmaking welcoming individuals with all levels of cartooning experience, young and old, free, Anna Templeton Centre-278 Duckworth St 7397623(Fri Apr 2 from 7pm-9pm) For the Love of Learning: Free workshops in art, writing, theatre, journalism, yoga and Aikido for anyone aged 15-35, Gower St United Church-basement 722-8848 (Weekdays from 12pm-6pm) Fish & Brewis Breakfast, $5/$10, First United Church-Mt Pearl (Fri Apr 2 from 8am11am) Free Hot Lunch: Mondays and Fridays feature a vegetarian meal. Tuesdays and Thursdays offer soup and fresh bread. Young adults aged 15-35 can come to Gower St United Church basement-99 Queen’s Rd (2pm) Good Friday Luncheon, $5/$10, Topsail United Church 782-0388 (Fri Apr 2 at 11:30am) Good Friday Service (Avalon Wesleyan Church) Join us for a service of music, readings and reflection, Rabbittown Theatre-106 Freshwater Rd (Fri Apr 2 at 11am) Green Drinks: An informal get together for those who work, volunteer or have an interest in environment & conservation related issues, 7pm-9pm, no cover, The Ship (Last Wednesday of month) Hearing Loss 101 Webinar: Effective Communication lunch & learn. Captioning will be provided, free, 1-888-753-3224 (Wed Mar 31 at 12pm) Herder Memorial Championship, Mile One Centre 576-7657 (Fri Apr 2 - Sun Apr 4) Knit Wits: Drop in knitting social with help to get you started, free, Anna Templeton Centre-278 Duckworth St (Last Sunday of month from 7pm-9pm) Le Café Français: Qui se réunit toutes les semaines est un lieu où francophones et amoureux du français peuvent se rencontrer et faire un brin de causette, Atlantic Place-entre Starbucks et Cora’s (le dimanche à 15h) Nar-Anon Family Group: For those who know or have known a feeling of desperation due to the addiction problem of someone close to them. Weekly meetings in St John’s area. For

more info call 726-6191 NL Horticulture Society: Where gardeners meet and grow together, St David’s Church Hall-Elizabeth Ave (Tue Apr 6 at 8pm) Overeaters Anonymous: Help is available and it’s free, no strings attached. Weekly meetings in St John’s area. You are welcome, just as you are. For information call 738-1742 Seniors Bridging Cultures: Tea, guest speakers & conversation, Seniors Resource Centre 737-2333 (Thursdays at 2pm) Seniors Friendship Club, Seniors Resource Centre 737-2333 (Fridays at 2pm) Shambhala Meditation Group: Meditation helps us appreciate ourselves, others, and our world, free, Billy Rahl Fieldhouse-rear Elizabeth Towers 576-4727 (Wednesdays 7:30pm & Sundays 10am) St John’s City Council Meeting: Refer to Council Agenda at www.stjohns.ca (posted Friday afternoon), Public welcome, City HallCouncil Chambers, 4th fl (Mondays at 4:30pm) Super Trivia Night, Bitter’s Pub (Thursdays from 8pm-11pm)

The Pottle Centre: A social & recreation centre for consumers of mental health services.

New members welcome, 323 Hamilton Ave 753-2143 The Rooms: Free admission, 9 Bonaventure Ave 757-8000 (Wednesdays 6pm-9pm) Tire Patching Workshop (Ordinary Spokes) Come learn the most basic and necessary maintenance skill for bikers, by donation, Psychotic Bikes-LeMarchant Rd (Mon Mar 29 at 6pm) Trivia Night, Rose & Thistle (Tuesdays) Walk on Water: Get fit, meet people & learn the history of downtown, everyone welcome, free, Auntie Crae’s (Saturdays at 10am, rain or shine) Women’s Accordion Circle: An informal environment for women of all ages to perform, experiment & share stories about making music, Arts & Culture Centre-2nd Fl, Old Gallery 7462399 (Mondays at 7:30pm)

Send your community listings to

listings@thescope.ca

Daytime Music Auntie Crae’s Band, free-no purchase necessary, Auntie Crae’s (Tuesdays at 12pm) Choral Evensong, free-will offering, Anglican Cathedral (Sundays at 6:30pm)

march 25 - april 8, 2010

thescope 17

savagelove by dan savage

thescope

classifieds To see more ads, visit thescope.ca/classifieds jobs

housing

Call for summer theatre workers! The World’s End Theatre Company is

Beautiful master bedroom in 55th Dimension, heart of downtown! I’ll be working in Grand Bank mid or early May until September, so we’re on the hunt for a subletter! Fully furnished, 55 Long’s Hill, Rent price is negotiable! Reply online at thescope.ca/ classifieds/

seeking 2 stage managers and 1 designer/ technician for its summer season in Fogo Island-Change Islands, NL. 8 weeks’ paid work at industry standards. Designers make a flat fee. All fees negotiable. Send resumes to info@worldsendtheatre.org to schedule an interview.

musicians

Bulletin Board

Bassist looking to jam New in town, looking to jam and maybe start a band. Influences include: King Crimson, Gentle Giant, Frank Zappa, Mr. Bungle, Primus, prog-rock, funk, oddball music. If interested please reply online at thescope.ca/classifieds/

Body Art Interested in body art painting and would like to form a small group. Please email me if interested. Reply online at thescope.ca/classifieds/

Association of New Canadians Are you interested in meeting people from different cultures? We are looking for volunteers to provide social and/or language support to newcomers. Interested? Please call 722-9680.

classes Reiki Level 1 Workshop $195 By becoming attuned to Reiki I energy, you can give yourself treatments, as well as give family members and friends treatments. Date: Saturday, April 24 10 am to 5 pm For more information, please see www.yoga-om.ca

Wanted: Keyboard player Local psychedelic rock band on the hunt for a new keyboard player. We have an established fan base and high profile shows at select venues and events. Reply online at thescope.ca/ classifieds/

To place an ad, visit thescope.ca/classifieds

Adopt Me...

SPCA St. John’s - 726-0301 - www.spcastjohns.org Shelter location: R.C.A.F. Road off Torbay Rd. Hours: Mon-Fri 9am-4pm / Sat & Sun 2:30pm-4:30pm / holidays 2pm-4pm.

Proud Mom Willow and her four newborns are desperately seeking a new home. We would love for her to find a forever home where she could keep her babies until they were weaned and ready for adoption.

This fantastic feline is just seven months old surr endered by owner whose living situation didn’t allow her to keep him. He is used to older kids and would love to find a new home.

j.j.

willow

18 thescope

march 25 - april 8, 2010

S

P

C

St. John’s

A

Lady Dunfield Memorial Shelter Miley is a very gentle female Beagle who was surrendered by her owner. She is house trained; has always lived indoors and is less than three years old. Sadly her owner didn’t spay her and as a result is pregnant.

miley

SEX AND LOVE AND SEX AND LOVE I’m a 23-year-old bi dude seeing a guy who is intelligent, sweet, attractive—the works.

We’ve been together for six weeks. The problem is, after our first night together, I lost sexual interest in him. When I do get horny—which is rare at the moment due to work pressures—I prefer to beat off alone, because I can fantasize about some sort of transgression or other when I do it, e.g., having sex where I’m at risk of being discovered, rape fantasies, incest scenarios.

Obviously, at some point I began associating “sexy” with “dangerous” and maybe “wrong.”

I want a serious relationship, but I’m tired of pretending and failing in bed because I’m just not into the sex. And, damnit, he’s cute and I should be able to get it up! What do I need to do?

Two Guys, One Erection Here’s an idea, TGOE: risk having the sex that turns you on—sexy, dangerous, and wrong—with this guy who turns you Dan Savage mail@savagelove.net on. Fuck him in public, fuck him where you might be discovered, fuck him by simulated force. And whether you’re fucking at home or in public, TGOE, you’re free to fantasize that your no-relation boyfriend is your brother/nephew/uncle—or sister/niece/ aunt—if that’s what it takes to get you off.

(Whether it would be wise to tell him that you’re entertaining incest fantasies while you’re fucking him is another matter.)

And when you’re not having dangerous and/or wrong sex, TGOE, you can talk—talk dirty—about all the dangerous and/or wrong sex you’ve had with him already and plan to have with him in the future. Even if you’re fucking around under the covers at home with the door shut and the lights off, TGOE, you can tell him about how next time you’re going to fuck him so hard in a public place that the police are going to come running when they hear him scream because you’re both so dangerous and wrong and blah blah dirty talk blah.

But you’ll never get to a “two guys, two erections” place, TGOE, if you don’t risk sharing your real sexual fantasies and interests with this guy. Given a choice between hot sex with his boyfriend—which requires incorporating the boyfriend’s kinks—or boring sex that leaves you feeling unsatisfied and him feeling rejected, and eventually leads to the demise of this

relationship, your boyfriend is likelier to choose hot sex.

•••• The basics of my life: I’m male, straight, in my mid-20s; I have a twin sister and have been with my girlfriend for three years. I want to break up with my girlfriend for a variety of reasons. I have begun the “it’s not working for me anymore” conversation four times. But each time I do, she brings up different sexual fantasies I have confided in her during our relationship. I believe the implication is that if I break up with her, she’ll tell people about my fantasies—one in particular.

AND THAT CANNOT HAPPEN UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES!!!

The fantasy I am most worried about her revealing is incestuous in nature. When I was about 15, I—on occasion—used mental images of my sister to get off. I never had any romantic or sexual feelings toward her in real life—I was never attracted to her when she was physically present—and once I started sleeping with real girls, my fantasies about my sister ceased. One time, my girlfriend and I got stoned and discussed our most outrageous sexual fantasies; our relationship was different then, more trusting, and I told her about this stuff. I want out of the relationship, but I am terrified of what would happen if she told people, especially my sister.

How can I exit this relationship, and how can I contain the damage if she decides to tell people my secret? And is it fucked up that I used to masturbate to thoughts about my twin?

Freaking Fucked Or Fucking Freak?

I wish my boyfriend were as easy to manipulate as you seem to be—Jesus, the shit I could get away with.

Anyway, dumbfuck, unless you put your most outrageous sexual fantasies in writing—and hopefully you didn’t—you’re not the one in real danger here. Your soon-tobe ex-girlfriend is. Here’s what you do: Spend a week in front of a mirror perfecting a look of stunned incredulity, and then go break things off with your girlfriend. Make sure the actual split is big and messy and public. If she attempts to retaliate by telling people about your no-longer-operative sexual fantasies, FFOFF, you slap that looked of stunned incredulity on your face and say, “I knew we had a bad breakup, but, my God, what kind of sick piece of shit makes up something like

that?”

Then just for the hell of it, FFOFF, confide in one or two friends that you’re not surprised your ex went there—that she tried to drag your sister into this—because she was always pressuring you about having a three-way with your sister, and that was one of the reasons you dumped her.

And yeah, FFOFF, masturbating to thoughts of a sibling is a little fucked-up.

But it’s not uncommon for teenagers to fantasize—and, in some disturbing instances, to actualize—about their siblings. Sex can seem scary and new, while our siblings seem safe and familiar. For most people, those early and inappropriate fantasies quickly subside, as they did for you, and most people have the good sense to stuff ’em down the memory hole.

•••• My boyfriend and I have been together for six months. He’s 23 and I’m 22. He’s a virgin and I’m not. I’ve been very slow and patient about sex, and he’s responded really well. I’m GGG, and he’s gotten really good about taking initiative and suggesting things. We’ve done all the basic sex-without-actual-intercourse things—outercourse, fingering, oral—and we’re both very satisfied with our “not sex” life. Lately, the subject of anal intercourse has come up. I’ve never done it, but I am turned on by the idea, and he’s definitely up for it.

What’s the problem then? The idea of our first real sex being anal bothers me. He pleases me, and his reasons for not having vaginal sex when we do so much else are at least somewhat logical (we’re both paranoid about pregnancy, even though I’m on birth control and we’d use condoms). But I worry that by having anal sex, I’ll delay the sex that I really want! Plus, I worry that by having exclusively anal sex now, he won’t be as turned on by the regular kind later.

Stick It In Me Already If he’s not up for vaginal intercourse for religious and/or ridiculous reasons, SIIMA, that’s his call. If you’re not up for anal sex for whatever reason, that’s your call. He should support your decision, SIIMA, just as you’ve supported his.

And for the record: Neither of you are virgins. You have a little virgin territory left to explore—your vagina, your butt, his butt—but you’re both sexually active nonvirgins, and have been for months.

ondisplay galleries museums

galleries Opening Guests of the Gallery: Seven diverse artists working in painting, sculpture, encaustic, and sound, Leyton Gallery-Clift’s-Baird’s Cove 722-7177 (Opening reception on Sat Apr 3 from 3pm-5pm) Spring In The Air: New work by most of the gallery artists with a light and airy spring theme, Red Ochre Gallery-96 Duckworth St 726-6422 (Opens Thu Apr 1)

ONGOING Changing Tides: An exhibition of artwork by young Newfoundland artists, curated by Stephanie Williams, First Space Gallery-QEII Library Gallery Exhibit: Featuring a rotation of our regular collection, Leyton Gallery-Clift’s-Baird’s Cove 722-7177 Knitting Machine: The immateriality of a craftperson’s process is illuminated when a knitter’s finger movements are mimicked by the kinetic dance of found objects by Quebec artist Janice Yan Yan Wu, Eastern Edge Gallery-72 Harbour Dr 739-1882 New Works: By Gerald Squires, Esther Squires, George Horan, Julia Pickard, Sharon Puddester, Gerald Squires Gallery-52 Prescott St 722-2207 Pots & Potpourri: An exhibition featuring works from splendid planters to tiny, fanciful creatures the ceramics of Toby Rabinowitz inhabit their own creative universe, Craft Council-59 Duckworth St 753-2749 Teacups & Mink: Two sisters use art and poetry to tell the stories of their Russian immigrant family and their journey to life and success in Canada. Scuplure, painitng prints, text, short film, and handmade book with text by

Leanne Averbach and visuals by Bonnie Leyton, Craft Council-59 Duckworth St 753-2749 Top 30: Julie Lequin (Que) has assembled a 3 channel video installation. Women sing a song - one for each of her thirty years. One hears highlights/downfalls from the year the song was discovered by the narrator. The middle channel depicts audio technology according to the ‘fashion’ of the time, Eastern Edge Gallery-72 Harbour Dr 739-1882 Unrequited Death: Helen Gregory: Death, decay, beauty, and sensuality; the artist investigates the act of collecting by focusing on organic forms such as skulls, bones, desiccated birds and dead flowers. Curated by Lisa Moore, The Rooms-9 Bonaventure Ave 757-8000

LAST CHANCE Escape: Mixed media works that reflect Béla Simó’s ever changing and evolving process in relief techniques, texture and colour, The Rogue Gallery-72 Harbour Dr 739-1882 (Ends Mar 26) Forest: David Kaarrsemaker’s body of work looks in or out of forests on the edges of development. Trees are used symbolically through dreams and myths as well as for their imposing physical presence, Red Ochre Gallery-96 Duckworth St 726-6422 (Ends Mar 27) Newfound Exhibition: Expression of art through different mediums by Peter Lewis, Michael Greene, Michael Kilburn, Lyndon Keating & JJ Allwood, Peter Lewis Gallery-5 Church Hill 722-6009 (Ends Mar 28) Smear Tactics: An Exhibition of Contemporary Art examining social perceptions of lipstick.

Exhibiting artists include Candace Fulford, Craig Francis Power, Bill Rose, Peggy Tremblett, A1C Gallery-8 Clift’s-Baird’s Cove 237-0427 (End Apr 3)

Last chance to see Smear Tactics at the Eastern Edge (on until April 3)—an exhibition of contemporary art examining social perceptions of lipstick.

Including work by Candace Fulford, Craig Francis Power, Bill Rose, and Peggy Tremblett. Image: Bill Rose

museums A Tour de Fort: Interpretive panels tell the story of Fort Townsend, the 18th century symbol of England’s domination over the fishery, The Rooms-9 Bonaventure Ave 757-8000 Admiralty House Museum: 1915 navy wireless station now communications museum, 23 Old Placentia Rd-Mt Pearl 748-1124 Archival Mysteries: Where Is It? Featuring unidentified photos from the archives which remain a mystery in terms of their geographical location within NL, The Rooms-9 Bonaventure Ave 757-8000 Collecting Birds: A Beak Behind the Scenes: Use bird specimens to learn lots of fascinating facts about the diversity of our feathered friends, The Rooms-9 Bonaventure Ave 757-8000 Connections: This Place and Its Early Peoples: Polar bears on tundra, carnivorous plants in a bog, seabirds, sea mammals, sea life plus the people who made their lives here, The Rooms-9 Bonaventure Ave 757-8000 Discovering Bartlett: An Archival Exploration: Marking the 100th anniversary of the 1909 expedition to the North Pole, this exhibition of archival records relates to the life and career of Captain Bartlett, The Rooms-9 Bonaventure Ave 757-8000

Encountering Grenfell: A Life and Legacy: Providing medical care, education & skills in craft, agriculture & animal husbandry Wilfred Grenfell sought to improve conditions in NF, The Rooms-9 Bonaventure Ave 757-8000 [here]say: 26 signs on light poles, each featuring an audio story about that particular spot. Stand on the sidewalk, use your cellphone to dial the number on the sign, and hear the voices, Water St Incredible Insects: Come face to face with bugs in live insect exhibit, Johnson Geo Centre-175 Signal Hill Rd 737-7880 Johnson Geo Centre & Park: See Signal Hill’s 550 million year old geology & specimens of NF rocks, minerals & botanical park, 175 Signal Hill Rd 737-7880 Railway Coastal Museum: St. John’s Dockyard exhibit of model ship hulls, shipbuilding, dockyard history plus the story of Newfoundland’s railway boat service & 1940’s train diorama, 495 Water St W 724-5929 Signal Hill National Historic Site: Military & communications history, meet Signalman, watch film, interactive exhibits, Visitor Centre 772-5367 The Fluvarium: A panoramic water view under the surface of Nagle’s Hill Brook. Spot fish, insects & plants in natural habitat plus interactive exhibits, 5 Nagle’s Place 754-3474

visit thescope.ca/contests to enter for your chance to win. brought to you by

thescope

march 25 - april 8, 2010

thescope 19