ancouver is a busy place. With restaurants and bars opening and closing every day, concerts being performed nonstop, and news developing faster than it can be reported, it's hard to stay afloat. You need a guide. Martiniboys is here to help. Keeping our ears to the ground and our eyes to the blogs, we've collected all the hot buzz that you need to stay informed about your fair city. Whether it be a new store opening or a political scandal, you'll find it here. There's no need to thank us, we're just doing our jobs. Okay, you can thank us.



If not for Wire, Pitchfork Media wouldn't have any bands to fawn over or write 700 word treatises upon. Whether you think that to be a good thing or a bad thing, the influence of this 70s-era band is undeniable, even if they don't always get their just dues. While technically a punk band, Wire was more inclined to experiment with song structures and conventions than many of their all-attitude peers. Albums like Pink Flag and Chairs Missing established the band as post-punk pioneers. You may like the Bloc Party or Black Kids, but without Wire, they wouldn't have a leg to stand on. Sure, reunions are often disappointing, especially when it’s a punk reunion, but a chance to see a band like Wire should be taken. They play tomorrow at Commodore Ballroom.





I always thought acorns solely existed for squirrels but apparently people can eat them. You can use them in pancakes, squash, soup, sauces, stew, and you can cook them with all types of meats. In this case, you can also listen to them. Rolf Klausener's The Acorn play autumnal (apropos, isn't it?) strum-and-pick compositions with tenderness and vigor. Of an October Tuesday, you won't find a more pleasing way to spend an evening. Furthermore, Toronto's sublime Ohbijou are also on the bill. The Acorn et al play Media Club tonight.





Here's a show that's guaranteed to generate some buzz. Black Kids are playing at Richard's on Richards this Saturday. The band gained prominence because of blog hype, but when the blogs turned on them, they were still popular. It's a story we've seen happen a thousand times before. The band's intense hype destroyed all their cred and critical acclaim, but by that point enough people had been exposed to their music that they built up a dedicated fanbase. Whether or not this is deserved is a judgment I'll leave up to you. The music is fun, if a bit derivative (of The Cure, for one) and the lead singer could use a bit of vocal training, but overall they're a band worth seeing. The true test of a band is how their live performance holds up.





The best Ukrainian gypsy cabaret art punk band in the history of Ukrainian gypsy cabaret art punk, Gogol Bordello play the Commodore Ballroom Friday and Saturday. Fronted by friend of Madonna, occasional actor, muse, and moustache enthusiast, Eugene Hutz, the Bordello are a Brooklyn-based collective. Known for raucousness and ebullience, they have been destroying clubs and theatres around the world. I can't say this enough: go!





Nothing says hump day like a double bill featuring seemingly disparate stage productions. Fortunate Son and Chainmail Bikini begin their limited run tonight at Havana Theatre. The former follows Justin Trudeau's famed PET funeral speech. Wash that down with a comedy about a fledging store owner's pre-opening disasters, care of Chainmail Bikini. Will the titular rust-ready clothing must-have make an appearance? Once can only hope. Incidentally, what's that squeaking? Maybe it's a resurrected Prime Minister (it's not).





Is it a prerequisite for indie-folk artists to sport intensely bushy beards? Will they not sell you an acoustic guitar unless you have a family of birds living in there? To be fair, Iron and Wine's Sam Beam was ahead of the trend, but it still doesn't change the current folk image. Between Iron and Wine, Devendra Banhart, and Bon Iver, you've got a forest. All beards aside, there is a vibrant resurgence of folk in the indie-rock community and Iron and Wine were (was?) one of the innovators. A loyal fanbase will eat up anything the singer-songwriter puts out, but it was his cover of "Such Great Heights"' inclusion on the Garden State soundtrack that really pushed him (them?) into the mainstream. How does Zach Braff do it? If you want a full night of strummy, mournful, acoustic folk, check out Iron and Wine at Commodore Ballroom tonight.





I've never been to Iceland, but, judging from their export-worthy music, I imagine everyone is super-laidback. How does anything ever get done? Everyone must be walking around in a daze all the time. Is everyone there as weird as their musicians? A country full of Bjorks is a scary proposition. Like Bjork, the sublime Sigur Rós play intense, ethereal, atmospheric, almost diaphanous songs that encourage blissful nodding and transfixed stares. And, like Bjork, they're fuckin' weird dudes. Take, for instance, () (that's the album title; let me know if you can pronounce it). All of the lyrics are sung in Hopelandic, a language invented by the band. Supposedly, the listener is supposed to interpret the meanings and write them in the CD booklet, which is blank. Ummm, right. As you can imagine, a live performance from these guys is something that you have to experience to believe. Lucky for you (or unlucky, depending on your disposition), Sigur Rós will play tomorrow at the Chan Centre. Tell me how it goes.





Okay, so you usually Radar recommends you something happening today or for the weekend, but this time I'm recommending something for two years from now. As you probably already know (and if you don't, you obviously just arrived in town today), the Winter Olympic Games will be held in Vancouver in 2010. Today, though, is the first day to buy tickets. In an elaborate attempt to ensure fairness and thwart scalpers, these tickets aren't being sold on a first come first serve basis. Instead, Olympic hopefuls (spectators, not athletes) can put in an application anytime from today until November 7 at Vancouver2010.com that will ensure a chance to buy tickets. Inevitably for some events, demand will exceed the tickets available. For those events, a lottery will be held. Ultimately, for the lucky people chosen, this will work out better than first come fist serve since it will mean the ticket prices will be kept low. Let's face it, if you wanted to catch a Team Canada hockey game otherwise, you'd be paying upwards of $500. Get your applications in, and maybe I'll see you at the Olympics in two years. Fingers crossed.





Jamie Lidell is a hipster's dream. Not only does he combine soul and electronic influences, but he can never seem to pick a genre and stick with it. Effortlessly shifting from techno to funk to straight-up pop, Jamie Lidell likes to surprise fans and critics, and hipsters just eat that shit up. Plus he kind of looks like a geek, which always helps. Still, he's very worth seeing. Acting as a one man band, Lidell beatboxes and loops the backing tracks and belts out his soul-inspired jams overtop. It can make for an energetic experience, and you can watch this guy try to do everything until he inevitably passes out. There's nothing better than seeing a musician lose consciousness trying to impress you. You can check out Jamie Lidell Saturday at Plaza Club.





David Berman, after years of trying, finally seems to have shed the notion that Silver Jews are a Pavement side project. It might have something to do with the fact that Stephen Malkmus is no longer contributing to the band and Pavement broke up nearly 10 years ago, but it's still about damn time. Of course, it may also be due to Berman's growing reputation in his own right. His idiosyncratic vocal delivery and clever sardonic lyrics, which are so good as to have been often compared to Bob Dylan, have made him somewhat of a cult figure amongst indie rock fans. He's a reluctant live performer (as a musician, not a poet), so you should take any chance you have to see the Silver Jews live. Tonight is your chance. They're playing at Richard's on Richards.





Burma (aka Myanmar) has had a rough run as of late; it needs a little mad guitar-heavy post-punk (though, it's had its fill of post-post-punk). So do you. Nearly three decades after conception, the stalwart Boston noise purveyors. Mission of Burma can still blow your eardrums off (in a good way). Started in 1979, the band is known for using rapid shifts in dynamics, unconventional time signatures and chord progressions, and various tape effects and manipulations. Yet, somehow they are able to experiment while maintaining the rebellious attitude of punk rock. Finally music geeks can attend the same shows as hardcore punks without getting their asses kicked. Well, not necessarily anyway. Mission of Burma plays tonight at Plaza Club.






Cinephiles - the most socially acceptable philes of them all - exult: the 27th annual Vancouver International Film Festivals starts today! With better-than-cable ticket pricing and plethoric selections, from surreal features to myriad documentaries, A.D.D.-placating shorts to international prestige pictures and everything in between, VIFF will draw nearly 200 000 viewers. From today until October 10th the festival will lead to rampant truancy and cinematic debate. This is one of many recent film festivals, including Toronto’s own international festival, but VIFF differs in its strong British Columbia flavour (and no, I don’t mean Chinese food and cannabis). Of course, there are still selections from over 60 countries. Already well under way, today's opening day schedule includes 30 films. If you're looking for a recommendation, try Korea's "kim-chi Western", the most expensive Korean film ever made, The Good the Bad the Weird.





Adolescence has been a consistent theme in cinema and theatre throughout history. Something about coming of age stories are just inherently appealing (as long as they're done well). The History Boys is no exception. The theatrical study of education, sex, and maturation is both hilarious and thought-provoking, with more than a little dose of awkwardness and embarrassment. Kind of like Spiderman. Actually, not really. Alan Bennett's award-winning script follows a group of history students at a London grammar school preparing for their entrance exams to the fictional Oxbridge University (a combination of Oxford and Cambridge). The play has already found success and this Arts Club Theatre Company production should be no different. The play starts its month-long run tomorrow at the Granville Island Stage.





There's something about a battle of the bands that just screams "University". And indeed, Shindig '08 is no different. Put on by UBC's CiTR radio station, the competition strives to offer the best and most cutting-edge sounds of the Vancouver underground. This isn't your regular battle of the bands; these acts were hand chosen to deliver the best that Vancouver's non-mainstream music scene has to offer. And so the competition has a rather large scope, running for 13 weeks. Week 2 takes place tomorrow night at the Railway Club, with three acts that are sure to impress: Hermetic, Stephanie Lang, and Mr. Chancleta & The Bitter Litter Babies. You may not have heard of these guys yet, but winning Shindig '08 sure wouldn't hurt.





Vancouver's Global ComedyFest is undoubtedly one of the greatest comedy festivals in the world with some of the biggest names in comedy all assembled in one place. But with 10 days and over 40 shows, it's hard to decide what to see. That's why Best of the Fest is the most efficient way to experience the festival. Rather than trying to choose which performance will be the funniest, let the organizers do it for you. They've assembled the top ten comedians of the fest, and host Ron James will present them to you. There's everyone from grizzled veterans to young up-and-comers: Phil Hanley, Jon Dore, Ryan Belleville, Tig Notaro, Todd Barry, Ian Bagg, Kelly Dixon, James Adomian, Stewart Francis, and Janeane Garofalo. If you can get through this one without laughing, you have no soul. Or you're Al Gore. Best of the Fest takes place this Sunday at The Centre.





In many people's eyes, Jack White can do no wrong. And in many other people's eyes, Meg White can do no… well anything. But it's Jack White's other band on display at this show. When The Raconteurs emerged in 2005, they had all the makings of a one-off side project: well-established members of other bands (The White Stripes, The Greenhornes, Brendan Benson's solo project), multiple songwriters (White and Benson), and a hastily recorded album full of fun-but-sloppy rock tunes. But I guess the guys must have had a good time with it all and were met with unexpected success, so a second album and tour became a reality. They're definitely worth checking out if you haven't seen them before. In addition to some solid musicianship and tunes that lend themselves well to live performances, they've been known to throw in some good covers ("Bang Bang My Baby Shot Me Down", "Crazy", "Teenage Kicks"). They play tomorrow at Malkin Bowl.





If you don't see Fleet Foxes tonight at Richard's on Richards your hip friends will never forgive you. Hell, even your not-so-hip friends who think they're hip will never forgive you. Fleet Foxes are one of those bands who started with some honest-to-blog internet hype and soon hipsters began to catch on. The Seattle band's multi-part harmonies and old-school pop sensibilities were the perfect mix to catch the ear of tastemakers everywhere. But the accessibility of it all allows the music to appeal to casual music fans, people who have never heard of Menomena or AIDS Wolf. It all seems very familiar (Arcade Fire, anyone?). Tonight is probably the last time you see them at this small a venue and before the inevitable backlash begins to build. They're still cool. Go now.





You know that they're serious because they employ an exclamation mark, the mercenary of punctuation. Occasionally folk, lately punk, Against Me! have a major label debut to pimp. Despite being formed in 1997, their newest album New Wave (which, despite the title, has very little in common with Culture Club) is the first to gain any semblance of mainstream radio success. They've always had a dedicated audience, as political punk bands are wont to have, but they've simmered in the underground until recently. Now that they're on a much bigger stage, expect even more left-wing pandering just south of "yes we can". Also expect some catchy hooks, some moshing, and some pins. Against Me! play tonight at the Croatian Cultural Centre.





Any foodies out there? That's a rhetorical question; I already know the answer. I know that this event will probably be right up your alley. Eat! Fraser Valley is not only a chance to… well… eat, but it's also one of the most expansive celebrations of food and dining in the country. The three day event, which takes place today until Sunday at the Tradex Trade & Exhibition Centre in Abbotsford, will satisfy every refined palette-sensation and ravenous gluttonous impulse that you might have. Over 1.5 million festival goers will wander through the Bite of The Valley restaurant pavilion, where Vancouver's best restaurants will offer appetizer portions of their signature dishes for so-low-it's-insulting prices ($1 - $4). At the same time, there will be celebrity chef cooking demonstrations, a shopping marketplace featuring artisan foodstuffs, and a Tasting Pavilion to satisfy your booze tooth. For Vancouverites who like to eat, and I mean really like to eat, this is the only place to be this weekend.





Ladies and Gentlemen We Are Floating in Space. So went the title of Spiritualized's 1997 critical breakthrough album, and there couldn't have been a more fitting name. Spiritualized are one of the premier space rock bands in existence. The genre sounds exactly as you'd think: slow, plodding rhythms, long druggy guitar solos, Pink Floyd-esque saxophone lines. The formula is somewhat steady, but it allows for some real longevity. The band has been around since 1990. If you have patience, a live performance is definitely worth seeing. Just don't expect much moshing, crowdsurfing, or any real energy at all. I don't want to suggest anything illegal, but the music is best when "floating in space". Spiritualized plays Saturday at the Commodore Ballroom.





The name Dave Stewart may not sound immediately familiar to you, but once I tell you he was one of The Eurythmics (one of the two Eurythmics) how could you not want to go see him? Along with Annie Lennox, Stewart produced the sound of the 1980s, which could be a bad thing, but in this case is very good. The synth-pop formula was widely imitated in the 80s, but only perfected by the Eurythmics. Since then, Stewart has had a wide variety of collaborations from Jon Bon Jovi to Mick Jagger to Bob Dylan. That's some real pedigree right there. Stewart will perform at the Centre in Vancouver for Performing Arts this Thursday with his Rock Fabulous Orchestra.





I'm sure readers of this site have just been waiting for gourmet cooking to become a recognized competitive sport. While it may not be a sport per se, the IKA Culinary Olympics in Germany will pit chefs from all over the world against each other to determine the victor. The saying goes "to the victor go the spoils", but in this case, the spoils go to you. That is, they go to you if you have $95 to spare. A Taste of Culinary Team BC at the Sutton Place Hotel tonight will allow you to sample a delicious assortment of food and wine prepared by your local cooking team. It may be a bit pricey, sure, but you know it'll be a good meal because this is what they train for. Food always tastes better if it's made with spite. Spite is delicious.






Our friends in The Big Smoke have been getting a lot of attention with the Toronto International Film Festival, but Vancouver has its own film festival going on as we speak. Granted, it's much muuuuuch more modest than TIFF, but the Vancouver Latin American Film Festival strives to entertain audiences while exposing them to some Latin American films that might otherwise go unfairly under the radar (so to speak). The festival, which continues until September 14, features nine titles from Brazil presented in non-competitive screenings. The aim is to promote dialogue between cultures and explore historical and social issues. Tonight's film is QUERÒ, the story of a son of a prostitute living in the slums. Uplifting, eh?





A group of unlikely music industry darlings, these former visual artists are actually tight with Bowie and have found a fan in Mos Def. TV On The Radio's 2006 album Return to Cookie Mountain attracted many powerful tastemakers including the always ubiquitous Pitchfork Media. I remember when it first dropped and all of my hipster friends were raving about the album as if they had just discovered the next greatest band. Then not long after that, everyone was raving about the thing, and suddenly it wasn't as hip as it once was. But the hype has been building for the soon to be released Dear Science,. At this show Sunday at the Commodore Ballroom, you'll probably get to hear some of the new stuff, along with old favourites like "Wolf Like Me" and "Staring at the Sun". Expect plenty of electro, beat boxing, and free jazz sounds as the basis to their Beat-like lyrics.





If you've never been to the Vancouver International Fringe Festival then you've been missing out. It's a lot like regular theatre, but much less pretentious and much more anarchic. From today until September 14, 65 national and international productions are performed in total over 500 times. The festival is uncensored and unjuried, so it's a very mixed bag. You never know whether you're going to see the next smash hit or some uninspired bullshit a few friends put together after a night of heavy drinking. But taking your chances is a large part of the fun. Don't worry about wearing jeans; this is no upscale theatre experience, just a bunch of young playwrights trying to make it in The Biz. You can't find a more fun and rewarding theatre experience than the Fringe.





John Vanderslice is one of those musicians that's always threatening to break into the mainstream (or, I guess, "indie mainstream") but as yet has been unable to take that final step. Playing with a who's who of the indie music scene, Vanderslice has been sharing a stage with the likes of Vampire Weekend and Okkervil River. And he fits in well. His melodic take on the singer-songwriter tradition has earned him some hardcore fans of his own. Often using analog instruments and equipment, Vanderslice opts for an organic live sound often atypical for his type of pop music. I get the feeling he's just one fluke indie anthem away from national recognition. It worked for Feist. If my prediction is correct, you should be at his concert tonight at Media Club.





Of course there are battles in Brooklyn: every current worthwhile American band has crowded the budget-Manhattan. Not just blippers, not just pluckers, not just twisters, Battles bash together genres letting sounds fight for respite, replete with the occasional demonic chipmunk vocal, 4/4 nod, and fuzz twist. They're amalgam sublimity epitomized. Or, for those that are vocabularily-deprived, Battles play fuckin' weird music. This concert will be the highlight of the year for those who like their garde avant and their indie rock experimental. How could you miss it? Battles play tonight at Richard's on Richards.





This is possibly the best weekend of music that Vancouver has ever had, and it has more than a little to do with the Stanley Park Singing Exhibition. The Lineup reads like a list of the most innovative bands making music today. Here's a sampling (try not to drool on your keyboard): The New Pornographers, Neko Case, Black Mountain, Andrew Bird, Destroyer, The Evaporators, and Deerhoof. On Sunday and Monday, Malkin Bowl is definitely the place you want to be for the long weekend. There are other concerts, but this one is the best.





You never really know what you're going to get with a Beck concert. The 38 year old Scientologist has recorded twelve albums over the fifteen years that he's been in the music industry, and of those it can be said that no two are alike. He's done everything from mournful acoustic ballads to postmodern sample collages while covering everything in between. His latest album, Modern Guilt, is produced by Danger Mouse and so it's heavy on the psychedelia. Whatever he plays, expect to hear things like "that song doesn't usually last three hours, but we got into a serious thing there". Beck takes over the Orpheum Theatre tonight.







Anglophiles rejoice: Oasis finally returns. Do you remember when (What’s the Story) Morning Glory? broke and everyone was walking slowly down halls and blowing off Sallys? That was great. Noel, Liam, and those two other guys – neither of whom are named Bonehead – bring their anthemic Brit-pop to the GM Centre tonight. Say what you will about massive career declines, but you’ll get shivers as soon as “Wonderwall’s” acoustic strums begin. Granted, every open-mic night guitar guy ever has played the song, but it'll still be special. One of the most prolific jean-jacket strummers in the history of alt- country, Ryan Adams, along with his stellar back-up band, the Cardinals, opens this so- disparate- it- might- work gig.





If you're a hardcore hip hop fan, if you're an occasional follower, or even if you've just once heard a Wu Tang record, you cannot miss seeing GZA live. Wu Tang Clan are undisputed classics of the genre and the GZA is largely considered the group's best lyricist. That's a big honour considering there are approximately 47 people in the group (I can't be sure since I've never bothered to count). Recently GZA's been touring his 1995 classic, Liquid Swords, and even if he isn't still, you'll definitely hear at least a few of the cuts, in addition to some Wu Tang favourites. If you can hear "C.R.E.A.M" live, you have to. I think it might be a law. He performs tomorrow at Richard's on Richards.





If you're only familiar with Chris Rock from movies like Down to Earth, Head of State, or Lethal Weapon 4, shame on you. Even if you've seen some of his excellent movie roles (like Rufus in Dogma), you still haven't caught the best of Chris Rock until you've seen his stand-up routine. Chris Rock so much tell jokes as he does rant about whatever is on his mind that day, but when he does you'll laugh, you'll cry, you'll get angry, and you'll leave way more impressed than you ever thought you would be. You would never know stand-up comedy could be so poignant and so thought provoking. Especially not from the guy who played Daddy Tang in Pootie Tang. Chris Rock will do three shows at the Orpheum Theatre from Sunday until Tuesday and you should definitely consider going.





Bonfire Music Festival almost suffered an untimely death last year due to heavy rain and a low turnout. After struggling with the idea of shutting it down, the creators decided to give it one more go. The three day festival, which runs from tomorrow until Sunday, brings together camping, fire ceremonies, and a ton of music. The website claims a broad range of acts including roots, groove, jazz, funk, and folk, but for the most part they all fit into the same umbrella term: jam bands. So it's a camping festival with jam bands that celebrates living amongst nature. Take a guess as to the main audience here. If you guessed hippies, you win a nice big bottle of patchouli oil. Acts include Themasses, Flowmothion, Canadian Beauty, Kuba Oms, Rabnett 5, Guy Wilkins, and The Orion Syndicate. In case you've never heard of these bands, expect harmonies, funk riffs, and loooong drawn out jams. I'd suggest packing some green inspiration, but it'd probably be redundant.





You tend to think of novelty music as transitory and of the moment. That's what makes "Weird Al" Yankovic's longevity so freakin' impressive. Did you know he's been around since 1979? He's 48 years old! 48! And he's still making song parodies! And I'm still using exclamation marks! He's got many hits that he could break out, but the nature of song parodies is that they're only funny as long as the song it's parodying is still in the public spotlight. As a result, expect to hear a set made up mostly of songs like "White and Nerdy", "Trapped in the Drive-Thru", and of course "Canadian Idiot". "Weird Al" performs Friday and Saturday.





Radiohead are quite possibly the biggest musical act in the world right now; bigger than Coldplay, bigger than U2, even bigger than Neil Diamond. Every time this band puts out a record it's an event. Take their latest album, In Rainbows as an example. When Radiohead decided to allow fans to pick their own price it sparked a media shitstorm. It even created a new entry for our modern vernacular: the "Radiohead Model". That just wouldn't happen if it were, say, The Pussycat Dolls. But there's good reason for all of the attention; I would argue (with the possible exception of Amnesiac) that every successive Radiohead album has been better than the last. Not only that, but their live show is supposedly legendary. If you have tickets to their concert at UBC Thunderbird Stadium, colour yourself lucky. This'll be one you can impress your future children with.





The Pacific National Exhibition is always a bittersweet celebration. It's an inescapable Vancouver tradition, but at the same time it signals the end of the summer, the last hurrah on which to tightly cling until your knuckles turn white. This year's event features a concert series, figure skating, and a haunted house, but if you've ever been before, you generally know what to expect: tons of food (most of which comes deep fried on a stick), gambling, games, carnies, tribute bands, and a midway for the kiddies. Plus, the rides at the PNE are generally more effective than the rides at other theme parks. Hear me out. People go on rollercoasters for the simulated thrill of danger. At the PNE, the danger isn't simulated; you actually fear for your life. Maybe that's not better, but it's more effective. The whole shebang spans from this Saturday until September 1.





Vancouver has one of the most prominent gay communities in all of North America. Vancouver also has one of the most prominent film industries in all of Canada (hence the nickname "Hollywood North"). It's only fitting, then, that the Vancouver Queer Film Festival is one of the biggest events of the summer. Second in size only to the Vancouver International Film Festival, VQFF brings the best of queer independent cinema to Vancouver's screens. The ten day festival starts tonight and they've got a good night of festivities in store. First is the opening gala of South Korean film Like a Virgin, the story of a chubby high school student who wants to save enough money for a sex change operation so he can be like his idol, Madonna, while at the same time mounting a wrestling career. So your average coming of age story. After the screening will be an opening gala party at Celebrities Night Club featuring "high-end 80s pop and locker rock" with free admission to anyone with a ticket stub or festival pass.





If you follow Canadian literature, even a little, you should know Michael Ondaatje. His style of atmospheric non-linear writing style has been hailed as both unique and revolutionary. Novels like Coming Through Slaughter, In The Skin of a Lion, and The English Patient have cemented him as an undisputed 20th and 21st century master of the written word. Tomorrow, as the initial event of the Sunshine Coast Festival of the Written Arts, Ondaatje will be doing a reading, a signing and a meet-and-greet. I would definitely go, but then again I'm a writer.





Everyone likes to laugh. Everyone except masochists. Darcy Michael, the headliner of Blue's Comedy at Capones tonight, is the best Vancouver has to offer. Straight off of wildly successful runs at Just For Laughs in Montreal and Toronto, Michael has honed his routine and is ready to kill you with laughter. Comedy nowadays is all about the comedian's racial or sexual identity. It can be funny, but if you tell an entire routine's worth of "my family's customs are strange and unusual" jokes, they're going to get old. That's why it's refreshing that despite Darcy Michael's homosexuality, his jokes aren't all "gay jokes". If you're a comedy fan then you should be at this show.





Vancouver hasn't had a shortage of festivals this season. But with the high ticket prices and corporate branding, it's hard not to think of mega-events like Pemberton as an exercise in consumerism rather than a celebration of music. That's why Sunday's Under The Volcano Festival is a breath of fresh air. Although there is a full schedule of music, performance, and spoken word, the focus is on "art and social change". This is the event of the year for left-wingers. And I don't mean 'voted for NDP in the last election' left-wingers. I mean 'let's remove all government and let anarchy rule' left-wingers. With workshops like "Laws, Labels & Liberation: Exposing The Labeling of Social Liberation Movements & Activists As 'Terrorists'," the radicals will be taken care of. But if you're just a fan of the arts, you'll also be taken care of. Music performances include Vancouver's own blues-rock duo The Pack A.D. and an acoustic set from Tegan & Sara. Admission is by donation, which means you can pay anywhere from $5 to $20, whatever your conscience will allow.





The Pixies were one of the most influential bands of the 80s alternative scene. Their heavy use of dynamics (i.e. loud-quiet-loud), quirky lyrics and instrumentation, and catchy male-female harmonies influenced hundreds of bands to come. In the 15 years since the band's initial breakup, frontman Black Francis changed his name to Frank Black and released 17 albums. 17 albums! Despite the his prolific output, his solo career has yet to reach the heights that the Pixies were able to soar to many years ago. So what does Frank Black do (aside from reuniting the Pixies)? He changes his name back to Black Francis. It wasn't just a publicity stunt; it was a sign of his changing musical direction. If you go to his concert at Media Club tonight (and I would suggest you do), you won't get the rootsy country-rock of his last few albums, but the skewed hook-heavy pop-rock that you loved way back in the late 80s and early 90s.





Unless you've been living under a rock on mars with your eyes closed and fingers in your ears while yelling "La La La. I'm not listening," Feist has been unavoidable over the last year. From the overwhelming breakaway success of her sophomore album The Reminder to the incessant iPod commercial featuring her song "1234", it was hard to go anywhere without hearing about the pint-sized singer-(sometimes)songwriter. If you feel like you haven't had enough of her yet, you can catch Feist tonight at Deer Lake Park. Just try and get "1234" out of your head after that. It'll be even harder than it is now.





Vancouverites have a lot of pride. A lot of Vancouver pride, yes. But also a lot of gay pride. With one of the most vital gay communities in North America, you'd better believe that a shit-ton of LGBTQ and sometimes Y's will come out (no pun intended). Last year brought over 100 parade entries and a crowd of over 385,000 spectators to the Village to watch and participate in the proceedings. Expect many half (and some full) naked people, rainbow colours, floats, pride, music, and generally a whole lot of spectacle out on the streets this weekend. Whether you're gay, straight, bi curious, or bi curious curious, you'll have a good time at this 30th anniversary Vancouver institution. Whether you want to go or not, it may be hard to avoid.









On an episode of the always brilliant 30 Rock Jack Donaghy, President of NBC, commissions a TV special, "The All American Tribute to Fireworks". Granted, the use of fireworks in Times Square for no apparent occasion is mistaken for a terrorist attack, but Jack's idea is actually quite genius. We're always looking for an occasion to set off fireworks: Canada Day, Victoria Day, Remembrance Day (I think). Why not just cut through the bullshit and celebrate what we want to celebrate: fireworks themselves! That's what the Celebration of Light is all about. Some of the leading fireworks designers (yes, there's such thing) come together to represent their countries and entertain some people in the process. Tonight's English Bay display will be brought to you by China, the home of the 2008 Olympics and multiple public relations gaffes. Will they win? Only one way to find out





You can admit it, you watch the Food Network. It's okay, I won't judge you. There's something about cooking shows that are oddly hypnotic, even if you have no plans to ever use the recipes. Here's your chance to take it one step further with the Chef's Studio Series, which starts tonight and continues on the last Tuesday of every month. The concept is to take notable chefs and let them showcase their knowledge in an interactive way. That's right, you'll be participating. Did I mention you'll also get to eat the finished product? Tonight's chef is Dean McClernon of Heritage Park on the River, who will offer Seared Scallops, Beef Tenderloin, a glass of Domaine de Chaberton, and a baked lemon pudding. It'll taste better because you helped make it.





Festival Season in Canada, once a poor reminder of the feebleness of the Canadian market, is now a testament to our influence. Case in point: the strong lineup at this year's inaugural Pemberton Festival. As resident geographer Scott Tavener put it, "I thought that the only thing north of Whistler was a pre-Columbus-style end of the world." The fact that acts as big as Nine Inch Nails, Jay-Z, Tom Petty, Coldplay, the Flaming Lips, Death Cab for Cutie, My Morning Jacket, and Interpol would risk toppling over the edge speaks wonders. Of course, festivals aren't all about the marquee talent; it's not unusual for a smaller act to steal the whole weekend. Safe money would be on Black Mountain, Buck 65, The Fiery Furnaces, or Matisyahu. It's a good time to be a Canadian music fan.






Vancouverites may or may not have heard the word "Vancouverism" used as a verb, let alone an architectural term, but the city-planning style has been making a splash worldwide. Case in point: the Vancouverism exhibit currently taking place in London's Trafalgar Square. Over the past decade, the word has been used to describe the process of re-developing urban cores with the use of high-rise, high-sustainable towers interspersed with low-rise buildings, parks and public spaces in order to maximize densely populated areas. In order to draw attention to the exhibit inside Trafalgar Square's Canada House, Vancouver's Bing Thom Architects have erected a massive tower made of recycled B.C. cedar wood. Instantly noticeable among the grey historic landmarks such as the National Gallery, the tower stands almost as a monument to our fair city. It's only a matter of time before you start hearing phrases like "lend me a few quid, eh".