Arts
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Sebastian Owl
This Winnipeg via Brandon folk/rock five piece unveils a stunning 11-track LP produced/recorded/mixed/mastered by Mike Posthumus (Young Pixels) that is equally as good for a breathy afternoon walk as it is for a night in with a bottle of something.
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Bleed American
Local pop punk quartet Bleed American wears its influences on its sleeve, metaphorically and literally, possibly as the inked logos of such obvious heroes as Jimmy Eat World and Motion City Soundtrack.
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Two sides to every story
Prairie Theatre Exchange’s presentation of The Valley promises to tell a story “ripped from the headlines” with playwright Joan MacLeod touching on such subjects as mental illness, conduct within the police service, and what it means to take responsibility for our actions.
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Mennowrite
Mennonites began to arrive in southern Manitoba in 1873. With an enforced distinction from what they perceived as the corrupt world, Mennonite culture historically eschewed various artistic pursuits, but in the last half century, Mennonite literature has been growing.
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Anita: Speaking Truth to Power
The opening sounds and images of Anita: Speaking Truth to Power are of a phone in Anita Hill’s office playing back a voicemail. The voice on the recording belongs to Virginia Thomas, wife of US Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas. Decades ago, Anita publicly revealed that she was sexually harassed by Clarence Thomas while in his employ. Today, Virginia is asking Anita to apologize for “what she did” to the Thomas’s for coming out as a victim of sexual harassment.
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The Wind Rises
After much critical adoration and an Oscar nomination for Best Animated Feature, The Wind Rises has finally hit Winnipeg theatres. The picture has been making the festival rounds since September, but it is only now seeing Canadian wide release. It was well worth the wait. The Wind Rises is a deeply affecting and inspiring animated feature.
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Winnipeg at the OSCARS
Many Manitobans have found their way onto the Red Carpet of the Academy Awards. Last year’s winner for Best Original Score, Mychael Danna (Life of Pi), was born in Manitoba; as were such past nominees as Nia Vardalos (My Big Fat Greek Wedding) and Cordell Barker (The Cat Came Back) in addition to winner Roger Avary (Pulp Fiction).
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They’re coming to paint you, Barbara
Most people discover liquid latex and grey face paint after watching too many zombie movies, but Winnipeg-based artist John Izzard started with the makeup.
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Art for all
Set at First Lutheran Church food bank in Winnipeg’s West End, Sargent & Victor & Me chronicles the intertwining stories and opinions of seven characters that Debbie Patterson created from interviews with real citizens of our fair city.
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Crime Wave
John Paizs is an elusive figure in Canadian cinema.
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Kalle Mattson
Recorded in his hometown of Sault Ste. Marie, Ont., the fifth overall record from 22 year-old Kalle Mattson is a comfortable blend of delicate folk ballads and upbeat, jangling rock tunes that satisfies despite some forgettable moments.
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Old Man Luedecke
“Baby, We’d Be Rich”, the upbeat opening track from Juno winner Old Man Luedecke’s new four song EP, sounds suspiciously like it could be found on fellow Nova Scotian Joel Plaskett’s Three record, though it isn’t so suspicious when you see Plaskett produced and played most of the instruments on these tunes.
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Sons of York
Opening with the devilishly handsome and chaotic title track, this EP from local quartet Sons of York is the latest in a long line of releases that showcase the type of honest power rock that for some reason hasn’t made the Kennerd brothers + Darren Hebner household names.
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The Honeysliders
Winnipeg’s Honeysliders creep up on you with five classic-rock (think late-70s Eagles meets early-90s Big Sugar) infused hits, guaranteed to get the heads at the Times Change(d) a noddin’.
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Back to the grind
Head Hits Concrete is officially back. The Winnipeg grindcore band, which gets its name from the Misfits’ song “Bullet”, plays short compositions that punish your ears and flabbergast your mind.
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Chicken co-op
Since forming in 2006, Vancouver garage rock duo the Pack A.D. has released five records, including January’s Do Not Engage and 2011’s Juno nominated Unpersons.
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The Royal Oui
Vancouver husband and wife duo Ari Shine and Adrienne Pierce have created 11 glorious tracks of baroque pop-infused goodness that blend acoustic guitars with rainstorms and haunting boy-girl harmonies, all while making it seem new and natural.
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Shayne and Seth’s excellent adventure
Heads up Adult Swim fans. Asphalt Watches, a bizarre Flash animated feature that follows artists Shayne Ehman and Seth Scriver as they hitchhike their way from a 7-Eleven in Chilliwack, B.C. to downtown Toronto, is headed to Cinematheque for a five-night run, Feb. 21 to 23, Feb. 26 and Feb. 27.
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Asphalt Watches
Asphalt Watches is the story of two friends, Bucktooth and Skeleton Hat, who are on a hitchhiking odyssey across Canada. At least, I think it is. Skeleton Hat is a pale kid with a ratstache, and I think Bucktooth might be a ghost. I’m not sure where they’re hitchhiking to, or why they’re going there. The entire picture feels like two skateboarders ate hallucinogenic mushrooms, went hitchhiking, and then animated the entire trip using the Windows 95 edition of MS Paint. And, just so we’re clear, I mean all of these things as a compliment.
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RoboCop
Full disclosure: I love the original RoboCop. Paul Verhoeven’s 1987 ultraviolent action film about a murdered cop brought back through technology doubles as an incredibly smart and funny satire. He took the entire Reagan era to task, ridiculing the corporate greed, privatization, and military overspending that defined America in the 1980s. The character of RoboCop personified the way the callousness of those ultra-right wing policies dehumanized the people they were supposed to protect.