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LOCAL
by Catlin Spencer

Just months after approving a request for a new synagogue, the district of Outremont is wanting to ban any new places of worship on the same street and one other.

According to CBC News, the borough held the first reading of the proposed bylaw for it's Bernard and Laurier avenues in a public consultation Tuesday night.

The move has greatly upset Outremont's Hasidic community, who make up roughly 20 per cent of the boroughs population.

A Hasidic resident says that the ban would mean pushing the community into smaller, ghetto-like areas in the far corner of Outremont.

Despite outcrys, an online petition in favour of the ban has collected nearly 800 signatures.

NATIONAL
by Catlin Spencer

Quebec is appealing the Supreme Court of Canada's decision to delay the province's law allowing doctor-assisted death.

According to CTV News, the Dying with Dignity law is set to come into effect on December 10th, but the Superior Court ruled in favour of an injunction to delay it's implementation Wednesday.

The Coalition of Physicians for Social Justice filed for the injunction in November, saying the law violates the timeline implemented by Canada when it overturned a federal law banning doctor-assisted death.

Federal Justice Minister Jody Wilson-Raybould says the government was hoping Quebec would wait until the newly-elected Liberal party had debated the matter and decided on its own law.

INTERNATIONAL
by Catlin Spencer

The Australian Broadcasting Corporation has reported that it's country’s Bureau of Meteorology has been the victim of a major hacking attack.

According to BBC News, unnamed officials are blaming China for the alleged hack that could take years and cost millions of dollars to repair.

While Australia’s Bureau of Meteorology will not say what was affected, it did say its systems were fully operational.

The bureau provides climate and weather information that is relied on and used by military and commercial transport.

Tonight we are happy to have ELAN Quebec in studio with us for Champions of the Local Scene! English Language Artist Network Quebec is an organization that works to provide support, networking, and services to english speaking artists in Quebec. They both promote and advocate for their artist membership, building bridges between english and french speaking arts communities. They emphasize the arts in education as a means for social and economic development as part of their mandate. Tune in at 6pm to hear more about their role in the Montreal arts community and how artists can get involved with ELAN!

ELAN hosts monthly mixers and workshops, including their upcoming December Music Mixer, happening December 7th at 6pm at Clara Lichtenstein Hall, Mcgill Campus (555 Rue Sherbrooke West). This event is free and open to all, with complimentary wine and snacks! ELAN Program Co-ordinator Amy Macdonald will join us in studio, where we will play some of their favourite Montreal musicians and hear what's coming for ELAN in 2016.

This special episode is hosted by Saturn De Los Angeles of Shibuya Crossing and Thinkbox from The Machine Stops! Tune in at 6pm!

Hosted by Danny Aubry

Stories by Danny Aubry, Pauline Nesbitt & Julian McKenzie

Produced by Batman

Presented by KMI Entertainment and First Row Talent

I had the pleasure of attending a concert featuring Kamelot and Dragonforce at the Imperial Bell in Quebec City on Sunday, November 22.

The show began on time and opened with Dragonforce. For those of you unfamiliar, Dragonforce are a power metal band from Britain. They are famed for their long guitar solos and outrageously fast music. For context, their song "Through the Fire and Flames" is used for the most difficult level of Guitar Hero 3. Trust me when I say that with expectations of constant prestissimo and impressive solos, they did not disappoint. Dragonforce were enthusiastic and engaging, and although it was clear that their songs were well rehearsed, they left the impression that their performance was partially choreographed and partially them just winging it.

The only time the two guitarists and bassist were ever stationary was when they had to sing harmonies, which were quite lovely and at times involved each band member. When they were not singing, the band constantly jumped around the entire stage, spinning in unison off of the platform in the centre of the stage and just generally being awesome. Even their keyboard player came and joined the fray on keytar. The drummer did not let confinement to his kit limit his performance value either. He had a fan pointed at him so his hair was constantly being blown back majestically and he would throw his sticks about 30 feet into their air and catch them every time without missing a beat. It was really impressive. Another impressive thing they did was with the three guitarists and the keytar player on a guitar. They stood facing each other in a square/circle, strummed/picked their own guitars and played the neck of the guitar next to them. The only thing that made the stuck-up, classically trained side of me cringe was the questionable guitar technique of some of the musicians. I suppose I can understand playing the fretboard from over the top of the neck, if you insist, but why would anyone ever need to lick their guitar?

Kamelot was a much different experience. They are a power metal band with musicians from Sweden, Germany, and the US that has been around since the early '90s. Each musician is incredibly gifted. Seeing them perform together, you can feel their connection and understanding of one another musically. The structure of their performance was dramatic and visually engaging. The light show that accompanied their music brought the entire performance to a higher level, and it was clear that the placement of everyone on stage and the appearance of the musicians and instruments was meticulously planned. The keyboard stood on a single artistically crooked pedestal and made the instrument look almost organic. The drummer resided in a cage with a plethora of cymbals hanging before him, two kick drums and a garden of other drums surrounding him. Where the other musicians stood and moved to created levels, balance and different dimensions throughout the show.

The showmanship was excellent, and the skill of each performer was outstanding. Their selection of songs was a perfect collection of new songs and old favourites, including at least one track from every album dating back to 2001 (Karma). Lead vocalist Tommy Karevik has one of the most versatile, beautiful voices that I have ever heard, and his distinct sound creates an atmosphere that is unique and captivating. He doesn't just sing songs, he takes you on a journey to distant lands and far away worlds. You can listen to his voice and forget where you are. It is a gift.

Drummer Casey Grillo brought as much power to the band as Tommy. His solo was a hypnotizing, intense journey. Thomas Youngblood, guitarist and co-founder, had hands that danced along his instrument with profound grace, and Sean Tibbetts on bass brought the Earth up from beneath our feet. Oliver Paloiat, on keyboards, provided an astonishing amount of texture. You need only close your eyes to imagine that an entire orchestra filled the stage in their place. Kobra Paige, the guest female vocalist, brought balance and breathtaking beauty to the band. Together they were a force to be reckoned with and they created a night to remember. If you ever have the chance to see them perform, take it.

--Classical music is for everyone! Tune in to The F Hole with Erica Bridgeman, every Monday at 12 PM on CJLO 1690AM.