Rob Ford Update With Bonus Duffy And Unanticipated Mulcair

By on June 13, 2013 in Douchebaggery, Politics

CTV says police knew about the “that sure looks like Rob Ford smokin’ crack” video before Gawker and the Toronto Star reported on itsexistence:

CTV News has learned that Toronto Police were investigating the existence of an alleged video involving Mayor Rob Ford, several weeks before the story first appeared in the Toronto Star. As part of the investigation leading to the raids on Thursday, officers obtained telephone wire-tap evidence. A highly-placed source confirms to CTV News that on those wiretaps, persons of interest discussed that video in detail, and referred to the mayor’s alleged presence in the video. CTV News has not seen the video, and cannot confirm its existence or authenticity.

More here. This is likely more trouble for Ford, who’s been busy lately voting against gay festivals and cultural events and institutions, presumably because he’s a gigantic dick who panders to the stupid, selfish douchebag vote.

In other political news, the RCMP have launched a criminal investigation into the $90,000 cheque Nigel Wright gave to Senator Mike Duffy and NDP leader Thomas Mulcair apparently thinks he’s too important to follow the rules.

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What Do Tegan And Sara, Metric And Rah Rah Have In Common?

By on June 13, 2013 in Music

© Chris Graham Photo 2013All three bands have albums on the 2013 Polaris Music Prize long list! Rah Rah released The Poet’s Dead last October to copious amounts of acclaim (you can read Prairie Dog’s feature here), and followed that up with a tour and some faboo Regina shows–including a September 29 gig at Connaught school and a head-turning performance during Junofest that was so good it almost redeemed our ridiculous plaza.

“We are really honored and very excited to be included on this year’s list,” says Rah Rah’s Marshall Burns. “Special thanks to our managers Parkside and Paul, our producers Gus and Werner and, of course, all the good folks in Regina who have been so supportive of Rah Rah since we started out!”

Every year, the Polaris Prize and a cheque for $30,000 goes to a Canadian album of high artistic merit regardless of genre and how many copies/downloads it sold. The prize is determined by a mewling horde of music reporters and critics from across the country including freelance pundits, writers from national papers and alternative newsweeklies, and media superstars like Jian Ghomeshi. Planet S and sometimes Prairie Dog writers Chris Morin and Craig Silliphant are both jury members.

The 40-album Polaris long list was announced this morning in Montreal. A 10-album shortlist will be released on Tuesday, July 16. The prize will be determined by a grand jury and awarded in Toronto on September 23.

Past winners of the Polaris Prize include Arcade Fire, Feist and Fucked Up. The prize debuted in 2006, going to to violinist Owen Pallet for his Dungeons & Dragons-inspired record He Poos Clouds (which I highly recommend).

The full long list is here. You can also read it after the jump.

Continue Reading →

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Pick Of The Day: One Take Super 8

By on June 13, 2013 in Film, Regina

Super 8This festival’s been around for 13 years now. It sees local filmmakers avail themselves of retro super 8 camera technology to make short films in genres like narrative, documentary and experimental. The films harken back to old-style home movies, but in this age of CGI special effects and mega-million dollar Hollywood budgets they also strip film-making down to its rawest form.

One Take Super 8 goes tonight at the RPL Film Theatre at 8 p.m. Unlike regular rep programming, there is no admission charge, but seating is limited so make sure you get there early. For more info visit this website.

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Exciting Goings-On On 11th Ave.

By on June 12, 2013 in Economy, News, Regina, Uncategorized

lorne & 11thAll the construction that’s going on in downtown Regina these days is definitely causing headaches. And I say that as someone who both lives and works downtown. But judging by this photo of the infrastructure upgrade that’s going on at Lorne and 11th, where the crew has apparently unearthed what looks like rotten railroad ties, some of it is very much needed to bring the downtown up to 21st century standards. Hopefully, all the upgrades are being planned out well.

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Pick Of The Day: A Guide To Mourning

By on June 12, 2013 in Uncategorized

I remember seeing this play at the Globe Theatre ten or so years ago. It’s a dark comedy by Regina-born, Calgary-based playwright Eugene Stickland that concerns a dysfunctional family coping with the death of their patriarch. It’s being presented by Regina Little Theatre at the Performing Arts Centre June 12-13 at 7:30 p.m., June 14-15 at 8 p.m.

Tickets are Adults $17, Students & Seniors $17 and can be obtained by calling 306-779-2277.

 

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Exciting Goings-On At Central Library

By on June 11, 2013 in Art, Music, News, Regina

PlayI was out for a stroll tonight after we put the June 13 issue to bed and discovered that one of the elements in the interactive installation that Jeff Morton and Kathleen Irwin are presenting at the Dunlop Art Gallery called Play is up and running. You can find more about the show, which has an opening reception at the Dunlop Friday at 7 p.m., here.

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Exciting Goings-On On City Square Plaza

By on June 11, 2013 in News, Regina

Sun ShadeJust got back in the office from a last minute run to get a photo for a news story we have planned for our June 13 issue.  When I was out I stumbled across this sight on the plaza. Not sure what the cause of the calamity was, but one of the sun shades, in NHL playoff hockey speak, has apparently suffered a lower body injury.

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Tatiana Maslany Wins Critics Choice Award

By on June 11, 2013 in Art, Film, News, Regina

I blogged last month about Regina-born actress Tatiana Maslany being in the running for a BBC America Critics Choice Award for her work in the SF series Orphan Black. She had some pretty stiff competition in the Best Actress In A Drama category. But it turned out that she ended up winning. So once again, congrats to her:

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Pick Of The Day (Tomorrow Edition): Jazzfest Regina 2013

By on June 11, 2013 in Music

At the time this blog post was written the line-up for the 2013 JazzFest Regina which runs June 12-16 at various indoor and outdoor venues had yet to be finalized. You can find out more information here, but four events that had been confirmed are:

(i) a concert by Royal Wood at Ramada Plaza on Friday, June 14 with a warm-up act starting at 7 p.m. (tickets $30)

(ii) a concert by Jeri Brown at Ramada Plaza on Saturday, June 15 with a warm-up act starting at 7 p.m. (tickets $25)

(iii) a Father’s Day Brunch featuring entertainment by Kaitlyn Semple at Ramada Plaza on June 16 at 11 a.m. (tickets Adults $40, Seniors & Students $35, Children 14 and under $30.)

(iv) a salsa dance party with Dafro at Ramada Hotel with a warm-up act at 7 p.m. (tickets $20)
To close here’s video from CBC of Wood in full orchestral mode with his wife Sarah Slean on back-up vocals performing his song “The Glory” off his 2012 album We Were Born To Glory:

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Woody Allen Returns Home… Sort Of

By on June 10, 2013 in Film

After a long sojourn around Europe that revitalized him creatively, Woody Allen returns to the US with Blue Jasmine. The film, however, is only partially set in his beloved Manhattan. In fact, most of the action takes place in San Francisco, a brand new setting for the filmmaker.

Following a Madoff-like scandal, a spoiled British socialite (Cate Blanchett) finds herself without a penny or a roof over her head. Reluctantly, the woman lands at her sister’s (Sally Hawkins),  a down to earth immigrant living in a blue collar neighborhood. How blue-collar? Andrew “Dice” Clay is one of her neighbors. You read that correctly: Oscar winner Blanchett and “Dice” will be sharing screen time.

Based on the trailer alone, Blue Jasmine belongs next to Woody’s brainiest dramas, a la Husbands and Wives and Crimes and Misdemeanors. The film opens July 26th everywhere.

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Wolf Cop Wins CineCoup $1 Million Prize

By on June 10, 2013 in Film

WolfCop posterCongratulations to Regina’s team Wolf Cop, who devoured the competition at the Banff World Media festival to win a million bucks in financing their movie for real, actual release next year. The Wolf Cop squad has been gunning for the grand prize of CineCoup, “a disruptive model for indie filmmakers to develop, market and finance their feature films” that selects film projects based on Internet votes and jury selection. They’ve been competing since December, and made the final five cut last week.

I spoke by text with Levi Carleton, president of Queen City-based Echolands Creative–the production company behind the winning CineCoup submission. Was he surprised Wolf Cop won? It is, after all, a well-made and fun-looking genre project with werewolves that seemed to have a built-in audience.

“Well, I really believe most people knew the strength of this project was a great fit for this competition,” says Carleton. “But since it’s the first of its kind and [CineCoup's] very first year, it made the final moments of deliberation completely dizzying.

“I was actually watching one of my daughter’s soccer games at Taylor Field when I saw the first Twitter confirmation,” he says. “I was tearing across the field toward my wife yelling, “we won!” and my other two kids tackled me in the end zone… for real!”

So a big deal, then?

“Echolands was changed forever at that moment,” says Carleton.

What’s next?

“I truly hope we can embrace our local economic and creative advantage [and] harness the support we’ve gained in this contest, and find a way to make it here, where it belongs,” Carleton says. “Pre-production will likely begin immediately. Production, September-ish. And theatrical release in 1,400 Cineplex theatres in February 2014.”

Awoo!

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Six In The Morning: You Don’t Come Here For Breaking News, Do You?

By on June 10, 2013 in News

6-in-the-morning

1  ANOTHER BRUSH WITH COMPLETE ANNIHILATION  Did you hear about the asteroid that buzzed Earth on Saturday? Whew.

2  I NEED TO START FOLLOWING PETER MAYHEW ON TWITTER  The seven-foot tall actor was stopped at the Denver airport for carrying an unusually long cane.

3  BEES ARE REALLY IMPORTANT  As you probably already know, the world’s bee population is under siege, so researchers are putting together a sperm bank to help counter the effects of colony collapse disorder.

4  AS GOES ROME?  Looks like the Italian capital is following the nation-wide trend of correcting its right-of-centre politics.

5  IT’LL REALLY PULL THE ROOM TOGETHER  The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge will be presented with this commemorative Afghan rug. 

6  IT’S HEP WITH THE KIDS  The New York Times is on the bleeding edge of five years ago with this story on how young people are going crazy for vinyl.

 

 

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Pick Of The Day: Scott Perrie

By on June 10, 2013 in Uncategorized

Based in Vancouver, Scott Perrie is a singer-songwriter who performs both solo and in the folk/rock group Redgy Blackout. In addition to his work as a musician, he is also a seasoned actor. Tonight he’s in town to play a show at the Artful Dodger where he’ll debut songs off his new EP Everything Gives.

To close here’s video of Perrie performing the song “Elegy” off his EP:

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Sunday Matinee: Banned Films

By on June 9, 2013 in Film

MoebiusDespite the growth of world film market and the use of the internet to make the world feel like a smaller place, it’s always shocking to see censorship still run rampant. Vietnamese filmmaker Charlie Nguyen’s latest kung ku action film Cho Lon has been banned by the Vietnamese Censorship Board. This means that the film can not play in Vietnam or anyplace else in the world.

In a statement from the Vietnamese Central Board of Film Evaluation of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism they said:

“Cho Lon violated the Law of Cinema when showing scenes of gangsters blatantly set in battle, chaotic fighting with knives, swords, machetes, with blood spilling everywhere … without the interference of government, polices, people or any other social forces.

Recently the producers sent the edited version of Cho Lon, which cut some violent scenes and inserted some appropriate scenes. But it’s still not repaired overall, so the Central Board of Film Evaluation of the Ministry of Culture Sports and Tourism shall not issue licenses for Cho Lon.”

Continue Reading →

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Pick Of The Day: Silverstein

By on June 9, 2013 in Music

Based in Burlington, this post hardcore band has been around since 2000. In February, they released their seventh studio album This Is How the Wind Shifts. Tonight, they’re in town to play a show at the Exchange with the Wonder Years, Short Story, Something You Whisper and A Perfect Punchline. Tickets are $25 advance and $30 door.

To give you a taste, here’s the video for Silverstein’s first single off their latest album. The tune is called “Massachusetts”:

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Here’s Half Of Your New Safeway, Cathedral

By on June 8, 2013 in Architecture, News, Regina

Such a lovely parking lot.The swooping arch of Cathedral’s modernist Safeway will soon be no more. Thursday night, staff moved the grocery store’s stock into the section that has been built over the last several months, and yesterday morning the new half officially opened for business. That clears the way for demolition of the 13th Avenue icon.

I checked the new store out for the first time a few hours ago. It was a little disorienting.

Continue Reading →

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Exciting Goings-On On 11th Ave.

By on June 8, 2013 in City Hall, News, Regina

DowntownWith the intersection of Victoria Ave. and Albert St. reduced to one lane east-west and north-south; McIntyre St. closed at Victoria Ave., Lorne St. closed at 12th Ave., Cornwall St. heading north inaccessible when something’s going on on the plaza and, at last report, 11th and 12th Ave. closed at Osler St., moving around downtown Regina is already pretty challenging.

Starting today it will be even more so. I just snapped the above picture on 11th Ave. looking west. City crews have closed off the intersection of Lorne St. and 11th Ave. as part of an infrastructure upgrade that was started last summer at Lorne and 12th Ave. As you can see, there’s no longer any thru traffic, and buses that have already been detoured to accommodate existing construction are being further detoured. Most will now run along Saskatchewan Drive for a stretch, and temporary transit stops have been established on 17 block Hamilton St. (heading south) and 17 block Rose St. (heading north).

Closure of the Lorne and 11th Ave. intersection is supposed to last until mid-July. If you want further clarification on what’s happening with the buses you can find info here.

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Pick Of The Day: Saskroots

By on June 8, 2013 in Music

This show is being presented by Grassroots Regina. It includes performances by the Rusty Augers, Grain Report and Binder Twine & the Bailers. Tickets are $15 adv. and $20 at the door, and things should get going at the Exchange at 8 p.m.

To give you a taste, here’s video from last September of Grain Report performing a song called “Innocent Days”:

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Pamela Wallin Is About As Saskatchewan As The Boyd Gang

By on June 7, 2013 in Douchebaggery, Politics

Remember last February, when Pamela Wallin first got into trouble for representing Saskatchewan in the Senate while not actually, you know, living in Saskatchewan?

Here’s what she said then.

“My home is Saskatchewan, and I just don’t think there’s much dispute about that whole issue.”

And Brad Wall did his best Tammy Wynette impersonation.

Here’s what was really going on. According to a Toronto company for which she once sat on its board of directors, Wallin lived in Toronto for the past seven years.

For the past seven years, however, Gluskin Sheff has listed her residence as Toronto. That occurred in seven separate annual corporate filings that were each approved by the board on which Wallin sat, the CBC’s James Cudmore reports.

She also continued to sit on this and other corporate boards of directors, making over $1 million while working (I guess that’s what the kids in the PMO’s office call it) in the Senate. Isn’t that a conflict of interest? Could have fooled me.

Wallin shouldn’t resign from the Senate. She should be fired. Preferably from the Big Bertha field gun the Kaiser’s army used to shell Paris from 80 miles away in the First World War. The only debate on corruption within the HarperCons is not how bad it is: it’s why we gave power to Stephen Harper, who thinks people such as Wallin are the best he can surround himself with.

(Oh yeah, here’s the story of The Boyd Gang).

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Pick Of The Day: Yes We Mystic

By on June 7, 2013 in Music

Hailing from Winnipeg this indie-folk quintet has been around since 2011. Tonight they’re in town to play a show at Creative City Centre (1843 Hamilton St.). Opening for them will be local singer-songwriter Danny Goertz. Doors are at 7:30 p.m. and tickets are $10.

To close, here’s video of Yes We Mystic performing a cover of a 2003 OutKast song called Hey Ya!:

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