Magazine

Independent, provocative, now! The CJLO Magazine is the resource for features, reviews, and interviews. Established in 2004, and run by dedicated CJLO volunteers, the magazine covers the latest and best in local and international music, art, theatre, film, festivals, and more!


Fantasia 2019: Week 3 Review

In the final week of the 23rd edition of the Fantasia Film Festival, I had to narrow down my viewings. There was only so much time on my day off to get in as many films as possible. Unfortunately, I did not hit my record of viewings compared to other years, but I am very happy with the films I chose to focus on. Both the Cinema Lucida and Documentaries From the Edge provide the festival with some great programming.


Fantasia 2019: Week 2 Review

For the second week of the Fantasia Film Festival, I was hoping to catch up with some film screenings on my only day of the week that I had off work.


CJLO @ JFL: HUMANS WHO MAKE GAMES

On Saturday, July 27th hillarious comedians Adam Conover and Ron Funches interviewed Ubisoft’s creative director Jean Guesdon about his work on the Assassin’s Creed franchise as part of Conover’s Humans Who Makes Games podcast. This hour of video game comedy was an absolutely informative delight!


CJLO @ JFL: SHE THE PEOPLE

Second City Toronto’s She The People is an outstanding, intersectionally feminist sketch comedy show you absolutely need to see! She The People ran until July 27th at the Centaur Theatre, featuring powerful performances from award winning, multi-talented artists Ann Pornel, Ashley Comeau, Kirsten Ramussen, Paloma Nuñez, Tricia Black and Karen Parker. She The People will make you laugh, cry and reflect on the challenges women and gender non-conforming individuals are still facing in 2019.


Metal Monday Album Review: Full of Hell - Weeping Choir

Full Of Hell’s highly-anticipated fourth full-length Weeping Choir launched back in May to critical success. Just between me and you, we’re well aware how tardy this review is being published. Now I, illuminated by my unnecessarily bright laptop screen in an otherwise deprived-of-light basement at two o’clock in the morning, could sit here and reason with you as to why such a big release wasn’t covered back on May 17th when it originally debuted. Perhaps the complexity and pummeling nature of Full Of Hell’s music needed a whole month and a half to properly decipher, or maybe one can find meaning in the inverse relationship between this album’s full-throttle attitude and my lazy summer work ethic.


Fantasia 2019: Week 1 Review

The 23rd edition of the Fantasia Film Festival has taken over Concordia University's downtown campus until August 1st. Defining itself as a premiere genre film festival, there is truly something for everyone. When I attend Fantasia, I always create a master list of all the films that I want to see. This year it took close to two hours to create, as the festival's list of films stretches more than 130 titles from all across the globe. I tend to gravitate towards the films in Documentaries From the Edge and Camera Lucida. There is a method to the madness in making a master list - doing so allows me to track my free days with the screenings of the day.


'77 Montreal 2019: What To Expect

This Friday, I will be returning to the third edition of ‘77 Montreal at Parc Jean-Drapeau. This year’s lineup is catered to punk rockers with all tastes, whether it’s pop-punk, hardcore or ska. There will be newcomers and legends, local and international. And if you ever need to kill time between bands, you can check out the punk rock flea market, the vintage poster and record fair, and for the punk parents, there’s the Kids Zone


CJLO @ JFL: DAVE MERHEJE

On Monday, June 22nd award-winning comedian Dave Merheje performed an amazing solo show at the Katacombes as part of OFF-JFL & Zoofest. Merheje’s performance came after several nights of performing in The Ethnic Show - running until July 25th. Merheje and his opening act Ali Hassan left the Katacombes reeling with some of the best stand up Just For Laughs has to offer!

Canadian comedians Hassan and Merheje received the warmest welcome from their Montreal crowd, filled with friends and loved ones. It was deeply moving to witness so many fans come to celebrate these beloved comedians. 


CJLO @ JFL: DAN SODER - SON OF GARY

Monday July 22nd was the first of four performances at Café Cleopatra for Dan Soder’s Son of Gary show at the Just For Laughs festival and it’s subject matter is exactly what you want from a comedy show located in a strip club. Opening for Dan was fellow New York comic Anthony Devito, featured in The Ethnic Show, who started the show off with a bang, giving the audience a treat of two headliners for the price of one.


CJLO @ JFL: THE NASTY SHOW

Expectations are always set high for Just For Laughs’ infamous The Nasty Show, with audience members wondering how far the comedians will truly go.


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