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What’s On Around Town (June 12 -— July 17)

 

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Tyler Bradford
Culture Editor

Concerts:

The summer is (finally) starting to heat up
and musical delights abound. The big event
to check out of course is the 17th annual
Vancouver International Jazz Festival, which
runs from June 21 to July 1. With tons of free
events, including shows in Gastown on the
22 and 23, at the Roundhouse on June 29
and 30, and a Canada Day celebration at
Granville Island, there’s no reason not to
go out and enjoy some great jazz perform-
ances.

On the paid concerts side of the festival,
the Vogue Theatre offers up some of the
festival’s biggest shows, including legendary
piano minimalist Anmad Jamal on the 23,
guitar deity Bill Frisell (with dobro ace Greg
Leitz) June 25 and the return of the Brad
Mehldau Trio June 28. As always, the
Vancouver East Cultural Centre offers up
some of the best in European influenced
jazz.

For those into the "New Groove" side of the
festival, the concert not-to-be-missed is the
amazing double bill of Antibalas Afrobeat
Orchestra and Sex Mob, June 26 at the
Commodore. Sex Mob’s performance last
year was the highlight of the festival and this
year’s teaming with Ninja Tune artists
Antibalas who layer funky polyrhythmic
beats with monstrous horns and furious
lyrics should be heroic. Other "New Groove"
highlights include the James Carter Organ
Trio at Performance Works on June 25,
Bullfrog (featuring Kid Koala) at the
Commodore June 27 and the Chicago
Underground Quartet at Performance Works
on June 30.

lf jazz isn’t your thing, that’s really too bad
for you, but there are still lots of gigs going

on in the city. If you like hip-hop, June 13 cei Sud

finds Souls of Mischief (of the Hierog
crew) at the Purple Onigg
make up for their cang
make up Gate; ON all

Duckling on July 18.
Fear not rock and roll disciples, there’s
music on the horizon for you too. Seattle
products Bratmobile team with local country
sensations Tennessee Twin for a show at the
Pic on June 15. Blues-pop queen Bonnie
Raitt plays at the Orpheum on June 16. June
22 finds 20 Miles (John Spence Blues
Explosion bassist, Judah Bauer's side project)
at the Railway Club. Mellow southern rocker,
John Mayer plays a gig at Richards June 24.
Meanwhile across town that night, the
Coliseum plays host to X-FM’s Hullabaloo
featuring Papa Roach, Jimmy Eat World,
Swollen Members and Theory of a Dead
Man. Don’t expect a review for that one.

Metal asskickers The Fucking Champs
(who are no doubt, rock and roll’s next big
hype) have plans to tear Richards apart on
June 26. I’d be remiss for not mentioning the
MOR double bill of the Goo Goo Dolls and
Five for Fighting at the QE Theatre on the
28—1| suppose everyone sells out for a price
(not that there’s anything wrong with that).

The Railway Club is the place to be for all
your roots-rock needs including Hinterland,
Softcore and Parlour Steps on June 27. If
that weren’t enough local roots action for
you, July 5 and 6 are the CD Release party
for Carolyn Mark and her Roomates. Yee
Haw!

In the blast from the past category,
Canadian folk-rock hero Bruce Cockburn
plays at the Malkin Bowl in Stanley Park on
July 7 with Ron Sexsmith opening. Crowded
House and Split Endz frontman Neil Finn
plays a gig at the Vogue July 10 in support of
his new disc, One All and early 90’s riot grris
(and Pixies side project) The Breeders have
gotten the band together for a tour that
includes a stop at the Commodore on July
14. Rumors abound about
Kleiner/Battles double bill at Ms. T’s gna
13, but that’s just scenester speculatio

    

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hear about the Warped tour and the Folk
Festival.

Movies:

Summer blockbusters continue with the
June 14 release of The Bourne Identity star-
ring uber-hottie Matt Damon as an amnesiac
former spy. Based on Robert Ludlum’s novel,
there should be lots of excitement. Opening
the same weekend is Windtalkers starring
Nicolas Cage in a WWII drama directed by
John Woo. Don’t get your hopes up kids.
Opening June 21 is Steven Speilberg’s
latest, the sci-fi Minority Report starring Tom
Cruise. Get your big bag of popcorn ready.

If the big screen blockbuster action isn’t
your style, check out Pink Floyd In
Wonderland at the Blinding Light!! June 21
and 22. This latest installment in synched up
mischief finds Walt Disney’s classic Alice in
Wonderland synched up with Pink Floyd’s
The Wall. Follow Alice down the rabbit hole
and into uncharted territory for an incredible
evening of astounding moments of synchro-
nized serendipity and an entirely new way of
looking at both the music and the movie.
Also at The Blinding Light!! is the Canadian
Premiere of Michael Dean’s D./.¥. OR DIE:
How to Survive as an Independent Artist July
5 and 6. This intriguing film explores the
methods and motivations of independent
American artists working in different genres
and mediums. Profiling a fascinating group
of icons and unknowns working in various
media including print, film, graphic art, per-
formance art and music, the three-dozen
interviewees are mavericks that operate out-
side of any "studio system", are beholden to
no one, and produce influential, quali
regardless of a continuous pay check.
Also worth checkin ng.oubis Ci /