David Atlanta Magazine - Issue 60

7.31.13 #60

THE RISE OF

ICONA

POP The Sexual Side Effects’

Amber Taylor On Life as a Trans Musician

+ DJ Cindel at Jungle Gisele Michelle Halcyon

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m o r f e t o r N o t A the Edi 7.31.13 Issue #60

STAFF MANAGEMENT David Thompson Publisher | david@davidatlanta.com Elijah Sarkesian Editor in Chief elijah@davidatlanta.com Joe Ragsdale Art Director ragsdale@davidatlanta.com Bob Gunby Sales Director | bob@davidatlanta.com

EDITORIAL Chris Azzopardi Joseph Brownell Paul Conroy Ryan Dixon Christina Dore Kelli Goldman Van Gower Nicholas Grant Matthew Harrell Dylan Michael Brent Star

Boycotting Russia

I

f you haven’t heard, opposition to gays and lesbians in Russia has reached particularly hostile new levels in recent months. Among the laws targeting gays and lesbians:

•

A “gay propaganda” law, prohibiting pride marches and potentially sending people to prison for explaining homosexuality to children.

DESIGN

•

A law allowing police to jail tourists believed to be gay.

Jordan Conner Design Intern intern@davidatlanta.com

•

A law banning gay couples from adopting Russian children.

SALES Steve Tyrrell steve@davidatlanta.com

PHOTOGRAPHY

This doesn’t even touch on the violence that’s been shown to Russia’s gay community.

Brian Hughes

WEB / SOCIAL MEDIA Dylan Michael dylan@davidatlanta.com

DISTRIBUTION Lateasha Hall

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Already, the international LGBT community has called for various boycotts targeting Russia, whether it’s against the 2014 Olympics in Sochi or Russian vodka. Will these boycotts be effective? Maybe. Then again, we’re talking about a very different society than pro-capitalist America.

The impact of money isn’t necessarily going to be as effective in Russia as it may be here.

Where does that leave us, then? Hopefully, we can figure that out soon.

Until next time,

Elijah Sarkesian The content of this Publication is for your general information and use only. It is subject to change without notice. The opinions expressed by any writer, advertiser, or other person appearing in the Magazine are not necessarily those of the Publication, its management or staff. The information and materials appearing in the Magazine are not guaranteed or warranted as to accuracy, timeliness, performance, completeness, or suitability of the information and materials found or offered for a particular purpose. It shall be your responsibility to ensure that any products, services, or information available through this Publication meets your specific requirements. The Publication is not responsible for claims made by advertisers, content of information, changes, events, and schedules. The Magazine contains information and material which is owned by or licensed to the Publication, including but not limited to articles, advertisement, design, layout, graphics, and logos. No part or portion of this Publication may be reproduced in any way without the prior written consent of the Publisher. Unauthorized use of this Publication may give rise to claims for damages and or criminal offenses. Your use of the information or materials in the Publication is strictly at your own risk.

TOC

7.31.13 Issue #60

Cover >

Icona Pop Amber Taylor

16 24

Feature > Gisele Michelle 30 DJ Cindel 34 Courtney Love 42 Halcyon 48

Seen@ > Bulldogs 10 Joining Hearts 26 22 Joe’s on Juniper 46 Atlanta Eagle 66 10th & Piedmont 74

The Rest >

16

24

34

42

Creep of the Week 12 Hear Me Out 58 the Scene 60 Bartab 62 Datebook 64 Untucked with Brent Star 68 Fairyscopes 72 Classifieds 73 Bitch, Please!

76

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creep

of the week: Pat Robertson

Because it’s clear from his response to TYZA that he’s not exactly a Facebook expert.

“I’m not someone who switches on ‘likes’ in Facebook so it’s hard to say,” he begins with limited coherence, “but what you’re saying is, ‘Yes, I like this kind of thing.’

You’ve got a couple of same-sex guys kissing, you like that. Well, that makes me want to throw up. To me I would punch ‘Vomit’ not ‘Like’,” he says, cracking himself up. “But they don’t give you that option on Facebook. But anyhow, are you condoning it? Yes, you’re condoning it.”

So much for “Like” the sinner hate the sin.

And there you have it. Robertson understands how Facebook’s “Like” feature works, even if he does not understand basic human decency. If you’re gay, you make him want to puke. And punch his computer, apparently.

I’d hate to be his IT person.

This whole “Pansies make Pat Puke” thing is no doubt difficult for his legions of gay fans.

You heard that right. Shortly after Pat’s pukey comments, he claimed that he wasn’t anti-gay and that homos DVR The 700 Club right alongside RuPaul’s Drag Race and Modern Family.

O

By D’Anne Witkowski

“I am very pleased that we have many, many, many, uh, homosexuals watching this program and many of them are looking for love and acceptance and help,” Robertson said. “And I just think we’re not anti-gay or anti-anything.

I just do believe in the Bible.”

h, Pat Robertson. He really is trying too hard to present himself as the epitome of angry and dogmatic old man determined to go to his grave on the wrong side of history. It’s almost sad, until, of course, Granted, he had just said that gays make him puke, but he opens his mouth again to say something about gay let’s put that into perspective. Just because someone people. makes you feel like you’re going to lose your lunch doesn’t mean you refuse to help them. Just ask any docLike on a recent episode of The 700 Club where he answered a viewer’s question about, er, Facebook etiquette. tor or nurse who deals with real gross people as opposed to Robertson’s fairytale gross gays.

Because when looking for answers about social media, who doesn’t seek out the wizened input of an 83-yearAfter claiming that “a lot” of people turn gay after being old? After all, Pat Robertson’s Tumblr is wicked dope. sexually abused, Robertson muses, “And they’re little boys and little girls and they don’t know any better and Judging from the viewer’s question, however, it doesn’t seem like he or she is exactly social media savvy, either. then they somehow think, ‘Well, I must be gay.’ Well, they aren’t, they are heterosexual and they just need to come A viewer identified as TYZA asks, “When we ‘like’ things out of that. There are some others, maybe they’ve got some chromosomal damage that’s different from heteroon Facebook, if it’s something that goes against what sexuals, and that’s what, of course, they claim, and then is written in the Bible—such as pictures of same sex the homosexual movement they say that ‘Hey, you can’t couples—is that considered condoning the behavior?” come out of this under any circumstances.’”

Seriously, TYZA? You get to have your question about Got that? Gays need to come out of the closet. Again. As Facebook read on air and that’s what you hit us with? straight. And the only reason more of them don’t is beWhy not just ask, “If you ‘poke’ someone on Facebook cause the “homosexual movement” bullies them. Almost and then find out they’re gay, does that make you gay, too?” Actually, I’d love to see Robertson tackle that one. makes you want to puke, doesn’t it?

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t h e

r i s e

o f

icona pop by elijah sarkesian

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I

f the name “Icona Pop” doesn’t ring a bell, it should. Their single “I Love It” has dominated radio this summer, giving the Swedish duo a multi-platinum single and plenty of buzz.

Icona Pop, a.k.a. Caroline Hjelt and Aino Jawo, are both natives of Stockholm who met one night at a party back in 2009. Friendship quickly turned to a professional relationship, and the two began writing songs together. Over the course of the next few years, Icona Pop developed their sound, leading to the release of their Iconic EP last August.

Thanks to placement in the HBO series Girls back in January, Iconic’s single “I Love It” began crawling up the charts. Within a week, it cracked Billboard’s Hot 100 chart; a few months ago, it peaked at #7.

Now the girls of Icona Pop are preparing for their first-ever headlining tour, which includes a stop at Masquerade in a few weeks. I spoke with Caroline of Icona Pop about their tour, as well as what fans can expect from this fall’s newly-announced album, This Is… Icona Pop.

You’ll be in Atlanta on August 14 for your headlining Iconic Tour.

Yes, we’re so excited.

I saw you when you were in Atlanta in December with Marina and The Diamonds as part of her Lonely Hearts Club Tour, and I absolutely loved your act.

What was it like working with Marina?

That was perfect – that was such a fun tour. It was really a girl power tour, and she’s such an amazing artist. We had so much fun, and we love her. She’s so cool.

So for our readers who may not know that much about Icona Pop outside of “I Love It,” how did the two of you come together as a musical act?

Really? Oh, wow. Thank you so much.

I remember going home and listening to the Iconic EP, and to see how you’ve blown up with “I Love It” has been fascinating to watch. And now you’re headlining your own tour.

We’re so excited for this tour.

Can you tell me a little bit about what you’ll be doing on this particular tour?

We are actually building everything now. We want to feel our fans into this little Icona Pop world during the concert, and we want them to feel like we feel when we sing the songs or how we felt when we wrote them, and we’re just involved with everything from every little light to the show’s visuals – everything. Right now, we’re building what we call our little spaceship, and it’s a huge table we’re having between us on stage with all our gear. So we’re actually building that right now, and it’s super cool. We’re playing a lot of new songs, and we’re super excited.

We met at a party at my place, because Aino was heartbroken and a mutual friend forced her to come to my party to have a little bit of fun after being in bed for, like, two weeks. I was also kind of down because nothing was working out with the music, and I felt kind of frustrated. And then, when we met, it felt instantly like – WAPOW. We have something special. And the day after, Aino came to my place and we wrote our first song, and since that day we’ve been a band, and we’ve been together every day.

“I Love It” has now gone double platinum in the U.S. It’s been a Top 10 hit. You can hear the song pretty much everywhere. What’s it like having a song blow up this big?

It’s insane. It’s surreal. I mean, the journey that we’ve been through this year is crazy. I looked at pictures the other day, and I was trying to understand all the places that we’ve been to and all the things that we’ve seen and all the venues that we’ve played. We’ve been meeting so many beautiful people, and they’ve been talking to us about what our music means to them. It’s been surreal. It’s been the best year of our lives.

A number of other artists have covered “I Love It,” including Robin Thicke and the cast of Glee.

What’s it like hearing all these different versions of your song?

I like that. I mean, it’s so fun to hear your song, but in a totally different way, in a totally different expression and situation. It’s refreshing.

@DavidAtlantaGA // 17

You have a new single, “All Night.” Can you tell me a little about how the song came about, and why you chose it as the official follow-up to “I Love It”?

“All Night,” for me, there’s such a freedom feeling over that song. Recording it, I just felt like “summer festival” mode. I hope people like it. It means a lot to us.

You also released a song last month, “Girlfriend.”

How did that song come about?

That was fun, because we were just sitting in the studio, and we were with some friends. We were talking about what Aino and I are going through, and what we mean to each other. We don’t live anywhere, we don’t really need anything, except I need Aino to function and to be able to do this. It fit in so well with the line “All I need in this life is me and my girlfriend,” and so we wrote it, and then we

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wrote a letter to Tupac’s mom to ask if we could use that. She liked the song, and she said yes.

What can your fans expect on your full-length album later this year?

They will definitely get to know us even better on this album. We’ve been writing this for four years, and it’s so personal. It’s a lot of stuff that we’ve been through, from the first song to where we are today. I think people will hear… It’s not going to be 16 songs sounding exactly like “I Love It.” It’s going to be some sides that people haven’t seen. I hope that people will see new sides of Icona Pop. And we’re super proud of this album. I want to release it now, I’m so excited.

Icona Pop brings the Iconic Tour to Masquerade on August 14, with opening act K.Flay. The show starts at 7 p.m. For more information on the show, visit masqueradeatlanta.com.

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Amber T Not So ‘High Maintenance’

By Dylan Michael

T

he Sexual Side Effects is one of the biggest bands to come out of the Atlanta rock scene in years.

Performing with big names such as Hunter Valentine (who recently opened for Cyndi Lauper), they combine elements of indie music, British Pop and 80’s post punk to create a unique sound. Even more unique is that their frontwoman, Amber Taylor, is actually a male-to-female transgendered woman. I sat down with the rock star and we talked music, touring and how being trans has affected her career!

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Hi Amber! Thanks for taking the time to talk with us! I just have a few questions for you. First question: who is Amber Taylor?

I don’t know! Who am I? (Laughs) I think we’re all still discovering that in ourselves. Actually, I can say that I’ve found myself more now than I have in the past. Now I realize I’m a musician, and I wanna make art. There was a time in my life where I went through a transformation of gender and that was consuming, that was the only thing on my mind. But now I’ve realized that’s not 100 percent

of my guitar players has been alive, which is freaky to think about. I mean I’m not that old!

How old are you, if you don’t mind me asking?

I am – Oh, God. How old am I? (Laughs) I’m 35 now, believe it or not. I’m actually 25 in trans years. Actually I’d be even younger, I went through a second puberty and it totally changed the way I look. It made me look younger.

Who are your biggest influences, musically?

Taylor sure of who I am. I find myself to be a musician. I wanna play guitar, and I wanna push instruments, and I wanna tour. I’ve learned business and marketing and it’s all for music. But you have to do that nowadays cause nobody’s gonna do that for you, unless you have a label pumping millions of dollars into you.

Well, they are always changing, ya know? Always changing. There’s definitely a core group of people that have always been there.

I’m very into post-punk, I’m very into Brit-Pop. I mean, a little bit of everything.

Recently, I’ve been listening to Kurt Vile. And Black Level Motorcycle Club has been like this huge inspiration recently. My band has been changing lately, I’ve got a new lineup, so we’re drawing a lot of inspiration from that band. Don’t know what it is but that’s just where I’ve been at lately.

That’s the biggest thing about music for me: the inspiration. I’ve been working on trying to better myself as a musician the last 6 months. I’m really just writing as much as possible, reading books on how to write better, reading poetry. Just filling in every little piece I didn’t have in my own personal education as a musician.

Like most rock-n-rollers, I’m a high school dropout. I left school, became a roadie, started doing audio. But ya So, how long have you been doing music? How know, there are areas in my life that I need to work on as long have you been playing? a musician. I mean, everybody has areas in their life that they need to work on, but I’m just constantly evolving.

I’ve been playing guitar for 22 years now, longer than one I’ve been able to crank out all kinds of stuff on guitar, but @DavidAtlantaGA // 25

writing the lyrics and getting the message across and telling the story have been the most difficult thing for me.

But I’ll listen to a record of someone else’s work, and it’ll give you inspiration for something you’re doing, or want to do. And it’s weird, it’s not like you’re copying them but there is some weird spark of inspiration that puts you in a mindset and sets you off on a creative path.

Do you feel that people like Jayne County, and other transgendered musicians, paved the way for where you are at now?

Well, yeah! Jayne paved the way, not just for me or transgendered musicians, but for transgendered people in general. And the biggest reason why I think she paved the way is because she did her transition publicly. She, at first, was her old persona, and then she changed and became the new persona. And that’s a different story than my own personal story from where I did my transition and then finally started making music again. It’s definitely made an impact, and she has a lot of bravery for doing that. Plus, you have to roll back the clock to when she did it, back in the 70s, that’s just terrifying!

So were you making music before you transitioned?

Yeah, I played music before but I never really pursued it with the tenacity that I have in the past few years. All of that has to do with personal experiences in life. Like, my father passing away years ago. I was really close to him 26 // davidatlanta.com

and after he passed, I decided to treat myself better. I became a vegetarian, I lost a bunch of weight, became a cyclist and became healthy. It was really a soul-searching time in my life. And time went on.

I actually started going into business a while back. I went into web development and I was really good at it, it succeeded but I realized that wasn’t my purpose in life. I had a greater purpose and I just said “Hey, I have to go do this music stuff”. And it’s not for egotistical reasons, it’s not even for personal fulfillment, it’s for an obligation that I believe I have. And every day I can’t work on that, it’s a day wasted on a gift that I’ve been given.

to be expressed is, you have to have a day job that pays well. You have to work your way to the weekends and tour close to home. It takes years to build up something substantial. It takes years for an artist to do what they do.

Some of these major record labels can afford to throw out millions of dollars and build it up quicker that way. But, the bottom line is, you’re going to be poor, you’re going to have to eat peanut butter sandwiches, and it sucks.

And the tour bus thing is even more of a myth, cause gas nowadays is so expensive. If you’re working your day job and one day you decide “Ya know what? I’m gonna start a band!” Then you have to find three other people who will basically destroy their lives, have no money, and Who would be your number one dream collabo- sacrifice all relationships. Until you find those people, or ration? replace people until you do find those people, it takes a long time. That’s what we just went through with my There’s so many people, so I’m just gonna choose band. someone randomly! I have to say off the top of my head, Freddie Mercury. That’d be fun, right!? I wish I could have But it can be real fun! Nowadays with Facebook, you can gotten in on the whole “Under Pressure” gig. If I could get keep up with people that you meet all around the country. in the middle of that song and play guitar, that would be And the people who didn’t even tour with you become so awesome! I should probably end that there, but there part of that whole circle. You meet people everywhere, are people in Atlanta that I really find inspiration in their and you just create a giant circle of friends. And the music. There’s a guy named Jade Lemons here in Atlanta, greatest thing about it is, you have can make all these and you’ll be the first to know this, he’s actually joining people from all over the world part of your daily life. So, the Sexual Side Effects as our guitar player. And so, I get social media has really helped bring people together. to have that dream come true! It’s things like that! I’m really excited!

Awesome! Well, we look forward to seeing you guys out and about on tour! Thanks for taking Awesome, well congratulations! So, you have the time to talk with us! toured previously, you’ve been all of the country, for those of us who haven’t done it, what is Not a problem! Thanks for taking the time to check in! band life like?

Make sure to check out Amber Taylor, and the The reality is, we should do more touring. I think we only Sexual Side Effects, at sexualsideeffects.com for played 50-100 shows last year. There are some bands more show info! that do 300 shows a year. But really the reality that needs

@DavidAtlantaGA // 27

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GETTING TO KNOW

GISELE MICHELLE

BY KELLI GOLDMAN

R

ecently David Atlanta Magazine sat down with new lesbian acoustic duo, Gisele Michelle, to talk about their sudden rise to local fame in the LGBT community at Gisele’s house in Tucker. Over a bottle of 1792 Whiskey and a pot of Louisiana gumbo, I learn more about the intrinsic melodious fusion that has led to development and growth for each of them, both musically and personally.

How long have y’all been playing as a duo? Not just messing around, I mean officially.

Gisele: I’d say our first gig was Christmas Day last year.

Michelle: At Children’s Hospital…you were there with us, Kelli...Wow, I’m so glad we made such an impression on you!

M: Oh, no, I didn’t say that. I deny that.

G: And it was ‘whore’, I believe.

How did the collaboration come about? Obviously you guys were hanging out, you must have realized, “Oh fuck, we sound good.”

M: Actually, no. One night when I was running karaoke at the bar, I met Gisele’s roommate, Karen Deutsch sitting with a bunch of us girls. Someone mentioned Gisele. That’s not really a name you hear very often, so I was like, “I know Gisele, didn’t she run sound for Sin Pretty?” Turns out it was the same Gisele. I guess Karen got home that night and was like, “she says that she knows you.”

G: She couldn’t get her name right though; she was saying Mechelca, Mechhhellaaa…

No, I remember…I distinctly remember someone M: Yeah, she kept telling her Mechelca…Medusa... got in trouble for calling me a bitch or something? {Laughs} So of course, the next time I’m running

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karaoke at the bar Gisele came out to see who the hell Medusa was. She heard me sing and asked me if I ever would want to come over and jam with her at her house after work one night. I was like, “sure”, and I went over that night after karaoke…I was dog tired...But she started playing, and I was like, “Wow, this is awesome.” She was playing open tuning, I was playing standard, and the sounds just meshed.

She makes me play in these god-awful capoed areas of the guitar that you’re not supposed to ever play.

G: Uh huh, she shouldn’t complain.

So would it be safe to say that Gisele challenges you, Michelle?

Kathyrn Nee Photography 2013

Like for one, Halcyon has been together forever, and it’s just a tremendous feat. I for one have gotten M: Yeah...yeah she does. She’ll bring me things that better at playing guitar, and she doesn’t ever want to I’m initially hesitant about, but once we sit down and sing, even though everyone loves to hear her sing it play it, it works. is nice to get a break every nonce in a while, too.

It’s gotta be nice for you, Gisele. I know you were Gisele, would you say Michelle challenges you? playing solo for years, I know before shows you’d be all, “Oh, I’m gonna puke, I don’t wanna sing,” and G: Absolutely. When I learned “Over the Rainbow” now you’re basically playing lead guitar but singing she wanted to kill me...It took me over a week. I backup vocals on a lot of y’alls songs. That has to be mean, there isn’t anyone that I’ve heard sing Eva therapeutic for you, musically, wouldn’t you say?

Cassidy like Michelle. When I first met her, I hadn’t heard her sing...Miss Wallflower, hanging out in the G: I’ve never been happier musically. I get to play corner all quiet...But when I heard her sing, I was guitar, not by myself...She plays opposite of me, so blown away. we’re not playing the same melody and notes, and I couldn’t ask for anything more. The girl can SING. M: Man, I just wanna sell a song. We wanna sell a Gisele, you’ve always had some pretty nasty stage song...did I say that yet? You’re going to hear that a fright issues, even though you’ve been playing on lot… stage for years. How is that now that you don’t have to get up there alone, are you less nervous or is it [Laughs] Isn’t that the point, though? Y’all came still the same…? together and hit the ground running with such fervor you don’t often see with a female duo, and I G: Oh, yeah, I still vomit. think it is because you two are good for each other, musically meant to be. Over the past few months, M: You get nervous because you want to do a good how have you both grown musically? job...”Do I have enough cough drops? Am I going to forget the chords? Am I gonna get choked up or say M: I most definitely have. I am a much better guitar something stupid? And then, the first screw up, we player, and am more confident, because she instilled laugh and we’re over it. We actually hope within the that confidence in me. I love the way she plays, I first or second song we screw up to where we can am in awe. When she encourages me and tells me I just laugh at each other, and then we’re good. have the capabilities, I look at her and I believe her. I think it also builds a rapport with the audience, She knows what she’s talking about. because you guys are obviously not afraid to laugh at yourselves, you’re not ‘too good’ to fuck up or ‘too G: As women, being all emotional and sometimes good’ to admit you did... having snakes for hair and being competitive, it’s really hard to keep a duo or trio together that’s all M: Nobody’s a diva here. We kind of liken ourselves women. to Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis. Or like Sandra Bullock and Melissa McCarthy in The Heat – we’re M: We aren’t competitive with each other in the least. those girls. @DavidAtlantaGA // 31

Gisele, who are you?

G: Sandra. Sandra. I’m definitely Sandra.

You are not, you are lying. You are way too inappropriate to be Sandra Bullock’s character.

M: I do try to stay a little bit more conservative because of Gisele...

G: Mistakes don’t really make me nervous, it’s more wondering what is sounds like from the audience.

Sound check, and what we hear through the monitor, is never the same as what the crowd hears over the speakers.

Since getting together, how many songs have you collaborated on?

M: We’ve got something in the works right now, and two on the CD that we wrote together.

G: Michelle’s pretty much...well, the lyrics are hers.

I’ll get these changes that I’ve had for four, five years and I’ll play them for Michelle...the lyrics just come to her, and off we go...I mean, I’m sitting there, and I’m just blown away. Every time.

M: When Gisele will play certain old riffs for me that she never did anything with, it snowballs into a song. I just want her to play it over and over and over again. It happened with both “Henry” and “Your Fool” on the album. A lot of times we just improve stuff we wrote separately many years ago. Gisele made new again an old song I wrote when I was 18.

She started playing it and I was like, “You made me love that song again.”

Originally from Houma, LA, 65 miles Southeast of New Orleans, Gisele moved to Georgia eight years ago from Birmingham, AL. She explains the reasoning behind her move.

G: See, my history is, when you break up with a girlfriend, you leave the state. I don’t want to be running into ex-girlfriend with new girlfriend, so I usually just move. It proved Alabama was such a state. I have a niece here, and my sister visits often.

Living here is a good way to see my sister without having to go to Louisiana. I mean, I love Louisiana, but it’s too damn hot.

Michelle is from Crestview, FL. She moved to Georgia after accepting a job playing two clubs in Atlanta after she met the owner one night when he overheard her jamming with the band.

G: Michelle’s got quite a resume, or music portfolio, that she should talk a little bit about.

M: It’s not quite a “music portfolio”, it’s a couple things. For example, Cynthia, my sister, and I were in a band together. In 1984, we entered the Wrangler Country Showdown in Alabama because we had already missed the Florida competition.

That night we played and won State Finals, and my Mom lost her battle with Cancer the same night.

Well, after that we went to Nashville and played the Wrangler Country Showdown with Erv Woolsey, who was one of the judges in the audience. Later on Erv wrote to me and wanted me to play for him. I was flattered, but I didn’t do it. I was 18. Even now, I don’t want to be a star, I just want to play. I just want to sell a song. Ha! Did I say that already? But anyway, I still have his letters.

So what does the future hold for Gisele Michelle?

We want to play one night at Eddie’s Attic, at the Open Mic Shootout. Also, play Red Cliff Theater in Duluth…it is incredible. It’s a venue that every acoustic artist should play. We are going to continue to write songs, and hope to find someone to help us pitch them. We don’t know how to pitch them, who to pitch them to and we don’t have a lot of contacts.

But we will get that rolling soon.

Catch Gisele Michelle Saturday, August 10 at Oz Campground in Unadilla and on Thursday, August 22, 7 p.m. at Moonshadow Tavern on Lawrenceville Highway in Tucker. You can check out their music and band info online under “Gisele Michelle” on Facebook, ReverbNation and SoundCloud. They’ve recently risen to Number 2 on the Atlanta charts on ReverbNation.

32 // davidatlanta.com

@DavidAtlantaGA // 33

DJON THECINDEL RISE Up-and-Coming DJ Makes Atlanta Debut at Jungle

BY MAT THE W HARRELL 34 // davidatlanta.com

F

rom spinning at clubs in his hometown of Chicago to making people dance all over the world, DJ Cindel has made quite a name for himself and continues to skyrocket in popularity. His latest boast-worthy appearance was on the DJ stage of NYC Pride and this August he will be visiting Atlanta for the first time to bring his beats to Jungle. We had the chance to catch up with DJ Cindel and get to know a little more about this gorgeous beat-dropper.

Although his schedule is constantly filling up with new bookings weekly, Cindel is not stopping at just becoming a sought-after live DJ. He has high hopes and plans in store.

“I am actually currently working on my first original track with Nina Flowers. She and I have been friends for twelve years and, when we played this year in Vegas, we had lunch and we decided to do my first original track and she offered to help me out with it.”

Cindel began playing with music collaborations at the early age of fifteen in Chicago and says that his inspiration to do Cindel’s first original single is titled “Cafre” (or “Rude” in so comes from close to home.

Spanish).

“I come from a family of musicians. My dad plays piano and that’s pretty much how he supported us. Seeing him be successful and supporting a family with what he loved made me love it that much more.”

“That should be released around the 15th or 16th of August and I am hoping that once my first single starts playing everywhere I can begin getting my music out there to all of the clubs and all of the websites.”

Becoming a DJ wasn’t as easy as just jumping on the stage. Cindel got his start by working at bars and eventually making his was to the turntables and impressed the crowd so much he was given his own night, “Sound Factory,” at Spin nightclub in Boystown Chicago.

Once the single is released, club-goers can hear Cindel’s work anywhere but, luckily for us, we don’t have to wait to hear the real thing. Cindel has recently booked an appearance at Jungle for August 3. This will be his first time in Atlanta and he expressed his excitement for seeing friends here as well as for meeting new people.

Although he experienced success in Chicago, Cindel felt that this just wasn’t the final place for him.

“I felt stuck in Chicago. I would have friends come up to me and say ‘your music is what Miami needs.’ Probably the best decision I have made in my life was to move to Miami.”

To get a taste of the fun, loud beats we can expect to hear you can visit DJ Cindel’s SoundCloud channel where you will find almost 30 full sets, and be sure to check him out live at Jungle Atlanta on August 3.

The move was clearly beneficial as Cindel has earned DJ residency and has become a common name in the Miami club community. All of this success and popularity helped Cindel to become a part of the Matinee Las Vegas Festival in which DJs have the opportunity to share their work with the world on a larger scale and to compete for most popular new artist.

During the online voting session, Cindel’s music held the most plays and the number one spot of listener popularity.

Cindel’s win put him on the stage in Las Vegas alongside big names like Hector Fonseca and sent his career blazing forward. Just a few weeks later, Cindel saw his name added to the DJ list for the 2013 NYC Pride Festival. This instant flash-forward to fame could seem overwhelming to some but is nothing less that thrilling for this star.

“Actually one of the best weekends I’ve ever had. I played Saturday matinee in New York and I played Sunday. I met so many amazing people. I guess the most exciting part is getting to meet so many new people in the industry. You get to constantly open new doors.” @DavidAtlantaGA // 35

- since 1997 -

- since 1997 -

Named People Magazine’s “Best Wedding Cakes in Georgia!” www.metrobakery.com

38 // davidatlanta.com

MY GAY W INTERVIEW ITH COURT NEY LOV Scary straights, Kurt Cobain’s lesbian relative and being ‘normal in some ways’

BY CHRIS AZZOPARDI

ust give Courtney Love 10 minutes – the time I had to talk to her recently in the midst of her tour – and she’ll tell you a lot of things without you asking. She’ll tell them rapidly, because that’s how her mouth moves, and she’ll tell them at random, because that’s how her mind works. In our quick chat, a blunt-as-ever Love told me about the modern-day rock queers she calls “ninja” gays, how she’s actually “really normal” and her desire to educate Kurt Cobain’s family on, I think, equal rights … or something.

J

I know you know you have a lot of gay fans.

I do, indeed.

Have you noticed gays at the shows on this tour?

Hell yes! There was one show in Port Chester, N.Y.; I probably won’t be returning there. There weren’t any kids and there weren’t any gays. It was all ladies who were my age … with their hubbies! Some of them didn’t take very good care of themselves. It was really freaky. I need the gays there. If I don’t have the gays, I just go nuts, because they always know every word and they’re the best core audience you can have. And it’s just nice.

E

don’t have a bodyguard on this trip, per se, and all it takes is just one freak, because I’m so polarizing. I wish the gay kids and the kids would just go in one clump and then everyone else would go in another clump, because then I could go over to them and sign autographs and stuff and feel completely safe, but I don’t feel completely safe so I just wave and jump in the bus.

And some people have traveled seven hours, or nine hours, or 20 hours – I hear all sorts of stories – to get there and I try to give them an autograph, but I get really freaked out that there’s just gonna be some crazy straight guy with some crazy ass agenda who’s gonna try and hurt me.

You and the gay community have something in common: We’ve both been bullied. What’s your advice on dealing with haters?

Don’t read the comments. (Laughs) I think you just let it rub off of you like a duck’s back. I said this recently on my Twitter feed; I was like, “Yo, Amanda Bynes, chill out,” and she went off on me and called me “ugly.” It’s like, “Dude, I’ve been called ugly since I was 13; honestly, that’s it? Ugly? That’s it?

Oh, ouch. You hurt my feelings.” I mean, it so doesn’t hurt my feelings. That’s like calling me a slut. It’s like And you know no one’s gonna attack you and you’re yeah, and … ? It’s true! But I’m not saying that I feel not gonna get a crazy person. After the shows I can’t ugly. go and sign autographs without a bodyguard, and I 42 // davidatlanta.com

@DavidAtlantaGA // 43

Five years ago you celebrated the passing of Prop 8 on your blog, where you noted you voted “yes” – a vote against marriage equality – on the amendment to ban same-sex marriage in California.

I did not mistakenly vote yes. I voted the right way. I printed (on the blog) that I mistakenly voted yes.

Thanks for clarifying that.

Yeah, well, good. I’m just bad at math and I didn’t write it down quite correctly.

How do you feel about the recent Supreme Court ruling that overturned Prop 8, making it legal for gay couples to marry in California?

I’m really excited about it. I think it’s great. The saddest thing is to see, like, two old lesbians who’ve lived together for 1,001 years, and I’ve seen this happen with a relative of Kurt’s ... and Kurt’s family is so weird they won’t admit she’s a lesbian. But whatever. He actually had an uncle die of AIDS and they won’t admit that he died of AIDS. It’s just completely freaky. I think it has a lot to do with a lack of education in Grays Harbor, and with his family I’ve offered everyone down to the last cousin a college education … and nobody wants it. It’s completely weird. Anyyyway. I feel like, um … wait, I just lost track of the question. What was the question?

About your feelings on marriage equality in California.

Oh, I knew this older lesbian, and her partner died and she had no civil rights to anything. Nothing! And all of a sudden the family moved in and they’d been estranged for 20-some years and it was ridiculous.

Then I have a younger friend named Jason who got married in West Hollywood about six years ago and all of a sudden his husband died of a heart attack and he was left with absolutely nothing. I tried to get him a lawyer so he could fight it; I mean, they were married legally at a time when it was legal. Nobody would take his case. I don’t know why. It was really horrible. He was left with nothing. It’s disgusting.

Just disgusting. Embarrassing and disgusting.

Last year you and Perez Hilton were going back and forth on Twitter, and you told him you could make him a better gay man. What are your gay guru qualifications?

(Laughs) Well, be specific. What do you mean?

44 // davidatlanta.com

He was talking about not getting laid and you were coaching him, joking that he wasn’t a very good gay man.

Well, he’s mean; that doesn’t help. I’ve known that guy for so long, you have no idea. I knew him when his blog was a month old. But I don’t know what I meant. It was a tweet! I don’t know how to make anyone a better gay man. I really don’t. What am I supposed to say … listen to more showtunes? I mean, that’s ridiculous. And modern gay guys don’t actually listen to a lot of showtunes. There are a lot of rock gays, in New York anyway. There are a lot of little gay guys. I went to this thing Madonna was at and there’s all these kind of ninja gay boys – they’re really small – but I think they were her dancers.

Then there’s this kind of rock club called The Electric Room and there’s always these little rock gay guys who wanna get in, and they do.

What will surprise people most when they read your memoir, which is supposed to be out at the end of the year?

That I’m pretty boring. (Laughs) Just that I’m pretty normal in some ways. In some ways I’m completely extraordinary, and in other ways I’m completely weird and eccentric. And in other ways I’m really normal.

Last words for your gay fans?

I love them. That’s about it.

46 // davidatlanta.com

Gentle, Peaceful Calm: The Music of Halcyon

BY KELLI GOLDMAN

I

recently met with Steph Callahan of Halcyon to talk about her musical career with band-mate Deb Hunseder, their ability to work together despite having different styles, and the past and future of their band.

Have you written anything new lately, and does Halcyon have any CDs on the horizon?

Steph Callahan: I think that’s a really funny question, because I was already thinking about my response to that sort of question. In short, yes, I am still writing, but it’s not necessarily from the Halcyon perspective.

It’s maybe because where I am at after 24 years of us playing together, I am kind of ready for a different type of inspiration. And that might come from more of my roots, which comes from more of an Americana-Country kind of thing. I’m not saying it’s gonna be like…[imitates banjo music]…but I think now I’m not writing for anyone else 48 // davidatlanta.com

except for me, and I think that my style might change slightly.

Deb Hunseder: Not nearly enough! I did start writing something but its not finished yet. Fortunately and unfortunately the songs come when they want to, not when I want them to. We’ve been talking about getting back in the studio. Since Steph relocated to Atlanta we may be recording remotely when the time comes.

I’m sure it will. It’s completely different when you collaborate with somebody.

SC: That’s the funny thing – we never collaborated.

We always wrote separately. That’s where the album “Separately Together” comes from. So, we have never written a song together in our career. It’s because our writing sounds are so different. It’s also what keeps us so

interesting in that all of our songs don’t sounds the same.

She writes the happy songs, I write the darker songs…its yin and yang. I have my style, and on my stuff she sings some harmonies. For us, it’s not the songwriting…it’s the performance. I don’t like going to shows where you hear artists whose songs all sound the same. And you know, another example, and I hate to use this, but Indigo Girls.

They’re very similar in that their sounds are so different.

DH: Yeah about that writing together thing...we don’t.

Never have. Not one song. The writing process for me is very much about getting something in my head. I’m mostly a lyrics girl, although I have come up with melodies first just by putzing around on the guitar. I learned a long ago that when something pops into my head and gets my attention, I need to write it down! Many a cool line I’ve missed in the early twilight hours thinking I’d remember!

How did y’all meet in 1989?

DH: I’d been singing all my life and other people that sing (and those who think they can) would jump in from time to time. I’d never experienced anything like the simpatico that Steph and I from the first line we sang together. We both instantly knew and so do everyone around us.

SC: Yeah, well...it’s not really going to be shocking, but it was at a softball tournament. I was playing in a league with a bunch of older women at the time, I was in college, and I was the youngest on the team. I was the baby, and

50 // davidatlanta.com

I met all these older ladies, and they were like, “Oh you have to meet our friend Deb. Our friend Deb. Our friend Deb.” And I’m like, “Who is this?” I grew up singing in church. I was not thinking about doing music for a living.

Ever. And I’m not sure I still do.

I think it’s a little too late for that.

SC: Yeah, you think? I was on a Volleyball scholarship in college and was studying Psychology; I wasn’t thinking about doing music. Then I met Deb. We met up, she brought her guitar, and I threw in some harmonies, because that’s what I do, and all of a sudden it was like, ding. We sang at the pool party for the softball tournament, and had our first show a week later. It never ended after that- it was really cool.

You have a fan base all over the world.

What was your favorite venue, either in the US or abroad?

DH: In the US there’s more than one. And there’s a particular division between the venue and the people. As far as a venue goes singing the National Anthem in MLB and NFL stadiums is pretty monumental. Because no matter what divides us as a people, that song will give anybody the chills when ump-teen thousands of people are singing and cheering with you on that song. For a mere one-and-a-half minutes, we are all one: pretty fucking cool.

SC: After 24 years, it’s kind of a time thing for me. In the early 2000s it was definitely Eddie’s Attic. Nothing could compare. And I still wouldn’t mind doing an anniversary show there; that would be way cool. But my number one all time favorite venue is Skipper’s Smokehouse down in Tampa. It is a place where we got our footing, and the momentum there has just sustained. We can still draw between 300 and 400 people on a regular night when we play there. It is an outdoor venue, it’s stellar...it’s under Oak trees, our fans love it and we love it. We’ve never had a bad show there…We never had to go through that time period when we were like, “Oh, only 10 people came to our show...” We really were lucky that we came on the scene during a time period where we were well received. The Internet wasn’t quite where it is now, and people still went out to see live music. Old school.

Have you ever had any bad experiences with fans or stalkers?

Now, your Online Press Kit on Sonicbids.com DH: Oh you had to go there, didn’t ya?! There are some says y’all have eight CDs between you, but only very cool people we have met along the way. We’ve made six are Halcyon. Who has the solo albums? life long friends from our music that I treasure. And wherever there are cool people they are some who have DH: I put a solo album out in 2007 called Surface. I had their difficult issues. I had a pretty hardcore incident to have a total hysterectomy during the making of that happen quite along time ago and definitely don’t want to album, but even with that challenge I had a great time go into the details. Suffice it to say that what could have with it…I’m very happy with the end product. been a tragic situation turned out OK in the end. But for this particular person it took a lot of work for her to the SC: We each have one. And actually I have one that is help she needed…But Steph is way more of a stud than I finished that I never put out. It’s stuff that’s never been on am, and she’s got more stories than I do. any of the records. I started working on it in 2003 and I actually finished it, but it just has to be mastered. That’s SC: [shakes her head and takes in a jagged breath] Oh one of my goals too, once I get the money to. I just have yeah…but not bad. The worst one I can think of is when to get it mastered, and even if I release it digitally...I still I was leaving a gig, and someone was following me. I want to get it out there. didn’t think too much of it. But then I got home, and they drove by slowly. So I got out and went inside. Well, the 52 // davidatlanta.com

DH: We are trying to get a schedule that works for us now that Steph has relocated [to Georgia]. I started doing solo shows playing covers and originals about a year ago.

I really like it so far. Its kind of fun do songs I grew up Wow, oh. Oh no...That’s not romantic...it’s listening to and to sort of re-work current pop songs. She creepy. Um, moving along… You’ve shared the does the booking and has us playing quite a bit coming stage with some notable artists including Pat up [in Florida].

Benatar; Crosby, Stills and Nash; John Mayer; Joan Baez; Wynonna Judd and more. Was So playing together now is almost nostalgic. there a particular artist that made you feel star-struck?

SC: I think you’re right when you say “nostalgic”. The Halcyon thing, I still love doing it. It’s still awesome when SC: I don’t think I’ve been star struck...but mine would we get to play together- I actually have a lot of fun doing it probably be Pat Benatar. Only because she is such a now as opposed before, ‘cause it was more of a business. freakin’ icon...her history, and all that stuff she had to go So now when we do it, I feel very lucky to. We all have a through that [the public] probably know nothing about, really great time, and don’t take it as seriously now. So her struggles...her stardom; She’s the coolest person it’s really cool to be able to have that. But in the other you’ll ever meet. As are really all of the people you sense, like I said I am 43 years old, so my inspiration has mentioned. Also, Joan Osborne is the one of the nicest to come from other places now- not bad relationships. people I’ve ever met.

Halcyon’s digital albums can be purchased on CD DH: I try not to judge famous people too much upon Baby or iTunes. They have a couple Florida shows meeting them for such a short period of time. For the in August: Skipper’s Smokehouse on Aug. 3rd at 8 most part I’ve found them to be decent. It’s understand- p.m. and Hamburger Mary’s Jacksonville on Aug. 4th able if they’re not blowing you kisses or farting rainbows at 6 p.m. They also have two future gigs in Georgia when you cross paths. But I will tell you Joan Baez, this October: Oz Campground’s Second Women’s Katrina from Katrina & The Waves and Pat Benatar were Music Fest October 4–5, located at 50 Georgia 230 in ridiculously sweet, caring and genuinely nice people.

Unadilla, and October 12 at My Sister’s Room at 1271 Glenwood Ave SE. Do you ever wish you had done anything differently in your career as a band? next day I had an arrangement of sunflowers delivered to my house, and I think they left a note on my car, too.

But that was it – it was harmless.

DH: I’m not gonna lie, there have been times when I regret not going to college. I think to myself, «Am I gonna be eating cat food when I can’t gig anymore?» But then I think of the real world experience I got from doing this crazy life musician thing and realize that it is absolutely priceless. Not to mention the important people in my life. I got to experience something very few do: Make a living making music…[I’m] feeling very fortunate and grateful right about now.

How often do you play nowadays?

54 // davidatlanta.com

SATURDAY

AUG. 3

CINDEL INTERNATIONAL DJ/PRODUCER

THE KING OF THE DRUMS 2115 FAULKNER RD. • 404.844.8800 • JUNGLEATL.COM

zopardi

By Chris Az

SARA BAREILLES, The Blessed Unrest_

MERRY CLAYTON, The Best of Merry Clayton_

Maybe you didn’t ask for it, but Sara Bareilles wrote you a love song anyway. Actually, she wrote you many love songs. With her third disc, the pop pianist is giving the gays their wedding theme: “I Choose You,” an undeniably irresistible ditty – cello included for added romanticism – that’s a sweet ode to love, the good and the bad.

And her boy-chasing gets the best of her on pretty ballad “1,000 Times.” But besides the safe first single, the LGBT-inspired anthem “Brave,” Bareilles shakes up her tried-and-true formula heard on past hits “Love Song” and “King of Anything” for more uncharted territory.

“Eden” stands out most as an exhilarating turn and a definite highlight in the mix; the track borrows from Prince and then reaches a chorus that flicks with glistening near-dance synths while her heart breaks all over it: “No way to make the pain play fair,” she sings. “It doesn’t disappear just because you say it isn’t there.” She gets in musical mode for “Little Black Dress,” a celebration of singlehood. While Bareilles stories the ups and downs of relationships, presumably her own, she also dedicates a song – the moving “Satellite Call” – to “the lonely child.”

If you ever wondered what Sarah McLachlan sounded like singing over a Sigur Rós track, wonder no more.

Give it up for 20 Feet from Stardom, the wonderful documentary that’s finally spotlighting voices too big to just be backup. Because of it, Merry Clayton is, at last, basking in the limelight. Sony Legacy’s The Best of Merry Clayton puts the diva front and center for her pivotal moment on The Rolling Stone’s riveting wake-up call “Gimme Shelter” – but now the track is all hers, and the woman who can sing circles around most owns more than just the famed “rape, murder – it’s just a shot away” bit. Songs from her only solo effort, the one that was supposed to make her a star (and should have), get a second life on this triumphant collection: She tears into Neil Young’s “Southern Man,” goes soft and sweet on the Carole King contribution “After All This Time” and croons “Country Road” with a raw realness that defines the essence of this soul queen. She takes “The Mighty Quinn” to church, turning the Dylan ditty into a gospel rouser.

Her belty “Bridge Over Troubled Water” is felt deep, deep down. And then, somehow, it gets even better: “Suspicious Minds” is a stirring version of the Elvis classic that comes to an emotional break that gets you in the heart.

Those 20 feet? You won’t find them on any song here.

Grade: B+

Grade: A

58 // davidatlanta.com

ALSO OUT

LAURA MARLING, Once I Was an Eagle Folk has been reincarnated so many times – and in so many ways – it’s hard to recall what it used to sound like.

With 23-year-old Laura Marling’s fourth album, now we know. The British import’s LP – which she completely owns no matter how closely she resembles Joni Mitchell and Fiona Apple – is a stunning throwback to the collective power of just a guitar, a voice and little else. Every song reminds you of that.

KENDRA MORRIS, Mockingbird On her sophomore release, Kendra Morris applies her soulful croon to … covers? Not exactly what you’d expect from a girl still making a name for herself, but this just might be the breakthrough Morris’ many gifts – that voice, mostly – merits. Because not only does the New Yorker rework classics like Chris Isaak’s “Wicked Game” and “Walk on the Wild Side,” making them sound almost brand-new, she sings with a passionate burn that will please Amy Winehouse fans. @DavidAtlantaGA // 59

theScene 1

10th & Piedmont 991 Piedmont Ave. NE

14 Cowtippers

27 Jungle

40 The Model T

2

Amsterdam 502 Amsterdam Ave. NE

15 Daiquiri Factory

28 Las Margaritas

41 Tripps

3

Atlanta Eagle 306 Ponce De Leon Ave. NE

16 Einstein's

29 Manifest 4 U

42 Urban Body Fitness

4

BJ Roosters 2043 Cheshire Bridge Rd.

17 F.R.O.G.S

30 Mixx

43 Woof's

5

Blake's 227 10th St. NE

18 Felix's

31 Oscar's

44 XS Ultra Lounge

6

Bliss 2284 Cheshire Bridge Rd.

19 Flex Spa

32 Opus 1

7

Boy Next Door 1447 Piedmont Ave. NE

20 Friends

33 Roxx

8

Brushstrokes 1510 Piedmont Ave. NE

21 Gatsby's

34 Sam's Hair Salon

Le Buzz 585 Franklin Rd. SE Marietta, GA

9

Bubbles Salon 1579 Monroe Dr. NE

22 Gilbert's

35 Southern Nights

Mary's 1287 Glenwood Ave. SE

10 Bulldogs

23 Gravity Fitness

36 Ten Atlanta

My Sister's Room 1271 Glenwood Ave. SE

11 Burkhart's

24 Heretic

37 The Den

Club Rush 2715 Buford Hwy. NE

12 Capulets

25 Hobnob

38 The Fifth Ivory

Sister Louisa’s Church 466 Edgewood Ave. SE

13 Club Eros

26 Joe's on Juniper

39 The Hideaway

Swinging Richard's 1400 Northside Dr. NW

893 Peachtree St. NE 1492 Piedmont Ave. NE 1510 Piedmont Ave. NE 2219 Faulkner Rd. NE

1600 Piedmont Ave. NE 889 W. Peachtree Str. NW 1077 Juniper St. NE 931 Monroe Cir. NE 1510 Piedmont Ave. NE 76 4th St. NW

2115 Faulkner Rd. NE

699 Ponce De Leon Ave. NE

1842 Cheshire Bridge Rd.

1931 Piedmont Cir. NE

2103 Faulkner Rd. NE

500 Amsterdam Ave. NE

1492 Piedmont Ave. NE

2425 Piedmont Rd. NE

1510 Piedmont Ave. NE

708 Spring Str. NW Not Shown: Cockpit 465 Boulevard SE

1086 Alco St. NE

736 Ponce De Leon Ave. NE 931 Monroe Dr. NE 219 10th St. NE

1824 Cheshire Bridge Rd. 2000 Cheshire Bridge Rd. 2205 Cheshire Bridge Rd.

2201 Faulkner Rd. NE 2069 Cheshire Bridge Rd. 1551 Piedmont Ave. NE 1049 Juniper Str. NE

990 Piedmont Ave. Ne 2135 Liddell Dr. NE 794 Juniper Str. NE 1544 Piedmont Ave. NE

Bar/Cocktails

Retail

Dining

Billiards/Darts

Dancing

Dancers

Non-Smoking

Leather

Hair/Beauty

Fitness

Drag

Baths/Spa

60 // davidatlanta.com

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@DavidAtlantaGA // 61

Bartab

got an upcoming event? calendar@davidatlanta.com

MONDAY

Brooks and Phoenix 10pm model t Party with Elvis - 9 pm BLAKE’S Game Night - Trivia/Family Feud oscar’s Ruby Redd’s After Party - 10 pm 11pm swinging richards 2-4-1 VIP Room BURKHART’S Blue Monday Karaoke w/ ten atlanta Drag-a-maki w/ Kitty Angelica D’Paige 11:30pm LeClaw 8:30pm COCKPIT Big Red Cup All Day, specials tripp’s Free Taco Bar 5pm EAGLE Music Videos with Scotty xcess ultra lounge Raquell Lord’s FELIX’S Free Pool Talent Show 10:30pm, Sophia Mcintosh & FRIENDS Manic Mondays DJ opens - 2 pm Fab 5 +1 11:30pm, 18+ HERETIC Jukebox drag with Knomie Moore woof’s Food Special, Trivia 8pm HIDEAWAY $2.50 Domestic Beer JUNGLE Stars of the Century Show 11pm MODEL T Monday Night Madness Free blake’s Texas Hold’Em Poker 7pm, “Guys Pool - 10pm - 2am OSCAR’S Service Industry Night with Eric & Dolls” with Shawnna Brooks. 11pm BURKHART’S Twisted Thursday w/ swinging richards Hip-Hop Night, Phoenix 11:30pm Sponsored by Hennessy 8:30pm cockpit Dirty Boy Bingo w/ Ruby Redd ten atlanta Poker Night TRIPP’S Monday Nite Madness w/ Tana 9pm eagle Balls Deep Karaoke w/ Mikey felix’s Karaoke w/ Brett & Tyler 10pm WOOF’S Texas Hold ‘Em Poker 8pm friends Where Girls Who Like Girls Meet Girls with Regina Simms 8-closing Gilbert’s Wine tasting 6-10pm BLAKE’S POP! Karaoke with Sasie Monroe heretic 3 Legged Cowboy Night 9pm and Suzanne Gleeson 11pm hideaway Service Industry Night BURKHART’S Trivia Tuesday Karaoke w/ jungle Members Only with Evah Angelica D’Paige 11:30pm Destruction 10pm club rush “Tipsy Tuesday” 18 & up mIXX Gentlemen Cocktails with Aaron & Open until 4am Matt at 6pm COCKPIT 80s Party 9pm, specials 5-8pm model t Party Time with Michael - 9 pm EAGLE Tuesdays w/ Tony oscar’s Twisted Thursday with Eric FELIX’S Smirnoff Martini Night swinging richards 2-4-1 VIP & Entry FRIENDS Let’s Make A Deal with Ken 6 pm xcess ultra lounge Turnt Up Thursday Gilbert’s Industry Night (complementary woof’s Food Special, Country Music 7pm pizza after 10pm) HERETIC 2-Step Tuesday, dance till 11pm HIDEAWAY Trivia with Wil 9 pm 10th & piedmont Live DJ 10 PM JUNGLE Ruby’s Tuesdays 8 pm blake’s 5-9pm TGIF, Charlie’s Angels w/ MIXX Piano with David Reeb at 8pm Charlie Brown 11pm MODEL T Wii Tuesday Afternoons 2pm BURKHART’S Fab Five w/ Angelica 9pm $2.50 beer / $3.0 well vodka OSCAR’S Show Tune Tuesday with Chad- D’Paige 11:30pm club rush “Got Leche” Free entry until 8 pm 11pm 18 & up - Open until 4am SWINGING RICHARDS 1/2 Price cover cockpit DJ Diablo Rojo, guest VJ/DJ’s WOOF’S Industry Day Free Wii 5pm eagle DJ Dance Party friends Happy Time Friday Kelly & Ken 6 pm heretic FUR Friday BLAKE’S 5-9pm Doug’s party pop hits, hideaway Kick Back Fridays!

Charlie Harding’s Hard Body Party 11 pm jungle Dinner and a Movie 7 pm; BURKHART’S Humpday Karaoke w/ The Other Show with Edie Cheezburger Darlene Majewski 11:30pm 9:30pm; Jungle POP 11pm COCKPIT Balls Deep Karaoke 10pm mixx Ron’s End of the Week Party 4pm | EAGLE Underwear Night with Tony Grown & Sexy Dance 10 pm Friends Hump Night with Regina Simms model t Friday Bagels - 10 am | Texas Gilbert’s Karaoke 10pm-2am Holdem Poker 8 pm heretic Pig Dance Black Out Party DJ oscar’s Music Video Night Stan Jackson 10pm-3am NO COVER swinging richards T-Shirt Review,$10 hideaway 1/2 Price Beer ten atlanta Music by George Greenlee jungle Dragamaniacs with Nicole Paige tripp’s Afternoon Delights 4pm

THURSDAY

TUESDAY

FRIDAY

WEDNESDAY

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woof’s Atlanta’s Best Social Night 6pm

SATURDAY

10th & piedmont Live DJ 10 PM blake’s Open at 1pm, Daring Divas 11pm BURKHART’S Extravaganza w/ Shavonna B. Brooks 11:30pm cockpit DJ Diablo Rojo, guest VJ/DJ’s eagle DJ Dance Party felix’s Karaoke w/ Brett & Tyler 10pm friends Free Pool and Cheap beer with DJ! 2 pm - 6 pm Gilbert’s All you care to eat brunch (cooked to order) 11-4pm heretic Varies: Club Night or 3 Legged Cowboy Night - 10pm hideaway Open at 12:30pm! Saturday Night Party jungle The Q 9 pm; Club Night, Various Guest DJ’s mixx Guest DJ’s Dance 10pm model t Texas Holdem Poker - 3 pm | Party with the M&M Boiz - 9 pm oscar’s DJ Christopher Kind swinging richards T-Shirt Review $10 ten atlanta Music by George Greenlee tripp’s Afternoon Cookout 3pm xcess ultra lounge 25+ FREE til 12am woof’s Game Day All Day

SUNDAY

10th & piedmont Bellini Brunch 11 AM & T-Dance 4 PM blake’s Open at 1pm - High Energy Music & Video w/ Bill Berdeaux & Daryl Cox BURKHART’S Armorettes Drag Show club rush Hip Hop and R&B - 18 & up Open until 4am cockpit PBR Beer Bust felix’s Bloody Marys & Mimosas friends Open @ 2pm; Dinner @ 4pm while it lasts Gilbert’s All you care to eat brunch (cooked to order) 11-4pm and Karaoke 6-11:30pm hideaway Atlanta’s Favorite Bloody Mary Bar! 12:30 pm Jungle The Day After with Knomie Moore 12-3pm; Sweet T with Bubba Dee and Wild Cherry Sucret 7pm las margaritas All You Can Eat til 3pm mixx Old School Sunday Dance 7pm model t Sunday Dinner with Ron 3:30 pm oscar’s Sunday Fun-day ten atlanta Music by George Greenlee tripp’s Buffet of Goodness - 3 pm | Karaoke - 7 pm woof’s Bloody Mary bar, PBR special

theRundown Rodiney Santiago 2014 Calendar Release Party

Wednesday, July 31 • 7 p.m. • Steel (950 W Peachtree St. NW) Supermodel Rodiney Santiago and photographer Richie Arpino present their 2014 calendar collaboration; Steel is providing sushi appetizers and signature cocktails .

For more information, visit facebook.com/ events/518045261602732.

‘AKA Blondie’ Special Screening

Wednesday, July 31 • 7:30 p.m. & 9 p.m.

• Plaza Theatre (1049 Ponce De Leon Ave NE)

The documentary about Atlanta’s most famous stripper gets a special pair of screenings from the Plaza Theatre, with all tickets available through Scoutmob. For more information, visit plazaatlanta.com.

Cards and Social Hour

Datebook

Jonas Brothers & Karmin The Jonas Brothers are back, and they’re bringing their new tour to Atlanta on Sunday, August 4, beginning at 7 p.m. at Chastain Park Amphitheatre. Also appearing: Karmin, the pop duo that went from YouTube cover sensations to hitmakers in their own right. Download the newest singles from both acts – that’s “First Time” for the Jonas Brothers, and the ridiculously catchy “Acapella” from Karmin – then be sure to check them out live. To purchase tickets, visit ticketmaster.com.

Thursday, August 1 • 10 a.m. • Phillip Rush Center (1530 DeKalb Ave)

SAGE Atlanta hosts their weekly Cards and Social Hour. For more information, visit sageatl.org.

Serena ChaCha

Thursday, August 1 • 10:30 p.m. • Burkhart’s (1492-F Piedmont Rd)

Burkhart’s brings RuPaul’s Drag Race season five contestant Serena ChaCha to Atlanta for one night only. For more information, visit burkharts.com.

Sisters’ Yard Sale

Saturday, August 3 • 9 a.m.–3 p.m. • First Existentialist Congregation (470 Candler Park Dr NE) The Atlanta Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence bring their annual yard sale, benefiting MISTER Center, to First Existentialist Congregation. For more information, visit firstexistentialist.org.

DJ Cindel

Saturday, August 3 • 10 p.m. • Jungle (2115 Faulkner Rd)

DJ Cindel, the King of the Drums, brings his act to Jungle for his Atlanta debut. For more information, visit jungleatl.com.

PFLAG Meeting

Monday, August 5 • 7:30 p.m. • Unitarian Universalist Congregation (1911 Cliff Valley Way NE)

PFLAG hosts its monthly Atlanta Support meeting. For more information, visit pflagatl.org.

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IN THEATRES THIS WEEK This week’s look at new releases is a little lighter than usual. Be prepared, though: after this weekend, a slew of new films arrive for summer’s last hurrah.

2 Guns: Mark Wahlberg and Denzel Washington team up as two partners in crime, each unaware that their partner is a secret agent.

The Smurfs 2: For those who like their Neil Patrick Harris tamed (and we do mean tamed), he returns in this follow-up to the 2011 hit. If nothing else, use this blurb as an excuse to randomly insert “smurf” into sentences to make them seem dirtier than they are.

Dine In | Take Out | Delivery | Catering Welcoming the LGBT community for 20 years.

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www.thaichilicuisine.com @DavidAtlantaGA // 65

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Taking a “Parade Rest” with Baton Bob “Parade rest,” as in the attacks against him have finally stopped and things are pretty much back to normal for the Ambassador of Mirth. In fact, he wants the readers to know, he’d be delighted to take photos with anyone as long as “there’s no rudeness or awkward interruption” (for example: like if he’s in the middle of the air doing a somersault). Now it’s time to print my original interview before all the Facebook backlash drama happened. (check out my previous article online).

Were you wearing one of your outrageous costumes?

We were chillaxing on his “rainforest” decorated style large screened-in patio…sipping on tea and chit chatting right quick while watching the rain do its thing.

Yes and no. A popular local newspaper in St. Louis interviewed me and decided to title the story “Ambassador of Mirth.” But it wasn’t until another interview I had after I moved here to Atlanta that the writer referred to me as “Baton Bob.” So I kept both names.

Okay, so how did you become a street performer?

I started around 2001, and this was around the time when I had adapted a new approach and consciousness about life. I felt whenever something goes wrong, instead of allowing myself to slip into the mindset of depression or stuck in negative thoughts, I would do something that makes me feel good, no matter what it was, just do it!

Well, one month after the tragedy of 911 hit, I took my baton, went to Forrest Park, and I twirled myself back into good spirits. I also noticed the smiles on folks’ faces and the joy in some after I finished. It was a great feeling.

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No…just my exercise gear and MP3 player. But the reactions sparked an idea for me to make people laugh. It wasn’t until December of that year, that I started doing costumes just to get laughs…at that time, I didn’t care if they were laughing with me or at me, I just wanted to see a lot of people happy and smiling. Then it became this humanitarian effort. I found myself going by hospitals, children’s hospitals, and cancer research/treatment centers every day on my route. Then I started getting messages and letters from doctors, nurses, and other professionals about how much of a positive difference I was making in their day with dealing with stress, healing, and just making a lot of folks smile. I then started feeling more connected with the universe and realized this is what I’m supposed to be doing. After 12 years, I still very grateful just to know and realize that the spirit of this character came to me as a blessing.

Amen. So that’s how you became Baton Bob?

Love it! I love how it was all organic and natural.

Nothing forced. Thank you Baton Bob for spreading your mirth in Atlanta for all these years. Of course more was said in that rainforest of his, but you’ll have to catch it on video coming out soon.

Brent Star’s Performance Schedule:

Mondays: Cowtippers (Bingo) 8pm August 15: The Laughing Skull Comedy Club, 10:30pm for “The Brent Star Variety Show”

70 // davidatlanta.com

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fairyscopes ARIES (March 20 – April 19): Don’t let arguments

LIBRA (September 23 – October 22): Even if you

become about making you look good or right. That will only backfire. Better to use any disagreement as a test of your diplomatic skills. The voices in your head are offering advice, not orders. Think before acting.

really do know better (and I’m sure you do!) your efforts to help are easily seen as aggressive meddling. Ask first if your suggestions would be welcome. Attending to your own tasks is usually the better way to set an example.

TAURUS (April 20 – May 20): Make any social

SCORPIO (October 23 – November 21): There’s

commitments as tentative as you reasonably can. Your friends want your company and you’d find social occasions advantageous, but you might be even better off quietly with a few well-chosen pals.

more to “creative differences” than the idea that you’re creative and they’re different. As strong as your feelings are steel yourself to welcome constructive criticism as an opportunity to improve. Real friends are not flatterers, but tell the truth.

GEMINI (May 21- June 20): Don’t let social temptations distract you from your career, but use them to network and to get ahead. Be very attentive to moves behind the scenes and disappointments that could prove to be blessings in disguise.

SAGITTARIUS (November 22 – December 20): Uncovering family treasures (House cleaning? Talking with older relatives?) can help you realize how much you have to offer in your work. Talking with family elders? Pay special attention to the family’s health history.

CANCER (June 21- July 22): Engage confusing new

CAPRICORN (December 21 – January 19):

ideas. Clarity will come soon. Intellectual and aesthetic challenges will bring lots of opportunities to advance professionally and socially. When you feel overwhelmed, don’t be afraid to ask friends or experts to help.

Whether you are arguing with or citing the authorities you can all too easily get it wrong. Check and double-check your facts very carefully. Right or wrong, you are also likely to anger people in charge. Take it slow and easy; be diplomatic!

LEO (July 23 – August 22): Your sexual allure can

AQUARIUS (January 20 – February 18): Don’t be afraid of arguments. (But are you ever?) New angles of discussion will open your mind as well as others’ to intriguing new ideas. A little shock adds extra value. As usual, the trick is to accept challenges more than you offer them.

open erotic treasures and/or Pandora’s box. Sublimation can help your career, but needn’t be an all-or-nothing proposition. Dangers lurk at extremes of abstinence or indulgence.

Use foresight and look for opportunities not necessarily in the bedroom.

VIRGO (August 23 – September 22): You are entering a long phase in your life where relationships are becoming even more complicated. Erotic impulses can open up hidden depths and new ways to communicate with the one you love. Some mixed signals are just part of the learning process.

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PISCES (February 19 – March 19): Being outgoing, even garrulous, will open a lot of doors. Some you may want to shut again in a hurry. Still the good outweighs the bad. Listen more than you talk, but speak up and you’ll hear something important.

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Guess I’m getting old.

I remember when we used to actually bring a backpack to “Backpack in the Park.”

You’re “popular”?

Popularity at the bathhouse isn’t something to be proud about.

I was totally waiting for Kate Middleton to one-up Beyoncé by having a girl named Royal Blue Ivy.

Real men eat ass.

76 // davidatlanta.com

Wish Anthony Weiner’s press conference closed with a high-pitched “¡Lo siento!” from his crotch.

You may be a good looking man, but those roid zits on your back are not attractive.

My ex needs to die or be cordial, but this in-between bullshit needs to stop.

Name one occasion in which gay people have been “the most” intolerant, and I’ll match you with 1,000 worse hetero examples.

Retweeting other people on a private Twitter account is the social media equivalent of dividing by zero.

If you are so unhappy working in this salon, please leave. It would surely make all involved feel better. *This page reflects the bitchiness of the community not David Atlanta or its publisher (although we’re bitchy too!)

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