audio visual

Audio Visual Podcast Rundown Feb. 24

Written

on Tuesday, March 2, 2010

Photo courtesy of BarstowSteve on Flickr

This week’s episode marks a sad day for the Audio Visual podcast: our last episode ever. All good things must come to an end, and the departure of one of your two intrepid co-hosts means that the Audio Visual you know and love will no longer be your weekly radio source for what’s happening in Ottawa. It’s been an amazing ride these past 18 months, and Tina and I will definitely miss putting the show together every week. It’s been a great experience, and parting is such sweet sorrow.

For our last show, Apt613 contributor and founder of Rockalily Burlesque Veronica Michelle came by the studio to preview Rockalily’s show at Maverick’s on February 26. She brought along Rockalily performer Chelsea Sawyer, and they spoke to me about Ottawa burlesque, why Ottawa appreciates sexiness more than Montreal, and why titillation never goes out of style. Check out Rockalily’s Myspace page for more info, and be sure to check out Veronica’s blog for more on burlesque and the finer arts of lovemaking.

By this time next week, I’ll be working in New York City as an intern on the NPR show On The Media, and I’ll miss you guys (and this city) a whole heck of a lot. The second half of our final show is dedicated to a monologue about why I love Ottawa: the people, places, and things that have made my 5 years here the best years of my life. Ottawa has a great cultural scene, and I hope my work over the past 3 years has inspired people to go check out what our incredible city has to offer. Because it was live, it was a little messy - I run out of synonyms for “great” pretty quickly, I ramble on about certain memories - but it’s a testament to how much I dig this town that I could speak for 20 minutes about its greatness. Before I leave, I’ll be sure to write a post about my favourite memories, and this week’s show was a preview of some of the things I’ll miss most about our nation’s capital.

A special thanks goes out to the great people at Apartment613 for all their help, and to my co-host Tina for being the best thing about this superlative city. Thanks for listening.

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Audio Visual Podcast Rundown Feb. 17

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Peter

on Thursday, February 18, 2010

photo courtesy of Crush Improv

Oh man, what a show! Tina returns to the fold after a long absence, my post-tonsillectomy voice sounds super weird, our two guests yuk it up like nobody’s business, and it was all live - truly, this was an Audio Visual for the ages.

The triumphant return of your favourite podcasting duo features friends of the show AL Connors and Brad MacNeil from Crush Improv, who dropped by Audio Visual world headquarters to tell us about their new weekly improv jam at Cajun Attic (349 Dalhousie), Tuesday Make ‘Em Ups. Brad and the gang host a night of improv games and storytelling every Tuesday at 7:30 p.m., and AL even lets you in on the special (and Audio Visual exclusive!) password for free admission! It’s $5 otherwise, and you’ll have to listen to the episode to find out the secret. The venue, which some may recognize from Crush’s Fringe production last summer, is under new management and sports cheaper drinks than previously advertised, so check them out!

Next week’s Make ‘Em Up is a special event, too, as Brad and his fellow improviser Dave are celebrating their birthdays in style with a little stand-up comedy. It should be a great time, so check it out - but not before listening to this week’s podcast!

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Audio Visual Podcast Rundown Feb. 3

Written

Peter

on Tuesday, February 9, 2010

Photo courtesy of Christian Delahousse

Computer trouble was just the latest in a series of mini-crises at Audio Visual world HQ this weekend, and I apologize for the delay. As a hilariously annoying part of these same problems, this week’s episode is only 37 minutes long. However, it’s an awesome half hour as I sat down with George Laing and Pat Moore from the Spirit of Rasputin’s, a community group dedicated to keeping the spirit of the departed Bronson St. folk club alive. The group has been hosting open mic and jam sessions on Monday and Tuesday nights at the Elmdale Tavern (1084 Wellington St. W.), and they’re starting a Sunday night concert series that kicked off on February 7th with a performance by Lynn Miles.

George and Pat talked to me about the history of the original Rasputin’s, how the Spirit of Rasputin’s got together, and what the future is for folk music in Ottawa. George talked about the new Sunday schedule of events, which include concerts every second Sunday, a live radio show taping on the third Sunday of every month, and a new band showcase called Rasputin’s Beard.

And no, as we discuss in the interview, they don’t know why the old bar was called Rasputin’s in the first place. However, the discussion does let me geek out about my knowledge of Russian history and throw a shout-out to my Russophile older brother. This week’s show is capped off by a great acoustic performance by Pat, who is a regular performer at the Monday night open stage events.

The song you hear before the interview is by John Carroll (pictured), a local folk musician who will be the first performer & interviewee at the live radio show from Rasputin’s and the Elmdale, CKCU’s Weekend Wrap-up, on Feb. 14. The monthly event is a fundraiser for CKCU radio, and features Pat Moore as the host.

Audio Visual is taking a break this week because I’m getting a sweet robot arm installed, but the show will be back next week - bigger, better, faster, and stronger. We can do it, we have the technology.

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Audio Visual Podcast Rundown Jan. 27

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Peter

on Thursday, January 28, 2010

Photo courtesy of the CFI

It was a film-centric show this week on Audio Visual, as Executive Director of the Canadian Film Institute and Carleton professor Tom McSorley dropped by to talk about the CFI’s upcoming screening of Atom Egoyan’s The Adjuster. McSorley has written a new critical study of the film, Atom Egoyan’s The Adjuster, and the January 28 screening (that’s tonight!) will serve as the book’s official Ottawa launch. Egoyan, a Canadian filmmaker known for both his commercial Hollywood movies (The Sweet Hereafter, Where the Truth Lies) and his more personal artistic works (Ararat, Exotica), will be in attendance. The Adjuster is a challenging work - check out the somewhat convoluted plot description McSorley gives in the interview - but it’s a rewarding experience for film lovers who are willing to find their own way through the movie.

The CFI screening is part of the institute’s 75th anniversary celebrations. The CFI has been active since 1935, making it Canada’s oldest non-governmental, non-profit cultural organization dedicated to cinema. Yes, they’re actually older than the National Film Board! So go out, support a great organization, meet a Canadian cultural icon, and buy McSorley’s book - but not before checking out our awesome interview!

Also, Tina and I previewed the new Gladstone production by A Company of Fools, Shakespeare’s Danish Play. A clowned-up version of Hamlet, the play is the latest from one of Ottawa’s finest (and funniest) theatre companies. It runs at the Gladstone from January 28-February 27. For more details, listen to the podcast or visit the Fools’ website.

Atom Egoyan’s The Adjuster, with the filmmaker in attendance
January 28, 7pm (get there early!)
Library and Archives Canada (395 Wellington St.)
$10.00 for CFI Members, Students, and Senior Citizens. All other tickets $15.00.

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Audio Visual Podcast Rundown Jan. 20

Written

Peter

on Thursday, January 21, 2010

Photo courtesy of day465 on flickr

It’s a podcast twofer this week, with two episodes for the price of one! Note: Price remains free.

This week’s Audio Visual was a Tina-ful experience, but the majority of the show was given over to an interview with Alex Mattar aka DJ Zattar, one of the founding DJs of Ottawa’s hottest monthly soul dance extravaganza, TimeKode. Mattar talked about the origins of TimeKode, his experience in the Ottawa scene, and just how sweaty he can get (hint: it’s really, really sweaty). Tina and I plugged some upcoming events and played some more awesome music, including a band from Brantford, the hometown I never shut up about.

Next week’s show promises to be a doozy, with the director of the Canadian Film Institute stopping by and a preview of the new show from A Company of Fools, so stay tuned!

Music:
Bonjay - Gimmee Gimmee
Raccoon Wedding - Adelaide

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Audio Visual Podcast Rundown Jan. 6

Written

Peter

on Thursday, January 7, 2010

Photo courtesy of Ming Wu

The hiatus is finally over! This week, Audio Visual returns with a great show featuring Ben Welland, Dave Halabisky, and May-Jun of the awesome local band Sadie Hell. Ben’s been performing under that name for years, performing the same songs in everything from solo shows to multi-instrument extravaganzas. He finally decided to sit down and record an album last year, and their eponymous LP was released on January 2. We talked with Ben about the crazy history of Sadie Hell, his photography career, and the new album - take a listen! The album release show was also a special event for Ben’s love life, as well - he proposed to his longtime girlfriend Colleen, and she said yes! As you can see from the picture, there wasn’t a dry eye in the place.

As well, this week marks the return of the Audio Visual podcast! Woo! Unfortunately, it won’t include the 2-hour end-of-the-decade spectacular we put together for the December 30 broadcast. Due to a cruel twist of fate, the computer that records our show suffered an existential crisis 30 minutes before we went on air, and the backup computer also simultaneously got lost in the futility of its own existence. So, we don’t have an mp3, but you can imagine what 2 hours of me and Tina talking sounds like - just listen to this week’s show 2 1/2 times and imagine us talking about the Arcade Fire for much too long.

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Audio Visual Podcast Rundown Dec. 16

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Tina

on Thursday, December 17, 2009

Courtesy of McLoy2008 on flickr

In the tumultuous scramble of holiday shopping, the convenience of gift cards is sometimes too alluring. Fret not! Covered previously on Apt613, the topic of holiday presents is given the Audio Visual treatment: we explore tips, ideas and etiquette to help our listeners establish some thoughtful gift-giving cred among family and friends, subsequently shaming their close ones who lazily resorted to those precious slips of plastic. I make the argument against gift cards — an obvious argument to make, but it gets a little complicated and heated when Peter steps in as devil’s advocate. We talk about Etsy, the Dalhousie St. designer shops, online wish-lists, and fascinating family gift-giving rules (the most earnest, if not “better in theory than practice” example being the created-from-scratch-only rule most accurately depicted in About Schmidt) and some gender stereotypes (pro-tip: buy your boy Modern Warfare 2).

After the break we spin some of the best songs of 2009. Speaking of lists, don’t miss our exclusive, two-hour special on the Oughts a fortnight from now.

Music:
Burial/Four Tet — “Moth”
Drake — “Best I Ever Had”
Jay-Z — “Empire State of Mind”
CFCF — “You Hear Colours”
Grizzly Bear — “Two Weeks”

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Audio Visual Podcast Rundown Dec. 9

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Tina

on Friday, December 11, 2009

Courtesy of Eduardo Mueses on flickr.

This week on AV (yes we’re back!):

- A tonsillitis’d Peter exhales The Farndale Avenue Housing Estate Townwomen’s Guild Dramatic Society’s Production Of A Christmas Carol in one breath once more before diving into a review of the Gladstone production. Peter’s verdict: the play is reasonably satiable, though given the production’s heavy reliance on audience participation, A Christmas Carol seems best suited for families who have better taste than taking their kids to see the epic fail that is the new Jim Carrey film adaptation.

- Peter and I (mostly me, though) interview Dipna Horra, an M.F.A. Fine Arts student at the University of Ottawa whose sound installation The Colonial Times will be shown at Gallery 115, the uOttawa visual-arts gallery at 100 Laurier Ave. Dipna talks about the influence of architecture in her artwork and her experiences living in Brooklyn. The Colonial Times takes place Wednesday Dec. 16. at 100 Laurier. The exhibit will be up noon to 7p.m., and Dipna will serve tea between 5-7 p.m.

Music:
The Flaming Lips — “Evil”
The Most Serene Republic — “The Four Humours”
Spiral Beach — “Raising the Snake”
Rose Melberg — “Things That We Do”
Bloodshot Bill — “Pretty Lil Miss” and “Oh Honey Doll Baby Doll”

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Audio Visual Podcast Rundown Nov. 25

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Tina

on Friday, November 27, 2009

Photo courtesy of M.J.H. on Flickr

On Audio Visual this week: ambient music and festive theatre. We talk to Steve Martin from the Gladstone Theatre about the Farndale Avenue Housing Estate Townwomen’s Guild Dramatic Society’s production of A Christmas Carol. Try saying that three times. Better yet, listen to Peter choke. We also talked to Kevin Micka, better known as Animal Hospital, who will be performing one of the best house shows of the year at 443 Kent St. I saw this guy at Raw Sugar and it was well, life-changing. So don’t miss it.

Music: Animal Hospital — “A Safe Place”

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Audio Visual Nov. 18

Written

Tina

on Wednesday, November 18, 2009

Photo courtesy Ferrari + caballos + fuerza = cerebro Humano on Flickr.

AV is music-themed this week so instead of podcasting it up we invite you to check us out on-air CHUO FM 89.1 at 1p.m. sharp this afternoon! Tina has taken the time to create a kick-ass playlist that will make you fall in love with music anew. I wish that were a joke and that she didn’t have such amazing super powers because quite frankly it’s making me question being an atheist, but y’know, whatever. If you’re at work, you can always try the web-stream at CHUO’s website though be warned that it’s not as reliable as good ol’ fashioned radio.

UPDATE:

Realization: Live shows > Pre-recorded shows. Especially when one co-host arrives late smelling like sweat and onions and the other one can’t get his factoids straight (”Cah-dence Waypon, poet laureate of Winnipeg”).

Playlist for the curious:

1. Cuff the Duke — “It’s All a Blur”
2. The King Khan and BBQ Show — “I’ll Be Loving You”
3. Cadence Weapon — “Real Estate”
4. tUnE-YaRdS — “Hatari” (Karn remix)
5. The Action — “TV’s on the Blink”
6. CFCF — “How Bizarre” (Cover of the OMC classic on the free Paper Bag Records Seven Year Itch cover album)
7. Adam Saikaley — “Slight Changes in Rhythm”