et ee ee eee es ee December Picks Exams are done, and you finally have some time to yourself. Now is the time for hitting up the bar scene and checking out some of the best live acts that Vancouver has to offer this holiday season. These are the official live music picks for your inter-semester break and 2009 finale. e Wednesday, December 9 Lady Gaga plays the Queen Elizabeth Theatre for a three-night stand which is entirely sold out to the fangirls of Vancouver. If you really feel like lady pop and iiber-fantastiche techno dance parties then this is exactly where you'll be. e Friday, December 11 Skinny magazine is hosting a Christmas party at the El Dorado for Vancouver’s first punk band The Furies, so check that out if you’re a fan of old school. Former Black Halos lead singer Billy Hopeless joins the bill with his new band The Bonito’s, who play their first gig on the same stage e Sunday, December 13 Do you like electro alternative indie music? Go to the Commodore ballroom for the Zero Seven show, it’ll chill you out man! e Monday, December 14 After Zero Seven’s mellow set, Brazilian vocalist and guitarist Bebel Gilberto brings to the stage tunes sung in her native tongue. Bebel doesn’t come by often, so if you’re a fan, then this is a show you do not want to miss e Tuesday, December 15 Keeping with the Commodore’s three-night run, Sloan rock the house tonight in case you missed the other eight shows they played in Vancouver during 2009. Missing this one isn’t the worst thing in the world, you’ll just have to wait till next February when they come back. e Wednesday, December 16 YouTube star and confessed pothead John Lajoie may or may not be playing the Vogue Theatre this night. The last time the stoner had a show booked in Vancouver, he ended up missing it after taking a wrong turn in Oregon. Let’s hope he can point himself north and find his way to Van City. e Thursday, December 17 ; Check out original Vancouver rock group, The Twitch rock out at Princeton Pub this night. Drinks are delicious and the group has never played a bad set so this will be a fun night. e Saturday, December 19 Vancouver based bands The Pointed Sticks play a set with Nardwuar and his outfit The Evaporators, who are dishing out their music stylings at the Rio Theatre. e New Years Eve—Thursday, December 31 The one place to be to ring in 2010 is at Vancouver’s oldest bar, The Railway Club, right in the heart of downtown Vancouver. Doors cover band The Unknown Soldiers are rocking the stage around midnight, and unless you can think of a better way to bring in the new year, this is your best bet. Take five with five classic holiday movies Jay Schreiber ®, arts editor What’s more festive than sitting around with your loved ones this holiday season and watching seasonal gift day movies? Here’s a top five of the must see holiday films for your semester break. £ White Christmas It wouldn’t be Christmas without snot, don’t you think? Bing Crosby and Danny Kay star in this holiday favourite about finding love, Christmas spirit, snowy Vermont and the big band era. Still a classic 50 years later. If Bing Crosby’s silky smooth voice doesn’t charm you, then maybe seeing him prance around like a show girl with a giant blue feather in his hair is good for a few giggles. Nightmare before Christmas A newer addition, Tim Burton brings a sick and twisted adventure of parallel universes that is warmed up for all audiences. A modern day classic in Christmas animation, this film displays the ongoing battle for popularity between Halloween and December 25. Burton’s genius makes this film even more watchable, but it’s the subtle humour and musical numbers that keep us entertained. The Hebrew Hammer More of a holiday film than anything, this B-movie has the same budget as a Bagel shop, and relentlessly rips into all religious beliefs. Focusing on a Hebrew private eye, the Hebrew Hammer has to face the dreaded Santa Claus’ son who takes over all of Christmas. This film has non-stop laughs and is becoming a holiday classic already Scrooged Yes, Charles Dickens classic A Christmas Carol is always _ heeded around the end of December but I prefer this version best. Bill Murray plays a tight-fisted businessman who goes through his Christmas past, present and future in order to turn him into a better human being. Great acting and Murray’s humour makes it all the better. A Charlie Brown Christmas It’s poorly animated, the soundtrack is ultra low budget and the whole thing is only a half hour long, yet this is one of the most essential programs to the holidays. Watch it for snoopy’s figure skating skills, watch it for Linus and Lucy’s chemistry, or watch it for the true meaning of Christmas. And don’t forget to pick up a good old-fashioned aluminum Christmas tree!