The “Hapa Izakaya” Joints Have Joined The Scout Community…

All three locations of Hapa Izakaya are now proud member supporters of Scout. We will be publishing their news and press releases on our front page and hosting a page for them in our list of recommended places to check out. We’d like to take this opportunity to thank them for their support of our little website. Click ahead to read on or jump directly to their Scout page… Read more

Kits’ “Bistro Pastis” Venturing Through Auvergne and Gascony

News from Scout supporter Bistro Pastis

Vancouver, BC | Join us August 26 through September 22 as Bistro Pastis concludes its culinary ramble through France in the Auvergne and Gascony. The Massif Central, the rugged terrain of central France, informs the flavours of this region. Here are fast flowing streams fed by the Alps and sparse hills where sheep graze. Flavours here are big, bold and rustic. Look for Trout, succulent Lamb and Duck Confit. The dinner, like the season, ends with a touch of sweetness as you linger over a final digestif and relish the last of the red wine-marinated strawberries. As our summer draws to a close, you’ll be left with many happy memories of your virtual culinary tour through France and its Cuisine d’ Été. Find out all the details after the jump… Read more

Zulu Report: Everything That You Need To Listen To This Week

Our friends over at Kitsilano’s Zulu Records once again present their weekly Scout feature, the Zulu Report. Within, staff from the West 4th music store provide The Track, the song that is on heavy rotation that week; The Playlist, which is pretty self-explanatory; The Gig, the must see show of the week; and The Glance, a view ahead to music on the horizon. From their ears to yours, enjoy…

The Track

!!!’s AM/FM video, directed by Black Dice, from the new album Strange Weather Isn’t It? (Warp).

On !!!’s fourth outing the band pulls out one of the classic rock moves by recording Strange Weather Isn’t It? in Berlin. Does this album sound particularly like a Bowie, Iggy or Lou album? No, not really, but that’s OK because Strange Weather is full of dense, rhythmic party bangers designed to carry from the late night right into the early morning, as this first single AM/FM makes clear. The colourful, psychedelic video was directed by NY art pranksters Black Dice, which brings !!! back to their roots as a Williamsburg loft project. It’s a great late summer video, guaranteed to make you feel like somebody slipped something into your drink. Enjoy.

The Playlist

Click the links for a listen…

SLOWDIVE – Souvlaki, Just For A Day – Reissues (Cherry Red)
Sowdive’s classic moody, shoegaze, triptych gets reissued so that we can again enjoy their smeared melodies.  My fave is Pygmalion.

THE FRESH AND ONLYS August In My Mind (Captured Tracks)
These SF garagey poppers have gained steady acclaim over the last several years (especially among Zulu staff) for their fun take on home recorded jangle-tastic tunes.

TIM COHEN Laugh Tracks (Captured Tracks)
And on a related note, Fresh And Onlys front man Tim Cohen issues his second solo LP of genius level bedroom pop.

EMBRYO Embryo’s Rache LP reissue (Get Back)
And for the prog-minded set, I know you’re out there and I know that you need Embryo’s Rache because it slays. Hard.

BRIAN JONESTONE MASSACRE Take It From The Man 2LP reissue (a Recordings).
Here it is: Anton Newcombes piece de resistance, lovingly remastered for vinyl release.  This is a high point from a band known for many high points.  Dig it.

SPIRITUALIZED Ladies And Gentleman We Are Floating In Space 2LP Reissue (Plain)
Praise Jesus, Jason Peirce’s masterpiece is finally brought back on vinyl!  The 2LP which this band will forever be known and judged, Ladies And Gentleman… is a stone cold classic.

SUPERCHUNK On The Mouth LP Reissue (Merge)
Superchunks’ fine On The Mouth established so much of the template for indie rock that it persists to this day and for that reason we should be grateful for its reappearance in LP form.

ARCADE FIRE The Suburbs (Merge)
Their masterpiece continues to dominate our little record store.  The Suburbs is gangbusters with songs that can only be considered modern classics.

BEST COAST Crazy For You (Mexican Summer)
From a couch of an Eagle Rock California bungalow comes the fuzzed out Best Coast, and fourteen tracks of teen anguish and heartache.

LOCAL NATIVES Gorilla Manor (Frenchkiss)
This raucus five piece blew our minds when they played town a few months back, and the album continues to offer one golden nugget after another.

The Gig

THEE OH SEES play Venue on Wednesday Sept 8th

SF’s Thee Oh Sees are easily one of our favourite modern garage rock combos going right now, and this will mark their second appearance in town.  Be prepared for spastic, yelpy singing and tunes that will be stuck in your craw looong after the fact.  It’ll be a fun, high energy night, so rest up before hand.

The Glance

The better shows to see in the next two weeks…

Thu AUG 26
MAT KEARNEY – RIO THEATRE
DATSIK – FORTUNE
STRUNG OUT w/ Rufio, We Are The Union – RICKSHAW

Fri AUG 27
CALVERTRON – POP OPERA
FELIX CARTAL – CELEBRITIES
NAUTICAL DISASTER BOAT CRUISE – ATIBI BOAT
VAMPIRE WEEKEND, BEACH HOUSE, DUM DUM GIRLS – MALKIN BOWL – WE ARE SOLD OUT

Sat AUG 28
VAMPIRE WEEKEND, BEACH HOUSE, DUM DUM GIRLS – MALKIN BOWL – WE ARE SOLD OUT
BUSINESS – VENUE

Sun AUG 29
MUMIY TROLL w/ Run Run Run – *VENUE CHANGE* CLUB 560
MICKEY AVALON – FORTUNE SOUND CLUB
ANGRY SAMOANS – VENUE

SEPTEMBER

Wed SEP 01
NEKROMANTIX – RICKSHAW

Thur SEP 02
EASY STAR ALL STARS – VENUE
ALBERTA CROSS – BILTMORE

Fri SEP 03
CHRIS LAKE – CELEBRITIES
SMOOTH SAILING – BILTMORE
DIMITRI VEGAS & LIKE MIKE – POP OPERA

Sat SEP 04
SOUND CLASH OF THE TITANS – SQUAMISH

Sun SEP 05
LOTUS LONG WEEKEND – LOTUS/HONEY/LICK

Mon SEP 06
TED LEO + THE PHARMACISTS – RICKSHAW
JUSTIN TOWNES EARLE – BILTMORE

Tue SEP 07
THE PROTOMEN – BILTMORE
PAVEMENT w/ Quasi – QUEEN ELIZABETH THEATRE
BELLRAYS – RICKSHAW

Wed SEP 08
DANIEL, FRED & JULIE – BILTMORE
CALVIN JOHNSON -THE CULTCH
THEE OH SEES -THE VENUE
MAGIC KIDS – Now Playing with Thee Oh Sees @ The Venue
TALLEST MAN ON EARTH – RICKSHAW- WE ARE SOLD OUT

Thu SEP 09
MAN MAN w/ Let’s Wrestle – RICKSHAW – WE ARE SOLD OUT
SHONEN KNIFE – BILTMORE
MEN- THE MEDIA CLUB
THE NATIONAL w/ The Walkmen – MALKIN BOWL- WE ARE SOLD OUT

Fri SEP 10
THE NATIONAL w/ The Walkmen – MALKIN BOWL – WE ARE SOLD OUT
ENGLISH BEAT – COMMODORE
LEE MORTIMER – POP OPERA
THE ZEROES – VENUE
TITUS ANDRONICUS w/ Free Energy – BILTMORE
LEE MORTIMER – POP OPERA

Sat SEP 11
COLD CAVE – BILTMORE – CANCELLED
AA BONDY w/ JBM – MEDIA CLUB
GASLIGHT ANTHEM – COMMODORE – WE ARE SOLD OUT
MODERN ENGLISH – FORTUNE

Mon SEP 13
CROOKED FINGERS – BILTMORE

Wed SEP 15
CASIOTONE FOR THE PAINFULLY ALONE (last show in Vancouver) + NO KIDS – BILTMORE
RATATAT – COMMODORE – WE ARE SOLD OUT

Thu SEP 16
HELMET w/ Bison BC – VENUE

Scout Editor To Teach Food Writing In Modern Media At PICA

News from Scout supporter PICA

Vancouver, BC | Local food writer, editor and restaurant critic Andrew Morrison (Scout, The Westender, Vancouver Magazine, Conde Nast Traveler, Harry) presents Food Writing In The Modern Media Landscape: a hands-on class that details how one can turn a passion for food, wine and restaurants into a fulfilling hobby or a viable profession. Students will be taught the tricks, tools and realities of the trade (cameras, smart phones, web); explore new platforms like blogs and Twitter; learn how to carve out a niche in the food blogosphere; and be shown how to approach print outlets as a freelancer.

CLICK TO REGISTER

Dates (Mondays): September 27, October 4, 15, 25, November 1 (15 Hours)
Bring to class: Paper & Pen or Laptop (recommended)
Time: 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Location: Pacific Institute of Culinary Arts
Tuition Fee: $375.00

Read more

Q4 Ristorante Opening Second Location In L’Hermitage Hotel

News from Scout supporter Q4 Ristorante

Vancouver, BC | Patrick Corsi and Alex B. Tsakumis, partners in the ever-popular Q4 Ristorante in Kitsilano, are pleased to announce they will be opening a second Q4 location downtown in November 2010. The new restaurant will be located on Richards Street in the elegant boutique L’Hermitage Hotel. Read more

Scout Jobs: Campagnolo And Refuel Expanding Kitchen Teams

Job posting from Scout supporters Refuel and Campagnolo

Vancouver, BC | Refuel and Campagnolo Restaurants are looking for a few eager, passionate, hard working people to become part of our team. If whole animal butchery, charcuterie, bread making, pasta making and pastry are things you want to learn then please email me at robert@refuelrestaurant.com, with your cover letter and resume. Read more

Zulu Report: White Lung, Oneida And The Dark Night Of The Soul

Our friends over at Kitsilano’s Zulu Records once again present their weekly Scout feature, the Zulu Report. Within, staff from the West 4th music store provide The Track, the song that is on heavy rotation that week; The Playlist, which is pretty self-explanatory; The Gig, the must see show of the week; and The Glance, a view ahead to music on the horizon. From their ears to yours, enjoy…

The Track

Enjoy “Little” from Danger Mouse, Sparklehorse and David Lynch’s hypnotic collaboration – The Dark Night Of The Soul (EMI).

Phew, what to say about Dark Night Of The Soul, a project so convoluted by commerce and steeped in tragedy?  Essentially it’s an album brought into being through wunderkind producer Danger Mouse and Mark Linkous of Sparklehorse’s desire to collaborate.  David Lynch, a Sparklehorse fan, somehow became involved, as did a host of different singers – Iggy Pop, Julian Casablancas, Wayne Coyne, Vic Chesnutt to name but a few.  Strange bedfellows perhaps, but an intriguing mix of characters to be sure. Unfortunately, label problems arouse which stalled the album’s release date.  Worse yet, Linkous and Chesnutt both committed suicide prior to this album’s release.  Tragic backstory aside, these thirteen songs are haunting, understated and really a unique meeting of the minds.  As if I needed to say it, Dark Night Of The Soul is late night music. Listen to the album in its entirety here. Read more

Scout Jobs: “Bishop’s” Seeking Experienced Part-Time Hostess

Job Posting by Scout supporter Bishop’s

The award-winning Bishop’s Restaurant in Kitsilano is looking for an experienced hostess to work Sunday and Monday evening shifts. Applicants must have a great attitude and be able to work in a strong team environment. In addition to a proficiency with computers and previous experience with the Open Table reservation system, some food and wine knowledge is preferred. Email your resume in confidence to inquire@bishopsonline.com. Find out more about the restaurant after the jump… Read more

Zulu Report: Listening To Best Coast While Waiting For Wavves

Our friends over at Kitsilano’s Zulu Records once again present their weekly Scout feature, the Zulu Report. Within, staff from the West 4th music store provide The Track, the song that is on heavy rotation that week; The Playlist, which is pretty self-explanatory; The Gig, the must see show of the week; and The Glance, a view ahead to music on the horizon. From their ears to yours, enjoy…

The Track

Best Coast performing the bubblegum garage beach bum love ballad When I’m With You from her new Crazy About You (Mexican Summer) live at SXSW.

Bethany Cosentino is the mind, the vision, the lady behind on of this summer’s most hyped new bands, Best Coast.  Cosentino’s m.o. is to mix the lovelorn balladry of early rock n roll – think Patsy Cline, the mighty Everly Brothers, Orbison – with the ultra extreme garage noise pop aesthetic that’s been popularized in recent years by the Black Lips, Wavves, Ty Segall, etc.  It makes for an interesting mix.  Behind the dense textures of reverb and rudimentary girl group drum beats is a tender, barely pubescent yearning to find love.  After releasing a string of limited run 7”s and CDRs the tastemaking indie label Mexican Summer has picked up Cosentino for this debut full length.  Welcome to the Best Coast.

The Playlist

Now on heavy rotation in the store…

DIE ANTWOORD 5 (Cherry Tree).
South Africa’s biggest musical export ever? Maybe that’s going too far. But this crew has definitely gone viral, as the pages of Scout have already documented. Get on this.

The World Ends: Afro Rock and Psychedelia In 1970s Nigeria Pts. 1 + 2 (Soundway)
Phew, this is a mindblowing collection of totally unearthed, unknown afro jams that I am very down with.

SCHOOL OF SEVEN BELLS Disconnect From Desire (Vagrant)
Dreamy swirls of synth surround me whilst subtle beats and girly vocal action guides me along from hook to hook.

THE ARCADE FIRE Suburbs (Merge)
The biggest complaint I’ve heard lodged is that the album is a little long.  Puhleeze!  Here’s my final word:  The Suburbs is the Arcade Fire album that we all wanted  – and now we’ve got it.

WAVVES King Of The Beach (Fat Possum)
The reigning champ of stoned out beach fuzz puts away the mirror and rolled up yankee-note long enough to record the perfect summer soundtrack to adolescent boredom and self loathing.

THE-DREAM Love King (Def Jam)
Move over Pharrell, The-Dream is the baddest hit maker and hook master of the billboard top 40, and cut after cut of Love King is pure club gold.

DANGER MOUSE, SPARKELHORSE, ET AL Dark Night Of The Soul (EMI)
A who’s who of musical genius’ (Iggy Pop, Wayne Coyne, David Lynch) forge a surprisingly great collaboration built around the theme of deep dark heartache.

M.I.A. Maya (XL)
Maya’s self titled third outing is the crunchiest, most banging collection so far and a bit of a grower.  Repeated listens reveal greatness.

ONEOHTRIX POINT NEVER Returnal (Mego)
NY’s baddest synth wizard get picked up by Austrian heavyweight label Mego and delivers the G-O-O-D-S.  Don’t wait for the year end best of lists (on which Returnal will undoubtedly feature heavily), get to know this one now.

WILD NOTHING Gemini (Captured Tracks)
The 80’s never really went away did they?  As much as I oppose shameless musical necrophilia, Wild Nothing gets it right by balancing Cure/Bunnymen hooks with pure emotional gravity.

The Gig

WAVVES play The Biltmore on Thursday August 26th

Nathan Williams AKA Wavves brings his thrashing beach punk stoner anthems to Vancouver for his maiden visit to our fine city.  Wavves gained notoriety for mixing too many chemicals and having a full on breakdown on stage at a large Euro festival but more recent appearances confirm that he’s back on track, and with an ace backing band to boot.  If you want to see what all the hype is about then this is your perfect chance – it’s guaranteed to be a sweaty good time.  It’s also guaranteed to sell out, so don’t sleep on this and don’t say I didn’t warn you.

The Glance

The best shows on the horizon…

AUGUST

Thu AUG 12
GROUPA FANTASMA & MISHKA – VENUE
AIRBOURNE – COMMODORE

Fri AUG 13
VITAMINSFORYOU – SHARK CLUB
AVICII – CELEBRITIES
THE NEXTMEN – SHINE

Sat AUG 14
BRITISH COLUMBIANS – SHARK CLUB

Sun AUG 15
AUTOLUX – VENUE
A-TRAK & PEANUT BUTTER WOLF- QUEEN OF DIAMONDS BOAT
JOY FORMIDABLE – MEDIA CLUB

Mon AUG 16
CARY BROTHERS – MEDIA CLUB

Tue AUG 17
FRAN HEALEY (from Travis) – VOGUE
RUSHDEN & DIAMONDS – FORTUNE

Thu AUG 19
MOONDOGGIES – BILTMORE
HOLD STEADY – VOGUE
BASS KLEPH – SHINE

Fri AUG 20
AN21 – CELEBRITIES

Sat AUG 21
DOBBY DOBSON – ROYAL LEGION HALL
CASIOKIDS w/ Light Pollution, Einar Stokka – MEDIA CLUB
DIGABLE PLANETS – BILTMORE
YACHT (Boat Cruise) – BURRARD QEEN

Sun AUG 22
BORIS – RICKSHAW- WE’RE SOLD OUT
THE SWELL SEASON – MALKIN BOWL
JOKERS OF THE SCENE – VENUE

Wed AUG 24
MOGWAI film screening – PACIFIC CINEMA

Thu AUG 26
WAVVES – BILTMORE
MAT KEARNEY – RIO THEATRE
DATSIK – FORTUNE
STRUNG OUT w/ Rufio, We Are The Union – RICKSHAW

Fri AUG 27
FELIX CARTAL – CELEBRITIES Fri AUG 27 NAUTICAL DISASTER BOAT CRUISE – ATIBI BOAT
VAMPIRE WEEKEND, BEACH HOUSE, DUM DUM GIRLS – MALKIN BOWL – WE ARE SOLD OUT

Sat AUG 28
VAMPIRE WEEKEND, BEACH HOUSE, DUM DUM GIRLS – MALKIN BOWL – WE ARE SOLD OUT
BUSINESS – VENUE

Sun AUG 29
MUMIY TROLL w/ Run Run Run – COMMODORE
MICKEY AVALON – FORTUNE SOUND CLUB

SEPTEMBER

Wed SEP 01
NEKROMANTIX – RICKSHAW

Thur SEP 02
EASY STAR ALL STARS – VENUE

Fri SEP 03
CHRIS LAKE – CELEBRITIES
SMOOTH SAILING – BILTMORE
DIMITRI VEGAS & LIKE MIKE – POP OPERA

Sat SEP 04
SOUND CLASH OF THE TITANS – SQUAMISH

Sun SEP 05
LOTUS LONG WEEKEND – LOTUS/HONEY/LICK

Mon SEP 06
TED LEO + THE PHARMACISTS – RICKSHAW
JUSTIN TOWNES EARLE – BILTMORE

Tue SEP 07
PAVEMENT w/ Quasi – QUEEN ELIZABETH THEATRE

Wed SEP 08
TALLEST MAN ON EARTH – RICKSHAW

Thu SEP 09
MAN MAN w/ Let’s Wrestle – RICKSHAW
SHONEN KNIFE – BILTMORE
MEN- THE MEDIA CLUB

Scout Jobs: West 4th’s “Maenam” Seeking New General Manager

From Scout supporter Maenam today…

Maenam is seeking candidates for the position of General Manager. Applicants should be dynamic, self-motivated and have extensive wine knowledge. Previous management experience and leadership qualities required. Email resumes to chef/owner Angus An at angus@maenam.ca.

Giddy up.

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