tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-90631591909857822842024-03-14T13:22:30.942-04:00CHINO KINOCinema, film industry, music, artsChino Kinohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09665127607413305094noreply@blogger.comBlogger2954125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9063159190985782284.post-13757423825288666162024-03-14T13:00:00.137-04:002024-03-14T13:21:42.574-04:00film review: They Shot The Piano Player<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSdNsdWXohnq8JnEmFcklck0Wtg-XM0w4gtgqkyJSc_4I0Ch7lDccJKjPicwBwP0koGxoAA9qf_JE5mQL_pSUliUKVi7hPVkC8dAEt3fTdwIvKD4pZQ2uzx7QF4-kcvXbzBBjiFFb22ckoaOLIE-8Dgp43fPVGM9OmM6wXdOlshbEepH5LkXfQE4Z0eiZf/s4096/THEY%20SHOT%20THE%20PIANO%20PLAYER%20(2).png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1743" data-original-width="4096" height="272" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSdNsdWXohnq8JnEmFcklck0Wtg-XM0w4gtgqkyJSc_4I0Ch7lDccJKjPicwBwP0koGxoAA9qf_JE5mQL_pSUliUKVi7hPVkC8dAEt3fTdwIvKD4pZQ2uzx7QF4-kcvXbzBBjiFFb22ckoaOLIE-8Dgp43fPVGM9OmM6wXdOlshbEepH5LkXfQE4Z0eiZf/w640-h272/THEY%20SHOT%20THE%20PIANO%20PLAYER%20(2).png" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p>Directed by Fernando Trueba and Javier Mariscal</p><p>Written by Fernando Trueba</p><p><i>Review by Allan Tong</i></p><p>ChinoKino score: B+</p><p>This is a stunning, but flawed animated docu-drama about legendary Brazilian jazz pianist, Francisco Tenório Jr. who disappeared in 1976 after a gig. He was 34. You probably never heard of him, but Tenório Jr. he played a role in elevating bossa nova to world status in the 1960s and 1970s.</p>
<iframe frameborder="0" height="270" src="https://youtube.com/embed/jQwajCDIwcg?si=09aYsU-NGEET1Ct2" width="480"></iframe><p>Part detective story and part history lesson about this wonderful music but also the totalitarianism that strangled South America, <i>They Shot The Piano Player </i>is told from the point of view of a writer. New Yorker Jeff Harris is researching a book about boss nova when he stumbles upon Tenório Jr.s' masterful playing and is hooked. He proceeds to interview the pianist's close friends, bandmates and family in and around Rio de Janeiro as well as Buenos Aires where Tenório disappeared. </p><p>These include bossa nova's godfather, João Gilberto, as well as Caetano Veloso, Gilberto Gil, Vincius de Moraes and Paulo Moura. Their music is liberally heard throughout the film in dazzling, colourful sequences. Pure pleasure. Altogether, they tell the story about boss nova's rise until it broke internationally through in 1964, even challenging the Beatles on the charts.</p><p>Harris spends equal time, if not more, learning about the U.S.-backed military regimes which terrorized Brazil and Argentina in the 1970s. Credit the film for not pulling any punches. A harrowing sequence finds Harris touring Buenos Aires' ESMA (Navy Mechanics School), a notorious place in the 1970s where political prisoners (mostly innocent) were tortured and execute. Appalling, ESMA had a ward for pregnant prisoners.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2QKezbAMBIDqvWbHlvk-8q4cXYj5pX_vqBRXBY-BSmGCziS-qZDEWgpiY62i-yfa1XlPDSAD8tK4Pigz8vVi_OqpiqHJlZoUMrEV73mLGFELQfUyBthqIgZ9U6wfm8F6TSAx3N2Nu3gGtV3p1GKKJCRN7pOLiWIrhnWKLwga63Ri4o7iQ2qN-PeTbYQok/s2489/THEY%20SHOT%20THE%20PIANO%20PLAYER%20(1).jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1400" data-original-width="2489" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2QKezbAMBIDqvWbHlvk-8q4cXYj5pX_vqBRXBY-BSmGCziS-qZDEWgpiY62i-yfa1XlPDSAD8tK4Pigz8vVi_OqpiqHJlZoUMrEV73mLGFELQfUyBthqIgZ9U6wfm8F6TSAx3N2Nu3gGtV3p1GKKJCRN7pOLiWIrhnWKLwga63Ri4o7iQ2qN-PeTbYQok/w640-h360/THEY%20SHOT%20THE%20PIANO%20PLAYER%20(1).jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A sequence involving jazz great Ella Fitzgerald is a highlight</td></tr></tbody></table><p>Eventually, Harris solves the mystery of Tenório Jr.'s disappearance. The problem is that this moment is not a revelation. The audience has a good idea of what happened long before the ending, which is a key flaw in this film. It lacks suspense. Perhaps the directors got too close to the subject, but the film could have been more powerful after another edit to shuffle scenes and gradually build to this reveal.</p><p>Another concern, though not a dealbreaker, is why the filmmakers created the Harris character to tell this story. Was it necessary?</p><p>That said, this is a highly enjoyable film of a worthy subject.</p><p><i><u>They Shot The Piano Player</u> opens March 15 in Toronto, Montreal and Quebec City; March 22 in Ottawa, Saskatoon and Victoria; then throughout the spring in other cities.</i></p>Allan Tonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03274259524672129558noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9063159190985782284.post-752394843233557862024-02-05T14:02:00.000-05:002024-02-05T14:02:04.688-05:00film review: Werner Herzog: Radical Dreamer<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsw3AUbPBXrfI8JI964PN8hBmWmG90U9rqKgylPOA_ob9LbA8xO3QWkgzP6iTmyec8TxsI6UZsz13MvKuam7QGdlajMIxKkYDtTflfK4swT0QpfdDZgAkiRSAXggj_Uqqms0G4O9ailIDjPn8bGN2D51ZX_AiDqQJjfEsXvvBkq0gEXn5JQMFDMSZDRvfl/s3976/Radical%20Dreamer_Werner%20Herzog%201_c%203B-Produktion,%20Henning%20Bruemmer.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2652" data-original-width="3976" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsw3AUbPBXrfI8JI964PN8hBmWmG90U9rqKgylPOA_ob9LbA8xO3QWkgzP6iTmyec8TxsI6UZsz13MvKuam7QGdlajMIxKkYDtTflfK4swT0QpfdDZgAkiRSAXggj_Uqqms0G4O9ailIDjPn8bGN2D51ZX_AiDqQJjfEsXvvBkq0gEXn5JQMFDMSZDRvfl/w640-h426/Radical%20Dreamer_Werner%20Herzog%201_c%203B-Produktion,%20Henning%20Bruemmer.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p>Directed and written by Thomas von Steinaecker</p><p>ChinoKino score: A-</p><p><i>Review by Allan Tong</i></p><p>With Werner Herzog, warns German filmmaker Wim Wenders, "you can't be sure of anything. It's all unpredictable. You only know <i>something</i> will happen."</p><p>That something could be a dwarf rebellion, a doomed conquistador, Herzog eating his shoe onstage, or doing a guest spot in <i>Star Wars</i>. Great or disappointing, Werner Herzog's films are always interesting and unique. He follows neither formula nor agenda. This documentary makes that clear as it explores his life and career. It is worth watching.</p><p>Herzog guides us through his life, appearing on camera in L.A, his current home, and in Sachrang. His mother fled wartime bombing in Munich and sheltered Herzog and his brother in this remote Bavarian village. He grew up starving in the dying days of World War Two. Herzog points to a waterfall and declares that is him, his soul and identity. Seeing his old home makes him (and the viewer) emotional. He visits a ski jump and says he always wanted to fly. His brother recalls him breaking a few bones doing so.</p>
<iframe frameborder="0" height="270" src="https://youtube.com/embed/FwDvCPs8kew?si=BPgPEmQtNkIhBTdu" width="480"></iframe><p>Never mind. Herzog always shrugs off pain. He nearly died making two films in the jungle--<i>Aguirre: Wrath of God</i> (one of the greatest movies ever made) and <i>Fitzcarraldo</i>. The subject matter of his work spans an ocean, but a common thread is the obsession of a single character pursuing a dream at any cost. For instance, Fitzcarraldo is a rubber baron who drags a massive steamship uphill and across land so he can access rubber of the Amazon forest. This is a perfect metaphor about Herzog making this difficult film that he recast and postponed several times.</p><p>Of course, no discussion of Herzog is complete without Klaus Kinski. Intense, psychotic (and now discredited for abusing his daughters), Kinski was Herzog's leading madman, starring in Herzog's greatest fiction films, including the two made in the jungle. A lot has been said about their violent collaboration (watch Herzog's own doc, <i>My Best Fiend)</i>, though <i>Radical Dreamer</i> does a good job of summarizing it.</p><p>Friends and collaborators lend additional voices to this documentary, including Volker Schlondorff (part of the 1960s German New Wave with Herzog), wives Lena Herzog (below) and Martje Grohmann, filmmakers Chloe Zhao and Joshua Oppenheimer, stars Nicole Kidman, Christian Bale and Carl Weathers (RIP), and fangirl and poet Patti Smith.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyLlpx0k2Vws3c7HwwzzFrxEsftPyjNw3Pe-8VZylWiNzJ8c7I5sLYaQHmiVGYzLCyYO4SdL1IZSScIHD_hjPgUu11aalyYkx4vqYLnEnv0zbguddkThYsWQ1C9U4GNQvESEtuUmgtiQiZTYGeGp7zAXyQMS8I8QkB0m4dMa0q0TeN5qhjUiHC4rxfYpmf/s2874/Werner%20and%20Lena%20at%20Home%20(c)%20Spring%20Films%20and%203B-Produktion%20.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1620" data-original-width="2874" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyLlpx0k2Vws3c7HwwzzFrxEsftPyjNw3Pe-8VZylWiNzJ8c7I5sLYaQHmiVGYzLCyYO4SdL1IZSScIHD_hjPgUu11aalyYkx4vqYLnEnv0zbguddkThYsWQ1C9U4GNQvESEtuUmgtiQiZTYGeGp7zAXyQMS8I8QkB0m4dMa0q0TeN5qhjUiHC4rxfYpmf/w640-h360/Werner%20and%20Lena%20at%20Home%20(c)%20Spring%20Films%20and%203B-Produktion%20.png" width="640" /></a></div><p>There's generous footage of Herzog on camera, accompanied by clips from his films, plus gorgeous establishing shots of Bavaria. The film is generally told chronologically, but footage of him in Los Angeles is awkwardly placed at the beginning and end of the film. Herzog workshopping a class of young directors is interesting, but disrupts the doc's momentum early on.</p><p>Another problem lies beyond the director's reach: there's so much to cover in Herzog 81 years and 60+ movies. For instance, nothing is said about <i>Nosferatu </i>or <i>The Enigma of Kaspar Hauser. </i>To get a fuller picture, read his recent memoirs, <i>Every Man For Himself and God Against All,</i> and the Les Blank docs <i>Burden of Dreams </i>and <i>Klaus Kinski Eats His Shoe</i>. </p><p>And watch Herzog films.</p><p><i><u>Werner Herzog: Radical Dreamer</u> is released on VOD February 6.</i></p>Allan Tonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03274259524672129558noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9063159190985782284.post-42709077183789919172024-01-19T13:24:00.003-05:002024-01-19T13:24:39.313-05:00IDS kicks off design weekend in Toronto<p> </p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9cU5ls9Kr-a8asKdy7SVVsjEIs9vrEpeuLYxu3J-8shvIvl4M03ugB2Jwkryj5s2S9OmycPxHmD0kAUdCiaDnGzITCXVWhZsyrgrCTvfGSXLWeXJFRETWMmUUTDj-ZCq9nRu9K5FQsa2VFHTXV85dIKqxnP5LYz8y-KpbSHhNVTrA4dG4pwLfy9jw_BMe/s4608/IDS%202024%20(32).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4608" data-original-width="3456" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9cU5ls9Kr-a8asKdy7SVVsjEIs9vrEpeuLYxu3J-8shvIvl4M03ugB2Jwkryj5s2S9OmycPxHmD0kAUdCiaDnGzITCXVWhZsyrgrCTvfGSXLWeXJFRETWMmUUTDj-ZCq9nRu9K5FQsa2VFHTXV85dIKqxnP5LYz8y-KpbSHhNVTrA4dG4pwLfy9jw_BMe/w480-h640/IDS%202024%20(32).jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">ARD Outdoor</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></p><p><i>Story and photos by Allan Tong</i></p><p>The <a href="https://interiordesignshow.com/toronto/visit/" target="_blank">Interior Design Show</a> opened last night with a party to interrupt the cold snap gripping Toronto. Occupying the northern end of the massive Metro Toronto Convention Centre, the IDS (as it's commonly known) kicked off with flutes of champagne and canopes amid booths and booths of the latest in home furnishings, bathtubs, lighting, wooden floors, ceramic tiles, and even cabins. </p><p>The annual design show runs through Sunday, January 21 with <a href="https://interiordesignshow.com/toronto/keynotes/" target="_blank">Friday </a>being Professional Development Day aimed at industry folk. Highlights include a keynote by <b>Marva Griffin </b>at 2:00-3:00pm. Griffin is the founded Salone Satellite, the renowned showcase of young designers. She will discuss her unusual career path and how the industry has evolved over the last quarter century. Following her will be <b>Oskar Zieta </b>at 4:00pm speaking about his innovative, inflated metal furniture and Poland’s role in the European design industry.</p><p><a href="https://interiordesignshow.com/toronto/keynotes/" target="_blank">Saturday and Sunday</a> are open to the public. The line-up:</p><p>Saturday 11am-12 noon: <b>Safoura Zahedi </b>(Architect, Interdisciplinary Artist, Educator and Geometry Expert), <b>Beverley Horii </b>(Managing Director and Principal, IA Interior Architects), and <b>Tatiana Soldatova </b>(Principal, Syllable) will be imagining the impact of technology, wellness and culture on the interiors of the (near) future.</p><p>Saturday 1-2pm: <b>Tura Cousins Wilson </b>(Studio of Contemporary Architecture), <b>Chad Burton </b>(Fashion Editor and Product Stylist), and <b>Krisette Santamaria </b>(Industrial Designer, Krisette Santamaria Designs) answer the question: Multifunctional, multigenerational, multiuse and multiunit spaces pack in all the needs of modern life, but how do you create a multifaceted living space that still feels cohesive and represents your sense of style? </p><p>Saturday 3-4pm <b>Michael Murphy </b>(Vice President, Fogo Island Workshop & Design), <b>Janet Langdon </b>(Textile Designer), and <b>Ernst Hupel </b>(Partner, 2H Interior Design) will reflect on the design legacy of the innovative <b>Fogo Island Inn </b>off the coast of Newfoundland and Labrador.</p><p>Sunday 11am-12pm will see <b>Brian Gluckstein </b>dispensing his best design advice and predictions for 2024. Following him will be <b>Christiane Lemieux </b>discussing her collections at retail, books and online store as both an entrepreneur and designer. Also, she will offer tips on how she creates a minimalist, nurturing retreat. At 3pm, <b>Aly Velji </b>will reflect on his collaborations with Urban Barn and Rollout. Questions are welcome from the public.</p><p> Of course, there are the <a href="https://interiordesignshow.com/toronto/exhibitors/" target="_blank">exhibitors</a>. Here's what caught our eye:</p><p><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZDZy2Bye3rbZL6AGb_GR4RTdB0kbF0f9vg_2YvxaBSIY00WucG8jBcjpXOShyA6t92E5N7KwJnUxOXrYrH4mA1Iome4txhzfBqHpBXqq2nTxg3ExLJ6od26JtamdkfO2thJGanDnuj26YHMnjwi9c1JnwU_kB7PwHyaoD4WqHZjF_EOUkROPJTcjklPH3/s4608/IDS%202024%20(58).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="4608" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZDZy2Bye3rbZL6AGb_GR4RTdB0kbF0f9vg_2YvxaBSIY00WucG8jBcjpXOShyA6t92E5N7KwJnUxOXrYrH4mA1Iome4txhzfBqHpBXqq2nTxg3ExLJ6od26JtamdkfO2thJGanDnuj26YHMnjwi9c1JnwU_kB7PwHyaoD4WqHZjF_EOUkROPJTcjklPH3/w640-h480/IDS%202024%20(58).jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kissing Chair by Alison Postma</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfy9C-Ay7FApB0xJAlynX3Z_1wAM4VwiYu6uxEIlSAkwV4nHXw_JN3NTkwdKyk7_9pvEdl7LFSRxDtC0t4c4VaHaTbRa7hjmK9namEssvQCNitQLeQONa1EQ9G1xuLvcNwbUMLCG08Wib3NFT8SbmzqzWE4RDDSyV-hNli3VmeudSfnzPnz7gnzVUhfw_P/s4608/IDS%202024%20(54).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="4608" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfy9C-Ay7FApB0xJAlynX3Z_1wAM4VwiYu6uxEIlSAkwV4nHXw_JN3NTkwdKyk7_9pvEdl7LFSRxDtC0t4c4VaHaTbRa7hjmK9namEssvQCNitQLeQONa1EQ9G1xuLvcNwbUMLCG08Wib3NFT8SbmzqzWE4RDDSyV-hNli3VmeudSfnzPnz7gnzVUhfw_P/w640-h480/IDS%202024%20(54).jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ruums repurposes this 160-square-foot cargo container into a painting or musical studio or as a dwelling that's situated in your backyard. They'll walk through all the city permits and installing plumbing, if needed.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVJMcX40YQL8w5K8mPGFRmM3H741kKz5vXodxTfGbuHK1tndvwIaEOh_bZHZtyt0ce2OcNxiUeOnn1P396uL-U5UMDzKdEQ4s6dSOetU9sdwU9IrWmUin8FQyWIat0B6xN49m7zTTd2o3yezxrd4yQyuXoUwzMgwIy_w9Xoqhyuls7nMzTVbUpd25LLLcg/s4608/IDS%202024%20(49).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4608" data-original-width="3456" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVJMcX40YQL8w5K8mPGFRmM3H741kKz5vXodxTfGbuHK1tndvwIaEOh_bZHZtyt0ce2OcNxiUeOnn1P396uL-U5UMDzKdEQ4s6dSOetU9sdwU9IrWmUin8FQyWIat0B6xN49m7zTTd2o3yezxrd4yQyuXoUwzMgwIy_w9Xoqhyuls7nMzTVbUpd25LLLcg/w480-h640/IDS%202024%20(49).jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lighting by Feelux</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9-4cFx7kG0qL5DbUz8lKZQMBfHd3Sp0XO1SxfwJ86A-qB7B8kUkBdvr96tV0BJLXNk0qPQI2rd6frvD4syHwTg1OfIhqzB0-RyGnfFVXpOOjW6l11Ylbx6oHoBn95_IargwWqouD6mYP9JxPsjngCELX4A05ziARL3Sfhq6bTbXTFQfNs8_2768Hv9fb5/s4608/IDS%202024%20(47).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="4608" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9-4cFx7kG0qL5DbUz8lKZQMBfHd3Sp0XO1SxfwJ86A-qB7B8kUkBdvr96tV0BJLXNk0qPQI2rd6frvD4syHwTg1OfIhqzB0-RyGnfFVXpOOjW6l11Ylbx6oHoBn95_IargwWqouD6mYP9JxPsjngCELX4A05ziARL3Sfhq6bTbXTFQfNs8_2768Hv9fb5/w400-h300/IDS%202024%20(47).jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqbWeLMZ42unlmqOYF0R9Bm-PumbXyM5d0c9rbI7ttqospUG1i52ll7MtSzO6DkiRHPZKK3m0AVTrl4SwQdqEpvFykArXvHd1Pp_qYmdSBNYtqMA8hQ5e6NHvnBgRuTcAeQTUOt-fQXjo-UsORw8pJEKkozU5DfW3hL9ljSjp9bwNCwSK0uCi8gyALbaez/s4608/IDS%202024%20(46).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4608" data-original-width="3456" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqbWeLMZ42unlmqOYF0R9Bm-PumbXyM5d0c9rbI7ttqospUG1i52ll7MtSzO6DkiRHPZKK3m0AVTrl4SwQdqEpvFykArXvHd1Pp_qYmdSBNYtqMA8hQ5e6NHvnBgRuTcAeQTUOt-fQXjo-UsORw8pJEKkozU5DfW3hL9ljSjp9bwNCwSK0uCi8gyALbaez/w300-h400/IDS%202024%20(46).jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wine flowed at Vicostone</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMSsrMhy7SmTpI4Wv_fPsCtdXNODgefw0NSb32G_3fBmxClK6BV2eGQAL_8jlFjnjnAHZ7wcDTMcgpYIhNZRps1rryvA1_k1u6yg9m8tTbqWgUofRKwIQwq-V3lnooWcWsmkguDZ-bN2LdPc7FMtfRHwqzJPg25K8ts3f7JH21Wdm2hxDGTkgKNTJxFVgZ/s4608/IDS%202024%20(43).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4608" data-original-width="3456" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMSsrMhy7SmTpI4Wv_fPsCtdXNODgefw0NSb32G_3fBmxClK6BV2eGQAL_8jlFjnjnAHZ7wcDTMcgpYIhNZRps1rryvA1_k1u6yg9m8tTbqWgUofRKwIQwq-V3lnooWcWsmkguDZ-bN2LdPc7FMtfRHwqzJPg25K8ts3f7JH21Wdm2hxDGTkgKNTJxFVgZ/w480-h640/IDS%202024%20(43).jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Paint isn't just for walls, says Sherwin-Williams</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivuMOdqW1GlZF_d8SVNNfRIPvDEq0tNcdAybMp4ug7BkxLVPmKox_gV2iAldZ3-A44Llmvlya1BlrTGBihhjEyAeoxFJwqgsHXTR8RL8vKlMaOJtYWtN8EmhI97x9K9zcnB4y0ONZeH_8YKNoG6pb-cTe5ygp3kTAF_0HhUvP3k8VkT6_WzDN5AderxIfl/s4608/IDS%202024%20(40).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4608" data-original-width="3456" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivuMOdqW1GlZF_d8SVNNfRIPvDEq0tNcdAybMp4ug7BkxLVPmKox_gV2iAldZ3-A44Llmvlya1BlrTGBihhjEyAeoxFJwqgsHXTR8RL8vKlMaOJtYWtN8EmhI97x9K9zcnB4y0ONZeH_8YKNoG6pb-cTe5ygp3kTAF_0HhUvP3k8VkT6_WzDN5AderxIfl/w480-h640/IDS%202024%20(40).jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Montauk Sofa</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZQw_NgsM6qcj72qnGXrYQZ0p725eViQXBWhoE2ss607nSo7MY3Ii7yFF_0NREfQ2V5OtpW1pyhT7UJZJHoQbY976bNftNm-me1trMvCigVZg9-nCAu9ExxsICenVlOuw0rGu0_fgAMQm7bEwLC0O9WZcrGjiB5Z5HNhZDZHT090ud7oPsryEfn0FEN4Jd/s4608/IDS%202024%20(37).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4608" data-original-width="3456" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZQw_NgsM6qcj72qnGXrYQZ0p725eViQXBWhoE2ss607nSo7MY3Ii7yFF_0NREfQ2V5OtpW1pyhT7UJZJHoQbY976bNftNm-me1trMvCigVZg9-nCAu9ExxsICenVlOuw0rGu0_fgAMQm7bEwLC0O9WZcrGjiB5Z5HNhZDZHT090ud7oPsryEfn0FEN4Jd/w480-h640/IDS%202024%20(37).jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Roche Bobois</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVMB5aw3eAK61M3XtutvZbzWOckSdzovafUmoayLNYU0cEss2fP5bTUf7NkcZ5XqrSl42D8DB5LUx1w9CMOrTeCJRJRFTX9tL1c_yPUNC_8jUfc6wpe-q9xK8fzqUu5YsqHQY5i8hdQ2QzL0_EIBkxdqCTrdVYm57zyURWGE1S6J02yIq4b0vgLTfUK1hs/s4608/IDS%202024%20(36).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="4608" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVMB5aw3eAK61M3XtutvZbzWOckSdzovafUmoayLNYU0cEss2fP5bTUf7NkcZ5XqrSl42D8DB5LUx1w9CMOrTeCJRJRFTX9tL1c_yPUNC_8jUfc6wpe-q9xK8fzqUu5YsqHQY5i8hdQ2QzL0_EIBkxdqCTrdVYm57zyURWGE1S6J02yIq4b0vgLTfUK1hs/w640-h480/IDS%202024%20(36).jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">ARD Outdoor</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqf1SiJZcCboaMUnQXrtLJMGqtdd4TN80i91SLBOyFeloImfX9OI_t5cypabJdK-a0TND9KbcnFZrims_s3tfCVBbBHrugO96hUhq-kNt1SdqH5Bzdmd2ROQYpqyESMKpYL1cwx7v3qs0PNzGuibKQt8gMeS2IKC8iF74lFszwkc5EorPs6KflhwoV0ne0/s4608/IDS%202024%20(30).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="4608" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqf1SiJZcCboaMUnQXrtLJMGqtdd4TN80i91SLBOyFeloImfX9OI_t5cypabJdK-a0TND9KbcnFZrims_s3tfCVBbBHrugO96hUhq-kNt1SdqH5Bzdmd2ROQYpqyESMKpYL1cwx7v3qs0PNzGuibKQt8gMeS2IKC8iF74lFszwkc5EorPs6KflhwoV0ne0/w640-h480/IDS%202024%20(30).jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Non-alcohol cocktails by Seedlip were popular</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjGxA3ZHqnPo3YPuHh1w0THT0l20hU0DeCN3jeOEDSYopmGBYzxhkJ4Zy5dqLVrClxfLC4XiikqHvWeiHIrElk_a_FVqgGGhk7zIX7kB3IpUxXTIpYyeyqZ6D06T37cA_MVuiVS0z-vwJeouGQcWUEyu2xDla214tm4xXeytjFcrNZjhK8xojsjhxoxSMo/s4608/IDS%202024%20(28).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4608" data-original-width="3456" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjGxA3ZHqnPo3YPuHh1w0THT0l20hU0DeCN3jeOEDSYopmGBYzxhkJ4Zy5dqLVrClxfLC4XiikqHvWeiHIrElk_a_FVqgGGhk7zIX7kB3IpUxXTIpYyeyqZ6D06T37cA_MVuiVS0z-vwJeouGQcWUEyu2xDla214tm4xXeytjFcrNZjhK8xojsjhxoxSMo/w480-h640/IDS%202024%20(28).jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">WOODca Design offered an example of cool wooden dwellings at this year's IDS, like this sauna</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmejcxHu_zdxKhY1GcIyzpOTF65SfwdZH1OoPu5oCgh48iWy6Gp2e15QaP3oCeuUQXstTAYHgtBGjG7ocOX0jZjGFBsFIvSJ2nv30G-Zy-zkye_cRtCuHMV_xf7nNmDPQaL0emb7RWKJUGnbW9feKmug82JHDcOKGoDvMsiMbbUmJrHglGjdniUdYkhvTO/s4608/IDS%202024%20(21).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4608" data-original-width="3456" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmejcxHu_zdxKhY1GcIyzpOTF65SfwdZH1OoPu5oCgh48iWy6Gp2e15QaP3oCeuUQXstTAYHgtBGjG7ocOX0jZjGFBsFIvSJ2nv30G-Zy-zkye_cRtCuHMV_xf7nNmDPQaL0emb7RWKJUGnbW9feKmug82JHDcOKGoDvMsiMbbUmJrHglGjdniUdYkhvTO/w480-h640/IDS%202024%20(21).jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Of course, there are sinks at IDS, this sleek one by Facileklean</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDDpK6Cdj7_3aCNb8PdbxNDwOcNyxwn9n9a83zeht9IWpOuXqWbsw0ebBLynxwZJCrbeXR6vqP-TY3XDoJI2T4wbP90FuQjEaSAb_Hc6wal27YEbPpWY1_kg3nsY29fJok51JciViFh-t3cG5e0Pk8ESJFIVgNgLKPfUgYTfFrjB1AD3cBtHI6mvyTotlt/s4608/IDS%202024%20(16).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="4608" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDDpK6Cdj7_3aCNb8PdbxNDwOcNyxwn9n9a83zeht9IWpOuXqWbsw0ebBLynxwZJCrbeXR6vqP-TY3XDoJI2T4wbP90FuQjEaSAb_Hc6wal27YEbPpWY1_kg3nsY29fJok51JciViFh-t3cG5e0Pk8ESJFIVgNgLKPfUgYTfFrjB1AD3cBtHI6mvyTotlt/w640-h480/IDS%202024%20(16).jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">OCH Works</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX7df2C6_FnA7HhpQd-P6M3AJJXOlY0k5Of2MScpalF1k1yRV2A16VA9maGEjoHiGMMuphoHEtKGcEIEFf3csXwGsvi-YWISsG5Z9I41afSXA4xgFfxkYk9L1hbPgzCuc8B02Dtqa0KnSeB0_QSQl0jCfF8IUYyrK7WX8z92Q5qrM6v1jjq-gk8mmVo0BT/s2560/IDS%202024%20(14).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2560" data-original-width="1440" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX7df2C6_FnA7HhpQd-P6M3AJJXOlY0k5Of2MScpalF1k1yRV2A16VA9maGEjoHiGMMuphoHEtKGcEIEFf3csXwGsvi-YWISsG5Z9I41afSXA4xgFfxkYk9L1hbPgzCuc8B02Dtqa0KnSeB0_QSQl0jCfF8IUYyrK7WX8z92Q5qrM6v1jjq-gk8mmVo0BT/w360-h640/IDS%202024%20(14).jpg" width="360" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">McKae Imaging's backlit canvases</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4cgixYErNSz22TIbyAvgubLCAO0seIa8QtLRKykoHdnyoAn40Sek0F7anF9txT03ENff_uCBpNyzU7xArF4l80LelINswuiVdg-Umj2cXpJrgbQkeVuQdR9TGbVYRnGg40WizrMO6bEFDo4Frr_X_LfAofo07RHZUpMcKeXDg5_yMmqkmruVUOUJdQI1U/s2560/IDS%202024%20(12).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2560" data-original-width="1440" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4cgixYErNSz22TIbyAvgubLCAO0seIa8QtLRKykoHdnyoAn40Sek0F7anF9txT03ENff_uCBpNyzU7xArF4l80LelINswuiVdg-Umj2cXpJrgbQkeVuQdR9TGbVYRnGg40WizrMO6bEFDo4Frr_X_LfAofo07RHZUpMcKeXDg5_yMmqkmruVUOUJdQI1U/w360-h640/IDS%202024%20(12).jpg" width="360" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stylish sinks and faucets, indeed</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjz1xHl6SwbaNDCrbS1uQRO-k94L5qmXepuCJjrOqJFcSsJwOqQfUg_uw6Bhp8tL6fJ9lujr2TLv5egK1mHdzWu9MNv5pDJqzKDYFNYyaXoPdGBFQEFQlj31nn0UojE9oTYvNiI8AlL824rL7OjaWtuykZRt6Hoo4v5GqZOM4GyOyhcwMTAp2A9V3SbFjm/s2560/IDS%202024%20(3).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2560" data-original-width="1440" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjz1xHl6SwbaNDCrbS1uQRO-k94L5qmXepuCJjrOqJFcSsJwOqQfUg_uw6Bhp8tL6fJ9lujr2TLv5egK1mHdzWu9MNv5pDJqzKDYFNYyaXoPdGBFQEFQlj31nn0UojE9oTYvNiI8AlL824rL7OjaWtuykZRt6Hoo4v5GqZOM4GyOyhcwMTAp2A9V3SbFjm/w362-h640/IDS%202024%20(3).jpg" width="362" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Coffee's other use by Krisette Sanatamaria</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVAGr2tdU2k2L1PWws9JLlGIfpOF18WID4RfTt3qbPHO8O6K97o1-IYxs3oeqhKo6h7u83MoQBaHKhQsIO51Gw8NFICE7SdsL4Myvi-l061juBRkdF84YZx3Wwq95_dZhCpPIovVmCpD4kVfFxoYz5PEDna-N2_BeYM99hnwdG5VZTJ7vi7ZHMLhglitrn/s2560/IDS%202024%20(1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2560" data-original-width="1440" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVAGr2tdU2k2L1PWws9JLlGIfpOF18WID4RfTt3qbPHO8O6K97o1-IYxs3oeqhKo6h7u83MoQBaHKhQsIO51Gw8NFICE7SdsL4Myvi-l061juBRkdF84YZx3Wwq95_dZhCpPIovVmCpD4kVfFxoYz5PEDna-N2_BeYM99hnwdG5VZTJ7vi7ZHMLhglitrn/w360-h640/IDS%202024%20(1).jpg" width="360" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>For more coverage including videos, find us on Instagram at <b>chinokino_to</b></p><div><br /></div>Allan Tonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03274259524672129558noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9063159190985782284.post-73806089396603996472023-12-20T14:17:00.008-05:002023-12-20T14:17:00.137-05:00film review: Anselm (3D)<p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU0Dp6sHYjei7Ia7XAMtTMUcJ6O8SV6DQ4FCksc2tnCIO1p_oag3UMjm5oYIFxmH2GVGNRz13M4lf50b2EB6wgtbG2WWAHweHNIpbozDezvHXVnMp74a_CyiCR5wkJQAfGtBT6mqxsTkUB3zOKab2OtlbRUOAj6zCtkifXB1ZBr-rw2qo66YYeIuXmxNGX/s2480/ANSELM%201.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1653" data-original-width="2480" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU0Dp6sHYjei7Ia7XAMtTMUcJ6O8SV6DQ4FCksc2tnCIO1p_oag3UMjm5oYIFxmH2GVGNRz13M4lf50b2EB6wgtbG2WWAHweHNIpbozDezvHXVnMp74a_CyiCR5wkJQAfGtBT6mqxsTkUB3zOKab2OtlbRUOAj6zCtkifXB1ZBr-rw2qo66YYeIuXmxNGX/w640-h426/ANSELM%201.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p>Directed by Wim Wenders</p><p>ChinoKino score: B+</p><p><i>Review by Allan Tong</i></p><p>Wim Wenders returns to the 3D documentary form with a portrait of German painter/sculptor, Anselm Kiefer. Few will know his name outside the art world, though Kiefer has a celebrated body of work spanning half a century.</p><p>Kiefer peaked in the 1980s after retrospectives in Chicago and New York where critics heralded that “America has a new superstar.” His sculptures and giant canvases made of materials like straw, ash and clay, depict barren fields and empty rooms. They are moody and haunting. Some evoke (some say, provoke) Germany's Nazi past, such as his photos posing in the Nazi salute. Kiefer's intent is to force the German public to confront its dark past, though the film deflects accusations that these images can be misconstrued as pro-fascist.</p><p></p><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe frameborder="0" height="270" src="https://youtube.com/embed/c09sdGYDokI?si=b9U97qM84EQD1tJ-" width="480"></iframe></div><p></p><p>As with his previous, stunning 3D documentary, <i>Pina</i>, Wenders does not editorialize nor intrude with narration or with titles on screen. Instead, he presents vintage footage of Kiefer, seamlessly blended with contemporary footage of the 78-year-old, intercut with that of his adult son, Daniel, portraying a younger Kiefer.</p><p>The documentary flows elegantly and in 3D offers a feast of visuals. You can see in dazzling detail for miles across a snowy forest illuminated by sunlight. The 3D opens up the detail in Kiefer's artwork, particularly his sculptures. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGdVpV6scfm_f2MxbLWZuDsDU-F5m06oNuzZHuLIGQhXiLwJIz5nKVTwNN4jJiqotiIwMHq4VphnIDkg8i6jXqhtgZ0zabLSWvte-L6eTypgaXryDYu5VrQZ628N5rsDR5fkjmbiUrAHfda3VuMNaQiLrdOxCeJXwN-UrFJvgLyuoibuMFs-l6As0LXoXT/s2480/ANSELM%202.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1653" data-original-width="2480" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGdVpV6scfm_f2MxbLWZuDsDU-F5m06oNuzZHuLIGQhXiLwJIz5nKVTwNN4jJiqotiIwMHq4VphnIDkg8i6jXqhtgZ0zabLSWvte-L6eTypgaXryDYu5VrQZ628N5rsDR5fkjmbiUrAHfda3VuMNaQiLrdOxCeJXwN-UrFJvgLyuoibuMFs-l6As0LXoXT/w400-h266/ANSELM%202.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p>That said, I would have liked to have seen more biography on Kiefer and other voices to comment on his work. <i>Anselm </i>is entirely seen from the artist's point of view, presumably to let his art speak for itself. Indeed, the 3D format presents his work in the finest way, far better than any future TV screening will.</p><p><i>Released by Mongrel Media, <u>Anselm</u> opens December 22 in Toronto, Vancouver and Montreal.</i></p>Allan Tonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03274259524672129558noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9063159190985782284.post-68451419854894324852023-12-14T17:43:00.002-05:002023-12-18T11:14:11.602-05:00film review: Immediate Family<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0OPP0WpxmGA9Mbbr5HEVpmIfcOd7Aj4Ln_ywKiXM4VXDSiQWFXC9g7z0pURklD4rhLoxRux4h86kvRGz7y_cPR_VVbCfwS29t_7lLq_qtaEfMI_jySOK9Xz64h4qlHBzdrirvctF6XRZKbyyvHUbK6C7kzreKKKsph0dkCxaK3l2CDCAQHnxZtAwsjhMd/s1920/Immediate%20Family.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1038" data-original-width="1920" height="346" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0OPP0WpxmGA9Mbbr5HEVpmIfcOd7Aj4Ln_ywKiXM4VXDSiQWFXC9g7z0pURklD4rhLoxRux4h86kvRGz7y_cPR_VVbCfwS29t_7lLq_qtaEfMI_jySOK9Xz64h4qlHBzdrirvctF6XRZKbyyvHUbK6C7kzreKKKsph0dkCxaK3l2CDCAQHnxZtAwsjhMd/w640-h346/Immediate%20Family.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p>Directed by Danny Tedesco</p><p>ChinoKino rating: B</p><p><i>Review by Allan Tong</i></p><p>This music doc is the logical and spiritual sequel to Danny Tedesco's impressive <i>The Wrecking Crew </i>from 2008. Both films profile groups of top session musicians, unsung heroes in the L.A. rock business who reflect on their past glories. Immediate Family are drummer Russ Kunkel, bassist Leland Sklar, and guitarists Danny Kortchmar and Waddy Wachtel.</p><p>Starting in the early 1970s, they as individuals performed on landmark albums, including Carole King's <i>Tapestry, </i>James Taylor's <i>Sweet Baby James, </i>Joni Mitchell's <i>Blue, </i>and into the late-1980s played for many stars, such as Neil Young, Keith Richards and Don Henley. They also went on tour with some of them, like Wachtel for Linda Ronstadt in her heyday. Hands-down, these are top-notch players and they step out of the shadows and into the spotlight in this enjoyable film.</p><p>If you've seen Tedesco's previous doc, you know what to expect. Interviews are generous as are music clips, over 80 in fact. Phil Collins, Stevie Nicks, David Crosby, Jackson Browne, Lyle Lovett and producer Peter Asher are among the parade of rock legends who sing the Family's praises. It's entertaining to hear tidbits like the one of headstrong Wathtel insisting on a guitar solo to replace a planned saxophone one in Steve Perry's hit, <i>Oh Sherrie</i> (a good call). Another highlight sees Wachtel recalling Linda Ronstadt singing her way into a strip joint in the middle of nowhere while on tour, because she wasn't carrying any I.D. to get past the door.</p><p></p><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe frameborder="0" height="270" src="https://youtube.com/embed/3YgsOoF825Q?si=DYlqFYPxX4HMoqtm" width="480"></iframe></div><p></p><p>In fact, the entire film is fun and nice. Perhaps too nice. Apart from a brief mention of butting heads in the studio, the Family come across as nice guys. But the music business is a place notorious for clashing egos and where sex, drugs and greed rule. There's none of that in this film. Kunkel confesses his one regret that he didn't spend enough with his children when they were growing up. However, we don't hear from any of his children or spouses.</p><p>Another weakness of the film (not fault of the filmmaker) is that Family aren't a self-contained unit like the Wrecking Crew of the 1960s and beyond. Sure, they are now officially a band, playing gigs under that name in New York. However, this doc comes across as a collection of personalities who cross paths over the years, but were never a unit like the legendary Wrecking Crew.</p><p>That said, <i>Immediate Family </i>is a fun film to watch and listen to. It'll hit home to those who grew up on this music and there ain't nothing wrong with that.</p><p><i><u>Immediate Family</u> opens on Dec. 15 in Toronto (at the Hot Docs cinema), Vancouver (at Vancity)! and </i><i>is also rent or buy </i><i>across Canada on the Apple TV app/iTunes and Google Play. </i><i>It is being released in Canada by Mongrel Media.</i></p><p><br /></p>Allan Tonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03274259524672129558noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9063159190985782284.post-91500226850504860062023-11-26T21:26:00.000-05:002023-11-26T21:26:15.321-05:00Winners & Losers is a slam-dunk history of Toronto sports<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb87_ePVgLkpyd6l0G2_rxMPKuif5AGuxnRLRqgumLuL3Lrcp78Lu1tWJoQt-UG7U2-JXflZm_9UDgmkmkCwwhj1ip1qqHxdPy2DkTtlxPgKQIHGp6gFIpxykM5WQASY_MXsAFYD67MCl93JSKrv2qcxtVi8JztvcaluvqMnXueFuZqayqkwVZal2lmscf/s2408/WINNERS%20AND%20LOSERS%20at%20Myseum%20(14).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2408" data-original-width="1391" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb87_ePVgLkpyd6l0G2_rxMPKuif5AGuxnRLRqgumLuL3Lrcp78Lu1tWJoQt-UG7U2-JXflZm_9UDgmkmkCwwhj1ip1qqHxdPy2DkTtlxPgKQIHGp6gFIpxykM5WQASY_MXsAFYD67MCl93JSKrv2qcxtVi8JztvcaluvqMnXueFuZqayqkwVZal2lmscf/w370-h640/WINNERS%20AND%20LOSERS%20at%20Myseum%20(14).jpg" width="370" /></a></div><p>Toronto is officially the most sport-crazed city in Canada, boasting big-league franchises in hockey, basketball, baseball and football (both kinds). Championships and chokes (see below) are embedded in the collective Torontonian memory. That's why the new exhibition by <a href="https://www.myseumoftoronto.com/collection/winners-losers/?utm_campaign=newsletter+2&utm_id=sports&utm_medium=email&utm_source=digital" target="_blank">Myseum </a>is essential and a lot of fun.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjouCced0PUVn5p6YXCiuuJixHzDfsPGgUKKoZr3xWqgcSe75K8ZdMhKrJGqjBFEHV7w7DHFcTLAu14IWFg0mM8zt3ThOiKG5dZZxQD52Li6fRwhQC1ilWmca518bUe0ZXQPGvaW5cdRG9e-L31ofSrRT1wtuMAK42-ceJfB-VX1f5XssNzXBFWq3ex0nXu/s2560/WINNERS%20AND%20LOSERS%20at%20Myseum%20(26).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2560" data-original-width="1440" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjouCced0PUVn5p6YXCiuuJixHzDfsPGgUKKoZr3xWqgcSe75K8ZdMhKrJGqjBFEHV7w7DHFcTLAu14IWFg0mM8zt3ThOiKG5dZZxQD52Li6fRwhQC1ilWmca518bUe0ZXQPGvaW5cdRG9e-L31ofSrRT1wtuMAK42-ceJfB-VX1f5XssNzXBFWq3ex0nXu/w225-h400/WINNERS%20AND%20LOSERS%20at%20Myseum%20(26).jpg" width="225" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">For once, the Leafs win this one</td></tr></tbody></table><p><i>Winners & Losers </i>celebrates the relationship between Torontonians and its teams over the decades in a city that has radically changed in terms of race and gender parity. The exhibit does not celebrate hall of fame ballplayers (the Hockey Hall of Fame down the street does a fine job of that already), though it name checks the likes of <b>Joe Carter</b>, <b>Frank Mahovlich</b>, Kawaii Leonard and <b>Pinball Clemens</b>.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTws1wiALbVlvZO0VjTjS7EE5LoGSNvv3We0pLW3hCjldpUb_tYqrCoMEo1wpa_WRQEyMH82FrvdBO0AP-NOCxTU4jaq8mAbdAPGX6vAB6LAaFxFZMxVPD6bVSkuQ_gcL5cSjaNy_gwouI22jIyizftyzqMGMdCqgl7w3kSWWPNnC25g6pozM6-vMkJec0/s2168/WINNERS%20AND%20LOSERS%20at%20Myseum%20(6).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2168" data-original-width="1342" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTws1wiALbVlvZO0VjTjS7EE5LoGSNvv3We0pLW3hCjldpUb_tYqrCoMEo1wpa_WRQEyMH82FrvdBO0AP-NOCxTU4jaq8mAbdAPGX6vAB6LAaFxFZMxVPD6bVSkuQ_gcL5cSjaNy_gwouI22jIyizftyzqMGMdCqgl7w3kSWWPNnC25g6pozM6-vMkJec0/w248-h400/WINNERS%20AND%20LOSERS%20at%20Myseum%20(6).jpg" width="248" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>The great Mahovlich scored for not one, but two Toronto hockey teams: the Maple Leafs (including the 1967 Stanley Cup champions) and the Toros of the short-lived WHA</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwfUbuEDQrrRW-3Oku7fw-L1zTe6VMB4bh7Djvh5J5-n9HgjuvOcvPxg82gzCF9q1504bmmIH79htrW6VSVwqQ5fLMfMZoQNLw8YEorpbule1Uokbm-olJJStq5HtbAYS_X04dhgf8s7RKsOfC5akpGkrFUSkhzEowm5R0M3rgFDpxU4aw7hR5q2viUjy1/s2214/WINNERS%20AND%20LOSERS%20at%20Myseum%20(20).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2214" data-original-width="1378" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwfUbuEDQrrRW-3Oku7fw-L1zTe6VMB4bh7Djvh5J5-n9HgjuvOcvPxg82gzCF9q1504bmmIH79htrW6VSVwqQ5fLMfMZoQNLw8YEorpbule1Uokbm-olJJStq5HtbAYS_X04dhgf8s7RKsOfC5akpGkrFUSkhzEowm5R0M3rgFDpxU4aw7hR5q2viUjy1/w249-h400/WINNERS%20AND%20LOSERS%20at%20Myseum%20(20).jpg" width="249" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj88E3mTjNNrKFVrNCb74JRnda85kM74-w9IXE4khCVfbFNq4c0iZrvlzi-5gVs7XRvtn0g3AIpEtDNCiuuSfx58FbzT5v52-2Se22_psliuc5jKzm2NL2M91Ns2v0rC-j8cWO5LpnJ7AcsDz4BL_d__fxspYdd6nxc2xRhnWuEXNkRhfPpC93s-p5rEXCg/s1595/WINNERS%20AND%20LOSERS%20at%20Myseum%20(21).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1595" data-original-width="1093" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj88E3mTjNNrKFVrNCb74JRnda85kM74-w9IXE4khCVfbFNq4c0iZrvlzi-5gVs7XRvtn0g3AIpEtDNCiuuSfx58FbzT5v52-2Se22_psliuc5jKzm2NL2M91Ns2v0rC-j8cWO5LpnJ7AcsDz4BL_d__fxspYdd6nxc2xRhnWuEXNkRhfPpC93s-p5rEXCg/w274-h400/WINNERS%20AND%20LOSERS%20at%20Myseum%20(21).jpg" width="274" /></a></div><br /><p>The exhibit grans equal space to pioneers and local heroes, such as <b>Billie Hallam</b>, a female pitcher who was also crowned 1937's Miss Toronto, and the <b>Toronto Huskies </b>who were roaming NBA courts decades before the Raptors.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3ylI1pW4k66Mt7Oj4OQBr_Ahb-tUPkBSsx04_B3WAsVwyOkKISrVqhWTTy70W7PVh0fhmK7Ioptv3AOqiRUF_8zLPPw5BrRZjH9RTzuaa8afRXA4M0lkmv282vFxP6tCaDRYSVAueVFsr0iflOjFGyyDoyFBv72i0SGhODPrdW9VaH8kE1OoMFGqEfpzV/s2087/WINNERS%20AND%20LOSERS%20at%20Myseum%20(19).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2087" data-original-width="1396" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3ylI1pW4k66Mt7Oj4OQBr_Ahb-tUPkBSsx04_B3WAsVwyOkKISrVqhWTTy70W7PVh0fhmK7Ioptv3AOqiRUF_8zLPPw5BrRZjH9RTzuaa8afRXA4M0lkmv282vFxP6tCaDRYSVAueVFsr0iflOjFGyyDoyFBv72i0SGhODPrdW9VaH8kE1OoMFGqEfpzV/w429-h640/WINNERS%20AND%20LOSERS%20at%20Myseum%20(19).jpg" width="429" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguoJ37Bo0CSoMNDVyqWas1og2bAldqqZPrOHTfskXpW3au6e-20H93GY8OsklbsEM6jc6WGFBYTtzK1D4aeVCK_D9hnkPRSfrfUr4zh8dG6EpDVYxj4rkMDzewtaBskJyHNsV_LePmZO8wioBc9Fr0NQw89k_iSt5kzOv_zJSN2SrBC4ZqdV3bv1ly-Ncp/s1437/WINNERS%20AND%20LOSERS%20at%20Myseum%20(23).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1437" data-original-width="1414" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguoJ37Bo0CSoMNDVyqWas1og2bAldqqZPrOHTfskXpW3au6e-20H93GY8OsklbsEM6jc6WGFBYTtzK1D4aeVCK_D9hnkPRSfrfUr4zh8dG6EpDVYxj4rkMDzewtaBskJyHNsV_LePmZO8wioBc9Fr0NQw89k_iSt5kzOv_zJSN2SrBC4ZqdV3bv1ly-Ncp/w394-h400/WINNERS%20AND%20LOSERS%20at%20Myseum%20(23).jpg" width="394" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><i>Winners & Losers</i> also excels in being interactive. We're not talking smartphones and touch-screen TVs, but games, such as <b>Playoffs </b>(below) where visitors can choose Toronto great basketball moments, whether by Eastern Commerce or by Vince Carter. <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJsWEXrU19p99I-2cyQffDchdldRlXLp32XqKshuludBSjCN1xCgf92NQhXRvKL0SBj6kY64t104JQwCTcOJ7rW7heGyQ-Ud9x7ExOoGNissvLKG4PM1NeHF_p8w-FFaDKTSp8bP3Fze1UbnnSM4Dh-EaMmNihH1UdZBEtdfIUCJmguRnRZa3WhB0pATz9/s2160/WINNERS%20AND%20LOSERS%20at%20Myseum%20(18).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2160" data-original-width="1423" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJsWEXrU19p99I-2cyQffDchdldRlXLp32XqKshuludBSjCN1xCgf92NQhXRvKL0SBj6kY64t104JQwCTcOJ7rW7heGyQ-Ud9x7ExOoGNissvLKG4PM1NeHF_p8w-FFaDKTSp8bP3Fze1UbnnSM4Dh-EaMmNihH1UdZBEtdfIUCJmguRnRZa3WhB0pATz9/w422-h640/WINNERS%20AND%20LOSERS%20at%20Myseum%20(18).jpg" width="422" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUdCM4dfoDEdyVfwHBhWz3-31kx7mglaSScp2UsSD7kEQLNcDoq9psN3PTi7heXR9AUfoTGWrs4MZZXA0We8eKOsUB6iQSri4McI0oGwlEp034hAUMg9TTPNLRw3Ee5PEq3nKPrPBbdN42nu_f7lkmiclFelY27HoIN0J_RBh1fNWvwbGn0vb8PF6xMKYP/s2218/WINNERS%20AND%20LOSERS%20at%20Myseum%20(16).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2218" data-original-width="1396" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUdCM4dfoDEdyVfwHBhWz3-31kx7mglaSScp2UsSD7kEQLNcDoq9psN3PTi7heXR9AUfoTGWrs4MZZXA0We8eKOsUB6iQSri4McI0oGwlEp034hAUMg9TTPNLRw3Ee5PEq3nKPrPBbdN42nu_f7lkmiclFelY27HoIN0J_RBh1fNWvwbGn0vb8PF6xMKYP/w251-h400/WINNERS%20AND%20LOSERS%20at%20Myseum%20(16).jpg" width="251" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSdTCg7uqmtB0mm2WeS4QKtLV8D5d4XwyuZlJF5wwrZcHSy7Tf6nlCcgd7pqH8xxEUAvf6QAabSb3kkJMqq8GdLUgMdUiwl0eTK-uCWjVxxPxKYlEV4Be-wxk3OUMdps_GmIDZbJUWj8XelfjBcnisBNjXsPj7TejmWKEdzT0fdnCMes4CNg6LLj3QVEyA/s2560/WINNERS%20AND%20LOSERS%20at%20Myseum%20(10).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2560" data-original-width="1440" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSdTCg7uqmtB0mm2WeS4QKtLV8D5d4XwyuZlJF5wwrZcHSy7Tf6nlCcgd7pqH8xxEUAvf6QAabSb3kkJMqq8GdLUgMdUiwl0eTK-uCWjVxxPxKYlEV4Be-wxk3OUMdps_GmIDZbJUWj8XelfjBcnisBNjXsPj7TejmWKEdzT0fdnCMes4CNg6LLj3QVEyA/w225-h400/WINNERS%20AND%20LOSERS%20at%20Myseum%20(10).jpg" width="225" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Of course, there's the requisite <b>table hockey game </b>(Leafs vs. Habs, of course) and finely chosen memorabilia, like a vintage <b>boxing programme </b>from Maple Leafs Gardens.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdkLU7BaO1BnGAKZSlUUHxjUfdURVBdKJNP7hI_8t_hmU7Wzd2fyEiq1dJ3Tp0NoV9F2nADfU3X8jGO1PRP01KjYrWvd7RQNYVn9yd0q8NBDomc85mt5x5nQK9t6FxOpct8Ac7-xbQNudqZEBAUVtlbJER2roUdXFUFf0whdglhemYDtxz4hP89gw4Rzi0/s1649/WINNERS%20AND%20LOSERS%20at%20Myseum%20(8).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1649" data-original-width="1147" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdkLU7BaO1BnGAKZSlUUHxjUfdURVBdKJNP7hI_8t_hmU7Wzd2fyEiq1dJ3Tp0NoV9F2nADfU3X8jGO1PRP01KjYrWvd7RQNYVn9yd0q8NBDomc85mt5x5nQK9t6FxOpct8Ac7-xbQNudqZEBAUVtlbJER2roUdXFUFf0whdglhemYDtxz4hP89gw4Rzi0/w279-h400/WINNERS%20AND%20LOSERS%20at%20Myseum%20(8).jpg" width="279" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibnKCHr_iGtdWKadUmgu6tgmpy1Gug8zkgIr2VaEURU-VKrqyJQkZtVwde0PCuZoXGoVS9FBJ_Dhu11BtwPf1Cdg5nXXH8MKjopBzT-jFYvn9Rq54JyHqJT7BVB67aBrPqxVMSvYzy8j3s5WBosYwFAXTfPXa8u9PqFQTWqC9NBOWDJlG793bb1K62g2vX/s2560/WINNERS%20AND%20LOSERS%20at%20Myseum%20(7).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2560" data-original-width="1440" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibnKCHr_iGtdWKadUmgu6tgmpy1Gug8zkgIr2VaEURU-VKrqyJQkZtVwde0PCuZoXGoVS9FBJ_Dhu11BtwPf1Cdg5nXXH8MKjopBzT-jFYvn9Rq54JyHqJT7BVB67aBrPqxVMSvYzy8j3s5WBosYwFAXTfPXa8u9PqFQTWqC9NBOWDJlG793bb1K62g2vX/w225-h400/WINNERS%20AND%20LOSERS%20at%20Myseum%20(7).jpg" width="225" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">It's remarkable the span of artifacts that Myseum has assembled in a single room, which still allows space for interactivity and TV screens. Obviously, thought and care has been invested in how this compact space should look, sound and feel, from basketballs handling from the ceiling to gridirons covering the floor.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMLnsdNkZLljfVZcfFKR1ZUM0kWDxc4Jq_b6idyOYwRYcwi93rJgRVGynUqK_JWwsB0jksakz7uHJrTz26w0oUsvOedIcHiw6JzQmjlt6WssES7317xQMTmswhgNY7LX5J-7FdlgvCSq4NdzkV6C_T5PUSt2PaH1I0dNW5DM0dT2VZTq2s8QyYEbDItCPI/s2381/WINNERS%20AND%20LOSERS%20at%20Myseum%20(4).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2381" data-original-width="1373" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMLnsdNkZLljfVZcfFKR1ZUM0kWDxc4Jq_b6idyOYwRYcwi93rJgRVGynUqK_JWwsB0jksakz7uHJrTz26w0oUsvOedIcHiw6JzQmjlt6WssES7317xQMTmswhgNY7LX5J-7FdlgvCSq4NdzkV6C_T5PUSt2PaH1I0dNW5DM0dT2VZTq2s8QyYEbDItCPI/w231-h400/WINNERS%20AND%20LOSERS%20at%20Myseum%20(4).jpg" width="231" /></a></div><p>The only critique is the lack of football (soccer), the fastest-growing sport among schoolchildren, and of course the Toronto FC. This can be forgiven since Myseum occupies a tight space in the basement of 401 Richmond (though visible from the sidewalk near Peter Street).</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji5NKRb2woSoNgrBBYGYHVwUJiTLf0K6_9ta6dfHvsGFsjWS81osTnlBjg4oKaKIxc1RgnVKdx3BBRrUcEJgyLbKHzDukdKtKx3Kj-I0OY76oEnrdf4I2epI9q5L9sKU-QWkyEjSXM_puEbo6ZpQmtktyw5jno8w97iA3ahNaWqkbsEh3s9Ae2nR2GOQqV/s2560/WINNERS%20AND%20LOSERS%20at%20Myseum%20(3).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2560" data-original-width="1440" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji5NKRb2woSoNgrBBYGYHVwUJiTLf0K6_9ta6dfHvsGFsjWS81osTnlBjg4oKaKIxc1RgnVKdx3BBRrUcEJgyLbKHzDukdKtKx3Kj-I0OY76oEnrdf4I2epI9q5L9sKU-QWkyEjSXM_puEbo6ZpQmtktyw5jno8w97iA3ahNaWqkbsEh3s9Ae2nR2GOQqV/w225-h400/WINNERS%20AND%20LOSERS%20at%20Myseum%20(3).jpg" width="225" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Aside from that, <i>Winners & Losers </i>is an excellent show. Strongly recommended for sports fans, both adults and children, and it's certainly family friendly. Myseum is open Wednesday through Saturday from noon to 6pm (closed Sunday-Tuesday). Admission is free, though donations are welcome. Full <a href="https://www.myseumoftoronto.com/collection/winners-losers/?utm_campaign=newsletter+2&utm_id=sports&utm_medium=email&utm_source=digital" target="_blank">details</a>.</div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbpF5sOvnfIDjBU0BgXti1kvG0vH8hcfdtL_4EVtNmLGgrH3rZqSN961Ubi7FXDU1Eaqv6xfBfQLj_OcpS-pkG6r8_-zaDCZRyFFkwrzG9Ryt2wFQW6H2z-BF_QDnEA-J9IUKOds84OhXxAj_BEnnXgfi4USzcPwkUs0syKGXUpHbLO83pevbgKGHGcPE5/s2300/WINNERS%20AND%20LOSERS%20at%20Myseum%20(24).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2300" data-original-width="1440" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbpF5sOvnfIDjBU0BgXti1kvG0vH8hcfdtL_4EVtNmLGgrH3rZqSN961Ubi7FXDU1Eaqv6xfBfQLj_OcpS-pkG6r8_-zaDCZRyFFkwrzG9Ryt2wFQW6H2z-BF_QDnEA-J9IUKOds84OhXxAj_BEnnXgfi4USzcPwkUs0syKGXUpHbLO83pevbgKGHGcPE5/w250-h400/WINNERS%20AND%20LOSERS%20at%20Myseum%20(24).jpg" width="250" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br />Allan Tonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03274259524672129558noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9063159190985782284.post-17376928553603479642023-11-26T11:40:00.001-05:002023-11-26T11:42:17.085-05:00book review: Popartery by Andy Patridge<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEgu7iRAcUQVHYJZLn1FxIoT01pgI2hR8NW0gZ5OQVaCg-j_lF2XeqYxyNLPvDLBjctlg9hy0b11AzSMlrIDoVxlGcmATrWAIXnZ2RYEw68zRl8HP3aXolRSKaq84eA03lRM_y0XiJUzA9_TTOvk6vVNXmwqeVppzFoZxH4iuq_RqbE6P74C35EmW2HSoT/s1350/Popartery.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1350" data-original-width="1080" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEgu7iRAcUQVHYJZLn1FxIoT01pgI2hR8NW0gZ5OQVaCg-j_lF2XeqYxyNLPvDLBjctlg9hy0b11AzSMlrIDoVxlGcmATrWAIXnZ2RYEw68zRl8HP3aXolRSKaq84eA03lRM_y0XiJUzA9_TTOvk6vVNXmwqeVppzFoZxH4iuq_RqbE6P74C35EmW2HSoT/w512-h640/Popartery.jpg" width="512" /></a></div><br /><p>Illustrated by Andy Partridge (Published by Ape House)</p><p><i>review by Allan Tong</i></p><p>ChinoKino score: A</p><p><br /></p><p>Simply put, this large hardcover collects the 56 individual covers of a previous (but extremely limited) tome by author Andy Partridge. Each image illustrates a song from his days singing and composing for the British band, XTC. If you recognize these names, then this book is for you. </p><p>To his credit, Partridge didn't choose only his hit songs for this collection. Sure, there's the popular Dear God (above), 25 O'Clock and This Is Pop (the cover), but there are also obscure numbers like Tin Toy Clockwork Train and Red. </p><p><i>Popartery </i>has been assembled with loving care: super-thick, glossy paper, a sturdy hardcover (no dust jacket, though), and arranged alphabetically with the author explaining his thoughts behind each painting, opposite each image. This is a book you leaf through while blasting <i>Drums and Wires </i>or <i>Nonsuch </i>on your sound system. </p><p>It is an art book. It is a music book. It is special.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIooEzxKAX48AmNnsodrxUjeemWglF39TmnJhCZfNaIZI8erCay1XMeTZCnKf5zxEZW7dmtctXWLOewruRuu54vIbgm7HZpPdiaf0SabiWwUO9gFwSPC8uLXXPWsYiKTCWx8SuG-3ys-u6OGHXGDAWWZjtmjQPdCOwmjlJeeKkLZF_FnMo4Gc4YgTzBXCL/s1350/Popartery%20-%20Dear%20God.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1350" data-original-width="1080" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIooEzxKAX48AmNnsodrxUjeemWglF39TmnJhCZfNaIZI8erCay1XMeTZCnKf5zxEZW7dmtctXWLOewruRuu54vIbgm7HZpPdiaf0SabiWwUO9gFwSPC8uLXXPWsYiKTCWx8SuG-3ys-u6OGHXGDAWWZjtmjQPdCOwmjlJeeKkLZF_FnMo4Gc4YgTzBXCL/w320-h400/Popartery%20-%20Dear%20God.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p>Allan Tonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03274259524672129558noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9063159190985782284.post-85909253874929625012023-11-16T11:41:00.007-05:002023-11-16T11:41:33.137-05:00film review: The Stones and Brian Jones<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5yMgy96DvjF-jLAcuZ5zYH0Kg2ai8wPVrHHFDwJe_D_NEE3s29iDVum5EovbhJ55jYoQHDd9lDylXKcC5mBBXybvcjHcfM6PUcZ3UcCIrW6n35FPSiENf-KaFQLKzVS3rc3EbgbsROKGiRPTIjd36e_FYETxI_qF5DysdFZgqy_n-IIf_Q8JCFw8fqcLA/s1500/JONES%20CU.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="1493" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5yMgy96DvjF-jLAcuZ5zYH0Kg2ai8wPVrHHFDwJe_D_NEE3s29iDVum5EovbhJ55jYoQHDd9lDylXKcC5mBBXybvcjHcfM6PUcZ3UcCIrW6n35FPSiENf-KaFQLKzVS3rc3EbgbsROKGiRPTIjd36e_FYETxI_qF5DysdFZgqy_n-IIf_Q8JCFw8fqcLA/w399-h400/JONES%20CU.jpg" width="399" /></a></div><b><p><b><br /></b></p>Directed by Nick Broomfield</b><p></p><p><b>ChinoKino score</b>: <b>A</b></p><p><i>Review by Allan Tong</i></p><p>Mick Jagger and Keith Richards are household names in 2023, but not Brian Jones. Only longtime Rolling Stones fans will know Brian Jones, who in a few years after founding the band was kicked out and found dead in his swimming pool in 1969.</p><p>Renown British documentarian Nick Broomfield has released a gripping film about this tragic figure that will impress both diehards and newcomers. <i>The Stones and Brian Jones </i>includes many extensive interviews with bandmates, lovers and friends, unseen footage and even a forgotten Jones song.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAGXAItAurNDYQSw9NqlNovpz_4dzecYUNZON2M1EpFayT6Z8VFdKtdFkrMkqUvEpFaPyhI1XAcms-7oa_nrDMEzUO3rM66AksX1DZ59VXL2RMDbKzYRtfp0Uz4FQQtjxQIcDi2ZuEZNZKQwaWF7lj9ANKB7cXvkSzgVx42baMwFuD853Eh9yVsDxbNxq7/s2978/STONES%20-%20bw%20c1964.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1982" data-original-width="2978" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAGXAItAurNDYQSw9NqlNovpz_4dzecYUNZON2M1EpFayT6Z8VFdKtdFkrMkqUvEpFaPyhI1XAcms-7oa_nrDMEzUO3rM66AksX1DZ59VXL2RMDbKzYRtfp0Uz4FQQtjxQIcDi2ZuEZNZKQwaWF7lj9ANKB7cXvkSzgVx42baMwFuD853Eh9yVsDxbNxq7/w400-h266/STONES%20-%20bw%20c1964.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p>Broomfield nailed the right interviews. Stones' bassist Bill Wyman is the band's most reliable chronicler and the bandmate closest to Jones. Jones was a brilliant guitarist whose mission was to bring the blues to British then white American audiences. However, says Wyman, Jones was also cruel, driven by insecurities over his elfin stature and losing control of the band he founded to Jagger and Richards.</p><p>Jones was also charming and polite. He sweet-talked his way into the homes of families and impregnated their daughters (some less than 20). He sired at least five children. Two schools expelled him and his parents threw him out of their cozy, middle-class home in Cheltenham, England. The teenage Jones rebelled against his strict parents who objected to his passion for jazz and blues. Their schism lies at the heart of this film.</p>
<div style="text-align: center;"><iframe frameborder="0" height="270" src="https://youtube.com/embed/OqWkXBHK1hE?si=zo18lpbi9dRljv7T" width="480"></iframe></div><p>Another key interview is Marianne Faithfull, the musician, actress and Jagger's lover in the mid-60s. Jones had "incredibly low self-esteem" and that relations with the two leading Stones were so bad "they would have killed each other." She refers to the infamous 1967 drug bust after Jones carelessly boasted to a journalist about his drug intake, but the newspaper mistook him for Jagger and nearly killed the Stones.</p><p>Jones was also a bastard. Ex-girlfriend Linda Lawrence recalls knocking on the door of his flat with their little boy in tow and begging Jones for more support money. Instead, Jones and his then-paramour Anita Pallenberg huddled inside and laughed at her predicament.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJBPUdA3I03_ckYyex1jZuxPCiSL4zOQOF4aamusBX8SUAp_-A3hJMgltWeYN5slySGE9Wpn12PdPhWHtLoSl1bOGSo6dUYxIYzwp38IlpTfKsMSawsa7u_eWZaDme2e3Cy6DOyvVM-EbZEljlE4AVqhVtmqUtP_x6PdwmrDLd-MiUwlzxZ_pFreptDbxK/s943/ANITA%20AND%20BRIAN.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="625" data-original-width="943" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJBPUdA3I03_ckYyex1jZuxPCiSL4zOQOF4aamusBX8SUAp_-A3hJMgltWeYN5slySGE9Wpn12PdPhWHtLoSl1bOGSo6dUYxIYzwp38IlpTfKsMSawsa7u_eWZaDme2e3Cy6DOyvVM-EbZEljlE4AVqhVtmqUtP_x6PdwmrDLd-MiUwlzxZ_pFreptDbxK/w400-h265/ANITA%20AND%20BRIAN.png" width="400" /></a></div><p>Pallenberg is a key character. Seen in archival footage (she died in 2017), Pallenberg transformed Jones and (with Faithfull) injected sophistication into a the yobbish Stones. The Italian-German model was wordly and fearless and looked like Jones' twin. However, Jones beat her and Pallenberg fled to Keith Richards. (One of the film's few flaws is that it allows filmmaker Volker Schlondorff to characterize Pallenberg as a gold-digger. This is false.)</p><p>Though his occasional voice-over is unnecessary, Broomfield has done an outstanding research job, unearthing audio interviews of Jones' father, heartbreaking family letters, a song Jones had co-written that's never seen the light of day, childhood photos and even old film footage of him gamboling around his schoolyard. French singer Zouzou, "Lady Jane" Ormsby-Gore, photographer Gered Mankowitz, band insider Prince Slash and TV director Michael Lindsay-Hogg (Rock and Roll Circus) also weight in. Zouzou recalls that Jones "never" played Rolling Stones records at home (though spun the Beatles constantly). Broomfield's film untangles the psychological mess that was Jones, digging deeper than most chroniclers of the Stones.</p><p>Insecure, substance-addicted and self-destructive, Jones felt trapped being a Stone. To the world he was a rebel, but really he remained a little boy who sought his parents' approval and never got it. </p><p><i>The Stones and Brian Jones will be released by Mongrel Media on November 17 in select cinemas across Canada, Apple TV and VOD.</i></p><p><br /></p>Allan Tonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03274259524672129558noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9063159190985782284.post-28706928137446456762023-11-13T18:47:00.000-05:002023-11-13T18:47:49.880-05:00record review: 1962-66 and 1967-70 (remixed)<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNqd46UqeDNg0OLfW0lbSQDGeOwjzgxue4ThEC_RYdBGmQhkTjxVs5wG0amY88cxRERJ9pWb5OzsFk9pusPhSujMwA2NvPPlVQ0vAks9_lvJtwUbT0QkEhjm5M8Yvp4YbG7rZKPN0FL8C5oHM9y-pI7S6Jxa-szXWz_4O1aa6xPY5uEtTaEfc7dwS76Ke9/s550/RED.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="550" data-original-width="550" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNqd46UqeDNg0OLfW0lbSQDGeOwjzgxue4ThEC_RYdBGmQhkTjxVs5wG0amY88cxRERJ9pWb5OzsFk9pusPhSujMwA2NvPPlVQ0vAks9_lvJtwUbT0QkEhjm5M8Yvp4YbG7rZKPN0FL8C5oHM9y-pI7S6Jxa-szXWz_4O1aa6xPY5uEtTaEfc7dwS76Ke9/w400-h400/RED.jpg" width="400" /></a> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzOwnaWrWVQEBTVEXz1YzI9CgGvk05hwmOmlw3bVLZsCodrCWomvZO9MQ19bF96zs3_Mmk9WJCPokehGEOUKwkjylmaRb9ixhOzfZ7I6pnpOipGPkcjDYUohFGdWKxHS1_XFU1JC2bBgiKVvxvqwM2LI-iWyL3t1J3gCKnt55HTPvNBiusBXJaXGni0taV/s550/BLUE.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="550" data-original-width="550" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzOwnaWrWVQEBTVEXz1YzI9CgGvk05hwmOmlw3bVLZsCodrCWomvZO9MQ19bF96zs3_Mmk9WJCPokehGEOUKwkjylmaRb9ixhOzfZ7I6pnpOipGPkcjDYUohFGdWKxHS1_XFU1JC2bBgiKVvxvqwM2LI-iWyL3t1J3gCKnt55HTPvNBiusBXJaXGni0taV/w400-h400/BLUE.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /></div><p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">The Red and Blue albums (officially
<i>1962-66</i> and <i>1967-70</i>) are out...again. These were the Beatles' first official greatest hits compilations (released in 1973)
and introduced the second generation of fans who
were too young to personally experience the Fab Four in the 1960s. In fact, these were my very first Beatles' albums and, like so many, I cherish them.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">That said, I had mixed feelings about
these double-LP being expanded and re-released in 2023. The Red and Blue have been released many times over the years. Sure, I'm
thrilled that Peter Jackson and his wondrous AI software has demixed
the pre-1966 Beatles' songs (recorded in mono, primitive stereo or
four track), expanded the sound picture of nearly every song and let
each instrument and vocal breathe. (Demixing means separating each instrument and vocal from a mono track, something that technology finally allows.) Many of the results are stunning,
reveal nuance and even instruments buried within previous mixes. They
add bottom-end warmth and depth to some thin recordings that were
original mixed for primitive turntables and basic speakers, nothing
like today's high-end equipment and speakers.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">However, I'm not so thrilled by the
price of these triple-LP sets, costing C$120 (including tax) in
Canada, though the CDs can be found for a third of that. Ironically, the Red Album holds better value, because every track has been demixed, including the eight <i>Revolver </i>session tracks in 2022, but the Blue features only six newly demixed songs, plus the <i>Now and Then</i>
single (reviewed here last week).</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">What follows is a track-by-track review
of each newly mixed song, with the lion's share coming from the Red album. I listened to these high-rest digital tracks on my phone with my faithful Panasonic bass-friendly earbuds (most earbuds sound tinny). I did not equalize any songs during playback.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br />
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">LOVE ME DO</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">The debut of The Beatles's first single
in stereo, this new mix was lost amid the hype over Now and Then.
(See our review.) This new mix is a revelation and served as a teaser
for the new 1962-66. Love Me Do is one of a handful of early Beatles'
songs that was released in mono and stayed in mono all these years
(see She Loves You below). The result is liberating. John's harmonica
shines in the left channel, slightly bleeding into the centre. The
right (slightly panned centre as well) hosts the drums. The AI
reveals an acoustic guitar that was buried in the muddy mono mix.
Each note of Paul's bass rumbles in this track. Paul's lead and
John's harmonies are locked firmly in the centre to anchor the song.
Also, Apple got it right: this is the original October 1962 version
with Ringo on drums (there's no tambourine, as found on the common
Andy White version). A superb mix.
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br />
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">PLEASE PLEASE ME</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">Guitars on the left, vocals at centre,
and harmonica and drums on the right. Ringo is the winner of this new
mix, because his drums are more distinct than ever. As a thrilling
touch, they pan across the audio spectrum during the short drum
fills. Yes, the sound is little muddy, but they was recorded in mono
and the audio originated from 7' vinyl</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">I SAW HER STANDING THERE</p><iframe frameborder="0" height="360" src="https://youtube.com/embed/cADFS0NU6As?si=l-CkwllcjyqkTgcD" width="480"></iframe>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">This is the first of the new tracks
added to the running order of the orignal 1962-66 release. A fine
choice. Immediately, you notice an improvement in the sonic quality
(brighter top, warmer bottom), reflecting the recording equipment The
Beatles, George Martin and his engineers used in the February 1963
recordings, whereas the previous two songs were captured in 1962.
Right off the bat, everything is brighter and clearer, led by Paul's
rousing vocal. Again, his bass notes are defined while Ringo's drums
flex muscle. Handclaps on the right and George's rockabilly-style
guitar on the left and both distinct. An exciting mix.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br />
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">TWIST AND SHOUT</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">Another new song to this album and the
first of three covers. This stereo mix is straightforward and packs a
punch: drums on the left, guitar on the right and vocals in the
centre. One minor complaint: Paul's bass could have been a touch
stronger. Overall, good.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br />
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">FROM ME TO YOU</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">Drums on the left, guitar on the right
and vocals in the centre. Paul's bass notes are more distinct here
than on <i>Twist and Shout</i>. Also, the harmonica breaks burst in
the centre, an effective choice.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br />
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">SHE LOVES YOU</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><iframe frameborder="0" height="360" src="https://youtube.com/embed/fduTmWao0Rg?si=aosrgsjzgEmd5EFL" width="480"></iframe></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">EMI long lost the session tapes to this
song which kicked off Beatlemania in mid-1963. So, Giles Martin and
Peter Jackson had only the finished mix to work with. There's a
sudden drop in fidelity, sounding along the level of Love Me Do
(whose tapes are also missing). However, the AI software has teased
out Ringo's propulsive drumming which roar in the left channel, while
the guitars chug along in the right. Though Paul's bass has never
sounded clearer, Ringo is the star on this track. However, both
channels bleed slightly into the centre which preserves the driving
power of this song. This marks the first time She Loves You has ever
been mixed in stereo.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br />
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">I WANT TO HOLD YOUR HAND</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">By autumn 1963, The Beatles were
recording in four-track and the fidelity immediately leaps forward. I<i>
Want To Hold Your Hand</i> has been released before in stereo, but in
annoying hard panning between left and right with little in the
middle. Here, the recording's elements are balanced with the vocals
anchoring the centre, drums in the left and guitars at right. A good
job, but this mix doesn't leap out of the headphones or speakers like
the fragment mix included in the <i>Love</i> project.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br />
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">THIS BOY</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /></p><iframe frameborder="0" height="360" src="https://youtube.com/embed/XRHPzebAadA?si=WPIvILzC83R78VZ1" width="480"></iframe>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">Another new song, and a good choice.
Placing the acoustic guitar on the left, John's rhythm guitar and
Ringo's brush strokes on the right with the vocals (and glorious
harmonies) in the centre is simple, but works. Also, the awkward tape
splice from John's "middle eight" back to the group
harmonies is gone. Very good.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br />
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">ALL MY LOVING</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">The mix is the same as <i>This Boy</i>'s
and works just as well. Note that this and the followingtwo songs
were recorded in basic two-channel stereo and released in mono in
stereo with vocals in one channel and all instruments in the other.
Needless to say, the 2023 mixes are a huge leap forward.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br />
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">ROLL OVER BEETHOVEN</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">A new song. This was a minor hit in the
U.S. and a single released in Canada during Beatlemania. This mix
features hard panning in the left and right channels with little
bleed: guitar in the left, handclap in the right and George's vocal
at centre. While not a deal-breaking, a touch of bleeding into the
centre would have been nice. The hand claps are a tad loud for my
taste while the guitar could have been stronger. That said, this is
overall good.
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br />
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">YOU REALLY GOT A HOLD ON ME</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">A new song and the last of the album's
covers. It's a great composition by Smokey Robinson and a Motown
classic, but <i>Money</i> features a better vocal by The Beatles
(particularly John Lennon) and should have replcaed this. This
remains, though, a fine cover, highlighted by the stop-start vocal
interplay between John and Paul with George. The sonics are a leap
forward from previous mixes where you could easily hear the tape
slices connecting various tapes.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br />
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">CAN'T BUY ME LOVE</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">The instruments leap out of the
speakers with this powerful mix. Drums, bass and guitars are indeed
distinct, but partially blended into one another to pack a wicked
punch. The guitar solo is mostly centred and it shines. The drums are
muscular and drive the song. This is one of the Red Album's
highlights.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br />
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">YOU CAN'T DO THAT</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">The B-side of Can't Buy Me Love is a
worthy addition to the Red. It's another driving rock song and again
the new mix brings up Ringo's drums. Guitars are subtly split between
the left and right channels, while the guitar solo bursts in the mix.
Very good.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br />
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">A HARD DAY'S NIGHT</p><iframe frameborder="0" height="360" src="https://youtube.com/embed/bEhibeAJRl4?si=bRewqYW4wD0sFJv-" width="480"></iframe>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">The original stereo mix was nicely
balanced, but this 2023 brings out details in the acoustic and rhythm
guitars. Bongos are more prominent, though not overpowering, in the
right channel.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br />
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">AND I LOVE HER</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><iframe frameborder="0" height="360" src="https://youtube.com/embed/k4xroYwGvns?si=JQrEGadrdbyBjKbH" width="480"></iframe></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">Straightforward and effective with
guitars tastefully split between left and right. I had no idea there
were bongos recorded on this track. Very good.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br />
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">EIGHT DAYS A WEEK</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">Good and bad. Good are Ringo's drums.
His cymbal crash in the intro is a sweet surprise. Bad: not enough
bass.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br />
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">I FEEL FINE</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">The bass returns. The mix is balanced,
and I like how the guitar solo covers both channels. However, I wish
there was little more reverb on John's vocals (though not like the
original American mix).</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br />
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">TICKET TO RIDE</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">True, this song is mixed the same way
as the other songs with the vocals anchoring the centre and the
various instruments positioned left and right, but the end result
lacks the punch of the mono mix found on the original North American
Red album of the 1970s. The opening drums found on original mono mix,
including the one on my vintage copy of <i>1962-66, </i><span style="font-style: normal;">explode,
like a canon. Not here, though the bass has muscle.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br />
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">YESTERDAY</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">Paul sounds as if he's singing in the
room to you. That's how crisp he sounds. A nice touch: splitting the
string octet between the left and right channels. Well done.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br />
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">HELP!</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><iframe frameborder="0" height="360" src="https://youtube.com/embed/WSm1poMBND4?si=gHlMMxjFqc12F_u1" width="480"></iframe></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">Well-balanced with drums on the left
and the driving acoustic guitar in the right. George's descending
guitar bursts in the centre, slightly right, to great effect.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br />
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">YOU'VE GOT TO HIDE YOUR LOVE AWAY</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">This has a similar mix and feel to
<i>Yesterday</i>. John's vocal sounds vivid and intimate as if he's
singing to you. The guitars have never sounded so detailed.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br />
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">WE CAN'T WORK IT OUT</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">Among the more bottom-heavy mixes on
this collection, but not overpowering. A clean separation of the
various instruments spread across the channels. Overall balanced with
the harmonium in the right.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br />
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">DAY TRIPPING</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">Wisely, this stereo mix retains the
feeling of the mono mix. Heavier, guitar-driven rock songs work
better in mono. The two guitars are separated between left and
right.The solo is a matter of taste. I would have preferred bleeding
more across both channels instead of staying sequestered in the
right.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br />
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">DRIVE MY CAR</p>
<iframe frameborder="0" height="360" src="https://youtube.com/embed/TzSQJRELzBw?si=QZzhaXndGWPx_z11" width="480"></iframe>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">Play this one loud. Paul's
Stax-inspired bass line (from Otis Redding's <i>Respect</i>), is an
absolute monster, driving the funkiest Beatles song. Hands-down, this
is a highlight.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br />
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">NORWEGIAN WOOD</p>
<iframe frameborder="0" height="360" src="https://youtube.com/embed/F8Bry3cZD0Q?si=2vnEbVbx2r3o1T1Q" width="480"></iframe>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">The stereo mix of this song was always
awful, with vocals on one side and everything including the kitchen
sink in the other. This 2023 mix cures that instantly, with John's
vocals planted in the centre. All elements sound clearer, like a
dirty car that's been polished and now shines. I hear what sounds
like someone slapping his legs in rhythm at certain times. Not
intrusive, but interesting. George's sitar is placed in the left
while the acoustic guitar remains in the right. The new mix finally
corrects the stereo picture.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br />
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">NOWHERE MAN</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">Like <i>Ticket To Ride</i>, this mix is
underwhelming. The accepella hamronies which open this track should
leap out of your speakers. Instead, they limp along. Also, the bass
is a tad strong, even for me. Something is off. I prefer the 1999
<i>Yellow Submarine Songtrack</i> mix.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br />
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">MICHELLE</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">An improvement over previous stereo
mixes. Nicely balanced with the crucial bass line given a little more
prominence.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br />
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">IN MY LIFE</p>
<iframe frameborder="0" height="360" src="https://youtube.com/embed/dao4us9RJfk?si=_0lkcyGgjhcWu4WW" width="480"></iframe>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">Like <i>Norwegian Wood</i>, this track
also suffered from a brutal stereo mix all these years. This mix is
light-years better. Centering the lead and backing vocal are crucial,
as is centering George Martin's solo. The tambourine is a touch loud,
but this is a minor quibble of an otherwise strong mix.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br />
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">IF I NEEDED SOMEONE</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">George's second vocal and first
composition on this collection. (The original Red release had zero
George.) A good choice, though <i>I'm Looking Through You</i> is also
worthy. Like <i>In My Life, If I Needed Someone</i> always had
suffered from a lopsided stereo mix that sounded flat. Here, the bass
injects muscle into the song, and George sings from the centre.
However, the Byrds-inspired guitar solo is buried in the right
channel and needs a lift. Overall, a major improvement.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br />
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">GIRL</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">Similar reaction to <i>In My Life</i>.
No doubt, this 2023 mix is a leap forward.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br />
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">The remaining eight tracks on the Red
Album are taken from the 1966 Revolver sessions, including Paperback
Writer, and previously released on last year's Revolver remix. These
mixes are excellent, correcting the harsh left-right panning of the
original stereo versions while revealing details across all
instruments and vocals. The song selections make sense, but a glaring
omission is <i>Rain</i>, one of the greatest b-sides and most
innovative recordings in the Beatles' canon. Why is this missing?</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br />
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">The six newly mixed tracks on the Blue album:</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">I AM THE WALRUS</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">An amazing song, but a terrible mix.
Actually, the song is fine until the long fade-out, which features a
live BBC broadcast from fall 1967 of Shakespeare's <i>King Lear.</i>
John found out of serendipity and literally grabbed it during the
original mixing session in an early example of sampling. Until AI,
all the other elements of this song were locked together and
inseparable. Now, we've gone too far—<i>King Lear</i> has been
isolated, but it is FAR TOO LOUD, drowing out everything else. The
entire point of the Walrus coda is to descend into chaos. Instead,
this sounds like John Gielgud performing Shakespeare to some
background music. This mix ranks with last year's <i>She Said Said
She Said</i> as a godawful mess of a mix. “Oh, untimely death.”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br />
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">THE FOOL ON THE HILL</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">In total contrast, this ballad works
perfectly. With piano on the left, recorder on the right and Paul's
vocal in the centre, this mix is balanced, elegant and strong. The
cherry on top is the bass drum sounding richer.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br />
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">MAGICAL MYSTERY TOUR</p>
<iframe frameborder="0" height="360" src="https://youtube.com/embed/yI-xkGwygoM?si=2vBZBQVntXsTYrMs" width="480"></iframe>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">Amazing. In the left channel, the horns
drive the song much like they do in <i>Got To Get You Into My Life</i>,
but there's an entirely new instrument in the right: John's rhythm
guitar. It simply growls, and helps propel this song and gives it
bite. This is a superb mix that surpasses even the <i>Magical Mystery
Tour</i> blu-ray.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br />
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">REVOLUTION</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">This new mix is actually not far
removed from the existing stereo, but the key change is centering the
vocal. Wise move. Drums are in the left while loud, fuzzy guitar
screams in the right. Not bad, but I would have preferred both
channels bleeding more into the centre in order to resemble the mono
mix. Hard rock songs sound best with the elements blended together to
create a wall of sound. Still, this is a decent mix and much better
than the hard-panning original stereo.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br />
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">HEY BULLDOG</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">A close call and worth comparing to the
1999 <i>Yellow Submarine Songbook </i>mix. In the latter, Ringo's
drum leaps out of the sonic picture. Here, the drums are slightly
subdued, though the excellent McCartney bass dominates. Fortunately,
the biting guitar solo is centred.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">OLD BROWN SHOE</p>
<iframe frameborder="0" height="360" src="https://youtube.com/embed/GGUzvyIdy9A?si=_2j4BPR7OjwYduF5" width="480"></iframe>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">The bass (played by George, not Paul)
dominates the track. I love bass, but find it too heavy while the
vocals are buried, particularly in the fade. The track does punch
harder and remains a pleasure to listen to. Background shouting a la
<i>Hey Bulldog</i> is new.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br />
</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><i>Verdict: </i>Love the Red album's new mixes (most of them), though shake my head that <i>Rain </i>is missing. However, the Blue album is not essential except for diehard Beatlefreaks and casual fans who don't own the remixed <i>Sgt. Pepper, White Album, Abbey Road </i>and <i>Let It Be.</i></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><i><br /></i></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><i>Coming soon: </i>A review of the Atmos mixes</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br />
</p><br /><p></p>Allan Tonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03274259524672129558noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9063159190985782284.post-62647744377511882112023-11-05T13:09:00.001-05:002023-11-05T13:09:31.540-05:00book review: Triggers: A Life in Music by Glen Matlock<p> <span style="white-space: normal;"><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="white-space: normal;"><span style="white-space: pre;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrGIEsxFJ3PgFJtq9oZPjRLSbBW3hYcJ49SyIV2b_z4LkJvdSqXldYaa1VhnKaKgvxglbdlAHVPrCfCuIS5CSccTJA0uoTdD4DNlsl4Rh_-Ik6kIclh1o1ZqdDq28lO82y6OVK_QDTSTW4w2IHGEsLZQgIeh5oXNgc-iSz9L8sk9xqVrXKIX-JedSjxR6t/s500/Triggers%20by%20Glen%20Matlock.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="500" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrGIEsxFJ3PgFJtq9oZPjRLSbBW3hYcJ49SyIV2b_z4LkJvdSqXldYaa1VhnKaKgvxglbdlAHVPrCfCuIS5CSccTJA0uoTdD4DNlsl4Rh_-Ik6kIclh1o1ZqdDq28lO82y6OVK_QDTSTW4w2IHGEsLZQgIeh5oXNgc-iSz9L8sk9xqVrXKIX-JedSjxR6t/w640-h640/Triggers%20by%20Glen%20Matlock.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></span></div><span style="white-space: normal;"><span style="white-space: pre;"><i>review by Allan Tong</i></span></span><p></p><p><span style="white-space: normal;"><span style="white-space: pre;">ChinoKino score: A-</span></span></p><p><br /></p><p> In 2023, a first-pressing of the Sex Pistols' one-and-only studio album, <i>Never Mind The Bollocks</i>, in VG condition commands $500 in Toronto shops. In 2023, their original fans are paying down mortgages while the Pistols themselves are members of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame (though they never showed up). All bandmates are alive, and in fact Glen Matlock is playing bass on the current Blondie tour.</p><p><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Thankfully, Matlock took time out to pen his second set of memoirs, following 1990's long-out-of-print, <i>I Was A Teenage Sex Pistol</i>. Whereas that earlier book ended when he left (not fired for liking the Beatles, he stresses), Triggers is his update, covering his later years to the present, including his band, The Rich Kids, and the Pistols' lucrative mid-1990s reunion.</p><p><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span><i><a href="https://www.amazon.ca/Triggers-Life-Music-Glen-Matlock-ebook/dp/B0CBM318RF" target="_blank">Triggers</a></i> is a fuller book, covering much more time and written by a man looking back on his life. He celebrates, laments and forgives. Both books detail his time working at Malcolm McLaren's provocative fashion shop in London, SEX, and yes, both books declare the infamous manager McLaren as full of shit. Then again, his bandmates agree, which is the only thing they agree on.)</p><p><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span><i>Triggers</i>, though, offer a few new details about the Pistols. I like reading about Matlock's writing process behind the band's early, key song, Pretty Vacant. It started with a raw riff, but he needed to hear the bassline in Abba's SOS to complete it. In that chapter, Matlock explains that a song can feature a melody like the Kinks' Waterloo Sunset, a driving riff like Whole Lotta Love, or both as in the Stones' Satisfaction. After all, Matlock was the Sex Pistols' main songwriter, and it's a shame his partnership with Lydon didn't last.</p><p><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Matlock also opens up about his personal life, like his struggles with booze, and his ups and downs as a musician searching for a gig. The tone of his book is personal and warm, no posturing, as he offers historic details married with personal observations. He compliments each of this bandmates for their talents. True, there's no love lost with John Lydon (Johnny Rotten), who comes across in the book as a talented wordsmith and performer, but also a diva, wanker and a millionaire cheapskate.</p><p><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Some things I learned:</p><p>* Matlock's son was nearly cast as Johnny Rotten in Danny Boyle's rubbishy mini-series, <i>Pistol </i>(streaming on Disney+ of all places)</p><p>* Matlock is furious at Boyle for portraying that the band fired him, when he insists he left</p><p>* there will unlikely be another Sex Pistols reunion, because Lydon lost his silly <a href="https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/sex-pistols-music-tv-series-court-case-ruling-1215552/">lawsuit</a> against his bandmates over letting Pistol use their music; and because Matlock can't see himself sharing a stage wearing a singer wearing a MAGA cap (don't blame him)</p><p>* Debbie Harry pecked him on the cheek backstage in 1978 (an experience Matlock mentions twice, though I don't blame him)</p><p>* speaking of Blondie, drummer Clem Burke tried to recruit Matlock for the band's 1999 reunion, but couldn't reach Matlock who was in Paris in those pre-cell phone days</p><p>* Matlock wanted to write a musical about Sid Vicious called Sidney</p><p>* offstage, Iggy Pop is a very polite guy</p><p>* Steve Jones actually likes The Beatles (but never said in the 1970s, because it was uncool among punks)</p><p><span style="white-space: pre;"> <iframe frameborder="0" height="270" src="https://youtube.com/embed/VFU_pWIJD4Q?si=NpXqpLmZdqLPVAF2" style="background-image: url(https://i.ytimg.com/vi/VFU_pWIJD4Q/hqdefault.jpg);" width="480"></iframe></span></p><p><span style="white-space: pre;">
<span> </span><span> </span></span>Of course, the highlight of the book are the early Sex Pistols years. The infamous Bill Grundy story has been told a million times, so there's little new here, but the months leading up to and following that pivotal moment demand non-stop reading.</p><p><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Fans of the Pistols, punk rock and rock itself should seek out this book to get a good picture of the seminal rock band. If you can, also track down Steve Jones' memoirs, <i>Lonely Boy</i>, but think twice about Lydon's memoirs, which tends to self-promote and exaggerate.</p><p><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Now, piss off.</p>Allan Tonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03274259524672129558noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9063159190985782284.post-26811692319291205452023-11-02T11:32:00.006-04:002023-11-03T18:35:22.756-04:00 Now and Then - the last Beatles single and the start of AI<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfQcqd17Hzaym6rfglFUAfW7A4a9wDqZjS_zPFcMgY3MUmN17viVthMbp6qD3fNWRXirKa0tFJxSEIuZzM6Hb6msnwFo97EBTlXEW1fdCQgWu8D_X5-zJuF3toDBHNcA6gVzPEzFHdkSNDdG2RN-4C839eSZ7FfT4ieWja4lIA1ldHodeWehUcVVsh17UG/s1500/Now%20and%20Then.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1500" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfQcqd17Hzaym6rfglFUAfW7A4a9wDqZjS_zPFcMgY3MUmN17viVthMbp6qD3fNWRXirKa0tFJxSEIuZzM6Hb6msnwFo97EBTlXEW1fdCQgWu8D_X5-zJuF3toDBHNcA6gVzPEzFHdkSNDdG2RN-4C839eSZ7FfT4ieWja4lIA1ldHodeWehUcVVsh17UG/w640-h426/Now%20and%20Then.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p><i>by Allan Tong</i></p><p>Beatle fans around the world released their collective breath this morning at 10:00 am EST to hear the new--and last--Beatles single, <i>Now and Then. </i>They were not disappointed.</p><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe frameborder="0" height="270" src="https://youtube.com/embed/Opxhh9Oh3rg?si=XTJkdpDu5eFtd_vN" width="480"></iframe></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div>John's vocal is clear and drives the song. The strings are subtle and add depth, not sappiness. Paul's new lyrics complete John's sentiment. The harmonies, new ones from Paul and existing lines lifted from <i>Because, Eleanor Rigby </i>and <i>Here, There and Everywhere,</i> do not intrude. Same with Ringo's drums--it gets the job done. Paul's solo is finely delivered on slide guitar in tribute to George.</div><div><br /></div><div>On the whole, the song works. What began as John's home recording c.1977 at a piano on a boombox has been expanded into a fully realized production. <i>Now and Then </i>has gone from a sketch into a fully framed painting.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div>Of course, it would have been impossible without the technology of AI (artificial intelligence). Full marks to filmmaker Peter Jackson for employing AI to isolate and highlight the various voices and instruments in the <i>Get Back </i>documentary which showed Paul, Ringo and their fans what this technology can do. What AI does on <i>Now and Then </i>is divorce John's vocal from his piano which were locked on a single mono track. Listen:</div><div><br /></div></div>
<div style="text-align: center;"><iframe frameborder="0" height="270" src="https://youtube.com/embed/ml3n25OzpYM?si=_NY4RRAnwwTrU0a6" style="background-image: url(https://i.ytimg.com/vi/ml3n25OzpYM/hqdefault.jpg);" width="480"></iframe></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Paul, George and Ringo attempted to record <i>Now and Then </i>in 1994-5 for the <i>Anthology </i>project and would have found it a place on the third installment of that CD series, but George vetoed the song's inclusion because of the 60HZ him that ran through the demo tape. The technology simply didn't exist in the mid-90s. I suspect that with AI today George would have granted his blessing.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Now and Then </i>is the last Beatles single ever. It's appropriate that it's coupled with the band's very first 7", <i>Love Me Do, </i>released in October 1962.<i> </i>This too has been touched by AI magic to separate the mono track into two: John's harmonica and Paul's bass guitar in the left channel, acoustic guitar and drums on the right and the vocals in the centre, which follows the formula that Giles Martin has applied to all the Beatles remixes since 2017's <i>Sgt. Pepper</i>. The left and right bleed slightly to avoid the "hard panning" that has afflicted many 1960s stereo mixes. Listen to the results, especially on earbuds: </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <iframe frameborder="0" height="360" src="https://youtube.com/embed/LEHmEC9aWis?si=WXUwETaI3jiLv5s6" width="480"></iframe></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">The effect is subtle, yet revolutionary. AI has liberated the old mono recordings into stereo to let each instrument and vocal breathe. John's harmonica has never sounded so distinct, You can hear layers of background vocals and instruments that were buried in the mono mix all these years. Yes, we've heard <i>Love Me Do </i>a million times, but never like this.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Today's release is a canny way to promote the forthcoming <i>1962-66 </i>re-release (on Nov. 10 along with <i>1967-70</i>) that has been expanded from the original 26 tracks to 38. Thirty are new remixes, and I'm eager to hear them with the AI touch, especially <i>She Loves You</i>, which exists only in mono (because EMI Records lost the master tapes years ago). That said, fans have already "demixed" this song into stereo and the results sound pretty good. Can Apple surpass it?</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">In fact, anyone who can get their hands on the right AI software can demix at home. Witness this fan's remix of <i>Free As A Bird, </i>where John's vocal is no longer muddied and buried in the track (it too originated from a home demo), but shines in the forefront:</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;"><iframe frameborder="0" height="270" src="https://youtube.com/embed/hO6jm67z-QI?si=n2jqwX4_7p8dZV5P" width="480"></iframe></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">What this means is extraordinary for music history. AI can demix old recordings of not only The Beatles and their contemporaries, but of Robert Johnson, Bessie Smith, Billie Holliday and others to enhance the sonic quality of their music, present it to today's audience and capture new listeners. Of course, the demixing has to be done with care and taste. The new <i>Love Me Do </i>mix preserves the original overall sound of the single, but brings out the performances of each musician that were previously overlooked. Fans have already successfully demixed old Beatles demos and even the December 1962 Star Club tapes, which sound primitive. Rumour has it that Peter Jackson wants to demix these tapes. Why not? The Beatles were always innovating with new technology. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;"><iframe frameborder="0" height="270" src="https://youtube.com/embed/APJAQoSCwuA?si=3xVzWfcH7IlUy6i5" width="480"></iframe></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">November 3, 2023: A day after the audio release comes the video. Inserts of John and George over contemporary footage of Paul and Ringo recording the track brings home an overwhelming sense of closure. Though these inserts are technically clumsy at times and overdone, they are at other moments poignant. The closing montage of black-and-white photos of the band members growing ever younger is moving. It's impossible not to feel moved, that the final chapter to a grand story has been written. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;"><iframe frameborder="0" height="270" src="https://youtube.com/embed/Opxhh9Oh3rg?si=-AhV5ww748U0lofe" width="480"></iframe></div>Allan Tonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03274259524672129558noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9063159190985782284.post-6037005770345542312023-10-31T15:46:00.003-04:002023-10-31T15:51:17.083-04:00fashion review: Dressed To Impress at the Bata Shoe Museum<p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6OWKyHHqmuU4pMztU8XDSjGr0VIFySXRTJQkD85xRiMNVUvEMRPuPcUv2kahBkqPXyvqACRgbgCcYRF_IrLafuCjp8oil6KY3-EsOcFSK7NU60sfGvRZpUcohWw15Mvb2LuS75CTaIF-bgKClenBd2mxWSho-TgJVGqvhPs6HD2J3d9KdiaD3ZqgWCydR/s2800/BATA%2080s%20exhibition%20(Air%20Jordan).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2375" data-original-width="2800" height="542" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6OWKyHHqmuU4pMztU8XDSjGr0VIFySXRTJQkD85xRiMNVUvEMRPuPcUv2kahBkqPXyvqACRgbgCcYRF_IrLafuCjp8oil6KY3-EsOcFSK7NU60sfGvRZpUcohWw15Mvb2LuS75CTaIF-bgKClenBd2mxWSho-TgJVGqvhPs6HD2J3d9KdiaD3ZqgWCydR/w640-h542/BATA%2080s%20exhibition%20(Air%20Jordan).jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p><i>Review & photos by Allan Tong</i></p><p><b>ChinoKino score: A-</b></p><p>I grew up in the eighties and have been trying to forget them ever since. Yuppies, pastels, shoulder pads, Reagan, Thatcher, AIDS, the nuclear race, junk bonds and drum machines. Those were the eighties. Yech. Well, now the Bata Shoe Museum has revived that garish decade through a collection of shoes.</p><p>Yes, shoes. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5NIqx7JFqrArBwoPRv5m4NZPaPLqc7QtrjBeH-87cmMdRMogTqpn9h7-KDXoQsdfZlmOpdwGP8i9G2_cncOnl9DvxtFKm5LE4VJyzZcaqmfqucuSIV0FavXFtLTsMdpqVz_HIdNh7crC2MXRna-S5_DAsbMChMXPKvsnISopn1f_VJsNBkszYdFcvnLwk/s1600/BATA%2080s%20exhibition%20(9).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5NIqx7JFqrArBwoPRv5m4NZPaPLqc7QtrjBeH-87cmMdRMogTqpn9h7-KDXoQsdfZlmOpdwGP8i9G2_cncOnl9DvxtFKm5LE4VJyzZcaqmfqucuSIV0FavXFtLTsMdpqVz_HIdNh7crC2MXRna-S5_DAsbMChMXPKvsnISopn1f_VJsNBkszYdFcvnLwk/s320/BATA%2080s%20exhibition%20(9).jpg" width="240" /></a></div><p>Music and film, yes, but can you tell the story of a decade through footwear? Through Air Jordans (top photo), Princess Di heels (below) and John Fluevog Winklepickers? <i>Dressed To Impress: Footwear and Consumerism in the 1980s </i>comes close. It's the new exhibition at the <a href="https://batashoemuseum.ca/" target="_blank">Bata Shoe Museum</a>, opening Nov. 1 and running through March 16, 2024. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYuIGK2mkLc38WcZD3IdO0_9AuFJYdhv5IoQqAKTUybiXmwCrRfKdyVsFhSB10twXd3CFACpbr6vlT_D_AJvgeTrwZXRP3tBxNNUIyRWao9mfejonfCu3bF54SK03iHTB7N2aeNpuVvxELazd9H0cfPHnm9p8JoYgmuoZ0hs2AdxeVQ3Sxo1ZeSjrYcaP9/s2800/BATA%2080s%20exhibition%20(18).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2101" data-original-width="2800" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYuIGK2mkLc38WcZD3IdO0_9AuFJYdhv5IoQqAKTUybiXmwCrRfKdyVsFhSB10twXd3CFACpbr6vlT_D_AJvgeTrwZXRP3tBxNNUIyRWao9mfejonfCu3bF54SK03iHTB7N2aeNpuVvxELazd9H0cfPHnm9p8JoYgmuoZ0hs2AdxeVQ3Sxo1ZeSjrYcaP9/w640-h480/BATA%2080s%20exhibition%20(18).jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMXml7q2Ztp1HQzEDp_MxtOhYfJPQVstAOJZ45iSrjeWiKTwa-PHRJZZ29nao4njoUP3_74jfkXbcCZyUBC3bXxk7SLRa8XOARHcqq3u50d9VnYa_L00R98aKltLGrQ5b3hc-jvRMfTpg6xOdsK-xOdK72W7xunAASbZt0Qu2s-KbC4g6QkixARqdYDi4M/s4608/BATA%2080s%20exhibition%20(19).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="4608" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMXml7q2Ztp1HQzEDp_MxtOhYfJPQVstAOJZ45iSrjeWiKTwa-PHRJZZ29nao4njoUP3_74jfkXbcCZyUBC3bXxk7SLRa8XOARHcqq3u50d9VnYa_L00R98aKltLGrQ5b3hc-jvRMfTpg6xOdsK-xOdK72W7xunAASbZt0Qu2s-KbC4g6QkixARqdYDi4M/w640-h480/BATA%2080s%20exhibition%20(19).jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p>Eighty pairs (get it?) have been grouped to evoke '80s themes of working women, nouveau riche chic (remember <i>Dynasty</i>?), the workout fad and most interesting for me, sneakers. Signs accompanying each pair do a good job of summarizing yet detailing the shoes and their cultural significance. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJOdFJ4IkIu0KK0NHNuFuriDvzVC8ch0Hrb4mdP4deS7BL-UCIyijUT486sf3jC7jn141O6Qmpn7aHNll2M_wjVBOqVhjDafQMZgFSQb-VHjeDMkEc5dZGPrV9TiH-KXqCY9jQeu_HkgLo8sG4jY199bpets2cW3d74vJyu3lwRQT9xKz97ldmvQcNHp18/s2598/BATA%2080s%20exhibition%20(9-5).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2598" data-original-width="2000" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJOdFJ4IkIu0KK0NHNuFuriDvzVC8ch0Hrb4mdP4deS7BL-UCIyijUT486sf3jC7jn141O6Qmpn7aHNll2M_wjVBOqVhjDafQMZgFSQb-VHjeDMkEc5dZGPrV9TiH-KXqCY9jQeu_HkgLo8sG4jY199bpets2cW3d74vJyu3lwRQT9xKz97ldmvQcNHp18/w493-h640/BATA%2080s%20exhibition%20(9-5).jpg" width="493" /></a></div><p>An example here would be women's office shoes and work outfits that needed to be assertive, professional, yet not threatening to men, but remaining somehow feminine. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5ABEdY5DXyWbW7pg0uTLvuZ1DrZMFuzua-dn96L09wgnsPTzKRR5uG_VO-1L5oK30-TlWXFNG5L4ys1nYWbHuZsuQO0_BSHzJ9kvY9trWVX31Q6TnGMOkmhnsAc_TTnaV_c_erN6IEORkEog_IOZIYL4bgolzFVCnnd987fEo8gt1UZ9I4wSs1IL7vavD/s3349/BATA%2080s%20exhibition%20(5).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2128" data-original-width="3349" height="406" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5ABEdY5DXyWbW7pg0uTLvuZ1DrZMFuzua-dn96L09wgnsPTzKRR5uG_VO-1L5oK30-TlWXFNG5L4ys1nYWbHuZsuQO0_BSHzJ9kvY9trWVX31Q6TnGMOkmhnsAc_TTnaV_c_erN6IEORkEog_IOZIYL4bgolzFVCnnd987fEo8gt1UZ9I4wSs1IL7vavD/w640-h406/BATA%2080s%20exhibition%20(5).jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>The eight sections and middle displays, which feature designer shoes, are gathered in one large room that looks exactly like a shopping mall from 1985. Lots of plastic and pastels. I commend the designer.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx6WiUvU2ClaN3NDd47t24bgWDhA0lLDOGt4AhQUygwqvJAViXYqXZ9eEmhOf4wDc4mEk_5rixxHU3Ip0VHMcXRacbtg5fHVDCVDrWmvj6k6jvrawnWF-mOw9T32g-p6rgugrvzPvQysdCHYAGPnpF0h8DpYANwfuKYnn1puNa3ypWh6dQN8n0BjaVhLXL/s1600/BATA%2080s%20exhibition%20(8).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx6WiUvU2ClaN3NDd47t24bgWDhA0lLDOGt4AhQUygwqvJAViXYqXZ9eEmhOf4wDc4mEk_5rixxHU3Ip0VHMcXRacbtg5fHVDCVDrWmvj6k6jvrawnWF-mOw9T32g-p6rgugrvzPvQysdCHYAGPnpF0h8DpYANwfuKYnn1puNa3ypWh6dQN8n0BjaVhLXL/w480-h640/BATA%2080s%20exhibition%20(8).jpg" width="480" /></a></div><p>A mini-theatre in the back had ZZ Top's video, <i>Legs, </i>running silently. That video was chosen, I presume, because one scene takes place in a shoe store. If there's on critique of <i>Dressed to Impress </i>it's that the sound could have been turned on this righteous tune and the screen could have been a little bigger. But this is a minor quibble.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVYuz5fCFqNJ9OGT3MuMqIVfGoKPFBveUayjYoC7ptM_mpIEjckmoyWUaIkZyJ5b-i5EWze0kxVXVPLEdR4PyLvT7GCmY9jbOqQbX8ZEblCib5OTLM53QKfKaM9FAJ98v1Hh-16twJ6Mejs318qxL-iRBAoeIgvBZ-HpmGe8veqgarslmtRoT8o1ZdAOoJ/s3733/BATA%2080s%20exhibition%20(42).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3733" data-original-width="2800" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVYuz5fCFqNJ9OGT3MuMqIVfGoKPFBveUayjYoC7ptM_mpIEjckmoyWUaIkZyJ5b-i5EWze0kxVXVPLEdR4PyLvT7GCmY9jbOqQbX8ZEblCib5OTLM53QKfKaM9FAJ98v1Hh-16twJ6Mejs318qxL-iRBAoeIgvBZ-HpmGe8veqgarslmtRoT8o1ZdAOoJ/w480-h640/BATA%2080s%20exhibition%20(42).jpg" width="480" /></a></div><p>Some will take to the Gucci loafers or Susan Bennis/Warren Edwards power pumps, but I was drawn to the Air Jordans, which came out in 1985 to revolutionize streetwear, launched the collections of countless sneakerheads to this day and catapulted Nike to the top of the sneaker jungle. The Jordans coincided with the rise of hip hop giants like Run-D.M.C and their collective impact is seen on feet today.</p><p>Shoes? Yeah, they can tell a story.</p><p><br /></p>Allan Tonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03274259524672129558noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9063159190985782284.post-22353119210875933642023-10-19T16:35:00.003-04:002023-10-19T16:35:54.324-04:00book review: Dressing The Beatles<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNRGbzi9rLncu4oejGRfWD1kn7aJyDnMi8fKkm3kEyk_nPO2DkjMlShfg62WxQd23zvPq20_9B_lI3puUcf0rb__YVP8tkEfYmvaaBmACq2Ka79CnxJN97yJuE4S154qG3PK0ubywldOHtpYsVmnHEJf9Enl-MLzimfq-5iPjIglKifE5ZP2VTJCnD5pw7/s3214/Fashioning%20The%20Beatles.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3214" data-original-width="2571" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNRGbzi9rLncu4oejGRfWD1kn7aJyDnMi8fKkm3kEyk_nPO2DkjMlShfg62WxQd23zvPq20_9B_lI3puUcf0rb__YVP8tkEfYmvaaBmACq2Ka79CnxJN97yJuE4S154qG3PK0ubywldOHtpYsVmnHEJf9Enl-MLzimfq-5iPjIglKifE5ZP2VTJCnD5pw7/w512-h640/Fashioning%20The%20Beatles.jpg" width="512" /></a></div><br /> <p></p><p>Virtually everything has been written about The Beatles by now, but their impact on fashion has been largely overlooked. Renown Toronto arts journalist and Beatlesfreak, Deirdre Kelly, has taken a deep dive and just published a highly detailed study of the band's sartorial impact on culture in the 1960s and beyond.</p><p>Kelly's done her homework, interviewing former tailors, including the cutter of Dougie Millings,<i> </i>Beatle experts like Piers Hemmingsen. and even the band's ex-hairdresser. Her book describes the wardrobe of John, Paul, George and Ringo in exquisite detail that fashionistas will respect and Beatlefreaks (like myself) will enjoy. </p><p>The four Beatles dressed in stylistic unison, starting with their punk look of leather jackets and sneers c.1960 (15 years Punk Rock itself), through their elegant-yet-hip Mod phase of the mid-1960s (dogstooth jackets, turtlenecks), and into their Indian-influenced psychedelic phase where they raided Carnaby Street. Each time the Beatles changed their look, so did Western youth. Kelly's book credits the band for boosting the British fashion industry, something that few historians have done.</p><p>Kelly isn't afraid to dish out the dirt on some questionable characters. Dutch designers, The Fool, represented hippie excess and exploitative behaviour. Similarly, the Apple Boutique, which showcased The Fool's garish clothes, was a short-lived money pit that proved The Beatles were genius musicians, but lousy businessmen.</p><p><i>Fashioning The Beatles </i>offers the most revelations in the final years of the band (<i>White Album, Abbey Road, Let It Be)</i>, a period that is hard to define sartorially. John went through his white phase courtesy of wife Yoko Ono. They all sprouted grew beards and wore denim (the working class uniform). Formalism lingered though, as there are three Beatles sporting suits designed by Tommy Nutter on the cover of <i>Abbey Road. </i>In this period, their fashion choices reflected the members asserting their identities, though their overall casual style remained uniform. (Ringo emerges in this book as the sharpest-looking Beatle.)</p><p><i>Fashioning The Beatles </i>bursts with detail (there are 20 pages of sources) and is highly accurate. Kelly knows her stuff, and her book is an enjoyable and illuminating read.</p>Allan Tonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03274259524672129558noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9063159190985782284.post-55525590482308606292023-10-13T09:53:00.003-04:002023-10-13T09:55:30.787-04:00CD review: Good Day Good Night by David Deacon<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSq5yh7zt5ry6wiQyJgbiKO67PAfL0haIq4VKhH0hSG5mDvUAxSvTLmlRIgoW9hrLfTkELLxvB8z3N_aWzuoacCOkDgH-8Kng6KDD_JCQlqNVmUqzdJiA8hndifk7gHI4NK-Ex_3XwuK-ie-NSW9fYui6fTI5SAxRWP8nj3UpSi8NoFRtMKQ1mHNz4D5a4/s675/DAVID%20DEACON%20CD%20launch%20at%20Rivoli,%20Oct%205-2023%20LR.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="444" data-original-width="675" height="420" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSq5yh7zt5ry6wiQyJgbiKO67PAfL0haIq4VKhH0hSG5mDvUAxSvTLmlRIgoW9hrLfTkELLxvB8z3N_aWzuoacCOkDgH-8Kng6KDD_JCQlqNVmUqzdJiA8hndifk7gHI4NK-Ex_3XwuK-ie-NSW9fYui6fTI5SAxRWP8nj3UpSi8NoFRtMKQ1mHNz4D5a4/w640-h420/DAVID%20DEACON%20CD%20launch%20at%20Rivoli,%20Oct%205-2023%20LR.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p>Local blues veteran, David Deacon, unveiled his latest album at the fabled Rivoli Toronto last week. He previewed a handful of songs from <i>Good Day Good Night</i>, his fifth studio album and second this year, in a showcase lasting about 30 minutes. Deacon's gravelly, deep voice (think later Leonard Cohen or Tom Waits) was joined by vocalist Renee Rowe and guitarist Andy Ryan, who also co-wrote four songs off the new album. Both did admirable jobs accompanying Deacon on blues, rock and even reggae-tinged numbers such as Little More Light and Moments of Joy.</p><p>Deacon's vocal delivery is more spoken than sung, but that suits the material and the styles of the new album. This vocal approach goes for both his live performance as well as recorded album. Overall at the Rivoli, Deacon and his mates delivered an enjoyable performance of original numbers, though performed to a pre-recorded drums and bass track. I would've performed a full live band. The live songs themselves were more rock than traditional blues, reflecting the material on <i>Good Day Good Night</i>. </p>
<div style="text-align: center;"><iframe frameborder="0" height="270" src="https://youtube.com/embed/bGUHxMpKu8Y?si=4GHl6pQpplv3vgEG" width="480"></iframe></div><p>The album features seven original compositions plus a cover of Bob Dylan's Knockin' On Heaven's Door (dedicated to the people of Ukraine). Stand-outs include the gospel-flavoured And They All Sang and Along The Penthouse Electric Attic Blues, a gritty Chicago blues featuring a fine harmonica, but the song mysteriously fades out just when it begins to cook. Another misstep is the intrusive spoken introduction to Knockin' On Heaven's Door.</p>Allan Tonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03274259524672129558noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9063159190985782284.post-18120883672711220252023-09-28T14:04:00.003-04:002023-09-28T14:04:27.692-04:00film review: Carlos<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyxTogAklhLziO3HCNxVqCK814fE7iY2Tqrr9VU_h0Pak-n-xSLdtF6SsK1Q96ts0qj2DFn1YMFEbw7Xd_RWW9xOfTX6m6Q2hm6qurAR9kfVrlj3PUDZAh3CvuTtYb5q95dfa9_bQe1Z3eaN2G0vcTQD9ZQpOriWImDc0GVf6f2SplSMuIeQomcJ3XL0zy/s5616/CARLOS%201.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3744" data-original-width="5616" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyxTogAklhLziO3HCNxVqCK814fE7iY2Tqrr9VU_h0Pak-n-xSLdtF6SsK1Q96ts0qj2DFn1YMFEbw7Xd_RWW9xOfTX6m6Q2hm6qurAR9kfVrlj3PUDZAh3CvuTtYb5q95dfa9_bQe1Z3eaN2G0vcTQD9ZQpOriWImDc0GVf6f2SplSMuIeQomcJ3XL0zy/w640-h426/CARLOS%201.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p>Directed by Rudy Valdez</p><p>ChinoKino score: B-</p><p>Review by Allan Tong</p><p>Though directed by Rudy Valdez, <i>Carlos</i> is really Carlos Santana's film. The legendary Mexican-American guitarist authorized this (auto)biodoc and has stated he had final cut. He selected what parts of his extensive career he wished to reveal and conceal. The end result is a mixed bag, a documentary that's thrilling at times, plodding at others, though strung together by amazing music.</p><p>Santana tells his story first-hand, narrating to the viewer chronologically. The first 20 minutes are the film's most rewarding as his recalls growing up in Mexico under an mariachi musician father and loving mother who endured her spouse's affairs. His father ordered young Carlos him to study the violin and filled their house with native Mexican as well as classical music. Born in 1947, Carlos was seduced by the first wave of rock 'n' roll and blues which emanated from north of the border. This gifted musician blended these styles to forge his signature guitar sound that carried him to stardom once he moved to San Francisco, jumping into the hippie hotbed of that late-1960s scene. </p><p>Rock impressario, Bill Graham, is one of the few non-Santana voices given face time here. Rightfully, Graham deserves a place in this story, since he managed the early band by showcasing them extensively at his legendary Fillmore rock venue in San Francisco, then booked these unknowns to play before half a million kids at Woodstock.</p><p>Santana has told his Woodstock story many times, but it is a highlight in this film. He dropped acid (his bandmates have said mescaline) moments before taking the stage, and the neck of his guitar turned into a snake, but he tamed it with a blistering performance.</p>
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<p>After recording three legendary albums, Santana cut loose his "classic band" due to internal strife and substance abuse, but Santana dismisses this murky period in a quick sentence. Blink and you miss it. What happened? In fact, Santana is rarely candid about any strife in his life. His father disapproved of rock music, but years later they patched things up. </p><p>Other voices include his sisters today, his wife, the superb drummer, Cindy Blackman, but they all present nice, lovey-dovey recollections. Was there any envy within the family? Since Carlos was sharing some of his wealth with his family, how did that alter family dynamics? Sorely missing are interviews with any of the dozens of bandmates Santana has employed over six decades, especially the band that rocked Woodstock which launched their careers. There's hardly anything said about recording those first three landmark albums which pushed Latin rhythms into the American mainstream. Why did he cover Peter Green's Black Magic Woman, which ironically became Santana's signature song? Nothing about his collaboration with Alice Coltrane. The film completely ignores the 1980s and 1990s, Santana's long draught, though offers detail on recording his 1999 global comeback album, <i>Supernatural</i>, including the smash hit, Smooth, with Rob Thomas of Matchbox Twenty. Instead, there's a lot of time devoted to Santana's spiritualism and how wonderful his two wives have been. Yes, those areas deserve a place in this film, but they highlight what's missing in this story, too.</p><p><i>Carlos </i>is full of home movies, innocuous enough, and plenty of vintage clips though many have been seen over the years, notably in the 1988 VHS/DVD documentary, <i>Vina Santana!</i> (which feels like a forerunner of this documentary). This footage and music enlivens slower spots in the film.</p><p>Overall, csual fans will enjoy <i>Carlos </i>for offering an FAQ of Santana's career, but hardcore fans like me will walk away disappointed, knowing that this is a sanitized, incomplete portrait.</p><p><i><u>Carlos</u> will be released across Canada on Sept. 29 by Mongrel Media.</i></p>Allan Tonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03274259524672129558noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9063159190985782284.post-52160584373676700132023-06-15T14:14:00.002-04:002023-06-15T14:14:50.909-04:00Polaris Prize unveils 40 nominees from Feist to Aysanabee <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaN1k2v4n0YkqqtMEocrR2T7RvByDv3d1qAO-_02ylou7RvQRhJUXZyLbzuNv04625_5LuuGPdd8_ZQd_BsuknVYiuwfJgK-m0paOBs8gyfCNzcOGfGFkz4njhU6-WcWr-tAUlAkq-X4wBIodtSZAvD6mGte_4byZEMVEwB4YcIhW1GPVq0kQxG5tD0A/s2560/20230613_193607.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="2560" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaN1k2v4n0YkqqtMEocrR2T7RvByDv3d1qAO-_02ylou7RvQRhJUXZyLbzuNv04625_5LuuGPdd8_ZQd_BsuknVYiuwfJgK-m0paOBs8gyfCNzcOGfGFkz4njhU6-WcWr-tAUlAkq-X4wBIodtSZAvD6mGte_4byZEMVEwB4YcIhW1GPVq0kQxG5tD0A/w640-h360/20230613_193607.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><p style="text-align: left;">Story and photos by Allan Tong</p><p style="text-align: left;">The Polaris Prize, honouring Canada's best recorded music, announced this year's long list of 40 nominees last Tuesday evening. Sonic Boom, Toronto biggest record store, played host. Feist, Jessie Reyez, The Sadies and Murray Lightburn (of the Dears) made the list along with newcomers Eliza Niemi and Zoon. The full list:</p><p></p><div style="text-align: left;">ALL HANDS_MAKE LIGHT – Darling The Dawn</div><div style="text-align: left;">Alvvays – Blue Rev</div><div style="text-align: left;">Aquakultre – Don’t Trip</div><div style="text-align: left;">Aysanabee – Watin</div><div style="text-align: left;">Badge Époque Ensemble – Clouds Of Joy</div><div style="text-align: left;">Begonia – Powder Blue</div><div style="text-align: left;">Bibi Club – Le soleil et la mer</div><div style="text-align: left;">BIG|BRAVE – nature morte</div><div style="text-align: left;">Philippe Brach – Les gens qu’on aime</div><div style="text-align: left;">Mariel Buckley – Everywhere I Used To Be</div><div style="text-align: left;">Daniel Caesar – Never Enough</div><div style="text-align: left;">Chiiild – Better Luck In The Next Life</div><div style="text-align: left;">Feist – Multitudes</div><div style="text-align: left;">Debby Friday – Good Luck</div><div style="text-align: left;">Gayance – Mascarade</div><div style="text-align: left;">Ghostkeeper – Multidimensional Culture</div><div style="text-align: left;">Home Front – Games of Power</div><div style="text-align: left;">JayWood – Slingshot</div><div style="text-align: left;">Khotin – Release Spirit</div><div style="text-align: left;">Thierry Larose – Sprint!</div><div style="text-align: left;">Murray Lightburn – Once Upon A Time In Montreal</div><div style="text-align: left;">Isabella Lovestory – Amor Hardcore</div><div style="text-align: left;">Dan Mangan – Being Somewhere</div><div style="text-align: left;">N NAO – L’eau et les rêves</div><div style="text-align: left;">Tami Neilson – Kingmaker</div><p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRyfl3sgNaNN65YuIzhNoc6MgsyvSapYOWIwKrp_l_fFAAz1Ak1XrhzXE80QqQCjIqlZm-8cub5A73NGEk17xYwOcBLA5KBpkvexFdXxMbG5crAEW7weHDhTGtryC3h-wdfv1CbJt4gDcDEmNaJMRDoex7QFWfyJfIXUc6bCf9e6CxffIiq6jwNycv3g/s918/ELIZA%20NIEMI%20(3%20EDIT).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="918" data-original-width="600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRyfl3sgNaNN65YuIzhNoc6MgsyvSapYOWIwKrp_l_fFAAz1Ak1XrhzXE80QqQCjIqlZm-8cub5A73NGEk17xYwOcBLA5KBpkvexFdXxMbG5crAEW7weHDhTGtryC3h-wdfv1CbJt4gDcDEmNaJMRDoex7QFWfyJfIXUc6bCf9e6CxffIiq6jwNycv3g/s320/ELIZA%20NIEMI%20(3%20EDIT).jpg" width="209" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Eliza Niemi – Staying Mellow Blows</td></tr></tbody></table><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><p></p><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Nico Paulo – Nico Paulo</div><div style="text-align: left;">Planet Giza – Ready When You Are</div><div style="text-align: left;">poolblood – mole</div><div style="text-align: left;">Jessie Reyez – Yessie</div><div style="text-align: left;">The Sadies – Colder Streams</div><div style="text-align: left;">Jairus Sharif – Water & Tools</div><div style="text-align: left;">Andy Shauf – Norm</div><div style="text-align: left;">Dylan Sinclair – No Longer In The Suburbs</div><div style="text-align: left;">Snotty Nose Rez Kids – I’m Good, HBU?</div><div style="text-align: left;">Alexandra Stréliski – Néo-Romance</div><div style="text-align: left;">U.S. Girls – Bless This Mess</div><div style="text-align: left;">Witch Prophet – Gateway Experience</div><div style="text-align: left;">Yoo Doo Right – A Murmur, Boundless to the East</div><p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMbyHwOSxBJV3Ig5gHA9XKXsoPnKfyMINssax1jYXZnZZ7x08QrwKNLD3N8u9nA5FoCp2WAp3sGIF55QKnobdINusdPPT3lYMgyb1dB2K8x06GcmaGnbmJZNWw9UKRM6i3HqBornOOBvlyeIBUICWhSSp15PcUsxmrVb1fK_oPjfq-NSx7KBX6lSqUwg/s931/ZOON%20(8%20EDIT).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="931" data-original-width="600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMbyHwOSxBJV3Ig5gHA9XKXsoPnKfyMINssax1jYXZnZZ7x08QrwKNLD3N8u9nA5FoCp2WAp3sGIF55QKnobdINusdPPT3lYMgyb1dB2K8x06GcmaGnbmJZNWw9UKRM6i3HqBornOOBvlyeIBUICWhSSp15PcUsxmrVb1fK_oPjfq-NSx7KBX6lSqUwg/s320/ZOON%20(8%20EDIT).jpg" width="206" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Zoon – Bekka Ma’iingan</td></tr></tbody></table><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span>Nominee </span>Aysanabee answered 10 questions:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzxabj9mwc0LdePY3eoxL46mbZ-lOWnhYSQQowppqE4BBKWW5GM_y55pbnxWGMMnoCxd5IIg_Zn7OMsmEgOlRYjko5ZJGBvhJHeOwN5HAl99lsKUHCmQxS6zlk27r_B02YlRtLbUShi3v23CXmDFeoKFpEgRg0ciAM9u38RFUzZj0rtUGMd8mFmuM2aA/s1076/AYSANABEE%20(1%20edit).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1076" height="251" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzxabj9mwc0LdePY3eoxL46mbZ-lOWnhYSQQowppqE4BBKWW5GM_y55pbnxWGMMnoCxd5IIg_Zn7OMsmEgOlRYjko5ZJGBvhJHeOwN5HAl99lsKUHCmQxS6zlk27r_B02YlRtLbUShi3v23CXmDFeoKFpEgRg0ciAM9u38RFUzZj0rtUGMd8mFmuM2aA/w400-h251/AYSANABEE%20(1%20edit).jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><br /><p>1) Where are you from?</p><p>A lot of places. Sandy Lake First Nation [Ontario] till I was four, then I lived in every northern town from Winnipeg to Thunder Bay, but now I'm based in Toronto.</p><p><br /></p><p>2) Favourite musician?</p><p>Teeks, a Maori artist from New Zealand.</p><p><br /></p><p>3) The first record that changed your life?</p><p>A Bob Marley greatest hits album on CD.</p><p><br /></p><p>4) Do you collect vinyl?</p><p>I just started to. I recently got a vinyl player. I only have four records now.</p><p><br /></p><p>5) What are you listening to now?</p><p>The Digging Roots album. ShoShana Kish, who founded the label I'm on, along with Amanda Rheume ignited this whole musicial journey for me.</p><p><br /></p><p>6) What living musician would you love to collaborate on?</p><p>Oh, that's a toughie...I'm really in love with Nemesis' music right now.</p><p><br /></p><p>7) And a musician who's no longer with us?</p><p>I'd like to see what me and Bob Marley can do.</p><p><br /></p><p>8) What comic book superhero would you like to be?</p><p>I have a ton of comics that my grandfather gave me. I always loved the Batman comics.</p><p><br /></p><p>9) Do you see yourself as a particular animal?</p><p>Definitely a bird, because I love to fly.</p><p><br /></p><p>10) Where would you eventually love to settle?</p><p>Either in a rustic cabin in the mountains of the west, or I come into some money and start a recording studio and hostel in Thailand. I'd have a little stage where they'd be mandatory listening parties for a crochety, old me AYSANABEE walks out and plays his new song, then goes back to the studio.</p><p style="text-align: left;">The Polaris will announce their short list on July 13, then hosts the Polaris Gala on September 19 at Massey Hall. October 19 sees the Heritage Prize awarded to a Canadian album recorded before the Polaris began in 2006. Details of all events are found at https://polarismusicprize.ca/</p>Allan Tonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03274259524672129558noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9063159190985782284.post-83122916162230414152023-06-08T18:39:00.000-04:002023-06-08T18:39:22.695-04:00film review: Squaring the Circle (The Story of Hipgnosis)<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOypEg6UxkvFgQlghVDEOCPS9451QWIQYM0_7rEAFCOH5veNDy146G3sfAaN1WWDuohowMLPu1GTNjYfX-J9_6j7YEL9vW8XXNHTe01UH5f5Knz6SCwnHHWkS0Ga8VUzZPxrNDhb0lRYjMPv2gOoAJKYs4M0ZfIKPZ6AwdJ7j02TZCaLlizICFPZSdbg/s513/squaring%20the%20circle%20LR.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="288" data-original-width="513" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOypEg6UxkvFgQlghVDEOCPS9451QWIQYM0_7rEAFCOH5veNDy146G3sfAaN1WWDuohowMLPu1GTNjYfX-J9_6j7YEL9vW8XXNHTe01UH5f5Knz6SCwnHHWkS0Ga8VUzZPxrNDhb0lRYjMPv2gOoAJKYs4M0ZfIKPZ6AwdJ7j02TZCaLlizICFPZSdbg/w640-h360/squaring%20the%20circle%20LR.jpg" width="640" /></a></div> <p></p><p>Directed by Anton Corbijn <br /><br />ChinoKino score: A<br /><br />Review by Allan Tong<br /><br /><i>Atom Heart Mother, Band on the Run, Peter Gabriel 2, Houses of the Holy, The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway, Dark Side of the Moon. </i>Those are a few of the album covers that legendary studio, Hipgnosis, designed in the 1970s, and this terrific, entertaining new documentary tells their story.<br /><br />That story centers on company founders Storm Thorgerson and Aubrey (Po) Powell, two Cambridge lads who were mates with a young band called Pink Floyd in the mid-1960s. The careers of Hipgnosis and Pink Floyd would be forever linked as the thorny, but brilliant Thorgerson and the meticulous Powell designed most of the Floyd's early and later albums. Both entities hit the jackpot with 1973's <i>Dark Side of the Moon</i>, with the multi-coloured prism on the cover forever being the band's visual signature.</p><p>
<iframe frameborder="0" height="270" src="https://youtube.com/embed/-OYQNAk_krQ" width="480"></iframe>
<br /><br />The documentary is generous with vintage interviews of Thorgerson (who died in 2013) and contemporary ones of Powell, former collaborators as well as clients Pink Floyd (Waters, Gilmour and Mason), Paul McCartney, Robert Plant and Jimmy Page of Led Zeppelin, Peter Gabriel, and Graham Gouldman of 10CC. Noel Gallagher offers an outsider's perspective as a fan, and is as witty as always. The meat of the film lies in the astonishing stories of some of Hipgnosis' most famous covers. For <i>Wish You Were Here</i>, Powell set a stuntman on fire 15 times, until the stuntman's face nearly burned. Remember, these were the days before Photoshop. For <i>Wings' Greatest Hits</i>, the duo flew to the top of Mount Everest by helicopter to photograph a small statue that Paul McCartney had bought. Terrified of heights, Powell risked sliding down thousands of icy feet to his death. Of course, Hipgnosis could have just placed the statue on a bed of salt inside their London studio, but, hey, that would have been too easy.<br /><br />It was also the 1970s, after all, the golden age of rock albums which sold in the multi-millions, and Hipgnosis was charging a fortune to design covers. That may boggle today's young minds, as Gallagher notes, who see only a postage-stamp icon of an album on their phones. However, covers were a big deal back in the day because they shaped the image of a band and conveyed the message of the music within.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilL47myLjaxPHSWB3zZTweGyQ03HEHOc4HvNDfSSImj5JYoBrb9qTv6Hzb3JyrethH8lyBzs0OqaeLNU89JEHgA7If0cMbvMzwjTi48FsM8d88irU345akqj9kpUP5knT-JUS2pu-e6Ko6cE3z-GvYwtEu53c-wcURM9J0s6mOtMak8cE9jNSK5CUm2A/s630/HAPO3028_M_Po_Storm_Peter_Den_St_10cc_%231_PO_GT%20-%20LR.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="445" data-original-width="630" height="452" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilL47myLjaxPHSWB3zZTweGyQ03HEHOc4HvNDfSSImj5JYoBrb9qTv6Hzb3JyrethH8lyBzs0OqaeLNU89JEHgA7If0cMbvMzwjTi48FsM8d88irU345akqj9kpUP5knT-JUS2pu-e6Ko6cE3z-GvYwtEu53c-wcURM9J0s6mOtMak8cE9jNSK5CUm2A/w640-h452/HAPO3028_M_Po_Storm_Peter_Den_St_10cc_%231_PO_GT%20-%20LR.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p>Director Anton Corbijn evocatively lights his interviews in black and white and uses striking animation to announce each album cover like a chapter page in a book. Corbijn knows a thing or two about album covers, since he has photographed a few for bands like U2.<br /><br />The hero and villain of this story is Thorgerson, whom everyone in the film recalls as a pain in the ass, but also sharp and charming. He and the more level-headed Powell rode the excesses of 1970s rock until they crashed in the early-1980s in bankruptcy and acrimony. It was a bitter ending, which abruptly ends the film and begs for more detail. However, enough time has passed to heal those wounds and celebrate the surreal imagination of the greatest album designers of all time.<br /><br /><i>Squaring the Circle</i> opens Friday, June 9 in Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver and Victoria in select cinemas, then expands to other cities in Ontario as well as Quebec City and Charlottetown this month.<br /><br /></p>Allan Tonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03274259524672129558noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9063159190985782284.post-84089321627384150422023-06-05T12:30:00.004-04:002023-06-05T12:34:05.309-04:00IncluCity fest returns to Toronto, bigger than ever<p><i><br /> by Allan Tong</i> <br /></p><p>The ICFF is back, or shall I say the Lavazza IncluCity Festival, organized by the ICFF? Once Toronto's Italian film fest, IncluCity has rebranded in recent years into a multicultural (and multi-disciplinarian) visual arts festival. The core remains Italian films, but IncluCity has expanded its tent to include even Jewish and Chinese cinema, not to mention painting, opera, fashion and this year horror films. All in all, IncluCity will screen more than 50 feature films drawn from 26 countries.<br /><br />From June 27 to July 22, the center of IncluCity will be the Distillery District with screenings taking place in oversize, plush seats beneath the stars (rain or shine) on this historic district's cobblestone avenue. It is, without a doubt, the most gorgeous setting to watch a film. </p><p></p><p>There's a lot to unpack with IncluCity 2023, and here are the highlights:<span></span></p><a name='more'></a><br /><p></p><span></span><p style="text-align: center;"><iframe frameborder="0" height="270" src="https://youtube.com/embed/D8La5G1DzCM" width="480"></iframe> </p><p>* the opening night gala screening of <i>Freaks Out</i>, directed by Gabriele Mainetti, about Italian circus performers fleeing Nazis in World War Two; the gala with feature a showcase by the Royal Canadian International Circus<br /><br />* Fashion legend Anna Fendi will accept the ICFF Lifetime Achievement Award for her illustrious during a special In Conversation with event and gala dinner on July 22 at the TIFF Bell Lightbox, paired with the documentary, <i>F is For Fendi</i>, followed by the closing night party at the Ritz-Carlton. Details: https://icff.ca/f-is-for-fendi/<br /><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;">
<iframe frameborder="0" height="270" src="https://youtube.com/embed/cXL_HDzBQsM" width="480"></iframe> </p><p>* a special outdoor screening of <i>BlackBerry</i>, charting the rise and fall of the Canadian tech giant on Canada Day<br /><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;">
<iframe frameborder="0" height="270" src="https://youtube.com/embed/c9pITIfdLNo" width="480"></iframe> </p><p>* the Canadian premiere of <i>Sweetwater</i>, profiling Nat "Sweetwater" Clifton, the first African player to sign with the NBA<br /><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;">
<iframe frameborder="0" height="270" src="https://youtube.com/embed/Q6zQuPLd9HQ" width="480"></iframe> </p><p>* a return of the Ukrainian spotlight with <i>Persian Lessons</i>, directed by Ukrainian-Canadian director, Vadim Perelman<br /><br />* live music in the Distillery by musicians from Nashville to Palestine, many free<br /><br />* a ghost tour of the Distillery</p><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dyCOSFP5u0fMkEUtN8NDpxrXk3RkUeNKUj5CNw1cz4Wn6crBJm5bxl64tIngVro4-LBIPVl1j8deVWIiQYWtw' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br /> * opera night with Lucia Cesaroni and Julie Nesrallah (see video above)<br /><br />* a sake tasting paired with the film, <i>Nemesis</i><br /> <br />* the North American premiere of the action film, <i>Eye For an Eye</i>, directed by Bingjia Yang<br /><br /><p></p><p style="text-align: center;">
<iframe frameborder="0" height="270" src="https://youtube.com/embed/FptIqm9mPm4" width="480"></iframe> </p><p>* the closing night gala features more onscreen action with <i>Diabolik: Gingko Attacks</i> directed by the Manetti brothers, featuring Hollywood star Giacomo Gianniotti and Italy’s “it” actress Miriam Leone, attending the festival.<br /></p><p>Most screenings will take place at the Distillery, though a handful are scheduled in Vaughan. Please check the schedule for details and buy advance tickets at https://icff.ca/schedule/.<br /><br /></p>Allan Tonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03274259524672129558noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9063159190985782284.post-64874294198138695352023-04-14T14:56:00.001-04:002023-04-14T14:56:26.111-04:00The Artist Project returns to Toronto<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1350" data-original-width="976" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5VyoA0UoFQIYz3blQKLEzWg8u2Bv5jSaxmv9Xe-KRsmvi5XEJAdt5OVg4NL92HtpSrZQEhuvMACTwsU50z5IrZNvq-JsQNVvgN51nWmm3yfNSpDJ6F0bii_YmDuUaI0yh0nVfG5mWow01H7thpQJ107sddY0fKa8YxWsbGJSk-bsynciaG4auM1k0zw/w289-h400/Artist%20Project%20(April%2013-2023)%20(18%20Ross%20Bonfanti's%20Concreatures).jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="289" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ross Bonfanti's Concreatures</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5VyoA0UoFQIYz3blQKLEzWg8u2Bv5jSaxmv9Xe-KRsmvi5XEJAdt5OVg4NL92HtpSrZQEhuvMACTwsU50z5IrZNvq-JsQNVvgN51nWmm3yfNSpDJ6F0bii_YmDuUaI0yh0nVfG5mWow01H7thpQJ107sddY0fKa8YxWsbGJSk-bsynciaG4auM1k0zw/s1350/Artist%20Project%20(April%2013-2023)%20(18%20Ross%20Bonfanti's%20Concreatures).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> </a></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i> </i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><i>Story & photos by Allan Tong</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><i> </i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><i>The Artist Project returned to Toronto's CNE Grounds at the Better Living Centre after a long pandemic hiatus. The show, which runs through Sunday, April 16, is a buffet of visual arts mostly paintings, but this year adding a welcome twist of mixed media and even a fashion show. Thursday saw the traditional opening night party, complete with food and drinks for sale. The party is always fun, allowing visitors to wander the hundreds of art booths with a wine or beer in hand, but there was less of both in previous years (though normal in this post-Covid world given the labour shortage.) Still, the addition of mixed media was a smart addition that I hope continues in future editions. Some art that caught our eye:<br /></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><i> </i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><i> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV-K41Sn8OsXwFV5rK02D2puwGp3Ds6Y6c5ySVm_-2LnK59LNERveEU3Rja1TrzyQN645_qVJpdW_UMWWfEh8Aul_Wh_3QxHVfvG41l83QFD52Pr-giBZXGYfo0pVLAlqoidA7KE8vz0ePPDNI3gJYtCsK-E7ELdculyp9SwaS6n7VI1jnJUxN9QCTbA/s1727/Artist%20Project%20%28April%2013-2023%29%20%283%20Marianne%20Enhorning%29.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="1350" data-original-width="1727" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV-K41Sn8OsXwFV5rK02D2puwGp3Ds6Y6c5ySVm_-2LnK59LNERveEU3Rja1TrzyQN645_qVJpdW_UMWWfEh8Aul_Wh_3QxHVfvG41l83QFD52Pr-giBZXGYfo0pVLAlqoidA7KE8vz0ePPDNI3gJYtCsK-E7ELdculyp9SwaS6n7VI1jnJUxN9QCTbA/s320/Artist%20Project%20%28April%2013-2023%29%20%283%20Marianne%20Enhorning%29.jpg" width="320" /></a></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGBYZI9JmX2SssxXdcrrjPaufzbooCU0a3BmUw3qyYQPCvNCpja9RhW6_gpMuPOdQzl1dki0jOp-jvckXRgsrBnP6ifXOis7CFuGF-j-qTUDGWsDnvuEXR1RvrhOzlklSgZoX05rDVEPsgDeeEtYjGWM9RshhTPx28HFPkvtGGzFn0A4J_9sx4OX1RlA/s2761/Artist%20Project%20%28April%2013-2023%29%20%284%20Danielle%20Cole%29.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="1350" data-original-width="2761" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGBYZI9JmX2SssxXdcrrjPaufzbooCU0a3BmUw3qyYQPCvNCpja9RhW6_gpMuPOdQzl1dki0jOp-jvckXRgsrBnP6ifXOis7CFuGF-j-qTUDGWsDnvuEXR1RvrhOzlklSgZoX05rDVEPsgDeeEtYjGWM9RshhTPx28HFPkvtGGzFn0A4J_9sx4OX1RlA/s320/Artist%20Project%20%28April%2013-2023%29%20%284%20Danielle%20Cole%29.jpg" width="320" /></a></i></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQLdjsI-4gPyrIX-MP83TKsdmgAhlk8GeOGiiUCB_FydLsWR_yFVZ3QNOL1GzvmJHB4sk6fRXUJZv-OUFHvU-1lox8n34w_Y-WPXlLrlTyXN-biG5vbMxcLUaYb-wTRDFrVvdMQxL7pMSIAiWyfWJX7z1ZRIYV8IgYtoU_ndQp-0VRXaAFvfo5sIlhcQ/s2626/Artist%20Project%20%28April%2013-2023%29%20%289%20Ryan%20Bock%27s%20Ode%20To%20Duchamp%29.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="1350" data-original-width="2626" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQLdjsI-4gPyrIX-MP83TKsdmgAhlk8GeOGiiUCB_FydLsWR_yFVZ3QNOL1GzvmJHB4sk6fRXUJZv-OUFHvU-1lox8n34w_Y-WPXlLrlTyXN-biG5vbMxcLUaYb-wTRDFrVvdMQxL7pMSIAiWyfWJX7z1ZRIYV8IgYtoU_ndQp-0VRXaAFvfo5sIlhcQ/s320/Artist%20Project%20%28April%2013-2023%29%20%289%20Ryan%20Bock%27s%20Ode%20To%20Duchamp%29.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ryan Bock's Ode To Duchamp</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><i></i></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrrgwVeAinpL_T3YfEOMz3VqkEsVbl4uib45tw_UND_MKejr1rCgHWMJnLznzg6AHkiFA6D2hn7ip05lfF20veFX27KOQE8BnKZ8s3umBjYbjMFwgte0rWIYlvZJbRYlc8ij1W69EWGLKiydSvMNl2TGiclLkgOEMvyrN6nWKka8JQT70uRoWSWPifCg/s2226/Artist%20Project%20%28April%2013-2023%29%20%2810%20Shawn%20Alex%20Thompson%29.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="1350" data-original-width="2226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrrgwVeAinpL_T3YfEOMz3VqkEsVbl4uib45tw_UND_MKejr1rCgHWMJnLznzg6AHkiFA6D2hn7ip05lfF20veFX27KOQE8BnKZ8s3umBjYbjMFwgte0rWIYlvZJbRYlc8ij1W69EWGLKiydSvMNl2TGiclLkgOEMvyrN6nWKka8JQT70uRoWSWPifCg/s320/Artist%20Project%20%28April%2013-2023%29%20%2810%20Shawn%20Alex%20Thompson%29.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> Shawn Alex Thompson</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><i></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7Q-so5H6PgDcI-vgAXukpg1hf5EO57FD9wq9L5jBfQqteMGUvCpF2g76YPXZnF938ElCPzeem-ncubQbjyn0uTWBYTi90wugjZIM72HEAa8DKjrOzIVufJALw-wO2o8tQWODWblNhak0dmNoYF8zK_5wcdmdovXvDP4lOZf_CVWfTOLGA8su5HBDBmQ/s1350/Artist%20Project%20%28April%2013-2023%29%20%2812%20Chrsitina%20Sideris%29.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="1350" data-original-width="1189" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7Q-so5H6PgDcI-vgAXukpg1hf5EO57FD9wq9L5jBfQqteMGUvCpF2g76YPXZnF938ElCPzeem-ncubQbjyn0uTWBYTi90wugjZIM72HEAa8DKjrOzIVufJALw-wO2o8tQWODWblNhak0dmNoYF8zK_5wcdmdovXvDP4lOZf_CVWfTOLGA8su5HBDBmQ/s320/Artist%20Project%20%28April%2013-2023%29%20%2812%20Chrsitina%20Sideris%29.jpg" /></a></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-6EBMXQsz1Mt5vpdvvfk0iSOVXtc6t4-5P2QiWNsdrXzY-5lUaW8tJVa73vjxO4egiDYCIJhV8Blz-9_vvikj6k5AtLataJ3ZYaLq_13spM4kqYrN1G69CXHWY_YGPO8QC2P2oJKs7VrhxC5eMyJVeSRyJGnJEUYEruN6GHCew16Z2-TYnHNhWtid-A/s1350/Artist%20Project%20%28April%2013-2023%29%20%2814%20Chris%20Lashbrook%29.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="1350" data-original-width="953" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-6EBMXQsz1Mt5vpdvvfk0iSOVXtc6t4-5P2QiWNsdrXzY-5lUaW8tJVa73vjxO4egiDYCIJhV8Blz-9_vvikj6k5AtLataJ3ZYaLq_13spM4kqYrN1G69CXHWY_YGPO8QC2P2oJKs7VrhxC5eMyJVeSRyJGnJEUYEruN6GHCew16Z2-TYnHNhWtid-A/s320/Artist%20Project%20%28April%2013-2023%29%20%2814%20Chris%20Lashbrook%29.jpg" /></a></i></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmkYQyVYroHNRSkW3lHM75w4ZpnoA37JYp1Ie2bK5N9NcU9tNB5eMPiFd-jNmjx7-EFLQnEZVb9ZWwO4bQGaDbP9db4QxRkLvBVmFTScmtHyJR-UX2BvF_Tjx24OgwyAQnAT_Jk-hSJFAM2MXO9v5vz6LXcBy8LNdybBQqW7VRafWdgd14wG4T4WhDjg/s2560/Artist%20Project%20%28April%2013-2023%29%20%2819%20Gina%20D%27Aloisio%27s%20Deep%20Breaths%29.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="2560" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmkYQyVYroHNRSkW3lHM75w4ZpnoA37JYp1Ie2bK5N9NcU9tNB5eMPiFd-jNmjx7-EFLQnEZVb9ZWwO4bQGaDbP9db4QxRkLvBVmFTScmtHyJR-UX2BvF_Tjx24OgwyAQnAT_Jk-hSJFAM2MXO9v5vz6LXcBy8LNdybBQqW7VRafWdgd14wG4T4WhDjg/s320/Artist%20Project%20%28April%2013-2023%29%20%2819%20Gina%20D%27Aloisio%27s%20Deep%20Breaths%29.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gina D'Aloisio's Deep Breaths</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><i></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9mTM_-Ly1OjYnwIJ-VB3QOmkJ9CHdumfy4-UkH5X-CyFVrMAQxgl5umATmXtir8CBg9gnf5CzIGdBIlytWslq_0iS9dPNA9-e9dGPS8V0a683whIsEMMjOIvLopXt7Oq5a2nhjS93pJl_D_harXuKA9ntSrif0FeiomxYSTzlVbDPfmeUg2tYuGGkaA/s1350/Artist%20Project%20%28April%2013-2023%29%20%2821%20Julya%20Hajnoczky%29.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="1350" data-original-width="859" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9mTM_-Ly1OjYnwIJ-VB3QOmkJ9CHdumfy4-UkH5X-CyFVrMAQxgl5umATmXtir8CBg9gnf5CzIGdBIlytWslq_0iS9dPNA9-e9dGPS8V0a683whIsEMMjOIvLopXt7Oq5a2nhjS93pJl_D_harXuKA9ntSrif0FeiomxYSTzlVbDPfmeUg2tYuGGkaA/s320/Artist%20Project%20%28April%2013-2023%29%20%2821%20Julya%20Hajnoczky%29.jpg" /></a></i></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht3tHe0cAMdHtwDUUKMIh9o897BUx0FoAy8nIMXF4Dq0TCJv5JBXrqiYKnGiHVofXPzhTJg_Dd_QmYDXBTy782e0822ImEkGAxu6H4yXC0oTmn5dyDqOaKIJ0KHi-3W6NpLzo1lWE5s0Vu9ekPHQNj3_agDN_UJ7SjnfNhUWFeRQ0SJOaeU3rJXT_x9w/s1350/Artist%20Project%20%28April%2013-2023%29%20%2835%20Phil%20Carriere%29.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="1350" data-original-width="847" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht3tHe0cAMdHtwDUUKMIh9o897BUx0FoAy8nIMXF4Dq0TCJv5JBXrqiYKnGiHVofXPzhTJg_Dd_QmYDXBTy782e0822ImEkGAxu6H4yXC0oTmn5dyDqOaKIJ0KHi-3W6NpLzo1lWE5s0Vu9ekPHQNj3_agDN_UJ7SjnfNhUWFeRQ0SJOaeU3rJXT_x9w/s320/Artist%20Project%20%28April%2013-2023%29%20%2835%20Phil%20Carriere%29.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Phil Carriere</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><i></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipS36I2ZeybaiqfAnmtUZmCL8nWzL4dZp-DDBXckfx5XkIygMn386IuYDdsumq_2z-NYg9rbPOGmU9e2YCJ-Jv-AOqLqV_Rh6BkEb7Xa7zLl0ZuQ_Sx8i_wT2TPHhB-DBN2y9VVSxYOQVf5KaWOsJxsCA4VJc3jY6lahvqjWOmUDX2gB4mJJNS1SgvMw/s1350/Artist%20Project%20%28April%2013-2023%29%20%2844%20Anam%20Feerasta%29.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="1350" data-original-width="952" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipS36I2ZeybaiqfAnmtUZmCL8nWzL4dZp-DDBXckfx5XkIygMn386IuYDdsumq_2z-NYg9rbPOGmU9e2YCJ-Jv-AOqLqV_Rh6BkEb7Xa7zLl0ZuQ_Sx8i_wT2TPHhB-DBN2y9VVSxYOQVf5KaWOsJxsCA4VJc3jY6lahvqjWOmUDX2gB4mJJNS1SgvMw/s320/Artist%20Project%20%28April%2013-2023%29%20%2844%20Anam%20Feerasta%29.jpg" /></a></i></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF9vwGwtZRtdHsq-YBmYB4j8A965gs3-fntSGf0FHaiogIS0EMREImQJ3ve__xcgOUKjeLWVjjygFya0fcsg7QDLefUg9E1nHBM-r7q8b3j0yYeh8a7sVCh8QZuZxUUYbpJUSSipAxRglLfAW-sYGsr7nOfIJEFOK8wTwWiDeeDuZRmtYXW4Ng93JERA/s2560/Artist%20Project%20%28April%2013-2023%29%20%2850%29.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="2560" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF9vwGwtZRtdHsq-YBmYB4j8A965gs3-fntSGf0FHaiogIS0EMREImQJ3ve__xcgOUKjeLWVjjygFya0fcsg7QDLefUg9E1nHBM-r7q8b3j0yYeh8a7sVCh8QZuZxUUYbpJUSSipAxRglLfAW-sYGsr7nOfIJEFOK8wTwWiDeeDuZRmtYXW4Ng93JERA/s320/Artist%20Project%20%28April%2013-2023%29%20%2850%29.jpg" width="320" /></a></i></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Options were mostly mediocre junk food, but there was a decent booth offering salads and charcuterie hidden in a corner, unfortunately, that impressed a local chef.<br /></i></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq0MC9CQvfDT8-h2fGlNIOz53dElRvgehAWnHqREKxpW_qZVdIv3pI8F15LkGOBMINeeJis5U9TC02pffPuIfhY1xrra5sgke7lkVy2LW4jYh0QFJxouPquI5uBpJPWcsubRP0vTZLVlihMsT-cWm5Ibyo4cGkmz0B39Abhjcd5uFuOojFtgYrVR8K9w/s1350/Artist%20Project%20%28April%2013-2023%29%20%2854%29.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="1350" data-original-width="938" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq0MC9CQvfDT8-h2fGlNIOz53dElRvgehAWnHqREKxpW_qZVdIv3pI8F15LkGOBMINeeJis5U9TC02pffPuIfhY1xrra5sgke7lkVy2LW4jYh0QFJxouPquI5uBpJPWcsubRP0vTZLVlihMsT-cWm5Ibyo4cGkmz0B39Abhjcd5uFuOojFtgYrVR8K9w/s320/Artist%20Project%20%28April%2013-2023%29%20%2854%29.jpg" /></a></i></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioumTlmBxwTb3_XJURGjutdPxECMjrvDJM-BSupKpu189GGfhVn12tDIoCLQbTjNOXe0kRWfsCaXjQN_RPoYQ_LR_yExeFv-eSkmjTIOEDi9JrSBRMdMAGu0KxY63rBSHy_7JKDdjPhvYPRabtvaSYR_UAMjTg3kNSPFYiVl-OEmc-ufGIou9I5CUbDQ/s1532/Artist%20Project%20%28April%2013-2023%29%20%2855%20Kelly%20McCray%27s%20Tower%20of%20Banned%20Books%29.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="1350" data-original-width="1532" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioumTlmBxwTb3_XJURGjutdPxECMjrvDJM-BSupKpu189GGfhVn12tDIoCLQbTjNOXe0kRWfsCaXjQN_RPoYQ_LR_yExeFv-eSkmjTIOEDi9JrSBRMdMAGu0KxY63rBSHy_7JKDdjPhvYPRabtvaSYR_UAMjTg3kNSPFYiVl-OEmc-ufGIou9I5CUbDQ/s320/Artist%20Project%20%28April%2013-2023%29%20%2855%20Kelly%20McCray%27s%20Tower%20of%20Banned%20Books%29.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kelly McCray's Tower of Banned Books</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><i></i></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkQ9uckRPPk2GbV8srnfMbVbsvF8izPpVKBjICs7P2M6F1ZsThqQ4A66fpB_XrRw4UKw4fZ6pamntbUG3brsw68n2F8XX3-YWvMLwYOrYdVInDmmXD-dAtDv1mFeO1ljLpFb84S2jt9QvJ_RmX6o_V0dKOSTaEmjP1n1dtbVRrA4F9aaxJALgF--cJlQ/s1350/Artist%20Project%20%28April%2013-2023%29%20%2859%20Ross%20Bonfanti%27s%20Concreatures%29.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="1350" data-original-width="1262" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkQ9uckRPPk2GbV8srnfMbVbsvF8izPpVKBjICs7P2M6F1ZsThqQ4A66fpB_XrRw4UKw4fZ6pamntbUG3brsw68n2F8XX3-YWvMLwYOrYdVInDmmXD-dAtDv1mFeO1ljLpFb84S2jt9QvJ_RmX6o_V0dKOSTaEmjP1n1dtbVRrA4F9aaxJALgF--cJlQ/s320/Artist%20Project%20%28April%2013-2023%29%20%2859%20Ross%20Bonfanti%27s%20Concreatures%29.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ross Bonfanti's Concreatures</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><i></i></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFjMxTyFiklyIXy_YTDGiFVhiJtQ5dAKTv6R17IWnvAMbgeKPmJHANF69oxJHHYyUHOlMI-y2GpKKwEsfERFKY2qsMPJQ54wBNBLNvGKFzYbvG7hcWHEnKA7x_0W60WhLC2slZyz2NMg2icFKqpqrYvbmbflRH4imflJvjPjhI0dzCfU5lhufHT0DlJA/s1994/Artist%20Project%20%28April%2013-2023%29%20%2863%20Andrew%20Wang%29.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="2560" data-original-width="1440" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV1gR_FyetTIyXbquPXpsO2JRVhcFqYWntCdV7IG_hwaG5MRLpDgOPhoo6NWXQzrka98mwN7nK9HmvPe6K1IamLRml8cLefzoop5O_ED2-QaS6Dnr4MeEZixIrgQ8Qhwqm8gsm0xWskDRsCiR46pfhHTjAZBDt-wvkRIjB-EyCwH6_oBv3JQSmWO5npw/s320/Artist%20Project%20%28April%2013-2023%29%20%2862%20Ross%20Bonfanti%27s%20Concreatures%29.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ross Bonfanti's Concreatures</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFjMxTyFiklyIXy_YTDGiFVhiJtQ5dAKTv6R17IWnvAMbgeKPmJHANF69oxJHHYyUHOlMI-y2GpKKwEsfERFKY2qsMPJQ54wBNBLNvGKFzYbvG7hcWHEnKA7x_0W60WhLC2slZyz2NMg2icFKqpqrYvbmbflRH4imflJvjPjhI0dzCfU5lhufHT0DlJA/s1994/Artist%20Project%20%28April%2013-2023%29%20%2863%20Andrew%20Wang%29.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="1350" data-original-width="1994" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFjMxTyFiklyIXy_YTDGiFVhiJtQ5dAKTv6R17IWnvAMbgeKPmJHANF69oxJHHYyUHOlMI-y2GpKKwEsfERFKY2qsMPJQ54wBNBLNvGKFzYbvG7hcWHEnKA7x_0W60WhLC2slZyz2NMg2icFKqpqrYvbmbflRH4imflJvjPjhI0dzCfU5lhufHT0DlJA/s320/Artist%20Project%20%28April%2013-2023%29%20%2863%20Andrew%20Wang%29.jpg" width="320" /></a></i></div>Allan Tonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03274259524672129558noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9063159190985782284.post-62429075292844117232023-01-20T13:35:00.003-05:002023-01-20T13:35:36.487-05:00IDS returns to Toronto with a bash<p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBVQl6_nb9J3OYdmlRvA1WEAG80h5fFu05FJOuqG_qdRuiNhE9W31GvVJggJCA2k4HpW9J0kMz8xRdu9RTXsDupXTtwGOHB5k9sLD-oFxZZk0BFdKa3Hu4hpXLoF7gkTLFw6WIHvy8cU1oOemPeSoSAq2KkZi5hXQTLx1LmIWS_iWb4XEl075Pv44yWg/s2560/Christina%20Sideris%20(2).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="2560" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBVQl6_nb9J3OYdmlRvA1WEAG80h5fFu05FJOuqG_qdRuiNhE9W31GvVJggJCA2k4HpW9J0kMz8xRdu9RTXsDupXTtwGOHB5k9sLD-oFxZZk0BFdKa3Hu4hpXLoF7gkTLFw6WIHvy8cU1oOemPeSoSAq2KkZi5hXQTLx1LmIWS_iWb4XEl075Pv44yWg/w640-h360/Christina%20Sideris%20(2).jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Christina Sideris</i><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></p><p>Toronto's <a href="https://interiordesignshow.com/toronto/">Interior Design Show </a>returns to January's cultural calendars after a hiatus (for obvious reasons) and following last year's IDS taking place in April right after lockdown. It felt great for IDS to be back, launching last night with their traditional opening party and running through Sunday, January 22 in the Metro Toronto Convention Centre's south building. Yesterday, saw the start of trade days full of speakers waxing about all things beautiful yet functional in the home. Though home sales are slumping, Canadians will continue to renovate their houses, condos and apartments, so the industry outlook is positive for 2023.<br /><br />Thursday's opening soiree saw some booth, such as Miele's, pouring wine and champagne to invite visitors to inspect kitchen spaces, living rooms sets and luxury showers. There were at least three food stations scattered throughout the hockey-arena-sized space. The most popular offered vegetarian Chinese noodles (it's the Year of the Rabbit on Sunday), though another supplied just chips. There was more food in previous years, some noted, though the crowds of the chicly dressed and fashionably groomed adored the atmosphere, particularly around the Caesarstone stage where a DJ spun beats.</p><p>Trade Days continue today (Friday) at 4:30 pm with a keynote at the Caesarstone stage about designing the new Art Gallery of Nova Scotia, featuring Jordan Bennett, Shirley Blumberg of KPMB, Omar Gandhi of Omar Gandhi Architect in a conversation moderated by Elizabeth Pagliacolo of AZURE Magazine. <br /><br />Saturday from 11:00 am to noon sees Mexican designer Fernando Laposse focus on global warming and the loss of biodiversity. He will explain how to use materials like corn leaves and loofah to build more sustainable spaces. Other panels took place throughoput the weekend, including speakers Kelly Reynolds and Chad Falkenberg from Falken Reynolds of Vancouver), Daej Hamilton of Toronto's Daej Designs, Toronto) and Treana Peake Founder of OBAKKI who will also speak about sustainability.<br /><br />Tickets are available from $19-25 <a href="https://interiordesignshow.com/toronto/">here</a>. A reminder that IDS takes place in the *south* building of MTCC.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS1aMw-j9EThuIh2AboBAwWR_H3crsqZDqZm1ASQ6FPZ3GmVxKYI2iAfxde2VNGOoUqsDnG-5sNUNROo-vbs1H9bym6j8SELzJHaKRQ_zW-Oh9q-fPnMxejZ6QM85DHXRYcR6mKz2yWTPKEWKl_VF7whUJ982C72pkopxVlOexyfQuZ3Gl3fAgTZ7XTQ/s1350/DJ.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1350" data-original-width="828" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS1aMw-j9EThuIh2AboBAwWR_H3crsqZDqZm1ASQ6FPZ3GmVxKYI2iAfxde2VNGOoUqsDnG-5sNUNROo-vbs1H9bym6j8SELzJHaKRQ_zW-Oh9q-fPnMxejZ6QM85DHXRYcR6mKz2yWTPKEWKl_VF7whUJ982C72pkopxVlOexyfQuZ3Gl3fAgTZ7XTQ/w245-h400/DJ.jpg" width="245" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMljU0nvIzKm2nzE8vYpRfo7qiyDIq_HMuCZ-Y1P39lS8tkXmu5Ce4-CKXPiu7Za_t4C9gDknmpxHIPnlLC0e9-foNXHbG6QSBxgSMVL2lk6laWSvrB57zaBU39jyqJLXR2lacGJ2xNumY7fwuJG43_qCbmJcsQdIld9zbU71WbIDMLgM-yJkEvroM1g/s2423/Marie%20Dooley.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1350" data-original-width="2423" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMljU0nvIzKm2nzE8vYpRfo7qiyDIq_HMuCZ-Y1P39lS8tkXmu5Ce4-CKXPiu7Za_t4C9gDknmpxHIPnlLC0e9-foNXHbG6QSBxgSMVL2lk6laWSvrB57zaBU39jyqJLXR2lacGJ2xNumY7fwuJG43_qCbmJcsQdIld9zbU71WbIDMLgM-yJkEvroM1g/w400-h223/Marie%20Dooley.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /> </div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvUL_EVPY16D31DGTXs9LZVuBNG3Bm93XxrSSORlScD_71KB8KGyfaNIhmEgSPDljPGOxZWpvosIpXf5vvKPemRuIxIss1QZA6pSHlw2WRTiq4GYt2PzP3HGEqpU41k8iOMLvPiRmK1kwn38km803rUqlBeD9rRHpQFtUQp-StCBf8Ha-H3NjIiH2S6A/s2560/EQ3%20(1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="2560" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvUL_EVPY16D31DGTXs9LZVuBNG3Bm93XxrSSORlScD_71KB8KGyfaNIhmEgSPDljPGOxZWpvosIpXf5vvKPemRuIxIss1QZA6pSHlw2WRTiq4GYt2PzP3HGEqpU41k8iOMLvPiRmK1kwn38km803rUqlBeD9rRHpQFtUQp-StCBf8Ha-H3NjIiH2S6A/w640-h360/EQ3%20(1).jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">EQ3 <br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXitihKDtlR8pB0lo3qODmdTL3npPi4Ut8k8Eb09TfVyj4rXG51VTnwR4oLzhN6n6V24TrE4555CDp9k_gozaF_hjVwcaYE9EbSEm_XTD7t5jVd9E3oAellRVAORhesVrfhSXdmP9h4HnRlBjvEfYTdlP6wVAyxwW9X_wSnmJnNPX-f1YglLoGkxFikw/s1350/Guild%20Design%20Gallery%20(2).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1350" data-original-width="832" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXitihKDtlR8pB0lo3qODmdTL3npPi4Ut8k8Eb09TfVyj4rXG51VTnwR4oLzhN6n6V24TrE4555CDp9k_gozaF_hjVwcaYE9EbSEm_XTD7t5jVd9E3oAellRVAORhesVrfhSXdmP9h4HnRlBjvEfYTdlP6wVAyxwW9X_wSnmJnNPX-f1YglLoGkxFikw/w394-h640/Guild%20Design%20Gallery%20(2).jpg" width="394" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Guild Design Gallery</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUM64ewyS4gT1uUneIdqhXUfkTEm2repELbhnfL8COLcYklwQn1DRq3_IEmVa2WY25nql4C3eVQjuXcS0uxp6_a1lFrSlynZe5GSDhWdPLrGbqk01CDI1J16sK2FSViV5xvsEfcHGendcVGmsKXYMFEhPrRU8RjHFOQ79J2Lou75n6e9XrcsHShxcgmg/s2560/Miele%20-%20champagne%20(2).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="2560" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUM64ewyS4gT1uUneIdqhXUfkTEm2repELbhnfL8COLcYklwQn1DRq3_IEmVa2WY25nql4C3eVQjuXcS0uxp6_a1lFrSlynZe5GSDhWdPLrGbqk01CDI1J16sK2FSViV5xvsEfcHGendcVGmsKXYMFEhPrRU8RjHFOQ79J2Lou75n6e9XrcsHShxcgmg/w400-h225/Miele%20-%20champagne%20(2).jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT6xFhpUc7bPcflPzXZ-XoMPUyrpEY-Hu0p5qNIWy77EkJVDcOIsuk5QGc6X6S9azh_mHBGH37yCWg13NaKCDxIGD9uGRPoTgtXVlUWanxHEBNcBXoWEkYgfbU9Y2vnHIA5Nj5Q2-6ZiX57CRaEcvIDyH_7e4W47kp9UzL8t1Q66EeCNGwAAXbTwaHiA/s2225/MIELE%20PowerDisk%20employee%20(2-4).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1350" data-original-width="2225" height="389" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT6xFhpUc7bPcflPzXZ-XoMPUyrpEY-Hu0p5qNIWy77EkJVDcOIsuk5QGc6X6S9azh_mHBGH37yCWg13NaKCDxIGD9uGRPoTgtXVlUWanxHEBNcBXoWEkYgfbU9Y2vnHIA5Nj5Q2-6ZiX57CRaEcvIDyH_7e4W47kp9UzL8t1Q66EeCNGwAAXbTwaHiA/w640-h389/MIELE%20PowerDisk%20employee%20(2-4).jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Miele</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAzI3aL8R75TGh_PbCAuTG5bFQzPGRIKQhiMYUEzm8rADZa_qwJ1SEpEV9NKYks7PaGJbhOnvr0fqsL84rNIyhOcuRhxnRKA3vNhH6X9RuAqWn-jY84Y3955SV8bdCITeLuhBywmGn91502b1ehOJ2xVJOP0Y1ttu5Xs94j_f5FvZKHBZcTjr4zhqDjQ/s1706/Puppy%20Stools%20(1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1350" data-original-width="1706" height="316" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAzI3aL8R75TGh_PbCAuTG5bFQzPGRIKQhiMYUEzm8rADZa_qwJ1SEpEV9NKYks7PaGJbhOnvr0fqsL84rNIyhOcuRhxnRKA3vNhH6X9RuAqWn-jY84Y3955SV8bdCITeLuhBywmGn91502b1ehOJ2xVJOP0Y1ttu5Xs94j_f5FvZKHBZcTjr4zhqDjQ/w400-h316/Puppy%20Stools%20(1).jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Puppy Stools (yes, dogs) by Hojeong Ji</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKFdFys-IRvzn4eaU7ZDougxLgb1R3VOrNNugpR87zfqoeKEz3JvBDUM3x09_N2A_UwbciISL_0FXdN1wHy4qC-Jhd5G0fh75_r8HrF9y1F6TfdAcNiuzFpJ5rAhCWNbvpO-Ulh9lUpbuYukvNjLIFPnDtR_loEFm-8AomkR9uVVQGkNyeicxfXPWYmQ/s2560/Randy%20Mugford%20(2).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2560" data-original-width="1440" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKFdFys-IRvzn4eaU7ZDougxLgb1R3VOrNNugpR87zfqoeKEz3JvBDUM3x09_N2A_UwbciISL_0FXdN1wHy4qC-Jhd5G0fh75_r8HrF9y1F6TfdAcNiuzFpJ5rAhCWNbvpO-Ulh9lUpbuYukvNjLIFPnDtR_loEFm-8AomkR9uVVQGkNyeicxfXPWYmQ/w225-h400/Randy%20Mugford%20(2).jpg" width="225" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG94vsQBKcFTgOf83Cl8pc2ak2EwIYW_2x0IUME28lcV8kvFLjf0g9Waa1anIZNcgWyo5MaLkxninl_ODws6M1_HCLgT8RaCgg7pRRoVWOaVVKE-T-f4OyGiHR4wtQTeMz0krGH1far9fTDOFZUkpaa2Ax6frvlvOGFe8u4-9X3eM9smcKQEYO1t29Xw/s2560/Randy%20Mugford.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2560" data-original-width="1440" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG94vsQBKcFTgOf83Cl8pc2ak2EwIYW_2x0IUME28lcV8kvFLjf0g9Waa1anIZNcgWyo5MaLkxninl_ODws6M1_HCLgT8RaCgg7pRRoVWOaVVKE-T-f4OyGiHR4wtQTeMz0krGH1far9fTDOFZUkpaa2Ax6frvlvOGFe8u4-9X3eM9smcKQEYO1t29Xw/w225-h400/Randy%20Mugford.jpg" width="225" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-WcWt9H349ZOaj7S-NzKeK2VlCOd9YH4VATS5qXGXJROOP-CcNRjASkVyA9Jij-ncHC-nO2ECCGfKJVaaWZC1o-EiPfae9XJ0-tdHbfZrkbGEZR4iZ8xaVrjSO4xqQbhSeGwilvFT3MzoyJOkwRh8pKLSYW8flEDkh0M3WPzY3wQy-vH7N_JoXCw6pw/s2560/Rubi%20showers%20(3).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2560" data-original-width="1440" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-WcWt9H349ZOaj7S-NzKeK2VlCOd9YH4VATS5qXGXJROOP-CcNRjASkVyA9Jij-ncHC-nO2ECCGfKJVaaWZC1o-EiPfae9XJ0-tdHbfZrkbGEZR4iZ8xaVrjSO4xqQbhSeGwilvFT3MzoyJOkwRh8pKLSYW8flEDkh0M3WPzY3wQy-vH7N_JoXCw6pw/w360-h640/Rubi%20showers%20(3).jpg" width="360" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rubi</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOmMlCUTlHpjIL-fvkUDweqVYJ__d-HYreptwja1mJcLujKC2ZXcwfOMvNm-51CnQldqIS-UpRWgt3j2_re3H62_3-ZMhEnTocTwpOp2a5vKoqkB-RRNinRUIQpksSgTHb9VMHPPZ-VovT_VWOcdvpUQ4jdcUk_0fQi7qsy9FaH5KXTWTemCRUzCGltA/s2236/Seedlip%20(2).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1350" data-original-width="2236" height="386" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOmMlCUTlHpjIL-fvkUDweqVYJ__d-HYreptwja1mJcLujKC2ZXcwfOMvNm-51CnQldqIS-UpRWgt3j2_re3H62_3-ZMhEnTocTwpOp2a5vKoqkB-RRNinRUIQpksSgTHb9VMHPPZ-VovT_VWOcdvpUQ4jdcUk_0fQi7qsy9FaH5KXTWTemCRUzCGltA/w640-h386/Seedlip%20(2).jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Seedlip: not everything poured last night was alcohol<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWMyChxyKrT4qnQFWbdJsXcYijBsUkeJwv8FufBEtONlroPcXhEOjEtccW2TlXia1e2Rb22K8EzW71VYucDo1lZYYroE-Ucg1jziHbijpHeNpeX2c4V1QWDVA-0VXrwkoAbFzkfsEp5D1FlIpv62KcgaJnAkYlY_r9Mgovg3bcWkeMsddD9aFP858jCg/s2560/spring%20rolls.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="2560" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWMyChxyKrT4qnQFWbdJsXcYijBsUkeJwv8FufBEtONlroPcXhEOjEtccW2TlXia1e2Rb22K8EzW71VYucDo1lZYYroE-Ucg1jziHbijpHeNpeX2c4V1QWDVA-0VXrwkoAbFzkfsEp5D1FlIpv62KcgaJnAkYlY_r9Mgovg3bcWkeMsddD9aFP858jCg/w400-h225/spring%20rolls.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGS3KQ00lT4uvFp3FjPPJd7yEGmw1eER_f789szGqfi0U31iGHldOGzbO9VV6bh6D2E2-sDeICg4aR92UxyL-C3L6815AotlXk7VIsbXSoAdwj4T_0WLt02fGUNnAy2Gn-HxgNsKQImQyMZeeugBY6ubOsIFEzwQdW7GqNNnX4XfBnxVzP3r3-kJefRA/s2560/wine.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="2560" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGS3KQ00lT4uvFp3FjPPJd7yEGmw1eER_f789szGqfi0U31iGHldOGzbO9VV6bh6D2E2-sDeICg4aR92UxyL-C3L6815AotlXk7VIsbXSoAdwj4T_0WLt02fGUNnAy2Gn-HxgNsKQImQyMZeeugBY6ubOsIFEzwQdW7GqNNnX4XfBnxVzP3r3-kJefRA/w400-h225/wine.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Welcome back!<br /></i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /> <p></p><p></p><p><br /><br /></p>Allan Tonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03274259524672129558noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9063159190985782284.post-9058843060985524752022-11-29T11:46:00.000-05:002022-11-29T11:46:00.221-05:00film review: Harvest Time<p> </p><p> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmgtKhTMI3L_cEzwQxMjVaECteXmLPgL4VbOddC2RPtX8r2_YRAqobftyTnnUfZP2_3vkQzWjl4vEF5mYfVgGgqO5JYgv7Ut4yy3QGTOk5zWDQEoRLn13Nlz_KPcUC8QbdiMVdOkgI6_4bhjZPmRZEujEJLDnqyavpGp_GjsuEp_ZfQNsGf0yJkHcEyw/s6000/NY_Harvest50_JoelBernstein-71-00961.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4024" data-original-width="6000" height="430" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmgtKhTMI3L_cEzwQxMjVaECteXmLPgL4VbOddC2RPtX8r2_YRAqobftyTnnUfZP2_3vkQzWjl4vEF5mYfVgGgqO5JYgv7Ut4yy3QGTOk5zWDQEoRLn13Nlz_KPcUC8QbdiMVdOkgI6_4bhjZPmRZEujEJLDnqyavpGp_GjsuEp_ZfQNsGf0yJkHcEyw/w640-h430/NY_Harvest50_JoelBernstein-71-00961.jpg" width="640" /></a></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p>Directed by Bernard Shakey<br /></p><p>ChinoKino score: B (for Neil Young fans: A)</p><p><i>Review by Allan Tong</i></p><p>When Neil Young released the album <i>Harvest </i>in early 1972, he became as big as Taylor Swift or Drake today. He was already in the biggest band at that time, Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, and already recording solo, but <i>Harvest </i>catapulted him to superstardom. That's ironic, since Neil Young fans regard <i>Harvest </i>as a good, but flawed work. However, <i>Harvest </i>includes Heart of Gold, which shot to number one and made the album that year's biggest seller. This new documentary takes audiences behind the scenes to show Young recording Harvest, whether inside his northern California barn (you read that right), in a studio with his famous ex-bandmates, and with the London Symphony Orchestra (you also read that right).</p><p>Fans will feast on <i>Harvest Time</i>. Much of this footage has never been seen, and it is gold, capturing Young in unguarded moments of creating his music. Special scenes involve Young with CSN harmonizing on Alabama. It's early 1971 and the on-again, off-again band are in good spirits, not bickering which would later plague them. Neil gently coaches his bandmates at a piano to go over a particular phrase. As they perform the song Words, surprisingly it's Graham Nash who coaxes the singers. Isolated on the soundtrack, their voices soar.</p><p style="text-align: center;">
<iframe frameborder="0" height="270" src="https://youtube.com/embed/hHNgKyFI7oU" width="480"></iframe></p><p>It's jarring, but thrilling to see Young record live with the LSO. Fans have long detested how the orchestra smothers this plaintive ballad, A Man Needs A Maid, but it is fascinating to watch Young struggle to get the entire orchestra to make their cue. They keep coming in a half-step too soon, he complains to arranger Jack Nietzsche during a break before Young sings a beautiful verse of the title song, Harvest. It's also cool to watch Young hop into a portable recording studio (belonging to the Rolling Stones) housed inside an unmarked truck parked outside to listen to a playback.</p><p>Another key moment finds Young playing Journey Through The Past alone at a piano. It's shocking to cut from the orchestral session to this solitary, but melancholic moment, but effective. This is one of Young's finest performances anywhere on film.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje4grCawRsFMfQJQZEQ1bsHmxO6chhukttdcMWOMA8XXG74YkjB70DYW2bdXtnltV4SV6qcnGMr-Cnod-jjaaxU93LwpnA_Tlw7UqwJAlzn7tcMLMx-dX9dakjhoniMwp_SO6Ou6o8yGZVgfT_YMn1_aVO0dBE1X-kUyxE24Juo1b_6UsCLAPDdfNW1A/s5653/NY_Harvest50_HenryDiltz-1501-23-13-71_06_01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3771" data-original-width="5653" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje4grCawRsFMfQJQZEQ1bsHmxO6chhukttdcMWOMA8XXG74YkjB70DYW2bdXtnltV4SV6qcnGMr-Cnod-jjaaxU93LwpnA_Tlw7UqwJAlzn7tcMLMx-dX9dakjhoniMwp_SO6Ou6o8yGZVgfT_YMn1_aVO0dBE1X-kUyxE24Juo1b_6UsCLAPDdfNW1A/w400-h266/NY_Harvest50_HenryDiltz-1501-23-13-71_06_01.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p>The handheld, grainy work lends the movie a homemade, voyeuristic feel, while the audio is crystal clear and rich. For instance, when the band launches into the protest rocker, Alabama, to kick off the film I jumped in my seat. There are only brief interviews of Young, along with producer Elliot Mazer and a few others. Really, <i>Harvest Time </i>is a fly-on-the-wall document, directed by Young. What's sorely missing is footage of him recording Heart of Gold with Linda Ronstadt and James Taylor on harmony. Also missing is the heart of gold herself, Young's partner at the time, actress Carrie Snodgrass. Snodgrass inspired several songs on the album, but appears in one only shot of the film without speaking.</p><p>Casual fans of Neil Young will enjoy <i>Harvest Time</i>, though may bristle at seeing one too many aimless jams recorded in Young's barn and with the film's lack of structure. Rather, it's a chronicle of the making of the most important album in Neil Young's career. Sit back and play loud.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFHNQtsfyDXWYet0OdqiXmsl17jYzrrCt51HV3NRB_I9Mfx0SQ2LvMbVqO4zk-_nRki0QZVk1PNccm62yxHBG-VosXgL9hpFG6kQ3yHsi70i851gNqi57s2lXnEkKETOM1GMiwpE3hdG96Mg8uHRQOQIOZvlRXOyuhdoL1aHgnuDjFDFbdLEShp1UpGg/s2000/NEIL-YOUNG_TICKETING_PHOTO-STILL_4x3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="2000" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFHNQtsfyDXWYet0OdqiXmsl17jYzrrCt51HV3NRB_I9Mfx0SQ2LvMbVqO4zk-_nRki0QZVk1PNccm62yxHBG-VosXgL9hpFG6kQ3yHsi70i851gNqi57s2lXnEkKETOM1GMiwpE3hdG96Mg8uHRQOQIOZvlRXOyuhdoL1aHgnuDjFDFbdLEShp1UpGg/w400-h300/NEIL-YOUNG_TICKETING_PHOTO-STILL_4x3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p><i><u>Harvest Time</u> opens in cinemas in select cities, dates and times, beginning December 1. Check your local listings or <a href="https://www.neilyoungharvesttime.com/home/" target="_blank">here</a> for schedules and tickets.</i></p>Allan Tonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03274259524672129558noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9063159190985782284.post-61087502241835802132022-10-06T12:05:00.000-04:002022-10-06T12:05:14.089-04:00film review: Darryl Jones: In The Blood<p> </p><p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtY8uP1fWzMJTNwmNdpBpTy51DJNPlXZ2ClWksPhIZAHJ48PKER0jUxr-wBc8LgHCOgT9M9p0gvd8GyjGs-zvV3uA7ELBpbbBzZCnnRaiNPk08-YbCR8yipi56TaoKTdTZ8uZjbmnD6QjQ2qt_6Hy811pshhxqZSXkf9JakjWR2ooob9r_HlKW4U7ELA/s1000/Darryl%20Jones.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="676" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtY8uP1fWzMJTNwmNdpBpTy51DJNPlXZ2ClWksPhIZAHJ48PKER0jUxr-wBc8LgHCOgT9M9p0gvd8GyjGs-zvV3uA7ELBpbbBzZCnnRaiNPk08-YbCR8yipi56TaoKTdTZ8uZjbmnD6QjQ2qt_6Hy811pshhxqZSXkf9JakjWR2ooob9r_HlKW4U7ELA/w270-h400/Darryl%20Jones.jpg" width="270" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>Directed by Eric Hamburg<br /></p><p>ChinoKino score: C</p><p><i>Review by Allan Tong</i></p><p>Superman is boring. Superman can soar, twist steel, beat any bad guy into a pulp and save entire planets.<i> </i>Aside from kryptonite, nothing can weaken Superman, certainly not destroy him. He is perfect.</p><p>That's how I felt about Darryl Jones after watching the first half of this new documentary profiling the bass player for the Miles Davis, Sting and the Rolling Stones. Don't get me wrong: Mr. Jones is one of the greatest musicians to have ever picked up a bass. Chosen by taskmaster Miles Davis alone catapults him into the top echelon of bassists on any planet. <i>This guy can play.</i></p><p>
<iframe frameborder="0" height="270" src="https://youtube.com/embed/nXQpuMUcpJo" width="480"></iframe> </p><p>However, this documentary does a shaky job in telling us who he is. For starters, the film opens on the Rolling Stones heaping praise<i> </i>on Jones for being (what else?) a great player as well as a cool guy, a nice guy and a prolific reader. But does anyone name a book? Nope. This sort of facile, fawning interviewing starts <i>In The Blood </i>poorly. Further, you're left wondering if the film is about the Stones (disclosure: I love the band) or Darryl Jones.</p><p>Eventually, the film lets Jones tell his story, starting with growing up on Chicago's South Side in the times of the 1960s race riots, of developing a race consciousness, of joining the Civil Rights Movement, and of course, of falling in love with performing. When he was a boy, Jones felt the love of an appreciative audience and wanted only that for the rest of his life. His parents supported his passion. His parents loved music and taught him a few instruments. Meanwhile, one played jazz constantly, another adored soul and local radio played everything from James Brown to the Beatles. Quite an education.</p><p>This part of the film is good. It's meaty and revealing. However, the style of filmmaking is rudimentary and unimaginative. It's 90% talking heads, with interviews taking place in random parts of (what I presume) Jones' house. There's no attempt at lighting or clearing distracting kitchen appliances or furniture out of the background. The footage looks like something shot on someone's phone. Further, there's no use of establishing footage, like a wide shot of Chicago to tell the viewer where they are, or flourishes like seeing Jones' fingers pluck his bass strings. Shots are static. The camera hardly moves. At best, an interview cuts to stock footage of a still photograph or concert for a few seconds. Jones' recollections aren't told through animation, a common--but effective--tool for documentarians and which would have elevated this film.<br /></p><p>Oddly enough, there's no background music playing underneath the interviews. Instead, we hear local traffic roll by. Distracting. Cold. That's strange for a film about a musician.</p><p>Again, don't get me wrong. Jones is a great bassist. I wanted to see this film for this reason and because I know nothing about the guy. <i>In The Blood </i>demystifies the man and paints a portrait, but this doc is ultimately too long and unsatisfying. <br /></p>Allan Tonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03274259524672129558noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9063159190985782284.post-71433332243269470972022-09-28T17:54:00.002-04:002022-09-28T17:54:51.977-04:00film review: REVIVAL69: The Concert That Rocked the World<p> <i><i></i></i></p><p> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5hFWZhmH0dQ60b6anZ0H9gpfT3ItTUrlqDYjgbxEuthTqKY2R2Sj2wsV24JJ6qtayjiy6bkPGADKG_lL8__zIKpzGLBt2k6TKY2l840rK25FXqexb__eSbanTthW-uLEtRL7O25pOicEjf9ylBZLoLkMfqrhXIpmRGG2QMeGaB4T1oOvzrmQwZZ2UBA/s720/JohnLennon%20Andrea%20Feltrin.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="540" data-original-width="720" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5hFWZhmH0dQ60b6anZ0H9gpfT3ItTUrlqDYjgbxEuthTqKY2R2Sj2wsV24JJ6qtayjiy6bkPGADKG_lL8__zIKpzGLBt2k6TKY2l840rK25FXqexb__eSbanTthW-uLEtRL7O25pOicEjf9ylBZLoLkMfqrhXIpmRGG2QMeGaB4T1oOvzrmQwZZ2UBA/w640-h480/JohnLennon%20Andrea%20Feltrin.jpg" width="640" /></a></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>Directed by Ron Chapman <div><br /></div><div><i>Review by Allan Tong<br /></i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div>ChinoKino score: A</div><div><i><br /></i><p>"It was the end of the Beatles."</p><p>Documentarian D.A. Pennebaker describes the climax of the set performed by John Lennon, Yoko Ono and the Plastic Ono Band on September 13, 1969 at Toronto's Varsity Stadium. Lennon had ordered his bandmates, including Eric Clapton, to lean their guitars on their amps which sparked feedback that howled alongside Ono's avant-garde vocals. "It was such a fantastic ending," said the legendary Pennebaker who filmed the concert, because it knew it would be historic. After the Toronto show, Lennon would return to London and indeed break up the Beatles. A remarkable new documentary tells the chaotic, hilarious and pivotal story behind this one-day rock fest that nearly collapsed several times.<br /><br />Pennebaker eventually released a film about the Toronto Rock 'n' Roll Revival, a fly-on-the-wall doc made in the same vein as his innovative films, <i>Don't Look Back</i>, about Bob Dylan's 1965 U.K. tour, and the revolutionary Monterey Pop Festival of 1967. However, director Ron Chapman has used Pennebaker's footage as the core of an entirely new film. Chapman has new footage, including intimate super-8 film, many insightful interviews, rare stills and smart animation to tell a thrilling story.<br /></p><p>The tale began with two young concert promoters who organized a one-day festival to honour the pioneers of rock 'n' roll: Chuck Berry, Little Richard, Bo Diddley, Gene Vincent and Jerry Lee Lewis. But tickets didn't sell. Co-promoter John Brower, only 22 at the time, hired two notable L.A. DJ's to emcee the show, but that did nothing. Next, he booked the Doors (for $200,000 in today's money) by borrowing cash from a biker gang. But the Doors didn't move the needle either. With just days to go amid threats of the bikers collecting on their loan, one of the DJ's, Kim Fowley, urged the promoters to call John Lennon out of the blue and ask him to host.</p><p>After all, Lennon became a Beatle because of Berry et al. By chance, a Toronto rock journalist who was working for the Beatles, the renown Ritchie Yorke, vouched for Brower, so Lennon said yes. Miraculously, this exchange was captured on audiotape. However, nobody in Toronto believed Brower. Unbelievably, CHUM Radio kicked the promoters out of the station and even circulated rumours that Lennon would not show. (Shame on you, CHUM.) It took a Detroit DJ to get the word out and move tickets.<br /><br />Other twists and turns abound in Revival 69, making the viewer ride a rollercoaster. The festival nearly collapsed a few times, but when it unfolded it was truly magical. Among the crowd of 20,000, Geddy Lee was a suburban longhair tripping on acid at the fest. Singer Claudia Barry was there to check out the black musicians. Both were blown away. Barry left knowing what she would do the rest of her life.</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBP-kXTyru2tS645fPGuQOoTsTASeFT-0bf6T2v7qVvT4EqvmI-vO5AlPFmfuL4AA1Hzqw7lqb-jaLmv1AUkWIhEfRwGLIVsFm7sUoT3oVUy7uJMV7ZngcSPOGC198eY_44KRKm7Gav07bFm0I0_EJxUQEu_6zMeGQuXtchSMoak6B3FVEbWNjCs1M_g/s928/CrowdatVarsityStadium%20Andrea%20Feltrin.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="630" data-original-width="928" height="434" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBP-kXTyru2tS645fPGuQOoTsTASeFT-0bf6T2v7qVvT4EqvmI-vO5AlPFmfuL4AA1Hzqw7lqb-jaLmv1AUkWIhEfRwGLIVsFm7sUoT3oVUy7uJMV7ZngcSPOGC198eY_44KRKm7Gav07bFm0I0_EJxUQEu_6zMeGQuXtchSMoak6B3FVEbWNjCs1M_g/w640-h434/CrowdatVarsityStadium%20Andrea%20Feltrin.jpg" width="640" /></a><br /><br />Chapman has done his homework. He interviewed Klaus Voorman and Alan White whom Lennon summoned to grab their bass and drums and meet him at the London airport. They convey the chaos, thrills and anxiety of rehearsing on the plane and racing to Varsity Stadium. Several other musicians on the bill recall that gig, namely Alice Cooper. His band were nobodies at the time, but they left Toronto as legends (Google "Alice Cooper chicken Toronto"). "We were an affront to everybody. We were the future."<br /><br />Robbie Krieger of the Doors recalls headlining the festival, but remembers Jim Morrison being in awe of the the 1950s legends on stage, including Chuck Berry. Sadly, Mr. Mojo Rising balked at appearing on camera, so there is no footage of the Doors. Elsewhere, camerawoman Molly Davis recalls filming John and Yoko's limo as 80 bikers escorted it from the Toronto airport to Varsity Stadium (the head biker had a crush on her). Then there's the godfather of American rock criticism, Robert Christgau, who largely narrates the film by offering historic context and first-hand observations that are right on the money. Interviews by Lennon assistants, local musicians and other crew members contribute to a parade of colourful anecdotes. <br /><br />The icing on the cake is animation by Mathew den Boer. It vividly presents the John and Yoko story which perfectly matches the crystal-clear audio recordings of their actual call with Brower. That audio is a highlight of the film.<br /><br /><i>REVIVAL69</i> wisely does not to focus too much on Lennon. Instead, it strikes a fine balance in telling the stories of all the musicians and characters behind the scenes. The film is a fine addition to the canon of rock docs, because it cements the significance of the 1969 Toronto Rock 'n' Roll Revival as a pivotal chapter of rock history. It marked the end of The Beatles and the 1960s and heralded the 1970s. <i>REVIVAL69 </i>should be held in the same regard as <i>Woodstock </i>and <i>Gimme Shelter</i>.</p><p></p><p><i><u>REVIVAL69</u> is currently playing film festivals. The next screening is in Oshawa at the <a href="https://www.driff.ca/driff-day-3">Durham Region International Film Festival</a> on Saturday, October 1.</i><br /></p></div>Allan Tonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03274259524672129558noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9063159190985782284.post-77200569377511363292022-09-22T11:38:00.001-04:002022-09-27T16:37:42.118-04:00film review: Eternal Spring<i><i></i></i><p> </p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIk3merz5Qz8HI7NSRlAnZ9yju-v9UVxagvXecjqnXCOcHFXxvVgwA6Co8uW8ZZsMiUPJhCX5lSwdBl-_McdcuEKA6MhejZeV9xUJBkiVjVYvv26TJ7wFakRMO1kE_vw8IpnYLMK6eonwEzrSgd1UpjfLYK_-pT-oP1JLa7TC8VPCU5AD1da4W2t0rLQ/s1633/ETERNAL%20SPRING%20-%20Still%20%232%20(copyright%20Lofty%20Sky%20Pictures)%20LR.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="681" data-original-width="1633" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIk3merz5Qz8HI7NSRlAnZ9yju-v9UVxagvXecjqnXCOcHFXxvVgwA6Co8uW8ZZsMiUPJhCX5lSwdBl-_McdcuEKA6MhejZeV9xUJBkiVjVYvv26TJ7wFakRMO1kE_vw8IpnYLMK6eonwEzrSgd1UpjfLYK_-pT-oP1JLa7TC8VPCU5AD1da4W2t0rLQ/w640-h266/ETERNAL%20SPRING%20-%20Still%20%232%20(copyright%20Lofty%20Sky%20Pictures)%20LR.png" width="640" /></a></div><br /></div>Directed by Jason Loftus<div><br /></div><div><i>Review by Allan Tong<br /></i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div>ChinoKino score: A</div><div><i><br /></i><p>You've seen or heard of the Falun Gong, those folks who stand still on street corners with their hands raised and eyes closed as they meditate. This stunning animated doc explains who they are and why they are cruelly persecuted by China's government.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXqVe2_GCBZI6sVYSvzBUsTJSJQ5lKUaJIRKLGafimZfbo1lxtVSf8Q_I2fhwHL5lspPhTZKsEHBwYLCGIWhtvN5ijp79HIweEuoVqjKTA8bNqfPQc-ZXxDErFqgkzBzfsYTA_1klHFTWPJve-MAotV5BdDUdLCSw1RjJWEmDuNY4xcqVEPPqCBBYGhw/s1633/ETERNAL%20SPRING%20-%20Still%20%231%20(copyright%20Lofty%20Sky%20Pictures)_LeadImage%20LR.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="681" data-original-width="1633" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXqVe2_GCBZI6sVYSvzBUsTJSJQ5lKUaJIRKLGafimZfbo1lxtVSf8Q_I2fhwHL5lspPhTZKsEHBwYLCGIWhtvN5ijp79HIweEuoVqjKTA8bNqfPQc-ZXxDErFqgkzBzfsYTA_1klHFTWPJve-MAotV5BdDUdLCSw1RjJWEmDuNY4xcqVEPPqCBBYGhw/w640-h266/ETERNAL%20SPRING%20-%20Still%20%231%20(copyright%20Lofty%20Sky%20Pictures)_LeadImage%20LR.png" width="640" /></a>
<br /></div><p>Acclaimed comic book artist Daxiong (Star Wars, Superman, Justice League of America) practised Falun Gong in the Chinese town of Changchun which gave birth to him and this spiritual movement numbering in the millions. In 1999, China's authoritarian government became alarmed with FG's popularity and started jailing and torturing practitioners as well as burning their books. However, Daxiong didn't flee China until something happened in March 2002. <br /></p><p style="text-align: center;">
<iframe frameborder="0" height="270" src="https://youtube.com/embed/IFk7VGehYjE" style="background-image: url(https://i.ytimg.com/vi/IFk7VGehYjE/hqdefault.jpg);" width="480"></iframe>
<br /></p><p></p><p>What happened was a small band of FG practitioners climbed some telephone pulls, literally cut a live news broadcast and patched their own video. That video showed the Chinese public that Falun Gong is not evil as the state-owned news kept saying, but is healthy and harmless. Sadly, the police hunted down the rebels. Many were tortured, some recanted and others died.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh6qdkrhZfOKwnjHiQbc6-P89V1rBuOYslUB2CL5xcDdhDz4-b6WT8NB9Av60r_QxaFoxcuvjzdOhtJriD9quQOVbFdE50GESvVNZHBPOCk1MCsa7XxhMYNX3hlGhfTasvoAJmRf4IzqN7vncGF11s9ybMtS0BuE9SfjUXl9TAv47byGzmaxVnM3ejSQ/s1633/ETERNAL%20SPRING%20-%20Still%20%235%20(copyright%20Lofty%20Sky%20Pictures)%20LR.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="681" data-original-width="1633" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh6qdkrhZfOKwnjHiQbc6-P89V1rBuOYslUB2CL5xcDdhDz4-b6WT8NB9Av60r_QxaFoxcuvjzdOhtJriD9quQOVbFdE50GESvVNZHBPOCk1MCsa7XxhMYNX3hlGhfTasvoAJmRf4IzqN7vncGF11s9ybMtS0BuE9SfjUXl9TAv47byGzmaxVnM3ejSQ/w640-h266/ETERNAL%20SPRING%20-%20Still%20%235%20(copyright%20Lofty%20Sky%20Pictures)%20LR.png" width="640" /></a></div><p><i>Eternal Spring</i> (English for Changchun) startles the viewer from the opening frame, portraying China c.2002 in startling immediacy through lifelike animation. The images just grab you. The film cuts back and forth between contemporary interviews on camera of Daxiong, now living in Toronto, and surviving members of the rebel group who now reside in South Korea and the New York City area. To hear them tell their stories is moving. To see them portrayed in 2002 via animation executing the hijacking is nerve-wracking. To witness their imprisonment, also animated, is harrowing. Shining through this horror are the memories, defiance and hope of Daxiong.<br /></p><p><i><u>Eternal Spring</u> will screen theatrically starting September 23 in Toronto, Vancouver and Montreal. Check local listings for details.</i></p></div>Allan Tonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03274259524672129558noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9063159190985782284.post-41013068148033377822022-08-28T23:30:00.000-04:002022-08-28T23:30:17.944-04:00Fan Expo returns to Toronto<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyxJ6N7APrYtE74XRXd5eu9mvTb1dU1Bv2peMjI6NLFe2JmER_RahDvlSw3j5WCixypCQ7yDdEDY56U7vza8e_-HW05Lh_GAf-tZwBq-pcLOuI2mxBryWuU0aWRrUGj_cZOjrdZXfE4nrIZmwcqxxKznPKm28-LEv8A_uxyZ7DEwew7ZF5EajS7U5RpQ/s2252/Fan%20Expo%202022%20(6%20edit).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2252" data-original-width="1440" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyxJ6N7APrYtE74XRXd5eu9mvTb1dU1Bv2peMjI6NLFe2JmER_RahDvlSw3j5WCixypCQ7yDdEDY56U7vza8e_-HW05Lh_GAf-tZwBq-pcLOuI2mxBryWuU0aWRrUGj_cZOjrdZXfE4nrIZmwcqxxKznPKm28-LEv8A_uxyZ7DEwew7ZF5EajS7U5RpQ/w256-h400/Fan%20Expo%202022%20(6%20edit).jpg" width="256" /></a></div><br /><i>Story and photos by Allan Tong</i><br /><p></p><p>Life should be fun. When it isn't, we escape into better worlds, worlds where we possess strength and magic. That's why we watch movies, and that's why there's Fan Expo Canada.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnFJlmFfgZZ2CZt7-ezPrmP_rO2eFtWrm2HB2BzxPVD2I3c7QHWOP_pEUImaGuagjCGLV2D6Ep3GZC0sd5nrHeLkzBoCSP1n5m7m8QgUwLyvKtb-Di2MJed_RWOo_YDoJgiY9vLjqL3lWztVNfwm142LUpteFbxIoHc0AFh_aGB1K0ifS2QAQRNtb3iQ/s2560/Fan%20Expo%202022%20(23%20edit).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="2560" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnFJlmFfgZZ2CZt7-ezPrmP_rO2eFtWrm2HB2BzxPVD2I3c7QHWOP_pEUImaGuagjCGLV2D6Ep3GZC0sd5nrHeLkzBoCSP1n5m7m8QgUwLyvKtb-Di2MJed_RWOo_YDoJgiY9vLjqL3lWztVNfwm142LUpteFbxIoHc0AFh_aGB1K0ifS2QAQRNtb3iQ/w400-h225/Fan%20Expo%202022%20(23%20edit).jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /> The annual celebration/convention/conference/marketplace of all things fantasy and sci-fi hit Toronto last weekend (August 25-28) as an army of kids, adults, and adults with kids jammed the entire Metro Toronto Convention Centre. Cosplay ruled as superheroes and a few villains like Boba Fett graced the MTCC aisles and spilled onto Front Street West, like a summertime Hallowe'en. Freedom returned. It was the first time in two years that Fan Expo took place without pandemic restrictions. <p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYoN4ttnbXRKgU4U43cl2pOYYdOxqaQMDkTpan5Hj5pTgH0lRSEpoI8Si8AsaAssuApSyndQKd_-5bedM5vNQvwDfy5u22U1kHIw9je3MRQ6cSVa-zjLnnqpe0YwIRhbxLXDgkJUegRVwovS3_6NiHEyvQFYBRbMxmv0FtJ2t90HsFJv6fzxhYDAMIDg/s2560/Fan%20Expo%202022%20(21%20edit).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="2560" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYoN4ttnbXRKgU4U43cl2pOYYdOxqaQMDkTpan5Hj5pTgH0lRSEpoI8Si8AsaAssuApSyndQKd_-5bedM5vNQvwDfy5u22U1kHIw9je3MRQ6cSVa-zjLnnqpe0YwIRhbxLXDgkJUegRVwovS3_6NiHEyvQFYBRbMxmv0FtJ2t90HsFJv6fzxhYDAMIDg/w400-h225/Fan%20Expo%202022%20(21%20edit).jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p></p><p></p><p>All these fans gathered like to meet stars, like the cast of the hit Netflix sci-fi series, <i>Stranger Things</i> or Captain Kirk himself, William Shatner. They also got artwork and comics signed by artists themselves, both established and new, or complete their <i>X-Men </i>collections if the price was right. There also t-shirts, books, posters, trading cards and dolls galore. That most popular item at Fan Expo? Funkos. Never have I seen so many of those Funko Pops. We're talking fortresses of them of any variety and price.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg98eM7hhJ8CoUI6ddxoFKJG_0WqGEaq7st-9Mg-p9vDGIgrpPLnW5ZAf6-8jfFUKAc_h9GNjWycckYscOK9w5zM9RZ6ex4DVAQgwDH1jt-CkHv0BE7-oiV0pdrGjhC8RZkyDFD3pSG5wYIPEb-WZsGJigg3AVYu01bZLRYB7ljcjQjCKIpOAnomvPL5A/s2560/Fan%20Expo%202022%20(16%20edit).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2560" data-original-width="1440" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg98eM7hhJ8CoUI6ddxoFKJG_0WqGEaq7st-9Mg-p9vDGIgrpPLnW5ZAf6-8jfFUKAc_h9GNjWycckYscOK9w5zM9RZ6ex4DVAQgwDH1jt-CkHv0BE7-oiV0pdrGjhC8RZkyDFD3pSG5wYIPEb-WZsGJigg3AVYu01bZLRYB7ljcjQjCKIpOAnomvPL5A/w225-h400/Fan%20Expo%202022%20(16%20edit).jpg" width="225" /></a></div>Underlying Fan Expo was a love for movies, in this case fantasy and sci-fi, the genres keeping Hollywood alive as it churns out the latest <i>Star Wars </i>movie or series. With aisles packed by noon on the first full day, enthusiasm for <i>Star Wars </i>and the generations of characters it has inspired in four decades shows no signs of waning. The Force is definitely with Fan Expo.<br /><p></p><br /><br />Allan Tonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03274259524672129558noreply@blogger.com0