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Arts & Entertainment, Music

Hozier delivers a mesmerizing performance at L’Olympia

It’s been four years since Hozier released his self-titled debut album, a work that captivated listeners across the world. Ever since, fans have been desperate to hear more, waiting on the edge of their seats for a follow-up that, for some, felt like it might never come. However, fans’ prayers were answered this summer when Hozier announced the release of a new EP, to be followed by an album in addition to dates for his current world tour.

His tour made its stop in Montreal this past week. Hozier’s performance thrilled the crowd at L’Olympia on Sept. 18, leaving them hungry for his next album’s release.

The night’s opening act was Irish duo Hudson Taylor, a lesser-known band hailing from Dublin, where Hozier also got his start. They kicked off the night with a short setlist of high-spirited indie folk, complete with fiddles and lively harmonies. Their enthusiasm was infectious, and the pair succeeded in boosting the crowd’s energy before Hozier took the stage.

From the start, Hozier built expectations for a spectacular night. Opening with the title track of his new EP, Nina Cried Power, the crowd’s anticipation was almost palpable. The delivery of new material kept excitement high for a performance that did not disappoint.

Hozier played a dynamic setlist of both well-known songs and tracks from the new EP, also offering a sneak-peek of his yet-to-be-released album with “Movement.” A dark and plaintive track, “Movement” included everything audiences expected: Complex, ambiguous lyrics, a rich emotional atmosphere, and Hozier’s unmistakable style.

In addition to satisfying his fans’ desires for new material, Hozier gave passionate performances of old favorites from his first album. He got the crowd grooving with a rhythm-driven version of “Someone New,” laid a hush over the room with the heartbreaking “Cherry Wine,” and closed the main set with his biggest hit, “Take Me to Church.” For the encore, the band delivered a resonant, moving rendition of “Work Song,”—a perfect finale for the show. A hauntingly-beautiful narrative of two tortured souls finding peace, the final track left the audience with a feeling of solace after an emotionally intense experience.

Hozier’s unique, ethereal voice is powerful in live performance. His music has always felt like an intimate, soul-sharing experience, and is even more personal in concert. Hozier’s passion is evident in his stage presence, and its effect on the audience is extraordinary. In turn, the crowd’s enthusiasm never dwindled; they were on their feet throughout the show, roaring along with the anthemic choruses and softly singing along with tender acoustic tracks.

Hozier’s stage presence is as sincere as his lyrics—throughout the show, Hozier stressed his joy in being back in Montreal and his wholehearted appreciation for the cheers that welcomed him. His authenticity was heartwarming, and added another dimension to the strong connection he had formed with his audience that night.

“Words can’t express how grateful I am for this,” Hozier said to the crowd before his final encore.

Live music is, by nature, visceral and ephemeral. Hozier’s music is emotionally-stirring and the power of a live performance is especially cathartic. It’s an incomparable experience, and one that no fan of his should miss.

Out on the Town, Student Life

Cafés that are actually conducive to studying: Saint-Henri edition

Students hoping to study off-campus and explore a new area in Montreal need look no further than Saint-Henri for a diverse selection of cafés that are both trendy and productive to studying. The McGill Tribune has compiled a guide to cafés to help students find the best option suited to their study preferences—this time, for the Saint-Henri neighbourhood.

Café Saint-Henri

Address: 3632 Notre-Dame St. W

Hours: 7:30 a.m. – 8 p.m. Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. – 8 p.m. Saturday-Sunday

Price: $$

A short walk from the Lionel-Groulx metro station, Café Saint-Henri offers a small food selection including vegan options and pastries, as well as a variety of coffees, teas, juices, and kombucha. They also sell their own coffee and roast the beans in-house. The sleek, minimal decor and quiet, low-key music make Café Saint-Henri the perfect place to get some work done without distraction. The space isn’t huge, so it might be tricky to get a table during peak hours, but, there are individual seats lining the windows as well as a couple of booths. One unique feature of this café is the church pews, which provide additional seating if visitors have work that doesn’t require a desk.

Features
Wifi?    Laptops
allowed?   
Accessible
outlets?  
Quiet?  

 

 Caffè Farina

Address: 3422 Notre-Dame St. W

Hours: 7 a.m. – 11 p.m.

Price: $$

At this trendy Italian café and restaurant, the atmosphere is bright, clean, and fun. The staff is friendly and accommodating, and the Italian food is authentic and delicious. Depending on the time of day, Caffè Farina serves a variety of pastries, sandwiches, salads, and small plates. However, be aware that they play loud music, so this spot is probably best for some lighter studying or group work. Furthermore, most tables aren’t equipped with outlets, so charging devices beforehand is a must. There are plenty of small tables scattered around the entrance and a long, communal table in the back, which is ideal for group studying.

Features
Wifi?    Laptops
allowed?   
Accessible
outlets?  x
Quiet?  x

 

 La Luncheonette

Address: 4271 St. Jacques St.

Hours: 7:30 a.m. – 5 p.m. Monday-Friday, 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. Saturday-Sunday

Price: $$

Located minutes away from the Place Saint-Henri metro station, La Luncheonette offers a convenient spot for grabbing a bite to eat and getting readings done. The atmosphere is light and airy, and the room is decorated with hanging plants and funky light fixtures. This café serves a variety of hot and cold drinks, sandwiches, soups, pastries, desserts, and cocktails. It is relatively quiet, and though laptops are allowed, there aren’t very many outlets to charge your devices. There are plenty of tables inside the café, as well as an outdoor terrace in the back—so, make sure to check this spot out before it gets too chilly.

Features
Wifi?    Laptops
allowed?   
Accessible
outlets?  x
Quiet?  

 

Campanelli

Address: 4634 Notre-Dame St. W

Hours: 7 a.m. – 5 p.m. Monday-Friday, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. Saturday, Closed Sunday

Price: $

This cozy café, decorated with vintage posters and rustic skateboards, is a great place to grab a coffee and hang out. The café offers good coffee, friendly customer service, and a relaxed atmosphere. Although it’s small, Campanelli has a decent range of seating options. Though it only serves a limited selection of drinks and pastries, the staff prepare customers’ meals quickly, and the food tastes delicious. It’s not too loud there, so, provided there are still seats available, Campanelli is a great option for getting work done.

 

Features
Wifi?    Laptops
allowed?   
Accessible
outlets?  
Quiet?  

 

 Cordova

Address: 4606 Notre-Dame St. W

Hours: 7 a.m. – 11 p.m. Monday-Wednesday, 7 a.m. – 12 a.m. Thursday-Friday, 8 a.m. – 12 a.m. Saturday, 8 a.m. – 11 p.m. Sunday

Price: $$

Last, but certainly not least, this sleek, Spanish-style café doubles as a bar and serves a selection of  pastries and tapas. Cordova is located down the street from Campanelli and offers a little more space to spread out. It’s a bit on the louder side, especially later in the day when happy hour customers start to trickle in, but Cordova is laptop-friendly and offers a clean, modern environment to study casually.

Features
Wifi?    Laptops
allowed?   
Accessible
outlets?  x
Quiet?  x

 

Hockey, Sports

NHL offseason recap

Johnny Hockey comes home

Two years of trade speculation finally drew to a close when John Tavares reached free agency this summer. After almost a decade in New York, the superstar centre opted to leave the Islanders and sign a seven-year, $77 million contract with his hometown Toronto Maple Leafs. Despite salary cap concerns, the Maple Leafs pulled the trigger on one of the biggest free-agent signings in NHL history. Tavares will join a loaded forward core, consisting of Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner, and possibly William Nylander, too, that will be competitive for years to come.

 

Karlsson to California

The Ottawa Senators finally traded Erik Karlsson to the San Jose Sharks on Sept. 13 for a number of players and draft picks. Though he had one of his lowest-ever point totals in the 2017-18 season, in the past decade Karlsson has been one of the league’s best defencemen and will be joining a Sharks blueline comprised of fellow stars Brent Burns and Marc-Édouard Vlasic. Karlsson’s acquisition complements the Sharks’ strong existing forward corps and goaltending well—and elevates them to true Stanley Cup contention potential.

#MelnykOut and other Senators problems

This past offseason has been rough on the Senators and their fans. Following the season’s end, news of a major locker-room rift between Karlsson and Mike Hoffman broke, forcing the team to trade each player away. Both Karlsson and Hoffman’s statuses as stars should have fetched the Senators hefty returns, but, in both cases, the yields were underwhelming. As a result, many fans demanded that General Manager Pierre Dorion and owner Eugene Melnyk leave the organization. To make matters worse, Jean-Gabriel Pageau, one of the Senators’ best remaining players, suffered a long-term Achilles tendon injury in training earlier this month. It’s going to be a long season in Ottawa.

The rebuilding Habs

Montreal Canadiens General Manager Marc Bergevin has often come under fire for trading key players for questionable returns. Early in June, he dealt winger Alex Galchenyuk to the Arizona Coyotes for centre Max Domi: Despite the Habs’ well-documented need for centre depth, critics pointed out that Domi had significantly less trade value than Galchenyuk and that the trade should have been more than a one-for-one swap. Later on at the draft, Bergevin reached to select centre Jesperi Kotkaniemi with the third overall pick despite many more NHL-ready players being available. Fortunately, he ended the summer by pulling off a legitimately good trade, sending captain Max Pacioretty to the Vegas Golden Knights for left-winger Tomáš Tatar, skilled prospect Nick Suzuki, and a draft pick.

Ilya’s back

Ever since his abrupt departure from the NHL for his native Russia in 2013, Ilya Kovalchuk has hinted at returning to the league numerous times. This summer, he went through with the move. Amidst the chaos surrounding Tavares on July 1, Kovalchuk quietly signed a three-year, $18.75 million contract with the Los Angeles Kings. There may be issues: Kovalchuk will be 35 years old when the season begins, and history has not been not kind to aging players. That said, Kovalchuk put up stellar numbers during his five seasons with SKA St. Petersburg of the Kontinental Hockey League, and the Kings can reasonably hope that he will be a reliable contributor to an offensive lineup that desperately needs more scoring.

Art, Arts & Entertainment, Private

How Balenciaga set the standard for an entire industry

To the uninitiated, haute couture might conjure up images of haughty snobs sporting wildly-impractical clothing or ankle-breaking six-inch stilettos. The elusive nature of high fashion makes it difficult to categorize—often toeing the line between wearable and absurd, Balenciaga’s designs muddle this already contentious definition. Balenciaga: Master of Couture, on display from now until Oct. 14 at the McCord Museum, seeks to establish a definitive vision of high fashion for its audience.

Master of Couture highlights the work of prolific designer Cristóbal Balenciaga, and the subsequent movements that the fashion icon inspired. Near the entrance, museum-goers can pick up programs with over 150 informative blurbs corresponding to the attire on display. The x-ray dissections are particularly notable, revealing the clothing’s internal compositions and illustrating the groundbreaking technique and clever structural details within Balenciaga’s designs.

The collection itself combines an eclectic array of colours, fabrics, forms, and functions, containing illustrious ball-room gowns, subdued office suits, and seasonal casual wear. Nearly every piece of clothing is proof of Balenciaga’s purposefulness, his eye for detail, and fearless experimentation. The exhibition conveys all three of these values in one specific garment: A loose fitting knee-high dress cinched at the waist with forearm-length sleeves. Balenciaga intended to give the wearer comfortable maneuverability and ample room for showing off jewelry and accessories without compromising aesthetics.

The exhibition encourages audiences to engage with the artist’s work. An otherwise straightforward timeline of Balenciaga’s life features a silver garment next to a mirror titled, “Cape or Skirt?” The question invites patrons to try on the item in order to find out. It’s difficult to maneuver, but the item can, in fact, be worn as both. The garment highlights Balenciaga’s interest in multi-functionality—he wanted garments to be used differently for every occasion. Viewers can also take a cut-out paper template to make a miniature “One-Seam Coat” at home. These interactive elements highlight the importance of practicality, making the art more accessible.

Surprisingly, none of the clothing is as comically-outrageous as one might expect. Balenciaga’s sense for a functional design, if at times too lavish for casual use, never feels too ridiculous to actually wear. However, the portion of the exhibition dedicated to designers influenced by Balenciaga, such as Nicolas Ghesquière, Alexander McQueen, and Demna Gvasalia, pushes the bounds of absurdity. Here, viewers can find dresses shaped like broccoli stalks or clock tower bells. Like Balenciaga, these designers bring their own spin to conventional wear, and their outlandish costumes are meant to push the boundaries of convention.

Above all, Master of Couture illustrates the importance of artistic intent. Balenciaga’s approach to fashion, and his involvement in every facet of the creative process, exemplify his prowess as a creative genius.

 

Balenciaga: Master of Couture runs from June 15 to Oct. 14 at the McCord Museum (690 Sherbrooke St W). Student Tickets $14.

Out on the Town, Student Life

Montreal hosts annual Pizza Fest

With its varied European influences, Montreal is a renowned destination for food lovers. Poutine, smoked meat sandwiches, and bagels—there are guilty pleasures in every corner of the city. One classic dish that never disappoints is pizza; everybody has a beloved variation. From Sept. 11 to 24, over 50 pizzerias competed in Montreal’s annual Pizza Fest—an event to celebrate pizza and those who make it.

This year’s Pizza Fest showcased a variety of dishes from around the Montreal area. While many restaurants chose to focus on classic, high-quality ingredients, some adventurous chefs took a more creative and ambitious route with variations on toppings such as oysters, meatballs, and pickles.

Judges and foodies alike had the opportunity to eat their way through the city. Every participating restaurant created an original pizza for the event and at the end, a panel of judges selected a winner. Last year, the winner was Kesté, a pizzeria located in Mile-End, which won audiences over with its Napoli pie. Pizza connoisseur and founder of Brooklyn restaurant Roberta’s, Anthony Falco was the lead judge for the 2018 competition.

In addition to the experts, festival visitors were also encouraged to vote for their favourite restaurant online. Attendees could sample the offerings available at the participating restaurants across the city, and collect stamps in their ‘pizza passports’ for a chance to win a trip to Naples.

Il Pranzetto, a pizzeria located in a Chinatown basement, was among the most popular contestants. The venue is casual, efficient, and—for the three hours it is open during lunchtime—busy. Their original pizza included sausage, peppers, basil, ricotta, and fresh tomato. The minimalist choice proved wise as this simple, yet satisfying creation drew a bustling crowd.  

“It was very easy to create this pizza, I tried to use everything that we make homemade,” owner Sabrina Suola explained. “That’s our own sausage, the basil is from our garden, and the peppers we bought from the farmer’s market. We roast them on our grill, which is quite a long process.”

Also participating in the event was La Medusa, a restaurant located on Drummond Ave., only a 10-15 minute walk from McGill’s main campus. Former Canadian prime minister Brian Mulroney has been known to visit this hidden gem. The eatery is also well-known for its decadent house-made gelato, which is popular with their customers. Their original creation was a mozzarella, tomato, sopressata, and maple syrup pizza: A perfect combination of spicy, salty, and sweet flavours.

“It’s all about the combination of flavours,” La Medusa owner Giuseppe D’Addario said. “Real Italian pizzas are made with wooden stoves like [ours].”

Perhaps it’s not the popular opinion on a website, or a ‘best pizza’ award, but the dedication and thought put towards the authentic and flavourful experience encompassed in every bite that makes the perfect pizza.

“It’s a very simple thing, but also a complex thing,” D’Adderio said. “Pizza is a big word. It’s like saying car. You have a Honda and a Ferrari, they both bring you to the destination, but it just depends on the bells and whistles you want on it.”

Whether diners are craving a great bite of lunch hidden under the streets or an artisanal pie at an elegant pizzeria, Pizza Fest proved that Montreal has it all. Moreover, the diverse offerings at the event showed the city that delicious pizza doesn’t have to be traditional.

Science & Technology

Giant floating boom boosts Ocean Cleanup efforts

For decades, a solution to the problem of marine plastic pollution has seemed out of reach. Fortunately, Boyan Slat, an entrepreneur from the Netherlands, has invented a floating device that removes garbage from the surface of the ocean.

Slat was 16 years old when he scuba dived in the Mediterranean Sea and saw more plastic bags than fish, an observation which prompted his novel invention.

In 2013, Slat started The Ocean Cleanup, an organization dedicated to developing new environmental technologies such as Slat’s floating device. Since then, the Ocean Cleanup has received nearly USD$35 million in funding from major sponsors including Marc Benioff, the chief executive of Salesforce.com, and Peter Thiel, the co-founder of PayPal. The organization now employs more than 70 engineers, researchers, scientists, and computational modellers to meet its ambitious goal: To clean up 90 per cent of the Great Pacific Garbage Patch by 2040.

Slat’s floating device consists of a 600 metre long boom, a floating tube used to contain or divert material such as trash, aquatic plants, and oil to collection areas. Wind and waves push the floating device, trapping the floating plastic in its three-metre deep skirt.

The device was officially launched on Sept. 8 from San Francisco and is headed for the Great Pacific Garbage Patch between California and Hawaii. A support vessel will remove the collected plastic, and bring it back to land to recycle the waste into consumer products.

The launch of the device has brought widespread media attention to the devastating impact of plastic pollution on marine ecosystems.

We are just starting to learn what effects plastic pollution might have on marine life,” Eric Galbraith, an Earth Systems professor at Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, wrote in an email to The McGill Tribune. “Large pieces of plastic definitely interfere with the feeding of large animals [….] From seabirds to turtles to whales, large animals have been found accidentally eating plastics to the point where it can block their digestion, causing death. We don’t really know just how bad small plastic particles might be, but there are signs that they can affect the feeding of zooplankton (very small animals) and can potentially harbour toxins.”

Although the floating device seems promising, it has its limitations. The device’s skirt is designed to allow aquatic organisms to swim underneath, but some scientists are concerned that marine life will still get trapped. Others believe that this device is a good start to tackling ocean pollution, but not enough to solve the problem.

“When you look at the infrastructure they propose, it drifts at the surface and has a giant net, but they mention it only goes three metres below the surface of the ocean,” Carolina Dufour, an assistant professor in McGill’s Department of Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences, said. “We know that plastic can be found at any depth, including at the bottom. So a major concern would be, what do we do with the plastic below three metres deep?”

Although Dufour expressed support for any technology that can help clean up the oceans, she stressed the importance of taking individual and collective action to stop plastic pollution in the first place. She cautioned against people becoming complacent in thinking technological advancements will solve every environmental problem.

Slat has responded to criticisms with data from The Ocean Cleanup’s voluntary Environmental Impact Assessment, which says the impact on marine life will be minimal, while acknowledging that any new technology will experience setbacks and subsequent improvements.

While this invention is a step forward for ocean cleanup efforts, stopping plastic pollution at its source remains a difficult task that requires major changes to reliance on single-use, disposable plastics. Nonetheless, inventors such as Slat are making waves in the world of ocean conservation and inspiring others to take action on pressing environmental issues.

Montreal, News

Shooting on St. Laurent shocks students

On Sept. 16 at about 2 a.m, a 27-year-old man was shot on Boul. St. Laurent. The shooting took place close to the intersection of St. Laurent and Avenue des Pins. A media relations officer from the Service de Police de la Ville de Montréal (SPVM) said on Friday that the victim is known to the police and is no longer in critical condition. The officer also said that there are currently no known suspects and that the police have made no arrests.

“There were a lot of people on Boul. St. Laurent that night because the street was closed to the cars, so it was a pedestrian area,” the officer said. “So, a few witnesses have been finally localized in the crowd.”

The officer also stated that detectives are in the process of meeting with witnesses and the victim to further advance the investigation.

Boul. St. Laurent is home to many bars and clubs, such as Cafe Campus, Muzique, and Tokyo, that are popular weekend destinations for McGill students. Gabriel Helfant, U2 Arts, was at Apartment 200, a club close to the crime scene on the night of the shooting.

“While going out for a quick breather with my friends, our conversation was interrupted by the sound of three gunshots,” Helfant said. “I noticed that everyone started running away from the centre of the block and we followed suit.”

The shooting was disturbing for Helfant and his friends.

“A few of my friends saw the events from a window above the club, where you could actually see the body and the blood,” Helfant said. “I have friends who saw more graphic versions of the event, and they were really troubled by it, more than I was, and I can’t imagine having to deal with that [….] They’re a bit traumatized from that.”

Helfant explained that the event was particularly unsettling given the familiarity of St. Laurent.

“I think most of us McGill students think of St. Laurent as a safe area to be in and kind of, part of the McGill/Montreal community,” Helfant said. “To add an unsafe connotation to the area is a bit unsettling.”

For female students, events like these may add another layer of fear. According to Statistics Canada, women who frequent bars or clubs often face a higher rate of sexual assault, and one in four victims report their assaults happening at bars or restaurants.

“I feel like already it’s so scary being a girl on St. Laurent just walking around [at night], and, to know that there’s an added dimension of weapons like guns, it’s a lot [scarier],” Amandri Dahanayake, U1 Science, said.

U1 Music student Laura Varas was asleep at the time of the shooting, and only heard about the event a couple of days after. She believes that the police should be making more of an effort to raise awareness about gun violence incidents, especially to those who live in her area.

“It’s actually a little scary because I live there, and so many people walk by,” Varas said.  “I don’t know how to describe it because it’s not necessarily a fear, it’s more of a wariness which I think comes from the fact that the shootings aren’t necessarily broadcasted that well to the neighbourhood. Maybe if they were better broadcasted and if I were awake at that time it would be different, but, […] I didn’t really hear anything about it until a few days afterward.”

In a message to the The McGill Tribune a local bouncer, who chose to remain anonymous due to safety concerns, explained that crimes like these hurt the club scene.

“It’s dangerous,” the bouncer said. “It’s scary because it is supposed to be safe.”

News, SSMU

Meet the Execs

Tre Mansdoerfer – President

What have you done this summer?

“I spent time working on new initiatives, improving our internal documentation/structures, and finding space for student groups on campus. Regarding new initiatives, I reached out to over 70 student body presidents across Canada and the US to learn about what initiatives they have at their schools [….] Our internal documentation was severely outdated, I spent time collecting and verifying numerous sessions of the Board of Directors and Legislative Councils from previous years [….] Finally, [VP Student Life Sophia Esterle and I] spent significant time finding building space on campus. Working with [campus groups…], we are hoping to mitigate the impact of not having a SSMU building.”

What are you working on now?

“Two of [SSMU’s new] committees include the Fall Reading Week Committee and Governance Reform Committee [….] We’re hoping to engage on the fall reading week conversation more seriously than what was done in previous years [….We’re working on] the Governance Reform Committee, which VP University Affairs Jacob Shapiro has committed significant time to. We’re hoping to critically evaluate SSMU’s governance structures and work on reforming the structure of groups like the Board of Directors.”

What challenges do you foresee this year?

“The biggest challenge for this year is the building closure. Not having a building significantly hurts clubs, services, and operations such as Gerts. Knowing this, [Sophia Esterle and I] have spent a lot of our time […] helping groups get additional space on campus. We’ll continue to put our time into helping out clubs and services as much as we can so that student life on campus is not severely impacted.”

 

Sophia Esterle – Vice-President Student Life

What have you done this summer?

“I took on a lot of the communication with both our clubs and within SSMU, [and also with our banks]. [We’ve been looking] to find space, and I’ve coordinated with all of our student groups to [hear] their needs [….] I also worked […] to clean up our list of clubs and make sure we had an updated list of everything, and also worked […] on the new interface/login system they are developing for clubs. Finally, [I worked on] Activities Night. The change of locations was quite a challenge, [and,] this year [,] I attempted to organize it a bit more by assigning tables and publishing a set floor plan with all of the groups, as well as creating an entirely new layout and organization of the tables [….] I hope everyone enjoyed the event!”

What are you working on now?

“Right now, my main priority is building space. I want to make sure that as many groups as possible can function and be successful this year. We also have mental illness awareness week at the end of the month […] being organized for the first time, which is very exciting. Additionally, I’ve been working with Rez Life to set up an event in residences centered around mental health throughout the year.”

Creative, McGill, News

McGill Tribune Weekly News Update | Ep.1

This week, Managing Editor Calvin Trottier-Chi talks us through some of the most important news on campus!

Senate’s vote to support divestment from fossil fuels, increased discrimination and harassment claims, calls to rename the McGill Redmen, and classes being cancelled due to the Quebec Election!

Stay tuned for more, next Thursday.

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