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Apr 5–12, 2012 • Pass it on
Verb
STC Ups Fares
Company Charges More To Stay Competitive P2
Whitehorse
Indie Duo Talks Marriage, Music P12
American Reunion
Raunchy Comedy Reinvigorates Franchise P15
Super Treehouse
John K. Samson
World’s Biggest Boasts Basketball Court P7
Canadian Rocker Strikes Out On Solo Tour P11 Photo: courtesy Jason of Halstead
Section Local Page 2
Apr 5–12, ‘12 VerbNews.com
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STC Ups Fares, Aims To Stay Competitive
Company Charges More For Tickets, Still Below Western Canadian Average Alex J macPherson
Grice, STC CEO, said in a news release. Saskatoon, SK — The Sas“STC fares are affordable and katchewan Transportation Com- comparable to average rates in pany has raised its average fare Western Canada, and we believe to keep pace with its competi- that people who try our service tors. once are very likely to become reSaskatchewan Transportation peat riders due to the enjoyment Company (STC) — a provincial of their travel experience.” crown corporaDeanna Bergtion — increased “[W]e believe that people busch, STC exits ticket prices by who try our service once ecutive director an average of 4.76 are very likely to become of planning and percent, or $1.45 communication, for a 117-mile one- repeat riders…” attributes the in-Shawn Grice crease to fluctuaway trip. Bus companies across North tions in the market, competition America use miles as a standard and increased costs. measure of distance; 117 miles is “We want to keep pace with the 188.3 kilometres. The average fare western Canadian average [price], over that distance now comes in but we want to be below it,” she around $31.85. explains. “The increase reflects the need “We don’t want to be the highfor STC to recoup some of its in- est [cost] provider in the market.” creased costs and at the same time Bergbusch says STC was operdeliver on the company’s mandate ating at three percent below the to serve Saskatchewan,” Shawn Western Canadian average price
Photo: courtesy of trekphiler
in late 2010 and early 2011. Earlier this year Greyhound, the company’s closest competitor, raised its prices, driving STC’s prices further below the average. “[O]n our balanced scorecard we have a target to stay within one to four percent below the western Canadian average,” she states. “With this increase we put ourselves still within three percent.” STC last adjusted its prices in March 2010. The company also made changes in July 2008. But a two-year increase cycle is not a rule, according to Bergbusch. Any jumps in ticket price,
which must be approved by the Highway Traffic Board, are based on the market, competitors’ prices and inflation. Under the new metric, a oneway trip between Saskatoon and Regina costs $42.25 for adults; the same trip runs $38.05 for students and $21.15 for children under 11. Bergbusch doesn’t think the increase will affect ridership, which she points out increased 7.4 percent between 2010 and 2011. Every age group uses the service, she explains, with riders between 40 and 59 forming the largest segment at 25 percent. People between 18
and 25 comprise 21.7 percent of the company’s ridership. Bergbusch believes that the biggest draw are the amenities. STC offers WiFi in about 75 percent of its coaches; by 2012, every STC bus will have wireless internet. “It’s the convenience,” she says. “If you’re a person traveling between Saskatoon and Regina and choose to take the bus, you can get some of your work done [or] you can entertain yourself, versus if you’re tired and trying to concentrate.” “From a safety, convenience, worry-free travel [perspective], it’s a very attractive option to a lot of customers,” she adds. Victoria Martinez, who studies physics at the University of Saskatchewan and frequently travels between Saskatoon and her home in Lloydminster, would prefer to take the bus but is frustrated by the price of tickets. “It costs me about $80 to get to Lloydminster and back [on the bus],” she says. “If I drive instead, it takes about half a tank of gas to go there and back, which is maybe $40, total. It’s really frustrating to pay that much more for a much less comfortable ride.” “If the prices go up, my hands are still tied. If I have to go home, and there’s no other way to get there, then the bus it is,” she continues. “It’s too bad, because theoretically I’d love to take the bus more often.” Feedback? Text it to 306-881-8372.
Section
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Local
Page 4
Apr 5–12, ‘12 VerbNews.com
Parking Ticket Charges Set To Double Minimum Fines To Hit $20, A Move Council Hopes Will Increase Turnover Alex J macPherson
enforcement. The current penalty — $50 disSaskatoon, SK — The mini- counted to $10 if paid within 14 mum fine for an expired park- days — is cheaper than paying for ing meter is set to double this eight hours of metered parking at summer, a move aimed at dis- $2 per hour. The change will be couraging people from gambling implemented June 1st if approved on the chance of by council. getting a ticket. “Right now, it’s cheaper “Right now, City council’s for people to abuse the it’s cheaper for executive com- system…” people to abuse mittee, comprised the system than -Mairin Loewen it is for people to of the mayor and all ten councillors, voted to hike the use the system properly, and we minimum fine from $10 to $20 after want to correct that issue,” says city hearing that some citizens refuse councillor Mairin Loewen. to pay for parking, opting instead “Basically, this recommendation to take their chances with parking came to us because it became clear
to the administration that people were taking advantage of our relatively low early payment option, and that was causing a lack of turnover,” she continues. “[P]eople had deduced that it was actually cheaper to let your car sit in a stall for an entire day and get a ticket than it was to pay at the meter,” Loewen says. “That was causing some stagnation.” A report submitted to the executive committee illustrates the disparity between fines in Saskatoon and other Western Canadian cities. The penalty in Winnipeg is $70, $35 if paid within 15 days. Regina has a flat rate of $45. The stiffest fine is in Calgary, where an expired meter costs $90, chopped to $55 if paid within 10 days. The only city comparable to Saskatoon is Victoria, where the fine is $40, or $20 if paid within two weeks. The report states that the current $50 penalty is appropriate, and indicates that raising the discounted fine from $10 to $20 “would provide a deterrent, while still providing an incentive to pay the penalty early.” Councillor Pat Lorje agrees. “I was actually surprised at the number of emails I got. I received several from people who said they don’t bother plugging the meters; they just take their chances on a $10 ticket because it’s cheaper. One man in particular told me that he parked downtown last summer …
Photo: courtesy of Sheila Steele
for the grand total of two $10 parking tickets.” Lorje and Loewen agree that minimum fees, if applied fairly, will encourage turnover without deterring people from visiting downtown. Both councillors expressed their hope that a higher minimum will reduce the total number of tickets issued — a figure that has been rising steadily since 2010. “Changing parking fees is never a popular move, but we think this is an appropriate balance in terms of ensuring turnover,” says Loewen, who describes the increase as “pretty reasonable.”
According to the report, the change would not affect the budget. “This isn’t a cash grab, this isn’t designed to get more money for the city,” she says. “In fact, we think this will be revenue neutral. This is designed to encourage people to use meters properly, and to encourage turnover so that businesses don’t suffer from the side effects of our parking rules.” On June 1st, Lorje says, “scofflaws and parking meter delinquents” will have to start plugging the meter to avoid a more onerous fine. Feedback? Text it to 306-881-8372.
Global
Page 5
Apr 5–12, ‘12 VerbNews.com
Looking On Past With Bitterness Bad For Health Adam Hawboldt
Granada, Spain — The British rockers Oasis may have had it right all along with their song “Don’t Look Back In Anger.” Researchers at the University of Granada in Spain found that
Dog (Work) Days
Pooches At Jobs Ease Stress Adam Hawboldt
Richmond, VA — Not only are dogs loyal, steadfast companions, but apparently they’re also pretty darn good at reducing your stress levels, too— especially if you take them to work. In a study conducted at Virginia Commonwealth University, researchers found that taking your dog to your place of employment can decrease your stress level while increasing levels of job satisfaction in your co-workers. “Dogs in the workplace can make a positive difference,” says head researcher Randolph T. Barker.
“The differences in perceived stress between days the dog was present and absent were significant.” This first-of-its-kind finding studied 75 employees at a dog-friendly manufacturing company in Greensboro, North Carolina. Researchers compared individuals who took pets to work, who had pets but left them at home, and who did not have any pets. Using surveys and saliva samples to determine stress levels, researchers determined that, during the course of a work day, dogs lifted morale and lessened stress. Feedback? Text it to 306-881-8372.
Global At A Glance leaping robot — The American mili-
tary has, in conjunction with engineering company Boston Dynamics, developed a five-kilogram robot that — like a big honking metal flea — can leap
great heights. The robot rolls around on four wheels, but when confronted with a vertical obstacle can spring up to 30 feet in the air. Feedback? Text it to 306-881-8372.
looking on your past with bitterness or regret is bad for your health. “We have observed that when people are negative about past events … they also have a pessimist or fatalistic attitude towards current events,” says coauthor Cristián Oyanadel. “[T]hese people present
worse quality of life indicators.” Researchers analyzed 25 men and 25 women between the ages of 20 and 70, asking them about their past and future, as well as their physical health and quality of life in general. Feedback? Text it to 306-881-8372.
Global
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Apr 5–12, ‘12 VerbNews.com
Global At A Glance
health tattoos — Scientists have
developed a skin patch that can monitor your heart and brain functions, as well as stimulate your muscles for rehabilitation purposes. It also has wireless capabilities, which could be used to transmit data to the subject’s cellphone
and then on to his or her doctor. The patch is made of a mega-thin layer of electronics that gets applied directly to the skin; these devices are put on much like a press-on tattoo, and once in place can’t be felt by the wearer. Feedback? Text it to 306-881-8372.
Junk Food Gives You The Blues Adam Hawboldt
“Even eating small quantities is linked to a significantly higher granada, spain — Fast food chance of developing depression,” can give you the blues, new re- lead researcher Dr. Almudena Sánsearch has found. chez-Villegas said in a statement. Scientists at the universities of However, other researchers Las Palmas and suggest that eatGranada in Spain “Even eating small ing junk may not found that people quantities is linked to … cause the probwho frequently depression” lem, but be a ate food like hamsymptom of one. -Dr. Almudena Sánchez-Villegas burgers, hot dogs “We use the and pizza were 51 percent likelier term ‘comfort food’ for a reason,” to develop depression than their Dr. David Katz, director of Yale healthier eating peers. University’s Prevention Research They were also more likely to be Center, tells ABC News. less active and smoke cigarettes. Feedback? Text it to 306-881-8372.
Facebook’s Heavy Issues Social Media Triggers Desire To Be Thinner Adam Hawboldt
And while more women than men admitted they want to lose baltimore, md — Does Face- a few pounds (to the tune of 75 book make you feel fat? percent compared to 58 percent), If so, you’re not alone. men were more vocal in posting And we’re not talking about negative comments about their the extra pounds you may (or may own bodies. not) put on while your posterior is “People are now constantly parked in front of the computer. aware of their appearance, thanks What researchers at the Center to Facebook,” Steven Crawford, for Eating Disorassociate direcders at Sheppard “A common reaction [to tor at the centre, Pratt in Maryland Facebook] is, ‘I need to be explains to Techhave determined thinner.’” NewsDaily. is that Facebook “A common re-Steven Crawford action is, ‘I need is adding fuel to the fire of our society’s desire to to be thinner.’ And it’s that kind of be skinny. thinking that can lead to hazardous It’s true: more than half the 600 dieting.” people surveyed (ages 16 to 40) say In fact, Crawford went one step that Facebook makes them more further by saying Facebook “is an self-conscious about their bodies, influential factor in developing seand in particular, their weight. vere eating disorders.” The reasoning works something like this: when you’re unhappy with how you look, it’s easy to avoid mirrors.
But if you’re hooked on Facebook, it’s hard to avoid pictures of yourself, and can lead some to take dramatic actions. Feedback? Text it to 306-881-8372.
Offbeat
Page 7
Apr 5–12, ‘12 VerbNews.com
Put Your Tweets On Roll Of TP Adam Hawboldt
new york, ny — Chances are you’ve heard of Twitter. But have you heard of Sh*tter? With the tagline, “Social media has never been so disposable,” Sh*tter is a service that will take feeds from your Twitter account and turn them into toilet paper. The concept for Sh*tter is credited to a team of four developers who live in New York and Sydney, Australia, including David Gillespie.
“Obviously this is fairly tonguein-cheek, but we’re reasonably pleased we monetized Twitter in a way that avoided advertising,” Gillespie tells VentureBeat. The Sh*tter has quickly become an Internet sensation, so if you end up with a roll or four don’t worry about the quality. “It’s two-ply,” Gillespie tells the Huffington Post. “Kind of standard toilet paper there, nothing funky going on.” Feedback? Text it to 306-881-8372.
Offbeat At A Glance man shoots own leg — A man is
Eat Off Your Lap Picnic Pants Snack-Ready, Stylish Adam Hawboldt
enough to spread out like a table when you sit cross-legged, allowing Rome, Italy — There have the wearer to dine off their crotch. been some pretty bad fashion “Pic Nic pants take advantage trends in the of the usual crosspast: gold lame “Pic Nic pants … are both legged position to leisure suits, a crotch plate and a beer become a comCrocs, platform holder…” fortable surface sneakers. useful for the -Adam Hawboldt consumption of a Add Pic Nic pants to the list: designed by an meal outdoors,” says Acquacalda on Italian fashion company called Ac- their website. “Laterally pants have quacalda, Pic Nic pants are exactly an orientable pocket for drinks.” what they sound like — a pair of That’s right: Pic Nic pants (which, jeans that double as a picnic table. by the way, look remarkably similar And yes, they’re every bit as silly as to Hammer pants of the late-80’s) you imagine. are both a crotch plate and a beer The pants are constructed with holder at the same time. a piece of fabric over the groin big Feedback? Text it to 306-881-8372.
God Inspires Tallest Treehouse Adam Hawboldt
boasts a spiral staircase, balconies, a half-ton chime, walkways and crossville, tn — When God pews. Heck, it even has a third-floor tells you to do something, you basketball court. damn well do it. “I built it for everybody,” says Horace Burgess spent 11 years Burgess. “It’s God’s treehouse. He constructing a 10,000-square foot, keeps watch over it.” 10-storey tall treeThe structure, house after the “[T]he treehouse boasts a which cost less Lord gave him a spiral staircase [and] a … than $15,000 to message. make (thanks to basketball court.” “I was praying Burgess’ use of -Horace Burgess recycled materione day,” says Burgess “and the Lord said, ‘If you als), was photographed by Tom build me a treehouse, I’ll see you Whetton. never run out of material.’” “You can’t really appreciate the So Burgess did what he was told. scale until you are standing next Held together with more than a to it,” explains Whetton. quarter million nails, the treehouse Feedback? Text it to 306-881-8372.
recovering from non-life threatening injuries after he accidentally shot himself in the leg — as he was exiting a gun show. William Penfield, 25, is the second
person to accidentally discharge a firearm into his leg at the show; earlier this year Charles Lake injured himself in the same way. Both men are doing okay. Feedback? Text it to 306-881-8372.
Food
Page 8
Apr 5–12, ‘12 VerbNews.com
With a fresh, enticing scent that’s hard to miss, mint was one of the earliest herbs to be discovered. It’s been found in Egyptian tombs dating back to 1000 BC and ;has been a part of Chinese medicine for even longer.
Romans believed eat■ingEarly mint increased intelligence Research conducted at the ■University of Cincinnati has found that sniffing mint can help improve concentration
Mint (or mintha) was ■named after the Greek myth
of Minthe, a nymph who was turned into a plant by Persephone
Greece, mint was ■usedIn ancient in funeral rites to offset the smell of decay
Speedy Pizza: Pies With A Twist
Photos: courtesy of Adam Hawboldt
Diverse Eatery Offers Great Toppings, Indian Fare, Halal Options Adam Hawboldt
Sometimes you find the best things when you least expect them.
Take the newly opened Speedy Pizza, for instance. When I walked in there last week to sample their grub, I was fully expecting to walk away with a belly full of ‘za, maybe even a bite or two of donair. But what I got was a surprise. Sure they have pizza, and sure it’s made from scratch and pretty darn tasty. But the thing is, this isn’t your average everyday pizza joint. Instead of the side menu being full of your normal fare, it was stocked with stellar Indian cuisine. No jokes: the first dish I sampled at Speedy Pizza was the butter chicken, and it was easily some of the best I’ve had in the city. With the option to order it spicy or normal, I
went with spicy and was not disap- zesty gravy. Like the butter chicken, pointed. The chicken was succu- it was topped with coriander and lent, and the sauce was velvety and absolutely terrific. sweet with a subtle zesty tang. As The final Indian dish I tried was for the heat, it was understated and the samosa channe ki chaat — an lingered just long enough to make interesting concoction I hadn’t seen it thoroughly enbefore. Made up joyable. Topped “The chicken was of t wo samo with fresh cori- succulent, and the sauce sas topped with ander, this dish was velvety and sweet…” channa, yogurt was plate-licking and tamarind, the -Adam Hawboldt dish came gargood. Seriously: if I hadn’t been in the restaurant, I nished with mint and onions. The would’ve most certainly licked that yogurt offered a cooling, grounding plate completely clean. flavour to the zest of the samosas The next thing I dug my spoon — this was a hearty, filling and deliinto was the channa masala, a de- cious option. lightful dish consisting of chickpeas After all that food I was fairly full, cooked with ground spices in a but what’s a trip to your friendly neighbourhood pizza joint without some pizza? So I unbuckled my belt and, since that butter chicken was so darn good, I went with the butter chicken option. It was most definitely a good choice on my part, and the great thing is Speedy Pizza offers a number of unique choices, like perogy pizza, coriander chilli chicken pizza and tandoori chicken pizza — 28 in total, and I won’t rest ‘til I’ve sampled them all. Oh, and for anyone out there who needs their food halal, don’t worry. Everything here is made to accommodate you. Just ask. Feedback? Text it to 306-881-8372.
Speedy Pizza
Address: 1501 Cumberland Ave Hours: Sun-Wed: 11am-midnight;
Thurs: 11am-2am; Fri-Sat 11am-4am
Information: 974-0467
Opinion
Page 9
Apr 5–12, ‘12 VerbNews.com
Curbside Recycling Will Be Good For Us
Mandating The Practice Will Increase Efficiency Without Costing Us That Much The Editors of Verb
Saskatoon, SK — We think mandatory curbside recycling in Saskatoon is a great idea. It is about time Saskatchewan started being more progressive in terms of green initiatives. The current model of depots scattered throughout the city is wildly inefficient, and the long-term costs associated with the curbside recycling are relatively low. And besides, it’s good for the environment. According to the city’s website, we have one of two options in Saskatoon: we can either pay a fee to have All-Green Recycling come pick this: we are spending good tax dolup our recyclables. Or, we can get lars to expand our landfills to hold in our car and drive to a number recyclables, stuff that doesn’t need of various depots to drop off our to be there. It may well be cheaper materials. This option is plainly ri- to fork out four bucks a month for diculous. recycling and, in the process, exCardboard and paper bins are, pand the life of our landfill. mercifully, locatThe city estied in the same “To work effectively, mates that, if we place. Not so with recycling must be … even maintain our curdrink containers. easier … than throwing rent recycling sysAccording to the tem, our landfill’s city, if we want to things in the trash” life extension is -Verb’s Editors two years; if curbrecycle drink containers we have to go to a separate side recycling is introduced, that location altogether. Glass? Take it increases to nearly seven years. The to All-Green, pay to have them pick more waste we can divert from the it up or drop it off at the landfill. landfill — particularly as the costs And as for tins, we can take them of running a dump increases — the either to a handful of the city recy- better. cling bins, to All-Green, or a couple Besides, recycling itself is a good businesses in town that accept cans investment. According to StatsCan, for scraps. Can’t get to SARCAN or our country’s landfills are reaching make it to one of the depots — just capacity. We need to do whatever toss it in trash. Sounds efficient, right? This is why mandatory curbside recycling is a good idea. Let’s face it: we’ve all been guilty, one time or another, of being lazy when it comes to recycling. But according to Statistics Canada, that laziness is a serious threat to green practices. Barriers to collection need to be low, otherwise people simply won’t make the effort. To work effectively, recycling must be as easy — or even easier — than throwing things in the trash. So what’s this all going to cost? Well, Saskatoon’s curbside programs will run in at just over four dollars per month per household in the first year — roughly the cost of a jug of milk. People will surely grumble that they shouldn’t be forced to recycle; that is inescapable. But consider
Photo: courtesy of the Other Dan
we can to keep unwanted material out. Furthermore, approximately a quarter of Canada’s methane gas (a greenhouse gas) emissions are produced by our dumps. We can cut emissions by making our landfills leaner and more efficient. And we need to — according to the City of Saskatoon, the average household is currently diverting about 23 percent of its total residential waste from the dump. And while that sounds like a lot, that means that on average, about 780 kilograms of trash — per household — are still going into the landfill every year. To us, it seems simple: mandatory curbside recycling is the way to go. It’s vastly more efficient than our current system, it will decrease the amount of waste going into
our landfills, and it benefits the environment. Really, there’s nothing to complain about — so let’s embrace it,
dig our tins, drink containers and paper out of the garbage, and get recycling. Feedback? Text it to 306-881-8372.
Feature
Page 10
Apr 5–12, ‘12 VerbNews.com
Environmental Film Fest Informs, Inspires
Annual Event Explores Number Of Issues From Urban Chicken Coops To Oil Sebastian Dangerfield
Saskatoon, SK — Change is possible and every individual can help create that change. That’s the main thrust behind the upcoming Saskatchewan Eco Network Environmental Film Festival. Now in its seventh season, the annual film festival has, since its inception, aimed to inspire positive action pertaining to the environment by engaging the community in global issues. “We try to provide a place where people can talk to each other, ask questions,” says former SEN
Photo: courtesy T.J. Watt & Marshall Curry Productions
executive director Lynn Hainsworth, who now volunteers with the organization. “Sure people could stay at
home and watch films, but what the sharing of information,” conwe offer is something different. tinues Hainsworth. “It wakes you We offer a place where you can up in a variety of ways. It shows come out, watch that we do have some good mov- “We try to provide a place solutions.” ies, meet people where people can talk to And with who are experts each other…” film being such in their fields, say, a powerful me-Lynn Hainsworth dium, the videos in raising chickens or growing seeds or doing com- selected for this year offer a sturdy, munity gardens.” entertaining vehicle for the SEN “A big part of this film festival is to raise awareness of, and offer
solutions to, some serious environmental issues facing the people in Saskatchewan and around the world. And at this year’s festival, a lot of those problems and solutions addressed will be about food. “Many of our films are focusing on food sovereignty,” says Hainsworth. “Films like Mad City Chickens.” Created by filmmakers Tashai Lovington and Robert Lughai, Mad City Chickens is a thought-provoking documentary that takes a sometimes evocative, sometimes whimsical, always engaging look at people who live in urban areas and keep chickens in their backyards. Entertaining as it is informative, Mad City Chickens turns a keen eye on the city of Madison, Wisconsin — a veritable hotbed of the urban chicken phenomenon — and examines the change in city laws that allowed for coops while getting to the heart of what drives urbanites to keep these chickens. And while there are a few other food films that will be featured at the festival (To Make a Farm, Grocery Store Wars, Climate Dish, etc.), other films being screened will deal with other serious environmental problems. Take the documentary Land of Oil and Water. Put together by Neil McArthur and Warren Cariou, the film follows Cariou — a writer from northern Saskatchewan — who returns to his home in the Cree and Dene community of La Loche after learning that oil companies are expanding there from Alberta. He talks to locals about the expansion, then travels across the border to gain deeper perspective. For more information on films and screening times, please see http://econet.ca/filmfest/filmsstoon2012.html Feedback? Text it to 306-881-8372.
Arts One
Page 11
Apr 5–12, ‘12 VerbNews.com
John K. Samson Sets Out On Solo Tour
Photos: courtesy of Jason Halstead & Jeremy Jansen
Weakerthans’ Frontman Talks About His New Album, Video Games And GPS Alex J MacPherson
and historical and also about the land itself, about all four places and saskatoon, SK — “Circum- of course I wanted to explore the navigate this body of wonder and people who lived there.” uncertainty, armed with every Samson’s affinity for Manitoba is precious failure and amateur well-known. His songs are packed cartography.” with references to the province, These are lyrics from “Aside,” a some more subtle than others. But song John K. Samson wrote for his Provincial charts a new course. band, The Weakerthans, more than “I got this idea of how it would a decade ago. be nice where I could take someone Since then Samson has writ- to all the songs, that I could build a ten two albums map of these difchronicling the “I guess the idea was to ferent places,” he human experi- address the last 20 years says. e n c e : R e c o n - of my songwriting…” “I wanted also struction Site is a kind of literal -John K. Samson sense of travel a meditation on death, Reunion Tour is a collection through the record.” of personal stories from the weak Provincial traces a route through and the marginalized. the province, down Highway 1 Samson’s latest venture, the through Ninette and up the shore solo album Provincial, is a return of Lake Winnipeg to Riverton. And, to cartographic principle. Unlike of course, through the capital city. his work with The Weakerthans, “It’s got all the great things about almost all of which is focused on a small town and a big city, and all people, Provincial is about a place. the terrible things about both as And not just any place: Mani- well,” says Samson of Winnipeg. toba. “I find it’s just a really useful “I think that the spark for these metaphor for trying to explore songs are all rooted in place as the things I’m always trying to talk opposed to some of my previous about, things like alienation and writing which has been inspired by community and communication character and kind of coloured in and empathy.” by place,” Samson explains. Chosen to distort and alter our “I really wanted to explore these conceptions of place and of home, four different stretches of road I the lines of poetry, and for that chose in Manitoba, and I wanted matter, all of Provincial, are an exto say something contemporary amination of home.
“It is the one thing we all have in common,” he says, “we’re all from somewhere [and] there’s something unique and universal about the places where we live.” Ultimately, Samson’s writing forces us to reconsider who we are and, at least on Provincial, where it is that we’re from. Which brings us back to cartography. Samson’s musical map of Manitoba will soon be replaced with a paper map of Canada.
The singer has planned a tour across the country, where he will perform songs from Provincial as well as songs he wrote for The Weakerthans. “I guess the idea was to address the last 20 years of my songwriting. I’m not sure what it’s going to be like, but I am looking forward to it,” he says. Touring without bandmates Jason Tait, Stephen Carroll and Greg Smith will be a challenge, but Samson is up for it.
“I have a real comfort and fellowship with those guys, with The Weakerthans,” he explains. “I think it kind of allowed me to take some chances on this record.” Feedback? Text it to 306-881-8372.
Event Info
John K. Samson & the Provincial Band Where: Amigos Cantina When: April 14, 10pm Cost: $15 (ticketedge.ca)
ArtsSect &C
Marriage And Music: Indie Rock Duo Whitehorse Does It All Alex J MacPherson
music that we love to play — it’s an amazing opportunity to be able to Saskatoon, SK — For most share that and do that together.” couples, the phrase every waking “We’ve worked together a lot, minute is a metaphor or an exag- but it was never on those terms,” geration. For Melissa McClelland she continues. “It was always my and Luke Doucet, it’s a way of life. tour or his tour. Now it really is a McClelland band [and] we put and her husband “Now it really is a band a lot of our own D o u c e t h a v e [and] we put a lot of our creative energy spent the past de- own … energy into it.” into it. It means cade or so buildthe world to both -Melissa McClelland of us.” ing parallel but ultimately separate music careers, McClelland and Doucet released though their latest venture brings their first album under the name them together in a different way. Whitehorse in August. Also called “We used to spend big chunks Whitehorse, the record sounds like of time apart and large chunks of marriage: occasionally gritty, sometime together,” laughs McClelland. times fractious, always deeply pas“Now it’s all Whitehorse all the time. sionate. Whitehorse casts themes We’re touring full-time, playing re- from both singers’ careers in new ally fantastic shows, playing the light — and the songs are better for
Photo: courtesy of Raina + Wilson
it. Besides the new compositions, the record also includes a pair of reworked songs and a minimalist yet magnificent cover of Springsteen’s “I’m on Fire.” “We haven’t really sat down and written songs together as people imagine we do,” explains McClelland. “We don’t sit down with two guitars and a bottle of wine and write music together. We’re really just throwing ideas back and forth until it becomes a fully formed song. We’re not going by anybody’s rules; we’re just trying to come up with the best songs, whatever that takes.” Whitehorse shows how something can be greater than the sum of its parts. “I think that just happens when [you have] been singing with someone for so long,” says McClelland.
Whitehorse will be at the Broadway Theatre on April 17th, but if you can’t make the show don’t worry: the winsome duo will be playing Ness Creek Music Festival in July. Feedback? Text it to 306-881-8372.
Event Info
Game On!
Where: AKA Gallery When: Now ‘til April 21 Cost: Free!
Whitehorse
Where: The Broadway Theatre When: April 17 Cost: $23/$28 (652-6556 extension 3)
Paper Doll
Where: Mendel Art Gallery When: Now ‘til June 10 Cost: Free! Want some coverage for your upcoming event? Email layout@verbnews.com ASAP!
Game On! Roch Smith & Liz Pead exh
Five Que
Artist Smith Exp Alex J MacPherson
For as long as sports have been played, artists have explored the notion of sport as identity. Game On! is an exhibition by Roch Smith and Liz Pead in which the artists use reclaimed sporting equipment to establish how identities are constructed through the activity. Pead uses hockey equipment to recreate “Sport can ref pivotal moments in because it is s Canadian art; Smith generator of w builds weapons of war from hockey sticks and baseball bats, urging the viewer to reflect on sport as a cultural norm. Alex J MacPherson: Sports as an avenue to identity has been a constant in your career. Why choose sports? Roch Smith: I’m a longtime sports fan. Growing up we were always watching something on TV. Early in my career it really started with remembering watching sports on Saturdays with my dad. This is going way back, but watching Wide World of Sports. There’s certainly that childhood resonance with that; when I was an artist a part of
Culture tion Pages PH, PH PH PH–PH, ‘PH VerbNews.com
hibit at AKA Gallery
Pages 12, 13 Pages Apr 5–12,10, ‘12 11 VerbNews.com
Alex J MacPherson
Saskatoon, SK — The dirty little secret of reading is that footnotes, irrelevant though they may seem, are almost always worth a look. Sometimes they hold treasures of unimaginable value. Anne Koval knows this well. A professor of art history at Mount Al- Barb Hunt, “Dresses;” plasma-cut cold-rolled steel lison, Koval discovered, buried in a really a public practice.” explore female identity, a theme as footnote, a reference to a collection Koval selected a number of relevant now as it was when Plath of Sylvia Plath’s possessions. These works to accompany the obvious was a teenager. include a number centrepiece, nota“I’m interested in that period of of paper dolls the “A lot of the … art that bly a short film by time,” says Koval. poet made as a I show has a feminist Cindy Sherman. “I wanted to see how it connects teenager, which element to it.” Other artists rep- to contemporary art. A lot of the became the catresented include contemporary art that I show has a -Anne Koval Barb Hunt, Anna feminist element to it. They all kind alyst for Paper Doll, a wide-ranging examination Torma, Ed Pien, Jeannie Thib, Lynne of have that connectivity back to of shape, form and identity. Yamamoto and Cybèle Young. that feminist idea.” “I love the idea that footnotes All of the pieces in Paper Doll Feedback? Text it to 306-881-8372. have a lot of power,” laughs Koval, who curated the exhibit. “I was able to get some funding and went to see the paper dolls in person. From there I began to think about artists I already knew who explored a similar theme, the paper doll.” “[Plath] was obviously a wellknown poet, but much less wellknown as a visual artist. In fact, she didn’t really practice except in her younger years,” explains Koval. “She drew all her life, but it was never Photo: courtesy of the Mendel Art Gallery
Photo: courtesy of AKA Gallery
estions: Game On!
plores Sports As A Cultural Norm
where that started I was dealing with memory and identity back then, and then about masculinity. Sports seemed natural for that. AJM: In sport there is a lot to be positive about, but also plenty of things to be wary of. Is this duality something you’re trying to address? RS: That’s where the art comes into it, in the sense that it’s just about asking quesflect society tions. It’s about saysuch a huge ing, “hey look here’s an interesting thing. wealth…” ’s just take a -Roch Smith Let pause here and look at it from a different angle.” AJM: Is sport in danger of becoming the only way we identify ourselves? RS: My grandfather was a longterm Montreal Canadiens fan. It was pervasive, but I think it was part of his identity — not his identity. Maybe there is something in the air right now where people really want to belong to a tribe. It’s almost like it’s on steroids. It seems that there’s a mania about it, almost as if it’s expected that you adhere to Canucks Nation or Leafs Nation. I don’t know what has changed, really, but it does feel as if there’s the
Female Form, Identity Examined In Paper Dolls
expectation that people become the über fan. AJM: Why the exploration of sport and militarism? RS: This work started post 9/11. I think that this is a huge link right now. For example, the Toronto Raptors just two nights ago had their troop appreciation day and were wearing camouflage uniforms. I don’t know, is it honouring the military? Who can really be against that? But it is an odd thing, and I think that things are not done without some intentionality these days. It’s a very conscious choice to play that card, and I think it’s good that people are discussing them. AJM: Sport has moved itself into the van of the Support the Troops movement. Is this something you’re trying to address? RS: Sport can reflect society because it is such a huge generator of wealth and advertising too. If this wasn’t in our consciousness I don’t think the sports teams would necessarily be supporting the troops. In the past it’s been more like sick kids; now it’s the military. It’s good to have it out in the consciousness. Is that innocuous, or is it trying to have your brand associated so you sell more jerseys? Feedback? Text it to 306-881-8372.
Section Movies
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Land Of Blood And Honey Powerful, Stirring
Jolie’s Directorial Debut Offers Powerful Love Story Cast Against Bosnian War In the Land of Blood and Honey Runtime: 127 Minutes Rated: 18A Adam Hawboldt When actors get involved in the directing business you never know what you’re going to get. Some of them make the transition brilliantly and are better directors than they are actors (Clint Eastwood, Ron Howard, Ben Affleck.)
Some are equally adept at both visually stunning (in ways you might (George Clooney, Dennis Hopper, not expect), holds your attention Robert Redford). And some are so like it’s nobody’s business, and is bad behind the camera it’s almost an earnest and touching love story insulting (William Shatner, Nicolas cast against the conflicts of the Cage, Madonna Bosnian War. … if you even “Jolie shoots the film On the other consider her an from a wide perspective, hand, In the Land actor.) Blood and Honaffording compassion on of So where does ey is stilted and Angelina Jolie both sides…” pedantic in parts. -Adam Hawboldt land in this rubric, Still, you have with her directorial debut In the to give the girl credit: she really Land of Blood and Honey? sticks her neck out for this one, Well, I would argue that Jolie falls making a gritty and unflinching film directly into the as-good-a-director- that is both clear-eyed and honest. as-she-is-an-actor category. The movie opens just before On the one hand, her film is the start of the Bosnian War. In this land of quiet cafes, cool clubs and clean streets we meet Ajla (Zana Marjanović), an artist who lives with her single-mom of a sister. Ajla goes on a date with a guy named Danijel (Goran Kostić). They dance, they drink, they sing along with an accordion-driven rock band. And then bombs explode and the civil war begins. Next thing you know, Ajla (a Bosnian Muslim) is rounded up along with her other female neighbours and brought to a Serbian prison camp — a place where women are forced to be servants for soldiers, and where they are tortured, raped and even used as human shields. Not long after her arrival, Ajla finds out that Danijel (a Serbian) runs the camp. Naturally he becomes her protector and eventually her star-cross’d lover.
Photo: courtesy of FilmDistrict
For me, the best part about this movie was how there isn’t anything Hollywood about it. In the Land of Blood and Honey stars local actors speaking their language, and never once shies away from the horrors and realities of war. All of the rape and humiliation and
murders and ethnic cleansing are portrayed by Jolie with an unblinking, unwavering frankness. What’s more, instead of taking a single angle and running with it, Jolie shoots the film from a wide perspective, affording compassion on both sides while keeping the larger picture in proper perspective. No doubt about it, Jolie’s debut is brave and far from a commercial. Heck, I’d even call it laudable. But what holds it back from being a truly excellent film is the writing. The script, while bold, is terribly schematic, the kind of narrative in which ideas create and mold the characters, not the other way around. The kind of script that’s allegorical and preachy. But the fact that the movie can double as a lecture shouldn’t be shocking, considering Jolie’s involvement in all things humanitarian. So is In the Land of Blood and Honey worth a watch? You bet. I just hope you’re not too squeamish or faint of heart. In the Land of Blood and Honey is being screened at Roxy Theatre. Feedback? Text it to 306-881-8372.
Section Movies
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Raunchy Reunion Brings Back The Funny Photo: Universal Pictures
Latest Installment In American Pie Franchise Reinvigorates This Comedy Family American Reunion
Runtime: 113 Minutes Rated: 18A Adam Hawboldt I didn’t expect to like American Reunion. In fact, I expected to hate it. Sure, there was no way in hell it could be the worst installment of the franchise — Band Camp, The Naked Mile, Beta House and The Book of Love all vie for that honour. But the American Pie series was tired, old, dated and running on empty. There was no way a reunion movie could be anything but stale and destined for failure, right? Wrong. American Reunion, while not quite as good as the first American Pie, was infinitely better and funnier than all the rest of the series combined. But how did they do it? How did they resurrect a flailing, dying franchise? Well, for starters they brought back the original cast. And then the powers-that-be went one step further and hired writing partners Jon Hurwitz and Hayden Schlossberg — the guys responsible for all the Harold & Kumar movies. The result is a raunchy romp, filled with inappropriate zest, good writing and wall-to-wall laughs. The premise of Reunion is fairly simple: the whole gang, all grown up, returns home for their high school reunion. And to be honest,
it’s nice how they all turned out. steals every scene in which he apJim (Jason Biggs) and Michelle pears? (Alyson Hannigan) are stuck in a This time around, Scott takes his sexless marriage, Oz (Chris Klein) character to a whole new absurd is an ESPN-wannabe sportscaster/ and hilariously disturbing level. reality-TV dancing contestant, Case in point: the scene involvKevin (Thomas ing Stifler and Ian Nicholas) lives “This time around, Scott the beer cooler. I a domestic exis- takes his character to a don’t want to give tence watching whole new … hilariously anything away, so Real Housewives, let’s just say the F i n c h ( E d d i e disturbing level.” scene is bust-a-Adam Hawboldt gut funny. Kaye Thomas) is a world-weary traveller who still As for the movie as a whole, longs for Stifler’s mom, and Stifler American Reunion is kind of like a (Seann William Scott), well … Stifler person who blindfolds themselves, is, as usual, just plain awesome. picks up a dart, throws it and hits Arguably funnier than ever, the double 20’s — over and over again. Stifmeister is now working a crappy Which is to say that, unlike a lot temp job and living at home with of comedies these days, Reunion his cougar of a mom. builds a sense of momentum, never Oh, and did I mention that Scott lets up and continuously hits the
mark despite all the odds. That being said, this movie certainly isn’t for everybody: if the idea of a guy’s trouser snake being crushed offends you, or adults getting into fist fights with kids seems
completely wrong, then you may want to skip this film. But if you’re funny bone is tickled by all things disgusting, you might want to attend this Reunion. Feedback? Text it to 306-881-8372.
Texts
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This Week: SLGA’s Harsh Rules Last week we asked what you thought about the SLGA dictating what we can watch while we drink — here’s what you had to say! Next week’s topic: see page 9 — what do you think about
On Topic Due to our current and past governments (born again) cult beliefs we remain 150 years behind the societal liberties enjoyed by people who live elsewhere. We are in a Police State. Harper is Pope Wall is just one of his Cardinals who
mandatory curbside recycling in Saskatoon? Text FEEDBACK and your thoughts about the topic (or anything else) to 306–881-VERB (8372) and you could see your text printed in next week’s issue! plan to outlaw nudity nationwide. They want us living in a Maoist Canada. Their motto is (cover your tits or go to jail). Lawyer 4 Nudity First of all, the slant of the Verb’s choice in wording on the question (plus the article) shows clearly
the paper’s position on the SLGA. I have to disagree. I have no desire to see strip clubs return to SK, and that’s what this change would mean. Nobody is throwing fundraisers for prostate cancer with female strippers, and for good reason. It’s tasteless. As a member of one of the largest targeted audiences for strip clubs (24 years old, male) I fully support any regulation which keeps stripping out of my city. I agree completely. It’s insane that a government body has the capacity to dictate what consenting adults do. Wake up Saskatchewan! This isn’t sending your morals down the drain, letting people choose what to do (even if you yourself wouldn’t do it) is fairly progressive. Let’s get with it! Truly I think we should
be able to watch strippers and drink. They go hand in hand. How ever it should be regulated and well supervised, hate to say it, but saskatchewans are a rowdy bunch ;) now…how to change the law and acquire good looking strippers......
do my rights as a first nations go?. If the queen is gone and the right of the first nations go. It just might become a problem. People are going to get angry and stand up for the rights of first nations. :) < <=MsForReal= >>
The SLGA has no right to tell people that they can’t drink while watching strippers a beer goes down better while watching nude women dance! :-)
Re: “Ban On Brothels Struck Down By Canadian Court,” Global page, March 30th issue
Off Topic Re: Canada Should Cut Its Ties To The Queen,” Opinion page, March 23rd issue
My opinion i think that we should continue to have a relationship with the Queen and the monarchy as a sign of respect and honor Re: Canada Should Cut Its Ties To The Queen,” Opinion page, March 23rd issue
I dont think we should get rid of the queen if we do that where
I certainly appreciate the Verb Editors’ Interest in this issue but is freedom really the issue here? These sex industry workers have likely got nine out of ten serious STDs and a thousand sexual partners to their disgrace. Any person who runs after such a sexual image is giving up a normal family life with a good partner - avoid such titillation and don’t get yourself all worked up … pursue what is good and moral and your life will be much better :-)
Texts
Re: “Ban On Brothels Struck Down By Canadian Court,” Global page, March 30th issue
Kudos to Canada’s Ontario Court of Appeal on their decision which found Criminal Code provisions which targeted prostitutes for prosecution unconstitutional. When will we as a society address the causal roots of this issue? There is an endemic understanding in Canada which demonizes women for their role in the sex trade; while selectively ignoring the systematic acceptance of violence towards women and inescapable poverty. Invest in meaningful programming! Not punitive measures. -Madeline Re: “Robo-Jellyfish,” Global page, March 23rd issue
Regarding the robot jellyfish I hope they realize that Spongebob and Patrick will stop at nothing to catch this amazing creature. Re: “$3.7M For Legislative Renos Sparks Debate,” Local page, March 30th issue
Now I know why our water bills are increasing in the next three years… to finance this reno fiasco not to improve our water service….. my S**t still doesn’t go down in one flush. regardless as to whether or not there
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are parents present on 20th st there is a speed zone in place of 30 km an hour. abide by the law. I was born & raised in Stoon & lived in AB for 10yrs prior to moving to QC in ‘08 this is home! Easy to get around opportunity abound! I hope this prosperity continues as construction on the refinery winds down. Housing will be an ongoing issue. To the one who texted about doing away with school zones I see what you did there. Stop trolling. The person who said the speed limit should be 60 even in school zones is an idiot and shouldn’t be allowed on the road! You’re ignorant and dangerous! I’ve eaten plenty of luncheon meat. I’ve been to many luncheons. I’ve never been to a luncheon that had luncheon meat. That’s weird! The old hippies used to say “Drugs are fun to have but you don’t have to have drugs to have fun!” Then they all started working for IBM. You know you’re DOWNtown when your hood is slowly
but surely falling or burning down around you! Fiiinally got my picture up in hurrr The higher you build the walls around your heart the harder you fall when someone tears them down. :-( :-( My friend Phillip had his lip removed today. We call him Phil now. “Hands that help are far better than lips that pray” April 20th is coming up yay!! Everybody that are 420 friendly smoke up that day let’s see if we can make S’toon smell like a Bob Marley concert! LOL Kony 2012. Real men never stop trying to show a girl how much she means to him even after he’s got her. Daniel saraolu: if u like the queen so much why don’t u move to England. You are out to lunch Don’t ding my string. Texting with my new smartphone burns battery quick. Faster than voice. Like the red wire filament numbers calculators 30 yrs ago
the display sucks up battery! It could be fair if you made a agreement with first nation to do the work and try to mend the fences that’s politicaly correct and neither side would cause a fuss Greedy rookie landlords who don’t know the business are trying to cash in on the housing crunch. Its making a bad situation worse! Opinions are like belly buttons... Fooooooooled ya Mandatory minimum sentancing is good... Fooled ya Life is a collection of mistakes. You will never learn if you don’t make them. Out of all the things in life that I could fear the only thing that would hurt me is if you weren’t here. Despite the accuracy and need for the term I’m never really comfortable using “white people”. But its something they’ve defined and maintained for themselves! You know you’re DOWNtown when you carry toilet paper
around because none of the people you visit have any! “Text me if you want.” means... “I want you to text me.” Chase the rainbow Don’t judge me for one mistake but also look at all the things I did right. The opinions expressed on this page are not necessarily Verb’s.
Nightlife
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Saturday @ Lounge 306 Venue
Lounge 306 on Saturday, March 31st
Location
415 Circle Drive East
Playing on Arrival Brazilian music
Music Vibe
International and ethnic music
Regular Gigs
Bollywood and bhangra (popular music associated with Punjabi culture) on Wednesdays, belly dancers on Thursdays, and Ladies’ night on Sundays
Feature Deal Photos courtesy of Patrick Carley (feedback@verbnews.com)
$6.50 for doubles, and Bengal pizza
Popular Drink Tequila shots
Food of Choice
Dry ribs, which comes served with your choice of various sauces
Wing Notes
$5 for a dozen on Wednesdays; of the 12 available flavours, lemon pepper is the most popular
Something New
The back deck has been painted in advance of warmer weather; new evening feature on Sundays — “Smoking Sexy Sundays” — offers ladies everything for $3.75
Nightlife
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Saturday @ Lydia’s Venue
Lydia’s Pub on Saturday, March 31st
Locations
650 Broadway Avenue
Playing on Arrival
Live performance by the Flying Fox and the Hunter Gatherers
Music Vibe
Rock, indie, alternative and lots of live shows
Regular Gigs
Poetry reading on Sundays, DJ Sugar Daddy on Mondays, open stage on Tuesdays and DJ Dr. J on Wednesdays
Feature Deals
Alexander Keith’s Pale Ale or Red for $4.75 a pint, and wraps for $5
Popular Drink
Pints of domestic beer
Food of Choice
Wraps — tasty and tons of fillings — and nachos, which were loaded with toppings and cheese
Wing Notes
$6.50 for a pound of wings and a pint of beer on Wednesdays — of the six available flavours, Buffalo is the most popular
Photos courtesy of Barrett Russell (feedback@verbnews.com)
Music
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Thursday 5
Theresa Sokyrka — Since finishing runner-up on the second season of Canadian Idol, this local singer/songwriter has been busy. Not only has she released a handful of albums (the most recent being a self-titled LP), but Sokyrka has also spent much of her time criss-crossing Canada, creating music and performing all along the way. The result has been a smoothly sharpened sound that is at once moody, folky and jazzy. 10pm, Amigos Cantina. Tickets $13, available at ticketedge.ca.
(NEXT WEEK) FLATLINERS @ LOUIS’ pub — After seven years of playing
together, this punk rock quartet from southern Ontario has recently released their third full-length album, Cavalcade, a record the band calls “a call to arms to all who travel throughout the world.” Which is fitting, because in the years
Photo: courtesy of the artist
immediately preceding this release, Chris Cresswell, Scott Brigham, Jon Darbey and Paul Ramirez spent nearly 30 months in vans, dive bars and arenas honing their sound. They’ll be playing Louis’ on April 13th. Tickets $15, available at Jupiter. -Adam Hawboldt. Feedback? Text it to 306-881-8372.
Roots Series: Anderson Burko — This duo, comprised of Roy Anderson and Darrell Burko, have slowly and surely built quite a reputation for themselves around town — a reputation for being engaging, entertaining and pretty damn awesome. 9pm, The Bassment. Cover $12/15. Big Dave McLean — One of Canada’s definitive bluesmen, this musician from Yorkton combines his gravelly vocals with masterful guitar playing to put on a show you won’t soon forget. 10pm, Buds on Broadway. Cover $6. Throwback Thursdays — Come experience the best in retro funk, soul, reggae and rock provided by Dr. J. 8pm, Earls. No cover. Hip Hop Night — Hosted by Ease, this is a night of live performances, rap battles and DJs, with $150 in prizes to be won. Don’t miss it. 9pm, The Fez on Broadway. No cover. DJ Kade — Saskatoon DJ lights it up with hot tunes. 8pm, The Hose &Hydrant. No cover. DJ Sugar Daddy & DJ J-Mats — Local DJs J-Mats and Sugar Daddy will be rocking the turntables to get you dancing on the dance floor! Every Thursday night will be filled with passion parties, pole dancing, shadow dancers and much more! 8pm, Jax Niteclub. $5 cover, free cover with student ID before 11pm. The Cat Empire — This jazz/ska/funk/
rock band from Australia are is nothing short of sensational. Their sound will blow your hair back, their show — honed on at festivals, clubs, and venues from Oz to Canada — is more than entertaining. 8pm, Louis’ Pub. Tickets $29.25, available at ticketmaster.ca DJ Big Ayyy — This Saskatoon DJ is the resident county rock turntablist at Outlaws. Outlaws: your party place to be! 9pm, Outlaws Country Rock Bar. $5 cover. TRIPLE UP THURSDAY — Come start your weekend early at Triple Up Thursday! With these top 40 dance and electro resident DJs, you’ll be shaking it on the dance floor in no time. 8pm, Tequila Nightclub. $3 at the door.
Friday 6
House DJs — Funk, soul & lounge DJs liven up the atmosphere at 6Twelve. 9pm, 6Twelve Lounge. No cover.
Animal Nation — This West coast hip-hop act is putting the fun back in funky. With smooth flow and interesting melodies, Animal Nation is breathing new life into the hip hop world. 10pm, Amigos Cantina. Tickets available at the door. Austen Roadz — With over 25 years of DJ experience, Calgary’s Austen Roadz throws down a high-energy top 40 dance party every Friday, Saturday and Sunday night. DJ CTRL opens. 11pm, béily’s ultralounge. $5 cover. Big Dave McLean — One of Canada’s definitive bluesmen, this musician from Yorkton combines his gravelly vocals with masterful guitar playing to put on a show you won’t soon forget. 10pm, Buds onBroadway. Cover $6. Band Warz 8 — With a rock line-up featuring Wild Uprising, Three Simple Words, Phoenix Christ, False Haven, Erinyes and The Room, along with a metal line-up that includes the likes of Thresh, A Ghost In Drag and Echoserenity, this is a battle you won’t want to skip. 9pm,
The Fez on Broadway. Tickets TBD. DJ Eclectic — Local turntable whiz DJ Eclectic pumps snappy electronic beats. 8pm, The Hose &Hydrant. No cover. DJ Sugar Daddy & DJ J-Mats — Able to rock any party, these local crowd favourites have always been known to break the latest and greatest tracks in multiple genres. They are sure to have you on the dance floor in no time! 9pm, Jax Niteclub. $5 cover. Despite The Reverence — Since coming together in 2011, this local four-piece has worked hard to hone its infectious hard rock/metal-influenced sound. With a stage show that includes lights, smoke and all the other bells and whistles, these guys put on one heckuva performance. 8pm, Louis’ Pub. Cover $5. Soulfly w/ Persist — Incorporating many styles of metal with Brazilian tribal and world music, this Arizona heavy metal outfit is led by former Sepultura frontman Max Cavalera. 9pm, The Odeon Events Centre. Tickets $17.50, available at www.theodeon.ca DJ Big Ayyy — This Saskatoon DJ is the resident country rock turntablist at Outlaws. Outlaws: your party place to be! 9pm, Outlaws Country Rock Bar. $5 cover. On Rotation DJ Series: Kid Kriss — Come out and enjoy this hip local DJ as he hops and spins late into the night. 10pm, Spadina Freehouse. No cover. Terri-Anne Strongarm — With a headful of country covers and loads of talent, this local songstress plays the songs you want, the way you want them. 9pm, Stan’s Place. No cover. Dueling Pianos — Terry Hoknes, Neil Currie and Brad King belt out classic tunes and audience requests,from Sinatra to Lady Gaga. 10pm, Staqatto Piano Lounge. No cover until 8pm, $5 thereafter. We’re Thorry — Come check out this talented local band. 8pm, Vangelis Tavern. Cover $5.
Saturday 7
House DJs — Resident DJs spin deep and soulful tunes all night. 9pm, 6Twelve Lounge. No cover. Breaker Breaker w/ Powder Blue — Breaker Breaker is a hard rocking local four-piece and Powder Blue is a local, all-female quintet that plays an infectious blend of grunge-garagepsychedelic music. Together they’ll be headlining the CFCR Membership Drive Show. 10pm, Amigos Cantina. Tickets $5. Three Trombones — Featuring Sarah Anderson, Colin Neufeld and Ross Ulmer, this trio will bring the ancient and venerable slide trombone back to glorious life. 9pm, The Bassment. Tickets$12/15. Austen Roadz — With over 25 years of DJ experience, Calgary’s Austen Roadz throws down a high-energy top 40 dance party every Friday, Saturday and Sunday night. DJ CTRL opens.
Music
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11pm, béily’s ultralounge. $5 cover.
industry staff, $4 otherwise.
Big Dave McLean — One of Canada’s definitive bluesmen, this musician from Yorkton combines his gravelly vocals with masterful guitar playing to put on a show you won’t soon forget. 10pm, Buds on Broadway. Cover $6.
SUNDAY FUNDAY — Local talent Manny Thomson, Jason Hattie and Chad Reynolds will be spinning some quality dance hits every Sunday. 9pm, The Fez on Broadway. $5 cover at the door.
Previous Tenants — Consisting of Jesse Gander (vocals/bass), Joel Tong (vocals/guitar) and Barry Higginson (drums), this indie-punk rock trio from Vancouver has a sound you won’t forget. 9pm, The Fez on Broadway. Tickets $5 at the door. DJ Kade — Saskatoon’s own DJ lights it up with hot tunes. 8pm, The Hose & Hydrant. No cover. DJ J-Mats & DJ Sugar Daddy — Able to rock any party, these local crowd favourites have always been known to break the latest and greatest tracks in multiple genres. They are sure to have you on the dance floor in no time! 9pm, Jax Niteclub. $5 cover. DJ Big Ayyy — This Saskatoon DJ is the resident country rock turntablist at Outlaws. Outlaws: your party place to be! 9pm, Outlaws Country Rock Bar. $5 cover. Jon Bailey — Check out this talented local musician as he treats you to some smooth jazz stylings. 8pm, Prairie Ink. No cover. Josh Palmer — A former Canadian Idol competitor, this local indie rocker puts on one heckuva show. Come check him out. 9pm, Somewhere Else Pub. No cover. On Rotation DJ Series: Sound Society — Come check out this energetic mix of funk, soul and hip hop that is sure to keep you grooving all night long. Coming at you straight out of Regina, Sound Society puts on a show you won’t want to miss. 10pm, The Spadina Freehouse. No cover. Terri-Anne Strongarm — With a headful of country covers and loads of talent, this local songstress plays the songs you want, the way you want them. 9pm, Stan’s Place. No cover. Dueling Pianos — Terry Hoknes, Neil Currie and Brad King belt out classic tunes and audience requests, from Sinatra to Lady Gaga. 10pm, Staqatto Piano Lounge. No cover until 8pm, $5 thereafter. Tim Mason — This rising star is from Brighton, UK, and plans to tear the house down with his sick spinning. Accompanied by special guest Kidalgo, these two could very well rip the dance floor apart as well. 8pm, Tequila Nightclub. Tickets $10 (ticketmaster.ca). We’re Thorry — Come check out this talented local band. 8pm, Vangelis Tavern. Cover $5.
Sunday 8
DJ SUGAR DADDY — Able to rock any party, this crowd favourite has always been known to break the latest and greatest tracks in multiple genres. 11pm, béily’s ultralounge. No cover for
DJ KADE — Saskatoon DJ lights it up with hot tunes. 8pm, The Hose & Hydrant. No cover. DJ Heywood, Scott Turner — Don your sexiest black attire and come on out for the All Black Everything event. Hosted by local DJs, there will also be a special guest performance by Black Diamonds. 8pm, Scratch. Cover TBD. Tim Vaughn — With a rich and soulful voice and original, captivating songs, Vaughn and his bandmates — Bryce Lemky on drums and Dave Anderson on bass — have established a solid following here in Saskatoon. 9pm, Somewhere Else Pub. No cover. SUNDAY JAM — The Vangelis Sunday Jam is an institution, offering great tunes from blues to rock and beyond. 7:30pm, Vangelis Tavern. No cover.
Monday 9
Yelawolf — With a down-home gritty flow and songs that shed some light on the dark parts of the dirty South, this rapper from Alabama (who recently signed with Eminem’s Shady Records)
is well on his way to stardom. 7pm, Louis’ Pub. Tickets $31.75, available at ticketmaster.ca DJ SUGAR DADDY — Able to rock any party, this crowd favourite has always been known to break the latest and greatest tracks in multiple genres. Doors 9pm, Lydia’s Pub. No cover.
Tuesday 10
Northcote — The project of Saskatchewan singer/songwriter Matt Goud, Northcote offers a fresh and unique commentary on life. With poignant, minimalist lyrics and definite depth of sound, the music is haunting and thoughtful and fun. Come see for yourself. 10pm, Amigos Cantina. Tickets TBD.
Eddy Robertson and the Electric Blues Band — This true-to-form local blues band plays Chicago and Delta Blues the way they were meant to be played. 10pm, Buds on Broadway. Cover $6. DJ SUGAR DADDY — Able to rock any party, this crowd favourite has always been known to break the latest and greatest tracks in multiple genres. 9:30pm, The Double Deuce. $4 cover. VERB PRESENTS OPEN STAGE -The open stage at Lydia’s has hosted many of Saskatoon’s finest performers, and is a chance for bands, solo artists and
(NEXT WEEK) ELIZABETH SHEPHERD TRIO @ THE BASSMENT — This Juno
award-nominated trio from Toronto is nothing short of spectacular. Fronted by Elizabeth Shepherd, along with Scott Kemper and Colin Kingsmore, the Elizabeth Shepherd Trio plays a smart, sexy blend of jazz with pop
Photo: courtesy of the artist
sensibilities. A constantly innovative act, the trio has toured extensively, and with Shepherd at the helm offers an electric live performance. They’ll be performing at The Bassment on April 14th; tickets are $18 or $22 (tickets.saskatoonjazzsociety.com). -Adam Hawboldt. Feedback? Text it to 306-881-8372.
Music
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Apr 5–12, ‘12 VerbNews.com even comedians to showcase original material. 9pm, Lydia’s Pub. No cover. Open Mic — Come out to show your talent. 7pm, The Somewhere Else Pub. No cover.
Wednesday 11
HUMP WEDNESDAYS — Resident DJ Chris Knorr will be spinning all of your favourite songs and requests, every Wednesday night! Doors at 7pm, DJ takes requests at 9pm, 302 Lounge & Discotheque. No cover until 10pm, $3 thereafter.
(COMING UP) THE MAINE @ LOUIS’ pub
— It seems as though this pop-rock band, made up of John O’Callaghan Garrett Nickelsen, Pat Kirch, Kennedy Brock and Jared Monaco have finally found their voice. Their latest album, Pioneer, is receiving critical acclaim, and their sound — kind of a throwback to
Photo: courtesy of the artist
earlier days of rock n’ roll mixed with the raw guitar licks and O’Callaghan’s rough vocals — seems to have finally matured. This five-piece will be playing Louis on May 27th, along with the Arkells. Tickets are $26 (ticketmaster. ca) -Adam Hawboldt. Feedback? Text it to 306-881-8372.
Eddy Robertson and the Electric Blues Band — This true-to-form local blues band plays Chicago and Delta Blues the way they were meant to be played. 10pm, Buds on Broadway. Cover $6. The Avenue Recording Company presents Open Mic — Hosted by Chad Reynolds. Sign up and play at this weekly event. 10pm, The Fez on Broadway. No cover DJ Kade — Saskatoon DJlights it up with hot tunes. 8pm, The Hose & Hydrant. No cover. Dr. J ‘Souled Out’ — Dr. J spins hot funk and soul every Wednesday night. Doors 9pm, Lydia’s Pub. No cover. WHINE UP WEDNESDAYS — A night dedicated to promoting the best in reggae, roots, dancehall, African beats,
Kwaito & hip hop. Hosted by Scott Turner & DJ Heywood. 10pm, Scratch. $5 cover.
DJ Kade — Saskatoon DJ lights it up with hot tunes. 8pm, The Hose &Hydrant. No cover.
Dueling Pianos — Terry Hoknes, Neil Currie and Brad King belt out classic tunes and audience requests, from Sinatra to Lady Gaga. 10pm, Staqatto Piano Lounge. No cover.
DJ Sugar Daddy & DJ J-Mats — Local DJs J-Mats and Sugar Daddy will be rocking the turntables to get you dancing on the dance floor! Every Thursday night will be filled with passion parties, pole dancing, shadow dancers and much more! 8pm, Jax Niteclub. $5 cover, free cover with student ID before 11pm.
Thursday 12
Reverend Kill — If you’re looking for some blow-your-hair-back death metal, then look no farther: this quintet from Calgary is the real deal. 10pm, Amigos Cantina. Tickets TBD. Roots Series: Outside the Wall — Calling all Pink Floyd fans! This local band will be putting on a tribute show in honour of the legendary English prog-rock group. Don’t miss it. 8pm, The Bassment. Cover $14/18. Kelly Read and Brent Taylor — In the mood for some seriously infectious music played by a couple of local musicians? Look no further. 7pm, Crackers. No cover. Throwback Thursdays — Come experience the best in retro funk, soul, reggae and rock provided by Dr. J. 8pm, Earls. No cover Hip Hop Night — Hosted by Ease, this is a night of live performances, rap battles and DJs, with $150 in prizes to be won. Don’t miss it. 9pm, The Fez on Broadway. No cover.
Ten Second Epic — This five-piece alt-rock band from Edmonton have been nominated for Much Music Video Awards, Juno Awards, Canadian Independent Music Awards, you name it. Be sure to check them out. Opening acts will be The Dangerous Summer and the Red Threat. 8pm, Louis’ Pub. Tickets $14.75, available at ticketmaster.ca DJ Big Ayyy — This Saskatoon DJ is the resident county rock turntabilist at Outlaws. Outlaws: your party place to be! 9pm, Outlaws Country Rock Bar. $5 cover. Eddie Halliwell — Known around the world for his explosive sets and never-ending creativity, this top-ranked DJ from the UK is a showman of the highest order. 8pm, Tequila Nightclub. Tickets $10, available at ticketmaster.ca, unionevents.com, Tequila Nightclub, Swank Shoe Lounge and Stellar Gear.
Want your show listed? Email layout@verbnews.com!
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Your mind may take a hard mystical turn this week, dear Pisces. If so, it will be a fantastic time to look into new spiritual and metaphysical concepts. This could open you up to something unique.
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Pisces (Feb 20–Mar 20)
Due to the planetary setup, your desire to acquire knowledge and impart it to others will be operating at crazy high levels this week. Put this to good use: you could find what you’ve been looking for.
Having problems getting through to people? If so, dear Aquarius, try taking action and showing people exactly what you mean. This could help you get things done.
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Virgo (Aug 23–Sept 22)
In the Rigveda, an ancient Indian collection of Vedic Sanskrit hymns, it notes, “A person can achieve everything by being simple and humble.” Wise words indeed. Why not heed them this week?
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Aquarius (Jan 20–Feb 19)
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Leo (Jul 23–Aug 22)
We all love reveling in our own brilliant ideas, dear Capricorn. But this week, how about making the main focus other people? If you can do this, you may also find some inspiration.
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Capricorn (Dec 22–Jan 19)
This is a good week to get things done, dear Cancer. Motivation should be burning bright this week, so put it to good use. And if it’s not, plug on anyway. You’ll be rewarded for every iota of effort.
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Cancer (Jun 21–Jul 22)
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Listen to your instincts this week, dear Sagittarius. Trust your own compulsions. If you feel like doing something (legal and not cruel), do it. Now is the time to go for the gusto.
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Luck. Do you believe in it, dear Gemini? If not, maybe this week will change your mind, because the universe has some exciting and timely things in store for you.
Sagittarius (Nov 23–Dec 21)
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Gemini (May 21–Jun 20)
Feeling under the weather, dear Scorpio? You may have been doing double duty, burning the candle at both ends. If so, the obvious move is to slow your roll, take a break and relax.
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Scorpio (Oct 24–Nov 22)
Pay attention to the fantasies and visions you have while asleep: they could steer you towards valuable sources of information. And if these visions seem unorthodox, don’t write them off.
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Taurus (Apr 20–May 20)
Judge not lest ye want to lose friends and allies, dear Libra. Sure it’s easy to critique, but until you’ve walked 10 miles in their stilettos, stilts or whatever, you can’t know what it’s like to be another person.
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Libra (Sept 23–Oct 23)
Everything could come together to make an impromptu trip possible, so keep your eyes peeled for a break and jump at it. Getting away might help recharge the battery and fill you full of pep.
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Aries (Mar 21–Apr 19)
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Horoscopes
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Time Out
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Sudoku
Directions: Fill each box with a digit from 1-9, following these conditions: - Each row must contain every digit from 1-9 once and only once. - Each column must contain every digit from 1-9 once and only once. - Each of the nine 3x3 boxes must contain every digit from 1-9 once and only once.
2 9
5 8 4 3 7 6 6 9 9 6 3 1 2 4 1 5 9 4 5 2 8 1
3 2 7 1 3 8 7 6 7 8 5 4