Ensemble C’est Tout (Hunting and Gathering)

Hunting and Gathering is a sweet, small little film with a quirky set of characters, like a tamer, shallower version of Avenue Montaigne or The Station Agent, but still heartwarming. It showed at this year’s Cinefranco festival at the Royal Cinema and you can find it on DVD now across town, including at Bay Video. Hunting and Gathering stars Audrey Tautou (Amélie) as a depressed and underweight but talented artist who works as a cleaning woman and French heartthrob Guillaume Canet (Jeux d’Enfants), a gruff gourmet chef who spends his Mondays taking care of his sick grandmother, only to bring home different women each week afterward to help him drown his sorrows.

They meet through Franck’s (Guillaume Canet) friend and roommate, Philibert (Laurent Stocker), a smart, educated man whose stutter prevents him from doing what he wants with his life. Philibert and Camille (Audrey Tautou) live in the same apartment building – he, in a large and grandiose apartment owned by his deceased grandparents, and she, in a small, cold bedroom in the attic. They meet in the hallways one day, share a meal, and then meet once more, when the skin-and-bones Camille is very sick. Philibert takes her in, feeds her and cares for her, in a completely innocent and platonic way. Continue reading “Ensemble C’est Tout (Hunting and Gathering)”

Record Review: Brant Bjork – Punk Rock Guilt

For a dedicated group of people, Brant Bjork needs no introduction. For fans of Stoner Rock, Brant is practically royalty, having played in two of the most formidable bands of the genre, Kyuss and Fu Manchu. But Brant has also put together quite an impressive resume as a solo artist. Depending on how you count and who you ask, Punk Rock Guilt is his tenth solo record. Tenth. Since 1999. That’s in addition to all of the albums he lent guitar and drums to. Tenth. Given this prolific output, it’s a marvel he had time to talk to me from his home in California.

Brant explains, “I don’t believe in masterpieces. I just make records. I enjoy making records. I enjoy playing live. And when you have something you enjoy doing, you develop a natural pace for it. And that was part of why I wanted to set out and be independent, so I could kind of establish my own pace and do my own thing when I want to do it.”

This laid back approach is evident both in his music and his personality. Punk Rock Guilt resembles his musical output as a whole, both solo and collaborative: it’s relaxed, it’s full of tight riffs, and it’s about forgetting your responsibilities, chilling out and having some fun. While it definitely packs a hard rock punch, at its best Punk Rock Guilt is about finding a groove and not letting go. This is especially true of the fuzzed-out “Born to Rock” and on the two epic jams that bookend the album, “Lion One” and “Locked and Loaded”. The latter song, for instance, although over 10 minutes long, could go on for an hour and it wouldn’t bother me in the slightest.

Continue reading “Record Review: Brant Bjork – Punk Rock Guilt”

Pillow Fight Toronto, and BRITE! Afterparty

What does every young child dream of while growing up, if it’s not to have a massive pillow fight in the middle of the downtown core with thousands of other random individuals? Okay, so maybe they don’t really dream of these sorts of grand-scale pillow fights, but this one – it’s a reality.

This Saturday, May 31st at 7:00pm, join Newmindspace alongside thousands of random pillow-wielding individuals in Nathan Phillips Square to fulfil the pillow fight fantasy of your dreams. Whether you’re experiencing the frustration incumbent with the commencement of summer school, need to relieve the frustration (or anger!) of another monotonous and odious work week, or whether you simply want to go out and (gently) beat people with a (soft) pillow, then this event is for you. All of the event details can be found on the Newmindspace website or on the Facebook event page.

If this massive pillow fight isn’t enough to get your blood flowing, then join Newmindspace and their new project, Newsoundspace, for BRITE!; an all-ages afterparty and fundraiser at The Burroughes Building, located at 639 Queen Street West. Tickets are available at two levels: regular tickets are at the price of $20, while community supporter tickets, at the rate of $50, entitle 19+ donors to a separate bar and announced acknowledgment of their generosity at the event.

For more information regarding the BRITE! afterparty and advance ticket sales, visit the Newsoundspace website or visit the Facebook event page.

We look forward to seeing you and your pillow wreaking havoc and dancing up a storm this Saturday!

Alvin Ailey Dance Theatre, Friday May 16

If you know anything about modern dance, congratulations, you already know more about it than me! Watching the Australian edition of “So You Think You Can Dance” does not make me an authority on the subject, though I enjoy self-delusion as much as the next armchair expert.

It boded well, though, when the audience at the Sony Centre (formerly the Hummingbird) for the Friday night performance of the Alvin Ailey Dance Theater was noticeably excited even before the curtains went up. I’ve never seen a dance performance begin with a documentary, but that’s what this one did – and to good effect, because there is a lot of history behind this performance, to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the company’s founding.

Alvinailey2

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Need A Bike? BikeChain Will Lend You One!

bike share

Summer has almost arrived. It’s a bit indecisive as to whether or not it’s completely here, but the foot is definitely in the door. And with that, we expect sunny days, warm weather, beaches, and of course, cruising on your bicycles. I love riding my bike. Aside from the obvious fact that biking is sexy, it’s also very convenient and it just feels great.

But, “Wait,” you say, “what if I don’t have a bike?” “Ah ha!” I would answer, “that’s were BikeChain comes in to save the day!”. You may have noticed the row of yellow bikes parked on the west side of St. George street near College. They used to belong to the now defunct Bike Share. Yes, it’s sad that Bike Share is no longer running; however, be happy that BikeChain will now lend you bikes for FREE!

Come in to BikeChain during operating hours with your T-Card and one other piece of ID. Leave a refundable $25 deposit and you’ve got a single-speed, coaster-brake bike for two business days! It’s as simple as that!

I took one of the bikes out for a ride and it rode very smoothly. The only thing to watch out for is they’re all single-speed bikes with back-pedal brakes, which may take some getting used to if you haven’t ridden one before.

Bikechain
International Student Centre (Basement), 33 St. George
Monday-Tuesday: 11:30 AM to 4:30 PM
Wednesday-Friday: 12 to 5 PM

Contact Photography Festival: Top Picks [Queen West area]


Brief Description: Absolutely gorgeous photographs of icebergs and landscapes in Antarctica and Greenland.
Venue: LAUSBERG CONTEMPORARY
Exhibition: HORIZONS – GREENLAND / ANTARCTICA
Artist:
DAVID BURDENY MAY 1 – JUN 22
Address: 880 Queen St, Toronto
Hours: Gallery Hours: Tue – Sun 12 – 6pm
Contact: 416 516 4440

Brief Description: Beautiful landscapes that make use of very rich colours. Very cohesive theme.
Venue: PRIME GALLERY
Exhibition: Illuminations 3: Landscape and Memory
Artists: Jolie Dobson, April Hickox, Jinyoung Kim, Dominika Klimaszewski, Landa Thomas
Address: 52 McCaul Street
Hours: Wed – Sat 11am – 5pm, Mon & Tue call for appt.
Contact: 416 593 5750

Continue reading “Contact Photography Festival: Top Picks [Queen West area]”

Ready, set… DRUM!

drum circle
Photo from Dummers in Exile gallery

For all you beat-niks out there, there’s a drum circle happening tonight at Trinity Bellwoods Park from 7-11pm

(Get it? Beats? Beat-niks?

Sorry… I tried).

It’s free, fun and all ages, and gives you a great chance to enjoy the balmy spring weather before it starts raining again tomorrow.

WHAT: Drum Circle (Drummers in Exile)
WHEN: Today (Tuesday May 13), 7-11pm
WHERE: Trinity Bellwoods Park, see map
$$$: Free!
@: http://www.drummersinexile.com (has links to pictures and videos)

If you’re not a drummer but just like the beats, go along and groove to the music anyway.