When Vampire Weekend’s latest album, Modern Vampires of the City, was released on May 14 of this year, it enjoyed mostly favourable reviews. Critics loved how the band moved away from the preppy, slightly obnoxious feel of its previous two efforts, declaring that the four-piece outfit from New York City had matured.

Well, maybe they felt like being young again because Vampire Weekend opened its Sasquatch set with “Cousins”, a song from their second album, 2010’s Contra. The group followed that rousing debut with four more of their older titles, mixing in Contra with their first, self-titled album from 2008.  

It was a day in which everything evil disappeared and died for Japandroids.

On the opening day of the 2013 Sasquatch Music Festival, the Vancouver duo fought through the demons of faulty speakers and Mother Nature and triumphed to kick off the four-day celebration with a rousing effort.

Brian King (guitar) and David Prowse (drums) struggled with sound problems from the get go, which delayed their set and at times completely cut out. But everything was eventually sorted out, and King declared, “Let’s do this shit,” before a crowd that couldn’t agree with him more.

If you think arranging a wedding is challenging enough, imagine what it's like to factor cross-cultural elements into the whole kit and caboodle.

That's what a new Canadian reality TV series by Anaïd Productions hopes to explore.

The series will take a look at how couples handle different cultural, ethnic, or socio-economic backgrounds in their plans to get married.

In Canada, such unions are on the increase.

The group behind the ShitHarperDid videos from the last federal election will be taking a new ad to national television this evening.

Through a crowdfunded campaign, the political comedians raised enough money to run their latest video 100 times, including spots during NHL playoff games. The ad will air for the first time during the Ottawa Senators vs. Pittsburgh Penguins game on CBC tonight, sometime during first period around 5:00 p.m.

Among the stats highlighted in the ad are figures about the average household debt, and the number of Canadians relying on food banks.

After previous efforts to hold a Pride parade in Abbotsford were deterred by opposition, the first-ever Fraser Valley Pride will take place in the heart of B.C.'s Bible Belt this Saturday (May 25).

The event will begin at 3 p.m. with a walk from the Matsqui Recreation Centre (3106 Clearbrook Road) to the Civic Plaza, where speeches will be made and a free barbecue will be held.

The event will continue on into the evening with a screening of Vancouver filmmaker Gwen Haworth's documentary She's a Boy I Knew, about her gender transition, and a panel discussion about the Fraser Valley Youth Society.

The family-friendly event will include face painting, music, and door prizes.

Every weekday, the Straight highlights a great local shot as the Photo of the Day. Interested in submitting your photos for consideration? Check out our Flickr group.

As Ear of Newt's fave movie expert, Adrian "Mad" Mack, reported last summer, Charlie Sheen will play the president of the United States in the upcoming sequel to the 2010 action-gore epic Machete, which our other fave movie expert described as "the coolest Mexploitation flick ever".

That's awesome!

But what's even awesomer is that, as seen in the above poster, the Sheener will pay homage to his Latino roots by being billed as "Carlos Estevez". It’s the first time in his professional career he won’t be billed as Charlie Sheen.

Canada’s generally amicable first city of Toronto has found itself the recipient of an unusual amount of international attention. Unfortunately, if I were to tell you why, it would ruin the family-friendly nature of this post. (Hint: it rhymes with doping smack.)

Planning on heading to Seattle this Memorial Day long weekend?

Perhaps you’re one of the thousands of Lower Mainland residents moving to-and-from Washington State for the Sasquatch! Music Festival (May 24 to 27).

If so, the photograph above was taken on the road you’re travelling.

Last night (May 23), a bridge collapsed over the Skagit River near Mount Vernon, severing the I-5, the main artery linking Vancouver and Seattle. (Traffic is being diverted. Directions around the road closure appear below.)

Skagit River bridge collapses  Traffic is being diverted off the I-5 highway connecting Vancouver and Seattle after a bridge collapsed over the Skagit River near Mount Vernon.

New cycling corridor proposed  The City of Vancouver held the first of three open houses about enhancing cycling and pedestrian safety between the Burrard Bridge and Jericho Beach. One option calls for a grade-separated bike lane and one-way traffic on Point Grey Road.

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