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Bitchin’ Kitchen Food Network Launch Party 

KOKO | Opus Hotel 

March 23, 2010

Nadia G and the Bitchin' Kitchen crew rocked KOKO, Italian-style, with music spun by DJ FRIGID and classic canzoni performed by Marco Calliari.

For more photos of the event, click here.

Bitchin' Kitchen airs on Food Network Canada April 1st @ 11pm EST. Watch it!

First off, a word of warning: Until The Light Takes Us focuses on the Norwegian black metal scene that developed during the early '90s, and doesn’t really provide a concise history of the genre. This is not Black Metal 101, seeing as there is almost no coverage of black metal prior to or outside of that movement. If you’re peripherally familiar with the music and subculture, however, this film will flesh out the facts with some interesting personal perspectives which novices and diehard fans alike will very much enjoy.

There is no narration in the film, so no overarching discussion linking together the various interviews and exchanges; it is shaped only by its editing, which is fittingly spare. The film centers around duelling interviews with everyone’s favorite brilliant murderous fascist, Varg Vikernes (Burzum, Mayhem), and the reactionary, apolitical Fenriz (Darkthrone), with additional input from other players in the scene. Through those two main perspectives, the birth of the Norwegian black metal scene, its sudden exposure in the media, and subsequent popularization is explored, but a multiplicity of subjective experiences ultimately do not add up to an objective truth.

Case in point, the film’s discussion of Euronymous’ murder. By allowing the story to be told by Vikernes almost exclusively, the film is slaved to the perspective of the murderer, and it was here that the would have benefitted from more contribution from other sources, since Vikernes’ version (“Euronymous was telling everyone he was gonna kidnap and kill me, so I went to his place and ended up killing him since I thought he was gonna kill me first”) leaves a little to be desired. So why did he kill him? I doubt we’ll ever really know, though there are many reasons that have been commonly bandied about, the most amusing being that Euronymous, as a committed Satanist, and Vikernes, a proponent of Paganism and traditional Norse mythology, fought to the death over ideology, and another (the most plausible) being that Vikernes killed Euronymous for financial/contractual reasons, much in the same way that the East Coast/West Coast rap rivalry in America took so many lives.

That said, the “hands off” perspective taken by the film is a strength overall, particularly in its almost peripheral coverage of the racist undercurrents of black metal and its proponents. I say this not because the xenophobic philosophies of the scene aren’t troubling, but because no matter how problematic, they cannot be removed from the genre, and as such, to properly investigate them would require an entirely different film. This is not a film about the overt violence, inherent racism and rebellion against Judeo-Christian values endemic to the genre. At its heart, it is about a group of kids who decided to create a style of music that tapped into the deep, dark underbelly of their local culture, the factions within the group that decided to exercise the antisocial messages of that music on the culture itself, and finally what happened when the proverbial shit hit the fan and thrust this small movement into the mainstream consciousness.

This is a clever, restrained film, shot in a stark style fitting to its subject matter, that would likely also benefit from repeated viewings. It’s showing every night at 9:30 at Cinema du Parc until April 1st, so grab it before it’s gone… you won’t be sorry.

WE DID IT! Thank you to all who voted and said YES to support CJLO & campus media. A huge thank you to all the CJLO members who helped spread the word and made this possible!

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CJLO, Concordia University Radio is your voice on campus. Please support campus media by voting YES on April 6th, 7th & 8th.

Join our Facebook event here!

During this year's GSA elections CJLO is asking for the support of all grad students by voting yes to a 54-cent per-student, per-semester, fee levy (no more than $1.62 per year) to support college radio on campus. The fee levy is fully refundable.

Currently, CJLO is primarily funded by undergraduate students. As such, all undergrads enjoy full membership to CJLO at no cost. Graduate students are considered to be community members and have to pay a $15 membership fee to join. By voting yes to a graduate fee levy, CJLO will be not only be the voice of ALL Concordia students, but this modest contribution will also ensure that all graduate students can make use of the benefits and resources that CJLO has to offer at no cost. These include:

• Professional & free training & experience in:
    - Radio Broadcasting
    - Sound Engineering
    - News Writing & Production
    - Sales
    - Promotion & Marketing
    - Music Industry Relations

• On-Air time (between one and two hours) to produce and present a weekly radio program. We look specifically for shows and ideas that focus on the Concordia student body, current affairs, and the underground music scene, and are always looking for unique and diverse voices from around the world.

• Free advertising for Concordia University clubs & associations for:
    - Events
    - Recruitment
    - News

• In house production facilities and equipment resources for student projects.

• Event sponsorship, DJ services, assistance in event planning.

• Most importantly, a strong voice for all Concordia students, from Concordia students, and an alternative to the mainstream media in Montreal.

Here's what Grad Students have to say about CJLO:

“Besides being a graduate student in the department of Classics, Modern Languages, and Linguistics, I also host a weekly folk-rock show at CJLO.  Throughout the last year and a half, I have had various valuable opportunities at CJLO, including learning about the process of audio recording and production, interviewing musicians and filmmakers, as well as the opportunity to use CJLO as a promotional resource for activities put on by the Art of Living Club, of which I am also a member. Participating at the radio station has benefited me in expanding my range of skills, and expanding my network of like-minded students.”

-    Anna Chigogidze, Graduate Student, Department of Classics, Modern Languages, and Linguistics

“I am a graduate student in the department of psychology at Concordia University. As well, I have been a member of CJLO since 2002. Over the course of my studies at Concordia, I have been able to use the recording studio at CJLO to create audio clips that have been used as stimuli in my research projects. Renting a recording studio off campus can be costly, while the recording studio at CJLO is very convenient. The production crew at CJLO is extremely helpful; they assist in the setup of the studio and the recording process, all at no cost for members. This valuable on-campus resource saved my supervisor and I a lot of time and money. I strongly recommend that graduate students help support and take advantage of the professional facilities at CJLO.”

-    Nassim Tabri, Graduate Student, Department of Psychology

“To say that doing a graduate degree is “intense” is a bit of an understatement. Still, the definition does not really surprise anyone and certainly did not shock me -- I had anticipated intellectual and physical rigor before I entered the Master’s program in 2004. What I had not expected, however, was how solitary and isolating the experience could be.  I was fortunate to be part of CJLO Radio at the time.  Not only did the station provide great music as I typed papers into the wee hours of the morning, but volunteering at CJLO also gave me a necessary break from school work and helped balance my graduate experience.  I met a lot of cool people along the way, and I bonded over fellow grad students thanks to the station’s access to and promotion of indie music and local artists.”

-    Antonella Fratino, M.A. in English Literature (2004-2007).

Ballot Question

Do you agree to apply a fee levy of 54 cents per semester, applicable to GSA members, where the fee shall be used to ensure the growth and sustainability of CJLO, 1690 AM, Concordia University Radio? This fee shall ensure that all graduate students are eligible for full membership privileges including but not limited to broadcast training, on-air time, promotion support for student organized events, and production facilities and equipment resources for student projects. The fee would be effective starting with the fall semester of the 2010-2011 academic year and refundable in accordance with Concordia University tuition and refund policy.

THE REVIEW:

Club Lambi, on a Wednesday evening... Mild- mannered crowd fills the room, gingerly sipping their cosmos and making small talk. Suddenly, the lights dim and a video clip kicks in.... '80s spandex and headbands fills the screen... French cut unitards perfect thigh raises in uncanny synchronicity.... All the while a bangin' dance beat begins to fill the room.... Then, two amazingly outfitted dancers hit the stage, warming up the audience's gaze for the forthcoming glamour of Leslie Hall. Out of nowhere, Leslie appears, like a magical dancing queen. Between the three of them, their sheer volume of shiny spandex on stage should cause temporary blindness from the reflection alone. Their custom made gold spandex one-sies are not only awe-inspiring but are a perfect example of Leslie's handiwork - her website boasts made-to-order spandex outfits.

For the next hour and a half, the crowd is treated to a fully interactive show involving crowd participation, video projections that haven't seen the light of day in the last twenty years, death-defying dance stunts, costume changes, and of course, the grace of Leslie's self-taught dance moves. Their choreography and tailor-made stage props put almost any other live performer to shame, Leslie and the LYS put on one of the best live performances, rivalling a good ol' Vegas show number. Some highlights include her rotating booty-loveliness on a made-to-order spinning plate to her song “Blame The Booty,” and an impromptu appearance by Mayor Jazz, complete with elf ears, unbeknownst to Leslie and her band, referencing one of the characters in her hit song “Tight Pants/Body Rolls.”

Currently touring her latest album, “Back 2 Back Palz,” Leslie pays tribute to tight pants, non-stop dancing, beanie babies and handcrafting gems. She even does a song in honour of Kevin Costner's majestic “WaterWorld” movie of the mid 1990s. Leslie spreads her message of gem craftiness and gold spandex across the globe, all while touting her fierce Iowa pride. Her fans are die-hard wherever she travels, many coming out sporting their own gem sweaters, with high hopes of being inducted into the Gem Sweater Hall of Fame by Leslie herself. The combination of booty-shaking beats, catchy lyrics, fantastic outfits and complete fan-demonium makes any live Leslie and the LYS performance one not to be missed. Check out her website for tour dates and merch swag, or even perhaps your own tailor-made spandex one-sie!

THE INTERVIEW:

Julie: Okay, here we are at Club Lambi, in this gorgeous green room with Leslie from Leslie & the Lys.  And we are going to talk to you about... 

Leslie: Thank you for having me! I really hope that this is hilarious.  

J: [laughing] I'm sure it will be. 

L:  Yes! 

J: Okay first! What about your name, Leslie & The Lys. Is there a special meaning behind that? 

L: Um, there is a meaning that, “I'm going to give a band a name and then the band is not going to go anywhere so I'll change it later”, well that didn't turn out to be the case. Clearly I gave it a name. It exploded. It became a gia- it went from a baby puppy into a giant huge mechanical arm that now i use to touch people. 

J: That's amazing, and it really has touched people. Like here we are up in Canada and it has touched people all across this great nation of ours. 

L: Yesss! Sometimes I wonder if it's touching the cast of Degrassi High. 

J: I'm sure it is. The new cast or the old cast? 

L: Old cast. 

J: Yep, of course. Did I need to ask. So speaking of being in Canada and you being from Iowa. You promote a great sense of Iowa pride. How does that go over when you travel? 

L: Well clearly I think that there is a sense that you Canadian people have the same desires to talk about yourselves – when I look around your town and see tiny flags everywhere, and little leafs. I mean you guys love that little leaf don'tcha? You put it everywhere, it's on shampoo bottles! And license plates! It's on McDonald's signs and peoples' sneakers! I even saw a donut with sprinkles. And who is Tim Horton and why do you guys love him so much? 

J: Do you know the one thing about Tim Horton's is actually the chain has been bought by an American company. 

L: [Gasps] KACHING! That's money, that's money...that's one point for America. 

J: That's globalization. [claps] little claps...So where do you draw your inspiration from? 

L: Um probably being at home alone watching TV, being bored, wanting attention from people. That kind of thing. I mean I cannot say I am reading a magazine about a child with no legs who walks. Or a man with no eyes, but great breath. I'm doing it because I need it for me. 

J: Good answer. Okay, you have a new album just out. Can you talk about the inspiration for this new album? 

L:Yeah, that would probably have to be Iowa, that Iowa pride thing. That loving your town. I think again with the loneliness. My good- I gotta make some friends or something. Too much sky and too darn much gravel in ma shoes. It's uh, that's it. “Gosh wouldn't it be fun to have a real band that plays instruments” - And I thought that would, you know everyone can play country cause it's got that easy sound? But turns out robots do it better so I had my computer do it for me.  

J: Nice.

L: Yeah, and I don't have to pay musicians. BOOYAH! 

J: And once again [Claps] little claps, little claps. On your website you advertise Gay Weddings. How is that going for you as a business venture? 

L: Well...let's just say I should've put my pennies in my mouth before I did that. Because all I'm booking are lesbian couples and they require... “do this for me! Get that for me! Don't forget...! I want this...” I'm like “Ladies, ladies, ladies! Just let me sh...just show up, I'll watch you seal the deal, and everybody's going to be fine about it.” I have my first wedding in a couple of months, I'm really excited to see how it goes but performing on a ferry boat is on of 'em. One of them we're performing at a Holiday Inn banquet room in my hometown. One lady wants a bunch of chickens and I've only got...Zero at this point because of a raccoon that decided to take away my overhead...And other than that I get a lot of inquiries about doing Friendship Ceremonies. So...I think more people need to get married.

J: If you were to get married, what would your dream wedding be like? 

L: I would probably...oh geez, after I perform a few weddings I'll know more about what I want. It would probably...maybe I'm designing my perfect wedding. Illegal fireworks, a Culvers – do you have Culvers? Is this foreign to you? It is a custard ice cream versus an ice cream. Even though it would be...Oh yeah, I wouldn't get that, I would have the, I wouldn't get the custard ice cream. I would get a Vegan custard ice cream. It  would probably involve carrots, and pineapple juice. Because I think that makes it sweet and salty. 

J: Carrots are sweet, pineapple is sweet. 

L: Touché!  

J: Hmm. We can perfect that. 

L: Yes 

J: We have some time.  

L: We have some time. Oh I got plenty of time. Trust me, there is no wedding plans for me in the future!  

[clapping] 

J: Little claps, little claps.  

L: The only person marrying me is my mirror reflection, because damn I'm pretty!

J: That's a good answer! Big claps! Big claps! So what is the status of the travelling Gem Museum, and when can we expect it in Montreal? 

L: This interview just took a very depressing turn, I might add! The 24 Foot RV is really un-drivable because it is extremely old. Never buy something off Ebay that is older than 36 years. That is a golden rule!  Yeah, so ideally, in Montreal I would be flown here with a bunch of suitcases like in that movie Legally Blonde. 

J: Yeah, and there's like new baggage regulations coming from the US, so I wonder how that might go over... 

L: It might require me to get a ferry boat. 

J: Yeah, well you'll have one next week...next month for a wedding? 

L: Yes, It will just require a space large enough and I will display them and I'll have people come in. I will dance and sing with them, and I'll let them touch my face. 

J: Amazing. In the meantime...yep, little claps [clapping] maybe we could have a virtual tour? Do you think that could exist before an actual tour here? 

L: Yes I do think that is a lot more feasible. 

J: That could be fun! That could be interactive. We could touch your face on the internet. 

L: Yes, just wipe your monitor off afterwards. 

J: Okay...So you ahh...promote and recommend the Bedazzler quite a bit... 

L: Nooo! I have no affiliation with... 

J: No, this is what I was going to get to, you be-gem items. I'm not going to use that trademark word. Have they, has there been...I'm sensing maybe this might be a little bit of unpleasant... 

L: Let me tell you about the corporate America bedazzling industry. 

J: Yeah, yeah! This is the meat and bones of our interview. 

L: These are the bones. They don't know who is really selling these products. People from a reality show, from like four years ago. She's not selling these things like I am. I am in the streets. 

J: You are!  

L: Sellin' the blank out of 'em! However, I wouldn't even wanna sell them anyway. I'd want to support puffy paint being stuck on the back, or hot glue gun. I'd like to contact the... Hot glue gun industry please contact me, my number is [....]. 

J: Okay well I'm glad. I wanted a bit of that political tension. And I'm... 

L: You got it! You really raised my temperature drawer!  

[screaming] 

J: Okay, well how 'bout a happy thought here. If you were tomorrow taken to a desert island, what crafts supplies would you bring with you? 

L: ... 

J: It must have crossed your mind. 

L: I would bring a square box. I would bring my TV, that, I would use it as a floating device and when it got rainy I would shield it like a tent. I would probably also bring... 

J: Maybe puffy paint?  

L: Nope! I wouldn't bring puffy paint. 

J: I would think puffy paint would be float-y. 

L: No I would bring pony beads. Because I would be making ropes from twine and I  could make friendship bracelets, necklaces, and I could probably make...uhh hair ties.  

J: That would be good, you could maybe get into hair braiding if there's other people come visit you on the desert island.  

L:  Maybe it's time, maybe when I'm on that island I will learn to french braid, finally mother! 

J: So what is next for you Leslie? 

L: Well, if all works well, then my next plan will probably be...let's see here, putting my name on a bunch of products and selling it at TJ Maxx. Do you have that? 

J: No.

L: Let me ref...let me change the name so this region can understand what I'm saying. I will put my name, I'll probably do like a perfume line. 

J: Nice.

L: Or, like fragrances.  

J: It would be like a, a bodywash? 

L: Yeah, maybe a bodywash collection. I'd have um, grit in there. And that way you could exfoliate the residue...And it would probably smell like honey moons, or Kate Winslet.  

J: Nice, nice. 

L: You, don'tcha think she'd smell good? 

J: Yeah totally! I think so for sure I've always thought that actually. 

L: Oh absolutely, she just looks like she reeks... 

J: Of goodness. 

L: Yeah, touchés. 

J: Is there anything you'd like to add?  

L: Um i'd like to thank you for having me on this radio station. 

J: Thank you! 

L: That is internet!  

J: That's right, it's internet AND AM. 

L: Oooh! 

J: Internet and AM! 

L: That's double trouble.  Yeah I really hope that the people reading this want to learn more! And go to my website, and maybe pick up my jams. I will ship international and not charge you that much! Even though it takes a while. Does that really torque Canadians off? 

J: No because we have grown accustomed to it, and like a good Canadian, we are used to have to put up with that kind of... 

L: And I want to apologize , because I like [Canadians], all the times I've made fun of Canadians for going “Soourreeeey!” and um and I just wanted to apologize. And you know what, also because I think you guys have come up with some really good inventions – ketchup chips, Bla...Green olives at Subway, Um...putting crowns on street signs. Having your cross-walks, the guy look like he's really enjoying a nice brisk walk. 

J: [laughing] It's true. 

L: Um, also I really appreciate...what else is good here, I can't think of anything else... Yeah I was going to say that it's cool that you guys live up here because it's so wintery, but we have it all in America, so come pick it up!  

J: Have you had any maple syrup yet?  

L: No, but I really hope to tap into a tree and get some.  

J: Yeah, that's the way to do it. That's the real deal. Sugar shack style. [laughing] You liked that didn't you? 

L: Yes! I'm speech-lied! You know when I see people from Japan in America I think “I hope you flew over here with a bunch of Hello Kitty products and electronics because they have something so much different over there. I hope when you Canadians visit America you bring over like weird bizarre things that you can't get down there. Because it's kind of like a waste if you don't. 

J: Yeah, I agree. Wholeheartedly. 

L: Because people will buy it down there. I love it when your packaging has french talk on one side of it. We don't have it down there! 

J: That's the law.  

L: [laughing] You serious?  

J: [laughing] Oh, yes!  

L: That's a law? Um...FYI sweet move that your Snickers bars say “Believe” on them!  

J: Oh, that's Olympic! 

L: Ours just say “Snickers”, so even that's cool. 

J: That's Olympic pride right there, on our Snickers bars. 

L: What a community! Go and believe! 

J: Yeah! 

L: Wow. 

J: That's Canada right there! In two words. 

L: Go believe! 

J: Yeah, go believe! 

L: Um, do you guys hate Obama still? 

J: Umm... 

L: Or you like Obama? 

J: I'm...indifferent. How do you feel about Obama? Are we about to talk politics?  

L: Oh, I just didn't know! 

J: I'm... 

L: I know you guys have opinions... 

J: Yeah, I think my opinions are a bit different than your general Canadian's opinions. How do you feel about Obama? 

L: I don't...I have a tote bag with his face on it. 

J: That's fun. 

L: Yeah... 

J: I remember seeing in New York, ah.. Glasses that said “Vote Obama”.   

L: Yes, yes. 

J: Sunglasses.  

L: Passionate. Now those sunglasses have been crushed and remade into plastic bags. Recycling. We're trying to get recycling down there. Are you guys into that at all? 

J: We are, we're Canada. Canada recycles. 

L: That's cool, that's cool.  

J: Ummm...

L: Hey what's the deal with those shacks on the interstate where those ladies sell candies out of a hut?

That is a... 

J: I think it's a... dealing with the downturn of the economy.  

L: That is an invention. She's actually selling good snacks too!  

J: Dill pickle chips? Ketchup Chips? 

L: Yeah, ketchup chips. And other stuff that was just like... “this is available!” It was shockingly inspiring!  

J: Where are you off to after this? 

L: After this we will be heading south and then west and then north again. 

J: Back to Canada? 

L: No no. 

J: This is your last Canadian stop? Well let's make it a good one!  

L: Yes, let us...If you're reading this now I just want you to know you just missed the best show, ever!  

J: Yes, it's true. I can vouch for that. But coming up, oh little mini claps [clapping] And we also are quite fond of Water Water Waterworld.  

L: [laughing] I knew it would be appreciated somewhere and Canada is in the country. 

J: Canada gets it! 

L: Canada gets it! Dangit!