Tai Mr Friedman, You’re My Hero! Kinky Friedman invades Vancouver, so get out your kippah By Jay Schreiber, Arts Editor aised in Austin, Texas but influencing a generation of ew-boys, Kinky Friedman is a genius, a poet, a musician and an all-around American renaissance man. Richard “Kinky” Friedman earned his name because of the “kink” in his dark, curly hair, but proved to live up to expectations as an odd-ball entertainer. As a young man, Kinky was a camp councillor at his parents’ family owned ranch, Echo Hill, where Kinky was raised and still lives to this day. In case you’ve never heard of his legacy (which most people haven’t), novels? “My political run...” Kinky began to say into the microphone before the audience interrupted with cheering “...you know,” Kinky continued “I get that response from everywhere except Texas.” Performing songs from his 12-disk portfolio of music, Friedman was one of the first live acts on Saturday Night Live in 1976 and is also the only musician to have a live performance DVD of an Austin City Limits broadcast. “Politics to me basically breaks down to this” Kinky ranted “There’s poly which means many, and ticks which means blood sucking creatures.” Reading passages from “Willie Nelson told me before | set out on tour that If | intend to get laid, make it with a horse so that if | strike out, at least I’ll get a ride home” -Kinky Friedman the Kinkster began his music career in 1971, with the formation of his group Kinky Friedman and the Texas Jew-boys. For a brief example of his odd-ball southern humour, one should listen to such classics as “Asshole from El Paso”, “Sold America”, or fan- favourite “The Ballad of Charles Whitman”. In 2006, Kinky ran for Governor of Texas as an independent and geared %12.6 of the vote, not a bad feat from a country singer whose main source of popularity is making fun of the state which he lives. In addition to writing music, Kinky Friedman has his own line of cigars, neckties and politically correct salsa from Echo Hill. Yes, he’s done it all, oh, by the way, did I mention he’s written and published over 29 8 his latest novel Heroes From a Texas Childhood, Friedman expresses what it was like for him growing up and the political state around him. This being his first tour of the west coast, Kinky had a lot on his mind when coming to Vancouver. “Willie Nelson told me before I set out on tour” Kinky embraced the crowd, “that if I intend to get laid, make it with a horse so that if I strike out, at least ’ll get a ride home”. The whole night, Friedman was chatting up anyone that could get his attention to congratulate him on his political run, comment on the set he played, get an autograph, or even just share a smoke with Kinky. He is always the man of the night, no matter where he goes. Quote me sissy! Scott Pilgrim vs. The Mainstream The subspace highway is about to get a whole lot more crowded By Cody Klyne It’s a pretty standard affair. Boy likes girl. Girl likes boy. Girl’s deranged super-powered ex-boyfriends vow to destroy boy. Boy fights for her honor... lasers and explosions... no, wait, argh... okay so it’s not quite that simple. Scott Pilgrim is a series of six pocket-sized graphic novels drawn, penned, and wholly birthed by Bryan Lee O’Malley that have long been the indie-darling book of choice. Chronicling the misadventures-- and general stumbling-through-life escapades--of titular character Scott Pilgrim, the series’ consistently sharp and subtle handling of the nerdy source material it constantly pulls from (video games, the indie music scene, being an awkward 20- something) has gained the books a loyal following since the first volume, Scott Pilgrim’s Precious Little Life, which debuted back in 2004. From the smarmy, good- intentioned gay roommate Wallace Wells, to Scott’s knowingly bad and not caring band, Sex Bob-omb, the world and characters O’ Malley has created around the character, though unmistakably surreal in many ways, seem to jell together in an honest and ironically real way. And, sure, I’m probably hypersensitive to the fact that the series is based in Canada, it’s something you don’t see often ina book of this format and popularity... even if it IS Toronto. So, with the irresistibly alluring femme fatale Ramona Flowers acting as the catalyst behind the action and drama—as well as the target of Scott’s affections— much of the meaningful plot and character development in these books revolves around her back story. It’s here that another of the series’ strengths shines through in the ineffable hold that Ramona has over Scott and how easy it was, at least for this reader, to accept the nonsensical relationship as something that was meant to be. Once more, it’s Ramona who pushes Scott as a character, prying a depth of emotion out of this disinterested lump of a man-child that would otherwise remain buried underneath sarcasm and an old parka. Anyone reading this that’s familiar with SP is probably shrieking “BUT WHAT ABOUT THE BATTLES,” and they’d be right to be cross with me at this point for not having mentioned them since my opening. They’re fun, zany, punchy, and slathered in slapstickiness. That said, I think they’re also arguably one of the most divisive elements of the series. Out of context the battles are still totally nuts, but I think people might be a little more quick to write the overarching story off as childish the moment the first explosive- packed-punch is thrown. Without the connection to Scott and his struggle to prove himself worthy of Ramona, it can come across as silliness in the negative sort of way. With the summer blockbuster starring Michael Cera set for a collision course with theatres on August 13th, and with the last paper entry in the series having been released on July 20th, now is the perfect time to dig into what Joss Whedon described as being “‘the best book ever.” Whedon is rarely wrong people... watch Dollhouse if you question as to why I say rarely. And with that, I wish you luck Mr.Pilgrim; may you warm the cold and fickle heart of the mainstream monster.