theSUNDIAL

Vicious Cycles Cuban tour Schedule

Tue, 22 Nov 2011 23:51:00 -0700

I’m going to Cuba in a little over a month for what will be the fifth ever rock tour of that country. I’ve done them all. Our good friends Arrabio will be joining us, along with the usual crew of Fendu - translator, Sam - Photographer an Irina - William’s wife and the best cook/host in Cuba. This trip is going to be a milestone for a lot of reasons, but particularly, because The Solidarity Rock project that I started with William Garcia was awarded a medal by The Asociación Hermanos Saiz in honour of their 25th anniversary. I’m really proud of the work we’ve done, and I just really want more people to get lost in crazy nights of music - Solidarity Rock styles. I think we’ve accomplished a lot of that. So now, we’re heading back with a band of motor cycle lovers to a country full of vintage bikes from Harley’s to Jawas. Should be good!

Scottish Rite Statues

Mon, 21 Nov 2011 11:35:00 -0700

These are some photographs of the statues on the Scottish Rite Temple on Wiltshire Blvd in Los Angeles, CA. The temple was built in 1961, and the ornamentation was done by a Los Angeles studio called Sheets Studio.

Freemasonry in general is pretty interesting. The Scottish Rite is particularly curious as an institution in the lessons it serves to inculcate and the ways and instances which it has been culturally relavant throughout its history.

“Human progress is our cause, liberty of thought our supreme wish, freedom of conscience our mission and the guarentee of equal rights to all people everywhere our ultimate goal.” - Scottish Rite Creed

Read about the building’s history here. Intricate Scottish Rite History on Wilshire

I made this video for the AMA’s None For The Road Campaign...

Sat, 05 Nov 2011 16:29:12 -0600

I made this video for the AMA’s None For The Road Campaign in Red Deer, AB. It’s quite startling to see how much impaired vision interferes with these guys ability to do what they’re trained to do.

Working...

Sat, 05 Nov 2011 16:19:00 -0600

In the past few months, I’ve done a lot of great things. I went on a couple rock n roll tours in Cuba, brought our friend William Garcia here to Edmonton for a two week hangout and done lot of planning and scheming. I’m about to start work on several new small projects and I’m going to start a long process of going through everything I’ve done, re-exporting old videos at better resolution and getting this site updated, maybe a new one, and diversify my process and path.

Interesting things I’m working on include a regular Thursday night at everyone’s favorite private members club - the Baby Seal Club. I’ll be doing some film screenings, music shows, art and photography shows and more. It’s not going to be your regular bar night, so watch out for it. Live music videos and corporate videos will fill out my time between Cuban rock n roll tours and visual arts exchanges.

I’ll be posting new updates on the regular. 2012 is going to be the best year yet, I’m sure.

Friends - Sancti Spiritus, Cuba

Wed, 23 Feb 2011 15:05:53 -0700

Created with Admarket’s flickrSLiDR. Sancti Spiritus is a colonial city in the very centre of Cuba. It was founded in 1514 by Spanish settlers. These are some photos of friends and places in Sancti Spiritus.

Dia de San Lazaro - Sancti Spiritus

Tue, 22 Feb 2011 10:25:00 -0700

Created with Admarket’s flickrSLiDR.

On December 16, I was in Sancti Spiritus, relaxing, planning and showing my wife Susie where I’ve been hanging out for the past three years. I’ve got a lot of great friends there, including our buddy Sam. Sam knows a lot about the layers of humanity all around him. Cuba is a remarkable society, a blending and mixture of so many times and places. One of the most facinating things about Cuba is the remaining influence of the old African religions that came with the slave trade.

One of those religions is called Yoruba. Before they were arrived in Cuba, some African groups practiced a religion centred around the Babaoa tree. They made the harsh crossing to the Caribbean, and discovered another tree, the Selva. The Selva tree was similar in size, shape and texture, and so it became the centre of the new Afro-Carribean religion.

Slave men were not allowed to congregate. To allow that would be to allow the possibility of rebellion. The plantation owners ignored the women as unimportant, and in failing to recognize the transfer of the religious priesthood from the men to the women, they ensured that the African soul would never be erased and defeated from Cuba.

The Dia de San Lazaro is the high holy holiday for the Yorbua religion.

Solidarity Rock: Solidarity Rock Valentine's Day SockHop!

Wed, 16 Feb 2011 12:07:42 -0700

Solidarity Rock: Solidarity Rock Valentine's Day SockHop!:

solidarityrock:

Big thanks to everyone who came out to the Valentine’s Day SockHop. We raised some good cash, had a sweet raffle and I think everyone had a blast. One of the best things about Solidarity Rock is that every time we come together with the idea that we can do something great, we will. It’s about changing the world on a community basis. We are not only bringing support to bands and people in Cuba, we’re helping them grow their own communities by strengthening and supporting our ours.

It was a great party and we have to give a big thanks to Susie McIntosh and Allison Dragsten for all their work in organizing the party, soliciting donations and making sure everyone knew about it. You guys sure do throw a good party!

I’d just like to thank Steam Whistle Brewery and Long and McQuade for their great support, as well as Nomad Catering, Listen records, Shades of Grey - Tattoo,Comics and Toys, Famoso Jasper ave, Fridget, Cinder + Smoke, Lorette Mercier of the Beauty Parlour, Eden Lily, Make-up artist extrodinaire Bernice Jang, the Movie Studio, the Sugarbowl, the Princess and the Garneau for their generous donations.

More good times on the way. Check out some photos. More from the evening here

Darren Basaraba - Winner of the Booze Basket Grand Prize

News Galore

Wed, 09 Feb 2011 19:58:00 -0700

Ok! The Sundial. Good God, no more stiff updates for the sake of duty and the semblance of an online presence. I’m going for it. I’m doing it. I’m making lots of stiff and putting it up for strangers to judge. I’m entering a new phase in things and am will be fairly productive over the next while. I’m also going to be doing smaller projects, while I focus on the Solidarity Rock project. We’ve got an awesome group of people who are volunteering their time and resources to making rock and roll happen in Cuba. It’s awesome. We’ve got a pile of dates and event happening in the next few months, and we’re going back on tour! That’s right, the third ever Cuban rock tour is happening this March! I personally can’t wait.

I’ve been writing about it a fair bit over here at the Solidarity Rock blog. You should read all about it.

I went to Cuba with my wife Susie just before Christmas. We spent two weeks mostly around Sancti Spiritus, visiting Trinidad and Santa Clara as well. It was a good time, and I’ll be posting some photos right away as soon as I finish a couple of other things.

We’re getting ready for the Kids On Fire/Arrabio tour coming up in Cuba March 24-April 3rd. I’m going to be heading down with my friends Aaron Bocanegra and Sandy Phimester to document the tour. I’ve been friends with Sandy for years, but this is the first chance we have to work together. This trip is going to be pretty amazing and it’ll be the first time a Cuban rock band has been able to tour Cuba. I love the feeling of breaking ground.

We’re also working on plans for two other tours to happen in May and July. Watch for more info.

I’m also working on a project called Accuse de Recibo, which I have to get going right away. Basically, my friend Rafael in Sancti Spiritus mailed me two identical drawings. I have redrawn them and will be sending them on to a friend, who will redraw my drawings and send them on, etc. We’re hoping to get 100 drawings and then mount a show. We’ll let you know how it goes.

Check out SolidarityRock.com for news about Cuba tours, and check out the dates below.

Cheers

Drew

Feb 11 – Solidarity Rock Valentine’s Day Sock Hop – Edmonton
Feb 25 – High Class Low Lifes, The Thrashers – The Cavern – Winnipeg, MB
March 11 – Kids on Fire - Solidarity Rock benefit – The Albert – Winnipeg
March 11 – Edmonton - Solidarity Rock benefit - TBA
March 18 – SubCity - Solidarity Rock Benefit – WECC – Winnipeg
March 18 – Vancouver, TBA
March 24 – Fly to Cuba
March 25 – Official Reception at the AHS – Sancti Spiritus, Cuba
March 26 – Kids on Fire, Arrabio + more – Casa de Cultura, Sancti Spiritus
March 27 – Kids on Fire, Arrabio + more – Casa de Joven Creador – Trinidad
March 29 – Kids on Fire, Arrabio + more – El Mejunje – Santa Clara
March 29 – Television appearence - “La Casa por la Ventana.”
March 30 – Kids on Fire, Arrabio, Acupunktura – Casa de Joven Creador – Cienfuegos
March 31 – Radio appearance - “Voces Cruzadas” - Sancti Spiritus
April 1 – Kids on Fire, Arrabio + more – Maxim Rock – Havana
April 2 – Kids on Fire, Arrabio + more – Casa de Joven Creador – Matanzas
April 3 – Return to Canada
April 14 – TBA - Solidarity Rock benefit – Crown and Anchor Pub – Edmonton

Up North - Calgary Premiere

Sat, 09 Oct 2010 16:32:00 -0600

I’m really looking forward to this weekend’s Calgary premiere of Up North. Come join us for an afternoon documentary screening on thanksgiving monday. The film starts at 4:30 at The Plaza. Admission is by donation and I will be there to host a brief Q&A session after the film.

http://tinyurl.com/2vuz2r3 - Facebook event invite

UpNorthMovie.com

"You can’t be a fucking hoser and expect to age gracefully."

Sat, 09 Oct 2010 13:26:03 -0600

“You can’t be a fucking hoser and expect to age gracefully.”

- Drew McIntosh

Up North on the road

Thu, 15 Jul 2010 11:30:00 -0600

I’ve spent the past week and a bit on the road with my buddy Rob, screening Up North to audiences in Vancouver, Victoria and Golden BC, as well as Lethbridge, AB. We met some great people, and had a really good time. I feel like we’ve gained the momentum we were lacking with this film.

We’re screening in Edmonton, and Calgary in the next few weeks, so please come check out the film. There are links under the events section on the page. Hopefully the early fall will bring screenings in Saskatchewan and Manitoba.

Cheers, see you soon.

Drew

Up North Article in Lethbridge Herald 07/14/2010

Thu, 15 Jul 2010 11:26:27 -0600

Up North Article in Lethbridge Herald 07/14/2010:

Our screening in Lethbridge was one of the best yet. We arrived in the afternoon, met with Sheila from the Lethbridge Public Interest Research Group who facilitated the screening, and did an interview for the Herald. Here is the interview, I can’t wait to get back to Lethbridge in the fall, as we’re hoping to screen the film at the University. Should be good times. Check out the article.

Up North Vancouver Premiere Tonight

Thu, 08 Jul 2010 14:27:00 -0600

I left Edmonton late on Tuesday afternoon, hitting the city limits at about 5:00. I had set a goal to make it the Blue River by midnight. By midnight, I made it 50 KMs past my goal and pulled in for 5 hours of truck filled sleep. Wednesday morning, I got up and headed out, and made it to beautiful Vancouver by noon. The sun is shining, the beach is packed and it’s a really nice time to be here.

Rob has set up a screening tonight at SFU Harbour Centre sponsored by the Political Science Student’s association at SFU, and I am really pleased to be here for it. We’ve got screenings in six cities lined up over the next few weeks, and we’re working on other cities in the very near future.

If you’re in Vancouver, you should come out and see the film. It’s playing tonight at the Fletcher Challenge Theater (Room 1900) at Harbour Centre. Show starts at 7:00.

Up North article in the SFU Peak

Thu, 08 Jul 2010 14:17:00 -0600

Up North article in the SFU Peak:

Robert Lutener lives in Vancouver and is a student at Simon Frasier University. He was on the Up North team, one of three individuals living in a van in the middle of the wilderness. He set up our Vancouver and Victoria screenings, and did an interview with the SFU Peak about the film. You should check it out.

Up North Screening Tour

Mon, 21 Jun 2010 23:08:00 -0600

I’m really pleased to announce a Western Canada screening tour for Up North - A film documenting conversations on the impacts of change in Northern Canada. We made this film as a crew of 3, it was self funded, self directed. We lived in a van for a month, consumed a fair bit of Jamesons, met some amazing people and somehow made it home without too much hassle.

I’m really looking forward to getting back in the van and taking this film on the road. So, if you live in any of the following places, please come out to check out our film.

Join us for the Western Canada Screening Tour:

Up North - Conversations on the Impacts of Change

Winner - Best Art Documentary - Mountain Film Festival - 2010

Admission by donation

July 8- Vancouver, BC - Fletcher Challenge Theater Room 1900 SFU Harbour Centre Campus - Presented by SFU Political Science Student’s Association
July 9 - Victoria BC - Camas Books 2590 Quadra Street
July 11 - Golden BC - Bizarre Entertainment - 824 10th Ave S
July 13 - Lethbridge, AB - Lethbridge Public Library - Theatre Gallery
July 16 - Edmonton, AB - Latitude 53 - 10248 106 ST
July 24 - Calgary, AB - Plaza Theater - 1133 Kensington Road NW

Trailer: http://www.upnorthmovie.com/

Synopsis:

Our environment and culture have been linked to our evolution since the dawn of civilization. Currently that linkage appears to be having an increasingly evident impact on our ecology and environment with little change in global culture. This dissonance is exaggerated intensely in our most delicate environments. Northern Canada is one of these environs.

In the summer of 2007, Drew McIntosh, Robert Lutener and Aaron Bocanegra set out on a journey across the north into the Arctic Circle, in exploration of the impact change has on the landscape and people’s lives.

Their 8500 KM (5282 mile) adventure began in Edmonton, Alberta, four hours south of the largest proposed industrial project in history, the Athabasca Oilsands. Traveling through Alberta, British Columbia, Alaska, The Yukon, and the Northwest Territories they arrived in Inuvik, at the end of the 750 KM (466 Mile) gravel Dempster Highway, 200 KM (124 miles) north of the Arctic Circle.

Through conversations with First Nations Chiefs, Elders, comedians, artists, dancers and mountaineers, Up North takes you on a journey of discovery and inquiry delving into a mulitilayered look at forms of change including economic, environmental, cultural, social, political, dromological and linguistic. Set against the stunning beauty of North America’s last wilderness, it accesses an alternate history of Canada’s north, told through the wisdom of experience and the reflection of our culture in the landscape.

The project was and has continued to be entirely self-funded without any grant support or government support. We are not affiliated with any outside interest. The goal was to allow the landscape and the people to been seen and heard in their own voices. In addition to putting our money and time into the project we were helped a great deal by the donation of both the van and the trailer as well as camping supplies by friends and family. Without the support of those who believed in the project we would not have been able to accomplish as much as we did.

Here’s the Trailer for Up North, screening across Western...

Mon, 21 Jun 2010 22:59:16 -0600

Here’s the Trailer for Up North, screening across Western Canada this summer.

BUZZCOCKS - ORGASM ADDICT - LIVE @ NEW CITY Video by Drew...

Fri, 11 Jun 2010 17:37:00 -0600

BUZZCOCKS - ORGASM ADDICT - LIVE @ NEW CITY

Video by Drew McIntosh

Audio recording by Christopher Zuk

Buzzcocks - What do I get? LIVE @ NEW CITY Video by Drew...

Fri, 11 Jun 2010 17:35:00 -0600

Buzzcocks - What do I get? LIVE @ NEW CITY

Video by Drew McIntosh

Audio recording by Christopher Zuk

BUZZCOCKS - PROMISES LIVE @ NEW CITY Video by Drew...

Fri, 11 Jun 2010 17:34:00 -0600

BUZZCOCKS - PROMISES LIVE @ NEW CITY

Video by Drew McIntosh

Audio Recording by Christopher Zuk

I was asked to come out and shoot some video for one of my...

Fri, 11 Jun 2010 15:56:00 -0600

I was asked to come out and shoot some video for one of my favorite new Edmonton bands, Scrapbooker. Quite simply, these dudes slay. I got kinda drunk and stopped shooting, until i realized something awesome was happening, so I started again. I’ve seen bands try to pull it off and fail, but if you ask me, this rips.