FFWD Weekly
Copyright © 1998 All Rights Reserved.
| SPLICE Web watch Night owls or insomniacs channel-surfing at 12:30 a.m. may have been fortunate enough to stumble upon what could be the most irreverent and entertaining television shows to come around in years - Viva Variety. The program, which airs in Calgary on Channel 7, is the product of writer/producer Ben Garant for the US Comedy Central station (South Park, Mystery Science Theater 3000), and it's a cross between SCTV and Ed Sullivan. There are the usual variety show guests (musicians, jugglers, contortionists, etc) as well as whacked-out comedy sketches featuring the three suave European hosts: Mr. Laupin (Thomas Lennon), the former Mrs. Laupin (Kerri Kenney), and their sidekick Johnny Blue Jeans (Michael Ian Black). Some of the highlights of the first two seasons include: Monkeysportz, in which monkeys compete in a variety of sporting events like tag-team wrestling; Johnny Blue Jeans celebrity daydream (Ally Sheedy); Johnny Blue Jeans celebrity roasts (Nipsey Russell and Soupy Sales); and game shows such as "Mork, Bjork, bork or pork?" To see if you want to commit to a half-hour that early in the a.m. (although it is highly recommended) you may want to check out the Viva Variety Web site, which has episode guides, a photo gallery, bios, Quicktime video clips and more. Swing! In 1989, two events changed the history of West Coast underground culture: Royal Crown Revue formed in Los Angeles, and in San Francisco, Jay Johnson opened his art deco bar, the Deluxe, the first seven-nights-a-week swing joint. The roots of the retro-swing movement had been established. V. Vale's Swing: The New Retro Renaissance is another in the great catalogue of V/Search publications. A vast assortment of information about the music, the clothes, the guitars and the cars, the volume follows the growth of one of the most interesting underground movements since punk, which has grown to include scenes in New York, Japan and the UK. Evolving out of the West Coast rockabilly scene, Swing documents how tattooed punks have been trading in their torn Tshirts for zoot suits, grabbing a dance partner and jitterbugging away those warm San Francisco nights. Since its origins, the movement has come to the attention of mainstream culture with bands such as The Cherry Poppin' Daddies and Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, and Jon Favreau's 1996 movie Swingers. The book includes interviews with the scene's hottest characters (Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, Royal Crown Revue, Lee Press On & The Nails) as well as legends of the scene, like sax man Sam Butera, and has an extensive directory of current swingers (including Calgary's Dino Martinis) and swing pioneers. If you can't find Swing in stores, you can write to V/Search Publications at 20 Romolo #B, San Francisco, CA, 94133. Atomic Cocktails Atomic Cocktails: Mixed Drinks for Modern Times (Chronicle) is an entertaining (and delicious) look at cocktail culture from the fabulous '50s to the swinging '60s. A collaboration by three pop culture connoisseurs - award winning journalist Karen Brooks, author and photographer Gideon Bosker, and award winning newspaper designer and artist Reed Darmon - the book captures society's fascination with the mixed drink and the rituals behind it. Atomic Cocktails features color illustrations and photos depicting the height of the cocktail craze, such as shakers, glassware, swizzle sticks, album covers, matchbooks, coasters, advertisements, paraphernalia (including a hoola girl!) and more. Most importantly, the book comes complete with recipes - atomic cocktails like the moonshot and ray gun, island favorites like dharma rum or coconut lime rickey, a complete chapter on martini madness, a selection of classics such as the Manhattan and gimlet, juicy mocktails for the alcohol-free crowd, and many, many more, along with instructions for creating the perfect drink and a glossary of booze. Sit back, start sipping and give in to the charm of the cocktail. Calgarian invented Caesar The Bloody Caesar was invented by Walter Chell, who emigrated to Canada from Montenegro in the late 1950s. Chell was working for the Westin chain of hotels in Calgary when he came up with the now famous Clamato-and-vodka drink in 1969. Legend has it he spent about three months perfecting the cocktail recipe, which calls for one ounce of vodka over ice, four ounces of Clamato juice, a dash of Worcester sauce, salt and pepper, all garnished with a celery stalk. Source: The Great Canadian Trivia Book 2 (Hounslow), by Mark Kearney and Randy Ray. Free stuff! Wanna see the Beastie Boys in Vancouver? Everyone at the upcoming Beastie Boys listening party will receive a ballot for a chance to win a trip to Vancouver to see the Beastie Boys live in concert August 1. See the ad in this issue for details. The Paralyzer Room at the Palliser Hotel will be showcasing Beautiful Joe, Billy Cowsill and Jake Mathews on selected nights during the Stampede - you could win tickets to the show plus a one-night stay at the Palliser Hotel. See the ad in this issue for details. Fast Forward has five free passes to Spike and Mike's Annual Festival of Animation at The Uptown. To win, drop by the office with a donation for the food bank. You could win tickets to see the Skydiggers perform at Montana's Big Sky Saloon during Stampede. To win, drop by the Fast Forward office with a donation for the food bank. We start giving away free stuff on Fridays unless otherwise noted. Only people who have not won (other than movie passes) within the last four issues are eligible to win. Office hours are weekdays from 9 a.m. to noon and 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. |