centretown

Venus Envy and Agitate! collaborate for a fun evening of performances

Sunday March 14, 2010 at 6PM at Venus Envy (320 Lisgar St.)

A lovely Sunday evening of fun and performances featuring d’bi.young.anitafrika and two other poets soon to be announced.

Everyone Welcome.

Suggested donation of $5-10 but no one will be turned away because of lack of funds…

Founded in 2004, Agitate! is a queer, Ottawa-based organization for indigenous people, mixed race people and people of colour. Although the governing board is open exclusively to indigenous people, mixed-race people and people of colour, allies from all communities and of all genders and sexual orientations are encouraged to get in touch with Agitate for information on how to volunteer.

Venus Envy Ottawa is an education-oriented sex shop located in downtown Ottawa. Knowledge is key to enjoying a satisfying, healthy, and erotic sex life, so we offer workshops on sex and relationships where people can ask questions and share their experiences in a safe, non-judgemental environment. Some of our workshops are for women only, but most are for everyone.

d’bi.young.anitafrika is a jamaican-canadian dub poet, actor, and playwright who believes in life. love. and revolushun. her first play yagayah, co-authored with naila belvett, was published in volume II of Testifyin’: Contemporary African Canadian Drama edited by djanet sears in 2003. her first book of poetry art on black was published by women’s press in 2006. blood.claat is the first play in the three faces of mudgu trilogy. the other two plays are androgyne and chronicles in dub.

13 Questions with Trevor James and the Perfect Gentlemen

Photo courtesy drunknmonkey on Flickr

Photo courtesy drunknmonkey on Flickr

They might have relocated to Montreal, but Trevor James and the Perfect Gentlemen are still Ottawa dudes at heart. The band - which formed out of the ashes of The Architects in 2008 - is hitting the 401 next week to take part in the aural smorgasbord that is Canadian Music Week. But before they do, they’ll hit the stage March 11 at Babylon along with Owel Five, Corboe, and Krupke. We caught up with Trevor over email, and he was gracious enough (being a gentleman, after all) to chat with us about the band’s upcoming EP, gigs that went horribly wrong, and our Prime Minister’s tonsorial preferences.

(Thanks to Terri at Two Way Monologues for making this interview happen - go check them out,  especially if you’re going to be in Toronto for CMW.)

So, what makes a perfect gentleman?

The name The Perfect Gentlemen has sort of always taken on a bit of a sarcastic connotation. When it comes to our band and the vision we have for it, we are always early, always focused and always say please and thank you. However, when it’s time to party we have a tendency to be silly, loud and much drunker than everyone else. That’s what it takes, I suppose.

Click to continue reading “13 Questions with Trevor James and the Perfect Gentlemen”

Weekend round up

Photo courtesy Innes Wilson and the Opposition's myspace page.

Photo courtesy Innes Wilson and the Opposition's myspace page.

So, in the interests of giving us all as much time to spend outside as possible (it’s supposed to be 10 above this weekend!), here’s your short and sweet weekend round up:

Music! Babylon has two great nights (one and two) in store if you’re looking for a little dancy action. Especially exciting is GOOD2GO at the Elmdale on Saturday night - Ottawa needs more taverns with regular music shows. The regulars playing pool in the background always add a quirky element…

Need a new spring wardrobe? Umi Cafe (610 Somerset W) is hosting a clothing swap on Saturday. Bring your tired old clothes and trade them in for something new and exciting! And if you happen to find a really great vintage outfit, just stick around for their Retro Dance Extravaganza later that evening.

For those in need of more words in their life, there’s another installment of the Dusty Owl Reading Series on Sunday. And there’s some classic community theatre happening Friday and Saturday, too, in addition to a Capital Slam event.

And yes, it’s that dude from Fear Factor who’ll be in town tonight.

So this short list probably misses one great event, but really? Make sure you get some time out in the sun. It’s practically summer out there!

Henry Rollins at the Bronson Centre

When: Tuesday, March 23, 7pm

Where: Bronson Centre (211 Bronson Ave.)

Cost: $27.50 advance (plus service charges). Tickets available at End Hits (407 Dalhousie St.), Vertigo Records (193 Rideau St.), all Ticketmaster outlets, http://www.ticketmaster.ca or by phone at 613-755-1111. Direct ticketing link: http://www.ticketmaster.ca/event/1000437E0E26A65B

Website:

http://www.henryrollins.com

The Muggins and The Creeps at Babylon

This is old school so a little history.

We’re going back to 2000. We’re going back to the days where you would tape your friends cd’s and get your mind blown by terrible bands with terrible names that you loved more than life itself. Back then two bands would often play together. One lasted 2 years. The other lasted ten years and counting.

THE MUGGINS were an annoying, rowdy, Ramones/Screeching Weasel rip-off band who played every pitiful shit-hole in Ottawa (and the surrounding areas) from 2000-2002. The debut CD “The Underwear Remains The Same” featuring their “hit” Headache Over You (also the opening track on the 30 band Ottawa compilation CD, Kick ‘Em While Their Down) was released in 2000 which followed by the release of their 2nd CD, “The Young And The Breastless” in 2001. Countless shows followed at Bumpers, Babylon and The Underground, almost exclusively with The Riptides, Spygirl and of course, The Creeps. After 8-9 years, The Muggins are back for (hopefully) one night only, playing very select few songs from their 40 track repertoire. Appropriately, playing with The Creeps once again. Members of the Muggins later went on to form bands such as the Neighborhood Brats and Million Dollar Marxists. (With record titles that bad how can this not rule?!)

THE CREEPS have been around for a long time. They’ve released a full length, a 7″ and a split 7″ in the last couple of years and have currently finished recording a bunch of songs that will be released soon. It wasn’t always this way. They used to put out a cd every 3 years and play with a bunch of bands who are long gone while they’re still playing some of the best punk rock in the city and will be opening for the mighty RIVERDALES in May.http://www.myspace.com/capitalcitycreeps

When: Saturday, March 6, 10pm

Where: Babylon Nightclub (317 Bank St.)

Cost: $5

Rock n’ Roll Burlesque Show - The Polymorphines Album Release

Saturday, March 20 (9pm) go to Babylon Nightclub to celebrate the release of The Polymorphine’s new album, Transistor Sistor.

Supporting the Polymorphines will be:

Toronto rockers, The Speaking Tongues http://www.myspace.com/thespeakingtongues

Ottawa’s own The Girlfriends http://www.myspace.com/theknifeisthelaw

and in a special appearance: Ottawa’s favourite tassel twirling babes, Rockalily Burlesque! http://www.myspace.com/rockalilyburlesque

Featuring Miss Helvetica Bold as your host for what promises to be the hottest rock n’ roll party of 2010!!

All this for only $10 in advance or $12 at the door!

Tickets available now from Compact Music (both locations 190 Bank & 785 Bank) or in person from the fine folks of The Polymorphines and Rockalily Burlesque.

I’m still not a feminist but…

feministCome celebrate International Women’s Day

When: Monday, March 8, 7-10 pm (doors at 6pm)
National Archives

The evening includes:
★ A bilingual improv comedy show
★ The Femmys (the National Capital Region Feminist Awards)
★ A short (and hilarious) film
★ Readings by youth writing contest winners
★ Mingling, networking, and info on women’s organizations in the Ottawa region
★ Nibbles and a cash bar
★ Fun!!

Event is FREE & bilingual, donations accepted.
Childcare available! Contact: svaw@amnesty.ca

JAPANTHER, BLACK FEELINGS & SHAKEY ACHES at BABYLON!

When: Wednesday, March 10, 8pm

Where: Babylon Nightclub (317 Bank St.)

Cost: TICKETS $6 adv/$8 at the door.

Websites:

http://www.myspace.com/japanther

http://www.myspace.com/bfeelings

Joe Rogan at the Bronson Centre

A night of comedy with:

JOE ROGAN (Los Angeles comedian/actor, UFC/Fear Factor/Comedy Central/NewsRadio)
http://www.joerogan.net

SAM TRIPOLI (Los Angeles comedian, Comedy Central/Spike TV)
http://www.samtripoli.com
http://www.myspace.com/samtripoli

Friday March 5, 2010 @ Bronson Centre Theatre (211 Bronson Ave.)
7pm doors - $49.50 advance (plus service charges) - Mature Language, Not Suitable for All Ages

tickets available at End Hits (407 Dalhousie St.), Vertigo Records (193 Rideau St.), all Ticketmaster outlets, http://www.ticketmaster.ca or by phone at 613-755-1111

direct ticketing link: http://www.ticketmaster.ca/event/1000438AE3D3AAF4

FRENZY @ Babylon

” F R E N Z Y ” - the monthly (1st Fri of the month) no-format party showcasing a steady rotation of the world’s finest musical tastemakers.

When: Friday March 5, 11pm

Where: Babylon Nightclub (317 Bank St.)

Cost: ?

This month featuring…

● HATCHMATIK ●
Montreal
Peer Pressure, Coco Machete Records
URB’s NEXT100
http://www.myspace.com/hatchmatik
http://www.hatchmatik.com

alongside resident

● DRASTIK ●
Stylusts, Tremendous Records, Straight Goods
http://www.myspace.com/djdrastik

Hosted by

IGGY SMALLS
Straight Goods
http://www.myspace.com/igz24

Visuals by
ARTENGINE ft. guest vj BEAR WITNESS (Grind) and Ryan Stec