Anthony Augustine

May 18th - Winnipeg Free Press

Fri, 18 May 2012 00:00:00 -0500

Q&A: Indie Game Directors James Swirsky and Lisanne Pajot

WHILE their success with HBO at Sundance and all the critical accolades that have followed may have come to a surprise to some, Indie Game: The Movie’s James Swirsky and Lisanne Pajot have been building momentum from their first Kickstarter project.

The Winnipeg filmmakers quietly built a following and fanbase for their film using two successful crowdsourced projects, interaction through Twitter and documenting all aspects of their project along the way on the web.

Their exploration into the indie game world follows a number of designers at different levels of their career. Games like Jonathan Blow’s Braid, Phil Fish’s Fez, and Edmund McMillen and Tommy Refenes’ Super Meat Boy may not get the type of attention high-budget blockbusters like Grand Theft Auto, Halo or other titles backed by major cash may get, but they are a growing part of the video game industry and represent a way of doing things that wasn’t really possible a few years ago.

Grantland’s Davy Rothbar sits down with the local duo — who handled all the camerawork, directing, writing, editing, promoting and anything else the film needed to be successful — to talk about their love of indie games, the obstacles game designers face in this highly competitive yet artistically driven industry, and some of the challenges indie filmmakers like themselves face in getting this type of movie made.

20 Sites Every Cool Mom Should Know

EVERY mom is hip in her own way, but if you’re a mother and feel you need to broaden the type of websites you’re checking out regularly, Mashable has collected 20 Sites Every Cool Mom Should Know. From sites that will turn your kid’s drawings into stuffed animals to Mint.com, which will help you create budgets and stick to them, to current buzz site of the moment, Pinterest, moms of all ages should find something new and interesting on this list.

One drawback is that some of the websites only do business in the United States, which is a bit of a disappointment, but comes with the territory when you live north of the border.

Coldplay — (You Gotta) Fight for Your Right (To Party!)

THERE has been a lot written about the passing of one of the founding member of the Beastie Boys, Adam Yauch, better known as MCA. Tributes to the genre- and generation-defining band — who merged the immediacy of their hardcore punk background with the block-party vibe of emerging Brooklyn hip-hop culture and pretty much anything else that was cool over the past 20-plus years — have come from a diverse range of artists, demonstrating just what a monumental impact they’ve had on modern music. MCA, Mike D and Ad-Rock have a legacy that will only continue to grow as new generations get turned onto their music.

One of the first tributes to hit cyberspace was from Coldplay’s Chris Martin — his stripped-down piano version of the group’s 1986’s anthem, (You Gotta) Fight for Your Right (To Party!), was recorded the day that Yauch passed away at Coldplay’s concert at the Holiday Bowl.

May 18th - Uptown Magazine

Fri, 18 May 2012 00:00:00 -0500

Surf’s Up Here
If you regularly fire up VBS.tv’s HI Shredability doc series and dream about being a longboarder or simply just want to see some insane athletes on their quest for waves, you may want to check out Surf’s Up Here, Vice Magazine’s new look at Canada’s emerging surf culture. You may not know it yet, but Canadian cold-water surfing is starting to get a lot of attention right now and this new VBS.tv series will bring you right to the action on both coasts as hardcore wave chasers search for the perfect breaks in some of the gnarliest spots you can imagine.

MyTube60

MyTube60 lets you view, edit and string together clips from YouTube to create a seemingly endless supply of digital power hours that will not only destroy your productivity at the computer, but offer another interesting-yet-addictive way to consume and discover content.

30 Must-Follow Twitter Accounts for Baseball Fanatics
If you’re a fan of MLB and are also on Twitter (or even if you hate social media and just want to cyber-stalk some of the must-read feeds), Mashable has collected 30 Twitter Accounts for Baseball Fanatics. From players to reporters to people who know way too many baseball stats, these feeds should help you keep up to date with what’s happening in the majors.

MP3 of the Week: The Hood Internet – The Mixtape Volume 6
The Chicago mashup kings of The Hood Internet are back with another mixtape packed with indie noisemakers and hip hop heavyweights, with everyone from Mayer Hawthorne and Wiz Khalifa to Neon Indian and A-Trak rubbing shoulders on the sixth volume of their popular mixtape series. Maybe mashups aren’t dead — they just need to be handled by The Hood Internet guys.

Video of the Week: Greg MacPherson – Party at Greg’s
Cinematic/Scars founder and No Label Collective member Nicholas Friesen has created a wonderful hand-drawn video for local working-class rock ’n’ roller Greg MacPherson’s latest cut, Party at Greg’s. This is GMac’s first video, despite fighting the good fight in the music industry for the past 18 years. Watch for plenty of Winnipeg cameos, including Pip Skid, Cannon Bros. and Greg’s partner in Disintegration Records, Cam Loeppky. It’s going to be tough to top this stellar debut video. Hopefully local music fans won’t have to wait nearly as long for his second.

May 10th - Winnipeg Free Press

Thu, 10 May 2012 16:15:00 -0500

Skrillex Tour Hits Winnipeg

The last time Grammy-winning wunderkind Sonny Moore, a.k.a. Skrillex, was in town in February 2011, he was still flying under most people’s radar. He was part of a tour that was headlined by Motley Crüe’s Tommy Lee and DJ Aero and included both Porter Robinson (who will be at the Garrick June 18) and Sofi.

Some Winnipeggers got to see Moore up close and personal in a relatively small club, before his notoriety really exploded. That’s all changed, and Skrillex is the undisputed king of electronic music in North America right now. With a visceral live show that embraces the chaotic immediacy of punk, the laser-like precision of machine-tooled sounds and the shock-and-awe impact of modern bass music, smashed together into an ADD-inducing concoction with no room for subtlety, Moore has risen to where he is because he understands how to whip a crowd into a frenzy and appeal to all the right emotions.

In a post-Napster world, where music is essentially free and artists rely on touring and a highly developed network of fans to survive, the former hardcore singer has it figured out almost as well as anyone these days. With nearly three million Twitter followers, over five million fans on Facebook and millions of YouTube views, the fact Skrillex is on a major label isn’t even important. The Grammy might be nice recognition, but it’s a very, very small piece of the puzzle. While some of his fans purchase his music, stream it online with through paid services or go out of their way to buy everything he does, the majority are going to download it free or listen to it on-demand via YouTube. Hopefully they spend their hard-earned cash to see him live and maybe buy a T-shirt.

Everyone seems to acknowledge this is the new reality, except for the major labels. That inability to change with the times is the reason they can barely keep their heads above water. Instead of worrying about the brave new world the Internet has unleashed, guys like Skrillex hit the road and gain new fans by delivering the type of live show that connects to people in a way that an MP3 or YouTube clip never can.

Even though times are tougher for some artists in this new paradigm, Moore isn’t about to monetize everything he does, recently turning down a truckload of cash to have his music appear in the new G.I. Joe blockbuster.

Just because he turned down big cash from Hollywood doesn’t mean he isn’t going spend money on his videos. In anticipation of his busy festival season, the 24-year-old electronic star has teamed up with U.S. house producer Kaskade for a supersized electro monster called Lick It that will appeal to the amped-up crowds he’ll be playing for. The video has already racked up half a million views on YouTube.

Skrillex and his Full Flex Express tour should be one of the wildest electronic shows of the year. Based on the 1970 Festival Express tour that featured Janis Joplin, the Grateful Dead and the Band, the tour puts Grimes, Diplo, Pretty Lights, KOAN Sound and Tokimonsta on a private passenger train that will roll across Canada this summer. The tour stops in Winnipeg at Shaw Park on July 18. The first 1,000 tickets will be $49.50 (plus service fees), with the rest going for $69.50 plus fees. VIP tickets will be available for $109.50 plus fees. Tickets go on sale Saturday at Ticketmaster, Urban Bakery and Vantage Studios.

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition May 10, 2012 E3

May 10th - Uptown Magazine

Thu, 10 May 2012 16:08:47 -0500

2012 Stylus Awards Nominees
Nominees for the annual Stylus Awards (no connection to the University of Winnipeg’s Stylus Magazine) were recently announced and a couple Winnipeg DJs and a radio show from CKUW are in the running this year. Dow Jones and DLO are nominated for the Central DJ of the Year, competing against a strong field of party rockers, including Ottawa’s Critik, Drastik and Illo, and Kitchener’s White Gold. Dow Jones is also up for the DJ Mixtape of the Year for his Free Trade Agreement project that connected MCs and producers from around North America. CKUW’s long-running Quadrafunk (Friday nights at 9 p.m. with new host DJ Gnat, formerly helmed by Kasm, The Seed Organization and DJ Redworm) is nominated in the College Radio Show of the Year category. Quadrafunk has been on the air since CKUW launched in 1999 and has been a staple on Friday nights here in Winnipeg, providing a broad and eclectic mix of dub, broken beat, drum n’ bass, downtempo, reggae, dubstep and modern bass. The seventh annual awards will be announced on May 26 at the Danforth Music Hall in Toronto.

Space Channel: Bring Back Todd and the Book of Pure Evil
TV shows get axed all the time. Sometimes the ratings suck or the budgets are way too high and the network is looking for places to trim the fat. Other times the show fails to connect with a large enough audience yet has a small-but-devoted fanbase (see: Jericho, Arrested Development). Despite being picked up in foreign countries such as Denmark, Sweden, Norway and Germany, cult favourite Todd and the Book of Pure Evil got chopped by the Space Channel just as it was heading into its third season. While there isn’t an elaborate fan protest like there was when Jericho was cancelled (viewers shipped over 40,000 pounds of peanuts to CBS’ headquarters), you can sign an online petition to help try and save the show. For the past two seasons, Todd and the Book of Pure Evil was filmed in Winnipeg and produced by Frantic Films.

Video of the Week: Blood Orange – Champagne Closet
One of the acts everyone seemed to be talking about after the Winter Music Conference in Miami was former Test Icicles member Devonté Hynes’ new project, Blood Orange. Check out the whimsical video for Champagne Closet and his 2011 Blood Orange debut, Coastal Grooves.

MP3 of the Week: Telephoned – The Vow (Last Call Edition)
Telephoned is a New York City-based electronic pop duo featuring producer/DJ Sammy Bananas and singer Maggie Horn. Taking a postmodern twist on pop and club tracks, the surprisingly underrated duo will make its third appearance in Winnipeg at The Greenroom on May 24. Download a reworked version of The Vow.

Movement Preparty: Dan Bain (Uptown Magazine)

Thu, 10 May 2012 16:03:32 -0500

Movement 2010 was a monumental event for Detroit’s Dan Bain. Although he had been buying records since the late 1990s, DJing and promoting shows in the Motor City since 2001, and has been involved with the Paxahau crew and Movement festival for a number of years as its logistics analyst and resident DJ, it was his opening slot on the Beatport stage two years ago that really validated all the hard work the self-professed vinyl lover and deep house aficionado had put in over the years.

“There was part of me that was thinking about the context of being the first act on the stage to take a more dialed-back approach, but then there was the other part of me that was like, ‘I can start out dialed back, but this might be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,’” Bain explains over the phone. “I really just wanted it to be an expression of me and the stuff that I find engages people.”

Standing out in a sea of DJs that included heavyweights such as the Blackberry-sponsored Martinez Brothers, Dirtybird’s Claude VonStroke and after-hours queen Cassy, Bain kicked off the weekend with one of the best sets of the festival. People were chilling on the grass in the sun near the Detroit River while others were dancing like nothing else mattered. Every track he played was perfect for that moment. The vibe was loose, but focused on the deep, soulful and techy moments in house music. His set had all the right elements to be memorable.

Along with creating a buzz at Movement, the performance also gained a new audience once it was uploaded to Soundcloud, helping push Bain further into the spotlight. Although the gig was everything he could have hoped for, success brought its own challenges.

“I had to prove myself again after that. Anyone can throw down one good set,” Bain says.

Indeed, the experienced DJ was entering new territory. Detroit has a rich history of electronic music but that doesn’t make it an easy place to develop as an artist. Over the next two years, Bain cultivated relationships that would help expand his network and prove his Movement performance wasn’t a fluke — or that his booking on the Beatport stage was because of his relationship with Paxahau.

As a result, 2012 has been one of Bain’s busiest years as a DJ, with gigs and Movement pre-parties in San Francisco, Chicago, Minneapolis, St. Louis and now Winnipeg.

While he has taken a shot at production at various times over the years, Bain also started spending more time in the studio, along with tapping out melodies at work on his iPhone during his smoke breaks.

“I had a brief dalliance with writing stuff in my early years, which was really revealing. Once I started really getting down to the nuts and bolts of tracks, I really started to appreciate them much more.”

Although working in the studio was fulfilling on some levels, Bain soon realized he was treading water and not progressing as quickly as he had hoped.

“I got to a juncture where I really realized how much time was required to get the level of quality I was looking for, and the timing just wasn’t right for me.

“Since then, I have had a few hot spells where I sit down and hammer out things until something discouraging would happen and I would shelve it for a while,” he continues. “In the last 10 months, I have gotten back into it. The iPhone is the real missing link for me. I can take an idea, capture it instantly and take it back into the studio and then really refine it. It was a really big change for me. It’s been growing like mad from there and it’s good to be working on original material again.”

DAN BAIN
May 11, 9 p.m., Boa Lounge

Winnipeg Free Press - May 3rd

Thu, 03 May 2012 17:42:18 -0500

Apartment Therapy

IF you live in a smaller space, but are interested in renovations, design ideas, cool customizations, style tips and DIY projects to help make the most out of every square foot of your apartment or condo, this site offers a wide range of topics specifically geared towards you. Sure, people living in houses can probably grab a few helpful hints for their spaces, but the articles, projects and tips are primarily designed for apartment living.

From space-saving tips that will keep your place from looking like a candidate for Hoarders to lighting projects that will give your rooms a new dynamic to helping you figure out what to do with your balcony that doesn’t involve using it as storage space, Apartment Therapy puts a wealth of information at your fingertips.

The new ‘Instagram for Video’?

AFTER the sale of social photo app Instagram for a billion dollars in cash and stocks to Facebook (the social media giant essentially purchased its main competitor in uploading photos on the web), everyone is looking for the next big app to explode onto the scene. Many believe video-sharing apps like Socialcam and Viddy are shaping up to be the big players in this game.

Socialcam is backed by a range of investors, most notably, Jay-Z’s Roc Nation. Rapidly adding 5.5 million new users in just 11 days, the company’s quick growth shows that users are eager to have a place to share their videos.

The other new kid on the block, Viddy, has also been experiencing rapid growth, racking up four million users over the weekend and proving that the race to be Instagram for video is far from over.

Radio Time Machine

POWERED by music-streaming service Rdio (you need an account to listen to full songs; you can sign up for a free trial), the Radio Time Machine lets you hear how pop music and the Billboard Top 100 have changed from 1940 to the present day. A fascinating way to discover trends in music over the last 70 years.

What’s Renewed, What’s Cancelled, and What’s Still In Between?

IT’S that time of year again, where the networks sharpen their axes, bring out their chequebooks and start their spring cleaning. Did your favourite show survive? Not sure if you’ll ever find out what happens on Fox’s Alcatraz or if Community will be safe for another year? TV.com breaks down who has been renewed, who has been cancelled and who is on the bubble.

Uptown Magazine - May 3rd

Thu, 03 May 2012 17:36:39 -0500

Sign Up for Life
After a year in development, the provincial government recently announced the launch of a new online database for Manitobans to register their desire to donate their tissue and organs after their passing. While the database doesn’t replace the old blue donor cards, it’s a way to reach out to younger people who may be more inclined to sign up for something online rather than by filling out a piece of paper. Along with giving doctors a tool to quickly access donor records, the site’s aim is also to raise awareness about organ and tissue donation in the province. The new website is connected to social media such as Twitter and Facebook, making it easy to share your wishes with friends and family. Even if you don’t feel comfortable posting your decision to the web, it is important to discuss your intentions about donating with your family. About 3,000 Manitobans signed up during the first four days the site was live and the number continues to grow. Why should you think about giving the gift of life? Over 4,000 Canadians are waiting for a life-saving organ transplant and, in 2010, 247 people on the list lost their lives when a match couldn’t be found in time. Remember, one organ donor can save up to eight lives; giving others hope, health and a vibrant future that wouldn’t be possible without your simple yet selfless decision to be a donor. The whole online process takes a few minutes and the only requirements are that you’re 18 years old and have access to your nine-digit Manitoba Health card number.

MP3 of the Week: Housse De Racket – Chateau (Hey Champ Remix)
If you missed its amazing under-the-radar gig at The Pyramid last month, it’s time to get acquainted with French duo Housse De Racket and its indie dance vibe. Chicago’s Hey Champ remixes HDR’s cut, Chateau, giving it a post-disco sheen that works on the patio, your iPod or the dance floor.

Video of the Week: Propagandhi – Hadron Collision (Live)
The reigning king of thrash punk, Propagandhi, tears through an unreleased track apparently called Hadron Collision at the recent Red River Rampage concert at The Burt. Three songs from the band’s anticipated new album are already floating around video-sharing sites in various forms, including this blazing cut featuring former I Spy singer Todd Kowalski on lead vocals.

Inspired by Hipster Branding.

Wed, 02 May 2012 22:06:58 -0500

Inspired by Hipster Branding.

April 26th - Uptown Magazine

Thu, 26 Apr 2012 10:12:02 -0500

Grantland’s Humblebrag
The humblebrag — defined by Urban Dictionary as “a form self promotion where the promoter thinks he is, almost subliminally, bragging about himself in the context of a humble statement” — is a skill that has been hyper-developed by our increasing addiction to social media, status updates and the desire to create an online image for ourselves. While humblebraggers come from all walks of life, the celebrity humblebrag is a separate beast. The professional procrastinators over at Grantland have found a new way to waste time, scouring the net for the best in humblebrags and creating monthly power rankings. Parks and Recreation writer Harris Wittels has even convinced someone to create a book based on the column.

Old People Writing on a Restaurant’s Facebook Page
Another Tumblr that feeds off the continually expanding digital culture gap the Interweb is creating between the old and the young and, often, those who understand the appropriate use of technology and social media, and those who don’t. Or maybe people just post a lot of dumb shit on the web and this is one of those collections.

MP3 of the Week: Dubmatix – Happy and Deep Dark Dub
(Subatomic Sound System Instrumental Remix)
What started a modest boutique label whose goal was to document and promote Winnipeg’s burgeoning electronic music scene has grown over the past 11 years into a respected outlet for not only Manitoba-based producers, but Canadian and international talent, as well. Balanced Records’ forward-thinking approach to downtempo, modern bass, broken beat, reggae, dubstep and house has helped shaped its eclectic sound over the past decade. With 34 releases, 317 tracks, 52 artists who span the globe and even one Juno, Balanced has managed to survive, persevere and grow during a very difficult time for the music industry. To celebrate the past 11 years, the release of its new Northern Faction 5 digital compilation and what lies ahead for the hard-working label, the Balanced crew is throwing a party at Pop Soda’s (625 Portage Ave.). The Seed Organization, Kasm, Billy Rockwell, Redworm and Theo Tzu are all on the bill; admission is $10 at the door. Along with throwing an intimate party that will surely sell out (get there early), Balanced is also giving away NYC’s Subatomic Sound System’s instrumental remix of Toronto’s Dubmatix through Soundcloud.

Video of the Week: Felix Cartal - Don’t Turn On The Lights featuring Polina
One of Dim Mak’s Canadian connections, Felix Cartal is back in town to perform at Republic Nightclub on May 4 in support of his new full-length, Different Faces. Cartal’s supersized synths, booming percussion and shock-and-awe bass lines should make him an instant favourite of the Friday-night crowd at the Exchange-area bar. Resident DJ Hollywood Hype, along with Cincinnati’s DJ Clockwork, will also be performing. Tickets are $10 at the door.

April 26th - Winnipeg Free Press

Thu, 26 Apr 2012 10:02:41 -0500

Comedian to Watch 250 Netflix Movies This Month, Wants Your Picks

Comedian Mark Malkoff has made a name for himself doing weird, attention grabbing stunts on the Internet. You may remember him from his YouTube videos, his Celebrity Sleepovers project (where he spent the night in various Hollywood stars’ homes), or from the time he moved into Ikea. Malkoff, a former writer for The Colbert Report, has a new project where he will try to get the most out of his Netflix account over the next month. “I’m curious to see how many films a Netflix subscriber can watch in a month,” he said. “Even more I want to see the best value I can get for my $7.99. If I watch 250 films, that works out to about 2.9 cents per film.” With over 400 hours of streaming video to watch during the project, Malkoff is taking suggestions through his Twitter and Facebook account and will be documenting the project on his blog. He is also trying to get some actors to watch some of their films with him, so don’t be surprised if he has some company over the next month.

Don’t Buy This Stuff Right Now

Buying new electronics can be a tricky task. When is the right time to upgrade that old TV that is taking up half your living room, that cellphone that can barely surf the Internet or that laptop that you have been wanting to get rid of for the last three years? You may not care about getting the latest, greatest gadgets, but there is value in knowing when the best time to buy certain electronics is. You could go out and blow your hard-earned cash, only to find out you could have got a thinner, faster, cheaper version of the TV, phone, laptop or digital camera if you had only waited a bit longer. Technology moves very quickly these days, but that doesn’t mean you have to get stuck into a cycle of overpaying for devices just because you didn’t do a bit of research beforehand. The person in the store or the website you are buying from only has one goal — to make sure you go home with something. Gizmodo quick breaks down when the best time to purchase electronics. This is the type of information the salesperson in the store isn’t going to offer to you on your shopping trip.

Pinvolve and Pinview

Whenever social media giant Facebook rolls out a new design, there is the inevitable backlash. The recent switch to Timeline’s incorporate features and design is no different. Users looking to have something unique, especially those that are addicted to the new web phenomenon, Pinterest, may want to try out two new web apps that allow you to view your Facebook page in a Pinterest board style view. Both Pinvolve and Pinview offer a unique ways to interact and view content on Facebook and might be a good alternative for those users who can’t get used to the Timeline design, but want something different from their social networking experiences.

April 19th - Uptown Magazine

Thu, 19 Apr 2012 11:36:00 -0500

Deleting Your Instagram Account? Here’s How to Save Your Pics
Just a week ago, Instagram was a scrappy photo-sharing tool and fledgling social network that was quickly gaining ground. The service had a devoted fanbase of Apple users and was poised to take over the Android market share after racking up one million downloads on the first day it was available and surpassing five million new users within a few days. The next thing you know, Mark Zuckerberg and his mountains of Facebook cash have paid a billion dollars for a company that isn’t even two years old and creates no revenue. In reaction, some early adopters and Facebook haters now want to delete their Instagram accounts and take their photos elsewhere. (It’s sort of like when a band hits it big and some of its fans are too cool to go see it on its next tour.) For some people, Instagram’s exclusivity made it appealing. It was a mobile-only platform. It was only available to Apple. It made them feel special. Even during the initial flood of Android users, some Instragram purists were already looking for a new home; the sale to Facebook and all it represents seems to be the final straw. If you are thinking about deleting your Instagram account but are looking to save the pictures you took, Mashable breaks down your options.

Text From Dog

This brilliant new Tumblr is just what it sounds like, and it’s already in the running for Funniest Site of the Year.

MP3 of the Week – Ryan Elliot
Ryan Elliot has always been synonymous with techno. In this new contribution to Mix Mag, the former Motor City DJ dips into his influential hometown’s history and his new life in Berlin to create the kind of timeless-yet-forward-thinking mix he has become known for.

Video of the Week: Blank Capsule – Compulsion
After laying low for a while, former Winnipegger vitaminsforyou (Bryce Kushnier) is involved in a project called Blank Capsule with Ottawa’s Jokers of the Scene (Linus Booth and Chris Macintyre) that is already creating a buzz. Along with this creepy CCTV video for its first single, Compulsion, the trio has released a seven-inch EP. Booth and Macintyre will be in town as JOTS and DJing Big Dancing at Ozzy’s on April 26.

April 12th - Winnipeg Free Press

Thu, 12 Apr 2012 08:15:00 -0500

Girlfriend Hire

BACK during the Internet bubble of the early aughts, it seemed as if weird websites like this popped up every other month. Girlfriend Hire is a new portal that lets you connect with women who will do girlfriend-type stuff (get your mind out of the gutter) for the rock bottom fee of $5. It’s an online marketplace where services such as Facebook comments by an attractive girl on your social networking profile, fashion advice, making others jealous and even a picture in a bikini will only cost you $5 bucks. Girlfriend Hire is practically a case study in supply and demand on the web.

*As featured on Ace Burpee Show on HOT 103 on April 12/12.

Verdict

CAN’T get enough crime dramas on TV? Verdict is a new, locally produced interactive legal web series that puts its viewers in the jury box. More than just a compelling web series, Verdict also aims to be “a riveting social experiment that gives people a real platform to discuss, deliberate, and participate in their justice system.”

The series launched April 4 and stars Being Human’s Sarah Allen. The web series was created and written by Tammy Marlowe Johnson along with Alex Levine (Flashpoint, King, The Border), and Mike McIntyre, bestselling true crime author from the Free Press.

The Best Deals on Printer Ink

IF you’re like me, you were probably shocked the first time you had to buy a replacement ink cartridge for the fancy new laser printer you picked up on sale. Sure, you got an amazing deal, but did you foresee the cost of replacing the ink? Some cartridges cost more than two times what you pay cheap printer for these days.

When you’re thinking of replacing the old beast in your home office or are lured by cheap deals and sales, be sure to check these handy comparisons of the cost of printer ink and see where the model you like falls on the list. This could save you big-time cash on some of the most expensive liquid you’ll be purchasing this year.

April 12th - Uptown Magazine

Thu, 12 Apr 2012 08:09:26 -0500

Fame
Fame is fleeting and, in the case of this new lottery website for Twitter, it lasts exactly 24 hours. So how does it work? Twitter users enter a draw, one is chosen as the winner and the rest of the pool automatically follows the winning user for 24 hours, automatically unfollowing the next day. What the winner does with the audience during that 24 hours is up to him or her. I’m surprised someone didn’t think of this site concept sooner. It appeals to both ego and sense of adventure.

MP3 of the Week: Craig Sisk – Decibel Frequency Resident Mix
Craig Sisk was a prominent member of both Symptom Technologies and the Manitoba Electronic Music Exhibition (MEME) in Winnipeg, along with the Connect Tribe in Regina, so his sudden passing has had an immediate impact on both provinces’ close-knit electronic music scenes. As DJ Sisk, Craig had spun at events all across the Prairies and the West Coast, and had been an instrumental part of building Winnipeg’s electronic music culture over the last decade. He later moved to Regina and was part of the group that helped build Connect in Saskatchewan into the longest-running outdoor electronic music event in Canada. He became an adopted member of the Connect Tribe and promoted events in his new city, but managed to keep his ties to Winnipeg’s music scene during his time in Regina. Craig still played a few major events each year in the 204 and had recently moved back to the province to take a more active role in MEME and with Symptom once again. He will be missed. Tune into CKUW 95.9 FM’s Phase One Radio on May 31 for a special tribute to Sisk.

Video of the Week: John K. Samson – The Boat Dreams From The Hill (Jawbreaker cover)
John K. Samson and the Provincial Band covered Jawbreaker’s The Boat Dreams From The Hill from 1993’s 24 Hours Revenge Therapy at the Bowery Ballroom in NYC on March 15, 2012. At his recent show at the West End Cultural Centre, Samson said Jawbreaker is still one of his favourite bands and reminisced about seeing the band’s legendary gig with I Spy at the WECC in the early ’90s.

April 5th - Uptown Magazine

Thu, 05 Apr 2012 00:00:00 -0500

Madonna searches for Molly, finds herself embroiled in a brand-new controversy
Madonna has been tuned into underground electronic music culture since the early days of her career, so it’s no surprise that her new album is called MDNA and that she’s trying to capitalize on the growth of the genre over the past couple years. She recently took to the stage at Ultra in Miami, one of the largest electronic dance music events in North America, to introduce Avicii, who will perform at the MTS Centre on May 27.

While critics have long complained that Madonna borrows ideas from underground dance culture and repackages them for the masses, it was her reference to Molly (a slang term for the drug MDMA) at the annual festival in Florida that ruffled the feathers of artists such as Deadmau5 and music critics such as Spin’s Philip Sherburne who wrote, “what’s disappointing about Madonna’s drug talk is how incredibly artless it feels, like a takeaway from a focus group put together by Madonna, Inc. to find out what the kids are into these days. She sounded like Mitt Romney rhapsodizing over the height of trees in Michigan, only slightly more on-message. More tasteless, still, dropping the code word ‘Molly’ was a sly way of reminding us that her new album, MDNA, also references the drug; she might as well have been saying, ‘How many of you are going to do, um, buy my album next week?’ Subtle, she ain’t.”

While everyone pointed fingers at M.I.A. and her stunt at the Superbowl, this seems to be an even more obvious and disingenuous way to appear edgy while trying to connect with youth culture and grasping to stay relevant. If that wasn’t bad enough, Madonna actually wore a shirt with her album’s name on it, just in case festival-goers were too high to put all the pieces together.

This isn’t the first time electronic artists have had beefs with Madonna, either for the way she acts or her appropriation of electronic music culture for her own gains. Even as far back as 1996, artists who tried working with the Material Girl were calling her out. After a falling out with the Queen of Pop, house producer Junior Vasquez got back at her by releasing a searing club track built around an answering machine message from Madge and a sample repeating “If Madonna calls, I’m not here.”

If Deadmau5 or some random bedroom producer doesn’t do a remix of Vasquez’s track or sample Madonna on the mic at Ultra, the Internet has failed us all.

Video of the Week: Damon Albarn – The Marvelous Dream

Sparse, stripped-down new single from Damon Albarn’s new solo album, Dr. Dee, in stores and online May 7 via Parlophone Records.

MP3 of the Week: Fort Knox Five – Feel Good Mondays (DC’s Finest Remint)

Mashups may be old news, but breaks dudes Fort Knox Five mix elements of Albarn’s supergroup Gorillaz and Manchester madmen The Happy Mondays into a sonic stew worthy of your time and attention

April 5th - Winnipeg Free Press

Thu, 05 Apr 2012 00:00:00 -0500

How To Use Your Smartphone at a Concert Without Being a Jerk

UNLESS you’re at a Prince concert or Tool show (both of which had restrictive no-photo policies that had MTS security scurrying around to stop people from taking any shots), you’ve probably seen the glowing screens of cameras overtaking events as people try in vain to get the perfect picture to upload to Facebook or post to their Twitter feed.

The worst is when the person in front of you decides he’s going to video the whole show and upload it to YouTube, even though he’s at the back of the arena and it won’t turn out looking or sounding very good.

It’s OK to take a quick picture to have a memory from the night or shoot a quick video of your favourite song, but do you really need to have your face in a screen all night long? Isn’t the point of the concert to see the band, not record the show? If you are going to take some pics or video, here are some simple tips that will ensure you get the shots you want, without ruining the event for everyone around you.

Play Game of Thrones Bingo

IF trying to keep track of all the characters’ names, backstabbing, intrigue and epic battles of the medieval fantasy series Game of Thrones isn’t enough excitement for you on a Sunday evening, you can also play Game of Thrones Bingo. There are four different cards with the colours and sigils of the great houses of the kingdom of Westeros (Stark, Lannister, Baratheon and Targaryen) to play from — it should make for some extra fun while watching the HBO favourite on Sunday nights.

Aziz Ansari’s Dangerously Delicious

AFTER comedian Louis CK pulled a Radiohead and self-produced his own comedy special — raking in a hefty profit for himself and his crew — it isn’t surprising that some of his colleagues are heading down the same path. Aziz Ansari, best known for his role as Tom in NBC’s Parks and Recreation, recently shot and produced an hour-long comedy special called Dangerously Delicious, and is selling it online for $5.

Fact and Photo

SOMETIMES simple ideas are the best ones for blogs. The straightforward, yet strangely compelling concept behind Fact and Photo — which is just what it sounds like: a fact with an accompanying photo — helps you learn something new or discover something interesting every day.

Audiobooks

IF you’re one of those people who is captivated by audiobooks, or if you have trouble reading in long stretches, but don’t want to miss out on your favourite authors, Audiobooks.com already boasts a library of over 10,000 titles from a wide range of writers. For $24.99 a month, you get instant, unlimited access to their audiobooks for your iPhone, iPad, Android smartphone or tablet. From classics to new favourites, Audiobooks.com may not have as extensive a database as its main competitor, Audible, but is another viable option for book lovers who don’t want a paperback or hardcover.

Winnipeg Free Press - March 29th

Thu, 29 Mar 2012 14:38:36 -0500

Instagr.am on Android

ANDROID lovers can finally stop complaining about the fact that you could only get the popular-picture sharing tool and social network Instagram on the iPhone. One of the most popular apps on Apple’s iOS is coming to Android. After taking the mobile web by storm, changing the way iPhone users look at the photos they take and creating a huge, cult-like social network that is addicted to uploading endless streams of photos, Instagram is finally expanding to other devices.

Sign up to be the first to be notified when it becomes available on Android. As usual, BlackBerry users will have to wait even longer.

Anthm

ANTHM is a new locally produced app for Apple’s iOS devices that turns your phone or iPad into a crowdsourced jukebox. Powered by rdio.com, a music streaming service similar to Spotify (sign up for a free seven-day trial), you can host a listening party and have other users in the vicinity who have downloaded the app vote on which songs should be played. It even allows people to suggest their own favourites to add to the playlist. It lets the crowd members control the music and build their own on-the-fly playlists.

Perfect for house parties, hip office settings, lounges or any place people gather where music is being played, I could even see this being popular at socials where people are willing to try something other than your regular DJ. You could have a couple of iPad stations set up for people who don’t have a device but who want to make a request. Wouldn’t that be more fun than some boring DJ playing the same music you heard at every other social? Let the crowd decide what it wants to hear.

Five Reason to Not Buy The New iPad

THERE are plenty of reasons to get yourself a tablet computer, but do you really need the new version that Apple recently unveiled? Unless you’re an early adopter of all things Apple, probably not. Sure, it has improved graphics, a quicker processor, a far better camera (do you even need a camera on a tablet?), a screen that seems to have impressed everyone and a few other tweaks, but is that worth the premium price?

If you’re new to the tablet game, you could grab yourself a new iPad2 and be totally happy with the experience — and save yourself a few bucks. If you aren’t an Apple fan, there are other devices that could suit your needs. Stay away from the BlackBerry PlayBook, though; despite its rock-bottom price, it has been a lemon since Day 1.

If you’re a real bargain hunter, try buying a used version of the original iPad. It will be extremely reasonable and do almost everything you need. You won’t be able to awkwardly take pictures with your device or watch movies in some ridiculously high resolution, but it will do everything you would expect from a multimedia-driven device that has only been on the market a few years.media-driven device that has only been on the market a few years.

Uptown Magazine - March 29th

Thu, 29 Mar 2012 14:33:53 -0500

Ten YouTube channels you should be watching
There are lots of great videos on YouTube that aren’t of cats hanging out in strange places, dogs doing interesting things, Hitler getting mad about the lineup for the washrooms at Jets’ games or your buddy doing the cinnamon challenge — but good content can be hard to find, especially if you don’t have the time to go into a YouTube k-hole. Luckily, Flavorwire.com has done the hard work and compiled the 10 YouTube channels you should be watching. From the improv-influenced laughs of BriTANick Comedy to a cooking show called My Drunk Kitchen, these are the type of shows TV networks won’t touch with a 10-foot pole but that are perfect for YouTube. It’s like programming your own community-access station, but better. If you haven’t figured out a way to watch the video-sharing giant on your TV instead of your laptop, it’s time to buy an HDMI cable or get yourself a cheap xBox if you don’t like the idea of your computer being tied up while your family watches endless videos from the College Humour channel.

MP3 of the Week: Dan Bain – Hypertone Podcast #1
Detroit’s deep house aficionado Dan Bain (Paxahau resident DJ/Dead Tiger Music) kicks off the Hypertone Podcast series with a stellar mix that includes cuts from Junior Boys (remixed impeccably by Berghain resident DJ Marcel Dettmann), Peter Funk, Medway and others. The Motor City resident will make his first appearance in Canada as part of a Movement pre-party tour that is making its only trip north of the border to meet up with local artists Ali Khan, Niki Volan (formerly UFO) and Nathan Zahn on May 12 at Boa Lounge (five bucks at the door). Presented by Symptom Technologies and the Manitoba Electronic Music Exhibition (MEME), Bain’s deep take on house is the perfect kickoff to a busy season for electronic music festivals in North America that starts with Detroit’s Movement (May 26-28), followed by Montreal’s Mutek (May 30 to June 3) and Winnipeg’s MEME, which runs June 22 to 24 at The Cube, along with after-parties at The Winnipeg Art Gallery (June 22) and the Manitoba Museum (June 23).

Video of the Week: OFF! – Live at SXSW

Watch the “power of the riff” as punk supergroup OFF! tears through some of its pissed-off, post-hardcore material at a recent gig at South By Southwest. The band’s new self-titled album is set for release May 9, both digitally and on vinyl and CD. If you are an OFF! fan and record collector, 1,500 white copies of the LP are being pressed and are available at Interpunk.com.

Uptown Magazine - March 29th: DJ Hipnotic & Red Bull Thre3style

Thu, 29 Mar 2012 14:26:21 -0500

Whichever local DJ takes home the title at Red Bull’s annual Thre3Style competition is going to have to do something pretty outrageous to top what happened in 2011. Last year’s winner, DJ Hipnotic (aka Mike Salonga), won over the dance floor with his smooth, skillful blend of club bangers, custom remixes and quick-handed cuts — and, to cap off his electrifying 15-minute set, he asked his girlfriend to marry him.

“I thought of it about a month before Thre3Style,” explains the veteran DJ over email. “My fiancée had asked her friends and family to support me that night, and I had my friends and co-workers coming out, as well. So it was a perfect stage for a proposal. I always told myself that if I ever propose, it was going to be big and, most importantly, it had to be unique. Nobody has ever proposed during a DJ competition before, so I decided that it was a perfect way to do it. I was way more nervous about the proposal itself than my Thre3Style set.”

DJs can be notoriously secretive if they are preparing to compete in battles such as Thre3Style (and previously, the DMCs), but Salonga had to keep extra-quiet about his plans. He didn’t want anyone ruining his surprise.

“The only person that knew about the proposal was the lady who sold me the ring,” he says. “I had to keep this secret from everyone for a whole month. It ate me up inside because I questioned myself about it. To be able to pull it off without anyone knowing and without any mistakes was tough. Of course I had to consider the worst-case scenario: what if she said ‘no!?’ I didn’t want to tell anyone because I wanted it to be a surprise for the entire room and not just for her. My closest friends and family had no clue.”

It all worked out perfectly, with Salonga topping a tough group of Winnipeg DJs to capture his first Red Bull title and his girlfriend, friends, family, Thre3Style crowd and judges (this writer included) stunned by what happened in the closing moments of his set. While the proposal was dramatic, it was his party-rocking skills that got him a spot at the nationals in 2011. Unfortunately, Salonga didn’t win in Toronto; that honour went to eventual Red Bull Thre3Style World Champ Hedspin, who captured that title in front of a hometown crowd in Vancouver.

Salonga gets another shot at glory, but it’s going to be a tougher road to the nationals as the format for the competition is changing this year. Originally a grassroots event that started in 2007 on the West Coast and spread across the country, Thre3Style has become the most important DJ competition of the year. In 2010, the burgeoning contest went international, with the first world finals held in Paris, France (where hometown jockey DJ Karve became the inaugural world champ).

While there will still be local elimination rounds in which DJs will need to cover at least three different genres in a 15-minute sets, there will also be regional battles to decide who moves on to the national stage. As last year’s local champ, Salonga will get a bye directly into the next round in Calgary, along with the winner of the 204 qualifier at the Tijuana Yacht Club on March 29. (Both Salonga and two-time former Thre3Style champion, DJ FIN-S, will perform at the local qualifier but won’t be competing against the six local DJs — including Patelli, Tec G , Hollywood Hype, Special K, Hectic and tha Coach — who have thrown their names in the ring this year.)

While this change in format will give Manitoba a new Thre3Style champ and will allow two local DJs to compete in the regionals, Salonga is feeling the pressure, both from the contest’s new structure — and from the compressed timeline.

“The difficult part about this year’s competition is that the 2011 eliminations were less than six months ago. I don’t have as much time to brainstorm,” Salonga says. “I think there is much more pressure going straight to Calgary. I really wanted to enter the Winnipeg competition this year to defend my title. Now that I automatically go straight to regionals, for me to have some sort of Thre3Style title for 2012, I have to win in a city where I don’t have the home-court advantage. It’ll be challenging, but win or lose, I will work really hard to represent Winnipeg at regionals and, if all goes well, at nationals.”

RED BULL Thre3Style 2012
Feat. DJ Hipnotic and DJ FIN-S
March 29, 9 p.m.
Tijuana Yacht Club

Winnipeg Free Press - March 22nd

Thu, 22 Mar 2012 12:37:12 -0500

Guns N’ Roses reunion at Rock and Roll Hall of Fame?

ANYONE who has been following the Guns N’ Roses’ saga since the band imploded after 1993’s The Spaghetti Incident? probably knows it’s unlikely that the classic lineup — frontman Axl W. Rose, lead guitarist Slash, rhythm guitarist Izzy Stradlin, bassist Duff McKagan, and drummer Steven Adler — will manage to put aside their differences and perform together at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame gig in Cleveland, Ohio on April 14.

McKagan spoke with Rolling Stone about the possibility of a reunion. “Do I hope to? That’s a tricky question. It would be awesome. You have those daydreams like, ‘We’ll go up and play Nightrain and Brownstone and throw down the microphone and drop off! That’ll be killer! But I doubt that’ll happen,” says the bassist.

“There’s been no communication about anyone playing. There was probably a day in the mid-1990s where I would have tried to gather the troops, but I’m just not that guy anymore. It’s too frustrating to change anyone else… I’m not even sure I’d want to change how anyone else sees the situation. But I’m going.”

Rose and the current version of the band, which includes Ron “Bumblefoot” Thal and DJ Ashba, rhythm guitarist Richard Fortus, bassist Tommy Stinson, drummer Frank Ferrer, and keyboardists Dizzy Reed and Chris Pitman, are on an extensive world tour and reportedly working on followup material to 2008’s epic comeback album, Chinese Democracy.

Website to catalogue record shops Worldwide

WHILE the music industry is still trying to figure out what to do in a post-download world (especially in Canada — when is Spotify getting here again?), vinyl sales curiously continue to climb. Some reports have sales pegged as the highest they’ve been in the past six years, up almost 40 per cent.

It’s not going to save the music industry, but it is an interesting trend, as consumption patterns of music change. Some mom-and-pop style record stores are gone, but those that have stuck around have seen new customers flipping through stacks of vinyl. They’re snapping up new heavy re-pressings of old classics, dusty, used LPs for their collections, or albums from current artists who have cleverly included a digital download with the purchase of their record (which allows music collectors the best of both worlds: the tactile experience with the vinyl and the versatility and portability of the digital file).

They also get one of the big pieces that’s missing when you shop online — the experience in the record store. Amazon, iTunes and Beatport may be able to sell you music, but they can’t replicate the record-store experience, no matter how many algorithms suggest what other kind of music you might like.

Recordshops.org is an ambitious new crowdsourced project to catalogue and rate record stores around the world. Don’t forget the annual Record Store Day is on April 21, 2012. Not only is it a good excuse to get out to your local music retailers, it’s also a perfect day to spend way too much money on music and not feel guilty about it.

Anthony Augustine is a freelance music, technology and pop culture writer who spends way too much time in front of a computer. Got a site you think he should see? Email him at anthony.siteunseen@gmail.com or follow him at twitter.com/anthonya.

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition March 22, 2012 E3

Uptown Magazine - March 22nd

Thu, 22 Mar 2012 12:29:54 -0500

Netflix, Please Fix Your User Interface On… Everything
For eight bucks a month, it’s easily to forgive Netflix’s faults. Sure, you wish there was better selection, but Canadians have somehow gotten used to having inferior products on the web and mobile devices. We always seem to get the watered-down version — that is, if we get a version at all (See: Hulu or Spotify). Netflix’s biggest issue in Canada might be lack of content, but the way the interfaces work across most platforms has been a problem, too. Even on the same device — a PS3, for instance — two separate users might have different features enabled. The experience is not consistent and it frustrates users who wonder why their friends have features they don’t. The interface for the XBox 360 is a nightmare, too. Because the video-streaming service is available on so many devices, it’s naturally going to be more difficult to keep everything uniform — but somehow Netflix has also managed to screw it up on individual platforms, too.

Itchy & Scratchy
Not sure why this supercut of all the Itchy & Scratchy segments from The Simpsons hasn’t been pulled from YouTube, but fire up this nearly 50 minutes of cartoon glory before the suits at Fox get worked up about it.

Hoopism
Hoopism doesn’t crank out a lot of content, but its unique mix of data, analysis, visualization and insight is a refreshing change from all the other basketball sites out there. Whether you’re looking for information on how the public is betting in March Madness or how the rookies are stacking up against the stats of the past few years, or for an infographic of the condensed NBA season, Hoopism is worth a visit.

MP3 of the Week: Pezzner – Music for Dentistry Mix
West Coast house producer Pezzner dials it down a few notches and gets weird and trippy on this new ambient mix, recently released on Soundcloud. A departure from his carefully crafted house vibe, Music for Dentistry features artists such as Pan Sonic, Laurent Garnier, Swod and Steve Reich. More DJs need to do this type of outside-the-box mix.

Video of the Week: Dinosaur Jr. Live (1991)
— The wall-of-sound freaks in Dinosaur Jr. shred through a quick set at the Monsters of Spex Festival on Aug. 24, 1991 in Koln, Germany. The tour was showcased in the documentary 1991: The Year Punk Broke and featured a Lou Barlow-less version of the guitar-worshipping band.