ARTS THE CRICKET‘S LAST CHIRP? Regina punk rockers contemplate the future BY ALEX J MACPHERSON

ost bands cite progress and as I heard that drumbeat, I knew right M innovation as their raisons away I had to do something with it,” he d’être. Not Cricket. The Regina- laughs. “I’d never heard something so based punk rock outfit doesn’t fast and aggressive. You feel the energy pretend to be anything other than a from it.” throwback, a tribute to and continu- Cricket bill themselves as the best ation of the golden age of Fat Wreck arrangement of four chords you will PHOTO: COURTESY OF CRYSTAL CENNON Chords — a seminal California ever hear. “We keep it fun, we keep it label created by Fat Mike of NOFX, fast, we keep it simple,” Cennon says, a few weeks, after a short run of shows and renowned for its collection of making the case for their blistering across the province. It was a decision catchy punk rock. debut, 220 Beats Per Minute. Short prompted by “life stuff taking over.” “It’s a sound you don’t hear in on minor chords and long on searing Cennon isn’t bitter, and plans to today’s punk rock,” says Graham guitar riffs and shouted choruses, the keep going, but it is quite possible Cennon, who started the band with record captures in 12 songs everything that this round of punishingly loud guitarist Justin Brooks in 2009. “There that is good and right about punk rock concerts might be the mighty Cricket’s have been other bands, don’t get me from the nineties — political anger, last chirp. “It’s his last hurrah,” Cennon wrong, but it’s not the same. They’re sophomoric humour, and no-holds- says with a wry laugh. “The rest of us not focusing on keeping their sound barred volume. are going to keep going and do what from that era. We love that era so But despite their reputation for we can with what we have.” much. We can’t let it go.” energetic performances, and despite Which is exactly what punk rock is Cennon and his bandmates grew releasing another blistering EP just and always should be about. up on a healthy diet of California punk. eight months ago, the band’s future is in Bands like Bad Religion, NOFX, Penny- jeopardy. Cennon says Brooks, a found- Cricket wise, and No Use For A Name captured ing member and integral part of their March 8 @ O’Hanlon’s — and held — their attention. “As soon sound, will be leaving the group in just Free! WHAT WILL SURVIVE OF US IS LOVE Carmen Aguirre’s Blue Box explores love and sacrifice on two continents BY ALEX J MACPHERSON

Years later, Aguirre, living in Los Although the two stories share Angeles, fought to salvage a doomed certain recognizable themes, chief relationship with an uncommitted among them a willingness to express man. The affair was tinged with oneself through sacrifice, Aguirre, the salty taste of unrequited love, who rose to prominence after her yet Aguirre pursued the handsome book, Something Fierce: Memoirs of television star with the same vigour a Revolutionary Daughter, won the PHOTO: COURTESY OF THE GLOBE THEATRE displayed by the secret police so CBC’s Canada Reads competition, determined to hunt her down. prefers to think of them as two sepa- ix years after the coup These stories, set years apart and rate tales from two different times. S that deposed Salvador presented in parallel, form the heart “I don’t know that they’re linked Allende and installed the mili- of Blue Box, a play that casts into together so closely,” she says, adding tary junta of Augusto Pinochet, sharp relief the exigencies of love and that she sees herself as a bi-cultural Carmen Aguirre’s family traveled sacrifice. “I started writing this story person. “Basically, each hemisphere, of trusting that the audience is much Blue Box to Chile to join the underground about obsessive love, about chasing a for me, has its own stories.” smarter than I am,” she says. “It’s up to February 26 - March 3 @ Globe Theatre resistance. When Aguirre turned man who is completely unavailable,” Ultimately, Blue Box, which is them to decide what these two stories $20+ @ Globe Theatre Box Office 18, she committed herself to the explains Aguirre, who also stars in the presented without the usual trappings might have to do with each other.” movement, running a safe house play. “And that all of a sudden got me of formal theatre and feels more like a Nevertheless, viewers should keep Feedback? Text it! (306) 881 8372 on the Argentine border. It was a into writing about being followed by conversation than a play, raises more in mind the words of Philip Larkin. dangerous act, one that could have the secret police when I was a very questions than it answers. And Aguirre “What will survive of us,” England’s cost far more than her freedom, young person in the Chilean resis- is determined to let viewers come to greatest misanthrope wrote in “An @MacPhersonA yet she elected to stay. tance in South America.” their own conclusions. “I’m a big fan Arundel Tomb,” “is love.” [email protected]

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